SUV Crashes into High Point Church

HIGH POINT, N.C.- An SUV slammed into a church Wednesday morning on Oakview Road, leaving no serious injuries and over $15,000 in damages.  

Emergency crews were called to 810 Oakview Road around 8:30 a.m.

The crash occurred when a driver crossed the median on Johnson Street and crashed into Oakview Baptist Church. 

The car drove into the Fellowship Hall, which is where staff member Robert Murphey says the church hosts Wednesday evening meals. It is also home to another church on Sunday mornings.

Police estimate there is over $15,000 in damages. 

According to the crash report, the driver was identified as 24 year old Jamie Mack. Mack has a history of seizures which is what police believed caused the crash. 

Firefighters could not comment on the condition of Mack, but stated that she was conscious when she was transported to the hospital and that she did not appear to have life-threatening injuries. 

Church staff members were holding a meeting upstairs when the crash happened. 

“We did not hear the crash. We just kept hearing sirens and we knew something was going on,” says Don Duncan, a church staff member. 

One staff member received a call from police alerting him of the crash. When staff members came downstairs, they were alarmed by the sight. 

Despite all the wreckage, church members were in good spirits.

“We plan on sending flowers to the driver,” says Duncan.

Carolina Panthers making a bold return

CHARLOTTE- A recent turnaround in this commonly underestimated team has turned heads for doubters and sparked pride in fans. With a current season record of 9-3, talk has generated on how this team has developed a competitive edge. 

By: Chandler Whicker

Aerial view of Bank of America Stadium from
the Duke Energy Center.

Rough History 

The Carolina Panthers have struggled to find a steady rhythm; most significantly in the past five years.

The team was founded in 1995 and in 1996, the Panthers made the playoffs. However, the team did not make it into another playoff until 2003.

2003 proved to be a successful year as the team traveled to the Super Bowl but lost. Since 2003, the team has fought to develop a winning game strategy. 

In 2010, the team’s record was 2-10; the worst record in the Panther’s history. 

The Duke Energy Center lit in Carolina Panther colors
in honor of recent victories. 

Making Changes 

After a rocky season in 2010, the team made drastic changes. Former Panther’s quarterback Jake Delhomme was released and former head coach John Fox was dismissed. 

Ron Rivera was hired as head coach and quarterback Cam Newton was drafted and joined the team.

In 2011, the team finished with a 6-10 record and in 2012 their record improved slightly to 7-9. 

In the 2013 season, the team has seen significant improvement with a current record of 9-3. 

Key players such as Steve Smith, Cam Newton, and Luke Kuechly have played vigorous roles in leading the team to a winning season. 

According to Carolina Panther's employee Glenn Putnam, this winning streak is due to the combination  of many factors including building around the defense, confidence in Rivera, and the maturing of Cam Newton.

"Overall the team has begun to click and many times when you are in that rhythm things just come naturally" says Putnam.

The improvements made to the team and it's strategy are vital for wins.  

Panther Pride

While players play the dominant role in the game, a different group plays just as vital of a role; however, they play off the field.

Fans have continued to show support for their team even during the rough years.

The fans had complete confidence that their team would endure and believed a huge comeback should be expected.

Nothing compares to the experience of football and for former TopCat January Fitzgerald, these were the best and most memorable experiences of her life. Fitzgerald cheered with the team from 2002-2005 and was awarded the opportunity to travel with the team to the Superbowl in 2004.

"The atmosphere is thrilling!" says Fitzgerald. 

Due to the current winning streak, fans have shown their overwhelming support for their team.

Fans hope that the team's turnaround means the team has finally found it's rhythm.

Continued team effort of players and strategic game plans from coaches puts the Panthers officially back in business. 





For tickets to a upcoming game, please visit the Carolina Panthers website.

For more NFL statistics, visit the ESPN website.  

Obama offers more than "Thank You" to Veterans

Obama offers more than "Thank You" to Veterans

By: Chandler Whicker

President Obama addressed Veterans in celebration of Veteran's Day in his Weekly Address. He offered a sincere "Thank You" to all Veterans and explained how he is supporting the Veterans just as the Veterans have supported and fought for the country. 

"We need to serve them as well as they have served us" says Obama in an effort to help Veterans adjust to returning home. 

According to Obama, Michelle Obama and Jill Biden's Joining Forces campaign has provided more than 290,000 returning soldiers and military spouses with jobs. The program also provided the necessary training soldiers need to hold civilian jobs. 

President Obama has made it a priority to create new jobs which includes providing opportunities to returning soldiers. He asks that we "share the opportunity he or she has helped defend". 

Obama called upon Congress to "do the right thing" and pass the Veterans Jobs Corp. Congress recently passed the Post-9/11 GI Bill which is helping more soldiers earn degrees. 

Obama is currently working with community colleges and universities to improve educational standards for returning soldiers. 

"I will make it my mission to make sure America has your back, not just on one day.., but 365 days a year." Since taking office, Obama has hired more than 300,000 Veterans. Obama recognizes success, but as more soldiers return home he seeks continued improvement. 

As more Veterans return home and settle into a new lifestyle, it is Obama's mission to provide them with " a good job, good education, and a home to call their own."

Three generations participate in High Point Market

For Emmet Root, he has not missed the High Point Market since he began attending in October 1955.

The 79-year-old Root anticipates the trip to High Point, NC for the High Point Market. However, this previous trip was unique for Root. For the first time three generations of Roots are here including his son, Michael, and his grandson, Jay. 

The three men are representing Furniture Sales of Mid-America which is a company based in Omaha, Neb. that Root founded. Michael, the president and chief executive officer of the company, has been in attendance for about 25 years while Jay, a sales representative, is attending his first market event. 

Root is thrilled to be accompanied by his son and grandson. "It's nice to have that new adrenaline flowing through the business," he said. 

Root feels that attendance at this market is crucial if you are in the furniture business; "To me, this is where the pulse of our business is."  

The start of a new market

The High Point Market was established in High Point, NC in 1909 to create a place where furniture makers and marketers could do business. When the market was originally founded, it was known as the Southern Furniture Market. 

In 1921, the Southern Furniture Exposition Building was completed and the first market show was held shortly after. High Point was hopeful to become the furniture capital of the world. 

Between the 1940's and the 1980's, the market expanded rapidly thus living up to its goals of becoming the place for furniture.

By the late 1980's, the market was attracting customers from over 100 countries. As a result, in 1989 the market was renamed as the International Home Furnishings Market. In 2007, the market was renamed again as the High Point Market to recognize a tradition from the 1920's. This name still remains the same today. 

From furniture market to furniture capital 

The High Point Market has expanded rapidly over the last decades. The market has quickly become the largest furnishings trade show in the world. The market welcomes over 75,000 guests; ten percent of the attendees are international guests. 

The market encompasses over 11.5 million square feet of showcase which includes over 180 buildings in downtown High Point. The market also houses over 2,000 exhibitors. 

Future of the market

The High Point Market is held every six months. In 2014, the spring date for the market has been set for April 5-10 and the fall date has been set for October 18-23. 

For Root, he plans to continue attending every event. 

Parents changed routine on day child died

Story courtesy of Sarah Newell Williamson-News & Record

Lawyer: Parents changed routine on day child died; father charged

GREENSBORO — It’s a daily juggle that goes on in households all over the world without anything going tragically, incomprehensibly wrong.
But for a Whitsett family early last month, that routine ended in the death of a child. Now, 31-year-old Jose Stanlin Fichack faces a charge of involuntary manslaughter in his youngest son’s death.
Daily routine turns tragic

For the Fichacks, mornings were a race to work, school or day care. Dad and the oldest boy were out the door and on the road right after breakfast. Mom and 3-month-old Nicolas — “Nico” to his family — took a separate car to work. Usually that meant Nico and mom would meet up with dad at a store at the FantaCity International Shopping Center, where they adults work. 

On Oct. 3, the family changed its routine. Mom and the oldest boy spent the morning together to attend a school event.

Nico’s dad strapped the baby into his car seat in the van and headed to work.

It wasn’t until the three adults were together at work later that day that someone asked,“Where’s Nico?”

Several hours after the Fichack family left home that morning, police found Nico dead in a van parked at the shopping center.

At Moses Cone Hospital, doctors would say the child died of heatstroke.

Police: Father arrested after child left in hot car. Photo courtesy of WSOCTV.

Suffering the consequences  

On Wednesday, nearly a month later, police issued an arrest warrant in connection with Nico’s death.

The Guilford County District Attorney’s Office examined evidence from police and the medical examiner’s office before deciding to charge the baby’s father, said Howard Neumann, the chief assistant district attorney.

On Thursday, Jose Fichack turned himself in. He was released on a $50,000 bond.

The child’s mother will not be charged, officials said.

Accident or abuse

“It was a tragic accident,” Robert O’Hale, Fichack’s attorney, said Thursday. The parents “are forever devastated by it.”

The attorney said both parents and the wife’s brother work at the same business in the FantaCity shopping center, 4929 W. Market St.

“The wife’s brother called 911,” O’Hale said.

Police said the infant was in the car between one and five hours that day.

The temperature in Greensboro was 83 degrees at the time Nico was found, according to the National Weather Service.

A 911 call recorded the rescue efforts of bystanders. The caller said the child was not breathing and asked for an ambulance. A dispatcher gave instructions on performing CPR.

Nicolas was pronounced dead that day at the hospital.

Examining the case 

It was unclear Thursday if his older brother remained with the family after the incident. Police would not say, and the Guilford County Department of Social Services does not comment specifically on any case.

However, Steve Hayes, a division director for the agency, said if there is an incident in a home, DSS will look at all of the children.

That is true especially if a child has died.

“If a child died of abuse or neglect, we look at the family for risk of abuse and neglect of other kids,” Hayes said.

“If we get involved for one issue, we look at the whole family.”

Facing a possible penalty

Fichack, of 1812 N.C. 61 in Whitsett, faces a possible penalty ranging from 13 months to 59 months in prison, Neumann said.

The sentence range is wide, and at the lower end can be suspended.

According to Neumann, a woman who was found guilty on a similar charge in a previous case was put on probation.

Fichack’s first court appearance is scheduled for Dec. 2 in Guilford County District Court.

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