Church Vandalism

New Covenant Baptist Church had a $400 fiberglass sign destroyed Monday, the same day United Methodist Church - a half mile away on S. Lafayette Street - had a brick thrown through a nursery room window.

These are just the most recent incidents in a string of church break-ins and vandalism. But the church members I spoke to Tuesday don't believe these are related to what happened a few weeks ago in the county.

For more on the story, read Wednesday's edition of The Star.

The Big Chill

The Fantastic Shakers performed Saturday night during the Cleveland County Art Council's Big Chill fundraiser.

"We look at this as just a big party," said Art Council President Shearra Miller.

For more on the story, read Sunday's edition of The Star.

Federal Investigation on KM Home

I received word this afternoon that local and federal investigators executed a search warrant on a Kings Mountain home and seized at least two video poker machines.

The FBI isn't talking - well, they aren't returning my phone calls - so I wasn't able to get much info today. Neighbors said they didn't know the residents but did say they hadn't lived there long.

I hope to have more on the story Monday.

Red Hot Chili Peppers in Charlotte (1/23/07)

One thing I love about living in Shelby is the close proximity to Charlotte. I don't get too much free time but when I do there's no better way to spend it than going to a concert in the "big city."

Last year I was fortunate to see Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, Dave Matthews Band, Kelly Clarkson, Goo Goo Dolls, Counting Crows, and the Gin Blossoms - all within a 40 minute drive.

My 2007 concert series began Tuesday at Bobcats Arena with the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Gnarls Barkley.

A really fun and high energy performance from the RHCP. The crowd exploded for the opening chords of "Can't Stop." "Californication" and "Stadium Arcadium" tracks got preferential treatment but the encores threw the older fans a bone with "Soul to Squeeze," my favorite RHCP track, and "Give It Away."

Here's a clip of the "Soul to Squeeze" performance.

And if you'd prefer the studio version, I've added the 1993 music video - from the "Coneheads" soundtrack - as well. (Keep an eye out for Liev Schreiber, of Scream fame, and SNL alum the late Chris Farley.)

Watch Signs

I found a few of the new neighborhood watch signs that have been posted around Shelby. Thought you might be interested.

The 49 new signs (at $24 apiece) were paid for by Shelby Police and grant money from the city's Project Safe Neighborhood and Weed and Seed efforts.

Police say the signs do deter crime but only if those in the neighborhood are vigilant in calling officers if they see suspicious activity. A street could have a dozen signs but if residents don't watch out for each other crime will continue.

The sign above is found on East Graham Street. The second can be found on Beaumonde Avenue.

Black-on-Black Crime

I attended a Shelby Police forum this morning at Cleveland Regional Medical Center regarding the black-on-black crime issue in the city.

Thought some of you might find these statistics interesting in regard to Shelby and the county's black population and the crime issues they face. All stats were provided by Shelby Police.

• The Cleveland County School system has 16,849 students enrolled. 4,705 are black (28%).
• Between 2004 and 2006, 711 juveniles were arrested in the city of Shelby. 480 were black (68%). 83 of those crimes involved guns and were committed by juveniles between the age of 11 and 17.
• Between 2004 and 2006, there were 1,065 juveniles arrested in Cleveland County. 499 were black (47%). Of those 499, 283 were boys and 216 were girls.

Between 2002 and 2006, Shelby Police reported:

• 88 violent crimes involving juveniles between the age of 11 and 17. 57 of those crimes had black victims (65%) and 18 involved a gun (20%).
• 28 murders. 25 of the victims were black (89%) 19 were black-on-black (68%)
• 78 rapes. 43 of the victims were black (55%) 40 were black-on-black (51%)
• 616 aggravated assaults. 631 were black victims (some reports had multiple victims) (102 percent) 402 were black-on-black (65%)
• Of the 722 total crimes within these categories there were 659 black victims (97%)
• 1,062 violent crimes. 586 were black-on-black (55%)
• 340 robberies. 125 were black-on-black (37%)

As of Nov. 30, 2006 there were 416 inmates in the Department of Correction that live in Cleveland County. Of these, only 103 (25%) have a 12th grade education. Of those, 42 (41%) are white and 61 (59%) are black

Between Dec. 1, 2005 and Nov. 30, 2006 there were 314 inmates released from prison that live in Cleveland County. 170 (54%) of those released are black. Of those released, only 68 (22%) had a 12th grade education.

Neighborhood Watch Signs

This is just one of the 48 new Neighborhood Watch signs that will soon be put up all over the city.

I hope to have a story next week about how Shelby Police and the Weed and Seed program bought the signs and what impact they hope they will have in the community.

Empty Message

Mauling Victim (Discretion Advised)

I spent yesterday evening at Carolinas Medical Center speaking with Anthony Davis, who was mauled by three dogs in Kings Mountain last Sunday.

Anthony seemed as normal as any other 10-year-old. Talkative, excitable, etc. But he may never fully recover from the nearly 100 bite marks that scar him from head to toe.

Here are a few photos I took during the visit. I should warn you, they are not pretty.

For more on Anthony's recovery, read Sunday's edition of The Star.


Anthony and his mother, Gina Strausser.

This is just one of the open wounds that will have to heal naturally.

Anthony's right arm was badly hurt in the dog attack. He can't lift the arm by himself and only has limited use of the fingers on his right hand.

More Gang Graffiti

Graffiti was found spray-painted on the side of a business building on Royster Avenue, near Jackson's Cafeteria, earlier this week.

Police said Tuesday the graffiti is very similar to the gang graffiti they saw several weeks ago at the P&M Warehouse in West Shelby.

The use of the number 6 and a six-sided star indicates it was done by a member of the Crips.

Damages to the building were estimated at $800, according to a police report.

Shelby Police Lt. Tim Walker said the design used was "very basic" and police aren't sure right now who did it. A 12-year-old was found to be responsible for the earlier warehouse graffiti.


"It's pretty random," Walker said.