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Good news for great people! Volume 88 • Issue 29
• Belmont • Cramerton • Lowell • McAdenville • Mount Holly • Stanley
Thursday, July 21, 2022
Belmont’s Muddy River Distillery expanding its operation to Mt. Holly By Alan Hodge alan@cfmedia.info
One of Belmont’s most innovative and interesting small businesses, Muddy River Distillery, has been growing at a prodigious rate and has an exciting move to Mt. Holly in the works. First, a bit of clarification, contrary to rumor, Muddy River will not be completely leaving Belmont. Repeat, not be completely leaving Belmont. What’s going to happen is…drum roll… Muddy River founders and owners
Robbie and Caroline Delaney have purchased the circa 1875 Mt. Holly Cotton Mill complex located at 250 N. Main St. on the banks of Dutchman’s Creek and are going to turn it into the main hub of the business. The current Muddy River location in Belmont will be kept open, perhaps as a storage and warehouse place. A bit of background on Muddy River Distillery. It was started back in 2011 by husband-and-wife team Robbie and Caroline Delaney. The idea to start a rum
distillery- the first in North Carolina- came to Robbie when he spotted a magazine article on the subject while flying back to Charlotte from a construction job in Texas. Work in the construction industry was drying up and he was casting about, looking for another career. Not only that, but the constant travel was making spending time with Caroline logistically problematic. “I got excited when I read the magazine article,” Robbie said. “I started doing research on what it would take to build See DISTILLERY, Pages 6 & 7
Book by Belmont author is about kindness By Alan Hodge
Chief Don Roper retires from Mount Holly Police Department after 35 years in law enforcement
alan@cfmedia.info
Sometimes it seems that kindness is in short supply these days but a new book by Belmont author Teddi Daniels sets out to prove that being kind to others- even if the other has four legs- is a worthy endeavor. The book, “Saving Suzie Q”, revolves around the good and bad days of a neglected pup named Suzie Q, how Daniels came into her life, and the uplifting outcome of their relationship. Daniels described how “Saving Suzie Q” came about. “I have never written a book before this,” she said. “I had a lot of help from my cousin Rachel Kovacin who has several books published and also writes monthly articles for newspapers / magazines around the US. Rachel is my closest cousin - she grew up in Taylorsville but now is married and lives in Virginia. So, she helped me ‘long distance’ to understand the process, editing, illustrating, and how to publish my book on Amazon. I also worked with an amazing illustrator, Elizabeth Mathis, who is a fellow dog mom. Her illustrations really brought Suzie Q’s story to life. So, what directed Daniels to create her work?
Muddy River Distilleries owner/founder Robbie Delaney and son Marty at the new Mt. Holly location. The wheels once turned machinery in the mill. Photo by Alan Hodge
Story/photo by Mary Blomquist
Teddi Daniels and Suzie Q. “The inspiration for “Saving Suzie Q” was to help children understand that animals have a value, and that we need to be their voice when they are in need of help. Even little acts of kindness can make a big difference! Daniels credits her grandparents with instilling a love of animals. “I grew up around animals,” she said. “My
grandma and grandpa lived on a farm and my absolute best childhood memories are of spending time with them, their animals and gardening. And making cookies with my grandma.” Daniels hopes her book will inspire a similar empathy for animals in kids. “This book helps children relate to Suzie Q as someone See AUTHOR, Page 4
Mount Holly Police Chief Don Roper is retiring on July 31, capping 35 years of policing in Gaston County. Roper was sworn in as a patrol officer for the Gastonia Police Department in 1987 and was appointed chief in Mount Holly in May 2013. His background speaks volumes: extensive experience in Investigations, Narcotics, and Tactical Team Operations, advanced NC Law Enforcement certification, graduate of the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia, and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Appalachian State University, to name a few. Roper was the recipient of the prestigious Order of the Long Leaf Pine Award in February 2019 and spearheaded the creation of the MHPD Annual Report that is released each year. After Officer Tyler Herndon was killed in the line of duty in December 2020,
Mount Holly Police Chief Don Roper Chief Roper was instrumental in leading his Department and Mount Holly community through their grieving and healing. As a result of this, the MHPD Memorial Plaza was designed and constructed, honoring not only
Officer Herndon, but all law enforcement. Chief Roper sat on many Council-appointed committees, and his voice and vision led to the many aspects considered and now incorporated into this Plaza. See ROPER, Page 4