The Charlotte Observer from Charlotte, North Carolina • 19

inarnmniiirfmii 1 1rrttTT rT hi i Project I saves on mowing 4B Fatal Mauling I Dogs described as docile 2B Airlines I Bill aims to shield kids from R-rated movies 5B MS Tonight at 5 I The big sweep wwwcharlottecom THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 27 2007 OG SECTION IN MY OPINION a Decision 2007 I LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS DEBATE 28 YEARS WITH CMPD mm Officer to retire after 800 cases TODD SUMLIN tsumlin a charlotteobserver com Before their debate Republican in east Charlotte on Wednesday Mayor Pat McCrory and Democratic challenger Rep Beverly Earle share a laugh at studios afternoon In debate to be broadcast next month candidates clash over legislation in Raleigh The candidates on THEIR PRIORITIES AS MAYOR EARLE and being an advocate for all the citizens There are many areas of the city that have gone MCCRORY need to be a problem-solver and have a vision for the Mary Curtis Clothes for her warmed my heart The first thing you notice is her smile joyful and open and makes you want to smile too Naturally the9-ycar-old has decorated her brown paper shopping bag with three smi ley faces and two balloons one red and one purple her favorite color The bag would soon hold a new jacket two shirts uniform pants a grooming kit and a book Secret in which she would write her name marking it as hers to keep In two weeks she will receive the Mary Jane-style black shoes she chose when her feet were measured and six pairs of socks On Tuesday she was my client and I was her I have asked for a more charming from the beads (in blue and white school colors) woven by her mom through her intricate braids to the bits of blue polish on her nails Each year Assistance League of Charlotte organizes Operation School Bell to provide new school clothing to children in Charlotte-Mcck-lcnburg elementary schools Those in greatest need are chosen from schools with the highest percentage of students on free and reduced lunch Since 1995 the league has clothed 17500 children and distributed more than 14600 books Of all the programs this one is definitely the most fun said Mary Bartley She chairs the thrift shop whose sales go to fund its five philanthropic programs Operation School Bell helps the playing she said for the children some of whom have never had their own toothbrush or comb Calvin Macklin parent advocate and head of student services at Merry Oaks Elementary spoke of the challenges his kids some homeless face sharing rooms and beds with three or four siblings or going without eye care and dental checkups be taught when he said With help from groups such as Assistance League he tries to provide whatever it is they need from tutoring to snacks try to teach them survival Macklin said to leave the worrying to their parents There were few worries during this shopping trip unless it was whether to choose the puffy parka or the corduroy jacket with shearling-style collar and cuffs My client chose the corduroy in beige She could not wait to show her mom who she said helps her practice vocabulary words and cursive writing This hobby is and her favorite subject is math CMS Superintendent Peter Gorman stopped by His wife Sue is on the advisory board people realize the hundreds and thousands of children in Charlotte who have school she said a barrier to My young shopper will wear her new clothes her smile and her confidence to third grade want to be a she said I go to I tell her Mary Curtis: mcurtisia'charlotteobservercom To donate time items or money: wwwcharlotteassistanceleagueorg CHARLOTTE MAYOR prevent lenders from repeatedly rolling over loans to jack rates up higher The bill never got out of committee Consumer groups and Attorney General Roy Cooper a Democrat who had helped force payday lenders out of the state said bill would hurt consumers McCrory echoed that argument need to stop these lenders from ripping people he said Earle replied that McCrory rely on what he SEE DEBATE I 5B Incumbent contender fight over payday lending street lights By Jim Morrill jmorrill(acharlotteobserver com In their first debate two mayoral candidates clashed Wednesday over payday lenders the relationship with state lawmakers and even the lighting along interstate highways Republican Mayor Pat McCrory and Democrat Beverly Earle a state legislator sparred while taping a debate at WTVI (Channel 42) It airs next month In one exchange McCrory CMPD veteran recalls high-profile crimes and homicide victims Charlotte-Mecklenburg police Capt Sean Mulhall has overseen nearly 800 homicide investigations in the past 11 years From high-profile cases that snagged headlines for months to others that barely got a mention in the media Mulhall remembers them all With hardly a cue he can recall the names of hundreds of victims and circumstances of their death The 55-ycar-old native New Yorker is retiring this week after working 28 years as a police officer in Charlotte and two years in Rockland County NY He plans to take a few months off and then look for a job that include police work Mulhall sat down with Observer reporter Melissa Manware on Wednesday to reflect on his career Why specialize in homicide? Homicide is the most serious crime police can investigate very challenging and a homicide affects many lives not only the victims who are killed but family members who have to go on after the murder Do you get to know the families? dealt closely with many families One woman calls me every couple of months about her son who was murdered in the She calls to ask if there is anything new reviewed the case The cold case squad has reviewed the case We have an idea who might have murdered this victim hut we have enough proof He was her only son and her husband has died By her talking SEE MULHALL I 5B TO THE CHARLOTTE REGION sunny weather What do newcomers think of living here? Watch WCNC newscasts at 6am and 4:30 pm today and Friday and at 7 am Saturday for a series of special interviews with newcomers about everything this region has to offer MORE FROM THE CANDIDATES 5B I Debating the issues accused Earle of helping so-called payday lenders Critics say such lenders prey on consumers by offering high-intcrest loans with a short time to repay Lenders Chepi i Hill 1 2B Chancellor to step down UNC Chapel Hill Chancellor James Moeser will step down next year after raising $22 billion establishing a nationally recognized financial aid program for the poor and eliciting jeers and cheers for his stand on teaching of the Quran Moeser Helping out to feed the multitudes Sunday schoolers at Park Road Baptist Church got a big-hearted idea while studying the story of how Jesus fed 5000 with a few loaves and fishes Why not collect 5000 canned goods for Loaves and Fishes which runs emergency food pantries? They actually collected 6411 cans Here (from left) Jackson Dean 10 Anna King 10 Margaret Knight 11 and Copelyn Bengel 11 form a loading line to the truck Wednesday TIM funk YOUR GUIDE Newcomers drawn by say they help customers often in poor neighborhoods who get conventional loans In 2006 Earle introduced a bill to allow payday lending at rates of up to 60 percent but DIEDRA LAIRD dlaird wcharlotteobserver com seur said he supports the speedway race teams and other motor-sports activity in Concord But he has concerns about how noise and fumes could affect residents not sure whether the drag strip is a good council member Ramseur said Smith said in August he was considering building the $60 million facility off Speedway Boulevard next to The Dirt Track (a) Motor Speedway SEE DRAG STRIP I 6B What draws newcomers to Charlotte? Our economy quality of life and our weather Newcomer Connie Oakes of Michigan recently described her reaction to her move: has totally changed my life Staiting with the weather You know' we have four sunny days in Michigan and you realize a depressing state to he in covered in clouds 360 days a More interview excerpts plus a complete guide to the Charlotte region for newcomers and long-timers alike in the I iving Here magazine in most home-delivered SPEEDWAY COMPLEX Concord hitting brakes on drag strip plan? Observers newspaper racks in Mecklenburg and Union counties and on Charlottecom this Sunday MORE INFO WWW CHARLOTTE COMLIVING chairman of Speedway Motor-sports from adding a drag racing strip to the motorsports complex at I Motor Speedway city officials told the Observer on Wednesday The 5:30 pm meeting at municipal building will include a public hearing The land for the drag strip backs up to neighborhoods and businesses including a hotel and convention center Mayor Pro Tempore Jim Ram- Special council hearing scheduled for Monday By Sharil Durhams sdurhams(acharlotteobserver com concord Bruton planned drag strip in Concord may be stalled The Concord City Council will hold a special meeting Monday to consider stopping Smith.