You Are Cordially Invited to Attend the Social Event of the Year!

Submitted by Donna Lepre on Thursday, April 14th, 2:15 pm

Experience the Thrill of the ‘Chase! ®

Join your family, friends and colleagues Saturday, April 30th for a day of tailgating at the Charlotte region’s annual Rite of Spring. Watch professional steeplechase racing, Jack Russell Terriers race, bring the kids for pony rides, enter the hat & tailgate contests and much more; all while helping support Make-A-Wish®. Pick your tailgate space that best suits your budget and party size. Don’t miss your chance to enjoy a Great Southern Tradition. CLICK HERE for more info, tickets, event schedule.

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Man who kidnapped family of 4 sentenced to 30 years in prison

Submitted by Jeff Rivenbark

Wednesday, April 13th, 2011, 4:55pm

CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) - A Gastonia man who pled guilty to kidnapping a family of four was sentenced in federal court on Wednesday.

Jerry Douglas Case, 53, will remain behind bars for the next 30 years, to be followed by five years of supervised release for kidnapping and carjacking a family of four.

According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, on July 17, 2009, Case abducted a family of four in a location near Belmont, NC, and held them captive at gunpoint for more than 12 hours.

A 71-year-old Gastonia man and his 7-year-old granddaughter were dropped off at their favorite fishing hole near Belmont for an afternoon of fishing together.

While walking to the fishing dock, Case approached them from behind and stuck a black pellet gun – which resembled a semi-automatic firearm – to the back of the grandfather's head.

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Tax Day Tea Party

Submitted by WBTV Web Staff

Wednesday, April 13th, 2011, 1:05pm

SHELBY - Enjoy music, entertainment, speakers from the John Locke Foundation, FreedomWorks, Fair Tax and local state representatives and commissioners...and of course, free iced tea!

Event Details
Date: Friday, April 15th
Hours: 5pm to 7pm
Free Admission
Venue: Court Square
Address: 106 S. LaFayette Street in Downtown Shelby

Need more information? Please click HERE or call 704.472.5188.

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Register to Win NHRDA Tarheel Diesel Nationals Tickets

Submitted by Donna Lepre on Wednesday, April 13th, 12:36 pm

We're giving away 20 Family Four-Packs to the Tarheel Diesel Nationals! CLICK HERE to REGISTER TO WIN!

ZMAX DRAGWAY, 6670 Bruton Smith Blvd., Concord - Saturday, April 30, 2011

The Tarheel Diesel Nationals will include NHRDA Diesel Drag Racing, a burnout contest, show and shine and a dyno competition. Spectator gates will open at 8 a.m. and drag racing action starts at 9 a.m.

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Grab your tissue, 2011 allergy season to be worse than before

Submitted by Derrick Rose

Wednesday, April 13th, 2011, 9:27am

Just looking at them makes you want to sneeze: the breeding grounds for the microscopic pest named pollen. It always strikes this time of year and has hit harder every time.

"Nobody knows for sure why, but historically over the last 10 or 15 years, allergy seasons have been getting worse," Dr. Elizabeth Perry explained.

Charlotte has got it bad. Experts call it the city of trees -- important because trees pollinate in the late winter and spring, which could lead to a return of that yellow and green film that seems to stick everywhere.

If that's not enough, 2011 could be worse than you think. On this year's Allergy Capitals List, the AAFA moved Charlotte up from number 5 to the 3rd worst city for allergies -- with a "worse than average" total pollen score.

But the problem isn't just for Charlotte - it's all across North and South Carolina.

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SC insurers say hail did $45 million in damage

Submitted by Chris Dyches

Tuesday, April 12th, 2011, 8:55am

SOUTH CAROLINA (AP) - A weekend storm that pummeled cars and houses with tennis ball-sized hail in South Carolina caused about $45 million in property damage, insurance companies said Monday.

Saturday's storm brought hail from Gaffney in the Upstate to Berkeley County in the Lowcountry. The same storm system spawned a minor tornado near Shelby, N.C., that injured one man when his mobile home flipped over. Nine people were injured in a lightning strike in Burke County, N.C.

Insurance News Service executive director Russ Dubinsky said companies doing business in South Carolina reported more than 18,000 claims had been filed. He said the number could rise as people discover more damage.

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Clean-up begins after tornado, hail hit Charlotte region

Submitted by Tom Roussey

Monday, April 11th, 2011, 5:25pm

CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV/AP) - After strong thunderstorms and hail caused widespread damage throughout the area Saturday night, many folks spent Sunday and Monday cleaning up and calling their insurance company.

"We're seeing holes the size of baseballs and softballs in the actual roof system," said Mitch Jackson, Owner of National Home Improvements.

Jackson and his crew hung tarps on at least 15 homes Monday afternoon.

"You can actually stick your fist in the roof, it's going to rain, it's going to get wet if we don't cover it, " said Jackson.

The National Weather Service also announced on Sunday it had confirmed that a tornado was part of the storm system that slammed into our area Saturday afternoon.

One of the areas hardest hit by hail was along Union Road. Nearly every home or car was damaged by baseball-sized hail.

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