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Thursday, January 14, 2016
Miller named Belmont interim city manager By Alan Hodge alan.bannernews@gmail.com
Adrian Miller (left) will take over as Belmont’s interim city manager when Barry Webb (right) retires effective Jan. 30. Photo by Alan Hodge
25th annual Unity Day event is set for Jan. 18th Belmont will hold its 25th annual Unity Day Service in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. The service will take place Monday, January 18 at 7pm at Belmont Foursquare Church, 8 Elizabeth Ave., near Davis Park. The evening will begin with a musical interlude by the Belmont Foursquare and Mt. Pleasant men’s choirs. The congregation will join “Lift Every Voice and Sing”. The welcome and invocation will be done by Rev. Kevin Ford, Belmont Foursquare Church. The occasion will be delivered by Rev. Kenneth Alexander, Mt. Moriah Baptist. Musical selections to follow will be performed by Belmont Middle School choir led by Ben McKinnon. Announcements and offering by Cheryl Fleming, RN, BSN. Patricia Franks will lead the candle lighting. “God Bless America” will be performed by Mt. Pleasant Men’s Choir. Introduction of speakers by Rev. Thurman Clark, Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church, Bessemer City. The message will be delivered by Norvell Barber, Sanctuary of Praise, Belmont. Kent Hyde, South Point High AD, will do the response. Mayor Charles Martin will recognize guests. The Humanitarian Award will be presented by Ramona Holloway, 107.9 WBT, The Link. Rev. David Julen, 1st Baptist Cramerton, will deliver the benediction followed by congregation postlude “We Shall Overcome”. The evening’s offering will be presented to Hospice. A reception will follow the service.
Attention Race Fans...
The
Last Monday saw the Belmont city council name current assistant city manager Adrian Miller to the post of interim city manager effective January 30- the day after current city manager Barry Webb retires. Webb has held the post of city manager since March 2000. Before coming to Belmont he was city manager in both Cornelius and Matthews. “Barry has been a tremendous asset to the city as manager,” said mayor Charlie Martin. “He has helped Belmont grow and kept us fiscally solvent. He is also a great friend.” Miller has been with the City of Belmont since 2007, serving as the senior planner in the planning department from 2007 until 2010, when he was promoted to assistant city manager. Prior to coming to Belmont, he worked for the City of Hickory and the Town of Kitty Hawk. A native of Gastonia, Miller graduated from Ashbrook
High School. After earning his bachelor of arts degree from Wake Forest University , Miller earned a Master of Public Administration degree from James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA. He is married to his wife of 12 years, Marti, also of Gastonia, and together they have two sons, Lennon (10) and Liam (5). They also have a 13 year old yellow lab. Adrian is active in the Belmont community, soon to be serving as an Elder at First Presbyterian Church, as well as serving as board chair of Girls on the Run of Gaston County. “I am honored and humbled that the Belmont city council appointed me as the interim city manager,” said Miller. “It will be tough following Barry Webb, who has been an excellent city manager these past 15 years. I have learned a great deal from him, so there will be continuity in the city staff leadership. See INTERIM page 2
Lockamy joins City Department
Belmont planning department introduces new employee By Alan Hodge alan.bannernews@gmail.com
A bundle of enthusiastic energy. That pretty much describes the City of Belmont’s new planning department employee Melissa Lockamy. A native of Indianapolis, Indiana, Lockamy, 37, is a 2001 graduate of East Carolina University. After receiving her degree in urban and regional planning, Lockamy worked and lived in Williamston and Winterville, North Carolina before moving to Charlotte where she was employed by the city a couple of years, mostly as a building inspector. Then she felt the pull of Gaston County. “In Charlotte I lived near Woodlawn Rd.,” she said. “Now I’m settled near Crowders Mtn. with trails and a nice view of the mountain. It’s much better.” Lockamy heard about an opening with the City of Belmont and went for it. “I was impressed with the top notch developMelissa Lockamy recently joined the City of Belmont planning depart- ment and businesses here,” she said. “I really enjoy ment. She’s a graduate of East Carolina University. the downtown area after hours.” Photo by Alan Hodge See LOCKAMY page 2
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RACE SCHEDULE RA
will be published in
February 11th Edition
Schedule Posters will be available at several local business sponsors.