Morning Minute: Wednesday, July 10, 2019

News About Town: At Monday's council meeting, Dr. Clayton Wilcox, Superintendent for CMS, spoke to the board about the mobile units at Elizabeth Lane Elementary. Usually, the sunset clause is renewed annually. This year interim planning director Jay Camp suggested the board extend the provision for three or four years with hopes that in four years the Lansdowne relief school should be complete. The conversation switched quickly and amicably to traffic patterns around the school during the afternoon let out. Tensions arose when Commissioner Kress Query brought up adding video cameras to the modules, a suggestion he’s made in the past. Dr. Wilcox explained the redundancies of adding a system by the town but conceded CMS would cooperate if doing so would please the board.

News Around Town: On July 5 Animal Control was called to Novant Matthews (1500 Matthews Township Pkwy) regarding an aggressive cat. The grey, medium-sized six months old kitten, had, in fact, bitten two people. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department Animal Care & Control apprehended the cat and took it for testing. The tests came back positive for rabies. If you’ve been in contact with any cats in the hospital area, the Matthews Police Department urges you to contact the Mecklenburg County Health Department immediately at 704-614-6512 or 704-589-3242.

One Good Thing: Pro Active Chiropractic (300 East John St. Suite 130) is hosting a blood drive with the American Red Cross this Friday, July 12, from 10:00 am to 2:30 pm. Register online at redcrossblood.org and enter the Sponsor code “ProActive.”

Morning Minute: Tuesday, July 9, 2019

News About Town: With the widening of Independence/74 come all sorts of changes to Matthews. Sam Newell will be changed to a bridge over 74, strategically adding multiuse paths and sidewalks to increase accessibility from the northern portion of town to the south. As part of the larger vision, multi-use paths will run the length of Sam Newell, adding pedestrian accessibility to Crown Point Elementary. The project was partially funded within the Capital Improvement Plan. At last night's meeting, the Board of Commissioners discussed funding the remaining amount through grants.

Updating the roster for Town Council, candidate Ken McCool filed on Monday.

News Around Town: Barbara Taylor, Director of the Matthews Heritage Museum, is hosting a Director's Tour of Tank Town: A Good Place to Live, on Saturday, July 20, at 11 am. Space is limited to 12 people, and is best suited for kids over 10 and adults. Admission is $4 and proceeds go toward a new display case for the museum. Want to go? Call the museum (704-708-4996) and leave a message. They’ll call you back and confirm your spot.

One Fun Thing: Carolina Financial Partners, A Matthews Beacon sponsor, is celebrating 35 years in business! If you haven't already, check out their resource center for information on all sorts of topics. The Lifestyle section is particularly helpful for families balancing budget and fun.

Morning Minute: Monday, July 8 2019

News About Town: Filing began on Friday for the 2019 municipal elections. It was a busy day at the Board of Elections office with candidates from all over Mecklenburg county getting a jump start on election season, including 10 candidates from Matthews. Officially in the race for Matthews Mayor are incumbent Paul Bailey and current Mayor Pro Tem John Higdon. Thus far 8 people have filed for Board of Commissioners (Town Council), they are Dave Bland, Allen Crosby, Barbara Dement, Renee Garner, Jeff Miller, Kress Query, Mark Tofano, and John Urban.

*Editor’s Note: You may notice a certain Beacon co-founder and editor in chief on the list of commissioner candidates. We are immensely proud of Renee for throwing her hat in the ring in the hope of serving the community in yet another capacity. Our personal biases acknowledged we are committed as a news source to covering the election in as factual and unbiased a manner as possible. Our goal is as it has always been: to inform and educate the people of Matthews.

News Around Town: The Matthews Fire & EMS Department had a busy Fourth of July. During the storm early on the fourth, strong winds brought down trees. Several cars were totaled in the Paces Pointe apartment parking lot. Later that night, police noticed smoke coming from a law office on Senna Drive and called the fire department. Matthews, Idlewild, and Mint Hill departments worked together to put out the fire.

One Fun Thing: Ready for a day of art? This Sunday (July 14, 2-4 pm) head over to McDowell Arts Center to learn how to use alcohol inks, a popular new material that looks like really vibrant watercolors. The registration fee ($20 residents. $25 non residents) covers all supplies. After painting, head upstairs in the gallery, for the reception and viewing of the Waxhaw Arts Council exhibit.