Hit-and-Run Photos

Here are some photos I took last night following the double fatal hit-and-run.

You can read more about the story here.

MySpace & Facebook

Just wanted to let everyone know about The Star's new presence on the MySpace and Facebook networking sites.

I spent a couple weeks putting them together. I'm not the most skilled when it comes to page design or html codes but I think it serves the purpose.

Here are the links for those interested:

MySpace

Facebook

If you have a profile, feel free to add us. I'll be making updates / blog postings when possible.

Car Break-Ins

Remember that giant map I had on my blog a few weeks back? The one with all the car break-ins during 2007?

I finally have a story to go with it.

Here's the map and story as a new interactive feature.

Next PSN Meeting: March 31

An e-mail sent yesterday from Shelby's PSN coordinator Frank Cloyd:


Because of the Easter Monday Holiday, our next Project Safe Neighborhoods Meeting will be March 31, Monday 6 PM at the "Seeds of Hope" West Shelby Community Garden. The garden is on McBrayer St., in the first block south of West Graham St.

We will have a garden workday on Saturday March 29 at 10 AM. The garden plots have been plowed and mulched. Please come next Saturday and work your plot or help with the community plot, and the children's plot.

At our March 31st PSN meeting, we will discuss the Call-In Program, and plans for summer 2008. Last night's murder should challenge us to renew our commitment to making Shelby safer.

Hope everyone has a good holiday, and a Happy Easter!
Thanks,
Frank

Crime Scene Photos

Here are some photos taken earlier this morning on Irvine Street, off Park Street, after police responded to a report of a killing.

Park Street is off East Marion Street, directly across from Blockbuster Video.

Playlist Preview: Controversy in Music

It feels like so long ago when we ran a little story about a proposed campsite coming to the Casar area. I use the term "little" here with a fair amount of sarcasm.

Let's just say the reaction to the story was ... strong. We at The Star are asked about it all the time, even by other news agencies.

Despite the reaction from some, it's not a sign of the apocolypse. But it certainly got people talking.

I was driving home the other day while thinking about what topic to cover in this week’s Playlist and decided - based on our current little situation - to cover some of the more controversial songs and / or artists throughout time.

Some of the performers that put this camp controversy to shame. The ones that sometimes make you wince. The ones you wouldn't dare let your kids listen to. Maybe even some of the ones you listened to while you were growing up, or still do.

Check out Thursday's Star for what I came up with. A mix of old and new and a handful of names you might not expect.

Be sure to come back to the blog for music videos of each.

Friday Night Wrestling Fundraiser

A portion of proceeds from the event will be given to Rutherford County Schools as well as Prevent Child Abuse.

Advanced Tickets are available at the following locations: Gregory’s on Main, Rollins Cafeteria, and The Green Hill Store.

For more information call 828-286-3716 or email ngwpromoter@yahoo.com.

Tractor Trailer vs. Train

A few photos taken around 9 a.m. following a tractor trailer / train collision in downtown Kings Mountain. The man photographed is Jerry Black, who said the collisions have been a constant problem over recent years. Black's son was one of the firefighters who responded to the wreck.

Video from the scene

Speaking of controversy ...

It feels like so long ago when we ran a little story about a proposed campsite coming to the Casar area.

Let's just say the reaction was ... strong. We at The Star are asked about it all the time, even by other news agencies.

Despite the reaction from some, it's not the end of the world. But it certainly got people talking.

I was driving home the other day while thinking about what topic to cover in my next Playlist column and decided - based on our current little situation - to cover some of the more controversial songs and / or artists throughout time.

The ones that sometimes make you wince. The ones you wouldn't dare let your kids listen to. Maybe even some of the ones you listened to while you were growing up.

I have a handful in mind but I'm certainly open to suggestion.

Rainy Friday

Best I could do with the camera phone. You can barely make out the rain drops hitting the parking lot.

I don't know about you but I'm staying inside today ...

Photos from GWU's Career Day

Here are few photos I took this morning at the 5th grade career day, held at Gardner-Webb University. Every 5th grade class in the county came out to get a closer look at such jobs as sheriff's deputy, EMS medic, fireman, highway patrolman, banker, preacher and - of course - newspaper reporter.

We had the Star Car parked with the other display vehicles. But, with a firetruck parked on either side, it didn't have enough expensive toys to hold the kids' attention for long.

The Playlist: Songs for the Road Trip

I’ve done a fair amount of gas guzzling over the past few weeks. First, a weekend trip to my old college town – Radford, Va. – to be fitted for a tux I’ll be sporting in August when I get to play “best man.” Then, this past week, I ventured over to Cary for the North Carolina Press Association awards.

Neither would be classified as an entertaining drive. Long, arduous, and most importantly – boring.

Lots of trees. Lots of billboards. Lots of traffic. And road for as far as the eye can see.

So what do I do in such situations?

Plug in the iPod and put the car – and my brain – on auto pilot.

Here are a few songs which made the drives a little more bearable. I wouldn’t necessarily call them “driving” songs – but they helped the hours, and miles, pass by. Give them a shot and let me know what you think.

Be sure to send your comments, complaints, or suggestions to grahamcawthon@shelbystar.com.

Europe – The Final Countdown (1986)
Album: The Final Countdown
Peak position on the charts: No. 8
Bet you didn’t know: The song was featured several times on the show “Arrested Development” as the theme song for G.O.B. Bluth’s (Will Arnett) magic show.



Marky Mark & the Funky Bunch – Good Vibrations (1991)
Album: Music for the People
Peak position on the charts: No. 1
Bet you didn’t know: Marky Mark (Mark Wahlberg) earned an Academy Award nomination for his performance in Martin Scorsese’s “The Departed.”



Dan Fogelberg – Leader of the Band (1981)
Album: The Innocent Age
Peak position on the charts: No. 9
Bet you didn’t know: At one point, Fogelberg was among many being considered to join the Eagles. He later took his name out of the running and Joe Walsh got the job.



Prince – Little Red Corvette (1983)
Album: 1999
Peak position on the charts: No. 6
Bet you didn’t know: Stevie Nicks was inspired to write her hit “Stand Back” after hearing the song. She later got Prince to play keyboards for “Stand Back.”



Beach Boys – God Only Knows (1966)
Album: Pet Sounds
Peak position on the charts: No. 39
Bet you didn’t know: Paul McCartney has said it’s his favorite song and U2’s Bono said “the string arrangement on “God Only Knows” is fact and proof of angels.”



Lostprophets – Rooftops (2004)
Album: Liberation Transmission
Peak position on the charts: No. 114
Bet you didn’t know: The chorus of the song was inspired by the scene in the film “Garden State” in which the main characters scream into a chasm.



Linkin Park & Jay-Z – Numb/Encore (2004)
Album: Collision Course
Peak position on the charts: No. 20
Bet you didn’t know: The collaboration of the two hit songs led to a Grammy in 2006 for Best Rap / Sung Collaboration.



Tears for Fears – Everybody Wants to Rule the World (1985)
Album: Songs from the Big Chair
eak position on the charts: No. 1
Bet you didn’t know: The song served as the theme for HBO’s “Dennis Miller Live,” which ran from 1994 to 2002.



Dido – Take My Hand
Album: No Angel
Peak position on the charts: No. 1 (U.S. Dance charts)
Bet you didn’t know: Dido has said that the song, the last track on the album, was the first she ever wrote.



Kanye West (feat. Adam Levine of Maroon 5) – Heard Em Say (2005)
Album: Late Registration
Peak position on the charts: No. 26
Bet you didn’t know: Levine reprised the backup singer role on the premiere of this season’s “Saturday Night Live” during a Digital Short music video about Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.



That’s what I got for this week. Check back next Thursday for the next Playlist. Comments and suggestions are always welcome at grahamcawthon@shelbystar.com.