INSIDE: COMMON HEART HUNGER WALK COMING MARCH 1 A2 nquirerThe E ournal Monroe’sJ newspaper since 1873 enquirerjournal.com Tuesday, February 25, 2020 Vol. 146, No. 116 • $1.50 Man gets 8 years for illegal rearms BY HOLLY MORGAN North Carolina. officers investigated a shooting the shooter with the 9mm pistol by HOLLYMORGANTHEEJ.COM On May 12, 2018, Massey was incident at the intersection of Fair- law enforcement. MONROE — Marcus Damar found in possession of a loaded 12 ly Avenue and Morgan Mill Road “Massey is currently in custo- Massey, 34, of Monroe, was gauge shotgun and a 9mm pistol. from April 29, 2018, they collected dy and will be transferred to the sentenced to eight years in pris- At the time, he had prior felony fi ve 9mm shell casings at the scene custody of the federal Bureau of on and two years of supervised convictions; felons are not allowed “and observed three bullet holes in Prisons upon designation of a fed- release for illegally obtaining a to have fi rearms and ammunition. the passenger side of the vehicle eral facility. Federal sentences are firearm, according to the office He plead guilty to illegally possess- driven by the victim,” according to served without the possibility of Marcus of Andrew Murray, U.S. Attor- ing those fi rearms on Sept. 5, 2019. Murray’s offi ce. parole,” according to Murray’s Damar ney for the Western District of As Monroe Police Department Massey was later identified as offi ce. Massey ‘The time is right for this story to come out’ SPORTS: INSIDE Documentary will be based on local author’s book BY THE ENQUIRERJOURNAL MONROE “I grew up here not knowing there was CHAMPS AGAIN anybody named Jim Crow. When my relatives Sophomore Ruby Williams helped died, white people put on their suits and Cuthbertson’s girls repeat as SCC came over to our house. I thought black and white people helped each other.” tournament champions. PAGE B2 he opening line from the newly-released documentary trailer Tbased on the nonfi ction book by Gene Stowe “Inherit the Land: Jim Crow INDEX meets Ms. Maggie’s Will” is an attention grabber. It sets the tone for why a Union Classi ed ..............................B3-4 County author and a Tennessee-based Comics ..................................... A7 production company have come together. Coming Events ...............A3, A5 Author Gene Stowe and members Dear Abby .............................. A7 from the production company Cozarts Obituaries ............................... A3 Entertainment introduced a preview of Police Beat ..............................B2 the upcoming documentary to the public over the weekend (Feb. 21-23). Sports ....................................B1-2 First published as a book in 2006, Thought of Day .................... A4 “Inherit the Land: Jim Crow Meets Miss Weather ................................... A3 SEE DOCUMENTARY/PAGE A3 “Inherit the Land” author Gene Stowe OBITUARIES (center) and members of Cozarts Enter- Robert Norman | Norwood tainment stand on the porch of the origi- nal home of Maggie Ross. The production Beverly Martin | Marshville company is hoping to release a docu- PAGE A3 mentary based on Stowe’s book at Mon- roe’s Center Theatre in the fall or winter. WEATHER Photo courtesy of InTempest Photography HIGH: 66 LOW: 53 Full report More tra c cones ‘Leap’ into the on Page A3. Get up-to-the-minute updates at in county’s future classroom at SPCC www.enquirerjournal.com. BY HOLLY MORGAN BY HOLLY MORGAN from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., but Transportation are trying HOLLYMORGANTHEEJ.COM HOLLYMORGANTHEEJ.COM to address. registration is required. TODAY IN HISTORY MONROE — Popula- A critical intersection MONROE — For any- The event is designed to tion growth is generally update from 2019 provides one who has been think- give guests a taste of what 1870: Hiram Revels became the rst considered a good thing, a guide to see where fund- ing about taking classes at being a part of a program black United States senator, taking but not when you’re stuck ing needs to be applied South Piedmont Commu- at SPCC is like without the over the term of Je erson Davis. in traffic on your way to and how much. nity College (SPCC), they commitment. will have a chance this Guests can learn about 1983: Tennessee Williams, American work or running late to an The update included a playwright, died. appointment. five-month (February-Ju- Saturday to get a glimpse the Nursing, Medical Congested traffic is ly) collaborative effort into several programs the Assisting and Medical an issue both the Union between local municipality college offers. Sonography programs, County and the North The interactive “Leap Carolina Department of SEE CONES/PAGE A2 Day” is free to everyone SEE SPCC/PAGE A3 • Over 90 Aerobic Classes/Week • Racquetball • 14,000 sq. ft. Fitness Room • Indoor Pool & 2.5 Acre Water Park No Joining Fees • Free Weights • Indoor Run/Walk Track • Cardio Equipment - • Novant RNs On-Site Over 110 Pcs. • Health Screenings in February!* • Weight Machines • Nutrition/Exercise Coaching COMMIT TO BE FIT • Senior Yoga and Water Aerobics • Double Gymnasium *Expires February 28th • Swim Lessons • 1/2 Mile Outdoor Walking Course Located off Hwy 74 across the street from Lowe’s on Hanover Dr. in Monroe 704-282-4680 Tuesday, February 25, 2020, THE ENQUIRERJOURNAL A3 OBITUARIES COMING EVENTS TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25 Indian Trail, for children ages 3-5 Beverly Martin | Marshville CHAIR YOGA, 9:10 a.m. — 10:00 a.m., MONROE ROTARY CLUB, 12:00 p.m. Beverly Mills Martin, grandchildren, Garrett Miller. Burial will follow Ellen Fitzgerald Center. Open to ages 55 to 1:00 p.m., Rolling Hills Country Club, 68, of Marshville, Helms and Lakin in the church cemetery. and up. For details, call 704-282-4657 2722 W. Roosevelt Blvd., Monroe NC (New Salem Helms, and Aspen The family will receive TODDLER STORY TIME, 10:00 a.m., ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, Community), passed Birmingham all of New friends in the fellowship UCPL-Main Library, 316 E. Windsor St., Monroe Noon Group-Bridge to Recovery, away Sunday, February Salem Community; as hall immediately Monroe, for children ages 12 months to 12:00 p.m., 2111 Sta ord St. Ext., Monroe 23, 2020. well as several nieces following the burial. 36 months. MARSHVILLE ROTARY CLUB, Beverly was born and nephews; and her Memorials may be FAMILY STORY TIME, 10:30 a.m. 12:00 p.m., Pier Restaurant, 7130 E, February 15, 1952 in special fur babies. made to the Pleasant UCPL-Waxhaw Branch Library, Located Marshville Blvd. Marshville Union County, NC to Beverly retired as a Hill Baptist Church at American Legion Post 208, for children ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, the late Fred “Jack” respiratory therapist Cemetery Fund or ages 0-5 Low Bottom Group, 6:00 p.m. Old Belk Mills and the late Letha from Union Memorial the National Kidney TODDLER STORY TIME, 10:30 a.m., Building, 200 Stewart St., Monroe Baucom Mills. Hospital after a long Foundation at www. UCPL-Union West Regional Library, 123 U.S. MARINE CORPS LEAGUE 914, Survivors include career. She will be dearly kidney.org Unionville-Indian Trail, Rd., Indian Trail, for 6:00 p.m., business meeting at 7:00 p.m., her husband Shelley missed by all those who Hartsell Funeral children ages 12 months to 36 months. The Derby, 1012 Skyway Dr., Monroe Martin; daughters, Tana knew and loved her. Home of Midland is PRESCHOOL STORY TIME, ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, Birmingham; Denise The funeral service serving the Martin 11:00 a.m., UCPL-Main Library, 316 E. Brighter Day- Daymark Recovery Services, Helms and husband will be on Wednesday, family. Memories Windsor St., Monroe, for children ages 3-5 6:00 p.m., 1190 W. Roosevelt Blvd., Monroe Brian; Kelly Martin; February 26, at 3:00 p.m. and condolences may ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, Sunset sisters, Linda Mills at Pleasant Hill Baptist be shared at www. UNION COUNTY CHAPTER AARP Group, 6:00 p.m., 1010 McManus St., Cannon and husband Church in Marshville, hartsellfh.com #5164, 11:00 a.m., (no meeting in June, Henry; and Dianne offi ciated by Rev. Leon July, Aug.), Ellen Fitzgerald Senior Center, Monroe TOWN OF INDIAN TRAIL, 6:30 p.m., Mills Yarbrough; Whitley and Rev. John PAID OBITUARY 327 S. Hayne St., Monroe PRESCHOOL STORY TIME, 315 Matthews-Indian Trail Rd., Indian Trail 11:30 a.m., UCPL-Union West Regional Robert Norman | Norwood Library, 123 Unionville-Indian Trail, Rd., SEE EVENTS/PAGE A5 Funeral services for Mr. at East Macedonia body will lie in state one Robert A. Norman, 64, of Missionary Baptist hour before the service. Norwood, NC will be held Church, Norwood, NC. Blakely’s Funeral Service on Wednesday, February Burial will be in the of Monroe is handling 26, 2020 at 3:00 p.m. Church Cemetery. The arrangements. family at the heart of the story lived.” Cozart, who is the director of the DOCUMENTARY documentary, has more than 50 movie FROM PAGE A1 and television credits to his name. His IMDb profi le includes the 1997 Maggie’s Will” tells the story of white fi lm “Conspiracy Theory”, where he landowner Maggie Ross, who willed acted along with silver-screen stars her 800-acre estate in Marvin to a black Julia Roberts and Mel Gibson. Cozart family in 1907. entertained the crowd on Friday After her death in 1920, more than evening with stories of his time in 100 of her family members contested Hollywood, including working with the validity of the will, claiming the Woody Harrelson on the 1992 movie bequest to African-Americans proved “White Men Can’t Jump”. she was incompetent. A two-week Both Johnson and Cozart said trial in 1921, in front of an all white they were ready to begin work on jury in Monroe, upheld the will.