RFP Staff and Editor

♦ Have a Joyous THANKSGIVING from the Rowan Free Press

USAToday.com

♦ Online Sales Set Records on Thanksgiving–Black Friday Deals:

http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2015/11/26/thanksgiving-black-friday-deals/76326962/

Cordcuttersnews.com

♦ Cord Cutters Alert: The Top 5 KODI IPTV Boxes for November 2015

http://cordcuttersnews.com/the-top-5-kodi-november-2015/

KODI.TV:

http://kodi.tv/about/

Steve Mensing, Editor

♦ Over the past several years, legions of TV viewers greatly reduced their monthly television bills and ended their relationships with cable and satellite TV. These “cord cutters” ventured over to receiving their television from IPTV devices such as ROKUs, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, various KODI streaming IPTV boxes, smart TV’s, Blue Ray players, and gaming consoles like X Box and WII. Viewers also purchased ala carte subscriptions like SLING TV where you can choose most of your favorite channels without being saddled with excesses of junk TV. ”Cord cutters” also employ indoor digital antennas, sometimes amplified, to receive dozens of free broadcast channels like ABC, NBC, FOX, CBS, and PBS. Here in Rowan County, digital indoor antennas can receive somewhere in the vicinity of 20 plus channels. To get a solid idea of some of the many Free Broadcast channels available in your area check out Digital TV Maps and Titan TV (Put in your zip code):

http://transition.fcc.gov/mb/engineering/dtvmaps/

http://www.titantv.com/

If you want to DVR your free broadcast channels — you can. Use antenna DVR devices:

http://rowanfreepress.com/2015/03/28/cord-cutting-antennaiptv-streaming-device-dvrs-channel-master-tablo-tv-and-simple-tv/

Digital indoor antennas are cheap and can run anywhere from $10 to $60 and can be acquired at Target, Walmart, Amazon, Walgreens, and Best Buy and are sold under the RCA and GE label. They are common “rabbit ear antennas” or “flat antennas”. All deliver 1080P HD in pristine clarity.

If you want to step up on your TV entertainment, investigate the current kings of the IPTV: ROKU 4, ROKU 3 (2nd generation), Amazon Fire TV box, Apple TV 4th generation, and KODI IPTV boxes These small boxes, running around $99 each, stream an immense amount of TV and movie entertainment, much of it free. Both ROKU and Apple TV offer Netflix, Hulu Plus, Youtube, Amazon Prime, and countless excellent Free TV channels containing more streaming flicks, news, and sports, than you can imagine. These IPTV boxes will save you enormously on your bills.

For an idea of the available ROKU Channels go here: http://www.roku.com/roku-channel-store.

For Apple TV’s fare: http://www.apple.com/appletv/what-is/

For KODI IPTV boxes: http://rowanfreepress.com/2015/11/27/cord-cutters-alert-the-top-5-kodi-iptv-boxes-for-november-2015/

For Amazon Fire TV: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CX5P8FC#whatson

To get an idea about cord cutting in general:

http://www.roku-channels.com/hulu-plus-vs-netflix-infographic

If you want to add in OTT TV the leading star at this time is Sling TV which offers some major TV Channels ala carte at budget prices without being saddled with too much junk TV. Go here to learn about Sling TV: https://www.sling.com/

If you still desire to keep your cable or satellite TV for the array of sports and movies available then learn the art of renegotiating with your TV provider’s retention specialist:

http://rowanfreepress.com/2014/07/28/updated-negotiating-and-winning-with-your-internet-and-tv-provider/

Marina Bare, Artist

♦ Support Small Business Saturday in Downtown SHOTZBURY, N.C. November 28th. Check Out “U.S.A. Made Blade” and “Gypsy Gems”:

Learn about Salisbury’s best niche store ever: U.S. Made Blade on 320 North Main Street:

http://rowanfreepress.com/2015/11/23/learn-knife-fighting-shotzbury-style-knives-rule-the-roost-in-salisbury-n-c-in-hand-to-hand-street-and-bar-combat/

Gypsy Gems, 217 South Main Street, Salisbury, N.C.:

Addictions.com

♦ With the Heroin, Meth, and Crack Epidemic Showing No Signs of Let Up in Salisbury, N.C. and Rowan County, Recognize if a Family Member or Child is Abusing. Read about the Signs of Meth, Heroin, and Crack Abuse:

http://www.addictions.com/meth/

http://www.addictions.com/crack-addiction/

http://www.addictions.com/heroin/

Steve Mensing, Editor

♦  At Salisbury’s last City Council meeting on November 17th John “Magic Math” Sofley announced Fibrant was launching it’s version of TV Everywhere meaning they can watch TV on their computer, tablet, or smart phone (A sure bet to eat up your data plan unless you have T-Mobile which has unlimited data).  You can watch Sofley’s presentation on the City’s video of the November 17th meeting.  It appears toward the video’s end during the city manager’s comments.

The Fibrant website provides a satisfactory description and FAQ of Fibrant’s Watch TV Everywhere:

http://fibrant.solutions/Residential/Video/TV-Everywhere

Before contrasting Fibrant’s TV Everywhere with Salisbury’s four incumbent TV service providers’ Apps for TV everywhere, as someone being pro consumer I would not consider subscribing to Fibrant’s TV service.  Fibrant’s TV services are not competitive in price with the areas TV services of AT&T U-Verse, TWC, DirecTV, and Dish.  Also Fibrant’s set-top boxes were bulk purchased several years ago and represent an “earlier” stage of technology.

On the plus side Fibrant finally stumbled across with at least a rudimentary method to achieve “TV everywhere”.  I and most TV viewers in the area who experienced Salisbury’s incumbent TV providers apps for TV everywhere such as those state-of-the art technologies for TV everywhere employed by AT&T U-verse, TWC, DirecTV and Dish are going to find Fibrant’s Watch TV Everywhere:

• Prehistoric

• It’s installation overly convoluted with too many hoops to jump through

• Having to put up an army of network icons is time consuming to install and likely to crowd your tablet or other internet enabled device

• Cause for the technology anxious to feel overwhelmed when faced with typing in their account names in uppercase lettering and overwhelming Fibrant’s alleged “3 employees” changing traffic lights somewhere in “unsolved murder” city.

As Mom used to say: “It’s better than nothing.”  In Salisbury, TV viewers really don’t have to deal with “better than nothing” or pay for over-priced TV services when they can get far better services and technology at cheaper prices from AT&T U-Verse, TWC, DirecTV, or Dish.

CyberMonday.Com

♦ CYBER MONDAY 2015: Every Major Retailer’s INCREDIBLE ONLINE DEALS are Here! Shop til you drop from YOUR Computer or mobile device! No Mobs! No Gas! No Parking! No ambushes! No carjacking! FREE RAPID SHIPPING IN MANY CASES! All the top Retailers under one tent! CYBER MONDAY 2015!

http://www.cybermonday.com/b____.htm

Landis Police Department/RFP Staff

♦ Landis Police Department Reports: “Burglary on E. Blume St on November 28th in Landis.

Two thieves conspired to burglarize the home of a hard-working Landis family yesterday evening, while the family was at church. The first suspect knocked on the door, apparently to make sure nobody was home. The second then went around the back, kicked in the door, and stole a safe & some family jewelry. They can be seen driving an SUV in the video, possibly a GMC Jimmy or a Blazer.

Unfortunately, crime always increases around the holidays. Perhaps if punks like these spent a little more time in church themselves, they’d understand what Christmas is all about. Instead, they chose to steal the joy of the season from a good Landis family.

To the thieves – we’ve got you on video. It’s only a matter of time before we zero in on you, and then we will come for you. This family & all the good folks in Landis will be enjoying the holidays with their loved ones, while you two will be locked away in a cage like the animals you are. It’s not too late for you, however. You can still do the right thing & make a good decision for once in your lives – turn yourself in and ask for forgiveness.” Capt. Hosey, Landis Policed Department

Security Cam Stills of Landis Burglars:

RFP Staff

♦ While Salisbury continues to be ravaged by vandalism in the form of “rocking” (smashing windows with rocks), paint bombing (hurling large quantities of difficult to remove paint from plate glass windows and doors), gang tag graffiti (Its everywhere Downtown), hit and quit graffiti (street artists coat buildings with their art and quickly disappear), sign and mural defacement (example: putting mustaches on the faces of the Wells Fargo parking lot mural), taping M-80 or Super Silver Salutes (small explosive fireworks) to windows and lighting a fuse, and keying cars.  Downtown Salisbury is chronically hard hit by vandals with other business areas suffering vandalism as well.

A new North Carolina law called “Graffiti Vandalism” was passed during the last session in Raleigh. The law is aimed at curbing graffiti artists and gang taggers who spray-paint or deface public and private buildings, public statues, and tombstones.  In the past graffiti was covered by state laws.  The new “Graffiti Vandalism” law will charge the violator only with a misdemeanor for the first two graffiti convictions and upgrade the charges to a felony on the third offense.  Seeing as though most graffiti vandals are seldom caught, arresting and charging one on his or hers 3rd try at graffiti with a felony seems to lack punch.

RFP Staff

♦ According to several Salisbury citizens, a yet to be identified woman was robbed at knifepoint and stabbed when she resisted her assailant, a Black male, in the Office Depot parking lot at 715 E. Innes St. around 10 a.m. Sunday.  Office Depot sits beside K-Mart and was not yet open for business when the stabbing took place.

The woman was taken to the Novant Rowan Regional Medical Center for treatment.  The extent of her injuries is unknown at this time.

The robber fled the scene on foot.

The parking lot became a beehive of police activity with many police vehicles showing up.

If you know anything about this robbery please call the Salisbury-Rowan Crime Stoppers at 1-866-639-5245.

**This article will be updated as more details become available.**

RFP Staff

♦ Two masked men held-up the Friendly Food Mart on 727 South MLK, Jr. Avenue in Salisbury at around 6 p.m. Friday.

As hold-ups and muggings soar in Salisbury during the holidays, two masked bandits strolled into the Friendly Food Mart and immediately robbed a male customer at gunpoint.  The man experienced something hard and cold pressed against his neck as his pockets were rudely plundered.  The bandit helped himself to a wallet and an undisclosed amount of cash.

A second bandit stepped around the counter and demanded the clerk open the register.  The bandit helped himself to the register’s cash, then ordered the clerk empty his pockets.  A wallet and keys landed on the floor.  Next came a demand for several packs of cigarettes and the clerk obliged.

The robbers hurried out of the convenience store and fled through the Brookview Apartments toward the woods.

Luckily nobody was shot or hurt this time.

Suspects descriptions: One bandit wore a mask covering his nose and mouth and sported a gray hoodie, black trousers, and a white shirt.  The other suspect wore a mask, black trousers, a red t-shirt, a black hoodie, and black shoes.

If you have any information about the robbery please contact Salisbury-Rowan Crime Stoppers at 1-866-639-5245.

RFP Staff

♦  Walking along West McCubbins Street near South Main in Salisbury at 1:40 a.m can be high-risk adventure.  Bradford Bennett, Jr., 20, tried his luck Saturday morning walking alone and unarmed on West McCubbins when a nightmare abruptly began to unfold.  Behind him he heard someone shout: “Yo! Yo! Yo!”  He turned and saw a trio young Black males running up on him.  As he backed up, his attention riveted on a pocket knife gleaming in the street light.  Suddenly the knife stabbed at him and he reflexively grabbed for it, lacerating a finger.

Bennett broke away from his assailants and sprinted down the street.  The trio broke off their attack as Bennett put distance between them.

A short time later Bennett’s girlfriend drove him to Novant Rowan Regional Medical Center ER where he was treated for a lacerated finger and released.  No doubt he will think twice about walking down West McCubbins Street in the early morning hours.

The assailants were described as being between 16 and 17-years old with dreadlocks.  One wore a multi-colored shirt and another wore a black shirt.

If you know anything about this attempted mugging you can call the Salisbury-Rowan Crime Stoppers at 1-866-639-5245.

Bradford Bennett, Jr.:

Steve Mensing, Editor

♦ After a 3 p.m. reception at Salisbury’s City Hall, the City Council with gather at 4 p.m. to elect Karen Alexander as the new Mayor and swear in Kenny Hardin and David Post as city councilmen.

We expect great things of Kenny Hardin and know that he can do much as a conscience, advocate, and leader in a City Hall in dire need of a major directional change.

The challenges facing Salisbury, N.C. are monumental in stature and will require an Olympian effort to overcome.

One of the great balms of all governments is transparency and being forthright.  Hiding “negative” information kills cities large and small. The citizens should know what is going on.

City Council needs to face the overwhelming violent and property crime within it borders.  Crime and safety are issues that need be solved not hidden.  Working class folks of all hues are moving away.  The police department needs a surgical overhaul and an outside professional Chief-of-Police best be brought in. Police salaries must be raised to both retain police and recruit experienced officers from the outside.

A cure for the “Fibrant debacle” needs to be found.  No more hiding the beef because you can’t.  Fibrant has shown nothing but losses since its rollout in November 2010.  Fibrant has harmed the city in countless ways.  The incumbent internet and TV providers offer extreme high-speeds at cheaper prices, offer superior TV at cheaper prices, and Fibrant is non competitive in the area of VOIP phones. The city lacks any marketing for this albatross.

And countless other issues face the City of Salisbury.  Hiding the truth doesn’t work for anybody.  When real estate becomes more important than human life and safety then our values are twisted.  You can not hide what is going on in the city of Salisbury.  People are frightened when their doors get kicked-in and youngsters get shot in crossfires.  Crime and violence turned Salisbury into an end stage city that folks are quietly leaving behind.

Mayor Karen Alexander

Councilman Kenny Hardin

Councilman David Post

RFP Staff

♦ Since last Friday there is a noticeable rise in purse snatching and street muggings throughout Salisbury. Most purse snatching occurs in high-traffic retail and supermarket parking lots or in Downtown side streets.

Sunday Dolores Burack, 69, from Virginia, was accosted by a purse snatcher in Big Lots parking lot on East Innes and had her purse snatched with strong enough force to drive the woman to the ground where she struck her head and had to be treated at the hospital. That lot, which includes Big Lots, Office Depot, and K-Mart, was the scene of several successful purse snatchings. One involved a stabbing and another involved a 65 year-old woman having her purse snatched from a shopping cart inside the Big Lots store.

Never carry a purse if you are alone.  Carry enough cash and credit cards on your person and travel with someone if you are a senior.  This no hour of the day immune to purse snatchers especially during the holiday season

The purse snatcher in the Big Lots cases was described as a Black man with dreadlocks and who wore a black jacket with a red design.  Not much to go on.

If you have any information about this or any other Salisbury purse snatchers or muggers call the Salisbury-Rowan Crime Stoppers at 1-866-639-5245.

Keep in mind that parking lots by Walmart, Tinseltown, Big Lots, the West End Plaza, Harris Teeter, Food Lion, Aldi’s, Wallace Commons, Bank lots are particularly susceptible to purse snatchings and muggings.  Same too for parking lots and side streets in Downtown Salisbury. Outdoor ATMs in bank parking lots are an invitation to be robbed.

http://rowanfreepress.com/2015/11/24/downtown-salsibury-n-c-alert-the-holidays-bring-a-dramatic-upswing-in-purse-snatching-muggings-and-atm-stick-ups/

RFP Staff

♦ At yesterday’s City Council meeting, Salisbury City Manager W. Lane Bailey named Capt. Brian Stallings interim Salisbury Police Chief effective January 1st, 2016 following the retirement of Police Chief Rory Collins.

Stallings, a native of Richfield, N.C., began his law enforcement career with the Salisbury Police Department in 1996 as a patrol officer.  Over his tenure he served as a victim’s advocate, an investigator, a police sergeant overseeing general investigations and as a lieutenant directing the criminal investigations division.

Promoted to Captain in 2014, he currently manages the department’s traffic unit, patrol division, grant research and issuance of ABC, parade, and street closure permits.

Captain Stallings will serve as interim police chief until a permanent replacement is named sometime in the late spring or early summer of 2016.

Stallings,  a graduate of Pfeiffer University where he majored in both criminal justice and sociology, also obtained an MBA from the same institution.  He holds an Advanced Law Enforcement Certification from the North Carolina Justice Training and Standards Commission and was awarded the Salisbury Police Department’s “Veteran Officer of the Year”.

Stallings will be paid the equivalent of $80,000 per year during his interim stint.

Collins will stay on in an “advisory” capacity until the end of the fiscal year.  Collins will continue to draw his regular salary during this period or until the North Carolina Retirement System approves his retirement.

The search for Collins permanent replacement is now underway.

Stallings is viewed by several former Salisbury Police officers as a reasonable choice to take interim command.  He has support from the rank and file officers. Of the current command staff it’s said he’s the only one patrol has trust in.

Former officers believe Collin’s “advisory” role squares with the fact that he can’t retire before June (end of the fiscal year).  Collins can take an early, greatly diminished retirement, but not before 50 so this is a gift/buyoff to Collins.  It is curious as to why the city would pay him a full salary to be in an advisory position.  Under regular circumstances if Collins was making full salary he would be expected to do a full time job.

Brian Stallings Interim-Chief-of-Police:

RFP Staff

♦ In a move certain to improve both Salisbury police evidence gathering and make it less likely that an aberrant officer will test the waters of the excessive force, City Council on Tuesday voted unanimously to approve the purchase of 60 Vista High Definition (HD) body cameras from Watch Guard.  The total cost of these highly regarded body cams is said to be $64,940.  $31,200 of the monies to be spent on body cams comes from private donations and the remainder comes from $33,740 arriving from Asset Forfeiture and Controlled Substance Tax funds.

The state-of-the-art Vista body cams weigh slightly over 4 ounces and are capable of recording 6 continuous hours of HD video in even low light conditions (street lights).  The Vista body cam is made out of cast magnesium, military grade polyetherimide resin, and polyurethane rubber.  The body cams can store up to one year’s worth of video.  Another plus is this body cam will record in the background even if  the “record button” is not pushed.  Nothing gets missed.

These new body cams will be employed along with patrol car video cams already in use.

To learn more about the Vista body cams go here:

http://watchguardvideo.com/vista/overview

Todd Paris, Urban Survivalist and Attorney

♦ For over 25 years I have interviewed plenty of “bad guys” and watched a lot of court cases. That knowledge is distilled here:

1. Ladies Purses – lose them! If you shop with a debit or (can’t believe people still own these things) a credit card, slip it in your hip pocket and leave your purse in the car. The vast majority of young women don’t even use them anymore! Exception a carry concealed purse you will keep on your shoulder.

2. Location – I hate Wal-Mart. I won’t count the ways; however they have security cameras that make the NSA envious. The “element” is becoming aware. They also have mobile security there.

3. Parking – Park near and between other cars (except next to a van). The other vehicles provide obstacles to hide behind and cover and concealment from errant gunshots. Always remember almost all stores will provide a stock-boy to walk you to the car if you feel unsafe. Just ask!

4. Packages – Put them in the trunk while shopping. Much harder to break into than a window and out of sight–out of mind.

5. Car Alarms – Often ignored, but if you are returning to your car and see someone suspicious lurking nearby, hit the key fob alarm. Folks really up to no good will usually take off or at least saunter away.

6. Running-fu – The oldest self defense art. If a stranger approaches you in parking lot for any reason, just yell “leave me alone” and run back into the store and get a manager. If they actually need help, the store can summon police or EMS. Better to be considered crazy then end up in some dude’s crawlspace.

7. “Get in the Car, Lady!” Scream “No!” and run. Much better to be shot or stabbed in a parking lot where you can get medical help than back in his crawlspace.

8. Divided Attention – If someone is robbing you for your purse, toss it away from the store and run in the opposite direction back to the store. The same thing for your buggy of gifts. Thieves are usually drug addicts and want the cash or crack-able items much more than you.

9. Self Defense – Take the carry concealed course, get a CCW purse and learn how and when to use deadly force. Nothing kills the ardor of robber, mugger or rapist like a gaping chest wound. Anti-gun? Get a pepper spray key ring. It’s vegan!

10. Take a friend – Two or more shoppers together provide an extra witness and someone to get a tag number and run for help. Usually passed up.

11. That Little Voice – Anthropologists say we are all descended from that same lady who walked out of Africa a long, long time ago. She knew when the lions were nearby. If that little voice in your head says “danger,” heed it. Come back later or shop a different store.

12. Awareness – Keep your head up and scan your surroundings. Notice people’s faces and behavior. Predators look for folks with their heads down or who appear to be distracted or sheepish. Wolves vs. sheep. Heads up, be aware and appear to be a hard target! Don’t stay buried in your phone. Candy crush will always be there for you.

13. The Automobile – The deadliest weapon. If you have an attacker on foot and you are in the car you have thousands of times more force available then the most powerful handgun in the world. A crack-head stuck on your hood screaming his lungs out at 50 m.p.h. is no threat to anyone.

14. What to say? – If you end up shooting or running over an attacker and the police are there? Just say “I was in fear of death or serious bodily injury and I have nothing else to say till my lawyer gets here.” Call your lawyer. Most of my paying clients have my cell number.

Young Todd Starring in “Santa’s Death Wish”:

USAToday.com/Gannett-CDN.com

♦ BEHIND THE BLOOSHED: The Untold Story of America’s Mass Killings:

http://www.gannett-cdn.com/GDContent/mass-killings/index.html#title

Rabbi Will McCubbins, China Grove, N.C.

♦ As many Salisbury citizens have come to know, they have virtually no police patrol out on the streets because there are simply nowhere near enough police.  I’m told by law enforcement friends that new interim police chief Capt. Brian Stallings is an honest professional cop who knows the law and doesn’t play old boy games.  But one man can’t turn the city’s police force around if it lacks the manpower to take back the streets.  It’s beyond me why they are paying out regular pay to a part time “advisor”, but that’s a Salisbury City Hall thing.  That money could be far better spent on hiring more police.

One of the loopiest ideas I’ve heard is that some of the so-called Salisbury’s town watches are suggesting its citizens learn the proper use of “pepper spray” and a few “karate moves”.  That’s a blood guarantee that you will either get shot, stabbed, or have your head reformatted by a rock.  “Pepper spray” and a “karate moves” can not match up with several high-speed slugs from a stolen handgun.  If someone tried their luck with pepper spray on a junked up Salisbury criminal they would not hesitate to shoot you.  Count on it.  The only thing they fear is a fully armed man or woman standing them down and shooting them if they advance.  If you want to remain alive on the streets of Salisbury (and in your homes for that matter)–get yourself the training and a permit to conceal carry.  It’s the best “police” available in a town that is virtually defenseless and bloated with felons.

Fact: “pepper spray” often lacks the ingredients to do the job its claims to do.  There are no certified labs out there checking “pepper spray” to verify its claims.  It is no match for a firearm.

Bullets work.  So if you want to remain even remotely safe do the concealed carry training, get that permit, and a good handgun with knockdown power.  You’ll need it in Salisbury with its 11 unsolved murders and no doubt many more to come.  The break-ins, home invasions, street muggings, shootings, and car jacks are non-stop.  Many go unreported.  Don’t be another statistic.

Shalom