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INSIDE ▼ Arbor Day comes early for towns PAGE 1B Friday, October 24, 2025 • Vol. 25 • No. 43

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Monroe completes homelessness census MONROE – The City of Monroe’s efforts to better understand and serve residents experiencing homelessness culminated Oct. 15 with a census and community event at Don Griffin Park.

City staff worked throughout the week to identify, meet and support more than 120 people experiencing homelessness. They provided residents in need with food, supplies and access to critical service providers. “City leaders have long recognized the importance of addressing homelessness in our community, but we needed accurate

data to truly understand the scope and needs,” City Manager Mark Watson said. “This census and outreach event are critical first steps in building that foundation and shaping effective, compassionate responses moving forward.” Participants were able to meet directly with representatives from the City of Monroe, Union County Public Health, Union County Social Services, Common Heart and other partners, receiving assistance with healthcare, housing and employment resources while enjoying lunch, music and fellowship. Assistant City Manager Lisa Hollowell,

who helped coordinate the event, said the effort extends beyond a single day. “The turnout of individuals experiencing homelessness was very strong, and we had so many city staff come together to make this event a success,” she said. “I really appreciate Union County’s public health and social services departments participating. The next step will be to review and compile the data gathered, which will be presented to city council in November as they begin considering the city’s next steps.” Story continues, see CENSUS page 3A

Organizations from across Union County came together to provide food, supplies, health screenings and connections to essential services. Photo courtesy of City of Monroe

COMMON HEART MOBILIZING VOLUNTEERS FOR THANKSGIVING

Common Heart’s Great Turkey Countdown beneﬁts families in Union County, Matthews and Mint Hill. Photos courtesy of Common Heart

INDIAN TRAIL – Common Heart is seeking donations and volunteers to provide 1,500 frozen turkeys with all the fixin's to 1,500 families facing food insecurity so they can prepare their own Thanksgiving feasts.

During the first Great Turkey Countdown in 2007, volunteers packed and delivered 125 Thanksgiving baskets. The need and nonprofit’s reach have expanded tremendously since then, said Keith Adams, co-founder and executive director for Common Heart “This is a critical time for our neighbors facing food insecurity and we’re seeing that reflected in the increasing numbers at our weekly food pantries,” Adams said. So far this year, volunteers have provided groceries to 13,590 unique individuals (from 3,575 unique households) at Common Heart’s evening food pantries. That’s 1,729 more individuals than were served at these pantries during the same time period last year. These

evening pantries have served an average of 1,117 unique households each month so far in 2025, an increase from the average of 805 unique households served per month last year. A $50 donation provides a frozen turkey and the fixin's for one family. To donate online visit Turkeys.CommonHeart.org or mail a check (payable to Common Heart) to: PO Box 2761, Indian Trail, NC 28079. Write “Turkeys” in the memo line. Nonperishables of canned green beans, stuffing mix, cranberry sauce, boxed macaroni and cheese, dessert mixes, cornbread mix and jello can be dropped off at the nonprofit’s main office, 116 Business Park Drive, Suite A, in Indian Trail, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday and 9 a.m. to noon on Saturdays. Beginning Nov. 17, people can also drop off frozen turkeys. Find a complete list of all local food drop off locations at FoodDrives.CommonHeart.org This volunteer-driven event is Common

Heart’s biggest delivery day. “This event absolutely wouldn’t happen without volunteers – literally hundreds of them,” Adams said. “This day is all about neighbors serving neighbors and promoting a small revolution of kindness in our community.” At least 300 volunteers will be needed on Nov. 22 to deliver the 1,500 Thanksgiving dinner baskets. Volunteers can sign up online at Turkeys.CommonHeart.org The baskets will benefit families throughout Union County, Matthews and Mint Hill. If your family needs a Thanksgiving basket, fill out an application online by Oct. 31 at Turkeys.CommonHeart.org or call 704-218-9060 between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday to Friday. Applications will also be taken at all Common Heart food pantry locations. Follow the progress of the Great Turkey Countdown on Facebook at Facebook.com/ TheCommonHeart

JAARS Day celebrates global outreach WAXHAW – Many residents of the Charlotte area don't realize that an international missionary and humanitarian aviation organization is headquartered just a few miles south in Union County. For 77 years, JAARS has flown missionaries, Bibles, medical supplies and other aid in and out of some of the most inaccessible places on Earth. It was one of the first to respond to isolated mountain communities in Western North Carolina following Hurricane Helene.

The nonprofit will open its doors to Charlotte-area families for the annual JAARS Day event from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 25. JAARS Day events include opportunities for entire families to experience a first-hand look at how JAARS works around the world to cover the last mile of missions. Activities include demonstrations and displays, food trucks, interactive museum exhibits, handson children's activities and helicopter, airplane and 4x4 rides. JAARS mechanics, pilots and trainers will be

on hand all day to answer questions about how JAARS undertakes a mission that is difficult, dangerous and expensive to help people in the most remote and inaccessible areas of the planet, including giving isolated communities a chance to understand and respond to the Gospel in the language they understand best. “We are passionate about what we do here at JAARS, and we can’t wait to share that with our guests on Oct. 25,” President Steve Russell. “We serve missionaries, humanitarian workers and isolated communities through the skill, bravery and dedication of pilots and technicians who pave the way for some of the most dangerous and ingenious flights and landings in all of aviation. It isn’t easy, but that's what covering the last mile is all about.” Festivities will take place at the Aviation Hangar at JAARS Base, 7710 JAARS Road, Waxhaw. More information is available online at https://www.jaars.org/jd25 . A special addition this year is a Gathering of Eagles ceremony scheduled for Oct. 24, in which JAARS aviation alumni will enjoy a time of fellowship and recognition, awarding

JAARS oﬀers helicopter, airplane and 4x4 rides for a small fee and a signed waiver required. Tickets will be available in person throughout the day. Rides cost $45 for helicopter, $40 for airplane and $10 for 4x4. Photo courtesy of JAARS

commemorative JAARS wings and service certificates to those who have not yet received them. Russell will convene a panel of alumni to share significant stories and reflections of their time with the ministry, serving missionaries to the ends of the earth. For missionaries laboring in harsh conditions to bring the Gospel to all people, JAARS has been the lifeline providing them with supplies, communication and transport when they needed it most.

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Sheriff’s office makes arrest in fatal shooting case INDIAN TRAIL – The Union County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a suspect in a fatal shooting that occurred Oct. 13 at the Taco Bell on U.S. 74.

Deputies responded at 8:49 p.m. after receiving reports of a shooting. Within minutes, they confirmed the shooting had occurred and secured the restaurant and the surrounding area. Deputies determined an unknown suspect shot restaurant employee Dantreveion Hobbs. The 23-yearold was pronounced deceased at the scene. Detectives worked around the clock to identify the suspect. They arrested Gilecio Ritchie, 22, of Indian Trail, on charges of first-degree murder. They took him into custody without incident at 6:45 p.m. Oct. 14 at his home. A local magistrate ordered Ritchie to be held without bond. He is not eligible for release. “Union County is not a place where violent criminals will find refuge or leniency,” Sheriff Eddie Cathey said in a statement. “This senseless act of violence took the life of a hardworking young man and deeply affected his family, friends and our entire community. Our detectives, deputies and crime scene investigators worked tirelessly, refusing to rest until the suspect was identified and taken into custody.” The sheriff’s office said it was the second murder to occur this year within its primary response jurisdiction. Both instances were resolved in less than 24 hours. “Residents can have confidence in their local law enforcement and our continued commitment to public safety,” Cathey said. “Their dedication, professionalism and teamwork reflect the high standards our citizens expect and deserve.” The sheriff ’s office thanked the N.C. State Bureau of Investigation for assisting in the case. Call the Union County Sheriff’s Office at 704-283-3789 or Union County Crime Stoppers at 704-2835600 to share details about the case.