News Briefs for March 22

Police capture fraud suspect on store’s camera

MATTHEWS – The Matthews Police Department is asking for help in identifying a suspect using a stolen debit card to make a fraudulent purchase at the Lowe’s store on Matthews Township Parkway.

The purchase took place March 9.

Contact Detective Lori Valdes at lvaldes@matthewsnc.gov or 704-847-5555 with any information regarding the case.

Congressional race heats up

RALEIGH – Thirteen people are running for the 9th District Congressional seat, including Matthews resident Gary Dunn.

Dunn unsuccessfully ran for Charlotte mayor in 2017 and governor in 2012.

Others running are as follows:

• Republicans: Chris Anglin, Dan Bishop, Leigh Brown, Kathie Day, Matthew Ridenhour, Stevie Rivenbark Hull, Stony Rushing, Fern Shubert, Albert Wiley Jr.

• Democrats: Dan McCready

• Green Party: Allen Smith

• Libertarians: Jeff Scott.

Former Congressman Robert Pittenger caused a stir March 19 when he endorsed Ridenhour, a former Mecklenburg County commissioner and made accusations about Bishop, a sitting state senator. Bishop threatened to sue, which prompted Pittenger to retract his statements.

The Republican primary election will be held May 14. A second primary will be held Sept. 10 if necessary. The general election will be held Sept. 10 if there’s no second primary and Nov. 5 if there is a second primary.

Southeast section of I-485 will be improved

CHARLOTTE – Improvements are on the way for a two-mile section of Interstate 485 between Idlewild Road and U.S. 74.

The project includes milling, paving, installing pavement markings and snow plowable markers, as well as performing maintenance on three bridges that cross Mount Harmony Church Road.

The contract permits lane closures from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. seven days a week. Contract crews will first start work the Inner Loop, progressing to the Outer Loop. Lane closures will be in place through the end of July.

Dash visits Queens Grant Community School

MINT HILL – Dash, the mascot for the 3-2-1 Dash for Down Syndrome 5K, visited Queen’s Grant Community School on March 14 to rally students who will support their classmates with Down syndrome.

The 3-2-1 Dash for Down Syndrome 5K includes a one-mile fun run and family festival on March 23.

World Down Syndrome Day is held every year on March 21 (3-21) in recognition of the three copies of the 21st chromosome that causes Down syndrome.

Visit www.dsagreatercharlotte.org/event/3-2-1-dash/ for details.

Pancake fundraiser benefits Kiwanis programs

MATTHEWS – The Kiwanis Club of Matthews will hold the Flipping Your Stacks Pancake Breakfast to support its community outreach to children, youth and their families.

The event takes place 8 a.m. to noon March 30 at Matthews Presbyterian Church, 207 W. John St. Tickets cost $7 in advance at www.matthewskiwanis.org or $8 at the door. Children younger than 8 years old eat for free.

Door and raffle prizes are included at the event.

Mint Hill commissioners set meeting schedule, filing fees

MINT HILL – The Mint Hill Board of Commissioners voted to adopt a monthly meeting schedule on March 14. The board will now only meet on the second Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. at town hall.

The board had a policy of meeting twice monthly, with the exception of July, August, November and December, but the scheduled meeting on the fourth Thursday was canceled each time because of a lack of town business. The board can schedule a second special meeting if it is warranted.

The board also set filing fees for the upcoming November municipal elections. The filing fee for mayor will be $50 while the filing fee for commissioner will be $25.

Land once zoned for charter school is now residential

MINT HILL — The Mint Hill Board of Commissioners voted to rezone 21 acres on Lawyers Road back to residential on March 14. The two 10-acre tracts are near the Sam’s Xpress car wash, which just recently opened.

The parcels were rezoned from residential to institutional in 2008 for the purpose of building a charter high school on the site. But Queen’s Grant ultimately built one of its campuses on Idlewild Road.

A representative of the property owners said the site will most likely be used for development of single-family homes. Approximately 32 single-family homes could be built on the site. Development plans for the property would have to be presented to the town for approval.

One resident expressed concern about apartments being built on the site but Mayor Ted Biggers said that won’t happen.

“We do not allow apartments in Mint Hill,” Biggers said. “They are not allowed.”

Survey work requires ramp closures at I-485 interchanges

CHARLOTTE – N.C. Department of Transportation crews have been conducting survey work at interchanges as part of the I-485 express lanes project, which will add an express lane in each direction between I-77 and U.S. 74.

The $346 million project will include the following improvements:

• Adding one general purpose lane in each direction of I-485 between Rea and Providence roads

• Widening the bridge carrying Ballantyne Commons Parkway over I-485 in Charlotte

• Improving the interchange at John Street in Matthews

• Building an interchange at Weddington Road in Matthews

Construction is anticipated to begin this summer. The project is expected to open to traffic in late 2022.

HAWK program preps bird enthusiasts for spring 

MATTHEWS – An upcoming Habitat and Wildlife Keepers program will help bird enthusiasts prepare for the spring migration.

Each spring, neo-tropical birds pass through the Carolinas on their way north to their breeding grounds, providing the potential for local birders to see something new or unusual.

Scott Fletcher, vice chair of the North Carolina Wildlife Federation and natural resource manager for Duke Energy, will help HAWK make the most out of this year’s migration.

The free event starts at 7 p.m. April 2 at the Matthews Community Center, 100 E. McDowell St.

Scouts recycle electronics

MATTHEWS – Cub Scout Pack 46 will hold a free electronics recycling event.

The community can pull their cars into Matthews Presbyterian Church’s side parking lot on South Freemont Street from 9 a.m. to noon April 27 to drop off items.

Various consumer electronics (phones, tablets and audio video equipment), projectors, DVD/Blue-ray players, VCRs, cable boxes and computer equipment will be accepted.

Flat-screen TVs, CRT TVs, light bulbs, paper, magazines and books will not be accepted.

The pack’s recycling partner will wipe data from hard drives.

Email cubpack46@gmail.com for details.