The Banner News / banner-news.com
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Thursday, March 17, 2016
Attention Merchants! Don't miss our special Spring Edition next week March 24th
Belmont council meeting an eclectic one By Alan Hodge alan.bannernews@gmail.com
More and more it seems that local city council meetings cover a broader and broader range of topics and the one last week in Belmont lived up to that premise. The event kicked off with a series of special recognitions. The first was presentation of a plaque to Belmont PD Capt. Basil Marett Jr. for his 18 years on the job. Marett worked his way up the ladder after starting out as a patrol officer. He was named interim chief after the firing of chief Charlie Franklin last year. When new chief Skip Clark came on board in January, Marett was named Captain. “The city can't thank him enough,” mayor Charlie Martin said of Marett. Gracious as always, Marett had this remark. “I want to thank everyone for the opportunity to have been interim chief,” he said. “Getting the award at the council meeting was a humbling experience. My goal was to move the department forward and get it in a stable state of affairs and have it ready for whomever was chosen as chief. I also want to thank the Belmont Police employees for all their support as well as city hall, the council, and the citizens. I see chief Clark and I working together making decisions to improve the quality of life for everyone in Belmont.” The city continued its recent policy of recognizing local businesses by presenting three “Best of Belmont” certificates at the meeting. One went to Johnny B Pizza Pad, another to Shear Dimensions, and the third to the BannerNews, one of the oldest continually operating businesses in town with 80 years of publishing to its credit. The South Point High Red Raiders 2015 football team also received a pat on the back from the city. The team made it all the way to the state championship but came up short. Nonetheless, the city presented coach Mickey Lineberger with a certificate The City of Belmont recognized several businesses last week. From left Teresa Siegfried, Johnny B Pizza Pad, five years; Wanda Queen, Shear Dimensions, 35 years; Editor Alan Hodge, BannerNews, 80 years. of appreciation for the team's effort. Mayor Charlie Martin made the presentations. Photo by Shelley DeHart See BELMONT COUNCIL page 2
Erin Lee Belmont’s fourth female police officer Chronicle Mill project Carrying on family tradition
turns a corner
By Alan Hodge
By Alan Hodge
alan.bannernews@gmail.com
When Erin Lee, 25, was sworn at last week's city council meeting, she not only became the Belmont police department's fourth female officer currently on duty, she is also carrying on a family tradition. A native of Columbus, Indiana, Lee moved with her family to Charlotte in 2001 when her father took a position as a pastor. Prior to that, he had been a policeman back home and retired from the force. “ I rode to school with him in the police car,” Lee said. “I knew at an early age I wanted to follow in his footsteps.” After attending Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, Lee went to CPCC and received her Basic Law Enforcement Training certificate last August. She also earned an EMT certificate from Rowan-Cabarrus Community College. Shortly after her CPCC training, she applied for a job with Belmont PD, was hired and began her rookie training. In January of this year, she worked at headquarters as a dispatcher before beginning street patrol last month. Her training officer is Jason Barnes.
P LAY T H E
alan.bannernews@gmail.com
New Belmont PD officer Erin Lee was sworn in by city clerk Debra Brown at last week's council meeting. Also taking part in the moment was Lee's boyfriend CMPD officer David Jones. Photo by Alan Hodge “I think she will be an excellent officer,” Barnes said of Lee,” She picks up on things quickly and is already ahead of where she needs to be.” So, what drew Lee to Belmont? “I had been visiting Belmont while I lived in Charlotte,” she said. “It re-
minded me of the town we lived in back in Indiana. In a small town people are more apt to know who you are. I hope everyone I come in contact with will feel respected and that I am able to help them See ERIN LEE page 2
The Chronicle Mill project in Belmont is moving into the construction phase after many months of analysis and preparation. Owners John and Jennifer Church have hired Hickory-based Neill Grading & Construction as general contractor for the project. The firm has experience in historic mill restoration, completing both the Moretz Mill and Hollar Mill, also located in Hickory. On March 3, workers from Neill Grading brought a huge crane to the Chronicle Mill site and used it to lift the 3,000 lb. water tank from the tower. The 14 ft. high water tank will remain a part of the mill’s historical heritage and be displayed on the property. It will be painted with the Chronicle Mill logo. The 9,600 gallon water tank was installed on June
11, 1926 and was used to supply water to the mill’s sprinkler system. It was part of a loop system with the National and Imperial mills. The water lines running up to the tank remained pressurized to release water to the sprinkler system. Structurally, work will soon begin on the mill's brickwork. “We are currently digging out the dirt around the foundation in preparation for the masons to begin work,” said project manager Stephen Torrence. New bricks that will be put in place on the exterior are coming from Old Carolina Brick in Salisbury. “They will be specially made with an antique patina,” said Torrence. The tower will also get a freshening up. See CHRONICLE MILL page 3
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