INSIDE... Obituaries................. 2A Sports ...................... 7A Congratulate Your Graduate! ......... 8A NTHS Inductees ........ 8A Volunteers Honored... 9A
Scholar Athletes Honored Serving Belmont, Mount Holly, Stanley, Cramerton, and McAdenville | Volume 79 • Issue 20 • Wednesday, May 14, 2014
7A
75¢
‘Complicated and wordy’ Land Use Plan delayed By Alan Hodge alan.bannernews@gmail.com
“Not so fast.” That's basically what the Belmont City Council said last week when it voted to delay a final decision regarding proposed modifications to the 2007 Comprehensive Land Use Plan until at least its June meeting. The vote followed a presenta-
tion by assistant city manager Adrian Miller who walked the council, and a chamber full of interested citizens, through the process whereby the plan amendments had been crafted as well as some of its key features. Miller emphasized the plan at this point was just that, a plan, and not changes to the Land Use Code. “This is a vision document,” Miller said. “Not a detailed strate-
gic plan. It's only a guide for now. It sets in place our vision for the future of downtown Belmont. Details can come later by amending the code. The code is legally binding, but the plan is not.” The plan's main thrust is to “refine how the City of Belmont envisions the center portion of town developing over time.” The plan amendments have been in the works since last sum-
mer. The city hired a consultant firm, Metrocology, whose principal is Demetri Baches, to help craft the amendments. Two “stakeholders” meetings were held in December 2013 seeking input from folks and business owners in the Main Street downtown and East Belmont, East Catawba Street sectors. A public meeting with these suggestions was held on February 19, 2014 at First Presbyterian Church.
This was followed by a planning and zoning board meeting on March 4, 2014 where the proposed changes were presented. The planning board voted unanimously at its April 17, 2014 meeting to approve the revisions. One of the driving forces behind city officials to amend the 2007 plan was a desire to shift land use in the downtown area from the See COUNCIL, 11A
Relay rained out!
Photo by Alan Hodge
Cousins John Hovis and Phoebe Ellington stand at the Smith Cemetery grave of their ancestor and Confederate veteran Levi Hovis. New markers to Hovis and five other CSA veterans were dedicated during a ceremony in the historic graveyard on Belwood Dr. last week.
The East Gaston Relay for Life cancer fundraiser walkathon was rained out Friday evening when a terrible thunderstorm roared through the field where Relay participants had set up. See the story on page 11A. Photo by ALAN HODGE
New markers Neumann explores potential dedicated at growth of South Point Township Confederate grave sites By Alan Hodge
alan.bannernews@gmail.com
By Alan Hodge alan.bannernews@gmail.com
A group of history buffs gathered at the Smith Cemetery on Belwood Dr. near Belmont last Thursday and dedicated memorial markers for six Confederate veterans buried there. But wait, you say, Memorial Day this year is May 26. Yes, but North Carolina and several other Southern states also recognize May 10 as Confederate Memorial Day, one reason being that is the date in 1863 when General Stonewall Jackson died of friendly-fire wounds he suffered on May 3 during the Battle of Chancellorsville. OK, back to Belmont. The markers that were dedicated included the stone, Veteran's Administration type found in cemeteries where American service members are buried around the world, as well as the black, Maltese cross type placed on Confederate
graves and known as the Southern Cross of Honor. The former Confederate soldiers that now have new markers in Smith Cemetery include Levi Hovis who served in Co. H, 37th NCT; John W. Armstrong Co. H 37th NCT; Dr. John Emmett Neagle Co. H 49th NCT; Joseph S. Selvey Co. H 37thNCT; James Leeper 5th Calvary and also 63rd NCT; Joel A. Stowe Jr. Co. G 12thNCT. The event was attended by members of several Sons of Confederate Veterans camps including Gaston Guards #1822, Maj. Charles Q. Petty #872, William A. Stowe #2142. The United Daughters of the Confederacy Gastonia Chapter #955 was also represented. A lively contingent of relatives, friends, folks interested in history and a couple of neighborhood folks who wondered what men in gray wool uniforms and toting muskets were doing in the graveyard also showed up. See DEDICATION, 11A
It's a known fact that growth and development are hot topics for South Point Township, but most folks aren't aware of the impact that situation is bringing to everything from schools to fire service. Now, there's a crusader on the scene who is trying to make everyone aware of what's coming down the pike, literally and figuratively speaking. Enter Belmont resident and former NC House member Wil Neumann. Concern over where our area is headed led Neumann to do some demographical digging into how growth now and in the foreseeable future will shape the South See NEUMANN, 11A
Photo by Alan Hodge
Wil Neumann of Belmont shows one of the maps he has created tracking the growth in South Point Township. He has also given presentations on the subject to many local civic groups.
Fighting Yank dedication rescheduled By Alan Hodge alan.bannernews@gmail.com
Movement of the “Spirit of the Fighting Yank” WWII memorial statue from the campus of Belmont Middle School (formerly Belmont High) where he has stood since 1946 to a new home in Stowe Park hit an unexpected snag that will result in a rescheduling of the planned July 4th dedication cer-
emony. Two weeks ago it was reported in the BannerNews that work on the Fighting Yank's pavilion in the park had finally gotten underway with digging for the concrete footings taking place. However, the work quickly came to a halt due to a mechanical issue with the backhoe assigned to the job. Repair of the machine took longer than expected and now the date of the
statue's dedication in the park has been pushed back, again, to sometime in September. The original plan called for the statue ceremony to take place near Memorial Day, however, bad weather this winter led to a cancellation of that date. Art Shoemaker, who has spearheaded the effort to get the statue moved, says that the recent delay is unSee STATUE, 11A
Spread Some Natural Beauty. Mulch
Topsoil
Decorative Stone
www.laniermaterialsales.com 105 Hillandale Lane, Mt. Holly NC 28120 • (704)827-7055