Arrests, citations and accidents May 7-13, 2012, reported by the Cornelius Police Department.

May 16 Residents of Peninsula Cove Lane say Cornelius Police have arrested two people after an attempted break-in around 12:30 a.m. Wednesday. Someone tried to enter a home at 18609 Peninsula Cove by breaking glass doors on the rear of their house. The 89-year-old resident said damage amounted to about $1,000.

Separately, three SUVs were broken into on Harbor Light and items inside were stolen on May 13, according to police reports.
 

Lowe's Charitable and Educational Foundation has awarded a $30,000 grant to JV Washam Elementary School for the Hawk's Nest outdoor playground and learning area. The grant will be paired with a $45,000 Jimmie Johnson Foundation grant, completing a playground area, walking track and learning area. 

Arrests, citations and accidents April 30-May 6, 2012, reported by the Cornelius Police Department. 

Lake Norman Baptist Church will host guest speakers Captain Eugene McDaniel and his wife.  Captain McDaniel's message, "Where is God in Our Difficulties?," will speak on finding God while a POW for six years in North Vietnam. 

Lieutenant Luck Patterson from Laguna Beach, California, will participate in  the ceremony commemorating his brother Kelly Patterson, Captain McDaniel's bombardier.  Kelly Patterson has remained an 'unresolved MIA' for 45 years. The service will include youth presentations of "Patriot Stories", a Memorial Quartet and the Military Moms Trio. 

There will be two services at 8:30 a.m. and 10:00 a.m.  For more info: Bill Crawford at 704-995-0045

The Ausie Rivens Foundation reports two additional students earned a GED High School equivalent degree through its evening program. Eddie Aiken completed the course work and has already enrolled in welding school.  Derrick Kerns completed the course work within 3 months, attending classes on Saturdays.

May 7 There's been a minor dust-up in the five-way race for the N.C. Senate District 41 primary election. A direct mail piece put out by one of the apparent front runners, John Aneralla, said he was the "authentic conservative" for the newly created seat. The mail piece compared Aneralla's positions on several issues, ranging from Amendment One to eliminating government pensions for elected officials, with those of Cornelius Mayor Jeff Tarte. Tarte said the mailing contained "misleading information" about his positions. "While some candidates may choose to go negative, I will stay positive, run on my record, and tell you why I feel I deserve your vote based on my positions on these issues," Tarte said in an email to the news media. Aneralla, meanwhile, fired back with his own email, saying the points he raised were accurate.

Aneralla appears to be the winner in terms of individual donations, with $48,750 coming into his account, vs. Tarte, with $45,369 in individual donations. Tarte, however, has lent his own campaign $50,000 in personal funds, bringing his total to nearly $100,000. Troy Stafford, a Cornelius resident, was the No. 3 fundraiser with $29,793. Robby Benton, a Huntersville-based race team owner, has brought in $13,500 total, and Dr. Donald Copeland, a Cornelius resident, has $700 of his own money in his campaign. The primary election is Tuesday. If none of the candidates wins 40 percent of the vote, there will be a runoff in July.

McNEILIS

If you’ve been longing to remodel your kitchen but don’t have the funds, paint is a great way to make an impressive transformation without breaking the bank.

JOANNE AHERN Seniors Columnist

Do you love humor? I love to laugh.  Good clean jokes, one liners, and funny sayings go a long way in keeping the mood light, keeping the day from becoming drudgery. One of my lifetime goals is to laugh at least once a day. It’s 12:50pm and I’ve already had a good belly laugh. How about you??