Serving Belmont, Mount Holly, Stanley, Cramerton, and McAdenville
Volume 78 • Issue 9 • Wednesday, February 27, 2013
75¢
The 1971 South Point High football team was undefeated in regular season conference play with a 10-0 record. They were inducted in the Belmont Sports Hall of Fame last Tuesday during the 26th annual awards banquet. Photo by Roxanne Rankin
New members added to Belmont Sports Hall of Fame By Alan Hodge Editor Alan.bannernews@gmail.com
The Belmont Sports Hall of Fame added three new members to those hallowed ranks during its 26th Annual gala banquet and in-
duction ceremony held on Feb. 19 at Park Street United Methodist Church. Inductees included Mike McWhirter, Dick Suggs, and the entire 1971 South Point Red Raiders football team. A huge crowd of coaches past
and present, civic leaders, politicians, Belmont Sports Hall of Fame members, family members, friends, and well wishers packed the church Family Life Center to capacity. The event kicked off with a home run opening remark by Joe
Lawing who declared the evening “a tremendous gathering of sports fans”. This was followed by a heartfelt remembrance of former Belmont Mayor the late Kevin Loftin who had served as emcee at many previous Belmont Sports Hall of Fame
celebrations. Lanny Ford, general manager of ESPN radio, introduced the featured speaker of the evening, Brad Lambert, coach of the UNC-Charlotte 49ers football team. “Here is a man of integrity that See HALL OF FAME, 5A
Drivers feeling the ‘pain at the pump’ By Alan Hodge Editor Alan.bannernews@gmail.com
Photo by Alan Hodge
A large crowd turned out for Mount Holly’s recent 10th annual Black History Forum. The ladies wearing the colorful traditional garb were singers with Macedonia Baptist Church who performed during the event.
City of Mount Holly hosts Black History Forum By Alan Hodge Editor Alan.bannernews@gmail.com
The City of Mount Holly recognized and honored local African-American accomplishments and heritage at the 10th annual Black History Forum on Feb. 17. The event took place in the Mount Holly Municipal Complex where a large crowd filled the Great Hall with music, prayers, and praise. The theme for 2013 was “Celebrating a Decade of Service”, a
reference to the tenth anniversary of the Mount Holly Black History Committee. “We are thankful for this organization and what they do for the city,” said Mayor Bryan Hough. The committee chairman, John Hope, was on hand and he and his fellow members were given a proclamation by Hough extolling the work they had done over the past ten years. This included projects such as the Memory Walk and monument on the site of the Rollins School where
Mount Holly’s African-American children were educated prior to integration in the 1960s, helping the Community Relief Organization, and working with local military veterans. “They work really hard,” said City Manager Danny Jackson. The event saw Nancy Gibson receive the Mount Holly Black History Committee Achievement Award. Gibson was the second African-American hired at Burlington Mills and the first at Duke Power’s office in Mount
Alan.bannernews@gmail.com
Some pretty impressive acts were seen on the Ed Sullivan television show during its day including the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, the Jefferson Airplaneand the Cramerton Square Dance Team. It was August 14, 1955 when the square dance group hit the
national spotlight on Sullivan’s CBS-TV “Toast of the Town” entertainment variety show, but team members Doris and Mack Stowe who currently live in Belmont and were in their 20s back then, remember the sensations quite well. “It was an incredible time,” Doris said. “We were young and had never been anywhere. To be transported to New York in high style was something we could never have dreamed of.” The dance team’s “day jobs” were at Burlington Mills in Cramerton and the firm footed the bill for the trip. Originally, the idea was to fly the team to New York on the company plane, but Hurricane Connie blew in
See GAS PRICES, 3A
Loftin remembered
See BLACK HISTORY, 6A
Stowes remember thrill of Ed Sullivan Show By Alan Hodge Editor
Just when drivers thought their wallets were getting a bit of relief at the pump, gas prices are on the rise once again to the highest levels in months. Just over the past few weeks, gas prices in our area have gone up nearly 30 cents per gallon with the average price for regular unleaded hovering around $3.75. Unleaded premium is over the $4 a gallon mark at around $4.05 a gallon. “This is the 33rd day in a row that we’ve seen a consecutive increase,” said AAA spokesperson Nancy White. Back on December 20, 2012, gas prices were at their lowest point in
quite a while at “just” $3.22 a gallon for regular. In 2012, the highest gas prices were recorded on April 6 when a gallon of the precious liquid hit a yearly high of $3.91 a gallon. For folks who care to travel across the South Carolina state line for a few cents off their gas purchase, the price down there is hovering around $3.35 a gallon. Local drivers are steamed over the price hike. Rodney Huffstickler was at Rollins 76 station on Hickory Grove Rd. and smells a conspiracy. “Everybody in Washington has stock in oil,” he said. Vicki Cauthen was also at Rollins. “People won’t be able to get to work because of the prices,” she said. “It’s hard.” Garrett Harwood agreed.
and the flight was scrubbed, meaning the round-trip journey to and from the Big Apple was made by train. Arriving in New York on the morning of August 13, the team took a tour of the United Nations building then went to Radio City Music Hall and watched the Rockettes. They also took in a Broadway show, “Pajama Game”. Another place they visited was a nightclub called the Latin Quarter. But the trip also included some hard work. The team had a series of rehearsals before the televised performance took place. When the long awaited time See STOWES, 6A
Photo courtesy Steve Rankin
A bronze plaque in memory and honor of former Belmont mayor, the late Kevin Loftin, was unveiled Feb. 22 at the Stowe Family YMCA. Several dignitaries spoke at the event marking the one-year anniversary of Loftin’s death.
Plaque dedicated in memory of Loftin Approximately 30 people attended a brief memorial and dedication service for Kevin Loftin on Friday, Feb. 22 at the Stowe Family YMCA in Belmont. This date marks the one-year anniversary of the death of the former Belmont mayor and YMCA board member. Current Belmont Mayor Richard Boyce led the dedication with many fond memories of Kevin’s vision and leadership for Belmont and the Stowe YMCA. Tony Sigmon, CEO of the Gaston County YMCA and Jim Sell with
Pharr Yarns shared a few stories about Kevin. Kevin had served on the Stowe and Metro boards for the YMCA. Bill Carstarphen, president of Pharr Yarns, and Tony Sigmon unveiled the plaque that will hang in the hallway at the Stowe YMCA. Kevin left his mark in many areas of Belmont and Gaston County. This plaque will be a reminder to all who enter the Y of his enthusiasm and hard work to establish the East Gaston Branch of the YMCA.
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