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Cloud computing is the phrase of the day in the world of business and information technology but what does it really mean and how can it impact your practices? Can it help people and processes operate more efficiently? Perhaps save time and money? What are its drawbacks? More importantly, how is important information kept safe in the cloud? Read the full story

Signs went up on major thoroughfares in Cornelius and Huntersville over the weekend. (David Boraks/DavidsonNews.net)

By DAVID BORAKS
DavidsonNews.net

CORNELIUS – Opponents of the N.C. DOT’s I-77 plan for high-occupancy toll lanes (HOT lanes) on I-77 have begun throwing punches in the fall election campaign, posting signs around Cornelius and Huntersville telling voters to “fire” two commissioners and endorsing their challengers. But the attack by a group called TollFree NC is getting negative reviews from both local officials and candidates, some of whom have repudiated the tactic.

Signs appeared over the weekend on roadsides in Cornelius and Huntersville attacking incumbent commissioners John Bradford of Cornelius and Sarah McAulay of Huntersville. They’re planted alongside other signs endorsing slates of candidates whom TollFreeNC believes will help them fight against the Department of Transportation’s widening plan. Read the full story

Mayor John Woods listens as 16-year-old Davidson runner Malia Ellington talks about how she started running. The Town Board honored Ellington Tuesday night for her recent world and US triathlon championships. (David Boraks/DavidsonNews.net)

Town commissioners paused during their meeting Tuesday to recognize Malia Ellington, a 16-year-0ld Davidson resident who recently won both national and world triathlon titles. In a brief ceremony, Mayor John Woods cited her accomplishments and asked her to talk about how she got started running.

It was a local 5K race, sponsored by Davidson Lands Conservancy, she recalled. After that, she kept on running and took up triathlons a couple of years ago.

On Sept. 13, the Community School of Davidson junior won her age group (16-19) at the ITU Sprint World Championships in Hyde Park, London. That victory came a month after she won not only her age group, but the overall women’s title at the 2013 Sprint National Triathlon Championship in Milwaukee.

Ellington is the daughter of Brandon and Nancy Ellington and has two siblings, Hannah, 14, and Brandon, 13.

RELATED COVERAGE

See coverage over Ellington’s victories on DavidsonNews.net’s Sports page

MeckEd, a nonprofit and nonpartisan group that describes itself as a “champion” for public education in Mecklenburg County, will host a community conversation Thursday night at CPCC’s Merancas Campus in Huntersville. Panelists will include Charlotte Mecklenburg School Board District 1 representative Rhonda Lennon, County Commissioner Karen Bentley and state Sen. Jeff Tarte.  Read the full story

The Lake Norman Regional Transportation Commission will have its monthly meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 9, at 6:30pm, at Cornelius Town Hall, 21445 Catawba Ave. Read the full story

The Davidson Town Board meets Tuesday night, with discussions planned on proposed new town rules governing skateboards and scooters, a long-range budget for big projects such as a second fire station, in east Davidson, and funding for flashing crosswalk beacons on Griffith Street. Commissioners will get an update from the developer of the Langtree at the Lake project off I-77 just north of Davidson. And they’ll welcome two new town employees and recognize Malia Ellington, a 16-year-old Davidson resident and student who recently won national and world triathlon titles.

The meeting begins at 6pm at Town Hall, 216 S. Main St.  It’s open to the public. Also on the agenda are two budget amendments Here’s DavidsonNews.net‘s annotated agenda with links to documents and previous coverage. Read the full story

Davidson firefighters last week rescued a man who was sleeping as burning food sent smoke through his residence in the Oak Hill Apartments, off Beaty Street.  The department also handled a vehicle fire on Griffith Street and firefighters used a fire extinguisher to disperse a swarm of bees following an automobile wreck. Davidson Fire also responded to assist the Cornelius Fire Department with several calls, including a structure fire. Read on for those and other incidents, as well as a summary of this week’s medical calls. Read the full story

Construction is expected to begin next year on the NC Department of Transportation’s $550 million project to widen I-77 from Charlotte to Mooresville with high-occupancy toll lanes, or HOT lanes. At a meeting in Statesville last Friday, Sept. 27, NCDOT officials said there are still misconceptions about how the toll lanes will work and about the goal of the project – to guarantee a reliable ride to and from Charlotte a rush hour. (via Statesville Record & Landmark) Read the full story