Union County
Playmakers is back
Sun Valley student reaches out to K-9s page 11
page 4
Serving Indian Trail, Marvin, Stallings, Waxhaw, Weddington and Wesley Chapel
Locally Owned & Operated www.unioncountyweekly.com
Volume 10, Number 10 • March 5 to 11, 2015
Weddington residents rally
for Hope Shelby and Stuart Stout join their daughter and Carolina Panther’s coach Ron Riviera at last year’s annual March Forth With Hope Gala. Photo courtesy of Kara Harrington
March Forth with Hope Foundation to host annual fundraising gala by Hannah Chronis hannah@unioncountyweekly.com
WEDDINGTON – In January 2004, 12-year-old Hope Stout died after a 6-month fight with osteosarcoma, a rare bone cancer. Weeks before her death, the Weddington Middle School student was given the opportunity to have a wish fulfilled by the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Instead of asking for a trip to Disney World or front-row concert tickets, Hope wished for the other 155 Make-A-Wish Foundation kids to be granted their wishes. Out of Hope’s selflessness and compassion, the March Forth With Hope Foundation was born. Hope’s parents, Stuart and Shelby Stout of Weddington, established the foundation in 2004 in her memory. For over a decade, the Stouts have raised thousands of dollars each year through charitable galas, golf tournaments and other events to provide financial assistance to families battling cancer and other life-threatening diseases. “It’s quite amazing to us how, not only has the foundation stayed alive (see March Forth on page 10)
Weddington dissolves municipal fire district in attempt to save money by Ryan Pitkin editor@unioncountyweekly.com
WEDDINGTON – At a special meeting on Thursday, Feb. 26, the Weddington Town Council voted 3 to 1 to approve a resolution expressing their desire to dissolve the recently implemented municipal fire district and give fire-taxing authority back to Union
County. The meeting followed a Wednesday, Feb. 25 special meeting in which residents packed Weddington’s town hall despite snowy roads to speak for and against the resolution. The resolution is another step in a process put in motion by a fire study completed by McGrath Consulting
Group in 2014. The study singled out the town’s funding of fire services as a reason for losing money and suggested, among other things, the town mediate a consolidation between the Wesley Chapel Volunteer Fire Department (WCVFD) and Providence Volunteer Fire Department (PVFD). At Wednesday’s meeting, residents
and fire officials addressed the council with concerns and claims of misinformation being spread through word-ofmouth and email. About 30 people spoke during Wednesday’s public forum. Viewpoints ranged from encouragement to pleas for patience in making any decision (see Fire District on page 3)
INDEX: News Briefs, 6; Crime Blotter, 7; Education, 12; Rev. Tony, 16; Summer Camps, 18; Calendar, 22; Sports, 24; Classifieds, 27
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