Gaston County’s
Page 1
We celebrate Valentine’s Day!
The Banner News / banner-news.com
WIN
$4850 see inside
Volume 83 • Issue 5
FREE! Good news for great people! • Belmont • Cramerton • Lowell • McAdenville • Mount Holly • Stanley
Thursday, February 2, 2017
SHOP LOCAL for your
See Page 3
Valentine Thursday, February 2, 2017
Local folks attend Trump inauguration By Alan Hodge alan.bannernews@gmail.com
A group of local folks make the trek to Washington, D.C. for President Donald Trump's inauguration and came away with plenty of adventure stories about what they saw. Gaston County commissioner Ronnie Worley was joined by Gaston County Board of Education vice chairman Jeff Ramsey and former Gaston County commissioner Jack Brown for the oncein-a-lifetime trip. Worley and Ramsey took their sons (both named Andrew). The group booked a B&B near Howard University and arrived in D.C. on January 18. “We had two rooms for five people and slept on the bed, sofa, and air mattresses,” Worley said. The digs were only a few blocks from the Metro train and that's how the group moved around the town. “We parked our cars,” said Worley. On inauguration day Worley and the others made their way to the Mall area where the main crowd had gathered for
Trump's swearing in. Worley sported a “Make America Great Again” ball cap and found out not everyone on the streets was a fan of The Donald or his supporters. “I was shocked when a woman spat on me,” he said. “Some of the protesters locked arms in front of the security check gates so people could not get through. They inconvenienced thousands of people.” Nonetheless, Worley and his group plunged into the thick of things. “The crowds on the parade route were huge,” he said. “Just being there surrounded by hundreds of thousands of folks was a sensation.” Worley and his pals also visited some North Carolina political folks and met a few celebrities while in D.C. “We stopped by the offices of Rep. Patrick McHenry and Sen. Thom Tillis,” he said. “We also met John Hannity from Fox News and “Duck Dynasty's Willy Robinson. We went to the Lincoln Memorial and heard Toby Keith.” Worley considered the inauguration a
turning point for America. “A true change is coming,” he said. “Trump will take care of all of our folks.” Andrew Worley, 17, and a student at Stuart Cramer High, was filled with awe about the trip. “It was a really neat experience,” he said. “The best part was when the crowd started chanting 'make America great again'.” Andrew Ramsey, 20, and a student at NCSU was also moved by the D.C. trip. “Being able to see the transfer of power of the highest position in the world is something I will never forget,” he said. Jeff Ramsey says that all Americans should make seeing a Presidential inauguration a part of their “bucket list”. “I urge everyone to see one,” Ramsey said. “It will inspire you as an American. Even the protests make it unique as an expression of free speech. It is democracy at work.” Gaston County commissioner, Ronnie Worley and his son Andrew enjoying the presidential inauguration scene. Photo provided by Ronnie Worley and Jeff Ramsey See more photos page 2
New Stanley Middle School Community Volunteer Fire Department receives $5k grant project moving ahead Walls are going up and the new Stanley Middle School is taking shape. It has been six months since the groundbreaking ceremony when all that could be seen on the school’s former football field were mounds of dirt and construction equipment. Now, curious passersby can see where the school will be located and envi- Workers have been battling mud at the new Stanley Middle School construcsion a modern facil- tion site but making good progress overall. Gaston Schools photos ity that should be ready for use during the 2017- on campus, which should alle- which will help to move con2018 academic year. viate typical traffic backups on struction right along. Crews spent the fall Hovis Road. For the most part, the months preparing the site for Principal Rebecca Huff- weather has cooperated with the school building, installing stetler said students, teach- construction and work is procurb and gutter for the adja- ers, and the community have gressing as expected. The cent parking lots and vehicle enjoyed watching the school recent snowfall of five inches entranceways, clearing trees, become a reality, and they are and some rain delayed work moving power and utility lines, already eager to move in. Be- for a few days, but crews have and taking care of other details. fore that happens, there is more been working outside of the The site is designed to provide work to be done. Engineers regular eight to five business for more parking at the school and contractors are hoping See STANLEY MIDDLE page 4 and the “stacking” of vehicles for good weather this spring,
North Belmont's Community Volunteer costs more than $2,000. Fire Department is among 33 grant recipi“Most of our funds come from the ents of Georgia Pacific’s Bucket Brigade small bedroom community that we proprogram this year. The department will tect, leaving no extra money to buy new receive $5,000 to help fund equipment gear,” said Fire Chief Gary Jackson. “This needs. grant will make a big difference.” “We value our relationship with our See FIRE DEPARTMENT page 4 local fire departments, so we are very pleased to help them stay well equipped,” said Kirk Stallsmith, VP of manufacturing at Georgia Pacific's Mt. Holly Nonwovensfacility. “These grants show our gratitude for their selfless dedication.” The fire department says the grant will go toward the replacement of full body protective gear that no longer The Community Volunteer Fire Department will receive a $5,000 meets standards grant from Georgia Pacific for new equipment. Pictured from left set by the National to right: Kirk Stallsmith, Jason Jackson, Stephen Roberts, Byron Fire Protection As- Hooker, Clay Thornburg, Chris Riddle, Nathan Benfield, Dwight sociation. Each set Cook, and Earl Dingess. Community Vol. Fire Dept. photo