INSIDE... Celebrations Planned .. 2A Book Club Honored ..... 4A Obituaries ................... 5A Police/Crime ............... 5A School News ............... 6A
Serving Belmont, Mount Holly, Stanley, Cramerton, and McAdenville | Volume 79 • Issue 26 • Wednesday, June 25, 2014
75¢
Lawsuit against City still pending By Alan Hodge alan.bannernews@gmail.com
February 20, 2012 is just another day for most people, but for Ellen Deitz Tucker and her family it is one burned forever into their beings. That's the night that Tucker's sister, Donna Deitz and her friend former Belmont mayor Kevin Loftin, were killed in a car crash at the corner of NC273 and US74. Loftin's Audi was struck broadside by an SUV being driven by Lester Saunders Norman Jr. as he was being pursued by Bel-
mont police after having driven through a checkpoint. Norman was eventually convicted on two counts of second-degree murder and sentenced to at least 25 years in prison. But for the living, that night lives on. So much so for Tucker that she and her family went before the Belmont council asking for modifications to the city's police pursuit policy, several of which were put into place. In January of this year, the family filed a lawsuit against the city and the See LAWSUIT, 7A
Coal ash clean up plan introduced By Alan Hodge alan.bannernews@gmail.com
The NC Senate is getting in on Duke Energy's coal ash storage situation. Last week legislators revealed a plan to make the utility clean up all 33 of its North Carolina coal ash ponds within 15 years. This includes those at the nowclosed Riverbend Steam Station near Mount Holly. Riverbend is located on Mountain Island lake, the source of Mount Holly's drinking water as well as that of Charlotte-Mecklenburg and Gastonia. The cleanup plan was introduced by Senate leader Phil Berger and Senate Rules Chairman Tom Apodaca. It would force Duke Energy to stop dumping coal ash in storage ponds by the year 2020. Not only that, it would also make Duke dig up the estimated 100 million tons of coal ash already stored across the state and either move it to another location or seal it in place to prevent leakage. Other aspects of the Senate plan would require coal ash ponds at Riverbend and three other steam stations to be evacuated and closed no later than 2019. It would place the remaining statewide storage ponds in three categories based on risk levels. High risk would have a 2019 deadline, intermediate risk a 2024 deadline, and low risk by 2029. The Senate plan would also create a commission to oversee things such as risk classifications closure plans. The commission would have nine members with six being named by the General Assembly and three by the
governor. The latest Senate plan used one from Gov. Pat McCrory as a springboard. However, his original plan does not eliminate all 33 coal ash ponds, requires closure plans within three months for Riverbend and three other steam stations, shortens time for public notification of spills from 24 to 48 hours, identifies and addresses illegal wastewater discharges at coal ash ponds, and beefs up control of solid waste disposal of coal ash. Duke estimates it could cost up to $10 billion and take three decades to remove the ash from all 33 sites. Spokesman Jeff Brooks stated the company's position to the BannerNews. “We continue to watch the legislative situation,” he said. “We believe the bill introduced last week is aggressive in its timeline and will create significant challenges to meet it. Coal ash storage needs to be addressed but it should be with a scientific, fact-based plan.” Who would pay for the coal ash removal job is also part of the current debate. Duke has said it would pass the cost to customers. However, the Senate plan would bar that from happening at least until January 2015, after which the firm could go before the NC Utilities Commission with a rate hike request. Besides simply storing the coal ash at other sites or sealing it up, several creative uses for the byproduct have been suggested such as mixing it with concrete and using it in construction projects such as roads.Talks had taken place over the past few months to have the Riverbend coal ash moved to Charlotte-Douglas International Airport for use as landfill. However, that plan has hit several stumbling blocks and is probably kaput.
Contributed Photo
This photo shows the Spirit of the Fighting Yank statue just after he was taken down from his former home in front of Belmont Middle School and was being prepped for the trip to Stowe Park. With the Yank are rear row, Art Shoemaker, Ron Foulk, Juan Logan, Bob Brown. Kneeling, Hunter McMillan and Jerry Johnson.
Fighting Yank at home in Stowe Park By Alan Hodge alan.bannernews@gmail.com
After months of planning, debate, fundraising, and a bit of fussing, the Spirit of the Fighting Yank WWII memorial statue has finally made his move from the campus of Belmont Middle School to a new location in Stowe Park. The statue, one of just five like it in the nation, had been dedicated in 1946 at the then Belmont High. The Yank had been vandalized twice. The latest episode took place in 2012 when he was pulled from his stone base and de-
capitated. Restoring the soldier's head cost over $30,000. Last year, a group of concerned local citizens headed by Art Shoemaker floated the idea of moving the statue to Stowe Park where it would be more visible and secure. After discussion with City of Belmont and Gaston County Schools officials, permission to move the statue was given. After several delays caused by bad weather this past winter as well as equipment problems, the long awaited moving day took place last Monday. The job was a big one, a team from McMillan Crane Service, who volun-
teered time and equipment, arrived at Belmont Middle around 9am. Men from the City of Belmont public works department also showed up as did a small crowd of curious spectators and commentators. No long after a backhoe began digging around the base of the statue, a glitch popped up in the form of a mass of underground concrete that the Yank's base was resting on. A jackhammer was pressed into action and the situation resolved. Next, the crane, operated by Hunter McMillan, was moved over the statue and heavy cargo See STATUE, 3A
Belmont council adopts budget By Alan Hodge alan.bannernews@gmail.com
FRIDAY NIGHT LIVE – Belmont Mayor Charlie Martin (aqua shirt) was getting in on the Friday Nite Live action. Friday Night Live concerts are held every other Friday evening now until September 12. The concerts run from 7 pm until 10 pm, but South Main Street is closed between the railroad tracks and Myrtle Street around 2 pm in order to set up for the event.The concerts are free and open to all, but there is a charge for food and drinks.
The City of Belmont officially adopted its FY20142015 budget last week. The budget featured $8,859,250 in anticipated revenues and expenditures. Utility fund revenues and expenditures are pegged at $5,226,500. Stormwater fund anticipated revenues and expenditures are logged at $390,000. The tourism fund tallied $70,000 in anticipated revenues and
Photo by ANNIE JENKINS
See COUNCIL, 7A
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