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The Banner News / banner-news.com
Thursday, January 28, 2016
Ribbon Cutting Event bFit & Usports 341 Catawba St. Belmont, NC 28012 For information contact: Elizabeth Atterberry 704.825.5307
February 10, 2016 4:30 to 5:30 pm
For upcoming events visit montcrossareachamber.com
First snow of winter wallops our area By Alan Hodge Alan.bannernews@gmail.com
When last week’s edition of the BannerNews hit the streets on Thursday morning the weather was a balmy 45 degrees and bright sun was shining- but what a difference a day makes. When folks woke up Friday, the ground was white with several inches of icy snow and what would prove to be a trying couple of days weather-wise was under way. For most of Friday, freezing rain and sleet peppered down and folks huddled in their homes hoping the power would stay on. However, that same morning saw nearly 2,000 Duke Energy customers in the McAdenville,
Cramerton, Lowell area shivering in the dark for several hours until crews were able to get the juice going again around 9:30am. The roads Friday morning had varying degrees of traction. Major lanes such as I-85 and Wilkinson Blvd. was moving along slowly, but secondary roads like Hickory Grove near Mt. Holly and Stanley were very slick. Most neighborhood streets were a “no go”. Hills and bridges such as NC273 and the bridge over I-85 at Exit 26 had the benefit of sand and brine. As expected, sledders began looking for hills. At Stowe Park in Belmont, kids of all ages wasted little time in hitting the slopes there. See WINTER page 8
Grace Blumberg and her dad Brent were some of the first folks to go sledding at Stowe Park last Friday. Later in the day the hill there was full of people plunging down. See more area snow scenes inside, page 8. Photo by Alan Hodge
25th annual Belmont Unity Day event draws big crowd By Alan Hodge alan.bannernews@gmail.com
Workers from Superior Construction were braving the cold and building a boardwalk last week at Kevin Loftin Riverfront Park in East Belmont. Photo by Alan Hodge
Kevin Loftin Riverfront Park progressing By Alan Hodge alan.bannernews@gmail.com
Despite challenging weather conditions over the past couple of months the Kevin Loftin Riverfront Park project on Catawba St. in East Belmont is making good progress. “The weather has had an impact but not too bad,” said project boss Randy Higens
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with J.D. Goodrum General Contractors. “It’s hard to work in the mud but we are here every day doing something.” Last week saw workers braving bitter cold temperatures and building a boardwalk, retaining walls, and picnic shelters. The largest shelter is 30’x60’ and two smaller ones are 22’x28’. See LOFTIN page 2
Last Monday’s 25th annual Belmont Unity Day event celebrating the life and legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. drew a large crowd that packed First Foursquare Church and literally lifted the roof with their exuberance. The ceremony included much melodic music, impassioned oratory, and saw two local men, Yates Abernathy and James Reeves, receive the Humanitarian Award. The evening began with First Foursquare’s pastor Rev. Kevin Ford addressing the SRO crowd. “I’m so excited to have you all here,” Ford declared. “There are so many special people here.” With that, the Rev. Kenneth Alexander, Mt. Moriah Baptist Church, took the podium. “Praise God for this fellowship,” Alexan-
der said. “It’s for unity. We are one in spirit and truth.” The Belmont Middle School chorus, Ben McKinnon director, then mounted the stage and sang. Cheryl Fleming took up an offering for Hospice and Pallative Care Charlotte region. The traditional Unity Candle lighting followed, led by Patricia Franks. One of the highlights, and high notes, of the Unity Day ceremony followed when the Mt. Pleasant Men’s Choir performed their special rendition of “God Bless America.” Rev. Thurman Clark intoduced the guest speaker Rev. Norvell Barber of Sanctuary of Praise, Belmont. Barber set the tone for his talk right from the get-go. “We are not here to hang out, we are here to have church,” he said emphatically. See UNITY page 3
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