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News from a neighbor!
Volume 84 • Issue 25
• Belmont • Cramerton • Lowell • McAdenville • Mount Holly • Stanley
Thursday, June 21, 2018
Moose Pharmacy has bought Charlie’s Drugs By Alan Hodge alan.bannernews@gmail.com
Mt. Holly's oldest continuously operating pharmacy, Charlie's Drugs, has been bought by Moose Pharmacy. Henceforth, the store will be known as Moose Pharmacy of Mt. Holly. Charlie's previous owners, Steve Painter and Gary Harrell, will semiretire to spend more time with their families. “Moose Pharmacy are some of the finest pharmacy folks in North Carolina,” said Painter. “We are excited they are coming to Mt. Holly.” Brandi Grist will be the pharmacy manager at Moose Pharmacy of Mt. Holly. Charlie's first opened for business on August 28, 1947. One of the three original stockholders was Charles Alexander Taylor. Over the years, Charlie's has been in three locations. The first place that Charlie's Drugs called home in Mt. Holly was at 118 E. Central Ave. The second spot was 100 S. Main. In 1960, Charlie's moved to its current location at 125 W. Central Ave. Moose Pharmacy has a long and storied history as well. Moose Pharmacy opened in downtown Mount Pleasant in 1882 on the same location where the original store still stands at the corner of Main and Franklin streets. Moose Pharmacy has remained independently owned and operated for four generations. The goal of providing the best healthcare options for their patients has guided the evolution of Moose Pharmacy from a community drugstore to a modern pharmacy with five locations. Each generation from A.W. Moose… to Hoy Moose…
to Whit Moose, Senior… and now Joe & Whit, Jr. has made building the trust and loyalty of their patients their main priority. The families Moose Pharmacy serves, many of which have been coming for three and four generations, serve as a testament to how Moose Pharmacy has successfully been offering a combination of programs and services that exceeds patients’ expectations. In addition to Mt. Pleasant and the new Mt. Holly location, Moose also has stores in Concord, Locust, Salisbury, and Kannapolis. Moose Pharmacy plans to keep the hometown feel of Charlie's and add some exciting new features as well. One of the most innovative Moose Pharmacy products that will be available is called a “Moose Pack”. This consists of a small box containing a month's supply of a customer's medications. Each day's dosage come sealed in a cellophane like package with the medicine name and taking time printed on it. The daily packs are more convenient and less bulky than bottles. Another new thing Moose is bringing will be enhanced computer tracking of customers' prescriptions. Customers will also be able to access their accounts from home online. Moose Pharmacy of Mt. Holly will continue the Charlie's tradition of exemplary customer service and community involvement. Moose Salisbury pharmacy manager Brad Yoder had this to say in that regard. “Before the end of the year we want to start same day free delivery,” he said. “We will also offer immunizations for flu, shingles, and pneumonia. Soon we
Brandi Grist will be the new pharmacy manager at Moose Pharmacy of Mt. Holly. She's seen with Charlie's Drugs pharmacist Steve Painter who will be semi-retiring. Photo by Alan Hodge will offer free vitamins for children as well as free supplies for diabetes patients.” Moose Pharmacy will also continue several Charlie's traditions. “The soda fountain will remain open,” said Yoder. “We will also be selling tickets for community events and school memorabilia. We want to remain a cornerstone of the community.” Finally, Yoder says that the store's
Mt. Holly CRO has a lot to crow about By Alan Hodge
alan.bannernews@gmail.com
Mt. Holly's Community Relief Organization (CRO) has a long history and is looking to expand its role of helping those in need. The CRO got started back in 1952 after the Mt. Holly Ministerial Assoc. saw a need to serve the community with short term aid for folks in challenging life and financial predicaments. Since then, it has been stepping in to help with food, clothes, rent and other needs when people are feeling a pinch. The first CRO office was set up in the basement of the old police department. Currently, the CRO is located at 2120 Spring St. nestled between the Food Lion and ABC store. Hours are 9am-12:30pm, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. The CRO serves folks in the Mt. Holly city limits as well as others considered residents but outside the boundary. Clients must provide documentation qualifying them for services. The CRO is a nonprofit designated 501(c)3 by the U.S. government and is a United Way partner. The CRO is governed by a board made up of local citizens, business owners, and clergy. See MT. HOLLY CRO page 2
A new addition to the CRO facility at 2120 Spring St. was recently dedicated. A number of dignitaries were on hand including Mt. Holly mayor Bryan Hough (right), Melissa Butcher from Second Harvest Food Bank (left), CRO board chair Bobby Faulkenberry (blue shirt), and CRO executive director Robert Andrews (rear). Oh, and a number of kids too. Photo by Alan Hodge
historic “Charlies Drugs” sign will likely be restored with the Moose Pharmacy logo added. Starting July 2, the hours
for Moose Pharmacy of Mt. Holly will be 8am-6pm Monday-Friday and 9am-1pm on Saturday.
Belmont council approves FY2018-2019 budget The Belmont city council approved a $12.3 million FY 2018-2019 budget at its June 4, 2018 meeting. The budget also includes a property tax increase of four cents per $100 of valuation. Up to 51.5 cents from 47.5 cents. According to the city, the average home value in Belmont is $181,000 and the tax increase would equal $6 a month for a house of this cost. The budget also levies a vehicle tax of $15 per year on any vehicle resident in the city. The city issued a statement regarding the unanimous vote. “The adopted FY2018-2019 budget meets the needs of a growing town and addresses the city council's priorities. It allows the City to address the much needed capital projects identified by the staff, advisory boards, and city council. It recognizes that as the city is growing, the need for top-quality amenities grows. For the first time, this budget allows the city to be intentional about finding its capital needs.” Total anticipated revenues for the budget amounted to $12,393,100. Ad valorem
taxes made up the lion's share of that number at $7,054,946. Intergovernmental revenues chipped in another $3,475,000. Other general revenues filled out the bag at $1,863,154. As required, anticipated expenditures equaled revenues. Expenditures by department were: mayor and council, $88,993; administration and finance, $748,163; city attorney, $100,000; planning and zoning, $549,099; police, $3,302,391; fire, $$1,593,456; streets, $1,632,266; sanitation, $915,573; parks and recreation; $588,111; capital expenditures, $1,205,751; debt service, $1,481,466; economic development, $217,829. Forty percent of each tax dollar collected goes for fire and police protection. The city has identified $24 million in capital projects. These include $11,720,000 for parks and recreation; $1,1750,000 for police; $881,000 for fire department; $9,269,000 for mobility and transportation. See BUDGET page 2