LowellNorthCarolina.com HOTELS • REAL ESTATE • JOBS

Lowell Calendar of Events

Fri
27 Jan D.r.u.g.s. Get more information and watch videos of D.R.U.G.S. Charlotteat http://www.concertbazaar.com Find other Charlotte Concert Eve…

---

Sat
28 Jan F.I.T. & P.H.A.T. CARDIO PARTY FUNDRAISER 2012 HAS BEGUN AND IT?S TIME TO GET OUR WORKOUT ON!! YOU?RE INVITED AND STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO JOIN US FOR THE LARGEST FAMILY…

---

Sat
28 Jan Charlotte Bobcats vs. Washington Wizards Everyone?s ecstatic that the NBA is back an action, and that means Tickets to the Bobcats vs. Wizards game are as popular as …

---

See More Lowell Events

Lowell Area News

Bank robber flees scene after teller refuses to hand over money

The Lancaster Sheriff’s Department in South Carolina is searching for a man that attempted to rob a bank Friday afternoon.

The man approached a teller at the TD Bank on Charlotte HWY in Indian Land around 4 p.m. The suspect handed the teller a note demanding money. When the teller refused, the suspect fled the bank empty-handed.

The suspect is described as a white man, about 40 years old, dressed in a suit, baseball hat and sunglasses. He also wore a bandage or band-aids on the side of his face. He was seen driving away in a white-colored truck with a diamond-plate tool box in the back.

No one was injured during the robbery attempt and no weapon was seen.

The Lancaster Sheriff’s Department is asking that anyone who recognizes the suspect contact them at 803-283-4136, or contact Crimestoppers at at 1-888-274-6372.

_{Sat, 28 Jan 2012 00:57:03 -0500}

Duke Energy electricity rate increase approved

The North Carolina Utilities Commission approved Duke Energy Carolina’s request to increase their electric rate in North Carolina.

North Carolina customers will see an average increase of 7.2 percent. Duke says that would equal about $7 for the average customer.

“We believe the settlement balances the company’s need to recover investments made in the electric system with the reality that many of our customers face continued economic challenges,” said President of Duke Energy North Carolina Brett Carter.

As part of the agreement reached with NCUC, Duke must donate about $11 million of shareholder money to non-profits to help low-income residents with the energy bills.

North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper has been against the increase since it was first proposed.

 “I am disappointed the Commission allowed Duke’s rate increase for customers,” Cooper said. “We intend to look into the opinion and look at available options.”

Earlier this week, South Carolina also approved a rate increase for Duke Energy.

The new rates go into effect in early February.

_{Fri, 27 Jan 2012 23:38:39 -0500}

Family wants answers in unkempt cemetery full of unnamed graves

It took Jasmine McCorkle and her family members an hour searching through waist high weeds to find her father's headstone.

It appeared to be uprooted Friday when the family visited.

"It's sad in itself that I don't have my father anymore, but…” Jasmine McCorkle said as she burst into tears.

Her father was buried at Beasley Memorial Gardens in 1994. The cemetery near Mount Holly has not been maintained in years.

Bones have reportedly surfaced at other grave sites.

"This is ridiculous, uncalled for," said Vanessa McCorkle.

They don't want to point fingers. They just want Calvin McCorkle's remains moved.

"It's not what you want to come back to," Jasmine McCorkle said.

But they are not sure his remains are even by the headstone they visit.

Calls to Beasley Memorial Gardens only lead to a dead end. The number is disconnected.

The owner, Odell Beasley, was arrested in 2007 for the condition at the cemetery, but the charges were later dropped.

The Beasley Funeral Home and Beasley Good Samaritan Church own the cemetery, but both are no longer in operation.

The Gaston County's assist manager said in an email that the Beasley family has "so far been able to legally shield themselves from responsibility."

And they have left the McCorkle family wondering what has happened to Calvin McCorkle's remains.

The county has worked for years with no resolution. The county has not responded to questions about what they will do next. 

_{Fri, 27 Jan 2012 23:26:00 -0500}

News Source: MedleyStory More Local News Stories