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Volume 83 • Issue 4
Thursday, January 26, 2017
Good news for great people!
DINING Guide
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• Belmont • Cramerton • Lowell • McAdenville • Mount Holly • Stanley
Thursday, January 26, 2017
After 40 years coach Lineberger calls it a career By John Wilson john.bannernews@gmail.com
It's the end of an era at South Point High School. Last week, Red Raider football coach Mickey Lineberger announced that he was retiring after 40 years of coaching. Lineberger began his career in August of 1977. That's four decades of working with young men. That's a long time. To gauge what Lineberger has done one needs to put it all in perspective. When Lineberger started coaching in 1977, the top album in the country was Fleetwood Mac's Rumors. The top TV show was Laverne and Shirley. Jimmy Carter was the President of the United States, and the average cost of a gallon of gas was 65 cents. Yup, coach Lineberger has been around for awhile. For some in Belmont it would seem like Lineberger has been at South Point forever. Not exactly, but those that believe that may not be far off the mark. Mickey Lineberger grew up in Belmont. He is the son of George and Vivian Lineberger. Mickey began playing football in the 1960's. His first crack at football came at the age of 10. At that time young Mickey tried his hand at playing Pop Warner. Even back then Lineberger was larger than life. Pop Warner is a national youth football program. Pop
Warner football is slightly different from public school football. In Pop Warner there are restrictions based on a player's weight. So if you were a big kid who weighed X amount of pounds you may be prevented from playing with kids your age. As it turns out Mickey was a tad bit bigger then most of the kids his age. Due to his size he was forced to play with the bigger kids. "I played with the 12 year olds because I didn't make weight," Lineberger said. After Pop Warner, Mickey next played football at Belmont Junior High School. In 1969 Lineberger enrolled in the newly constructed South Point High School. He played on the first Red Raider football team. Back then there was no junior varsity. The new team would have to jump right into the thick of things. "1969 was South Point's first year," Lineberger recalled. "I was a sophomore on the team. I played on the offensive line. There was just varsity." Even back then the Red Raiders were a force to be reckoned with. "I played three years at South Point," Lineberger said. "1971 was our 1st conference championship, and state South Point High football coach Mickey Linebergerf is seen holding the championship." NCHSAA 3A championship trophy his team earned December 22, 2016 against Rocky Mount. Calvin Craig photo See LINEBERGER page 3
Mt. Holly names Bob Belmont to get new Nightingale as Fire Marshal assistant police chief
By Alan Hodge
alan.bannernews@gmail.com
The Mt. Holly Fire Department has named Bob Nightingale as its new Fire Marshal. He was officially sworn in at the last meeting of the Mt. Holly city council and is replacing Terry Reavis who took a job with the City of Gastonia Fire Dept. Nightingale began his fire fighting career as a volunteer in his hometown of Franklin, New York. His grandfather and uncle had served as fire chiefs. “I grew up in the fire service and have a passion for it,” he said.
Bob Nightingale poses with firetruck.
Nightingale continued his career with a stint at the Moyers Corners, N.Y. Fire Department where he worked in the day while attending college night classes that earned him an Associates degree in Fire Protection Technology. He went on to work for ten years with Simplex-Grinnell installing fire suppression systems. From there he joined CharlotteMecklenburg Fire Dept. where he stayed for five years before coming to Mt. Holly. Nightingale's job as Fire Marshal will involve a variety of tasks. “I will handle plan reviews for new construction to make sure they meet the N.C. Fire Code,” he said. “I will also do fire investigations looking into the cause of fires. Any time there's a fire in North Carolina there has to be an investigation.” Nightingale currently lives in Charlotte with his wife and three kids, but likes Mt. Holly a lot. “This is an up and coming city and the people are amazing,” he said. “All the different city departments are great to work with and the quality of life Alan Hodge photo is wonderful.”
By Alan Hodge alan.bannernews@gmail.com
City of Belmont begins Comprehensive Land Use Plan Update
Cherryville police chief Chad Hawkins has accepted a job as Belmont PD assistant chief. He will begin his duties at once, working closely with Belmont chief Skip Clark and handling day to day operations at the police headquarters. He was chosen from around a dozen Chad Hawkins applicants. “Chad was the best candidate based on his experience, high level of management skills, and education,” Clark said. “He will add a lot to our organization.” Hawkins is a 1994 graduate of Gaston College’s Basic Law Enforcement Training and a Gardner-Webb University grad with a bachelor’s in criminal justice. In December 2013 he completed his Masters of Justice Administration from Methodist University. He holds an Advanced Law Enforcement certificate from the state. He has over 20 years experience in law enforcement, has taught law enforcement classes at the collegiate level, and instituted many new programs for the Cherryville PD. One of those of which he is perhaps most proud was the instituting and use of body cameras for his officers; a “first” for Gaston County.
The City of Belmont kicked off an update to its Comprehensive Land Use Plan by holding a community workshop on Wednesday, January 11, 2017, at Gaston College-Kimbrell Campus. The Comprehensive Land Use Plan is the city’s overarching planning document, presenting the community’s vision in sections that address land use, transportation, recreation, the natural environment, historic preservation, economic development, and more. The hands-on workshop was well attended by over 100 concerned citizens wanting to share their opinions, thoughts, and map drawing skills for the future of Belmont. The workshop was led by the consulting team of Orion Planning and Design hired by the City to assist with the update. The consulting team, city staff and other volunteers helped facilitate table discussions regarding planning issues and priorities for the city. Mayor Charlie Martin said, “We are happy to see such a great turnout
See POLICE page 4
See CITY OF BELMONT page 4
NETWORKafter work
Regis ter Now
at CHIC Boutique and Graphic Hound Studios February 9, 2017 • 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM Network After Work is the Chamber's monthly after-hours event hosted by members to promote their business and to provide networking opportunities. Food and beverages will be served, No charge to attend, and non-members interested in the Chamber are welcome.
visit montcrossareachamber.com
Please register by contacting Ted Hall - 704-825-5307 No charge. Non-members interested in the Chamber or in learning more about the participating businesses are welcome.