Archive - Mar 2012 - News Article
March 23rd
The St. Stephens community will support three high school students with cancer at a fundraising event, "Saint Strong," on March 31.
Three seniors — Evan Ford, Courtney Cook and Brandon Grant — are battling cancer.
For their stories and details about the Saint Strong event, pick up a copy of the weekend edition of The O-N-E.
Beginning Sunday, a Conover section of Interstate 40 East will close each night during replacement of an overpass.
The N.C. Department of Transportation will close I-40 from exits 130-132 from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. nightly as crews replace the N.C. 16 Business bridge over the interstate.
During the interstate closures, drivers will detour onto U.S. 70 to Rock Barn Road and back to I-40.
Closures are expected to continue until April 5.
The $3.1 million bridge replacement project is expected to be completed by Nov. 15.
Citizens are going to war against litter, and Keep Catawba County Beautiful is delivering unique messages as a reminder of how trash affects area roadsides.
Look for details in the Friday edition of The O-N-E and clever signs throughout Conover.
In Newton, city leaders have dedicated $100,000 in the budget for the year ahead to create engineering plans for a new fire department headquarters.
What other capital improvements will receive Newton investments in the year ahead, and how will they affect the property tax rate? Details in the Friday edition of The O-N-E.
March 22nd
The National Football League's New Orleans Saints operated a system in which players could make money by injuring players on opposing teams.
Does the news of this "bounty system" change the way you view professional football?
Vote now at observernewsonline.com.
Pick up the weekend edition of The O-N-E for results of last week's poll related to Catawba County Schools superintendent preferences.
Visit observernewsonline.com every Friday for a new reader poll question.
Newton will invest more than $4.8 million in capital improvements during the fiscal year ahead, and almost $4.4 million will be financed with new debt.
Approved this week as part of a five-year capital improvement plan (CIP), the spending will pay for a variety of projects and equipment in the city's general fund, water/wastewater and electric operations.
The city is in the second year of a CIP originally approved last year.
A lengthy neighborhood investigation led to the arrest of two Conover citizens on drug charges, and police say more charges are pending on additional suspects.
Police served three search warrants last week at multiple homes along 8th Avenue SW in Conover after an investigation that stemmed from citizen concerns.
Freddie Henry Powell, 45, and Salvador Sanchez Gore, 29, were both arrested and charged with possession with intent to sell and deliver schedule II narcotics.
Newton’s proposed new fire station headquarters moved closer to reality this week after city council members reserved fire department funding in the coming year’s budget.
Newton City Council approved $100,000 to be used toward engineering and design for the new fire headquarters in the 2012-13 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) budget.
The Keep Catawba County Beautiful Litter Committee placed a new series of anti-littering signs in Conover on Thursday in an attempt to decrease trash alongside roads.
For more on this story, pick up the Friday edition of The O-N-E.
The city of Hickory wants citizens to name its new Union Square entertainment complex.
Greater Hickory Metro residents are encouraged to submit name suggestions from April 18-May 18. Entries can be submitted at hickoryspeaks.com or hickorync.gov.
Construction is under way on the new complex, which will include space for outdoor concerts, seating and a farmer's market.
The winning structure name will be announced May 27 at "Swinging Under the Stars" at the complex.
The following Catawba County residents were sentenced this week in criminal superior court for felony offenses.
* William Curtis Atwell, 38, of Conover, was convicted of felony attempted breaking or entering.
* Marcus William Beard, 35, of Hickory, was convicted of felony indecent liberties with a child and was sentenced to 25-30 months in the N.C. Department of Correction. Beard entered a plea after jury selection and during a state evidence presentation.
* Billy Joe Hahn, 20, of Hickory, was convicted of felony breaking or entering and felony larceny.
