🌱 Charlotte FC Star Anton Walkes Dies + Counties Battle Over Border

Hello all. It's me, Alexis Goring, your host of the Charlotte Daily — back in your inbox with all the most important things happening in town. Today you'll read about:

• Soccer player Anton Walkes dies at 25 in a Florida boat crash.
• A border battle is brewing over exactly where the border between Mecklenburg County and Union County lies.
• Checkers players, Riley Nash, Logan Hutsko and Dominic Franco squared off in the Chopped Challenge cooking competition presented by Queen City Audio Video & Appliances.

But first, today's weather:

Mostly sunny and cooler. High: 57 Low: 33.

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Here are the top five stories today in Charlotte:

1. "Professional soccer player Anton Walkes has died from injuries he sustained in a boat crash off the coast of Miami. ... Walkes, 25, was found unconscious and taken to a hospital after the crash between two boats Wednesday near the Miami Marine Stadium basin. ... Walkes, a defender, was entering his second season with MLS club Charlotte FC. The team had arrived in Fort Lauderdale on Jan. 9 for its first leg of preseason training and had a friendly scheduled with St. Louis on Saturday," WBTV reports. (WBTV)
2. "A border battle of sorts is brewing due to some confusion over exactly where the border between Mecklenburg County and Union County lies. The intersection of Idlewild Road and Stevens Mill Road is in Union County. However, just down the road and across Stevens Mill Road is a housing development called Shannamara Divide, which is full of homes with families whose children attend Union County schools," WBTV reports. (WBTV)
3. "A juvenile was shot by a citizen during an attempt to steal a vehicle in southwest Charlotte, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police said Wednesday. Officers responded to calls regarding the incident around 10 a.m. Wednesday near 100 Southwold Drive in southwest Charlotte. A juvenile victim was found suffering from an apparent gunshot wound and was transported to an area medical center to be treated for non-life-threatening injuries," WGHP FOX8 Greensboro reports. (WGHP FOX8 Greensboro)
4. "Checkers players, Riley Nash, Logan Hutsko and Dominic Franco squared off in the Chopped Challenge cooking competition, presented by Queen City Audio Video & Appliances. Each player paired up with a professional chef and was tasked with making a meal for a panel of judges, including WCCB’s own Kelli Bartik, in front of a live audience of season-ticket holders. The winning player will earn a $5,000 donation to the charity of their choosing. Nash competed for Novant Health Hemby Children’s Hospital, Hutsko competed for the Humane Society of Charlotte and Franco competed for the CJ Morgan Foundation – a military charity with a personal tie to Franco," WCCB Charlotte reports. (WCCB Charlotte)
5. "Five years after snapping up Charlotte-based snack maker Snyder’s-Lance Inc., food industry giant Campbell Soup Co. is closing its office here amid a consolidation effort. ... It will consolidate those operations at its headquarters in Camden, New Jersey, where it plans to invest $50 million. The office at 13515 Ballantyne Corporate Place employs about 212 people. ... The majority of the jobs at the Charlotte and Norwalk offices will be relocated," WSOC-TV reports. (WSOC-TV)

Today in Charlotte:

• Charlotte Regional Farmers Market (8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.)
• Musical Theatre Movie Night: Newsies at the Ballantyne Arts Center (6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.)
• Jay Pharoah performance at The Comedy Zone (7:00 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Charlotte Fire is hiring certified firefighters/EMTs with a minimum of three years experience. Applicants will attend an accelerated 14-week academy class regardless of previous education or experience.(Charlotte Fire Department, Charlotte NC via Facebook)
• We currently have a training class in progress but we are still looking for a few more full1time telecommunications to work in a fast, high tempo communications center for Charlotte Fire.(Charlotte Fire Communications "Fire Alarm" via Facebook)
• Free fire extinguisher training for the community! This training will educate citizens on proper fire evacuation procedures. The program will familiarize residents with the general principles of fire safety. (Charlotte Fire Department, Charlotte NC via Facebook)
• Who doesn't love a night time Charlotte cityscape shot? We especially love this new addition to the skyline—@workbylee’s artwork shining bright above Panther's Stadium! Artwork by @workbylee of the ArtPop Cities Program. (ArtPop Street Gallery via Instagram)
• Congratulations to Officer Joshua Skipper and his K9 partner, Hugo for leading CMPD in suspect apprehensions for 2022! Officer Skipper was named Special Operations K9 Handler of the Year in recognition.(Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department via Facebook)
• David W. Butler High School cadets went to Crown Point Elementary School to assist Junior Achievement with preparing students for their future. Butler's LET 2 class taught 4th grade students the importance of entrepreneurship. (Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools via Facebook)
• Sharon Elementary School's 5th and 6th graders were excited to have a helicopter from @nhmedflight land on their field thanks to a Sharon parent and pilot, Mr. Brett Marks, who came with his crew to teach. (Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools via Facebook)
• The Charlotte Urban Design Center will open applications for the 2023 Placemaking Grant and Creative Pool from Jan. 19 – March 3. A total of $125,000 in grant funding is available and award grants will be between $1,000 and $25,000. (City of Charlotte Government via Facebook)
• "Experience" the world's best Beatles' show with symphony orchestra" (Broadway World) at Classical Mystery Tour: A Tribute to The Beatles with the CSO, Feb. 17 and Feb. 18 at Knight Theater. Get tickets >> bit.ly/csobeatles (Charlotte Symphony via Facebook)
• Grammy-nominated “astonishing virtuoso” (Neue Zürcher Zeitung) pianist Joyce Yang performs Grieg’s colorful Piano Concerto with the Charlotte Symphony on Feb. 10 & Feb. 11 at Belk Theater. Get tickets >> bit.ly/csobrahms4 (Charlotte Symphony via Facebook)
• Music and poetry were a powerful combination in tonight’s performance of Together We Rise! Featuring poetry readings by Donté Washington and narration by Dr. Shawn Allyce-White, the CSO performed works about justice...(Charlotte Symphony via Facebook)
• The Library's Advanced Spanish Conversation group would love to welcome new members to meet online every Tuesday morning at 10:30 a.m. The first in a half hour is casual Spanish conversation practice...(Charlotte Mecklenburg Library via Facebook)
• Area 49's Makerspace is now open for the Spring 2023 semester from Monday through Friday 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Check us out! (UNC Charlotte Atkins Library via Facebook)
• Looking for an afternoon activity that gives back? Join us for our upcoming volunteer dates this month: 1/20, 1/23 an 1/30. All volunteer sessions are from 2:30 p.m.- 4:30 p.m. at our Latrobe Warehouse. (Charlotte Freedom School Partners via Facebook)
• Express Stops Survey | Are you the parent/guardian of a student who attends a magnet program identified for express stop service for the 2023-2024 school year? Please share your input on CMS express stops via our survey...(Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools via Facebook)

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That's it for today! See you tomorrow morning for your next update.

— Alexis Goring

About me: My name is Alexis A. Goring. I'm an East Coast Girl with a pulse for people, news and feature stories! I've worked as a freelance writer/editor/proofreader in the media industry for 15 years. I'm also a published author, experienced blogger, and founder of Writer at Heart Editorial Services. Visit my website for more details about me and my work. Here's the link: https://alexisagoring.jimdofree.com.

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Charlotte Daily? Contact me at charlotte@patch.com