Saturday, March 31, 2007

Here are a couple of stories to look for in Sunday's print edition of the R&L:

- Walking for babies: Hundreds of people turned out for the annual March of Dimes WalkAmerica on Saturday. The event began at Mitchell Community College. (To contribute to this story, e-mail staff writer Chyna Broadnax at cbroadnax@statesville.com.)

- Commissioners review DANA plan: Iredell County commissioners will listen to Iredell-Statesville Schools Superintendent Terry Holliday's big sales pitch Monday at 6 p.m. I-SS wants the commission to earmark $54 million for the purchase and renovation of the DANA plant. I-SS would turn the manufacturing plant into an educational complex housing central offices, an elementary school and magnet high school. You can let us know what you think of this plan by e-mailing me at mfuhrman@statesville.com.

Thanks for reading,

Mike

Thursday, March 30, 2007

Here are some of the stories we're working on today for the rest of the week:

- Inside Government: Staff writer Heather Gach and Web content producer Jess Norman are spenging part of the day with Iredell-Statesville Schools elementary students who are shadowing city officials and concluding the day with a mock council meeting with Mayor Costi Kutteh. (To contribute to this story, contact Heather at hgach@statesville.com)

- Property valuation notices in the mail: Sounds boring, but make sure you're sitting down when you open yours. The average increase is more than 20 percent, which could translate into a big increase in your property taxes. Staff writer Daniel Goldberg is working on an interesting angle to this story. Check out the R&L this weekend for a story on how much the value of the property owned by elected officials in Iredell went up. (To contribute to this story, contact Daniel at dgoldberg@statesville.com.)

TODAY ON 5@5:

Christina Renegar has the answers to Jim McNally-Munoz's questions. Our daily Webcast is available at 5 p.m.

Wednesday, March 28, 2007

Here are some of the stories we're working on for Thursday's print edition:

- March of Dimes gears up for WalkAmerica: Staff writer Chyna Broadnax reports on what participants can expect at Saturday's fundraiser at Mitchell Community College and why the walk is so important. (To contribute to this story, e-mail Chyna at cbroadnax@statesville.com)

- Planning board hears pitch for new ABC store: The Statesville Planning Board considered a rezoning request by representatives of the ABC Board for property near the intersection of Salisbury Highway and Salisbury Road. The ABC Board has plans for a second Statesville ABC store at that location. (To contribute to this story, e-mail staff writer Jim Munoz-McNally at jmcnally@statesville.com.)

TODAY ON 5@5
Local REALTOR and NAACP chapter President Woody Woodard is our guest today. This Webcast is available for viewing each day at 5 p.m.

Thanks for reading,

Mike

Tuesday, March 27, 2007

Here are the top stories we're working on for Wednesday's print edition:

- Domestic violence on the rise: Iredell County reported no domestic homicides in 2006, but the numbers of domestic cases is on the rise. (To contribute to this story, contact staff writer Donna Swicegood at dswicegood@statesville.com)
- iPods in the classroom: Staff writer Heather Gach reports that Iredell-Statesville Schools is using South Iredell High School for a pilot iPod/MacBooks project to bring technology into the classrooms, possibly replacing textbooks someday.


TODAY on 5@5
- Iredell-Statesville Schools Board of Education member Bill Brater talks about the $54 million proposal to convert the DANA plant into an educational complex, evaluates the work of Superintendent Terry Holliday and more. Watch the daily Webcast each weekday after 5 p.m. on http://www.statesville.com/.

Thanks for reading,

Mike

Monday, March 26, 2007

Here are the top stories we're working on for Tuesday's edition:

- Children hit by motorist: Staff writer Donna Swicegood is working on a follow-up story on the two children who were hit by a motorist Sunday night. The 19-year-old driver faces charges for underage drinking. (To contribute to this story, contact Donna at dswicegood@statesville.com.)

- Anderson House owner pays up: William Tucker, owner of the fabled Anderson House, paid some $23,000 in fines and fees related to the nuisance violations on his dilapidated mansion. City officials had been trying to track him down to serve legal papers on him dealing with placing the house on the auction block. (To contribute to this story, contact staff writer Jim Munoz-McNally at jmcnally@statesville.com)

TODAY ON 5@5: The "Queen of Statesville," Gloria Hager, is on the hot seat. Our daily Webcast is available online at www.statesville.com every day at 5 p.m.


Thanks for reading,

Mike

Saturday, March 24, 2007

This editorial will appear in Sunday's print edition:

The fort and public opinion

A few folks who hoped to dissuade local and state officials from building a model fort at the Historic Fort Dobbs site think we're up to no good.

In e-mails and phone calls, they've all but accused the R&L of trying to manipulate public opinion regarding the level of community support for the project. That's nonsense.

Here's what happened:

Monday was the final day for our online poll asking visitors if they thought public money should be used to pay for the model fort.

As she was preparing to replace that question with a new one, Web content manager Jess Norman wrote down the vote totals for the Fort Dobbs question, then created a new poll and directed our Internet publishing software to push the new question onto our Web site. We then published the results Jess recorded in the next day's edition.

The problem arose when a flurry of votes on the Fort Dobbs questions came in during the 30-45 minutes it took for the new poll to be published. We believe there were as many as 100 votes during that time period, the majority of whom were from anti-fort crusaders hoping to make their views known.

Some of these same folks expressed their dismay when their votes were not included in the results we reported in the print edition of the R&L on Tuesday. They inferred that we intentionally did not count their votes in an effort to misrepresent public opinion.

We regret that all of the votes were not tallied and published.

But these conspiracy theories are misguided and a little humorous. We're not interested in manipulating public opinion about Fort Dobbs. We think the fort is an exciting project that will help teach young people about local history. It also might attract tourists to our area, which would benefit local businesses.

It's a safe bet that the fort is going to be built. The question that remains is whether opponents of the project are going help make sure it's the best possible historic site or whether they are going to continue to stand in the way. Now that would make an interesting poll.

Friday, March 23, 2007

TODAY ON THE WEB
Don't miss the debut of 5@5, today at 5 p.m. on www.statesville.com. Today's guest is Mayor Costi Kutteh.

Here are the top stories we're working on for this weekend:
- For Saturday: Ken Robertson's adventures in goat farming. Staff Writer Daniel Goldberg shows you a side of the county commissioner most voters have never seen. Check out the video, too. It will be available online Saturday.
- For Sunday: Iredell Search and Rescue workers participated in search for missing scout. Staff writer Donna Swicegood reports on how they helped.

Thanks for reading,

Mike

Thursday, March 22, 2007

Here are the top stories we're working on today:

- Mooresville man killed in crash: A Mooresville man died and a woman was seriously injured in a violent head-on collision Wednesday night on Shinnville Road near Weathers Creek Road.
Barry R. Drye, 49, of 135 Ginger Lane died at the scene.
The driver of the second vehicle, Donna C. Livengood, 38, of 138 Dry Dock Loop, Mooresville, was taken to Lake Norman Regional Medical Center with serious injuries.
A passenger in Drye's vehicle, Chrystal Rayhill, 44, of 135 Ginger Lane was flown from the scene to Carolinas Medical Center.
The Ford Thunderbird Drye was driving was left of center when it collided with the Ford Explorer Livengood was driving, said Trooper David Reid of the N.C. Highway Patrol.
Reid said it doesn't appear alcohol or drugs were involved in the crash.
(To contribute to this story, contact staff writer Donna Swicegood at dswicegood@statesville.com)

- Help Statesville leaders clarify vision for future: City and civic leaders are expecting about 150 citizens to take part in a mini-workshop Saturday aimed at laying the framework for the future of Statesville. Organizers hope participants from all walks of Statesville life will participate in the “Visioning Process.”
The community forum will be held from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the Statesville Civic Center. Registration and breakfast for the event begin at 9 a.m.
(To contribute to this story, contact staff writer J.R. Munoz-McNally at jmcnally@statesville.com.)

Thanks for reading,

Mike

Wednesday, March 21, 2007

Here are the top stories the R&L staff is working on today:

- Locals flock to Signal Hill Mall for shot at stardom: Staff writer Heather Gach is among those who have dreams of appearing on the big screen with George Clooney and Renee Zellweger in the movie "Leatherheads," which will be filmed in Statesville this spring. Anyone interested in landing a spot as an extra can stop by the mall from 4 to 8 p.m. today. Take a photo with you. Many people of all types and ages are needed, including professional shoeshine men and people with dance training or familiarity with 1920s dance moves. (For more information or to contribute to this column, contact Heather at hgach@statesville.com)

- Commissioner tries his hand at goat farming: When he's not working as an engineer or helping plan for Iredell County's future, Commissioner Ken Robertson finds time to raise goats. We have the video to prove it and will post it on our Web site. (For more on this story or to contribute, contact staff writer Daniel Goldberg at dgoldberg@statesville.com.)

COMING SOON
On Friday afternoon, staff writer Jim Munoz-McNally will make his Webcast debut when we launch our daily feature, 5@5. Each afternoon, Jim will ask topical, interesting and irreverent questions of Iredell newsmakers, people you know and people you wish you knew. This short video will include an update on the stories we're working on for the next day's print edition. 5@5 will be available for viewing at 5 p.m. each day. Pick up a copy of the print edition each morning to find out who will be on the hot seat.

If you know someone who would make a great guest or if you have a news tip or story idea, please contact me at mfuhrman@statesville.com.

Mike

Tuesday morning, March 20, 2007

Here are the top stories our staff is working on today:

- County addresses Brawley congestion: At this evening's public meeting, Iredell County commissioners will consider plans for a building permit cap on Brawley School Road and a minimum housing ordinance in the county. Both will likely be controversial and require a future public hearing. (To learn more or contribute to this story, contact reporter Daniel Goldberg at dgoldberg@statesville.com.)

- Lucky to be alive: A woman who fell while getting out of her car and could not get up survived frigid overnight temperatures earlier his month when a passing motorist heard her cries for help from more than 400 feet away and called 911. Sheriff's deputies found the woman, who had been unable to move for 12 hours. She is still in the hospital recovering. (To learn more or contribute to this story, contact reporter Jim Munoz-McNally at jmcnally@statesville.com.)

If you have a story idea, contact me at mfuhrman@statesville.com.

Thanks for reading the R&L in print and online at www.statesville.com,
Mike