Gaston County’s
The Banner News / banner-news.com
Page 1
Thursday, June 9, 2022
FREE!
See inside for local graduation scenes
Good news for great people! Volume 88 • Issue 23
• Belmont • Cramerton • Lowell • McAdenville • Mount Holly • Stanley
East Gaston’s Aaron Hollar is a music man By Alan Hodge alan@cfmedia.info
The iconic 1962 film “The Music Man” featured plenty of marching band scenes with musicians wearing dashing outfits playing gleaming instruments and East Gaston High graduate Aaron Hollar would have fit right in any of them. The son of David and Jodeana Hollar of Stanley, Aaron has since an early Aaron Hollar age been in his element when he’s dressed in his marching band uniform blowing his horn and entertaining folks at half time during sports events or taking part in parades. Aaron started down his musical path as a student in sixth grade when he took up the euphonium. What’s a euphonium? It’s a horn slightly smaller than a tuba. “A tuba was too big for me,” he said. “The band director needed a euphonium player.” He credits his Stanley Middle School music teacher, the late Kelly Robb who passed away in October, 2020, with urging him onward in his climb up the school band ladder. “She was a very big influence,” Aaron says. “She gave me my foundation in the love of music.” See HOLLAR, Page 2
Thursday, June 9, 2022
Stuart Cramer grad Nathon South Point grad Madyson Ross plans Radford has set his sights on an automotive career a career in nursing By Alan Hodge
By Alan Hodge
alan@cfmedia.info
alan@cfmedia.info
People who enter the healthcare field, as South Point grad Madyson Ross plans to do, need compassion, competence, as well as commitment and she has all these qualities in abundance. Madyson is the daughter of Terronna and Torben Ross. Incidentally, her mom has been Madyson Ross a French teacher at South Point for 26 years and her brother Torben is a freshman there. Madyson’s desire to become a nurse surfaced when she was around seven years old and was influenced by several factors. “I have two aunts who are nurses,” she said. “They have been role models that still inspire me.” The other was the death of her grandfather James Ross in 2020 from Covid. “It was a hard time,” she said. “It made me want to care for others. It showed me not to take life for granted and to help others if they have no one else to go to.” That caring attitude is central to Madyson’s life. “I just love putting smiles on people’s faces,” she says. Gloria C. Caldwell, is the Allied Health Instructor at South See ROSS, Page 3
Stuart Cramer High graduate Nathon Radford is a multitalented guy who can do everything from cooking good food to playing football for the Storm team, but it’s when his head is under the hood of a car that he’s happiest. Nathon, the son of Frank and Crystal Radford of Mt. Holly, has his post high graduate sights Nathon Radford set on pursuing a career as an automotive technician. He will attend Lincoln College of Technology in Nashville, Tennessee starting June 30 for a 16-month program in Auto Mechanics. He has been offered a full-time job by Toyota upon completion of his schooling. “I’ve always had something for cars,” he said. “When I was growing up I would help my uncle Jessie Harbin work on them. He was an inspiration to me.” Sadly, Harbin passed away at an early age, but the motivational and inspirational seeds he planted in Nathon grew. “Besides teaching me to work on car, he gave me my work ethic,” he said. That work ethic surfaces in many ways. When Radford’s See RADFORD, Page 2
Belmont Juneteenth Celebration returns to Stowe Park For the first time since 2019, the Belmont Juneteenth Celebration will return to Stowe Park on Saturday, June 18, 2 PM – 9:30 PM. Elements of Empowerment, Inc. partners with the City of Belmont for the annual event that commemorates the end of slavery in the United States, specifically the June 19, 1865 announcement in Galveston, Texas. The partners hosted Juneteenth parades in 2020 and 2021. “We are excited about resuming the live festival of music, art, and culture,” said Delta Sanders, Elements of Empowerment, Inc. Board Chair.
The day will feature familiar, free, family-friendly activities, unique vendors, and exceptional entertainment. The Carl Ratliff Quartet will perform the finale concert. The celebration prelude will include Belmont Juneteenth Celebration banners and art in downtown Belmont. “Black Butterfly” by artist Thelathia Singleton will be projected on the Former Caravan Coffee Building. Elements of Empowerment will premiere a documentary video about the Belmont Juneteenth Celebration just ahead of the event, before making it
widely available through program partners. Juneteenth Weekend begins with the Bessemer City Juneteenth Festival on Friday, June 17, 6 PM – 9 PM. Elements of Empowerment, Inc. and the City of Bessemer City collaborate for the two days of celebration. Event information is available at elements-of-empowerment-inc. square.site/ and the Elements of Empowerment, Inc. Facebook page. For additional information, email el- Folks of all ages enjoy Juneteenth. This photo from a previous event ementsofempowerment@gmail.com. showed Maia McElvane (right) with cute Avery Martin.
SPREAD SOME NATURAL BEAUTY MULCH • STONES • SOIL | LanierMaterialSales.com | 704-827-7055