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Volume 85 • Issue 5
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Thursday, January 31, 2019
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• Belmont • Cramerton • Lowell • McAdenville • Mount Holly • Stanley
Thursday, January 31, 2019
Belmont Unity Day Service celebrates twenty-eight years By Alan Hodge alan@cfmedia.info
Monday, January 21, 2019 marked the twentyeighth time that a Unity Day event honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. has been held in Belmont. This year’s evening, like those in the past, proved to be an occasion when a wide variety of folks came together in peace and oneness. First Foursquare Church hosted the celebration. Rev. Kenneth Alexan-
der from Mt. Moriah Baptist Church expressed the event theme. “Dr. King strived for unity and preached love in all nations, people, and religions,” he said. “Unity is not just here tonight, but wherever we are. This is not just an African-American day, it’s a day for all people.” Guest speaker at Unity Day was Rev. Mark Andrews, former pastor at Belmont First United Methodist Church. See UNITY, Page 2
These students lit the Unity Candle at Belmont’s annual celebration of the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. event that took place January 21. From left- Carsyn Redmond, Belmont Central Elementary School; Rachel Tolbert, Belmont Middle School; Chloe Haun, Belmont Middle; Joshua Morales, Belmont Central; Landon Parrish, Belmont Central; Emmi Haun, Belmont Midddle. Photo by Alan Hodge
Holly Banks and her horse make a perfect pair The recent Belmont Sports Hall of Fame banquet saw these folks inducted; rear row from left Koren Robinson, Mitch Harris, Steve Barkley. Front row includes inductee the late Dr. Wade Breeland’’s daughters Nona Breeland (left) and Clay Breeland with guest speaker Mike Shildt. Photo by Roxanne Rankin
31st Annual Belmont Sports Hall of Fame Banquet held By Stan Cromlish The 31st Annual Belmont Sports Hall of Fame Banquet was held on Tuesday, January 15, 2019, in the Family Life Center of Park Street United Methodist Church. Longrunning sponsor, McKenney Family Dealerships, made this year’s induction ceremony and evening of remembrance possible. The patrons arrived early to socialize and renew old acquaintances. Many people took time to look at the photographs and memorabilia that represented this year’s inductees. Joe Lawing, the pastor of Unity Baptist Church, once
again took the microphone to MC this year’s banquet. Since 2012, Joe’s wit and wisdom have been welcome. He kept the festivities on track and for the first time in the history of the banquet, introduced each of the inductees. Before the evening’s ceremony proceeded, Joe welcomed all the visiting local and state dignitaries including the Mayor of Belmont, City Council members, Gaston County Commissioners, Gaston County Schools Superintendent, Jeff Booker, District Attorney, Locke Bell, and all local middle school, high school, See SPORTS, Page 7
By Alan Hodge alan@cfmedia.info
There’s an old saying “the outside of a horse is good for the inside of a man”, but that adage could also apply to a nine-year-old girl- Catawba Heights Elementary student Holly Banks. Holly may be small in size, but when she gets on her horse named Merlin and grabs the reins, she might as well be six-feet-tall. Holly, you see, is a barrel racer and Merlin is her magnificent steed of choice in the racing ring. For those of you who aren’t familiar with barrel racing, it’s basically a human being riding a nimble and quick horse around barrels in an enclosed arena. The idea is to see who can complete the course in the least amount of time. Holly’s first competition was at Price’s Arena near Cherryville on Feb. 3, 2018. “I was kinda nervous at first,” she said. “But I did good. My favorite part is when we run out of the start-
Nine-year-old Holly Banks of Mt. Holly has fun racing her horse Merlin, but the activity also has other benefits including helping her in school. Photo by Alan Hodge ing gate.” Sometimes, riders can take a tumble. “I fell off once but it didn’t hurt,” said Holly. “I got right back on.” In addition to Price’s, Holly has also raced at a
number of other tracks including Double H in Kings Mtn. and Running Horse Arena on Upper Spencer Mtn. Rd.. She’s even won prize money. OK, so it’s only been around fifty bucks total over the past few months, but
the satisfaction she gets from competing is priceless. “I have a lot of fun racing,” she said. Kat Sturgill keeps Merlin, who was a gift from Holly’s grandmother Pat Banks, at See HOLLY BANKS, Page 8