[singlepic=34,220,140,,left]One of the most beloved Carolina Panthers in history will be in Mint Hill tonight. Former defensive back Mike Minter will speak at the Mint Hill Athletic Association opening day at the sports complex on Brief Road. Minter will walk around and interact with teams at 7:30 pm during scrimmages, speak for 15 minutes at 7:45, then sign autographs. All sports will attend in addition to football.
In June, the unemployment rate in Mecklenburg County was 6.1; in July it jumped to 6.7. That’s not a huge increase, but when you consider this is the highest rate for the county in at least 18 years, then there might be something to worry about.
Mark your calendars: The weekend before Mint Hill Madness, September 20, Cultural institutions around town are hosting Discover Mint Hill as a part of the Arts and Science Council’s Cultural Free For All. The Children’s World Museum, Mint Hill Arts, Mint Hill Historical Society, Mint Hill Scottish Society and the Mint Hill Library will offer various events throughout the day including drawings for prizes and gift certificates to local restaurants and a country dance later in the evening.
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From left to right: The Discover Mint Hill committee: Sue McDonald, Jerry Helms, Hank Rooney, Sharon Heath and Laura Sussman-Randall. Not pictured: Donna Rogers, Neily Trump, Saga Van Atta, Carlos Alvarez, Sue Helms and Brian Welch.
[singlepic=32,220,140,,left]Joshua Spurlock, Mint Hill Times reporter from 2006-2007, visited our office on Friday. Josh has been living in Jerusalem, Israel for the past year working for a news organization. He’s been doing mostly radio reports on world events and how they relate to Israel.
Josh won several awards for the Mint Hill Times last year, including a first place for sports feature writing and a third place for sports photography.
The Crooked and Goose creeks basins.
The Centralina Council of Governments will be in Mint Hill Tuesday to inform the public about planning efforts in the Goose and Crooked Creek basins. The meeting is 4:30-7 pm at town hall. CCOG and the N.C. Ecosystem Enhancement Program will educate local residents about the planning efforts in the watersheds. Public input is welcome at the meeting.
Claudia De La Mora of Queen's Grant
While CMS kids have a couple more days before school starts, Queen’s Grant k-8 and high school started today. The high school is located at Garr Christian Academy for hopefully half the school year while the new building on Lawyers Road gets built. Also new at the high school are 11th graders. For about changes at the high school, pick up a copy of today’s Mint Hill Times.
The John Locke Foundation, a think tank based in Raleigh, gave Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools a D+ for being “parent friendly” in a recent spotlight report. The rankings are based on 11 different measures in the four categories of school administration, teachers, safety, and performance. No NC school received an A and just 19 of the 115 school districts received grades of B or better. Most of the highest rated schools were smaller districts located in Western NC.
“With no threat of losing clientele to competitors, many schools and school districts behave like the monopolies they are,” said report author Terry Stoops, JLF Education Policy Analyst. “These school districts focus on strengthening the organization’s position and goals, rather than meeting the needs of students and parents.”
Ouch.
Mint Hill Police said there were 16 car break-ins last night in Jefferson Colony and the Glencroft neighborhoods as well as South Hampton Road. Items stolen include DVDs, Ipod, a GPS, digital camera and a credit card. The credit card was used several times last night after it was stolen.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools has made some possibly confusing changes to enrolling kindergartners. CMS created a toolkit for parents of students in every grade with questions about the upcoming school year. Continue reading »
Terry Edwards art will be on display at Sunday Afternoon in the Park
Just a few years ago, there were many artists in Mint Hill, but nowhere for them to show off their works or mingle with like-minds. Times are changing, however. This Sunday, the town is sponsoring Sunday Afternoon in the Park from 1-6 pm at the Park on Wilgrove-Mint Hill Road. Also Mint Hill Arts announced their fall lineup of classes.
Tidewater Partners, who along with Southern Commercial Real Estate, were in talks with the town to purchase several acres in the downtown area, is no longer interested according to Town Manager Brian Welch.
Mint Hill Police Chief Tim Ledford
He was supposed to take a two week vacation before beginning his new job as Mint Hill Police Chief, but seems former King, NC police chief Tim Ledford can’t wait to get busy. He starts today at his new position. Ledford replaces Brian Barnhardt who resigned early this year.
A street racing ring which Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police have had an eye for several weeks was broken up last night on I-485 in Mint Hill. Four of the guys were caught, while others got away.
