Getting ahead

Ashbrook's Shannon Kay heads the ball during overtime in the match against South Point on Thursday April 19, 2012 at Ashbrook. Kay scored the sole goal of the match. 

Olympic Team Trials for Whitewater Slalom

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Sudden Impact

South Point baserunner Mitchell Painter, left, collides with Cherryville first baseman Alston Mosteller as Mosteller attempts to field a ground ball on the first base line during the Gaston County Baseball Tournament semi-final match at Sims Park on Wednesday April 11, 2012. 

South Point right fielder Mitchell Painter comes up short of catching a fly ball during the game against Cherryville.

Rust bucket

I found this old Ford truck rusting away in a barn at Sandcastle Farms near Dallas while on assignment covering a celebration of the family farm's centennial anniversary. 

Waiting...

I recently took a tour of the Commercial Building in downtown Gastonia. It was built in the 1920s, and all but the ground and first floors have been largely abandoned since the '80s.

Walking up the stairs you sort of felt like you were in a time machine, with some of the floors abandoned and left as they were in the '80s, some very obviously in the '70s and still others seemed as though they were unchanged since the '30s.

Truly a forgotten treasure, this building appears to be in perfectly good shape for remodeling into something new. Perhaps a boutique model to compliment the new Gastonia Conference Center which sits on the same city block? That's what I would do if I owned it.

There was also quite a view from the top. I might have to post a picture of that view soon, but for now I'll just tease you.  

Webb St. Shooting

People who are reportedly family members of the victim console one another at the scene where a woman was shot and killed and another injured at 1655 N. Webb St. on Wednesday March 28, 2012.

Gastonia Police tackle a man identified by relatives as Toshawn Adams after he charged through police tape chasing after another man during a small riot that broke out after a large crowd of onlookers had gathered at the scene on N. Webb Street.

Gastonia Police detain a man who took part in a small riot at the scene.

Two people console one another at the scene.

Rainout

I almost enjoy rainout pictures more than shooting baseball itself. Dark clouds get me excited.

A nice evening for arson

Firefighters asses the situation after arriving at 303 Lowell Ave. just off of Wilkinson Blvd. near McAdenville to find a mobile home fully engulfed in flames on Friday March 23, 2012. McAdenville, Lowell, New Hope and Belmont Fire Departments responded to the blaze, which was brought under control quickly with no injuries. Gaston County Police were called to the residence earlier in the day for a domestic, and the fire marshall is now indicating the blaze may be arson. 

Sometimes preparedness pays off. Friday night I had just gotten into my car to leave work when I heard a structure fire dispatched. The address caught my attention. It's the same address where police were called out to a domestic a few hours earlier.

This could be interesting, I though.  

And, as luck would have it, I pulled up on this fire right behind the first fire engine. I was standing there camera ready as they assessed the situation (above) and began fighting the fire (below). 

It's a good thing too; mobile homes fast. It was probably less than 25 minutes from when the first dispatch about the call came out to when the fire was more or less under control. 

Firefighters begin attacking the blaze.