Davidson Lands Conservancy officials and members of the Runnymede Homeowners Association board gathered in the Runnymede Woods east of Davidson on May 6 to sign an agreement that permanently protects more than 50 acres of woodlands. See more in REAL ESTATE & HOME»

A worker drives over the completed Piedmont Natural Gas pipeline Friday evening. We talked to the driver, who said workers were blowing off gas from the new pipeline. (David Boraks/DavidsonNews.net)

Updated 9:03pm
A loud roaring noise, which some residents described as sounding like a jet engine, was heard in the Lake Norman area Friday afternoon and evening, followed by the smell of gas from Cornelius to Davidson to Mount Mourne. The odor of gas prompted more than two dozen 911 calls in Davidson and Cornelius between 5 and 8:30pm, as well as calls in the south Iredell area. Read the full story

Thieves continued to be a problem for local construction sites this week when an unknown suspect stole over $3,300 worth of copper tubing from inside of three houses in the Summers Walk neighborhood. Unknown suspects broke into a business on North Harbor Place and stole over $1,100 worth of cash and electronics, and someone used a Lakeview Avenue victim’s social security number to open numerous accounts with a power company in Connecticut.

Details on these incidents and more, along with a tally of the week’s arrests, citations, and traffic enforcement, may be found below. Read the full story

Rape in bloom off Davidson-Concord and June Washam roads. (PK Donson photo)

We featured this beautiful field of yellow rape in bloom a couple of weeks ago as our photo of the day. Since then, so many readers have sent notes or photos and suggesting we feature it (we already did!) that we’re bringing it back. Today we’re happy to offer another view from Davidson photographer P.K. Donson.

By the way, Donson’s photos will be featured during May in an exhibit in the atrium gallery of Davidson Town Hall, 216 S. Main St. A reception is planned Friday, May 17, from 7-9pm. Hope you can stop by.

Read below for info on how to submit your photo of the day. And to see previous photos of the day, CLICK HERE»

PHOTOS OF THE DAY

We’re looking for photos that capture the people and places that make Cornelius what it is. It could be a pretty picture from an event, a youth sports team photo, a pet, a quirky wildlife photo or an oddity. Send ‘em to us (editor@corneliusnews.net) and we’ll consider them for publication.

Requirements: Send us whatever you have – color or black-and-white JPGs preferred. If you have the ability to do so, we ask that you resize photos to not more than 600 pixels wide. That box on the front page of the site is exactly 595 pixels by 270 pixels, if you’re able to crop yourself. But you needn’t be limited to that size. Unlike our previous banners, with Photo of the Day, we can take any shape.

Wondering if you have something worthy? Call (704-896-0569) or email at the address above. And thanks for joining us!

Firefighters investigated a number of smoke scares this week, including one on a boat that was determined to be coming from the vessel’s battery compartment. The battery had melted, burning electrical wires and parts of the compartment surrounding it. Also this week, a passing vehicle with a tall profile pulled down telephone and cable lines from a utility pole on Jetton Street. Police officers and town maintenance personnel closed the street until technicians could respond to repair the damage. Details on these and more, along with a tally of the week’s medical calls, may be found below. Read the full story

An aging oak stands watch over a blossoming field of rape off Davidson-Concord Road at June Washam Road. (Sara Rubens/DavidsonNews.net)

Read below for info on how to submit your photo of the day. And to see previous photos of the day, CLICK HERE» Read the full story

Local leaders and officials from Carolinas HealthCare System turned over dirt in a ceremony groundbreaking for CHS’s new behavioral health hospital Friday. (CHS photo)

A groundbreaking ceremony was held a midday Friday for Carolinas HealthCare System’s $36 million behavioral health “campus” off N.C. 73 in east Davidson.

Construction has begun on the new hospital and an out-patient mental health clinic, which are scheduled to open in 2014. The hospital is expected to create 155 permanent jobs, including physicians and other staff.

Dr. James Scully

Officials say the hospital fills a critical need in the region. We have more about the hospital plans and a Q&A with CHS executive Dr. Roger Ray, in HEALTH & FITNESS

Speakers at Friday’s event included CHS chief executive Michael C. Tarwater, Medical director Dr. Roger Ray, newly hired chief clinical officer Dr. John Santopietro, and Dr. James H. Scully Jr., medical director and CEO of the American Psychiatric Association, as well as Davidson Mayor John Woods.

2. Davidson Mayor Davidson Mayor John Woods spoke during the groundbreaking. (CHS photo)

Groundbreaking was scheduled Friday for Carolinas HealthCare System’s $36 million behavioral health “campus” off N.C. 73 in east Davidson. If all goes as planned, the hospital and out-patient mental health clinic will open in 2014. Officials say the hospital fills a critical need in the region. We have more about the hospital plans and a Q&A with CHS executive Dr. Roger Ray, in HEALTH & FITNESS