Man in Gastonia Arrested For Trafficking Cocaine

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Man in Gastonia Arrested For Trafficking Cocaine

This past week, a Gastonia man was arrested and charged with trafficking cocaine during a routine traffic stop.  A man was arrested for trafficking cocaine during a traffic stop on Gastonia Highway on Thursday.

48-year-old Ira Vernard Wilson was in the passenger seat when the vehicle was pulled over for a stop sign violation, according to the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office.

The stop took place on the Gastonia Highway near U.S. Highway 321. When Detectives approached the car, they noticed that Wilson was extremely nervous and was sweating profusely. Wilson suddenly vomited and said it happened because he was nervous.

The driver of the car then told detectives they could search the vehicle. They discovered nearly 34 grams of powder cocaine, worth up to $3,500, and more than $1,600 in cash.

Wilson was charged with two felony counts each of trafficking cocaine by possession and trafficking cocaine by transport, and one felony count of possession with intent to sell and deliver a schedule II controlled substance, according to the sheriff’s press release.

Charlotte Blind Man Saw His Family For The First Time Yesterday

Steve
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Charlotte Blind Man Saw His Family For The First Time Yesterday

A Charlotte man, declared legally blind 14 years ago, just saw his wife and kids for the first time yesterday thanks to a new breakthrough technology called ‘E-sight’.

32-Year-Old David Stephenson was declared legally blind when he was 18 years old. He notes on his GoFundMe page that he was born with a rare genetic eye disease called Retinitis pigmentosa, which has caused the loss of most of his sight. He didn’t think he’d ever see again in any meaningful way, until he discovered a new device called ‘E-sight’.

“I went to a private demo with my sister and was overwhelmed with joy when I was able to see her face clearly and even read half of the letters on the 20/20 line of the eye chart. I would love to translate this experience to the rest of my life and be able to see my son’s face, my step-daughters’ Winter Guard competitions, and even something small like being able to read a book or my own menu at a restaurant.”

He commented that he didn’t want to ask for handouts, but felt he had no choice when regaining sight was so close. “The price of these E-sight glasses are $10,000. I have received partial assistance for this product through a private organization and have a remaining balance of $6,800. That makes for an expensive pair of glasses–a pair I unfortunately can not afford. I am not one to ask for handouts, but how can I not when the possibility of normal eyesight is right here within reach?”

According to eSight’s website, the goggles are “worn like a normal pair of glasses. It houses a high-speed, high-definition camera that captures everything you are looking at, and then displays it on two near-to-eye displays. Advanced, medically-validated algorithms optimize and enhance the footage so that your eyes can truly see it, and in real-time.”

After receiving the goggles in the mail, his wife posted this update;

Yesterday David put on his own customized eSight goggles and he was finally able to see his wife and children with 20/20 vision for the very first time!

Way to go Charlotte – thanks for being awesome!

Lake Norman Festival of the Arts Returns To Huntersville

Charlotte Stories
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Lake Norman Festival of the Arts Returns To Huntersville
The premier weekend destination of Birkdale Village will transform once more into an art-lover’s paradise May 19 – 20 during the 2nd Annual Lake Norman Festival of the Arts. One hundred national and local artists are set to display their stunning works from across the nation in a prestigious show encompassing fine jewelry, exquisite works of art and hand-crafted apparel and decor.  The festival also includes a full craft market with handmade organic soaps, live plants, tasty edibles, affordable and practical artisan-created works and more.
 
Residents and visitors alike will find something for everyone during this free, two day artistic affair. Unlike other exclusive art showcases, the Lake Norman Festival of the Arts invites patrons to meet the artists themselves, commission a custom piece and discover the inspirations and processes behind each handmade-in-the-USA masterpiece. Ample parking is available and pets on leashes are always welcome.
 
The Lake Norman Festival of the Arts with Craft Marketplace represents original, hand crafted artwork selected by an independent panel of expert judges from hundreds of applicants. HAE’s careful vetting process also ensures a wide array of mediums and price ranges will be offered during the event.
 
WHAT:            2nd Annual Lake Norman Festival of the Arts with Craft Marketplace
WHEN:              Saturday, May 19 and Sunday, May 20 from 10 am to 5 pm both days
WHERE:              16805 Birkdale Commons Pkwy., Huntersville, NC 28078
COST:              Free and open to the public
WEBSITE:              www.artfestival.com
CONTACT:            info@artfestival.com or 561-746-6615
 
FESTIVAL AT-A-GLANCE:
·      Juried, first-class outdoor art gallery showcasing local and national artists
·      Original handmade artwork
·      100 national and local artists and craft artisans
·      Artists hand-selected by independent panel of expert judges from hundreds of applicants
·      All artists on site for duration of festival
·      Vast array of artistic media including paintings, sculptures, photography, ceramics, glass, wood, handmade jewelry, collage, mixed media
·      Full green market and craft festival
·      Ample parking available and pets on leashes welcome
For more information on the Lake Norman Festival of the Arts, visit www.artfestival.com or call 561-746-6615.

Target Now Offering Same-Day Delivery To Charlotte Residents

Steve
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Target Now Offering Same-Day Delivery To Charlotte Residents

Target just started using their newly acquired Shipt delivery company to offer same-day delivery of most of their products to Charlotte residents.

“Our partnership with Target will now allow for customers across the country to enjoy the benefits of shopping Target’s wide assortment with the personal touch of home delivery offered by Shipt,” commented Shipt’s CEO Bill Smith.

Target acquired the delivery startup this past December and announced they would start delivering to major metro areas starting toward the beginning of 2018.

Shipt initially started in Alabama after seeing the wild popularity of Amazon Prime Pantry grocery delivery service, which launched back in 2014.

They started in the Queen City last March, and now delivers for Lidl, Publix, and Harris Teeter.

The company has already hired over 500 shoppers, who are contracted employees, similar to Uber drivers. They make between $15 to $20 for every order they deliver. They now expect to hire an additional 4,000 shoppers across the Southeast as part of their latest expansion. If you’re interested in becoming a shopper, you can find out more on their website here.

Have you used Shipt yet? What are your thoughts? 

Gun-Toting ‘Male Chauvinists’ Plan To Protest Councilwoman LaWana Mayfield in Uptown

Charlotte Stories
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Gun-Toting ‘Male Chauvinists’ Plan To Protest Councilwoman LaWana Mayfield in Uptown

A group of pro-gun, self-proclaimed ‘male chauvinists’ just announced plans to rally in Uptown Charlotte next month.

Last night they posted the following image on Facebook, telling their members to bring their guns to the corner of Trade and Tryon on May 12th to protest Charlotte City Councilwoman LaWana Mayfield (the image references her recent 9/11 conspiracy tweet);

According to their website, “The Proud Boys are a men’s organization founded in 2016 by Vice Media co-founder Gavin McInnes. McInnes has described the Proud Boys as a pro-Western fraternal organization for men who refuse to apologize for creating the modern world; aka Western Chauvinists.”

Their website also notes that they value ‘Anti-Political Correctness’, ‘Closed Borders’, ‘Venerating the Housewife’, and ‘Reinstating a Spirit of Western Chauvinism’.

The Charlotte chapter initially started on May 20th, 2017.

They’ve held a handful of official meetings since then, which often involve guns and alcohol;

UPDATE 4/29/2018 7:30am: 

The Proud Boys have removed the event from their Facebook page since we published this article. It is unclear at this point whether or not any protest will take place on May 12th.

Viva Chicken About To Open Their 7th Charlotte Area Location

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Viva Chicken About To Open Their 7th Charlotte Area Location

For Viva Chicken fans in Indian Trail, life is about to get a lot easier, not to mention more delicious. Instead of road tripping to Charlotte the next time they are craving that authentic Peruvian rotisserie chicken, they can drive down the street to a new location coming this May.

The newest Viva Chicken, opening at 6461 Old Monroe Road in Indian Trail, is the seventh Charlotte-area location for the popular brand known for its pollo a la brasa, a delectable herb-enhanced rotisserie chicken cooked in a charcoal-fired oven.

The restaurant currently has locations in Huntersville, Concord, Ballantyne, Waverly, Elizabeth, and across from the Park Rd. Shopping Center;

“We like to say our fresh, inspired recipes transport taste buds to Peru,” says owner Randy Garcia. “Now we get to bring these tastes of home to our friends in Indian Trail. We can’t wait to serve them!”

Menu highlights include the following:

  • Rotisserie chicken (served as a quarter, half or whole) marinated for 24 hours with herbs and spices
  • Quinoa-stuffed avocado filled with organic quinoa, avocado, red pepper, rocoto chile pepper mayo and balsamic vinegar
  • Andina power food salad featuring kale/romaine mix, quinoa, seasonal fruit, edamame, toasted almonds, red peppers, avocado and Viva Chicken’s signature lime passion fruit vinaigrette
  • Inca wrap in a sun-dried tomato wrap stuffed with jasmine or cilantro-infused rice, canary beans, salsa criolla (with lime marinated onions and tomatoes), avocado and choice of pulled rotisserie chicken or steak
  • Sides including solterito (Peruvian corn salad), canary beans, cilantro-infused rice, plantains, yuca or sweet potato fries
  • Signature juices such as herbal limeade (lime, basil, rosemary and mint), Maracuya passion fruit juice and the Chicha Morada (Peruvian purple corn, cinnamon, cloves, pineapple, apple and limes) made in-house daily.

With seating for 86 guests inside and another 54 on the patio, Viva Chicken in Indian Trail is offering guests a high standard of customer service that includes food and drink table service and busing of tables. The décor has a modern industrial farm feel with rustic charm, warm colors, reclaimed tables and Viva Chicken’s trademark high-energy house music.

Debuting in 2013 with a single location in Charlotte, Viva Chicken represented a real roll of the entrepreneurial dice for Garcia and chef-owner Bruno Macchiavello. The pair worked together at Garcia’s family’s restaurant, the iconic Charlotte Italian fine dining favorite Villa Antonio, but they had a dream of introducing North Carolinians to the pollo a la brasa that Macchiavello grew up eating in Peru and Garcia discovered on a trip home with his Peruvian wife.

It wasn’t long before guests began crowding the door, which they still do prior to each Viva Chicken’s opening every day and until closing each night. And for those in a hurry, an online ordering option was added for those that would like to place their order in advance, so that they could swing by and take home a meal for their families.

For Garcia and Macchiavello, the key to Viva Chicken’s success is authenticity and Peruvian-sourced ingredients. Each restaurant has a charcoal rotisserie imported from Lima. The peppers for the fresh-made sauces, the purple corn used to make the fan-favorite Chicha Morado drink and the cans of Inca Kola are all authentically sourced and prepared. “Bruno and I agreed early on that there would be no shortcuts on delivering an authentic experience for our guests,” says Garcia.

Viva Chicken in Indian Trail is located at 6461 Old Monroe Road. The restaurant will open daily from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. For more information, call 980-425-3497 or visit vivachicken.com.

Charlotte’s 5th Major ‘Open Streets 704’ Is Taking Over NoDa and Plaza Midwood

Steve
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Charlotte’s 5th Major ‘Open Streets 704’ Is Taking Over NoDa and Plaza Midwood

This weekend Charlotte will host its 5th major ‘Open Streets 704’ – an event that shuts down several miles of streets to vehicles and organizes dozens of artisans, street vendors, and classes for pedestrians and bicyclists to freely explore.

The first four Open Streets 704 events saw over 30,000 people ditch their cars to walk, ride, skate, and skip down the middle of our city streets.

According to surveys filled out after the event, participants overwhelmingly agreed that Open Streets improved their overall image of Charlotte, and strengthened our community.

Given the growing popularity of the last two Open Streets, this will undoubtedly be the biggest and most active one yet.

open-streets-charlotte-stories
Second Open Streets through Uptown and South End
open streets 704 charlotte stories
First Open Streets 704 in NoDa and Uptown

Our 5th Open Streets event will be taking over several streets around Plaza Midwood, NoDa, Villa Heights, Optimist Park, Commonwealth and Belmont.

The streets will be OPEN from 1pm to 5pm on Sunday, April 29th;

In addition to the usual fun stuff (anything legal without cars, really) there will be a first-ever “Open Streets 704 beer” debuting (actually a pale ale with four different “twists,” depending on the brewery); some traffic test patterns (remember the colorful traffic circles from fall, or the test bike lanes from last spring?); and of course, encouragement to take the brand-new LYNX blue-line extension to the party.

There will be also cool accommodations for inclusiveness — “trishaws” (tricycle rickshaws) for seniors in the Family Zone, in the Wellness Zone.

International Champions Cup Announced Which Teams Are Coming To Charlotte

Steve
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International Champions Cup Announced Which Teams Are Coming To Charlotte

Great news for soccer fans – The International Champions Cup has just announced which teams will be returning to Charlotte this year.

We first reported on the cup 2 weeks ago when the host cities were announced.

They have now finalized the schedule and confirmed that on Jully 22nd, Liverpool FC will be taking on Borussia Dortmund at the Bank of America Stadium.

The tournament features 18 of the best clubs in the world playing 27 matches across the United States, Europe and Singapore.

Launched in 2013, the International Champions Cup taps directly into the growing passion for the world’s most popular sport. Teams like Manchester United, Real Madrid, MLS’ New York Red Bulls and others have made an impact on the tournament as it has picked up momentum on an annual basis.

The last time the ICC came to Charlotte in 2016, over 69,000 people filled the Bank of America stadium for the Inter Milan vs. FC Bayern Munich soccer match. This year, international organizers are planning for similar sized crowds to fill Charlotte during the global face-off.

This year, the Premier League’s “Big Six” of Manchester City, Manchester United, Liverpool, Tottenham, Arsenal and Chelsea will all be playing in the tournament. They’ll be joined by La Liga’s Barcelona, Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and Sevilla; Bundesliga stalwarts Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund; Serie A powers Juventus, Roma, AC Milan and Inter Milan; Ligue 1 champion-to-be PSG and Portugal’s Benfica.

State-Wide Silver Alert Issued For Missing Mount Holly Man

Steve
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State-Wide Silver Alert Issued For Missing Mount Holly Man

A new a Silver Alert has just been issued by The N.C. Center for Missing Persons for a missing endangered man in Gaston County.

80-year-old Carl Harrison Irvin is believed to be suffering from dementia or some other cognitive impairment.

Carl was last seen at 46 Shadowbrook Rd in Mount Holly;

Carl is about 5′ 9″ weighing 150lbs with white hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing blue jeans and a t-shirt.

If you have any information about Carl Harrison Irvin’s whereabouts, please call RJ Proctor at the Gaston County Police at 704-866-3320.

15-Year-Old Charlotte Boy Under Investigation For Sexting at Sedgefield Middle School

Charlotte Stories
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15-Year-Old Charlotte Boy Under Investigation For Sexting at Sedgefield Middle School

A 15-year-old Charlotte boy is now under investigation after CMPD officers were told he shared pornographic/obscene material at Sedgefield Middle School between April 19 and April 23rd.

Charlotte police, along with school administration and teachers have been focused more on reducing sexting ever since North Carolina passed G.S. 14-190.5A (the ‘revenge-porn statute’). The law makes it a criminal offense for anyone to knowingly disclose nude or sexual images of a person without the person’s consent.

The practice of smartphone ‘sexting’ has been on the rise across the country over the past decade.

A recent study published in the JAMA Pediatrics Journal that analyzed 39 existing studies involving 110,380 participants ages 12 to 18 found that almost 15% of teens had sent a sext and approximately 27% received one. The study didn’t find any significant differences in the rate of sending or receiving sexts between males and females.

The research also showed that as teens age, they’re more likely to engage in more sexting.

Study authors noted that the increasing frequency of giving pre-teens smartphones is likely contributing to the exponential rise in sexting. On average, they found that kids are now given their first smartphone at the age of 10, and they believe if this number gets younger, sexting will only increase among teens.

The trend is especially troublesome, as a growing number of teens are reporting that they forward sexts to someone without permission from the original sender — and approximately 8% said they received a sext without consent.

What do you think about the growing trend? 

 

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