John Marino, a Lake Norman Marine Commission representative from Catawba County, outlines new boat-rental safety measures Monday night in Mooresville. (David Boraks/CorneliusNews.net)

By DAVID BORAKS
CorneliusNews.net

MOORESVILLE – People who rent boats on Lake Norman won’t face any new mandatory education requirements, but rental companies have agreed to adopt a series of voluntary “best practices” for boater education, which they say will improve safety on the lake. The Lake Norman Marine Commission announced Monday that the best practices will include boat-safety videos and improved explanations of emergency equipment and lake rules. Read the full story

The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department said Monday that no permits had been issued for excavation at a pit in Stanley where two children died Sunday night. The department also said it seized firearms and a marijuana plant from the home of the man who was using a backhoe to dig at the site. Read the full story

Updated Monday, 7pm

STANLEY – Emergency workers overnight recovered the bodies of two children who became trapped when earth collapsed late Sunday afternoon in a pit near a home in eastern Lincoln County. Meanwhile, the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department is now investigating the tragedy. Read the full story

A 35-year-old driver died Saturday morning when her car collided head-on with a pickup truck on N.C. 73 near the Cowan’s Ford Dam. Two other people – one a 5-month-old in the woman’s car – also were hurt. Read the full story

Officer Joseph Squashic (left) was the first on the scene and did CPR and used an automated defibrillator to save the life of Dave Rochester (right) in February. (David Boraks/CorneliusNews.net)

Diana and Dave Rochester listened to the description of how an officer saved his life. (David Boraks/CorneliusNews.net)

By DAVID BORAKS
CorneliusNews.net

Maybe it was some kind of divine reward. Or maybe just the system getting the right people to the right place at the right time. Whatever, the case, Cornelius resident Davie Rochester is thankful for the Cornelius Police Department, where he and his wife have volunteered more than 1,000 hours in the past few years.

On Feb. 5, Rochester had a heart attack at his home on Decora Drive. Cornelius police officer Joseph Squashic responded within a few minutes, finding Rochester unresponsive and not breathing. Squashic began CPR, then attached an AED – an automated external defibrillator – to Rochester’s chest, and administered a shock to his heart. Read the full story

Cornelius-Lemley Fire Department responded to 39 calls this week, including two motor vehicle accidents, a car fire on the side of I-77, and nine fire alarms. At one home last Wednesday, firefighters shut off a malfunctioning heating system after it produced a burning smell. Firefighters also performed CPR and helped revive two patients in cardiac arrest.  More about those calls below, plus a tally of the week’s medical calls. Read the full story

The Cornelius-Lemley Fire Department responded to 42 calls over the past week, including four motor vehicle accidents, three of which had patients with injuries and three fire alarms. More information about these below, along with a tally of this week’s medical calls. Read the full story

Cornelius Police Department will host another Operation Medicine Drop day on Saturday, March 23, allowing residents to safely dispose of unwanted medicines. Read the full story