Liberty hosts Japanese exchange students Page 12
Patriots pulverize Highlanders, 10-0 Page 14
City crime was down in 2013
April 4, 2014 VOL. 16, NO. 4
By Christina Corrales-Toy
compensation for the job he’s done,” said Councilman John Dulcich, who made the motion awarding the raise. A city employee’s performance or qualifications can be evaluated in executive session by a governmental body, but a decision, consent among the body or final action relating to a city employee’s salaries or wages must be discussed in a public meeting, according to state law. Council members described the raise as an effort to both elevate Wyman’s pay to fall
Newcastle crime was down in 2013, a welcome bit of news for a city that saw only increasing statistics in 2012. In 2013, the city had 252 Part I crimes, compared to 323 in 2012. Part I crimes include criminal homicide, forcible rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft and arson. Other than robbery, all of the other Part I crime categories dropped in 2013, Newcastle Police Chief Melinda Irvine said in a March 4 presentation to the City Council. There were six robberies in 2013, compared to two in 2012. Robbery is defined as taking or attempting to take anything of value from the care, custody, or control of a person by force, threat of force, violence or by putting the victim in fear. Two of the robberies were reportedly a result of the “Big Top Bandits,” a pair of men who were famously arrested in August in connection with a series of takeover-style bank robberies, Irvine said. Burglaries, however, were significantly lower, Irvine said, going from 108 in 2012 to 65 in 2013. Burglary is the unlawful entry of a commercial or residential structure with the intent to commit a crime. “We attribute that mostly because we are working very hard to identify and target specific individuals who are responsible for those crimes,” she said. The 65 burglaries are the lowest the city’s seen since 2010, when there were just 44. Larcenies were still Newcastle’s most common crime in 2013, but even those dropped from 184 to 158. Larceny includes various crimes, such as when items are taken from cars or buildings, and bicycle thefts. Dispatched calls for police service were down to 1,545, com-
See RAISE, Page 5
See CRIME, Page 5
Art in the woods
Exhibit recalls Cougar Mountain’s coal history. Page 2 By Christina Corrales-Toy
Dave Franklin, Newcastle Fruit & Produce owner, operates a forklift as he busily prepares for the grand opening of his popular seasonal stand.
When Newcastle Fruit & Produce opens its doors, spring is in the air Party for the globe
City celebrates sixth annual Earth Day. Page 3
Police blotter
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By Christina Corrales-Toy Newcastle Fruit & Produce owner Dave Franklin didn’t have much time to talk March 22 as he navigated a forklift while earnestly preparing his popular stand for a target opening of April 5-6. It will be Franklin’s 22nd year of operating the seasonal
stand at the corner of Coal Creek Parkway and Newcastle Way, but that doesn’t make each grand opening any easier, he said. “I’m excited, a little nervous, though,” he said. “It’s always like opening a brand new business every year.” Franklin was hard at work unloading pallets of shrubs
just two weeks before he expected the business to open for the season. The stand sells fresh fruit and vegetables. In addition, it sells plants and trees for landscaping, as well as Christmas trees and wreaths during the holiday season through the See OPENING, Page 6
City manager receives $10,000 raise By Christina Corrales-Toy After evaluating City Manager Rob Wyman’s performance in several closed executive sessions, the Newcastle City Council approved a $10,000 raise for the position at its March 18 meeting. The raise, retroactive to Jan. 1, increases Wyman’s annual salary from $120,000 to $130,000. The council also granted Wyman two days of merit leave, the same as last year. Wyman was hired as interim city manager in January 2010, and the council selected him
as the permanent city manager that August. This is the third consecutive year that the council awarded him a raise, and it’s his Rob Wyman highest yet. He received a $6,000 raise in 2012 and a $4,000 raise in 2013. “Mr. Wyman is a solid city manager. He’s a great community connector. He’s done very good work. I feel this is fair