Pontoon Boat Stuck On Edge Of Dam
(Polk County, NC) -- Emergency crews are trying to recover a pontoon boat that's stuck on the edge of a dam in Polk County. A Wildlife Resources Commission official told WLOS-TV that weekend storms probably caused the boat to break loose from its dock on Lake Adger. The dam operator spent Monday trying to lower the level of the water so responders can bring another boat in to tow it. Half of the pontoon boat is suspended in midair over the dam's edge.
Graffiti Suspect Accused Of Tagging Over a Dozen Businesses
(Asheville, NC) -- A suspect is being accused of vandalizing over a dozen Asheville businesses with graffiti. Asheville police charged the man with graffiti vandalism last Saturday for allegedly tagging a group of businesses on Lexington Avenue, Biltmore Avenue and the South Slope between November and March. He was originally arrested almost three weeks ago for larceny. Investigators said many of his tags referred to space and Egypt.
NCGOP Executive Director Leaving Post
(Raleigh, NC) -- The North Carolina Republican Party will be looking for a new executive director this summer. Dallas Woodhouse said yesterday that he is serving in the post until his contract expires after the GOP state convention in June. Republicans will also be looking for a new chairman. Current chair Robin Hayes has already stepped down from day-to-day operations following a federal corruption indictment this month.
School Bus Driver Charged With Sex Crimes
(Madison County, NC) -- A school bus driver in Madison County is being accused of sex offenses. The sheriff's office received a complaint last Friday about Ronald Shelton, who was charged with a felony statutory sexual offense and sex acts with a student. The crime allegedly involved a teenage student. He's in jail on a 500-thousand-dollar bond.
Park Areas In Smoky Mountains Opening Later
(Great Smoky Mtns Natl' Park) -- Some areas of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park are opening a little later than normal this season. The park's superintendent told the Asheville Citizen-Times that the six-week government shutdown at the beginning of the year forced a delay in getting in seasonal workers trained for campground maintenance. Campgrounds will open up about two-and-a-half weeks later. The road to Clingmans Dome opened up on time at the beginning of the month.
Frost Advisory For Parts On WNC This Morning
(Asheville, NC) -- It may be mid-April, but cold temperatures are still invading the region. The National Weather Service has issued a frost advisory until eight this morning for most counties in the southwestern corner of North Carolina. Temperatures will bottom out in the low to mid 30s, before a big warm-up to around 70 this afternoon. Forecasters are warning more severe thunderstorms could hit the area late Thursday night.
Community Reacts To Police Footage Of Deadly Shooting
(Charlotte, NC) -- Protesters are speaking out against violence amid the release of CMPD body cam footage of a deadly shooting. Those who gathered in Marshall Park last night are calling it a race issue. Danquirs Franklin was shot to death by an officer outside a Burger King on Beatties Ford Road last month. The officer can be heard repeatedly ordering Franklin to drop a gun in the footage released yesterday. State Representative Chaz Beasley called the video beyond troubling.
CMPD Investigates Two Monday Homicides
(Charlotte, NC) -- The CMPD is investigating two Monday homicides. One man was killed in a double shooting at Hidden Valley and Sugar Creek roads in north Charlotte around 1 a.m. A second man was found shot to death inside a car parked at the Vista Villa Apartments on The Plaza around seven hours later. There have been no arrests announced in either case.
Union County Schools Plan To Stay In Class On May 1st
(Union County, NC) -- The Union County Public Schools district plans to be open on the day of a teacher rally in Raleigh. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools have already announced that class is canceled for the May 1st event because around two-thousand teachers have requested off. Union County officials said on Friday that its board of education has already addressed concerns raised by the North Carolina Association of Educators. The district is still expecting to send a delegation to Raleigh.
Suspect On Run After High Speed Chase
(Charlotte, NC) -- An attempted robbery suspect who led CMPD officers on a high speed chase last night is on the run. Investigators say the driver and another man held up a victim at gunpoint on Cherrycrest Lane around 6 p.m. The suspects were later spotted on North Graham Street in a stolen car and led police at speeds reaching over 100-miles-an-hour. Police were able to take a passenger into custody in the Reid Park neighborhood after he got out of the car, but the driver got away when he ditched it at South Tryon and Fourth streets and ran.
Suspect Arrested After Damaging Equipment At Church
(Charlotte, NC) -- One man is accused of rushing the stage at a Charlotte church Sunday and causing 30-thousand-dollars' worth of damage to audio equipment. The CMPD says it happened at Central Church of God on Sardis Road. Robert Smothers was arrested for attempted larceny. WSOC-TV is reporting that Smothers was released from prison last year after serving time for second-degree murder.
No Word Yet From Tiger On Wells Fargo Championship
(Charlotte, NC) -- Golf fans may be wondering if Tiger Woods plans to play in the upcoming Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow. The tournament's director told WCNC the day after Tiger's Masters win that the golfer hasn't committed yet, but they're hopeful he will. The 15-time major champion won the Wells Fargo Championship in 2007. The tournament starts two weeks from Thursday in Charlotte.
Canes Win Game Three Of The Playoffs
(Raleigh, NC) -- The Canes are back. Yesterday, the Hurricanes swept the Washington Capitols 5-0 at home. They lost the first two playoff games by one or two goals, but last night the Canes dominated, showing they deserve to break their decade long playoff drought. The Canes are still down one game in the playoff series, but they play the Caps again at home on Thursday.
Raleigh Triple Murderer Sentenced To Life Without Parole
(Raleigh, NC) -- A Raleigh man convicted of a triple homicide has no hope of ever walking free again. Last week, 50-year-old Jon Sander was found guilty of shooting and killing three of his neighbors with a shotgun. The jurors had the option of sentencing him to death, but they opted for life in prison without parole. After a slew of outbursts in the court, disrespect to the victims families, and poor behavior overall, the judge said Sander will die alone and forgotten, then ordered Sander to get out of his courtroom.
Duke Star Zion Williamson Is Going Pro
(Durham, NC) -- After just one season of college basketball, Duke freshman Zion Williamson is going pro. Yesterday, he announced on Instagram that he was moving on from college ball. Even though Duke didn't go as far in the NCAA tournament as they would've liked, Williamson's performances with Duke stood out. The NBA draft happens in June, and Zion is projected by many to be the top overall pick.
Police Look For A Cross Dressing Bank Robber
(Durham, NC) -- Durham police are trying to find a man they say dressed as a woman to rob a bank. They say yesterday afternoon the man entered a Wells Fargo on Durham-Chapel Hill Boulevard in drag and handed the teller a note threatening to use a gun. No gun was seen, but the man took off with an unknown amount of cash. The suspect is described as a black man wearing a dark curly wig, sunglasses, pink jacket leopard print pants and a surgical mask. Anyone with information on who this might be is asked to call police.
North Carolina Ranks 20th State For Millennials
(undated) -- North Carolina is a top 20 state for millennials. Wallethub recently ranked all 50 states and Washington, DC on a number of factors that significantly impact the lives of those in their early 20s to early 30s. North Carolina ranked 20th overall, but they ranked higher than most states for percentage of millennials engaged civically. South Carolina ranked 43rd overall.
Wake County Bus Driver Job Fair Today
(Raleigh, NC) -- Those who think they would be a good Wake County school bus driver can make their case today. The Wake County School District is hosting a job fair for bus drivers in Raleigh. They are trying to shore up their bus driver shortage and are offering those who can help them do this competitive pay, training, vacation and holiday pay and health insurance. The job fair will be held at Carroll Magnet Middle School from three to six o'clock this evening.
Beto O'Rourke Campaigns In Greensboro
(Greensboro, NC) -- Democratic presidential candidate Beto O'Rourke is drumming up support in the Triad. The former Texas congressman spoke to hundreds of supporters yesterday at Natty Greene's in Greensboro. He covered several topics, including the need for Medicaid expansion.
Grandma, Granddaughter Homeless After Trees Fell On Home
(High Point, NC) -- A grandmother and her granddaughter are homeless after trees fell on their home in High Point. It happened overnight Sunday when the Piedmont Triad was under a tornado watch. NBC 12 reports two large trees crushed the back of the home on Wickham Avenue. The woman and girl were taken to the hospital and released shortly afterward. They're being helped by the Red Cross while their home is repaired.
Guilford Co. Supervisor To Propose Closure Of Hampton Elementary
(Greensboro, NC) -- The Guilford County Schools superintendent wants to close Hampton Elementary School one year after a tornado struck it. Superintendent Sharon Contreras confirmed Monday she's going to propose closing the school during a meeting this week with the Board of Education. The school has been operating alongside Reedy Fork Elementary since last April, but Contreras says not enough students plan to attend it next year to justify keeping it open. Hampton was one of three schools badly damaged in the April 15th, 2018 tornado.
Woman Accused Of Embezzling Money From Band Booster Club
(Rowan Co., NC) -- A Cooleemee woman is accused of stealing money from a middle school band's booster club. Forty-eight-year-old Nanette Isenhour is charged with two counts of embezzlement of funds by a public officer/trustee. Rowan County sheriff's officials say she stole over 27-hundred dollars from the booster club's account at West Rowan Middle School. Isenhour turned herself in on April 10th and is being held on a ten-thousand-dollar secured bond.
Duke's Zion Williamson Declares For NBA Draft
(Durham, NC) -- As expected, Duke freshman phenom Zion Williamson is going pro. Williamson officially declared for the NBA Draft yesterday. The 6-foot-7, 285-pound forward is widely considered the number-one prospect in the draft. He helped Duke earn the number-one overall seed in the NCAA Tournament where they lost to Michigan State in the Elite Eight.