http://www.wsoctv.com/news/9456221/detail.html

Neglected Mobile Home Park A Problem For Town

POSTED: 5:44 pm EDT June 30, 2006

LOCUST, N.C. -- Police in the Stanly County town of Locust say the problems in one neighborhood are so bad that they don't just want to fix the problems; they want to get rid of the neighborhood.

Empty mobile homes at the park in the Western Hills neighborhood have boarded windows and are surrounded by towering weeds and drooping power lines. Authorities even discovered that a family living in one home didn't have running water so they were bathing and washing clothes in a nearby creak.

Zeke Page, who lives close to the park has a strong opinion about the complex.

"I just wish they'd go ahead and close it down," he said.

Locust's code ordinance officer, Chris Fleiger, said he's written more than 1,200 citations for infractions to Furr Incorporated, the park's owner. He said the penalties total more than $70,000, but the company has not made any payments or responded to letters from the city.

Furr's office in Locust gave the statement," We are in the process of selling (the park) and so whoever buys it will come through, wash everything out and build houses."

But that's not good enough for Fleiger.

"It definitely is frustrating trying to make this place better for everybody to live," he said.

Police Chief Mike Haigler said a lot of good people live there, but some of the residents are driving up the crime rate.

"There's activity going on inside those vacant trailers that are illegal activities, whether it be drugs or other illegal activities and that just breeds more crime," he said.

Haigler said in the two-block area of the park crime is six times higher than in any similar sized area in Locust. He said two times within the past month MS-13 gang members from Charlotte have come to the area to recruit members. Police arrested four suspected gang members just weeks ago.

Haigler also said the city gave Furr Incorporated eight months to either clean up or sell the park. Beginning July 1 Locust will really crack down on Western Hills, and their actions may include shutting down the mobile home park.