Union County Weekly

Vol. 10 No. 46

November 13, 2015 www.unioncountyweekly.com

Development woes

Marvin wins big The Mav football team upset Weddington on Friday to win the conference. Now, they’re looking for a playoff run. | Page 13

Holiday giving Two Union County organizations celebrate Thanksgiving by providing families in need with a warm meal during the holidays. | Page 4

UCPS under fire Relations between Superintendent Dr. Mary Ellis, the UCPS board and a software firm has the Union County Board of Commissioners concerned. | Page 9

In Union County politics, being associated with real estate or development is no easy obstacle to overcome. Residents worry big projects will erode smalltown charm – a fear verified in the outcome of local elections.

Page 3 Education 9 | Faith 11 | Calendar 12 | Sports 13 | Classifieds 15 Crafts • Great Shopping • Olde Towne • Holiday Designer Rooms Original Art • Decorated Trees, Mantels and Doors • Santa • Scrumptious Foods Yuletide Entertainment

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Page 2 | November 13, 2015 | Union County Weekly

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Union County Weekly | November 13, 2015 | Page 3

Election showed development stigma

by Justin Vick justin@carolinaweeklynewspapers.com

David Hoffman had only lived in Marvin a few months before deciding to run for mayor.

Hoffman had an impressive resume, including prior experience as vice-chairman of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Adjustment and as an economist with the Tax Foundation.

The Charlotte Business Journal recognized him last year as one of Charlotte’s “40 Under 40,” and he raised more than $43,000 in campaign contributions, including $5,000 from former Carolina Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith.

Hoffman, however, lost by 158 votes to Joe Pollino, a stay-at-home dad who made national news in 2013 for becoming mayor as a write-in candidate.

Hoffman couldn’t overcome the stigma of being a real estate broker.

In Union County politics, being associated with real estate, homebuilders or development tends to be an obstacle in getting elected.

Residents worry high-density residential and commercial projects will erode the small-town charm.

Consider the following: • A flyer emailed by the Marvin Families for Good Government framed the election in three ways, including the potential for developers to pressure leaders into changing laws.

• One of the concerns brought up in a Weddington election ad dealt with preserving town values, such as restricting commercial development in the town center at N.C. 16 and 84.

• Some Indian Trail candidates criticized op-

ponents who accepted campaign donations from developers. Those same candidates characterized their anti-developer opponents as “anti-advancement.”

Fred Burrell’s resume spans 38 years in the development and construction industries. Yet, Waxhaw residents elected him to one of two empty seats on the board of commissioners.

Burrell didn’t have to navigate a negative campaign.

“To me, that was the most refreshing thing,” Burrell said, noting the town is ready to move forward as “one Waxhaw,” not as several disparate groups constantly lobbying against each other.

Waxhaw isn’t without its development pressures. Residents have spoken out against an apartment complex proposed for downtown, while the Cureton subdivision has opposed the possibility of a gas station being located near their homes.

Dan McWhorter recently bought a historic home in Waxhaw, but his family has lived in the area for more than 200 years. One of his ancestors was childhood friends with Andrew Jackson, who became the seventh president of the United States.

He cautioned town commissioners Tuesday, Nov. 11, to “keep an eye on these developers as they come in.”

“Development needs not to be resisted, but controlled,” Burrell said. “It needs to be led.”

Burrell sees Waxhaw beginning to manage development in this way, with the hiring of a professional town manager in Warren Wood and the creation of a vision and goals that’ll lay the (see Election on page 5)

Town manager resigns from Indian Trail

by Justin Vick justin@carolinaweeklynewspapers.com

INDIAN TRAIL – Joe Fivas announced his intent to resign as town manager one week after voters ousted two incumbents in the Nov. 3 election.

Fivas will resign Nov. 30. Town Clerk Kelley Southward will serve as interim town manager from then until the new board is sworn in and gives marching orders.

“I think he saw the handwriting on the wall,” Mayor Pro Tem David Cohn said. “He didn’t want to be fired.”

Talk around town suggested Fivas’s days as manager were numbered. Much of that talk was spurred by tension between Fivas and Cohn, who become critical of the town manager in recent years.

Cohn was not only the leading votegetter in the Nov. 3 election, but the two challengers he most closely aligned with during the campaign, Mark Wireman and Amy Stanton, also won seats on the board.

Cohn wouldn’t say on Nov. 11 if the newly elected board was going to fire Fivas.

“We would have talked about it,” Cohn said.

“Let’s put it that way.”

Cohn believes Fivas kept him out of the loop since the town manager wanted to form a police department, and Cohn supported contracting with the sheriff’s office. Cohn won that battle.

When Fivas told the council that moving forward on a town hall wouldn’t result in a tax increase, a skeptical Cohn asked the town manager if he believed in Santa Claus.

But Cohn said it felt like Christmas when he visited town hall following the most recent election, considering people were happy with the result. In December 2014, the council received feedback from former staff members that they were mistreated by Fivas.

Things weren’t always so tense at town hall.

The town council announced in January 2010 that it hired Fivas from a national search consisting of 117 candidates. He served as city manager for Owosso, Michigan at the time.

The council touted Fivas for his experience in attracting business development, securing grant funding and developing parks and recreation amenities.

During his tenure with Indian Trail, the town built its first municipal park and started making progress on building and widening roads thanks to the passing of the first transportation bond package.

Fivas’ name popped up for manager searches in York County, South Carolina in 2013 and Fernandina Beach, Florida in fall 2015.

Mayor Michael Alvarez wasn’t surprised by Fivas’s decision to resign.

“I have full confidence in the council majority to find a town manager that understands what the people want and understands he takes direction from the council and the council takes direction from the people,” Alvarez said.

“The town has elected three very professional councilmembers whose love of this town runs deep and takes their roles as elected officials that represent the people in accordance to the Constitution very seriously,” Alvarez said.

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Page 4 | November 13, 2015 | Union County Weekly

FOR SALE

Local initiatives give back to Union County during Thanksgiving season

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A Wonderful Life Sunday, December 6 3 p.m. Indian Trail Christmas Parade

Immediately following the parade we’ll have a Winter Wonderland of FREE activities and entertainment! *Performers on the stage, carolers strolling along singing holiday songs, hot cocoa, games, crafts contests galore, snowball fun, frozen favorites, yummy s’mores*

Tree Lighting at Dusk

FREE PICTURE with SANTA & MRS. CLAUS

Parade applications now being accepted.

For more information, visit the Town’s website at www.IndianTrail.org or call Susan Didier at 704-821-2541

Donate a NEW, UNWRAPPED toy and Brighten a Child’s holiday!

Holiday Heroes

Look for donation bins at all Town buildings, Hemby Bridge, Stallings & Bakers Fire Departments, & the Indian Trail Sheriff’s Office.

For many people, Thanksgiving is a time for visiting family, eating good food and reflecting on life’s many blessings.

But for others, the holiday can be painful.

Families facing unemployment or living on a fixed income often cannot afford the trimmings of a holiday feast. Individuals unable to visit family or friends for the holiday likely feel alone.

Two Union County initiatives have committed to making Thanksgiving a little brighter for those struggling this season.

Though the two programs are not affiliated, their philosophy is the same: celebrate Thanksgiving by giving others something to be thankful for.

Lord of the Harvest to hold 26th annual Thanksgiving lunch

MONROE – For more than a quartercentury, Lord of the Harvest has provided a place for community members to gather for Thanksgiving.

Held each year on Thanksgiving Day, the community outreach event offers a free Thanksgiving lunch for families in need and individuals who might be alone on the holiday.

“We always have a huge turnout, and feed hundreds and hundreds of people,” Sharon McFadden, with Monroe nonprofit Operation Reach Out, said. “It is a big event, and the community looks forward to it each year.”

Lord of the Harvest is a partnership between Operation Reach Out and local churches and ministries, including Restoration House. The program aims to serve meals to about 400 people this year, including to-go boxes for shut-ins and local civil service employees who have to work on Thanksgiving, according to a news release.

Meals are held each year at The Shrine Club, located at 305 E. Phifer St. in Monroe, from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Operation Reach Out needs donations of various food items, as well as volunteers to help prepare and serve meals and clean up after the event.

Items needed include hams, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, corn, green beans, cranberry sauce, rolls and desserts, such as cakes, pies, brownies, etc. People can drop donations off at the Operation Reach Out office, located at 1308 Miller St. Monetary donations also are needed to help purchase food items. Call 704-2894237 or email opreachout@aol.com for more on how to contribute or volunteer.

Local nonprofit Common Heart to feed 1,000 families

INDIAN TRAIL – While Lord of the Harvest gives people a place to go for a Thanksgiving meal, local nonprofit Com-

Photo courtesy of Common Heart

mon Heart’s Great Turkey Countdown helps families celebrate at home with their own meals.

Now in its ninth year, the initiative has provided hundreds of meals each year to area families in need. This year, Common Heart hopes to set a new record through providing meals to 1,000 families throughout Union County and a small portion of eastern Mecklenburg County.

“The organization has about 1,500 families that we’ve helped at one time or another in the last two years,” Common Heart Executive Director Keith Adams said of Common Heart’s year-round food pantry. “This year, we’ve really stepped up (to meet) the challenge, to be a blessing to that many families in the county” through the Great Turkey Countdown.

Common Heart collects food and monetary donations and identifies area families in need during the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving. Each year on the Saturday before Thanksgiving, hundreds of volunteers pack meals and deliver them to receiving families.

Adams said the Great Turkey Countdown is often just as exciting for volunteers as it is for families receiving the meals.

“There are a number of volunteers who want to come back regularly and serve” at Common Heart, Adams said. “… It’s about starting a small revolution of kindness. A great transformation takes place in the heart of our volunteers.”

The nonprofit currently needs donations of frozen turkeys, stuffing, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes/boxed potatoes, canned sweet potatoes, canned green beans, canned French onions, canned cream soup, canned pumpkin, macaroni and cheese, Jello, fruit cocktail/canned fruit, canned corn and frozen pies.

Common Heart also collects $20 donations, which Adams said cover the cost of a turkey and sides for a single family. People can drop off donations at Common Things Thrift Store, located at 321 Indian Trail Road N., Tuesday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

People also can make financial donations, sign up to volunteer and learn more at www. turkeys.commonheart.org.

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The Weekly

Letters to the Editor Dear Editor, I enjoyed your column and am glad to hear you are not PC. I have heard that, if you are not a liberal when you are 20 years old, you have no heart, but if you are not a conservative by the time you are 30 years old, you have no brain.

Peter Angevine Dear Editor, Your article was a healthy breath of unculturally-polluted air. It is especially refreshing coming from a 20-something.

Keep repeating your message.

Eddie Goodall Dear Editor, Just read the article titled “I dressed up as a ballerina...” and found it to be refreshingly courageous and very needed in our over sensitive country that has been weakened by too much political correctness.

Bravo and proud to be part of the conservatives.

Randy Gartz Dear Editor, This letter is dedicated to all of the people that moved to Waxhaw in the last 20 years for its small-town charm and historical area.

Most of them didn't move here to shop here.

They have moved here to change Waxhaw.

Big money came to Waxhaw and bought

Union County Weekly | November 13, 2015 | Page 5 land right in town to build seven four-story apartment buildings right against the historic area. Now what is wrong with this picture?

It’s my opinion that these apartments should be built but in their neighborhoods. Plus, Waxhaw has been designated as a tree saving town and it would be interesting to count how many trees hey remove for this project.

I have lived in Waxhaw three times and this time, I have lived in my present home for 40 years and it is my opinion that these homeowners should leave Waxhaw alone. I realize that this is just a few of you and the rest of you are great people that shop here and are wanted here for a lifetime.

We do not want empty apartments after a few years on skinny substandard roads that are already clogged with angry people crossing over the double lines right in town. It already takes an act of God to go north on Providence or even on Highway 521 in South Carolina.

Pat Kitts

Election (continued from page 3)

groundwork for a comprehensive plan. Once completed, that comprehensive plan will trigger a rewrite of development ordinances, which will give developers an idea of the types of projects that the community favors.

“We’re starting to get the toolbox in order to make sure we get the development we want and that we become attractive to the companies we want,” Burrell said.

Burrell understands that residents still have their concerns, but he points to a new mayor and a new board that is willing to listen to them.

WWW.MATTHEWSMINTHILLWEEKLY.COM

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Page 6 | November 13, 2015 | Union County Weekly

The Weekly

Business Briefs

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10100 Park Cedar Drive, Suite 154 Charlotte, NC 28210 Phone: 704-849-2261 • Fax: 704-849-2504 www.unioncountyweekly.com

Editorial

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Managing Editor Hannah Chronis Business Editor Josh Whitener Education Editor Courtney Schultz Development Editor Justin Vick Sports editor Ben Doster Faith Columnist John Munro

Advertising Charlotte Conway Adrian Garson Andrea Mounts

Indian Trail Wendy’s re-opens after redesign with celebration

Business Publisher Jonathan McElvy Associate Publisher Frank Vasquez Business Manager Brent Epling

Design Art Director Maria Hernandez Layout Editor Erin Kirby Advertising: adsales@carolinaweeklynewspapers.com Letters to the Editor: hannah@carolinaweeklynewspapers.com Press Releases: hannah@carolinaweeklynewspapers.com

Photo courtesy of Mike Parks

Indian Trail Director of Community and Economic Development Kelly Barnhardt cuts the ribbon at the grand re-opening of the Indian Trail Wendy’s. Barnhardt is joined at center with Indian Trail Community Engagement Coordinator Julia Zweifel and members of the Wendy’s team.

INDIAN TRAIL – The Wendy’s at U.S. 74 and Indian Trail Road re-opened last week after being closed for six weeks as crews worked on a building redesign.

Wendy’s staff celebrated the re-opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Nov. 4. The restaurant’s remodel has “innovative” interior and exterior design and features an “open, bright” dining room with available seating at booths, tables, lounge-style seating and a WiFi bar, according to a news release.

Wendy’s also incorporated a new ordering process, televisions, a fireplace, a Coca-Cola freestyle self-serve soda machine and more, the release said.

The restaurant is located at 13810 E. Independence Blvd.

The Arc of Union/Cabarrus Inc. names new executive director Union County Weekly is published by Charlotte Media Group. All rights reserved.

Reproduction without permission is strictly prohibited.

Miller has worked in the Charlotte-area nonprofit arena for 17 years and has an “extensive” background in community education and outreach, program development, event management, collaboration and relationship building, according to a news release. She most recently served as director of program services with the Alzheimer’s Association – Western Carolina Chapter.

“It is clear that Melanie has the skillset needed to further the mission of this wonderful agency and support a group of people who need the services and supports of The Arc,” Russell Wing, board president for The Arc, said in the release.

Miller will replace Melinda Plue, who is leaving The Arc after 10 years to become director of advocacy and chapter development for The Arc of North Carolina. Miller’s official first day as executive director is slated for Wednesday, Nov. 18.

The Arc of North Carolina has provided advocacy and support to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities since 1953, the release said. Find more information at wwwarcnc.org.

The Arc of Union/Cabarrus, Inc. Board of Directors recently named Melanie Miller as the nonprofit’s new executive director.

Photo courtesy of Mike Parks

A Nov. 5 ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrated the opening of Papa Murphy’s in Indian Trail.

Papa Murphy’s celebrates grand opening in Indian Trail INDIAN TRAIL – Town staff from Indian Trail and representatives from the Union County Chamber of Commerce gathered together last week for a ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the opening of Papa Murphy’s.

The establishment officially opened on Sept. 22 and offers “take-and-bake” pizza options, according to a news release.

“An uncooked pizza chain is kinda uncon-

ventional,” Papa Murphy’s owner Mike Pilotte, also a member of the Indian Trail VFW Post 2423, said in the release. “But I’m really living the American dream right here.”

Papa Murphy’s is located at 14035 E. Independence Blvd. Find more information at www.papamurphys.com.

Charlotte-area Allen Tate raises $73k for public education Charlotte-area Allen Tate Realtors recently raised more than $73,000 to benefit public education, as part of the company’s 18th Annual FUNday event.

For the past 18 years, Allen Tate agents, employees and guests have gathered on FUNday to “paid to play” to raise money for local public education organizations. FUNday has raised more than $1.52 million for public education across the Carolinas to date.

“Allen Tate welcomes the opportunity to raise money for public education through our annual FUNday event. The organizations that support FUNday are important to our communities. Our teachers and volunteers impact the daily lives of our children, and we hope we have made a positive impact for them,” Maggie Evans, FUNday Charlotte event chairperson, said in a news release.

Approximately 400 people attended the Charlotte event last month, which was an “upscale tailgate” and reception in the Panthers’ Den at Bank of America Stadium. The event included silent and live auctions, a 50/50 raffle, a wine pull and exclusive, behind-thescenes tours of the stadium and Carolina Panthers’ facilities.

Local education organizations benefitting from FUNday include: Communities in Schools, NCBest, MeckEd and Teach for America (Mecklenburg); Cleveland County Education Foundation (Kings Mountain/ Shelby); Clover Leaf Foundation (Lake Wylie); Foundation for Fort Mill Schools (Fort Mill); Gaston Education Foundation (Gastonia, Belmont); Kannapolis Education Foundation (Concord); Mooresville Foundation for Education (Mooresville); Rock Hill District 3 Education Foundation (Rock Hill); and Union County Education Foundation (Union County), according to the release.

CMPD Animal Care & Control

Orphaned Animals Available for Ad❤ption Name: Jada ID: A1097735 Breed Mix: Lab/Pit Age: 2 years Weight: 44 lbs Sex: Spayed Female Date of Arrival: 10/30/15 (Stray) Vaccinations: Has all required vaccinations.

Has been microchipped.

JADA

Jada recently enjoyed an outing to a park with a shelter volunteer and she didn’t let the gloomy weather dampen her spirits one bit! Jada is a 2 year old Labrador mix who has been patiently awaiting adoption at the shelter since late October. She proved to be an excellent car rider and was eager to work on her “sit” command and her leash walking skills. Jada is extremely affectionate and social. She made some new friends on her trip and enjoyed getting some exercise. Please visit the shelter to meet Jada today if you think she may be the perfect companion for you!

Check out her video! https://youtu.be/AIIS3DhqfDs

CMPD Animal Care & Control also holds an adoption event the first Saturday of each month at the SouthPark Mall located at 4400 Sharon Road

Name: Pizzazz ID: A1096829 Breed Mix: Shorthair Age: 7 months Weight: 5 lbs Sex: Spayed Female Date of Arrival: 10/8/15 (Stray) Vaccinations: Has all required vaccinations.

Has been microchipped.

MADELINE When it comes to relationships, I’m very level-headed. I don’t leap in paws first, if you know what I mean. But give me a little time, and then I’ll shower you with purrs, head-butts, and plenty of lap time. In the meantime, you may not see a lot of me but I’ll be thinking a lot of you!

8315 Byrum Drive / animals.cmpd.org ADOPTION FEES RANGE FROM $63 TO $103

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The Weekly

Development Briefs Wesley Chapel’s Village Commons could have auto shop WESLEY CHAPEL – Wesley Chapel has approved a request from Aston Properties to allow an automotive repair shop between the PetSmart and Hickory Tavern in The Village Commons shopping center.

Karen Partee, vice president of Aston Properties, told Wesley Chapel leaders that automotive repair shops are common in convenience-oriented shopping centers and could help other businesses in the plaza. Partee said the closest repair shop was seven miles away in Waxhaw, with others as far as Charlotte and Monroe.

A pair of residents from the nearby Blackstone neighborhood spoke against the proposal during last month’s public hearing, citing noise concerns.

Town gives nod to trailer lot STALLINGS – Town leaders approved a zoning request Oct. 12 that would allow for a utility trailer lot to be developed on 4.69 acres on U.S. 74.

Big Tex Trailers is scheduled to open in March with a 17,500-square-foot sales and repair center. The lot won’t include trailers built on the property.

Golf carts could get leeway MARVIN – The public will have the chance to weigh in on a text amendment that would allow golf carts to be driven in additional subdivisions.  The existing ordinance allows golf carts on roads within 17 subdivisions. Staff felt the list was outdated since it didn't include eight newer neighborhoods, such as Belle Grove, Courtyards of Marvin and Wyndmoor.

Instead of approving subdivisions individually, the text amendment would allow golf carts on any roads within subdivisions that have "received final plat approval.�

A public hearing will be held at 6:30 p.m.

Dec. 8 at Banks Fellowship Hall.

Marvin seeks to cut tall grass MARVIN – The village council revised its public health nuisance ordinance recently to include overgrown weeds and grass.

Grass, weeds and overgrown vegetation can’t exceed 12 inches in lots with a structure in a platted subdivision. It would also apply to vacant lots within platted subdivisions in which at least 60 percent of the lots have buildings.

Residents not in platted subdivisions need to maintain their lots within 100 feet of the street.

The ordinance doesn’t apply to farms, gardens, conservation space or naturally wooded areas.

Union jobless rate decreases Unemployment rates decreased in all of North Carolina counties in September, including Union, according to the latest stats from the N.C. Department of Commerce.

Union County's unemployment rate decreased from 5.2 percent in August to 4.5 percent in September.

The county reported 5,013 of 110,339 people were unemployed.

Union County Weekly | November 13, 2015 | Page 7

Town to match NCDOT funds MARVIN – The village recently approved a resolution that offered a 20-percent match to move forward on intersection improvements to New Town and Marvin roads.

The village intends to commit $155,000 toward the $775,000 project.

Town goes to court for taxes

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STALLINGS – The town filed a foreclosure lawsuit Oct. 7 against Eddie Squires for $38,746.03 owed for 2.27 acres on Old Charlotte Hwy. Town Attorney Melanie Fox told commissioners that Union County had previously filed a foreclosure suit for taxes owed for property on Gribble Road, in which the town was a defendant.

Former mayor joins board STALLINGS – The Stallings Town Council recently appointed former mayor Lynda Paxton and Clyde Dickenson to its transportation advisory committee.

The committee consists of five full-time members with an alternate.

Ira Bostic, Raul Gonzalez and James Romanow are also part of the group.

New firms form in county The following is a listing of new corporations filed by registered agents with the N.C. Secretary of State from Oct. 30 to Nov. 5 by town: Indian Trail • A Luxury Affair Limousine and Transportation Service LLC – Alvin Davis, 315 UnionvilleIndian Trail Road W., suite F. • AKA Express Inc. – Khamid Alkhazov, 5716 Lindley Crescent Drive. • All Floors Covering LLC – Sergio Gomez, 6014 Colton Ridge Drive. • Bend River Group LLC – Timothy Denzer, 4047 Holly Villa Circle. • Carolina Tomato Company LLC – Jay Linda-Jean, 207 Clear Springs Court. • Dala Investment Properties LLC – Alaa Kobercy, 3107 Broad Plum Lane. • Deeds Distribution LLC – Edward Pavlosky, 2150 Redwood Drive. • Leadership Envision Inc – Robert Edwards, 1003 Forestway Court. • Monks Island Partners LLC – Wesley Hinson, 309 Post Office Drive. • SBS Installations LLC – John Williams, 5811 Lindley Crescent Drive. • The Conservancy at Waxhaw Creek Homeowners' Association Inc. – Wesley Hinson, 309 Post Office Drive. • Vladi's LLC – Vladimir Visotsky, 3017 Saphire Lane.

Marvin • Ginger G. Walford DDS PLLC – Ginger Walford, 812 Wandering Way Drive. • HLR Kershaw LLC – Audrey Lavelle, 1000 Medinah Court. Waxhaw • AVS Management Consultants LLC – Vipul Shah, 9115 Woodhall Lake Drive. • Charlotte Restoration & Paint Inc – Paul King, 8613 Tintinhull Lane. • David Muntz LLC – David Muntz, 1508 Spring Field Drive. • Emily B. Parker Foundation Inc. – Jeffrey Parker, 2113 Trading Ford Drive. • Resilient Strategies Group LLC – Justin Schaefer, 2605 Merryvale Way. • RLB Innovations LLC – Robert Beaudry, 3227 Oak Brook Drive. • Shri Ganeshji LLC – Bankim Patel, 500 Chase Prairie Lane.Â

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Page 8 | November 13, 2015 | Union County Weekly

The Weekly

Crime Blotter

Marvin Fraud • 200 block of Walkers Bluff: Forgery of bank notes worth $899.68. Nov. 4 • 1900 block of Oak Shadow Way: Obtaining $450 checks by false pretenses.

Nov. 4 Waxhaw

The Union County Sheriff’s Office reported the following incidents in western Union County between Oct. 30 and Nov. 5: Indian Trail Fraud • 2100 block of Younts Road: $500 in video games obtained by false pretenses.

Nov. 2

Home/Business Break-ins • 1200 block of Glynwater Lane: $400 speakers stolen. Nov. 3 Vehicle Thefts • 5800 block of South Potter Road: $1,000 car stolen from home. Nov. 1 Wesley Chapel

Home/Building Break-ins • 5200 block of Old Monroe Road: $1,500 American bulldog, $700 laptop stolen and $200 guns stolen during break-in. Nov. 4

Property damage • 1100 block of Waxhaw-Indian Trail Road: Hit and run involving car. Oct. 30 • 800 block of Hidden Pond Lane: $1,500 excavator stolen. Oct. 31

Other •Indian Trail Elementary School: Weapon found on school property. Nov. 3

The Stallings Police Department reported the following incidents in western Union County between Nov. 2 to 8:

Property Damage • 6000 block of Fountainbrook Drive: $250 damage to car. Nov. 1 • 100 block of Matthews Indian Trail Road: $20 car headlight damaged. Nov. 1 • 2000 block of Rosewater Lane: $150 mailbox damaged. Nov. 3 • 300 block of Unionville-Indian Trail Road: Vehicle damage. Nov. 3

Home Break-ins • 12900 block of East Independence Boulevard: Felony charge. Nov. 4 • 2700 block of Bent Oak Drive: Felony charge. Nov. 8

Property Theft • 2100 block of Younts Road: Video game controllers, worth $6,055.96 total, stolen. Oct. 31 • 7800 block of Red Lantern Road: $100 vehicle tail lights stolen. Oct. 31 • 13700 block of E. Independence Blvd.: $46.32 food stolen. Nov. 1 • 7800 block of Idlewild Road: $2.19 beer stolen. Nov. 4 Vehicle Break-ins • 2100 block of Younts Road: $500 pistol, $300 tablet, $90 backpack and $300 laptop stolen. Oct. 31

Property Theft • Quality Inn Suites, 13470 E. Independence Blvd: Larceny by employee. Nov. 3 • 12800 block of East Independence Boulevard: Larceny of motor vehicle parts. Nov. 3 • 6000 block of Sapwood Court: Obtaining property by false pretenses. Nov. 5 Property Damage • 1900 block of Stallings Road: Injury to real property. Nov. 6 • 500 block of Ballymote Court: Injury to real property. Nov. 7

The Weekly

Restaurant Scores The Union County Health Department inspected the following dining locations between Nov. 3 and 8: Lowest Score • Papa John’s, 6701 Old Monroe Road, suite B – 83.5 Violations: Person in charge did not have approved food safety manager’s training certificate; person in charge did not demonstrate active managerial control; employee beverages stored on stainless preparation table and dry storage rack above foods; employee didn’t wash hands properly; person in charge talking on phone while preparing pizza; hand-washing sink blocked with tray of chicken strips; mold growth on cutting board; various foods not kept cold enough; chicken thawing improperly; dough tray containing chicken partially resting on edge of trash can; container of clean utensils had paper towels and paper trash inside it; opened box of hand towels in dry storage; general cleaning needed throughout; toilet room doors not selfclosing.

28079 • Bojangles’, 6550 Old Monroe Road – 85.5

• Golden Key European Food Market, 1001 Van Buren Ave. – 96.5 • Gordo’s Kitchen, 6120 Creft Circle – 94.5 • Hemby Bridge Elementary School cafeteria, 751 Fairview Road – 99.5 • Lake Park Nursing and Rehabilitation Center institutional food service, 3315 Faith Church Road – 97.5 • Nana’s Restaurant, 240 Chestnut Pkwy. – 98 • Rossini’s Pizza Pasta, 13803-A Hwy. 74 W. – 98.5 28104 • McDonald’s, 14522 Lawyers Road – 94 28110 • 601 Food Mart, 2412 Concord Hwy. – 97.5 • La Costenita, 402-A Patton Ave. – 95.5 • Papa John’s, 6701 Old Monroe Road, suite B – 83.5 • Sardis Elementary School cafeteria, 4416 Sardis Chruch Road – 97 • Scott Safety, 4320 Goldmine Road – 98 • Shiloh Elementary School cafeteria, 5210 Rogers Road – 100 • Taqueria Veracruz Mexico, 1228-A W. Roosevelt Blvd. – 91 • Walter Bickett Education Center cafeteria, 501 Lancaster Ave. – 99 • Woodridge Assisted Living

The Charlotte Cafe

Facility institutional food service, 2515 Fowler Secrest Road – 98 28112 • Bus Stop Soda Shop, 209 E. Franklin St. – 96.5 • New China, 1684-C W. Franklin St. – 97 • Nutrition for the Elderly, 624 Bragg St. – 100 • Sunset Tacos, 1113 Sunset Lane, unit F – 99.5 • Union County Jail kitchen, 3344 Presson Road – 100 • Union Park institutional food service, 1316 Patterson St. – 99 • Waffle House, 1229 W. Roosevelt Blvd. – 93 28173 • Cuthbertson High School cafeteria, 1400 Cuthbertson Road – 98.5 • Cuthbertson Middle School cafeteria, 1520 Cuthbertson Road – 100 • Marvin Ridge High School cafeteria, 2825 Crane Road – 98.5 • Marvin Ridge Middle School cafeteria, 2825 Crane Road – 100 • New Town Elementary School cafeteria, 1100 Waxhaw-Indian Trail Road – 98.5 • Sandy Ridge Elementary School cafeteria, 10101 Waxhaw Manor Drive – 100 • Wesley Chapel Elementary School cafeteria, 110 Potter Road S. – 94.5

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Union County Weekly | November 13, 2015 | Page 9

Education

UCPS officials under fire for involvement with company Union County Board of Commissioners pushes for sheriff, SBI involvement

by Courtney Schultz courtney@carolinaweeklynewspapers.com

A meeting intended to increase communication between the Union County Board of Education (BOE) and the Union County Board of Commissioners (UCBOC) was overshadowed by urgency from both boards to investigate top Union County Public Schools officials’ involvement in specific business relations.

Community members were commenting over the weekend on social media of whether Superintendent Dr. Mary Ellis and other officials were involved in shifty relations between EDUcatr(X) Inc., which “offers comprehensive EdTech consulting and software development services to assist districts in implementing instructional and digital technology solutions,” and Lenovo, a computer developer that provides technology to UCPS. Top UCPS officials and one executive from Lenovo are all listed as executive leaders of EDUcatr(X) .

BOE members went into closed session on Nov. 10, hours before a joint meeting with the UCBOC, to discuss the companies’ relations.

BOE Chairman John Collins stated after the closed session the board would hire independent counsel to investigate the relationship, but did not specify who would investigate. The district also released a statement articulating it would not address personnel matters publically.

However, UCBOC members called for the boards to place the issue on the joint meeting’s agenda to enlighten the public on the pending investigation, but were voted down.

“We would not ask about your personnel matters and I ask that you don’t ask about ours,” BOE Chairman John Collins said.

Ellis sat tight-lipped throughout the joint meeting on Nov. 10, and left almost immediately after the joint session adjourned.

Pushing for more scrutiny

Vice chairman Stony Rushing questioned the influence of the officials involved with the LLC at the end of the joint meeting, encouraging all board members of the county and school board to pen formal statements that they were not involved in the relationship between Lenovo and EDUcatr(X).

“To find out last night that the BOE has a LLC operating right under their noses with UCPS officials involved, this can’t work,” Rushing said. “…

This is something for law enforcement, not to receive information from the people in question.”

UCBOC members reconvened after the joint meeting and passed a motion to request the Union County Sheriff’s Department carry out the investigation and involve the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI).

“We owe our taxpayers a response,” said Commissioner Frank Aikmus. “When we didn’t put it on the agenda, I knew we had to push more … we need a better understanding.”

Aikmus said he felt the investigation has placed another negative mark on the district, and felt discouraged that the BOE did not provide any information to the public about the potential improprieties.

“The public needs to know that their tax dollars were adequately spent,” he said.

Aikmus said if such accusation were levied against him, he would choose to resign to avoid scrutiny, but clarified he was not asking Ellis to resign.

UCBOC Chairman Richard Helms also said the county commissioners urged for the sheriff’s department to become involved in the investigation as opposed to the BOE conducting the investigation. He felt it’s a conflict of interest for the BOE to hire investigators, and urged for a completely independent review.

Companies under question

Ellis was listed as the president of EDUcatr(X) Inc. and Deputy Superintendent for Instructional Technology and Operations Dr. Mike Webb and Chief Technology Officer (CTO) Tony Burrus are listed as secretary and vice president.

Burrus listed himself as the founder and CTO of EDUcatr(X) on his LinkedIn page, citing he started the role in April 2014. He has been CTO of UCPS since May 2010, according to his LinkedIn page.

UCPS released a statement Monday that “The Board of Education gave Superintendent Dr. Mary Ellis permission to write, consult, teach and patent her intellectual property in March 2014.”

Ellis and other key members have the authority to start a business, but questions arose as Jason Mooneyham, the executive director for public sector sales for Lenovo, was listed as EDUcatr(X)’s treasurer.

District staff said the district has worked with Lenovo since before Ellis was superintendent, but community members question the connection between the two corporations.

UCPS established a contract with Lenovo in May 2012 for ninth-grade laptops. Ellis became superintendent July 1, 2012, and served as deputy superintendent before taking on the lead role.

The BOE approved the purchase of 10,000 elementary devices from Lenovo for a “device refresh,” in March 2015, naming Lenovo as the “standardized hardware vendor for UCPS.” Lenovo also was approved as the vendor of Chromebooks for the district’s 1:1 technology access model, which Ellis launched that earned UCPS national recognition, according to the district’s website.

District staff claims there is no evidence of direct gain to EDUcatr(X) from Lenovo’s involvement with UCPS.

Mary Ellis

Mike Webb

Tony Burrus

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Page 10 | November 13, 2015 | Union County Weekly

Education

Union County Public Schools approves district budget District plans to hire more than 80 teacher assistants

by Courtney Schultz

UCPS Annual Budget in millions

courtney@carolinaweeklynewspapers.com

$400

After being at the mercy of the state, the Union County Public Schools Board of Education (BOE) approved a $391.2-million budget.

Dan Karpinski, UCPS finance director, said district staff has worked through state allocation dollars to determine the budget staff presented at the Nov. 5 BOE meeting.

The district acquired county allocations in June, but couldn’t complete the budget until state monies were allotted.

UCPS acquired $215.4 million from the state, including a new state statute regarding how the district can allocate teacher assistant (TA) dollars. The state requires that all the funds for teacher assistants be used exclusively for that purpose and could not transferred to any other funds. Many districts would use TA funds to supplement teacher salaries.

UCPS will have 85.5 more TAs to hire, according to Karpinski.

“Over the summer, I drew back 50 (TA) positions – one for each school,” Superintendent Dr. Mary Ellis said. “I’m glad we did because of the angst that some other counties have had, but in the wisdom of the General Assembly, now we will re-allot that money to teaching assistants.”

The district made elementary principals aware of the number of TAs each school would gain. The state determined how the TAs would be allocated: two assistants for every three kindergarten classes; one assistant per every two classes in first and second grade; and one assistant for every three third-grade classes. The state gives no variance for the formula.

Ellis announced the district opened up applications for the more than 80 vacancies on Nov. 6. The vacancies are for instructional

$390 $380 $370 $360 $350 $340 $330

2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 data provided by UCPS

assistants only and not for assistants in Exceptional Children classrooms.

Karpinski also addressed a decrease in low-wealth funding due to an increase in county income.

“Although Union County is a low-wealth county, we are becoming a little wealthier low-wealth county. We actually lost over $700,000 in low-wealth funding,” Karpinski said. “That’s formulabased. They crunched the numbers and that’s what the formula gave to Union County this year.”

No state laws changed, he added, but the county’s demographics being run through the formula produced a lower number. Principals lost special projects dollars due to the decrease.

The state also gave one third of the county’s teachers a raise and teachers who were hired as of Nov. 1 will receive a $750 bonus

in December. The bonus will come out of the same funding the teacher is currently paid with, whether it’s federal, state or local funds.

County commissioners provided $2.5 million for teacher supplements for all teachers in its budget, as well as a 1.6-percent costof-living adjustment for uncertified employees and utilities.

Karpinski said there wasn’t much to write home about regarding the federal funds the county received, but wanted to clarify a $2.1million line item of “unbudgeted funds.” He explained those funds are part of 27-month or other time-exclusive grants in which the funds have to last the extended period of time, so not all the money is budgeted all at once.

The capital outlay funds line item also might cause confusion, Karpinski said, as the county allocated $16 million to capital outlay on a project-by-project basis, but reads $34.8 million. Karpinski said some of the money is left over from other projects the county has not yet paid for because they aren’t complete or are carry over from previous years.

“That money has been given to us by project (from the county).

There was a year where last year’s dollars were not by project. The remaining money on that is primarily for Walter Bickett Elementary School and to replace fire alarms,” he said. “All the other money is paid out from the last few months, invoices from vendors (over the summer), so I paid out millions of dollars in invoices.

“I know these projects are being worked on, and I don’t have another dime to give to any other project because it’s either spent, encumbered, locked up or frozen based on the way the money has been given by the county.”

Visit boe.ucps.k12.nc.us/boe_manager/meeting_docs/1572_ Budget_Resolution.pdf to view the final budget.

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Union County Weekly | November 13, 2015 | Page 11

Faith

Life has a purpose

by John Munro jmunro@calvarychurch.com

“Chariots of Fire” is one of my favorite movies, not only because of the haunting music, but because the movie brilliantly weaves together three great interests of mine: athletics, Scotland and faith. The story revolves around two great athletes: Englishman Harold Abrams and Scotsman Eric Liddell.

In the movie, Abrams runs in the final of the 100 meters at the 1924 Olympics. He is a man of great drive, a man of great discipline and a man of great ability. He is addicted to running, and to winning.

An hour before the final he says, “I have 10 lonely seconds to justify my whole existence. I have known the fear of losing, but now I’m almost too frightened to win.” Abrams does win the final, but walks away in loneliness and emptiness. There is obviously something missing in his life. But how can someone feel so empty at the same moment as he is achieving his dream?

The Scotsman, Eric Liddell, is a man of deep faith.

He said, “God made me for a purpose, and God made me fast, and when I run I feel His pleasure.” Here is a man at peace with himself, but more importantly, at peace with God. In his heart, he knows the reason for his existence on earth. As a Scotsman, he would have learned the old Catechism: “Man’s chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.” So fulfillment in life is not found in pleasing ourselves (that ultimately will lead to emptiness) but in pleasing God. That gives

purpose and meaning to life.

Do you have a purpose for living? Is your life meaningful or meaningless?

Richard Dawkins, an Oxford Professor of Science, believes that we are nothing but “jumped up apes.”

He thinks that there is no purpose to life, and to ask Pastor John H. Munro about the purpose of life is silly. But surely to ask what life is all about is a meaningful question which people throughout history have always been asking.

The Bible begins by saying that we are created in the image of God. God did not make us to live randomly or meaninglessly, but for a purpose. King David wrote: “How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them!” (Psalm 139:17).

God made us for a purpose. Our search for meaning is realized in a personal relationship with the living God who created us and in love sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to forgive us and to guide us throughout life.

So how do you look on life? Surely, you are not the product of purposeless forces, like a piece of flotsam thrown up on the beach of time with no meaning. If you are created by a loving God, meaning is found in knowing, loving and obeying this great God.

The Weekly

Faith Briefs

Bethany Church launches new series on Sunday WEDDINGTON – Bethany Church will begin a new message series on Sunday, Nov. 15. The series will run for four consecutive Sundays at the church’s 10:30 a.m. service. The series will include: • Nov. 15 – Intimacy: Reaching for the heart of the Father • Nov. 22 – Intentionality: Reaching for the Father’s will • Nov. 29 – Invested: Reaching the place God has planned for me • Dec. 6 – Immovable: Reaching stability in the face of death Pastor Bob Williard will deliver the message. Adult and youth bible study takes place at 9:15 a.m., before the service.

Bethany Church is located at 4301 Beulah Church Road.

Kelley Mooney concert at St. Matthew Catholic BALLANTYNE – Singer/songwriter Kelley Mooney will hold a concert on Nov. 22, a Sunday, at 7 p.m. at St. Matthew Catholic Church in south Charlotte. The Canadian artist is best known for her Easter version of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah.” Mooney’s version of the song has more than 11 million hits on YouTube and debuted on three Christian Billboard Magazine charts.

Mooney also will perform songs from her album “Still,” which came as a result of a serious illness that kept her in the hospital for nine weeks. The album includes favorites such as “I Surrender All,” “Amazing Grace” and “How Great Thou Art” along with original songs.

St. Matthew Catholic Church is located at 8015 Ballantyne Commons Pkwy.

Craft and bake sale at Indian Trail United Methodist INDIAN TRAIL – Indian Trail United Methodist Church’s women will hold their annual craft and bake sale on Saturday, Nov. 14, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The sale will include baked goods, Christmas gifts, original crafts and more. All proceeds support the ministries of Indian Trail UMC women.

The church also will hold a community Thanksgiving dinner on Nov. 21, a Saturday, at 5 p.m. Attendees are asked to bring a side dish or dessert to share.

Indian Trail UMC is located at 113 Indian Trail Road S.

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Page 12 | November 13, 2015 | Union County Weekly

The Weekly

Calendar November Mic Night 14 Open - Decades

miling faces and warm embraces, delicious S treats and favorite carols, tiny doll houses and model trains, and perfect gifts under festive trees.

For 48 years the Southern Christmas Show has brought these memories to life along with regional crafts, wineries, seasonal entertainment, and over 400 holiday merchants. No wonder it’s the largest and most popular holiday show in the country.

The monthly open mic event welcomes poets, singers and artist to represent their favorite decade through poetry, story, music, laughter or song.

Attendees can share something reflecting their favorite times through spoken word to fashion choices, but don’t have to take part in any performances to attend. The event is free and offers free refreshments.

Call Susan Didier at 704-821-2541 or visit www.facebook.com/IndianTrailCulturalArtsCenter for more information.

6:30 to 8:30 p.m.; Indian Trail Cultural Arts Center, 100 Navajo Trail, Indian Trail

14 Craft and Bake Sale

The arts and craft women of the Indian Trail United Methodist Church will host their craft and bake sale for the community.

Residents can shop for handmade items for Christmas gifts and proceeds benefit the church’s Union County missions.

Contact Mary Babcock at 704-221-6483 or babcock0823@yahoo.com for more information.

9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Indian Trail UMC, 113 Indian Trail Road, Indian Trail

14 Dumpling Dinner Chicken and

The women of Stallings United Methodist Church will on their annual chicken and dumpling dinner.

The meal includes chicken and dumplings, green beans, slaw, roll and peach cobbler for $8. Takeout also is available and all proceeds will go to women’s and children’s ministries in the community.

Contact Libby Cook at 704-576-5613 for more information.

4:30 to 7 p.m.; Stallings United Methodist Church, 1115 Stallings Road, Stallings

14 Women’s Craft and Gift Show

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The Central United Methodist Church will host its Women’s Craft and gift show to help resident find unique gifts for the holiday season.

Contact Kate Littlehales at toast823@carolina.rr.com for more information.

8 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Central United Methodist Church, 801 S. Hayne St., Monroe

14 Heritage Awards

Artist Music Guild

Union County will host the fifth annual AMG Heritage Awards and convention that will feature American Idol star and singer Bucky Covington as host.

The event will air into approximately 17 million homes across the nation.

Performing artist at the event include Melanie Safka; Melba Moore; Billy Paul; Martha Reeves; Terri Gibbs; Dee Dee Sharp; Christy Sutherland; Kat Williams; Mike Manuel; Mallory Lewis and the legendary Lamp Chop; and seven-time Emmy winner David L. Cook.

Call 704-282-1164 to purchase tickets. Visit

www.artistsmusicguild.com. for more information about the event.

5:30 p.m.; AG Convention Center, 3230 Presson Road, Monroe

14 Mirabelle’s Miracle Golf Outing Mirabelle’s Miracle, a nonprofit that works with children’s hospitals to provide care packages for families with babies and children in intensive care units with life threatening illnesses, will host golf outing to raise money.

Contact Rich Scalea by calling 704-6286712 or 908-400-7610 or by emailing rtscales@ hotmail.com for more information.

The Divide Golf Club, 6803 Stevens Mill Road, Stallings

of Alphabet 14 Museum Celebrates 25 years JAARS will host a special 25th anniversary celebration of the Museum of the Alphabet.

The event will feature honored guest, Kenyan Naphtaly Mattah, a translator of the Suba New Testament. The event also will include the introduction of the museum’s newest exhibit about the Suba people of Kenya.

The event is free and refreshments will be served.

4 to 7 p.m.; JAARS Center, 6409 Davis Road, Waxhaw

15 schoolers

Artistic Fair for high

Caroline Gorman, an area Girl Scout, will host an Artistic Career Fair to earn her Girl Scout Gold Award Project.

The even is open to all area high school students and provides students a chance to meet and talk with professional in the field.

Students can determined art-related careers that fit their strengths.

Contact Caroline at 704-542-1001 or visit www.artisticcareerfair.weebly.com for more information.

2 to 4 p.m.; Charlotte Catholic High School, 7702 Pineville-Matthews Road, Charlotte

17 Candlelight Vigil

Homeless and Hunger

The Union County Community Shelter will host a candlelight vigil, “You Don’t Know My Story” to help the community connect with the plight of homelessness.

The event is slated for the historic courthouse steps on Hayne Street side of building.

Coffee and hot chocolate will be served and the shelter will collect blankets and towels during the event.

Contact jenn.alexander@unionshelter.org for more information.

6 to 7 p.m.; Union County Superior Courthouse, 400 N. Main St., Monroe

17 Networking Meet and Greet Small business owners can meet face-toface with other local entrepreneurs to network, share knowledge, make contacts for referrals and grow their business in a relaxed environment.

Nancy Duncan, the director of business development at the Union County Chamber of Commerce, will serve as the guest speaker.

The event costs $5. Contact Kat Miller at 704-547-0026 for more information.

6 to 7:30 p.m.; The Trail House Restaurant, 6751 Old Monroe Road, Indian Trail

www.unioncountyweekly.com

Union County Weekly | November 13, 2015 | Page 13

Sports

Weddington, Marvin Ridge football look to playoffs

by Ben Doster ben@carolinaweeklynewspapers.com

It’s hard to believe we’re midway through November and for high school football fans, that means one thing – it’s playoff time.

The regular season has drawn to a close, and conference champions have been crowned. Marvin Ridge (8-3, 5-0 Southern Carolinas) overcame a 0-3 start, fought through a slew of injuries, and beat Weddington 28-27 Friday, Nov. 6 to win conference and Monroe (11-0, 5-0 Rocky River 2A) was dominant all season to claim the Rocky River.

Now, the real fun starts as we embark on a journey to a championship with the first round of the N.C. High School Athletic Association state playoffs beginning Friday, Nov. 13 at 7:30 p.m.

The 3AA west regional might end up having the most parity of any. Dynamic freshman quarterback Sam Howell leads No. 16-seeded Sun Valley (5-6, 2-3 Southern Carolinas) into a road tilt with top seeded Concord (10-1, 9-0 South Piedmont). No. 10-seeded Cuthbertson (7-4, 3-2 Southern Carolinas) visits No. 7-seeded Erwin (7-4, 5-1 Mountain Athletic 3A/4A), while No. 15-seeded Piedmont (6-5, 1-4 Southern Carolinas) travels to No. 2 Crest (11-0, 8-0 South Mountain Athletic 2A/3A).

No. 5-seeded Marvin Ridge, which is one of the hottest teams out there, entertains No. 12-seeded Robinson (7-4, 6-3 South Piedmont).

Defensively, the Mavericks have evolved into one of the stingiest units in Union County and the surrounding area.

Combine that with their dynamic rushing attack that features running back Caleb Deveaux and passing game led by quarterback Austin Colonna and his arsenal of receivers the Mavs will be a tough out.

“It was good to win the conference,” Marvin Ridge coach Aubrey Carter said. “It’s gratifying to see that hard work pay off. We’re playing well in all three phases of the game. Every week is a one-week state championship or one-week playoff.

You can’t afford to have a bad week, because everybody is good or they wouldn’t be here.”

No. 6-seeded Weddington (9-2, 4-1 Southern Carolinas) hosts No. 11-seeded Asheville (9-2, 4-2 Mountain Athletic 3A/4A) after beating the Cougars 28-23 in the third round of the state playoffs last season.

The Warriors entered the postseason last year in the same position it’s in now after losing the conference championship to Cuthbertson, but overcame that disappointment to reach the state championship game.

“I’m definitely confident in our team,” Weddington coach Tim Carson said. “Our kids just have to put it together, and try to make a good run at it. We still have a good football team, and we’ll go out and play each game as hard as we can.

“Asheville is a good football team. They go back to the old school way. They’re going to run it down you. They have a good offensive line, running backs run hard, and defensively they play a 3-4, fly around and they’re going to come and get you. It’s going to be a big challenge for us.”

In the 2AA west regional top seeded Monroe hosts No. 16seeded Forbush (5-6, 2-3 Western Piedmont). The Redhawks have only beaten one opponent less than 22 points during the

regular season, and shouldn’t be challenged until the semifinals, where it could face No. 2-seeded East Lincoln (11-0, 7-0 Southern District 7) and its stud quarterback Chazz Surratt (North Carolina commit).

No. 6-seeded Forest Hills (8-3, 4-1 Rocky River 2A) hosts No. 11-seeded East Burke (6-5, 5-3 South Mountain), while No. 14-seeded Parkwood (5-6, 2-3 Rocky River 2A) visits No. 14-seeded West Stokes (10-1, 5-0 Western Piedmont).

Get your popcorn ready. It’s going to be a great show.

Photo courtesy of Greg Arthur

Marvin Ridge football team upset rival Weddington 2827 on Nov. 6 to win the Southern Carolinas conference.

Mavs capture girls’ tennis state title

Weekly

Game Picks

by Ben Doster ben@carolinaweeklynewspapers.com

Sun Valley at Concord Robinson at Marvin Ridge Asheville at Weddington Cuthbertson at Erwin Piedmont at Crest Forbush at Monroe Parkwood at West Stokes East Burke at Forest Hills

Hannah Chronis

Ben Doster

Michael Hart

Concord Marvin Ridge Weddington Cuthbertson Crest Monroe West Stokes Forest Hills

Concord Marvin Ridge Weddington Cuthbertson Crest Monroe West Stokes Forest Hills

Sun Valley Marvin Ridge Weddington Cuthbertson Piedmont Monroe Parkwood Forest Hills

Last week: 5-3 Overall: 87-22

Last week: 6-2 Overall: 90-18

Last week: 6-2 Overall: 80-29

Less than six months after winning the N.C. High School Athletic Association 3A boys’ tennis state championship, Marvin Ridge has achieved the same accomplishment on the girls’ side, defeating Union Pines 5-2 on Nov. 8 at Elon University.

This win is especially huge for the Mavericks; it’s the first time Marvin Ridge has gone past the third round of the playoffs in the history of the program. Marvin Ridge finished its championship campaign with an overall record of 17-3 (7-1 Southern Carolinas).

“It’s very exciting for the girls,” Marvin Ridge coach Julie van Olden said. “I would say we’re still kind of in the moment.

“It’s registered, but we were so focused on getting through our regular season primarily to be able to win the conference championship or coconference championship, because Weddington really was our toughest competition throughout the entire year, including states. A lot of our stress, focus and pressure was right here in our own backyard during the regular season.”

Van Olden said it was a team effort, but freshman Ella Imhof, who played at the No. 1 spot, gave Marvin Ridge strength there and made lines No. 2 through No. 6 even stronger. Marvin Ridge’s depth of talent proved to be superior down the line throughout the entire season, but especially in the state championship.

Imhof, junior Hannah Scott, freshman Ainsley

Zubrinsky and freshman Nina VanBlarcom helped to propel the Mavericks past the Vikings.

Ainsley Zubrinsky, whose sister junior Rachel Zubrinsky plays at the No. 2 spot, was named the Tournament Most Valuable Player, while Scott earned the Sportsmanship Award.

“All of them contributed,” van Olden said. “I think they’re special.”

The Mavs had to replace five seniors from its Top 7 last year; this season, however, they won’t lose a single player to graduation.

“It’s been exciting to see how well the girls have done,” van Olden said. “Even though they were a young team they handled themselves skillfully. I’m really proud of the character and good sportsmanship this team exudes.”

Photo courtesy of Julie van Olden

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Page 14 | November 13, 2015 | Union County Weekly

Home Service Directory

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Union County Weekly | November 13, 2015 | Page 15

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Page 16 | November 13, 2015 | Union County Weekly

DO YOU BUY PLANE TICKETS BEFORE YOU KNOW WHERE YOU’RE TRAVELING? Of course not.

So why choose health insurance that way?

Before you pick a health plan, know which doctors are part of it. A health plan that includes Carolinas HealthCare System gives you access to world-class care at Levine Cancer Institute, Levine Children’s Hospital and Sanger Heart & Vascular Institute. We offer the region’s largest primary care network, Virtual Visit, urgent care and even children’s urgent care.

Let us help you understand your options.

Visit: CarolinasHealthCare.org/Options Call: 877-251-1404