Steve Mensing, Editor

♦ It’s beyond obvious by now the strategy of trying to hide violent crime in Salisbury isn’t working at all.  People are talking in loud voices throughout Salisbury and Rowan County that the county seat is a dangerous place.  It’s impossible to hide what is going on in the Bury.  Some of the city’s real estate people and others who should know better are putting profits ahead of people’s safety.  It isn’t working.  You can’t cover up shootings, murders, knifings, rock beatings, violent break-ins, and rapes. People talk about it and not in whispers. They Facebook each other about it–they email each other.  After work over beers they talk about it.  Word spreads rapidly in all directions.  We live in the digital age.  The cat gets out of the bag before its even plopped in it. Nobody’s silent about violence.

Instead of trying to hide the violence in Salisbury, the intelligent thing to do is to fix it.  You have to fix it because people are staying away from Salisbury.

Don’t Hide It–Fix it!

Salisbury’s highest priority is to stop violent crime.  The obvious primary fix is rebuilding our first line of defense the police department. What should be done immediately is to raise police pay to highly competitive and start recruiting and hiring.  Experienced officers should be at the top of the hiring list especially those with investigative experience.

Don’t Hide It–Fix it!

RFP Staff

♦ Will Salisbury, a city in freefall, achieve a real world award rather than one it paid for by merely sending in its yearly dues to an organization?  Will the Bury be dragged screaming and kicking into “Guinness Book of Records” due to the alleged adept driving skills of James Darrell Hodge, 55, of Dear Haven Drive in Statesville, N.C.?

Mr. Hodge may have entered the realm of the immortals Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. by allegedly piloting his white Ford pick-up on a time-machine voyage in the vicinity Jake Alexander and Mooresville Road. It’s said that Hodge allegedly caused at least 4 accidents and smashed into 3 vehicles.  Do we have a vehicular homerun king here?  Will Hodge get a key to the city for putting Salisbury on the map for something other than unsolved murders and meth factories?

911 rang off the hook with multiple calls describing the alleged driving exploits of Mr. Hodge as he rock and rolled down Jake, making full metal-contact with any hapless vehicle that happened into his pick-up truck’s path.  Finally a Salisbury Police officer caught up with the “king” and pulled him over.

Mr. Hodge was arrested and charged with 3 counts of hit and run causing property damage (misdemeanor), a single count of hit and run causing injury (misdemeanor), and 4 counts of failing to report an accident (misdemeanor).

It is unknown at this time whether Mr. Hodge took a breathalyzer test, walked a straight line, or had someone peer into his eyes for a tumor.  Perhaps the police waved his tests due to his alleged astounding feat?

James Darrell Hodge’s astounding criminal record:

http://webapps6.doc.state.nc.us/opi/viewoffender.do?method=view&offenderID=0186067&searchLastName=Hodge&searchFirstName=james&searchMiddleName=d&listurl=pagelistoffendersearchresults&listpage=1

Kenny Hardin, Salisbury City Councilman

♦ I need for all my White friends who are legitimately on my Page or who are trolling my page otherwise just to be nosey to listen up.

Over the past several weeks, it has been shared with me that the talk in the Country Club community is that I want the violence that plagues our City to drift over to that area and for “Confederate Avenue to be burned down.” Also I’ve been accused of plotting and planning “to blow Salisbury up,” Finally, I was accused of secretly being behind and encouraging the gun violence here in our town.

Since I’ve heard these fallacies repeated 3-40 times by my White friends whom I’ve appreciated correcting misguided folks in their circle; I want to take this opportunity to put this to rest. That way no one else will have to take me to breakfast or lunch and proclaim that I’m ok once you get to know me.

In a breakfast meeting I was invited to with our City Manager, our Police Chief, our HR Director, William Peoples and Dee Dee Wright back during the Summer, I shared that I had spoken with an angry alleged gang member. The young man passionately exclaimed to me that he and others were so frustrated with this City that they wanted to “burn this motherfucker down and take this shit over there to the Country Club.” I never uttered these words and talked to the young man on channeling his anger in a different direction. So, one of those individuals took that and used it to scare you good people.

In our first candidates forum, another candidate stated that if things are going well, why do we need to blow things up? I responded that things are not going well in our City so we should blow them up. He and I were both referring to processes not terroristic activity. Back in October, while I was with a white friend putting out campaign signs, I was angrily approached by a white gentleman on the street and yelled at angrily accusing me of wanting to bring terrorist violence to our City.

I have been an outspoken vocal critic of all the gun violence. I’ve led community workshops to educate residents in identifying and stopping it. I’ve worked one to one with our Chief on strategies to stop it. My parents home was sprayed with bullets a year ago. So why would I encourage or be happy about gun violence?

So, I’m asking all my White friends to do a public service and stop the rampant misinformation and mischaracterization of me as the stereotypical angry Black boogeyman terrorizing the streets of our City. I’m not a one dimensional caricature character from the racist 1915 movie Birth of a Nation.

I care little about how people perceive me and I will not expend one ounce of energy or time trying to convince anyone of who I am. My work ethic and community involvement speaks for itself.
I hope this goes as viral through the Country Club community and has the same longevity as the misinformation did. I’m being very open with this so no one else will feel compelled to screen shot my page and send it to a TV News station again. Thank you in advance for your assistance.

Steve Mensing, Editor/Waitsel Smith.com/Waitsel Smith

♦ I love Christmas and we’re about to revisit one of the greatest Christmas stories of our time: “Frosty Beats City Hall” where Lane Bailey, then Lenoir’s city manager duked it out with a giant inflatable Frosty the Snowman and was humiliated. This misadventure probably led to his being chosen as the next city manager fall guy in Salisbury’s notorious city hall.

The RFP staff is amused by Salisbury’s City Manager in failing to answer perfectly legal public information requests about all that’s happening in Salisbury’s city hall. Right now Lane has about as much job security as the soon to be former Police Chief Rory Collins had several weeks ago. We’d love to send Lane Bailey a public information request about why retired city of Salisbury employees allegedly lost their health benefits. Gosh we’d hate to think this is true. Hopefully its just a gap. In all the many articles we’ve read about Stockton, California, Detroit, and other cities that went bankrupt, one of the first signs of collapse was the trimming of retired city employee benefits.

In the tank town of Lenoir, N.C. best known for its poverty, cronyism, crime, and major league struggles with unemployment since the furniture and woodworking industry left, Lane Bailey chose to battle local tree farmer Larry Smith and his seasonal “Frosty the Snowman” a giant inflatable advertisement for his tree farm. In the photos of Smith’s tree farm “Frosty the Snowman” actually appeared to enhance THAT neighborhood. Then Lenoir City Manager Bailey, who stated that “rules are rules”, thought otherwise. City Manager Lane Baily made regional headlines by doggedly defending an arbitrary Lenoir’s ordinance against “Frosty the Snowman”.

Waitsel Smith’s: “Frosty Beats City Hall”:

http://www.waitsel.com/america/Frosty_Beats_City_Hall.html

RFP Staff

♦ Dakota Hunter McKinnon, 18, of 204 Partee Street in Salisbury, a suspect in a recent Salisbury South Long Street armed robbery, was arrested Wednesday by the Salisbury Police based on  outstanding warrants for allegedly beating a pregnant Cabarrus woman.

According to police sources McKinnon knew the alleged Cabarrus victim.

McKinnon was charged with assault on a female (misdemeanor), assault on a child/minor (felony), and cyber stalking (misdemeanor).

Under a secured $2,500 bond, McKinnon is in the Rowan County Detention Center.  He will have a hearing in Cabarrus County on January 15th.

RFP Staff

♦ “Romo’s we hardly ye”

This afternoon it was reported that Downtown Salisbury lost another popular restaurant Romo’s Pizzeria at 115 East Innes.  The closing comes during one of the worst holiday shopping seasons in recent years in Downtown Salisbury.  Shopkeepers believe a number of shops and a few restaurants will be sadly shuttering their doors over the next two months.

Reeling from the recent closing of Downtown Salisbury’s Uncle Buck’s, Romo’s is a surprise, yet not a surprise to those who travel out at night in Salisbury. This Saturday will be Romo’s last day with an employee farewell party on Sunday.

Word has it that outrageous rents, an over-restrictive sign ordinance, the perennial parking war in the privately owned parking lot behind the restaurant and the overall expense of operating in the municipal service district are cited as reasons for failure. No doubt the recent migration of violent crime to downtown has cut evening business as well. Muggings, the shooting in the United Methodist Parking lot, and the window being shot out of the Waffle House on East Innes Tuesday (no rock, no paving stone, and no high-velocity trashcan was found in the eatery)

Farewell Romo’s. Your reasonably priced pizzas and your support for Salisbury High athletics will surely be missed. We wish you well and hope you find greener pastures.

♦

RFP Staff

♦ Faye Collins Evans, 50, from Logan Lane in Winston-Salem, allegedly led Salisbury Police on a high-speed SUV chase through Salisbury’s West End and smashed though Livingstone College’s rear iron gate before fleeing across campus.

Salisbury Police, at approximately 8 p.m. Wednesday, pulled over a 2011 Kia Sorrento SUV at Brenner and Overman Avenues after officers noted the vehicle’s headlights were not turned on. The officer asked to see Evan’s license and registration. She claimed she misplaced her license, but had her registration. While checking her registration, the officer learned Evans had outstanding warrants for her arrest in Forsyth County. When the officer informed Evans about her status, she abruptly put her SUV in gear and sped off.

Traveling at high-speeds, the fleeing SUV turned the West End Landscape into a blur past Lloyd Street, Old West Innis, and onto Institute Avenue where she smashed though Livingstone College’s rear iron gate and roared across the campus to Wilson Road, then onto Torrence Street. All the while with the Police in pursuit.

Finally Evans stopped her SUV in front of a house on the 700 block of South Ellis Street and got out and attempted to flee on foot. No go. She was Tased into submission and handcuffed. The adventure was over.

Officers searched her damaged vehicle and person and found an insular amount of cocaine, two pipes, and other drug paraphernalia.

Arrested, Collins most current charges are: assault w/deadly weapon w/intent to kill/serious injury (felony), possession of a controlled substance schedule II (misdemeanor), possession of drug paraphernalia (misdemeanor), and flee to elude-felony.

Under a secured $10,000 bond, Evans is in the Rowan County Detention Center. She is awaiting trial in Rowan/Forsyth on January 21st 2016.

Faye Collins Evans Previous Criminal Record:

http://webapps6.doc.state.nc.us/opi/viewoffender.do?method=view&offenderID=0534132&searchLastName=Evans&searchFirstName=Faye&searchMiddleName=c&listurl=pagelistoffendersearchresults&listpage=1

RFP Staff

♦ The Salisbury Police raided an alleged Crack House at 117 South Shaver in Salisbury and found small amounts of “crack” cocaine and marijuana.  Police also discovered a badly neglected pit bull puppy alleged to be knocking on death’s door.  The alleged wretched animal had a severe case of mange, badly swollen feet, and droopy eyes.  The animal was taken to a veterinarian for intensive treatment.  The puppy’s current condition is unknown at this time.

The couple dwelling at the S. Shaver Street address were identified as David Leon Simpson, 34, and Keyerrah Renee Barskille, 24, of Salisbury.

Simpson was charged with drug possession (misdemeanor), maintaining a dwelling for controlled substances (misdemeanor), and  cruelty to animals (misdemeanor).

Under a $10,000 secured bond, Simpson was placed in the Rowan County Detention Center and has since been released.

Barskile was charged with  possession of a controlled substance with intent to manufacture schedule II (felony), maintaining a dwelling for controlled substances (felony),  possession of drug paraphernalia (misdemeanor) and animal cruelty (misdemeanor).

Under a $10,000 secured bond, Barkskile was places in the Rowan County Detention Center and was later released on bond.

David Leon Simpson’s Previous Record:

http://webapps6.doc.state.nc.us/opi/viewoffender.do?method=view&offenderID=0617045&searchLastName=simpson&searchFirstName=david&searchMiddleName=l&listurl=pagelistoffendersearchresults&listpage=1

David Leon Simpson:

Keyerrah Renee Barskile:

RFP Staff

♦ The badly decomposed human remains found in a seldom visited wooded area near the intersection of Bringle Ferry Road and River Road last Saturday were identified as James Michael Beam, 57, of 195 Richfield Road in Richfield, N.C.  Beam had been listed as missing since July and had not been seen since April of 2015. At that time Beam was allegedly regarded as a drifter.

Tonight the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office arrested Jessie Gary Rhodes, 35, of Johnson Dairy Road in Rockwell, N.C. and charged him with the murder of James Michael Beam.

With the Assistance of the N.C. State Medical Examiner’s Office, the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office was able to identify Beam’s badly decomposed remains.

No motive for the murder or how Beam was murdered was disclosed. It is also not known if the two men knew each other. The investigation continues.

Rowan County Sheriff’s Office investigators received information that Beam was likely murdered and his body was disposed by his killer.  Soon Jessie Gary Rhodes was identified as a key suspect in the murder of James Michael Beam.  Tonight an arrest warrant was served on Rhodes.

Rhodes is now in the Rowan County Detention Center without bond.  He is charged with murder (first degree).  He is slated for a hearing on Monday, December 21st.

The Accused Murderer Jessie Gary Rhodes:

The Murder Victim James Michael Beam:

Beam’s Left Hand Chinese Tat:

Jesse Gary Rhodes Previous Criminal Record:

http://webapps6.doc.state.nc.us/opi/viewoffender.do?method=view&offenderID=0609974&searchLastName=rhodes&searchFirstName=jesse&searchMiddleName=g&listurl=pagelistoffendersearchresults&listpage=1

**This article will be updated all weekend as new information arrives.**

An RFP article posted on December the 13th: “UPDATED: Sheriff’s Office Investigators Confirm Human Remains Found Near Bringle Ferry and River Roads in Rowan County, N.C.”

“**Sunday morning Rowan Sheriff’s Office confirmed that adult human remains were found. Due to the extent of the bone decomposition found at the site, investigators believe the remains were there for several months.**

Rowan County Sheriff’s Office investigators were summoned to a seldom visited wooded area, near the intersection of Bringle Ferry Road and River Road Saturday night, by two bow hunters reporting possible human remains. The remains were spread out over a grassy slope beside the wooded area. The area in southeast Rowan is not far from the Davidson County line.

When investigators arrived, they secured the scene and immediately strung crime scene tape over a fairly sizable area. Investigators attempted to determine whether the remains were human or not.

The approach of daylight on Sunday made the investigation easier. It was confirmed in a report released Sunday morning that badly decomposed human remains were found and that they had been there for some time. Now the investigation will turn to identifying the individual they found and the ways they may have perished. The body may a missing person or someone who ran into foul play at another locale and deposited in the slopes tall grass.

The human skeletal remains, scattered over the area, were collected and removed from the scene. They were sent to the N.C. State Medical Examiner’s Office for further evaluation. It is believed the skeletal remains may have been in the area for several months. Typically when skeletal remains are spread out over an area it is usually the result of carrion eating animals.

Medical examiners and their forensic labs can often take months to identify someone and determine the cause of death.”

Polecat Watch NC/WECT.com

♦ Golden Memories of N.C. Sen. Fletcher Hartsell, from Concord, Who is Not Running Again and “Wants to Be with His Family”.  How Hartsell’s votes affected Rowan County and Salisbury, N.C.:

• Fletcher Hartsell supported maintaining the archaic forced annexation laws in North Carolina. That proved disastrous for folks who were forcibly annexed and got an inequitable exchange from Salisbury.

• He snaked Rowan County when the City of Salisbury needed someone in Raleigh to do its dirty work on the Tourism Development Authority and put it under Salisbury’s control.

• He supported the City of Salisbury against Rowan County on the restructuring of the ABC Board to protect one person’s job there.

• He struggled to prevent the Rowan County Airport De-Annexation bill for the City of Salisbury. Luckily that didn’t happen.

• He promoted an exception for Salisbury’s “Fibrant” enterprise in the Broadband bill which led Salisbury to the brink of social and finacial collapse. Salisbury has a lot of pocket lint and little else.

• North Carolina Senator Fletcher Hartsell won’t Run for Re-Election After All:

http://www.wect.com/story/30769804/n-carolina-sen-hartsell-wont-run-for-re-election-after-all

DEA.Gov

♦ A DEA RESOURCE GUIDE: “DRUGS OF ABUSE” 2015 Edition (PDF.) An Encyclopedia for Concerned Citizens Everywhere.  Of special concern for persons and families living in Salisbury, N.C. and Rowan County where the meth, heroin, and crack epidemic is at high tide and is a major contributor to the area’s significant crime and poverty.

http://www.dea.gov/pr/multimedia-library/publications/drug_of_abuse.pdf#page=50

RFP Staff

♦ The Chairman of the Rowan County Board of Commissioners has called a Special Meeting on Monday, December 21, 2015 at 9:00 a.m. The meeting will take place in the J. Newton Cohen, Sr. Room on the second floor of the J. Newton Cohen Sr. Rowan County Administration Building, located at 130 West Innes Street, Salisbury, NC.

The purpose of the meeting will be to hold a Closed Session in accordance with General Statute § 143-318.11 (a)(4) to discuss an economic development matter for the proposed development of property consisting of approximately 30 acres located off Chamandy Drive.

If there is a vote after the closed session the RFP will post a short video.

RFP Staff/U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration(DEA)/dbqcosheriff.com

♦ Meth is one of the most addictive, most physically damaging, most brain deteriorating, and  most personality distorting of all the street drugs.  It is an incredibly toxic to the body if snorted or injected.  When street gangs and criminals start abusing it, crime ramps up.  Senseless killings, careless robberies and break-ins multiply in urban areas when gangs start abusing meth.  Gang members, under meth’s influence, are more volatile reacting to misperceived slights.  Armed robbers on meth may lack any caution when holding up a convenience store and without provocation may shoot a clerk and customers on the way out.

Meth labs are dangerous.  They can explode and cause fires.  Their fumes and residues are toxic.  Anywhere a meth lab operated has to be abated.

You do not want meth labs operating in your community.  You need them shut down immediately.  You can anonymously “drop the dime” on them.  This article will provide some telephone numbers.

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration offers these tips on how to spot a meth lab and what you can do if you find one.

Meth lab indicators:

The usual giveaway is a fire or explosion caused by the manufacturing process. The U.S. Department of Justice estimates that about 15 percent of meth labs are found this way.

• Strong, unusual odors similar to rotten eggs, cat urine, nail polish remover or ammonia.

• Unusually large amounts of cold medicine that lists ephedrine or pseudoephedrine as ingredients.

• Unusually large number of jars containing clear liquid with a white or red colored solid on the bottom, iodine, red phosphorus, fine red or purple powder, or dark shiny metallic purple crystals.

• Coffee filters containing a white pasty substance, a dark red sludge, or small amounts of shiny white crystals.

• Bottles labeled as containing sulfuric, muriatic or hydrochloric acid, or containers with rubber tubing attached.

• Glass cookware or frying pans with a powdery residue.

• Unusually large amount of camp fuel, paint thinner, acetone, starter fluid, Lye, drain cleaners, or lithium batteries.

• Soft silver or gray metallic ribbon stored in oil or kerosene.

• Propane tanks with fittings that have turned blue.

What to do if you find a meth lab:

• Do not touch anything.

• Do not turn on any electrical power switches or light switches.

• Do not turn off any electrical power switches or light switches.

• Do not eat or drink anything in or around the lab.

• Do not open or move containers.

• Do not smoke in or near the lab.

• Do not sniff anything.

• Decontaminate yourself and your clothing, and wash your hands and face thoroughly.

To inform on a Meth Lab locally call the Salisbury Police at (704)-638-5333, the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office at (704) 216-8700, Salisbury-Rowan Crime Stoppers at 1-866-639-5245.

Dubuque Drug Task Force: How to spot a Meth Lab

If you are trying to determine if someone is manufacturing methamphetamine in your neighborhood there are some indicators that you can look for.

1. Unusual chemical odors (solvents or ammonia) When manufacturing methamphetamine different chemicals are used. Each has a very strong and distinctive odor associated with it.

2. Windows covered or blacked out. Often time’s people who manufacture meth will cover the windows with black cloth or tin foil to prevent anyone from seeing what is happening in the residence.

3. Video surveillance cameras on or around the property or a specific building or garage. Some meth cooks will want to see if anyone is approaching their residence.

4. Unusual amount of visitors. Often persons who are manufacturing meth have someone bringing them supplies to manufacture the meth. They will come at all hours of the day and night and appear as if they do not want to be seen entering the residence.

5. People who manufacture meth will usually be paranoid. They will always be looking up and down the street for police. They will think that all of the neighbors are watching them or working with the police.

6. Meth manufacturing can produce a large amount of trash. The containers that the chemicals and solvents come in have to be disposed of. Meth cooks will often burn the trash associated with cooking meth. Others will haul their trash away and throw it in the ditch or take it directly to the land fill when they have curb side trash service.

Remember that just because there are some indicators does not automatically mean that someone is manufacturing methamphetamine.

This is a list of some of the chemicals and items commonly used in manufacturing methamphetamine. The amount and type of chemical as well as the items associated with meth manufacturing varies from cook to cook depending on what they prefer to use.

Glass Pyrex or Corning dishes Hotplates Salt
Paper towels Measuring cups Trichloroethane-gun scrubber
Thermometer Laboratory beakers/glassware Sodium Metal
Funnels Starter fluid Muriatic Acid
Rubber tubing/gloves Drain opener Pseudoephedrine
Gas cans Camping fuel Cat Litter
Aluminum foil Toluene (brake cleaner) Iodine (Tincture)
2 liter bottles Sulfuric Acid (drain cleaner) Pop Bottles (20 oz)
Cold Packs Jugs/bottles Coffee filters
Cheesecloth Blenders Buckets
Tape/clamps 20lb. Propane cylinders Fire extinguishers
Plastic storage containers Towels/bed sheets Hydrogen Peroxide
Iodized salt Matches (striker plates) Alcohol (Isopropyl)
Ether (engine starter) Red Phosphorus (matches) Lithium (batteries)
MSM (cutting agent) Anhydrous Ammonia Ephedrine
Sodium Hydroxide (lye) Acetone Paper Plates
Coffee Filters Paper Towels Coffee Pots
Turkey Baster Wire Whisks Rubber Spatchulas

Gustave Dore, Artist

♦ Nightfall in Salisbury, N.C. The Snapping of Jaws and Loud Bleating in a City Left Unprotected.

RFP Staff

♦ In an earlier RFP article it was clearly detailed how Salisbury City Clerk Myra Heard received over $8,000 in furniture for the Clerks Office in a no-bid purchase with her husband’s commission based on the commission structure of a company called Indoff, Inc. in Springfield, Missouri.  This occurred despite several city purchasing policies disallowing “no bid” contracts.  Most disturbing was a $459 plastic mat to go under her office chair.

The RFP learned within the last week that Heard’s alleged “no bid” scored its fat commission because Indoff allows their sales partners to set their own prices and profit margins as outlined by Indoff’s National Marketing Manager Angela Suntrip in their July 2015 newsletter (posted below). This certainly explains the flamboyant $459 price tag of the City Clerk’s chair mat.  And why sales partners like Mr. Heard make a 50% commission on gross profit, an amount they can increase by setting the price higher.

The RFP wonders aloud: “Mrs. Heard, did you know how your spouse is compensated at work? Surely as a City Clerk you would be more than familiar with all of this information while receiving over $8,000 in no-bid goods that allegedly resulted in a commission check into your family bank account. If this took place, you would be using your government position to line your pockets. Isn’t this called corruption?  And why hasn’t City Hall investigated and demanded your resignation?  That occurs in most legitimate city halls.

The city government of Salisbury, N.C. at the very least ought to order City Clerk Myra Heard’s termination or to “retire early” as is fashionable these days at Salisbury’s City Hall.  The word termination appears to have fallen out of vogue in “10 Gigville”.

Todd Paris, Associate Editor and Attorney

♦ A recent main street media editorial in Salisbury extols the virtues of two downtown businesses having survived over ten years. The editorial recognized that both businesses (sales) have been adaptable to change over the years and that their products sold now are entirely unlike the products they started with, as those products have “gone out of style.” This has allowed them to exploit a niche market for certain specific types of items and thus survive the recession. Congratulations to the honorees. Both owners worked tirelessly to survive in the municipal service tax district and should be applauded.

We note this main street media editorial was written within a few weeks of Uncle Buck’s and Romo’s Pizzeria abrupt closings. No doubt downtown needs a positive story right now. In the “stiff upper lip” category of writing, the piece does as intended. “Don’t panic and carry on”.

The difference is that food does not “go out of style.” Folks have to eat. Recently a savvy veteran realtor was quoted as saying that a saturation point exists for downtown eateries and that Salisbury’s downtown can only support so many. At present, with zero population growth and extremely modest economic growth, a stagnant pie can only be sliced so far. This sounds correct, but tastes defeatist.

Wrong. The City Government, RowanWorks and DSI are supposed to be baking a larger pie. We certainly pay the bakers enough. An early plan with incentivized apartments at former Bernhardt’s was a good start and it’s great news the Wallace apartments above former Cooper’s Restaurant (in the works for several years) are finally taking off. Council needs to re-visit old ideas about urban renovation and planned housing near downtown to bring folks into the area to live. We can’t just sit back while wellmeaning folks with a dream continue to fling their equity lines and life savings at our downtown.

RowanWorks and Fibrant need to partner to market Fibrant specifically to the Charlotte area where IT start-ups are paying considerably more for 10G fiber and real estate rents then we charge here.  We also best make government entities pro development without these potential new businesses being channeled to private site selectors in exchange for a majority percentage of their incentives.

The owners of Romo’s Pizzeria and Uncle Bucks were smart, hardworking folks who turned out good product. The existing restaurant pie just wasn’t big enough. The off-street parking was a problem. The sign ordinance was too restrictive. Get baking people! If we don’t, we will end up as dead as Lenoir.

RFP Staff

♦ Jim Sides, former Rowan County Commission Chairman, told the RFP this morning he will NOT be Running this Year for County Commissioner. Craig Pierce and Mike Caskey, the heavy favorites, will.  Also running are Veleria Levy, a Democrat, Johnny Love a Republican, and Mark Lyerly.

RFP Staff

♦ Today Jessie Gary Rhodes, 35, of Johnson Diary Road in Rockwell, charged with the first degree murder of James Michael Beam, appeared for a preliminary hearing this morning in District Court. Judge Beth Dixon presided today and told Rhodes, wearing an orange jumpsuit and handcuffs, he would be appointed a provisional attorney until indigent defense services were assigned. After a switch in provisional attorneys due to a conflict of interest, Attorney David Bingham of Salisbury was appointed Rhodes provisional attorney.

At today’s hearing District Attorney Brandy Cook addressed the court, explaining the case was in its initial stages and it was yet to be determined whether the case would proceed as a capital murder case.

Answering Judge Dixon’s questions, Rhodes told the Judge he was employed in Rockwell, but doubted he had a job now and would require a court-appointed attorney.

Rhodes will have a probable cause hearing on January 13th. Rhodes remains in the Rowan County Detention Center without Bond.

The RFP’s December 18th article “Human Remains Found Last Week in Rowan County Identified. Jessie Gary Rhodes of Rockwell, N.C. Charged with First Degree Murder”:

“The badly decomposed human remains found in a seldom visited wooded area near the intersection of Bringle Ferry Road and River Road last Saturday were identified as James Michael Beam, 57, of 195 Richfield Road in Richfield, N.C. Beam had been listed as missing since July and had not been seen since April of 2015. At that time Beam was allegedly regarded as a drifter.

Tonight the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office arrested Jessie Gary Rhodes, 35, of Johnson Dairy Road in Rockwell, N.C. and charged him with the murder of James Michael Beam.

With the Assistance of the N.C. State Medical Examiner’s Office, the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office was able to identify Beam’s badly decomposed remains.

No motive for the murder or how Beam was murdered was disclosed. It is also not known if the two men knew each other. The investigation continues.

Rowan County Sheriff’s Office investigators received information that Beam was likely murdered and his body was disposed by his killer. Soon Jessie Gary Rhodes was identified as a key suspect in the murder of James Michael Beam. Tonight an arrest warrant was served on Rhodes.

Rhodes is now in the Rowan County Detention Center without bond. He is charged with murder (first degree). He is slated for a hearing on Monday, December 21st.”

The Accused Murderer Jessie Gary Rhodes:

The Murder Victim James Michael Beam:

Beam’s Left Hand Chinese Tat:

Jesse Gary Rhodes Previous Criminal Record:

http://webapps6.doc.state.nc.us/opi/viewoffender.do?method=view&offenderID=0609974&searchLastName=rhodes&searchFirstName=jesse&searchMiddleName=g&listurl=pagelistoffendersearchresults&listpage=1

**Sunday morning Rowan Sheriff’s Office confirmed that adult human remains were found. Due to the extent of the bone decomposition found at the site, investigators believe the remains were there for several months.**

Rowan County Sheriff’s Office investigators were summoned to a seldom visited wooded area, near the intersection of Bringle Ferry Road and River Road Saturday night, by two bow hunters reporting possible human remains. The remains were spread out over a grassy slope beside the wooded area. The area in southeast Rowan is not far from the Davidson County line.

When investigators arrived, they secured the scene and immediately strung crime scene tape over a fairly sizable area. Investigators attempted to determine whether the remains were human or not.

The approach of daylight on Sunday made the investigation easier. It was confirmed in a report released Sunday morning that badly decomposed human remains were found and that they had been there for some time. Now the investigation will turn to identifying the individual they found and the ways they may have perished. The body may a missing person or someone who ran into foul play at another locale and deposited in the slopes tall grass.

The human skeletal remains, scattered over the area, were collected and removed from the scene. They were sent to the N.C. State Medical Examiner’s Office for further evaluation. It is believed the skeletal remains may have been in the area for several months. Typically when skeletal remains are spread out over an area it is usually the result of carrion eating animals.

Medical examiners and their forensic labs can often take months to identify someone and determine the cause of death.

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

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