New London News

Fireworks decorate the sky over High Rock Lake at the Boat Dock Marina in Southmont on July 4, 2007, during the River Rats' 10th Annual Fireworks Show.

Traffic came to a crawl Friday at noon on Innes Street as motorists detoured around a 2 vehicle collision.

Of 23 counties with optional tax measures on the May ballot, only two passed them.

“The flexibility is designed into the ship”

Master Chief Barry Swofford joined the Navy in the 1980s, volunteered for the "silent service" and got down to work stalking Soviet submarines. via HendersonvilleNews.com

Winners have been announced in the W.G. "Bill" Hefner VA Medical Center's 2008 Creative Arts Festival held in March. via Salisbury Post

“Every time I think about it, I just start bawling.”

Denton -area resident Kathy Harrison has had more than her share of health problems. via The Dispatch

Contributed by Del Milligan - Posted: April 21, 2008 3:27:33 PM Florida State won its first men's ACC Championship by three shots over Duke on Sunday at Old North State Club in New London, N.C. North Carolina ... via The Ledger

With a team total of 284, Clemson ranks in fourth place after the first round of the ACC Men's Golf Tournament at The Old North State Club in New London, N.C., on Friday. via GreenvilleOnline.com

“You can't find a big nugget every time”

Kenneth Canup said there's only one thing wrong with helping school children pan for gold. via Salisbury Post

Jean Lefler Noble, 94, of 103 Lake Street and wife of the late John Richard Noble, Sr. via The State - South Carolina

Julie E. Flanagan, 17, home-schooled, Charlotte: Most of my friends are crazy and courageous but we all know when to stop and not be stupid. While I please myself in being a daredevil and risk-taker, I know never to deal with ending my life or someone else's. Driving is a privilege and even the slightest mistake can cost a person's life and in some cases many people's lives. This is why I do not take risks on the road or promote driving dangerously to my friends. Driving isn't something to be taken lightly or without caution. I hope that teens can learn how to channel their 'wild side' into something that there isn't a risk of someone getting hurt. Read more

Dangers of teen driving Q. A new study says that the most dangerous driving situations for teens are riding without wearing a seat belt, riding with new teen drivers, and driving too fast on high-speed roads. What do you think? Are these the most dangerous situations? Julie E. Flanagan, 17, home-schooled, Charlotte: Driving is a privilege, and even the slightest mistake can cost a person's life and in some cases many people's lives. This is why I do not take risks on the road or promote driving dangerously to my friends. Driving isn't something to be taken lightly or without caution. I hope that teens can learn how to channel their 'wild side' into something that there isn't a risk of someone getting hurt. Read more

“The firefighters attempted to locate the fire, but the only access to the attic was through the garage and they had a hard time getting to it”

A retired couple escaped a fire that burned their Autumn Lane home Wednesday morning. via Fire Engineering

Firefighters were battling a five-alarm fire at a Stanly County home Wednesday morning. via WCNC-TV Charlotte

“Look at John McCain. Nobody thought he had a chance two months ago.”

Ty Cobb Jr. said he has nothing against Mel Watt . "I've just had it with Congress," the Salisbury Republican said after filing Wednesday to run for the 12th District seat in the U.S. House. via The Dispatch

Khevna Desai, 15, School of Math, Engineering, Technology, and Science @ Olympic High, Charlotte: Common sense dictates that the school bus is an extension of the school and therefore the rules that apply at school still apply on the bus. Whatever punishment is given at school should be enforced with the public displays of affection.

Laura Haerri, 13, Smith Academy of International Languages, Charlotte: I do not know who is telling the truth so I can't really judge the situation. If they were doing more than kissing, then they should be punished. But if it was just kissing, then expulsion was to harsh. It really depends on what kind of {quot}display of affection{quot} it is. Some schools want to ban hugs, and those are really harmless. School isn't the place for kissing, but being suspended or expelled is not necessary. Each situation is different, if it was at school it should be treated more seriously then if it happened on the bus. Read more

A year after coming up short in the final round, Molly Crawford on Monday won the 54th Charlotte Observer Regional Spelling Bee

The seventh-grader at Jay M. Robinson Middle School placed second last year. This time, Molly made it through 26 rounds. She won by correctly spelling 'abhorrence' and 'stratagem,' which is derived from Latin for a trick used to outwit an enemy.

Molly has been studying weekly lists of college-level vocabulary words with Greek and Latin roots in her honors language arts class, but spelling had become 'her thing' even before that, said teacher Debra Miller. Read more

“It could have been much worse”

Tom Joyce Staff Reporter A man trying to catch a dog on Pine Ridge Road was seriously injured Wednesday morning when a car plowed into his parked vehicle that in turn struck him, authorities said. via Mt. Airy News

Universal Forest Products, Inc. today announced the closure and intended sale of a number of facilities to better align manufacturing capacity with the current business environment. via Business Wire

More than 1,500 people lost their lives in traffic crashes in 2006, and this holiday season they will be remembered with glistening lights on a "Tree of Life" to be displayed on the lawn of the State Capitol. via WNCT-TV Greenville