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

Police are investigating several home break-ins this week, including one at Davidson Landing where an unknown suspect stole a $200 gas-powered leaf blower from an outside utility closet. Two vehicles were also reported stolen, but both were recovered soon after. And a Davidson woman told police that someone defrauded her of more than $11,500 in a series of wire transfers in 2010. 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

State Department of Transportation officials and regional planners will hold public information workshops in Cornelius Wednesday and in Charlotte Thursday on a proposal to convert High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes on I-77 north of Charlotte into High Occupancy/Toll (HOT) lanes. The workshop will look at four scenarios for the change, which would raise money to help pay for widening of the heavily congested stretch of interstate.

The first workshop runs Wednesday, May 9, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Cornelius Town Hall, 21445 Catawba Ave., Cornelius. The second will be Thursday, May 10, 4-7 p.m., at the N.C. DOT’s Traffic Management Center, 2327 Tipton Drive, off Statesville Avenue, Charlotte. Read the full story

Fourteen-year-old high school freshman Malia Ellington of Cornelius went out with a pack of runners and then pulled away to win the Town Day Spartan 5K road race on the Davidson greenway and streets Saturday. The event kicked off a day of fun and music on Town Day 2012 in downtown Davidson.

Find more about the race, including full results, in SPORTS»

Downtown Davidson parking locations. Click to download PDF.

Town Day, a 5K road race, the Davidson Farmer’s Market, a college lacrosse tournament and other events are expected to bring crowds to downtown Davidson Saturday morning. Plan ahead to find a parking spot (see your options below). Better yet, walk or bike into town for the morning if you can.

The day’s events begin early, with the Davidson Farmer’s Market next to Town Hall. Farmers and volunteers will be on site by 6:30 setting up, and the market runs from 8 a.m. to noon.

Read the full story