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Charlotte Symphony books busy fall season PAGE 3B Friday, Aug. 28, 2026 • Vol. 26 • No. 34
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District responds to suspect's release by Alan Wooten Contributor
(The Center Square) – Students returned to school Aug. 25 at Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools just four days after a jailed suspect threatening to “kill all the Blacks” at Garinger High bonded out of jail.
Police on Feb. 16, 2025, became aware of an email sent a day earlier to West Charlotte and Ardrey Kell high schools, Community House Middle School and Hawk Ridge Elementary School. Garinger staff received a letter on Feb. 18. The suspect in the case is Drew Owens, 33. He’s charged with
five counts of communicating a threat of mass violence on an educational property. Bail of $60,000 was posted Aug. 21. His initial bond was set at $10,000, increased by a judge to $200,000, then lowered. It is unclear why. An affidavit said Owens, in the letter, vowed to “shoot up” Garinger High.
Superintendent Crystal Hill apologized for communication delays to students at the outset of the threats. A district statement says, “School and district leadership are aware and remain in close communication with CharlotteMecklenburg Schools Police Department and our law
WHAT'S INSIDE:
Time to move in Construction done at townhomes, 3A
Around the Crown 10K promotes accessibility by having its adaptive division and stroller waves lead the race. Photos courtesy of Crown Collective
FlexEtc Co-warehousing concept hits region, 5A
Growth spurs tweaks to 10K Around the Crown organizers move start line, expo location
At The Craic Get your portrait on a Guinness stout, 2B
America 250 Museum offers patriotic tribute, 5B
CHARLOTTE – Around the Crown 10K returns for its eighth year on Sept. 6 with a few changes. The race will shut down the inner lanes and one outer lane of I-277 for a loop around the heart of the Queen City. This year’s biggest changes include a twoday Race Expo at the Bojangles Coliseum complex and a new start line at the corner of South Tryon Street and Levine Avenue of the Arts near ‘The Green’ and finishing at Truist Field. “The purpose of moving the start line this year was to accommodate for the growth of the race and to set us up for the future,” said Brian Mister, race director and co-founder. “With 10,000 runners, the time between the last runner out of the corrals and the first runner in is pretty tight. This new change allows us to continue growing the race and work towards eventually introducing an in-demand walking category.” Mister said the race will welcome 50 run clubs from across the country. Race weekend logistics The Around the Crown 10K Race Expo will take place over two days at Bojangles
Coliseum, 2700 E. Independence Blvd.: • Sept. 4 – Noon to 6 p.m. with food trucks onsite and beer garden area with NoDa Brewing • Sept. 5 – 9 a.m. (Truist cardholders) / 10 a.m. (general public) to 3 p.m., with food trucks and beer garden area with NoDa Brewing Saturday’s race expo festivities include a Mad Miles shakeout run at 8:15 a.m. and a free Yoga for Runners session at 9 a.m., both at Elizabeth Park right next to I-277. The Kids’ Run is at 11 a.m. and will start and finish in front of Bojangles Coliseum. Food trucks, packet pickup, race shirt, race bib and a pop-up shop with Charlotte Running Company will all be on-site. Race day begins at 7:30 a.m. on Sept. see 10K, Page 3A
Bob's opening store on Sardis Road CHARLOTTE – Bob’s Discount Furniture will celebrate the grand opening of its Charlotte Matthews store Sept. 4 at 2320 Sardis Road North. The 61,123-square-foot store will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony beginning at 9:30 a.m. with company executives, local officials and community organizations. Bob’s will present $2,500 donations to the Matthews HELP Center and McClintock Middle School during the ceremony. The new store includes a café with snacks and a home décor marketplace. Bob’s Discount Furniture strives to
Bob’s Discount Furniture celebrates its newest location with a grand opening celebration June 12 in Pineville. Photo courtesy of Bob’s Discount Furniture
offer quality furniture that’s comfortable, stylish, durable and affordable. It has more than 200 showrooms across the
United States, including South Charlotte (9575 South Blvd.) and University City store (8215 University City Blvd.).
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enforcement partners. The individual has been banned from all CMS property, and any violation of the ban will result in immediate law enforcement action. Additionally, the safety procedures and security measures in place at our schools will continue to be actively followed every day.”
Aura & Ember opens store
PINEVILLE – Aura & Ember is opening its first physical storefront Aug. 25 in Downtown Pineville. Charlotte resident Christi Kisela launched the fragrance brand with handcrafted candles, perfumes, home fragrance products and interactive experiences at markets, private events and pop-ups. Aura & Ember’s philosophy is that fragrance is deeply personal and should feel like an experience rather than a product. Its tagline is “Luxury you can feel, fragrance you’ll remember.” An opening celebration will take place from 3 to 5 p.m. Aug. 29, followed by an official grand opening in September. The storefront is designed as a destination for fragrance lovers. Customers can shop the full collection of luxury candles, perfumes, colognes, room and linen sprays, reed diffusers, car fragrances and other home and personal fragrance products. The store will include a Fragrance Bar for customers to blend fragrance notes and see STORE, Page 3A
Ballantyne hospital excels at senior care CHARLOTTE – Novant Health Ballantyne Medical Center’s emergency department has earned the bronze standard Level 3 Geriatric Emergency Department Accreditation from the American College of Emergency Physicians. The standard recognizes the department for providing specialized, high-quality emergency care for older adults. The American College of Emergency Physicians implemented the accreditation program to improve patient outcomes and acknowledge emergency departments that address the needs of patients 65 and older through enhanced care processes, staff education and coordination of resources. Angela Clarkson, nurse manager of emergency services at Novant Health Ballantyne Medical Center, said the see HOSPITAL, Page 3A