Bessemer City News Archives

Mrs. Odessa Paysour Scott, 89, of 1758 Poarch Road, passed away on Sunday, Nov. 25, 2007, at Carolinas Medical Center-Lincoln. Mrs. via The Star Online

“The idea is to catalogue every site”

Gaston County Police are teaming up with cemetery operators to curb vandalism and grave marker thefts. via The Gaston Gazette

Sixteen students graduated Nov. 12 from Gastonia's second annual Citizens Police Academy.

The 11-week program provided information about the Gastonia Police Department's K-9 Unit, SWAT team, crime scene investigators, patrol officers, detectives, officer techniques, police legal considerations, crime-prevention programs and other aspects of the department.

The graduates are: Barbara Biggerstaff, Gayle Ruby, Pam Gill, Lisa Hargate, Annie Gregory, Arletha Brown, Daniel Zhao, Douge Smith, Sean Corcoran, Mark D'Onofrio, Dewayne Johnson, Winston Pettit, Jon Childs, Dennis Walls, Michael Tapy and Steve Lawson. Read more

“We are really worried that in the next couple of weeks that we're going to get bombarded”

As the Salvation Army prepares to launch its annual holiday assistance program, the applications from those seeking help have startled even seasoned staff members. via The Gaston Gazette

“To be stabbed that many times - five times around the heart and not one found his heart?- God had his hand on that knife. I really hope God has a plan for his life.”

The 11-year-old Stanley Middle School student stabbed 24 times earlier this month got a hero's welcome Wednesday as he returned home from the hospital. via The Gaston Gazette

“We haven't given up entirely, but it is a big disappointment to dig 750 feet and not get anything”

Bessemer City's hope to gain a water source by digging wells may continue to be a dream. via The Gaston Gazette

“If we can end up in the same conference, that would be great”

A difference of fewer than 10 students might help six Gaston County high schools stick together in the next athletic realignment, but that disparity might also split up the four Lincoln County high schools.

Enrollment figures released by the N.C. High School Athletic Association Thursday put Ashbrook as the last school in the 4A classification in the state, and North Lincoln as the final school in the 3A class. The new realignment will take effect with the 2009-10 school year.

Those two distinctions could be a pivotal part of the realignment. Ashbrook will remain a 4A school, instead of dropping to 3A as expected. The change came because of the new schools being constructed statewide and the enrollment effect on their neighboring schools. Those figures helped push Ashbrook back up to 4A. Read more

“I'm kinda mad, and I'm kinda sad. And I really don't know what to say. I really don't. I'm speechless”

Friends tell Eyewitness News an 11-year-old boy stabbed 17 times is expected to be out of the intensive care unit soon. via Charlotte Channel 9

An 11-year-old boy was airlifted to Carolinas Medical Center from a home in Bessemer City early Monday, but officers aren't saying what happened to him. via WSOCTV

“How do you do that to someone who is disabled, I don't know”

The Gaston County District Attorney may pursue the death penalty against a man accused murdering his ex-girlfriend and stabbing her grandson. via WCNC-TV Charlotte

“It was on a timer, so he left before it ever came on”

Bessemer City High School was in deep water Saturday night - figuratively and literally. via The Star Online

A 50-year-old Bessemer City woman was stabbed to death and her grandson was injured Monday morning when the two were attacked at their home. via WITN

An ex-boyfriend accused of stabbing a Bessemer City woman to death Monday and then critically injuring her 11-year-old grandson wanted to steal her prescription drugs, police said.

Kenneth Monroe Owens, 40, of Bessemer City will be charged Tuesday with robbery, police Capt. Calvin Shaw said. Owens has already been charged with first-degree murder, attempted murder and first-degree burglary.

Carolyn Barnette, 54, was declared dead at her home on East Maine Avenue, where her grandson had been spending a few days. Read more

“That is so recent he may not have even met with a probation officer yet.”

Prosecutors say they will consider pursuing the death penalty against the man accused of stabbing a 54-year-old grandmother to death and nearly killing her 11-year-old grandson Monday. via The Gaston Gazette

“When asked where she was presently, Ms. Lingerfeldt advised that she was at her neighbor's house”

A bleeding and incoherent Bessemer City woman was taken to Cleveland Regional Medical Center early Monday after she wrecked her car and tried to get into a nearby home. via The Star Online

“I will be at the courthouse every day to make sure justice is served.”

Kevin Conn drove up to his mother-in-law's Bessemer City home Monday morning and saw his 11-year-old son lying on the side porch covered in blood. via The Gaston Gazette

A Bessemer City grandmother was stabbed to death and her grandson was injured Monday morning when the two were attacked at their home.

Police later charged the woman's former boyfriend in the attack.

Carolyn Barnette, 50, of East Maine Avenue was stabbed several times and died, and her 11-year-old grandson, whom police would not identify, underwent surgery at Carolinas Medical Center for stab wounds, Gaston County Police said. The grandson was expected to recover, police said.

Kenneth Monroe Owens, who police said was Barnette's former boyfriend, was charged with first-degree murder, attempted murder and first-degree burglary. Police did not know his age or address. Owens was being held in jail without bond. Read more

Medic officials are reporting that one person has been found dead at a home on Maine Avenue in Bessemer City, and another has been airlifted to Carolina Medical Center. via WCNC-TV Charlotte

“Our reputation is only as good as the last tomato that was sliced and put in a salad”

Marvin A. Owings Jr Agriculture Food safety is paramount to all growers whether it's apples or vegetables. via HendersonvilleNews.com

“It's great for their self-esteem”

My wife thinks I have too many T-shirts.

This is the rule: If I buy a new one, an old one has to go.

That's hard. All of my T-shirts have special meaning -- from the one I got at the Alamo to the latest Merlefest edition. No matter how ragged and worn they get, I try to hang on to them.

But I'll have to part with an old T-shirt soon. I want to make room for a new one plugging the 12th annual Gaston County Toy Run for Kids by local motorcycle riders. It'll be a collector's item.

The reason: The artists who designed the shirts. They're young adults in the Holy Angels Art Club in Belmont, most with mild to moderate mental retardation and living in group homes run by the Sisters of Mercy. Read more

Newton-Conover City Schools recently celebrated Fire Prevention Month. The theme was 'Practice Your Escape Plan.'

The Newton and Conover fire departments gave tours and visited schools to stress the importance of developing an escape plan and more importantly, practicing it.

Shuford Elementary kindergartners were treated to a visit from Patches the Fire Dog, who taught them how and when to dial 911, to 'get low and go' and to stop, drop and roll if their clothing should catch on fire. Read more

“We don't want it to get to the fight.”

The start of the school year is often when many conflicts happen, said Gaston County Police Capt. via The Gaston Gazette

Halloween haunts have successful run this year There were plenty of treats for area haunts aiming to raise money this Halloween. via The Star Online

“Mr. Pettis had stopped at the sign and he was trying to go east on 74”

Two people were hospitalized after a Saturday afternoon crash in Kings Mountain. via The Star Online

“We feel like growth is coming and this is the way to get ahead of it”

Residents can learn about proposed development regulations for growing Gaston County tonight after work and still make it home for "My Name is Earl" on NBC. via The Gaston Gazette