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

Firefighters struggled to contain a large outside fire May 6 that started in a collection of about 80 large hay bales of East Rocky River Road. Nearby fire companies all provided firefighters and water-supply vehicles. Also over the past week, firefighters removed four Davidson College students from a stalled elevator and helped police search for the 11-year-old boy who went missing. Details on these stories and more (along with a tally of the week’s medical calls) may be found below. Read the full story

By DAVID BORAKS
DavidsonNews.net

Davidson police officer Melvin Waller hasn’t been bicycling regularly in recent years, but recently he found a cause that inspired him to get back to it. The 37-year-old officer and about 65 other riders, including colleagues from area police departments, are in the midst of a grueling 4-day, 500-mile ride from Charlotte to Washington, D.C., to honor officers who have died in the line of duty.

The Bike to DC ride includes officers ranging from hard-core cyclists to new and returning riders with a passion, including Officer Waller. The 5-year Davidson police veteran is riding in part to honor the memory of Mark Swaney, who died on Christmas Day 1997 in an exchange of gunfire that also killed a suspect on Davidson’s West Side.

The ride as a whole has been dubbed “500 Miles for Fred,” in memory of the late CMPD officer Fred Thornton, who died Feb. 25, 2011. This year’s ride comes just before National Police Week, May 13-19.

Riders left from Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department headquarters on Wednesday morning. They’ll arrive in Washington on Saturday. On Sunday, they’ll join a candlelight vigil at the National Law Enforcement Officers’ Memorial, where Officer Thornton’s name will be added.

Davidson’s Waller plans to take a rubbing from the memorial of Mark Swaney’s name.

Officer Waller said he was motivated to join the ride by the desire to honor fallen officers like Thornton and Swaney. “We’re giving blood, sweat and tears to remember officers fallen in the line of duty,” officer Waller said Thursday night, after a 118-mile ride from Asheboro to South Boston, Va.

Officer Waller was an “avid rider” about 10 years ago, but hasn’t spent a lot of time on a bike recently, he said. So he’s been training for the past three months with the help of John Finney, of Davidson’s Spirited Cyclist bicycle shop, which also has donated supplies for the Ride to DC. Mr. Finney also is along on the ride. (He’s from a law enforcement family: His dad is a retired state trooper.)

Riders have collected sponsorships to help pay for the cost of the ride, overnight stays and support. A portion of the money raised also will go to the Charlotte’s Finest Legacy Foundation, which provides scholarships for law enforcement students.

Officer Waller has raised more than $1,000 from local businesses and individual sponsors, and he’s still raising money as he rides.

“I just want to bring awareness to the sacrifice we give as police officers, and to the danger we go into every day,” Officer Waller said. “I’m in a lot of pain, but at the same time, those officers who lost their lives have sacrificed a lot more than what I’m sacrificing right now.”

WANT TO HELP?

To donate to the Ride to DC, click on the “donate” button on the web, at http://www.tricharlotte.com/images/policebikeride/howyoucanhelp.htm. Mention Officer Melvin Waller. Or make a check payable to Charlotte’s Finest Legacy Foundation with Officer Waller’s name in the memo line. Mail it to:

Bike to DC
c/o Ron Horton
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department
601 E. Trade St
Charlotte, NC 28202-2940

Davidson’s mayor responds to concerns about Carolinas HealthCare System’s announcement of plans for a mental health hospital in east Davidson. (May 9, 2012, “Carolinas HealthCare to build psych hospital on NC 73″

By JOHN WOODS

I appreciate the opportunity to respond to some questions and comments concerning the recent Carolinas Healthcare System announcement of plans to develop a behavioral health hospital in Davidson. Read the full story

By DAVID BORAKS
DavidsonNews.net

CORNELIUS – Residents, businesspeople and local officials this week got a closeup look at several versions of a proposal to build high-occupancy toll lanes on I-77 to help relieve rush-hour congestion north of Charlotte.

At workshops in Cornelius Wednesday and Charlotte Thursday, NC Department of Transportation officials and consultants showed maps of the planned route and drawings of what toll lanes might look like. Read the full story

There’s still time to register for the Lake Norman Chamber of Commerce’s first annual “Chicks with Sticks” golf tournament at Birkdale Golf Club Monday. Meanwhile, The Dirty Martini will host a “Friday Night Fever” event next week to benefit Little Smiles, and the Hope House Foundation plans a wine tasting fundraiser in June. Read below for details of these and other upcoming fundraisers.

‘CHICKS WITH STICKS’ GOLF TOURNEY MONDAY

The Lake Norman Chamber of Commerce on May 14 will host its inaugural “Chicks with Sticks” women’s golf tournament at Birkdale Golf Club, 16500 Birkdale Commons Parkway in Huntersville.  A Captain’s Choice tournament, registration is $65 for individuals or $240 for a foursome, and proceeds will benefit the Chamber.  If you don’t have a full team, the Chamber will assign individuals to complete teams.

The registration fee includes a 1-hour golf clinic that starts at 8:30 a.m.  Shotgun start for the tournament is at 10 a.m.  After the round there will be a complementary wine and cheese reception with silent auction.

Want to play?
Register at the Chamber office, 704-892-1922, with your name and entry fee by 5 p.m. Friday.  All players must pay in full prior to Monday’s tournament.

‘FRIDAY NIGHT FEVER’ MAY 18 TO BENEFIT LITTLE SMILES

Head to the Dirty Martini on May 18 for Friday Night Fever, a night of dance music and Karaoke to raise money for Little Smiles, a nonprofit that brings “little smiles” to children in hospitals, hospice and shelters. Those “smiles” take many forms – from toys and games to outings and events – and all are provided by volunteers.

All of the money collected next Friday ($10 entry fee) will benefit Little Smiles. The Dirty martinis is located at 17036 Kenton Drive in Cornelius.

WINE TASTING JUNE 2 TO BENEFIT HOPE HOUSE

The Hope House Board of Directors will host a wine tasting and silent auction June 2 from 4 to 7 p.m. at Lake Norman Cottage in Davidson. Proceeds from the event will benefit Hope House, a 501(c)3 organization created to serve the growing needs of homeless women and women with children in the Lake Norman area by providing services and support in a comfortable suburban home environment in Huntersville.

Tickets are $60 per person, of $100 per couple. The event includes a wine tasting, hors d’oeuvres, a silent auction and raffle. Order tickets on the Hope House website www.hopehousefoundation.org
Lake Norman Cottage is located at 200 North Harbor Place in Davidson, next to the North Harbor Club restaurant.

FUNDRAISING CALENDAR – UPCOMING EVENTS

FRIDAY, MAY 11

Family Night at Tenders, 5 p.m. – 10 p.m., Tenders Fresh Foods Restaurant, 18341 Statesville Road. Ten percent of the sales that night will be donated to the non-profit program, MusicalMinds. MusicalMinds seeks to inspire social change through classical music instruction to young people in northern Mecklenburg County.

SATURDAY, MAY 12

Yard sale for missions, 8 a.m. to noon, Prosperity Presbyterian Church, 5533 Prosperity Church Road, Charlotte – The church will have a Missions Yard Sale, with toys, books, furniture and more for sale. All proceeds will be used for church missions. Open to the public. www.prosperitychurch.org

Jetton Park Triathlon, 8 a.m., Jetton Park, off Jetton Road, Cornelius – Jetton Park Triathlon 2012, with 750-meter swim, 20K bike ride and 5K run. Proceeds benefit Hope House Foundation and Ronald McDonald House of Charlotte. Register at setupevents.com. More information on the Jetton Park Triathlon website. ROAD CLOSURES: Roads or lanes in the area will be closed from approximately 8 to 11 a.m. Officers will be directing traffic at all major intersections along the route and volunteers will be stationed at other intersections to alert drivers of the lane closures.

Run Wild 5K/Fun Run, 8 a.m. May 12, Birkdale Residence Club, 8915 Devonshire Drive, Huntersville. The Run Wild 5K and Fun Run will benefit the African Children’s Project. The five-kilometer, ChampionChip-timed run will begin at 8 a.m., with the children’s (open to children age 11-under) one-mile fun run at 9:15 a.m. The cost is $25 for the 5K and $10 for the fun run. Register online at www.irunwild.org. Information: Call 704-598-7884.

SUNDAY, MAY13

Helping Paws Dog Show, Noon to 2 p.m., Davidson Village Green – Helping Paws Dog Show, organized by local high school student Brooke Phillips, will include competitions for best trick, best groomed, best personality, best in show. The event encourages adoptions from Project Halo, a no-kill shelter. Dogs and their humans are invited to register to participate – $10 per dog, $2 per human. All proceeds go directly to Project Halo. Info: https://www.facebook.com/HelpingPawsDogShow

SATURDAY, MAY 19

Day Care 5K / Fun Run, 8 a.m., Davidson Village Green, Main Street and Concord Road, Davidson – Davidson Cornelius Child Development Center 5K and fun run. Fun run 8 a.m., 5K 8:30 a.m., Farm-to-Fork Taste-Nic (think “picnic”) 10 a.m. Proceeds benefit the local all-income day care center. Sign up online here

By DAVID BORAKS
DavidsonNews.net

Carolinas HealthCare System said Wednesday it will build a $36 million, 66-bed mental health hospital on part of the former Davidson East site, off N.C. 73 east of Davidson, to fill what it says is a need for behavioral health care in the Lake Norman region. Read the full story

W.A. Hough High School’s girls soccer team starts its quest for a state title tonight (Wednesday) with a game against South Mecklenburg High at home at 7 p.m. Denny Seitz previews the game, and says the team is unbeaten (20-0-1) and focused. Find out more about the team’s playoff prospects and who to watch. IN SPORTS»