Operation Respect's Mark Weiss leads a bullying prevention workshop. (Foundation for Respect Ability photo)

The Cornelius-based Foundation for Respect Ability is offering a free anti-bullying workshop for parents, school administrators, staff members and community leaders Feb. 21 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Aquesta Bank in Cornelius. Read the full story

CORNELIUS – Bailey Middle School was briefly put on lockdown late Friday morning while police from Cornelius and Huntersville searched for a man who lived in the area who reportedly was threatening to harm himself.

The lockdown was brief, and the man eventually was located unharmed in Huntersville, near N.C. 73 and Mayes Road. He was hospitalized, according to Huntersville police.

Parents of Bailey Middle students were alerted about the lockdown Friday afternoon in a automated telephone call from the school.

This week, firefighters assisted homeowners with fire alarm activations caused by burned food on a stove and a malfunctioning carbon monoxide detector. Units also were called to and then canceled from several minor collisions on I-77. Details on these stories and a tally of the week’s medical calls may be found below. Read the full story

Retired Cornelius Commissioner Jim Bensman says Norfolk Southern executives told him two years ago there were concerned about the Red Line rail project’s design and whether freight and passenger traffic could co-exist along the line. Now, in two letters released recently, those concerns are now public. In a commentary on CorneliusNews.net, Mr. Bensman writes: “All the municipalities should cease their evaluations of this project until the Norfolk Southern situation is resolved.”

Pine Lake Preparatory will have its own football team starting next school year, the school’s Booster Club announced this month. Meanwhile, the W.A. Hough High PTSA will benefit from a Barnes & Noble book fair starting Thursday, Davidson Elementary seeks volunteers for special student/parent nights, and J.M. Alexander Middle School IB students take another state Future City title. Also, North Mecklenburg High School will host an IB open house, and North Meck principal Matthew Hayes received special recognition from the Lake Norman Chamber of Commerce last week. And, CMS has begun planning its 2013-14 calendar, Cannon School students won writing awards, St. Mark Catholic School will observe Catholic Schools week, and both Cannon and the Levine Jewish Community Center offer college admissions advice. Read below for details. Read the full story

One boutique on Main Street in Davidson has shut its doors, while another is on the way. La-De-Daa’s on South Main Street closed last Saturday, Jan. 14. Pretty, A Beauty Boutique, is renovating a space next to the Soda Shop. Also, other business comings and goings around the area, including news about the Paddy’s Pour House in Cornelius, new coffee at Ben & Jerry’s and more. Read the full story

Davidson firefighters assisted emergency personnel in Cornelius with a number of calls this week, including a kitchen fire on Torrence Chapel Road that produced heavy smoke that could be seen outside of the residence. Davidson units also came across an accident on I-77 at Exit 30  involving five vehicles while responding to assist Cornelius firefighters with an accident at Exit 28. No one was injured in the Exit 30 accident, and firefighters quickly cleared the scene after helping a state highway patrol officer manage the vehicles along the roadway. Details on these incidents and more (along with a tally of the week’s medical calls) may be found below. Read the full story

Students at three area Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools on Jan. 23 will make up a day lost due to a power outage. W.A. Hough High, J.V. Washam Elementary and Cornelius Elementary schools closed Nov. 14 after an explosion at the Mt. Zion substation in Cornelius that left the schools and area homes without power for 19 hours.

Transportation, sack lunches and after-school care will be provided for the students on Jan. 23, which will be half-day. Morning buses will run at their regular times.

The state requires that schools are in session 180 days each year, so make-up days are required following unplanned school closings.