NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
♦ National Weather Service Issued a TORNADO WATCH Until 7 P.M. for Rowan County and Salisbury N.C. Flood Watch Also in Effect until 6 P.M. and Wind Advisory in Effect until Midnight.
The tornado watch covers large portions of North and South Carolina and includes Raleigh, Durham, Charlotte, Salisbury, Concord, Kannapolis, and Wilmington as well as Florence and Columbia South Carolina.
RFP Staff
♦ On Monday afternoon a woman reported a white male in his forties followed her around inside the “Dollar Tree” budget store on Faith Road in the Tinseltown area and allegedly both exposed his private parts and stroked them in front of the woman in Dollar Tree’s card section. The woman promptly left Dollar Tree and called the Salisbury Police.
The offending male is described as white, in his late 40’s, stands about 5’11” to 6’1″ with short blond hair and blue eyes. On Monday he was wearing a baseball hat, white athletic shoes, a light gray sweat short, and dark shorts.
The man, called the “Dollar Tree Creep”, may have struck a second time on Tuesday afternoon, this time by Downtown Salisbury’s Wells Fargo parking lot. A woman described an individual matching the physical description given for the white male who exposed himself in the Dollar Tree. On Tuesday he wore long pants, a blue sweatshirt, and has unpleasantly strong body odor. Again he exposed himself and fondled his genitals.
If you know anything about this man please call Salisbury-Rowan Crime Stoppers at 1-866-639-3245.
RFP Staff
♦ Dateline Salisbury— On February 24, 2016 at 4:31 p.m., the Honorable Robert C. Ervin filed his order in Lane v. City of Salisbury, (14 CVS 432), denying the City of Salisbury’s motion to seal ex-Chief Collins deposition. The order, attached for your edification and education, however reveals little in the way of findings of fact or conclusions of law, which often are illustrative of a jurist’s thought process. It was still a good decision, supportive of the public’s right to know and RFP’s right to inform. Senator Sam Ervin would be proud.
Now the rest can be told. Mr. Lane was “fired” a few years back for matters inconsequential and filed suit back in 2014 by David Shelby of Doran, Shelby, Pethel and Hudson.
After the ex-Chief’s embarrassing revelations in his deposition, the case was settled without a “gag order”.
The settlement agreement, dated February 4th 2016, provides that Plaintiff Lane will dismiss his lawsuit with prejudice upon the following terms:
Our congratulations to Mr. Kenny Lane, an outstanding Police Officer who was no doubt treated badly by the ex-Chief and/or Zack Kyle and Ruth Kennerly down at H-R. How much tax money was wasted and will be wasted in the future by their unprofessional and ill-founded firings? They need to be terminated themselves, and a single professionally-trained Human Resources Director should replace them.
RFP Staff
♦ Sonia Lynette Salgado, 46, living on the streets of Salisbury, N.C. and formerly from Baltimore, was arrested around 2 a.m. for allegedly smashing the front window of Hughes Southeastern Plumbing Supply with a metal pipe at 531 S. Main Street in Salisbury. Salgado, allegedly told arresting police officers she was “God” and her motive for breaking into the plumbing supply retailer was that 490 dead bodies were inside. Reported on the sidewalk, by where the woman stood, was a power drill and an impact wrench.
Salgado was charged with injury to real property (misdemeanor) and breaking and entering–building (misdemeanor). Salgado, under a secured $1000 bond, remains in the Rowan County Detention Center.
Hughes Southeastern Plumbing Supply:
Salgado was spotted when two Salisbury Police Officers drove in route to an auto wreck on South Main and Thomas Streets when they spotted a woman walking alone on South Main near Military Avenue, close to 2 a.m. As their patrol car approached the woman they saw her lift a metal pipe and smash it into a Hughes Southeastern Plumbing Supply front window and sent glass shards flying. The patrol car pulled up beside her and an officer ordered to let go of the pipe. She placed the pipe down. Soon she was in handcuffs and seated in the back of the police vehicle heading off to being booked.
YouTube/Current.com
The OxyContin Express: Learn about OxyContin, a synthetic form of heroin ranking as one of the most powerful opiate painkillers known to pharmaceutical science. OxyContin has incredible addictive properties that can overnight turn its users into addicts and doctor shoppers or its female abusers into docile sex slaves being pimped on urban street corners for a few dollars for unprotected sex and anything goes. Over time, like those addicted to street Heroin, OxyContin users turn to stronger and stronger doses. In a gradual process the Oxy users brains and vital organs are ravaged. All over the United States pharmacies are being robbed at gunpoint by desperate men and women looking for Oxycotin to sell and abuse.
RFP Staff
♦ Videos: Republican Candidates Forums at Catawba College for District 77 House Seat and for Rowan County Commission Seats:
Video: Republican Candidates for District 77 House Seat: Harry Warren (incumbent) Vs. Andrew Poston (challenger):
http://rowancountync.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=4&clip_id=574
Video: Republican Candidates for the Rowan County Commission Seats: Craig Pierce and Mike Caskey (incumbents) Vs. Johnny Love (challenger):
http://rowancountync.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=4&clip_id=573
RFP Staff
♦ Rowan County Sheriff’s Office undercover sting operation led to the arrest of a trio of Ablemarle residents, identified as Samantha Denise Beach, 25, Jacob Adam Hatley, 22, and Derek Ryan Talbert, 26, for allegedly trafficing Oxycodone in Rowan County Wednesday. The trio, each under a secured bond of $100,000, was placed in the Rowan County Detention Center. Talbert and Beach, a couple met bond and were released.
Samantha Denise Beach was charged with conspire to traffic in opium or heroin (felony), possession of a controlled substance schedule IV (misdemeanor), and child abuse–a general misdemeanor.
Derek Ryan Talbert was charged with conspire to traffic opium or heroin (felony), maintain dwelling/vehicle for controlled substance (felony) possession of controlled substance schedule VI(misdemeanor), and child abuse–a general misdemeanor.
Beach and Talbert were found to be in possession of 8 doses of Clonazepam the generic of Klonopin used to treat seizure activity and panic disorder.
Jacob Adam Hatley was charged with trafficking heroin or opium (felony), and conspiring to traffic opium (felony).
Beach and Talbert a couple were charged with child abuse because they brought their 9 month-old child to the drug deal. Rowan County Social Services place the child with a family member.
Derek Ryan Talbert’s Previous Record:
Samantha Denise Beach:
Derek Ryan Talbert:
Jacob Adam Hatley:
RFP Staff
♦ Rowan County Sheriff’s Office MOST WANTED LIST:
http://ossip2c.rowancountync.gov/p2c/mostwanted.aspx
RFP Staff
♦ Genaro Alberto Alvarado, Jr., 20, of Airport Road was arrested Wednesday allegedly for sex crimes with a 15 year-old child. The 33 year-old mother of the victim was charged with alleged child abuse described in a warrant as “unlawfully, willfully, and feloniously did allow a sex act, sexual intercourse, upon a victim who was 15 and thus under the age of 16.”
Alvarado was charged with statutory rape/sex offense with a 15 year-old by a defendant 6 years older (felony). Under a secured $20,000 bond, Alavado was placed in the Rowan County Detention Center and later released on bail.
The mother was charged with child abuse–commit sexual act upon a juvenile (felony). Under a secured $75,000 bond, the mother was placed in the Rowan County Detention Center and later released on Bail.
Genaro Alberto Alvarado’s Previous Record:
Genaro Alberto Alvarado, Jr.:
RFP Staff
♦ Below are photographs taken yesterday by one of our roaming “freelance” photographers of the current state of the yet to be completed “dome” on the Wallace Forum on 500 South Main. We look forward to a future panoramic pic of the dome nestled ludicrously between the area’s water towers, power lines, and a BBQ joint.
Wallace Education Forum’s Progress as of Friday February 26th:
Yesterday a “tempest in a teapot story” was aired about Salisbury’s High School’s Principal Luke Brown and Assistant Principal Michelle Taylor getting slap-on-the wrist suspensions (Brown was given a 3 day suspension with pay–shouldn’t this be called a 3 day vacation? And Taylor was suspended for 2 days without pay). From what the RFP learned last week out of Salisbury High the suspensions were due to the bench clearing basketball incident between Salisbury High School and North Rowan High School which terminated their playoff aspirations.
The league decision out of Raleigh was a worse overreaction than the actual tepid bench clearing. The consensus last week among the RFP staff members was that Rowan-Salisbury Schools athletic teams ought to withdraw from the league and start a league of their own, bringing in other school systems who desired far better athletic oversight. To end their seasons both Salisbury High School and North Rowan High School should shake hands and play ball in a game where the proceeds would go to both of their athletic departments.
Steve Mensing, Editor
♦ “Sometimes God has miraculous plans for cities down on their luck. Salisbury’s downtown needed a shot in the arm and “Timeless Wigs and Marvelous Things” is gonna help big time.” Darnell Bertie, Faith
Just when everyone counted out “O.K. Wigs”, a class act for 42 years on South Main and West Innes, a victory was grappled from the jaws of defeat. The Yang Family came through for Salisbury when it rented the “O.K. Wig Building” to the proud owners of “Timeless Wigs and Marvelous Things”.
Yesterday a miraculous sign appeared in the window announcing: “Coming Soon Timeless Wigs and Marvelous Things.” A collective sigh of relief resounded up and down North Main and West Innes. The wigs ARE staying.
For 42 years O.K. Wigs serviced thousands of fashion conscious shoppers, teenagers desiring hair extensions for the “goth look, and unfortunates dwelling near the city’s Toxmap wastelands and struggling with hair loss due to chemotherapy and radiation. Its like O.K. Wigs came back to settle a score.
There is no doubt that wigs are the highest and best use for that strategic corner on the square where “Timeless Wigs and Marvelous Things” stands guardian. Such a regal store tells the world Salisbury really cares about its Downtown.
Besides multi-colored wigs, the new shop will offer the tops in doodad and neo bebop fashion fare. Futuristic trendsetter clothing styles more likely to be seen in Compton and Bedford Stuyvesant (Brooklyn) and other high fashion centers. Suddenly the Municipal Service District all makes sense.
Never count a corpse out in the “Paris of the Piedmont”.
The Announcement:
Marina Bare’s Updated Classic: Salisbury’s Downtown Masterplan:
O.K. Wigs Golden Memories:
Public Announcement
♦ The Rowan County Republican Party will hold it’s 2016 annual convention on Saturday March 5th, 2016 at the Rowan County Administrative Building 130 W Innes St. Salisbury, NC.
All Rowan County registered Republicans are encouraged to attend and register to serve as a delegates to the convention. Registration requires a photo ID and $10/delegate. Registration will be available from 9am-9:30am. No registrations will be accepted after 9:30am. Delegates will participate in their annual precinct meeting held between 9:30 – 10am. The County Convention will follow with all official convention business between 10am-12pm. Registered delegates to the Rowan County Convention will be eligible to serve as delegates to their District, State, and National Republican Party Conventions this year.
Email Chairman Stephen Kidd for any additional questions at chairman@rowangop.org
RFP Staff
Video: REVENGE OF THE NIMBYs–Salisbury’s Firehouse Brew Pit Special Use Permit (SUP) Annihilated by Record Avalanche of Well Orchestrated and Documented Evidence.
In all our years of observing NIMBYs fighting off unwanted buildings or businesses invading THEIR neighborhoods, we have never witnessed the immense amount of PG-13 well-documented evidence gathered against the Firehouse Brew Pit special use permit. If you have any thoughts about blocking a business or project coming into your neighborhood, THIS video is the outstanding primer on how to do right.
Will “Bench Warmers” AKA Club Tyvek fall prey to a NIMBY uprising?:
RFP Staff
♦ At the last Salisbury City Council meeting citizen John Morison raised important questions about a former Salisbury Customer Service employee Joe Elliot who allegedly embezzled around $1,500 (possibly more) from Customer Service. The current City Manager Lane Bailey, who habitually fails to respond to legal public information requests, told Mr. Morison that he could not speak about the Joe Elliot case because the city was being “investigated” by the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI). But Mr. Morison that’s only half the story.
Mr. Morison what Bailey neglected to tell you was that the City Government of Salisbury previously called in the SBI back when the alleged crime was first discovered for an investigation, then thought the better of it and snuffed it. Heaven forbid anything negative should be broadcast about Salisbury’s City Hall. Perhaps you would like to come to City Council on Tuesday for public commentary and ask why City Hall quashed the first SBI investigation of Joe Elliot? It’s a legitimate question that requires an answer. Perhaps you could direct your question to “current” Mayor Pro Tem Maggie Blackwell? We understand she is well versed on the issue.
Here is the RFP May 4th, 2015 Article which reported the city’s snuffing the first SBI Investigation of the alleged Joe Elliot embezzlement: “Many Question Salisbury’s City Hall Cover-up of Customer Service Rep Joe Elliot’s Alleged Misappropriation of City Funds.”
Citizen John Morison raises questions about embezzlement at Salisbury Customer Service Center Video:
RFP Staff
♦ Several Salisbury High School parents and Salisbury High personnel contacted the RFP this weekend about the recent story about Salisbury, N.C.’s D-rated Salisbury High School. They offered us the straight dope on the recent wrist slap suspensions of Principal Luke Brown (3 days suspension with pay–basically a vacation) and Assistant Principal Michelle Taylor (2 days suspension without pay). Deeply involved in this story is Shaleek Williams, the basketball player shot last year at Salisbury High and who wound up striking a North Rowan High School player, triggering the bench clearing incident that short-circuited both Salisbury and North Rowan High School’s playoff aspirations.
The February 10th 2015 RFP Article: “Student Shot at Salisbury High. Williams Sent Home. Da Juan Russell Arrested”
Student Shot at Salisbury High. Williams Sent Home. Da-Juan Russell Arrested
Sources among parents and school personnel revealed the basketball player Shaleek Williams was allegedly caught sometime in early February engaged in inappropriate behavior with a female student inside Salisbury High. In order not to lose Williams for any post-season basketball playoff games, Assistant Principal Taylor allegedly decided that discipline for his inappropriate behavior be delayed. Principal Luke Brown allegedly agreed with her plan. On Thursday February 11th the Principal and assistant principal met with Shaleek Williams and his mother at Salisbury High to discuss a brief suspension (3 or 4 days) for Shaleek to start the following Monday. Had the punishment begun immediately as policy allegedly dictates, he would have been eligible to play during his period of out of school suspension.
The following evening on February 12th a bench clearing episode broke out after Shaleek Williams allegedly cuffed a North Rowan Player on the neck. It’s said Moody became upset that administrators veered from written policy by treating a student athlete as special or different. Moody allegedly became disenchanted with Luke Brown circumventing the chain of command by talking with parents, attorneys, and boosters to enlist their help to reverse the decision by sports officials at the state level. The entire series of incidents makes it appear that RSSS is more concerned with its student athletic programs, than with academics.
A tempest in a tea pot.
RFP Staff
♦ Codie Lea Cline, felon, 34, of the 4300 block of Stokes Ferry Road, already jailed for larceny and trespassing, was charged Sunday for possessing narcotics carisoprodol and hydrocodone, two controlled substances on jail premises at the Rowan County Detention Center in Salisbury.
Cline is charged with larceny, trespass (second degree), possession of controlled substance Schedule IV (misdemeanor), possession of controlled substance Schedule II (misdemeanor), and possession of a controlled substance on prison or jail premises (felony).
Under a secured $7,500 bond, Cline remains in the Rowan County Detention Center.
Codie Lea Cline’s Previous Record:
RFP Staff
♦ Levi Dwayne Pruitt, 44, who owns a lengthy criminal history and dwells at of 1911 Calvin Street in Salisbury, was arrested Friday for allegedly selling crack and heroin on multiple occasions to drug informant in Salisbury, N.C. sting.
According to law enforcement sources Pruitt allegedly sold crack and heroin to a drug informant on multiple occasions during 2015. Cited dates of drug sales were September 24th, October 18th, November 12th, and November 19th. Pruitt was also alleged to possess both crack and heroin at the time of his arrest.
Pruitt’s charges include possession with intent to manufacture/sell/distribute controlled substance schedule II (felony), Selling/deliver a controlled substance schedule II (felony), 2 counts of trafficking heroin or opium (felony), and possession of controlled substance schedule II (felony).
Levi Dwayne Pruitt’s Previous Record:
RFP Staff
♦ An early morning blaze destroyed Burger King on the 700 block of Jake Alexander Blvd and shut down Jake Alexander Blvd. between Highway 150 and Brenner Avenue for many hours. Jake Alexander Blvd. was scheduled to reopen at 9 a.m.
Firefighting companies from Salisbury and Rowan County poured in Leatherman Plaza to fight a structural fire that looked hopeless from the outset. The fire was declared under control at about 6:30 a.m. It appears the fire may have started in Burger King kitchen and spread rapidly throughout the structure. The interior of the building was gutted by the fire, leaving the exterior walls. The roof caved in. No doubt the building will need to be demolished.
The fire remains under investigation and no cause has yet been cited.
Throughout the early morning hours smoke billowed through the area. Several area buildings were cleared as a safety precaution and Duke Power shut down power to nearby businesses including Jeter’s.
**This story will be updated as more information becomes available.**
RFP Staff
♦ The Jury took less than 30 minutes to convict Maurice Robinson, 37, of the 2012 murder the much beloved Z & H convenience store owner Hecham Abualenian and 3 Salisbury armed robberies. The guilty verdict came as no surprise to many area legal observers who saw the case against Robinson as open and shut.
The jury got the case at just after 3 p.m. Monday and swiftly delivered the verdict on the murder charge and the armed robberies that included Abualenian’s Z & H convenience store on Mooresville Road and 2 armed robberies at Neighborhood Mart on West Horah Street near Livingstone College.
Prosecutors contended that Robinson planned all 3 convenience store robberies and supplied the gun employed in the crimes. Prosecution witnesses Kevin Canzator and Chris Watson, who accompanied Robinson on the robberies and are now in prison after pleading guilty, testified during the trial that Robinson planned robberies. Watson claimed that he took part in the robberies because Robinson threatened to harm his family and because he owed Robinson crack money.
Todd Paris, Associate Editor and Salisbury Attorney
♦ Tourism Development Authorities (TDAs) exist in many places in NC. In order to get one, a local bill must be passed by the legislature and we have ours. It’s called “The Rowan County Convention and Visitor Bureau.” It’s in the “Gateway Building” at 204 East Innes Street which also hosts “Rowanworks” our Economic Development Commission and The Salisbury-Rowan Chamber of Commerce. By 2013, the legislature granted over 200 such “concessions.”
TDA’s generally are allowed to levy a room occupancy tax of between three percent (3%) and six (6%) of the gross receipts derived from the rental of any room, lodging, or accommodation furnished by a hotel, motel, inn, tourist camp, or similar place within the area that is subject to sales tax imposed by the State. The use of funds is limited by the enabling statute to “Only to promote travel, tourism, and conventions in Rowan County and to sponsor tourist-oriented events and activities in Rowan County.” A PDF is attached.
In 2013, operatives of the City of Salisbury were able to have the occupancy tax raised to total of six percent (6%) and suddenly our TDA became “cash rich” and with the recent hotel building boom, literally had more money then they knew what to do with. Good news, right? (See Appendix B)
http://c.ymcdn.com/sites/www.ncrla.org/resource/resmgr/Advocacy/UPDATED_NC_Occupancy_Tax_Pro.pdf
What’s a Municipal Service District?
RFP published an excellent article on this subject way back in 2014 found here:
Suffice it to say that downtown property owners pay the highest property tax in the state to prop up Downtown Salisbury, Inc., which promotes downtown and regularly “puts on” events like “Friday Night on the Town” and “Slide the City” in order to encourage people to visit and spend money downtown.
The Empire Hotel Strikes Back
The MSD taxes used to be more than enough to support DSI and its programs until City Council member, Brian Miller decided that DSI should buy the old Empire Hotel. He just didn’t tell anyone it had an old dry cleaner site in it and it had failed a “Phase I Environmental.” Because of that, it just won’t sell. RFP has already run an article on that debacle and you can find it here:
Suddenly, DSI was saddled with 100K a per year debt service for an unsalable building and had a severe problem covering operating expenses. The solution? Our TDA was approached and agreed to cover about 80K per year in “marketing expenses” for DSI formerly paid out of MSD dollars and this allowed DSI to survive the Empire Hotel debacle. Why not, after all, City operatives just managed to double the TDA’s annual income in Raleigh, right?
The Empire Hotel Strikes Back
The TDA has been giving money each year to DSI without any questions, but suddenly they are requiring DSI to submit “grant applications” and specify how many “heads and beds” each event is likely to produce. At least one local merchant has filed a “butt-hurt” report over this in the local print media and predicted DSI’s pending financial demise. It is a valid issue in that most of DSI’s events draw folks within driving distance and probably do not result in hotel and motel stays and those are the folks that pay the special occupancy tax in the first place. Considering the statutory purposes (promoting tourism) established for the occupancy tax, their director is probably right in asking for this info.
In the end analysis, if Brian Miller, (a banker who should know better) hadn’t sold DSI and the City on a “dirty building” that can’t be sold, DSI would have $100K per year to spend on programs and infrastructure instead of being reliant on the TDA’s bail-out. Then again, folks just keep re-electing him.
