Davidson police issued an alert around 6 p.m. Friday warning about a possible scam in which a caller mentions a water quality survey. The town said neither Davidson public works nor Charlotte Mecklenburg Utilities is conducting any such survey. Read on for the text of the alert … Read the full story

Intersection of E. Rocky River (left) and Davidson-Concord roads. (David Boraks photo)

Construction of a roundabout at Davidson-Concord and East Rocky River roads could begin by mid-year, thanks to federal road improvement stimulus funds, state transportation officials said Friday.

Town officials say the project fits the description “shovel ready,” which is being used to describe the most likely targets for federal stimulus spending. The town and N.C. Department of Transportation have been planning the $600,000 project since last year. The new intersection has been designed and land has been acquired to make room for the improvements. Read the full story

Police Corporal Scott Searcy (left) wipes his eyes as department chaplain Kris Kawoluk reads a statement he wrote on the death of his longtime K-9 partner, Swaney. (David Boraks photo)

The Town Board took time out from its monthly meeting Tuesday for a tearful ceremony that remembered police officer Mark Swaney, who died in the line of of duty in 1997, and also paid tribute to the department canine named for him, who passed away last month.

K-9 Swaney died of cancer. He had retired two years ago after serving for nine years as the partner of Corporal Scott Searcy. He was a favorite among children and made frequent public appearances.

Listen to the remarks by Police Chief Jeanne Miller, and department Chaplain Kris Kawoluk reading remarks by Corporal Scott Searcy and a poem from Officer Swaney’s family. Mayor John Woods introduces and closes the ceremony.
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The Town Board approved $189,198 in budget cuts Tuesday night to bring this year’s spending in line with lower revenues from taxes and fees amid the weak economy.

Most cuts were in training, supplies and equipment, and maintenance and repairs. But one line item, $19,000 cut from special events, will mean no July 4 fireworks in town this year, the assistant town manager said Tuesday night . Read the full story

Davidson firefighters put out the blaze in the truck bed. (David Boraks photo)

A landscaping truck caught fire on Concord Road at the entrance to Davidson College’s Baker Sports Complex around 3 p.m. Monday, halting traffic for a short time. Read the full story

A northbound tractor-trailer on I-77 just north of Exit 28 in Cornelius jack-knifed and hit a guardrail in the center median shortly after 4 p.m. Wednesday, backing up traffic on the highway and sending motorists onto back roads. Read the full story

An SUV driver skirts a downed tree and power lines blocking Davidson-Concord Road Monday afternoon. (David Boraks photo)

Davidson-Concord Road remained closed east of Robert Walker Drive near the River Run neighborhood at mid-afternoon as a downed tree and power lines blocked the road.

Public works supervisor Ron McMillan told DavidsonNews.net Duke Energy has told the town it plans to come work on the tangle of tree limbs and power lines by 11 p.m.

Meanwhile, Lorimer Road remained closed between College Drive and Woodland Street because of trees down across the road as well. A tree service was expected there this afternoon to begin cutting through branches and vines on several trees knocked down there. Read the full story

Davidson United Methodist Church pastor Jody Seymour (left) and wife Betsy helped clear away tree limbs that fell across South Main Street Monday morning. (David Boraks photo)

Residents woke up this morning to a blanket of snow that was worthy of photographs, but also brought problems.

Power was out in the McConnell neighborhood, along Concord and Pine roads, in the River Run neighborhood, and in scattered parts of town. Many outages were the result of limbs that collapsed under the weight of wet snow.

At around 9 a.m., a large tree limb fell across South Main Street near the Davidson United Methodist Church. Read the full story