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Staying ahead of the storm

Staying ahead of the storm

CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV)- A series of deadly storms that pummeled the Midwest combined with the recent rain in Charlotte and surrounding areas reminds us that hurricane season is here.

"It's not if you're going to have severe weather, it's when you're going to have severe weather," said WBTV meteorologist Al Conklin,

Getting the latest warnings when storms are headed your way, and knowing what to do before, during and after a disaster hits are all key to staying safe.

"You have to have a weather safety plan," said Conklin. 

"In other words know what your risk is."

First thing - keep up with the forecast.

"Stay on top of the situation by monitoring WBTV and if you can't, then mobile phone is the way to go," added Conklin.

The WBTV weather app is free.

It will give you warnings, alerts and keep you updated on information so you'll know what's going on.  

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Sheriff: Middle school teacher 'videoed down shirts of students'

CATAWBA COUNTY, NC (WBTV)- A middle school teacher in Catawba County has been suspended and banned from school grounds after deputies say he was charged filming two students at school.

According to Catawba County Sheriff Coy Reid, 50-year-old Scott William Grantham, of Hickory, was arrested on Friday for two counts of felony secret peeping.

Grantham is an English as Second Language teacher at Arndt Middle School.

During an on-camera interview on Monday, Catawba County Sheriff Coy Reid told WBTV that Grantham was busted videoing down the shirts of female students.

"In this case, he took a video camera and videoed down the blouse of two female students there at Arndt Middle School," Reid said.

Catawba County Schools Superintendent, Dr. Dan Brigman, suspended Grantham with pay - pending the outcome of the investigation.

Long View man appears in court; charged with murder of 20 month old

LONG VIEW, NC (WBTV)- William Howard Lial III appeared in Catawba County court and grimaced as a judge spoke about the charges against him.

A judge told Lial he could face the death penalty or life in prison.

Lial is accused of killing 20 month old Jaydon Sandlin and injuring Jaydon's 3 year old sister Kylie.

Arrest warrants for Lail were released Monday. The warrants state that officers said there was probable cause to believe Lail "unlawfully, willfully and feloniously did intentionally inflict serious physical injury, scalding burns to the buttocks and back of both legs," of the one-year-old child.

The warrants state the 3-year-old girl had scalding burns on her head, shoulders, legs and feet. 

There is a small memorial outside the Long View home where Lail was watching the two kids for his girlfriend.

Man arrested on drug violations near child care center, police say

LENOIR, NC (WBTV)- A Lenoir man was arrested for drug violations after an investigation that lasted several weeks, according to the Lenoir Police Department.

On May 1, just before 7 p.m., Lenoir Narcotics Detectives arrested Gerrod Barnes, aka "Hot Rod", 25, after the officials seized 2.6 grams of crack cocaine, $899 dollars in cash, digital scales, and other paraphernalia. The street value of drugs recovered amounts to $520 dollars, the official report states.

The violations occurred within 1,000 feet of First Steps, a child care facility, on Vance Street.

Barnes was charged with felony possession with intent to sell/distribute a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a child care facility, possession with intent to sell/distribute cocaine, manufacture of cocaine, and maintaining a vehicle for storage of a controlled substance.

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Grab a partner for a better workout, experts say

Grab a partner for a better workout, experts say

CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV)- When the alarm goes off at 6 a.m., getting out of bed and heading to the gym may seem like an impossible task.

Good news!

Recent studies have found that exercising with a small group boosts motivation and it's more fun than doing it alone.

"The whole accountability piece of the pie really helps," says Barb Christie.

We all know the benefits of exercise both body and mind.

Everydayhealth.com says group exercise often leads to better results, especially if you are trying to accomplish a goal.

"The biggest benefit to group training is the comradery and how people can push to achieve more," says Rick Anderson the owner of www.fitnesstogethercharlotte.com

Your buddies or trainer also can help motivate you on those days when you really don't feel like exercising.

Harris Teeter launches donation campaign to support USO, WWP

Harris Teeter launches donation campaign to support USO, WWP

Today Harris Teeter launched a donation card campaign to support both the United Service Organizations (USO) and Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP), two organizations committed to supporting our troops and their families.

During the month of May, Harris Teeter customers at every Harris Teeter location will be able to make $1, $3, or $5 donations to Support Our Troops at checkout.  Similar community-based donation card campaigns hosted by Harris Teeter have raised more than $500,000 in a given month; the first annual Support Our Troops campaign raised over $445,000.  Harris Teeter is proud to support both the USO and WWP during this May campaign and is thankful for both the involvement of its associates and its customers as well as the good works of both nonprofit partners.

Duke Energy touts benefits of appliance recycling

Duke Energy touts benefits of appliance recycling

CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV)- Many households have them: The 20-year-old freezer in the garage that's seldom used, or that old clunker of a refrigerator collecting dust – and using lots of energy – in the basement.

"The potential to save money and energy – and even earn extra cash – can be found in recycling outdated, secondary refrigerators and freezers that are in working condition located throughout your home," said John Langston, program manager for Duke Energy's appliance recycling program.

Unplugging and properly disposing of these energy-hogging dinosaurs through recycling can save money, reduce energy demand and environmental impact, and possibly delay the need for Duke Energy to build new power plants: