Davidson’s Town Board voted 5-0 on Tuesday to approve the $9.1 million 2013-14 town budget, which leaves the property tax rate and other fees unchanged and includes money for capital improvements, new equipment and equipment maintenance. And they discussed several development issues: The proposed Davidson Green School, expansion plans at Davidson Day School and a Florida developer’s plans for a big residential development off NC 73. 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

Carolinas HealthCare System will formally break ground Friday for its planned $36 million behavioral health hospital off N.C. 73 in east Davidson. Site work began in February on hospital, which is expected to create 155 jobs, including physicians and other staff.

Friday’s ceremony is scheduled at 12:30pm at the site, 16740 Davidson-Concord Road (N.C. 73).

Speakers will include: 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. Town officials also will attend.

Parking will be provided in Bradford Park, across NC 73, with shuttle buses bringing guests to the site.

Carolinas HealthCare has said it wants to speed construction on the hospital. Officials said this week they hope to complete the project in 2014.

See previous coverage of the hospital and Carolinas HealthCare on DavidsonNews.net.

And check back Friday for an interview with Dr. Roger Ray about the hospital project.

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

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

Police over the past few weeks investigated a variety of thefts, including construction materials and Chevrolet Camaro, valued at $22,000, which was quickly recovered. Eight people were cited for underage drinking last week on Southwest Drive, and one person was arrested on charges of burglary, assaulting a female, and providing fictitious information to a police officer. Details on these stories and a tally of the week's arrests, citations, and traffic enforcement may be found below. Read the full story

A Davidson fire engine rushes by on Jackson Street on night recently, with siren and lights all running. (Alex Wasowicz photo)

It has been a busy couple of weeks for the Davidson Fire Department, including calls for gas leaks, outside fires, cooking fires, and hazardous chemicals. Last Saturday, Davidson firefighters called for help from a Charlotte Fire Department hazardous materials team after detecting hazardous gases in a June Washam home, where carpet-cleaning chemicals had been used. Other calls included cooking fires and malfunctioning alarm systems at Davidson College. A tally of the past two weeks’ 28 medical calls may be found below, as well. Meanwhile, in case you were wondering, that siren and loudspeaker announcement Thursday morning on the Davidson College campus was a test.

The department also co-hosted the 30th Annual North Mecklenburg Christmas Parade, which had 2,831 participants on Dec. 1. (See a photo gallery, Dec. 1, 2012, “Christmas Parade: 2,831 marchers, thousands of watchers”

And keep an eye out on the main streets of Davidson Sunday night, between 6 and 8:  Word is that Santa will be making his annual pre-holiday inspection on a fire truck.

Read the full story