Serving Belmont, Mount Holly, Stanley, Cramerton, and McAdenville
Volume 78 • Issue 19 • Wednesday, May 8, 2013
75¢
No hiking on the thread trail! Torrential rains flood River Park in Cramerton; more rain predicted.
McCormick, fellow crewmembers to be remembered ALAN HODGE alan.bannernews@gmail.com
Plans are in the works for a commemorative marker in South Dakota recognizing the four crewmembers of an NC Air National Guard C-130, including Maj. Joe McCormick, 36, of Belmont, who perished when the plane crashed while fighting wildfires. His wife Heather, and children Luke, Thomas, Henry, and Margaret, all of Belmont, survive McCormick. In addition to Maj. McCormick, the airmen who were killed included Lt. Col. Paul
Mikeal, of Mooresville, Maj. Ryan David of Boone, and Senior Master Sgt. Robert Cannon. Crewmen in the rear of the plane that were seriously injured included Sgt. Josh Marlowe of Boiling Springs and Chief Master Sgt. Andy Major Huneycutt. The plane went down Joe McCormick fighting what was called the White Draw Fire near Edgemont, South Dakota, as it was dropping fire retardant. The blaze consumed
See DOT, 6A
Bomb threats at Lowell schools By Alan Hodge Alan.bannernews@gmail.com
Holbrook Middle School in Lowell was evacuated last Thursday when a student reported seeing a bomb threat written on the boy’s bathroom wall. The student reported the markings to the school resource officer. Students were immediately evacuated from the school while officers conducted a sweep. Two K-9 police dogs were also brought in to sniff out the school. The search took about half an hour. Neither officers nor dogs found any trace of a bomb and the students were sent home at the end of the day. For extra security, additional officers were on duty at the school on Friday. In addition to Lowell police, other departments that assisted in the incident included officers from Ranlo, Cramerton, Gaston County, and the Gaston County Sheriff’s Department. As if that weren’t enough, a bomb threat was made the very next day, Friday, at Lowell Elementary and the evacuation and search process was repeated all over again. Officers were in place at both schools on Monday. “Our first concern is for the safety of the children and staff not only at those schools but all schools in Gaston County,� said schools spokeswoman Bonnie Reidy. Anyone with knowledge of who might have made the threats can call the Lowell PD at 704-866-3300 or CrimeStoppers at 704861-8000.
around 2,000. Najacht is a retired colonel who served 31 years in the Army National Guard. He kicked off the campaign by running an editorial letter in his paper and also by putting in the first $100 towards the marker. “The six risked their lives trying to save lives and property by fighting White Draw Fire from the air,� Najacht’s letter stated. “The least we can do is recognize their valiant efforts and memorialize their names, lest we forget the high cost they paid. It just seems like the right thing to do. We urge everyone to consider donating what they can See McCORMICK, 6A
GARIBALDIFEST & MORE!
DOT to hold hearings on N.C. 273 The NC Department of Transportation will hold an informal public hearing on Tuesday, May 14, on proposed improvements to N.C. 273 (South Main Street) in Mount Holly. NCDOT is proposing to widen about 1.3 miles of N.C. 273 to a “superstreet� with four lanes divided by a median from Tuckaseege Road (at Beatty Drive) to Highland Street (at A&E Drive). A “superstreet� eliminates left turns from a side street onto the main street. This design requires a vehicle that would turn left to make a right turn and then a Uturn at a designated area. The project will improve traffic flow and allow more cars to travel along N.C. 273. Other proposed improvements include providing sidewalks on both sides of N.C. 273 and wider outside travel lanes to accommodate bicycles. The public hearing will take place from
9,000 acres. Later investigation of the crash cited weather as a factor. The plane was attached to the NCANG 145th MAW, at Charlotte-Douglas International Airport. Following the accident, a somber memorial ceremony took place at the base that included a flyover by C130s. Maj. McCormick was interred on July 13 at Evergreen Cemetery in Belmont with full military honors. Now, folks in South Dakota are working to make sure the fliers are not forgotten there. A drive to have a marker erected in their honor was started by Charles Najacht, publisher of the Custer County Weekly Chronicle, a weekly newspaper with a circulation of
USA Crits pro bicycle racers took to the streets of Belmont Saturday. See more race and Garibaldifest photos on page 4A!
Crits race rounds out Garibaldifest By Alan Hodge Alan.bannernews@gmail.com
Belmont had a blast last Saturday when thousands of folks streamed into the downtown area for the Garibaldifest as well as the first annual USA Crits pro bicycle race. Both events were held under cloudy, blustery and cool weather conditions but dodged a big rain bullet that saw torrents fall not long after the day came to a close.
Over 100 male and female bike riders stormed the half-mile course that ran through the middle of town reaching speeds of up to 40mph on the Glenway Street backstretch and only slightly slower velocities on the Main Street straightaway. Mobs of spectators lined the course and cheered on their favorite riders. The Belmont race was part of the USA Crits Speed Week and was put together in collaboration between Carolinas Health
Care, the City of Belmont, South Main Cycles, and the Belmont Merchants Association. The top three male finishers were Carlos Alzate, 30, of Asheville who is a member of the United Healthcare Pro Cycling Team, his teammate Bradley White, 31, from Holland, Michigan, and Jean Michel LeChance, 28, from Quebec, Canada who is a member of Team Predator Carbon See GARIBALDIFEST, 6A
New benches grace parks Boston fundraiser thanks to Austin Hansen rescheduled for May 19 By Alan Hodge
Alan.bannernews@gmail.com
Photo by Alan Hodge
Austin Hansen is seen chillin’ in Stowe Park on one of the benches he built and installed there for his Eagle Scout project. Austin constructed six benches for Stowe Park and two more for Davis Park. ALAN HODGE alan.bannernews@gmail.com
A lot of people who visit Stowe and Davis parks in Belmont will get to rest easy and in style thanks to 17-year-old Austin Hansen and his Eagle Scout project.
The son of Jeff and Lynn Hansen, Austin is a senior at South Point High School who joined the Scouts when he was just seven years old but had high aspirations from the start. “I knew even then I wanted to See HANSEN, 8A
When 10-year-old Belmont Central Elementary fourth grader Bradley Haggai saw and heard about the bombings during the Boston Marathon, he was shocked, especially since one of the fatalities was eightyear-old Martin Richard. “I thought it was scary,� he said. “I didn’t know what else was going to happen. I was sad and wondered what it would be like if it had happened to one of my friends.� But his fear quickly turned into action when he learned that Martin’s mom and sister had also been injured by the blast. “I was lying in bed later and wondered what I could do to help the family,� Bradley said. “Then I came up with the idea of having a fundraiser walk and run event here in Belmont.� The fruit of Bradley’s brainstorm will take place May 19 at
Photo by Alan Hodge
Belmont Central Elementary student Bradley Haggai came up with the idea of a fundraising walk/run event to take place May 19 at the school to benefit the family of Martin Richard, 8, who was killed in the Boston Marathon blast. 3pm at Belmont Central when a 2.62-mile walk/run minimarathon will raise funds for See FUNDRAISER, 6A
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