On Lake Wylie when a boat breaks down, runs aground, runs out of fuel, or needs a tow to the launch ramp, TowBoatUS Lake Wylie is ready 24-hours a day to help. Captain Adam Huth, the new owner of the on-water towing and assistance service, has added a second location to help manage the lake’s increasing recreational boating activity.

“We’ve got a lot of new boaters with the recent explosive growth on Lake Wylie,” said Capt. Huth. “Including myself, we have four local captains stationed on Lake Wylie, greatly reducing response times and ready to help boaters 24/7.” All of the company’s professional captains are US Coast Guard-licensed with years of experience on the waterway.

Much like an auto club for boaters, BoatUS offers on-water Unlimited Towing Memberships for freshwater boaters and anglers for just $72 a year, with towing services provided by TowBoatUS. Without a membership, boaters face steep out-of-pocket costs that can be upward of $400 per towing incident. “The $72 annual membership is the best deal in town”, says Huth. “The Unlimited Towing Membership provides for tows, fuel drops, and battery jumps on any boat you own, borrow or charter.”

Huth grew up in south Florida and has lived in Charlotte for 15 years. His career in boating started years ago when he quit his job to go sailing aboard tall ships, earning his captain’s license along the way. Later he settled in Charlotte to start a family, and built a business that serves the medical community. Huth and his wife, Keirsten, who also helms the company’s response vessels, have called Lake Wylie home for several years along with their three daughters. Now, he’s focused on bringing his passion for boating to Lake Wylie’s growing area.

“I got into TowBoatUS to give a great experience to people who’d otherwise be having a pretty bad day on the water,” said Huth. “It’s what I love to do. Occasionally boaters need a gentle pull when they’ve run up too far up on a bar, or they’ll call for a tow back to a dock or ramp after a breakdown. Water levels can vary, and you can get stuck if you’re unfamiliar with an area. We’re ready 24 hours a day.”

TowBoatUS Lake Wylie keeps two response vessels on the lake ready to assist boaters in need. Both are easily recognizable by their red hulls and TowBoatUS logos emblazoned in bright white letters on their sides. They are rigged for towing, jump-starts, fuel delivery and soft ungroundings. Separate from BoatUS on-water towing services, the company also refloats sunken boats and provides salvage services.

Boaters can reach TowBoatUS Lake Wylie by hailing on VHF channel 16, by calling the company directly at 803-681-0911, by phoning the BoatUS toll-free 24/7 Dispatch Center at 800-391-4869, or via smartphone using the new BoatUS Towing App. More information can be found at BoatUS.com/towing, or call 800-888-4869.

As Charlotte grows (adding 44 new people every day), it is critical that we “grow smarter”. To help, Sustain Charlotte’s monthly event series, Grow Smart CLT, explores the multiple sustainability challenges that Charlotte faces due to our rapid growth.

Each event focuses on a different issue that is being impacted by our growth, and explores the obstacles and potential solutions. Attendees walk away with a better understanding of the challenges we face and at least one action they can take to put Charlotte on a smarter path.

Grow Smart CLT’s July event will be July 11th and will address the connections between growth, energy, and climate change. Featured panelists will be Joel Olsen, CEO of O2emc; DeAndrea Salvador, founder and Executive Director of the Renewable Energy Transition Initiative (RETI); Emily Yates, Deputy Director of Envision Charlotte.

The event will be held at Three Spirits Brewery (5046 Old Pineville Rd.) and is open to the public (free for Sustain Charlotte members, $5 for non-members). Free parking is available on-site. Doors open at 6 p.m., program begins at 6:30 p.m. Registration available at growsmartclt.org.

One of the biggest rising stars in the rap world recently visit Charlotte’s most popular shooting range to show off his impressive skills with a gun.

According to Blackstone’s Corey Brausch, Rapper Post Malone originally contacted Guns Daily and told them he wanted a unique experience when he came to Charlotte. Guns Daily then worked with Blackstone to set up a full day of tours, training, and shooting for Post.

During his visit, several of fans noticed him and many wanted autographs and pictures, according to Brausch, he never turned anyone away.

Here’s the full video of his visit;

A few of the team members at Blackstone are huge fans of Post – one of the associates was even invited backstage and into VIP for Post’s show in Greenville.

“So, when I finally met Post, I could not stop my excitement. After he shot, we chilled and talked about how I used to follow him from this Soundcloud days. He invited me to his concert the next day in Raleigh. When I got there, my name wasn’t on the list so I called his manager. He was upset about how messed up it was, so he picked me up at the gate in a. gold cart and took my friend and I backstage. His manager said Post kept asking if we were going to make it to the show. After we got backstage, we hung out before and after the concert. He’s just like anyone else… super humble and a likable guy. For him to invite me out showed he really does care about his fans,” commented Blackstone Receiving Clerk Sean Keegan.

This wasn’t the first time Blackstone had a special celebrity visit. They’ve also hosted Colion Noir, and they’re about to host Mr. Guns N Gear this week.

You never know who you might find at the most random places in Charlotte!

The Mecklenburg Health Department just released an official statement saying that an “exposure of feces” at a birthday party this past weekend in east Charlotte has sent dozens of people to the hospital.

Charlotte paramedics were called to a large event at an apartment building off Four Seasons Lane in east Charlotte yesterday afternoon.

#ALERT “PLEASE WASH YOUR HANDS”: At least 18 people fell ill over the weekend after exposure to feces at a neighborhood cookout, Mecklenburg County Health officials say. #foodsafety #washyourhands #sanitize

LATEST: https://t.co/foRNisp74p pic.twitter.com/oMPjvLybjH

— FOX 46 Charlotte (@FOX46News) July 2, 2018

There have now been at least 33 people who have been taken to the hospital in connection with the event. 2 out of the 3 people in intensive care are children.

“The diarrhea is severe and could go on for days. We want to get everyone tested. We worry about people getting dehydrated,” the Mecklenburg Health Director commented this morning.

The health department is asking anyone who took food home from the event to throw it away and not to eat it.

This past weekend’s incident is not related to the recent West Charlotte’s Hardees Hepatitis A Outbreak.

Charlotte’s apartment rental prices continue to increase, in spite of the incredible pace of apartment complex growth around our city. According to a new report by ApartmentList.com, median rents in Charlotte now sit at $960 for a one-bedroom apartment and $1,120 for a two-bedroom.

June was the 5th-straight month that we saw rental increases after a decline in January. Our year-over-year rent growth leads the state average of 1.0%, but is in line with the national average of 1.4%.

The report also notes that, “rent increases have been occurring not just in the city of Charlotte, but across the entire state. Of the largest 10 cities that we have data for in North Carolina, all of them have seen prices rise. The state as a whole logged rent growth of 1.0% over the past year.”

Here are some highlights the report noted about Charlotte;

• Rents in Charlotte have increased 0.5% over the past month, and are up 1.4% year-over-year.
• Charlotte’s median two-bedroom rent of $1,120 is below the national average of $1,180.
• Over the past year, rent increases have been occurring not just in the city of Charlotte, but across the entire state – of the largest 10 cities that we have data for in North Carolina, all of them have seen prices rise.

Yesterday afternoon, as the temperature continued to rise, a local black bear decided it was time to cool off.

Johnny Burgess Jr. spotted the bear while he was at the Red Fez Shrine Club. He said he first spotted the bear at a nearby campground where it got in the water and swam to a neighbor’s backyard. 

Burgess posted the following pictures and video of the swimming bear on his Facebook page;

His post has now been shared over 240 times.

Bear sightings have been increasing around the Charlotte area over the past couple years.

Just this past week, a black bear was spotted at the Stonecrest Shopping Center, and last May, a large black bear was spotted rummaging through neighborhood trash cans in Waxhaw.

Officials with the NC Wildlife Resource Commission are warning residents around Charlotte and Raleigh that as development continues to encroach on the bear’s natural habits, sightings and possibly even encounters will follow suit.

If you live near a wooded area or a new development, experts recommend having bear spray or a bear horn readily accessible.

Stay safe out there everyone!