75¢ Serving Belmont, Mount Holly, Stanley, Cramerton, and McAdenville
Volume 78 • Issue 52 • Wednesday, December 25, 2013
Who made the headlines in 2013? Part 1 of 3 By Alan Hodge Alan.bannernews@gmail.com
The year 2013 is nearly done and what a year it was. The main issue on the BannerNews beat for 2013 was growth and develop-
ment. Many, many city council meetings over the past year in Belmont, Mount Holly, Cramerton, McAdenville, and Stanley saw rezoning requests so that businesses and residential developers could set up shop or build housing in the area. Not everyone embraced the
changes, and debate often broke out on the issue of small town quality of life versus growth. On the sports scene, the South Point Red Raiders football team had another stellar year on the gridiron and won the Southern Conference 3A title only to fall
in the state playoffs to Concord. Nonetheless, Big Red finished the year with a 131 record. Municipal elections were also held in 2013 and they resulted in several new faces as well as some incumbents taking their seat at the dais in our local communities.
For week by week details on stories that the BannerNews reported on in 2013, read on. January 3 featured a story on musician Darrell Bumgardner and his work with the band that was See REVIEW, 5A
Girls rule! Robotics team places 2nd By John Wilson John.bannernews@gmail.com
Who says that robots are only for boys? A group of hard charging young ladies from Belmont Middle School are showing that robotics isn’t just a guy thing. The all girls RoboChicks received 2nd place in Robot Performance class of the First Lego Competition. The competition was held Nov. 23 as part of a national robotics program. The BMS team competed against 24 other teams from various Gaston and Cleveland County middle school robotics teams. The competition requires the various teams to program their robot to do a series of functions, or “missions� in a set period of time. In this year’s competition the Robo-Chicks were running their robot “Bo-
bette� through a modified obstacle course that simulated a hurricane disaster scene. The fact that the RoboChick’s all girl lineup has created a buzz isn’t lost on their advisor, Belmont Middl School technology teacher Deb Elmore. Elmore believes the Robo-Chicks serve as an example of what determined young ladies can do. “This year we decided to go with an all girl team,� Elmore said. “ We wanted to teach them life skills in science, technology, engineering and math.� Elmore is proud of what the Robo-Chicks have accomplished. “They are positive role models,� she said. “They show that robotics is something that girls can do as well.� See ROBO-CHICKS, 4A
But don’t forget the meaning of Christmas. Belmont Middle Schools Robo-Chicks Robotics team shows off their 2nd place Robot Performance Trophy. The teams recently competed against 24 other Gaston and Cleveland county teams in a robotics competition. Contributed Photo
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is expected to have a complicated influence on the relationship between the insured and insurer. Still in its early days, consumers and providers alike are still sorting through a host of new rules, a web site that didn’t launch smoothly and the extent to which Medicare funding is affected.
Photo of painting by Alan Hodge
This portrait of Mildred Ford hangs in the office of the Belmont Community Organization building. In addition to other philanthropic and civic activism, Ford was one of the founders of the BCO. Decades later, Friday and Hodge still work at the bank, now Wells Fargo. “I recall how pleasant she was,� Friday said. “She always had a smile for everyone. She was a precious person.� Hodge was only 18 years old in 1972 when she was hired by Paul Ford. “I remember Mrs. Ford See FORD, 4A
The prolonged political battle that eventually pressed into law an overhaul of the health insurance industry seemed to come to an end on March 23, 2010, when President Obama signed a contentious bill called the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. But the struggle to change the way Americans get access to health care and pay for treatment wasn’t over then and is still a moving target now, nearly six years after the president and Congress began drafting and re-drafting legislation that sought to reduce the number of uninsured while at the same time lowering ever-rising health care costs. After the law passed, the legislation still had to overcome a number of political hurdles that risked killing – or at least stalling – what Obama has called the most important act of his time in the Oval Office. Among other lawsuits related to the new law, the one with the most momentum was one brought by an association of hospital and insurance companies that sought to strike down the new health care law on the grounds that it was unconstitutional. That suit wound its way through the federal courts and ulti-
mately landed in the U.S. Supreme Court, which ruled, essentially, that Congress did, in fact, have the power to mandate that individuals carry health insurance as prescribed by rules set forth in Affordable Care Act. Later, as a budget fight roiled Washington in September, the new health care law was in the spotlight again as Republicans, who have been the fiercest opponents of the Affordable Care Act, sought to withhold funding for it. That resulted in a 16-day shutdown of the federal government, which shuttered most federal government offices and sent more than 800,000 federal workers nationwide home, unsure of when they would be able to return to work. Members of Congress eventually worked out a budget deal that preserved funding for the new health care law’s provisions. At the same time, another problem – not a political one but a technical one – was surfacing. The web site maintained by the government to help marry the insured with the insurer was having catastrophic problems. The site crashed repeatedly in its debut week. Tens of thousands of would-be customers were reporting problems establishing an account. There were also doubts that the site, which had been designed and built chiefly by a menagerie of non-government sub-contractors, was stable enough to withstand cyber attacks, and whether it was secure enough to be entrusted with individual’s personal information. After more than six weeks of prolonged glitches and uncertainty, confidence in the insurance exchange and in See AFFORDABLE CARE ACT, 4A
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of Stanley
But don’t forget the meaning of Christmas.
Turkey feast and pumpkin pie Yuletide log and Gramps’ winked eye Smiles aplenty gathered ‘round Savory sights and scents and sounds...
Dave Blanton
Belmont lost one of its kindest, most compassionate, and well loved figures last week with the passing of Mildred Tucker Ford. Ford died December 16 at the age of 100. She was living in Loveland, Ohio with her daughter Alice Obst. Ford was born in Belmont on January 26, 1913 and was the daughter of the late Clarence Eugene and Ida Mauney Tucker. She was married for 53 years to the late Paul Ford, for whom the Belmont Parks and Recreation Center is named. Paul served as president of the Bank of Belmont, and during her visits to his office there, Mildred made an impression on the employees she met including Denese Friday, Sharon Hodge, and Harriet Armstrong.
Silver bells and twinkling lights Candy canes and chilly nights Santa Claus and stockings filled Presents wrapped for morning thrills...
But don’t forget the meaning of Christmas.
dave.kmherald@gmail.com
alan.bannernews@gmail.com
By Bill Ward www.willyace.com
Carols sung and mistletoe Cider hot and hearts aglow Old friends’ calls and Cards of cheer Building snowmen in the clear...
BCO leader, Ford, New health insurance laws a passes away at 100 ‘game-changer’ for local providers By Alan Hodge
The Meaning of Christmas
A wondrous star, a Baby born Some triumphant, others torn His Birth for us, as was His death Eternal Love, forever blessed... This - is The Meaning of Christmas
Loan program overhauled Changes to strengthen, encourage rural housing markets and new construction by MICHAEL E. POWELL michael.cherryvilleeagle@gmail.com
There is good news for local first time Gaston and Cleveland County home buyers in what has been a fairly depressed economy – home loans. Warren Smith, Area Director for the USDA's (U.S. Department of Agriculture) local office in Shelby overseeing both Gaston and Cleveland counties, said the department's Secretary, Tom Vilsack, released information detailing “sweeping changes� to a popular loan program for first time rural homebuyers. Smith is one of six Area Directors in North Carolina. Area 2 is comprised of 16 See USDA HOME LOANS, 3A
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Wednesday, December 25, 2013
■OBITUARIES Mildred Tucker Ford Loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother Mildred Tucker Ford, age 100, passed away peacefully on Monday December 16, 2013, at home. A native of Gaston County, Mildred was the daughter of the late Clarence Eugene and Ida Mauney Tucker. She was a resident of Belmont until 1999 when she moved to Loveland, Ohio at the age of 86 to live with h e r daught e r ’s f a m i l y. She was preceded in death by her loving husband of 53 years, James Paul Ford, Sr, and two sisters, Mary Ledford and Georgia May Bentley. Mildred leaves behind son James Paul Ford Jr. and wife Louise of Greensboro; and daughter Alice Obst and husband Gary of Loveland, Ohio; five grandchildren: Christie Ford of New York, New York, Patrick Whalen and wife Ursula of Nashville, Tennessee, Kim Dorn and husband Steven of Loveland, Ohio, Jonathan Obst, Kate Hulsewede and husband Jason of Louisville, Kentucky; and eight great grand children; nieces, Helen Ledford and Frances Marlowe, and nephew Rusty Ford and wife Bobbye. Mildred was known most for her devotion and dedication to her family and to community
service. Much of her life was spent helping the less fortunate through the Belmont Community Organization which she cofounded in 1957. She was also a very active member of Queen of the Apostles Church and the American Legion Auxiliary. Mildred took much pride in her community and helped to beautify Belmont through the Town and Country Garden Club. In 1961 she was named “Woman of the Year� by the Belmont Business and Professional Women’s Club, and in 1976 she was named “Citizen of the Year� by the Belmont Chamber of Commerce. In 1987, Mildred was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Laws Degree by Belmont Abbey College. At the same occasion, fellow Doctorate honoree, bestselling author, and friend, Pat Conroy referred to Mildred as, The First Lady of Belmont. The family received friends from 10 to 12 AM on Monday, December 23 at the McLean Funeral Directors. A mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at 1 PM at Belmont Abbey Basilica followed by internment at the Belmont Abbey Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials in Mildred’s name be made to the Belmont Community Organization, Box 1248, Belmont, North Carolina 28012. McLean Funeral Directors of Belmont is caring for the Ford Family.
McLean Funeral Directors
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Notice of Annual Meeting The members of Belmont Federal Savings and Loan Association (you are a member by reason of having a savings account or loan with us) are hereby notified that the annual meeting of Belmont Federal Savings and Loan Association will be held on January 8, 2014 at 1:00 p.m. in the office of the Association. Additional information and proxies are available from: Michael F. Anthony, President Robin Clanton, Assistant Secretary
Norman Carl Heath Member of Union Primitive Baptist Church MOUNT HOLLY – Norman Carl Heath, 81, a resident of Gaston Manor, Gastonia; formerly of Mount Holly, died Thursday,
December 19, 2013. He was born in Gaston County son of the late Hunter and Annie Lee Heath. He was preceded in death by two sisters, Evelyn Heath Anderson and Beatrice Heath; and two brothers, Samuel J. Heath and William Taylor Heath. He was retired from Ameri-
can & Efird and was a member of Union Primitive Baptist Church. He is survived by a number of nieces and nephews. A graveside service to celebrate the life of Mr. Heath will be held at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, December 26, 2013, at Hillcrest Gar-
dens Cemetery with Reverend Kevin Ford officiating. Woodlawn Funeral Home, Mount Holly is serving the family.
â– MEDITATION
The first gift at Christmas I watched a Christmas movie entitled The Christmas Box starring Maureen O’Hara, Richard Thomas and Annette O’Toole. The character Mrs. Parkins played by Maureen O’Hara asked Richard Evans played by Richard Thomas what was the first gift at Christmas. Richard Evans responded, “A tie.� It was not until the end of the movie Richard understood the answer. The first gift at Christmas was love. “For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.� John 3:16 NKJV. I love giving gifts. I enjoy taking the time to find some-
Rev. Angela Pleasants First United Methodist Church, Mount Holly
thing that the person enjoys. I try to find gifts according to their character, hobbies, and passion. When I receive gifts I am humbled and so thankful I always want to give something back in return to show my gratitude.
God gave us a wonderful gift. Christmas is a time to remind us of the gift of His Son. Instead of getting caught up in the commercialism reflect on what Jesus coming mean to us and the world. “And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.� Matthew 1:21 NKJV. The first purpose of this gift was salvation. Jesus is the way the truth and life. It is only through Him that we have access to our heavenly Father. The second purpose of this gift is to remind us we are never alone. God’s presence is always with us. “‘Behold, the virgin shall be with child,
and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,’ which is translated, ‘God with us.’� Matthew 1:23 NKJV. God’s gift to us is priceless. How can we respond to such a special gift? We respond in gratitude and humble obedience. The angel of the Lord told Mary she would bring forth the Son of God. He encouraged Mary telling her nothing will be impossible with God. Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.� Luke 1:38 NKJV. We too should respond with humble submission to God’s revealing purpose in our life.
There is still one unopened gift under your tree When I was a kid, we always went to my grandmother ’s house after eating our Christmas day dinner. My aunt and uncle lived upstairs. I could Tony Marciano never understand why my cousin Guest Columnist Diane wanted clothes for Christmas. How can you play with clothes? What do you do with that? One other thing I never understood was that there were unopened wrapped gifts still under the tree. I was confused. It was 3pm in the afternoon. Our family had opened all our gifts; ate a huge Italian pasta dinner and made our way around the corner to where my cousin lived. I remember so many Christmas’ visiting my cousin, wondering who would leave an unopened wrapped gift under the tree. You may have done what my cousin did – missed one more gift. I want you to peek one more time under your tree. It may have gotten lost in between the
Lionel train set and the manger scene (someone explain that to me – on one side of the tree is a manger. On the other side is a late 1800 English village with this whole thing encircled by a Lionel train). Now, back to my story. I hope you see it there. It’s probably tucked away behind the manger scene. The wrapping itself is simple. Don’t let the box deceive you. Take it and rip the paper off. Don’t try to save it. Open the box. Inside you will find a note. You don’t recognize the handwriting. It says, “My dear child, I love you. I’ve watched you all your life. I know how hard you’ve tried to please me. While I’m grateful for your efforts, you have the relationship backwards. My love for you is unconditional. I know you live in a world that rewards you for your performance. You deal with metrics and benchmarks every day at work. I also know how easy it is for relationships to be conditional. Too often, you’ve nonverbally heard, “if you perform, then you are loved; but if you don’t perform then the love is withheld from you.� I hope you’ve heard me tell you so many times how much I love you. The problem has
been that you thought you heard me say, “I only love you when you are good. When you are not, I withhold my love from you.� Nothing could be further from the truth. Since we haven’t formally met, I knew I needed to make that love tangible, so you could see it. But it wasn’t with gifts under the tree I showed you that love. I sent myself to be an ambassador of my love for you. You saw that love in my son Jesus. I had to go one step further – I had to demonstrate that love. My son died on the cross to show you how much I loved you. I made that commitment to you without you ever saying it back to me. I want a relationship with you. Just like all the other gifts you so gladly have been given, receive this as a gift from me to you. You can’t work to receive it; just accept it as my gift to you. It’s an expression of my love to you. With all my love – God�. – Rev. Tony Marciano is the Executive Director of the Charlotte Rescue Mission. He is available to speak to your group. Go to www.charlotterescuemission.org and go to contact usjust ask for Pam.
Fellowship & Faith
Church Service Directory BELMONT Alexander Memorial Baptist Church 208 South Main Street 704-825-3216 Brotherhood/Sisterhood Wncc. 120 Park Street 704-825-1333 Catawba Heights Baptist Church 311 Belmont Avenue 704-827-8474 Catawba Heights Wesleyan Church 101 Beaty Rd., Belmont 704-827-8381 Centerview Baptist Church 2300 Acme Road 704-827-2061 East Belmont Baptist Church 501 Catawba Street 704-825-5780 East Belmont Church Of God 320 E. Catawba Street 704- 825-8845 East Belmont Free Will Baptist 909 Edgemont Ave 704-825-5346 East Belmont Presbyterian Church 901 Catawba Street 704-825-8822 Ebenezer United Methodist Church 120 Belmont-Mt. Holly Road 704-827-3366 First Baptist Church 23 N. Central Avenue 704-825-3758 First Foursquare Gospel Church 8 Elizabeth Street 704-825-5811 First Presbyterian Church 102 S. Central Ave 704-825-3357 First Presbyterian-Belmont 112 S. Central Ave 704-829-0668
First United Methodist Church of Belmont 807 South Point Road 704-825-2106 Forest Pointe Church Meets at Stowe Family YMCA Bldg. 704-825-1709 Fresh Anointing Church of God 71 McAdenville Road 704-825-7283 Friendship Baptist Church 5008 S. New Hope Rd 704-825-3276 Full Gospel Church 106 School St 704-827-9621 Gaston Christian Church 5339 S. New Hope Rd 704-825-8252 Goshen Presbyterian Church Roper Street 704-827-6280 Grace Korean Chr. Assembly-God 124 Georgia Belle Ave 704-829-1091 Grace Wesleyan Church 6014 S. New Hope Rd 704-825-7959 Henry’s Chapel Ame Zion Church 151 Henry Chapel Rd 704-825-0711 Holy Comforter Lutheran Church 216 N. Main St. 704-825-2483 Hood Memorial Ame Zion Church 455 Sacco St. 704-825-6007 Loves Chapel Presbyterian Church 204 Lincoln St. 704-825-8342 Message of Love Church 306 Pearl Beaty Dr. 704-827-6500
Mount Moriah Baptist Church 110 Lincoln St. 704-825-2046 Mount Pleasant Missionary Baptist 212 South Street 704-825-7269 New Hope Presbyterian Church 4357 S. New Hope Rd., Gastonia 704-824-1697 New Life Baptist Church 201 Oak Trail 704-822-6195 New Mills Chapel Fire Baptised 104 Morning Glory Ave. 704-825-5457 North Belmont Church of God 2316 Acme Rd. 704-827-4092 O’Conner Grove Church Ame Zion 613 N. Main Street 704-825-5576 Park Street United Methodist 120 Park Street 704-825-8480 Power of the Spirit Church 118 School Street 704-827-7071
Featured Church of the Week Ebenezer United Methodist Church Queen Of The Apostles Catholic Church 503 N. Main Street 704-825-9600 South Point Baptist Church 124 Horsley Ave. 704-825-9516 South Point Freewill Baptist 297 Gaither Rd. 704-825-8045 South Point United Methodist 510 Southpoint Church Rd. 704-825-4019 Springwood Freewill Baptist 220 Park Terrace Dr. 704-827-7801
St. Marks United Methodist Church 701 Secrest Ave. 704-825-8175 Stowe Memorial Baptist Church 26 Kee Rd. 704-825-5987 Unity Baptist Church 1005 Catawba St. 704-825-8730 Upper Room United Pentecostal 1405 Armstrong Ford Rd. 704-825-0604 Will of God Church 513 Woodlawn Ave. 704-827-5185
Wednesday, December 25, 2013
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Record number of travelers on NC roads this holiday season Breakfast with Santa Saturday, December 14th, the Mount Holly Community Development Foundation partnered with Discover You! to host Breakfast with Santa. It was a great event serving over 200 children and adults a pancake breakfast in Discover You!'s Learning Kitchen. Cherubs (Holy Angels) staff were in the kitchen along with a sweet server. Foundation volunteers pitched in where needed assisting with serving, dining room preparation, greeters at the door and Santa's helpers. Contributed Photo
A record number of North Carolinians - 2,826,500 - will travel 50 miles or more for the Christmas/New Year's holiday, according to AAA Carolinas. Travel volume represents an increase of 48,500 total travelers compared to last year. An estimated 2,559,700, or 90.5% of total travelers, plan to drive to their destination. The 12-day Christmas/New Year's travel holiday is defined as Saturday, Dec. 21, through Wednesday, Jan. 1, which is one day longer than the travel period last year. The year-end holiday ranges from 10 to 13 days, and volume often increases relative to length. "As the longest holiday travel pe-
riod of the year, the Christmas/New Year's holiday is also one of the deadliest," said David E. Parsons, president and CEO of AAA Carolinas. "Drivers should buckle up and avoid drinking and driving, speeding and texting behind the wheel." North Carolina gas prices currently average $3.23 - the same price as a year ago. After falling to a year-low of $3.19 on Nov. 14, prices rose to $3.33 on Nov. 27, but have fallen steadily since then. Prices are expected to continue the downward trend through the end of the year due to rising supplies and increased refinery production. North Carolina travelers are ex-
pected to log an average trip of 965 miles from home, a significant increase from 765 miles last year. During the holiday period, unexpected weather or vehicle problems may leave motorists stranded this holiday season and inclement weather is possible. AAA Carolinas recommends keeping an emergency kit in your car that includes: mobile phone and car charger; blankets and flashlight with extra batteries; a first aid kit; drinking water and non-perishable snacks; small shovel and sack of sand or cat litter for traction; windshield scraper; battery booster cables; plastic emergency triangle reflectors.
Gaskins receives environmental award The Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC) has announced that Rick Gaskins, the Executive Director of the Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation, was awarded the 2013 James S. Dockery, Jr. Southern Environmental Leadership Award. The recognition is given to an individual who exemplifies exceptional commitment to the environment, helping to conserve natural resources and promote public awareness in the South. Gaskins has been working to solve environmental issues in the southeast for 29 years, as an attorney in private practice, as a volunteer attorney for various conservation groups, as the Catawba Riverkeeper, and as Executive Director of the Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation.
In addition to his work in the Catawba basin, Rick Gaskins is the Chair-elect of the North Carolina Conservation Network, he is a past Chair of the Environmental Section of the N.C. Bar Association, a pastchair of an international group (the ASTM Global Sustainability Committee) that established voluntary standards for activities affecting the environment, and as a board member of various other organizations. Gaskins has been in the forefront of the coal ash storage issue at Duke Energy locations such as Riverbend and Allen steam stations. The Southern Environmental Law Center is a regional nonprofit using the power of the law to protect the health and environment of the South-
east (Virginia, Tennessee, North and South Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama). Founded in 1986, SELC's team of more than 60 legal and policy experts represent more than 100 partner groups on issues of climate change and energy, air and water quality, forests, the coast and wetlands, transportation, and land use. The Southern Environmental Leadership Award was created in honor of SELC's co-founder and former board chair, Jim Dockery. Until his death in 1994, Mr. Dockery's noted environmental leadership helped protect tens of millions of acres of mountain wilderness around the nation. His contributions to the southeast region are remembered annually by this leadership award.
House of Mercy President Stan Patterson presented Director of Nursing Shirley Stowe with a surprise award for her exemplary service and a gift certificate. House of Mercy Board Chair Maggie Baucom also presented Shirley the first John L. Capps MD Award for Caregiving in the Spirit of Mercy in recognition of 15 years of service to 195 residents.
USDA HOME LOANS: program overhaul good news for first time buyers From page 1A counties, he said. Vilsack's announcement at the beginning of December couldn't have come at a better time, as it basically opens the doors for lenders who before couldn't offer the same services as larger banks, to have a whole new host of options when it comes to rural home lending. In the media release, Sec. Vilsack noted the changes “are part of an extensive overhaul that will strengthen rural housing markets, increase the availability of rural home loans, and spur the construction of new homes in rural areas.� In Smith's words, the geneeral economy, which had been slowed to a crawl since 2008, is now correcting itself. “It's a way to streamline a way for borrowers to get funds,� he said recently by phone. “It helps us again streamline, or make easier, what lenders have to do� in loaning funds to first time home buyers. More to the point, Vilsack noted, the improvements “will help create jobs and enable more people to participate in the rural home loan guarantee program,� adding the changes will “add significant capital to rural areas,� giving rural Americans “more opportunities to make financing decisions, laying the groundwork for the future prosperity of their families.� When will this take effect? Smith said he believes the changes, which were
published in the Dec. 9, 2013 Federal Register, take effect Sept. 1, 2014. The changes promise to “make several improvements� to USDA Rural Development's Single Family Housing Guaranteed Loan Program. In addition to cutting the process time for procuring a loan, Smith noted it also “opens doors� for new lenders, making the whole process a better experience for first time home buyers.� What changes/is different? Vilsack, in his media release said that, among other things, “they (the changes) expand the types of lenders who are eligible to participate.� With the rule change, he continued, any lending entity supervised and regulated by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), the National Credit Union Administration, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the Federal Reserve Banks, or the Federal Housing Finance Board may underwrite loans guaranteed by Rural Development. “This will enable many small community banks and credit unions to participate in the guaranteed loan program,� he said, adding, “Currently, these entities are not eligible lenders.� Another policy change is that, for the first time, borrowers will be able to choose home loan terms shorter than 30 years, he noted. “This will result in a significant cost savings for borrowers who qualify for the higher payments and
who want to pay off their loan faster and pay less interest on their loan.� Vilsack said collectively, the upcoming changes will make housing loans “more readily available� to residents in underserved communities, such as those targeted by USDA's StrikeForce initiative. “Through StrikeForce, USDA staff work with state, local and community officials to increase awareness of USDA programs that help rural residents, businesses and communities,� he said. How will it all be implemented? Smith, echoing Vilsack's information, said as part of the overhaul, Rural Development has begun a series of enhancements to automate processes, reduce paperwork, and reduce loan approval times. Other program improvements are that lenders may consider a home's energy efficiency as a compensating factor when underwriting a mortgage application. Such energy efficiency is an attractive feature, Vilsack said, for homebuyers and sellers. “Energy efficient homes help the nation lessen its dependence on foreign oil and result in lower utility costs for homeowners. Lower utility costs also improve the local economy by directly increasing consumers' disposable income,� he wrote. Furthermore, according to Vilsack, lenders and borrowers no longer will be required to initiate separate
construction and permanent loans for new homes. “Instead, there will be one closing for one loan, known as a construction-topermanent loan.� Lastly, Vilsack said lenders will be required to consider foreclosure prevention techniques such as loan modifications and short sales. “Currently, lenders are 'encouraged' but not required to do so.�
Need local help? Smith said anyone wishing to know more is welcome to call his office in Shelby at (704) 471-0235, ext. 4, or to email his office at warren.smith@nc.usda. gov for additional details. “This announcement is another reminder of the im-
portance of USDA programs for rural America,� Vilsack said. “A comprehensive new Food, Farm and Jobs Bill would further expand the rural economy,� adding it's “just one reason why Congress must get a comprehensive Bill done as soon as possible.�
Booklet to explain it all The new changes will be fully outlined in a new handbook to accompany program regulations, according to Vilsack's office. It will do so by providing a single reference point on program rules for borrowers and lenders and will replace more than 20 administrative notices that are written separately and updated annually.
Meet Your Friends at Charlie’s Mon.-Fri. • 7:00AM-7:00PM Sat. • 8:00AM-4:00PM Sun. • 8:00AM-9:30AM
in observance of Christmas and will re-open with regular hours on Thursday, Dec. 26
in observance of New Years Day and will re-open with regular hours on Thursday, Jan. 2
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ROBO-CHICKS: place 2nd in competition From page 1A Even though the Robo-Chicks are catching some attention the boys aren’t completely frozen out. Belmont Middle also sports a co-ed team. “Our other team is the Bionic Bobcats,� Elmore said.� There are boys and girls on that team.� As the Robo-Chicks went through their paces at a recent practice at BMS they showed that they are a robotic force to be reckoned with. The girls make a bold girl power statement in everything from their positive attitude to their name and their bright pink team shirts. The girls practice several times a month when getting ready for a competition. They are always looking to learn more about robotics. Recently the Robo-Chicks were treated to a demonstration from the Gaston County Police Department’s bomb disposal robot. This year’s team of robot warriors consists of six members: eighth-
grader Elise Gray and seventhgraders Josie Lanham, Mary Grace Biggerstaff, and Audrey Beaty. The team is rounded out with sixth graders Carlin Spence and Shaylynn Adams. As the girls ran “Bobbette� through the course they took everything in stride. The team handled the robot with grace and confidence. There is no doubt they have learned a lot from not only Elmore’s guidance, but from each other. One of the younger team members, Carlin Spence, handled the spotlight like a pro. Spence is enjoying the chance to compete. “It’s fun,� Carlin said. “It’s a new experience.� When asked what it was like to be on an all girl team Carlin didn’t hesitate to give her answer. The spunky 6th grader just shrugged her shoulders and said, “It’s better than having boys.� It’s got to be a girl thing.....
HO-HO-HO: Santa and his helpers from Mount Holly Fire and Rescue visited clients at the East Gaston Adult Day Care Center in Catawba Heights last week and handed out gifts. Photo by Alan Hodge
AFFORDABLE CARE ACT: new laws Ęťgame-changerĘź for local providers From page 1A other ramifications of the law itself was at an all-time low, according to a November poll conducted jointly by the Washington Post and ABC News. The president apologized. Officials at the Department of Health and Human Services were grilled before Congress. Swift fixes were promised by an embarrassed administration. By last Monday, Jennifer Palmieri, the White House communications director, declared, “We feel confident about the site working now as it was intended.â€? White House press secretary Jay Carney said that the site had weathered 375,000 visitors in the first 12 hours of that day. He also said it was functioning “effectively for the vast majority of users.â€? Now that the law is firmly in effect, patients and insurers, doctors and other health care administrators alike are finding their way through some of the complicated aspects of the new order of things. Moreover, there is fear among some who study the economics of the health care market that too few – especially among the ranks of younger Americans – may enroll to make
it the plan feasible for those who do. “The (Affordable Care Act) is going to be a game changer – it’s too big not to be,� said Gary Harden, a retail pharmacist who is part owner of Mountain Street Pharmacy in Kings Mountain and four other drugstores in Shelby, Morganton and Dallas. “The biggest problem I think is getting young people to sign up and pay the premium. A lot of them think they’re bulletproof.� The core promise behind Obama’s health care plan is that it will grant more people access to needed care, a point that Harden acknowledges would be a result that benefits everyone. “Theoretically, it should increase the number of prescriptions that are issued and filled and covered (by health plans),� he said. “And what that will create is a bigger opportunity for counseling and more business.� For now, though, what reigns is confusion and fear, not enthusiasm, according to many who work in or follow the industry and its new regulations. “They hear their policy is going to be canceled. Then they hear it’s back on,� said Jason Falls, an independent insurance agent in Kings Mountain who recently
spoke before a Congressional sub-committee on the matter when they convened in Gastonia. “Many people were told (mistakenly, prior to the law taking effect) that there were going to have to cancel their existing coverage.â€? Falls, who is also a Cleveland County Commissioner, sees his role as one of advisor. He’s spent months studying the new law and wrapping his mind around the ramifications the changes will have on the industry and more specifically his customers. “Looking at it now, I see my role ‌ as to tell my customers how the law affects their families ‌ good or bad,â€? he said. “It’s not a cut and dry thing ‌ there’s nuances in the plans. For instance, there’s cost sharing ‌ if your income falls between 150 and 200 percent of the poverty level, the insurance companies are required to offer lower deductibles. But if you don’t know what plans those are, you can’t take advantage of it.â€? Falls has been filling his days explaining to insurance customers how to get the most out of their plans using the language of the law. He admits that getting a firm grip on the myriad changes has been a learning curve for patients and for those
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other health care providers to look at their books for the long run and find other ways to keep their heads above water financially. “Next year, we anticipate a fairly radical change in financial outlook, due primarily to steep cuts in Medicare reimbursements,� Bell said. “The new ‘normal’ for healthcare providers of all shapes and sizes is that revenue will ultimately flow to those providers who can deliver efficient, high quality care while decreasing costs. For Cleveland County HealthCare System, a complex of hospitals and nursing facilities in Cleveland County that employees around 1,700 people, that has necessitated taking a fresh look at the means and the protocol through which they deliver care. That would probably translate into a focus on taking advantage of the economy of scale when it comes to purchasing and contracting, a redesign of the way the company delivers primary care to its patients and a focus on wellness and prevention through outreach, education and events like “Walk With a Doc,� a popular initiative provided by Carolinas HealthCare System’s Sanger Heart & Vascular Institute, according to Bell.
Many providers have in recent years been zeroing in on another kind of wellness and prevention idea that seeks to keep doctors close, but not physically present. Called virtual or so-called telehealth services, patients would have more frequent contact with doctors through the Internet. How will hospitals and other providers prepare for more patients needing access to services? “One of the key foundations of (Affordable Care Act) was an assumption that the states would expand eligibility for Medicaid coverage. This assumption was undermined when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that state participation could not be forced. North Carolina opted out of such a payment program. Bell estimates that that decision will deprive 500,000 Tar Heels of the chance to gain access to Medicaid coverage. That “gap,� Bell said, is a significant challenge for patients and for providers. “We’ll continue to care for patients - but it will create significant hardship on our resources. We’ll rely on new care models, technology and improving the overall health of our communities to answer the access challenges.�
FORD: BCO leader passes away at 100
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who work in the insurance business. And it doesn’t help that so much of the public debate about Obamacare has taken place on TV between pundits and those in public office. “It’s been heavily politicized from both sides,� Falls said. For large providers of health care, Obamacare is just one element of an already shifting insurance landscape for which industry leaders have been preparing. “Truthfully, it doesn’t matter whether the Affordable Care Act is ultimately upheld, amended or overturned. Large-scale change is here to stay,� according to Alex Bell, Vice President of Cleveland County HealthCare System and administrator at Kings Mountain Hospital, which has about 70 beds. Bell and other hospital administrators like him acknowledge what critics of America’s status quo approach to health insurance in the U.S. have said for years: upwardly spiraling care and premium costs were unsustainable. He also said that changes in the government’s role in paying for care for certain segments of the patient population – as it pertains to Medicare, especially – have been forcing hospitals and
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as a true Southern lady,� Hodge said. “She was always impeccably dressed. She was nice and sweet. She never uttered an unkind word to anyone.� Former Bank of Belmont employee Harriet Armstrong developed a lifelong friendship with Ford. “She was a wonderful person and a great friend,� Armstrong said. “She did a lot for Belmont but didn’t brag about it.� Art Shoemaker was at one time a neighbor of the Fords. “She was a real good woman,� Shoemaker said. But of all the nice things Ford did for others, it was the Belmont Community Organization that she helped start in the early 1950s that continues to bear the stamp of her personality. Obst explained the reason she feels her mother began
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the BCO. “She always had a soft heart for people and saw there was so much need in Belmont especially among the mill workers,� Obst said. “I remember going with her to get food and delivering it to their houses.� Henry Howe of Belmont recalled how his mother Edna as well as Edith Coppedge and Jane Modisette teamed up with Ford to get the BCO off the ground. “One thing they did was go to schools to see what the children needed,� Howe said. “They didn’t have a permanent building back then like we do now. They just worked out of where ever someone gave them space.� Places on that list included the basement of the Bank of Belmont and First Presbyterian Church. The BCO is currently located at 91 Catawba St. and the building bears Ford’s
name. Current BCO director Paula Wilkerson appreciates what Ford did. “She laid the foundation for the BCO as we know it today,� Wilkerson said. BCO president Marty Barnes recalled when she was child hearing her father speak about Ford. “I remember how dad was always talking about how much she helped the needy of Belmont,� Barnes said. “She was quite a lady, but quiet about what she did for others.� John “Toppy� Hayes was president of the BCO for 17 years and recalled Ford’s compassionate nature. His recollection of her pretty much sums it up. “She was the Mother Teresa of Belmont,� Hayes said. “She was a great lady and did so much for Belmont- but never sought any recognition for herself.�
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Wednesday, December 25, 2013
Page 5A
The Banner News | banner-news.com
REVIEW: Who made the headlines in 2013? From page 1A holding performances at the East Gaston Adult Day Care Center. The new Stuart Cramer High announced that Terry Radford would be the school’s first athletic director. January 9 saw a story on the building progress at Harper Park in Stanley. The park was nearing completion and was the first municipal park in the town. Also featured was an article on the Depression-era artist, Peter DeAnna, who in 1940 had painted the mural in what is now Belmont City Hall but was formerly the U.S. Post Office. Sports news praised the South Point girls’ basketball team for winning the 2012 Bud Black/Dennis Tate Holiday Classic Tournament. Murder and a drug bust topped the news January 16. The murder took place in Mount Holly and the marijuana bust in Belmont. A front page story covered a meeting of the Mount Holly Historical Society where the downtown section was named a National Register Historic District. Also in Mount Holly, CaroMont’s Discover You facility held a ribbon cutting. On the sports beat, a story highlighting the South Point girls’ basketball team’s 66-64 win over North Gaston in overtime ran. January 23 featured an article on how Gaston County Schools ranked in the state in the areas of crime, violence, and dropout rate. The report gave GCS good marks in all three areas. Weather-wise, a winter weather false alarm for snow had area cities like Belmont and Mount Holly loading salt and slag trucks for a blizzard that never
came. January 30 was a look at the history of moonshining in the paper’s coverage area and by all accounts plenty of illegal liquor had been made in years past. A story announced that former South Point High football player Mike McWhirter would be inducted in the Belmont Sports Hall of Fame. February 6 featured a love story about the upcoming 70th anniversary of 93-year-old Harold Long and his bride 90-year-old Margaret of Belmont, the story of the former A.M. Rollins School in Mount Holly that served the AfricanAmerican community there from 1930-1969. In sports, East Gaston boys’ wrestling team whipped West Meck by a score of 78-0. February 13 popped up with the African-American Quilters Guild of Gaston County who had examples of its work on display at the Belmont Historical Museum. Also an article on what would be an ongoing issue- coal ash storage at Duke Energy’s Riverbend Steam Station, and a story revealed that unemployment benefits would soon be slashed. February 20 slushed on the scene with pictures of the snowstorm that had fallen a few days before. Also a profile of local lad Tyler Brown and his budding career as a rodeo clown, and Community VFD’s Robert Jackson and his being awarded the Order of the Long Leaf Pine for 51 years of service. February 27 was headlined with a report on the Belmont Sports Hall of Fame banquet that saw three new members added including Dick Suggs, Mike McWhirter, and
The African-American Quilters Guild showed off examples of their work at the Belmont Historical Museum during the month of February. the 1971 South Point High football team. That edition also covered Mount Holly’s Black History Forum as well as the price of gasoline that was at $3.91 a gallon at the time. March 6 announced Dr. Martin Murphy as Belmont Citizen of the Year. Another article featured a photo of Mount Holly’s designation as a Purple Heart City and dedication of a sign to that effect on NC Hwy 27. March 13 had an interesting mix of articles. One of the most interesting was the recollections of former pilot Benny Brown of the airport that was once in Belmont near Wilkinson Blvd. Another story praised North Belmont fourth grader Allie Payton for organizing a toilet paper drive that collected over 1,000 rolls for the needy. Rounding out the paper was an ar-
ticle on the growth of bicycling in Belmont. March 20 ran an update article on the new bridge being built over the South Fork River in Cramerton. The $1.4 million project is slated for completion in April 2014. Also included were articles on the groundbreaking of the Ebb Gantt Soccer Park on Brook St. in East Belmont, local reaction to the selection of Pope Francis, and a special section on Weight Management. Good news came March 27 in the form of an article announcing the cancellation of plans by Freightliner to lay off 400 workers in Mount Holly. Another upbeat article followed the filming of a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie “Shuffleton Barbershop� in downtown Belmont. April 3 featured a front page
story on French botanist Andrew Michaux who had explored what would become Stanley and Mount Holly back in 1796. Also recounted were the adventures of former Belmont residents retired Air Force Lt. Col. Lyn McFarland and businessman John Cromlish, who became fast friends at Terrace Ridge assisted living where they swapped stories of airplane and train rides. April 10 headlined an article concerning construction progress on the new $60 million Stuart Cramer High in Cramerton where work was 95 percent completed. Progress and growth focused on the grand opening of CaroMont’s Discover You Phase II in the Mount Holly Municipal Complex and groundbreaking for the new Mountain Island Charter School also in Mount Holly. Continued in next week’s Banner!
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Legals STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF GASTON NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND DEBTORS Having qualified on the 3rd day of December as Executor of the Estate of Pruett L. Black, Aka: Pruett Livingston Black, 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 Pruett L. Black, III, Executor on or before the 18th day of March, 2014,
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. This the 18th day of December, 2013. Pruett L. Black, III, Executor Estate of: Pruett L. Black,: aka: Pruett Livingston Black 264 Bess Road, Kings Mountain, NC 28086 BN10555 (12/18, 25/13 & 01/01 &1/08/14
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF GASTON NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND DEBTORS Having qualified on the 26th day of November as Administratrix of the Estate of Sherry Dawn Goins, 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 Gertrude Goins, Administratrix on or before the 11th day of March, 2014, 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. This the 11th day of December, 2013. Gertrude Goins, Administratrix Estate of: Sherry Dawn Goins, Administratrix 113 Kee Rd. , Belmont, NC 28012 BN10554 (12/11, 18, 25/13 & 01/01/14)
Legals NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING BEFORE THE MOUNT HOLLY CITY COUNCIL & PLANNING COMMISSION A public hearing before City Council will be held on Monday, January 13th at 7:00 PM at the Municipal Complex, located at 400 East Central Avenue, Mount Holly. The purpose of this hearing will be to consider rezoning 0.29-acres of land, located on Rose Street, Parcel ID # 221235 from R-12 Single Family to B-2 Neighborhood Business, as submitted by Mount Holly Farm
Supply Company. Additionally, the Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on the rezoning on Monday, January 6th at 6:30 PM at the Municipal Complex. All interested parties are encouraged to attend both hearings where an opportunity to be heard will be given. For more information, please call the Planning & Development Department at (704) 8273931. BN10556 (12/25/13 & 01/01/14)
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D I R E C T O R Y
Page 6A
The Banner News | banner-news.com
Wednesday, December 25, 2013
CHRISTMAS MOON â&#x20AC;&#x201C; The combination of a full moon and lights at Christmastown USA made for this stunning photo by McAdenville photographer Steve Rankin.
Contributed Photo
These are the Stuart Cramer High students in Microsoft 2013 who passed their certification exams. This is the first time one hundred percent of the students passed.
Canipe on Dean's List Deanna Canipe of Stanley has been named to the Dean's List for the fall semester of the 2013-2014 academic year at Brevard College in Brevard, North Carolina. To be eligible for the Dean's List, students must be enrolled full-time and earn a 3.50 grade point average or higher for the semester.
Board vice chairman earns Lifetime Achievement Award
Gaston school briefs
Congratulations to GCS Board of Education vice chairman Jeff Ramsey, who earned the Lifetime Achievement Award from Spraying Systems Company. Mr. Ramsey works as a sales engineer for Spraying Systems and has been with the company for 24 years. He accepted the award during the company's national sales meeting in Chicago. The prestigious honor recognizes Mr. Ramsey as one of the company's top sales engineers.
KIA OUTSTANDING EDUCATORW.A. Bess Elementary School custodian Omer Salazar is the Kia of Gastonia Outstanding Educator. The announcement was made Thursday afternoon, November 21 during the Kia Outstanding Educator Awards Ceremony at Stuart W. Cramer High School. As the award winner, Salazar receives a 2013 Kia Optima from Kia of Gastonia. Salazar was one of 57 school and central office nominees for the Kia Outstanding Educator Award. The nominees included teachers, custodians, office personnel, teacher assistants, cafeteria workers, bus drivers and support staff. A random drawing determined the winner. We congratulate and commend Mr. Salazar and we are delighted to have him as our Kia of Gastonia Outstanding Educator.
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