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INSIDE ▼ Police make arrest in stabbing case PAGE 2A Friday, June 20, 2025 • Vol. 25 • No. 25
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Automotive veteran no longer feels like just a number MONROE – Tony Rodriguez began working with Black’s Tire & Auto Service when he was ready to leave the automotive world behind, after being dissatisfied by a corporate culture that made him feel like “just a number.”
After a conversation with Aaron Herring, the regional manager at Black’s Tire, Rodriguez knew he had found something different. “From day one, I could feel the difference.
Black’s is family-owned, and everyone – from the owners to the back-office team – cared deeply about their people,” Rodriguez shared. “The enthusiasm of the [Black’s Tire] family is what sold me on joining.” Rodriguez, an auto-industry veteran with over 30 years of experience, serves as store manager of the Monroe location. He embraces the company’s customer-first philosophy: “Through these doors pass the best people in
the world – our customers.” “This is a company that treats customers and employees like family,” Rodriguez said. “It’s been a pleasure to be part of something meaningful again.” Since its founding in 1924, Black’s Tire has remained family-owned and operated. With locations across the region, including the central hub in Monroe, Black’s Tire continues to grow by staying true to its values of quality
service, community support and treating customers like family. The Monroe team is inviting the community to a Customer Appreciation Event from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 25 at 1643 Dickerson Blvd. This celebration will feature appearances from auto retail suppliers, such as BG Additives, Goodyear, and Napa; complimentary food; in-store deals; and giveaways.
OLDER ADULTS ATTEND
SENIOR EXPO
Character.org recognizes Union Academy for two programs MONROE – Union Academy Charter School has earned two Promising Practices from Character.org, a organization that champions character development in schools around the world.
The announcement, made June 11 in Washington, D.C., honors schools whose programs exemplify the 11 Principles of Effective Character Education. Three schools in North Carolina received recognition. Union Academy’s honors went to its Cardinal News Network and Mindful Mondays programs, both of which embeds character education into the school’s daily culture. “We are honored to be recognized by Character.org and proud of how our students and staff have embraced these initiatives to make a real impact,” said Cynthia Mitchell, character coach at Union Academy. Student-led broadcast makes headlines
Justin Vick/CMG photos
MATTHEWS – Charlotte Media Group brought dozens of businesses under one roof for a senior expo June 12 at the Levine Senior Center.
The free event allowed older adults to interact with businesses across the Charlotte region that specialize in serving seniors in industries like beauty, health, home repairs, housing, insurance and technology. Nonprofits were also represented thanks to organizations like the Centralina Area Agency on Aging and Charlotte Speech and Hearing Center. The event included brunch and raffle prizes. See more photos at the Matthews-Mint Hill Weekly’s Facebook page (@mmhweekly).
Beavers can be more than just a nuisance By Deb Coates Bledsoe Contributor
Did you know that a beaver is the largest native rodent in North America? It weighs 35 to 50 pounds and has a very large, flat tail that it uses for guidance in the water like a rudder. It can also be a source of communication, slapping its tail on the water to warn of danger. Breanna Walker, an education specialist with the Union County Wildlife Federation, gave a presentation June 11 at Wesley Chapel Village Hall on the “Benefits of Beavers.” “The beavers are not just about destruction,” she said. “They also create wetland ecosystems, which provide a habitat for ducks, amphibians and insect species. They’re architects. Their dams help filter out pollutants and they recharge our groundwater supplies.” Beavers can help control flooding by slowly releasing flood waters, minimizing impact downstream. They also reduce bank erosion, their dams create water for wildlife, create fire resistant
Photos courtesy of Deb Coates Bledsoe
Breanna Walker, an education specialist with the Union County Wildlife Federation, demonstrates the softness of beaver fur and shows the orangeness of their front teeth due to the amount of lead in their teeth.
landscapes, and can provide income for the landowners. These are benefits, however, that the public doesn’t always see. “They just see the trees coming down,” Walker said. “We don’t think about the habitats they’re also creating. We don’t see how they’re helping other wildlife species.” Beavers are herbivores, only eating plants, bark and leaves. They are also crepuscular, which means, like deer, they only come out at
dusk and dawn. Beavers can hold their breath for six to eight minutes, and they can swim up to six miles per hour. They are monogamous, choosing one mate for life. They have on average three to four babies or “kits” per birth cycle. They live in family units, rather than groups or colonies. Once the kits reach 2 years old, they are kicked out of the lodge to go find their own family. Much of the beaver’s day is
Nadia, a 13-year-old eighth-grader said she enjoyed the beaver presentation. She hopes to become a forest ranger one day.
spent building and/or repairing their homes, lodges or dams. The entire family works on these ongoing repairs. On the downside, because beavers are considered a “nuisance species,” they cannot be relocated. If a landowner wants a family of beavers removed from his property, a trapper must capture and destroy the entire family. The youngest member of the Wesley Chapel audience was Nadia, a 13-year-old eighth-grader, who hopes to have a career working with wildlife. Nadia said she enjoyed the presentation and learned a great deal about beavers. “I’ve always liked animals,” she said. “I enjoy learning about the positives and the negatives. I want to do something with animals in the future. Right now, I’m studying what it takes to become a park ranger.” Email Walker at Breanna.walker@unioncountync.gov or call her at 704-324-9228 for more information about beavers and other wildlife questions. Visit ncwildlife.org to learn more about managing a beaver pond.
What began as a summer idea among communications interns quickly evolved into a weekly student-driven broadcast that celebrates student achievements and promotes an inclusive school environment. Each episode of Cardinal News Network highlights a diverse range of clubs, extracurriculars and individuals, including monthly Volunteers of the Month and Character Students of the Month. CNN gives students a platform to use their voices, develop leadership skills and represent the best of Union Academy. Even the blooper reels at the end of each broadcast have become a beloved tradition, reminding students that learning includes making mistakes. Jennifer Sutton Smith, Union Academy’s communications director, said CNN has transformed how the school communicates and connects as a community. “Watching our interns grow in confidence while highlighting the accomplishments of their peers has been one of the most rewarding parts of my role,” she said. “CNN has become a unifying thread that brings our students, staff and families together each week with purpose and Cardinal Pride.” Character through reflection and connection
Mindful Mondays was inspired by a keynote speech at the 2023 Character.org National Forum, where CBS correspondent Steve Hartman shared stories of kindness, compassion and perseverance. Union Academy’s Character Team brought that inspiration home, creating a schoolwide initiative that engages K–12 students with a weekly video vignette, sparking conversations and reflective learning each Monday morning. Students participate in discussions, journaling and hands-on projects that connect to the week’s character theme.