It has been four months since the N.C. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in a case challenging the powers of Davidson College’s campus police, and college officials are awaiting a ruling that could have a big effect on campus security.

It’s not clear when the court might issue a ruling, but a spokeswoman for the state Supreme Court said opinions are handed down on designated “opinion days.” The next one is Aug. 26. If it doesn’t come then, it could be October before there’s any news. Read the full story

The Lake Norman Chamber’s July Focus Friday public policy breakfast is this Friday morning, July 22, in Cornelius. This month’s program will take a look at the proposal for a victim advocate for northern Mecklenburg County, who would help area police departments and victims in rape, domestic violence and abuse cases. Read the full story

Davidson police officers (from left) Joseph McClellan, JJ Stokes and Cindy Mills received Advance Law Enforcement Certificates. (David Boraks/DavidsonNews.net)

Dawn Blobaum, Davidson’s assistant town manager since 2001, has received the Assistant Town Manager of the Year Award from the North Carolina City and County Management Association. She was recognized at Tuesday’s Town Board meeting. Also at the meeting, three Davidson police officers received Advanced Law Enforcement Certificates. And the board approved a budget for the proposed “Book Garden” public art project on Main Street near the public library. Read the full story

Police are investigating the theft of an electric paddle boat last Friday from a 64-year-old man’s home on Lake Davidson. A deer sprinted out of the woods and struck a car on Davidson-Concord Road late last Wednesday night. And a Cornelius man who was injured in a moped accident off East Rocky River Road July 1 was cited for driving with no tag and no insurance.

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

Last Friday night’s house fire in River Run was the main challenge for local firefighters over the past week. Firefighters also investigated two other possible structure fires: One in  Davidson Point on Lake Davidson north of town, where a homeowner saw smoke blowing out of air-conditioning vents. The other involved a kitchen stove fire in Cornelius that was out before firefighters arrived.

On Delburg Street last Wednesday, a resident flagged down a passing fire department vehicle to report a power line was sparking after coming in contact with a tree limb. On East Rocky River Road Saturday, firefighters helped Davidson Police clear away a tree that had fallen. Details on these incidents, along with a tally of the week’s medical calls, may be found below. Read the full story

Updated July 12, 2011, at 5:13 p.m.

By DAVID BORAKS
DavidsonNews.net

MOORESVILLE – Lake Norman Marine Commission members agreed Monday to explore requiring certification or licenses for people who rent boats on the lake. The proposal, which still faces hurdles, came as the board discussed a June 25 accident in Mooresville in which a rental boat driver backed over and seriously injured a 25-year-old Charlotte woman.

Listen to an audio replay of
the discussion at Monday’s Lake Norman
Marine Commission meeting below.

Read the full story

Firefighters used ladders to get at smoldering flames on the roof at 13612 Robert Walker Drive. (David Boraks/DavidsonNews.net)

Updated 9:01 p.m.
A smoldering fire early Friday evening damaged  a home in the River Run neighborhood whose owners were out of town. Firefighters were able to put out the fire before it destroyed the house. Fire officials and neighbors initially said it appeared lightning started the fire, but Davidson’s fire chief said later Friday night that no evidence of a lightning strike was found, and the cause is still under investigation.

A neighbor spotted thick black smoke coming from the roof at 13612 Robert Walker Drive at around 6:15 p.m. Fire companies from Davidson, Cornelius-Lemley, Odell and Mount Mourne responded, and when firefighters arrived, they saw flames inside the house. Some entered to battle the interior flames, while others climbed onto the roof in the rain to search for flames.

At one point, several firefighters used a saw to cut through an area of the roof next to a chimney, where smoke could be seen seeping out. Read the full story

Davidson police said an appeal to police departments across the region turned up no new information about the alleged abduction of a woman on South Main Street on June 28. They’re also appealing to the victim to come forward if she is OK. Meanwhile, a Davidson police officer was injured Friday as he helped free a deer trapped in a Pine Road fence. Read the full story