Authorities that regulate activities on Lake Norman are considering a new set of rules governing water skiing slalom courses. The Mooresville Tribune reports that permits would be issued by Duke Energy, with approval from the Lake Norman Marine Commission. (LINK: Oct. 9, 2012, Mooresville Tribune, “Lake board looks to regulate ski courses.”

By JULIE ROSE
WFAE

Mecklenburg County plans to lift its 30-year ban on swimming at county parks on Lake Norman – possibly by the summer of 2015. The county Park & Recreation department will allow the access at Ramsey Creek Park, off Nantz Road in Cornelius.

Currently only people with boats or lakefront property have access to swim in the Lake. A series of drowning deaths in the 1970s prompted the swimming ban. Read the full story

Two of the three candidates for the 9th Congressional District seat – Jennifer Roberts and Curtis Campbell – will answer voters’ questions during an election forum Thursday night, Oct. 11, at Davidson College. Former Republican state Sen. Robert Pittenger has opted out, saying he plans to campaign elsewhere in the district that night. The forum also includes candidates for Mecklenburg County Commission at-large and District 1. Read the full story on our ELECTION 2012 page.

HUNTERSVILLE – It’s time for the quarterly test of sirens around Duke Energy’s McGuire Nuclear Station. The sirens, which alert residents in the event of an emergency, will be tested Wednesday, Oct. 10, at 11:50 a.m. Read the full story

The Cornelius Youth Orchestras (CYO) are holding auditions for the 2012 – 2013 concert season. Auditions and parent information sessions will be on Tuesdays, Oct. 9, 16, and 23, at 6 p.m. in the Orchestra Room at Bailey Middle School, 11900 Bailey Road, Cornelius.

Youth musicians and parents are welcome to attend the 6:30 p.m. rehearsal as a free trial. Contact Nanette Haraden to schedule an audition 704-576-7270. Read the full story

Mt. Zion United Methodist Church has a variety of activities ahead this weekend and next week, including a County Fair and Fall Festival on Saturday, and a Blessing of the Land ceremony Sunday for the planned Autumn Care long-term care facility off Zion Street. Next week, the church and Autumn Corp. Inc. will break ground for the new facility. Also next week, another session of the church’s Religion and Politics series.  Read the full story

Dozens of mourners, from family to longtime friends to former firefighting colleagues said, farewell Thursday to Jimmy Carroll Bumgarner Sr., who died Monday at age 67.

Mr. Bumgarner was a retired fire chief of Cornelius-Lemley Fire Rescue, serving in the 1970s. He also had worked 30 years as an HVA specialist for Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools, and also worked at Ingersoll Rand. Read the full story

The Davidson College Presbyterian Church Jubilee Class will host a series of programs beginning this Sunday on the relationship between church and state. Also below, information about Mt. Zion United Methodist Church’s series on “Mixing Politics and Religion: How Christian Values Affect Election Decisions.”

DCPC SERIES

The DCPC classes are Sundays at 9:45 a.m. in Room 116 at the Church, 100 N. Main St., at Concord Road, Davidson.

Residents and college students are invited. For more information, please contact Linda Steber at lsteber@dcpc.org. Here’s the schedule and topics:

• October 7: Origins of Church and State Issues — Jeff Gray, Attorney at Law and church member
• October 14: US Constitution—Wall or Swiss Cheese?—Jeff Gray
• October 21: Issues and Cases of Separation of Church and State—Dr. Anne Blue Wills, Associate Professor of Religion, Davidson College
• October 28: More Separation of Church and State
• November 4: Pluralism and Religious Alternatives—Dr. Gerardo Marti, Professor and Chair of Sociology, Davidson College
• November 11: Calvin and the Constitution—Dr. Sherrill Holland, retired Dean of New Brunswick Seminary
• November 18: What this means for us today—class discussion

MT. ZION LOOKS AT CHURCHES AND THE ELECTION

Mt. Zion United Methodist Church will begin a four-week study on Wednesday, Oct. 3, on “Mixing Politics and Religion: How Christian Values Affect Election Decisions.”

Led by Senior Pastor Mary John Dye, the sessions will run four Wednesdays (Oct. 3, 10, 17, 24) at 6:30 p.m., in the church sanctuary, 19600 Zion Avenue, Cornelius.

The course is open to the community and people of all churches. A fellowship meal is available prior to the course at the church’s Family Life Center. For meal signups, visit the church website: http://www.mtzionumc.net/bloom.

On Election Day, Tuesday, November 6, the sanctuary at Mt. Zion will be open for prayer all day. Communion will be served from 7 – 8 a.m., 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. and 5 – 6 p.m.