Serving Belmont, Mount Holly, Stanley, Cramerton, and McAdenville | Volume 79 • Issue 9 • Wednesday, February 26, 2014
75¢
Cramerton bridge project delayed Completion now slated for July The North Carolina Department of Transportation informed the Town of Cramerton this week that the C.C. Dawson Bridge Replacement Project, that spans the South Fork River and connects North Main Street and Lakewood Road, has been delayed. The original completion time was April 2014 and now the estimated time of completion is July 2014. The NCDOT has contracted with Lee Construction Company of the Carolinas for construction of the project that started October 2012. According to NCDOT, Lee Construction has experienced difficulty in drilling shafts into the river for the sub structure of the bridge and severe weather conditions. NCDOT has also stated that Lee Construction is working seven days a week in order to complete the project. Cramerton Mayor Ronnie Worley said, “I under-
stand that the replacement of the C.C. Dawson Bridge over the South Fork River was necessary but the project has been an inconvenience and challenge for the citizens and businesses of Cramerton. The Town will continue to assist NCDOT in providing updated information to the citizens and businesses of Town as it is made available. We encourage everyone to support our local businesses during this challenging time.� The Town of Cramerton will continue to use the Town’s monthly newsletter, www.cramerton.org, and Facebook to provide updates on the bridge construction project. For more information in regards to the C.C. Dawson Bridge Replacement Project, please contact Mr. Gary Spangler, District Engineer with the NC Department of Transportation at 704-4802080 or gspangler@ ncdot.gov.
Tax rate update In last week’s BannerNews an article on local municipal tax rates over the past 10 years stated that Mount Holly’s had increased by 14 percent. To clarify that, Mount Holly City Manager Danny Jackson has provided the following data: “When our tax rate went from 44 cents to 53 cents in 2006, it was due to our citizens being informed that the tax rate increase of 9 cents would be for specific reasons,� Jackson said. “The breakdown was 4 cents for the bond referendum of 2003, which the public was told that it could be as high
as 6 cents but we settled on 4 cents. Three (3) cents were for the Tuckaseege Park Expansion Project and the final 2 cents for the renovation project that is now our Municipal Complex. “To round out the other factual information, from 1986 to 2002 property taxes in Mount Holly were not increased. Obviously, that is a total of 16 years our citizens did not see an increase, despite the financial conditions of the city. In 2002 there was an increase from 42 cents to 45 cents. In 2004 we actually lowered the tax rate from 45 cents to 44 cents.�
War of the words over coal ash storage continues By Alan Hodge alan.bannernews@gmail.com
Duke Energy and its coal ash storage methods seems to be the controversy that keeps on giving- folks something to verbally and legally spar about. With the war of words between environmental groups and Duke Energy continuing like a 12-round world championship slugfest, coal ash's potential hazards, as well as the catastrophic spill of the substance into the Dan River a few weeks back has prompted the Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation to issue more information to bolster its claims that Duke is endangering waterways with its coal ash policy. The report, entitled “Coal Ash of the Catawba vs. the Dan�, is a chart comparing
coal ash storage at the Dan River Steam Station near Eden, N.C. to the nowclosed Riverbend Steam Station near Mount Holly, Allen Steam Station near Belmont, and Marshall Steam Station at Terrell near Denver. According to the Catawba Riverkeeper, facts and figures on the chart were compiled from engineering reports and information requests received by the EPA from Duke Energy. The chart declares that in the 29-miles stretch of the Catawba River from Terrell to Belmont, Duke Energy has four coal ash ponds totaling 445 acres and containing 5 billion gallons of coal ash slurry. The chart provides information on what cities are closest to the coal ash ponds. See STORAGE, pg 7
Photo by Alan Hodge
Mount Holly's beautiful and vibrant downtown area is just one reason it was chosen recently as the second best place in North Carolina to retire to.
You’re not alone - city ranked 2nd for retirement in NC By Alan Hodge alan.bannernews@gmail.com
When many folks think of retirement, there's a beach or mountain in the picture. But even though it lacks palm trees and 30-mile views, Mount Holly has taken its place among the most desirable retirement spots in North Carolina. According to a ranking chart devised by Movoto Real Estate, Mount
Holly ranks second in the state as a place to kick back and relax when a person's working years are over. Civic and business leaders in Mount Holly are filled with glee over the second place ranking. “Mount Holly is a great place to live, work and play for all ages and lifestyles,� said Mayor Bryan Hough. “We are blessed to live in a community recognized for our citizens and what we have to offer.�
City Manager Danny Jackson agrees. “In regard to the recent situation with Mount Holly being ranked number two in NC for best places for retirees, I am extremely happy,� Jackson said. “I am also always happy for our citizens when good things happen in Mount Holly. For well over a decade there has been a collective effort to improve the quality of life in Mount See MOUNT HOLLY, pg 5
Local sites provide rich history By Alan Hodge alan.bannernews@gmail.com
Black History Month is drawing to a close, but it's never too late to visit some of our local sites connected with the African-American experience. Mount Holly has a couple of highly interesting locations that are embedded in the black community's past. The first is the site of the former A.M. Rollins School on S. Hawthorne St. in the Freedom neighborhood off NC273. The Rollins School was originally known as Mount Holly Colored School and it was where all of the town's black students went. It was in operation from 1930-1969 and took its name from the first principal, A.M. Rollins. Teachers at the school who needed to live close by often boarded at the home of Mrs. Roceda Bailey. With the passage of the Civil Rights
Act of 1964, local schools began to integrate. In 1969, Rollins School closed. For a brief period, the building was used as a community center, but it was eventually torn down. These days, folks can visit the site where the Rollins School once stood. The land is occupied by the Rollins Apartments, but something special remains to honor the school. That special feature is a stone monument in front of the apartments engraved with the words “A.M. Rollins Elementary School� as well as an image of the school itself. The names of principals A.M. Rollins and Willie See SITES, pg 7 Photo by Alan Hodge
This marker on Hawthorne St. in Mount Holly is on the site where the A.M. Rollins school for African-American children once stood.
Joe Hand to be inducted into Belmont Sports Hall of Fame By Alan Hodge alan.bannernews@gmail.com
Upcoming Belmont Sports Hall of Fame inductee Joe Hand's ability to fight and overcome the effects of polio not only typifies his determined personality, it also makes his athletic career all the more amazing. James “Joe� Hand loved sports of all types from an early age. His first cousin, Sam McClure of Belmont, recalled the fun times they had competing with other
youths in all sorts of ways. “Joe had polio but he never let it hinder him,� McClure said. “He could swim, climb trees, and do anything other boys could do. In fact, he could swim better than most guys with two good legs.� Baseball also figured in Hand's youthful days. “We played on the field near where the current Belmont sewer plant is now,� McClure. “We had a team coached by Lee Grier.� The Boy Scouts were another popular activity with
Hand. He went on to earn his Eagle Scout ranking. Hand attended Reid High in Belmont during the mid1950s. While at Reid, he was not only a top student, but also played on the 1954 and 1955 state championship baseball teams. A multi-faceted player on the diamond, he was both catcher and first baseman. After graduating from Reid High in 1958, Hand went on to attend Elizabeth City State University. At that school he continued his legacy of academic and ath-
letic excellence. In addition to being newly inducted into the Belmont Sports Hall of Fame, he is also a member of the school's Hall of Fame thanks to his baseball career there. After graduating from Elizabeth City State, Hand settled in Richmond County, N.C. where he enjoyed a long career as an educator and coach, first at Leak St. High School and later at Richmond County High. Hand also served as a member of the Richmond
5,000 pairs of eyes read what you’re reading right now. Let’s grow your business in 2014.
See HAND, pg 5
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Wednesday, February 26, 2014
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■ OBITUARIES Elizabeth Neal
John Will Parks III
MINT HILL- Elizabeth Kay Neal, 60, of Mint Hill, NC, formerly of Belmont, passed away peacefully on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2014 at Novant Health Matthews Medical Center. Elizabeth was born June 16, 1953 in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina and spent her early childhood in Belmont and Catawba Heights. When Elizabeth was five years old, she won a Tooley Myron Studios national contest for photogenic children. She beat out 15,000 other contestants to take the Grand Prize that was judged by John Robert Powers of the world famous Powers Modeling Agency. Her winning portrait hung in the lobby at Ivey’s department store in Charlotte for several years. The win was the subject of a front page story by Elsie Hamilton in the Belmont Banner on January 28, 1959. Later, Elizabeth was a finalist in the WSOC-TV sponsored “Little Miss Sunbeam” spokesmodel contest. Elizabeth attended Garinger High in Charlotte until 1971 where she was a letter girl and Key Club Sweetheart. She went on to attend Sacred Heart College and Belmont Abbey College where she received her bachelor’s degree, magna cum laude. She later received her master’s degree in psychology from UNC-Charlotte. Elizabeth worked with Carolinas Health Care as a clinical psychologist. She is survived by her two
GASTONIA- Mr. John Will Parks, III, 74, of Gastonia, died Friday, February 21, 2014 at Terrace Ridge. He was born October 21, 1939 in Mecklenburg County, NC, a son of John Will II and Nancy Timberlake Parks. John was a 1958 graduate of Frank L. Ashley High School in Gastonia and was an Eagle Scout. He graduated in 1962 from Davidson College where he was active in Kappa Sigma Fraternity and the Ne Ultra Society. He earned his Charter Life Underwriter (CLU) Degree from the American College in Bryn Mawr, PA in 1974 and began his career as a broker in Insurance and Investments. John was a life member of The Million Dollar Round Table, recipient of National Quality Award for 22 consecutive years, an industry award from the National Association of Life Underwriters. He was a member of the Gold Key Society in the American Society of Chartered Life Underwriters. John was a lifelong, faithful member of First Presbyterian Church in Gastonia where he served as past-chairman of the Scholarship Committee, Deacon and ordained Elder, Presbyterian Church of the United States, and past Secretary of the Presbyterian Endowment Trust. He served in the community as Director Emeritus, Board of Directors of the Schiele Museum; Charter Member and Past President of Gastonia East Rotary Club where he was awarded the Paul Harris Fellow award in 1983; Board of Directors of Habitat for Humanity, Gastonia Chapter; District 8 Commissioner of NC Wildlife Resources Commission and Commissioner NC Medical Care Commission, both of which appointed by the Governor of NC; member and past board member of the Gaston County Club. As an avid outdoorsman, John loved hunting and fishing, especially his trips to Oakland Plantation and Lake Mattamuskeet. He helped with the re-introduction of the Eastern Wild Turkey to Gaston County and was chairman of the Big Game Commission that re-introduced the Rocky Mountain Elk and was charter member and founder of Ducks Unlimited of Gaston County. John’s family would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude to his doctors and the staffs of
Jeffrey Nixon Mount Holly– Jeffrey Vance Nixon, 55, 105 Carpenter Circle, passed away on Sunday, February 23, 2014. H e w a s born in Mecklenburg County, son of Jewel Hollis Nixon and the late Melvin Nixon. He was preceded in death by a sister-inlaw Debbie Hope Nixon. He worked for Cherry Electric for 38 years. He loved hunting and fishing and the great outdoors. He loved spending time with his family
sons, Christopher Hunter and Ryan Hunter; her mother, Dorothy Goode; her brother, Alan Hodge; her half-brother and half-sister Walter Hodge and Sherry Hodge; her former husband and good friend, Joe Neal. She was beloved by and loved her grandparents Sinclair Smith, Mozelle Huffstetler, and Edna “Bang-Bang” Willeford, as well as her aunt Emily Smith Helton. Growing up, she enjoyed visiting the Smith family farm in Catawba Heights and lived in the farmhouse briefly as an adult. She also enjoyed visiting Bang Bang’s house in Mount Holly where horses, dogs, and canaries were plentiful. Elizabeth loved horses- especially her “magnificent steed”, a white Arabian stallion named Kenna. She is no doubt enjoying riding him across an endless field of green grass in Heaven with the sun on her face. She also loved golden retriever dogs, including her service dog Grace. Prior to her career as a psychologist, Elizabeth taught el-
ementary school in Virginia, Gaston County and Mecklenburg County. She was known as an innovative teacher. During her first year as an educator, she was named Teacher of the Year at Page Elementary in Belmont. A story is told about how she brought a horse to the school, gave her students rides on it, then jumped on and galloped around the schoolyard much to the delight of all the kids. Another teacher is said to have remarked “well, we can’t compete with that”. Elizabeth was also a talented artist. She was especially skilled at portraits. She created several works using the Smith farmhouse as a subject. Overall, Elizabeth was a rare combination of beauty and talents that made her stand out in any crowd. Services will be private at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Golden Retriever Rescue Club of Charlotte, PO Box 471931, Charlotte, North Carolina 28247-1931.
and his grandchildren. In addition to his mother, he is survived by his wife of 36 years Nancy Cherry Nixon; one son Bryan Nixon and wife Jill of Mount Holly; one daughter Shelly Nixon of Mount Holly; two grandchildren Makenlie and Huntlee Nixon; one brother Randy Nixon of Mount Holly; one nephew Chris Nixon of Mount Holly. A memorial service to celebrate the life of Mr. Nixon will be held 1pm Wednesday February 26, at the First United
Methodist Church in Mount Holly with Rev. Angela Pleasants officiating. The family received friends from 6-8pm Tuesday February 25, at the church. Memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church, 140 North Main Street, Mount Holly NC 28120 or to the charity of the donor’s choice. Condolence messages may be sent to the family at www.woodlawnfuneral.org
Manley Grubbs Gastonia- Manley Loranza Grubbs, 87 of 2707 Monterey Park Drive, Gastonia, passed away February 22, 2014, at the Robin Johnson House.
Celebration of Life service will be at 3pm Wednesday at Garver Memorial Baptist Church . Interment will follow at Gaston Memorial Park with military honors.
Terrace Ridge a n d Hospice & Palliative Care of Lincoln County for their care of and compassion for John during his lengthy illness and the staff of Medical Center Pharmacy. Survivors of Mr. Parks include his wife of 47 ½ years, Hope Poag Parks of Gastonia; son, Dr. John W. Parks IV and wife Eva of Tallahassee, FL; daughter, Gamble Parks Douville and husband Gary of Santa Barbara, CA; grandsons, Gabriel David Parks and Tristan Liam Parks of Tallahassee, FL; brother, David Timberlake Parks and wife Becky of Clermont, FL; several nieces, nephews and extended family members, including his family from Chattanooga, TN; and his beloved dog Joy. In addition to his parents, John was preceded in death by his beloved dog Abbie. Ecclesiastes 12:1 & 13; (1)Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near, when you will say, “I have no delight in them”. (13) The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God, and keep his commandments, because this applies to every person. A service to celebrate Mr. Parks’ life will be held 2pm, Wednesday, February 26, at First Presbyterian Church of Gastonia with Revs. John Frye, John Stanley, and Matt Kuiken officiating. Visitation will follow the service in the church fellowship hall. A private service of committal will be held for the family in the Columbarium of First Presbyterian Church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First Presbyterian Church, John W. Parks III Scholarship Fund, 1621 E. Garrison Blvd., Gastonia, NC 28054; Schiele Museum of Natural History, 1500 E Garrison Blvd, Gastonia, NC 28054, www.schielemus eum.org; or to Community Bible Study, c/o Shelly Carter, 3631 Brentwood Drive, Gastonia, NC 28056. Condolences may be sent to www.McLeanFuneral.com.
McLean Funeral Services
Laura Rhyne MOUNT HOLLY– Laura Marlene Bridges Rhyne, 77, passed away on Wednesday, February 19, 2014 at the Stanl e y To t a l Livi n g Cent e r. S h e was born in Gaston County, daughter of the late Carl and Annie Goins Bridges. She was preceded in death by her daughter Robbin Rhyne Bostic. She was a member of Grace Baptist Church and a life member of Women of the Moose-Belmont Chapter. She is survived by her husband Kenneth Edward Rhyne; one daughter Nancy Rhyne of Charlotte; one grandson Jason L. Bostic of Mount Holly; two brothers, William C. Bridges and Robert W. Bridges both of Lawndale; two sisters, Patricia B. Carson and Lois D. Lynn both of Cherryville; one sister in law Helen R. Blackburn of Lincolnton. A graveside service to celebrate the life of Mrs. Rhyne was held 11am Saturday, February 22, at Hillcrest Gardens Mausoleum with Rev. David McClure officiating. The family received friends immediately following the service. Condolence messages may be sent to the family at www.woodlawnfuneral.org
Masquerade Ball The Gaston Arts Council will present a Mardi Gras Masquerade Ball, “Unmask the Arts in Gaston County!” on Tuesday, March 4, from 6-10:00 pm at Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden. Creative Cocktail Attire and Masquerade Masks are encouraged. Tickets range from $45$80. Call (704) 853-2787 for more details. Register on line at: http://gastonarts.org. Proceeds benefit Arts Organizations and Events in Gaston County.
Fellowship & Faith
Church Service Directory MT. HOLLY Bethel Baptist Church NC Highway 273 704-827-9846 Burge Memorial Methodist Church 312 W. Glendale Ave. 704-827-2726 Catawba Heights Church of God 122 Tomberlin Rd. 704-827-4225 Cbc-Memorial Apostolic 230 W. Charlotte Ave. 704-827-0968 Chapel Baptist Church 324 N. Lee St. 704-827-5526 Community Christian Fellowship 2560 Stanley Lucia Rd. 704-827-5881 Covenant United Methodist 110 Underwood Dr. 704-820-0603 Family Worship Center 1013 W. Charlotte Ave. 704-827-7656 First Baptist Church-Mt. Holly 300 S. Main St. 704-827-2481 First Free Will Baptist Church 841 Noles Dr. 704-827-7461 First Presbyterian Church 133 S. Main St. 704-827-0521 First United Methodist Church 140 N. Main St. 704-827-4855
Goshen Free Will Baptist Church 1300 W. Catawba Ave. 704-827-3076
Mt. Sinai Baptist Church 339 S. Hawthorne St. 704-827-4320
Grace Baptist Church 300 Westland Farm Rd. 704-827-8600
New Covenant United Methodist 14514 Lucian Riverbend Hwy. 704-827-4468
Harvest Time Church of God 707 Westland Farm Rd. 704-822-8033
New Providence Baptist Church 1104 Old NC 27 Hwy. 704-827-0822
Hickory Grove Baptist Church 3717 Hickory Grove Rd. 704-827-3939
North Main Baptist Church 1304 N. Main St. 704-827-6141
Jehovah’s Witnesses 1736 Kelly Rd. 704-263-0199
Restoration & Deliverance 804 W. Charlotte Ave. 704-820-0954
Lighthouse Full Gospel Church 530 N. Hawthorne St. 704-827-1442
Revival Tabernacle of Mt. Holly 826 W. Charlotte Ave. 704-827-2999
Living Witness Ministries 541 Costner St. 704-827-0004 Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd 110 S. Main St. 704-827-4751 Macedonia Baptist Church 1951 Stanley Lucia Rd. 704-827-9224 Mt. Holly Church of God 208 Rankin Ave. 704-827-8596 Mt. Holly Noles Baptist Church Hickory Grove Rd. 704-827-2013 Mt. Holly Pentecostal Holiness 406 Scott St. 704-827-8201
Featured Church of the Week First Presbyterian Church Shiloh Ame Zion Methodist 1117 Old NC Hwy 27 704-827-8826
Tuckaseegee Baptist Church 511 Tuckaseege Rd. 704-827-4301
Springfield Freewill Baptist 220 Park Terrace Dr. 704-820-0193
Way of the Cross Baptist Church 238 Lanier Ave. 704-827-8111
Ridgeview Baptist Church 105 Pine Rd. 704-827-3856
St. Anthony of Padua Traditional Catholic Church 108 Horseshoe Bend Beach Rd. 704-827-8676
Wesley Chapel Holiness Church 324 N. Lee St. 704-827-1993
Second Baptist Church 740 Rankin Ave. 704-827-5181
St. Paul FHB Church 1529 Old Hwy 27 Rd. 704-827-5851
Westview Presbyterian Church 1020 W. Catawba Ave. 704-827-2026
Wednesday, February 26, 2014
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The Banner News | banner-news.com
‘Young’ love blooms anew Former Belmont residents Judy and Roy Young prove that true love can overcome all sorts of situations. Judy, 72, and Roy, 75, star-crossed lovers since high school, finally wed but the events leading to this wedding were almost unbelievable. When Roy was a rising Junior at Belmont High School in 1954 he became interested in a young Freshman, Judy Mullis. They were introduced by a girl that Roy had been dating. The first date led to the second and to many more. They quickly began to go “steady� for the next two and one-half years. Then the unthinkable happened. Roy stopped by Judy’s house one beautiful warm Saturday to tell her that he no longer
wanted to “go steady� and wanted to break up. After that day, they did not see each other for fifty-six years. Roy married at nineteen, started a family and a career in the textile industry. His wife, Mary, passed away in 2012. Judy moved to Charlotte and later to Virginia Beach, VA. She married at 23 and began her family and a career with the U. S. Customs Service. Judy’s husband, Bob, passed away in March 2013. Fifty-six years went by before the passing of their spouses and the two had no contact until Roy requested that Judy be a friend on Facebook. Judy was quite surprised to be contacted by Roy after all these years, so she agreed to friend him.
Roy and Judy (Mullis) Young when they were high school sweethearts.
Clean up from illegal dumping completed By Alan Hodge alan.bannernews@gmail.com
Last week’s reported illegal dumping of a substance in the grease trap at Arby’s, 700 Park St., Belmont, turned out to be less of a hazard than initially thought- but still contained dangerous chemicals. First reports in a press release from the City of Belmont on Feb. 17 mentioned the possibility that the substance dumped in the drain could have contained PCBs. However, after a more thorough analysis of the material, officials announced that PCBs were not present and that the stuff was more likely fuel or fuel additive in the form of benzene, ethanol, and toluene. “We are working with the State Bureau of Investigation to confirm just exactly what the material is,� said Belmont police Sgt. John Wilson. “We are also reviewing a video for additional forensic evidence and
This Arby’s was the site of illegal dumping, by unknown persons, of dangerous chemicals last week. Photo by Alan Hodge
have some substantial leads.� Workers with Belmont’s wastewater treatment plant discovered the material while they were doing a random check at the restaurant. Belmont Fire Dept. and Gastonia’s HazMat team also responded. CharlotteMecklenburg police were also involved since the dumping was similar to that found at Char-Meck Utilities Dept. sites at Mallard Creek and Sugar Creek.
The city blocked the dump pipe in order to keep the substance from getting into the sewer system or wastewater treatment plant. Also, water flow from the treatment plant to its discharge location on the Catawba River was stopped while the investigation was underway. The water was diverted for treatment to remove the substance. “The final process of cleaning up from last week’s dumping has been com-
pleted,� Belmont city water treatment director Chuck Flowers said Monday morning. “The east basin is now empty and we will be removing the booms from the west basin today.� Treating the fuel additive tainted water will be a lot less expensive than as if it had contained PCBs. The cost would be tens of thousands of dollars versus hundreds of thousands. Barry Webb, Belmont’s city manager, emphasized that at no time was any water customer at risk. “There was no direct threat to people’s health,� Webb said. “There was no problem with people drinking, bathing, or using the water for any purpose.� Belmont police, 704825-3792, are still looking for whoever did the dumping or any other information in the case. Questions or concerns in the dumping or the city’s water supply can be made by calling Belmont City Hall at 704-825-5586.
Home services available to veterans Stress Free Home Care, 717 S. Main St., Stanley, has recently been approved to accept Veterans Affairs benefits for qualifying veterans and/or their surviving spouse. “This is a wonderful opportunity to help men and women who have served our country and now need some help at home,� said owner Candi Lethcoe. Candi Lethcoe started Stress Free Home Care over three years ago to help individuals live independently in the comfort of their own homes rather than being placed in a facility. “Our caregivers can provide a variety of everyday tasks for our clients and cater a care plan for each individual client,� said Lethcoe. “The tasks include bathing assistance, medication reminders, errands, transportation, light housekeeping, meal preparation, companionship and many more caregiving needs.� Stress Free Home Care would like to encourage veterans that need home care for themselves or a spouse
Front Row Left to Right: Kim Jones-CNA, Marilyn Michael- Marketing Director, Candi Lethcoe- Owner. Back Row Left to Right: Becky Jones- RN & Morgan Foxx- RN. to contact a local elder care attorney that specializes with VA benefit plans or contact Veterans Financial, Inc. at 1-800-835-1541 to see if they are eligible for benefits to help pay for home care. Many individuals are unsure of financial assistance they may qualify for to help them stay in the comfort of their own home. Studies show that people are happier and live longer
when they are able to stay in the home they have known for many years. The staff at Stress Free Home Care is highly trained and licensed to care for veterans that reside in Gaston, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Catawba, Cleveland and Union counties in North Carolina. All of the caregivers are drug tested, back ground checked, TB tested, CPR certified, show proof of
insurance, reliable transportation & valid driver’s license. If you would like to learn more about services and already have VA benefits, contact Stress Free Home Care at 704-9314997.
Roy and Judy Young on their wedding day, October 5, 2103 Roy began to send emails containing photos of Belmont past and present and other interesting historical photos. These were infrequent but aroused Judy’s curiosity. When she learned of a reunion of her high school class, she emailed Roy and asked him to go with her. After all, they were a big item for a long time. He ignored her request at first and finally gave an emphatic “NO�. Not being good at taking no for an answer, she talked him into meeting her
at the motel to talk over their lives. When she opened the door and saw his twinkling eyes and big smile, her heart flipped. They talked for two hours and quickly discovered similarities in their histories. Judy went to the reunion alone and when she returned to the motel, she called Roy and there was another long conversation. They met again the next afternoon for more talk. Feeling uneasy, Judy left Cramerton for Virginia Beach – totally unsure of what she had started. About a week later, Roy called and asked if he could come see her. Judy quickly agreed. After several more week-end visits the two went shopping - for wedding rings. The wedding was October 5, 2013 and they now happily reside in Virginia Beach with trips to Cramerton. “We may be a lot older, but we’ve cared for each other for so long, age is no problem� is the motto these two go by now and will for many more years to come.
Clayton celebrates 90th birthday Belmont native Dorothy Ramsey Clayton celebrated her 90th birthday on Feb. 11 with a surprise party that saw approximately 25 family members in attendance.
CaroMont Regional earns excellence award Prevention Partners has presented the Excellence Recognition, the highest achievement in its WorkHealthy America employee wellness product, to CaroMont Regional Medical Center. The award recognizes the medical center’s straight -A scores in nutrition, physical activity, and tobacco cessation policies and practices as well as its executive leadership in establishing a culture of wellness for employees. "CaroMont Regional Medical Center is committed to being a partner in health and wellness with our local community,� says CaroMont Wellness Director Debbie Bellenger. “In addition to working in sick care, we aim to focus on prevention and providing opportunities to the community via local employers, faith-based communities and our own workforce to become healthier by providing health and wellness programs. Over the past four years, Car-
oMont has been dedicated to developing health and wellness programs for our own employees and then sharing these programs with our community partners. In our efforts to teach our employees how to be healthier, we have managed to maintain health care costs constant within our work force and in several measures of health (nutrition, BMI, activity level, tobacco cessation) we have improved our outcomes three years in a row. We are committed to leading by example.� “CaroMont Regional has set a high bar for hospitals and workplaces, in North Carolina and nationally,� says Heather Berdanier, Manager of Strategic Alliances at Prevention Partners. “We’re proud of the commitment that CaroMont’s leadership has made to improve the health of its employees as well as to serving as a role model for the surrounding community – and for the healthcare industry as a whole.�
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Wednesday, February 26, 2014
The Banner News | banner-news.com
Opinions...
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Yours, Ours, Others
Quote of the week... Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success.
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Henry Ford
The things that happen when ‘snow fever’ hits
It's Feb. 20 and 75 degrees outside and I am sitting at my desk wearing a T-shirt...the recent blizzard was an interesting study in human nature. When the first flakes started flying on Feb 11, some sort of primeval Alan Hodge urge took hold in folks Editor and they began storming grocery stores in search of bread, milk, adult beverages, toilet paper and other stuff in much the same way our cave-dwelling ancestors must have stocked up on marrow bones along with moss and leaves for T.P. during the Ice Age. The snow really started coming down Feb. 12 and those folks who were at work began calculating how far they had to drive to get home and how fast they could get there. This resulted in the winter weather pattern known as “driving like lunatics� whereby people sped and tailgated as usual on ice-covered roads. Of course the texting and cellphone jabbering was at a fever pitch as “drivers� (so-called) communicated with everyone on their speed dial list to report their positions relative to the store and/or dwelling place. The TV news was all about the snow. I think if the Second Coming of Christ had taken place during the mini-blizzard it would have taken a back seat to the snow. Every time snow shots were flashed on the TV screen they were accompanied by bold chords of dramatic music. The TV weather forecasters were a hoot to watch, especially the one with big ears and a stern look on his face. This bloke was wound up tighter than an eight day clock as he delivered his meteorological spiel. Feb. 13 dawned not to clear skies, but to snowflakes as big as dimes falling furiously from the sky. It snowed. Then it snowed some more. Then it snowed even more after that until late in the afternoon. It was as if the past few snowless years had dumped their combined frozen frustrations on the landscape. Needless to say, there was no getting out and about for several days. We live at the bottom of the hill at the end of a dead end street and thankfully have a fourwheel drive or would have been stuck there until Saturday. So, what did people do during the time they were snowed in? Don't tell me let me guess. They ate, drank, surfed the interweb, texted, talked on the phone, and watched TV. If there were kids in the house there was probably some refereeing going on too. As for me, I ate, drank, surfed the interweb, and watched WWII newsreels like Victory at Sea especially the Battle of Midway episode- “Kaga smashed and sinking, Hiryu smashed and sinking, Akagi smashed
and sinking�, (my bowels from too much junk food snacks and barleypop, smashed and sinking). As for the spouse, she stayed under her green blanket on the sofa and lay there eyes glued to the TV for hours on end watching horror movies. Feb. 14 saw the sun come out but our road was still ice. It was Valentine's Day and our 27th wedding anniversary. A bouquet of roses that I had ordered had delivery delayed until Monday. But better late than never. There was plenty of chocolate candy in the house and it got worked over pretty good. I was also reminded that when we came back from our wedding trip to Charleston in 1987, there was snow on the ground here then too.
We both sweated bullets all through the snowstorm worrying about whether or not the power would go out. Thank goodness it did not. On one memorable occasion an ice storm knocked our power out for several days. Our water comes from a well. No power means no water. I went to the creek and dipped water out with a bucket. On one trip I poured the creek water in the toilet tank and a crawdad jumped out. Overall, the snow was aggravating but lovely to look at especially the night there was a full moon. It brought back a lot of memories, but frankly, my dear, I don't give a darn if it snows again this year and I'm willing to bet unless you have stock in a ski-resort you don't either.
I heard a gun shot in my house
Tony Marciano Guest Editorial
I have been known to interrogate the counter person at an ice cream shop about the temperature of their hot chocolate for my hot fudge sundae. They always tell me it’s hot. But I need confirmation. I like my hot fudge really hot and my ice
cream really cold. One day I was home and wanted to make my own hot fudge sundae. We keep our bottle of hot fudge in the refrigerator. I grabbed the bottle and did what any American does – I put it in the microwave. Why put a pan of water on the stove, wait for the water to boil and then wait for the fudge to warm up? That would take way too long. I was on a mission. I wanted my fudge hot and I wanted it now. There I am in the kitchen listening to my microwave making its familiar whirling noise, anticipating what would be one of my favorite desserts when suddenly, I heard a gunshot. It was loud. Once on 4th of July I heard gun shots in my neighborhood, but that was when I was standing on the front porch. This came from within the house. For whatever reason, I decided to open the microwave door. I really messed up big time. I blew a hole in the side of my hot fudge container. I cleaned up the microwave because I’m one of those people who never cover their food when I put it in it. That’s when I realized what I did wrong. It was a simple thing – I never opened the cap. I never provided a release for the steam to escape. The cap was on tight. The microwave heated the air inside the bottle. With the cap closed, it had nowhere to go but to blow a hole through the side of the bottle. I hate to admit it that’s how I live my life. Take a look at your calendar; if you’re anything like me, you
try to fit too much into too little time. You live life without any margin. You don’t build into your life space for when “life happensâ€?. When it does, you’re like a 20 amp circuit breaker pulling 19 ½ amps. You may not trip the breaker, but it’s quivering back and forth in the circuit breaker box screaming “STOPâ€?. Books are published with margin around the edge. One could argue that it is irresponsible and poor stewardship of natural resources and ink should go to the edge of the paper. While that will cut down the number of pages used to print a book, none will be sold. No one could read such a book. You would open it and gasp at how much ink is “screamingâ€? at you. It would be terrifying. You’d put it down and never read a word. Let me encourage you to learn to say no to the good so you can say yes to the excellent. Let me encourage you to avoid scheduling every moment of your day. What helps keep me centered is the portion of the scripture verse that says, “All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful.â€? Overscheduling my calendar doesn’t make me significant. It gives me a short fuse with the people I love because there is no “marginâ€? in my life for when “life happensâ€? - and it always does. And let me encourage you to take the cap off your bottle of hot chocolate syrup when you put it in the microwave. I’ll be back in two weeks. Until then, live well my friend. Rev. Tony Marciano is the Executive Director of the Charlotte Rescue Mission. He is available to speak to your group. Go to www.charlotterescuemission.org and go to contact us then ask for Pam.
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MOUNT HOLLY: a great place to retire HAND: to be inducted into Belmont Sports Hall of Fame From page 1 Holly, by way of a strategic visioning process. The collective effort involved our citizens, the City Council and city staff. It is wonderful to see things finally coming to fruition based upon a formal plan. Mount Holly’s location within the region is an indicator of how fortunate we are and others can take advantage of what a small but growing city can offer. There is a lot of energy in Mount Holly, whereby people are working hard to make things better. In our downtown alone, you can see how much things have changed. Business owners have really put forth an effort to renovate their buildings and bring in new businesses. Although a lot of the recent talk has been about the retiree designation, I can assure you that we are working hard to attract folks from all walks of life and while making things better for those that are already here.� Lauren Shoemaker, chair of the Mount Holly Community Development Foundation was also thrilled with the selection. “I'm really pleased, but not at all surprised that Mount Holly is
getting recognition,� said Shoemaker. “The city, community organizations and citizens have been working diligently to make Mount Holly a truly great place to live. The city really has a lot to offer and so much more is coming. It is an exciting time to live here.� Morrisville in Wake County took the top retirement destination spot. Kings Mountain was ranked fifth most desirable location in North Carolina to retire. Bringing up the rear were the cities of Rocky Mount, Reidsville, Hendersonville, Burlington, and WinstonSalem. To arrive at its list, Movoto first used Census data to find all the towns in North Carolina with a population of at least 10,000. That ended up being 82 places from across the state. Next, these 82 places were ranked based on a number of criteria from one to 82, with the lowest number being the best. Finally, the firm took the average rank across these criteria. The criteria included cost of living, total crime, total amenities, weather, and distance from the nearest international airport.
quet will take place at Catawba Heights Baptist Church on Tuesday, March 11 at 7pm. Guest speaker will be Clemson coach Dabo Swinney. In addition to Hand, the other inductees will be golfer Todd Stafford and South Point High basketball coach Melinda Wilson. Tickets for the event are going fast. Seating is limited. Cost is $25 each and they are available at the Montcross Area Chamber office in downtown Belmont and also at Shoemaker's State Farm office next to Catawba Heights Baptist Church.
From page 1 County School Board. He is a long-time member of Providence Baptist Church in Rockingham. Hand and his late wife, Willie Mae Corry Hand, have two children, Stephany and James Jr., as well as two grandchildren, Jorren and Jaden Biggs. Belmont Sports Hall of Fame organizer Art Shoemaker says Hand's overall combination of onthe-field performance and personality led to his selection. “Joe was highly respected during his days in Belmont,� Shoemaker said. “He has always been a teacher and a take charge kind of
guy.� The Belmont Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony and ban-
Weather contributed to fatal wreck The recent snowy weather contributed to a fatal traffic accident near Belmont. The wreck occurred on I-85 North near the Exit 27 off ramp. The incident occurred when a tractor trailer ran into the back of a pickup truck that had slowed down due to weather related traffic conditions. The resulting collision resulted in the death of the driver of the pickup truck, Gilbert Lazarus Carmona,
28, of Rutherfordton North Carolina. At this time the investigation is ongoing. It has not yet been determined if charges will be filed against the driver of the tractor trailer. The Belmont Police Department will consult with the District Attorney’s Office before any charges are filed.
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â– SPORTS
South Point girls win thriller, playoffs next By John Wilson john.bannernews@gmail.com
The South Point girls’ basketball team took on Forestview for the third time in a year, this matchup taking place in the Big South Conference Tournament. Earlier in the year South Point had beat Forestview twice, a feat never before accomplished. The Lady Red Raiders were trying to beat their archrivals three times in one year. Forestview was not about to let that happen. Coach Scott Tudor said that the Lady Jags gave them a fight. “This was a tough one,� Tudor said. “Forestview played hard. It wasn’t our best defensive game.� The first half was a back and forth affair with Forestview scoring 14 point to South Point’s 13. South Point returned the favor in the second half scoring 16 to Forestview’s 14. At the half the score was South Point 29, Forestview 28. After each team regrouped in the locker room things got lively. Forestview opened up the third period
with 20 points to take the lead. South Point fought back. Led by Asia Jackson the Lady Red Raiders rallied. Jackson had a game high 24 points. “By far this was Asia’s best game,� Tudor said. The game went into overtime when Jackson took a rebound off of a missed South Point shot and put up a basket of her own. In overtime the South Point offense took command. Haley Stewart had 22 points to add to the offensive tally. Jackson kept going as well. She was frequently fouled. But when she went to the free throw line she showed she could sink the ball from any point on the court. “Asia was 10 for 12 from the free throw line,� coach Tudor said. When the dust settled the Lady Red Raiders had pulled off a thrilling win in overtime. They beat Forestview 77- 75. After the thriller against Forestview the Lady Red Raiders went up against Big South powerhouse Lake
Haley Stewart drives down the court during the ladies Feb. 17 match-up with Forestview.
Chrissy White lines up for the shot during the ladies Feb. 17 match-up with Forestview. The Lady Raiders won 77-75
Photos by BILL WARD
Norman again. Lake Norman bounced
South Point out of the tournament.
Up next for the Lady Red Raiders is a matchup against
Anson County in the playoffs.
A tough season ends, South Point rebuilds By John Wilson john.bannernews@gmail.com
The Red Raider's men's basketball team ended its season in a showdown against Lake Norman Charter in the Big South Conference tournament. South Point played hard but just could not seal the deal. The Knights took a 54-45 win. Notwithstanding the loss, Coach Kody Kubbs liked the effort his team played with. "The guys played hard," he said. "We didn't shoot well from the field. But I could not fault the effort." Senior Deonte Gaston left everything on the court playing in his last game for Big Red. Gaston had a heck of a night. He scored 21 points, had 6 assists and 5 rebounds. "This was the best game of the season for Deonte," Kubbs said. "It was tough. He has been with the program for four years." There can be no doubt that the 20132014 did not end the way South Point had envisioned. "Things didn't go the way that we planned," Kubbs said. "It was a disappointing year." Kubbs was candid in his summary of the 2013-2014 season. "We had high expectations," Kubbs said. "The league was down, we didn't play to our abilities." Kubbs believes that the team's mental outlook contributed to the down year.
"We didn't have the right mentality at times." Kubbs added. "We needed to make mental adjustments and didn't." Despite the letdown Kubbs had nothing but praise for departing senior Deonte Gaston. "Deonte was our senior leader," Kubbs said. "He had a good year." As tough as the season was for the players and Red Raider faithful, Kubbs has high hopes for next year. He has every reason to be optimistic. The cupboard is hardly bare. "We have a lot of talent coming back next year," Kubbs said. One of those players coming back is speedy Deontrea King. King is a defensive whiz kid. The 5'10" guard proved to be South Point's basketball pick pocket. He snatched the ball from opposing players before they knew what hit them. "Deontrea led the County in steals." Kubbs said. South Point's offense will be helped by the return of sophomore Brandon Reeves. "Brandon is our leading scorer." Another player that coach Kubbs hopes steps up next year is Clay Julen. Kubbs holds the 6'1" junior in high regard. "Clay didn't get as much playing time as he deserved," Kubbs said. "He made us better every day. I hope he will be a leader next year." It looks like South Point has a lot to work with. Now all we have to do is wait a year and see what the future holds.
South Point Red Raiders Player of the Week
GC School sponsors breast cancer awareness day On Friday evening, January 31, the color pink was “splattered� across Gaston Christian School’s gymnasium as the Lady Eagles basketball team, GCS students, and other fans were decked out in pink shirts, pants, and accessories. The cause: raising awareness for breast cancer, a disease that has touched countless lives. Sponsored by the high school’s Spirit Club, the event raised over $1,000.00 (final tally) for the Kay Yow Cancer Fund, a fund founded in 2007 in memory of Kay Yow, former North Carolina State University women’s basketball coach who died in 2009 from breast cancer.
East Gaston to host annual blood drive East Gaston High School will sponsor its annual blood drive for Community Blood Center of the Carolinas on Friday, March 7, 2014 from 8:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. in the school's practice gymnasium. For more information, call the school office at (704) 827-7251. The school is located at 1744 Lane Road in Mount Holly.
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SITES: provide rich local history From page 1 McDuffie are also on the monument which was officially dedicated on Sept. 12, 2009. Surrounding the marker are pavers engraved with the names of Mount Holly Black History Committee members and others whose donations and work made the monument possible. Another Mount Holly historic spot with strong black connections is a simple cemetery at the corner of Hawthorne St. and W. Catawba Ave. behind Burge United Methodist Church.
This cemetery has graves dating back to the 19th century including some that are probably those of slaves. Names that appear on some of the stones include Rankin and Grice. One stone bears the name of Mack Rankin, born in 1826. For a long period of time the cemetery was overgrown and neglected. In April, 2013 a group of students from Mountain Island Charter School as well as local volunteers led by Curtis Alexander cleaned the graveyard up. Alexander hopes to one day see a fence erected around it and the
STORAGE: of coal ash continues to be controversy From page 1 For the Dan River site, the cities are Danville, Va. and South Boston, Va. The closest water intakes for Riverbend are Charlotte- Mecklenburg, Gastonia-Gaston, and Mount Holly. Allen Steam Station's nearest town is Belmont, but it's worth noting that the city water intake is upstream from the plant and its ponds. The coal ash ponds at all four locations are old. Riverbend's first coal ash pond was built back in 1950. The steam station itself dates to 1929 but was closed last year and is slated for demolition. Dan River's first coal ash pond was constructed in1954, Marshall's in 1963, and Allen's in 1965. No new coal ash is being generated at either Dan River or Riverbend- both inactive, but Allen and Marshall are producing it. Dan River's coal ash ponds are on 39 acres, Riverbend's on 71 acres, Marshall's on 140 acres, and Allen's on 172 active acres and 62 inactive acres. The total volume of coal ash in gallons at the ponds is surprising. Dan River has 216,365,348 gallons in its ponds, Riverbend has 853,730,743 in its lagoons, Allen has 1,927,411,200 gallons, and Marshall a whopping 2,243,487,086 gallons. According to the report, all of the ponds are unlined and all four sites have their impounding dikes constructed on a foundation of coal ash. Two of the sites have had a reported failure- Dan River earlier this month and Allen in January 1983. The report also declares that Duke's test wells at all four sites have reported at least some groundwater contamination although the extent and type was not listed. All four sites were also mentioned as having reported maintenance problems such as animal burrows in the ponds. More information on the report is available at www. CatawbaRiverkeeper.org.
gravestones restored. In Belmont there are also several locations with strong African-American history ties, not the least of which is the Reid community which was the site of Reid High School. Like Rollins School, Reid High was where local black students got an education. The school operated from 1918-1966 and got its start in a small wooden building on Sacco St. By the 1940s it had expanded to include high school grades. The colors were blue and gold and the mascot was a ram. Some of the students walked as far as five miles to get there. Just a few of the many, many, outstanding Reid High graduates included artist Juan Logan, political activist Ron Leeper, and civic leader Elsie Grier.
A Woman-less Beauty Pageant Gaston College Phi Beta Lambda Student Club will sponsor a fun-filled family centered event where “Gaston Gals� just want to have fun on Sunday, March 16, starting at 2pm at First United Methodist Theater, 166 E. Main Avenue, Gastonia. All funds raised will benefit the March of Dimes and Gaston College Phi Beta Lambda Student Club events. The cost is $5.00 for 5 votes. Additional votes are available for purchase. This event is open to the public. For more information and tickets, contact Jamie Conrad at 704.922.6307 or conrad.jamie@gaston.edu
Also like Rollins, integration of public schools in the 1960s saw Reid closed and torn down. However, also like Rollins, Reid High lives on in the form of a nice marker on Sacco St. where the school once stood. The marker was dedicated on Sept. 7, 2013 with an event that saw over 100 folks in attendance. A playground is also on the Reid High site as well graced by a Juan Logan sculpture. Churches have long played an important part of African-American culture in Belmont and one of the oldest is O'Connor's Grove AME Church. Dating to 1868, the church is located next to Hardees on N. Main in Belmont and can trace its roots back to a time when newly-freed slaves needed a place to worship. O'Connor's Grove Church was built on land that was once part of a 500acre tract owned by Dr. Jeremiah O'Connell. He sold the property that would eventually become home to
Belmont Abbey College and also deeded the church plot to the former slaves who had helped him clear his farmland. The first building for O'Connor's Grove Church wasn't a building at all, but a brush arbor. Later structures were made of wood. The current brick sanctuary dates to 1952. These are just a few of the many sites relevant to local black history. To find
out more there are several good books available that explore and explain others. These include “Between Two Rivers� by Ross Yockey, “Footprints on the Rough Side of the Mountain: An African-American Niche in the History of a Southern Textile City� by Oscar Depriest Hand and Julia N. Sykes, and “Images of America: Mount Holly� by Lee Beatty, Jim Love, and Charles A. Rhyne Jr.
Meet Your Friends at Charlie’s Mon.-Fri. • 7:00AM-7:00PM Sat. • 8:00AM-4:00PM Sun. • 8:00AM-9:30AM
Temple Emanuel is honored to present a lecture by Fulbright Fellowship Award recipient, Daniel Asia, Professor of Music Composition at The University of Arizona. This is a unique opportunity to hear Professor Asia discuss the relationship between classical music and Judaism along with recordings and a short informal recital of his music, with specific emphasis on works inspired by Jewish texts.
Free of Charge, but contributions gladly accepted. Sunday, March 2, 2014 at 7:00 p.m. at Temple Emmanuel 320 South St., Gastonia NC 28052 For information call 703.715.6200
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FIDDLER'S VINYARD -- Local Winery has part-time job opening. Call (704) 297-8560. DRIVERS! Tired of being treated like a number? Want to drive for an INDUSTRY LEADER? Our drivers Avg $65k/yr +
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COPY DEADLINE: Friday before the issue date at 2pm Mail copy to: Kings Mountain Herald • PO Box 769 • Kings Mountain NC 28086
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF GASTON NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND DEBTORS Having qualified on the 11th day of April as Executrix of the Estate of John E. Mageras; aka: John Evangelos Mageras, deceased, of Gaston County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons, firms, and corporations having claims against the estate of said deceased to exhibit them to the undersigned Lauri M. Mageras, Executrix on or before the 5th day of May,
2014, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, firms, and corporations indebted to the said estate will please make immediate payment. This the 5th day of February, 2014. Lauri M. Mageras, Executrix Estate of John E. Mageras; aka: John Evangelos Mageras, 5406 Stoney Ridge Court Belmont, North Carolina 28012 BN10560 (2/05,12,19 & 26/14)
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Š 2014 by Vicki Whiting, Editor Jeff Schinkel, Graphics Vol. 31, No. 11
Find the Matching Parrots s The tiny, green hanging parrots off Southeast Asia roost upside down at night like bats. Skill: Observe similarities and differences in objects.
The a-MAZE-ing Hyacinth Macaw To find out how many inches long the Hyacinth Macaw w can grow to be from head to tail, add up the numbers along the correct path. Skills: Math. Find the sum of whole numbers.
Go on a treasure hunt h on today’s Kid Scoop Sco page with a family member. Can you find the answer to all of these questions? 1. Tiny, green parrots of
The largest parrot is the blue Hyacinth Macaw. It lives in the tropical forests of South America. Scientists believe that there are now less than 5,000 of these beautiful birds left in the wild.
Southeast Asia like to roost hanging ______ ______. 2. How many inches long can the blue Hyacinth Macaw grow to be? __________
grow to be more than 3 feet long. All parrots have short legs with two toes that point forward and two toes that point backward. This arrangement of toes makes it possible for parrots to grasp the fruits and nuts they like to eat. It also helps them to climb and even hang upside down.
Skills: Life Science: Recognize that different animals have different features that help them thrive in different places.
3. On which continent does the blue Hyacinth Macaw
In ancient Rome, parrots were kept in silver cages and taught to say the above phrase. Unscramble the letters to find out the phrase.
live? ________ ________ 4. How many different kinds of parrots are there? More than __________. 5. Parrots were first captured
ANSWER: Hail Emperor!
or hundreds of years, parrots large and small have been kept as pets. Perhaps they were first captured for food or for their colorful feathers, but when it was discovered they could “talk,� they became pets rather than dinner. There are more than 350 kinds of parrots. Some are only 3 inches long, while others
for their colorful ___________. 6. Parrots are intelligent Look through the newspaper for:
Why do parrots copy people? Parrots are highly intelligent birds, and they like to play with people. Some parrots learn they can get attention when they copy, or mimic, human speech. Find at least 10 differences in the two pictures above. Skill: Observe similarities and differences in objects.
3 words that describe parrots numbers that add up to the number of inches a Hyacinth Macaw can grow to be the letters that spell what parrots were taught to say in ancient Rome
animals.
7. Parrots can imitate human speech.
8. Parrots have short legs with five toes.
Skills: Reading: Identify
words. Math: Calculate one and two digit sums.
9. Hyacinth Macaws are not
Find the words in the puzzle. Then look for each word in this week’s Kid Scoop stories and activities.
a threatened species.
Standards Link: Language Arts: Use nouns, adjectives and verbs correctly.
This week’s word:
TROPICAL The adjective tropical relates to an area close to the equator that is hot and humid. Tropical rainforests have year-round warmth. Standards Link: Reading comprehension. Standards Link: Letter sequencing. Recognized identical words. Skim and scan reading. Recall spelling patterns.
Try to use the word tropical in a sentence today when talking with your friends and family members.
Word Mimics
Some words mean the same or almost the same thing, such as mimic and copy. Look through the newspaper for words that mean the same or almost the same thing. ANSWER:Because it was the chicken’s day off.
Standards Link: Reading: Vocabulary Development, recognize common synonyms.
Imagine you can interview a parrot about life in the wild vs. life in captivity. What would they tell you?
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