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INSIDE ▼ Monroe man faces death by distribution charges
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Estate sale! Beautiful 5,800 Sq Ft home filled with pristine vintage Quality Estate Sales of NC & SC and antique furniture, collectibles, Our Mission: At Quality Estate Sales of NC & SC, we aim to minimize your stre crystal, cut glass, vintage, coach purses, lots of streamline the entire estate sale process. We are committed to providing a high Christmas decor and so much more! professional sale experience with the least amount of confusion for our buyers Friday, March 14th 9am to 4pm and value for your items. Saturday, March 15th 9am to 3pm Our Services: 1902 Windermere Road, Monroe NC 28110 Visit - www.QualityEstateSalencsc.com • Free Consultation: We offer a no-obligation consultation to discuss your moreOur information • Staging &for Pricing: team stages the sale to showcase each item in its
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Friday, March 14, 2025 • Vol. 25 • No. 10
thecharlotteweekly.com/ucweekly • •
Tornado touches down in Unionville UNIONVILLE – The U.S. National Weather Service confirmed an EF1 tornado touched down March 5 in the Unionville area.
The storm reached estimated speeds of 90 miles per hour, causing structural damage and approximately 1,700 power outages in the Porter Ridge area. No injuries have been reported. Officials from the U.S. National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg office along with Union County Emergency Management surveyed the impacted area, documenting damage and collecting data to further record and assess the storm’s impact. Preliminary survey results showed the tornado touched down at 8:34 a.m. and traveled 2.24
and prices each item individually with careful attention to its value. Auctions & Marketing: We provide advanced marketing, including socia ensure maximum visibility. Debris Removal: We handle debris removal before and after the sale. Personalized Services: Each estate sale is customized to meet your spec Professional Staff: Our experienced team manages all aspects of your sa Insured & Bonded: We are fully insured and bonded for your peace of m
miles. “Tornadoes of this strength can cause downed trees and damage to siding and roofs,” said Trisha Palmer, warning coordination meteorologist with the U.S. National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg. Emergency Management Director Andrew Ansley opened Union County's Emergency Operations Center, where officials continued to monitor weather conditions and direct response efforts. "We appreciate the swift response of the National Weather Service and numerous public safety agencies to ensure a coordinated approach to surveying damage," Ansley said. "We are thankful no one was hurt in this weather event."
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Our Promise: We are dedicated to maximizing the value of your items while m process as stress-free as possible. Since 2013, we have built a reputation for pro integrity, and exceptional results.
Contact Us: Christine Boskovich (661) 305-5226 Christine@QualityEstateSaleNC
Storm damage along Friendly Baptist Church Road on March 5. Photo courtesy of Union County
The county encourages residents to sign up for UC Alerts at ucgov.info/ucalerts to ensure they receive future emergency notifications, including severe weather alerts from the National Weather Service.
Evan Ziliani (Lefou) and Dylan Ryder (Gaston) added depth to a strong show.
Ellie Grace Fichtman (Belle) and Miles Medlin (Beast) had the lead roles in Charlotte Academy of Music’s ”Beauty and the Beast JR.”
Kiersten Clay/K. Clay Photography
STALLINGS – A story written almost 300 years ago, ”Beauty and the Beast” is a tale as old as time.
Charlotte Academy of Music’s SHINE Musical Theatre division recently presented this classic story with a cast of Charlotte area youth. This production was one of the last opportunities to see the adored Disney classic. “Beauty and the Beast JR.” will go into the Disney vault at the end of this month, which means it may be several years before it is available for licensing to studios, schools and community theatres. The reason? Disney is launching a North American tour of “Beauty and the Beast” beginning this summer with a newly reimagined 30th anniversary production. “We were honored to be one of the last companies in the country to perform ‘Beauty and the
The cast of “Beauty and the Beast JR.” ranged in age from 10 to 17.
Beast JR.’ and so happy to provide our students with such a special opportunity,” said Regina Ziliani, owner of Charlotte Academy of Music. The “Beauty and the Beast JR.” production featured all of the songs audiences have come to love by Alan Menken, Howard Ashman and Tim Rice, including “Belle,” “Gaston,” “Be Our Guest,” “The Mob Song” and “Beauty and the Beast.” Directed by Marissa Hertzfeld, the 40-member cast transported the audience to a French provincial town full of action, adventure, singing and dancing. Appearing in the leading roles were Ellie Grace Fichtman as Belle and Miles Medlin as the Beast. Dylan Ryder portrayed the self-absorbed Gaston and Evan Ziliani as Gaston’s bumbling sidekick, Lefou. Ava Pereira gave a passionate
performance as Belle’s father, Maurice. An audience favorite, the stunningly costumed enchanted castle staff – Sidney Miller as the candelabra Lumiere; Anika Ryder as Cogsworth the talking clock; Grace Williams as Mrs. Potts the teapot; McKenzie Randall as Babette the feather duster; Katelyn Urbain as Madame de la Grande Bouche the wardrobe; and Abbie Faith Fichtman as teacup Chip. Charlotte Academy of Music looks forward to its next production, “Matilda JR.” This cast will even have an opportunity to perform at the Junior Theatre Festival along with over 7,000 other musical-loving kids next January. Area youth interested in being part of the cast can find information on the academy’s website, charlotteacademyofmusic.com.
City of Monroe promotes Bolen to police chief MONROE – The City of Monroe announced Assistant Police Chief William “Rhett” Bolen will succeed retiring Police Chief J. Bryan Gilliard as the chief of police effective April 11.
Bolen will give direction and set the service priorities for the Monroe Police Department, which has more than 100 sworn officers and support personnel. “I am honored to step into the role of police chief,” Bolen said. “Serving our officers, our community, and our city is a privilege, and I look forward to continuing our commitment to safety, service and excellence.” Bolen has served as assistant police chief since April 2024. He has worked for the Monroe Police Department since May 2004, serving as a patrol officer, patrol sergeant, training and recruitment sergeant, criminal intervention team sergeant,
criminal investigations bureau sergeant, task force officer with the homeland security gang unit, patrol lieutenant, patrol captain and special response team commander. Bolen holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Western Carolina University, a master’s degree in public safety from the University of Virginia and an advanced law enforcement certificate. He is also a graduate of the FBI National Academy and the North Carolina Justice Academy, and currently serves as a general instructor, specialized firearms instructor, rapid deployment instructor, physical fitness instructor (North Carolina Justice Academy) and an active shooter threat instructor (Department of Homeland Security). “Rhett Bolen has proven himself in service to our city. His impressive qualifications are a re-
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Professional Staging: We ensure your items shine when displayed in the environment. Immaculate Presentation: We make sure your home looks its best befor Respectful & Community-Focused: We treat your home and neighborh utmost respect. Expert Guidance: We provide in-depth instructions to ensure everything smoothly.
Charlotte Academy of Music wraps up Beauty and the Beast JR
Anika Ryder (Cogsworth) and Sidney Miller (Lumiere) had some of the most creative costumes in the production.
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Rhett Bolen, standing left with Capt. Shannon Huntley at the Groundhog Day Economic Forum in February, has worked for the Monroe Police Department since 2004. Photo courtesy of City of Monroe
flection of the quality of training, experience and professionalism that is present within the Monroe Police Department,” City Manager Mark Watson said. “We’re always pleased when individuals have developed their skill sets to such a high level and are prepared to take on strategic leadership roles based on the merit of their qualifications.”
“We Sell Everything, But the House! MONROE – Katherine Widner, who teaches English and Humanities at South Piedmont Community College, has achieved her dream of publishing a book.
“I Wish I Could Write” is a collection of poetry that takes its name from the opening piece. “It sets the stage for my writing style,” Widner said. “It’s also the starring motif throughout the book, as the themes of the piece emerge in quiet moments, as well as in the louder, more cacophonous parts as a sort of reminder to the reader of my own anxieties as a writer, and in general, as a human being. Through this collection of poems, I am both deconstructing and reconstructing concepts of my own perceived identity, as well as confronting and challenging the concept of wanting to write but feeling unable or unworthy of writing.” Widner, who also coordinates South Piedmont’s Honors and Undergraduate Research Programs, said the inspiration for her book came from a wide variety of sources. The book wouldn’t have been possible without the support of her South Piedmont colleagues. “This book has been inspired by so many things, but it honestly all comes from different aspects of my life,” she said. “This book contains reflective shards of my experiences Story continues, see POET page 3A
I Wish I Could Write By Katherine Widner I wish I could right. I mean, write. I mean, Find a better way to get these Thoughts out of my mind, Off of my skin, Words from my lips, I want to dip them in a pool Of sacred thyme Out of my mind, Into the sky Or on the acrid asphalt Or the paper Or the keyboard Or anywhere Other than the Tattooed recesses of my mind. Flipping through the pages I know I could But do I dare– The stage is set The table’s bare The thought’s not there So it doesn’t count And I cannot write And I want to write But my thoughts aren’t right And the bones inside my flesh Retract into my nerves Inside out, left is right, True is false Shepherds delight But I just can’t right. I mean, write.