The Enquirer-Journal

01/29/2025

Happy Wednesday!
Hope everyone is having a great week.

We are changing our office lobby hours effective immediately. We do have a door slot that you can drop payments, notices, forms, etc. in. You can reach the following individuals if you should need anything in their respective departments or to schedule time to meet with them:

Linda O’Neil- Publisher
704-261-2200
[email protected]

Jane Alford- Editor
704-261-2220
[email protected]

April Purser- Advertising
704- 261-2208
[email protected]

Chanda Stegall- circulation/ Subscriptions
704-261-2219
[email protected]

Michael Wayne O’Neill- Reporter
704-261-2229
[email protected]

01/28/2025

We will be hosting an informal meeting to promote partnerships with animal rescue organizations in our area on February 12, 2025 from 6 pm - 8 pm at the Monroe Police Department.

Our goal is to create and foster relationships with those who can help us help the animals we encounter.

If you already know you can help, please fill out this application on our webpage prior to February 12: https://www.monroenc.org/FormCenter/Police-12/Monroe-Police-Department-Rescue-Group-Ap-75

If you have additional questions or concerns, please contact Lt. Hower at [email protected] for assistance.

01/28/2025

Families may apply for School Choice through Feb. 9 on the Scribbles portal. Families will be notified about their application status on Feb. 19 and parents must claim their school choice seats by Feb. 28.

🔗 https://www.ucps.k12.nc.us/Page/6990

01/27/2025

01/27/2025

In one week, Kindergarten Registration opens for the ! Gather all your supporting documentation and head over to Scribbles to apply starting on February 1!

🔗 https://www.ucps.k12.nc.us/Page/2760

01/22/2025

Due to the icy road conditions, Waste Connections will not pick up trash and recycling/yard waste today, Jan. 22.

Pickups will be pushed back by one day for the remainder of the week. Wednesday pickups will occur on Thursday, regular Thursday pickups will occur on Friday, and regular Friday pickups will occur on Saturday.

If your items are already at the curb, leave them there for pickup tomorrow.

We apologize for any inconvenience.

01/22/2025

Monroe Police Investigating Pedestrian Hit-and-Run

Monroe Police Department is investigating a hit-and-run after finding a pedestrian lying in the median of W. Roosevelt Blvd. after being hit by a vehicle.

Around 7:28 a.m. Wednesday morning, a Monroe police officer driving on W. Roosevelt Blvd. noticed a man lying in the median in the 2200-block of W. Roosevelt Blvd. A vehicle had hit the man and the driver fled the scene.

The man has been transported to a Charlotte area hospital in critical condition.

Monroe Police are asking for anyone who might have information about the incident to call 704-282-4700 immediately.

01/22/2025

Wednesday, Jan. 22, will be a remote class day for all courses with an online option (hybrid, HyFlex, etc.). Check your Canvas course shell for additional information from your instructor.

All face-to-face classes will be canceled on Wednesday, Jan. 22, however students should check Canvas for any specific class instructions or announcements.

To the extent possible, all employees, including faculty and instructional staff, should plan to work remotely on Jan. 22. Please coordinate with your direct supervisor as needed.

We will continue to monitor the weather and update you as needed.

01/22/2025

WINTER WEATHER ALERT: Staff has been in conversations with emergency management officials and monitoring weather and road conditions throughout the evening. Main and secondary roads are covered with snow, which can result in black ice and dangerous road conditions for buses and drivers in the morning.

To keep our students and staff safe, Union County Public Schools will be closed for students on Wednesday, Jan. 22. Employees will operate on an optional telework day.

• There is no remote instruction for students on Jan. 22. A make-up day is not needed.
• All UCPS facilities will be closed on Jan. 22.
• All district, school, after-school and athletic events are cancelled on Jan. 22.
We will provide a district update about Thursday’s schedule tomorrow evening.

01/22/2025

City Manager Mark Watson, out of a concern for the safety of our employees, has directed that all City offices and facilities will operate on a 2-hour delay Wednesday, January 22 and open at 10 a.m.

Thank you for your patience and understanding. Please stay safe!

01/22/2025

🚓❄️ Patrol officers are reporting that the roads are starting to get pretty slick and they’ve responded to a few wrecks already. Please stay off the roads and stay safe! 🚓❄️

01/22/2025

Wesley Chapel Road Closure

Lester Davis Road, between the intersections of Weddington Road and Orchard Ridge Drive, is currently closed due to a damaged utility line. Repairs are in progress, but we have not received an estimated time of completion at this point. Please allow yourself extra time to reach your destination, and we thank you for your patience and understanding. Live traffic updates are also available via the UCSO's free smartphone app which can be downloaded using the links below.

Sheriff’s App Download Links
- Android Link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ocvapps.a845
- Apple/iOS Link: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/union-county-sheriff-nc/id1660816160

01/22/2025

⚠️ UPDATE: Due to extreme cold and road conditions, all Union County Government facilities will be CLOSED all day on Wednesday, Jan. 22.

Emergency services of Union County Government remain operational. We urge residents to stay home and only venture out if absolutely necessary. Stay tuned to local news and weather channels for further updates. Stay safe!

Details: https://ucgov.info/3WsRP26

❄️Winter Preparedness resources: ucgov.info/winterprep
📲Sign up for UC Alerts: ucgov.info/ucalerts
💻 Many county services are available on our website: unioncountync.gov

01/21/2025

Monroe Police Investigating Case of Animal Cruelty

Monroe Police are investigating a case of animal cruelty after finding a dying dog in the woods behind a local business.

Monroe police officers responded to an animal service call at 1629 W. Franklin St. on Friday, January 17 around 11:45 a.m. They found a severely neglected dog had been discarded in a dog crate behind the dumpster of the business. The dog was a small brown and black shepherd mix with a bright orange collar.

Officers immediately contacted a rescue organization to get medical attention, but the dog succumbed to it’s injuries and died before any treatment could take place.

Monroe Police are asking if you have any information about this investigation to please call 704-282-4700, or Union County Crime Stoppers at 704-238-5600.

01/21/2025

Union County is under a winter weather advisory and snow is expected in our area around 5 p.m. With safety as a top priority, UCPS is cancelling all after-school and athletics activities this evening. The UCPS After School Program will operate on its normal schedule and close at 6 p.m.

Senior leaders will continue to monitor weather and road conditions throughout the evening. Staff will also continue to receive updates from emergency management teams throughout the night. A decision about tomorrow’s schedule will be announced by 5:00 Wednesday morning.

01/17/2025

Case Update: Successful Conviction Following Large-Scale Narcotics Investigation

In a significant step toward justice, Adrian Arroyo-Trujillo, one of the individuals arrested during a 2022 investigation by the Union County Sheriff's Office and our law enforcement partners, has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison. Trujillo was convicted of drug trafficking and immigration offenses after being caught operating a m**hamphetamine conversion lab and trafficking significant quantities of illegal narcotics in Union County.

Recap of the Investigation:

In August 2022, UCSO narcotics detectives identified a residence on Tom Boyd Rd. in Monroe, NC, as a suspected m**hamphetamine production site. Weeks of dedicated surveillance and investigation led to a pivotal traffic stop where K-9 "Yago" alerted deputies to the presence of narcotics in Trujillo's vehicle. This led to the seizure of 26 pounds of m**hamphetamine and further evidence linking the suspects to drug trafficking activities.

Following this, a search warrant at the residence uncovered an active m**hamphetamine conversion lab, an additional 23 pounds of m**hamphetamine, ma*****na, and an AR-15 rifle. The m**h lab was safely dismantled with the assistance of the North Carolina SBI.

We are proud of the teamwork, commitment, and expertise that made this investigation successful. Sheriff Eddie Cathey commends the hard work of the UCSO’s narcotics detectives, the SBI, and federal agencies who ensured justice was served.

You can read over the original Facebook post about this investigation that our office distributed using the link below.

https://www.facebook.com/ucsonc/posts/pfbid0PPgD7ddg5maieooJSiKLefYPLn7SADByyyaE2yY9skQ43cCFvgS4AdtxAtpbW2Xkl