Feb. 27, 2002 - Lincoln County officials say security should be beefed up at Lincolnton’s downtown courthouse.

County workers can cite numerous security breakdowns, and Clerk of Court Pam Huskey flatly admits it’s a big problem.

Sgt. Danny Calvert, with the Gaston County Sheriff's Department, checks Christopher Pruitt with a metal detector at the entrance to the Gaston County Courthouse Tuesday. All employ-ees and visitors must go through the metal detectors and pass an officer before entering the building.

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Feb. 27, 2002 - Lincolnton Rotarians huddled at assigned committee tables during their Monday meeting this week to prepare for the annual Rotary Auction scheduled April 25-27 at the Citizens Center in Lincolnton.

Keithen Tucker, auction chairman, gave his kick-off pep talk, underscoring the need for Rotarians to get commitments from auction contributors by April 11.

Rotary Auction volunteers Kay Polhill, left, Randy Shives, center, and Keithen Tucker look over the Rotary Auction poster which will appear on business windows throughout Lincolnton during the next few weeks. The auction will be held April 25-27.

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Feb. 27, 2002 - Education and law enforcement are top issues for Republican county commission candidate David Pratt.

Pratt is a proponent of permitting fees for home security systems. Money raised by the fees would benefit local law enforcement and schools.

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Feb. 27, 2002 - Two plus two equals state competition for four East Lincoln Middle School math whizzes.

The school’s Math Counts team will compete against teams from across North Carolina March 16 in Greenville.

Dustin Newcombe (front) and Patrick Rada practice math problems, readying for an upcoming competition. The two are members of East Lincoln Middle School's Math Counts team.

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Feb. 27, 2002 - Lawmakers attending a legislative breakfast in Lincolnton Tuesday moaned and groaned over the state budget shortfall and warned next year will be even worse.

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Feb. 25, 2002 - Over 500 Lincoln County youth are wearing bright orange shirts today, primed for a week of prayer and service.

The Seven Day Challenge: Exit from Apathy, was the brainchild of four area youth pastors who meet regularly for prayer.

Above, Lincolnton High School Believers Club President Bethany Gilreath and vice-president Ashley Arlow tell members about this week's Seven Day Challenge as Covenant Bible Church youth pastor Mike Devine looks on. Halley Caldwell (left) models an orange T-shirt students countywide will wear today promoting the youth week.

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Feb. 25, 2002 - The sound of a gunshot echoes through the hallways of Lincolnton High School. Two teams of officers meet the principal at the door and learn there is at least one gunman with hostages, maybe more.

A team of four officers begin a sweep of the school building. The bad guy is in the library with hostages. The officers enter quickly and take him out with gunfire.

Officer Julius Littlejohn with the Lincoln County Sheriff's Of-fice trains with other officers at Lincolnton High School as part of a statewide exercise on dealing with school violence Saturday. All Lincoln County Sheriff's Office and Lincolnton Police Department officers will eventually go through the training.

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Feb. 25, 2002 - Knights of Columbus volunteers visited some of the beneficiaries of their $21,175 fundraising campaign at A Place to Grow on Friday. The Lincolnton center serves the needs of the handicapped. From the left are: Gary Montgomery of St. Dorothy's Catholic Church; Leigh Guth of Salem Industries; a student at the center; Kim Beaudion, Place to Grow administrator; and Tom Keene of Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Denver. Several other agencies serving the handicapped also benefited from the 2001 campaign known as Operation LAMB, which raises money through the sale of Tootsie Rolls.

Feb. 25, 2002 - Talking, laughing and rumbling stomachs echoed through the family life center at Bethphage Lutheran Church this weekend.

Teenagers gathered to combat hunger as part of the 11th annual World Vision 30 Hour Famine, an event to get youth involved in raising awareness and money to fight hunger overseas and in the United States.

More than 60 teenagers gathered this weekend at Bethphage Lutheran Church to participate in the World Vision 30 Hour Famine. The youth played games, talked, read and worshipped to fill the hours of fasting.

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Feb. 25, 2002 - Patsy Black says if elected as Lincoln County Clerk of Court, she will bring strong leadership and management skills to the office.

Black, a Peoples Bank vice-president and community activist, is seeking the Democratic Party’s nomination in the May 7 primary.

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Feb. 22, 2002 - Some businesses in Triangle Industrial Park are not following zoning regulations and county officials are not forcing compliance fast enough, a neighbor says.

John Barker wants his neighbor Allied Battery to plant more trees between his home and the business. Barker lives in Forest Oaks subdivision in eastern Lincoln County.

Universal Rubber has earned the ire of a neighbor for storing materials in view from the street.

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Feb. 22, 2002 - Paula Carswell registers her daughter Taylor for kindergarten at Pumpkin Center Elementary Thursday . Seven-year-old Matthew tagged along for his sister's big day. Registration continues through March 7.

Feb. 22, 2002 - Two Lincolnton Republicans, both with experience on the county’s planning board, filed as candidates for the Lincoln Board of Commissioners Monday.

James Buddy Funderburke and C. Dean Lutz hope to fill two open seats on the board.

Funderburke

Lutz

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Feb. 22, 2002 - Five-year-old Jacob Holley pushes his sister Morgan, 3, in a swing Thursday afternoon at Betty G. Ross Park as warm temperatures hinted of spring. Sunny, but cooler, weather will continue through the weekend as daytime highs reach the mid 50s.

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Feb. 20, 2002 - NASCAR, Lowes Home Improvement Warehouse and 29 other companies have helped Mooresville earn a first place ranking.

In its March 2002 issue, “Site Selections” magazine, a globally distributed monthly publication aimed at corporate real estate managers and facility planners, ranks Mooresville as the number one small town in America, based on business openings, or expansions during 2001.

Melanie O'Connell Underwood (left) of the Mooresville-Iredell Chamber of Commerce stands outside of the NASCAR Technical Institute. When complete the 140,000-square foot $12 million dollar facility, located off N.C. 150 on Talbert Road, will  train automotive technicians as well as teaching students about NASCAR.

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Feb. 20, 2002 - Trying out their Mardi Gras masks following Monday's Rotary Club meeting are Stephen Starnes, Marty Eaddy, Gaye Howard, Jim Mauney and Ken Kindley. The annual scholarship fund and costume dance will be held Friday, March 1, from 8 p.m. to midnight at the VFW in Lincolnton. The event features music by Crimson Rose, heavy hors d'oeuvres, door prizes, costume prizes and party favors. Tickets, at $25 each, are available at the Lincolnton/Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce. For more information, call 704-735-3096.

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Feb. 20, 2002 - A Lincoln County Commissioner won’t seek re-election but will instead make a bid for Register of Deeds.

County Commissioner Beth Saine filed Monday for the office.

Saine, a Republican, will square off against Democrat incumbent Elaine Harmon for job which pays $47,000 annually. Harmon has filed for re-election.

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Feb. 20, 2002 - DENVER — It was a dream come true for Shawn Nelson — and perhaps her dog, Gus.

Gus, a Belgian Malinois, formerly named Broadcreek’s Gus of Leelinaw, won Best of Breed Feb. 12 at the 126th Annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, held at New York City’s Madison Square Garden.

Broadcreek's Gus of Leelinaw, a Denver dog that won Best of Breed at Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show last week, won a third place ribbon in Best of Breed competition last September in North Branch, N.J. With Gus is handler David Sombach and a show judge.