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Volume 78 • Issue 46 • Wednesday, November 13, 2013
Serving Belmont, Mount Holly, Stanley, Cramerton, and McAdenville
Belmont is growing! Annexation of nearly 1,000 acres on NC Hwy 279 approved By Alan Hodge Alan.bannernews@gmail.com
As of approximately 8pm on Nov. 4, the City of Belmont grew by nearly 1,000 acres. That’s the time and date when the city council voted its approval to a non-contiguous annexation of
997 acres along NC Hwy 279 (New Hope Rd.), and NC Hwy. 273 (Lower Armstrong Rd.). But first there’s a bit of paperwork to be done. “The annexation is effective upon our recording the annexation plat at the county courthouse,� said Belmont Assistant City manager
Adrian Miller. “This should occur this week. At that time, the properties are in the city limits.� The request for annexation had come from three entities- NW Lake Wylie, LLC; Seven Oaks Farm, LLC; and the Catawba Lands Conservancy. The application was for 26 tax parcels owned
by them on the southern end of South New Hope Rd. from the northern property line of Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden to the South Carolina state line and on Lower Armstrong Rd. from the Forest Cove and Harbortowne neighborhoods to the intersection with South New Hope Rd.
Suspected child predator reported in Mt. Holly
HONORING OUR VETERANS
By Alan Hodge Alan.bannernews@gmail.com
Police in Mount Holly warned parents late last week about a suspected child predator in the area. This comes less than two weeks after a man tried to abduct a boy at McDonald Athletic Field in McAdenville. Based on descriptions, police believe the suspect from the McAdenville and Mount Holly incidents could possibly be one and the same. On Oct. 31 and Nov. 1, the man approached children at a school bus stop in Mount Holly between 6:55am and 7:10am and tried to get them into his car. Mount Holly Middle School sent a message to
The South Point NROTC honor guard presented the colors at Belmont’s Veterans Day event. Belmont Optimist Red Raiders cheerleaders in the background led the Pledge of Allegiance. See the story on page 3A. Photo by Alan Hodge
parents warning of a man who “is attempting to lure the kids stating that he has porn and alcohol and they should skip school to party with him.� The message was generated by the Mount Holly police. According to Gaston See WARNING, 2A
Duke to demolish Riverbend station Duke Energy will begin demolishing parts of the Riverbend Steam Station this fall as part of the company’s fleet modernization efforts. The company retired the four coal-fired units in April 2013, two years ahead of schedule. Duke Energy’s long-term vision for sites with retired coal units like those at Riverbend is to safely return them to ground level using a method known as decommissioning and demolition. This multi-year process involves cleaning and removing equipment, demolishing the powerhouse and auxiliary buildings, and restoring the site. To restore the site, the company will fill, grade and seed the land to prevent erosion and protect water quality. Duke Energy plans to own and steward the River-
The trio of parties went before the Planning and Zoning Board in late August with the layout of the development they want to put in place on portions of the property. One plan calls for 810 high-end homes to be built on 670 acres of the Seven Oaks Foundation land. See GROWTH, 6A
bend site and will continue operating transmission equipment there. The demolition process will occur using a phased approach. Phase one will begin this fall and will last through early 2014. During this phase, the company will begin removing structures, including retired natural gas combustion turbine units, precipitators, coal handling equipment and the water tank. Phase two is expected to begin in early 2016 and will last several months. During this stage, Duke Energy will remove any remaining powerhouse equipment and demolish the building and chimneys. If implosion is needed to complete the demolition, the company will update the public. Between the two phases, teams will be working to relocate electrical equipment. “Riverbend served this region well for more than eight decades, and Duke Energy is committed to decommissioning the station safely and with a keen focus on See DUKE, 2A
Martin elected Belmont Mayor By Alan Hodge Alan.bannernews@gmail.com
Last week’s municipal elections saw a new mayor and two city council members elected in Belmont and three incumbents returned to the council in Mount Holly. Charlie Martin ran unopposed for mayor and won with 797 votes. “First of all I want to thank everyone that supported me in the election,� Martin said. “I am very appreciative for all their help.� Martin says he’s ready to spring into action once he’s sworn in. “My job as mayor of Belmont comes with a tremendous amount of responsibility,� he said. “I plan to meet with each councilperson to get some of their ideas and put them down on paper to find out what the most important See ELECTION, 6A
Photo by Alan Hodge
Mount Holly city council candidates Jim Hope and Jerry Bishop were at the Catawba Heights Wesleyan Church polling place last week talking to voters Brian and Sheila Jennings before they cast their ballots. Hope and Bishop were reelected as was the other incumbent David Moore.
Plans for Loftin Park moving forward ALAN HODGE alan.bannernews@gmail.com
Plans for the Kevin Loftin Riverfront Park took another step forward last week when the Belmont City Council heard a presentation of the park’s master plan from representatives of community infrastructure consultants W.K. Dickson and authorized staff to seek approval from the NC Local Government Commission for the solicitation of financing proposals. “The City will look into financing from a local financial company, as well as apply for the PARTF (Parks
and Recreation Trust Fund) state grant in January of 2014,� said Parks and Recreation Director Sallie Stevenson. The facility will be a jewel in the crown of Belmont Parks and Recreation and is expected to cost in the neighborhood of $1.4 million to construct, with a $70,000 contingency fund. The park is named for former Belmont mayor Kevin Loftin who was killed in an auto accident in February 2012. The park will be located on the shore of the Catawba River just off NC Hwy. 7 near Wilkinson Blvd.
Park amenities will include a variety of structures including two 20’x24’ picnic shelters, a 30’x60’ picnic shelter, a restroom building, a playground with 4’ metal fence, an amphitheater, an observation platform with porch swing, 35 parking spaces, a school bus unloading area, and a handicap access and viewing area. More bus and overflow parking will be available at Belmont Public Works across the street. For those who care to stroll the park, there will be an 8’ wide concrete path as well as a boardwalk. Retaining walls with handrails will
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of Stanley
also be featured. From the parking lot to the walkway there will a 34-step concrete staircase. Cost estimates presented to the council last week listed earthwork such as grading and erosion control to cost around $166,000. Site work including the concrete sidewalk, parking lot pavement, handrails, curbs, and signage to run in the neighborhood of $474,000. Amenities including the restroom building, picnic shelters, amphitheater seat and retaining walls, playground, fencing, bike racks, See LOFTIN PARK, 2A
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