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INSIDE ▼ Charlotte Restaurant Week is back PAGE 1B Friday, January 16, 2026 • Vol. 26 • No. 2
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Mint Hill mayor: ‘Nothing wrong with our little town’ by Justin Vick justin@cmgweekly.com
MINT HILL – The Mint Hill Board of Commissioners convened Jan. 8 for the first time since two police officers were shot Dec. 26 in the line of duty.
Mayor Dale Dalton said both officers were doing very well. He encouraged the community to continue praying for them and the rest of the Mint Hill Police Department. Commissioner Twanna Henderson did just that during the opening prayer. “We acknowledge the pain and uncertainty our town has experienced in recent weeks and we give thanks for protection, courage and lives spared,” Henderson said. “We lift up our
police officers and all first responders, asking for strength for their bodies, peace for their minds and comfort for their families who stand beside them in quiet sacrifice. Bring healing where there is hurt, calm where there is anxiety and hope where there is weariness.” Dalton said he received an outpouring of support from the community. They wanted to know how they could help but there wasn’t anything to do at that time. “People keep asking us, ‘What’s wrong with our little town?’ There is nothing wrong with our little town,” Dalton said. “Our little town shined very bright through this with the love and outreach and what people were wanting to do for the officers, to the point where we just had to tell them, ‘Please wait until we
know what a need is before you come up to help.’” The meeting only lasted about 10 minutes due in part to rezoning applicants requesting more time for their projects. The board opened and continued the following public hearings to Feb. 12: • Kurt Odom-Fairview Flex and Warehouse LLC is requesting two warehouse buildings with flex/office units for lease at 8405 Fairview Road and 7830 Large Oak Lane. This is petition No. ZC25-11. • Joshuah Schreppel - Huntington Bank is requesting a bank with a drive-through at 7701 Matthews-Mint Hill Road. This is petition No. ZC25-12. The board also deferred a decision on
petition No. ZC25-8 to a future meeting. Brandon Shreves has applied for a conditional rezoning permit for a commercial development, including a building without public road frontage, at 7503 Matthews-Mint Hill Road. In brief remarks, Commissioner Patrick Holton said the future Mint Hill Community Center is receiving finishing touches before opening. Commissioner Trey Long said he walked through the center the day before the meeting. “It’s incredible and I’m excited about it,” Long said. “It’s going to be such an enriching and just quality space – a positive attribute for our town. I can’t wait to have you all see it when it opens.”
Matthews Playhouse holding auditions for talent contest
Entertainers submit video auditions for a chance to move on to the live showcase.
The Matthews Got Talent competition features four different categories: ages 7 to 12, ages 13 to 17, ages 18 and older and multi-age groups. Photos courtesy of Matthews Playhouse
MATTHEWS – Matthews Playhouse of the Performing Arts is organizing its first Matthews Got Talent competition.
The community theater organization invites performers of all ages and abilities to showcase their skills for a chance to win cash prizes. Singers, dancers, acrobats, comedians and others must submit a video audition (MP4 format, maximum 3 minutes) through Jan. 30. Content must be family-friendly. All acts must be able to set up their equipment in under 2 minutes. Auditions can be submitted by visiting matthewsplayhouse.com/matthews-got-talent. Up to 15 contestants per category will be selected to move on to the live showcase. Selected acts will be notified by Feb. 2. Matthews Got Talent will culminate in a daylong live event on Feb. 28, with four age categories of competition and a grand finale featuring the best performers from each category. The schedule is as follows: • 10 to 11:30 a.m., Category 1 (ages 7 to 12), three finalists chosen
• Noon to 1:30 p.m., Category 2 (ages 13 to 17), three finalists chosen • 2 to 3:30 p.m., Category 3 (ages 18 and older), three finalists chosen • 4 to 5:30 p.m., Category 4 (multi-age groups), three finalists chosen • 7 to 8 p.m., Grand Finale top 12 contestants (all ages) A single ticket grants access to all showcases throughout the day. Tickets will be sold at the door on Feb. 28, starting at 9:30 a.m. Tickets cost $30 for ages 14 and older or $15 for ages 13 and younger. The 2025 judging panel represents a cross-section of regional expertise and influence. “We are honored to convene such a formidable group of experts for this year’s event,” Executive Director Sarah Baumgaerdner said. “By bringing together industry and business leaders, as well as influential media voices, we’ve created a panel that truly understands the heartbeat of our community. Their diverse insights will be invaluable in identifying the very best among this year’s
Matthews Got Talent
nominees.” Judges include industry leaders, business executives, community leaders and broadcast professionals. The winners will receive $200 for first place, $100 for second place and $50 for third place. The winner will also perform at the 30th Anniversary Gala.
CMS school board discusses budget with Mecklenburg leaders CHARLOTTE – The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education and Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners held their first public discussion Jan. 8 to review the 2026-27 budget year.
The meeting focused on the importance of the two boards working together to ensure continued success for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. A key piece of the discussion was teacher pay. The state sets teacher base pay and the county funds supplements to close pay gaps and retain educators. Leaders also discussed using teacher housing as a recruitment and retention tool. CMS and Mecklenburg County are collaborating on a housing project to ensure teachers can work in the communities they serve. Multiple CMS executives gave presentations: • Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer Beth
Thompson reviewed 2024-25 student outcomes and the strategies that supported success. • Chief Financial Officer Kelly Kluttz provided an overview of how teacher salaries are determined and how beginning teacher wages compare to a living wage. • Chief Operations Officer Tim Ivey gave an update on the community-supported 2023 bond. “I cannot understate our gratitude for the Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners, our strongest partners in ensuring endless possibilities for all our students,” said Stephanie Sneed, school board chair. “We are so excited to work with the county on teacher pay supplement, educator housing and ensuring our students have pathways to higher education and entering the workforce through not only funding efforts but through intentional coordination and shared resources, facilities, programs and innovation.”
County staff also provided information: • Director of Strategy and Innovation Michael Griswold reviewed quality of life indicators for the county’s sustainable future. • Budget Director Adrian Cox gave an overview of the anticipated funding to meet the needs of the county’s citizens, including economic development, health and wellness, and community programs that support nonprofits assisting economically disadvantaged residents. “The Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners knows that our community’s long-term quality of life is inseparable from the strength of our public education system,” said Mark Jerrell, chair of the county commissioners. “Today’s students are tomorrow’s workforce, innovators and civic leaders, and we are committed to partnering with CMS to expand opportunity and ensure every child can reach their full potential.”
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Matthews awarded $17.4M federal grant for John Street MATTHEWS – The Town of Matthews has been awarded $17,425,200 in federal funding to improve safety, mobility and accessibility along John Street.
The funding was awarded through the Safe Streets and Roads for All grant program for the John Street Safety and Mobility Enhancement Project. The project will focus on 1.4 miles of East and West John Street and will transform the corridor into a safer, more connected Complete Street designed for people walking, biking, riding transit and driving, while maintaining current vehicle capacity and supporting Matthews’ active downtown. “This is a major investment in the safety of our community and the future of downtown Matthews,” Mayor John Higdon said. “John Street is critically important to our town, and this funding allows us to make meaningful improvements that help residents, visitors and businesses thrive, now and for generations to come.” The town is partnering with the N.C. Department of Transportation and the Charlotte Area Transit System to deliver a comprehensive package of safety and mobility improvements. The project is designed to help people move safely in and around downtown. It builds on years of planning and public input, including the John Street Pedestrian and Bicycle Study and the Envision Matthews Comprehensive Plan. It also aligns with the town’s Vision Zero goal of eliminating transportation-related deaths and serious injuries by 2034.