Community School science teacher Barbara Christian helps (from left) Bailey Martin, Jonathan Tornberg, and Tyler Sholes fill out paper work on observations. Click photo for a slide show. (Bill Giduz photo)

By EMILY MATRAS
Davidson College News Office

Blood samples, microscopes, and saliva swabs are common props on the “CSI” television program, but sixth and seventh graders from Davidson’s Community School got to use all three on Monday in a Davidson classroom. Biology majors in Associate Professor Karen Bernd’s seminar “Forensic Serology” created their own “whodunit” mystery murder for the 12 seventh graders and 10 sixth graders.

The victim? None other than the Davidson Wildcat. Read the full story

Brandon Bruch

Emily Suddeth

A missing Huntersville teenager told a friend in an internet conversation earlier this week she wasn’t ready to come home yet, but neither the girl nor her Charlotte boyfriend had been located as of Friday afternoon.

As police, family and friends continue to search, North Mecklenburg Crime Stoppers has offered a $1,000 reward for information that helps locate 15-year-old Emily Suddeth and her 14-year-old boyfriend Brandon Bruch. And friends have set up a private fund to raise money to help pay for the search. Read the full story

Emily

Police and family members are seeking help finding a North Mecklenburg High School ninth grader and her boyfriend who have been missing since last week.

Emily Suddeth, 15, of Huntersville, and Brandon Bruch, 14, of Charlotte, a Myers Park High School student, have not been seen since Wednesday. Huntersville Police Capt. Michael Kee said Monday it’s possible the two are together.

Anyone having information about Emily or Brandon is asked to call Huntersville police at 704-875-6542. Read the full story

Davidson Elementary School PTA’s PTA-Too (Together Overcoming Obstacles) is sponsoring a free workshop for parents, teachers and staff called “How Sensory Affects Learning” on Wednesday, Nov. 19, 6:30-8 p.m. at Cornelius Library Community Room, 21105 Catawba Ave. Read the full story

A young voter marks her ballot at Town Hall.

Kids had a chance to learn about elections Tuesday by casting their votes in the 2008 edition of Kids Voting USA. An unofficial tally of the ballots at Davidson’s Town Hall polling station, Precinct 206, at 7:30 p.m. gave Democrat Barack Obama the edge with 89 votes. Republican John McCain got 41 and Libertarian candidate Bob Barr had one vote. Read the full story

An unidentified ghoul collects candy during the 2007 march on Main Street. (Bill Giduz photo)

Getting ready for Halloween? You’ll have a variety of ways to celebrate the holiday over the next week in and around Davidson, from the annual Halloween night march on Main Street to scary organ music at Davidson College Presbyterian Church to this Saturday’s Halloween “Spooktacular” festival at North Mecklenburg Park.

Meanwhile, if you’re in the hunt for a pumpkin, they’ve just gotten a fresh shipment at Davidson United Methodist Church’s Pumpkin Patch for Missions.   They’ve got lots of sizes and shapes, including extra-large carving pumpkins, cinderellas, warty pumpkins and more. It’s open daily through Halloween night, Sundays to Fridays noon to 8 p.m. and Saturdays 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Read the full story

A new schedule of theater classes for children will begin Oct. 25 at Davidson Community Players, Davidson’s award-winning community theater group. The classes include a new one for middle and high school students called “Write Like Crazy!” taught by Lisa Williams Kline. They also offer classes for pre-schoolers and home-schoolers. To register, call 704-892-7953. For more information, visit davidsoncommunityplayers.org. Full and partial scholarships and sibling discounts available. For a list of classes … Read the full story

A group of Davidson moms and their kids spent Tuesday’s school holiday (it was a work day for teachers) hiking, playing and hanging out at the town-owned Fisher Farm Park, off Shearer Road. Kids posed for a picture atop a truck hauling hay. The kids are, from left: Adam Daily (holding Ben, the dog), Jacob Noble, Zachary Markl, Gabby Moore, Keegan Hahn, Cole Maye, Brandon Poag, Mitchell Newell, Luke Maye, Drake Maye, Josh Main, Beau Maye, Nicholas Noble, Hunter Bloom, Connor Hahn, Connor Newell, Matthew Chaiken, William Chaiken. (Thanks to Jackie Noble for the photo)