Banner-News 3-29-18

Page 1

Gaston County’s

Page 1

The Banner News / banner-news.com

Thursday, March 29, 2018

FREE!

Easter Sunday April 1, 2018

WIN

$7850

He is Risen!

see inside

News from a neighbor!

Volume 84 • Issue 13

Thursday, March 29, 2018

• Belmont • Cramerton • Lowell • McAdenville • Mount Holly • Stanley

Stanley Middle School holds grand opening By Alan Hodge alan.bannernews@gmail.com

The new $30 million Stanley Middle School held its official grand opening last Sunday afternoon. Students had moved into the school for classes two weeks earlier and Sunday's event gave the general public, as well as a large number of various school and civic officials, a chance to tour the state of the art facility. The school has a plethora of great features that will make going there an exciting educational experience including: a modern library and media center, which serves as the heart of the school and is located near the main entrance; a spacious cafeteria with stage area and large gymnasium to allow for a variety of uses; grades separated by wings, with the sixth grade on the main floor and seventh and eighth grades on the second floor as well as administration areas on each floor; separate bus and vehicle entrances plus 175 parking spaces and a pick-up lane that is able to accommodate 90 cars; maximum use of natural light and energy efficiency throughout the school. Gaston Schools officials heaped praise on the place. This is an extremely exciting day in Stanley,” said Gaston Schools superin-

tendent Jeffrey Booker. “This is the most magnificent middle school in Gaston County. It is a jewel and an amazing and beautiful building.” Stanley Middle principal Rebecca Huffstetler agreed. “This is a big moment in Gaston County and Stanley,” she said. “This is a cause for celebration.” Stanley mayor Steven Denton compared the new school to a wise investment and borrowed a phrase from Benjamin Franklin to push home his point. “Franklin said an investment in knowledge pays best because it pays dividends for years,” Dention said. The new school has yet another exciting chapter coming up. Beginning next school year (20182019), Gaston County Schools’ new STEAM Academy for grades 6-8 will be housed at Stanley Middle School. The school choice program will offer a distinct emphasis on Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics for all students at the school. Through the STEAM Academy, students will be immersed in academic experiences that balance science and technology with mathematics and engineering and infuse artistic concepts. See STANLEY MIDDLE page 2

Gaston Schools superintendent Jeffrey Booker and Stanley Middle principal Rebecca Huffstetler were among the dignitaries and citizens who attended the grand opening of the new $30 million school on Sunday. Photo by Alan Hodge

Millican Pictorial Museum a treasure trove of images By Alan Hodge

alan.bannernews@gmail.com

If a picture is worth a thousand words then the 17,000 images housed in the Millican Pictorial Museum in Belmont speak volumes. Created by Allen Millican, and located at 35 E. Catawba in the Abram Stowe House, which is the oldest house in Belmont, the free museum is the third most popular tourist stop in the Belmont area according to TripAdvisor. “People come from all over to see the photo collection,” Millican says. “I've had people from as far away as Paris, France and Puerto Rico stop by.” What's the attraction? An incredible array of old photos that Millican has restored and reproduced. The main body of work consists of pictures taken in

Group gathering support to preserve and maintain Stanley cemetery

Mt. Holly Council swears in new firefighter, recognizes championship teams

A group calling itself the Stanley Cemetery Ancestry Fund (SCAF) has been formed with the idea of creating a perpetual maintenance situation for the 200+ year old cemetery next to Christ Lutheran Church on NC27 in downtown Stanley. Currently, the cemetery has only occasional upkeep such as mowing, weeding, and other work to keep it looking presentable. Bob Havosky is a member of Christ Lutheran and heads up the maintenance/ preservation group. Havosky explained the current situation. “Some of our church members are doing some maintenance, but we are hoping to be able to have a contractor do it by mid April if enough money comes in to our fund,” he said. “I personally will be providing a large donation this week. Keep in mind,

By Mary Smith The Mount Holly Fire Department welcomed its newest firefighter to the ranks on Monday, March 12 with a swearing-in ceremony at the Mount Holly City Council meeting. Firefighter Adrian Miller has been involved with the fire service since 2010 when he started as a Long Creek Volunteer firefighter. He will continue to volunteer for Long Creek during his time with the Mount Holly Fire Department. Miller was hired in 2015 as a part-time employee. Last year he was hired full time, and he has completed his probationary period. Currently, he is working towards his degree and other related certifications. Miller’s badge was pinned on him by his father. Chief Baker explained the significance and history of the Mount Holly Fire Department badge to those in attendance. The newest Mount Holly Fire Department’s badge looks identical to the first badge created for the department (Founded Year 1914). It was

See CEMETERY page 4

See COUNCIL page 8

By Alan Hodge alan.bannernews@gmail.com

Allen Millican’s photo museum currently houses around 17,000 archival pictures he’s restored and reproduced. Space has run out and he’s hoping to find a permanent, public, home for them. Photo by Alan Hodge and around the Belmont area. Scenes the pictures reveal inMost of these span the years See MUSEUM page 5 from the 1920s to the 1960s.

FOOTHILLS

FESTIVAL

TWO BIG

DAYS!

APRIL 28th th

2018 29

Saturday, S t d A April il 28th ~ 11am until 9pm Sunday, April 29th ~ 1pm until 7pm

SHELBY CITY PARK

See page ?? for more information


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.
Banner-News 3-29-18 by Community First Media - Issuu