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1) Stars of Nick Jr. Hit Show “Team Umizoomi” to Appear at Tweetsie June 19-21

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1) Stars of Nick Jr. Hit Show “Team Umizoomi” to Appear at Tweetsie June 19-21

They’re mighty! They’re mini! They’re math superheroes! Don’t miss Team Umizoomi at Tweetsie Railroad this June 19-21. All your favorite characters, including Milli, her brother Geo and their friendly robot named Bot, will appear daily at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., when they’ll be ready and waiting to meet and take photos with fans.

Six-year-old Milli, her brother eight-year-old Geo and their friend Bot are all from Umi City, a colorful place where the streets are paved with origami-inspired patterns. The popular superhero team uses their “Mighty Math Power” to help kids with their arithmetic problems, all while introducing young viewers to the concepts of counting, measurement, shapes and patterns. Young guests at Tweetsie Railroad will surely be thrilled to help Milli and Geo in their quest to solve whatever problem is at hand.

Guests that need a break from the challenging world of mathematics can take in all of the other Wild West family fun and adventure Tweetsie has to offer. Hop aboard a train pulled by Tweetsie’s historic steam-powered locomotive for an unforgettable three-mile Wild West adventure. Explore the streets of Tweetsie Railroad¹s very own Western town. Experience the gold rush while panning for gold at Miner¹s Mountain. Get up close and personal with the critters in the Deer Park Zoo. Or take a spin on one of many amusement rides ­ the possibilities are endless.

Tweetsie Railroad is open seven days a week from May 29 through August 16. The park returns to the weekend schedule from Aug. 17 through Nov. 1, including Labor Day Monday. The 2015 season ends Sunday, Nov. 1. The park’s regular hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., but will be open until 9 p.m. on July 4 for the Fireworks Extravaganza and June 20 and 27 and July 11, 18 and 25 for Cool Summer Nights. Daily admission to Tweetsie Railroad is $41 for adults and $27 for children ages 3-12. Children 2 and under are admitted free. The Ghost Train Halloween Festival will take place Friday and Saturday nights September 25 through October 31 from 7:30-11:30 p.m., when admission is $34 for adults and children. Tickets and Golden Rail Season Passes are available at Tweetsie.com.

Tweetsie Railroad is located on U.S. Highway 321 between Boone and Blowing Rock, North Carolina. For more information about the 2015 season at Tweetsie Railroad, visit Tweetsie.com or call 877-TWEETSIE (877-893-3874). Find Tweetsie on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Tweetsie and Twitter and Instagram, @TweetsieRR.

2) Outdoor Drama “Otto Wood: The Bandit” Returns to North Wilkesboro, Opens on June 25

The fifth season of the outdoor drama “Otto Wood: The Bandit” opens on June 25 at The Record Park at the corner of Fourth and E streets in North Wilkesboro.

Nat Padgett returns for the fifth year to play the roll of Wood, a Depression-era bandit, known for car thefts, moonshining, womanizing and numerous jail breaks – all this with one hand and a disabled leg. Wood was killed in a shootout with Salisbury police in 1930. For the fifth season, Heather Dean directs the show, which has won multiple awards from the N.C. Society of Historians. Live music by Crabgrass will be performed before the show and between scenes.

Show dates for “Otto Wood: The Bandit” are Thursday, Friday and Saturday, June 25-27; Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, July 1-3;  Thursday, Friday and Saturday, June 9-11. Tickets are $8. Call The Record at 336-667-0134 for more information.

3) Audubon Society to Meet June 16 with Mark Rose of Flannery Fork Botanical Garden

High Country Audubon will have its next meeting Tuesday, June 16 at 6:30 p.m. at the Holiday Inn Express in Boone. Mark Rose, director of Flannery Fork Botanical Garden in Boone, will present a program on butterflies and their nectar choices. Mark was appointed by the governor to the North Carolina Plant Conservation Board and has just completed two terms, serving as chairman for the last four years. He is the new chairman of the Blue Ridge Chapter of the North Carolina Native Plant Society in Boone. HCAS invites the public to attend the monthly meetings and field trips. Announcements about meeting and field trips can be found on their website www.highcountryaudubon.org

4) Bakersville Creek Walk Arts Festival Set for June 20

On June 20, the small mountain town of Bakersville will host its 11th annual Creek Walk Arts Festival — a juried fine art show drawing artisans from around the region. The festival has merged this year with the N.C. Rhododendron Festival and now will take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

BCWAF showcases some of the finest art and craft to be found in the Southeast, including glass, jewelry, ceramics, metalwork, and woodcraft. Artists have been carefully selected to ensure attendees have access to the highest quality items. A silent auction will also be held to benefit Bakersville elementary and middle school art programs.

The merger  with the N.C. Rhododendron Festival (June 19-20) means that visitors will also be able to enjoy the Rhododendron Pageant, craft fair, car show, square dance and can even take part in a 10K run!

Food vendors include: Small Potatoes Mobile Kitchen, a “farm to fork” enterprise offering food from locally sourced fresh ingredients; Burnsville non-profit Centro de Enlace, offering foods such as tamales and quesadillas; and Spruce Pine barbecue purveyor Mountaineer BBQ.

Musical entertainment includes: Thistle Dew, the Yves Giraud Band, Barry Stagg and Friends, Pet and Kim McWhirter, Roan Mountain Rain, Sam McKinney, and Ragged But Right.

Bakersville is approximately an hour away from Asheville, Boone or Johnson City; closer still to Penland School of Crafts and the Blue Ridge Parkway; and is also home to several fine galleries, including Mica, Anita’s Atelier, Shane Mickey Pottery and the Crimson Laurel Gallery.

 Plan to spend your day in this beautiful and historic small mountain town and experience our Creek Walk Arts Festival and more!

The festival is open to the public, free of charge, with free parking available. No pets please!

For additional information, visit www.creekwalkfestival.com, or contact Brette Barron, BCWAF Executive Director, at 828-284-1913 or creekwalkfestival@gmail.com.

5) Weekly Events at Lost Province Brewing Company

TUES: Cheap date night at Lost Province. Dinner for two for only $25 6-10pm.

THURS: $3.00 Thursday-$3.00 pints on all Lost Province brewed beers (except high gravity). 8pm-10pm Live Music: Folk and Dagger. Folk and Dagger are a folk rock group from Boone, NC, whose original trio formed in 2007. The band includes singer-songwriter Doris Bazzini Crothers on rhythm guitar and vocals, Colin Crothers on lead guitar, and Colleen Tarantino Utter on vocals. Originally singing as a church choir group, the band was joined by Charlie Ochoa and then Jimmy Puchalski on percussion. More recently, the foursome includes Boone native, John Fulkerson on djembe, shaker, and tambourine. The band’s soulful harmonies and Crothers’ acoustic lead guitar style have been likened to “Indigo Girls meet the Beatles.” Bazzini Crothers’ songs focus on love and life’s dramas including annoying co-workers, juggling marriage and children, and the occasional need to carry whiskey in one’s purse. The band has released two CDs–Half Full in 2009 and Got Wine? in 2011.

FRI: Freakin’ Firkin Friday at Five continues with a Firkin of Hibiscus Orange Belgian White Beer. 8pm-Closing Live Music: Hot Club of Lenoir. The Hot Club of Lenoir (HCOL) features some of the best musicians the area has to offer. Steeped in the Americana tradition mixed with Manouche Swing flavors and modern styles, the HCOL is a family friendly musical group of amazing talent..

SAT: Now Serving Brunch at 10am. 8:00-Closing Live Music: Maureen Renihan and Friends. Maureen Renihan is a Boone based vocalist performing throughout the high country, piedmont and foothill regions of North Carolina. Influenced by great icons such as Billie Holiday, Judy Garland, and Ella Fitzgerald, Maureen sets a nostalgic tone with her soothing vocals and sincere delivery. With an ever expanding repertoire and theatrical background of over twenty years, Maureen possesses the creativity and versatility to delight audiences of all ages. Accompanied by some of the finest jazz musicians in the region, Maureen Renihan Friends perform classic jazz standards, familiar show tunes, and jazz interpretations of popular music.

SUN: Now Serving Brunch at 10 am. Lost Province Sunday: Residents of “The Lost Province” (Watauga, Ashe, Avery and Alleghany) receive 10% off food with verification of residency. 6pm-8pm Family Night Live Music: The Forget-Me-Nots. Ledah and Willa Finck, along with Maura Shawn Scanlin have long been known to area fans of Celtic music as The Forget-Me-Nots. At Lost Province Brewing Co., on Sunday, June 14th from 6-8 PM they will present a family-friendly evening of music arranged for unaccompanied triple-fiddle. The sets will feature their own Celtic-infused original compositions, traditional tunes, and likely, more than a few surprises that are sure to delight all manner of music lovers. This is their only scheduled performance in the area for the year as the three young women currently attend out-of-town music conservatories. The Forget-Me-Nots have performed in the area for over 12 years, exciting crowds at festivals and concerts, weddings, parties and special events.

 

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Compass Group USA Named 2015 Best Employer for Healthy Lifestyles®

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CHARLOTTE, N.C., June 18, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — Compass Group USA was named as a 2015 National Business Group on Health Best Employer for Healthy Lifestyles®  for its ongoing commitment and dedication to promoting a healthy work environment and encouraging their associates and families to maintain healthy lifestyles.

Compass Group USA was among 64 U.S. employers to receive a Best Employers for Healthy Lifestyles® award at the Leadership Summit sponsored by the National Business Group on Health. Compass Group USA received a Gold Award for its health and wellness programs, marking Compass’ fifth year of recognition.

The health and wellness of associates is a top priority for Compass Group USA. In addition to a variety of medical, dental and vision plans, Compass’ comprehensive approach to wellness offers associates, spouses/partners and children:

  • Health Risk Assessment which provides health guidance as well as a discount towards benefit plans
  • Fully covered preventive care which includes annual checkups, physicals, mammograms and certain cancer screenings
  • Paid time off to receive preventive care each year
  • Online behavioral change programs for tobacco cessation, obesity and stress management
  • Condition management for chronic conditions
  • Maternity and prenatal support that gives expectant mothers pregnancy-related healthcare information

“At Compass Group, our goal is for you and your family to live well and thrive,” says Bob Kovacs, Compass Group USA’s vice president of total rewards.  “Our health and wellness programs offer associates the resources that help create an energized and boundless future.”

Winners of the “Best Employers for Healthy Lifestyles” awards were honored in one of two categories: Platinum, for exemplary workplace well-being programs, cultures and results; or Gold, for creating cultural and environmental changes that support employees in their lifestyle and behavior changes.

About Compass Group
Based in Charlotte NC, Compass Group North America is the leading foodservice management and support services company with $13.6 billion (£8.2 billion) in revenues in 2014. Compass Group USA was recently named one of America’s 500 Best Employers by Forbes. With over 500,000 associates worldwide, its parent company, UK-based Compass Group PLC had revenues of £17.1 billion in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2014.

About the National Business Group on Health®
The National Business Group on Health is the nation’s only non-profit organization devoted exclusively to representing large employers’ perspective on national health policy issues and helping companies optimize business performance through health improvement, innovation and health care management. The Business Group leads initiatives to address the most relevant health care issues facing employers today and enables human resource and benefit leaders to learn, share and leverage best practices from the most progressive companies.   Business Group members, which include 71 Fortune 100 companies, provide health coverage for more than 50 million U.S. workers, retirees and their families. For more information, visit www.businessgrouphealth.org.

Website: http://compass-usa.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/compassgroupusa 
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/compassgroupusa
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/compass-group-north-america
Instagram: http://instagram.com/compassgroupusa

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680 lb marlin wins Big Rock tournament on NC coast – WBTW

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Even though the Viking 62 team enjoyed an enormous lead throughout the 57th annual Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament, the final hours proved a bit agonizing until the contest was finally over.

Viking 62, captain Brian Komer, Riviera Beach, Fla., and angler Earle Hall, Hampton, Va., took the tournament’s inaugural lead early Monday when they showed up at the scales with a 680-pound blue marlin. Their catch was big enough to win 26 of the past 30 Big Rock competitions, but that didn’t make the final hours of the tournament go by any faster.

“It’s by far the longest week of my life,” Komer admitted after Viking 62 was finally declared the winner. “Hooking the fish 15 minutes into the first day, I knew we had a long week ahead us. We still went out there, stuck with our game plan and we didn’t let up. It worked out just great.”

But not without a late tournament scare.

Suzie Q captain Timmy Rhodes, Newport, reported a hookup 18 minutes before the tournament was slated to end. Several minutes went by before the hooked fish was identified as a large dolphin … not a large blue marlin.

“Suzi Q…that was pretty stressful,” Hall admitted. “I thought that would really be a story-book ending for a tournament. You (media) guys would love that kind of stuff to write about. Me … not so much. I thought it would just be my luck to sit here in the lead all week and then lose it in the last 10 minutes. But (Viking 62) winning was meant to be.”

When the victory was finally in hand, Hall was stunned by what he and the Viking 62 fishing team had accomplished.

“I’ve done this my whole life,” he said. “It’s the biggest fishing accomplishment we’ve ever had, that’s for sure. It just feels good. It feels like you’re part of a pretty elite group now and (a part of something that) will be in the books forever.”

Viking 62 won $560,500 from the Big Rock’s $1,632,650 purse. Not too shabby for a boat that rolled off the production line just four days before the start of the tournament.

EZ Boy placed second overall and won the outboard division with a 556.3-pound blue marlin caught Thursday. EZ Boy captain Van Pierce, Trinity, N.C., and his angler, Eric Kimball almost released their catch but decided not to after getting a good length measurement. EZ Boy collects $202,525 for finishing second and an additional $8,925 for finishing first in the outboard division.

Carly A captain Will Ross, Wanchese, N.C., and angler Adam Shack, Raleigh, came in third with the 504.3 pound blue marlin reeled in Monday. Carly A team remained on the leaderboard all week and received $134,350 for finishing third.

Shenandoah, captained by Alan Willis, Morehead City, won the $365,500 Fabulous Fisherman prize for the first 500-pound blue marlin to the scales that was entered in Level VII. Shenandoah’s 503.6-pounder was reeled in by angler Robbie Stallings, New Bern.

The only major shakeup in the final two days of fishing occurred in the release division. Prime Time, captained by Gray Hall, Morehead City, took the Level V release division lead Friday with a second blue marlin release and held on for the win. Hall and his crew receive $73,312 for winning the Level V release division and $10,000 for finishing second in the Level I division with a total of 800 points for two blue marlin releases.

Accordingly IV, captained by Peter Dubose, Newport, placed second in the Level V release division and scored 800 points (after Prime Time) with two blue marlin releases. Dubose and crew captured $43,987 from the Level V release prize pool.

Dancin’ Outlaw, captained by Thomas Wood, Harkers Island, finished third in the Level V release division to win $29,325. Wood, who won the 41st Big Rock in 1999, finished first in the release division last year.

Speculator, a boat captained by Edward Murray, Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., won the Level I billfish release category worth $15,000. Speculator has 925 points – more than any other competitor – but did not elect to participate in the Level V release competition. All ties in billfish release divisions are decided by time: whatever boat scores the most points first.

Freestyle, captained by Kenny Sexton, Manteo, tallied the 57th billfish release of the 57th Big Rock. The Freestyle team won $5,700 for chalking up a timely release.

Only 48-of-149 boats in the field were eligible to fish the final day of the competition. Anglers experienced a below average bite Saturday as competitors scored six billfish releases. This broke down as four blue marlins, one white marlins and one sailfish released.

Starling Marine, captained by David Starling, Morehead City, won the $110,500 “Winner Take All” dolphin division with a 48.7-pounder reeled in by angler Chad Shingleton, Clayton, N.C. Big Oil, captained by Tim Tanghare, West Cape May, N.J., came in first in the tuna division with a 134.3-pounder reeled in by angler Doug Allen, Vincentown, N.J. On The Hook, captained by Sammy Grayson, Georgetown, S.C., finished first in the wahoo division with a 52.5-pounder caught by Chad Zittrover, Guyton, Ga. All gamefish division winners receive $3000 plus applicable daily prizes.

The 57th Big Rock wrapped up Saturday evening when trophies and prize money were distributed to all winners at the Big Rock awards dinner staged at the Crystal Coast Civic Center. Big Rock president Roger Crowe thanked all participants for making the 57th Big Rock such a successful tournament. Proceeds from Big Rock competitions are designated to support tournament charities and other worth organizations. An announcement of financial support that stems from this Big Rock and the associated Keli Wagner Lady Angler tournament will be made at a later date.

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Gillette — Inman

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Posted Jun. 16, 2015 at 8:37 PM
Updated Jun 16, 2015 at 9:00 PM

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Endless Yard Sale brings vendors, tourism to eastern NC

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The towns of Kenly, Selma, Smithfield and Benson welcome bargain shoppers along U.S. Highway 301 for a yard sale Saturday, June 15, 2013.

In just two years, a big yard sale has become an eastern North Carolina tradition. The Endless Yard Sale brings thousands of bargain hunters to one highway that runs through the state.

Last year the sale expanded and attracted thousands of shoppers along U.S. Highway 301 from Dunn to Roanoke Rapids.

Some visitors complained about a gap last year through Nash County, but the county has been included in this weekend’s sale. More than 500 vendors will line the highway this year.

“It was 30 miles long and there were so many people coming out,” Endless Yard Sale founder Tommy Abdallah said. “There’s tons of antiques, really anything you’re looking for is out there.”

The sale, which attracts bargain hunters from all over the nation, is not limited to just commercial vendors. Families, churches and nonprofits along the road also participate.

“From Alabama and Colorado, and all up and down the east coast,” said Donna Bailey-Taylor, Johnston County visitor’s bureau executive director.” People are staying in our hotels, which helps our economy. That’s what tourism’s all about.”

It’s a great weekend for the hospitality industry, especially for vendors who hope to move additional merchandise.

“People are coming with money to spend,” Abdallah said. “What more can you ask for?”

The yard sale runs all day Friday and Saturday. Organizers said they plan to expand the yard sale to Cumberland and Robeson counties in the next couple of years.

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Letter writer: City Council lets staff make development decisions

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I’m sure most of Asheville is aware that there are six new hotels scheduled to be built in downtown Asheville in the coming months.

What you may not know is how this came about, how City Council voted to recuse themselves from oversight on large-scale projects and allowed [it to be handled by] “staff,” a euphemism for that mysterious group of city employees, who, in effect, decide who, what, when and where building happens in Asheville and its environs.

Many of these projects are done with little or no public input, back room, if you will. The latest proposal on the table will allow people to build “add-ons” to their property, basically a smaller second home to be used for rental purposes. Another [is a] a proposed hotel across from the Basilica [of St. Lawrence]: Some groups have called for a green space there instead. That decision will have to wait until after the next City Council elections. No one wants that on their resume right now. Place your bets, folks.

So much for smart growth, and since I’ve given up on our politicians’ ability to govern and control the growth and development of the city, I would at least like to see the faces of this mysterious organization known as “staff,” who for all intents and purposes have become the de facto heads of government in Asheville when it comes to development.

— Jesse Junior
Fletcher

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Officials hope shark attacks don’t keep visitors away

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As two children recover in the hospital after suffering severe injuries, images of boat and helicopter patrols scouring the waters near Oak Island proliferated on social media. On beaches miles from where the attacks occurred, some visitors were staying a little closer to the shore or sticking to the pool.

Officials say it’s too soon to tell if the shark attacks will scare summer vacationers away from the region. But as rental property and hotel managers field inquiries from concerned visitors, questions about how the incidents could impact the region’s vital tourism industry have arisen.

Since Sunday Oak Island Accommodations has had a handful of customers change their vacation rental plans, switching to properties further down the beach from the site of the attacks. One person canceled his reservation.

But vice president of marketing Melaney Robbins said bookings have continued steadily since the incidents.

“There’s many people asking about a home with a private pool,” she said, noting that the company is giving customers information about community pools and other activities in Oak Island. “When we talked to them about that, that seemed to ease their mind. … They still want to come, they just want to go to different areas of the beach.”

The family of Hunter Treschl, the 16-year-old from Colorado Springs, Colo., who lost his left arm in one of the shark attacks, was staying at an Oak Island Accommodations property at the time of the incident.

“Our hearts and prayers go out to these families,” she said. “It’s so sad to see this happen. We’ve been in business for 24 years and never seen anything like this before.”

Shawn Braden is executive vice president of marketing for the Wilmington and Beaches Convention Visitors Bureau. She said that as of Tuesday her office had received one call and one email from tourists worried about the shark incidents in Brunswick County.

“From our perspective we hope to poll our lodging partners and find out if they’ve experienced cancellations,” she said. “It’s just too soon to tell and we’ve had only two inquiries to date.”

Braden said she had seen national news stories that identified the location of the shark attacks as “Oak Island, south of Wilmington.” But she said many visitors, especially from out of state, may not associate the communities with one another.

“They look at this as Wilmington,” she said. “So a lot of times when you talk to them or they’re in focus groups and you get information from them, they’re commenting, ‘Oh we’re going to Wilmington.'”

Brunswick County Tourism Development Authority director Mitzy York said since the attacks officials have been distributing safety information to visitors.

“I have had some conversations with folks over at Oak Island and everyone I spoke to is pretty positive and not really expecting a significant impact,” she said. “I talked to some property managers and I think one said they had less than a handful of cancellations, and others said they had no cancellations.”

She said the TDA doesn’t have plans for any special marketing efforts in response to the attacks.

“The reason that there has been so much coverage is the fact that it is such an extraordinary incident,” York said.

John Hamilton, general manager of Oak Island’s Better Beach Rentals, said his company has not had any rental cancellations related to the incidents.

“We have had some inquiries. Obviously there would be some concern with the amount of news coverage,” he said. “We’ve had some people ask if the beaches were open and closed, if what they hear on the news is accurate or not. … I think the town’s doing a really good job of making people aware, and the shark incidents that have gone on recently have been a rare occurrence.”

Ea Ruth, co-owner of Palm Air Realty in Kure Beach, said she had only had a couple of conversations with customers about the shark attacks. But she worried news of the incidents could have an impact this summer.

“I think if we start splashing it on the front pages more frequently, I think that will bring more negative attention to it,” Ruth said. “I think sensationalism does that.”

‘Education is the key’

After coastal areas of North Carolina were devastated by Hurricane Floyd in 1999 and 2003’s Hurricane Isabel, state and local officials worked to stem damage done to the tourist economy. Ruth said she’d like to see similar efforts in response to the attacks, focused on educating visitors about sharks and coastal environments.

“I think any time we have any kind of a national incident we should definitely put a plug in for the positive aspects of our beaches,” she said. “I just think that education is the key; to have awareness of the environment down here and not to be scared of it.”

Jean Gooden, general manager of Coastal Sands Motel in Carolina Beach, said she was surprised to hear her staff hadn’t received questions about the attacks from customers. She said visitors this summer would likely be cautious near the water, but doubted they would avoid the area altogether.

“I have a feeling a little more’s not going to go as far and a little more’s going to use the pool instead of the oceans, but I think they’re still going to come to the beach,” she said.

In Wrightsville Beach Tuesday, vacationer Nancy Moxley CQ of Raleigh said the attacks wouldn’t keep her family from returning to the area.

“I don’t think it’s going to affect the city and the beach,” she said. “Where can you go in the ocean where you’re not going to see (sharks) in the summertime?”

Contact Cammie Bellamy at 910-343-2339 or Cammie.Bellamy@StarNewsOnline.com

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Charleston shooting suspect captured in Shelby

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Charleston mass murder suspect Dylann Roof was being returned to South Carolina Thursday afternoon, after being arrested about an hour west of Charlotte in Cleveland County.

The 21-year-old Columbia-area resident was arrested just before 11 a.m. Thursday on the western edge of Shelby. Earlier in the morning, authorities say, Roof used a card at a gas station ATM at Providence Road and Ballantyne Commons Parkway in Charlotte.

He was pulled over about five hours later and 50 miles away on U.S. 74 and Plato-Lee Road in Shelby, not far from Gardner-Webb University.

Shortly before 4 p.m., the slender Roof, wearing a white T-shirt and a bullet-proof vest, was led handcuffed from the Shelby Police Department to a waiting police car, apparently to take him to court. Later in the day, Roof was scheduled to board a small plane for the return trip to Charleston, where he’ll be formally charged with one of the worst race crimes in American history.

The FBI has identified Roof as the suspect in the Wednesday night slaughter of nine members of a prayer group in Charleston’s most historic African American church. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Columbia confirmed Thursday that “an active hate crime investigation” is underway.

“The most important point is that the subject is now in custody; the immediate threat to the community does not exist,” said John Strong of Charlotte, head of FBI operations in North Carolina.

A tearful S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley captured some of the emotions of the day. “The heart and soul of South Carolina was broken,” she said.

Shelby Police Chief Jeff Ledford said his department received word from Kings Mountain police that a black sedan resembling Roof’s car was seen heading west on U.S. 74.

The tip had been called in from Frady Florists in Kings Mountain, the Shelby Star reported. Frady employee Debbie Dills spotted Roof’s car and noticed his distinctive bowl-shaped haircut while she was driving from her home in Gastonia to work, the Star reported. She called her boss, who then called police.

“Since it happened, I was praying for them and the church,” she said through tears, according to the paper. “I was in the right place at the right time that the Lord puts you.”

Police pulled over Roof at 10:45 a.m., Ledford said, adding that Charleston police and the FBI then arrived in Shelby “to work through the process of getting Dylann Roof back to South Carolina.”

After Roof’s arrest in Shelby, his black sedan remained parked in the driveway of a white bungalow at a busy intersection on U.S. 74, the main road through the foothills city and a popular route to the North Carolina mountains.

Elaine Elmore, who lives across the highway, said she knew something was wrong when she noticed Shelby police cars. She did not see Roof’s arrest.

“It’s scary to know that could happen right here,” she said, resting in a swing in her yard. “That would scare anybody, to know somebody that cold was right here. He could have come across the street and shot me sitting here.”

Jackie Sibley, a vice president of tourism for the Cleveland County Chamber of Commerce, said she was driving to work and talking to her sister-in-law on the phone when she noticed helicopters whirring above U.S. 74. The sister-in-law told her that the suspect in the church shootings had been captured in Shelby.

That’s when Sibley said she saw the black sedan surrounded by police cars. “I immediately said, ‘Holy cow! I think I just drove to the scene of the capture,” Sibley said in an email to the Observer.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Columbia says attorneys there are working with the FBI and the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Justice Department in an “active hate crime investigation,” First Assistant U.S. Attorney Beth Drake told the Observer.

It’s unclear why Roof drove to Charlotte. Authorities say he stopped in the city to use an ATM just after dawn. WSOC-TV identified the location as a gas station at Providence Road and Ballantyne Commons Parkway. A worker at a Shell convenience store on that site declined to confirm Roof’s stop, saying she did not want to get into trouble by talking.

According to Roof’s Facebook page, he attended White Knoll High School in Lexington, S.C., a predominantly white suburb of Columbia. His page was no longer active later Thursday afternoon.

In March of this year, Roof was charged with first-offense drug possession in Lexington County, according to court records. The case status is listed as pending.

Nine people died from the shooting at Emanuel AME Church in downtown Charleston on Wednesday night.

Among the dead are S.C. state Sen. Clementa Pinckney, a pastor at Emanuel AME, and Cynthia Hurd, the sister of Malcolm Graham, a former N.C. senator from Charlotte.

Reporting from The Charlotte Observer and The (Columbia) State.

Full coverage

▪ Charleston shooting suspect captured in Shelby

▪ Through tears, Malcolm Graham remembers a ‘beautiful’ sister and a senseless death

▪ Qcitymetro.com: Shelby residents react to capture of suspect

▪ Charlotte’s black churches react, look to assess security after Charleston shooting

▪ What is known about the Charleston shooting

▪ Charlotte reacts to Charleston shooting on social media

▪ Pinckney ‘was the moral conscience of the General Assembly’

▪ Our view: Now, with Charleston, we mourn again

▪ Guest book: Post thoughts and condolences for Charleston victims

▪ Gallery: Charleston, SC shocked by killings at church

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Tweetsie Railroad Kicks Off 2015 Season April 10 – Alpharetta

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Tweetsie Railroad Kicks Off 2015 Season April 10

North Carolinas First Theme Park Opens for 59th Season

Blowing Rock, N.C. (March 19, 2015) Its all aboard! Tweetsie Railroad is set to pull into the station on Friday, April 10, 2015 for another exciting season filled with Wild West adventure for the whole family. Plan your visit to enjoy a ride on Tweetsies legendary steam locomotives through the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains in Blowing Rock, N.C. The parks 59th season will host an exciting lineup of special events, including fan favorites like Day Out With Thomas, the July 4th Fireworks Extravaganza and Tweetsies Ghost Train Halloween Festival, as well as a first-time appearance from the colorful characters of Team Umizoomi.

Tweetsie has plenty for the whole family to explore, from a variety of amusement rides and live entertainment, to games at the county fair and panning for gold at Miners Mountain. Take a stroll through Tweetsies very own authentic Western town, where you can go back in time to experience the days of the Old West. And dont forget about the parks centerpiece: a three-mile ride through the winding and breathtaking Blue Ridge Mountains behind Tweetsie Railroads historic steam locomotives.

Be sure to check out one of Tweetsies live shows. Sit back and relax while watching Diamond Lils Can-Can Revue, featuring the renowned Tweetsie Can-Can Dancers. Join in the fun at the Miners Mountain Magic Show, where guests are invited to take part in illusions and slight-of-hand tricks that will baffle any skeptic. Dance along with the Tweetsie Cloggers at the Tweetsie Country Clogging Jamboree. Or help Hopper (Tweetsies Rabbit engineer) and Porter (its Turtle conductor) keep the train running on time at Hopper and Porters Musical Celebration.

Tweetsie Railroad will also welcome a new neighbor and a major new attraction to the area this season: High Gravity Adventures, a state-of-the-art, aerial adventure park, will be opening this spring next to Tweetsie. Adrenaline-pumping thrills will be offered to climbers of just about any age, and an exciting zip line will be added in Phase 2 of High Gravity Adventures expansion. Visitors now have another great attraction to add to their itinerary when making a trip to Tweetsie Railroad.

Its never too early to start planning your trip to Blowing Rock to experience all the Western adventure and magic of Tweetsie Railroad. Below is a look at special event lineup for the 2015 season:

Letterland at Tweetsie May 5, 6, 7, 12, 13 and 14

For six days, Tweetsie Railroad will be transformed into a magical world for elementary schools using the Letterland reading program. Based on the UKs best-selling alphabet book, Letterland ABC, the Letterland reading system teaches children the alphabet and phonics by bringing letters to life. Its fun and educational!

David Holt and the Lightning Bolts in Concert Sunday, May 31

Tweetsie Railroad is honored to host four-time Grammy Award winner David Holt and the Lightning Bolts for a one-day only special performance. David Holt and the Lightning Bolts enliven old-time music with a new time jolt. Holt recently released a one-hour television show, David Holts State of Music, that aired on UNC-TV.

Day Out With Thomas: The Celebration Tour 2015 June 5-14

Hop aboard with Thomas the Tank Engine as he chugs his way through the Blue Ridge Mountains. Children can meet and take pictures with Sir Topham Hatt, listen to Thomas and Friends storytelling, and enjoy activities in the Imagination Station. Advance tickets are suggested as tickets are limited for this very popular event.

Team Umizoomi June 19-21

Theyre mighty. Theyre mini. Theyre math superheroes! Nick Jr.s beloved characters, Team Umizoomi, will visit Tweetsie Railroad to entertain and take pictures with guests for this first time this summer. Meet Milli, her brother Geo and their friendly robot named Bot at North Carolinas first theme park!

Fireworks Extravaganza Saturday, July 4

Celebrate Americas birthday with your family and friends in the High Country! Tweetsie Railroad will once again hold an exciting Fourth of July extravaganza you dont want to miss, complete with a night full of dazzling fireworks. The park will remain open until 9:00 p.m., and fireworks begin at 9:30 p.m. Parking is $10 per car for this event.

Cool Summer Nights June 20 and 27, July 11, 18 and 25

This popular event is back, letting park visitors enjoy cool summer evenings at Tweetsie Railroad during select Saturdays in June and July. On these nights, the park will remain open until 9:00 p.m. to make more time for family fun and adventure.

Scooby-Doo and Shaggy July 10-12

Scooby-Dooby-Doo, where are you? Meet the Cartoon Networks Scooby Doo and his crime-fighting friend Shaggy during their return visit to Tweetsie Railroad. And make sure to bring your Scooby snacks!

K-9s in Flight Frisbee Dogs July 18-26

Are you a dog lover? Then you wont want to miss this talented team of canines that delight audiences by jumping, flipping, diving and catching flying discs that defy gravity. Be prepared

to be amazed each day at Tweetsie Railroad when they perform at 11:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m.,

3:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. (Saturday nights only).

Riders In The Sky August 8-9

Enjoy a performance full of Western harmony and humor that has been captivating audiences of all ages since 1977. This multi Grammy Award-winning quartet is an event not to be missed.

Railroad Heritage Weekend at Tweetsie August 29-30

Celebrate the rich history of steam railroading and tour the famous Tweetsie Railroad Train Shop as the park hosts its annual Railroad Heritage Weekend. The weekend will also include performances and demonstrations by the Cherokee Tsalagi Touring Program.

Ghost Train Halloween Festival

Friday and Saturday nights September 25 October 31

All aboard Tweetsies Ghost Train for a nighttime ride with spooky engineer Casey Bones thats full of thrills and chills as the park hosts its 26th Annual Ghost Train Halloween Festival. Dont miss the Haunted House, Freaky Forest, trick-or-treating and other Halloween-themed attractions that provide a safe, family-friendly night of Halloween adventure.

Tweetsie Railroad will be open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays starting April 10, including Memorial Day Monday, and seven days a week from May 29 through August 16. The park returns to the weekend schedule from August 17 through November 1, including Labor Day Monday. The 2015 season ends Sunday, November 1. The parks regular hours are 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., but will be open until 9:00 p.m. on July 4 for the Fireworks Extravaganza and June 20 and 27 and July 11, 18 and 25 for Cool Summer Nights. Daily admission to Tweetsie Railroad is $41 for adults and $27 for children ages 3 through 12. Children 2 and under are admitted free. The Ghost Train Halloween Festival will take place Friday and Saturday nights September 25 through October 31 from 7:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m., with an admission price of $34 for adults and children. Tickets and Golden Rail Season Passes are available at Tweetsie.com.

Tweetsie Railroad is located on U.S. Highway 321 between Boone and Blowing Rock, North Carolina. For more information about the 2015 season at Tweetsie Railroad, visit Tweetsie.com or call 877.TWEETSIE (877.893.3874). Find Tweetsie on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Tweetsie and Twitter and Instagram, @TweetsieRR.

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Letter: Thanks

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On behalf of local taxpayers and everyone involved in the Crystal Coast’s tourism economy, I extend our deep thanks to state Rep. Pat McElraft for securing additional funding for tourism marketing in the N.C. House’s proposed state budget for 2015-2016.

It’s no exaggeration to say that the Crystal Coast’s economy is built on tourism – which in turn depends on advertising and other marketing initiatives to attract visitors to our area.

In 2013 alone, tourism generated an economic impact of $303 million in Carteret County, up 7 percent from the year before. More than 3,000 of our local citizens work in travel and tourism, with an annual payroll of $53 million. The industry produced more than $31 million in state and local taxes that support public services, saving each county resident $450 a year.

Statewide, visitors spent $21.3 billion in North Carolina last year, up 5.4 percent to an all-time record. The state’s tourism industry employed 205,000 North Carolinians, with an annual payroll of almost $5 billion, while generating $3.2 billion in state and local taxes.

But all of that depends on tourism marketing, which provides a very strong return on investment. A recent study found that for every dollar spent on tourism advertising, the state attracts $184 in new visitor spending and generates $15 in new state and local tax revenue.

And yet North Carolina’s tourism funding ranks only 32nd nationally, $7 million to $22 million a year less than competitor states such as Virginia, Tennessee, South Carolina, Louisiana, and Michigan. 

We’re fortunate that Rep. McElraft wisely recognizes the tremendous economic benefit the tourism industry bestows upon the Crystal Coast and all of North Carolina. Let’s hope our state’s 169 other legislators do, too.

 

Trace Cooper, mayor, Atlantic Beach, chairman, Crystal Coast Tourism Authority

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