INSIDE... Swimming Safety ......... 2A Historic Brattonsville ... 3A Obituaries ................... 5A Arts in the Alley .......... 6A
Serving Belmont, Mount Holly, Stanley, Cramerton, and McAdenville | Volume 79 • Issue 28 • Wednesday, July 9, 2014
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Are drones coming to your neighborhood? By Alan Hodge alan.bannernews@gmail.com
Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! No! It's Belmont resident and former NC House member Wil Neumann's remote control quad copter! Ok, settle down. What's up with Wil, his machine and others like it, is all about a burgeoning industry and how the government is trying to figure out ways to
regulate it. Some folks call them drones, and they come in a variety of sizes and shapes, but what Neumann's quad copter boils down to is a remote control, propeller driven platform that can have things such as GoPro minicams mounted on them for the purpose of photographing or videoing the terrain they fly over. Neumann's craft has a lot of technology packed into a
little package about the size of a basketball. It has four electric motors driving model airplane type props. It has a battery pack and swiveling mounts for the GoPro. It has a GPS receiver on top about the size of an Oreo cookie that can lock onto multiple satellites. It is controlled by a box with toggles like a remote control airplane. It has a range of about a mile and with the push of a button on the con-
trol box come flying back to home base. It's made by a company called XPRO HELI. “I bought the copter to look at real estate,” Neumann said. “It gives a completely different perspective.” Neumann, who is also an accomplished photographer, sees the potential for many other uses for his machine. “I would like to merge it with my photography and
survey landscapes as well as commercial buildings,” he said. “It would also be a great way to 'sell' Gaston County by giving aerial views of places like Crowders Mountain.” For those concerned about the use of an unmanned aerial platform for activities such as spying on folks lounging in bikinis, Neumann had strong words condemning such practice. “It's wrong and anyone
who does it should be prosecuted,” he said. With interest in unmanned aerial photo platforms rising, the State of North Carolina and the Federal Aviation Administration are taking a hard look at what folks are doing with them. The state’s first legislation regulating them cleared the House without discussion in a unanimous See DRONES, 4A
Belmont Abbey
From the softball field to patrol car
eyes recent decision on HHS mandate
john.bannernews@gmail.com
By John Wilson
By Alan Hodge alan.bannernews@gmail.com
Last week's Supreme Court 5-4 decision in the case of Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores stating that closely held corporations would not be required to provide contraceptive coverage to employees under the Affordable Care Act based on religious convictions, may have been aimed directly at for profit businesses, but it's implications were not lost on Belmont Abbey College. Oklahoma City-based Hobby Lobby has more than 15,000 full-time employees in more than 600 crafts stores in 41 states. Belmont Abbey College has been tied up in court with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the U.S. Treasury, and the U.S. Department of Labor over the birth control coverage issue since November 2013. That is when the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty filed a lawsuit on its behalf See BAC, 7A
Cadence Crunkleton and Albani Hannah showed their love of the flag at Saturday’s Red, White, and Belmont. Photo by Alan Hodge
Cramerton Board adopts budget The Cramerton Board of Commissioners adopted the Fiscal Year 2015 budget at its recent meeting. The General Fund Budget of $3,927,347 resulted in an increase of $470,447 from the FY 2013-2014 adopted budget of $3,456,900. The adopted budget maintains the current tax rate of $0.475. The increase in expenditures are attributed to a significant amount of funding allocated to repair and resurface streets based upon a pavement condition study recently conducted by US Infrastructure. Funds were also budgeted to replace 15 year old radio equipment in the police department, grant match funding for much needed equipment for the fire department, and a one-time appropriation to celebrate the Town’s Centennial Anniversary. Two Rivers Utilities and the City of Gastonia also approved a fee schedule that does not increase water and sewer rates for the third straight year. The 2015 budget can be viewed online at www.cramerton.org. Copies are available for review at Town Hall.
Stanley budget set The Town of Stanley has set its FY20142015 budget. The budget includes a 2.5 percent increase for all full-time employees. It also includes the hiring of a full-time School Resource Officer for the two elementary schools in Stanley, and included the hiring of an additional full time police officer to ensure proper coverage with supervision. The overall cost of the SRO position will be offset 75 percent by reimbursement from the Gaston County Schools, pursuant to a memorandum of understanding. This budget does not include any increase in property the tax rate. All taxes are collected by Gaston County at a fee for the total levy at a rate of 0.5 percent of the monies billed by the County on behalf of the Town, or a rate of $4.00 per tax bill, whichever is less. This amount shall not exceed $6,100.00 until after June 11, 2020. The total recommended General Fund Budget for FY 2014-15 is $2,414,300 Compared to $2,370,100, with an increase of $44,200.00 (or 1.89 percent) The total recommended Water and Sewer Budget for FY 201415 is $2,404,600 compared to $2,432,700 in FY 2013-14, with a decrease of $28,100.00 or (or 1.1 percent). Total expenditures for all funds for the coming year are $4,918,900 compared to budgeted expenses for the current year of $4,902,800. This results in a total difference of $16,000.00.
When Chrissy Pickert was growing up she knew more about law enforcement then most kids her age. Her father, Brad Pickert was a veteran Belmont officer. It was not uncommon for Belmont officers to stop by the Pickert home for a meal. Young Chrissy was fascinated with the excitement and passion associated with being an officer. As she listened to the officers talk, in the back of her mind she thought, "I want to do that." Even at a young age Chrissy had the drive and team player attitude to be a police officer. At South Point High School Pickert excelled both academically and in athletics. Chrissy was a softball standout. She started three years for the Lady Red Raiders. Twice she was named to the All-Big South Conference Team. While at South Point she also received the coveted Golden
This photo shows CMPD officer Chrissy Pickert on duty during last winter's snowstorm. She's a former South Point High sports standout and the daughter of Belmont policeman Brad Pickert and wife Holly. Contributed Photo
Glove Award. The award is given to player who shows superior fielding skills. Chrissy Pickert enjoyed her time at South Point. She made lifelong friends and has fond memories of for Big Red. Chrissy's most cherished See PICKERT, 7A
EG School, community spirit growing in Stanley!
East Gaston High School Principal Dr. Christi Bostic pictured with Town Manager Heath Jenkins promoting East Gaston school spirit at the dedication of a new sign posted at the city limits of Stanley. Booster Club President, Jim Abernethy led the charge to place these signs at various city limit locations around Stanley to promote more “School Spirit” and increase support not only for the sports programs, but for East Gaston as a whole. The Town of Stanley was proud to provide these signs. Photo by Tug Deason, Town of Stanley
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