Jeff Porter will lead the newly merged Our Towns Habitat for Humanity as CEO. (David Boraks/CorneliusNews.net)

By DAVID BORAKS
CorneliusNews.net/DavidsonNews.net

The Lake Norman and Iredell County chapters of Habitat for Humanity have agreed to merge in a move their leaders say will cut expenses, improve leadership and strengthen the organization. Our Towns Habitat for Humanity, based in Cornelius, will acquire Habitat for Humanity of Iredell County and its Statesville ReStore. Jeff Porter, previously executive director of the Iredell chapter and a former Baptist minister, will lead the combined organization, which will be based in Cornelius.

The boards of the two groups unanimously approved the merger Wednesday. The two boards now will combine to oversee the newly merged Our Towns Habitat for Humanity, the organization announced. Read the full story

Michelle Wallace (Jonathan Cox/DavidsonNews.net)

By JONATHAN COX
CorneliusNews.net/DavidsonNews.net

When victims of domestic abuse come to Safe Alliance’s Lake Norman office in Cornelius for help, Michelle Wallace directs them to resources to help them escape from abusive relationships and recover their independence.

“I see my job as empowering women to move forward with their lives,” she said. Read the full story

Steve Szucs brought his lightweight vehicle, which is powered by pedals and a solar powered battery, to Main Street Wednesday. (Jonathan Cox/DavidsonNews.net)

Entrepreneur Stephen Szucs chose an eccentric vehicle for a trek from Canada to Key West – a solar-powered trike called an ELF (for electric, light and fun). The trike weighs just over 150 lbs. and runs on a combination of pedaling and an electric motor charged by a 100 watt solar panel on the roof.

Her name is Rita, and so far she’s taken Szucs roughly 3,040 miles from Toronto. That trek included stops on Wednesday in Davidson and at Davidson College.

Read the full story

A mock-up of the Berlin Wall was erected in front of the Davidson College library earlier this week (Lincoln Davidson/DavidsonNews.net)

A series of events at Davidson College next week focusing on the legacy of the Berlin Wall celebrate the 25th anniversary of the wall’s fall on November 9, 1989. All through the week, a mock wall will block the entrance to the Davidson College library. Read the full story

A St. Alban’s Lane resident called police after a domestic dispute over the alleged theft of a cell phone on Thursday. Officers also investigated a Davidson Gateway Drive resident’s claims that he was verbally intimidated and threatened. Davidson College police also investigated a report of a weapon on campus last week.  Read on for details, as well as this week’s traffic enforcement. Read the full story

By JONATHAN COX
CorneliusNews.net

CHARLOTTE – A federal grand jury has indicted two men who operated a Cornelius payroll service on charges they stole more than $11 million from 113 clients over the past six years. Prosecutors allege the men used the money to pay for strip clubs, alcohol, and jewelry, while concealing the theft with fake entries in their accounting system. Read the full story

Democrat Leonard Richardson and Republican Jim Puckett couldn’t have more different philosophies about government. Today on our Election 2014 page, we profile the two candidates for the Mecklenburg County Commission District 1 seat, which is open because of the retirement of four-term commissioner Karen Bentley.

• Richardson grew up poor in a foster home, and credits government services and public education with lifting him from poverty to a college degree and a career in teaching. He hopes the growing number of Democrats in the district will help him. READ MORE»
• Puckett, who wants to win back the seat he held from 2000 to 2006, has been an advocate for lower taxes and smaller government. He says “a healthy distrust of government is in my DNA.” READ MORE»

OTHER RACES

Meanwhile, see profiles of all the local candidates in the Nov. 4 election our our Election 2014 page. 

• Meet the county commission at-large candidates – profiles of 2 Republicans and 3 Democrats
• Meet 98th House District candidate Natasha Marcus
• Meet 98th House District candidate John Bradford
• Candidate forum Thursday at Huntersville Town Hall – see you there!
• Meet state Senate candidate Latrice McRae
• Meet state Senate candidate Jeff Tarte

EARLY VOTING ENDS SATURDAY

Early voting continues through this Saturday, Nov. 1, 2014, at 21 polling stations around Mecklenburg County. They include North County Regional Library in Huntersville and Cornelius Town Hall.

Other sites are in or near downtown Charlotte, including the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library’s main branch (310 N. Tryon St.) and Central Piedmont Community College (1325 E. 7th St.). Voting elsewhere will be at libraries and recreation centers.

CPCC’s Facilities Service building will be open for voting 8am to 7pm weekdays, 10am to 1pm Saturday.

Cornelius Town Hall, Huntersville library and all other sites will be open weekdays 10am to 7pm, and Saturday, Nov. 1, from 10 am to 1pm. Cornelius Town Hall is at 21445 Catawba Ave., Cornelius. North County Regional Library is at 16500 Holly Crest Lane, Huntersville.

Download a map and list of early voting sites, with hours, at MECKBOE.org.

Green Drinks Lake Norman will host an address by Jeff Mittelstadt, Director of Sustainability at Davidson College and founder of the non-profit, WildSides, from 5:30-7pm Thursday, Oct. 30 at Summit Coffee on Davidson College’s campus.

Mittelstadt will discuss The Next Play, a sports and sustainability-focused venture challenge hosted by Davidson College. Next Play will host an entrepreneurial competition to encourage entrepreneurs to pitch ideas for sports-related businesses.  Read the full story