North Carolina
Married more than 76 years, the Potters have eaten at same NC restaurant since 1968
GARNER, N.C. (WTVD) — It’s another lunch rush at Angie’s Restaurant in Garner, as servers whir by tables, dropping off dishes and filling up drinks. And while every restaurant has their regulars, there may be no couple whose more at home here than the Potter’s.
“Most of it is the love that they show for the people. And on top of that, the food is extra good,” said Vernon Potter.
They’ve been coming here since 1968 when it was under previous ownership. However, they started coming more often after moving closer to the restaurant, once it was opened by current owner Angie Mikus in 2011. Ultimately, it’s become a daily stop, often twice a day, including Thursday. By the time we sat down with them, it was the second time they’d eaten here today.
The Potters have been eating at Angie’s in Garner, NC since 1968
“I had three eggs over light, piece of lean fatback and potatoes,” said Vernon of his breakfast order.
Their orders and tables change, but what draws them out of the house does not.
“It’s one of the most important assets that we have is that we can mingle with people. You can talk to people, and find out what they’re thinking, (of what) you’re thinking and a lot of times it’s compatible. And by doing that, we have our little family we call it at Angie’s,” said Vernon.
The couple met in 1948, when Vernon was 18 and Margaret was 17.
Vernon and Margaret Potter have been married for more than 76 years.
“I fell in love the minute I saw her. And six months later, I married her,” said Vernon.
“We liked singing, and we sang well,” said Margaret.
The pair have continued singing together for years, often in church, even showing off their skills inside the restaurant Thursday; the performance drew applause from other diners.
One estimate from population experts states there are currently 1,000 couples in the United States that have reached 75 years of marriage.
“They just have a level of commitment that just isn’t prevalent in our culture today. It just shows me that people can be committed to each other. But it takes love and it takes understanding and patience,” said Pat Zimmerly, one of the Potter’s four children.
Zimmerly said their relationship has served as an important example to model after, valuable for the Potter’s twenty-two grandchildren, and now the next generation of great-grandchildren.
Vernon and Margaret Potter have been married for more than 76 years.
“Daddy held her, my mom held her. We just cried. My son and I, my daughter-in-law because the legacy that they bring through me, to my son, to Isla, it’s going to impact her life in a positive way,” said Pat, referring to her first grandchild who was born earlier this year.
Vernon spent more than 40 years in the North Carolina National Guard, with the family living in New Bern, Rocky Mount, and Raleigh before the couple ultimately retired in Garner. Margaret served as President of the Volunteer Auxiliary at WakeMed, a role that led her to travel the country. Her efforts were recognized in 1999 when she was honored by the Governor’s Office.
“Their whole life is just social. And that goes along with church and everything. They just need people in their lives,” said Zimmerly.
Now in their nineties, a lot has changed from when they first met.
“A hamburger was 10 cents. A Pepsi-Cola was a nickel, a Baby Ruth Bar was a nickel,” said Vernon.
But what’s bonded them together – a shared love of family, faith, and helping others – has remained the same.
“Her beauty and her love for me has never changed,” said Vernon.
Vernon and Margaret Potter have been married for more than 76 years.
SEE ALSO | Pinehurst couple celebrates 72 years of marriage
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North Carolina
North Carolina couple accused of causing vulture invasion sued by furious town: ‘Not good neighbors’
A North Carolina couple accused of luring hordes of vultures to their home and unleashing chaos on neighbors for years is being hauled to court by fed-up town officials desperate to end the feathered frenzy.
The Town of Hillsborough slapped residents Kenneth and Linda Ostrand with a civil petition, seeking a court order to shut down their relentless bird-feeding habit, blamed for allegedly drawing dozens of winged scavengers to their home and terrorizing their small town for the past two years.
“They’re a little spooky to be frank,” concerned neighbor Holden Richards told WTVD.
“Everybody thinks they’re ugly and stuff but they’re not good neighbors. They have sharp talons, so they’re not great animals to have perching on your house. I watched them pick tiles off my neighbor’s roof and I found tiles from my roof in my front yard, so I have a feeling that’s exactly where they came from.”
The bird-brained couple is accused of leaving out food scraps for vultures, allegedly reeling in the feathered predators that have swarmed and roosted near their house, leaving foul-smelling droppings on neighbors’ homes and vehicles and causing widespread property damage deemed a risk to public safety.
The complaint, filed in March, also claims the twisted pair named the birds of prey – with eerie photos submitted to the court showing dozens of vultures circling their Queens Street home, the outlet reported.
“I’m pretty sure that every one of my neighbors has probably called,” Richards said, pointing to a flood of complaints made to town officials since May 2024.
The Ostrands reportedly filed a motion to dismiss the town’s case last month, denying the accusations.
Linda Ostrand, a longtime wildlife rescuer, told WTVD she is being unfairly targeted by her community and claimed the circling creatures were already an issue before she moved into the neighborhood.
“It’s sort of, it’s ridiculous, is what it is,” Linda said, noting the town changed an ordinance after the initial wave of complaints to ban wildlife feeding beyond standard feeders.
“If people didn’t have vultures around here you would hear them screaming bloody murder about the town not cleaning up the animals that have been hit by cars, because that’s what they do, they are nature’s garbage disposal,” she continued.
“I don’t know what I’m supposed to do, tell the vultures that this is a no-feed zone. I just don’t know.”
No court date has reportedly been scheduled for the couple’s fight with the town.
North Carolina
Businesses worry of potential impacts as Marion tightens water restrictions amid drought
MARION, N.C. (WLOS) — The City of Marion is tightening water restrictions as drought conditions persist across western North Carolina, prompting local businesses to prepare for possible impacts on daily operations.
The drought monitor released on Thursday, May 14, shows that extreme drought now covers 90% of western North Carolina.
ASHEVILLE IS MORE THAN 7 INCHES BELOW AVERAGE RAINFALL THIS YEAR, DATA SHOWS
As the region continues moving into a hotter and drier pattern, the City of Marion officials announced Stage Two water shortage restrictions less than a month after issuing a Stage One Water Advisory.
Businesses in Marion said the quick escalation is raising concerns about what could come next if drought conditions persist.
“They put us in stage one at the end of April and already it’s not through, it’s not the end of May and they’re already putting us in stage two,” said Barbara Brown, owner of Bruce’s.
Under the Stage Two restrictions, watering lawns, gardens and golf courses will be prohibited. Washing cars, filling residential swimming pools and serving water in restaurants except upon request will not be allowed.
Brown said her restaurant is already taking steps to conserve water.
“We check the bathrooms often to make sure people have turned the water off because we have found from time to time, people leave them running,” she added.
She said she worries stronger restrictions could eventually force businesses to make bigger operational changes.
“I’m concerned that eventually we might have to go to paper plates, paper cups, silverware,” Brown said.
Other businesses are also considering adjustments.
Kat Garner, a tattoo artist at Blue Ridge Tattoo, said water shortages could affect how the shop operates day to day.
LEADERS URGE WATER CONSERVATION AS DROUGHT DEEPENS ACROSS WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA
“We would definitely be reduced to using distilled water for everything, which would become harder if everyone’s buying it out, so that would definitely make things a little bit more difficult,” Garner said.
The Stage Two water restrictions are set to begin Friday, May 15, at 8 a.m. and will last until further notice.
North Carolina
Police: North Carolina man charged after high-speed chase in Erie County, arrested in the Town of Perry
PERRY, N.Y. — A North Carolina man is in custody after a chase that started in Erie County and ended with an arrest in Perry.
Wyoming County Sheriff’s deputies say Ericson Vasquez-Moran, 22, rammed a Border Patrol vehicle in Erie County around 11:30 p.m. Tuesday before taking off. The suspect was spotted in Warsaw on Route 20A, but a chase was called off due to high speeds.
Then around 2:30 a.m. Wednesday, deputies say Vasquez-Moran called 911 from Perry to surrender.
He’s charged with speeding, failure to keep right, unlawful fleeing a police officer, reckless driving, and reckless endangerment in the second degree.
Vasquez-Moran was given an appearance ticket for the Village of Warsaw Court and was released to the custody of the United States Border Patrol.
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