This weekend, the U.S. National Whitewater Center is expanding its canine-friendly offerings by officially opening their long anticipated 70-acre off-leash dog paradise.

Dogs have always been welcome to walk through the WWC’s 1,300 acres along side their owners, but starting this November, they’ll be able to run, jump, and catch some rays on the beach all by themselves.

Highlights of the new 70-acre dog park include:

• A 2,480 sq ft building called the Barley House with beer, food, and puppy treats
• A scenic three-mile Lake Loop trail for those adventurous paws.
• A breezy open-air beer garden for the humans.
• A dog wash station and an infinity water trough for thirsty pups.
• A stunning lakefront beach for some sun and splash.
• A fresh retail outlet and ample space for groups and memorable events.

Entry details:

• Off-leash dog park access is just $10 for a single-activity pass.
• Annual pass holders can bring along their furry companion, and any extra pups come in at $50 each.
• A day pass also welcomes one dog for a day of unleashed excitement.

Mark your calendars for Saturday, March 30th to visit the U.S. National Whitewater Center at 5000 Whitewater Center Pkwy., and let your furry friends enjoy nature like never before.

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Monroe Police have just arrested a man for ‘Going Armed To The Terror Of The People’ after he was seen entering a Walmart strapped with full body armor, a Russian-style assault rifle, a semi-auto handgun, a revolver, and dozens of rounds of ammo.

On Monday, March 25, at 1:02 PM, the 911 call center received reports of a man entering Walmart (2406 W. Roosevelt Blvd) wearing body armor, a rifle, two handguns, and several loaded ammo magazines. Officers quickly arrived, entered the store, and confronted the individual, later identified as 32-year-old Moja Kemet Estep of Monroe. Estep was apprehended without further escalation or resistance. Estep was booked and charged with “Going Armed To The Terror Of The People.”

As of now, Estep awaits further legal proceedings at Union County Jail, with his bond yet to be determined.

With Americans owing around $17.5 trillion in total household debt, the personal-finance website WalletHub today released its new report on the Cities Where People Are the Most Delinquent on Debt to show where people are at the biggest risk of credit score damage and other negative consequences.

To highlight the places where people are having the biggest issues paying their bills, WalletHub analyzed proprietary user data from Q4 2023 for the 100 largest cities for which we could obtain a complete data set. In our ranking, we considered both the percentage of individual tradelines that were delinquent and the percentages of residents’ total loan balances that were delinquent.

The new report found that the North Carolina cities of Winston-Salem (#5) and Greensboro (#9) have among the most debt-burdened citizens of any city in America. Charlotte ranked in the top 50 most debt burdened cities at #41 and Durham faired the best at #74.

Cities Most Delinquent on Debt Payments

*1 = Most Delinquent.

The Loch Norman Highland Games is poised to celebrate its landmark 30th anniversary with a vibrant showcase of Scottish culture on April 20th and 21st, 2024, at the picturesque Historic Rural Hill, near Lake Norman, North Carolina. This esteemed annual event promises to immerse attendees in the rich tapestry of Scotland’s heritage, featuring an array of music, dance, and traditional athletic competitions such as caber tossing and hammer throwing.

In addition to the athletic prowess on display, the festival will offer a deep dive into Scottish traditions with cuisine tastings, historical reenactments, and educational sessions on Scotland’s storied past. The Loch Norman Highland Games is renowned for its inclusive and family-friendly atmosphere, providing a plethora of activities suitable for all ages, including a dedicated area for children’s entertainment.

Festival-goers are invited to partake in a diverse lineup of attractions, including Highland dancing, bagpipe performances, Highland athletics, and a Giant Kid’s Zone. The event will also feature Scottish merchants, opportunities to sample haggis, performances by Celtic rock and traditional musicians, historic reenactments, Scottish country dancing, and a Sunday church service. Culinary delights will be available, with hearth cooking demonstrations, North Carolina beer and wine, whisky tastings, and more. Additional interactive experiences include kilted running events, Scottish clan societies, long bow and blowgun activities, battle axe throwing, and much more.

This year’s Loch Norman Highland Games not only marks a significant milestone but also offers a unique opportunity to experience the spirit of Scotland through a weekend filled with cultural enrichment and community engagement.

You can find out more info or buy tickets here.

The Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) will host virtual and in-person meetings in April for the Red Line Commuter Rail project. This proposed project would bring rapid-transit rail connections from northern Mecklenburg County and southern Iredell County to Uptown Charlotte via 10 stations in five municipalities.

This project will provide reliable transportation through the establishment of a rapid-transit corridor, supporting traffic reduction along I-77 while driving economic development through the creation of transit-oriented hubs and their surrounding communities from Charlotte to Mooresville. It will also create connections to the Charlotte Gateway Station with its additional transit options and the surrounding entertainment district on one end, while providing the opportunity for future expansion into Iredell County to serve key destinations.

At the meetings, attendees will have the opportunity to learn about the project, speak with members of the project team and provide feedback. You can drop in any time for your convenience.

Virtual Public Meeting:

Wednesday, April 10 from 6 – 8 p.m.

Watch on CATS YouTube

In-Person Meetings:

Davidson, Mooresville and Cornelius

Tuesday, April 16 from 6 – 8 p.m.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Library – Davidson Branch

119 South Main St., Davidson, NC 28036

Huntersville, Davidson and Cornelius

Thursday, April 18 from 6 – 8 p.m.

North County Regional Library

16500 Holly Crest Ln., Huntersville, NC 28078

Charlotte

Saturday, April 20 from 10 a.m. – Noon

Sugar Creek Library

4045 N. Tryon St. Suite A, Charlotte, NC 28206

Each in-person meeting will focus on the local area.

To find out more information before the meetings or to submit your feedback to today, you can visit CATS Redline input site here.

Legendary burger joint Whataburger is about to open their first Charlotte location later this year.

The Charlotte zoning just approved the new drive-thru facility in East Charlotte’s Clear Creek Crossings development, between on Albemarle Road and Rocky River Church Road. Whataburger’s first Charlotte address will be 12809 Albemarle Road.

Zoning Records Confirm Approval for Whataburger in Charlotte https://t.co/lFMLSB5GDA

— 102.5 The Block (@1025theblock) March 26, 2024

This marks the second attempt in two years to bring the chain to Charlotte, following an earlier proposal that ultimately fell apart.

Since its first establishment in 1950, Whataburger has become an iconic brand in Texas, boasting over 700 outlets across the state. The chain has since stretched its footprint to nearly 300 locations across the country.

Are you excited about Whataburger coming to Charlotte?

This April, the StoryCorps mobile recording booth is making a much-anticipated return to Charlotte after nearly 15 years. StoryCorps, a nonprofit dedicated to capturing American stories, has recorded nearly 700,000 people since 2003. These recordings are archived in the U.S. Library of Congress, creating the largest collection of human voices ever.

The StoryCorps MobileBooth, a converted Airstream trailer, tours the country annually, partnering with local organizations to record conversations of local residents. These stories are broadcast to over 12 million listeners nationwide.

Here’s the schedule for Charlotte’s StoryCorps visit:

• April 11th: Public appointment bookings open.
• April 25th: Recording sessions begin.
• April 26th: More public appointments available.
• May 24th: Last day of recordings.

Participants have a 40-minute session to share any story or experience they find meaningful, with no specific content required. This is a unique chance for Charlotte residents to contribute to this national project and preserve their stories for future generations.

You can follow them on Facebook and Twitter for updates on when and how to register to record your story.

Orbus Visual Communications, a leading company in the visual communications, retail environments, and workplace interiors sector, is set to expand its operations with a new $25 million manufacturing facility in Huntersville. This development is expected to generate 100 new jobs while also relocating 86 existing positions from Charlotte.

Orbus serves high-profile clients such as Audi, Nike, and Wrangler. The upcoming 225,000 square foot facility on Hambright Road will merge the production capabilities of SEG Systems and Fabric Images, encompassing a wide range of processes from printing and metal fabrication to wood working and lighting.

“I am proud of Orbus Visual Communications and our success, marked by this relocation and expansion to a new cutting-edge facility,” said Gary Keefer, CEO of Orbus Visual Communications in a press release. “This relocation and expansion propels us forward and reinforces our commitment to excellence in the Retail and Interiors markets.”

SEG Systems, originally based in Charlotte, specializes in the engineering and manufacturing of lightboxes, frames, and various merchandising and display systems. Orbus’s acquisition strategy saw SEG Systems joining its portfolio in 2022, following the earlier acquisition of Fabric Images in 2020.

The official opening of the new facility is marked by a ribbon-cutting ceremony scheduled for the afternoon of April 17 at 10701 Hambright Rd.

The Mecklenburg County Natural Resources staff has just announced that they will be setting the Latta Nature Preserve (on the east side of Mountain Island Lake) on fire today at noon as part of a controlled burn.

The county sent out an alert noting that smoke will be seen around West Charlotte and Huntersville today between 11am and 2pm:

“Mecklenburg County Natural Resources staff are conducting a controlled burn today beginning around 11am at McDowell Nature Preserve. Smoke will affect air quality in the downwind area for 2-3 hours. To reduce your exposure to smoke, stay indoors or avoid areas of heavy smoke.”

According to the Mecklenburg County website, “land managers use controlled burns (also known as prescribed fire) to mimic the natural disturbance caused by the natural fires of years ago. These fires are carefully planned and conducted under specific weather conditions to achieve specific goals. In this way fire can safely be used as a management tool.”