Bob Warner’s story might sound faintly familiar to fans of “The Hobbit” or “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy.

Warner received a precious ring from his wife, Pat, but lost it in 1983 while doing yard work at their former house in Matthews’ Windrow subdivision. The Warners moved to Weddington in 1999 – without the ring.

The ring was recently discovered unexpectedly by a new “bearer” – the owner of the Warners’ former home. But in this story, ring and master are reunited – for a much happier ending that was 30 years in the making.

The story of the ring began in 1961 when Bob Warner enlisted in the U.S. Navy. At the time, he was engaged and had given his fiancée a diamond ring. After the couple realized it “just wasn’t meant to be,” the ring was returned to Warner, who held onto it for the next several years.

After meeting his future wife, Pat, Warner said it was clear she was the one for him and bought a new engagement ring for her. Knowing the ring from Warner’s previous engagement held both monetary and sentimental value, Pat decided to take the diamond to a jeweler and have it forged into a gold ring. She had the ring engraved with “Aug. 5, 1967,” which was Warner’s XXth birthday, and gave it to him as a birthday present. The two were married two months later, in October 1967.

“I wore that ring for years. I never took it off,” Warner said, adding though the ring wasn’t intentionally supposed to be a wedding band (Pat bought a separate ring for that) it fit so well that he started wearing it on his left ring finger instead of his wedding band.

Fast forward to 1983. The Warners were living in the Windrow subdivision when the ring disappeared. Warner was out in the yard doing chores, including laying stepping stones near the back patio. After calling it quits for the day and going inside for a shower, Warner realized his ring was gone.

“Your heart sinks about 1,000 miles when you lose something like that,” Warner said.

Warner and his family spent the rest of the day – and the next several weeks – searching through grass, bushes and trees for the ring. They even borrowed a metal detector to aid in their search. But the efforts proved in vain, and the family accepted what at the time appeared to be the inevitable – the ring was gone for good.

In December 1999, the Warners sold their home to the Braswell family and moved to Weddington. Over time, the ring was forgotten – that is, until last month.

The Braswells were outside doing their own yard work when they discovered something they never expected to find. David Braswell was laying his own stepping stones and was digging in the dirt underneath one of the existing stones when his hand brushed against something he thought was a small rock. Braswell picked it up and to his surprise, it wasn’t a rock – it was a gold ring with a diamond, engraved with “Aug. 5, 1967.” Knowing the ring held sentimental value, the Braswells tracked down the home’s former owners.

When Bob Warner got the call saying the Braswells had found something he might want, he had no idea what it could be.

“I said, ‘What in the world could David have that I would want?’” Warner said. “I just know them from selling the house.”

But as soon as he heard the description of the ring and the date engraved on it, Warner knew the impossible had indeed occurred – his precious ring had been found.

Warner took a special trip to the Braswells’ to retrieve his lost possession.

“He showed me the ring and tears just came to (my) eyes,” Warner said. “You look at the ring and say, ‘Where have you been hiding?’”

Warner said he’s grateful the Braswells not only found the ring, but also cared enough to track down its former owner. He even took the Braswell family out for a special Easter lunch as a “thank you” for their honesty and generosity.

“I think it was very admirable of them,” he said. “I can’t be anymore grateful to them for the ring to be back in our possession, and after 30 years.”

His wife, Pat, was unable to accompany her husband to the Braswells’ to retrieve the ring, but was elated when he brought it home.

“It was like the day that I gave him the ring,” she said.

Warner says he’s more careful these days when doing yard work. He now stores the ring in a safe place until his tasks are done. But when he’s not tending to the grounds, he’s wearing the ring like it’s brand new. In some ways, he said, it is.

“There’s no wear or anything on it,” he said. “I was flabbergasted that I would ever see the ring again. I’m wearing it like I was when (Pat) first gave it to me.”

Before the new Bain Elementary School opens to students this fall, officials must replace water damaged ceiling tiles, improve landscaping drainage, install a valve in a handicapped shower and more.

The new Bain Elementary School at 11540 Bain School Road is nearing completion.

The new building had its first site visit by an inspector with the Mecklenburg County Health Department last week, which inspects all schools and daycares in the county as part of the Division of Environmental Health. The school at 11540 Bain School Road wasn’t given a score, but inspector Matthew Cook did note minor problems that need to be fixed before the building welcomes staff and students in August.

The April 29 site visit allows school officials to “know where they’re at” on school building standards and other code requirements before they receive a score, said the health department’s Stephen Graham, who oversees all school inspections.

“That way there’s no surprises when they’re actually scored,” Graham said. “We would rather be up front about it rather than giving them a surprise. A lot of these construction things are easier to fix if the contractor is still there.”

That will be the case with the new Bain, said Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools’ Mike Higgins, who is overseeing the project for the district. Crews are working on “punch list” final tasks inside the building, including touching up paint, and items noted by Cook during the inspection will be fixed soon, Higgins said.

The project is “moving along nicely,” Higgins said. “We’ll be ready for the upcoming school year.”

According to the site visit report, Cook found: water damaged ceiling tiles in some hallways and the staff lounge; no back flow prevention device on a handicapped shower wand; the incorrect type of ceiling tiles in the administrative area restroom and health room restroom; automatic faucets with run times that were too short to wash hands; and landscaping without proper drainage at the front entrance.

All of the violations are minor, easy to fix and shouldn’t cause alarm, both Cook and Graham said this week.

Minor water damage, Graham said, is common for inspectors to find even in new buildings.

“You miss some caulking somewhere and you’re going to have a leak,” he said.

Cook added: “During the course of the project, somehow water dripped off pipes and stained some ceiling tiles and those will be replaced.”

The ceiling tiles in the administrative area restroom and health room restroom are what builders call “absorbent” and need to be replaced with a type of vinyl tile that’s easy to clean and resistant to moisture.

“It’s the call of the inspector, of the health department, as to whether they’ll accept (absorbent tiles) or not and they wanted us to change it,” Higgins said, adding the switch won’t alter the total cost of the project “It’s a very nominal, easy thing to (change).”

Crews already have started landscaping in front of the school and in the next few weeks will begin planting grass and adding a rain garden as part of the county’s erosion control requirements.

In the next few weeks, crews also will put the final layer of asphalt on Bain School Road near the school’s entrance where heavy rain has caused water to pool. The drainage problem will be fixed when the roadwork is finished, Higgins said.

During the summer months, the school’s mobile classrooms will be moved to another school and crews will begin construction in that area to build a bus parking lot, Higgins said. The lot should be complete by the time students return in August, he said.

Harris Teeter customers donate $340K for charity
Customers of Matthews-based Harris Teeter recently raised more than $340,000 for the nonprofit Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, according to a news release.
In March, customers could make $1, $3 or $5 donations to the nonprofit at checkout.
Through the end of May, customers will be able to make $1, $3, or $5 donations to raise money for the United Service Organizations, or USO, and the Wounded Warrior Project.

Belk sale raises $5.3M
In its first Charity Sale of the year, Belk raised more than $5.3 million for nearly 8,000 nonprofits across the company’s 16-state footprint, according to a news release.
On Saturday, April 27 the four-hour, semi-annual shopping event served as a fundraising tool for participating organizations that sell $5 tickets to their supporters. Last year’s Charity Sale supported thousands of nonprofits such as March of Dimes, American Cancer Society, Crisis Assistance Ministry, Special Olympics, Teens Do Care, Literacy Council, United Way, Girl Talk International, North Carolina Zoo Society, American Red Cross, animal rescue organizations and local school athletic, scholastic organization and churches.
In 2012, Belk raised more than $10 million for charities during its spring and fall Charity Sales, according to the release.

Food Network’s Jeff Henderson  to speak at conference
Tickets are on sale for the Charlotte Business Resource’s Small Business Week Conference set for May 14 at Central Piedmont Community College’s Harris Campus, 3210 Harris Campus Drive in Charlotte.
The event, which runs from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., will feature presentations, interactive breakout sessions and a keynote address by Chef Jeff Henderson, an award-winning chef, author and Food Network television personality.
Tickets are $39.
For more information or to register, visit www.charlottesmallbusinessweek.com or call 704-330-6736. Parking is available on the Harris Campus.
For directions, visit www.cpcc.edu/campuses/harris/directions.

South Trade Street vote could come May 13
Matthews town commissioners are expected to discuss the future of South Trade Street on Monday, May 13 and could vote on whether the road will be widened.
Commissioners voted Monday, March 25 to postpone a decision on the widening of South Trade Street from Fullwood Lane to Weddington Road. Town commissioners have gone back and forth debating the fate of South Trade Street since 2004, when voters passed $5.5 million in bonds to be put toward road improvements, particularly South Trade Street. The bonds were set to expire in November 2012, but commissioners secured a three-year extension through the N.C. Local Government Commission. Town Manager Hazen Blodgett said last summer construction on South Trade would need to begin within one year to avoid having to redo flood documents for the road.

Carolinas HealthCare opens new departments in Mint Hill
Mint Hill is now home for the staff of five Carolinas HealthCare System departments.
The healthcare system has relocated the departments of Virtual Critical Care, Tele-Health, Behavioral Health Call Center,  MedCenter Air Communications and Patient Placement into the system’s building at 11304 Hawthorne Drive, according to system spokeswoman Julie Smith.
The departments, which occupy about 16,000 square feet square feet, started moving in this week. The Virtual Critical Care Command Center – the first to move in – allows doctors and nurses to remotely monitor patients in critical care units across the Carolinas. When implementation is complete, the 24 hours a day, seven days a week system will monitor patients’ vital signs for all 550 critical care beds across Carolinas HealthCare System, representing the largest project of its kind in the United States, according to a news release.
“This new department will not replace physicians and nurses at the bedside, but will provide an additional group of clinical experts to closely watch and review the vital functions of those patients,” Dr. James McDeavitt, chief academic officer for Carolinas HealthCare System, said in the release.  Initially, about 25 physicians and other staff members will oversee patients from the Mint Hill office.  When fully implemented, the unit will employ about 80 people, according to the release.  The moves for all departments will bring more than 150 employees to Mint Hill working varying shifts.

MorningStar Presbyterian hosts ‘Hope and Healing’ service
MorningStar Presbyterian Church in Matthews will host a special service on Mother’s Day for area residents for whom the holiday is a difficult time.
“Hope and Healing on Mother’s Day” begins at 5 p.m. May 12, a Sunday, at the church, 13000 Idlewild Road, and is open to people of all faiths, said Pastor Stephen Mitchell. The service will focus on God’s presence even in the midst of unfulfilled hopes, painful memories and grief. The service will be led by Mitchell, with reflections by the Rev. Dee Smart, a Presbyterian Church pastor with In Christ Supporting Ministries, and music by Elizabeth Bridges.
For more information, call 704-302-7383.
Woman’s Club awards $7K in grants
The Matthews Woman’s Club Service League recently awarded $7,000 in grants to area nonprofits.
The disbursement of the grants took place at the club’s April meeting. Nonprofits receiving grants included the Matthews HELP Center, Blessed Assurance Adult Day Care, Matthews D.A.R.E., Levine Senior Center and more.
Area women who want to know more about the club are encouraged to attend “Punch on the Porch” from 4 to 7 p.m. May 23, a Thursday, at 208 S. Trade St.
For more information, visit www.matthewswomen.org.

Matthews United Methodist nets award
A Matthews church has been recognized for its active volunteerism with one Charlotte nonprofit.
Matthews United Methodist Church was recently named Religious Community Partner of the Year by the Bethlehem Center of Charlotte, a nonprofit which serves
low-income children.
Volunteers from the church helped with Thanksgiving, Christmas and school supply drives as well as “Camperships” which allow children to attend Camp Tekoa in the summer. Volunteers also provide the center with office support, tutoring, painting and helped build a new playground. The church also has donated money toward the center’s  after-school enrichment program.

Kohl’s employee injured by suspected shoplifter
A Kohl’s loss prevention employee suffered minor injuries Saturday, May 4, while trying to stop a suspected shoplifter from leaving the property.
According to a police report and Cpl. Lori Valdes, the employee was standing in front of a female suspect’s vehicle at about noon waiting for police to arrive. The suspect then started to slowly drive away and the employee jumped on the vehicle’s hood and rolled off, injuring his knees, Valdes said. It wasn’t clear at press time what merchandise was allegedly stolen.
The female suspect is described as white with brown hair and was driving a gold Honda Civic.
Anyone with information about this crime should call the Matthews-Mint Hill Dispatch Center at 704-847-5555.

Mint Hill fraud suspect sought
Mint Hill police are asking for the public’s help to identify a man suspected of using a resident’s checking account fraudulently.
According to a press release, the victim’s checking account number was used to make several fraudulent transactions at different locations throughout the area. Police obtained video surveillance of one of those transactions completed by an unknown male suspect at a Wal-Mart store. The man was wearing green hospital scrubs, black shoes and a black rag on his head.
Anyone with information about this crime should call Detective Tim Lezette at 704-545-1085 or the Matthews-Mint Hill Dispatch Center at 704-847-5555.

April 30 to May 6
Matthews

Charges/citations
May 6: Nicole Hickes, 29, of 1132 Afternoon Sun Road, Stallings. Driving with a revoked license.
May 6: Derek Phillips, 24, of 14001 Hackamore Drive. Fictitious tag, no insurance, failed to register, no operator’s license, stop light violation.
May 5: Roosevelt Petteway, 48, of 923 Old Forester Lane, Charlotte. Driving while impaired, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a schedule VI drug (marijuana), expired registration.
May 4: Scotty Crump, 40, of 621 Creekwood Court. Aggressive driving, speeding to elude, communicating threats, driving while impaired, resisting a public officer.
May 3: Leon Blakeney, 19, of 607 First St., Monroe. Shoplifting ($12 tube of lipstick at JCPenney).
May 3: Ronald Garcia, 19, of 1508 Jeffrey Bryan Drive, Charlotte. Shoplifting ($114 in clothing at Kohl’s).
May 2: Eugene Little, 37, of 2020 Wright Road, Indian Trail. Driving with a revoked license, resisting arrest, failure to appear (two counts).
May 1: Jordan McElhany, 23, of 93 Foxden Drive, Fletcher, N.C. Driving while impaired, careless and reckless driving, speeding, driving with a revoked license.
May 1: Stephen Ammons, 29, of 3316 Carnegie Lane. Shoplifting ($243 in jewelry).
April 30: Russell Hollis, 68, of 309 Edgeland Drive. Trespassing.
April 30: Nawaf Aleid, 24, of 4500 Magna Lane, Indian Trail. No operator’s license
April 30: Clyde Johnson, 50, of 246 Goff St., Charlotte. Larceny ($561 in bed sheets, $80 drill, $6 box of trash bags, $20 in rugs, $50 drill at Ollie’s Bargain Outlet).

Break-ins
May 6: 930 Brightmoor Drive. Washer and dryer stolen. Non-forced entry.
May 5: Famous Hair, 2217 Matthews Township Pkwy., suite G. Forced entry through back door. Undisclosed amount of money stolen.
May 5: 14225 Springwater Drive. Forced entry through back door, causing $1,000 in damage. Electric range stolen.
May 4: McDonald’s, 9607 E. Independence Blvd. $3,000 core drill machine stolen from unlocked construction trailer.
May 2: 2521 Macie Glen Court. Phone car charger, $5 in loose change stolen from unlocked vehicle.
May 2: Butler High School, 1810 Matthews-Mint Hill Road. GPS unit, Bluetooth device, $25 in coins, charging cup holder stolen from vehicle.
May 1: Golden Corral, 11025 E. Independence Blvd. Vehicle window broken, causing $300 in damage. Backpack, jogging pants, T-shirt, $250 stolen.
May 1: Tilted Kilt, 1625 Windsor Square Drive. Vehicle window broken, causing $150 in damage. Purse, iPad, laptop, aircard, bank ID card, bills, password FOB, prescription EPI pen, $150 sunglasses, prescription glasses, backpack, USB cord stolen.

Fraud
May 2: 3415 Zelda Lane. Attempting to obtain money by false pretense.
April 30: Fifth Third Bank, 1818 Matthews Township Pkwy. Suspect attempted to cash counterfeit check.

Thefts
May 5: Siskey YMCA, 3127 Weddington Road. Cellphone stolen.
May 2: Radio Shack, 11500 E. Independence Blvd. $199 headphones stolen.
May 2: 201 S. Main St. N.C. driver’s license, keys stolen.
May 1: Matthews Reserve, 1315 Cameron Matthews Drive. Money orders stolen from office drop box.
May 1: ZX Fitness, 10404 E. Independence Blvd. Wallet stolen.

Vandalism
April 30: CATS Park ‘N’ Ride, 9614 Independence Pointe Pkwy. Vehicle tires punctured, causing $200 in damage.

Mint Hill

Charges/citations
May 5: John Jamison, 22, of 7333 Lancashire Drive. Driving while impaired.
May 4: Devin Duncan, 22, of 7025 Spring Morning Lane, Charlotte. Possession of drug paraphernalia.
April 30: Angelica Crowell, 21, of 719 E. John St. Driving while impaired.

Fraud
April 30: 7800 Whitmire Lane. Victim’s checking account number used to force checks totaling $1,438.39.
April 30: 6508 Wilgrove-Mint Hill Road. Obtaining $5,656 under false
pretenses.
April 29: Wilco Hess, 13354 Albemarle Road. Stolen credit card used to make $75 purchase.
April 29: 9507 Stoney Glen Drive, Apt. G. Victim’s identity used to pawn stolen items.
April 29: 11833 Ranburne Road. $900 removed from bank account without permission.

Thefts
May 4: Circle K, 9201 Lawyers Road. Can of Bud Light stolen.
May 3: 4600 Stoney Trace Drive, Apt. V. Xbox 360, controller and $200 in Xbox games stolen.
April 30: 10300 Blair Road. $1,800 in batteries stolen from Time Warner Cable site. $30 in damage to computer hardware/software and $300 in damage to utility box doors.

The Matthews Artists Guild’s new exhibit is bringing out the best of the best.

The Matthews Artists Guild will host an opening reception and awards ceremony for its annual members-only, competitive art show Saturday, May 11, from 3 to 5 p.m. at the McDowell Arts Center, 123 McDowell St. The show will be on display through the end of the month.

MAG is launching its annual members-only, competitive art show and will host an opening reception and awards ceremony Saturday, May 11, from 3 to 5 p.m. at the McDowell Arts Center, 123 McDowell St. Awards will be given at 4 p.m., and the reception is free and open to the public.

Dozens of MAG members have contributed some of their best artwork to the show, which will remain on display in the McDowell Arts Center gallery through the end of the month. Community members can visit the center to view the artwork Monday to Friday, 1 to 8 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and Sunday, 1 to 6 p.m. Admission is free.

The show features a plethora of 2-D artwork, including pastel, oil and watercolor paintings, photography including digital photographs printed on aluminum, mixed medium art and collages. The pieces entered cover a broad spectrum of subjects, including landscapes, life drawings – or drawings of people – wildlife, “amusing” pieces with a “great sense of humor” and a few abstract pieces, MAG President Debbie Yacenda said.

Yacenda said the photography on aluminum and a large charcoal sketch of a man smoking a cigar are some of the more unique pieces in the show.

“I appreciate them, they’re good and they’re not the traditional type,” she said.

Yacenda said the show is important for MAG members because it encourages them to showcase their best artwork. The only restrictions are the artwork entered must have been created within the past two years and can’t have been entered into any previous show or competition.

“(The show) is important because it makes you bring out your best, examine your artwork, your collection, and say, ‘What am I most proud of?’” she said. “It gives you time to reflect on all you’ve
done and see what (you) think is the best.”

Awards will be given for first, second and third place as well as eight honorable mentions. MAG always recruits an outside expert to judge the show, with this year’s guest judge being local painter Brian Neher, who recently spoke at a MAG meeting.

“He’s successful and knows what he’s doing,” Yacenda said.

In addition to Neher’s picks, Matthews Mayor Jim Taylor will choose one piece to receive the Mayor’s Choice Award. Taylor has served as a special guest judge for three years, which gives the guild a chance to connect with Matthews officials, Yacenda said.

“He only picks what he likes,” she said. “His choices are wonderful, too. They’re usually (pieces) that the judges don’t pick. He sees it different, sees it as a layman, so we love that and we love his choices, too.”

Yacenda encourages community members to come to the reception and visit the gallery during the week to view the artwork – most of which is available to purchase.

“Art is for everyone,” She said. “Some people are intimidated because people think you have to know something (about art) or like everything, but just come find that painting that speaks to you.”

For more information, call the McDowell Arts Center at 704-321-7275 or go to www.matthewsartistguild.blogspot.com.

Covenant Day standout Spencer Hutchinson has emerged as one of the team’s top players as the Lions lead-off hitter and center fielder.

But Houseton also knew a very key piece was missing.

“I felt pretty good about the year,” Houseton said. “I knew we had some important parts coming back, but one of my biggest concerns was how we’d be able to replace Taylor Fisher.”

Fisher was a steadying presence in the outfield and the catalyst to the Lions’ offense from the lead-off spot, where he stole a team-high 22 bases last season. However, the two-time all-conference choice had since moved on to Gardner-Webb’s program.

This season, Houseton said he needed a spark plug to take Fisher’s spots both in the batting order and in the field. He had an idea that junior Spencer Hutchinson could fill those roles, even though he played the infield last season.

It turns out that Houseton was correct, but just how well Hutchinson has replaced Fisher in both areas has surprised the coach – and even Hutchinson himself.

“Overall it’s been a smooth transition,” Hutchinson said. “I’ve had to get used to the (throwing) arm slot going from catcher and third base (last year) to the outfield, where you have to get a full arm circle, (as) opposed to throwing from your ear.

“But yeah, it’s been smooth. Honestly, I’ve been a little surprised at how well it’s gone because I thought it would take longer, or be more difficult.”

While changing positions and moving to the top spot in the lineup was admittedly difficult at first, Hutchinson was up to the challenge. Hitchinson started the season strong, going 7-for-9 in an early-season series against Charlotte Latin, and hasn’t cooled much. In all, he has five-, six-, seven- and nine-game hit streaks to his credit and has been the most consistent offensive player on the Lions’ roster.

While he’s thriving in his new role this season, there was a time Hutchinson was merely hoping he’d to get on the field at all. He made the Lions’ varsity team in the ninth grade, but as the third-string catcher and backup third baseman, he said he was searching for ways to get regular playing time.

So when he got his chance to start last year as the Lions’ third baseman, he capitalized on his opportunity, hitting .356 and driving in 24 runs. This season, he’s further blossomed in his inherited lead-off spot and has more than made up for the loss of Fisher in center field.

On the year, he’s second on the team with a .433 batting average and leads the squad in hits (42), triples (three), RBIs (37), runs (32), walks (15), on-base percentage (.529) and stolen bases (22).

Hutchinson said he spent the early part of the season getting a feel for his new role but over time gained an understanding of what’s expected of him. And, as evidenced by his selection to the All-Metrolina Athletic Conference team – where he joined senior pitcher James Dillon and senior first baseman Garrett Vaughn as Lions on the squad – Hutchinson has transitioned just fine.

“At times I think I felt a lot of pressure to produce (during) each at-bat,” Hutchinson said. “But I’ve learned to relax and go to the plate with confidence and get on base. I run pretty well, and if I can get on (base) – either with a hit, reach on an error or draw a walk – I can help the team by stealing bases and starting the offense.”

And Hutchinson hasn’t just shined on offense.

In a 15-6 loss to Concord First Assembly on May 3 in the MAC tournament final, Hutchinson fielded a ball in center field and threw a dart to nab a runner at third base, saving a run.

The night before, against SouthLake Christian, Hutchinson gunned down a runner at home plate in the eighth inning, preserving a tie that Covenant Day would eventually break in the bottom of the inning to advance to the championship game with a 4-3 win.

“He saved the game for us,” Houseton said of the throw. “But I think Spencer has been doing that all year. He does whatever we ask of him and is certainly a big reason for our success.”

And even with its loss to First Assembly, Covenant Day definitely is a program on the rise. This season the Lions won 20 games for the second time in school history, took home the regular-season conference title, and reached the MAC tournament championship game for the third consecutive time. The Lions believe their success won’t end this season becasue they have Hutchinson and a group of talented underclassmen who are poised to carry on the Lions’ winning tradition.

Peter Englert, a private-school all-state selection last season, is batting .386 with 25 RBIs. Michael Henry (.308, 22 runs, 24 RBIs), Matt Cotton (.291, nine doubles) and Luke Barclay (.246, 20 RBIs, 25 runs), like Hutchinson and Englert, all are juniors.

And the Lions also have a talented nucleus of youngsters. Eighth-grader Satchel Jerzembeck is third on the team with a .400 average with 25 runs scored and 16 RBIs. Freshmen pitchers Colby Bruce (4-1 with a 2.51 ERA) and Chris Cotton (2-0, 2.84) have bright futures for the Lions.

And, with Hutchinson helping to set the example, Houseton believes his team is in good shape moving forward.

“Spencer is a big character guy,” Houseton said. “He’s been really good at leading the way for us, and it allows me to focus more on how we’re playing than wins and losses, because I know that will come.

“To have a guy like Spencer up there, playing hard and leading by example, that’s been huge for us.”

While Hutchinson is one of many Lions enjoying individual success this season, he’s excited about the future of the program that he’s helping take shape.

“We’ve developed as a team in a great way,” he said. “We had five or six guys that are constantly in the weight room and developing their skills by working on their swings, long-tossing or working on their games overall.

“I can see such an improvement in the team since we started this in early November to where we are now.”

While the Lions have emerged as a strong team over the past two seasons, Hutchinson said it’s apparent other programs are taking notice.

“As a freshman, it seemed like Charlotte Latin and the other (Class) 3A schools would throw their third- or fourth-best pitcher against us,” Hutchinson said. “But now they throw their ace.

“Coach Houseton always said we were the hunters trying to knock off the 3A teams, but now we’re the hunted. People are coming after us, and we have to be ready to see their best.”

Hutchinson is hoping the Lions are ready to make their mark in the state playoffs, which begin on Saturday, May 11, and said he relishes the chance to help the Lions rise as a program.

“I want to be known as a guy who was a leader on and off the field,” Hutchinson said. “I want to be a role model as a player but also as a
student-athlete. I want to set an example for the freshmen outfielders and teach the guys that will be taking my job in two years the right way to go about things.”

While Hutchinson is having a breakout season, he said he wants to achieve more than solid junior-year stats.

“I want to leave my mark on this team in a positive way,” he said. “I hope people will look at me and see my work ethic and want to emulate that.”

Employees of the Mint Hill Police Department bid farewell recently to two of its finest – on four legs, that is.

Mint Hill Police Sgt. Thomas McKenzie (left) and Cpl. Damir Mahmutovic pose with their dogs Ajay (left) and Bady. The two 8-year-old dogs retired last week. The department plans to purchase two new dogs in the 2013-14 fiscal year.

Police K-9s Ajay and Bady have been off the job for weeks but were officially retired Thursday, April 25, with a vote from town commissioners. Their handlers bought the dogs from the department for $1 each. At about 8 years old, the two German shepherds have hit retirement age. The town plans to buy two new dogs in the 2013-14 fiscal year.

For now Mint Hill police will rely on dogs from other area agencies, including Matthews and Charlotte-Mecklenburg, when a K-9 is needed. Mint Hill K-9 officers regularly train with handlers from other departments including Charlotte-Mecklenburg, Matthews, Concord and the Mecklenburg County Sheriffs Office.

Both dogs were purchased in September 2007 from a police dog training facility in Greenville where handlers Sgt. Thomas McKenzie and Cpl. Damir Mahmutovic spent three months learning the ropes and training their dogs.

Since then, both officers say the working canines have been an integral part of crime fighting in Mint Hill and it’s been hard to go to work without them.

Goodbye Ajay

When McKenzie first met Ajay, the officer says he felt “hesitant” and “apprehensive.” McKenzie had just learned that the then 1 1/2-year-old dog had recently bitten one of the Greenville trainers in the calf, resulting in 29 stitches.

“I’d never been around a dog that bites for a living,” McKenzie said.

But the two quickly bonded and Ajay, McKenzie soon discovered, balanced his willingness to work with a social and calm personality. He allows McKenzie’s young son to tug on his tail and pull on his ears and is a favorite with children in the community.

On duty, though, he was all business, McKenzie said.

“He always loved riding around town and stepping up on the console to see what was going on,” he said. “I truly miss having him in the car with me.”

McKenzie has a lot of success stories to share. Ajay did especially well alerting officers to the presence of illegal drugs, he said.

“Just about every time someone thought there were drugs, he would find something,” McKenzie said. “Narcotics was definitely his strong suit.”

His presence also kept officers out of harm’s way, McKenzie said, recalling a time about four years ago where a building off Albemarle Road had been broken into and the suspect was still inside.

“We made the announcement to come out or the K-9 would be released. Ajay gave two loud barks and that’s all it took for the suspect to come out of the building. It potentially saved an officer getting hurt,” he said.

Ajay didn’t have much success with scent-tracking people, but his nose came through during a deep-woods training exercise in Charlotte when McKenzie lost his gun’s magazine. The track was about a mile long through thick brush and briars and they were near the end of training when McKenzie realized his magazine had fallen out somewhere in the woods.

“We did another track backward and (Ajay) found it in the woods. That was a huge relief. I didn’t want to have to explain that to my supervisors,” he said. “He definitely earned his pay that day.”

Ajay prefers that “pay” in the form of real meat bones – he won’t touch dog treats. His retirement plans include “sleeping, playing in the yard, sitting on the couch and just enjoying life,” McKenzie said.

Goodbye Bady

Ask Mahmutovic to tell tales about his dog, Bady, and he’ll first pull out the picture of the pup he keeps in his wallet.

“He was the best partner I could ever have,” Mahmutovic said. “If every officer could have a dog … that would be the best investment ever.”

Bady was born in the Czech Republic and trained by a military policeman as a watchdog for his family. That background makes Bady less social and more protective of his territory – which at Mahmutovic’s home means he sticks close to his mother.

“That’s her dog,” he said. “She’s really spoiling him now.”

Mom makes sure Bady gets plenty of treats, puts ice cubes in his water and even cooks him the occasional steak. To celebrate her birthday this year, she fixed Bady a special meal. He once ate Mahmutovic’s entire six-inch sub when his back was turned, leaving the tomatoes, olives and cucumbers unscathed.

He’s been known to hop into the front seat and turn on the vehicle’s flashing lights or “help” Mahmutovic type reports with his paws. After work, the two often rode home with Bady’s head resting under Mahmutovic’s arm.

At work, Bady’s presence often led to suspects turning over illegal drugs to Mahmutovic so Bady would stay inside his patrol car.

“Because he was always so barky and aggressive, he made a name for himself and for me,” Mahmutovic said, adding the dog once found a brick of marijuana inside a vehicle trunk.

Shortly after moving to Mint Hill, Bady successfully located two suspects by using his nose during a police stop off Margaret Wallace Road. The vehicle’s male driver and female passenger fled and Bady found them both – one hiding in a nearby bush and the other in the breezeway of an apartment complex.

“I was so happy, I was glowing,” Mahmutovic said of their first find. “I was flying.”

K-9s also serve as an extra pair of eyes while on patrol. Bady once spotted two men breaking into a business at the Idlewild Plaza shopping center as Mahmutovic sat in the parking lot finishing reports on his laptop. Bady’s barking gave the two away.

“Wherever you’re looking, he’s looking the opposite way,” Mahmutovic said.

Bady’s retirement plans include long naps, eating lots of treats and playing with his Kong toys.

All students at McKee Road Elementary School know teacher Doug Smith.

The Matthews resident is one of the first faces they see in the morning, always headlining the school’s morning news channel, encouraging kids to get up and get moving while leading exercises during the morning J.A.M.M., or Jumpstart And Move at McKee, session.

“I just love the J.A.M.M. sessions and the kids love them, too,” Jeremy Lundgren, the assistant principal at McKee Road, said. “He’s always energetic and he really just empowers the students to have fun, all while looking out for their best interest.”

Smith was recently named a finalist for the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Teacher of the Year award. He was first nominated at the school level by his co-workers and after an interview process was named the East Zone finalist. Now he’s one of six district-wide finalists that could be named CMS Teacher of the Year in May.

Smith comes from a family of educators – his mom a teacher and his dad a recreational therapist. He always knew he wanted to be a teacher, but wasn’t sure in what field. After exploring different topics, physical education just seemed to click, he said.

“What’s funny is that I was outdoors a lot. I did recreational swimming, I was on the swim team in high school, but I wasn’t a star quarterback athlete or anything like that,” Smith said. “But I think we are seeing kids today be less active, and I just want to encourage them to get outside.”

Smith earned his education degree from Appalachian State University in 1997 and his master’s from West Virginia University in 1998. He started teaching in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, his home district, in 1998 at Oakdale Elementary and then at Park Road Elementary, now Park Road Montessori School. He then moved to McKee Road, where he has taught for the past 11 years.

For Smith, teaching is more about the individuals and less about the athletic skills. That’s how he’s directed his classroom for many years now, a method that’s proven to better encourage his students time and time again, he said.

“You don’t have to play sports. You don’t have to be on a team – just get outside and play. I don’t teach to just athletes,” Smith said. “Not too many years into teaching at McKee, I started to see students becoming inactive, so I brought a new philosophy to the PE program, one that doesn’t focus on competition but focuses on goal setting,” adding that each student sets their own goals. “I saw lower skilled kids come in smiling because they achieved their goals.”

It’s that kind of impact that encouraged teachers at the school to nominate Smith for the Teacher of the Year award, Lundgren said, describing Smith as dedicated, caring and motivated. He said Smith frequently goes above and beyond the call of duty, making contacts to help his program, writing grants and taking initiatives on projects like the school’s new playground facility that was dedicated April 24. Smith helped generate the idea to create a natural playground at the school that would mimic the topography of North Carolina, including sections representing the mountains, piedmont and shoreline.

“He sees the bigger picture and is able to have a great impact on all of our students,” Lundgren said. “Really the caring part, that’s the key to any successful teacher. He’s just a great teacher with good classroom management skills, which enables him to have a lot of fun in the classroom.”

The stage of Matthews’ Fullwood Theater will soon become a world of royalty and enchantment as members of the nonprofit Charlotte City Ballet Company celebrate spring with their upcoming performance, “The Dancing Princesses.”

The Charlotte City Ballet Company will perform their spring show, “The Dancing Princesses,” on May 11 at Matthews’ Fullwood Theater.

Performances are scheduled for May 11, a Saturday, at 3 and 7 p.m. at the theater, 100 E. McDowell St., in Matthews. Tickets are $8 in advance online at www.CarolinaTix.org or www.CharlotteCityBallet.org or $12 at the door.

The ballet company also will host a reception after the 3 p.m. show where audience members can buy cupcakes from Cupcake Delirium for $3 each. Lemonade also will be served and those in attendance will get the chance to talk to the dancers and take a picture with them.

“The Dancing Princesses” tells the story of a group of cousin princesses, court jesters, princess attendants, court children and one gentlemanly gardener who tends the castle grounds. The characters learn of a secret garden that contains the most beautiful flowers imaginable, but tragedy strikes when the princesses refuse to heed the gardener’s warning – there’s a single flower in the garden that, if picked, will turn those who touch it into stone.

For years, the ballet company has performed their spring show in Matthews, and the past three years’ performances have been story ballets, which co-artistic director Melissa Hale Coyle said is appealing especially to younger audience members. Coyle will direct the show along with co-artistic director, Lisa Leone.

“One thing we like about a story ballet is it’s not just about dancing; (company members) get to develop a character, act a little more,” Coyle said. “There’s a lot of acting involved in it.”

Coyle said for the most part the company came up with their own storyline, borrowing a few elements – such as dancing princesses – from other sources.  The cast of 26 features students ages 12 to 18 who are members of the company and take dance classes at the Sullivan Dance Center. Several younger dancers – ages 8 to 12 – also have been recruited from the company’s children’s division for various roles, such as the Meadow Mist – the only thing that can break the spell of the infamous flower.

One of the challenging things about the show, Coyle said, was coming up with music that fit the performance. Because the show is original, the company had to sample a handful of musical compositions to see what would work with each scene.

“There was a whole bunch of different music that we listened to (and asked) ‘Does that fit what we’re trying to do? What’s in the story?’” she said. “So it’s all different pieces of music put together, but with the same kind of style.”

Coyle said the company is borrowing a backdrop for the second act – the secret garden scene – and is pulling scenery saved from previous performances for other parts of the show. They’re also borrowing some of their costumes from other ballet schools and pulling others out of their own closet.

The company also hosts a holiday performance in December. Last year’s holiday show featured excerpts from classical ballet pieces like “Bolero” and “The Nutcracker Suite.”

The major difference between the two seasonal performances, Coyle said, is the spring performance tells a full story, which allows the dancers to exercise more creativity.

“The kids are very excited to be there,” she said. “It’s a very simple, sweet story, just pretty costumes and pretty sets, lots of flowers. It’s more of an uplifting performance.”