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Thursday, April 25, 2019
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Thursday, April 25, 2019
• Belmont • Cramerton • Lowell • McAdenville • Mount Holly • Stanley
Sticks for Kids program has local junior golfers swinging By Alan Hodge alan@cfmedia.info
Combine a stunningly beautiful day, a perfectly manicured course, dozens of kids eager to learn more about golf, and you have the perfect combination that set the stage for last Wednesday’s Sticks for Kids event on the links at the Cramer Mountain Club. Sticks for Kids is a national endeavor to teach youth the ins and outs of golf
with a healthy dose of sportsmanship as well. The Golf Course Builders Association of America established the GCBAA Foundation to provide the necessary tools and opportunities to allow the next generation of golfers to learn and enjoy the game. Since its establishment, the GCBAA Foundation has taken a special interest in supporting children by launching Sticks for Kids, a junior golf outreach program. The program provides clubs, bags,
teaching materials, marketing materials, and instructors for participating courses. Children age 5-18 are taught the fundamentals of the game as well as life lessons such as etiquette, integrity, sportsmanship, safety, and respect for themselves and others. Last week’s Sticks for Kids participants came in all sizes. They hit the Cramer Mountain Club greenery with golf bags slung over their shoulders and determined looks on their faces.
Parks and Rec employee Spencer Hall was on-site helping keep the event running smoothly. “We have about sixty kids here today,” she said. “The event gets bigger every year and it’s a good way for the children to increase their interest and skills in golf.” Folks that helped out at the event were the golf teams from Clemson University, and Forestview High School. The Clemson team was on its See STICKS, Page 9 Tim Fortenberry with his grandsons Murphy Clark (left) and Bitt Fortenberry had a great day at the Sticks for Kids event last week. Photo by Alan Hodge
Gaston Schools names Outstanding Educator for 2019 “I can’t believe it! I never win anything!” Those were the first words from Bessemer City High teacher assistant Kathleen McDonald last Wednesday when she was chosen as the Gaston County Schools Educator of the Year for 2019 and given the keys to a brand new Kia Soul car. McDonald was one of 55 nominees (one from each Gaston County public school) on hand at Stuart Cramer High for the random drawing and celebration of GCS employee excellence. In addition to teachers, other nominees included office staff, custodians, cafeteria workers,bus drivers, and teacher assistants. McDonald thanked her colleagues at Bessemer City High for nominating her. “I am highly honored,” she said. “I work with a great bunch of people.” For the sixth year, Kia of Gastonia provided the automobile that was given to the winner. Kia of Gastonia pres-
Rebuild to start soon on First Baptist Mt. Holly By Alan Hodge alan@cfmedia.info
Gaston County Schools Outstanding Educator of the Year 2019, Kathleen McDonald, is seen in the new KIA she was awarded last Wednesday. Flanking her are KIA of Gastonia owner Chris Hafer and GCS superintendent Jeffrey Booker. Photo by Alan Hodge ident Chris Hafer thanked the nominees as well as other school staff for their hard work and dedication. “You have an impact on the county, the country, and
the world,” Hafer said. “You do a great job every day.” GCS Board of education chair Brent Moore echoed Hafer’s remark. “All of you are winners,”
FOOTHILLS
FESTIVAL
he told the nominees as well as the hundreds of other school staff in the auditorium audience. See EDUCATOR, Page 8
After three years of waiting, work to rebuild First Baptist in Mt. Holly is set to begin this week. Beam Construction has been awarded the contract for the $4.4 million job. Beam staff have set up an on site office and command center in the church Education Building in preparation for work crews to start the massive project. “The insurance company, Brotherhood Mutual, is obligated to put the sanctuary back like it was the day of the fire,” building committee chair Reeves McGlohon said. “The cost of any upgrades to the building will have to be paid for by the congregation.” According to McGlohon, the church has a budget of $850,000 set aside for that. A bit of background- July
TWO BIG
DAYS!
21, 2019 will mark the third anniversary of a fire that destroyed the sanctuary at First Baptist Church and damaged the Education Building. The fire was one of the biggest in Mt. Holly history and took 150 firefighters from 16 different departments several hours to control. The fire was eventually blamed on a propane torch used by a crew repairing the roof. The sanctuary building was gutted but the exterior walls stood firm. Work took place last year to clear the twisted rubble from the sanctuary interior and allow structural engineers to assess the building’s integrity. The cleanup took six months. The Fellowship Hall of the church was not damaged and now serves as the hub of activity for the First Baptist congregation. See REBUILD, Page 2
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Saturday, S t d A April il 27th ~ 11am until 9pm Sunday, April 28th ~ 1pm until 7pm SHELBY CITY PARK