Check out the 2013 Graduation Sections . . . 1B-6C
Serving Belmont, Mount Holly, Stanley, Cramerton, and McAdenville
Volume 78 • Issue 23 • Wednesday, June 5, 2013
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Brinkman receives medals 42 years after serving as an Army photographer in Vietnam ALAN HODGE alan.bannernews@gmail.com
When Vince Brinkman, now 63, of Mount Holly left South Vietnam on November 11, 1971 after serving over a year as a US Army photographer, his departure was so precipitous that he didn’t even have a chance to collect the awards he was due. Last week, 42 years after that swift homecoming, he received the National Defense Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with three Bronze Stars, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm, and Sharp Shooters Badge
Boards work toward 201314 budgets By Alan Hodge Alan.bannernews@gmail.com
Local municipalities are currently in budget talks for FY2013-1014. North Carolina state law requires cities and towns to have a balanced budget in place by July 1 of each year. City of Mount Holly FY2013-2014 budget talks continued last week when council members met and reviewed preliminary figures for the municipality’s various departments as well as the overall revenues and expenditures outlook. It is anticipated that an increase in building permits in the coming year as well as a higher tax collection rate will put more money in Mount Holly’s municipal coffers. However, there’s a chance the State could eliminate the Beer and Wine Tax which would reduce revenues from that source. Revenues in the preliminary Mount Holly FY2013-2014 budget are projected to be $15.3 million, up 1.1 percent from the previous fiscal year. The General Fund accounts for the greatest portion of revenues with $9.5 million. The Mount Holly tax rate is expected to remain at its current 53 cents for each $100 of valuation. Also, water, sewer, and garbage collection fees are expected to remain at current levels. A public hearing on the budget will be held during the council’s June 10 meeting. In Belmont, the preliminary FY20132014 budget revenue picture is $13.6 million. General Fund revenues are up just 1.47 percent compared to the FY2012-2013 figure while Water and Sewer Fund numbers increased by 4.34 percent for the same period. The tax rate in Belmont is projected to remain at 47.5 cents per $100 of valuation. There is no salary adjustment on the table for employees at this time. Water and sewer rates in the preliminary budget are looking at some hikes. The base rate for water is up 5 percent and the usage rate up 8 percent. Sewer rates are projected to rise as well with the base rate up 10 percent and the usage rate up 12 percent. Belmont officials held a public hearing on the budget at the June 3 council meeting. In Stanley, the proposed town budget will be up a bit at $4.9 million compared to the FY2012-1013 figure of $4.8 million. The property tax rate is expected to remain at 54 cents per $100 of valuation. City workers in Stanley could see a 3 percent pay hike. Cramerton’s proposed FY2013-2014 budget is $3.39 million with expenditures down $39,500 from last year. The property tax rate is expected to remain at 47.5 cents per $100 of valuation. City workers could also see a merit-pay increase of 2,5 percent that would go into effect in January. Town officials have slated a June 4 public hearing on the budget. In McAdenville, the FY2013-2014 budget is looking to keep the property tax rate at its current 30 cents per $100 of valuation. A June 11 public hearing is planned for the proposed $1.02 million budget. Ranlo is still working on its FY 20131014 budget but the plan is to keep the current rate of 37 cents per $100 of valuation. The proposed $2.68 million budget could include a 4 percent cost of living raise for municipal workers.
with Auto Rifle and Grenade Bar during a ceremony at Memorial Hall in Gastonia that also saw Brinkman’s fellow Vietnam vet Arthur Carroll receive his long-overdue medals. Brinkman and Carroll were assisted in getting their medals by U.S. Congressman Patrick McHenry and Gaston County Veterans Services employee Darryl Adolph. The medals that Brinkman received will eventually be placed in a shadow box in his home next to a US flag that was used at the funeral of his father who was a WWII Navy veteran. But what do those pieces of colorful rib-
bon and shiny badges that Brinkman held in his hand after over four decades mean? In Brinkman’s case they meant 400 days of doing his duty under arduous and dangerous conditions in a war that was growing increasingly unpopular back home. Photo courtesy Vince Brinkman Brinkman was just 19 years old This photo shows Vince Brinkman as a 19-year-old when he was drafted on May 8, combat photographer in Vietnam. He was a member 1970 and sent from his native of the 101st Airborne, 326th Engineer Battalion. Cincinnati, Ohio home to Vietnam as a member of the 101st Airborne, 326th but got a job as an assistant photographer with the 326th,� said Brinkman. Engineer Battalion. “I was trained as a light vehicle operator See BRINKMAN, 3A
Helms wins VIP treatment, prizes! By Alan Hodge Alan.bannernews@gmail.com
Garrett Helms, 23, of Mount Holly loves all things related to Coca-Cola and can spout facts and figures about the product and its history faster than the bubbly stuff can flow out of a can, bottle, or fountain. He also collects Coke memorabilia and has a building at his home stuffed with it. In addition, the vintage Coke machine at his employer Time Flies Country Store is one of his favorite things there. So, given that, imagine his unbridled glee at winning the Coca-Cola/Circle K/American Restoration Sweepstakes and taking home a 1956 Coke machine completely refurbished by none other than Rick Dale of the American Restorations TV series. “I never dreamed I could win the grand prize,� said Helms. In addition to the rare, restored Coke machine, Helms also got the VIP treatment at both the History 300 and CocaCola 600 NASCAR races that were held at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 25 and 26. Other parts of the prize included four days and three nights at the Embassy Suite, $650 in spending money, and a chance to meet Rick Dale when the Coke machine was officially presented at the track. The approximate retail value of the whole package was over $11,000. “I also got to meet Kyle Busch, Bobby Labonte, Kyle Petty, and Martin from Duck
Contributed Photo
Garrett Helms of Mount Holly in the red shirt is seen with the Coke machine he won and Rick Dale of American Restorations who did the refurbishment. Dynasty,� said Helms. “I watched the races in a private box with Rick Dale and Danny Koker from the Counting Cars TV show. It was catered and everything.� Other racetrack action Helms took part in included signing his name on the startfinish line and going to the History 300 Victory Lane to meet
Busch. According to Helms, he’s been a NASCAR fan for a long time. “I always pulled for Dale Earnhardt, Sr.� said Helms. “Now, I go for Dale Jr.� Helms credits his perseverance in helping win the sweepstakes that was determined by a random drawing.
“I just started filling in the blanks,� he said. “I entered about ten times. I never thought I would win in a million years, but kept trying.� Helms brought home a lot of memories from the races, but as for the restored Coke machine, it takes place of honor. “It’s in my living room right now.�
Another Duke Energy coal ash lawsuit filed By Alan Hodge Alan.Bannernews@gmail.com
More legal wrangling regarding Duke Energy’s coal ash storage policy took place on Friday, May 23, when North Carolina sued Duke Energy in Mecklenburg County claiming pollution of Mountain Island Lake, the source of drinking water for approximately 860,000 people in Charlotte, Gastonia, and Mount Holly, as well as many parts of Mecklenburg and Gaston Counties. Three days earlier, on May 20, the state brought its claims for Duke Energy’s alleged pollution of Mountain Island Lake in Raleigh, in Wake County court, adding its Mountain Island Lake claims to a proceeding North Carolina had brought against Duke’s Skyland facility in Asheville. These suits followed a Notice of Intent to Sue under the Clean Water Act filed by the Southern Environmental Law Center on behalf of the Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation. That notice informed North Carolina and Duke Energy of the legal violations set out in the two proceedings filed by North Carolina against Duke Energy. See LAWSUIT, 6A
Photo by Alan Hodge
Workers have been busy replacing sidewalk trees in downtown Belmont. The city plans to replant many of the ones being taken up in local parks. See the story on page 3A of this edition.
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The Banner News
Wednesday, June 5, 2013
■ OBITUARIES Walter Frank Baranowski Founder of Boy Scout Troop #61 BELMONTWalter Frank Baranowski, 49, 1738 Rhyne Road, died on Sunday, June 2, 2013. He was born in Steubenville, Ohio, son of Wa l t e r a n d Clara Virginia Harris Baranowski. He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Marlene Simons. He was an active member of Queen of the Apostles Catholic Church, an active member of the Knights of Columbus, the first Scoutmaster and founder of Boy Scout Troop #61 at Queen of the Apostles Catholic Church and helped start the monthly pancake breakfast. He is survived by his wife, Paula Mary Baranowski; six children, Walter
Bonnie Helms Walker Felice A member of the Order of the Eastern Star MOUNT HOLLY- Bonnie Helms Walker Felice, 84, died Saturday, June 1, 2013. She was born in Gaston County, daughter of Walt e r Brown a n d Pauline K. Helms. She was preceded in death by her parents; two husbands, Hayes Leonard Walker and Salvatore Felice; and a grandson, Joshua Walker. She was a member of Catawba Heights Baptist Church and the Mount Holly Order of the Eastern Star. She is survived by three sons, Steve Walker of Denver, NC, Ronnie Walker and wife Iris of Lowesville, NC, and Kenny Walker and wife Jean of Kings Mountain; one sister, Joanne Blankenship and husband Bob of Mount
Joseph Baranowski and wife Nicole of West Virginia, Stephanie Baranowski and fiancé Zach Beynon of West Virginia, and Rachael, Patricia, Anna Mae and Michael Baranowski all of the home; one grandchild Troy Baranowski. A memorial service to celebrate the life of Mr. Baranowski will be held 10:30am Thursday, June 6, at Queen of the Apostles Catholic Church in Belmont with Father Frank Cancro officiating. The family will receive friends from 6-8pm Wednesday at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22718, Oklahoma City, OK 73123-1718. Condolence messages may be left at www.woodlawnfuneral.org. Woodlawn Funeral Home in Mount Holly is serving the family.
Holly; five grandchildren; ten great-grandchildren; and two great great-grandchildren. A service to celebrate the life of Mrs. Felice was held at 4pm Sunday, June 2, at the Woodlawn Chapel of Woodlawn Funeral Home, Mount Holly with Rev. Max Pendleton officiating. Burial followed at Hillcrest Gardens Cemetery. The family received friends from 3-4pm on Sunday at the funeral home. Following the graveside service the family assembled at the Mount Holly Masonic Lodge. The family would like to offer special thanks to the staff of Catawba Regional Hospice for their care and compassion. Memorials may be made to Catawba Regional Hospice, 3975 Robinson Road, Newton, NC 28658. Woodlawn Funeral Home, Mount Holly is serving the family.
Gaston Museum Drop-In Day Camp The Gaston County Museum, 131 W. Main St. in Dallas will host its first Drop-in Day Camp of the year Thursday, June 13 at the museum. The theme of this year’s Drop-in Day Camp is “From Cotton Fields to Textile Mills.” Each week, campers will be introduced to a different aspect of Gaston County’s rich textile heritage. By the end of the summer, campers will have experienced the entire process of turning raw fibers into finished yarn and cloth. Drop-In Day Camp commences with a session introducing campers to Natural Fibers such as cotton, flax, silk, and wool. At this program, campers will play natural fibers bingo, learn about how people in the 1800s relied entirely on natural fibers in the days before synthetic and man-made materials, and felt wool around a bar of soap to make a homemade bath scrub to take home with them. This program is free and open to children ages 5-12 yearsold and runs from 10:30 a.m. to noon. Parents are asked to have their children at the museum 10 to 15 minutes early for registration and orientation. Medical and photo release forms can be downloaded and filled out ahead of time at www.gastoncountymuseum.org/SummerCamps.asp. Participation is limited to 45 campers per week; call the museum to preregister and ensure a spot for your camper. Parents are also encouraged to visit the museum during the program or even sit in on the camp sessions. Snacks will be provided for campers at the conclusion of the program.
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Bobby John Rhyne 1974 MH Man of the Year MOUNT HOLLYBobby John “Watermelon” Rhyne , 83, Mount Holly, passed a w a y Tuesday, May 28, 2013 at h i s home. Bobby J o h n was born June 8, 1929 in Alexis, NC, son of John and Nell Rhyne. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his brother, J.W. Rhyne of Wilmington, NC. He is survived by his wife of 58 years Frances S. Rhyne of Mount Holly; daughter Teresa “Terry” Rhyne of Midlothian. VA; daughter Laura Rhyne of Mount Holly; and sister Jean Lowder and husband Horace of Albemarle, NC. Bobby John attended Lenoir-Rhyne University before going to work for Duke Energy where he retired in 1988 after 37 years. He served as a volunteer for the Mount Holly Life Saving Crew and was the local high school football team trainer
Larry Gram Pinson Loving brother BELMONT- Larry Gram Pinson, 58, of Belmont died Thursday, May 23, 2013 at the Robin Johnson House in Dallas, N C . Larry w a s born in Charlotte, NC on October 17, 1954 to James and Bertha Sikes Pinson. They preceded him in death. Funeral services were held on Tuesday, May 28 at 4pm at Benson Funeral
Mark Anthony Ewing GASTONIA – Mark Anthony Ewing, 49 of Gastonia passed away at Presbyterian Hospital Tuesday, May 28, 2013 surrounded by his loving family. He was a native of Gaston Co., NC, born January 26, 1964 to Lucille Hardee Ewing and the late Alfred Mason Ewing, Sr. The family received friends from 5-7pm Saturday at Withers & Whisenant Fu-
for 20 years. Most recently he served on the board of the Mount Holly Historical Society.Bobby John was chosen as the 1974 Mount Holly Man of the Year and was inducted into the Mount Holly Sports Hall of Fame in 2012. He was a longtime member of the First United Methodist Church in Mount Holly where a funeral service was at held 1:30pm Thursday, May 30. The family greeted friends one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment followed at Hillcrest Gardens Cemetery. In lieu of flowers the family request memorials be made to Hospice of Gaston County, PO Box 3984, Gastonia NC 28054, or to the First United Methodist Church, 140 North Main Street Mount Holly NC 28120 or to the Mount Holly CRO. Condolence messages may be left at www.woodlawnfuneral.org. Woodlawn Funeral Home in Mount Holly served the family.
Services Chapel with Rev. Allen Harris officiating. Interment followed in Greenwood Cemetery in Belmont. The family received friends one hour prior to the service. Survivors include his sister, Sondra Pinson Terry of Lugoff, SC and brothers Tommy Pinson of Belmont and James Wayne Pinson of Lawndale. Arrangements were handled by Benson Funeral & Cremation Services, 101 Oak Grove St., Mt. Holly, NC. www.bensonfuneralservices.com.
Benson Funeral & Cremation Services
neral Home. Celebration of Life service was Sunday, June 2, at 3pm at Withers & Whisenant Funeral Home with Rev. Jesse Hailey and Commissioner Tracy Philbeck officiating. Interment followed at Evergreen Cemetery “A Quiet Place”.
Emily Lauren Upton Beloved daughter and sister
Belmont; her father, Daren Upton of Charlotte NC; her stepmother, Christy Kelly of Mount Holly, NC; her identical twin sister Anna Upton, and older sister Lindsay Osment who were her best friends and closest confidants; two younger brothers, Devan and William Upton of Mount Holly, as well as her brother in law Matthew Osment of Belmont. Her grandmothers “Juniemother” June English of Belmont and Mary Upton of Belmont; her Aunt Karen Upton and uncles Joe Putnam, Mark Upton, Galen Upton and Rick Upton. Lastly she was a beloved aunt to her niece and nephews Gracie, Matthew Jr, and Easton Osment and Noah Millard of Belmont. A service to celebrate the life of Ms. Upton will be held 1pm Thursday, June 6, at the Woodlawn Chapel of Woodlawn Funeral Home in Mount Holly with Reverend Raymond Johns officiating. Burial will follow at Evergreen Cemetery in Belmont. The family will receive friends from 6-8pm Wednesday at the funeral home. Condolence messages may be left at www.woodlawnfuneral.org. Woodlawn Funeral Home in Mount Holly is serving the family.
Belmont–Emily Lauren Upton, 20, of Belmont NC, daughter of Samantha Shaver and Daren Upton, was born on October 4, 1992, and went to be an angel in God’s loving presence on June 1, 2013. Emily was a remarkable young woman who had j u s t c o m pleted her junior year at school for her Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing at UNCC, all while maintaining straight As and a 4.0 GPA. Those who knew Emily would describe her as a beautiful, intelligent, caring and selfless young woman with an amazing sense of humor and an infectious smile. Emily was an exceptional student who had many goals and dreams she wished to accomplish. She had a particular passion for horses, and loved all different types of music. Emily had a heart of pure gold and the most beautiful personality, which inspired so many during her much too short time on this Earth. She is survived by her mother, Samantha Shaver and fiancé Jeff Phillips of
■ BELMONT May 28: Gary Lee McCaskill, trespassing, arrested by Officer C. Falls, 81 McAdenville Rd. May 28: Jack Barry Atkins Jr., communicating threats, drunk and disruptive, resist delay obstruct, arrested by Officer M. Kaiman, 637 Secrest Ave. May 30: Jerry David Adams, poss. marijuana, manufacture sch. IV, maintain vehicle for selling controlled substance, poss. sch. II, drug equipment, paraphernalia, conceal, assault on a female, arrested by Officer K. Wingate, Woodrow St at Glenway. May 31: Steven Wayne
Bass, poss. sch. I, arrested by Officer K. Wingate, Crest St. on roadway. June 1: Kyle Wayne Sadler, DWI alcohol and/or drugs, expired plate, arrested by Officer C. Falls, I-85 at Exit 23. June 1, Ramon Dimitrick Wilson, OFA, arrested by Officer M. Stroupe, 39 Flowers Ct. June 2: Lisa Marie Brown, larceny, RDO, arrested by Officer M. Kaiman, 701 Hawley Ave. June 3: Shannon Schronce Willis, poss. of drug, arrested by Officer M. Stroupe, 6507 Wilkinson Blvd. “A Prarie Home Companion” Radio Stars with appearances on the “Grand Ole Opry” & “Austin City Limits”
Computer classes now at Gaston College Computer for Absolute Beginner, June – July, 2013: This course is created for the beginner who desires to learn the basics of computers including terminology, functions, word processing, email, Internet, and lots more! The cost is $67. Classes are scheduled at all three campus locations: Tuesday and Thursday, June 4 – 27, 2013 from 6 to 9 p.m., Room 214, Dalpiaz Student Success Center; Monday and Wednesday, June 17 – July 10, 2013, 9 a.m. to Noon, Room 117, Classroom Building, Kimbrell Campus; Monday and Wednesday, July 8 – 31, 2013, 9 a.m. to Noon, Room 208, Main Building, Lincoln Campus. For information, e-mail hoyle,gail@gaston.edu or call 704.922.2244.
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Wednesday, June 5, 2013
New trees to brighten up downtown By Alan Hodge Alan.bannernews@gmail.com
The trunks will still be brown and the leaves green, but a change of decorative sidewalk tree species is coming to downtown Belmont. Belmont’s public works director David Isenhour explained what’s going on. “Most of our trees in the downtown area were planted about 18 years ago during the downtown renovations,� he said. “These trees were Zelkovas and were designed to be canopy trees. The problem was they became too large within the root system and a very small (3 foot) planting strip. These trees actually require about a 6foot planting strip. In short they began to die off due to heat stress and root bind. We only have one large tree remaining in downtown. We are replacing them with a more streetscape friendly tree that doesn’t get all that large.� The new trees are called Okame flowering cherry and typically grow to about 20 feet with a much less shallow root system. The Okame cherry is a man-developed hybrid plant. In early 20th century England, noted cherry tree enthusiast Captain Collingwood Ingram experimented with creating a cherry with excellent tolerance of winter cold and tremendous flowering. The seedling ‘Okame’ resulted from fertilizing the female flower of a Fuji cherry (Prunus incisa) with the pollen from a Taiwan cherry (Cerasus campanulata). Sources in the 20th century published the botanical name as Prunus x incisa ‘Okame’. This name is considered synonymous with, but is not preferred to, the modern name of Prunus ‘Okame’. “They have small blooms that come out once per year in the spring,� said Isenhour. The cherry trees cost about $150.00 each delivered to Belmont from Jack’s Tree Farm near Charlotte. Belmont will need around a dozen of the new trees to complete the changeover project. “We’re replacing our trees within a three year window so as to have them all the same size when the project is completed,� said Isenhour. “They will be more uniform both in summer and winter months as well. Some of the younger Zelkova’s have been replaced about twice as the older ones had died off. The larger ones have to be cut down because it’s impossible to dig them up without replacing the sidewalks or brick pavers. The smaller ones we are keeping to replant in some of our existing parks.�
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Mount Holly has a lot to offer! “Our mission is to put heads in beds.� That’s what Wendy Foster, chairperson of the Mount Holly Tourism Development Authority (TDA) says her group is focused on by spreading the word about all the great things to do and see in and around the town. Foster has issued a “ya’ll come� welcome and says Mount Holly has a ton to offer visitors. “Come and spend the week with us,� she said. “With twelve attractions within a 15-mile radius of our hotel and B&B, we have plenty to offer, from whitewater rafting at US National Whitewater Center to checking out historical sites and botanical gardens to playing golf and horseback riding to strolling through our historical downtown. Enjoy all the amenities of Charlotte without the fuss, Mount Holly is just a short 20-minute drive to uptown. Mount Holly is all you would expect and more.� The New Mount Holly logo, “Connecting Community With Nature� and designation as a “Playful City USA� also goes hand in hand with what the TDA is trying to accomplish and helps brand the town as a destination.
Starlight band to perform in Belmont “The Starlight� Big Band Orchestra from Georgia will be coming to Belmont for the third year in a row. There are two opportunities to hear them this weekend, June 8 and 9. The Starlight Orchestra is led by Stacey Noone Brown, a Belmont native and South Point High School graduate. On June 8, Park Street United Methodist Church will host The Starlight at 7PM in the Family Life Center – dessert will follow. On June 9, at 11AM, St. Mark’s United Methodist Church will host the orchestra – lunch will follow. The orchestra plays a wide variety of musical styles – and is the Celebration Orchestra for First Baptist Church of Statesboro, GA and on other special occasions they play as “ The Starlights�. The performance on Saturday evening will have a great big band flare with hits like Rockin’ Robin, What a Wonderful World, Moonlight Serenade as well as songs from The Beach Boys and The Ventures. On Sunday morning there will be plenty of traditional and contemporary Christian music favorites, most of which have been arranged by Stacey Brown herself. Everyone is invited to join in this unique experience and attend both of these performances. For more information on either performance, call 704-616-4719.
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Holly government and parks and recreation department, and Gaston County government. Foster presented the TDA’s proposed FY 20132014 budget to the Mount Holly City Council on May 13. “North Carolina law says two-thirds of our budget is to put heads in beds and the remaining one-third for discretionary spending,� said Foster. All of the TDAs funding comes from the three percent local occupancy tax. This coming fiscal year the amount will be in the neighborhood of $55,000. The proposed balanced TDA budget includes general operating expenses of $7,840 for things such as the website’s annual host fee of $240, URL annual renewal fee of $100, website updates at $1,500, stipends at $3,600, office supplies at $350, postage at $100, bond for finance officer at $450, and audit expense of $1,500. Association dues, convention and travel costs came to $1,500. Marketing expenses included $7,000 for advertising and $17,000 for billboard advertising. Grants came to $16,500 and miscellaneous expenses rounded out the TDA budget at $5,160. The TDA budget will be submitted formally with the rest of the city’s budget.
By Alan Hodge Alan.bannernews@gmail.com
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Mount Holly’s inviting streetscape and variety of shops are good reasons tourists come to the town. The Mount Holly Tourism Development Authority is working to bring even more folks in. “Mount Holly has over 10 miles of pristine Catawba River frontage to explore,� Foster said. “Outdoor adventure opportunities are abundant in Mount Holly with kayak, canoe, SUP boards and boat rentals available from Tailrace Marina and Mount Holly has six parks, two of which are strategically located along the Catawba River with kayak and canoe launches.� Another idea Foster says the TDA has to attract folks
to Mount Holly revolves around having local lodging places give guests a card that they can use to get discounts in stores and restaurants downtown that display a sticker announcing participation in the program. The cards bear the logo “I am Mount Holly� and around 15 downtown merchants are on board. The Mount Holly TDA also has also created a fabulous website touting the town’s attractions. The address is www.visitmounthol-
lync.com and it’s a treasure trove of information covering everything from lodging to to dining to upcoming activities in town. Plenty of nice photographs accompany the informative text. There’s even a lively and colorful video segment that showcases local attractions and folks generally having a swell time in Mount Holly. Links on the website include the Whitewater Center, Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden, Center City Charlotte, the City of Mount
BRINKMAN: receives medals 42 years after service From page 1A Fate soon intervened in Brinkman’s life. “The guy I was assistant to lost his life after stepping on a mine,� he said. “So I became the battalion combat photographer.� Brinkman’s work was as hazardous as any the army had to offer in Vietnam. “Most of my photography involved taking pictures of hilltops where firebases would be built,� said Brinkman. “To get the pictures I had to sit in the doorway of a helicopter with my legs dangling outside. I was held in with a tether.� Brinkman’s combat photography also involved taking pictures of troops in action. “Once the grunts arrived I would photograph them working to clear the hilltop, setting up artillery, and securing the area.� Another aspect of Brinkman’s activities included shooting pictures of bridges being blown. The monsoon rainy season in Vietnam posed challenges for Brinkman’s photography but he always got the shot. “I used my hand as an umbrella over the lens,� he said. Being in a war zone meant Brinkman was subject to being shot at even if he w a s carrying a came r a . Luckily, he escaped injury. “Much of the time the helicopter I was photographing from would be escorted by Cobra gunships,� said Brinkman. “But I still remember the pilot telling me
to get on the floor of our helicopter.� The battles took their toll on Brinkman as they did on many of his comrades in arms. “When I was in Vietnam I would make friends and turn around and they were gone,� he said. “So I stopped making friends.� These days Brinkman is a TSA agent at Charlotte-Douglas International Airport and still looks a lot like the photo of himself taken in Vietnam in 1971- a boyish face with hair clearly skirting army regulations. But gone is the green uniform, cameras slung around his neck, and an M-16 rifle hoisted on his shoulder. As for other veterans looking to find out what medals they are due, Brinkman says to do like he did. “Go online and look up your old unit and see what citations it received,� he said. “Also contact your local Veterans Services office. I had sort of let all that go, but my wife and family prodded me and I finally found out what I was entitled to.�
Photo by Alan Hodge
Vince Brinkman shows a few of the medals he received for service in the US Army during the Vietnam War in 1971.
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The Banner News
Wednesday, June 5, 2013
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Quote of the week...
Graduation is only a concept. In real life every day you graduate. Graduation is a process that goes on until the last day of your life. If you can grasp that, you'll make a difference. —Arie Pencovici
Alan Hodge Editor A couple of weeks ago a lady called the office from upstate New York. She said she had heard of the Belmont/Mt. Holly area from a friend and wanted some copies of the BannerNews to get a feel for the place as a possible place of habitation. I asked her why she wanted to move here and she replied she was “tired of being cold”. After our conversation I thought “be careful what you ask for” and an image of this lady of Northern extraction standing in our Tar Heel August heat and 98 percent humidity sopping her sweating face with a rag popped into my mind. This freight train of thought rumbled on down the tracks in my skull and soon found itself at a station called “Life Before Air Conditioning” where it pulled in wheezing and blowing steam. Once it was rare for homes to be air-conditioned. It was even more rare for cars to be so equipped. If you stop and think about it, over the span of tens of thousand of years that folks have been what is commonly called “civilized” (although there are lots of people, many of whom dwell in my neck of the woods, who have not reached that state of societal development), air conditioning has only been around in common use for a few decades. When I was a child we lived in Belmont in a house sans AC. Like everyone else, in summer we kept the windows open but
there were screens on them that kept all but the largest and least ambitious insects outside. In a couple of windows were box fans. I enjoyed putting my face as close to the whirling blades as possible and singing at the same time and the fan blades gave my voice a nice tremolo. The blades also allowed a game of brinkmanship. The idea was to poke your finger through the blade guard and see how close you could come to having it chopped off but still escape disaster. At night in the middle of summer it was as hot and muggy as during the day and unless you wanted to be a roasted pig in a blanket you just slept with a cotton sheet for covering as did the pharaohs of old. If the fan was turned off, it was so quiet in Belmont (except for the cicadas), believe it or not, you could hear the baseball announcer at Davis Park calling the game. No matter how hot it got, I don’t recall suffering unduly from the heat and humidity back then. I think the term is acclimated. Later, we moved to Charlotte and we had a neighbor whose home had central air–the first time I had ever seen such technology. The cooling unit sat on a slab beside the house and was a huge affair about the size of a Fiat 500 car and you could hear water gurgling in it but it did a swell job and all the kids in the neighborhood (a lot of adults too) looked for any excuse to visit the Crumps and their AC. Air conditioning in cars didn’t become even somewhat common until the late 1960s. I know because I was there. In 1967 my mom Dorothy Jean bought a new Chevy Impala with a black vinyl interior and no AC. If the Impala sat in the summer sun the vinyl seats soaked up about a billion BTUs of sun-heat and if you were wearing shorts there were but
two choices regarding sitting down on them. You could ease yourself down on the flaming plastic or just take it like a man and plop down and feel the back of your legs sizzle. After having ridden a while, you could feel sweat trickle down your legs in little rivulets. Getting to the coast in the summer in a car with no AC meant you had to get up way before daylight and head out while it was still dark and relatively cool. One of my fondest recollections is that of whizzing through the South Carolina low country swamps near Conway with all windows in our car rolled down just as the sun was coming up and smelling the dank air and seeing the ghost-like Spanish moss and closer now to the coast and over the Intracoastal Waterway bridge and feeling the coolness of the sea breeze and then finally arriving at Windy Hill or Cherry Grove or Myrtle Beach just as the sun was coming up like a red ball on the horizon and hearing the surf pounding the sand. Alas, now it seems I have become a worm and can’t seem to live without AC. The curly headed wife keeps it so cold in our house I sometimes sit in front of the TV wearing shorts, an RAF sheepskin flying jacket and Pattern 1936 flying boots. When outside, I rarely break a sweat if I can help it. Of course there’s the downside to a life of AC luxury. I was speaking with Poochie next door at Surprise Me and we both agreed that AC was at least partially responsible for our mutual chugging up with sinus drainage. Maybe that’s TMI. Anyway, here’s hoping everyone stays cool this summer and that the lady from New York, if she does move here, will find the folks as warm as the climate which she no doubt will.
Sidewalk Survey Local residents were asked...
What do you think about a possible Gaston County tax increase?
Frances Springs Horror!
Letter to the Editor
Life before air conditioning
Dub Brinkley Not this year!
Tracey White A bad idea!
BannerNews Periodicals postage at Belmont, NC 28012 USPS 049-700 by Gemini Newspapers, Inc. Postmaster, send address changes to: P. O. Box 769, Kings Mountain NC 28086 Phone (704) 825-0580 • Fax (704) 825-0894 Office:128-C N. Main St. • Belmont, NC 28012
-
Mann Tram Right now not a good idea!
Letter to the Editor:
I am writing to you as a caregiver of my husband who has Alzheimer’s as well as a concerned citizen of Gaston County. It has come to my attention that the closing of the East Gaston (Belmont) Adult Daycare Center (located at 1122 S. Main St., Mt. Holly) is being considered as a proposed budget cut by the County Commissioners on Thursday, June 13th. This center is an invaluable resource for me and other caregivers in Gaston County. It is the only one of its kind in our area and as a senior citizen with limited income, the closing of this center would be devastating to me and others who depend on the services offered at the center. Closing the center will have a huge negative impact on the standard of living and create a true hardship of many senior adults and families in our area. The Commissioners have asked to hear from the citizens of Gaston County about the closing of the center and I ask that everyone in our area contact them immediately and ask them NOT to close the center. The website to complete a survey about the proposed budget is https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/GastonCountyBudget Eloise Potts
America Must Keep A Strong Military by Glenn Mollette The recent assassination of a British soldier walking down a street in London was a despicable act. He proudly wore his country’s uniform and for that he gave his life. Most of us are very proud of our military. We should be. Without our armed forces we would not be the free country we are today. America must keep a strong military. Our sons and daughters put everything on the line for our country. We should stand strong with them. We must keep a strong number of soldiers. We never want the world to look at us with the perception that we have a weak military. Currently we have a small Navy, (Russia is on the move building a super Navy) and a small Air Force. The Army and Marines are tired and stressed out because too few are being asked to do too much. We need a larger pool of service men and women to do the work they are being asked to do. We could certainly use some of them just to protect our own borders. However, we must get out of the war business. We do not have to be in an ongoing war. Congress should always vote and declare war if America is involved in the war. We then should go in and get the job done. Fighting wars for five and 10 years is too long. Deployments of our soldiers are generally too long. Fifteen months is too long. For the sake of our soldiers and their families we must eliminate 15-month tours. No tour of duty should ever be longer than 12 months, but I am in favor of a nine-month tour. Nine months is a long time to be away from family. This would reduce stress and give our military hope of being able to emotionally survive. Too many soldiers return back from deployment emotionally shattered to marriages that are stressed to the max. A nine or sixmonth tour would be better than a
12-month tour. Our service men and women deserve our best support while they are in the service and then we should help them as they transition back to civilian life. Every service person should have civilian life boot camp before they are released from the military. They should leave with a fine-tuned resume featuring their education and skills they learned while in service. The basics of how to find job openings and preparing to interview for a job opening should be taught. A plan of how to return to civilian life and go forward with an active life should be addressed. This might help keep some of our veterans off the street. It is sad that we live in a nation where so many of our former service people live on the streets of America. There are different reasons for this but it should never be because we did not help transition soldiers back to everyday life. We must take care of our veterans with continued support for their college education, health care insurance and benefits that were earned while in service to our nation. It is my prayer that we never have to use our military in another war. I would love to see our nation never lose another person on the battleground. We should never enter into any kind of war without the consent of Congress. When we do enter into any kind of conflict it should be quickly carried out. When we are finished we need to leave. The long drawn out years of Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan should never have occurred and could have been completed in a shorter time period. Glenn Mollette is the author of American Issues and hundreds of other articles and books. He is originally from Martin County, KY where Lyndon Johnson began his campaign on poverty. Hear him each Sunday night on XM radio 131 at 8 EST. He has two sons in the military. Contact him at gmollette@aol.com
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Wednesday, June 5, 2013
The Banner News
■ MEDITATION
Page 5A
■ BUSINESS
Words, Words, Words There is an old nursery rhyme we were told to protect us from hurtful words, “Sticks and stones will break my bones but words Rev. Angela Pleasants will never harm me.” I rememFirst United Methodist Church, ber hearing and saying these Mount Holly words on the playground when we kids would taunt each other yet while alone I would play back the words said to me on the playground. Do you know what I discovered? The words did hurt. Some of those words stayed with me for a long time. And sometimes those words shaped who and what we become. Words can be used to tear down or build up. How do you use your words? “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” Proverbs 18:21 NASV. If we are always speaking destructive words the writer of Proverbs say it is like eating something bad for us. When we eat rotten food it stays with us for a long time and begins to churn in our stomachs. Something similar happens when we allow critical and hate-filled words to form in our hearts and come from our mouth. The effects of these words stay around for a long time. Why do we hurt others with our words? Jesus tells us where these words come from. “The things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and those defile the man.” Matthew 15:18 NASV. In scripture the heart is the place of our desires, decision and plans. Jesus instructs the heart is evil by nature. Therefore, we need a cleansing that comes only from Jesus. God prophesied in Ezekiel 36:26-37 he would give us a new heart and a new spirit. This was accomplished through Jesus. Our belief in Jesus brings about an inside outward transformation. Our hearts are cleansed and we are made righteous. We are told to watch over our heart with all diligence for from it flows the springs of life. Proverbs 4:23 NASV. The Spirit has filled our heart with good and pure things and the Word of life. Guard it and hold it there and allow it to flow through all we say and do.
Bricks 4 Kidz kicks off first summer camp Photo by Montcross Chamber
Bricks 4 Kidz kicked off its first summer camp season with a Montcross Area Chamber ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday, May 24. Colleen Kirk Gozur brought the Bricks 4 Kidz program to Gaston County in the fall of 2012. Bricks 4 Kidz after school classes and summer camps integrate science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) concepts as children build motorized models using LEGO® bricks. Summer camps will be held throughout the area, including two weeks of camp at the J. Paul Ford Recreation Center in Belmont. Guests at the ribbon cutting were invited to bring children and enjoy light refreshments. In the photo, on the front row, are Kerry Gozur, Emerie Finkelstein, Zach Sears and Ava Babinski. Holding the ribbon at left is Chamber Board member Delta Sanders, and with her, from left, Matt Gozur, Colleen Gozur, Tuscany Sanders, Abigail Lefler, Elaina Jones, Kathleen Kerwin and Tricia Rana. For more information about Bricks 4 Kidz programs, visit www.bricks4kidz.com/gaston, or call 704.574.9140.
East Belmont Baptist to host Homecoming June 9 East Belmont Baptist Church, 501 East Catawba Street, will celebrate its 101st Homecoming on Sunday, June 9, 2013. Having observed its centennial anniversary last year, East Belmont Baptist continues into its second century of service to God and the Belmont community. Former Pastor Dr. Glenn O. Gunter will deliver the homecoming message. Dr. Gunter served as Pastor at East Belmont Baptist church from 2003 – 2004. The homecoming program will include moments of remembrance, recognition, history, highlights and special music. A fellowship luncheon will take place im-
Dr. Glenn Gunter mediately following morning worship. Former members and guests are invited to attend. For additional information, you may contact the church office at (704) 8255780.
Lyerly Agency celebrates Belmont opening Photo by Alan Hodge
The Montcross Area Chamber held a ribbon cutting last week at the Lyerly Agency in downtown Belmont. Elaine and Melia Lyerly (cutting ribbon) head up the ad agency that relocated from Charlotte and counts Holy Angels and the Belmont Tourism Authority among its many clients.
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 East Belmont Church of God Shiloh Ame Zion Methodist 1117 Old NC Hwy 27 704-827-8826
Tuckaseege 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
Notice In order to accommodate the number of churches in our communities, we will print two alternating lists of churches each week. If you don’t see the church you’re looking for, be sure to check next weeks paper.
Page 6A
The Banner News
Wednesday, June 5, 2013
LAWSUIT: action continues over Duke’s coal ash ponds From page 1A The lawsuits are based on three years of investigation by Catawba Riverkeeper, a study by Duke University scientists and public data reported by Duke Energy. “We are glad that North Carolina has now sued Duke Energy in Mecklenburg County, where people get their drinking water from Mountain Island Lake.� said Frank Holleman, Senior Attorney for the Southern Environmental Law Center. “They are concerned about Duke Energy’s pollution of their drinking water supply, and the suit should be brought where people drink the water that Duke Energy has been polluting.� Rick Gaskins, the Catawba Riverkeeper had these remarks. “Our mission is to protect the Catawba River, including the drinking water supply for Mecklenburg County, Charlotte, Gastonia, and Mount Holly,� said Gaskins. “We are happy to see that the case against Duke Energy will proceed in the community where people drink the water that is being polluted by coal ash from Duke Energy’s Riverbend coal ash waste lagoons.� At the now-closed Riverbend steam station, Duke Energy has dumped coal ash into unlined lagoons on the banks of Mountain Island Lake. The lagoons are separated from Mountain Island Lake by an 80-foot high earthen berm. The berm has been rated a High Hazard dam because of the consequences that would ensue from a failure of the berm. The Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation claims Duke Energy’s Mountain Island Lake berm is leaking and the contaminated water is flowing into the drinking water reservoir, and groundwater has been contaminated by substances including ar-
senic, cobalt, boron, barium, strontium, manganese, zinc, and iron. According to the Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation, testing it has done indicates that Duke Energy is discharging arsenic into Mountain Island Lake in concentrations at least twice the applicable standard, cobalt at 52 times the standard, manganese at 128 times the standard, and iron at 27 times the standard. The Foundation also says a study by scientists at Duke University found arsenic contamination in the sediments in Mountain Island Lake. Duke Energy spokesperson Erin Culbert says the utility has taken precautions regarding the Riverbend coal ash lagoons and that the water in Mountain Island Lake is safe. “Seepage is normal and necessary for an earthen dam’s structural integrity,� said Culbert. “We have routinely informed the state of the seepage occurring at the toe of our ash dams. The volume of seepage is extremely small and has no impact to the overall water quality in the lake. We monitor groundwater around the Riverbend ash basins and report that data to state regulators. We find elevated levels of iron, manganese and low pH, which pose no health risk. Arsenic levels in Mountain Island Lake are at the lowest amounts laboratory instruments can accurately measure just a short distance from the plant. The state’s second complaint reflects the separate ownership and location of Riverbend Steam Station. We continue to believe we have diligently complied with Riverbend’s water discharge permit. We appreciate the state’s desire to obtain as much information as possible related to discharges to Mountain Island Lake and groundwater, and we expect to work closely with regulators on this matter.�
Keep Belmont Beautiful Yards of the Month for May Nominations can be made by calling KBB 704825-8587, Arlene McMurtry is the Chairperson of the committee. Four residential yards are selected and one business yard each month. Yards are: Joe & Belinda Perrigo, 308 Keener Blvd. (top left) ; Nicky Helms, 405 Llewellyn (top right) ; Thom and Sammie McKeag, 5037 Greystone Estates Drive (at left); McDonald’s - business yard, Stanton Enterprises 505 N. Main Street (bottom left); and Liz Goble, 19 Circle Drive (bottom right).
Classified Ads FREE! FREE ADS! Have something to sell (under $100) or give away? Just fill out the form below & run your ad for FREE! H A M M O N D ORGAN for FREE. Needs Work. Good for a small church. Call: 704678-1362. (5/22, 5/29, 6/05/13) Homes For Rent/Sale MOBILE HOMES AND APARTMENTS FOR RENT IN KINGS M O U N TA I N Prices starting at $100/week. Call 704-739-4417 or (evening) 704739-1425. (tfn) MOBILE HOME FOR RENT – 3 BR, 2 BA. We furnish getting the grass cut. Direct TV. Great for an elder couple. 704-7348693. (6/05 & 12) Land For Sale LOWER PRICES! LOTS in Gaston, Cleveland & Cherokee Co., some with water & septic, owner will fin with low DP. Call Bryant Realty 704-5679836 or www.bryantrealty.org. (6/05) Misc. For Sale KEYBOARD PSR 220 MODEL for SALE - $75.00. Call: 704-739-5064. – (6/05/13) HALF YARD ALE GLASS WITH WOOD STAND for SALE - $15.00 – Call: 704-7398876. (6/05/13) ANTIQUE SINGER PEDAL SEWING MACHINE for SALE - Only $65.00. Call: 704-
739-5064. (6/05/13) ANTIQUE TREADLE SEWING MACHINE for SALE. Good table base. $50.00. Call: 704739-8876. (6/05/13) GUITAR for SALE. Child size. Almost new. $60.00. Call: 704-739-5064. (6/05/13) CABINET for BATHROOM for SALE – Light Oak. Good Condition. Asking $25.00. Call: 704-259-5118. (6/05/13)
and etc. 2 DAYS KM YARD SALE – 201 Stoney Point Rd, Fri., June 7th from 12(noon) – 5 pm and on Sat., June 8th from 8 am – 12(noon). 1996 Chevrolet Blazer, Furniture, Clothes, Kid’s clothes, Toys, Household items and etc. Something for everyone. Priced cheap. If rain, No
Sale.
Yard Sale - Ad Deadline Noon Friday KM YARD SALE – 106 Willcort Drive (off of Bethlehem Road) Sat., June 8th. 7 am – 12 (Noon) Household, kids toys, clothing, antique cash register, toy train table
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF GASTON NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND DEBTORS Having qualified as Executrix of the Estate of ALEE JOYE, aka: ALEE HORTON JOYE, aka: ALEE VIRGINIA HORTON JOYE , 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 on or before the 29th day of August, 2013, 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 to the undersigned. This the 29th day of May, 2013. Lawrence W. Davis, Executor ESTATE of: ALEE JOYE, aka: ALEE HORTON JOYE, aka: ALEE VIRGINIA HORTON JOYE , 1 Battery Pk. Greenville, SC 29615 BN10535 (5/29,6/05,12 &19/13)
Help Wanted DRIVERS, CDL-B: Great Pay, Hometime! No-Forced Dispatch! Moving Freightliner Trucks out of Mt Holly/Cleveland, Tow vehicle A+. TruckMovers.co m, 1-877-6067 0 8 3 . (5/29,6/05,12 &19)
Daycare BOLIN�S DAYCARE, INC. at 901 Ramseur St., in Kings Mountain is now enrolling 2 yrs old – 10 years old for summer & fall. (6/05 & 12/13)
Legals
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STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF GASTON NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND DEBTORS OF GARNELL BRENDLE CLARK Having qualified as Executrix of the Estate of Garnell Brendle Clark, 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 on or before the 22th day of August, 2013, 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 to the undersigned. This the 22th day of May, 2013. Sherry Brady Howell, Executrix ESTATE of: Garnell Brendle Clark 2522 Maplewood Drive Gastonia, NC 28052 BN10534 (5/22,29,6/05 &12/13)
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Wednesday, June 5, 2013
The Banner News
Page 7A
The Storm is ready to rock Cramerton By John Wilson John.bannernews@gmail.com
CRAMERTON-The Stuart Cramer High School Storm athletic teams have yet to play a game. But a tour of the Storm’s sporting facilities makes one thing clear. When the Storm does play they will do so in style. A “Prepare for the Storm” open house was sponsored by Cramer High School last Saturday. The event was meant to give students and parents a chance to tour the school’s new athletic facilities. Community leaders and local citizens were also on hand to help the school show off its sports programs. The new high school is truly a work of art. Cramer High is nestled in the woods off of Lakewood Road in Cramerton. The school’s new multi-purpose stadium is just as impressive as the new school. When the Storm football and soccer teams take on the Big South Conference they will be playing in an awesome fan friendly 3,000 capacity stadium. The stadium sports brand new field turf. Field turf is an artificial playing surface that uses small rubber pellets and a polyfiber weave to make a safe and beautiful playing surface. The fibers are meant to replicate blades of grass. The surface is credited with helping to reduce injuries and providing a playing surface that is unaffected by rain, snow and extreme temperature variations. Since the field is artificial it can be made to look like whatever the school wants it to look like. Cramer’s surface is classic green bordered by purple, silver and black, the Storm’s school colors. Around the athletic field is a top quality track. The Cramer track team will be running on a rubber based track that will be easy to train on. The facilities slated for the track team appear to be of the best quality. The Storm track team will have a home track that should be one of the fastest in the county. The jumping and field events will be held in areas designed to be “user friendly” for the athletes. The pole vault and long jump runways are built to maximize performance. Stuart Cramer High will open for the 2013-2014 school year. The
Photo by John Wilson
Stuart Cramer High’s new principal Audrey Devine addressed the crowd during the school’s athletic open house last Saturday. The coaches were introduced and tours of the sports facilities were given at the event. school will start off with a brand new freshman and sophomore class. Each year the school will add another class. The first students to graduate from Cramer should do so in 2016. Since the first students will be freshman and sophomores most of the Cramer athletic teams will compete on a junior varsity level for the first two years of the new program. People who attended the open house didn’t care if the Storm was playing at the varsity or JV level. Everyone seemed to have Storm Fever. The atmosphere at the new school was truly electric. People roamed around the bleachers adorned with purple and silver balloons. Kids romped about and soon found their way to the field where they held pick up races. Some future athletes tested the long jump runway. Others got in line to be the first to buy Storm hats and shirts. Everyone on hand had a good time. Everyone that showed up walked away impressed with what they saw. Gaston County Sheriff Alan
Cloninger, who was also on hand, summed it up best when he said, “This is a facility everyone in the county can be proud of.” After letting their guests wander about and let everything sink in Cramer’s new principal Audrey Devine and athletic director Terry Radford called everyone to the bleachers to welcome them and to introduce the Storm’s newest coaches. Mrs. Devine summed up the excitement everyone was feeling when she announced the school new motto, “Taking the future by Storm.” Coach Radford introduced the coaches who will be molding the new Cramer teams. One of those was football coach Ben McMillan. McMillan was very positive about the facilities and the enthusiasm the new Cramer program was generating. “This is an amazing facility,” McMillan said. “We will play football, soccer and track on this field.” As happy as coach McMillan was about the field his team would play on he was even more excited about getting the Storm football
team going. “It’s been exciting, starting from scratch, ordering equipment. Getting ready.” McMillan had the first football jersey and helmet on hand for everyone to see, The Storm jersey on display was white with purple numbers trimmed in silver. The helmet is a bold flat black that will be a nice contrast to the white jersey. McMillan said he hopes to add striping and the Storm’s “JC” logo on the helmet. In the years to come there should be some exciting sports moments at Stuart Cramer High School. Saturday’s open house showed the support the team already enjoys. As things wound down the stadium’s PA system blared out the rock band Queen’s famous sports anthem We Will Rock You. For those on hand the song exemplified the crowd’s hopes and dreams for the Storm. As far as they were concerned the Storm is already rocking Gaston County. The Cramer Storm football team will kick off the 2013 season with a home opener Aug. 22 against Ashbrook.
Duke Energy urges boating safety with these tips Memorial Day marked the traditional start of the summer recreation season. Duke Energy encourages everyone to practice safety while boating and enjoying other activities on the lakes along the Catawba River. Each year, thousands of people die or are injured, and millions of dollars of property damage occur because of preventable recreational boating accidents on U.S. waterways. Everyone can make a difference by knowing and following all state-required safety rules and guidelines for boat operation, and ensuring each boat has the required safety equipment for the number of occupants and activities planned. Duke Energy reminds people overnight camping, fires, littering, removal of any vegetation and permanent structures are strictly prohibited on any of the lakes’ public recreation access areas, islands or along the shoreline. Duke recommends these guidelines while enjoying
the lakes: Parking at public recreation access areas is permitted in marked spaces only. Vehicles and trailers should not park along the highway. Vehicles found in prohibited areas may be towed without prior notice, at the owner’s expense. Keep the environment safe and clean by leaving no trace of your visit to the lakes. Handle gasoline and oil with care to avoid spills, and please don’t litter. Always wear a personal floatation device – one should be available for every passenger. Ensure children are wearing the appropriate size. Remember to stay hydrated, and keep children hydrated. Wearing a flotation device for a long period of time can accelerate dehydration. Also: Don’t overload a boat, seats do not indicate capacity. Keep track of the weather. If caught in rough water, keep low in the boat and head into the waves. Don’t mix alcohol with boating or swimming. Always be attentive on the water, and focus on operating the boat.
Remember an accident can happen very quickly. Stay alert for other boaters and skiers. Use caution upstream and downstream of hydro dams, and observe posted signage. Carry all the proper equipment including a cell phone, drinking water (to prevent dehydration) and let your friends and family know where you are going and when you will return. Take advantage of the boating expertise that is available. The Red Cross, NC Wildlife Resources Commission, the marine commissions and other organizations offer a variety of safe boating courses. Free boat inspections are also available. For questions, call Duke Energy Lake Services at 1800-443-5193.
Marketing; Trent Joiner- Retail Merchandising and Sports and Entertainment; Wesley Davis- Sports and Entertainment; Paul Katopodis- Food Marketing; Camden Van Pelt- Automotive Marketing. Voting Delegates for the South Point Chapter were Paul Katopodis, Camden Van Pelt, Jon Robert Stewart and Wesley Davis. Marshall Stine represented our district on the Screening and Nominating Committee. Van Pelt also received $1000 Carl. T Brown scholarship.
Stuart W. Cramer High School has placed ten more coaches on its staff for the upcoming school year. Head coaches were hired for boys’ basketball, soccer, wrestling, volleyball, tennis and cheerleading. Four assistant football coaches were placed as well. Brad Sloan was named basketball coach. He comes from Southwest Middle School in Gastonia. Stuart Cramer picked up three head coaches from South Point High School in Matt Robertson (boys and girls soccer), Terrance Grealis (volleyball) and Marigrace Licitra (boys and girls tennis). Cramer’s wrestling coach will be former North Gaston High and W.C. Friday Middle assistant Jeff Comer. Meredith Beam from Forestview will be cheerleading coach. Four assistants were added for head football coach Ben McMillan, who was previously announced as head coach. These include Tommy Bolin and Matthew Scholz from Forestview. The others are Carey Pohlman, and Cody Killian. Also, Cramer athletic director Terry Radford will be a football assistant coach. Head coaches at Cramer for girls basketball, baseball, softball, swimming, cross country, golf and track have not been named.
Photo by Bill Ward
The Gastonia Grizzlies beat Martinsville last Thursday by a score of 12-5. Chris Ohmstede had a double in the seventh inning to add to the effort.
South Point Red Raiders Player of the Week
The school will open in August with ninth and 10th grades. In the first year, it will offer varsity teams in every sport except football. A varsity football team will come in the second year.
East Gaston Warriors Player of the Week
South Point DECA Standouts The following students had outstanding performance at the NC DECA 69th Marketing Conference in Greensboro. Proficiency with a Certificate of Excellence: Camden Van Pelt and Paul Katopodis- Sports and Entertainment Marketing Team; Jon Robert Stewart and Wesley Davis- Sports and Entertainment Marketing Team; Jeth Champion and Jacob Stanaland- Sports and Entertainment Marketing Team; Jack ClawsonPrinciples of Marketing; Bilal Jaliawala- Principles of
Stuart Cramer High new coaches
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Andrew Locklear Baseball Sponsored by:
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Page 8A
The Banner News
Wednesday, June 5, 2013
■ LIFESTYLES Sparrow, Hedrick engaged
Tuesday Afternoon Book Club news The Tuesday Afternoon Book Club met on May 14, 2013 at the Belmont Historical Society Center with Gearl Dean Page as hostess. On arrival, the members were served cake and punch, after which Gearl Dean introduced Eloise Armstrong Buthe, who presented a program about “Quilts, Then and Now”. She gave an interesting talk about the history of quilting, which dates back as far as the Crusades, when quilts were worn underneath the soldier’s armor. Quilting has evolved from being mainly an activ-
ity to provide quilts for utilitarian purposes to being a real art form. Methods of making quilts have evolved from all piecing and quilting being done by hand to piecing on the sewing machine and quilting by long arm quilters. Some quilters use a combination of the different methods. Cutting pieces by scissors has, in most cases, been replaced by using rotary cutters. After the talk, Eloise led the members on a tour of the museum to see examples of all the quilts of then and now that are presently on display.
Garrison to study with famed Joffrey Ballet
John Hedrick and Mary Kathryn Sparrow Mr. and Mrs. Alan Bruce Sparrow of Belmont, North Carolina, are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter, Mary Kathryn “Katie” Sparrow to John Miles Hedrick, both of Charlotte. Miles is the son of Kimberly Kay Hedrick of Mt. Holly and the son of Dennis Hans Raymond Paysour of Bessemer City. Katie is the granddaughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Charles Bruce Sparrow of Charlotte and the late Mr. and Mrs. Bob Ray Miller of Mt. Holly. A graduate of South Point High School, Katie earned her Bachelor of Arts in Communications from North Carolina State University. She is employed as an Account Executive at Taylor, a sports and entertainment public relations agency in Charlotte. Miles is the grandson of Mrs. Frida Arna Margarete Paysour and the late Mr. Robert Franklin Paysour of Berlin, Germany, and the late Mr. and Mrs. John Lawrence Hedrick of Mt. Holly. He is a graduate of East Gaston High School and North Carolina State University, where he received a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering. He is employed as a Project Manager at Horsepower Site Services, LLC in Charlotte. The couple will marry May 17, 2014 in Charleston, South Carolina.
A D V E R T I S E
Eloise Buthe presented a progrma on “Quilts, Then and Now” at the Tuesday Afternoon Book Club meeting held on May 14.
Senior fitness classes Senior Fitness Classes for Senior Adults aged 55 and over are held at the Gaston County Senior Center, 1303 Dallas Cherryville Hwy. Dallas. These fitness classes can help you improve your posture, lower your cholesterol, alleviate joint pain and improve overall fitness. Most classes are only $1 per class or you can pay $20 and take every class offered for the month. For more information contact (704) 922-2170, or visit the county's website at www.gastongov.com.
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Mt. Holly native Marissa Garrison will study with the prestigious Joffrey Ballet School this summer. She auditioned and was accepted into their selective Jr. Trainee program. In more than fifty years of existence, the Joffrey Ballet School has remained on the forefront of American dance education. Graduates of the School have gone on to dance for major classical ballet companies, as well as for numerous modern and contemporary companies, both in the United States and abroad. The Joffrey Ballet School is the only ballet school in New York City that offers a well-rounded dance curriculum that includes serious
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training in both classical ballet and contemporary ballet, as well as modern, character, choreography, dance history, music, pilates and yoga. Marissa is the 11-year-old daughter of Phillip and Barbie Garrison of Mt. Holly. She is a 6th grader at Mt. Holly Middle School. She dances with Barbie’s Encore Dance Productions and has had additional ballet training at Gaston Dance Theatre for the past 3 1/2 years. This past Christmas, she danced the lead role of “Clara” in Gaston Dance Theatre’s production of “The Nutcracker”. Marissa is the reigning Young Miss Mt. Holly 2013.
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Call us today to see how your business can be listed in our Service Directory! in Cleveland County call Rick • 704739-7496 in Gaston County call Pat • 704825-0580
The Banner News, Cherryville Eagle and Kings Mountain Herald are not responsible for errors in an advertisement if not corrected by the first week after the ad appears.
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