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Serving Belmont, Mount Holly, Stanley, Cramerton, and McAdenville | Volume 79 • Issue 5 • Wednesday, January 29, 2014
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The Storm’s Zachary Merritt falls to South Point’s T. Grigg during last weeks match up. Photo by Bill Ward
‘Welfare Chamber sees record growth checks’
Stanley, and David Jenkins,� Melia said. “We all worked hard to rapidly increase the growth of a Chamber that is committed to all of our local businesses -- both large and small.
By Alan Hodge
alan.bannernews@gmail.com
Police available to check on homebound By Alan Hodge alan.bannernews@gmail.com
Most everyone has seen TV commercials advertising electronic devices that senior citizens can buy to alert the supplying company's answering service if they need assistance at home for an emergency of some type including power outages in cold weather. These devices are nice, but not everyone can afford one and so sometimes public safety folks like fire and police are called on to make what is known as a “welfare check�. Mount Holly Police Chief Don Roper says his department is ready to step in and help when and where needed. “Whenever a family member or anyone else asks us to perform a welfare check, we do send an officer out to make contact with the subject,� Roper said. “So far this month, we have performed 12 welfare check calls for service. We do, on a continuing basis, go to about five homes in the city each Friday to deliver meals and do a quick check on some elderly folks while participating in the 'Meals on Wheels' program. Our department has participated in this program for several years, and it gives us an opportunity to check in on the people and talk with them briefly each week.� Mount Holly Fire Chief Dale Oplinger says his staff also help perform welfare checks and other assistance to senior citizens. “We try to keep track of anyone during power outages who is on a mechanical medical device such as an oxygen generator,� said Oplinger. “We don't have an official list, but know of these folks because we've been to their homes before.� According to Oplinger, Mount Holly Fire and Rescue also assists senior citizens getting into medical transport from upstairs apartments. “We can help EMS get the elderly patient down stairways,� he said. “Sometimes more hands makes it a safer situation.� The Belmont Fire Department also performs welfare checks. “If we need to check on senior citizens, especially if it's real cold or the power is out, we will do it,� said Travis Williamson with the Belmont Fire Department. “The senior citizen or their family member can call us and we will go out.� There are plenty of things that senior citizesn, and others, can do to cope with cold weather. Do not venture outdoors in bad weather if possible. Have a supply of non perishable, easily prepared foods. Keep extra supplies of essential medication in case it is difficult to get to the drug store. Have an adequate supply of fuel for heating/cooking. Have batteries for flashlights in the event of power cuts. Have a water container to ensure a supply of drinking water. Have emergency contact numbers to hand. Leave a key and contact details with neighbors or family. Make sure heating equipment is well-maintained, vented correctly and working properly. In icy weather, wear well-fitted shoes with non-slip soles if you have to go out See WELFARE CHECKS, 5
The Montcross Area Chamber of Commerce held its 54th annual awards ceremony and banquet last Thursday at the Mount Holly Municipal Complex and it was a resounding success with over 250 folks in attendance. The event was presented by CaroMont Health. The Chamber celebrated its best year ever that saw a 23 percent membership boost and a record 431 members on board for 2013. “This is truly a special event that marks the end of a successful year and the beginning of another one,� said Montcross Chamber president Ted Hall. Much credit for the membership increase went to Melia Lyerly of the Lyerly Agency in Belmont. She lead a membership drive that saw 100 businesses join the Chamber in just a two month period. Lyerly was given the EPIC Award for her efforts. The award recognizes “an individual who is entrepreneurial,
Melia and her sister Elaine moved their marketing and public relations firm to Belmont in 2012 after doing business in Charlotte for 35 years. They were the first woman-owned marketing and advertising agency in Charlotte, but more recently had taken up residence in Gaston County.
Photo by Alan Hodge
Carey Roberts (left) presented Melia Lyerly of the Lyerly Agency with the EPIC Award at last week's Montcross Area Chamber of Commerce banquet for among other things her work in helping add 100 new members to the organization in a two month period. progressive, innovative, and collaborative�. “The Great MemberSHIP race was successful in recruiting 100 new members because of the
outstanding team skippers: Timothy Roberts of Cottage Keepers, Alex Mullineaux with CaroMont, Gina Falco with BB&T, Heath Jenkins with the Town of
“Lyerly Agency moved here from Charlotte a little over a year ago,� Melia said. “We appreciate how the community has welcomed us. Being a member of the Montcross Area Chamber has made it easy for us to become quickly integrated into this wonderful and progressive area. We love being here. Business of the Year 2013 Award went to Cottage Keepers, a Belmont-based property See CHAMBER, 5
McClure receives Humanitarian Award By Alan Hodge Alan.bannernews@gmail.com
A diverse group of folks filled Mt. Moriah Baptist Church in Belmont on Martin Luther King Jr. Day for the city's 23rd annual Unity Day Service. The observance not only paid homage to King, his life, and his work, but was also the occasion for announcing the recipient of the Unity Day Committee Humanitarian Award. This year's award went to Belmont native Samuel E. McClure. Known for his habit of visiting the sick, elderly, and shut-in, as well as being ready to jump in wherever and whenever someone might need assistance of any type, McClure has also been a church deacon for a quarter century, first at Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church and for the last five years at Mt. Moriah. McClure, 66, a Reid High alumni and the son of William McClure Sr. and Edna Reid McClure, is most recently retired from Duke Energy where he worked as a lineman. He also worked in the 1970s for the U.S. Postal Service in Belmont and was the second African-America to do so. He is a U.S. Army veteran. The announcement of his name as the Humanitarian Award recipient came as a com-
plete surprise to McClure, who humbly accepted the plaque. “To God be the glory for using me,� he said. “If you go visit someone as a blessing, you get blessed in return. My pastor told me if someone blesses you, take that blessing
and say thank you.� Unity Day Committee member Anna Young announced McClure as the Humanitarian Award honoree. “You can find him at funerals, where See UNITY DAY, 5
Photo by Alan Hodge
Samuel E. McClure is seen receiving the Belmont Unity Day 2014 Humanitarian Award from Anna Young at last week's event marking the birthday of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. McClure was honored for his work helping others in the community.
Gaston County Police Nominations being investigate shooting accepted for Belmont Citizen of the Year
Gaston County Police responded to a pre-dawn 911 call Jan. 22 for a possible shooting at 303 Michelle Lane, Mount Holly. When officers arrived they found Clyde Benfield, 69, and Terri Benfield, 64, deceased inside the residence. During the investigation of this shooting, GCPD detectives determined that Mr. Benfield had contacted relatives and asked them to come to the residence and pick up a five-yearold grandson who had spent the night. A relative came and picked up the child and spoke to Mr. Benfield but was not allowed to check on Mrs. Benfield. As the relative and child were leaving the house, officers
arrived and entered the home finding both Benfields deceased from gunshot wounds. The child was not injured and did not appear to be aware of what had happened in the home. There have been no prior police calls at this residence and no reported incidents of domestic violence have been discovered. At this point in the investigation this case appears to be a murder suicide, according to the police department press release, and no other suspects are being sought. Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact the Gaston County Police Department at (704) 866-3320.
Nominations for Belmont's Citizen of the Year are being accepted by the Belmont Historical Society, 40 Catawba St., Belmont. The Citizen of the Year event will be held at Park St. United Methodist Church Family Life Center on March 25, 2014 at 7pm. Nomination forms may be obtained at the BHS Museum during its operating hours of Friday through Sunday, 1-5pm and at other times from the box located on the front porch of the museum. Forms online may be requested via the email of Bob Brown at bobgail@carolina.rr.com.
Nominations will be final after March 1, 2014. BHS encourages the community at large to nominate those individuals whose lives and contributions, whether religious, educational, charitable, patriotic, or benevolent have made Belmont a better place. Completed forms may be returned to Belmont Historical Society, PO Box 244, Belmont NC, 28012, or dropped in the mail at the BHS Museum on Catawba St. Tickets for the event will be available several weeks prior to the banquet.
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