It’s all Greek to me!
School News 4B
Serving Belmont, Mount Holly, Stanley, Cramerton, and McAdenville
Volume 78 • Issue 5 • Wednesday, January 30, 2013
McWhirter
MOONSHINE
to be inducted into Belmont Sports Hall of Fame
75¢
Council talks You gotta love this range from once thriving industry! parks to budgets
By Alan Hodge Editor
By Alan Hodge Editor
Alan.bannernews@gmail.com
Alan.bannernews@gmail.com
When South Point High football coach Mike McWhirter is inducted into the Belmont Sports Hall of Fame at its 26th annual awards ceremony and banquet on Feb. 19, it will mark the second time he’s been recognized in a similar manner. The event begins at 7pm at Part Street United Methodist Church. Last year, McWhirter was named to the Lenoir-Rhyne Sports Hall of Fame in honor of his time on the school’s football team where he played from 1972 to 1975. A four-year Lenoir-Rhyne starter, McWhirter was named the team’s Most Valuable
The Belmont City Council got together on Jan. 25 at the Whitewater Center for its annual planning retreat and covered a wide variety of topics ranging from budget issues to parks. The talks looked not only at Belmont’s state of affairs, but how they fit in with the overall regional, state, and even national picture. “This was mostly an informational meeting where we gave the council background and updates on things such as land use and finances,” said city manager Barry Webb. “A lot of the topics we discussed were about partnerships with other agencies and local governments.”
See McWHIRTER, 5A
GCS leaders discuss education with legislators By Alan Hodge Editor Alan.bannernews@gmail.com
Gaston County school board members met recently with several area state-level legislators to discuss concerns ranging from year-round classes to budget constraints. Legislators on hand for the meeting included Rep. John Torbett (R-Gaston, District 108), Sen. David Curtis (RLincoln, District 41), Rep. Dana Bumgardner (R-Gaston, District 109), and Sen. Kathy Harrington (R-Gaston, District 43). In addition to the school board members, GCS Superintendent Reeves McGlohon was also in attendance. “We want to make sure we stay in touch with you,” McGlohon told the pols. The meeting covered a number of issues that impact local education. One of these is the option of certain schools holding classes year round with breaks between sessions. A similar concept was approved by Charlotte-Mecklenburg for four of its schools next year. McGlohon supports a cycle that would have kids in school for 45 days with 15 day breaks between sessions. However, he expressed skepticism about See LEADERS, 6A
OBITUARIES, 2A Betty English, Mount Holly Elizabeth Edwards, Gastonia Johnny Neal, High Shoals Judy Norman, Mount Holly William Page, Mount Holly Martha Young, Gastonia Fredrick Zoesch, Clover
INDEX Belmont Police Log ..............2A Opinions ...............................4A Sports...................................1B Classifieds ............................4B GO! Area Events ...................6B
Photo by Alan Hodge
This miniature moonshine still is currently on display at the Belmont Historical Museum as an example of local “pre-textile” industry. It was donated to the museum by Harold Russell, who had acquired it from Kenny Hinson. By Alan Hodge Editor Alan.bannernews@gmail.com
Most everyone knows that textiles were an important part of the industrial evolution of eastern Gaston County, but what is not so common knowledge is that there was once an-
other thriving manufacturing type in our area with an equally interesting and much more colorful story. That business was the making of corn liquor known as moonshine. The Scots-Irish pioneers that settled towns such as Belmont, Mount See MOONSHINE, 6A
The council heard a presentation on the economy that was best described as “cautiously optimistic.” Graphs and other information that council members had in their packets showed a local and state economy slowly rebounding from the last few years. Overall conclusions on the revenue front that council members were made aware of advised prudence where expectations of revenues were concerned. Punctuating that prognostication was the fact that total revenues available to the city in FY 2012-2013 will be $5.1 million compared to $5.28 million for FY 2011-2012. FY 20122013 expenditures are slated at $4.54 million compared to $4.29 million in FY 20112012. See RETREAT, 5A
Mount Holly police log over 10,000 calls in 2012 By Alan Hodge Editor Alan.bannernews@gmail.com
As just released 2012 annual reports attest, the City of Mount Holly fire and police departments had a busy time over the past year. On the police beat, Mount Holly dispatch received 10,267 calls in 2012 where an officer was sent out. David James, Mount Holly’s interim police chief, praised the work his staff did. “All of our officers and administrative personnel gave a high level of performance to their duties in 2012 and I know will continue to do so in the future.” James said. The greatest amount of Mount Holly police action came in the form of traffic stops with 2,573 recorded. Traffic stops made up 25 percent of all police action in
Photo by Alan Hodge
As its 2012 annual report shows, Mount Holly police perform a variety of services including visiting places such as East Gaston Adult Day Care, where Officer T. Bell was seen helping Alice Skipper string beads. Mount Holly last year. Checking on “suspicious vehicles”, occupied or not, meant that Mount Holly police were sent out 731 times. The next highest num-
ber of responses by police was in reference to a “suspicious person” with 456 calls. Vehicle wrecks in and around town saw police sent out 305 times.
Folks raising a ruckus in Mount Holly in 2012 resulted in 278 calls for noise violations. Moving down the line, police went out 235 times to check on the elderly or someone else that a neighbor, friend, or relative was worried about. As for those that could not “get along”, Mount Holly police went out 208 times for what was termed “domestic argument”. Other uproars that needed police response in 2012 included 186 civil disputes, 156 verbal arguments, 98 harassments, 84 communicating threats, 47 domestic assaults, and 47 fights with multiple subjects. Other high-response numbers in 2012 by included 199 assists to stranded motorist, 162 juvenile cases, 122 trespass, 91 intoxicated pedestrians, 74 intoxicated drivers, 77 prowlers, 77 damage to property, and 47 drug violations. Other calls that Mount Holly See REPORT, 6A
Where do we go from here... community or chaos? Unity Day celebration fills Basilica with thoughtful words, music By Alan Hodge Editor Alan.bannernews@gmail.com
Soulful and heartfelt music and words soared throughout the Belmont Abbey Basilica last week during the 22nd annual Unity Day celebration in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. The event drew a large crowd that filled nearly every seat in the sanctuary. Music was provided by the Queen of Apostles choir, Mount Pleasant Men’s choir, and the attendees who joined together in rousing renditions of “We Shall Overcome” and “Lift Every Voice and Sing.” Reverend Abbot Placid Solari OSB, opened with an interesting bit of history by pointing out the ironic fact that the stone baptismal font in the basilica foyer had once been a slave auction block. Belmont City Council member Charlie See UNITY DAY, 3A
Photo by Alan Hodge
The traditional candle lighting portion of the Belmont Unity Day event last week saw Cheryl Fleming RN, BSN, look on as the tapers were fired by Curran Sentilles, Camilo Salas Bowen, and Caramel Ferdinand.
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