A pair of bluebirds sang on a feeder in a backyard in east Davidson Saturday. (Allan White photo)

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See past Photos of the Day here.

By DAVID BORAKS
DavidsonNews.net

Davidson’s Town Board voted 4-1 Tuesday night to revise the town’s development approval process in a move some town officials said would make it “more predictable” for developers. The vote came after a lengthy debate and discussion with citizens, some concerned that it would reduce public involvement in planning decisions.

The 4 hour and 47 minute meeting included a presentation and public hearing about the $9.3 million town budget for 2012-13 and a presentation by Carolinas HealthCare System officials about a planned mental health hospital off N.C. 73. The board also adopted a new ordinance limiting and regulating the use of golf carts and utility vehicles in town. 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

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

Dr. Roger Ray of Carolinas HealthCare System announces the project, as Davidson Mayor John Woods listens. The announcement came at the Lake Norman Chamber in Cornelius on Wednesday. (David Boraks/DavidsonNews.net)

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

Aidan Murphy

Updated Tuesday, 7:31 a.m.

11-year-old Aidan Murphy was returned home to his family Monday night after going missing for several hours on Monday afternoon.

His mother, Michelle Murphy, said Tuesday he was found curled up, half asleep and shaking, against the wall of a dugout in Smithfield Park, off Catawba Avenue in Cornelius. Read the full story

Police are investigating two cases of vandalism over the past week, including one incident in which three parked vehicles were damaged in front of a house on Watson Street. $1,200 in jewelry was stolen from a residence on South Main Street, and a 53-year-old male was cited for DWI and assaulting a female on Southwest Drive. Details on these stories (along with a tally of the week’s arrests, citations, and traffic enforcement) may be found below. Read the full story

An 18-year-old man was flown by medical helicopter to Carolinas Medical Center-Main on Monday night after receiving a head injury while skateboarding. The accident occurred around 9:30 p.m. in a cul-de-sac near the Abersham park area, where the man was reportedly “longboarding” with friends.

Three Davidson fire engines carrying a total of eleven volunteers responded to the scene to assist the patient, along with a Medic ambulance and three Davidson police officers. Firefighters assisted with preparing a landing zone for the helicopter nearby. No further details were immediately available.  Meanwhile, read on for a report of other fire and medical calls over the past week. Read the full story