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Source: MedleyStory
More pets died on Delta Air Lines than on any other carrier last year, according to data released by the federal government.
Out of 35 pets that died on airlines last year, 19 died on Delta flights. That's up from 16 the previous year.
Delta said it carries more pets than many other airlines, in part because of its broad route network. The number of pets that are injured or die on the airline is less than 0.2 percent of pets carried, Delta said.
Many carriers such as AirTran and Southwest don't carry pets as checked baggage in the cargo hold. Some pets also are transported in the cabin as carry-ons, but the deaths were all in the hold.
"The loss of any pet is unacceptable to us," Delta spokesman Anthony Black said. "We are working to improve the processes and procedures to ensure that every pet arrives safely at its destination."
One of Delta's latest changes came in December , when it stopped accepting snub-nosed dogs or cats as checked items. Delta already had banned American, English and French bulldogs from flying. That came after a sharp increase in the number of animals that ran into trouble on Delta flights, particularly bulldogs, which are susceptible to respiratory problems.
In most cases, pet deaths are not caused by mishandling but because the pets run into health issues in the cargo hold environment, Delta said. The Humane Society of the United States recommends not transporting pets by air "unless absolutely necessary" because of the risks.
Published: Sun, 19 Feb 2012 11:04:27 -0500
The Rowan County Animal Clinic suffered heavy damage in a fire early Sunday morning.
According to fire officials, they were alerted to the fire around 1:30 a.m. and spent a few hours battling the blaze to bring it under control.
Officials were not able to comment on injuries or deaths of the animals that were being kept at the shelter. Fire Investigator Deborah Horne described the shelter as a staple of the Rowan County community for several years.
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No people were injured in the fire, officials said.
Fire officials have not commented on what caused the fire.
SLIDESHOW: Animal shelter destroyed by fire
Published: Sun, 19 Feb 2012 08:40:56 -0500
A Lancaster County firefighter died after falling from a moving truck early Saturday morning.
William Blackmon was sitting on a tool box on the back of a pick-up truck when he fell. He later died at a local hospital.
Blackmon was a member of the Camp Creek Volunteer Fire Department.
Published: Sun, 19 Feb 2012 05:54:33 -0500
The victim in a serious accident in Huntersville died Saturday, officials said.
Police said Paul Jones died from injuries he suffered in a crash on Thursday. According to police, his truck was hit by a white Chevy Impala driven by Victor Moultry.
Investigators said Moultry was involved in a hit-and-run in Charlotte moments before the accident with Jones.
Police said the District Attorney would examine the case before charges were filed against Moultry.
Published: Sun, 19 Feb 2012 05:47:17 -0500
A man shot and killed an intruder who tried to rob him overnight in his own home, Salisbury police said.
According to police, 23-year-old Marlon Barber was shot around 10:30 p.m. Saturday in a house on North Lee Street.
Police said Barber walked into the house and demanded money from Jack Javis, the man living there, at gunpoint.
Javis put up a fight and managed to wrestle Barber’s gun away from him, police said.
Barber was shot in the chest and then ran to another room, where he died.
Investigators have not said if charges will be filed against Javis.
Published: Sun, 19 Feb 2012 05:40:36 -0500
Dental records confirm that the body South Carolina law enforcement officials found on Friday is 30-year-old Dara Lee Watson.
In a press conference with the Mt. Pleasant Police Dept. on Saturday, Coroner Rae Wooten confirmed Watson was killed by a single gunshot wound to the head.
At the Watson family's western apparel store in Boone, a steady stream of people stopped and stared into the glass windows, looking at pictures of Watson hanging inside.
“(I’m) thinking about the family and their loss and hope they get better,” said student Jordan Stiles.
Most people did not know about the developments at the press conference and they were visibly shaken after hearing the news.
“It’s closure in one sense, but, by the same token, it’s knowing your worst fears have come true,” said Boone resident Don Channell.
Watson had not been seen in 12 days. Police said Watson’s fiancé, David Hedrick, shot her in the head and then drove the body to the woods.
They said Hedrick buried her body 200 feet away, in a shallow grave.
Her burned-out SUV was discovered last week at the Francis Marion National Forest near Charleston, S.C.
Friday police found Watson’s body near the SUV.
Hedrick also tried to cover up the crime by sending text messages to co-workers with Watson’s cell phone before killing himself last week at their Mt. Pleasant home.
Watson’s mother and father were in Mt. Pleasant Saturday night with investigators.
“(They’re) just a good family, just good people, and (it’s) a tragedy what happened,” Channell said.
Channell often shopped at the Watsonatta Western World.
“They’re a family that has meant a lot to this community and a lot to the businesses here in Boone,” Channell said.
Many of Boone’s residents are planning to stop by the store and offer their support the day Watson’s parents return.
Published: Sat, 18 Feb 2012 22:22:16 -0500
The winner of the Democratic National Convention poster contest was announced Saturday. Charlotte resident, Steve Ward took the top spot with his ‘Urban Unity’ design.
Ward is a design teacher at York Technical College.
"I titled it 'Urban Unity,' so the coming together, so I really wanted to play on that, and have different elements, the colors, the contrast, everything coming together as a cohesive unit," Ward said.
Four of the finalists were from Charlotte.
The DNC asked artists to submit a design that best displayed their vision for the convention.
Ward will get to sell his poster during the months leading up to the convention in September, and will receive $1 for every piece sold.
There were more than 26,000 votes for the DNC backed contest. Hundreds of artists from across the world submitted entries.
See the four Charlotte finalist's here.
Published: Sat, 18 Feb 2012 19:09:57 -0500
Whitney Houston's funeral was Saturday morning at New Hope Baptist Church, where family, friends and celebrity confidants gathered to pay their respects.
The service was fittingly filled with music, scripture and some of the biggest names in the industry.
Billed as a "home going" for Houston, her farewell was held at the same Newark, N.J., church where the legendary entertainer learned to sing as a teenager.
Just 20 minutes into the program, Houston's ex-husband, Bobby Brown, walked out of the service. There have been rumors of tensions between he and the Houston family after the 48-year-old was found dead in a Beverly Hilton hotel bathtub.
Houston will be buried on Sunday in nearby Westfield, N.J., beside her father.
Published: Sat, 18 Feb 2012 18:47:13 -0500
North Carolina's Highway Patrol is looking for the person responsible for a hit-and-run accident in Pineville Friday night. The crash killed 14-year-old David Bell and injured several other young people, all under the age of 15.
"All I could do was call on God, because that is all I know to do," said Kendra Gregory, who is Bell's cousin.
Bell was a student at Chester Middle School. Family members said he was on his way back from a basketball game in the Charlotte area. His friends' mother drove him and several of her children to the Friday night game.
Around 11:50 p.m., they were headed west on Interstate 485 when a white passenger vehicle tried to pass them on the paved emergency shoulder. That car side-swiped the SUV, causing it to overturn.
Bell played basketball and football at Chester Middle School. His family described him as full of joy.
"He was just so happy," Gregory said.
They also said he was full of compassion.
"I can remember on Wednesday at my cousin's funeral, he hugged my sister and told me everything was going to be alright," she said.
Troopers said all three young people thrown from the SUV were 14 years old and not wearing seatbelts. Those who survived are expected to recover.
Troopers are asking people who see a white car with damage to its right side to call the Highway Patrol.
Published: Sat, 18 Feb 2012 18:23:21 -0500
Investigators confirmed Saturday that the body they discovered in Charleston Friday is Dara Watson.
The woman from Boone was reported missing last week.
Investigators said they believe Watson's fiance, David Hedrick, shot her in the head, then drove her body to the Francis Marion National Forest in South Carolina.
They said Hedrick then buried her in a shallow grave and burned the SUV.
Police said Hedrick later killed himself.
More than 150 people gathered Friday night to pray for Watson's family outside of her parents clothing store in Boone.
Published: Sat, 18 Feb 2012 18:23:07 -0500
The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning for more than a dozen mountain counties in North Carolina that will last until 6 a.m. Monday.
Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Caldwell, Haywood, Madison, northern parts of Jackson, McDowell, Mitchell, Surry, Swain, Watauga, Wilkes, and Yancey counties are all under a winter storm warning. The warning is also in effect for the Burke and Caldwell mountains.
A winter weather advisory has been added for more than 30 counties, including Catawba, eastern parts of McDowell, Burke, Iredell and Rowan counties in the WSOC-TV viewing area. A 1-inch accumulation of snow is possible in those areas.
So far, snow has been reported in Boone. The NWS said in a special weather statement that heavy snow could occur in storm bands near the North Carolina/Virginia state line, but notable accumulation would be contained to areas above 3,000 feet. Below that zone, most areas will likely only see a light dusting on grassy areas, the NWS said.
SLIDESHOW: Snow, sleet coming down in Blowing Rock
For travelers, the hazard will be slush and ice forming on bridges and overpasses near the Blue Ridge mountains.
On Highway 321 heading into Blowing Rock, a dense fog is mixing with the snowfall and sleet to make driving conditions dangerous. At noon, there was not a lot of accumulation on the roads, but people visiting the area said they were looking to move back to lower ground before conditions worsened.
Salt trucks are covering Highway 321, trying to stay ahead of the storm.
The good news for those drivers and the residents of Ashe and Watauga counties, said Meteorologist Katie Virtue, was a break in the precipitation. The rain/snow mix has stopped falling, but there are more bands of rain and winter weather moving in.
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Forecast models show snow accumulation up to 8 inches with the heaviest snow along the eastern side of the Blue Ridge mountains.
According to the NWS, a band of rain moving east will gradually change over to sleet and then wet snow during the late morning hours Sunday. The snow is expected to last into Sunday evening before tapering off in the overnight hours, forecasters said.
The latest forecast from the NWS shows rain beginning to blossom across middle Tennessee. Forecasters said temperatures would be the primary determining factor in how much snow falls and pointed to temperatures in the 40s as well as dynamic cooling, making an accumulation forecast for most areas difficult.
Higher elevations could deal with slick, icy roads Sunday afternoon and evening, as well as spotty power outages due to downed trees and power lines.
Winds are expected to pick up through Sunday morning with gusts up to 25 mph.
To report a power outage or downed tree to Duke Energy, call 1-800-769-3766. To report an outage to Progress Energy, call 1-800-419-6356.
In the Charlotte metro area, rain moved in early Sunday morning and is expected to continue throughout the day. Some areas south of the Queen City could see as much as an inch of rain.
As temperatures fall Sunday night, some snowflakes could mix with the rain, but accumulation is not expected.
Department of Transportation officials said crews had not salted Charlotte's highways because the rain would likely wash it away before any snow started to fall around the city. However, crews are on standby, officials said.
Monday, the clouds will move out and abundant sunshine will push temperatures into the low 50s.
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Published: Sat, 18 Feb 2012 17:42:36 -0500
Meteorologist Katie Virtue said Charlotte conditions are expected to be very rainy and cold Saturday evening through Monday.
As rain develops overnight and temperatures continue to fall, be on the lookout for wet snowflakes developing Saturday night.
The highest terrain of the region could see eight inches of snow.
Towards the end of the storm, the snow will transition to sleet.
Published: Sat, 18 Feb 2012 15:37:46 -0500
FirstHealth Richmond Memorial Hospital has temporarily discontinued inpatient care due to a bat infestation.
They will not reopen until the bat colony that has taken up residence in the walls of the hospital has been removed.
The decision to suspend inpatient care services follows a period of extensive efforts by Get Bats Out, a professional bat removal service.
“Our primary concern is for the safety and well-being of our patients, families, visitors, and employees,” said Gretchen Kelly, the public relations director for FirstHealth. “We are making every effort to accommodate all those affected by this event.”
The 14 patients expected to need inpatient care beyond Saturday morning were transported Friday evening by FirstHealth EMS staff to a hospital of their choice. FirstHealth administration and medical staff coordinated patient transfers with area hospitals.
The hospital emergency department will continue to provide services to patients who present themselves, but patients being transported by ambulances will be taken directly to another area hospital.
Staff contacted the Richmond County Health Department Friday to conduct a thorough inspection of the facility to determine if the facility posed a risk to staff and patient health.
The local health department staff teamed with hospital staff to thoroughly inspect all air handling units, intakes and returns, all rooftop areas, patient rooms, offices, common areas, laundry, food service, unused facility spaced, elevator shafts, stairwells, interior ceiling tiles and numerous other areas of the facility.
Health department staff consulted with the professional bat removal staff on site who also conducted an inspection of the facility.
The bat removal company explained their strategic plan to alleviate any and all bats and their harborages from the facility as well as their plan for refusal of access.
After conducting the inspection, it was determined that there was no evidence of bat guano within the interior of the facility.
With these findings, it is the determination of the Richmond County Health Department that FirstHealth Richmond Memorial Hospital does not pose a risk to their staff or the patients they serve.
Published: Sat, 18 Feb 2012 15:06:03 -0500
The Flying biscuit where Danielle Watson was murdered held a daylong vigil on Saturday to honor her memory.
Police said she was killed by her co-worker, Mark Cox, during a robbery at the Flying Biscuit Cafe in Ballantyne.
Watson was two months pregnant.
The store has been donating all proceeds this month to a memorial fund in her honor.
In addition to the two murder charges, Mark Cox is also charged with robbery and larceny.
Published: Sat, 18 Feb 2012 14:01:31 -0500
North Carolina troopers are looking for a car investigators said caused a deadly accident near Pineville overnight.
Troopers said David Bell, 14, of Chester, S.C. was killed when the SUV he was riding in overturned on Interstate 485.
The roof of the SUV was nearly flattened to the ground.
Troopers said the SUV was traveling west on I-485 when another vehicle tried to pass it on the paved emergency shoulder.
Investigators said that vehicle then side swiped the SUV, causing it to overturn. There were five people in the SUV.
Bell and two others were ejected. Troopers said the others hurt in the crash, do not have life threatening injuries.
Published: Sat, 18 Feb 2012 10:12:57 -0500
Family and friends of Dara Watson, 30, gathered in Boone for a candlelight vigil Friday, after praying for her since she disappeared.
Marshall Bristle learned Watson, her best friend, was missing just a few days ago.
"It's just a sick feeling, for one, not knowing where your friend is," Bristle said.
Bristle was one of hundreds of people in the small town of Boone that pushed past their own pain to support Watson's family at the vigil.
"We want to show the support they need. It's a hard time for everybody, but I can't imagine going through what they are right now," said Bristle.
Watson's mother spent the day in Mount Holly on Friday. Her father arrived in the city Monday night.
Watson was last seen on February 6. Investigators believe her fiance killed himself in the home they shared a few days later.
Investigators in South Carolina said they found a body in the woods near where her car was found last week. They are still working to identify the body.
Published: Fri, 17 Feb 2012 23:12:02 -0500
A woman told police that a man told her he was a maintenance worker to get into her hotel room before stealing her cellphone.
The victim was staying at the Days Inn at 118 Woodlawn Road in Charlotte on Feb. 11 when a man knocked on her door.
Police said he claimed to be a maintenance worker, so she let him into the room. He looked around and then left, but came back a few minutes later.
She told police he was in the bathroom for a few minutes before coming out and trying to take her phone away from her. She then pulled out a knife and fought with the man.
During the struggle, one of her hands was cut, and the man managed to run from her room with the phone, according to police.
The thief is described as a black man in his 30s with a medium to large build, a receding hairline and gold in his mouth. He was last seen wearing a two-piece jogging suit with a design on the front and back and glasses.
Police said he left the hotel in a light-colored Crown Victoria-type vehicle.
Anyone with information regarding this case is asked to call 911 immediately or call Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600.
Published: Fri, 17 Feb 2012 22:45:09 -0500
The family of a 13-year-old student kicked out of school for handing a friend a bag of oregano is considering a lawsuit if he's not immediately allowed back to school.
At the end of January, the eighth-grader at Cuthbertson Middle School handed a classmate a baggie of oregano and told him it was marijuana.
The school immediately handed down a 10-day suspension. When that suspension ended the school added an additional 45-day suspension to be served at a special alternative school.
The student's family lost an appeal Thursday to get him back into Cuthbertson and is now being represented by an attorney.
The boy's mother agreed to talk to Eyewitness News as long as her identity wasn't revealed. She said she's worried his "childish prank" will hurt his chances to get into college.
"I don't know if this is going to come back to haunt him," she said. "It just seemed a ridiculous response for a 13-year-old child that's playing a prank to be sentenced for 45 additional days for a bag of oregano. It just seemed crazy. Over the top."
The teen was immediately suspended for 10 days and ordered to attend a drug class when he handed his friend the bag of oregano on Jan. 20.
"I actually was not fighting the 10-day suspension, even though I still thought it was a little much for having a bag of a substance that's not illegal," said the mother.
Eyewitness News reviewed the Union County Student Code of Conduct. Because the teen said he had marijuana and gave it away on school property, the district's policy mandates a minimum 10-day suspension. Then, a hearing is held to determine if the suspension should be extended.
When the school principal recommended an additional 45-day suspension, the teen's family appealed the decision. Cuthbertson's principal, assistant principal, several school board members, and an assistant superintendent were at the appeal hearing Thursday morning.
The boy's mother said the principal asked her how she would feel if the baggie really contained marijuana.
She said she replied, "That's beside the point. It was oregano."
Her appeal was denied.
The family is now being represented by attorney John Whitehead with the Rutherford Institute in Virginia.
He plans on suing if the teen isn't allowed back into his regular school immediately.
"If it was marijuana? Sure. It should be dealt with seriously. I think it should be dealt with probably by the police. But this is oregano, folks! This is what you put on pizza. It was a joke," he said.
District spokesman Luan Ingram said she couldn't discuss this case specifically, or go into detail about the teen's disciplinary record. She said the decision was made with thoughtful consideration.
"He told his classmates he had marijuana to give away. It's not a zero-tolerance policy, but we use judgment in our decisions," Ingram said.
As it stands now, the teen won't be allowed back in Cuthbertson until March 29.
"If his records are not expunged, this will follow him around the rest of his life. He did not have a drug. He was joking around," Whitehead said.
Published: Fri, 17 Feb 2012 21:35:42 -0500
An ultralight plane made an emergency landing on Highway 97 near Smyrna, S.C. on Friday afternoon.
York County Emergency officials tell Eyewitness News that a small group of the planes were flying around the area most of the day.
One of the pilots began experiencing engine trouble, so he quickly landed on Highway 97.
No one was hurt.
Published: Fri, 17 Feb 2012 18:34:37 -0500
Police in Charlotte have a warning for people who are about to file their taxes: someone is stealing Social Security numbers and using them to collect refunds.
Fraud detectives say they have gotten dozens of reports of identity theft over the last couple of weeks from victims who said they went to file taxes and found someone had already used their identities.
"Someone had filed in my name with my Social Security number and my address," said Dolores Guy, 74.
"We've seen several -- numerous -- over the last few weeks," said Sgt. Walt Bowling, who supervises CMPD's Fraud unit.
Bowling says the thieves don't discriminate, using the Social Security numbers of young people as well as the elderly, but said tracking them down can be difficult because most of the victims don't know when or how their identities were stolen.
"The number could've been used anywhere in the country and it's hard to get the information from the IRS to find out where the taxes were filed," Bowling said.
More information:
Published: Fri, 17 Feb 2012 18:03:21 -0500
HarrisburgNorthCarolina.com
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