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Volume 115 • Issue 19
75¢
Wednesday, May 12, 2021
Council has joint Volunteers make Cherryville’s work, budget Main Street blossom on May 1 planning session by MICHAEL E. POWELL Editor michael@cfmedia.info
At the Saturday, May 1 combination work and budget session, Council heard two presentations, one by Sharon Padgett, Gaston County YMCA CEO and the other by Cherryville Realtor, Vicki Spurling, of Vicki Spurling Realty. City Manager Jeff Cash said Ms. Padgett told the City Council about how the YMCA will soon be moving to a location at North Mountain and West Second Street location. “It is the old Cherry Motors, Chrysler – Plymouth building, (now) recently a tanning business. This new building for them will afford many more opportunities to serve the citizens of Cherryville and beyond. City Council supports the YMCA decision,” said Mr. Cash, who also added that Mrs. Spurling discussed the brick wall on North Mountain St., at the old Rainwater Furniture Building. Said Mr. Cash, “She is
Two thousand petunias to seeking permission to do a sprout this spring professional mural on the side and summer of this building. This is the area where the fence was recently taken down, across the street from Cherryville Area Ministries. The City Council gave her permission to move forward with design work with the City Council having final approval of the mural to be installed.” Council also heard from the Planning and Zoning Board director, Derrick Mackey, about a proposed rezoning of four parcels at or near 1444 W. Academy St., in Cherryville, for possible apartment units. The request to change from the zoning from MC and R-9 to RMF zoning was submitted by Mr. Denis Blackburne, Senior Vice President of Development for Woda Companies, of Savannah, Georgia. Mr. Mackey noted the Cherryville P&Z Board voted 6-1 to ask Council to consider setting a public hearing at the May 10 regular session meeting to rezone the parcels. Also discussed was the City’s golf cart ordinance See BUDGET, Page 2
Missing Cherryville teen found by LCSO deputies Young girl found roughly a quarter of a mile from her home by MICHAEL E. POWELL Editor michael@cfmedia.info
Good news about a missing Cherryville teen, Taylor Falls. She has been found by those searching for her and is back with her family. On Wednesday, April 28, 2021, Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Larry Seagle said their office was notified that morning around 5:45 a.m., that a 13-year-old female, Taylor Falls, of Cherryville, had been reported as missing, having been last seen around 11 p.m., the previous night (April 27). Seagle noted in his most recent media release that the youngster was located “… roughly a quarter of a mile in a heavily wooded area near the residence. She was
by MICHAEL E. POWELL Editor michael@cfmedia.info
Cherryville’s Downtown Director David Day, said recently in a media release, with the planting of 2,000 colorful petunias, the City’s Main Street area “… is looking brighter.” And it absolutely is as on May Day, Saturday, May 1, more than 20 local volunteers began planting the first of 2,000 pink or white petunias which will beautify Main Street and nearby areas this spring and summer. Rounding out the effort, the Heritage Park will also bloom with spring and summer color, noted Mr. Day. He continued, “These flowers are going to be
Local volunteers came together on May Day, May 1, to plant colorful petunias along Main Street to bring home the point that Cherryville really is “Where Life Blossoms!” (photo provided) gorgeous. This is our first of what we hope will be many spring plantings. Our
City’s slogan is 'Where Life Blossoms’ and we’re adding life to it!”
While Day clarified the Main Street Project group See BLOSSOM, Page 5
CPD officers arrest woman in regard to shooting at apartments Charges upgraded to 1st degree murder after death of Denver, NC man On Monday, May 3, 2021 at 10:35 p.m., Cherryville pa-trol officers responded to Cherrywood Apartments, to 218 Heather Ln., Apartment 7A, Cherryville, in reference to a shooting. A Mr. Rhonschocki Markee Flack, Jr., 24, of 2573 Crab Apple Trail,
KENDRA ADAIRE ODUMS Denver, NC, was located at the scene with a gunshot
wound to the head area. Mr. Flack was trans-ported to CaroMont Regional and then later to Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center and was listed in criti-cal condition. A woman, Kendra Adaire Odums, 22, also of 218 Heather Ln., Apartment 7A, Cherryville, was arrested and charged at that time with assault with deadly weapon inflicting serious injury with intent to kill. On Tuesday, May 4,
2021, according to a police media release, Mr. Flack Jr., succumbed to his injuries. On Friday, May 7, 2021 the suspect, Ms. Odums, had her original charges upgraded from assault with deadly weapon inflicting serious injury with intent to kill to First Degree Murder. Ms. Odums is currently in the custody of the Gaston County Detention Center with no bond. There is no further information regarding this case at this time.
TAYLOR FALLS located at 6:11 p.m., and was treated and transported in stable condition by Lincoln County EMS to Cleveland for evaluation at 6:28 p.m.” Lieutenant Seagle said their department (Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office) searched – with the assistance of the following surrounding county agencies and departments: Gaston, Catawba and Cleveland counties, as well as SBI, FBI, Highway Patrol, Forestry and Wildlife – the “…surrounding area of the residence on Sorrels Baxter Rd., in Cherryville,” adding that, “Personnel deployed helicopters, drones and foot patrols in the area to search for the missing teen.” When Ms. Falls went missing on April 27, she was described as a “…white See TEEN, Page 6
Fire does $100K-plus in damage to Cherryville home by MICHAEL E. POWELL Editor michael@cfmedia.info
Assistant Fire Chief Jason Wofford said a fire on May 3, did about $110,000 in damage to the home. Thankfully, there were no serious injuries, though it was noted by AC Wofford that unfortunately there were several cats and one dog that did not escape. “One person was taken to the hospital for smoke inhala-tion, but is okay,” he said. Wofford noted Cherryville had five units there
to battle the 7:05 a.m. fire, and that Waco VFD, Hugh’s Pond and Tryonota also provided mutual aid. Said AC Wofford, “We had 15 firefighters on scene, and it took four minutes and 10 seconds to arrive on scene from dispatch and 10 minutes to contain the fire.” Other emergency and ancillary personnel on-scene in-cluded GEMS, Cherryville PD, and Cherryville Public Works, along with all the departments mentioned above by AC Wofford. AC Wofford added that though he knows who the home belongs to, he said
he preferred not to mention names, because the community already knows who the home be-longs to as the individual is well known in the Cher-ryville community and folks will know already how to reach out to him and his family. Wofford added, “There have been many donations al-ready made to the family, but I don’t know of any certain contact to do so.” Wofford said the house is a total loss due to the heavy fire and smoke damage estimating that damage to be “around $110,000.” Fire Chief Jeff Cash
commended all who answered the call, saying, “All the responding firefighters did an out-standing job. This fire progressed rapidly to the attic and the family will be able to salvage many personal belong-ings. We also appreciate the response from our mutual aid departments surrounding Cherryville.” Chief Cash noted for those who may wish to find out how to possibly donate to the family they may call CFD at (704) 435-1730 and speak with Ms. Brittany Bingham.
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