HALLOWEEN: HAPPY OR HAUNTED?
A brief history of the holiday


By Elizabeth Mayhew

Halloween is one of the oldest holidays still celebrated today. It ranks second only to Christmas in popularity. Many of us celebrate Halloween today, but do we know what it is all about?

Halloween dates back 2,000 years ago the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain. This festival marked the end of summer and the harvest, and the beginning of a cold, dark winter.

Many European traditions believe that Halloween is a time when spirits can make contact with the physical world and when magic is most potent. The Celts believed that on the night of October 31, the ghosts of the dead returned to earth, roaming the streets and villages at night. In addition to causing trouble and damaging crops,

They thought that the presence of the otherworldly spirits made it easier for the Druids, or Celtic priests, to make predictions about the future. The Druids built huge sacred bonfires, where the people gathered to burn crops and animals as sacrifices to the Celtic deities., because to the Celtics,

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OFFICERS CHASE, APPREHEND WANTED SUSPECT

Photo by Jon Mayhew/TCS
Friday morning, Lincolnton Police Sgt. Willie Vaughn and Officer
Tony Potts teamed up to apprehend a fleeing suspect on Laurel Street.

By Jon Mayhew

LINCOLNTON -- It was a routine patrol Friday morning for Lincolnton Police Sgt. Willie Vaughn and Officer Tony Potts until about 11:20 a.m.

Sgt. Vaughn and Officer Potts were driving on South Laurel Street when Vaughn recognized Wade Anthony Rippey walking down the street.

Potts and Vaughn pulled near Rippey, with Vaughn getting out of the vehicle.

That's when things became interesting.

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OCT. 31 INCIDENT REPORTS
from the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office

Crimestoppers may pay a reward of up to $1,000 for information
leading to an arrest in any crime. Callers are anonymous and tips can be
called in at 704-736-8909.


2008-08084
Possession of Sch. IV, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
Assigned: File Only (Grinnell)
Location: Buffalo Shoals Rd.
Victim: State of N.C.
Suspect in possession of narcotics and paraphernalia
Date Reported: October 24, 2008
District B

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TWO SENT TO HOSPITAL
AFTER HEAD-ON ACCIDENT

Photo by Jon Mayhew/TCS
A two-car accident on Maiden Highway near Exodus Church Road blocked the road for more than an hour Wednesday night.

NORTH LINCOLN -- A two vehicle head-on wreck on Maiden Highway near Exodus Church Road sent two people to Frye Regional Medical Center in Hickory with what authorities said were non-life threatening injuries Wednesday around 11 p.m.

According to North Carolina Highway Patrol trooper R.L. Neal, 16-year-old William Ryan Davis of Dove Tree Lane, Lincolnton, was traveling north on Maiden Highway when he crossed the double yellow line near Rink's Store.

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LINCOLNTON
MAN CHARGED WTIH ASSAULT

Weapons and witnesses lead to at least one arrest

By Jon Mayhew

LINCOLNTON -- Officers coming onto the night shift Wednesday night were faced with something that looked more like a confrontation on World Wrestling Entertainment than a fight involving at least three people.

The incident started as a damage to property call in the 300 block of Jennings Street just after 6 p.m.

According to officer Richard Taylor, when officers arrived, they found that headlights had been broken in a vehicle in front of a residence.

Within 15 minutes, however, the case would take an unexpected turn, as one of the injured parties was found near the Lincolnton Fire Department, bleeding

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LCSO Explorer's Post 700
Makes Good Showing in Competition



Staff Reports

LINCOLNTON – Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office Explorer’s Post 700 members were among 85 youth Explorers attending a competition last weekend at Camp Grimes. Explorers from different Police Departments and Sheriff’s Offices from around the state attended the weekend outing. The agencies included Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, Gaston County Sheriff’s Office, Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office, Winston-Salem Police Department, Graham Police Department, Gastonia Police Department and several other agencies.

The Lincoln County Explorers, participating in their first exercise, placed in the top six

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Photo by Jon Mayhew/The Carolina Scoop

INCIDENT REPORT
October 29 & 30, 2008

2008-08195
Harassing Phone Calls
Assigned: Officer Wise
Location: 8201 Hallman Mill Rd.
Victim: Dorris Thompson
Suspect repeatedly calling victim
Date Reported: October 28, 2008
District A

2008-08216
Breaking & Entering MV, Larceny
Assigned: Officer Deweese
Location: 7741 E. Berkeley Rd.
Victim: Marcos Teixeira
Suspect broke out window of vehicle and took 1 Garmin GPS 200 Series
Date Reported: October 29, 2008
District C

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WOMAN CAUGHT WITH BOGUS TRAVELERS CHECKS

By Jon Mayhew

LINCOLNTON -- A Lincolnton woman shouldn't have listened to the advice in the old American Express commercials, where Carl Mauldin said "don't leave home without it." Instead, the woman is arrested trying to cash eight bogus travelers checks at a local bank.

Officer T. Potts responded to the Bank of America on East Main Street Tuesday around 10:15 a.m. after an employee called police to report Kelly Marie Bridges was trying to cash the bogus American Express travelers checks.

Potts took Bridges, 38, of Arney Street into custody without incident. Sgt. Willie

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THE CAROLINA SCOOP EXCLUSIVE

ELECTIONS BOARD VOTES DOWN PRECINCT JUDGE REQUEST
11 other election judges working outside of home precincts

Photo by Jon Mayhew/TCS
Lincoln County republican party chairwoman Susanne Sellers presents her case for naming Martin Oakes precinct judge for the Lincolnton South Precinct. Sitting behind her is attorney Johnathan Rhyne.

By Jon Mayhew

LINCOLNTON -- With less than a week before a history-making election, locally voters have been turning out in record for early voting. As of Tuesday night, more than 8,000 people have cast votes across Lincoln County.

Despite the large turnout, a couple of polling places in Lincoln County remain understaffed in the area of precinct judges. Tuesday afternoon, Lincoln County republican chairwoman Susanne Sellers appeared before the Lincoln County Board of Elections for the second week in a row, asking the board to consider placing Denver resident Martin Oakes as a Republican precinct judge in the Lincolnton South precinct.

There are a total of 11 precinct judges working in precincts other than their home precincts. And in August of 2007, the Board of Elections voted to allow those judges to work in precincts other than their home precincts.

In a letter dated Oct. 22, Sellers said the republican party "is very concerfned about the resistance of the Lincoln County Board of Elections

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Millennium Wrestling Federation

THE FAMILY'S PRESENCE FELT
AGAIN AT HOWARDS CREEK

Photo by Melody Womack/TCS
"Outlaw" Keith Matthews pounds on "Father" David Hayes during a tag-team title match Saturday at the Howards Creek Veterans Center.

By Jon Mayhew

HOWARDS CREEK -- "Father" David Hayes and The Family made their presence felt again this past Saturday at the Howards Creek Veterans Center.

More than 100 people packed the Vet Center for the latest edition of MWF Saturday Night.

Fans were surprised at the beginning of the show by Commissioner Chris Mellon firing "Outlaw" Keith Matthews for Matthews' attacking Mellon at the end of the Oct. 11 show.

As a stunned Matthews stood in the ring, Father Hayes made the first of two appearances in the show.

Hayes suggested a two-on-one handicap match pitting himself and Nick James against Matthews for the tag team title. As Hayes and company were leaving the ring, Mellon decided to add a third person to the tandem of the family. To the shock of the fans, the third person was Matthews' tag-team partner, "The Sensation" Markus Hayes.

"When I laid in the ring at the Oct. 11 show, the fans cheered for what Outlaw did to me," said Mellon. "This is punishment for Outlaw to face three men for the titles."

During the match, Father Hayes and Nick James kept actively tagging in and out, leaving

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AUTHORITIES INVESTIGATING
POSSIBLE HOME INVASION

By Jon Mayhew

LINCOLNTON -- A resident at home on Mauney Drive discovers someone in the house
that isn't supposed to be there around 2 p.m. Tuesday.

Now, one suspect -- a juvenile -- has been arrested by Lincolonton Police.

Lincolnton Police and the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office responded to the residence
in the 200 block of Mauney Dr ive, where the homeowner said a black male, wearing a
black "hoodie" and red shorts had been inside the house.

The homeowner wasn't injured.

Police began looking towards a wooded area behind the residence, hoping to find the suspect.

Authorities were also stopping vehicles in the area that were coming off Mauney Drive
at the time of the incident.

Authorities are still investigating.

LIGHTS OUT IN LINCOLNTON

By Jon Mayhew

LINCOLNTON -- A power line down and exploding transformer kept authorities busy on Tuesday afternoon and kept many businesses and residences in the city of Lincolnton in the dark.

The incident started around 1:40 p.m. Tuesday in front of a residence on Laurel Street near Main Street. An outside fire resulted from the transformer "blowing," causing a power line to go down. City electric crews and Lincolnton police were immediately notified.

Sgt. Willie Vaughn reported the traffic lights at East Main and Flint Streets were out; firefighters responding to the scene, meantime, noted there wasn't any electricity from the downtown area all the way to Flint Street.

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WILD MONDAY NIGHT FOR AUTHORITIES
Hospital disturbance, assault, teen in roadway keeps law enforcement hopping

Photos by Jon Mayhew/TCS
Officer Richard Harrington leads Lizbeth Colon out to an awaiting patrol car,
one of two people charged with assault in a fight at Colonial Village Apartments Monday night.

By Jon Mayhew

LINCOLN COUNTY -- While there wasn't a full moon Monday night, law enforcement in Lincoln County would swear otherwise.

Three calls, virtually all during the 9 o'clock hour Monday night,

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INCIDENT REPORTS FROM THE LINCOLN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE

OCTOBER 28, 2008


2008-08163
Damage to Property
Assigned: Officer Barnes
Location: 7118 Hunters Bluff Dr.
Victim: Trent Little
Victim’s mailbox knocked off of the pole and left in highway
Date Reported: October 27, 2008
District C

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Suspicious in nature?
FOUR-ALARM HOUSE FIRE UNDER INVESTIGATION

Photo by Jon Mayhew/TCS
Smoke comes out of the front door of a residence at 2211 Cat Square Road.

By Jon Mayhew

VALE -- Four fire departments responded to a residence in the 2200 block of Cat Square Road Monday morning around 9:30 a.m., where a family of two adults, an infant and a five-year-old were inside.

And while all occupants got out safely, what and who caused the fire is now under investiation by both the Lincoln County Fire Marshal's Office and the Lincoln County Sheriff's Department.

Union fire department, with assistancec from Cookesville, Northbrook, and Howards Creek fire departments, responded to find smoke coming from the house.

According to Union's assistant chief Kelly Yount, the fire started in the

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MAN ARRESTED IN COPPER THEFTS

By Jon Mayhew

LINCOLNTON -- A two-month old copper theft case is closed after a Gaston County man is arrested by authorities there and brought to Lincoln County.

Jerry Bridges Ausburn, Oates Road, Gastonia, was arrested by Gaston County police after he turned himself in to authorities last Thursday around 10:30 a.m.

Lincolnton police say Ausburn stole more than 80 feet of copper tubing from one of the buildings at Doctor’s Park,

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TASTY “HOUSE” FOR SALE IS COOL BEANS…..
Gingerbread House gets lots of attention

Photo by Adam Diaz/TCS
A tasty gingerbread mansion greets customers at Denver's Cool Beans and Sweet Things.

By Jon Mayhew

DENVER -- With Halloween Friday, one Lincoln County business is banking on someone’s sweet tooth to buy a unique, one-of-a-kind house.

Sue Mudd, owner of Cool Beans and Sweet Things on Highway 16 has painstakingly “built” a gingerbread house, complete with ghosts, goblins and a graveyard.

“Actually, it’s a haunted mansion,” said Mudd. “Some of my friends came up with the ghosts and goblins.”

Mudd said she’s been making gingerbread houses for the past

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