RFP Staff

♦ Salisbury City Council, in an attempt to keep the city’s head above water with the city’s estimated 700 to 800 vacant, neglected, and abandoned houses creating blight throughout Salisbury, approved new ordinances this past week. The new codes will take on the overwhelming task of addressing neglected and abandoned residences. The new codes are not geared to target properly maintained residential properties meeting minimum housing standards. The new codes hopefully will target properties blighting to their neighborhoods. The tumbledown houses that frequently become crack, meth, and squatter palaces. Basically dangerous nesting areas that pockmark the city.

The new codes define vacant, neglected, and abandoned. The new ordinances also seeks to identify the property owner/manager and demands the submission of a maintenance plan to assure the property keeps compliant with the codes. The code needs to be fulfilled within 90 days.

theAtlantic.com/Gillian B. White

♦ Sound Familiar: A Housing Crisis Amid Tens of Thousands of Abandoned Homes:

http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2015/08/new-orleans-blight-hurricane-katrina/401843/

It’s Happening in Salisbury, N.C.as Well:

http://rowanfreepress.com/2015/08/23/new-salisbury-city-codes-for-vacant-neglected-and-abandoned-houses-in-a-nutshell/

CarolinaJournal.com/John Hood

♦ N.C. Ranks 9th in Jobs Creation:

http://www.carolinajournal.com/daily_journal/index.html

RFP Staff

♦ While the telephone systems are down at both the Ellis Street and Long Street administrative offices since Sunday, today’s board of education “business meeting” is on for today (Monday) at 5 p.m. at the Long Street administrative offices at 110 S. Main Street in East Spencer:

Today’s Board of Education Agenda:

https://eboard.eboardsolutions.com/Meetings/ViewMeetingOrder.aspx?S=800&MID=1960

Public Announcement

♦ The 2015 Lincoln Funeral Train, Featuring the Leviathan Locomotive, at the N.C. Transportation Museum on August 28th through August 30th:

http://nctrans.org/Events/2015-Lincoln-Funeral-Train.aspx

Turn Loose a Piece of the Pie!

♦ Downtown Salisbury Inc. time to invite Salisbury, N.C.’s “Disturbing Demographic” and the city’s many gangs FREE to “Slide the City” on Saturday August 29th.  After insulting and marginalizing the city’s poor and the new non-white majority, its time to make amends to all those youngsters who really need something to do and to experience being part of Salisbury.

Many are commenting those exorbitant ticket prices are covert barriers to the poor.

How do you think all those kids living in Clancy Hills and all the other housing projects surrounding the West End Plaza parking lot will feel when they see the “privileged” alight from shuttle buses and yukking it up after the big “slip n’ slide”?  Time to stop pretending diversity and really do something.

RFP Staff

♦ The Salisbury Police are searching for Lonnie Ray “Little” Carpenter, Jr., 27, of the 800 block of Green Street in Salisbury for the alleged armed robbery of Kendrick Conner on Green Street Sunday night.

The alleged robbery victim Kendrick Conner, after visiting his Uncle’s house on Green Street, was returning to his pickup truck when he was approached by a man known to him a “Lil’ Grench”, later identified  as Lonnie Ray “Little” Carpenter, Jr.  The two men spoke briefly about dogs.  When the two ended their conversation and Conner attempted to get into his pickup, Carpenter popped up behind him with a semi-automatic pistol.  “Get it,” said Carpenter.  Conner complied, handing over his billfold and his cellphone.  Carpenter faded out of sight.

Still shaken by the robbery, Conner called his wife and told her about the stickup.  She let him know the alleged robber turned over Conner’s cellphone and billfold, without Conner’s $300, to Conner’s uncle.  Conner’s wife said the alleged robber claimed he didn’t want trouble.

Sources in the Police department say Lonnie Ray Carpenter stands approximately 5 foot 9 inches and weighs about 155 lbs.

Lonnie Ray Carpenter, Jr. Previous Record:

http://webapps6.doc.state.nc.us/opi/viewoffender.do?method=view&offenderID=0822747&searchLastName=carpenter&searchFirstName=lonnie&searchMiddleName=r&listurl=pagelistoffendersearchresults&listpage=1

If anyone know the whereabouts Lonnie Ray Carpenter, Jr. please call the Salisbury Police at 704-658-533 or contact Rowan-Salisbury Crime Stoppers at 1-866-639-5245.

**This article will be updated as more information arrives**

Steve Mensing, Editor

♦ Steve Mensing: I’m interviewing Salisbury Attorney Todd Paris, one of several non-incumbent candidates I’m going to support for a seat on Salisbury’s City Council. In recent months, Todd and I have held long discussions, leading to clarity about Salisbury and its current status.

Steve Mensing: Salisbury has over 33,000 people, spread out over 17 plus square miles. Many individuals have expressed that City Council’s over-focus on its Downtown has become myopic, particularly as crime and poverty have soared city-wide.  If elected to city council how would your focus go beyond the current city council’s Downtown-centric interests?  How might you reach out to lift up other areas of the city?

Todd Paris: The country is filled with cities with empty downtowns suffering in poverty and despair, surrounded by strip malls and more affluent suburbs. The “shining city on the hill” is often two cities. The inner city shines, not so bright. Statistics show that younger citizens in particular are driving less and prefer vibrant downtowns with places to go and things to do. We have been losing our young for years. A healthy city needs all areas of the city to do well. Downtown property owners do pay a special municipal service tax that effectively gives them the highest tax rate in the county to support downtown efforts.

That being said, Council members represent all areas of the city and must do so equally. I have already begun efforts with IT firms outside Rowan to bring new business to Downtown and even possibly to the mall, for larger businesses. For too long, different sections of this city fought each other for businesses and government offices like starving men on a lifeboat fighting over the last can of tuna. We need to all work together, paddle to shore, and maybe catch some fresh fish along the way.

Crime, poverty, poor economic development, and substandard education are the four horseman of our local apocalypse. They ride together and all must be fought with equal vigor.

Steve Mensing: So true about the Downtown over-focus and City Council’s requirement to connect with the City’s other communities. Let’s change direction. WBTV ran an article about a week ago depicting Salisbury as having the 9th worst crime rate in the entire State, and anecdotally, it was reported that over 75% of the Salisbury police force took jobs elsewhere in the last five and a half years.  Of course, when the RFP reported virtually the same statistics, incumbent city council members criticized the source as well as the numbers.  But now, not a peep can be heard from them.  Will you address the realities of our really lousy FBI crime statistics with an eye on finding solutions? Would you crunch a few toes?

Todd Paris: As a former prosecutor, current defense attorney, contract council for The Police Benevolent Association, Fraternal Order of Police, and member of the NAACP, I am in unique position to understand these problems. When I graduated law school in 1987 and for many years after, the Salisbury Police Department was considered the finest department in the county, and there was a flow of officers to it not from it. For a number of years after the great recession started, Council did not deal with decreased revenues by reducing spending or increasing revenue. They spent down the fund balance to the point where we received a 13% fund balance warning letter from the Local Government Commission – the State’s financial watchdog. Late in Mayor Kluttz’s term the City had to freeze salaries, reduce services, and have a reduction in force. This was not a popular decision or a gradual occurrence.

Salisbury Police Department salaries fell woefully behind other departments. While exceptions exist, we no longer can get the best candidates, and the turn-over has created a terrible loss in talent, experience, and intelligence – by that I mean what is needed to know who the criminals are and what they are up to.

Ten unsolved murders since 2010 is the bellwether for this. We have to find a way to make our salaries competitive and to be willing to expect more from our department, even if it means a change in leadership. I hate to say it, but the City Manager needs to take a close look at Rory Collin’s performance. We need a full time Police Chief. It’s well known among our officers that Chief Collins has been “moonlighting” for the Housing Authority, and making very good money on the side the last time I checked. With ten unsolved murders, he needs to focus on being the city’s Police Chief full time. I don’t know of any other police chiefs allowed by their city councils to keep significant side jobs like that, and the current City Council should not have allowed this. He needs to go if he can’t be the City’s full-time Police Chief. The Chief’s job here is full-time, and it needs to be his total devotion. The community deserves it; he is already paid well.

You get what you pay for, and we had better get it.

Steve Mensing: The city’s bond rating took hits twice in 2014, by Fitch’s as well as Moody’s, for raiding the water/sewer reserve funds for a $7.6 million “loan” for Fibrant operations, and financial cross-resourcing.  This year’s budget, on the surface, is not as dependent on the water/sewer funds.  But cross-resourcing, legal as it is, appears to be going on when the city claims only three Fibrant employees.  Is truth-in-budgeting a goal that you would encourage?  ”Fibrant turning the corner” or “showing a small profit” appears to be the result of moving Fibrant employees to other departments and Fibrant costs over to non-Fibrant departments.

Todd Paris: There is nothing illegal about “cross resourcing” or inter-fund loans and both techniques are widely used. At the time these measures were implemented, there was no other choice available absent a tax increase. It’s no big secret and it’s not just a gimmick. For instance, I have been to Fibrant’s head, and they really do run the stoplights and perform other IT duties related to city business.

On the accounting side, I admit it looks shady. The marketing employees for Fibrant don’t even show up on their budget at all. I am in favor of transparency in all things allowed by law, including the budget.

Fibrant has to begin to honestly pull its own weight and deliver the economic prosperity we were promised or we need to revisit trying to sell it to a corporation that has expertise in the field. To grow, we can do this by improving security and redundancy, so large IT users will come here to places like the mall and by inserting medium-sized firms on lines already in place, like downtown. These firms will use our new GIG plus capacity and pay much larger fees per month then residences without the expense of geographic expansion of the network. Our fees are still substantially cheaper than in surrounding large cities. We have cheap land and rent and incredibly cheap fiber. My efforts already started to recruit these businesses, and they will continue even if I lose the race. Just a few weeks ago, I brought some regionally known specialized experts to Fibrant’s head and am pleased to say that Kent Winrich and the employees have taken some of their advice and are working to improve network stability and security so that larger firms with specific security concerns can locate here.

I want to reiterate this. Whether I get elected or not, I am working to make Fibrant work. If we are not competent to do this — then a sale should be seriously considered. “If you build it, they will come” is not working.

Steve Mensing: While its worth attempting to recruit ITs to Salisbury, it may be difficult to recruit them in large enough numbers to make an impact. I say this because of your previous observation about the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. Crime, poverty, substandard education, and poor economic development.

Switching horses, let’s look at our public schools inside Salisbury’s city limits, which received very bad letter grades on the State Education report cards. The letter grades would give most parents pause about having their children attend public schools inside of Salisbury. Many of our youngsters are in a poverty-stricken public school system where over 65% of children qualify for “free” lunch programs. There are kids who have trouble reading anywhere near their grade level.  What might Salisbury’s leadership offer to improve our school children’s performance?

Todd Paris: Allowing the school system merger back in the eighties and surrendering our city system may have been a mistake. Mooresville kept theirs, and it is one of the best in the state. At this point, we need to be supportive of the schools in any way we are allowed. However, economic development, more and better jobs, and fighting the other “horsemen” should have a positive effect. I am working with a good friend to explore creating an IT start-up incubator that would teach computer coding to underprivileged kids and provide them training without the expense of traditional college. Give poor kids hope and a way out of cyclical poverty and then businesses to hire them and they will rise to the occasion. Why sell drugs when you can get a high-paying job in a few years? The IT business nationwide is importing tens of thousands of foreigners with work visas to fill these jobs.

Steve Mensing: Over 400 Freightliner workers live inside Salisbury’s city limits.  Yet when layoffs, furloughs, and reduced orders afflict the company, its always Rowan County that has stepped to the plate with resources, proposals and job growth initiatives.  Salisbury is a key funding source of Rowan Works — the nonprofit formerly known as the Salisbury-Rowan Economic Development Corporation.  With the funds they’re contributing, do you believe Salisbury’s workforce is getting its share of the benefits?  And what could be done to improve results for Salisbury’s workers and tax base?

Todd Paris: I recently met with leaders from Freightliner’s UAW Local 3520. They tell me that Freightliner could probably add a third shift if they could find potential employees that can pass their testing and be drug free and have clean criminal records. They tell me that the local schools and RCCC could help by reinvigorating their industrial education programs to specifically teach the skills that Freightliner and other skilled plants need.

Economic development in this city and county is not working well. Old ways of development channeled through “old guard” business elites has to stop, and county and city departments need to do their jobs and do them quickly and efficiently or we need to fire them and hire those that will.

We shouldn’t have to hire outside firms or have potential businesses surrender a percentage of their incentives to private firms to “smooth the way” for economic development. We pay the EDC and the city and county employees to do that.

The City can’t stop decisions by businesses like Freightliner to lay-off folks, but we can help by recruiting high paying alternative jobs, in case they do.

Steve Mensing: In the light of the city’s major challenges with Fibrant, was this municipal broadband a “good’ decision” for Salisbury?  And what would you do to make it either a success or the alternative, a more tenable deal we could live with?

Todd Paris: I wouldn’t have voted for it back in the day. It was way, way too expensive, and governments shouldn’t try to compete with private businesses. We lacked the expertise. Of course, no one realized the extent of the recession and its effect on city revenue. While it’s easy to “Monday morning quarterback” that decision, it’s similar to the mall decision. We have it and have to figure out what to do. I love the service, and we have great folks working there. However I say, make it grow or make it go.

A private company worth $227 million and one of the most reputable fiber-to-the-home providers in NC wanted to begin talks to acquire Fibrant. Our current mayor met with them and dismissed them without even seeking a price. That was a very bad move. No decent businessman would do that. At a minimum, the acquisition should have been explored and an offer for a purchase price received. The public should have been involved. This is another example of less than optimal leadership by the current city council.

I have made contact with the CEO of this company to let him know that once elected I would explore this option. The public should be involved; it’s their system. Also, we need to protect the excellent staff and make sure that if Fibrant is acquired they have jobs, either with the city through vacant positions or with the new company.

Steve Mensing: We learned of examples of embezzlement by city employees who were given an opportunity to repay the money they pocketed without criminal charges.  Some of these deals occurred with City Council complacently acknowledging them with an alleged intervention by only one member.  What would you promote as City policy towards embezzlers and internal corruption, if you were elected?

Todd Paris: I am an attorney. City Council pays “gas money”. I am not losing my license and livelihood to anything illegal or unethical. I will “drop a dime” on any kind of illegal or unethical activity with exceptional speed. Council members, by law and by contract are not supposed to have anything to do with hiring, retaining, or firing employees. Embezzlers need to go to prison, and with the State’s new Special Prosecutor’s Office for Financial Crimes, it is a likely possibility. I have their number saved in my phone. Embezzlers can keep the money they stole and spend it on cigarettes and phone cards in the “big house”.

An additional issue is supervision. At some point, Human Resources has to be held responsible for “bad hires”, and supervisors have to be held responsible for a lack of supervision. And once again, Council members need to stay out of the hiring and firing process.

Furthermore, if I get elected and find evidence of illegal or unethical activities, I will ask the City Manager to report, reveal, and replace the staff involved. If I can’t get that accomplished, I will go to the media.

Steve Mensing: I appreciate your candidness in responding to our questions.

Todd Paris: I Look forward to the next invitation.

Public Announcement

♦ On Sunday, August 30, at 5:00 pm, the Rowan Rifles #405 SCV Camp will be assisting with a Confederate Memorial Service for M.V.B. Capps at Chestnut Hill Cemetery in Salisbury. The service will include a dedication for a Southern Cross of Honor and will be conducted by reenactors of the 1st SC. All local reenactors are urged to attend and fall in with the 1st SC. Permission has been granted from the city to fire a black powder salute during the service.

M.V.B. Capps served in Co. B, 8th Tennessee Volunteers. His obituary in 1907 stated “He was an officer in the Confederate army, serving with honor under Generals Albert Sidney Johnson, Stonewall Jackson, and Forrest, at different times”. He was the Chief of the Salisbury Fire Department from 1898 – 1904.

The gravesite is located on the side of the cemetery nearest Johnson Street in the vicinity of the cemetery office.

The public is invited to attend.

Steve Mensing, Editor

♦ “Kill the body and the head dies with it.” Joe Louis, the former heavyweight champion providing sagacious wisdom on defeating ring opponents or incumbents in a reform campaign

Yesterday toward the end of Salisbury City Council’s information meeting meant to “school” candidates, a large shark fin suddenly appeared in a campaign that begs for reform-minded candidates.  Smiling, Todd Paris, an attorney and candidate for city council, stopped the show and asked if questions would be allowed. City Manager Lane Bailey said yes.

When city staffers completed their presentations, Paris in a prosecutorial tone asked Police Chief Rory Collins to come to the front of Council Chambers.  Collins waddled up to the front, his eyes glazing over.

“Chief how many unsolved murders do we have in Salisbury?” asked Paris.

“Uh…5.”

“5?”

Paris quickly corrected the Chief letting him know there were 10 unsolved murders since 2013.  Collins was clearly off balance and confused when Paris pressed him to name the 10 murder victims.  Collins went mute for several seconds before he admitted he didn’t know the answer. At this point Paris pounced on the chief with questions about his pay.  The candidate-prosecutor continued breaking down Collins whose thoughts fell into disarray. In the background the incumbent city council’s mouths dropped.  Maggie Blackwell glared at Paris.

“Do you work part-time at the housing authority?” asked Paris.

“I do” replied Collins in a clipped voice.

“Do you make enough money as the Police Chief?”

The chambers grew silent.  Several heads shook among the candidates.  Collins had the look of an abused animal and said nothing.

“Let me withdraw my question,” said Paris.  “While we do have 10 unsolved murders, you work a part-time side job.  Right?  Do you know if the Sheriff of Rowan County works a part-time side job?  Or the chief of Kannapolis?”

Next Paris moved onto the subject of Police Department turnover and then to the number of open positions.  Collins was forced to admit the turnover was large.

Paris’s questions opened the door for other solid questions by Kenny Hardin, William Peoples, and Roy Bentley.  Finally City Manager Layne Bailey came to Collins rescue and told the audience about the city going through some difficult budget issues.  Collins looked relieved as returned to his former seat.  The questions turned elsewhere.

**Hopefully the RFP will post MP3’s, of yesterday’s session, if we can improve their sound.**

RFP Staff

♦ It’s becoming a fact of life in a city racked by 25% poverty and crime for homeowners to return home after work or after a long summer weekend away to find either front door or backdoor battered down or maybe even a basement window jimmied.  And when the owners venture into their house they find drawers and cabinets ransacked or their refrigerator contents a jumble.  A rotisserie chicken torn apart by famished hands or a milk carton with thick purple lipstick coating the pour spout.  Somebody was hungry during this break-in.

All over Salisbury’s historic district break-ins are chronic.  There’s nothing like smelling strange body odor in your house and finding a disheveled stranger bedding down in the master bedroom.  Such is life.

Tuesday an alleged homeless adventurer Patrick Tremayne Imes, Jr., 22, was found inside the historic Bernhardt home at 305 East Innes shortly after midnight by the Salisbury Police who spotted the door open.  Somewhat dazed, the intruder was informed he had no business being there.  Imes offered no protest and even admitted he saw the no trespassing sign on the door.

The police relieved Imes of a pot pipe and wrote him up a citation for possessing drug paraphernalia. He was arrested and charged him with breaking and entering a building (misdemeanor).

Under a $2,500 secured bond, Imes is currently in the Rowan County Detention Center.

Patrick Tremayne Imes, Jr. previous record:

http://webapps6.doc.state.nc.us/opi/viewoffender.do?method=view&offenderID=1228763&searchLastName=imes&searchFirstName=patrick&searchMiddleName=T&listurl=pagelistoffendersearchresults&listpage=1

RFP Staff

♦  Brandy Jackie Barnhardt, 41, of Edmiston Road in West Rowan died tragically when her Oldsmobile Bravada struck guardrail on the 800 block of Edmiston Road and tumbled down an embankment.  Barnhardt apparently lost control of the SUV prior to impact with the guardrail on a stretch of road where the speed limit was 55 miles per hour. The vehicle ended up on an embankment beside Back Creek. Barnhardt, not wearing a seatbelt, was flung free of the vehicle.

According to sources speed was allegedly a contributing factor to the accident. The incident occurred sometime after 4:40 p.m. Wednesday.

A driver, seeing the wreck, pulled over and attempted to apply CPR before the West Rowan Fire Department arrived and stepped in. They were unable to save her. The Rowan County Rescue Squad, Rowan Emergency Services, and Locke Fire Department were also on the scene.

The 800 to 900 blocks Edmiston Road were blocked off from traffic as the NC Highway Patrol investigated the accident scene.

The Late Brandy Jackie Barnhardt:

Chris Sifford, Videographer

♦ Video: Kenny Hardin, Candidate for Salisbury, N.C. City Council. Learn about his Platform:

RFP Staff

♦ Jamar O’Brien Still, 24, of 649 Bringle Ferry Road in Salisbury, was arrested Thursday morning at his home for alleged sex crimes with an under age female.

Still was charged with 3 counts of statutory rape/sex offense of with a 13/14/15 youth under the age by a defendant 6 years older (felony).

Under a $25,ooo secured bond, Still is in the Rowan County Detention Center.  His first hearing is on August 28th.

Jamar O’Brien Still’s Previous Record in N.C.:

http://webapps6.doc.state.nc.us/opi/viewoffender.do?method=view&offenderID=1224448&searchLastName=still&searchFirstName=jamar&searchMiddleName=o&listurl=pagelistoffendersearchresults&listpage=1

Still also has a record in Horry County, S.C.

**This article will be updated as more details arrive.**

Kenny Hardin, Candidate for City Council, Salisbury, N.C.

♦  I did an interview last week with the Salisbury Post for an upcoming political article on where the candidates stood on Fibrant. In addition to the telephone interview, I submitted written comments as well. I was honest in my position and was told my views were different from many of the other candidates he had spoken with. I don’t “go along to get along” because the people deserve answers and not just the “move on” remark offered by the city’s leadership.

I shared that I was not pleased with the way Fibrant was forced on the residents without it being taken to a referendum/vote. I was concerned about the lack of transparency of the $33 million dollars in “certificates of participation” utilized to fund it and people should know who in leadership and the private community are benefiting from this. I’m very concerned that $7.6 million was borrowed from the Water and Sewer fund to prop this venture up. As a result now I’m paying higher taxes and fees for something I didn’t want and am not profiting from. I received an IM yesterday from an angry resident who shared his Fibrant service increased by $11 and his water rate by .75 this month.

I also said that I don’t see Microsoft, Google or many other Tech firms beating down our doors to take advantage of our “Gig City” status nor are the rates for consumers competitive or more cost effective than with TWC and AT&T. So, I don’t see much bang for the exorbitant buck. Even if Fibrant ever makes a profit, how does that money impact or trickle down to people like me?

I am all for Salisbury being recognized as a “Gig City” and being on the forefront of technology across the Country, but not at the detriment of our overall City services and those who don’t have a vested financial interest in it. My questions and concerns stem from the way this service was introduced and thrust upon the citizenry. Below are the questions I will provide the public leading to much needed answers after I’m in Office:

• Why was this municipal broadband not put to a referendum where everyone had the opportunity to vote on this? It was a $33 million dollar investment.

• Where are the specifics about the $33 million dollar “certificates of participation” plus yearly interest that launched Fibrant, which we’re responsible for paying off until 2029?

• Who was or is benefiting from Fibrant financially in both City leadership and private citizenry?

• Why was it necessary to borrow $7.6 million dollars from the Water and Sewer fund that resulted in penalizing everyone with higher taxes/utility rates and the city’s lower bond rating?

• Can Fibrant compete with TWC and AT&T in internet speeds and TV while offering residents a comparable product at a competitive price? Compete with TWC and AT&T’s massive marketing?

• If ever Fibrant ever makes profit, how does it trickle down and benefit every citizen that doesn’t have a vested interest?

• Can we continue to trust those in city leadership that put us at this point to question the validity and viability of this service to do the right things moving forward?

• What was the reasoning behind the exorbitant severance amounts paid to the former City Manager and Communications Director? Why did the city government refuse to answer questions about this?

Our citizens deserve answers to all their questions and concerns and I will open all city’s books for review including calling for a forensic audit after the election.

RFP Staff

♦ “Any woman who breaks into my house is open-season.” Romeo Void

Stephanie Luann Fisher, 31, of the 600 block of Roseman Road in Rowan County, was arrested at 5830 Bertie Avenue for an alleged burglary Wednesday in Rowan after youngsters alerted neighbors.  Rowan Sheriff Office Deputies were quickly dispatched to the scene.  The caller told them a lone blond woman in dark shorts and brandishing a crowbar was breaking into the house’s side window.

The first deputy on the scene was alerted by youngsters that the lady they were looking for was around back.  The deputy headed around the side where he noted a window was shattered.  Moments later he came face-to-face with Fisher who was leaving the house with a bag.  Her wrists bled from cuts.  Fisher asked: “Am I going to jail?”

Fisher hastily explained to the deputy that the fellow who lived there had her DVD player and cellphone.  The deputy was curious about why she would break into the house instead of just calling the man.  Fisher explained that all her calls went unanswered.

An inspection of Fisher’s bag revealed plastic gloves and a crowbar.  Needless to say Fisher’s story leaked badly in the light of mounting evidence and later phone contact with the property owner.

Fisher was arrested and charged with breaking and entering a building (felony), injury to real property (misdemeanor), 2nd degree trespass (misdemeanor), and possession of burglary tools (misdemeanor).

Under a $5,000 secured bond, Fisher was held in the Rowan County Detention Center prior to her release.

Stephanie Luann Fisher’s Previous Record:

http://webapps6.doc.state.nc.us/opi/viewoffender.do?method=view&offenderID=1009528&searchLastName=fisher&searchFirstName=stephanie&searchMiddleName=l&listurl=pagelistoffendersearchresults&listpage=1

RFP Staff

♦ At the last Town Council meeting of the prospering berg of Midland, N.C. the council extended the offer of full-time Town Administrator to former Salisbury City Manager Doug Paris.

Paris’s legend grows throughout Cabarrus County.  Sources inform the RFP that Paris accepted the Town Administrator’s mantle and a generous new multi-year contract. It becomes official at the next Town Council meeting on September 8th.

Midland is moving toward restructuring its form of government from mayor-council to council-manager via charter amendment. In that restructuring process the council unanimously adopted a “resolution of intent” and set a public hearing on the matter for the September 8th meeting. After the public hearing the town council can make a decision on the council-manager form of government at the next consecutive meeting on October 18th.

It is reported that Paris would continue in his administrator position if Midland changes over to the council-manager government form.

Congratulations once again from the staff and management of the Rowan Free Press.

Steve Mensing, Editor

♦ Last week my phone rang from people out in the county reporting former County Commission Chairman Jim Sides colorful van was parked in a sign painters yard with “2016?” and “Do You Miss Me Yet?” painted on it.  A picture of Jim Sides joined the fresh signs.

I called Jim to find out if he was toying with the idea of running again and he informed me he was exploring the idea of two possible runs in 2016, but was yet uncommitted.  I told him a lot of folks in the county and even Salisbury were hungry for him to toss his hat in the ring.  They were growing tired of the new county commission chairman’s contempt for transparency in calling long closed-sessions at every meeting for alleged “economic development”.  Voters want to know how basic decisions are made–they are disinterested in hiding conflict and giving the appearance of being “positive”.  County taxpayers are alarmed by newcomer county commissioners’:

• Frequent lack of preparation for meetings.

• Often careless proposals for projects to waste county taxpayer money.

• Lack of rudimentary business and contractual acumen causing them to blunder away taxpayer money by not tabling a construction contract.

• Their lapdog obedience to Salisbury’s City Council (The very last people with whom you’d want to be connected) and the “5 families” who regularly manipulate economic development, building projects, and highway and infrastructure improvements to their own gain and short-sheet both the county, the schools, and the city’s ability to grow and prosper in the process.  Working class people are moving elsewhere where economic conditions are better and cities are far safer.

• Where has all the so-called 1,000 hours of study of economic development led the county to date? The county’s current successes clearly got their start when Sides, Pierce, Caskey, and Mitchell moved the county forward. They were always prepared.

Jim come on back.

RFP Staff

♦ Hate to let the cat out of the bag about Amerika’s Gig City and Fibrant’s “big” announcement next Thursday, but we will.  Reliable sources informed us over a week ago that Fibrant is going to 10 gigs.  Hey if you can’t sell 1 gig (There’s only 1 or 2 “1 gig” subscribers) then why not try to sell 10 gigs?  Sounds great–typical City of Salisbury icing on a stale cake that never rose.

What tickles us is that Time Warner Cable already has 10 gig dedicated lines available to anywhere in Salisbury or the county.  Trouble is nobody is using that kind speed here.  And can you trick people into coming to a city drowning in crime, 10 unsolved murders and the top cop admitting moonlighting at the Salisbury Housing Authority, 25%  poverty, substandard schools, and a lack of jobs and economic muscle?  Many gig cities exist all over North Carolina that offer a gig or better in safer environments with better schools, far less poverty, less blight, more fun things to do, and so forth.

On Thursday you’ll hear hokum about the “next generation of innovation” and “moving beyond to the next horizons”.  Well at least they stopped using the played out words vibrancy and visionary.

Next Thursday dignitaries are scheduled to attend including Mayor Paul Woodson (Woodson is considered a dignitary?), Catawba President Brien Lewis, Deb Scotia of Next Century Cities, and other distinguished private and public sector guests.  This is said to be a collaboration between Fibrant, Calix, and Catawba College.

10 gigs–we told you first.

“Moving Beyond the Next Horizons”:

RFP Staff

♦ In what must have been a disappointing day for both sliders and Downtown Salisbury Inc., Salisbury’s “Slide the City” was plagued from the start by low water pressure, disappointing attendance (an estimated 250 to 300 attendees tops all day), and many areas of the slide so shallow that people had to get up an walk many yards to find a place to begin sliding again.

Chuck Hughes of Salisbury showed up to watch the sliders and was taken back by the low attendence.  He estimated between 250 and 300 people max showed up all day for the event.  Others called us and came came up with estimates between 200 and 300 throughout the day.  Drone shots and photographs taken over the course of the day verified this estimation.

The alleged 2000 tickets reported sold did not come close to matching the minimal number of actual attendees. Surely Slide the City and Downtown Salisbury Inc. absorbed a loss.

We applaud Downtown Salisbury Inc. for going forward with venture in spite of numerous red flags from dozens of cities across the United States who cancelled the Slide the City and TV News exposes who slammed the “Slide”.

Some youngsters and adults appeared to enjoy themselves despite the many shallow areas of the slide where people were forced to get up and walk to find a slide worthy surface. Persons attending the slip and slide were calling it “Walk the City”.

The Slide the City volunteers worked feverishly against the clock to set up the 1,000 yard slide, belly high metal fences, and bringing in two Salisbury Fire Department pumper trucks, on either side of the street, to overcome the city’s low water pressure.  The Fire Department saved the day from being a fiasco.

Injuries occurred mostly from impact hits in the right lane.  People limped away from the slide.  Others sported cuts and abrasions from being spilled on South Main Street or being rammed by persons speeding down the first incline.  One fellow was grimacing and holding his shoulder after a blow.  Surprisingly only a few drunks showed up mostly in the late afternoon.

Here are numerous photos taken by folks in Salisbury and Rowan County:

A drone photograph of the line leading up to the start of the slide:

Drone photograph of the 1,000 yard slide:

The Salisbury Fire Department attempts to compensate for city’s low water pressure:

“Slide the City” volunteer says hello to RFP photographer:

Shallow stretches of the 1,000 yard slide:

The start of the slide:

Photos of the slide from noon to 4:45 p.m.: