The state Wildlife Resources Commission is already reporting one deer stand injury before bow hunting season starts.

Sgt. Carl Hatcher, an enforcement officer with the commission, said the injury occurred on Aug. 20 but wasn’t reported to Wildlife until Aug. 24.

Phillip Vinson Davis, 48, of Conway, was putting up a lock-on stand unassisted, putting steps in the same location he had them last year when one of the steps dislodged, causing him to fall.

As he fell he hugged the tree with his arms and legs to break the fall but was impaled in the left arm by the fifth step, causing him to hang from the tree. He suffered nerve damage and lost a large amount of blood. He fell 19 feet, Hatcher said.

Several factors led to the fall, Hatcher said, the first being Davis was erecting the deer stand alone, carrying all the equipment by himself.

Most stand makers recommend placing the steps in a different location from the previous year. Davis also failed to wear a fall restraint device. Wildlife recommends bow hunters wear a full body harness which limits the distance of a fall.

Hunting season

Bow season: Sept. 12 through Oct. 9.

Muzzle loading season: Oct. 10 through 16.

Gun season: Oct. 17 through Jan. 1.

For more information visit Wildlife’s website at www.ncwildlife.org.

Between 10 to 15 storm grates have been stolen from city streets over the last several days, Roanoke Rapids Police Chief Jeff Hinton said this morning.

The grates, used to trap debris from runoff, cost around $300 and present a possible hazard to pedestrians and motorists, he said. “It could cause severe injury if people aren’t paying attention.”

Police believe the grates are being stolen to sell as scrap metal.

Anyone with information is encouraged to call the police department at 252-533-2810 or Halifax County Crimestoppers at 252-583-4444.

A Roanoke Rapids developer has appealed the denial by city council of his zoning request, according to a lawsuit filed in Halifax County Superior Court yesterday.

Council turned down the rezoning request of developer Mike Davis, who owns MTD Investments Inc., at its July 28 meeting. Council accepted the recommendation of the planning board, which recommended it turn down Davis’ request to rezone 6.62 acres of land at the end of Downs Brook Drive to multifamily housing. The decision by council was unanimous.

The lawsuit, filed by Cary Whitaker, a Roanoke attorney, says the rezoning would change the zoning of the property from R-12 to R-3, a lawful use under the city’s zoning ordinance.

“The application complied in every respect with the requirements of the zoning ordinance,” the lawsuit says. “No factual reasons were stated by the Respondents for its failure to make the necessary findings to deny the application and its conclusions are not supported by competent evidence in the record.”

The appeal maintains, “The decision of Respondents was arbitrary and capricious in that the Statement of Consistency with Plans to Amend the Land Use Ordinance had already been distributed. The decision of the City Council was arbitrary and capricious in that adjoining property and property which is of a similar nature has been zoned R-3. The reasons set out in the Statement of Consistency with Plans to Amend Land Use Ordinance for denying petitioner’s application are conclusions not supported by the facts.”

Davis said in an interview yesterday he simply wants the decision overturned. This is the second time the rezoning request was turned down. He said the same request was turned down about three or four years ago.

He said the city’s rejection of the rezoning is costing him untold amounts of money. “I could have had it developed and selling property at the peak of the market. There is no justifiable reason. If it was rezoned I would be building townhouses.”

Demand for townhouses is strong, he said. “They sell good. People are looking for places to live with no maintenance.”

The case of a woman charged with assaulting her husband in the head with a frying pan was continued to Sept. 23, according to court records.

Rosie Lewis was scheduled to appear in court Wednesday.

Lewis, 71, was arrested last week following an Aug. 14 assault which apparently started over the victim not liking what his wife cooked for him.

The assault occurred in the 5000 block of Justice Branch Road in Enfield. 

EMS was already on scene treating the victim, James Lewis, 85, for head injuries. Mrs. Lewis was standing outside with EMS as they were treating the victim.

There was an argument earlier in the morning, which is believed to have started over breakfast, when the victim did not like what was cooked for him.

Mrs. Lewis cooked the victim another meal. While this was going on another argument took place and escalated when Mr. Lewis picked up his cane and drew back in an attempt to strike Mrs. Lewis.

Mrs. Lewis picked up an iron frying pan and hit her husband on the head several times, knocking him to the floor and causing a head injury.

The victim was carried to Halifax Regional Medical Center in Roanoke Rapids where he received 50 stitches.

Mrs. Lewis was charged with assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury and has since been released from jail.