Community Calendar, May 18, 2013

The Carolina Wrestling Showcase will be in the county tonight. George South and others are on the card, and proceeds benefit Mount Zion and Roper’s Grove AME Zion Churches. Doors open at 5:30 and bell time is 6:00 p.m. at the Montgomery County Ag Center on Glen Rd. in Troy.

Perfect Peace Quartet will sing tonight at the Cedar Plantation in Troy. The family-friendly event starts at 6:00 p.m., and the game room will be open, too, at the Cedar Plantation on N. Main St. in Troy.

Destination Bluegrass will be at the Mount Gilead Music Barn tonight. Showtime is 7:30 p.m. at the Music Barn on N. Main St. in Mount Gilead.

Tomorrow, the Moore Philharmonic Orchestra will join Sophia Pavlenko and Paul Chandley for a program at Trinity United Methodist Church in Troy. The concert will being at 3:00 p.m., and admission is free.

The Alzheimer’s Support Group will meet this week. David Harper leads the group, and the meeting is set for Wed., May 22, at 2:00 p.m. at the Montgomery Senior Center on Page St. in Troy. More information at 910-572-4464.

The American Red Cross Blood Drive will be in county this week. The bloodmobile will be at the Lake Tillery Volunteer Fire Department Thu., May 23, from 3:00 to 7:30 p.m. Appointments are not necessary, but may be made by calling 1-800-RED-CROSS.

And the Mount Gilead Memorial Day Observance will be held next weekend. The program is sponsored by the local VFW and American Legion, and it will start Sat., May 25, at 11:00 a.m. at the veterans memorial beside the library on W. Allenton St. in Mount Gilead.

See details on these and other events, and add you own from the Community Calendar link on our home page at http://www.wmtg.org, or call us toll-free at 1-855-881-9684.

Montgomery County Relay for Life Tonight

The Montgomery County Relay for Life is set for tonight. It will begin at 6:00 p.m. in the football stadium at West Montgomery High School.

Relay for Life is an annual event that aims to bring the community together in support of cancer survivors and in remembrance of those who have been lost to the disease. Teams of volunteers work to raise money that benefits the work of the American Cancer Society.

Among the highlights of Relay for Life is the survivor walk, which will start at 6:30 p.m. Then at 9:30 p.m., the field lights will be turned off as hundreds of lights shine and names are read aloud to celebrate those affected or taken by cancer and to honor caregivers and others who have supported them on their journey. The lights are added for a small donation and can be reserved through 7:00 p.m. at a special booth at the Relay.

Entertainment through the evening will include gospel group Potter’s Will, singer Joseph Maness, and popular band Loaded Dice from Rockingham. High school groups and local dance teams will also perform.

The night will also include a tricycle relay and other games, and a variety of food will be available from a number of the fund raising teams.

The event will end with a closing ceremony at 2:00 a.m. Relay for Life organizers encourage the public to come and go and attend as much of the event as they’d like.

Former County Commissioner Talks About Need for Unity in Mount Gilead

Mount Gilead area resident George Knight is talking about the need for unity and for support of the town’s budget process.

Local resident George Knight addresses Mount Gilead Town Commissioners at their meeting on May 14, 2013. (Johnny Almond photo)

Knight spoke to Mount Gilead Town Commissioners at their regular meeting Tuesday night, and called on citizens to consider their actions with regard to town government. He offered specific advice to local churchgoers.

“I see a bunch of churches around here, and I see people coming and going on Sunday,” said Knight. “Sometimes I wonder what you’re going and coming for. Sunday, when you go to church, you might want to think about the old Heavenly Father up there is looking down on us.”

“We used to have a town here. We had our problems, yes, and we will continue to have our problems.”

Knight spoke generally about the municipal budget and said it is important that the town be careful about expense, but also that the budget is funded in a way that provides for the needs of citizens.

“Now, when you go to the poll, I suggest you try to get those people that’s going to take care of you,” Knight said. “When you hire your pastor, who do you hire? You hire somebody that you think is going to come in there and take care of you. As parents in your home, what do we do? We take care of our children. Somebody is taking care of somebody, and I can’t understand why we in this town can’t take of each other.”

“I’ve never seen this town split like this. It’s a dad-blame shame.”

George Knight’s full comments can be heard in a rebroadcast of the entire Mount Gilead Town Commissioners meeting. It airs again Sunday at 9:00 p.m. on Community Radio WMTG.

Dick Trickle, 1941-2013

There are reports this afternoon of the death of former NASCAR driver Dick Trickle.

Retired NASCAR driver Dick Trickle competed in 303 races and garnered 36 top-ten finishes. Trickle died May 16, 2013, in Lincoln Co., N.C. (legendsofnascar.com photo)

The Lincoln County (N.C.) Sheriff’s Office has confirmed to CBS News that Trickle died today as the result of a self-inflicted gunshot.

During his 24-year NASCAR career, Trickle drove in 303 stock car races. He never took the checkered flag, but did finish in the top 10 on 36 occasions. Dick Trickle was 71 years old.

Former Mayor Speaks on Economic Development in Mount Gilead

Mount Gilead Town Commissioners met Tuesday night.

It was the board’s regular monthly meeting, and the agenda was fairly light. Among decisions made, the board approved $65 in funding to support an initiative to encourage children to read over the summer. Town Manager Katrina Tatum said some books will be purchased, and donations of books are welcome at Town Hall.

Also at the meeting, former Mayor Jimmy Haithcock spoke in the public forum. Haithcock’s main concern was economic development. He said the town has amenities that are attractive to industry, but the town tax rate is too high.

“We have the facilities,” said Haithcock. “We have water, sewer, electricity, rail, natural gas – anything you want (for) industry. But, our tax rate is not competitive with other communities.”

Quoting figures he said were obtained from county bookkeepers, Haithcock questioned an increase in the town’s salary budget while tax income has not kept up. Shifting focus from economic development, he said senior citizens should not have to bear the burden of the increases.

“Most of our property is owned by senior citizens, whose income does not go up when their expenses go up,” he continued. “We need to think of these people and keep our expenditures as low as possible. I’m not downgrading anybody that works for the town — police department, fire department, whatever — they do a great job. but we’ve got to cut our expenditures down. We’ve got to cut down what we spend.”

Jim Haithcock’s full comments can be heard in a rebroadcast of the entire Mount Gilead Town Commissioners meeting. It airs again Sunday night at 9:00 p.m. on Community Radio WMTG.

George Knight also spoke in the public forum. He talked about the need for unity, and his comments will be featured in tomorrow’s local updates.

Reward Offered in Stanly County Murder Investigation

The Stanly County Crimestoppers program has posted a reward in exchange for information in the murder of a man near Albemarle.

Jason Whitney Burleson is pictured in this undated photo. The 27-year-old was found dead May 12, 2013, at his home near Albemarle, N.C. (family photo provided by law enforcement)

27-year-old Jason Whitney Burleson was found at the home of his grandmother Sunday. Reports say he had been tied to a chair in the home’s basement, but an official cause of death has not been released.

The home is just outside the Albemarle city limits, and the investigation is being led by detectives from the Stanly County Sheriff’s Office. A spokesperson for the State Bureau of Investigation confirmed to WMTG yesterday that the SBI is assisting in the case, but would not comment further about the open investigation.

Stanly County Crimestoppers is offering $1,000 for information leading to an arrest and conviction in the murder of Jason Burleson. The Stanly County Sheriff’s Office can be reached at 704-986-3714, or information can be relayed to local law enforcement at 911.

Montgomery County Man Pleads Guilty to Child Sex Offense

A Montgomery County man will serve more than six years in prison as the result of a plea agreement on charges of sexual offenses involving a child.

Todd Barry Furr pleaded guilty to second-degree sexual offense May 14, 2013, in Montgomery Co., N.C. Superior Court. (law enforcement photo via mugshots.com)

48-year-old Todd Barry Furr appeared in Montgomery County Superior Court Tuesday and pled guilty to second degree sexual offense. Judge Todd Burke handed down a sentence of 77 to 102 months.

Original charges filed in the case say Furr molested a nine-year-old girl who was a sleepover guest of Furr’s stepdaughter. The incident was said to have happened on March 30, 2010. A few days later, the victim told a teacher what had happened.

Public records show Todd Barry Furr has a criminal record dating back to 1981, with convictions on charges including driving while intoxicated, communicating threats, assault on a child, and the possession and sale of Schedule II narcotics. He was most recently released from prison last September after serving just over a year on drug charges.

Relay for Life Set for Friday Night

The Montgomery County Relay for Life is coming up this week.

Cancer survivors participate in a celebration at one of the many Relay for Life events held each year. (ACS photo)

The event starts Fri., May 17, at 6:00 p.m. in the West Montgomery High School football stadium. There will be music and food, and special times to honor survivors of cancer and to remember those lost to the disease.

The Relay for Life is set to go on until 2:00 a.m. Sat., and the public is invited to come and go throughout the event.

Relay for Life is the culmination of dozens of fund raising and awareness efforts undertaken by teams of volunteers in support of the work of the American Cancer Society.

Third Suspect Named in Crime Spree

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police have identified a third suspect in the home invasion that led to a four-county police chase last week.

Edward Antonio Hudson is suspected in the Charlotte home invasion that started a four-county police chase early Thu., May 8, 2013. (Mecklenburg Sheriff’s Dept. photo)

Authorities say 23-year-old Edward Antonio Hudson also helped commit the crime that resulted in a kidnapping and car theft in Midland, a shootout in Albemarle, and a car crash south of Norwood.

Jarvis Marsh was arrested at the end of the chase, and Anson County deputies arrested Robert Smith Monday in Morven.

Death Investigation Continues Near Albemarle

Investigators in Albemarle continue to search for clues in the death of 27-year-old Jason Whitney Burleson.

Jason Whitney Burleson is pictured in this undated photo. The 27-year-old was found dead May 12, 2013, at his home near Albemarle, N.C. (family photo provided by law enforcement)

Two friends told officers they found Burleson Sunday tied to a chair in the basement of his home on Groves Ave. on the edge of town behind Ingle’s Supermarket. The pair called 911 and told an operator it appeared Burleson was dead.

They told reporters the house had been ransacked, and one of the friends reported it was her car that detectives were searching on Monday.

Authorities are keeping quiet on details while the investigation continues, but one source said there is public speculation that the incident may be related to a fatal hit-and-run across town over the weekend.

20-year-old Tony Cunningham of Norwood died following the incident that occurred around 1:45 a.m. Sunday on Snuggs St. Jason Burleson’s friend said Burleson and Cunningham were acquainted.

Police are still looking for a black male with shoulder-length dreadlocks and a blue or gray Toyota or Mitsubishi that is believed to have been involved in the hit-and-run.