Workers installed a sign for the new Davidson College store on N. Main St. Monday. (David Boraks/DavidsonNews.net)

Contractors for Davidson College installed a new sign Monday on the former BB&T building at 137 N. Main St., where the campus store is scheduled to open next month. Read the full story

By DAVID BORAKS
DavidsonNews.net

Hundreds of Davidson College students, alumni and staff have signed a petition over the past week asking the college to stop buying food from Chick-fil-A to protest the fast-food chain’s donations to groups fighting gay marriage. Read the full story

SOURCE: MI-Connection financial reports, 2011-12. Click to enlarge.

By DAVID BORAKS
DavidsonNews.net

Officials at MI-Connection Communications System sounded an upbeat note Thursday as they reported the company’s best annual financial results since its 2007 founding. In an interview after a board meeting at Davidson Town Hall, the system’s CEO also reported another milestone: At year’s end, the network owned by Mooresville and Davidson made its first-ever payment back to the towns.

That payment was small – only $277,000 – but it was symbolic, according to chief executive David Auger.

“We made our first payment in June to the towns, for debt,” Mr. Auger told DavidsonNews.net. “It’s the first time the company’s ever contributed from revenues … to pay down debt. So that’s great news, and we’ll do substantially more than that in 2013.” Read the full story

Workers installed a fence around 212 S. Main St. on Thursday in preparation for demolition of the building. (David Boraks/DavidsonNews.net)

Workers installed a fence around the one-story building at 212 S. Main St. on Thursday in preparation for demolition of the building. Built in 1955 and once home to the Davidson public library, the building is coming down to make way for a new 4-story office building called Mooney’s Corner. Read the full story

The Lake Norman Chamber’s Focus Friday issues session this month will examine the $29.5 million bond referendum on the ballot in November for Huntersville voters. Town officials and Commissioner Charles Jeter will discuss the referendum Friday, July 27, from 8 to 9:30 a.m. at the chamber’s Randy Marion Conference Room, 19900 W. Catawba Ave., Cornelius Read the full story

Brain Balance, a treatment center for children with certain neurobehavioral issues including ADHD and Autism, plans to open in August in the Fresh Market shopping Center off Torrence Chapel Road. The owners will hold information sessions for parents and educators prior to the center’s opening. In other business news, PostNet in Davidson now offers fingerprinting services, LKN Music Hall closed last week, and Hickory Furniture Mart prepares for its annual clearance sale this weekend. Read below for details. Read the full story

Davidson’s Design Review Board on Wednesday night will look at the town’s own plans for renovating the former pumping station at the end of South Street as the new Parks & Recreation offices. The meeting also will include an initial review of MSC Industrial Direct’s plans for a “co-headquarters” at Harbour Place, off I-77 Exit 30. Read the full story

Carolinas HealthCare System presented new drawings of what the proposed mental health hospital off NC 73 will look like. Download a copy of the presentation below.

By DAVID BORAKS
DavidsonNews.net

Carolinas HealthCare System showed detailed plans for its proposed $36 million behavioral health hospital off N.C. 73 and the town manager presented new data on the project’s economic impact at a forum Thursday night. But opponents said afterward they’re still prepared to sue to stop the project if the town doesn’t halt it and give residents a chance to appeal. Read the full story