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Thursday, September 14, 2017
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Volume 83 • Issue 37
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Thursday, September 14, 2017
Belmont council welcomes new police officers By Alan Hodge alan.bannernews@gmail.com
As is its wont to do, the Belmont city council addressed a potpourri of subjects at its meeting last week. Two new police officers were sworn in at the confabulation. Officer Gerod Kimble was sworn in by mayor Charlie Martin and his badge pinned on by fiancee Rebecca Sisk. Kimble was born in Shelby, North Carolina but lived the majority of his life in Gastonia. He attended St Michael’s Catholic School and after graduating there attended Ashbrook High School.He wrestled his junior and senior year at Ashbrook before graduating in 2012. He attended the BLET 137 night class at Gaston College and was hired by the Belmont Police Department shortly after graduation. He plans to continue his postsecondary education to aid in the development of a law enforcement career. “I wanted to become a police officer to enforce the law and protect those who can't protect themselves,” Kimble said. “Change can only happen in our cities and communities if people are willing to put everything on the line and go out and make things happen. I am honored to be a part of a fantastic law enforcement agency and beautiful city.I attribute the success I've had in my life to God, the people he has placed in my life that have continued to motivate me and inspire me to do greater things, and wrestling.” Also sworn in was Sgt. Harold Paul who began
his law enforcement career in 1985 with the Gastonia Police Department and the Gaston County Sheriff’s Office. “Ever since I was a little boy, I knew I wanted to be a police officer,” Paul said. “I can’t really explain it, but I knew that’s what I wanted to be. I knew I wanted to help people, to make a difference in my community. To protect people who may not be able to protect themselves. I don’t know. I just know this is my calling. I’m truly humbled that Chief Hawkins had the confidence in me to allow me to come to Belmont as a Sergeant and serve this great city and its people. To help and train the new officers to be the very best they can be. I’m thankful to God for allowing me this opportunity to come here and be a part of this great organization.” Not present at the meeting but recognized as having been promoted to the rank of Sgt. was Cpl. Katie Ritchie who has been with Belmont PD since August 2012. A native of Denver, N.C., she graduated from Bandys High in Catawba County then went on to earn a four year degree in Criminal Justice from UNC-Pembroke. “Law enforcement is something I’ve always wanted to do,” Ritchie said. “It’s a job where every day is different and not routine.” Ritchie looked at several other police departments before deciding on Belmont. “Belmont is a small community and a great place See BELMONT COUNCIL page 2
Gerod Kimble was sworn in at last Monday’s city council meeting as Belmont’s newest police officer. His fiancee, Rebecca Sisk pinned on his badge. Photo by Alan Hodge
Civil Air Patrol Cadet Elijah Head Belmont Sports Hall of Fame 30th annual part of unique organization
banquet and induction ceremony set
By Alan Hodge alan.bannernews@gmail.com
When Civil Air Patrol Cadet Staff Sergeant Elijah Head, 13, of Cramerton puts on his camo or Air Force blue uniform and takes part in activities as diverse as aerospace education and riding in a Blackhawk helicopter, he’s carrying on a tradition that goes all the way back to 1941 when the CAP was founded to patrol America’s shoreline searching for German U-boats. Since then, this vigilant organization of citizen Airmen has been committed to service to America. CAP has evolved into a premier public service organization that still carries out emergency service missions when needed — in the air and on the ground. Head joined the local Gastonia Composite Squadron of the CAP about a year ago after seeing a Facebook post about the group. “I thought it was cool and liked the fact it was educational and also had a lot of hands on activities,” he said. Just a few of the things Head has been able to take part in so far since joining the CAP include going to military drill academy, seeing the solar eclipse with other CAP members, riding in a C130 airplane, taking orientation flights in a Cessna light aircraft, and visiting the USS Yorktown aircraft carrier and the grave sites of the Civil War submarine Hunley crew in Charleston. Elijah and his fellow cadets have also helped with parking at major air shows. But the CAP is more than swanning around and having fun. To begin with, it’s a Total Force partner and Auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, and Cadets are expected to maintain military discipline and
Y A L P TH E
By Stan Cromlish
Elijah Head, currently a Cadet Staff Sergeant (C/SSgt), receives a promotion during Leadership night at the Gastonia Composite Squadron. Carey Head photo respect of rank. “We are all friends,” Elijah said. “However, we have to follow an Air Force style chain of command.” There is a very serious side to the CAP- helping out See CIVIL AIR PATROL page 4
The Belmont Sports Hall of Fame will hold its 30th annual banquet at 7:00pm Tuesday, October 24, 2017 at the Park Street United Methodist Church Family Life Center in Belmont. The keynote address will be delivered by Chris Pollard, Duke University Baseball Coach. Chris became Duke’s 25th head baseball coach in June of 2012 after successful stints at Pfeiffer University and Appalachian State University. In 2016, Pollard’s Duke team received an at-large bid to the 2016 NCAA tournament which broke 55-year postseason berth drought. Coach Pollard graduated from Davidson in 1996 with a B.A. in psychology. He played professionally in both the Western League and the Northern League before returning to Davidson where he began his coaching career. Pollard earned a Master's degree in physical education/ health education from Mississippi State in 2004. The 2011 South Point High School baseball team is being inducted into the Belmont Sports Hall of Fame on the merit of their North Carolina State High School Baseball See SPORTS HALL OF FAME page 5
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