At the Lake Norman Chamber’s Focus Friday event May 18, commercial property owners will learn how to properly prepare for a revaluation appeal hearing.

Former chamber chairman John Hettwer, president of Payroll Plus, and Robbie Lowrance of Merit Properties Commercial Real Estate will discuss the appeals process and the steps commercial property owners should take in advance of their hearings. Read the full story

Alison Stearns scored one goal and assisted on another to help W.A. Hough High claim a 2-1 victory over TC Roberson in a third-round N.C. 4A girls’ soccer playoff in Asheville Wednesday night. See the full story in SPORTS»

Hough baseball beat Mooresville, 2-1, Wednesday to advance in the NCHSAA 4A baseball tournament. Read more HERE

And the girls’ softball team beat Olympic, 3-2, on Tuesday to advance.

Two weeks after Mecklenburg County Commissioners voted in favor of an independent review of the county’s 2011 property revaluation, they voted Tuesday on a timeline for the review and to require citizen involvement in the review process. Read the full story

By DAVID BORAKS
DavidsonNews.net

Davidson’s Town Board voted 4-1 Tuesday night to revise the town’s development approval process in a move some town officials said would make it “more predictable” for developers. The vote came after a lengthy debate and discussion with citizens, some concerned that it would reduce public involvement in planning decisions.

The 4 hour and 47 minute meeting included a presentation and public hearing about the $9.3 million town budget for 2012-13 and a presentation by Carolinas HealthCare System officials about a planned mental health hospital off N.C. 73. The board also adopted a new ordinance limiting and regulating the use of golf carts and utility vehicles in town. Read the full story

Woodlawn School this Sunday afternoon will host a screening of the documentary “Miss Representation,” about how the media portrays women in the US and how that affects men and women, and boys and girls. Read the full story

The 20th Annual Davidson-Cornelius Child Development Center 5K & Fun Run is scheduled this Saturday, May 19, at the Davidson Village Green. After the race, join the first Davidson Farm-to-Fork ”Taste-nic,” organized by Davidson Farmers Market and Know Your Farms. Read the full story

Welcome Home Veterans Living History Museum, at Richards Coffee, 165 N. Main St., Mooresville .

MOORESVILLE - Welcome Home Veterans Living Military Museum at Richard’s Coffee Shop will celebrate the long-awaited grand opening of its new, permanent home on North Main Street this Thursday to Saturday, May 17-19, during Armed Forces Day Weekend and Mooresville’s Race City Festival. The weekend kicks off with a ribbon cutting and grand opening ceremony Thursday morning. Read the full story

To the editor:

Last week’s announcement at the Lake Norman Chamber of Commerce that Carolinas HealthCare System plans to build a 66-bed behavioral health hospital in Davidson was welcome. While it could be argued the former site in Huntersville was appropriate given the dramatic increase in the population of that area, the new site, with its easy access to both I-77 and I-85, may prove to be more accessible for our region. Read the full story