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Thursday, December 7, 2017
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Volume 83 • Issue 49
• Belmont • Cramerton • Lowell • McAdenville • Mount Holly • Stanley
Thursday, December 7, 2017
Lights go on in McAdenville for the 62nd year By Alan Hodge alan.bannernews@gmail.com
Last Friday evening’s cool and clear weather formed the perfect scene for the 62nd annual holiday light show in McAdenville- aka Christmas Town USA. The lighting ceremony took place in front of the Pharr family YMCA. The lights will remain on until Dec. 26. As has been the tradition for several years, a student from McAdenville Elementary School threw the switch that turned on over 100,000 Christmas lights and displays in the village. The student that was selected to turn the
lights on this year is Dwayne Anthony Cole, III. His parents are Dwayne Cole and Alnita Gordon Cole. He is in Mrs. Shore’s second grade class. He lives in Belmont. He has an older brother. His favorite thing about school is math and reading. His favorite thing to do at home is to watch shows and his favorite is “Teen Titans”. He also likes to ride his bike. His favorite color is red. “This is the best day of my life,” Dwayne said. “I always wanted to do this and knew one day my wish would come true.” Going to see the lights this year? Here are some McAdenville Christmas Lights viewing tips. See LIGHTS, Page 2
McAdenville Elementary second grade student Dwayne Cole threw the switch that turned on 100,000 Christmas lights in the town and officially kicked off the holiday season. Photo by Alan Hodge
Local historian and author re-visits Pearl Harbor in 2017 Cramerton town manager names Interim Police Chief
By Stan Cromlish
In 2016, I had the opportunity to attend the SeventyFifth Commemoration of the Attack on Pearl Harbor by the Japanese. I was fortunate to have met a group of Boy Scouts from Troop 13 in Placerville, California who were there to support one of their local heroes and USS Arizona Survivor, Lieutenant Commander Louis Conter (retired). The scouts and their leadership allowed me to tag along last year and when the group was planning this year’s remembrance trip, I was included and returned to Pearl Harbor on December 1 to take part in the events and ceremonies leading up to the Remembrance event on December 7, 2017. In planning for this year’s trip, I have scheduled some time to speak and interview Dr. Hiroya Sugano who pres-
between nations ents the Blackened Canteen that this random Ceremony. The act of kindness Blackened Canengendered. teen Ceremony High school was started inistudents of the tially by FukuUnited States matsu Itoh to and Japan study remember the many aspects fallen of two of the outcome B-29s that had of the Blackcollided after ened Canteen a successful Ceremony and bombing raid present their Stan Cromlish on Shizuoka, findings at the Japan. Since 1991, this gesPacific Aviation Museum’s ture of reconciliation has Blackened Canteen Cerbeen presented by Dr. Hiemony Symposium that will roya Sugano at the USS Aribe held on December 6, 2017. zona Memorial. For the past My goal for this trip is to seven years, the ceremony continue to build the friendhas been sanctioned by the ships and rapport with the National Parks Service and remaining World War II sponsored by the Pacific survivors and Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum. Last year, among the many events at- Survivors that attend these tended, this service made the events annually to honor and most impact on me because memorialize their brethren so of the spirit of reconciliation See CROMLISH, Page 3
At the recent Cramerton Board of Commissioners meeting, Town Manager David Pugh updated the Board that upon the retirement of Police Chief Greg Ratchford on November 30th, current Deputy Chief Brad Adams would be named Interim Police Chief beginning December 1, 2017. Pugh also stated that the search for the full-time Police Chief position will begin in January 2018. “Deputy Chief Adams is already a highly capable and accomplished member of the CPD command staff and his knowledge of police procedures and operations makes him an excellent choice for the Interim Police Chief position,” said Pugh. Adams was first hired as a reserve police officer in 2001 and then a full time officer in
2002. He was promoted to Sergeant in 2005 and served in that capacity for over three years until being promoted to Captain in 2009. Adams was promoted to Deputy Chief in 2016. A graduate of American Military University with a degree in Criminal Justice, Adams has extensive leadership training having attended and completed the FBI Command College, UNC School of Government’s Effective Supervisory Management Program, and the UNC School of Government’s Leadership Fellows Program. Adams also holds significant certifications including an Advanced Law Enforcement Certificate, Firearms Instructor, and Subject Control and Arrest Techniques Instructor
Brad Adams (all certifications are from the NC Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission). At the same meeting, retiring Police Chief Greg Ratchford was awarded The Order of the Long Leaf Pine. Since its creation in 1963, The Order of the Long Leaf See CRAMERTON, Page 3
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