A water line replacement project has begun near the South Main Street/Walnut Street intersection. This section of Walnut heading east from South Main will be affected through Saturday. (David Boraks/DavidsonNews.net)

A water line replacement project could affect traffic this week at South Main and Walnut streets in Davidson. The work began Tuesday and is expected to continue through at least Saturday, according to Charlotte Mecklenburg Utilities and Davidson Public works officials. Read the full story

The Red Line Task Force of the Metropolitan Transit Commission holds its monthly meeting Wednesday, April 25, from 3:30 to 5 p.m., at Charlotte Mecklenburg Government Center, 600 E. 4th St., Room 266, Charlotte.

Wednesday’s agenda includes a wrap-up of the business plan review, an update on proposed new station criteria, and information about an upcoming meeting with Norfolk Southern Corp. Read the full story

The map shows exactly which properties would be in Special Assessment Districts. Click to view.

Updated 11:43 a.m.
By DAVID BORAKS
DavidsonNews.net

One of the big unanswered questions about the Red Line Regional Rail Project has been which commercial properties would be included in “special assessment districts” that would be asked to help pay for the line. This week, project consultants finally unveiled a parcel-by-parcel map that clears up the picture, at RedLineRegionalRail.org/map/.

It’s a detailed map that uses a “yes-no-maybe” color scheme to show property owners if they will be asked to vote whether to voluntarily create the special districts. Those owners would pay an annual assessment of 75 cents per $100 of property value to help build the line, on the theory that they would benefit from the line’s presence. Read the full story

Starting March 7, you'll have to use Holly Point Drive to make a left turn off NC 73/Sam Furr Road onto U.S. 21. Click to watch a video.

By DAVID BORAKS
DavidsonNews.net

HUNTERSVILLE – The $17 million road widening project on Sam Furr Road (N.C. 73) east of I-77 in Huntersville is nearing completion, and it’s bringing a major change in the traffic pattern at Sam Furr and Statesville Road/U.S. 21. Beginning Wednesday, March 7, cars heading east or west on Sam Furr Road will no longer be allowed to make left turns onto U.S. 21. Read the full story

You mean you call that snow??

Today is Mardi Gras, which is French for Fat Tuesday, when Catholics and Protestants worldwide celebrate a last day of feasting before the customary fasting of Lent, which begins tomorrow on Ash Wednesday. This day also is referred to as Shrove Tuesday.  There will be wonderful parties from Rio’s Brazilian Carnival to New Orleans’ Mardi Gras parades.  Even our own Davidson United Methodist Church will have a Shrove Tuesday service presented by the Family Ministries Team to include gospel songs, spirituals and choruses in the Sanctuary at 6:30 p.m.

In keeping with Lent, Around Davidson has a note about Shrove Tuesday doughnuts from Minerva Bullock, complete with recipe.  We also have news of this Friday’s Jazz and Artist benefit to be held at Homewood Suites and a thought about bike lanes, turn lanes and safety.  And since the groundhog saw his shadow on Feb. 2, it is only fitting that winter dealt us a tiny taste of “the white stuff” two days ago. But you had to savor the moment because in a blink, the snow/ice mixture was gone! Read the full story

Piedmont Natural Gas provided this partial map of the proposed pipeline route to Davidson Lands Conservancy. Click image to download a PDF.

Updated 1:02 p.m.
By DAVID BORAKS
DavidsonNews.net

Davidson College is protesting plans by Piedmont Natural Gas for a potentially damaging pipeline across land it owns in the northern part of town. In a letter to state regulators on Feb. 13, college officials said they have “significant concerns” about the project. The college also accuses the company of withholding information about the pipeline, which would begin construction in March.

The eight-mile pipeline would be part of a longer regional pipeline Piedmont is constructing to feed Progress Energy’s Sutton power station, in New Hanover County, near Wilmington. The gas company is seeking permits from the state Department of Environmental Quality and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as well as construction approval from the North Carolina Utilities Commission. Read the full story

Updated 1:21 p.m.
MI-Connection Communications System internet customers have faced slowdowns over the past couple of days because of a damaged cable belonging to one of MI-Connection’s network providers. MI-Connection said it has “re-routed” traffic to alternate circuits, which is affecting streaming media, including YouTube, Netflix and other applications. Read the full story

EnergyUnited offers an all-expenses-paid trip to the nation’s capital this summer for two rising high school seniors. The students will visit Congress, learn about the U.S. political system and develop leadership skills during the annual Rural Electric Youth Tour June 16-22.

The Electric Cooperative Youth Tour has been a joint effort of local electric cooperatives, such as EnergyUnited and the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA), based in Arlington, Va., for 47 years. Read the full story