North Carolina News – June 14

North Carolina News – June 14

GOLF CART DEATH-DWI

Golf cart death leads to driving while impaired charge in NC

HOLLY SPRINGS, N.C. (AP) — A North Carolina man has been charged with driving while impaired after a woman was killed while riding in a golf cart Friday night. WRAL-TV reports that Jeremy Rollins Martin, 43, was driving in the 12 Oaks community in Holly Springs where he lives, The woman who died was in critical condition when emergency crews arrived Friday. She was taken to a local hospital where she died from her injuries. Police have not yet released details about her death or her identity. This incident is still under investigation by Holly Springs Police.

BODY FOUND

Body of North Carolina man, 93, found at lake shore

APEX, N.C. (AP) — A 93-year-old Raleigh man who’d been missing since Thursday was found dead on a North Carolina lake shore. A North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resource spokesperson identified the victim as Stirling Danskin. News outlets report that Danskin’s car was found at a parking lot at Jordan Lake Thursday night. A search was conducted Friday night but was hindered by stormy weather. The search resumed Saturday and that’s when Danskin’s body was found. This is the second reported death at the lake this year; a man drowned there in April.

DURHAM-DEFUND POLICE

DEFUND to be removed from road in front of Durham police HQ

DURHAM, N.C. (AP) — A North Carolina city is removing a bright gold “DEFUND” sign painted on the road in front of police headquarters a year ago. The lettering was painted on the road last June in front of Durham police headquarters as racial-justice protests swept across the country in response to the death of George Floyd. Normally the city would immediately remove graffiti, but Durham officials allowed the “DEFUND” sign to stay in place. At a work session Thursday, the city council unanimously agreed to remove the painting. The city will also remove the word “FUND” painted on the road in front of the Health and Human Services Building on Main Street.

HISTORIC PLANTATION-JUNETEENTH

Museum manager defends plans for canceled Juneteenth event

HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. (AP) — The manager of a historical museum in North Carolina is defending himself from criticism that an event he planned offered a sympathetic portrayal of slaveowners. Ian Campbell, site manager of the Latta Historic Plantation in Huntersville, posted a statement Saturday on the plantation’s website saying that he will never glorify the Confederacy, white supremacy or plantation owners. He accused the media of a rush to judgement. Latta canceled its Juneteenth program “Kingdom Coming” after complaints emerged about a promotion for the event. The event description seemed in parts to mirror the perspective of a re-enactor who offered sympathetic commentary about a white overseer who no longer had slaves to oversee.

WINSTON-SALEM SHOOTING

Police: 1 killed, 3 wounded in Winston-Salem shooting

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (AP) — Police in Winston-Salem said that one person was killed and three others suffered non-life-threatening wounds in a shooting. A news release from Winston-Salem police said the shooting happened late Friday night in a residential area south of downtown. Police were on patrol in the area when they heard gunshots. They went to the scene and found four gunshot victims. Two men and a teenager were taken to the hospital with wounds described as serious but not life-threatening, according to the release. A fourth victim was pronounced dead at the scene. The police department said the death is the city’s 17th homicide of the year.

NORTH CAROLINA

Cooper keeps mask mandate for risky settings through July 30

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolinians in airports, buses and train stations will need to remain masked at all times until at least July 30 under a new executive order updated on Friday. Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper extended the state of emergency, which the state has been under since March 2020. While COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths have plummeted as more people have gotten vaccinated, the governor said residents must remain safe and that his directive will help the state turn the corner on the pandemic. Cooper also moved to extend his mask wearing requirement at schools and health care settings.

HISTORIC PLANTATION-JUNETEENTH

Event on Juneteenth depicting fugitive slave owner canceled

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (AP) — Officials in North Carolina have denounced plans — now canceled — by a historic museum to put on a reenactment of a white slave owner being pursued by Union soldiers. The reenactment was scheduled for June 19 – the traditional commemoration date of the emancipation of enslaved people in the United States, known as “Juneteenth.” Officials in Mecklenburg County said via Twitter on Friday that the performances at Latta Plantation Nature Preserve, which among other things would have portrayed Confederate soldiers lamenting the downfall of the Confederacy, were canceled after the county reached out to organizers.

JUDGE-CENSURE

Ex-NC state judge censured for sexual misconduct on the job

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina’s highest court has censured a now-retired state judge for sexual misconduct. The state Supreme Court agreed on Friday with the Judicial Standards Commission that former District Court Judge C. Randy Pool violated several sections of the judicial conduct code. He held court in McDowell and Rutherford counties. The commission and the ex-judge agreed that Pool knowingly engaged in conversations with at least 35 women on Facebook, and that Facebook activities corresponded to time when he was reported to be in court. The commission says Pool also was dishonest during investigations into the misconduct. Pool retired in late 2019.

Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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