FBI Asking For Public’s Help In Finding “Bad Wig Bandit” Who Robbed 3 Banks Around Charlotte

Charlotte Stories
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FBI Asking For Public’s Help In Finding “Bad Wig Bandit” Who Robbed 3 Banks Around Charlotte

The FBI has just released a new wanted poster for a serial bank robber in the Charlotte area who they are now calling the ‘Bad Wig Bandit’.

The man is believed to have robbed 3 different banks in Huntersville, Belmont, and Gastonia over the past 3 weeks, using a different wig each time.

Charlotte’s FBI office posted the following wanted poster to their Twitter account;

The robber is is described as being a black male aged 20-40 with a medium physical build.

If you have any info related to the possible identity of the bad wig bandit, please contact the Charlotte FBI Office or submit a tip at tips.fbi.gov.

North Carolina About To Open Their First Ever ‘Alpine Coaster’ At Over 2,100 Feet Long

Charlotte Stories
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North Carolina About To Open Their First Ever ‘Alpine Coaster’ At Over 2,100 Feet Long

North Carolina is about to open their very first ‘alpine coaster’ – an awe-inspiring mountain-side roller coaster ride.

The new ‘Wilderness Run Alpine Coaster’ will feature 2-person carts that wind through trees, over rocks, and around 360-degree loops on over 2,160 feet of track at speeds up to 27 MPH. The coaster will be just slightly longer than the legendary Canyon Flyer Coaster, America’s first alpine coaster which opened in 2014 (there are currently just 34 alpine coasters in the entire United States).

Tickets will cost $15 for adults and there will be discounts for children and military personnel announced at a later date.

Here’s an exclusive preview of what a ride on the coaster will be like;

The new Wilderness Run Alpine Coaster is located along NC 184 at 3229 Tynecastle Highway in Banner Elk, about 2 hours Northwest of Charlotte.

The park hopes to officially open sometime next month.

North Carolina Zoo Announces Birth of Rare Southern White Rhino

Charlotte Stories
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North Carolina Zoo Announces Birth of Rare Southern White Rhino

The North Carolina Zoo is excited to announce the birth of a third southern white rhino in just under two years. The female calf was born on Sunday, Jan. 5,  to mother Kit and father Stormy. The calf weighed approximately 100 pounds and will be named at a later time.

This birth marks another significant achievement for the zookeepers and the veterinarian team who work with the Zoo’s rhino herd every day.

“This is a great moment and testament to the dedication of our Zoo staff,” Zoo Director Pat Simmons said. “These successful births are because of a lot of hard work and collaboration among our entire animal care staff.”

Jade Tuttle, zookeeper for the Zoo and a board member of International Rhino Keepers Association, said the calf and her mother are doing well.

“Grassland keepers are thrilled at yet another addition to our herd!” Tuttle said. “It’s a great gift to usher in the New Year and the new decade here at the North Carolina Zoo!”

The Zoo has been home to rhinos since 1976 as part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Species Survival Plan (SSP). However, the Zoo waited for more than 40 years for a healthy rhino calf.

The Zoo’s 40-acre Watani Grasslands expansion – completed in 2008 – was created specifically for a breeding rhino herd, making these multiple births a dream come true.

Zookeepers report the new calf is healthy and nursing. They expect her to gain 100 pounds a month in the first year. She could weigh 3,500 to 5,500 pounds when fully grown.

“Congratulations to the North Carolina Zoo on the successful birth of a third Southern white rhino in just two years,” said Susi H. Hamilton, secretary of the N.C. Dept. of Natural and Cultural Resources. “I’m proud of the Zoo’s continuing commitment to saving this and other threatened species at home and around the world.”

Southern white rhinos were hunted to near extinction by the beginning of the 20th century for their horns, which some erroneously believe provide medicinal benefits. Rhino horn is constructed from keratin, which is the same material that makes up human fingernails and hair.

Today, populations in the wild still face significant threats from poaching and habitat loss. In addition to their work with the rhinos at the North Carolina Zoo, staff work on projects in several countries in Southern Africa to protect wild rhinos from poaching and save the species from extinction.

The Zoo’s herd now consists of nine rhinos: male Stormy; females Linda, Kit, Natalie, Abby, and Olivia; and calves Nandi and Bonnie and the new female calf just born.

The second-largest land mammal after elephants, rhinos are pregnant from 16 to 18 months (elephants are pregnant for approximately 24 months). A rhino will only give birth every two to five years. At full maturity, a southern white rhino will have two horns, grow 12 to 13 feet long and up to 6 feet from hoof to shoulder, and weigh 4,000 to 5,000 pounds. They can live 40 to 50 years and run at impressive speeds of up to 30 miles per hour.

Hundreds Planning To March In Uptown Charlotte In Protest Of Further Aggression With Iran

Charlotte Stories
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Hundreds Planning To March In Uptown Charlotte In Protest Of Further Aggression With Iran

In spite of the seeming deescalation of aggression between the United States and Iran, a widespread coalition of left-leaning groups are now planning to come together this evening to speak out against President Trump’s recent actions.

This evening, starting at 5 pm Eastern Standard Time, there will be hundreds of protests organized in cities and towns across America in opposition to any potential further aggression or conflict with Iran, including here in Charlotte.

The coalition’s new website, NoWarWithIran.org includes the following statement:

“Trump’s reckless action has needlessly endangered countless lives of U.S. troops, Iraqis, Iranians, and countless other civilians. The devastation that a war with Iran could bring upon the earth and humanity cannot be overstated—millions of lives hang in the balance. None of us will win, except politicians and corporations. Even more resources that our communities desperately need will be wasted on unnecessary violence.”

There are now a total of 362 protests scheduled for this evening in most states across America, including Hawaii and Alaska;

Charlotte’s protest will be held on the corner of Trade and Tryon. So far there have been 154 attendees who have committed to attending.

What do you think about the protests?

Belmont Native Now Serving at the Largest Naval Communications Station in the World

Charlotte Stories
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Belmont Native Now Serving at the Largest Naval Communications Station in the World

Most Americans would agree that communications are a vital part of their lives. The same is true for the U.S. Navy. Instead of using smart phones and tablets, a group of sailors stationed in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, use the most-advanced satellite and telecommunications equipment to share vital information with sailors deployed around the world.

Petty Officer 3rd Class Erik Reyes, a 2013 South Point High School graduate and native of Belmont, North Carolina, is one of these sailors assigned to Naval Computer and Telecommunications Area Master Station Pacific who provides these communication services.

Reyes credits success in the Navy to many of the lessons learned in Belmont.

“My hometown taught me the value of hard work,” said Reyes. “I took that lesson with me and apply it everyday while serving.”

NCTAMS Pacific is the center of communications for the U.S. Navy in the Pacific. They provide command, control, communications, computers and intelligence connectivity to Naval and Joint forces from San Diego to Singapore and beyond. NCTAMS Pacific is the largest naval communications station in the world, known as the “Pacific Voice of Command.”

CMPD Releases New Footage of Scott Brooks’ Killer(s) – Now Offering A $21,000 Reward

Charlotte Stories
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CMPD Releases New Footage of Scott Brooks’ Killer(s) – Now Offering A $21,000 Reward

It has now been a month since the co-owner of Brooks’ Sandwich House, 61-year-old Scott Allen Brooks, was shot and killed as he was going in to work and police still have no suspects.

The Charlotte FBI office and CMPD are now increasing the public resources in a plea for more help in the case.

Today, CMPD officially released camera footage that was taken of the shooter the night of Brooks’ murder.

They have also increased the reward to $21,000 for any information that might lead to an arrest & conviction.

Please be on the lookout around the NoDa area and please help spread the word.

There’s Reason to Think Charlotte’s Housing Market is Headed for a Correction

Andre Smith
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There’s Reason to Think Charlotte’s Housing Market is Headed for a Correction

Here in Charlotte, locals are already aware of how tight the housing market has become. Home prices have skyrocketed in recent years, gaining almost a full third of their current average value since 2012. For local homeowners, that’s fantastic news, especially for those who managed to ride out the 2008 housing crash waiting for their homes to regain their former value. Over that same span, however, the number of existing homes for sale here has dropped dramatically, currently hovering at less than half what it was at the beginning of 2012. The pressures on the market created by ballooning prices and dwindling supply may be finally choking off sales, and the Charlotte area may be on the cusp of a major correction.

Heading for a Cliff

The idea that a housing market correction is coming is probably unwelcome news to most homeowners, who likely remember that the last such correction turned into a rout in the market. There’s no reason to think that any coming correction will be anywhere near as extreme this time, though, since the underlying economic conditions aren’t as challenging as they were in 2008. In fact, most home price indices expect home prices here to continue to rise for at least another year. In the short-term, that may sound like more good news for local homeowners, but the reality is likely to be more complex. As it turns out, historical data indicates that housing markets with the highest home price to median income ratio tend to suffer the most in a downturn, and that’s not a good sign for us here in Charlotte.

The High Cost of High Prices

If you look at a listing of cities with the worst home price to income ratios in the country, you won’t see Charlotte making an appearance. That oversight isn’t due to the Charlotte area having a healthy market, of course, but rather that most data sets tend to focus on only the largest metro areas. If you do the math, however, you’ll find that with an average household income of $53,274 and a median home list price of $289,900, the Charlotte area sports a ratio of 5.4. In other words, it’s just as unaffordable here as it is for those living in New York or Denver. What that also means is that home prices are much higher than the market here can support over the longer term, so a pretty significant dropoff is inevitable sooner or later.

A Sneak Preview

Although the Charlotte housing market isn’t cooling yet, we are almost certainly approaching a peak. After that happens, if history is a guide, owners will rush to sell, precipitating a steep decline in a short span. If you want to see what that looks like in a similar environment, consider Australia. Although it’s on the other side of the world, there are some parallels that make for a useful comparison. For example, the housing market there (nationwide), reached a similar price to income ratio as we have here in 2020. That puts them about one year ahead of Charlotte in terms of the market cycle. Today, the Australian market is in decline almost nationwide, with no signs of leveling off, according to Business Insider.

What’s most important, though, is what preceded the dropoff – both the volume of new listings and demand for property stagnated right before the downturn.

Timing the Market

If the present conditions here in Charlotte are any indication, any homeowner looking to cash out and sell off their property should get the ball rolling as soon as they are able. Those that don’t may well become trapped in the spiral of falling prices that will accompany the coming correction. That’s fine if you’re willing to wait for prices to recover, but there’s no telling how long that will take. There’s also no way to forecast how steep the decline will be once it begins. If you use the Australian market as a barometer, it could be reasonable to expect at least a 12% to 18% decline in home prices before the market begins to stabilize, spread over at least two or three years.

The bottom line for Charlotte homeowners is: the years of price inflation are almost over – and if you’re planning to sell, you’re running out of time unless you’re willing to take a significant loss.

Rowan Teacher Fulfills Dream Of Fostering, Proves That Being A Single Parent Isn’t A Roadblock

Charlotte Stories
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Rowan Teacher Fulfills Dream Of Fostering, Proves That Being A Single Parent Isn’t A Roadblock

Amy Vedeikis has known since she was a teenager that she would become a foster parent someday and possibly even adopt a child in need of a stable, loving family life.

Late last winter, she put a plan into action. Today, she is a vocal advocate not only for foster parenting, but for single parent fostering and adoption.

“I’ve always known since high school age that fostering or adopting was something I wanted to do,” said Vedeikis, who has been a teacher in the Rowan County school system for 18 years. “I kept waiting for the right time. I always said God would open the window and give me a sign. My sister saw an article in the paper about an information session at Nazareth (Child & Family Connection). I went and I was hooked.

“My aunt was a foster parent a long time ago and I knew I was going to do this. It just took a long time to get myself to this point … a point of clarity.”

The information session was for a 10-week foster parenting and adoption class last winter that Nazareth Child & Family Connection offers twice a year. Vedeikis completed the class, followed up with all needed paperwork and was licensed by the state of North Carolina. A similar information session is slated for August 14 at Nazareth’s Salisbury office.

This past summer, Vedeikis got the call that two sisters, ages six and seven were in need of fostering.

“My whole thing is God wouldn’t give me what I can’t handle, and I jumped right on in,” said Vedeikis.

Vedeikis is single, and she admits the prospect of foster-parenting by herself gave her pause.

“That is probably the one thing that was in the back of my mind all the time: ‘Am I going to be able to do this myself.’ There’s no good cop, bad cop, I’m going to have to do it all,” she said.

“Most of the time you don’t hear of single people doing it. There was another girl in my class that was single, and we were a support system for each other, and I have a very supportive family and group of friends. And of course, Nazareth is there to help when you need it.”

The two little girls lived with Vedeikis for 45 days, a joyful and rewarding time for the foster mom. But the siblings transitioned into their grandparent’s home, reuniting them with family. It was a bittersweet time.

“That was one of the roughest moments ever because you become so attached. But spending so much time with them and realizing I was making their life easier and providing them opportunities to grow and be kids and not worry about things,” said Vedeikis. “But I had to constantly talk myself through it, that they have gone with family members and that will be good and that I’ve done a lot to help them.

“It was rough, but I’ve made it through this. I’m a teacher. I see kids leave me every year and I cry. This is different because they are with you day and night. But in the heart-of-hearts, this is what God wanted me to do and I pray that I’ve helped them.”

And it hasn’t slowed Vedeikis’ drive to foster and eventually adopt. “In fact, it just drove the part that this was what I was supposed to do. My heart was broken, but I knew I wouldn’t stop because they left. There are other kids out there that need me.”

Vedeikis says a vitally important part of her journey has been the help and support of Nazareth Child & Family Connection, from the information session and 10-week fostering class to support through the licensing process to answering the phone when she called for advice or help.

“I’m so thankful I did that,” she said of the Nazareth class. “My experience with Nazareth has been nothing but the best experience. They were always there to answer questions. They are another piece of the support that I’ve needed and had. That class was a blessing.”

Vedeikis is constantly encouraging friends and strangers alike to take a look at foster parenting to see if it is a fit for them. The best first step, she says, is to attend Nazareth’s next fostering and adoption information session.

Registration can be made by calling 704.279.5556 EXT 111 or visiting: https://bit.ly/2zPA0Te.

Tips for Fishing with Family and Kids

Peter James
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Tips for Fishing with Family and Kids

It is not a secret that outdoor activities are beneficial to our physical and mental health. But having a family activity in nature has more to it than the health benefits. It is a wonderful opportunity to spend time with one another and bond, but it is especially good for your kids. 

Children need to spend as much time outside as possible. An active lifestyle in fresh air can enhance their cognitive abilities and grow their physical strength. Children, in these hectic times, tend to be glued to the screens most of the time, so a fun trip is going to make their day different and exciting. 

Here are some tips on how to plan your trip in the best way, especially when you are taking your kids fishing. If you are interested in quality fishing gear, click here.

Pack well

Make a checklist of things you know will be essential for your kids in nature. Include food, a lot of water, sunscreen, and bug repellents. Apart from the actual fishing gear, these items are practically a must-have. Additionally, bring a camera, and something to occupy your children if the fishing becomes boring to them, like toys, a snack, or crayons, and coloring pages in a coloring book. 

Use simple equipment

If your child is very young, between 3 and 6 years old, a cane pole is an ideal equipment for them. That way, if they catch something, they will only need to lift it out of the water. But if they are older than 6, a rod with a reel on, they will need some time to learn and practice to get the hang of the reeling, but tackling a challenge like that will be a reward, and something they will be proud of.

Pick the right time for your activity

Most fish become active during early morning and late afternoons, which is the perfect time for your kids, as well, because it won’t be too hot, so they will have less opportunity to complain. 

Plan to spend around two to three hours fishing. Anything over that time frame can make the kids bored and impatient. That will give you enough time to spend quality time with your children and catch a few fish while keeping the kids’ attention and energy up.

Pick a spot with easy-to-catch fish

Young anglers have difficulty casting, so try to pick a wide-open location without lots of weeds and rocks. This will ensure that if they catch something, it will not get snagged on every object underwater. 

Also, avoid crowded locations. This way, you will ensure that you have your kids’ focus on their rods, but also that they will not disturb other anglers. 

When it comes time to actually catch fish, several species are well-suited for young anglers. This includes panfish, like bluegill, green sunfish, shell crackers, and red-breasted sunfish.

Bluegill tends to congregate in one area, which means that if you catch one, you will definitely find more in the same spot.

Another good fish for beginners is a catfish. Although to catch them requires more patience, your children will be thrilled to drag up a reasonably big fish. Catfishing is usually done at night, but you can find it throughout the day, and the catfish reel will help you catch catfish easily. 

Stocked trout is probably the hardest for children to catch. However, a lot of places have ponds with stocked trout that are specifically designed for children. As a bonus, many of these places have gear for children that you can rent for a small fee, so you do not have to invest in it yourself. 

Make sure that the safety of your children comes first on your list of priorities. Watch out for any possible injuries, or if your children are not swimmers, bring life vests with you on the trip.

Do not forget that being in nature with your kids is supposed to be about having fun and bonding, and not about the number of the fish you caught.

 

Top Attractions to See When Visiting Charlotte

Scott Byerly
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Top Attractions to See When Visiting Charlotte

Charlotte is North Carolina’s biggest city and is names in honor of King George II. The city center, known as Uptown boast loads of restaurants, shopping malls and attractions for you to see when visiting the city. It also reflects on its rich past and history with amazing museums and is a favorite among racing enthusiasts for its vivid history in Motorsports, with speedways, racing schools and much more.

Here are some of the top attractions to visit when you are in Charlotte.

NASCAR Hall of Fame

 The number one spot for NASCAR and motorsport fans alike. Here you can see legendary cars such as a 1952 Hudson Hornet alongside galleries that pay tribute to NASCAR Hall of Fame inductees. There is also a theater with surround sound showing classic races, how teams prepare on race day and other exhibits on a huge 64-foot-wide screen. 

Carolina’s Aviation Museum

A great place for technology and aviation enthusiasts, the Aviation Museum takes you on a tour through the evolution, the history and the technology of aircrafts. Aeroplanes and helicopters throughout history are on display alongside some private collections. Check out the planes used in both World Wars, such as Sopwith Camel bi-plane, one of the most used planes by the British army in WWI. 

There is also an outside display of aircraft with can be visited if the weather is adequate. It includes the 1999 Airbus A320-214, which made a stunning landing after its engines failed due to a flock of geese.

Paramount’s Carowinds

Carowinds is an amusement park for all ages, and great for those seeking thrills. With everything you expect from a top amusement park, including roller coasters, water parks and exhibits, it a place where the whole family will have fun. They also have a dinosaur exhibit with amazing animatronics to guide you through history. Alongside the amusement park is the waterpark, Boomerang Bay, so if you are visiting in summer, make sure to pack your swimming gear!

Discovery Place

An ever-changing museum that allows visitors to see, hear and feel science. With hands-on participation in every exhibit, this is a place were all ages can have a good time and learn about the world around them. Participate in experiments, learn about physics and there is even a chance to create your own stop-motion video. Furthermore, kids under 7 can learn and have fun with KidScience, a space design for little visitors.

Visiting Charlotte

This is a small sample of all the exciting things you can visit while in Charlotte. There are many more museums, parks and gardens you can visit that will be fun for the whole family. A rich history is shown in various museums, whether it be history, art or motorsports.

Some of these attractions may have long lines, as they are very popular. But don’t worry, as you can always play some free online slots while you wait in line.

So, come and enjoy Charlotte, enjoy North Carolina!

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