Inside: Ice skating rink opens near SouthPark Mall • Page 2A
Friday, Nov. 30, 2018 • Vol. 18 • No. 48 P.O. BOX 1104 Matthews, NC 28106 (704) 849-2261
Harris ready to roll up sleeves
justin@cmgweekly.com thecharlotteweekly.com
Democrat defeated N.C. Rep. Scott Stone in House race
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by Paul Nielsen paul@cmgweekly.com
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CHARLOTTE – When Wesley Harris campaigned in south Charlotte with Gov. Roy Cooper 10 days before the Nov. 6 general election, the 32-year-old long-shot Democratic candidate for the N.C. House District 105 seat felt the tide had turned in his race against incumbent Republican Rep. Scott Stone. That day, dozens of volunteers fanned out across south Charlotte hoping to flip the district and help Cooper break the Republicans’ veto-proof super-majority in the House. “There was confidence,” Harris said of campaigning with Cooper. “There was excite-
ment.” That combination turned into victory for Harris as the native North Carolinian defeated Stone 52 to 48 percent in one of 12 races where Democrats flipped a seat to break the Republican’s super-majority. Now, the hard work of governing begins. He ran on a platform of improving health care in the state, investing more in schools and teacher pay, and improving the state’s infrastructure. He said that is what he will work to improve. “We are going to push that and see if we can have a bipartisan agenda for North see HARRIS, Page 3A
Gov. Roy Cooper (right) campaigned on behalf of Wesley Harris (middle) as the south Charlotte Democrat campaigned for the N.C. House District 105 seat. Paul Nielsen/SCW photo
Ridenhour proud of service to the county
WEEKLY PICKS
by Justin Vick justin@cmgweekly.com
The Ballantyne Breakfast Club hosts a panel discussion on safety featuring Police Chief Kerr Putney, Fire Chief Reginald Johnson and Sheriff-elect Garry McFadden from 9 to 11 a.m. Dec. 1 at the Ballantyne Hotel, 10000 Ballantyne Commons Pkwy.
Giving tree Don’t forget to drop off donations to the Salvation Army Angel Tree at SouthPark Mall by Dec. 10. The tree is between Chipotle and Claire’s.
Calendar signing Miss Hooters International Laiken Baumgartner signs copies of the 2019 Hooters calendar and takes photos with fans 4 to 6 p.m. Dec. 1 at the restaurant at 9807 South Blvd.
Theater Pull my beard! The Matthews Playhouse of the Performing Arts presents “Miracle on 34th Street” Nov. 30 to Dec. 16 at the Matthews Community Center.
Countdown to Christmas The Novant Health Thanksgiving Day Parade rolled through Uptown Charlotte on Nov. 22, kicking off the countdown to Christmas. The event, which began in 1947, has grown to earn the distinction as the Southeast's largest Thanksgiving Day parade. Families marveled at a spectacle that included 12 floats, 15 marching bands and giant balloons. Alec Smith/SCW photos
Streaming Think planning a wedding is a daunting task? Imagine becoming the queen of a country. Watch Amber adapt in “A Christmas Prince: The Royal Wedding” on Netflix.
Film “The Possession of Hannah Grace” could provide the creepiest horror movie imagery since “The Ring” or maybe even the head-spinning “The Exorcist.” Watch Shay Mitchell react to the chaos.
CHARLOTTE – Matthew Ridenhour evoked the words of Founding Fathers Alexander Hamilton and George Washington in recapping Ridenhour his service to the Mecklenburg County Board of Commissioners. Like Ridenhour, both were military men who became leaders. Ridenhour, a native of Charlotte, served 11 years in the Marines, including two tours in Iraq. “I have sought to serve with honor, courage and commitment – the core values of the Marine Corps,” said Ridenhour, who represented the south Charlotte area for six years. County Manager Dena Diorio continued Nov. 20 the tradition of honoring outgoing commissioners with plaques in appreciation of their service. Gone are Ridenhour, Bill James, Jim Puckett and Dumont Clarke. While Clarke chose not to run for re-election, James, Puckett and Ridenhour lost their seats to Democratic challengers. Democrats see RIDENHOUR, Page 3A
WHAT'S INSIDE
Traffic could become calmer in more neighborhoods by Justin Vick justin@cmgweekly.com
Mustangs cruise Myers Park drives deeper into playoffs, 1B
INDEX Classifieds..............................................................5B Calendar.................................................................... 6A Sports.............................................................................. 1B Puzzles......................................................................... 6A Loud&Live............................................................. 6A In the Know......................................................... 2A
CHARLOTTE – The city has made it easier for neighborhood roads to qualify for speed humps and multi-way stops designed to slow down speeding drivers. City council updated its Neighborhood Traffic Calming Policy on Nov. 26 by relaxing some of the traffic and petition requirements. “It gives the community and neighborhoods better flexibility in terms of taking action to make their communities safe with the reduction of speed limits and reducing some of the barriers in trying to get traffic calming initiatives in their
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neighborhoods,” Councilman Greg Phipps said. Phipps added these measures won't exacerbate traffic congestion because they are not for highways. Neighborhoods can request speed humps for roads that sustain 600 vehicles a day, as opposed to 1,000. Multi-way stops used to be available for 600 vehicles per day on a main street with a petition encompassing a 1,200-foot radius around the intersection. Now, main and intersecting street traffic may have a combined volume of 600 vehicles daily and the petition needs to only include people within 1,200 linear feet from the intersection. Combining speed humps and
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multi-way stops to streets is also easier. The city lowered the requirement from 2,500 vehicles per day to 1,500 vehicles. The city also made it easier to get the necessary signatures for a petition. Among the less stringent requirements are neighborhoods now need a signature of only one parcel owner as opposed to all. Petitions need just 60 percent support to be successful. The city adopted the Neighborhood Traffic Calming Policy in 1997 and updated it last 2006. “I get a lot of requests in my district for the calming on roads,” Councilman Ed Driggs said. “People travel at very high speeds prob-
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ably because the police are spread thin in Ballantyne. People don’t expect to get caught, frankly.” Councilman Matt Newton said pedestrian public safety issues are the top concerns he hears from his constituents. “Oftentimes, it’s very difficult for neighborhoods to be able to afford the traffic-calming measures they need,” Newton said. “ So even after going through the process of getting neighborhood matching grants – that’s assuming there's an HOA or neighborhood association – this goes a long way toward scaling back the criteria, providing the opportunity for full funding of traffic-calming measures.”
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