June Washam Road in east Davidson is now open into the River Run Phase 5 neighborhood. Here’s a view north into the new neighborhood. (David Boraks/DavidsonNews.net)

Updated Feb. 25, 2013
Barriers blocking traffic on the north end of June Washam Road have come down as construction begins on the first homes in River Run Phase 5, now known as The Reserve at River Run. The opening creates a new connection between Davidson-Concord Road, near N.C. 73, and Shearers Road. Read the full story

Distracted driving may have been to blame in at least one of the two crashes that occurred along N.C. 115 over the past two weeks. In both crashes, drivers crossed the center line and ran over the concrete curb. In one case, a driver crashing into a utility pole and in the other, a parked vehicle was struck. Meanwhile, Mooresville police said this week that they will not charge a woman who shot a former boyfriend twice in the leg on Feb. 10 after he broke into her apartment. Details on these stories and more (along with a tally of the week’s citations and traffic enforcement) may be found below. Read the full story

Site work began Wednesday at the site of the planned Carolinas HealthCare System behavioral health hospital on NC 73 in Davidson. Equipment was at work Thursday morning. (David Boraks/DavidsonNews.net)

By DAVID BORAKS
DavidsonNews.net

The land deal has closed and bulldozers have finally arrived at the site of Carolinas HealthCare System’s planned $36 million behavioral health hospital off N.C. 73 in east Davidson. Contractors on Wednesday began clearing land for a construction entrance at the west end of property, and CHS officials say the hospital could open in a year. Read the full story

Police officers responded to several traffic accidents over the past two weeks, including one Monday when a Charlotte woman rear-ended another vehicle on Main Street, then knocked over a street sign and damaged two utility poles. Elsewhere, thefts were reported at the new Carrburritos restaurant on South Main Street, where a $300 painting was taken, and at homes under construction in the Summers Walk neighborhood, where $1,200 worth of copper wiring was stolen.  Details on these stories and more may be found below along with a tally of the week’s arrests, citations, and traffic enforcement. Read the full story

Alarms over the past two weeks included one at The Pines at Davidson caused by a cut power line and a carbon monoxide alarm triggered by a concrete saw operating in the pool area of the Homewood Suites. A report of a pedestrian struck by a vehicle triggered a multi-agency response on Park Drive, but emergency personnel were unable to find any incident. Medical and fire standbys for basketball games and the Chinese New Year rounded out the remaining calls. Details on these incidents and more may be found below. Read the full story

An Asplundh worker moves pruned limbs at a home along Concord Road Thursday. (David Boraks/DavidsonNews.net)

Tree-pruning crews working for Duke Energy are making their way around Davidson this month, trimming trees near the electric company’s poles and overhead lines.

A crew of about a dozen workers from Asplundh Tree Expert Co. was trimming branches along Concord Road Thursday, between Thompson Street and Pine Road. Read the full story

Firefighters investigated several reports of hazardous conditions over the past week, including an odor of propane inside of a home under construction. That turned out to be a heater that had been left running. In a later incident, firefighters disconnected the power to an HVAC unit outside Summit Coffee on Main Street after employees noticed an odor from an air vent. And seven students were rescued after being trapped in a Davidson College elevator on Jan. 14. Fire alarm activations and medical calls rounded out the majority of the remaining calls. Details on these incidents and more may be found below. Read the full story

Firefighters investigated a number of reported outside hazards over the past week, including a water main break on Harbor Place Drive and an outside fire in Cornelius. No major hazards were noted at either location, but a Charlotte-Mecklenburg Utilities crew was called to assist with the ruptured water pipe. Smoke detector activations caused by maintenance personnel and construction dust rounded out the majority of the remaining calls. Details on these stories and a tally of the week's medical calls may be found below. Read the full story