DOBSON — The most recent supermoon, which loomed in the night sky on Nov. 14, was the closest full moon since 1948 and will hold that record until 2034.
Around that same time, (more or less), a series of unusual incidents were reported to the Surry County Sheriff’s Office.
Coincidence? You decide.
Seasonal yard work
While sugar has historically been the preferred substance used to destroy an engine, an unknown suspect recently employed a different baking item to do the deed – salt.
According to a Nov. 4 report, salt was poured into a lawnmower belonging to Charles Childers, of Nurse Road, Ararat.
Apparently, salt is as effective as its sweeter counterpart when it comes to shutting down operations.
Childers told deputies he had tried to cut his lawn and found the mower wouldn’t start.
His mechanic delivered the bad news: salt had been found in the machine’s gas tank, causing $4,500 of damage to the John Deere X530.
There are currently no suspects in the investigation, said Det. David Hamlin, acting as spokesperson for the sheriff’s office.
Disturbing the peace
A wooden box containing a dog’s ashes was among items stolen from the back of Avery Cox’s pickup truck.
On Nov. 10, Cox, of Ararat Road, Pilot Mountain, found his Ford 150 stripped of all four rims and tires and the pickup bed emptied.
Along with the animal’s remains, six personalized dog leads were stolen, along with a tracking shock collar, two four-cell Maglight flashlights and a vehicle mounted marine two-way radio.
The incident is under investigation, said Hamlin, guessing the thief was in a hurry, as the cab of the vehicle had not been broken-into and the property likely not examined closely.
While lifting the dog’s ashes may not have been the unknown suspect’s primary objective, the profit motive may have been the same as any grave robber.
The value of the stolen property totaled $1,470.
Not so simple affray
Deputies dispatched to a Saturday night fight on Hardin Mill Road in Dobson arrived to find 10 people fighting outside with sticks.
“The report doesn’t refer to what the fight was over, but alcohol was involved,” Hamlin said.
The report indicates that the incident occurred close to midnight on Nov. 5.
One victim, Dianira Hernandez, reported $700 of damage caused to the front and rear window of her vehicle.
“The victims were referred to the magistrate to get warrants,” the detective said.
Digging up trouble
Timothy Mellon, of Greensboro, reported the destruction of nearly two hundred fruit trees on his Noiram Drive farm operation in Pilot Mountain on Nov. 11.
According to the report, a suspect used a tractor located on the farm to plow through three gates, uprooting 150 blueberry trees and 20 apple trees.
Damage to the blueberry trees was valued at $2,250; for the apple trees, $300, and $300 additionally for the gates.
Hamlin said a suspect has been identified in the incident but no warrants have yet been issued.