The Roanoke Rapids Police Department Tuesday arrested a man for his alleged involvement in an October shooting in the 800 block of Marshall and Carolina streets.

Deputy Chief Adam Bondarek said Joseph Cordell Oglesby faces four counts of discharging a weapon in the city limits and a count of assault with a deadly with intent to kill. He was jailed on $100,000 bond and has an August 25 court date. There were no injuries in the shooting.

A canine officer with the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office has died.

Dan, a German shepherd trained in explosives detection, was apparently hit by a car after he was let out of pen sometime Monday, Major Mike Casey said.

The man wanted for questioning in the Stanley White Presbyterian Church fire last week is in custody on $40,000 bond for charges filed by the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office.

You can’t keep playing the kid card.

We believe in the importance of a quality education and we also know even a public education isn’t free, someone is paying and that is the taxpayers.

The Roanoke River Region is an area rich in history, heritage and culture. Our region will only be as strong and vital as individuals and groups are willing to decide to listen and learn from one another and our varied life experiences. One means of accomplishing this goal is to attend the next Cultural Awareness Seminar sponsored by the Roanoke River Regional Collaborative on Saturday, July 31, 2010 from 9 am to 2 pm at the Tillery Community Center on 321 Community Center Road in historic Tillery. The seminar of “Race, Power, & Illusion” will give participants an opportunity to share experiences and perspectives and listen to others thus building our community. I encourage everyone to avail themselves of the opportunity to make a definitive difference in bringing all in our region closer together as a community. (For more information about the next seminar or to register, please call 252-826-3017.)

Jeff Watson - Roanoke Rapids

Monday I was taking my wife from Roanoke Rapids to Duke University Medical Center to consult with an orthopedic surgeon. We were early so we decided to stop at the McDonald’s, just off Interstate 85, in Oxford.

When we got back in the car it would not start. I opened the hood and within a minute a young boy came running over to ask if I needed jumper cables. I walked back to his car with him and asked the lady driving if she would be willing to jump start my car using hers. She was in the McDonald’s Drive Through Lane but she said she would help me as soon as she picked up her order.

I’ve been reading and listening to comments about the city proposals to start a fitness center and sell monuments.

Am I the only one who disagrees with arguments against these proposals?

Monday, Lafayette Gatling was held accountable, found in default and his contract to buy the Roanoke Rapids Theatre ended.

If there is any criticism to what council did it would be it should have been done sooner but we understand these things take time and complex legal maneuvering.

The Gatling saga is not over with as the Chicago businessman told us himself Wednesday. “We aren’t planning on running away.”