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Community Gunfire or fireworks Wesley Chapel neighbors cry foul over alleged late-night shooting, Land denies by Brian Carlton brian@unioncountyweekly.com Private gun range owner Michael Land is free to shoot on his Wesley Chapel property whenever he wants, according to the Union County Sheriff’s Office, even in the dark. Since Union County Superior Court New showrooms now open 100 galleries, stores and outlets 1000 reputable premier manufacturers High quality furniture at discounted prices Professional design assistance available Exceptional customer service Judge Erwin Spainhour issued a temporary order allowing Land to use his gun range again, neighbors are once more raising concerns about their safety, after the latest incident July 1. Just after 9:15 p.m., residents reported hearing gunfire in the area of Land’s 1402 Bloomsbury Lane property. One call was placed to 9-1-1 and three others to the sheriff’s office. Sheriff Eddie Cathey said there’s nothing he can do. Because nothing illegal is Convenience under one roof happening, all deputies can do is take statements and file a report. “The court order says he can resume the use of the property, so our hands are tied,” Cathey said. “Judge Spainhour said he can shoot and that can only be undone by some other court proceeding. They don’t let me overrule a Superior Court judge.” Land said he wasn’t at the property at the time of the July 1 incident. Land’s wife confirmed he was at the couple’s primary residence at 300 Timber Lane in Weddington. Land went to the property after hearing about the complaints of gunfire but said he didn’t see any signs of Bring this ad to the Mart Monday-Saturday, 9am-6pm through July 26, 2009 and turn it in to a Guest Services Representative for your chance to win our Personal Shopper Package. This package includes a dedicated day of furniture shopping with a private personal shopper, coffee for two at Taste Full Beans coffeehouse, lunch for two at Grapevines gourmet café, a wine basket from Casa Vino wine gallery and a $500 shopping spree valid at any Hickory Furniture Mart showroom. weapons being used. “I wasn’t there and my sons don’t have access to the guns,” Land said, adding that the last time he was on the property to shoot was June 30. He suggested that what neighbors heard that night was possibly fireworks from the Stonegate subdivision. However, neighbors said they saw someone on an ATV-type vehicle driving on and off the property. Land gave a statement to sheriff’s deputies as well. He said the property wasn’t locked up because his six sons had been staying there over the summer months. Neighbors, however, said they know the difference between gunfire and fireworks. “We don’t know who was on the property, but someone obviously had access to the guns and ammunition because they were used,” said Kathy Patterson, who’s house is next to Land’s. She said her family was on the house’s back patio when they first heard a succession of loud, high-powered shots at around 9:10 p.m. This was just the latest salvo in the dispute between Land, Wesley Chapel and local residents. Land, 57, bought the Bloomsbury Lane property in 1991 and has used it as a shooting range since then. Wesley Chapel incorporated in 1998 and annexed Land’s property in 1999. The range is now less than 500 feet from other houses. In May 2008, Wesley Chapel adopted an ordinance that makes firing weapons in the municipality illegal in most instances and then ordered Land to stop shooting at the property. Land’s appeal of the village’s order eventually landed in court, and Spainhour on June 19 granted Land a temporary order allowing him to shoot until a final ruling is issued. Land said that since winning approval to shoot again, he can count on one hand the number of times he’s been at the property. Wesley Chapel can’t appeal the court order until the judge releases his final ruling, which hadn’t happened as of July 3. q Adopt a pet Prison dogs Roger, Riley and Sienna need homes Visit our Annual Furniture Festival & Clearance Sale! July 24 th - 26 th Interact with furniture craftsmen and local artisans from the region as they demonstrate their unique skills throughout the Mart. Customer must bring in this original ad (no photo copies accepted) to a Guest Services Representative at the Mart in order to register for the personal shopper package. One entry is allowed per person during promotional period ending July 26, 2009. Winner must be at least 21 years of age. Winner will be drawn and notified on Monday, July 27, 2009. Page 8 • July 3-9, 2009 • Union County Weekly Value•Service•Reputation From Charlotte: I-77 North to I-40 West to hickory, exit 126. left off ramp, right onto hwy. 70. mart on left. 2220 Highway 70 SE Hickory, NC 28602 800-462-MART www.hickoryfurniture.com Sienna and Roger Riley Roger, Riley and Sienna are being obedience trained in the New Leash on Life program at Brown Creek Correctional Institution and need forever homes when they graduate July 24. Roger’s a sweet, 30-pound golden retriever-chow-boxer mix, about 9-months-old. He loves the water, people and other dogs. Sienna, Roger’s sister, also is 9-months-old and 30 pounds. She’s sweet and is always smiling! Sienna loves the water and chasing tennis balls. Riley is an adorable, 8-month-old boxer mix who weighs about 25 pounds. He loves walks or car rides and is great with kids and other dogs. His very short coat is easy to keep clean. All three dogs are vaccinated, neutered and will be microchipped and potty-trained. Adoption fees are $150. Go to www.hs-uc.org to submit adoption applications to the Humane Society of Union County. www.unioncountyweekly.com
Not alone Union County’s single parents soon will have a new online resource by Kara Lopp kara@unioncountyweekly.com There’s a new resource for single parents – and it’s coming to a computer near you. Christ Our Shepherd Ministries of Matthews has launched “The Single Parent,” a bimonthly talk show that already airs on Mecklenburg County’s public-access television station. Soon, the show will reach Union County residents, who by the end of the month can watch it online at http://cosminstries. org. A single mother to daughters ages 14, 12 and 9, Cheryl Stiegler of Waxhaw said there’s a need for single-parent resources in the area and is excited about the show. Her husband, Rick, died in March 2004 while training for the Boston Marathon. The 47-year-old never had had any health problems, she said. At left, Julie Jahn and “The Single Parent” hostess LePetite Deas brief Waxhaw guest Cheryl Stiegler (seated). Stiegler became a single mother five years ago when her husband died from a heart attack. “The whole concept of (“The Single Parent”) is wonderful,” said Stiegler, who was interviewed for the Oct. 6 show. “You don’t realize how many young, single parents, whether divorced or widowed, are out here in (the area).” Julie Jahn, Christ Our Shepherd’s development coordinator, said the show’s goal is “to really give encouragement, nurturing and healing. We want (single parents) to know that (they’re) not alone and we love (them) and we understand.” It’s a message Stiegler appreciates. “In the very beginning I tried to be supermom. I thought, ‘I can do it all. I don’t need anybody,’” she said. “And I realized I can’t. It’s not making me a bad mom. It’s just impossible. I do need my friends to help.” The show is Christ Our Shepherd’s second recent attempt at a mass media resource, Jahn said. The ministry, created in the early 1990s, had a radio show for about six months this year on WHVN AM 1240. With the population of single parents – including fathers who have or share custody – on the rise in recent years, Jahn said the nonprofit is eager to fill the resource gap. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, about 16 percent of custodial parents are fathers. “Media is kind of the way people Rick Crider/UCW photo Community hear these days,” she said, adding that the show’s working. “People have seen (show guests) out and about and have said, ‘Oh, we saw you on TV’ so somebody’s watching the show, and that’s a good thing,” she said. The show features interviews with local professionals, from chiropractors giving tips to a nutritionist demonstrating how to make healthy meals on a tight budget. Area single parents share their stories and advice, too. The Matthews Police Department will present safety tips on using bicycle helmets and car seats in a future show. Five years later Stiegler said five years later her faith is stronger and her girls would make their father proud. But they still have their tough days. “It’s very hard sometimes because I don’t get a break. It’s all me,” she said. “It’s a lot of decisions on your own. If anything, that’s the scariest part of this because what if something does go wrong So I pray and I just hope that God is directing me in the right direction and holding my kids in his hands.” q Election (continued from page 5) Board Chairman Robert Allen announced his candidacy June 30 for one of two seats on Indian Trail’s town council. Allen joins challenger Vince Howard, 71, for seats currently held by Dan Schallenkamp and Mayor Pro Tem Shirley Howe, who haven’t said if they’ll run again. Allen said he wants Indian Trail to become a place where people can Indian Trail council candidate Robert Allen work and play, but the town needs to indicate how it would pay for new initiatives, such as a police department, before approving them. “It’s the same as budgeting for your home,” Allen said. “You want a big-screen TV. How are you going to pay for it” Allen, who runs R.W. Allen Financial Services, Inc. in Indian Trail, has lived in the town since 2000 with his wife, Teresa, owner of Indian Trail sports bar, The Bear’s Lair. He helped develop the county’s land-use plan while on the steering committee and was on the Union County Planning Board for five years, chairman for the past 18 months, until the county disbanded it. Allen said he feels it’s time to see what he could do in his community. “There are just so many opportunities that I think we’ve missed out on that I think I can help make happen,” Allen said, citing creating stronger developerrequirement ordinances, helping small local businesses create jobs and creating a police department. “If you want something from (developers), you have to (write it) in the guidelines,” he said. Allen said of helping small businesses grow, “We as a town don’t know what they want or how we can help because we didn’t ask. Why don’t we talk to them” Allen also said he believes Indian Trail is big enough to have a police department, but wants to see data on how residents would benefit. “Is (the service) going to be better if we get our own There are a lot of questions to be answered.” Candidates can file for the Nov. 3 election July 6-17 at the Union County Board of Elections, 316-B Windsor St. E, Monroe. q News briefs (continued from page 7) Legal fireworks include sparklers, fountains, glow worms, snap pops and other similar novelty devices. Violators may find themselves cited, and their fireworks confiscated, he added. Fireworks, as enjoyable as they are to watch, can be dangerous and should only be handled by professionals, Cathey said. According to the U.S. Consumer Product and Safety Commission, there are nearly 9,000 emergency room-treated injuries a year associated with fireworks. Enjoy a safe Fourth of July by following these safety tips: • Never give fireworks to small children, and always follow the instructions on the package for those fireworks permissible under the state statute • Keep a supply of water close-by as a precaution • Make sure the person lighting fireworks always wears eye protection • Light only one firework at a time and never attempt to relight “a dud” • Store fireworks in a cool, dry place away from children and pets • Never throw or point a firework toward people, animals, vehicles, structures or flammable materials • Stay at least 500 feet away from professional fireworks displays • Leave any area immediately where untrained amateurs are using fireworks Sheriff Cathey also warned citizens to use caution when swimming at a beach or pool. “Sadly, most deaths from drowning occur within a few feet of safety.” www.unioncountyweekly.com The best thing anyone can do to stay safe in and around the water is to learn to swim. The Red Cross has swimming courses for people of any age and swimming ability. To find out where lessons are offered or to enroll in a CPR/AED or first aid course, contact your local Red Cross chapter. At a swimming pool, take the following precautions: • If no lifeguard is on duty, don’t let children swim unless they’re accompanied by a responsible adult who knows lifesaving techniques and first aid • Post CPR instructions and directions to call 9-1-1 or your local emergency number in the pool area • Look around the pool area to be certain lifesaving devices are readily available for emergency use • Be sure covers are installed on all swimming pool drains. The suction created by the pool’s circulating pumps can be very dangerous unless it is reduced by covers • Take frequent breaks (about once an hour) where everyone gets out of the water, drinks water, reapplies sunscreen (SPF 15 or higher) and rests • If a child is missing, check the pool first. Go to the edge of the pool and scan the entire pool, bottom, and surface, as well as the surrounding pool area. • To reduce the risk of eye, ear, nose or throat infection from contaminated water, swim only in pools in which water quality is properly maintained. The water should appear crystal clear and be continuously circulated and maintained at a level that allows free overflow into the gutter or skimmer. There shouldn’t be a strong odor of ammonia or chlorine. q (more on page 10) Union County Weekly • July 3-9, 2009 • Page 9
Page 1 and 2: Auto Happy Fourth of July! Union Co
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