Cheerwine Has Just Bought Sun Drop – Iconic North Carolina Soda Merger

Charlotte Stories
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Cheerwine Has Just Bought Sun Drop – Iconic North Carolina Soda Merger

cheerwine buys sundropAccording to the Salisbury Post, Piedmont Cheerwine Bottling Co. just announced the purchase of Concord-based Sun Drop Bottling Co., a deal that merges two of the most legendary southern beverages.

The deal means that Piedmont Cheerwine Bottling will now distribute Sun Drop throughout the Charlotte region, including in Cabarrus, Rowan, Stanley and Iredell counties.

The Concord Sun Drop plant at 360 Old Salisbury-Concord Rd is now closing, but Cheerwine said it will be accepting applications from all Sun Drop Bottling employees, and is looking to fill positions.

“As we look forward to Cheerwine’s 100th anniversary next year in its birthplace and home of Salisbury, N.C., we’re excited to deepen our distribution relationship with Sun Drop here in North Carolina. Both iconic soft drinks have much in common, from their loyal followings to their Southern roots, and we’ve enjoyed helping to bring Sun Drop to Carolinians for a while now.” remarked Cliff Ritchie in a statement (current president of Piedmont Cheerwine Bottling).

Sun Drop was first patented on April 15, 1930, and introduced in the Charlotte region under names such as “Sundrop Golden Cola” or “Golden Girl Cola.” The brand is now wholly owned by the Dr. Pepper Snapple Group.

North Carolina’s Cheerwine is slightly older, and will be celebrating its 100th anniversary next year.

 

 

Top 10 Things To Do In Charlotte This Weekend

Steve
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Top 10 Things To Do In Charlotte This Weekend

Christmas is now if full swing throughout the Charlotte region!

This weekend we’ll see tons of live music, plays, festivals, and more lights than you can imagine.

Here are the top 10 things happening around the Charlotte region this weekend:

#1 Speedway Christmas

charlotte-motor-speedway-christmas-light-display

Speedway Christmas is now back at the Charlotte Motor Speedway now through December 31. They now have over 3 million lights installed along the 3.75-mile course.

For more information click here.

#2 South End Gallery Crawl

Historic South End’s next gallery crawl is happening this coming Friday (12/2) starting at 5pm.

Charlotte Magazine recently named the South End Gallery Crawl as the “Best Artsy Place to Take a Date.” Charlotte’s biggest and oldest gallery crawl typically sees between 10 and 20 art galleries, design centers, and coffee shops participate, offering free food, live music, and some of the best art in the city.

For more info click here.

#3 Drive Through Christmas Town USA

mcadenville-charlotte

Load up the car and prepare for one of the most impressive light shows you’ll ever see. Every year the entire town of McAdenville (or most homes on the main strip) light up, turning the town into a winter wonderland.

Lights will be on the following hours:

Monday – Friday 5:30 until 9:30 PM
Saturday and Sunday 5:30 until 11:00 PM

For more info visit the Christmas Town USA website here. 

#4 The Nutcracker

The Charlotte Ballet just spend $1 million rebuilding their entire Nutcracker performance for 2016. There are now shows scheduled several times a week, December 3-23 at the Belk Theater. Featuring over 100 dancers including the nationally acclaimed professional dancers of Charlotte Balletand live music from the Charlotte Symphony.

For more info or tickets click here.

#5 Charlotte Hornets vs. Minnesota Timberwolves

timberwolves vs hornets charlotte

This coming Saturday the Hornets will be taking on the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Spectrum Center in Uptown Charlotte starting at 7pm.

For tickets or more info click here.

#6 K-Love Christmas Tour: Mac Powell, Crowder, & Unspoken

One of the biggest line-ups of Christian music this year in Charlotte, the K-Love Christmas tour will be coming to the Oven’s Auditorium this coming Saturday night starting at 7pm, featuring Mac Powell from Third Day, Crowder & Unspoken.

For more information or tickets click here.

#7 MoRA Holiday Festival

mora-holiday-festival

The MoRA community is back with another family friendly neighborhood event celebrating the hollidays this coming Saturday (Dec. 3rd, from 5pm-8pm). Join us at a new location this year for our annual tree lighting, food drive, costume parade, caroling, raffle, and food from local restaurants.

Food, drink, music, and fun: 5:00pm – 8:00pm
Tree lighting: 6:00 pm
Caroling: 6:30 pm
Parade: 7:00 pm
Raffle Winners announced: 7:30

Fore more info click here.

#8 I Love The 90s: Salt N Pepa, Vanilla Ice, and Coolio

i-love-the-90s-charlotte

This Sunday night (Dec. 4th) starting at 7pm, some of the most legendary bands of the 90s will be packing out the Spectrum Center in Uptown Charlotte for one of the most nostalgic shows of the year.

For more information or tickets click here.

#9 Christmas At The Library

christmas_at_the_billy_graham_library

Christmas at The Library is back again at the Billy Graham Library. Experience a live nativity scene with shepherds, a camel, donkey, lambs, horse-drawn carriage rides, a massive Christmas dinner, and tons of lights and decorations.

For more info click here.

#10 Huntersville Christmas

huntersville-christmas

Huntersville Christmas, the town’s annual Christmas festival, takes place Friday, December 2nd, 2016, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday, December 3rd, from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m., and Sunday, December 4th, from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.

  • Giant ferris wheel, climbing walls, swings, bounce houses, more amusements
  • Balloon twisters and face painters
  • Holiday performances on stage by a variety of groups
  • Roaming carolers
  • Live Nativity scenes
  • Vendors
  • Horse drawn carriage rides
  • Ice skating

For more info click here.

If you think other events should be on this list or future lists, let us know – Scott@CharlotteStories.com

Tornado Touched Down in South Charlotte Last Night

Steve
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Tornado Touched Down in South Charlotte Last Night

Last night at around 6:40pm a tornado warning was sent out to multiple counties in the greater Charlotte region. About 10 minutes later, the tornado touched down in South-West Charlotte and caused damage to several homes and businesses in the Yorkmont area.

Most of what’s been reported so far includes broken windows, uprooted trees, and power outages.

Here’s the actual tornado itself caught on a security camera (it whips by quickly at about second 28):

Here’s the video of some of the damage that was done to the Microsoft corporate camus on Arrowwood Rd:

Some of the hardest hit properties were along S. Tryon St. near Westinghouse Blvd.:

front-ymca-tornado-small

I spoke with a couple who lived on the 4th floor of the apartment complex on Shaffer Valley Way. They told me that about 10 minutes after the tornado warning appeared on their phones, they began to hear loud cracks and debris hitting the window. When they looked outside they both saw the tornado touching the ground, traveling north along the treeline.

front-ymca-tornado-small

gutters-charlotte-tornado-small

tree-branch-down-charlotte-tornado-small

I spoke with a deacon of Central Steele Creek Presbyterian Church and he told me that shingles had been torn off, and even the copper sheathing on the steeple:

church-steeple-tornado-small

shed-charlotte-tornado-small

If you have any additional images of last night’s storm, please Email us at Press@cltstories.com

Charlotte Police Officer Who Shot and Killed Keith Lamont Scott Will Not Face Any Charges

Steve
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Charlotte Police Officer Who Shot and Killed Keith Lamont Scott Will Not Face Any Charges

keith-lamont-scott-shooter-not-facing-any-chargesCharlotte’s District Attorney Andrew Murray announced on Wednesday morning that CMPD officer Brentley Vinson will not face any charges after shooting and killing Keith Lamont Scott back in September.

Murray remarked that the evidence he examined showed that:

– Scott stepped out of his vehicle with a gun in his hand.
– He ignored at least 10 commands to drop it.
– One bullet was found in the chamber of his gun, with the safety was off.
– Scott’s DNA was found on the grip and ammunition slide.
– Officer Vinson’s gun had four bullets missing.
– Guns from the other officers on the scene had not been fired.

Murray also remarked that he ran the evidence by 15 other veteran prosecutors and they all concurred with his recommendation that there was insufficient evidence to charge Officer Vinson in the case.

The full body cam and dash cam videos of the shooting can be watched here.

The initial shooting in September was followed by 2 days of rioting, and 7 more days of peaceful protesting on Old Concord Rd., and in Uptown Charlotte.

After the verdict was announced this morning, a local group called the “Charlotte Uprising” announced their intentions to protest around CMPD headquarters in Uptown Charlotte tonight at 6:45pm.

The City of Charlotte released the following statement:

“We recognize that for some members of our community, this news will be met with different reactions. No matter where you stand on the issue, the events surrounding the Scott shooting have forever changed our community, and we intend to learn from and build a stronger Charlotte because of it. The city is committed to continuing its work with the community to preserve safety, trust and accountability.”

The CMPD also released a statement where they detail the additional measures that will be put in place due to the tragic death of Keith Lamont Scott, including; more body cams, increased transparancy, and more 3rd party investigations.

This North Carolina Town Rejected A Solar Farm For Fear It Would ‘Suck Up The Sun’s Energy’

Steve
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This North Carolina Town Rejected A Solar Farm For Fear It Would ‘Suck Up The Sun’s Energy’

solar_farm_north_carolinaThe city council of a small town in North Carolina just rejected the rezoning plans for a new solar farm after for fears that it would grow cancer, kill plants, and suck up all the energy from the sun.

A local resident of Northampton County passionately protested at this week’s Woodland Town Council meeting, saying that the farm would “suck up all the energy from the sun and businesses would not come to Woodland.”

Another local resident and retired science teacher said that the proposed solar ranch could hinder photosynthesis in the area and stop plants from growing, and protested that no one could tell her solar panels didn’t cause cancer.

Many more locals expressed concern that the new solar farm would negatively effect the price of their homes.

Strata Solar Company representative Brent Niemann assured everyone at the meeting that the only sunlight that would be used by the panels would be that which fell directly on the panels. “The panels don’t draw additional sunlight,” he commented.

In spite of all the facts that were stated, the Woodland Town Council decided to turn down the proposal, and then later voted to put a moratorium on all future solar farms in the county.

Do you agree with the counsel? Do you think solar power should be stopped?

Historic Nonstop Flight From Charlotte to Cuba Just Took Off

Steve
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Historic Nonstop Flight From Charlotte to Cuba Just Took Off
Flickr via Hailey Toft
Flickr via Hailey Toft

History has just been made this morning at Charlotte Douglas International Airport when American Airlines passenger flight 801 departed the Queen City for Havana, Cuba.

The Airbus 319 took off at 8:50am and arrives in Havana at 11:18am.

Here’s a video of the water solute the Charlotte Fire Department gave to the historic flight:

U.S. carriers were given permission to fly to the communist country after President Obama lifted our 58 year long embargo with Cuba.

American Airlines will now be offering 1 nonstop flight each day to Havana, but in order to go, you’ll need a visa, as well as fall into one of the following categories:

• Family visits
• Official business of the U.S. government, foreign governments and certain intergovernmental organizations
• Journalistic activities
• Professional research or professional meetings
• Educational activities and people-to-people exchanges
• Religious activities
• Public performance, clinics, workshops, athletic or other competitions and exhibitions
• Support for the Cuban people
• Humanitarian projects
• Activities of private foundations or research or educational institutes
• Exportation, importation, or transmission of information or informational materials
• Travel related to certain authorized export transactions

Today’s historic public passenger flight out of the Charlotte Douglas Airport comes about 3 months after the first commercial flight in over 50 years between the United States and Cuba landed in the central city of Santa Clara, with Charlotte’s former mayor and current US Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx among the passengers:

Round trip tickets from Charlotte to Havana, Cuba are now cost around $1,500, to book a flight or a hotel in Cuba click here.

150 Buildings Razed, 3 People Dead, and 14,000+ Evacuated in Historic Gatlinburg Fires

Steve
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150 Buildings Razed, 3 People Dead, and 14,000+ Evacuated in Historic Gatlinburg Fires

gatlinburg-burned-to-the-groundHundreds of homes and businesses around the Gatlinburg region have now been burned to the ground after intense wildfire flames mixed with high-speed winds to create a raging mountain inferno.

Officials now estimate that over 14,000 residents have already been evacuated from the area and 3 people have been confirmed dead.

“This is a fire for the history books, the likes of this has never been seen here. But the worst is definitely over with.” Gatlinburg Fire Chief Greg Miller said at a morning news conference.

Over 200 firefighters from across Tennessee and North Carolina continue to douse the flames, and the Tennessee Army National Guard is still dumping water on the flames via helicopter, with at least three additional Blackhawk helicopters waiting for deployment.

Last night, Twitter user ‘Chris Brown’ uploaded this video during the evacuation (graphic language):

HEARTBREAKING news out of the Great Smoky Mountains: We do know that several nearby businesses have been destroyed, including some very close neighbors. We ask for your deepest prayers for Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, Dollywood, and for all of Sevier County, Tennessee. Pray especially for those who are fighting this terrible fire, and please pray for those who have lost their life’s work. The people of those mountains are the salt of the earth and they are as tough as they come. "If you're a person of prayer, we could use your prayers,". PICTURE: Hot spots still burning at Riverhouse Motorlodge that my brother and his family stayed there last week. 😳 #knoxnews #family #prayers #KNSWatchfulEye #Gatlinburg #Gatlinburgfire #oahu #aloha #mahalo #pigeonforge #prayforgatlinburg #memories Pray for @windy17 @aa_tenn_vols @survivor_gaia and their families/friends/pets. Hugs!

A photo posted by Betsy (@pabrmb) on

One of the region’s most popular retreats, the 763-room Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort & Spa which has more than 100 buildings, is now one of the most significant losses so far from the fire – now that virtually every building has been burned to the ground:

#praying 🙏🏼for #tennessee #gatlinburg the #animals #indianreservation #everyone

A photo posted by Tammy Redd📷 (@tammylynnredd) on

Here is some of the aftermath of the fires:

NC Based Golden Corral Now Buying Up Bankrupt Ryan’s and Old Country Buffet Locations

Steve
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NC Based Golden Corral Now Buying Up Bankrupt Ryan’s and Old Country Buffet Locations
photo via flickr
photo via flickr

Buffet giant Buffets LLC (parent company of Ryan’s, Old Country Buffet and HomeTown Buffet) just went bankrupt, and North Carolina’s Golden Corral is starting to buy up its old competitor’s locations across the country.

The Golden Corral has already signed deals to move into two locations in the Minneapolis metro area, and they’re currently negotiating on taking over abandoned buffet sites in Temple City, California, and Milford, Connecticut, Tyler, Texas; Florence, Alabama; Decatur, Alabama; and Owensboro, Kentucky.

They said that about 30 to 40% of the 170 Buffet LLC sites across the country might fit Golden Corral’s criteria.

The company now hopes to reopen each of their new locations by the end of 2016 or early 2017, according to Restaurant News.

Raleigh-based Golden Corral is the country’s largest buffet chain with 484 current locations, according to Nation’s Restaurant News Top 100 data, with $1.7 billion in system-wide sales.

They are now hiring at many of their new locations. You can now browse new job openings here.

Charlotte City Council Just Approved $94 Million Phase 2 Of Uptown’s Street Car Gold Line

Steve
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Charlotte City Council Just Approved $94 Million Phase 2 Of Uptown’s Street Car Gold Line

charlotte-streetcar-expansionCharlotte’s City Council just voted almost unanimously to approve the new $94 million Gold Line expansion to the west of Uptown.

Phase 2 of the CityLYNX Gold Line Streetcar project was approved by an 8-2 margin after a lenthy discussion as to the pros and cons of spending $94 million for a new street car line – and after the evidence of the current street car’s sub-par usage was examined.

The new Gold Line extension will include a 2.5 mile west extension toward Johnson C. Smith University.

Here’s a video of the current street car in actions:

Last night, the City Council also approved the purchase of six new hybrid streetcars and spare parts for up to $40 million. The new cars will add on-board batteries that will allow them to operate off-wire from the Gold Line’s system.

City leaders have commented that phase 2 of the gold line will be an essential part of the Metropolitan Transit Commission’s 2030 Transit Corridor System Plan for Charlotte’s Central Business District.

Phase 2 of Charlotte’s Gold Line is now expected to be complete by Fall 2020.

Roy Cooper’s Lead Over Governor McCrory Increases To Almost 10,000 Votes Amid Recount

Steve
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Roy Cooper’s Lead Over Governor McCrory Increases To Almost 10,000 Votes Amid Recount

nc-governor-raceAccording to the latest figures on the NC State Board of Elections, Roy Cooper’s lead over current Governor Pat McCrory has just increased to 9,558 votes as of Monday evening, which is almost double what it was on Election Day.

The difference is now approaching the 10,000-vote cutoff point, at which point Governor McCrory would not be able to request an official recount.

Last week, the governor asked for a recount, but then said he would withdraw that demand if the state elections board agreed to a hand recount of Durham County votes.

Hostilities have been growing in both the Republican and Democratic camps. Many Republicans continue to accuse the Democrats of rigging the election, while many Democrats have been increasingly accusing the McCrory team of wasting tax-payer money on prolonging the election.

Many Roy Cooper supporters even started protesting outside of the governor mansion last week – going so far as renting a U-Haul truck as a protest prop.

The final outcome of the election is now expected to be determined by the end of this year after all the pending litigation is resolved.

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