Todd Paris, Staff Writer and Salisbury Attorney
♦ City Council
First I attended Salisbury City Council and sat beside my hero, Carolyn Logan. For those who regularly watch RFP’s videos of public comments, this fearless lady fights a never-ending battle for City Council to take meaningful steps to combat Salisbury death and mayhem on its notorious mean streets. She is fearless, honest, and as real as it gets. It was my pleasure to sit next to her; however she is a hard act to follow in public comment. Her passion, will, and big heart is an inspiration to Salisbury’s marginalized residents in the community and to the rest of the city’s right thinking people.
City Council has now started debate to move public comment to the end of the meeting. Of course, this will only kill off audience participation and comments as citizens will be forced to sit through Mayor Alexander’s meaningless reports and celebrations of farcical accomplishments only to emerge brain dead and addled by the end of the meeting. If this passes, I only hope future the speakers will be able to overcome their sense of self preservation and resist fleeing into the night before we reach the prescribed public comment.
In my humble opinion, Karen Alexander is the worst mayor in at least thirty years and I can’t wait until November to see her side armed into the dustbin of municipal failure. Maggie Blackwell opined at one point this was the last such report from such and such group that she would hear. We can only hope she keeps her word this time.
Rowan Free Press will post the public comments as soon as the City posts them. There is much more to be gleaned from this meeting.
Tea Party Meeting
I was invited guest tonight and asked to speak on “Fibrant and How It Harms to Taxpayers Not Even Living in the City Limits.” The turn out was good and I explained the origins of the Fibrant debacle and how folks in towns that buy water from Salisbury Rowan Utilities are forced against their will to financially support this service even though Salisbury is allowed, but is financially unable to offer it to them. I also explained how the SPD’s Fibrant deficit induced near collapse is affecting Rowan County Sheriff’s Department response time and budget.
Steve Poteat and Todd Paris at the Rowan Tea Party Meeting:
I was happy to see my old political adversary and now close friend Jim Sides there, who graciously fact checked my information and passed upon my information as being honest and without error. Mr. Sides is the smartest and most honest local politician I have ever met and I regret aiding in his defeat. I would trade him for Greg Edds in an instant.
Please be watching for RFP’s videos in a few days. There is so much more to see!
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RFP Staff
♦ According to Rowan County Sheriff’s Office sources Michael Manuel Flake, 33, and Christopher David Rathburn, 20, both living at 714 China Grove Highway in Rockwell, were arrested allegedly at their home Monday for a major 5 one-pot “shake and bake” lab operation near Rockwell Elementary. Allegedly found at their trailer home lab operation were four hydrochloric acid generators, pseudoephedrine (a precursor chemical), possession hydrocodone (a powerful narcotic painkiller), and lithium batteries. Adding to the Flake and Rathburn’s woes was that the lab operation was allegedly located less than 1,000 Ft. from a school.
The Rowan County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the SBI in serving the arrest warrants.
Michael Manuel Flake:
Christopher David Rathburn:
Flake was charged with maintain dwelling/vehicle for controlled substance (felony), possession of controlled substance II (felony), manufacture control substance schedule I (felony), possess controlled substance schedule I (felony), possess immediate precursor chemical (felony), and sell/deliver within 1,000 Ft. of school property (felony). Under a secured $60,000 bond, he is being held in the Rowan County Detention Center.
Rathburn was charged with manufacture control substance schedule I (felony) and possession of immediate precursor chemical (felony). Under a $20,000 secured bond, he is being held in the Rowan County Detention Center.
714 China Grove Hwy, Rockwell, N.C.:
Location 714 China Grove Hwy, Rockwell, N.C.:
Michael Manuel Flake’s Previous Record:
