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INSIDE ▼ Matthews Comic Con returns March 7
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PAGE 3B Friday, March 6, 2026 • Vol. 26 • No. 9
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I-485 interchange named after transportation leader MATTHEWS – The Weddington Road interchange that opened in January on Interstate 485 will now be known as the Ned Curran Interchange to formally recognize his contributions to the Charlotte region and the state.
Curran’s name is well known in transportation circles, having chaired the N.C. Board of Transportation, the Charlotte Chamber Regional Roads Committee and the Charlotte-Mecklenburg 2008 Committee of 21 Road Solutions. He’s also participated in the Charlotte Fast Lanes study and the I-77 Toll Lane Advisory Committee. “Ned Curran has been instrumental in transportation for over 25 years in the Charlotte region, having served on numerous boards and committees as well as serving as chairman of the North Carolina Board of
Transportation, but he remains involved in the community and has a passion to see others do the same,” said Stephen Rosenburgh, a member of the N.C. Board of Transportation. “I’m excited to see what he will accomplish as a member of the county’s new Metropolitan Public Transportation Authority.” Smoky Bissell hired Curran in 1994 as chief financial officer of The Bissell Cos. Curran became president three years later. When sold in 2017, Ballantyne Corporate Park had expanded to more than 4 million square feet of office space with four hotels. Curran held CEO and CEO emeritus roles throughout his career with commercial real estate organizations such as Bissell Companies and Northwood Office. He is now the founder and president of Stone Cottage Advisors.
“Ned Curran’s vision and leadership have helped shape Charlotte into the vibrant, connected city we are today,” Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles said. “It’s fitting that his name will now be part of the very infrastructure that keeps our community moving forward.” Curran’s public service contributions include leading prominent groups like the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce, the United Way of Central Carolinas and the Health Advisory Council for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. He has served on the Charlotte Regional Business Alliance and the Charlotte Executive Leadership Council; on the corporate boards of SMC, ARIC and Biltmore Farms; and as chair of the Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina Board of Trustees. He also cochaired the Charlotte Republican National
Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles, N.C. Board of Transportation member Stephen Rosenburgh, Matthews Mayor John Higdon and Matthews Commissioner Jennefer Garrity helped unveil signs honoring Ned Curran Interchange.
Photo courtesy of NCDOT
Convention Host Committee. Curran is a recipient of the Order of the Long Leaf Pine.
Common Heart organizes Matthews adding successful Hunger Walk a metal detector for meetings
MATTHEWS – Town commissioners have directed staff to move forward with the purchase of a metal detector for board meetings at Matthews Town Hall.
Common Heart’s 10th annual Hunger Walk took place March 1 at Crooked Creek Park in Indian Trail. Photos courtesy of Common Heart
INDIAN TRAIL – The 10th annual Hunger Walk raised nearly $95,000 and drew a record 500-plus participants, according to Common Heart.
The nonprofit hosted the fundraiser March 1 at Crooked Creek Park. Participants paid a registration fee and collected donations to help families facing food insecurity. St. Margaret's Episcopal Church was the leading fundraiser with $15,450. In the days leading up to the Hunger Walk, the Waxhaw-based church shared on social media that an estimated 25,180 people in Union County face food insecurity.
“This is exactly why St. Margaret's parishioners are walking in the 10th annual Common Heart Hunger Walk,” the church posted on Facebook. “For a decade, this walk has been a lifeline for local families. Our goal is to help raise funds and awareness so that no one in our community has to wonder where their next meal is coming from.” Other top fundraisers were New City Church with $7,140 and Threshold Church with $4,165. The fundraising website, CommonHeartHungerWalk.org, will remain open until March 9 for additional donations. Executive Director Keith Adams described the
Hunger Walk as a simple yet powerful way for the community to help ensure neighbors don’t go hungry. Common Heart, which serves as the largest food pantry network in Union County, said that donations of $35 provide a week’s worth of groceries for a family facing food insecurity. Volunteers help about 10,170 people each month through 14 pantry programs.
Hornets join Novant Health staff on the court MINT HILL – Charlotte Hornets teammates Moussa Diabate, Ryan Kalkbrenner and Hugo the Hornet visited Novant Health Mint Hill Medical Center recently to cheer on staff.
They also got to check out the hospital’s new basketball court, which was designed as a wellness tool to help staff recharge. The Charlotte Hornets are one of the hottest teams in the NBA, going 7-3 in
their last 10 games. Diabate is averaging career highs of 8.4 points and 8.7 rebounds per game in his fourth NBA season. Kalkbrenner is averaging 8 points and 6 rebounds per game in his rookie year. Novant Health Mint Hill Medical Center has also been doing well over the past year, earning awards and recognition for health care quality, patient care and leadership.
Charlotte Hornets players Moussa Diabate and Ryan Kalkbrenner took a break from their late-season NBA playoff push to pump up the team at Novant Health Mint Hill Medical Center.
Photo courtesy of Novant Health
Police Chief James Avens said the previous board expressed interest in having a metal detector. His team did some research and shared a $5,500 estimate, which includes a walk-through metal detector, two hand wands and a three-year warranty. He sought guidance from the board Feb. 23 before moving forward with the purchase. Mayor John Higdon said many of his colleagues on the North Carolina Metro Mayors Coalition use metal detectors in their communities. “It’s an unfortunate necessity, I think, in today’s environment,” Higdon said. “I would recommend that we do this. I have to go through a metal detector quite frequently when I go to the (Charlotte-Mecklenburg) Government Center downtown.” Town Manager Melia James said municipal buildings like the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Government Center have a security officer operating the metal detector. The idea is to try one out, see how it goes and maybe buy a second one. Commissioners asked about the feasibility of transporting the metal detector to other areas of the building or other uses outside of meetings. James said the intent was to use this for meetings. She said using it to cover all of town hall would require security to manage it during business hours and coordination with Mecklenburg County since town hall shares space with a county library branch. The vote was unanimous in favor of the metal detector. Higdon said the town recently held active shooter training and described the experience as “eye-opening.” “With our 24/7 news coverage, it’s easy to get jaded,” Higdon said. “But one thing I’ve noticed: every time there’s a shooting in a small town like Matthews, people always say, ‘We never thought that would happen here.’ “So it could happen. And we’ve had some highly charged meetings in here discussing things that people get emotional about. So I think this is an abundance-of-caution measure and it’s relatively inexpensive. That’s why I support it.”