A Cleveland County grand jury has returned an indictment on a first-degree murder charge against Donald Borders, a suspect in the 2003 death of an elderly Shelby woman, court officials said Tuesday.

The charge was resubmitted after a grand jury didn't return an indictment on the murder charge in January. The panel didn't drop the charge, but elected instead to continue it until a later date.

In January, Borders was indicted on charges of first-degree rape and felonious breaking and entering in connection with the case.

Borders, 50, of Cherryville was charged Dec. 28 by Shelby police with rape and murder in the September 2003 death of 79-year-old Margaret Tessneer.

Police said they were looking for possible links between Borders and two other women who died under similar circumstances during 2003 - Lottie Ledford and Lillian Mullinax. -- Joe DePriest

Meck briefs

Smoke from a controlled burn obscured visibility in the Charlotte area at dusk Tuesday.

The S.C. Forestry Service conducted the controlled burn, said Charlotte fire Capt. Rob Brisley, and a south-southwest wind carried the smoke into Charlotte.

Smoke was being reported at 6 p.m. at Charlotte/Douglas International Airport, cutting the visibility to 4 miles. -- Steve Lyttle

Joel Ritchie, an area superintendent for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, is one of two finalists for superintendent of the Chester County, S.C., school district after two others dropped out and one was added.

Ron Wright, an assistant superintendent in York District 2 in Clover, S.C., was added to the mix Tuesday after Harriet Jaworowski, a Rock Hill administrator, and Tom Graves, a Virginia administrator, withdrew. -- Ann Doss Helms

Regional briefs

Top names in bluegrass music will perform during the 2010 Red White and Bluegrass Festival on the River Stage at Catawba Meadows Park.

The Morganton Parks & Recreation Department, the festival's sponsor, this week announced a lineup that includes Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, Del McCoury, Seldom Scene, Mountain Heart with Tony Rice, Cherryholmes, IIIrd Tyme Out and Balsam Range.

The festival runs July 1-4. For tickets or details: 828-433-7469. -- (Morganton) News Herald

South Carolina

Officials are suggesting tolls could be used to build a $600million expressway to ease tourist traffic congestion and provide another hurricane escape route in northeast South Carolina.

Civil Engineering Consulting Services Inc. has offered to find a private company or pay for a consortium to build the 28-mile road linking the area south of Myrtle Beach with U.S. 501 west of Conway.

Horry County Councilman Howard Barnard says the consortium probably would charge a toll of about $3.50 per car. The road could be open in five years. -- Associated Press

Police digest

A utility crew found the skeletal remains of a man in rural Gaston County on Tuesday and police are seeking tips from the public.

The N.C. utility crew called police around 4 p.m. to report the body in woods near Old Spencer Mountain Road. Police have not said how he died and have not yet classified the case as a homicide. The Gaston Medical Examiner's Office will determine the cause of death.

The man was wearing blue jean pants, a denim jacket, a burgundy dress shirt and black combat boots. -- Cleve R. Wootson Jr.

North Carolina

The family of a longtime member of North Carolina's state school board says she has died of injuries she suffered in a weekend assault.

Raleigh police and Kathy Taft's family said the 62-year-old Greenville woman died Tuesday.

Police spokesman Jim Sughrue said officers are investigating the case as a homicide.

Her family said in a statement issued by WakeMed Hospital in Raleigh that Taft was attacked Saturday while staying at the Raleigh home of her boyfriend, who was in Florida at the time.

Taft has been on the state Board of Education since 1995. She was reappointed to serve a second term until March 2011. Her ex-husband is Tom Taft, a former state senator from Greenville. -- Associated Press

Subscribe to The Charlotte Observer.

Disclaimer