Wednesday's Odds and Ends

Thieves among us - Seems CMPD has a security lapse deep inside the law enforcement center.

Charlotte office workers are well aware that anything left laying about is likely to "grow legs" and just disappear. Leave your lunch in the break room frig and at least in some offices someone else might eat it. Mistakenly leave your desk unlocked you'll find the change from yesterdays lunch long gone in the morning.

But you would expect your personal stuff, like wallet, and iPhone would be safe from crooks in the CMPD law enforcement center. But apparently not. Word is CMPD uses a "contracted" cleaning service that has virtually unfettered access to the CMPD offices including those of Chief Monroe, robbery and homicide divisions. And if the scuttlebutt is correct on certain contracted cleaning staff employee has been caught on more than one occasion stealing wallets and cell phones.  It may have been the iPhone that was her undoing, as iPhone has a tracking option.

The odd part is a detective tried to intervene on her behalf, asking that the crime be overlooked as nothing more than a lapse in judgement.

Jackass Award - Democratic Mayor Anthony Foxx said he was “shocked” by some of the discussion on Charlotte City Council and among residents. He said there seems to be a view among some residents that if “I put money in the tax base, and if I don’t get 100 percent of that money back in my backyard, then the tax system is flawed.” Foxx supports an 8% property tax increase on top of last year's property tax increase via the revaluation, which is on top of the continued annual increases in CMUD rates.

Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/05/31/3280030/charlotte-council-votes-to-advance.html#storylink=cpy

Harris Teeter Offers 50k Bounty - If there is one way to get one rat to out another, it is cash. So the $50,000.00 bounty offered for info on these guys should produce pretty fast results.

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In Case You Missed It - Memorial Day

For most, this past weekend was full of boating, family picnics, beer drinking, partying til dawn, a 3 day weekend on the water, at the mountains or at the beach, with a good dose of NASCAR's Coca Cola 600 thrown in to kick off the un-official Official start of Summer.

And in case you missed it, Memorial Day.

A number of years ago Mrs. Cedar and I spent the last weekend of May on the West Coast. Three fun filled days of checking out the San Francisco area; Napa Valley, Monterrey and the former home of John Steinbeck, a Giants baseball game at the old Candlestick Park and the golden gate bridge. That Monday we stumbled into The Presidio and the vast military cemetery there on what just happened to be Memorial Day.

The fact is I had forgotten what day it was, until I noticed the sea of stars and stripes. They have been honoring Memorial Day at the Persidio for 144 years. While it is not Arlington National Cemetery, it is vast and stunningly beautiful. The late afternoon fading light of a California sunset is a surreal backdrop to the endless rows of headstones that mark the graves of American Soldiers. There are 34 Medal of Honor recipients in the San Francisco National Cemetery, a somber reminder of the price we have paid as a nation.

The unexpected find, and that moment of realization that without such days, we take far too much for granted, has stayed with me.

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DC Medlock Road Rage?

For years I've heard of DC Medlock's wild temper, always discounting it as scuttle butt. Then I got a taste of it in person recently.

Having a white Mercedes ride my bumper I tried to bail to the right and let the car go around, just as I did he went base line and passed me on the right, nearly taking the back end of my SUV with him. I moved back to the left to let him pass, only to get brake checked and have the guy move left and slow down until I was along side. Then he rolled down the passenger window and verbally let me have it.

I'm sure he was as surprised that the guy in the SUV was CP as I was at who was going all road rage on me.

Then he roared off down the road another 300 yards before turning into the Mercedes of South Charlotte parking lot.

Not one expletive or any threat just a non stop barrage of unintelligible noise. I doubt you guys no more.

Cedar's Footnote: If it wasn't Medlock then it was his evil twin, and I'll freely admit I was just idling along with traffic going the speed limit and yielding to pedestrians and slow moving seniors, as well as some hot head aggressive driver in a white Mercedes with an FOP tag.

Cedar's Folo: I several souces tell CP Medlock's wife Gloria drives a white Mercedes. By the way it was a FOP Plate not a sticker.

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Siers on CMPD in Chicago

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Officers Shelton and Clark Memorial Softball Tournament

The 6th Annual softball tournament will return to Matthews next month to honor slain Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officers Sean Clark and Jeff Shelton.

The annual tournament, along with a Home Run Derby Contest, is set for June 2-3 one month earlier than last year and will be held at Meckenburg County's Idlewild Road Park. The tournament will feature 16 teams, eight co-ed and eight all-men teams.

Shelton, 35, and Clark, 34, both were fatally shot on March 31, 2007 when responding to a disturbance call at the Timber Ridge Apartments in east Charlotte. Demeatrius Montgomery was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder in their death’s and sentenced to two consecutive life prison terms.

The memorial tournament has been held every year since 2007.

Teams can register for the softball tournament for $200, and the Home Run Derby fee is $20 per person.

To learn more, contact CMPD Detective Darryl Seegars at 704-241-8343.

Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/05/22/3259288/softball-tournament-to-honor-slain.html#storylink=cpy

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Monday Odds and Ends

Did you know that CMPD Officers "FAMILY" medical coverage that has become so expensive that many drop the coverage and find it "outside" the department? 

Cedar Says: If you are one of those who have discovered this fact, and have signed up for the Blue Cross Advantage or other health insurance outside of the department Cedar Posts would like to here from you.

Props to Chief Monroe on earning his CJ degree!

Excellent idea sending CMPD guys to the "Windy City" to see first hand the nutties we'll have to deal with during the DNC 2012, and it is a good time to get a first hand look at the protesters as well.

Speaking of Chicago, did you know a rookie CPD Officer is paid 61k a year? That a sergeant at the top pay level in Chicago makes more than CMPD's Captains? The department wide pay scale for both sworn and civilan employees is here.

Cedar's Take: Why don't we pay our CMPD Officers a fair wage?

Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/05/13/3253054/police-chief-faces-biggest-test.html#storylink=cpy

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Charlotte Chamber's US Airways Flight To London Breaks Down

According to Natalie Dick, with the Chamber of Commerce, the US Airways flight had a "mechanical failure."

Officials were prepared to leave for London around 6:25 p.m. on Saturday, when they received the bad news. Because of the tight schedule, the InterCity Visit to London was cancelled.

"We regret the inconvenience this has caused all participants on both sides of the Atlantic and the lost opportunity to learn from the penultimate global city of London. We are grateful that all are safe," said chamber president Bob Morgan.

In a press release, officials said “all city and county elected officials and staff will be fully reimbursed for the trip.”

City leaders ended up waiting over six hours for the "mechanical failure" to get resolved.

Cedar's Take: We spend millions to support our airport and give preferential treatment to one airline, US Airways and look what happens. US Airways was unable or unwilling to subsitute another aircraft and apparently the Charlotte Chamber didn't have a plan "B".

I'd call this an epic public relations fail for Charlotte and US Airways.

Atlanta's Hartsfield International Airport would like to remind the Charlotte Chamber they offer more than 30 flights across the pond to London daily.

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In Case You Missed It - I'll Have One More

I'll Have Another left and Bodemeister Right (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

I'll Have Another, ridden by Mario Gutierrez, beat Bodemeister, ridden by Mike Smith, to the finish line to win the 137th Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course, Saturday, May 19, 2012, in Baltimore Maryland.

Having won the Kentucky Derby and now the Preakness I'll have another needs "One More" to win the Triple Crown, a feat that has not made the headlines since Affirmed won in 1978.

Is I'll Have Another the horse? One thing is certain he is a closer and with the right jockey holding him back just long enough he'll move through the final turn and "close out" the competition.

Real Quiet, and Smarty Jones, both lost their quest for the triple crown at Belmont and are names no one remembers, but mention Affirmed, Seattle Slew or Secretariat and even horse haters know what those names represent.

Does I'll Have Another have enough to have one more? Have you seen this horse run? If not, take 3 minutes on June 9th and watch horse racing history note a new Triple Crown Winner.

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The Observer's Expose' on Rodney Monroe

The Charlotte Observer's long awaited "investigative" report on Charlotte Police Chief Rodney Monroe has finally come to print.

The above photo has nothing to do with the story.

Buried in this morning's Sunday paper, the story is overly long and reads like a high school history book. It lacks depth, offers nothing of fact and will leave most Cedar Posts readers flat.

However, it does acknowledge that Chief Monroe has his critics, "the blogs":

Anonymous bloggers regularly spew vitriol, accusing the chief of fudging data to make it look as though crime is going down, questioning his ethics, even suggesting he’s pretentious for wearing the customary five gold bands on the sleeves of his dress uniform that signify he’s the chief.

Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/05/13/3253054/police-chief-faces-biggest-test.html#storylink=cpy

“Chief Monroe has run the city’s police department like his own fiefdom,” one blogger wrote in November. And then in March: “Rodney Monroe is a man of poor judgment and questionable moral character.”

It’s difficult to say whether a few disgruntled officers are feeding the blogs or whether dissatisfaction within the department is widespread. Monroe’s critics, including current and former officers, declined to talk on the record.

Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/05/13/3253054/police-chief-faces-biggest-test.html#storylink=cpy

The report saves the only shocker till the very end; that Chief Monroe now claims to have another apparently real degree. "In February, he earned a B.S. in criminal justice from the University of Phoenix. Asked why he never announced it publicly or mentioned it during several interviews over four months, Monroe said: “It’s personal to me. I did it for my own personal reason.” "

CMPD's bio of Chief Monroe has recently been updated:

Chief Monroe holds a bachelor's degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from Virginia Commonwealth University and a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from University of Phoenix.

The entire article by the Charlotte Observer staff is here.

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Friday Wrap Up

Chicago's NATO Protests - Charlotte's primer on the DNC 2012 Protests to come will hit full stride this weekend in Chicago. With few arrests and no real violence the Chicago warm up has so far been entertaining.

Friday afternoon "Occupy" protesters joined a group of nurses only to split from the group and head off in a different direction using the street and traffic to cause chaos along Chicago's Michigan Avenue and the Chicago River. Caught in the mayhem, those who ventured into the area unaware.

What was at first a peaceful protest by nurses was infiltrated but "Occupy" anarchists who overwhelm the nurses protest and once the march was underway spun off and headed across traffic.

Changing of the Guard - In this photo released by the Royal's press office, Queen Elizabeth looks on as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge chat with King Hussein and Queen Rania of Jordan.

Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/05/18/3250898/the-daily-edit-05192012.html#storylink=cpy

There is a changing of the guard going on across the pond, and this photo taken during a celebration of the Queens jubilee just about sums it up.

CMPD Offers Bounty on Felons -  Charlotte-Mecklenburg police launched Thursday a new program to target felons carrying firearms in the community. According to CMPD, the program urges members of the community to call a dedicated phone line to provide information on the location of a known felon with a firearm.

The anonymous caller will be eligible for a $500 reward if an arrest is made as a result of the tip.

To reach the firearm tip line, call 704-336-6000. A dispatcher will collect the caller’s information and send officers to the area. Callers need to be able to provide the felon’s name or a detailed description of them as well as where the felon is located at the time of the call.

Callers do not have to leave their name, phone number or address.

Cedar's Take: Cash for rats, might work, I'd guess they need to up the amount. Wonder if can you collect more than once on the same thug? Considering they'll be back out on the street inside 24 hours and have another gun 30 minutes after they are again "riding dirty".

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Should We Expect "Predator" Drones Over Charlotte

Little notice was made of the "Predator" drone flying over Chicago recently, but this is an amazing turn of events in the course of American history. No doubt we'll see these armed killing machines flying over Charlotte come September. But the use of such instruments of war, goes against the moral fabric of this country. Air Force drones taking out Islamic extremists in some far away sand box, suddenly become a dark ominous menace when flying over a Chicago soccer field.

 

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In Case You Missed It - Siers on NC Democrats

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In Case You Missed It - Gay Marriage Time Table

In September 2010 Hank Pellissier created the following time table for the acceptance of gay marriage in America.

He calculated when same-sex weddings will achieve majority support throughout the country. For 30 states, he did this by adding 1% per year to the percentage that voted against a gay marriage ban, until the total reached 50.1%. 

In the remaining states, He used either polling and/or calculated an acceptance date based on the behavior of neighboring states with a similar demographic.  If a state became surrounded by either gay-marriage states, or by anti-gay marriage states, he accelerated or delayed the process by two to four years.

Justification for this equation is evident in New England, which adopted gay marriage in a daisy-chain fashion, and also in California, which was deeply impacted by Utah Mormons in Prop 8. 

His results are different than those arrived at by statistician Nate Silver of the New York Times but for the most part Hanks results mirror the New York Time report from a year earlier.  Pellissier believed that Silver's numbers were erroneous because he over estimated the slide towards gay-friendliness at 2% annually. You will notice that Governor Perdue's Mississippi comes in dead last.

2004  Massachusetts
2008  Connecticut
2009  Vermont, Iowa
2010  New Hampshire, Washington D.C.
2011  New Jersey
2012  Oregon, California, Maine, New York, Delaware, Washington, South Dakota
2013  Maryland, Colorado
2014  Michigan, Virginia, Rhode Island, Wisconsin, New Mexico
2015  Arizona, Alaska
2016  Ohio, Pennsylvania, Illinois
2017  Hawaii, Minnesota
2019  Nevada, Indiana
2020  Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, Florida, Nebraska
2021  Utah
2024  North Dakota, Missouri
2025  Kansas
2028  Texas
2029  Arkansas, West Virginia, North Carolina
2030  Kentucky, Georgia, Oklahoma
2032  Louisiana, South Carolina
2034  Alabama, Tennessee
2035  Mississippi

Is should be noted that both Canada and Mexico have laws the provide gay marriage is legal.

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Obama Bets Against The Odds

With voter turnout of 34% North Carolina passed Amendment 1, by a wide margin, 61% for to 39%  against. The LGBT liberal havens of Buncombe, Dare, Durham, Lee, Mecklenburg, Orange, Wake, Watuga are the 8 of our 100 counties that voted against the measure. But even in those counties is was not an overwhelming statement.

In Watagua only a couple hundred votes split the totals and in Buncombe only a 1 percent margin was won by those against the amendment.

Most forward thinking people don't have an issue with gays and lesbians getting married. I honestly could care less. But that doesn't mean I think it is right, I don't. I don't need the bible to tell me that being gay "just ain't right", but I can look beyond that. You do your own thing and I'll do mine and we'll get along just fine.

But where those with a gay agenda have gone wrong is with their in my face "Out, Loud and Proud" way of doing their own thing.

Visit Asheville on any "festival" weekend and it is pretty comical. The streets are full of "normal" people but there are always a handful of "OLP" making a show. I'll tolerate that as well, after all I don't live in Asheville. Same can be said for Boone, and Durham as well as Charlotte.

Those in the LGBT community often think the world they live in, is the world at large and from pole to pole. But as the above map of North Carolina clearly shows, outside of a few "havens" like the Outer Banks and Chapel Hill folks aren't as tolerant.

These are the people who will re-elect Barrack Obama or send Mitt Romney to the White House. POTUS has now stepped into the fray, and he is walking on eggshells. I don't expect that he'll win North Carolina this time around.

And then there are ramification far beyond the partner commitments and the right to be termed married. What is lost on many if that by allowing gay marriage we expose ourselves to costs that are not fully understood. Social security is under stress as it is now, adding hundreds of thousands of gay spouses will strain the system even more.

Can Obama's next four years account for this as well? Can he find a source fir more free stuff? I don't think so.

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IED Claims Another Brave American Junot Cochilus

Army Specialist Junot M. L. Cochilus a 34-year-old soldier from Charlotte died in Afghanistan last week, the Department of Defense announced Tuesday afternoon.

Specialist Cochilus was killer along with a 23-year-old soldier from Ohio on May 2 in the Logan province of Afghanistan. Insurgents attacked the soldier's unit with an improvised explosive device (IED). Cochilus was assigned to the 7th Engineer Battalion, 10th Sustainment Brigade, 10th Mountain Division based in Fort Drum, New York.

Cedar Posts is working to learn more details about Specialist Cochilus.

Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/05/09/3228675/charlotte-soldier-dies-in-afghanistan.html#storylink=cpy

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Amendment 1

Much to the surprise of many in Charlotte, Amendment 1 passed yesterday. There were hundreds of comments condemning the approval via twittter, so much drama from anger to outright weeping.

 Seth Keel, center, is consoled by his boyfriend Ian Chambers, left, and his mother
Jill Hinton, during a concession speech at an Amendment One opposition party
 at The Stockroom at 230 in downtown Raleigh. TRAVIS LONG

Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/05/08/3227863/amendment-one-nc-voters-approve.html#storylink=cpy

Those against the amendment have tried just about every fear and angle to convince the rest of the state that passing the amendment will cause harm to unwed mothers and unborn children. That voting for the amendment means you are racist and a bigot, that schools will close and that adopted children will be sent back to the orphanages. That the passing of Amendment 1 means single parent children will lose their health insurance and those with cancer will no longer be able to have coverage that will pay for insanely expensive drugs.

One tweet even proclaimed the 1000's of employers will now look elsewhere to hire new employees. Of course they will, except they won't be looking at the 30 other states that have already approved the same law.

There was also much of the Christ, and God argument, and the what would Jesus do angle, saying he would love everyone regardless of their sexual orientation.  Then there was the gays are people too, and that even if the amendment passed it will be repealed in no time.

Funny in the same breath they also pointed out that there is already a law on the books that prohibits gay marriage and that Amendment 1 isn't really needed.

The passage of Amendment 1, is simply a wake up call for Charlotte, many of those who live here live in a bubble. The sad truth is they do, and Charlotte is the bubble. North Carolina is for the most part, a backwards, hicksville utopia. I personally like it that way.

I voted for the Amendment.

I'm not against gay marriage, I'm against change. I loath change. I liked it when the Bobcats were the Hornets and they played at the Coliseum rather than in the dark cave like cablebox. Back when Winston Salem was the home of the best run airline in the country (Piedmont). I prefer Duke Power to Duke Progress. I miss "Southern Bell" and the annual Shine Bowl played at Memorial Stadium.

I'd rather stores stay closed on Sunday, that some counties remain "dry" and that old traditions like, opening doors for a woman remain.

I rather not have to guess, who is the husband and who is the wife.

I don't like change, change in Charlotte has brought little good over the last 20 years.

The bottom line, "New and Improved" is not necessarily better.

Cedar's Final Word:

The crazy left went all in on this issue, the outright lies they used to try to move people to action is sad. On the pro marriage front and for the most part the conservative republicans are holding an "ace up the sleeve" by adding this to the state constitution, they have created a very large hurtle for the next democratically controlled state house to overcome. Well played I think.

Having said that, I would expect that one day, two guys getting married will be common place even in North Carolina. Maybe by then I won't even try to guess if the "question sexual" named "Kim" behind the counter is a, really feminine guy or a just a flat chested ugly girl.

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Charlotte's Storm Water System Exposed

In a fun piece of investigative journalism WCNC's Dianne Gallagher and videographer James Capozzi did a little spelunking under Uptown Charlotte's streets.  The report points out something that "locals" have known all along that Charlotte's storm water system and storm drains are all interconnected.

The main idea of the report is that Charlotte is at risk because of an overwhelming lack of security with regards to the city's infrastructure. The complete WCNC report is here.

Yes it would be pretty easy to park your car at Freedom Park and causally walk along Charlotte's Little Sugar Creek then disappear into a tunnel and 30 minutes later you are standing in the middle of the DNC security zone undetected.

Overhead the street. Photo Credit Urban Explorer Aurelie Curie

But CMPD doesn't seem very concerned, their classic and predictable response:

 "While we do work very closely with our partners in storm water services, we are not going to divulge any security specifics or strategies."

In other words, "Whoa we didn't think of that."

Cedar's Take: The same applies to Charlotte Douglas International Airport and much of Charlotte. Back in the day, before Fairview Road was built, you could drive through the Sugar Creek sewage treatment plant as a short cut between SouthPark and South Blvd. The one lane bridge at the plant was the only way across Sugar Creek without going down to Archdale Drive and if you didn't mind the stink it would save you a good amount of time.

Charlotte's Urban Explorers will not be happy about the "revel" nothing like the news media spoiling your fun. More of UE Aurelie's photos here.

Major props to Ms. Gallagher for going where most of us would rather not. But those boots? Good thing the fashion police where nowhere to be found.

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Auto Break-Ins Greet Charlotte Airport Travelers

More than 2 dozen cars were broken into over the weekend. The full parking lots made for easy picking, as nearly non-existant police presence and lack of operating security camera gave crooks the upper hand. Unlike shipping center parking lots were owners ar away from their cars only an hour or do, cars at the airport cas are left unattended for days at a time. The total number of cars broken into during the crime spree may not be known until later this week.

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Friday Wrap Up!

Mayor Foxx and City Council - London bound on your nickel. File this under "You have got to be kidding". While suggesting that Charlotte taxpayers accept both a water rate increase and a 10% property tax increase, Charlotte City Council members and Mayor Foxx plan to fly to London on a "fact finding" mission. Cost to you the taxpayer nearly 6k per person.

Cedar's Take: I think Kevin Siers spells in out rather nicely. More from Kevin Siers here.

Billy Graham On Amendment One - Rev. Graham is urging North Carolina voters to support a proposed amendment to the state constitution banning gay marriage.

In comments issued Wednesday from his home in Montreat, Graham said he believes the home and marriage are the foundation of society and must be protected.

The 93-year-old Graham said the Bible is clear in that God’s definition of marriage is between a man and a woman. He urged voters to cast ballots for the amendment on May 8.

His complete statement is contained in a full-page ad slated to appear in 14 North Carolina newspapers throughout the weekend.

Graham’s son, the Rev. Franklin Graham, recorded a message last month in support of the amendment. Franklin Graham’s sister, Anne Graham Lotz, has also said she supports the amendment.

Cedar's Take: The "between one man and one woman being the only legal domestic union" concept works for me. Frankly I don't care what you do and can't understand why we need a law to enforce common sense, except as a tool to deal with some people have a twisted logic. As I've said before the majority North Carolinian's have a pretty good sense that being gay "just ain't right".

Seriously if Bill and Ted's excellent adventure means they want to get married why should I care?  I don't.

But what really grinds my gears is that we have become a nation of loud and shrill minority voices who we the "majority" spend all our time trying to appease, pay for, accommodate and make exceptions.

Curt Walton's Extraordinary Event - Attracted less than 40 protesters yesterday morning. There were no arrests and the hand full of protesters, several who were children were gone shortly after Duke Energy's shareholder meeting ended.

CMPD Officers keep a watchful eye on dangerous Duke Energy Protesters
Photo Credit: Davie Hinshaw

According to sources, inside during the meeting at least one of the shareholders criticized Duke Energy CEO James Rogers and the company for its use of coal to power electricity-producing plants.

Outside the protesters chanted slogans, carried banners, and made speeches critical of Duke Energy policies, but a group of Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officers watched nearby and did not interfere.

CMPD officers had cordoned off a one-block area around the Duke Energy building early Thursday morning, setting up the Extraordinary Event zone.

The city’s new Extraordinary Events ordinance permits authorities to limit protest activities and items that can be carried into a pre-announced zone. Earlier this week, City Manager Curt Walton announced that the zone around the Duke Energy building an area formed by South Tryon Street, Stonewall Street, Graham Street, and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.

Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/05/03/3215683/police-prepare-for-duke-power.html#storylink=cpy

Cedar's Take: As many had predicted, Charlotte's new ordinance giving a wide ranging and long list of "rules for protests" has become a recipe for abuse of power. The ability to virtually declare marshal law in response to even the smallest protest.

More photos of the Duke Energy protest here.

Andrew Murray Seeks Death Penalty - In the case of the State of North Carolina v. Mark Anthony Cox,  prosecutors announced in court Thursday that they will seek the death penalty for the murder of Danielle Watson.

Cox attacked Watson as she closed down the Flying Biscuit Cafe, on the night of January 13th, she was two months into her first pregnancy.

Cox, a 22-year-old convicted felon, was indicted on charges of murder, murder of an unborn child, robbery with a dangerous weapon and felonious larceny several weeks ago. He was on probation after being released from prison after serving time on robbery and breaking-and-entering charges, when he attacked and stabbed Watson several times.

Tiger Woods at Quail Hollow - Woods shot a 71 Thursday, leaving him six strokes off the lead after the first round.

Wood's performance was just dull, there where few great shots, and he didn't implode or throw any clubs, which left the Charlotte Observer's Scott Fowler writing about the fans instead of the former PGA Tour star -

"As always, Woods’ appearance on a golf course caused some interesting fan behavior. As he walked to the first tee before a crowd of thousands, at least three fans held up smartphones to take his picture – a violation of course policy. As marshals told the fans to put their phones down, one lady piped up: “You’re not supposed to be taking pictures!”

When the man taking them expressed some displeasure, she said, “Well, you also happened to walk and stand right in front of me.”

Right before Woods hit his first shot of the day, another fan’s cell phone went off in his pocket. As the fan scurried away to general anger, one lady shrieked: “Are you kidding me?”

Scott Fowler's complete take on Tiger is here.

Kate Upton Cat Daddy Dance - Cedar Posts will not stoop to posting a video of Kate Upton just to drive page views, but CP thinks Kate Upton is a crazy sexy girl. If you haven't seen her "Cat Daddy Dance" in her barely there bikini then you aren't following The Weather Dog on twitter who tweeted the following on Tuesday:

"So what is so great about Kate Upton dancing to "Cat Daddy" in a bikini? She doesn't even look like a cat! http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/01/kate-upton-dances-the-cat-daddy_n_1468510.html?ref=mostpopular

Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/05/03/3215683/police-prepare-for-duke-power.html#storylink=cpy

Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/05/02/3214594/controversial-marriage-amendment.html#storylink=cpy

Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/05/02/3214594/controversial-marriage-amendment.html#storylink=cpy

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First Trust Throws In the Towel Will Merge With Park Sterling

Last Friday Charlotte Business Journal's Adam O'Daniel reported that First Trust Bank was being targeted by both community banks and private-equity groups.

According to CBJ, First Trust's president, Jim Bolt, declined to comment, citing company policy not to discuss market speculation.

CBJ also noted that iinvestors, "clearly believe something is up. As of midday, nearly 55,000 shares had traded hands, which was highly unusual for a stock that on some days is not traded at all. The average daily volume for First Trust is 2,100 shares."

Despite all the activity the share price was up only 2.2%, to $4.60.

First Trust, founded in 1999, has two branches in Charlotte and one in the suburbs. It earned $2.4 million last year and is very well capitalized, though it has struggled with credit quality issues. At Dec. 31, more than 10% of its loans were at least 90 days past due, according to Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. data.

First Trust has been on and off the ropes with bad loans since late 2009, and now has apparently thrown in the proverbial towel, and will merge or be aquired by Charlotte's Park Sterling Bank.

Park Sterling Bank operates 24 branches throughout North and South Carolina and yesterday reported net income of $2.4 million, or $0.07 per share, for the three months ended March 31, 2012. First Trust has not yet reported tMarch 31, 2012 numbers.

Terms of the rumored merger are unknown at this time, however the stock has climbed out of a basement low of around $1.95 last October to a $4.85 close on Tuesday afternoon.

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Taser International Revises Their Sales Pitch About Product Safety

The supplier of CMPD's newly purchased Tasers, has made a sudden change in the defense of their product's safety.

The reason is an article published by the American Heart Association's journal, "Circulation," which presents the first ever scientific, peer-reviewed evidence that Tasers can cause cardiac arrest and death.

The article, written by Electrophysiologist Dr. Douglas Zipes of Indiana University, marks the first time that a research paper with "peer review" has been published. Additionally "Circulation" published an editorial on the the use of Tasers.

The conclusions of Dr. Zipes' article, which looks at eight cases involving the TASER X26 ECD states: "ECD stimulation can cause cardiac electric capture and provoke cardiac arrest resulting from ventricular tachycardia/ventricular fibrillation. After prolonged ventricular tachycardia/ventricular fibrillation without resuscitation, asystole develops."

Taser International's website until recently stated, "There is no reliable published data that proves Taser ECDs (Tasers) negatively affect the heart."

With the publication of Dr. Zipes' article, the above statement has been removed, replaced with, a statement that quotes a May Department of Justice study, "While exposure to Conducted Energy Devices (CEDs) is not risk free, there is no conclusive medical evidence that indicates a high risk of serious injury or death from the direct effects of CED's (Tasers)."

An abstract of the article and the editorial can be found here and a related article in the New York Times can be found here.

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Cincinnati Police Chief James Craig on his Degree

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Tuesday's Odd and Ends - Unsafe At Any Hour Edition

Charlotte's Mayor Anthony Foxx and Chief of Police Rodney Monroe Play 18 Holes - Was the $500.00 per hole entry fee paid by Charlotte taxpayers?

You can't fault a guy for wanting to play a round of golf on a perfect spring day. And it is certainly understandable when the course is Charlotte's Quail Hollow.

But who pays the entry fee for Chief Monroe? Who foots the bill for Mayor Foxx? We all remember the dust up over the Mayor's trip to China and how the mayor's staff threatened big trouble if his airfare upgrade, nearly $1,200.00 wasn't reimbursed. So who pays for the pricey pro-am?

Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx pondering the fate of his 9 iron. Photo Credit Adam Jennings

The Mayor's office offers up that the golf tournament gives Anthony Fox a chance to network with area business owners and executives. Sounds reasonable, but why then is he on a team with Rodney Monroe, Dell Curry and Panther's Head Coach Ron Rivera? I'd suspect they are already sold on Charlotte.

As far as Chief Monroe, who paid his $4,500.00 entry fee? You can bet taxpayers did, just as you can bet that taxpayers paid for his day off.

CMPD Chief Rodney Monroe has a "D'oh" moment Photo Credit Adam Jennings

CMPD Chief Monroe playing in the sand again. Photo Credit Adam Jennings

The Wells Fargo has two pro-am tournaments, Monday's for those willing to pay to play, most who are local business owners and a hand full of Quail Hollow members and Wednesday's pro-am which is reserved for the major corporate sponsors, like Wells Fargo who fly in clients from all over the country to play with the pros.

The pro-am part of the tournament helps raise a tremendous amount of money for Wells Fargo Championship Charities. 

In the end team "Foxx-Monroe" would finish 20th out of 27, with a score of 62.

Cedar Posts has emailed both the mayor's office and Chief Monroe's office inquiring as to how the entry fee was paid. Nothing but crickets so far.

You can see more photos of the Mayor and Chief Monroe playing golf here.

Mecklenburg Assistant DA's Attacked - Two prosecutors were attacked in an uptown cemetery early Saturday morning.

The two, both 28, were walking from the NC Music Factory through Elmwood Cemetery about 2 o'clock Saturday morning when a man came up from behind them with a two-by-four.

"The guy came up on them running (and) the next thing you know, they're on the ground, their possessions being taken from them," said Sergeant Keith Caviness, of CMPD's robbery unit.
Caviness said the suspect didn't give either of them a chance to cooperate before he attacked with the two-by-four.

One prosecutor, a man who had offered to walk his colleague, a woman, back to her car was beaten so badly he had to be hospitalized. He has since been released and is recovering at home.

District Attorney Andrew Murray released a brief statement saying in part: "All of us here.... are members of this community and feel the impact of crimes such as this one. We're looking forward to having them back at work soon..."

Police say the suspect is a light-skinned black man in his 30s who is bald with a muscular build. They're asking anyone with information to contact their Crime Stoppers line at 704-334-1600

Cedar's Take: It has been years since I lived in Charlotte's 4th Ward. My neighbors, Sue Myrick and Harvey Gantt and I considered ourselves pioneers, living is what was once a run down doorstep to uptown. Back then I felt pretty safe at night, but that was years ago. Charlotte has become "unsafe at any hour" and you really have to be nuts to walk through Elmwood Cemetery at night. Props to the guy who did the right thing in walking the girl home, had he not this would have been a rape and homicide. 

Note to all newly minted law school grads working for the Mecklenburg County DA, this ain't Chapel Hill where you can walk from "He's Not" home at any hour and be safe.

Andrew Murray's 1st Quarter 2012 Homicide Convictions -  It is not all bad news, as Mr. Murray's homicide team brought 16 defendants to justice during the 1st quarter but most were given plea deals that amounted to nothing more than a slap on the wrist.

Two of the 16 received life sentences, and remaing 14 received an average sentance of 7.3 years, and of the majority of those earned a sentence of less than 3 years. Some of those convicted will be out in less than a year making Charlotte "unsafe at any hour".

Samson Coleman, 29, pled guilty to voluntary manslaughter for the 2009 killing of Carmelo Velador Barrera, 31 and was sentenced to 246-324 months in prison.

David Croome, 26, pled guilty to voluntary manslaughter for the 2010 killing of Robert Long Jr., and was sentenced to 51-71 months in prison. Deterio Brice, 30, pled guilty to involuntary manslaughter and admitted being an habitual felon for the 2010 killing of Michael Smith, 29 and was sentenced to 56-77 months in prison.

Aaron Ashford, 23, pled guilty to voluntary manslaughter in connection with the 2010 killing of Juquina Harris. Aaron Ashford was sentenced to 42-60 months in prison.

Elijah Ashford, 25, pled guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, in connection with the 2010 killing of Juquina Harris. Elijah Ashford was sentenced to 19-23 months in prison.

Roshode Chapman, 18, pled guilty to voluntary manslaughter for the 2011 killing of Rashan Bouldin, 23. Chapman was sentenced to 80-105 months in prison.

Clay McCall, III, 25, was sentenced to 51-71 months in prison for his previous guilty plea to voluntary manslaughter, in connection with the 2006 killing of Clay McCall, Jr., 56.

John Outen, 55, pled guilty to second-degree murder for the 2004 murder of Ullyssee Richardson, 58. Outen was sentenced to 120-153 months in prison.

Reginald Johnson, 25, pled guilty to  two counts of first-degree murder, and attempted first-degree murder, assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury, five counts of robbery with a dangerous weapon, three counts of attempted robbery with a dangerous weapon, conspiracy to commit robbery with a dangerous weapon, speeding, reckless driving, misdemeanor fleeing to elude an officer, and  driving while licensed revoked, in connection with the murders of Willie Adams,16, and Angela Davis, 42, the attempted murder of Derek McClure, 19, and the felonious assault of Lavander Sinclair, 16. Johnson was Johnson to two consecutive sentences of life in prison without the possibility of parole, plus an additional 200 months in prison.

Victor Cruz-Garcia, 25, was tried for first-degree murder for the 2009 murder of Yennifer Fuentes, 31. The jury returned a verdict of guilty to the charge of second-degree murder and was sentenced to 135-171 months in prison.

Fisgerald Kilgo, 26, pled guilty to second-degree murder for the 2009 murder of Drew Thomson, 23, and was sentenced to 176-221 months in prison.

Keenan Harte, 31, was tried for first-degree murder in the 2009 murder of Brandon Blakeney, 21. The jury returned verdicts of guilty as charged and was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Zachary Rogers, 20, pled guilty to conspiracy to commit robbery with a dangerous weapon, in connection with the 2010 death of Derek Roman, 26. Rogers was sentenced to 17-30 months in prison.

Jonathan Smith, 26, pled guilty to conspiracy to commit robbery with a dangerous weapon, in connection with the 2010 death of Derek Roman, 26. Smith was sentenced to 23-27 months in prison.

Karizma Sergeant, 21, pled guilty to second-degree murder, for the murder of Dominic Mahone, and accessory after the fact to murder, arising out of the murder of Chaufa Johnson, Sergeant was sentenced to 225-279 months in prison.

Dawn Ward, 49, pled guilty to concealing the death of Brittini Ward, 23 and was sentenced to 6-8 months in prison; that sentence was suspended pending her successful completion of 24 months of supervised probation.

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