Author releases “Alien Dude!” for reluctant readers
Rivalry Week in the So. Meck 8 page 18
page 12
Photo courtesy of Scott Bokhoven
Volume 2, Issue 8 • October 2014
by Courtney Schultz news@pinevillepilot.com
Stephen United Methodist Church, wanted to help a local Title I school as a part of his Eagle Scout project, a community-based endeavor that’s mandatory to reach the rank of Eagle, the highest achievement in the Boy Scouts of America. Colin’s mother heard about outdoor classrooms at other schools, and the family’s neighbor, Beth (see Sterling Sanctuary on page 15)
(see Polk Site on page 11)
local scout builds outdoor classroom for elementary school children Sterling Elementary School has a brand-new outdoor classroom, thanks to a 17-year-old Boy Scout who wanted to help an area school on his way to becoming an Eagle Scout. Colin Bokhoven, a scout with Troop 118 from St.
Polk site preparing for reopening celebration The President James K. Polk Historic Site grand reopening celebration is still on track to occur on Nov. 15, a Saturday, despite a recent fire to one of the historic houses on the site. Fire trucks and ambulances were called to the site, located at 12031 Lancaster Hwy. in Pineville, on Oct. 9, after an early-1800s historic kitchen house caught fire from a cooking guild. Sara Walker, historic interpreter at the President James K. Polk State Historic Site, said she was walking her dog near the site at 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 9 and noticed the house was on fire. She then, in an attempted heroic act, broke into the house and tried to quench the fire with a fire extinguisher, but realized the fire was too large. She ultimately called 911, and the final damage to the house was limited to the roof and second floor of the building. “It’s still structurally sound,” Walker said. “However, because it’s historic, it takes more to get it up and running aging.” The staff has begun accessing artifacts in the house for needs and fire damage, but they’re taking it “a day at a time,” historic site manager Scott Warren said. They plan to have the items ready for field trips in the future, but a specific
Sanctuary for Sterling by Ryan Pitkin news@pinevillepilot.com
Locally Owned & Operated www.thecharlotteweekly.com
Town approves rezoning for sportsplex
Revised plans put councilmembers at ease
by Josh Whitener news@pinevillepilot.com
A revised amendment to the future Carolina Sportsplex off Dorman Road put the Pineville Town Council at ease last week,
after a rezoning request submitted in September caused angst for councilmembers. The council voted unanimously following a public hearing on Tuesday, Oct. 14, to approve a rezoning request from Carolina Sportsplex, LLC, with the primary purpose of incorporating adjacent
property to move the driveway of the sportsplex about 300 feet north, a requirement of the North Carolina Department of Transportation. One difference between the September proposal and this month’s approved plans concerns the quality of the driveway. The previous rezoning request stated
the driveway would be gravel; however, councilmembers balked at the idea and requested it be paved, which Carolina Sportsplex, LLC acquiesced to in the approved plans. “The driveway and two main parking lots have been resolved by being paved (see Sportsplex on page 11)
INDEX: News Briefs, 6; Crime Blotter, 7; Education, 12; Faith Notes, 16; Scores, Home Sales, 17; Sports, 18