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Volume 83 • Issue 19
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• Belmont • Cramerton • Lowell • McAdenville • Mount Holly • Stanley
Thursday, May 11, 2017
Trio shares many years of mothering by Alan Hodge alan.bannernews@gmail.com
The East Gaston Adult Day Care senior center in Catawba Heights is a treasure-trove of stories, and the ones that clients 76-year-old Jean Miskelly, 82-year-old Ann Smith, and 87-year-old Minnie Pinkney tell of their experiences and thoughts on motherhood are some of the best. Miskelly raised four kids- Sharon, Todd, Jackie, and Brian in Stanley. Sharon teaches at East Gaston High, Brian is Minister of Music at First Baptist in Stanley, Todd works security at Andrews AFB, and Jackie is a housewife in Huntersville. Miskelly says she made sure all her children minded their Ps and Qs growing up. “I am lucky to say they never gave any trouble,” she said. “They were all good kids. However, on the rare occasions mischief was made, father F.E. Miskelly, who passed away in 2010, did the discipline chores. “He would paddle them, but not too often,” Jean said.
Ann Smith, originally from East Tennessee, raised her family in McAdenville. She and husband James, who worked at Pharr Yarns, had two kids- Danny, who passed away two years ago, and Pam who is a businesswoman. Smith credits the tight-knit McAdenville community for helping her children grow up right. “We kept them active in McAdenville Community Center activities so we didn't have too many problems,” Smith said. “They had good supervision at the Community Center.” Church was also a part of the Smith family upbringing. “We went to McAdenville Baptist,” Smith said. “We didn't let the children roam the streets.” Smith says “grounding” her kids usually nipped any misbehaving in the bud. “They loved to go to Kates Skating Rink,” she said. “If they cut up I told them they couldn't go skating and they usually worked.” See MOTHERS page 3
Moms (from left), Jean Miskelly, Ann Smith, and Minnie Pinkney have decades of child-rearing experience and a total of 17 children between them. They all say they are proud of the way their kids turned out. Photo by Alan Hodge
Local educators take top Gaston Schools honors Four employees captured the most prestigious awards presented by Gaston County Schools during the 2017 Evening of Excellence ceremony. The program sponsored by Wells Fargo Bank was held Tuesday, May 2 at the Gaston Country Club. Stuart W. Cramer High School social studies teacher Mindee Mammano was named the Wells Fargo Teacher of the Year and Phyllis Whitworth of Belmont Central Elementary School earned the Wells Fargo Principal of the Year recognition. They will represent Gaston County in the regional competitions for 2017-2018. Donna Kelly of Rankin Elementary School received the Assistant Principal of the Year distinction, and Valerie Yatko, director of business and community partnerships, was chosen the Central Office Administrator of the Year. As longtime sponsor of the recognition program, Wells Fargo presented to the Teacher and Principal of the Year a handcrafted Wells Fargo Bank Educator Apple and $1,250 to use for professional advancement. Each Principal and Teacher of the Year finalist received $250 to use for professional advancement. The Evening of Excellence program pays tribute to the school system’s most outstanding teachers, administrators, and certified support staff for their exceptional leadership and many contributions. The award nominees, finalists, and recipients are among the top public school employees in the state. Superintendent of Schools W. Jeffrey Booker stated: “The Evening of Excellence ceremony gives us an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the contributions, commitment, expertise, See EDUCATORS page 2
Belmont Community Garden still growing strong by Alan Hodge alan.bannernews@gmail.com
The entire student body at Ida Rankin Elementary gathered in the school parking lot last Wednesday to congratulate Donna Kelly on being named Gaston County Schools Assistant Principal of the Year. MHPD SRO Thomas Bell drove Kelly in a decorated golf cart while the kids waved banners and cheered at the top of their lungs. Photo by Alan Hodge
Readers of the BannerNews no doubt saw the story last week extolling the Mt. Holly Community Garden, but the Belmont Community Garden is also a major player on the fruit and vegetables scene and is still growing strong. The Belmont Community Garden lot is owned by Jonathan Taylor and located behind the building he also owns at 21 N. Main. The idea for a community garden in downtown Belmont was hatched in the spring of 2014 when Taylor and some friends were sitting around relaxing. See GARDEN page 2