Archive
February 28th, 2011
By
Lenoir News-Topic writer Linda Payne
Additional indictments have been filed against the stepmother of Zahra Baker, this time on unrelated charges in Caldwell County.
A Caldwell County Grand Jury returned a true bill of indictment for Elisa Annette Baker, 42, on one count of financial identity fraud and obtaining property by false pretenses. Court records show that on or about April 3, 2010, Elisa “unlawfully, willfully and feloniously” did obtain electric utility service from Duke Energy for the family’s Hudson home while using someone else’s name without permission.
Severe weather swept through Catawba County on Monday afternoon, leaving downed power lines and toppled trees in the storm's wake.
Catawba County's emergency communications center was swapped with calls for service as residents reported power lines in the roadways, fallen trees on houses and even funnel-like clouds in the area.
Catawba County is no longer under a National Weater Service-issued torndao watch, which was canceled for the area about 6:15 p.m.
Postal workers continued their quest to prevent job loss and maintain service levels Monday during a peaceful protest and demonstration.
Employees and their supporters gathered at the post office in downtown Hickory on Monday to distribute flyers, display signs and circulate a petition protesting the consolidation of a 200-worker mail processing facility. The facility serves the Hickory Metro and is located in Conover.
Marilene Parker Ledford, 71, of Conover, died Friday, Feb. 25, 2011, at Duke University Medical Center in Durham. The Ledford family has entrusted funeral arrangements to Drum Funeral Home & Cremation Services in Conover.
Willie Eugene Smith, 86, of Catawba, passed away Saturday, Feb. 26, 2011, at Hospice of Catawba County. Burke Mortuary in Newton is serving the Smith family.
A 4-month old baby was transported to the hospital Friday after an alleged intoxicated driver lost control of her vehicle in Conover.
The crash occurred at 6:37 p.m. as Brittney Lyfae McCleave, 20, of Hickory was traveling east on Fourth Street southwest toward Trillium Court. Also in the vehicle were Danta Broome, 25, of Hickory, and Danta Broome Jr., 4 months.
Everyone in the vehicle was listed as living at the same residence, but Conover Police didn't immediately know what the relationship was among the passengers.
Catawba County is under a tornado watch until 8 p.m. Monday.
The National Weather Service issued the watch at 1:30 p.m. Monday. In addition, the county is also on a look out for hazardous weather as severe thunderstorms and strong wind is expected to arrive in the afternoon.
By
O-N-E Publisher Michael Willard
This week, a Catawba County Grand Jury officially delivered news the world has anxiously awaited the past four months. An indictment issued Monday declared that, in the eyes of this county’s prosecutors and grand jury members, Elisa Baker was involved in the death and dismemberment of a 10-year-old, disabled cancer survivor. Zahra.
February 25th
Bandys stopped Wilkes Central on their final possession and senior Tara Potter grabbed the final rebound, as the Lady Trojans held on to win the Sectional championship Friday.
Wilkes Central (25-5) had possession of the ball with 30 seconds remaining in the game and trailed 66-65. The Lady Eagles ran 20 seconds off the clock before coach Scott Waugh took a timeout to set up the final play.
However, Wilkes Central missed a game-winning shot. Potter grabbed the rebound off the miss, was fouled and made 1-of-2 free throws to seal the Bandys win.
Newton-Conover blew open a six-point halftime lead in the third quarter and scored 10 straight points in the fourth quarter, on their way to a win over East Burke.
The Lady Red Devils (24-3) defeated the Lady Cavaliers (20-9) 61-42,on Friday to advance to their second straight Western 2A Regional in Greensboro next week. Newton-Conover joins Bandys (27-3), Thomasville (23-6) and defending state champion Salisbury (24-1).
If one thing is certain, it's uncertainty, according to several area business leaders and Catawba County's congressman.
Rep. Patrick McHenry met with about two dozen business leaders and officials Friday at the Catawba County Chamber of Commerce to discuss how government regulations block private-sector growth.
"Free enterprise has been under attack, and that's unacceptable," said Chamber of Commerce president Danny Hearn. " ... This chamber is not going to sit back and let that happen."
