Charlotte, North Carolina News
Articles 91 - 100 of most recent articles
Bar Brawl Sends One Person To HospitalUPDATE: Witnesses say one person had a beer bottle smashed on his head during a bar fight. That person ended up going to the hospital.
WSOCTV.com – May 15, 2008 10:40 AM [GMT] ¦ comment?
BREAKING NEWS: Man Stabbed In GastoniaBREAKING NEWS: Eyewitness News has learned a man is being rushed to the hospital, after a stabbing in Gastonia.
WSOCTV.com – May 15, 2008 10:37 AM [GMT] ¦ comment?
Finalists quizzed at police chief forum
The scene: Tuesday night's forum at the Blake Hotel, where the public met the three finalists for Charlotte-Mecklenburg's police chief job.After a reception, the finalists went to separate conference rooms to answer questions from residents, who could move among candidates.At the start, Jerry Sennett, Charlotte-Mecklenburg's deputy chief, found himself speaking to about a dozen people. So did Alan Dreher, Atlanta's assistant police chief.But Richmond, Va., Police Chief Rodney Monroe addressed a room packed with nearly 100 people. For the next 90 minutes, his remarks were punctuated by applause and laughter, compared to low-key exchanges in the other two rooms.At least two residents stood up just to greet Monroe, whom they'd learned about through relatives or friends in Richmond. Another couple had followed his career and wanted only to meet him.It's up to City Manager Curt Walton to decide on the next police chief. But a dozen community leaders and public officials interviewed Wednesday were nearly unanimous in their conclusions: Monroe was the candidate who impressed them most."Monroe stuck out to me as more personable, and a lot of people I talked to afterward thought so, too," said Vinnie Frisina, a community leader on the east side."The gentleman from Richmond impressed me," said N.C. Sen. Malcolm Graham, a former City Council member."He struck me as assertive, confident," said Vickie Fewell, a member of Neighbors for a Safer Charlotte. "He seemed a little more concise in his answers."Walton won't say which way he's leaning. He's said only that he'll pick a successor to retiring Chief Darrel Stephens before June 1, and that public input will be a factor in his decision.To many of the community leaders who attended the forum Tuesday, Monroe -- who would be Charlotte's first black police chief -- set himself apart from Sennett and Dreher in personality.All three had similar things to say: They advocate strong police relationships with neighborhoods and technological innovations to help fight crime."I thought all three of those guys were uniquely qualified to lead our department," Graham said.Their deliveries helped distinguish them:Sennett was matter-of-fact while sitting behind a table, holding a microphone and ticking off his and the department's accomplishments.Hands in pockets, Dreher stressed his accessibility. He spoke softly without a mic in the midst of the crowd.Gripping the podium with both hands, Monroe mixed one-liners with serious answers and punctuated his points with an index finger on the lectern.Several residents described Monroe as engaging and direct. Others said both Sennett and Dreher came across as bureaucratic, even stiff."The other two, I don't want to say dry, but they were more -- I'm trying to think of a good way to put it -- were somewhat more administrative in their approach," Frisina said. "Monroe came across as a little more personable."It showed before the forum, when Monroe met the media at a news conference. He greeted assembled reporters and camera operators with a hearty "Good afternoon!"During the question-and-answer session in the conference room, he pointed to his wife of 26 years, Marvette. If you pick me, you get her too, he joked. "It's a package deal," he said to laughter.Neighbors for a Safer Charlotte, an organization formed recently in reaction to rising crime numbers, was less decisive in its recommendation. It supports Sennett and Monroe, noting in a statement to the Observer on Wednesday that "Sennett understands the constraints of the current system and would work hard to rise above them."But Monroe, the organization said, "would come to Charlotte with new ideas and a track record for reducing crime and dealing with local and state politicians that resonates with us. He is a plainspoken and accomplished leader with a plan for turning things around." -- -- Staff writer cleve r. wootson jr. contributed. -- Greg Lacour: 704-358-5067; Victoria Cherrie: 704-358-5062Why it's importantRetiring Police Chief Darrel Stephens manages more than 2,000 employees.Of those, more than 1,600 are sworn officers.He is responsible for a $174 million budget.His salary is $163,909.The department stands at a critical juncture, with a rapidly growing city, recent reports of spiking crime and public demonstrations by residents frustrated and frightened by the increase.Questions for the finalistsSome questions residents asked the three finalists for the Charlotte-Mecklenburg police chief's job during a public forum Tuesday, and the answers: Q. What would you do as chief to make police officers' jobs easier and to make them more effective? -- ANONYMOUSCharlotte-Mecklenburg Deputy Police Chief Jerry Sennett: "They get just as frustrated at times at the lack of resources as you do. I've offered (police) volunteers to our District Attorney's office just to do some clerical work. Some typing and filing and things like that. The officers, I think, are rewarded when they do a good job and they see a result in the end." Q. We have a broken criminal justice system ... unfortunately, our police department is suffering the brunt of repeat offenders that get let back on the streets. Given that's not going to be fixed overnight, how would you address the immediate problems the police department faces? -- TARIQ BOKHARI, Colonial VillageRichmond, Va., Police Chief Rodney Monroe: "You use whatever level of influence you have to make things better ... In Richmond, we established community prosecution, whereby we went to prosecutors and asked them to assign a prosecutor to neighborhoods to the 12 sectors we have. Assign (prosecutors) so that now you're matching what your enforcement actions are to what your prosecutions should look like. ...You have to be cognizant of the effects of the problems that are within the criminal justice system and keep working to fix them. "Q. What would you do about prostitution? -- DARRYL GASTON, Druid HillsAtlanta Assistant Police Chief Alan Dreher: "We can focus on johns: Arrest them, put their pictures on the Web site, impound their cars. They have to go home and tell the wife ... If demand goes away, supply will go somewhere else."
Charlotte.com – May 15, 2008 10:21 AM [GMT] ¦ comment?
The scene: Tuesday night's forum at the Blake Hotel, where the public met the three finalists for Charlotte-Mecklenburg's police chief job.After a reception, the finalists went to separate conference rooms to answer questions from residents, who could move among candidates.At the start, Jerry Sennett, Charlotte-Mecklenburg's deputy chief, found himself speaking to about a dozen people. So did Alan Dreher, Atlanta's assistant police chief.But Richmond, Va., Police Chief Rodney Monroe addressed a room packed with nearly 100 people. For the next 90 minutes, his remarks were punctuated by applause and laughter, compared to low-key exchanges in the other two rooms.At least two residents stood up just to greet Monroe, whom they'd learned about through relatives or friends in Richmond. Another couple had followed his career and wanted only to meet him.It's up to City Manager Curt Walton to decide on the next police chief. But a dozen community leaders and public officials interviewed Wednesday were nearly unanimous in their conclusions: Monroe was the candidate who impressed them most."Monroe stuck out to me as more personable, and a lot of people I talked to afterward thought so, too," said Vinnie Frisina, a community leader on the east side."The gentleman from Richmond impressed me," said N.C. Sen. Malcolm Graham, a former City Council member."He struck me as assertive, confident," said Vickie Fewell, a member of Neighbors for a Safer Charlotte. "He seemed a little more concise in his answers."Walton won't say which way he's leaning. He's said only that he'll pick a successor to retiring Chief Darrel Stephens before June 1, and that public input will be a factor in his decision.To many of the community leaders who attended the forum Tuesday, Monroe -- who would be Charlotte's first black police chief -- set himself apart from Sennett and Dreher in personality.All three had similar things to say: They advocate strong police relationships with neighborhoods and technological innovations to help fight crime."I thought all three of those guys were uniquely qualified to lead our department," Graham said.Their deliveries helped distinguish them:Sennett was matter-of-fact while sitting behind a table, holding a microphone and ticking off his and the department's accomplishments.Hands in pockets, Dreher stressed his accessibility. He spoke softly without a mic in the midst of the crowd.Gripping the podium with both hands, Monroe mixed one-liners with serious answers and punctuated his points with an index finger on the lectern.Several residents described Monroe as engaging and direct. Others said both Sennett and Dreher came across as bureaucratic, even stiff."The other two, I don't want to say dry, but they were more -- I'm trying to think of a good way to put it -- were somewhat more administrative in their approach," Frisina said. "Monroe came across as a little more personable."It showed before the forum, when Monroe met the media at a news conference. He greeted assembled reporters and camera operators with a hearty "Good afternoon!"During the question-and-answer session in the conference room, he pointed to his wife of 26 years, Marvette. If you pick me, you get her too, he joked. "It's a package deal," he said to laughter.Neighbors for a Safer Charlotte, an organization formed recently in reaction to rising crime numbers, was less decisive in its recommendation. It supports Sennett and Monroe, noting in a statement to the Observer on Wednesday that "Sennett understands the constraints of the current system and would work hard to rise above them."But Monroe, the organization said, "would come to Charlotte with new ideas and a track record for reducing crime and dealing with local and state politicians that resonates with us. He is a plainspoken and accomplished leader with a plan for turning things around." -- -- Staff writer cleve r. wootson jr. contributed. -- Greg Lacour: 704-358-5067; Victoria Cherrie: 704-358-5062Why it's importantRetiring Police Chief Darrel Stephens manages more than 2,000 employees.Of those, more than 1,600 are sworn officers.He is responsible for a $174 million budget.His salary is $163,909.The department stands at a critical juncture, with a rapidly growing city, recent reports of spiking crime and public demonstrations by residents frustrated and frightened by the increase.Questions for the finalistsSome questions residents asked the three finalists for the Charlotte-Mecklenburg police chief's job during a public forum Tuesday, and the answers: Q. What would you do as chief to make police officers' jobs easier and to make them more effective? -- ANONYMOUSCharlotte-Mecklenburg Deputy Police Chief Jerry Sennett: "They get just as frustrated at times at the lack of resources as you do. I've offered (police) volunteers to our District Attorney's office just to do some clerical work. Some typing and filing and things like that. The officers, I think, are rewarded when they do a good job and they see a result in the end." Q. We have a broken criminal justice system ... unfortunately, our police department is suffering the brunt of repeat offenders that get let back on the streets. Given that's not going to be fixed overnight, how would you address the immediate problems the police department faces? -- TARIQ BOKHARI, Colonial VillageRichmond, Va., Police Chief Rodney Monroe: "You use whatever level of influence you have to make things better ... In Richmond, we established community prosecution, whereby we went to prosecutors and asked them to assign a prosecutor to neighborhoods to the 12 sectors we have. Assign (prosecutors) so that now you're matching what your enforcement actions are to what your prosecutions should look like. ...You have to be cognizant of the effects of the problems that are within the criminal justice system and keep working to fix them. "Q. What would you do about prostitution? -- DARRYL GASTON, Druid HillsAtlanta Assistant Police Chief Alan Dreher: "We can focus on johns: Arrest them, put their pictures on the Web site, impound their cars. They have to go home and tell the wife ... If demand goes away, supply will go somewhere else."
Charlotte.com – May 15, 2008 10:21 AM [GMT] ¦ comment?
CMC doctors attend memorial for victims
Emergency physicians from Carolinas Medical Center are traveling to Madison, Wis., today for a memorial service honoring a friend and former colleague who died in the crash of a medical helicopter Saturday.Dr. Darren Bean, 37, was one of three crew members killed when their Med Flight helicopter crashed shortly after dropping off a patient at a LaCrosse hospital.Bean spent three years as an emergency medicine resident at CMC, from 1991 to 2002, as did his wife, Dr. Stacey Bean, who survives.Others who died were nurse Mark Coyne and pilot Steve Lipperer, whose wife, Dr. Desiree LaCharite, also trained at CMC with the Beans.The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash. Officials have said the helicopter apparently flew into a hill or hit some trees."It's a huge loss," said Dr. John Marx, chairman of the emergency medicine department at CMC. "It breaks my heart."Marx said Darren Bean "would rank among the very finest of people I've had the privilege to train. He was the most exuberant. Extremely bright. Extremely conscientious. He had an infectious enthusiasm."Many times in the hospital halls, Marx recalled, "he would literally run up to me and tell me about a case he'd just seen and ask how would I have done it differently and what did I think."One night, Marx said, Bean was caring for a patient with critical aortic stenosis, an unusual condition with features that made it a good "teaching case.""So he called two of the emergency residents to come and see the patient. It didn't matter that it was 2 in the morning."In 2000, Darren Bean was voted Intern of the Year by his fellow interns.In 2001, he was one of three trainees chosen by the faculty to be chief residents in emergency medicine. And in 2002, he was named Teacher of the Year in emergency medicine."He was a great teacher," said Dr. Alan Jones, a CMC faculty physician who was in Bean's residency class. "Every shift he worked, every patient he saw, he was at his best. He paid attention to every detail and considered every option."Those teaching skills extended to fly fishing and skiing, sports Bean learned to love while growing up in Park City, Utah.On a fishing trip north of Charlotte, Jones said, "I remember watching him for several hours. With every cast, (he had) enthusiasm that the next one was going to be the big fish."Bean also helped teach other residents and their spouses how to ski on a trip to Lake Tahoe. "He hung back and spent all day with them," Jones said. "He was always giving of himself."In Madison, Bean worked as an emergency medicine physician and Med Flight physician. He was also medical director for the Madison Fire Department.He and his wife, who met at the University of Vermont and married in 1999, have two young children, Parker and Caitlyn. Stacey Bean is an emergency room physician at St. Mary's Hospital in Madison.Today's memorial service will also honor Lipperer. His wife, LaCharite, graduated from the CMC emergency medicine program in 2001 and is an emergency physician at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. They were married on July 28, 2007, in Madison.
Charlotte.com – May 15, 2008 10:13 AM [GMT] ¦ comment?
Emergency physicians from Carolinas Medical Center are traveling to Madison, Wis., today for a memorial service honoring a friend and former colleague who died in the crash of a medical helicopter Saturday.Dr. Darren Bean, 37, was one of three crew members killed when their Med Flight helicopter crashed shortly after dropping off a patient at a LaCrosse hospital.Bean spent three years as an emergency medicine resident at CMC, from 1991 to 2002, as did his wife, Dr. Stacey Bean, who survives.Others who died were nurse Mark Coyne and pilot Steve Lipperer, whose wife, Dr. Desiree LaCharite, also trained at CMC with the Beans.The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash. Officials have said the helicopter apparently flew into a hill or hit some trees."It's a huge loss," said Dr. John Marx, chairman of the emergency medicine department at CMC. "It breaks my heart."Marx said Darren Bean "would rank among the very finest of people I've had the privilege to train. He was the most exuberant. Extremely bright. Extremely conscientious. He had an infectious enthusiasm."Many times in the hospital halls, Marx recalled, "he would literally run up to me and tell me about a case he'd just seen and ask how would I have done it differently and what did I think."One night, Marx said, Bean was caring for a patient with critical aortic stenosis, an unusual condition with features that made it a good "teaching case.""So he called two of the emergency residents to come and see the patient. It didn't matter that it was 2 in the morning."In 2000, Darren Bean was voted Intern of the Year by his fellow interns.In 2001, he was one of three trainees chosen by the faculty to be chief residents in emergency medicine. And in 2002, he was named Teacher of the Year in emergency medicine."He was a great teacher," said Dr. Alan Jones, a CMC faculty physician who was in Bean's residency class. "Every shift he worked, every patient he saw, he was at his best. He paid attention to every detail and considered every option."Those teaching skills extended to fly fishing and skiing, sports Bean learned to love while growing up in Park City, Utah.On a fishing trip north of Charlotte, Jones said, "I remember watching him for several hours. With every cast, (he had) enthusiasm that the next one was going to be the big fish."Bean also helped teach other residents and their spouses how to ski on a trip to Lake Tahoe. "He hung back and spent all day with them," Jones said. "He was always giving of himself."In Madison, Bean worked as an emergency medicine physician and Med Flight physician. He was also medical director for the Madison Fire Department.He and his wife, who met at the University of Vermont and married in 1999, have two young children, Parker and Caitlyn. Stacey Bean is an emergency room physician at St. Mary's Hospital in Madison.Today's memorial service will also honor Lipperer. His wife, LaCharite, graduated from the CMC emergency medicine program in 2001 and is an emergency physician at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. They were married on July 28, 2007, in Madison.
Charlotte.com – May 15, 2008 10:13 AM [GMT] ¦ comment?
Police release one new detail in slaying
In the two-hour period before her body was found on May 5, Irina Yarmolenko made a stop at a Goodwill store.The detail -- released Wednesday by police -- is an additional piece in the puzzle of Yarmolenko's killing.The 20-year-old UNC Charlotte student was found in the Water's Edge community, near the Stowe Family YMCA in Mount Holly, authorities said. Police said she died from asphyxiation, but wouldn't say whether she was strangled or smothered.Police haven't released a suspect's name or a motive, but Mount Holly Police Chief David Belk said both front doors of Yarmolenko's blue Saturn sedan were open when her body was spotted by a woman riding a personal watercraft.Authorities said Yarmolenko didn't appear to have a reason to drive to Mount Holly that Monday."Someone caused her death. Whether they drove that vehicle down there, I can't tell you that," Belk said. "Whether they pulled her out of the vehicle, I can't tell you that either, simply because I do not know."Anyone with information should call Mount Holly Police at 704-827-4343.
Charlotte.com – May 15, 2008 10:09 AM [GMT] ¦ comment?
In the two-hour period before her body was found on May 5, Irina Yarmolenko made a stop at a Goodwill store.The detail -- released Wednesday by police -- is an additional piece in the puzzle of Yarmolenko's killing.The 20-year-old UNC Charlotte student was found in the Water's Edge community, near the Stowe Family YMCA in Mount Holly, authorities said. Police said she died from asphyxiation, but wouldn't say whether she was strangled or smothered.Police haven't released a suspect's name or a motive, but Mount Holly Police Chief David Belk said both front doors of Yarmolenko's blue Saturn sedan were open when her body was spotted by a woman riding a personal watercraft.Authorities said Yarmolenko didn't appear to have a reason to drive to Mount Holly that Monday."Someone caused her death. Whether they drove that vehicle down there, I can't tell you that," Belk said. "Whether they pulled her out of the vehicle, I can't tell you that either, simply because I do not know."Anyone with information should call Mount Holly Police at 704-827-4343.
Charlotte.com – May 15, 2008 10:09 AM [GMT] ¦ comment?
Mapping meters: Where most tickets are issued 11:15 PM
Read full story for latest details.
WCNC.com – May 15, 2008 03:40 AM [GMT] ¦ comment?
Read full story for latest details.
WCNC.com – May 15, 2008 03:40 AM [GMT] ¦ comment?
Bradley Middle School student found with hit list 10:54 PM
Read full story for latest details.
WCNC.com – May 15, 2008 03:40 AM [GMT] ¦ comment?
Read full story for latest details.
WCNC.com – May 15, 2008 03:40 AM [GMT] ¦ comment?
$11 Million Of Marijuana Discovered, Burned In Chester CountyA raid in Chester County, S.C. brought new meaning to the term "cash crop." Investigators burned $11 million worth of pot Wednesday evening. VIDEO: $11 Million Of Marijuana Discovered, Burned In Chester County
WSOCTV.com – May 15, 2008 03:31 AM [GMT] ¦ comment?
Dropping the green flag to fun outdoors
In the morning there was bare ground, and by afternoon, south Charlotte children had a new place to play. About 500 volunteers spent Wednesday building a playground at the Kennedy Campus of Elon Homes for Children. It was the 31st playground -- and first in Charlotte -- built by Racing to Play, a program sponsored by Home Depot, the NASCAR Foundation, Joe Gibbs Racing and KaBOOM!, a nationwide organization that creates places where children can play near their homes.After descending on the site Wednesday morning, the army of workers sawed, painted, poured concrete, shaped walkways, molded mounds of mulch and hoisted playground equipment into place. Now, kids can climb on a racing-themed jungle gym that stretches at least 20 feet long. They can sail through space -- well, just above the ground -- hanging by their hands from a monorail. They can play tetherball. When all that wears them out, they can relax in the shade.The construction crew included NASCAR drivers Tony Stewart, Greg Biffle and Johnny Sauter; former racer Rusty Wallace; and Craftsman Truck Series drivers Stacy Compton, Brian Scott, Scott Lagasse Jr., Sean Murphy and Colin Braun. Stopping work to sign autographs, Stewart said the new playground offers children more than recreation. "They'll build social skills and relationships that will last a lifetime," Stewart said.Racing to Play has built playgrounds in 22 cities on the NASCAR racing circuit. In October, volunteers will install another in Mooresville.
Charlotte.com – May 15, 2008 03:19 AM [GMT] ¦ comment?
In the morning there was bare ground, and by afternoon, south Charlotte children had a new place to play. About 500 volunteers spent Wednesday building a playground at the Kennedy Campus of Elon Homes for Children. It was the 31st playground -- and first in Charlotte -- built by Racing to Play, a program sponsored by Home Depot, the NASCAR Foundation, Joe Gibbs Racing and KaBOOM!, a nationwide organization that creates places where children can play near their homes.After descending on the site Wednesday morning, the army of workers sawed, painted, poured concrete, shaped walkways, molded mounds of mulch and hoisted playground equipment into place. Now, kids can climb on a racing-themed jungle gym that stretches at least 20 feet long. They can sail through space -- well, just above the ground -- hanging by their hands from a monorail. They can play tetherball. When all that wears them out, they can relax in the shade.The construction crew included NASCAR drivers Tony Stewart, Greg Biffle and Johnny Sauter; former racer Rusty Wallace; and Craftsman Truck Series drivers Stacy Compton, Brian Scott, Scott Lagasse Jr., Sean Murphy and Colin Braun. Stopping work to sign autographs, Stewart said the new playground offers children more than recreation. "They'll build social skills and relationships that will last a lifetime," Stewart said.Racing to Play has built playgrounds in 22 cities on the NASCAR racing circuit. In October, volunteers will install another in Mooresville.
Charlotte.com – May 15, 2008 03:19 AM [GMT] ¦ comment?
Hotel Business Down In CharlotteRead full story for latest details.
WSOCTV.com – May 15, 2008 03:09 AM [GMT] ¦ comment?
