🌱Squatters Arrested + New Online Utility Billing, Payment System

Good morning, hello! It's me, Karena Garrity, your host of the Mooresville Daily — back in your inbox with everything you need to know about what's happening in town these days.

First, today's weather:

Partly sunny and humid. High: 87 Low: 68.

Here are the top three stories today in Mooresville:

1. Water bills in Mooresville are higher than usual. According to WCNC.com, "neighbors are looking for answers from the town of Mooresville government after many people opened up their water bills to find they would have to pay double. The catch, those neighbors told WCNC Charlotte, is that the usage recorded is not accurate. WCNC Charlotte took our questions to the town government. The town sent back a statement: "The Town of Mooresville water utility rates have remained unchanged since July 2013, when they were reduced to current levels." (WCNC.com)
2. Twenty-nine-year-old Darius Trrone Hall, has been charged with breaking and entering, two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, carrying a concealed gun and second-degree trespassing. Nataijah Shaieena Fields, 37, was charged with breaking and entering, two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor and second-degree trespassing. Both these individuals are part of a religious organization that believes in the sovereign citizen movement. They have allegedly been squatting in the home of NASCAR driver Ricky Stenhouse Jr. According to WBTV, "the couple broke into the Mooresville, NC mansion and have been squatting inside. The home is currently listed for sale for $15,995,000. Hall and Fields are members of the Moorish Nation, a religious sect founded in the 1920s with beliefs connected to Islam. Some members practiced hostile possession of properties in line with the sovereign citizen movement, which purports to mean that they believe they have immunity from U.S. federal, state, and local laws." (The Comeback)
3. According to the town of Mooresville's website, "the Town recently implemented a more secure, cost-free and user-friendly online utility billing and payment system for customers. The additions will provide Mooresville customers with an enhanced bill pay experience, including greater flexibility, accessibility, and ease-of-use to better manage their bills.
   The new features include an improved user interface, a 'pay now' feature that enables quick payment without having to register an account, as well as registered account enhancements that provide the ability to view account history, save preferred payment methods and schedule automatic payments. Transactions can be made via credit, debit, ACH/eCheck or by authorizing PayPal, PayPal Credit and Venmo digital wallet options. A new automated phone payment system with capabilities such as quick account balance review and payment via credit card, debit card, or eCheck and an easy-to-use call flow has launched, as well. Payments may be made by calling 1-888-598-4076." (Town of Mooresville)

Today in Mooresville:

• ALDI’s National Hiring Week (5 p.m.)
• Senior Experience - Pine Lake Preparatory (All day)

From my notebook:

• Feed NC: "Hard hat tour! We had so much fun touring the new facility and seeing first-hand what progress has been made!" (Feed NC via Facebook)
• Mooresville Public Library: "Children's programming will resume Saturday, September 3 at 11 a.m. with Saturday STEM! Please join us for a variety of pencil themed experiments to teach children about light refraction, friction, surface tension and other scientific topics." (Mooresville Public Library via Facebook)
• Mooresville Parks & Recreation: "Thank you to the Able & Ready Exchange Club for their hard work at John Moore Park! Ladies and gentlemen it looks beautiful! Great job serving your community!" (Mooresville Parks & Recreation via Facebook)
• Mooresville Public Library: "We have a teen volunteer opportunity coming up on September 3! Register to help get the Teen/YA area ready for Fall. You can register at https://bit.ly/eventsMPL" (Mooresville Public Library via Facebook)
• Mooresville Chamber of Commerce: "Congressman McHenry Announces $95,238 Homeland Security Grant to Mount Mourne Volunteer Fire Department in Iredell County! https://mchenry.house.gov/news/email/show.aspx?ID=ECLKUS7ZCIQQPBEFXX3Y7TLMFY" (Mooresville Chamber of Commerce via Facebook)
• Mooresville Chamber of Commerce: "Congressman McHenry Announces $95,238 Homeland Security Grant to Mount Mourne Volunteer Fire Department in Iredell County! https://mchenry.house.gov/news/email/show.aspx?ID=ECLKUS7ZCIQQPBEFXX3Y7TLMFY" (Mooresville Chamber of Commerce via Facebook)

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Events:

• ALDI’s National Hiring Week (August 28)
• Breast Ultrasound Screening Coming Direct to You! (August 29)
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You're officially in the loop for today. See you all tomorrow morning for another update!

— Karena Garrity

About me: Journalism is in my veins! I have been a community reporter for the better part of the past 20 years. I love my small town community and I am honored to be a part of Patch.com. You can reach me at; karena.garrity@patch.com.

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Mooresville Daily? Contact me at karena.garrity@patch.com