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Volume 84 • Issue 7
Thursday, February 15, 2018
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• Belmont • Cramerton • Lowell • McAdenville • Mount Holly • Stanley
Thursday, February 15, 2018
Mt. Holly Fire Dept. holds awards banquet By Alan Hodge alan.bannernews@gmail.com
The Mount Holly Fire Department paid honor to its staff award winners during the Annual Fireman's Awards Banquet held on Saturday, January 13th at the Muncipal Complex. “Every year we recognize firefighters that give the most to our city,” Said MHFD chief Ryan Baker. “The awards given are small compared to the time these firefighters have put in to make our city and department safer.” Clint Laughlin was named 2017 Career Firefighter of the Year. A native of Mt. Holly, Laughlin cultivated an interest in firefighting at an early age. “My father was a volunteer at MHFD during the 1990s,” he said. “I was inspired by him.” After graduating from East Gaston High in 1994, Laughlin earned his Fire Science degree from Gaston College in 2000. He started volunteering with MHFD in 1996 and was hired full time in 2004. In addition to his MHFD job, he also volunteers at Lucia Riverbend VFD. “I have always enjoyed the excitement and challenges of firefighting, Laughlin said. “It is a fascinating career.” Being a firefighter requires sacrifice and Laughlin says being away from his family during long shifts is the hardest part of the job. “I miss my wife and children during the 24-hour shifts,” he said. “Especially if I have to work holidays.” Nonetheless, Laughlin gives the following advice to youngsters See FIRE DEPARTMENT page 2
Clint Laughlin was named Mt. Holly Fire Dept. 2017 Career Firefighter of the Year.
Photo by Alan Hodge
slave Ransom Hunter Belmont public library needs Former left his mark on Mt. Holly new desk and you can help By Alan Hodge
Last in a series of four stories remembering influential and pioneering African-American citizens from our area.
alan.bannernews@gmail.com
By Alan Hodge alan.bannernews@gmail.com
Patrons and passersby of the Belmont Branch Gaston County Public Library on Central Ave. have noticed a lot of remodeling work going on- but there's one piece of the project that's needing funding help to put into place- a new circulation desk. Over the past couple of months, the 50 year old Minnie Stowe Puett Library building has received a number of repairs and upgrades. Current projects underway and nearly complete involve bringing the library up to current ADA standards , new furniture for a teen area, modernizing the dreary and dated restrooms, and replacing the 22 year old carpet. Money for those projects came from county funds, Friends of the Library, and grants.
Ransom Hunter rose from the bonds of slavery to become one of Mt. Holly's leading businessmen and citizens and though he died a century ago, his name is still remem-
bered to this day. Hunter was born a slave on a plantation near Charleston circa 1825. As a boy he was sold to the Hoyle family who owned a large farm near Dallas and Stanley in Gaston County. See HUNTER page 3
Belmont library branch head Katie Cox (left) and assistant Ashley Evans are seen at the old circulation desk. A drive is underway to get funding to replace the 22 year old fixture with a new one. Photo by Alan Hodge The only major project that is not currently funded is the replacement of the circulation
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desk which will cost $7,080. vation project. Over the past This new headstone for the grave of Mt. Holly African-AmeriThe current desk was concan leader Ransom Hunter was dedicated in July 2014 by his structed during a 1996 renoSee LIBRARY page 2 descendants. Photo by Alan Hodge
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