| The Salisbury Post

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Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Staff report

Three people have been charged in a meth lab bust in Woodleaf, and a child found in the home has been removed.

The Rowan County Sheriff's Office and the SBI searched a home at 740 Mount Vernon Road, off Cool Springs Road, on Monday, finding methamphetamine in several areas of the house. Investigators also located components of a meth lab.

Those charged are: - Ashley Westbrook Rash, 35, Mount Vernon Road, Woodleaf; charged with three felony counts: possession with intent to manufacture sell or deliver meth, manufacturing meth, and maintaining a dwelling for the manufacture of meth; misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia and child abuse.

She is being held in the Rowan County Detention Center with bond set at $10,000. - William Frank Reavis III, 21, also of 740 Mount Vernon Road, Woodleaf, charged with felony possession of meth and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia. He is being held with bond set at $5,000. - Matthew Curtis Reavis, 21, 217 Leatherwood Drive, Statesville, charged with possession of meth and possession of drug paraphernalia. He is being held with bond set at $5,000.

During the search, detectives found a 17-month-old child locked in a bedroom. Acting Sheriff Kevin Auten said detectives deemed the situation extremely unsafe for the child. They charged the mother and contacted Rowan County Social Services, which took custody of the child.

The Criminal Investigations Division of the Sheriff's Office carried out the search, finding four grams of meth in various areas inside the house, as well as two grams of marijuana. Detectives found components of a meth lab outside, including numerous cold-medicine packages, empty battery hulls, glassware, fuel containers and starter fluid. Detective Chad Moose said it appeared the lab had been used recently.

Investigators were unable to determine how much meth had been produced since much of the waste — the cold-medicine packages, etc. — had been partially burned in a pile near the house. Despite nationwide efforts to control the sale of cold medicines used in meth production, this is the third meth lab bust in Rowan County this year.

Auten said people set on making meth are finding ways around the laws. In some cases, they get friends to go to stores and buy a couple packages apiece of products containing ephedrine.

To see a larger image of the meth making materials with descriptions provided by the Rowan County Sheriff's Department, click here.

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Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Staff report

Rowan-Salisbury School System students will lose part of their spring break to make up days missed last week after a winter storm walloped Rowan County.

The storm, which hit the last weekend in January, dumped up to 8 inches of snow and ice on parts of Rowan County. School system officials determined it wasn't safe to bring students back until Feb. 4, losing three days of instructional time.

Having already marked Feb. 15 to make up a day lost to flooding earlier in January, the administration has designated April 8 and 9 — the last two days of the planned spring break — as makeup days, along with May 4, which had been a day off for students and an optional workday for teachers.

School system spokeswoman Rita Foil said this morning if schools are closed any additional days due to inclement weather, the system will first consider making up the day on the Saturday falling in the same week, if that's feasible.

If Saturday school isn't possible — if the weather is bad on Saturday or students miss two or more days in the same week, for example — the system would consider using the remaining days of spring break, April 6 and 7; the April 5 day off students get in lieu of Good Friday; and the May 31 Memorial Day holiday.

If the revised calendar remains intact, students will still get a six-day spring break, including April 2, a Friday.

"We just don't have many choices at this point," Foil said. Superintendent Dr. Judy Grissom "really worked hard to provide some sort of spring break."

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Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Staff report

A Salisbury mother has been charged after authorities say she allowed her 2-year-old child to run in traffic on South Main Street.

Trooper A.J. Carpenter of the N.C. Highway Patrol spotted the child in heavy traffic.

Salisbury Police charged 33-year-old Martha Ann Love of 1027 S. Main St on Feb. 4 with contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

According to a report by officer R.K. Rule, Love was so intoxicated at the time.

She had a blood alcohol level of .26 — more than three times the .08 standard for legally intoxicated.

The child was turned over to the Rowan County Department of Social Services.

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Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Staff report

A pair of shoplifters trying to stock up on chewing tobacco, didn't count on some determined Food Lion employees.

Salisbury Police report that the theft occurred around 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Food Lion, 525 W. Jake Alexander Blvd.

Two people took six cases of Redman chewing tobacco, worth $264, according to police.

Employees followed them as they left the store.

One of the employees then got in a car and followed the green older model Pontiac with the two shoplifting suspects and the tobacco along Jake Alexander Boulevard until it got on Interstate 85.

At some point Salisbury Police were notified, and police were waiting at Exit 79.

Woodle Kasey Wynne, 27, and Billy Eugene Kennedy, 31, were charged with misdemeanor larceny.

Police recovered the six cases of tobacco — undisturbed.

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Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Editor's note:Petty Officer Second Class Chris Allman, originally from Rockwell, sent this report after being part of a humanitarian aid mission to Haiti on the USS Normandy. By Chris Allman

Special to the Salisbury Post

The Normandy was tasked, at approximately 3 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 13, with being one of the first responders to the disaster in Haiti. Under two hours later, most of the crew was onboard and being brought up to speed on the unfolding situation in Haiti and how it affected us. ...

Every minute was crucial in preparing the ship for getting underway: loading supplies; removing cables bringing power, phone, cable, Internet, etc.; bringing the ship's engines up from a cold start; and bringing up the ship's radars and various systems needed for navigation. The pier and passageways teemed with busy sailors.

At about 8 in the morning, I left behind my wife, Allison (also from Rockwell), who helped significantly by having my things packed and ready to go by the time I got my short packing break, including a small homemade breakfast.

After getting underway, we stopped very shortly at the naval base in Mayport, Fla., to load two helicopters and associated flight crew, as well as critical supplies for rendering relief. Shortly thereafter, we got underway en route to Haiti, where we currently remain.

When we arrived on station near the area of Port-au-Prince, the helo detachment immediately went to work. Our helicopter detachment has been working constantly throughout the daylight hours with other military and civilian entities to provide food and water, medicines and equipment. Personnel and casualties are being moved to and from hot zones throughout Haiti, as well as to the USNS Comfort, a medical ship on station in the vicinity.

Nighttime operations have been deemed too dangerous in the area due to the continued lack of power in Port-au-Prince and most other areas of Haiti.

Embarked helicopters have moved over 160,000 boxes of Meals-Ready-to-Eat and other nutritional supplies, over 1,000 gallons of bottled water, and completed 107 medivacs. The Normandy has completed several vertical replenishments, whereby supplies are transported to Navy warships from nearby USNS supply ships, in order to continue distributing supplies to areas in need.

The Normandy was also tasked with sending teams to shore to visit and assess the damage in Haiti's smaller coastal villages and render any simple aid we could. Organized teams have been sent in via the ship's RHIBs (Rigid Hull Inflatable Boats) to determine the level of need in these detached villages and respond accordingly.

There was a long list of volunteers onboard the Normandy ready to lend their talents, training and muscle to this cause, and expeditions were sent ashore to towns and villages nearly every day, in addition to the continuing Helo Ops. Due to the large number of volunteers, it was several days into our operation before I was included in one of these shore parties, but on Feb. 2, I did get the opportunity to personally help the people of Haiti, in the small coastal village of Boden.

I was on the third boat to shore on the morning that I got to assist in the effort. We were issued Camelbaks to stay hydrated in the heat, given malaria pills to prevent possible infection and advised to liberally apply sunscreen, as it was quite bright through most of the day, and the malaria medication makes you more sensitive to sunlight.

The RHIB was met near the shore by a few of the locals in small, handmade canoes. The water near shore became very shallow, far too shallow to approach even in our small boats, so those carrying electronics or other sensitive items stepped carefully into the precariously balanced wooden boats to be ferried the rest of the way. Others not so concerned simply dropped from the RHIB into the chest deep water and waded to shore independently.

Once on land, we regrouped and I took in the surroundings. The town was laid out in a simple fashion with several dirt streets lined with simple, mid-sized huts of wood, stone and woven strips. Close to the center, a concrete church open to the air stood to the side of a large clearing. Only a few animals were in simple enclosures; most roamed freely through the town. The locals were dressed in modest casual clothing, some even sporting the odd pair of off-designer sunglasses or a pair of simple earrings.

Boden did not appear to have been strongly affected by the earthquake itself, but the disruption and disarray in the larger cities meant a disruption in the supplies going to outlying areas like Boden. Prior to my arrival, a helicopter landing zone had been staked out and cleared, and supplies from the Normandy had already been flown in. I helped carry the few remaining boxes to a spot behind the church, where they were being turned over to the locals for distribution. It went very well, as they maintained order and waited patiently, if not quietly, in line to receive various foodstuffs donated by help organizations throughout the U.S.

Once the boxes had been delivered to the townsfolk, we loitered for a bit, which was my chance to take some pictures and pass out the candy I brought along for the kids.

The French-Creole word for candy is "siret," and the Haitian children instantly understood, when I opened a pack of Starburst, what I had for them. I was suddenly confronted with a wall of small hands, and I did my best to distribute the six packs of Starburst evenly among them, even holding a few handfuls down low so the younger kids could get a piece.

Hours later, once the supplies were completely distributed, things seemed to go back to normal in the village — except, of course, for the crowd gathered around us, the Americans, in blue camouflage, tall boots and sunglasses, carrying cameras and handfuls of candy.

We started piling back into our boats, some being ferried back out, some making the same soggy trip out that they made in.

I took that opportunity to record some of the children playing in the water just off of the bank and chasing a small crab through the rocks. I even persuaded some to wave and stick out their tongues. When I played it back for them to see, I was surrounded yet again, with the kids laughing and trying to point themselves out on the small screen, waving and making faces.

Finally, I boarded one of the canoes, in the interest of keeping my cameras dry, and made my way back to the boat. Once in, I gave the lighter I had brought to the man who rowed me out. He smiled and thanked me in English. I gave my pen and notebook to a teenage boy who helped push the canoe part way.

Once everyone was situated in the boats, our SAR swimmers pulled the boats away from the shallows, reboarded, and we were on our way. I was sunburnt and exhausted, but I knew we had made a difference for the people in the village of Boden, so it was of no consequence. Just another exceptional day in the life.

At the time that I am sending this, the Normandy has been relieved of our duty by another warship, and we are enroute to debark our helicopter detachment before returning to Norfolk.

Having had the opportunity to see what the forces participating in Operation Unified Response were doing for the beleaguered people of Haiti was an eye-opening experience. Though we were not in Port-au-Prince sifting through the rubble and rescuing people from beneath, I was happy just to see the impact we made in one of the many villages we visited.

- - -

Chris Allman, 25, graduated from East Rowan High School in 2003, where he was in the Army ROTC program. He enlisted in the Navy in 2004 to earn degrees in business management and software design.

He has been stationed on the USS Normandy (CG-60) since April 2007, homeported in Norfolk, Va.

A fire controlman petty officer second class (E-5 to the military savvy), he maintains and operates the radar and computer equipment that controls the 5-inch gun batteries onboard. He has completed two overseas deployments. This is his first humanitarian aid mission.

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Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

By Sarah Hall

shall@salisburypost.com

GOLD HILL — A log truck overturned and dumped its load when it failed to make a curve on St. Stephen's Church Road around 8 a.m. Monday morning.

Robert Honeycutt II, 39, of Salisbury, was driving a 1987 Freightliner tractor-trailer south. He moved over to make room for an approaching truck in the other lane.

Trooper D.H. Deal of the N.C. Highway Patrol said the 15-foot wide road isn't big enough for the two trucks.

When Honeycutt tried to get his truck back on the pavement, the right side of the trailer tires went in the ditch, causing the load to shift. The rig overturned, spilling the logs.

Honeycutt was not injured.

The trailer was owned by Charlie Shepherd of S&S Logging.

Kepley Towing worked to clean up the spilled logs and truck.

St. Stephens Church Road near the Gold Hill Fire Department was closed most of the morning.

Tom Small, owner of the property where the truck overturned, expressed concern about a septic tank a few feet from where the truck came to rest.

"Big trucks ought not to be on this road," said Small. "They can't make the turns. They should take (Old) Beatty Ford Road."

An hour after the wreck, traffic was still blocked. The truck also took down a power pole and Duke Energy was on the scene, assessing the situation.

Deal said speed was not a factor.

"The cause was just a narrow road and a soft shoulder," he said.

Deal said large trucks routinely travel narrow roads throughout the county. "Some don't have a choice," he said. "They need to stay on larger roads if possible."

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Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

The filing period for this year's elections opened with a flurry Monday.

Six candidates — three Democrats and three Republicans — filed for sheriff in what looks to be a hotly contested race for a seat left open when George Wilhelm, the county's former sheriff, retired last year.

Incumbents filed re-election in all three of the county's General Assembly races, and two already face opposition.

And four candidates filed for the Rowan County Board of Commissioners, including one former commissioner.

Filing for local offices takes place at the Rowan County Board of Elections, 130 W. Innes St., through Feb. 26. Filing for statewide, judicial and U.S. offices takes place in Raleigh.

The 2010 primary election will be May 4. The general election will be Nov. 2.

See page 3A for more details on Monday's filings.

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Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

By Emily Ford

eford@salisburypost.com

KANNAPOLIS — Facade grants, an interim history museum and the Kannapolis Intimidators are in.

A Cannon family tribute, municipal service districts and public art are out. For now, anyway.

And mill village preservation is a definite maybe.

Kannapolis City Council heard a follow-up report with detailed recommendations Monday night from City Manager Mike Legg, based on the city's December 2009 long-range planning retreat.

"We've had retreats before, but this is the first time we've rapidly followed up with here's what we heard, here's the feedback, here's the game plan," Legg said after the meeting.

Legg met individually with council members after the retreat to gauge their support for numerous initiatives presented by 10 city staffers over two days.

"Some of these will take years," Legg said. "But you have to start somewhere."

Council members came to a general consensus Monday and will take an official vote on the recommendations at their next meeting.

The winning proposals, earning broad support from council, included a grant program that would match 50 percent of the cost of facade improvements for area businesses, up to $5,000. Legg recommended targeting businesses in the downtown area, including Midway, and North Kannapolis.

The program would appear in the 2011 budget, funded at $50,000.

Another winner was a general emphasis on improving the quality of life in Kannapolis or a "human capital recruitment plan," as staff call it.

This effort to attract and keep young professionals in Kannapolis includes initiatives such as hosting a major music festival in June 2011, offering curbside recycling, toughening up housing and commercial building standards and securing the Kannapolis Intimidators baseball team as a "fixture in the community."

That doesn't necessarily mean buying Fieldcrest Cannon Stadium, Legg said after the meeting.

The city currently shares ownership of the baseball stadium with Rowan County. That arrangement has caused problems for years and the city has discussed buying out the county, but the two entities can't agree on what percentage of the stadium each owns.

"We are less concerned about ownership now, and I think the county is too, and more concerned about how we can maximize the stadium and make sure the team is satisfied and make sure attendance is up," Legg said.

The stadium and minor league baseball team are the city's No. 1 tourist attraction, he said.

Kannapolis does need to "resolve issues that are still lingering" with Rowan County, Legg said, including stadium improvements and naming rights.

The stadium is still named for Fieldcrest Cannon, a defunct textile company that long ago sold the mill to Pillowtex, which eventually went bankrupt.

While the city and county are not in active discussions about the stadium, "we are coming back to the table soon," Legg said.

Council members also gave thumbs up to stricter site design and architectural standards for commercial development.

"There was strong support for upgrading our standards," Legg said. "These projects will last for decades, and we have one chance to do this right."

Council will consider specific changes to the Unified Development Ordinance this summer.

Veterans Park improvements earned high marks, as well as installing an interim history museum inside the train station.

Council members were not fans of creating municipal service districts, which would tax property owners in certain areas to raise revenue for promotion and marketing.

"That one is dead," Legg said.

Perhaps not so dead is a high-tech business incubator, which may have been resuscitated Monday night.

The incubator would nurture start-up biotech companies with high growth potential, companies that can't yet afford rent at the N.C. Research Campus, a $1.5 billion life sciences complex in downtown Kannapolis.

"This is a gap that will need to be filled to help the NCRC reach its full potential," Legg wrote in his retreat synopsis.

The idea is popular among city staffers and campus developers but received little support from council during the retreat.

But Legg pitched it again Monday night, saying he believes the city could find outside funding to construct a building.

Finding partners to operate and maintain the incubator will be more challenging, he said.

"I am a big fan of that one," he said. "I would encourage you to give it serious thought."

Two other initiatives may have found new support Monday night, including public art and mill village preservation.

While council members do not support requiring new development to include public art, they did not reject the idea of including public art in landscape and streetscape projects.

"We're not ready for an aggressive public art program," Legg said. "But I will say we need to pick our places for public art."

The new transit center on Ridge Avenue is one example, he said.

Finding ways to preserve the mill villages remains controversial. At the retreat, council members did not support creating historic districts to protect mill houses from developers.

But Monday, council members Roger Haas and Ken Geathers spoke up for some kind of protection, especially as the Research Campus grows and developers look to nearby property for apartment complexes.

"If we wait too long, it's going to be too late," Geathers said. "People will buy all those tracts of lands and there won't be anything we can do about it.

"We are the city fathers now, and we've got to plan where we are going to go five, 10, 20 years from now."

After the retreat, most council members said "property owners should have right to convert their property if they so choose," Legg said.

But Monday, he warned that developers could destroy the character of these neighborhoods. They need some level of protection, he said.

"I said 'don't proceed,' but I think we should reconsider it," Legg said, changing his official recommendation after hearing newfound support.

Council agreed to form a committee to study the issue, including property owners in the mill villages.

Everyone supports the idea of a tribute to the Cannon family, which founded Kannapolis. But the city should not head up the effort, council agreed.

"This needs to be generated from the public — former mill workers, the community at large," Legg said. "We can play a role but should not take the lead role."

Geathers didn't receive much response when he suggested that the city reconsider, saying a Cannon tribute could be a tourist attraction.

"It's very viable," he said. "We've got to bring people downtown."

Mayor Bob Misenheimer said a local group is already working on a tribute.

"Our role remains to be seen," he said.

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Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

By Steve Huffman

For the Salisbury Post

Bob Lewis said he doesn't wish anyone bad luck, but admitted he can't help but get a tad excited when he hears a weather forecast that calls for snow or ice.

"I'm not asking for anybody to get hurt," said Lewis, collision center manager at Team Chevrolet on Jake Alexander Boulevard. "But I'm here to make a living like everyone else."

Workers at local body shops have been making a pretty good living this winter as Mother Nature has blessed (though some area residents surely question using the word in such a context) Rowan and surrounding counties with accumulations of frozen precipitation not seen in recent years.

The last weekend of January, close to 7 inches of snow fell across Rowan County. As a result, the N.C. Highway Patrol responded to better than 80 accidents, a number about four times the average for a typical two-day stretch.

At Sudden Impact Auto Body on Mooresville Road, owner Danny Shaw agreed the inclement weather isn't all bad, at least not as far as the body-shop business is concerned.

"Over the last 10 years, we've had lots of winters where it didn't hardly get below 50 degrees," he said. "When that happens, our business dries up. That hasn't been true this year."

Shaw said that, as is the case at Team Chevrolet, an increase in ice and snow means an increase in body-repair work at Sudden Impact. He said that before the end-of-January snow was through, several vehicles had already been towed to his shop for repairs.

Shaw shrugged when asked how he felt about profiting from the misfortune of others.

"I don't want to see people hurt or suffer misfortunes," he said. "But we're sort of like the undertaker; if nobody dies, we don't have any business. That's the way it is around here, if nobody bumps up their car, we're out of work."

Shaw said he tries to soothe individuals when they call following an accident.

"The first thing I ask is, 'Was anybody hurt?' " he said. "If they say, 'No,' I say, 'Calm down. Six months from now you won't remember this happening.' "

Even with more accidents resulting from the snow and ice, business at area body shops probably isn't as brisk as it'd be during typical economic times. Back at Team Chevrolet, Lewis said the recession has left many car owners choosing to continue driving rather than bringing the vehicles in for repairs.

"If they go in a ditch, they're having them pulled out and just driving with the damage if they can," Lewis said. "Nowadays, we've even got Cadillac owners who can't afford their deductibles."

Brendan Byrnes, a spokesman for AAA Carolinas, said he didn't have hard figures on the percentage of increase in accidents that result from snow and ice, but said inclement weather definitely brings a spike in collisions.

"We always see a ton of wrecks when it snows," he said. "We advise people to stay off the roads if at all possible."

Byrnes said that if the majority of people didn't follow that advice, there'd surely be considerably more accidents than there are accompanying the snow.

There are, he said, some basic precautions that should be followed when motorists have no choice but to drive in snow or ice. Byrnes said drivers should allow seven times the braking distance they allow during typical driving conditions, and also cut their speed when a decrease in visibility is a factor.

Byrnes also pointed out that authorities recommend drivers steer in the direction of the slide if they lose control in snow.

"It's just a whole host of issues," he said.

Byrnes chuckled as he acknowledged that all that advice quickly disappears when the typical motorist loses control in snow or ice. And attempting to steer in the direction of the slide when a driver is on a solid sheet of ice is usually so much wasted effort, he said.

"It's just a question of where the ice is going to take you," Byrnes said. "You really have very little control."

First Sgt. B.E. Hower of the N.C. Highway Patrol said his officers attempt to adjust their work schedules when there's a threat of ice or snow. He said the Highway Patrol tries to have as many officers on the road as possible when the weather is bad in order to respond to the spike in accidents they know will be coming.

Hower said if drivers would use common sense when it comes to driving in inclement weather, many accidents could be avoided.

"Just because the speed limit is 55, that doesn't mean you have to drive 55," he said. "If road conditions change, you need to change your driving habits."

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Tue, 09 Feb 2010 11:30:00 GMT

The National Weather Service canceled the Winter Storm Advisory posted for Rowan County earlier this morning.

Occasional rain to around 1/4” is likely throughout today and this evening. As temperatures cool to below freezing around 1a.m. Wednesday morning there will be a chance of some minor snowfall overnight but no significant accumulation is expected.

Frank Thomason, Emergency Management Coordinator for Rowan County said “Our biggest concern that we are watching right now is the potential increase in winds throughout the day tomorrow.” Forecasts show that winds for the area will increase gradually overnight and into the day on Wednesday. “...We are focusing on midday to mid-afternoon where wind gusts of up to 40 miles per hour will be possible. "...we could see a period of wind damage to trees and utility lines,” he said.

Thomason reminds citizens if they experience power outages to contact their power company directly and not call 9-1-1 unless an emergency condition exists such as a down power line causing a hazard.

Numbers to contact include Duke Energy at 1-800-POWERON, Landis Power at 704-857-2411 and Union Power Cooperative at 800-794-4423.

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Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

By Jessie Burchette

jburchette@salisburypost.com

Thomas J. "Jack" Eller admits he has no law enforcement experience, but he doesn't see that as a hindrance in his bid for the Democratic nomination for Rowan County Sheriff.

The 48-year-old owner of a trucking company believes leadership is what is needed as sheriff of Rowan County. And he's confident he has the needed leadership ability.

And if he's elected, Eller promises he won't be hanging out in the North Main Street office. "I'll be out all the time, riding around."

Saying he grew up watching westerns on TV, Eller sees himself as a take charge sheriff willing to cover all of Rowan County.

He contends that for the most part, there is no law enforcement in many areas of the county. "Deputies think the county stops at the (Salisbury) city limits."

He cites the uptick in break-ins and larcenies around the county. In his case, someone stole a gun from him. "They came out and filled out a report. I never heard anything else."

And Eller claims that when he had a bulldozer vandalized, he ended up solving the crime and turning over the names to the Sheriff's Office.

Eller's family moved from Lenoir to Rowan County when he was a small child. Except for a brief stay in Georgia, he's spent his life in the county.

Over the years, he worked with P&G Security, the business started by his wife's parents, Glenn and Pat Sides.

Glenn Sides, a Salisbury Police officer, narrowly lost the Democratic primary in 1986 to Bob Martin, who went on to serve 12 years.

Along with leadership ability, Eller touts his knowledge of the county and his people skills.

His goals include:

- Focusing more on thieves, gangs and drug dealers and less on traffic violations;

- Being available as sheriff to citizens around the clock;

- Monthly meetings with citizens;

- Not tolerating "don't see, don't hear, don't do nothing employees."

Ellers said he won't change uniforms or car colors.

Over the years, he said, he's gotten to know about every hollow, hill, nook and cranny of the county as he moved modular homes.

Eller jokingly describes himself as the "self-appointed mayor of Woodleaf, chief of police, head-knocker, marriage counselor, sniper and bounty hunter."

Running for sheriff has been a nearly lifelong goal.

"When I was in the second grade, I made up my mind I wanted to own a truck — my father was a trucker — own 100 acres and be sheriff.

"I own a trucking company, I have a farm at Faith that's more than 100 acres," Eller said. "Sheriff is the only thing left."

Eller was among six candidates to file for Rowan County sheriff Monday. The others were:

- Nathan Todd Sides, a Democrat and Salisbury Police officer who heads up the gang task force.

- Marvin W. "Sonny" Safrit Jr., a Democrat and veteran Salisbury officer.

- Travis Allen, of Mount Ulla, a Republican who is currently a deputy and previously a Salisbury Police officer.

- Johnny Love, of Faith, a Republican and former full-time deputy, also manager of the Rowan County Agricultural Fair.

- Tony Wayne Stirewalt, China Grove, a Republican and relative of former Sheriff John Stirewalt.

Biography Box

Thomas J. "Jack" EllerDemocrat

Age: 48

Address: Woodleaf Road

Family/background: Owner of Eller Transport, a trucking company in Woodleaf; wife Teresa Sides Eller; son, Jonathan, 23; daughter, Tiffany, 17; one grandchild, Chloeigh, 1; parents, Bruce and Gail Eller of west Rowan; attended school in Rowan County and graduated from Belford High School in Colbert, Ga. Community: attends Woodleaf Baptist Church.

Law enforcement: Has worked in private security and as private investigator.

Role as sheriff: "I'm a leader, not follower. With my life experience, I can do a better job."

Political Experience: None

Contact or Web site: www.thomasellerforsheriff.com/default.html

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Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

By Karissa Minn

kminn@salisburypost.com

N.C. Rep. Lorene Coates, D-Rowan, filed for re-election Monday.

Coates is seeking her sixth term in the N.C. House of Representatives. She represents about half of Rowan County in House District 77.

"I feel blessed to be able to represent you in the legislature," Coates said in a prepared statement. "I know that it is a sacred trust, and I hope that I have represented you in a way that has made you proud."

She said the county has seen hard times as the economy has worsened and jobs have gone overseas, but it also has seen new opportunities for small businesses to fuel the local economy.

"We have made progress and gone from having the worst roads in the state to having road construction and new and repaired roads all over the county," Coates said.

She said there is still work to be done, including improving local schools.

"We have to make sure that Rowan County has opportunities for our children and grandchildren to stay here at home and be able to work here and raise their families here," Coates said.

Her permanent committees in the House are Agriculture, Alcoholic Beverage Control, Appropriations, Public Utilities, Transportation and Ways and Means/Broadband Connectivity. Coates chairs the Public Utilities Committee and is the vice chairwoman of the Transportation and Ways and Means/Broadband Connectivity Committees, as well as the Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation.

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Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Staff report

N.C. Rep. Fred Steen, R-Rowan, filed for re-election.

"For the past six years, it has been an honor to represent the people of Rowan County and to serve all of the citizens in North Carolina," Steen said in a letter he sent to supporters over the weekend.

"I look forward to the opportunity to continue to serve in the General Assembly in 2011-12."

A former mayor of Landis, Steen represents the 76th House District, which takes in about half of Rowan County. Democrat Lorene Coates represents the other half in the 77th House District.

Steen, who the General Assembly Web site says is a cost analyst and consultant, is Republican deputy whip in the N.C. House.

"With over 9,300 people now unemployed in Rowan County," Steen said, "we need a legislative body focused on creating jobs in the private sector."

He said job creation, improving North Carolina's economy and reducing the tax burden on working families and small businesses would be his top priorities.

"Since joining the NC House in 2004, I have worked with other legislative members for the good of Rowan County and our state," Steen said, adding he would work "to get other legislative members who are committed to the same priorities for our state."

Filing for 10 offices began at noon Monday and will end at noon Friday, Feb. 26. Other candidates filing Monday include:

- For Rowan County commissioner, Jim Sides, Jim Greene, Gene Miller and incumbent Tina Hall, all Republicans.

- For register of deeds, incumbent John Brindle, a Democrat.

- For N.C. Senate District 34, Republican incumbent Andrew C. Brock and Libertarian John H. Ferguson.

- For U.S. Senate, Democrat Marcus W. Williams and Libertarian Michael Beitler.

Filing for local offices takes place at the Rowan County Board of Elections, 130 W. Innes St.

The 2010 primary election will be May 4. The general election will be Nov. 2.

•

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

By Karissa Minn

kminn@salisburypost.comHarry Warren, a human resource specialist for Tar Heel Capital Corp., filed Monday as a Republican candidate for N.C. House District 77.

Warren has lived in Salisbury for 11 years with his wife of 19 years, Catherine. They now reside at 201 Kingsbridge Road.

Though this is the first time Warren has filed for political office, he said his work uniquely qualifies him for the job. Tar Heel Capital Corp. is one of the largest Wendy's franchises in the brand.

"As a recruiter, I am seeing firsthand what the economy is doing to people's lives," he said. "I have people with M.B.A. (degrees) applying for a job to run a Wendy's fast food restaurant."

Warren describes himself as a man off the street who felt compelled to get involved with the state legislature.

"I have just been very concerned about the direction that the state is taking, in terms of resolving the issues that confront it," he said. "I feel there's a better way."

Warren said he wants to address the annexation and eminent domain concerns that have been front and center recently in Rowan County.

He also seeks to initiate taxation reform in order to make North Carolina more competitive with other states in the region.

"I think that if we address the taxation code, we can help improve things in the private sector, and this will grow jobs," he said. "I think that is one of the key factors that's going to help us turn this economy around."

Warren, 59, began studies at Kent State University in Ohio in January 1970, centering on pre-law and majoring in political science. He graduated in January 1972 with a bachelor of arts degree in business administration.

For the Rowan County Republican Party, Warren is a precinct chair, the 12th district delegate to the N.C. County Chairman's Association and a delegate to the N.C. GOP Executive Committee. He also serves on the Youth and Minority Outreach Committee.

Warren is an active member of First United Methodist Church, and he volunteers at Rowan Helping Ministries and Meals on Wheels.

He and Catherine have two daughters, Alexandra and Morgan. Warren also has four children from a previous marriage: Jason, Joseph, Emily and Joshua.

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Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

When my father died four years ago, some papers and keepsakes passed to me that have no significance, except to our family.

Dad happened to keep a couple of autograph albums that had belonged to my mother while she was in high school. I came across the small books while tidying up a closet this past weekend.

The entries covered years from 1945-49. Mom (her name was Nancy) graduated in 1949 and married my dad that October.

The messages and signatures in the autograph books are a peek into another time. The penmanship understandably was better, out of necessity, and there were a lot of nicknames — "Dimples" and "Put-Put" among them.

One of Mom's autograph books had a red-and-white vinyl cover that could be zipped up for safer keeping.

In it, Austin Stiles, Class of "48," tried to throw a curve:

Dear Nancy,

I am the guy from the city,

I am the guy from the town.

I'm also the guy that spoiled your book,

By writing upside down.I'm generalizing here, but kids seemed to cherish their friendships then. They razzed each other a lot, but they also could be philosophical, serious and hopeful, wishing each other great luck and success in the future.

Often, a friend would say something such as, "Life is a picture; paint it well," or "In the golden chain of friendship, consider me a link."

Charles Daughtery dashed off sort of a sad note to my mom:

Best of luck to Nancy, who when I left was a very little girl, but when I came back from the service was all grown up, and I never even had a chance.Many of the pages are filled with corny rhymes. Dimples wrote this on Jan. 29, 1949:

Dear Nancy,

Once upon a time,

A goose drank wine.

A monkey chewed tobacco on the streetcar line.

The monkey choked,

The street car broke,

And all went to heaven on a nanny goat.A couple of album entries are drawings. Other people penned messages similar to the telegraphic codes used today in texting.

One friend wrote:

2 y's U R

2 y's U B

I C U R

2 y's 4 me.I'd like to report that my mom and her friends lived in a much more innocent time. On several cultural fronts, they did, but she and the girlfriends who autographed her albums had a preoccupation with finding a man — their "Prince Charming" — and getting married.

Dear Nancy,

Apples on the cupboard,

peaches on the shelf.

Nancy's getting tired

of sleeping by herself.

Love, Freda"Put-Put" had this warning for my mom:

Don't make love by the garden gate, for love is blind, but the neighbors aren't.

My dad, who was older, didn't come into the picture until my mom was almost through high school. Through most of her school days, mom's boyfriend was a guy named "Tunner," pronounced "Tuner."

In fact, several of the messages refer to her as "Tunner's best girl."

I have no idea whether Mom's real dreams came true.

She and Dad had two boys. They were married for 38 years. For most of her adult life, she sold shoes.

In 1987, Mom died at age 55 from cancer. But I've always known why Dad kept those autograph albums and never remarried.

For us, she was:

2 sweet

2 be

4 gotten.

Read Mark Wineka's blog, "Wineka's World," at www.salisburypost.com.

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Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

CONCORD — Candidates filed Monday for numerous offices in Cabarrus County.

Fletcher Hartsell, a Republican attorney from Concord, filed for re-election to 36th N.C. Senatorial District.

Jeff Barnhart, of Concord, filed for re-election the 82nd N.C. House District. He'll face a challenger in the primary as fellow Republican Larry G. Pittman also filed for the seat.

In the 83rd N.C. House District, incumbent Republican Linda Johnson, of Kannapolis, filed to retain her seat.

Five candidates filed for the Cabarrus County Board of Commissioners. They include incumbent Jay White and fellow Republicans Christopher McCartan, Chris Measmer and Fred Eudy, and Democrat John Price. All but Eudy live in Concord. He lives in Mount Pleasant.

Sheriff Brad Riley, a Concord Democrat, filed for re-election. He'll be challenged by Republican David Graham, of Harrisburg.

Republican incumbent Fred Biggers filed for another term as clerk of Superior Court. He'll face a primary challenge from Republican Bill Baggs.

Three candidates filed for the Cabarrus County Board of Education: incumbents Andrea Palo and Wayne Williams and challenger Lynn Shue. All live in Concord.

No candidates filed Monday for the two seats up for election on the Kannapolis Board of Education.

In the 8th N.C. Congressional District, which includes Cabarrus County, incumbent Democrat Larry Kissell filed for re-election.

Kissell, who defeated Republican Concord native Robin Hayes for the seat in 2008, has attracted a number of Republican challengers this year and could face a fellow Democrat in the primary.

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Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

The following activities are being held during Black History Month at Livingstone College, Catawba College and Pfeiffer University.

Livingstone College

- Feb. 9, Sigma Gamma Rho will host its Black Issues Forum beginning at 7:22 p.m. in the Hilliard Room located in the Hood Building.

- Feb. 12, The Zetas and Sigmas Afternoon Forum will be held in the Bear's Den at 11 a.m. The afternoon topic will be "The Census. Why Don't Black Men Want To Be Counted?"

- Feb. 12, a Valentine's Gala featuring a tribute to R&B and Neo-Soul. This event will be held in the Aggrey Cafeteria at 9 p.m.

- Feb. 14, the Entourage Modeling Troupe will host a Valentine's Day and Black History Show in Varick Auditorium. The show will be 8 p.m.-10 p.m.

- Feb. 17, a Quilting Exhibit by Roy Mitchell in the Hilliard Room from noon until 2 p.m.

- Feb. 19, The Walk Through Black History Program will be held at 8 p.m., in Varick Auditorium.

- Feb. 23, the B.A.G. and Sigma Black History Quiz Bowl will be held at 6 p.m. in Wiley Lash-Ballard Hall.

- Feb. 23, The Zeta Phi Beta Sorority will present the "My Black is Beautiful" forum in Wiley Lash-Ballard Hall. The event will begin at 7:20 p.m.

- Feb. 24, there will be a Brothers of the Academy Assembly held in Varick Auditorium at 11 a.m. Immediately following the assembly will be a Family Soul Food Lunch in the Aggrey Cafeteria.

- Feb. 26-March 7, a production of "Seven to Seven" performed by the Livingstone College Theatre Department.

For more information, contact Terri L. Stevenson at 704-216-6272.

Catawba College

- "Colorblind," a play, runs at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 25; 8 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 26; and 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 27 in Hedrick Little Theatre of the Robertson College-Community Center. This original play by Catawba senior Tony Mullins is student-written, produced and directed, and is free and open to the public although donations will be accepted.

Pfeiffer University

- Feb. 16, a lecture featuring Coach Harold Jones and James "Radio" Kennedy at 7 p.m. in the Merner Gymnasium on the Misenheimer campus. Jones and Kennedy inspired a 2003 movie starring Cuba Gooding Jr. and Ed Harris. The two will speak as part of the university's 13th annual Servant Leadership Week held Monday through Friday, Feb. 15-19.

The event is sponsored by Stanly Community College and Pfeiffer's Department of Athletics, the Offices of Academic Affairs and Student Activities, and the Francis Center for Servant Leadership, the event is free and open to the public.

For more information, contact Dr. Ashley Oliphant, faculty fellow for the Francis Center for Servant Leadership Pfeiffer, at 704-463-3123.

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Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

During the month of February, Relay For Life of Rowan County is sponsoring and hosting various fundraising activities. They are as follows:

- Barbecue, Brew & Blues Bash, which benefits Relay For Life of Rowan County, Feb. 13, 7:30 p.m.-11 p.m. at the F&M Trolley Barn, 125 Liberty St., Salisbury.

Sponsored by the Sweet Potato Queens, the event will feature entertainment provided by Triple C and The Blues Brothers with dancing, bingo, drawings and more. The cost for the event is $25 per person. To purchase tickets, contact Ann at 704-279-5783 or annteague@windstream.net.

- 2010 Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper that benefits Relay For Life of Rowan County, Feb. 16, 5 p.m.-7 p.m. at Ursinus Church of Christ, 120 W. Main St., Rockwell. The event is to honor church members diagnosed with cancer. Tickets are $4 in advance, $4.50 at the door and free for children under 6. To purchase advance tickets, call 704-279-2197.

- Dietician on Call is a free program presented by the American Cancer Society for patients, caregivers and health care professionals on Feb. 23, 10 a.m.-noon at Christ United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall, 3401 Mooresville Road, Salisbury. Those interested must reserve a place by calling 1-866-227-3264 no later than Friday, Feb. 19 before 5 p.m.

- Pamper Me Day, Feb. 27, 9 a.m.-noon or 1 p.m.-4 p.m. at Christ United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall. Treatments include manicure, foot soak, chair massage, brunch/lunch, door prizes and more. The cost is $35 per ticket. To make reservations call 704-637-7843 or Ruth at 704-637-1776. This event benefits Relay For Life of Rowan County.

•

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

The Rowan Council Literacy Council has just completed a Laubach workshop for new tutors. The workshop was conducted by trainers Clyde Harriss, Dot Hurley, Phyllis Martin and Carolyn Myers.

The training is for non-professional people who would like to help others improve their reading skills or teach English as a Second Language to foreign-born residents.

Tutors completing the 13-hour course were: Robert Bowman, Mary Lynn Connor, Melissa Craig, Angela Murphy and Becky Yancey.

The Literacy Council offers tutoring services to any adult 16 and older. Anyone wanting to register for the next workshop or to receive tutoring help should call the Literacy Office at 704-216-8266.

Rowan County Literacy Council is a Rowan County United Way Agency.

•

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

By Karissa Minn

kminn@salisburypost.comThe Rowan County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously Feb. 1 to test and appraise a 29-acre property offered by David Clark for $406,000.Commissioner Chad Mitchell asked how much it costs the county per month to send overflow prisoners to Montgomery County. Rowan County Manager Gary Page replied that housing 30 to 35 prisoners there costs $50,000.

"So we're burning $50,000 for every month that we don't make a decision," Mitchell said. "I'm ready to go with the Clark site, then."

Commissioner Raymond Coltrain recommended revisiting a county-owned site to save taxpayer money.

"We stood up and told people that we wanted to try to put it on county property to save them money," he said. "I think we need to do everything we can to uphold that."

Mitchell said buying Clark's property would save the county $175,000 compared to John Leatherman's offer, and the jail annex would not have to be located next to the fairgrounds.

"I believe that not only is it the cheapest option now, but in two to four weeks, it's going to be $50,000 cheaper," Mitchell said.

The total site and utility cost of Clark's property would be about $658,000.

•

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

By Sarah Hall shall@salisburypost.com

GOLD HILL — A log truck overturned and dumped its load when it failed to make a curve on St. Stephen’s Church Road around 8 a.m. Monday morning.

Robert Honeycutt II, 39, of Salisbury, was driving a 1987 Freightliner tractor-trailer south. He moved over to make room for an approaching truck in the other lane.

Trooper D.H. Deal of the N.C. Highway Patrol said the 15-foot wide road was not big enough for the two trucks.

When Honeycutt tried to get his truck back on the pavement, the right side of the trailer tires went in the ditch, with the load shifting, turning over the rig and spilling the load.

Honeycutt was not injured.

The trailer was owned by Charlie Shepherd of S&S Logging.

Kepley Towing worked to clean up the spilled logs and truck.

St. Stephens Church Road near the Gold Hill Fire Department was closed most of the morning.

Tom Small, owner of the property where the truck overturned, expressed concern about a septic tank a few feet from where the truck lay.

“Big trucks ought not to be on this road,” said Small. “They can’t make the turns. They should take (Old) Beatty Ford Road.”

An hour after the wreck, traffic was still blocked. The truck also took down a power pole and Duke Power was on the scene, assessing the situation.

Trooper Deal said speed was not a factor.

“The cause was just a narrow road and a soft shoulder,” he said.

Deal said large trucks routinely travel narrow roads throughout the county. “Some don’t have a choice,” he said, “ They need to stay on larger roads if possible.”

Click here to see more photos of the accident.

•

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Staff report

A 24-year-old Livingstone College student reported he was pistol whipped early Sunday morning after he lost control of his car and went into a cemetery.

Stuart Laron Brown originally told Salisbury police that he had stopped at the intersection of Brenner Avenue and West Monroe Street around 4 a.m. Sunday, when two men walked up and demanded money.

When he told them, he didn't have any money, he said one of the men hit him in the head with a pistol.

In an effort to get away, he tried to drive off, losing control and driving into the cemetery.

Later Brown revised his story, saying he lost control of the car and went into the cemetery.

The men approached him in the cemetery, demanding money.

Brown turned his pockets inside out to show he didn't have any. At that point, one of the men hit him over the head with a black handgun.

Brown was transported to Rowan Regional Medical Center for treatment of a head injury.

He was also charged with driving with a revoked license.

Brown described his assailants as black, one was 5 foot 8 inches with shoulder length dreadlocks, wearing a black jacket. The other man who was carrying the pistol was described as 6 foot 2 inches.

•

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

A West Rowan High School student pulled an 8-inch knife on another student while on a school bus — trying to force him to change seats.

Paul Allen Cross, an 18-year-old was charged with assault with a deadly weapon on a 15-year-old.According to the a report filed on Feb. 4 with the Rowan County Sheriff's Office, the incident occurred on Jan. 29 with a student assaulted.

Other reports or arrests from the Sheriff's Office:

- Two people were charged with fighting on the East Rowan High School campus on Feb. 4. Michael Morton Cook, 17 and Timothy Wayne Johnson, 20, were charged with affray.

- A Salisbury Rowan Head Start bus was vandalized at 699 Cannon Farm Road. The windshield was broken when someone threw a plastic bowl of food at the the bus, breaking the windshield.

The incident happened Feb. 4 near the intersection of Cannon Farm Road and Homer Corriher Road.

- Christopher Lee Russell, reported the theft of money from a recycling trailer at 440 S. Enochville Ave., Kannapolis.

- An ATV owned by Darren Eugene Safrit was stolen from 220 Eastside Drive, China Grove between Jan. 15 an Jan. 18.

- Lee Roy Barnes, 52, Mount Ulla, was charged with felony breaking and entering.

- Christopher Todd Overcash, 24, was charged with felony assault by strangulation.

•

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

All registered Republicans of Rowan County are invited to participate in the County Republican Executive Committee meeting today (Feb. 8) at the Salisbury Holiday Inn at 7 p.m. (Dining, which is optional from the menu, and socializing begin at 5:30 p.m.)

The meeting will be led by the newly elected County Republican Party chairman, Greg Edds. Mr. Edds plans significant reorganizing for this year's elections and seeks Republicans to work toward common-sense governing to secure a debt-free nation for our children and grandchildren while sustaining the disadvantaged.

Most Republican elected officials will attend and provide updates on their areas of responsibility.

•

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

By Kathy Chaffin

kchaffin@salisburypost.com

It was Shelby White's art teacher at Erwin Middle School who told her about the Lions International Peace Poster Contest.

The art contest was among several ideas Leslie Hudson-Tolles — called Mrs. H-T by her students — gave for an art assignment. The theme for the contest was "The Power of Peace," and students could not include any words on their entries.

"You just had to express what peace meant to you through a poster," Shelby says.

She had already drawn an eye for art class and decided to do one for the contest with the world as its iris. "The world inside the eye means that if we can all unite as one and just work together," she says, "then we can have world peace and be happy."

Behind part of the eye is a blue and green circle with a peace sign on it. Shelby, who is an eighth-grader at Erwin, says she used blue and green pencils to show the colors fading from darker to lighter shades.

"I put the peace sign there so people would know what I was talking about," she says.

Shelby says she drew the poster a couple of times, using her own eyes to go by before she was pleased with the results.

Hudson-Tolles was very encouraging. "During the process, she would give me advice," Shelby says. "She told me she was really surprised at what I drew and that she was really proud of me."

Shelby's mother, Celena White, was also supportive. "She said it was really good and that not many people could come up with that idea," Shelby says. "She said it was unique."

Rockwell Lions Club members apparently agreed. They picked her poster from six entries as the winner.

She was recognized at the club's Jan. 19 meeting, where she received a $25 gift card of her choice and a balloon donated by Happy's Farm.

Her mother accompanied her to the meeting. Also attending were Hudson-Tolles, Erwin Principal Kristi Rhone and Assistant Principal Dr. Julie Joslin.

Shelby's statement accompanying her entry is: "Peace is patience, compassion, 'more than meets the eye' ... UNITY. Peace lies beneath what is seen. To achieve what is so greatly desired, we have got to get together as one.

"The world, with its conflicts recognized, will be able to see if through the same perspective. Then we will have the one thing we want so badly that we never seem to get: PEACE."

As the club winner, Shelby's poster went on to compete against winning entries from seven counties in the Lions International District 31-E competition, judged by artist Dempsey Essick of Welcome. Winning posters were selected based on originality, artistic merit and portrayal of the contest theme.

As the second-place winner, Shelby and her family were invited to attend the Lions Clubs International Mid-Winter Convention held at Holiday Inn in Salisbury on Jan. 23. District Governor Theresa Matthews presented her a $1,500 scholarship to the college of her choice, a Dempsey Essick print and a plaque.

Though she plans to continue with her artwork, Shelby's first career choice is to be a motivational speaker and advocate for the developmentally disabled.

"I cannot stand for people to say 'retarded,' " she says. "I'll stand up and confront anyone who says it ... They're people, and they're smarter than most of us."

Shelby says singing is also among her aspirations. She sang at Anderson Grove Baptist Church in Stanly County and placed second in Erwin Middle's talent show last year with her rendition of Taylor Swift's "White Horse."

Coincidentally, she and her family were seated at the Lions Club convention with a public speaking coach whose wife gives singing lessons. Shelby says her mother plans to call them to arrange for lessons.

She's excited about going to East Rowan High School next year and hopes to go to Appalachian State University or Pfeiffer University when she graduates.

Born in Stanly County, Shelby attended Badin Elementary School before moving to Rockwell after her parents' divorce and started middle school at Erwin. Her father, Keith White, continues to live in Albemarle.

Shelby has a younger sister, Ashlie, who is in the fifth grade, and a younger brother, Steven, who is in the sixth grade.

An avid reader, Shelby's favorite book is the one she's reading now: "The Time Traveler's Wife."

"Just about every other hour, you can find me in my room reading," she says. "Online isn't that bad, but I prefer to read real books."

She also enjoys watching movies, and her all-time favorite is "A Walk to Remember," based on the romance novel by Nicholas Sparks.

Shelby absolutely loves music, especially songs by Taylor Swift.

She has one pet, a Great Dane named Sinbad. "He's really loving," Shelby says. "He'll bark at strangers, but he wouldn't hurt a fly."

When asked who has influenced her life the most, she says her mother and her grandmother, Jewel Morton of Stanly County.

Even though she's only 32, Shelby says her mother has had two strokes and is still suffering from Bell's palsy, a temporary facial paralysis.

"She handled it really well," Shelby says. "She didn't mourn over it a long time. She got over it and looked at the bright side. I would hope to be as strong."

Her grandmother influenced her life, she says, by taking her to church every Sunday. "She taught me the difference between right and wrong, and I just kind of follow her example, the way she is and what she does."

Shelby says her three best friends — Britney Cochran, Caitlin Richardson and Matthew Hunter — have also influenced her in positive ways.

"I've been through a lot of ups and downs," she says, "and they've just always been there for me ... I used to be like way too sensitive, but they've taught me to kind of look past the silly stuff."

She also has a boyfriend, Zachary Burroughs.

Shelby is a member of the track team at Erwin, participating in shot put events. She says she makes pretty good grades.

Her favorite teacher is Elizabeth Cook, who teaches her honors course.

"She's always calm," Shelby says, "and she'll listen to what I have to say."

When asked to describe herself, Shelby says she's a little awkward, but fun.

"Sometimes a lot is expected of me," she says, "and I work really hard to please everybody, but I've kind of gotten over that. You can't do that all the time.

"If you're doing irresponsible things, I'm going to tell you about it," Shelby says. "But I can joke around and have fun, and even if I'm upset, I still smile every day."

Contact Kathy Chaffin at 704-797-4249.