Archive
October 19th, 2010
Pauline Smith Lee, 96, of Charlotte, passed away Monday, Oct. 18, 2010, at her home, surrounded by her family. The Lee family has entrusted the funeral arrangements to Willis-Reynolds Funeral Home & Crematory in Newton.
An area school system will make a difference Saturday during a national campaign promoting good deeds and community service.
Every school in Newton-Conover City Schools will participate in national Make a Difference Day projects to better the schools and its grounds.
"We have so many people that give to us," said Melanie Elrod, NCCS Student Services director. "It's a good way to give back to students and to the schools."
The boys and girls cross country teams from around the Catawba Valley 2-A descended Monday upon Southside Park in Newton. The eight teams met there to determine the conference champion for the 2010 season.
The East Burke Cavaliers walked away the victors in the girls team competition, and the Bunker Hill Bears won the boys championship. The Bears extended their championship streak Monday to five.
October 18th
A fund was set up to provide financial and counseling support as police continue the search for a 10-year-old girl who was was reported missing 11 days ago.
And while one of the organizers of the Zahra Baker Fund was convicted of obtaining property under false pretenses, officials from the fund's parent organization, the Spiritual Counseling Network, say the felony charge shouldn't stop people from giving.
The fund, which was established Friday, aims to provide monetary and counseling support for those involved in the search for Zahra.
Texas Roadhouse of Hickory will hold a special boxed lunch Tuesday to benefit the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
The restaurant, which isn't usually open for lunch, will sell $10 boxed lunches available for dine-in or take-out from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m..
"It's been such a tragedy in this community," said Patricia Hatch, a managing partner of Texas Roadhouse. "We wanted to do something to help."
Hickory Police received hundreds of tips in the homicide investigation of Zahra Baker, and they continue to search for her whereabouts.
One tip recently led police to a Hickory furniture store, where store employees said they saw Zahra and her stepmother, Elisa Baker, on Sept. 25.
"It was a Saturday, and it was really busy," said Pat Adams, floor manager of In Your Home Furnishings in Hickory, recalling the day Zahra and Elisa Baker came into the store. Zahra was reported missing two weeks later on Oct. 9.
After a documentary about her life debuted last week, the National Gourd Lady is going back to Hollywood.
Margaret Sparkman will return NBC's The Tonight Show on Oct. 29 during the late-night show's normal 11:30 p.m. broadcast. Sparkman, "The National Gourd Lady" first appeared on the show hosted by Jay Leno in 2003.
During that appearance, "Sparky" stole the show when she "bopped" the comedian host's head with a gourd dipper.
Nancy Ann Fulbright Speagle, 71, of Vale, died Saturday, Oct. 16, 2010, at Frye Regional Medical Center. The family will receive friends 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2010, at Jenkins Funeral Home Chapel in Newton.
Ruth Ann Harrison Moody, 49, of Hickory, passed away Monday, Oct. 18, 2010, at Palliative Care and Hospice of Catawba Valley in Newton. Burke Mortuary in Newton is serving the Moody family.
Pauline Mary Yount Sherrill, 91, of Lincolnton, passed away Monday, Oct. 18, 2010, at her residence.
The Hickory Police Department is searching for a man who allegedly robbed the BB&T on U.S. 70 on Monday afternoon.
A white male with a light-colored complexion entered the bank around 1 p.m. and gave a bank teller a note demanding money. HPD Sgt. Robert George said the note indicated the man had a weapon, but no weapon was shown.
George said the bank had several customers and employees present at the time of the robbery, but no one was injured.
October 17th
HICKORY (AP) — Hickory police say they have found someone other than a family member who saw a missing girl as late as Sept. 25.
Investigators said in a news release Saturday that they have received more than 200 tips about Zahra Clare Baker whose family reported her missing Oct. 9. The little girl uses hearing aids and a prosthetic leg because of bone cancer.
Hickory police would not comment further on the timeline or the case Saturday, but WCNC-TV in Charlotte reported that Zahra had been seen by employees at a Hickory furniture store.
