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Thursday, September 21, 2017
Hurricane Irma gives our area a bloody nose but it could have been worse By Alan Hodge alan.bannernews@gmail.com
Last week's visit to our area by the remnants of Hurricane Irma left plenty of tree limbs and leaves on the ground, over 1,000 Duke Energy customers without power, lots of rain and wind in the sky, but thankfully no widespread destruction like the storm left elsewhere. Monday night and Tuesday morning saw local winds at a steady 20-25mph with overnight gusts to 40mph. Sheets of rain fell throughout the period. Tuesday morning saw parts of Belmont without power, phone, or internet service. Besides Belmont, power outage areas also included Mt. Holly, Ranlo, and Stanley. In Belmont two large trees fell. On Todd St. a tree split in half and blocked the roadway as well as pulling down power lines. On Central Avenue, a massive oak on the grounds of Stowe Manor also knocked down several other large trees on its way to the ground. The root ball was over six feet in diameter. “We had one fall in 2011 but this one was bigger,” said Sam Stowe who estimated the behemoth weighted close to 30,000 pounds. Belmont fire department division captain Craig Austin reported that his men responded to six storm-related calls overnight. In Mt. Holly, deputy chief Craig Spry gave this report. “We responded to two incidents that were directly related to the storm, a tree on a house (no injuries) and a tree that had fallen which also knocked down some power lines. Overall it was a relatively calm night in comparison to what we had planned and prepared for.” Sam Stowe of Belmont is seen beside the huge tree that fell on his Central Ave. property during last Monday's storm. The See HURRICANE IRMA page 5 giant oak knocked down several other smaller trees while it was at it. Photo by Alan Hodge
Doug Brewer cutting hair since WWII and still going strong By Alan Hodge alan.bannernews@gmail.com
The fictional town of Mayberry had a famous barber named Floyd and Belmont has an equally impressive hair cutter named Doug Brewer who has been plying his trade for over seven decades now. Brewer, who turned 90 on August 26, grew up on the Aberfoyle Mill village in East Belmont. Both his parents worked in the mill and so did Doug, but his interest turned to barbering when he started work as a shoeshine boy at Bill Ballard's Barbershop. “I would hang out at the barbershop,” Brewer said. “There was a couple of little boys who used to play on the railroad tracks and then they would come in when Bill was at lunch and I would 90-year-old Doug Brewer is still cutting hair after over seven practice cutting their hair.” In 1944, Brewer forged a birth certificate and joined the U.S. decades on the job. Brewer’s seen with Mann Tram at his shop in the Belmont General Store. Photo by Alan Hodge See DOUG BREWER page 4 Thursday,
September
Belmont Sports Hall of Fame Spotlight
By Stan Cromlish This week's Belmont Sports Hall of Fame inductee spotlight shines on Stephen Cowie who will be inducted into the Belmont Sports Hall of Fame on Tuesday, October 24, 2017 along with Devon Lowery, Rick Cherry, and the 2011 NCHSAA State Champion South Point High School Baseball team. Stephen is a 1996 graduate of South Point High School and a standout baseball player. Like most boys in Belmont, he started playing baseball in the Belmont Little League organization for the Belmont Optimist Club. As a twelve-year-old and still in Little League, Stephen pitched his first perfect game against the team sponsored by Beltex Company, Inc. With his pitching record and athletic prowess; there was the expectation that he would accomplish a lot athletically during his junior high and high school years in Belmont and he did not disappoint. See HALL OF FAME page 7
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the Gasy 1985 with career in the Gaston Count enforcementtment and to his law Depar I wanted tonia Police boy, I knewreally explain Office. I Sheriff’s since I was a little “I can’t I knew “Ever ,” Paul said.wanted to be. il nce in my city counc police officer what I g last be a I knew that’s , to make a differenot be able Belmont do, the ts at its meetin it, but people who may know this wont to t people d to help I just As is its potpourri of subjec ins a in at the wante unity. To protec I don’t know. Chief Hawk to that comm t themselves. addressed ed were sworn come rs to humbl me to protec week. . I’m truly me to allow great city and police office in by mayore in my calling Two new . this s to be was sworn on by fiance is the confidence nt and serve new officerGod for Kimble had confabulation Sergea the pinned a Gerod as train badge ul to Officer na Belmont . To help and and his and be a I’m thankf Martin can be. to come here North CaroliHe its people Charlie Sisk. nia. best they Shelby, unity Rebecca e was born in his life in Gastoand after the very me this opportzation.” as ized havity of Kimbl School allowing great organi g but recogn Cpl. Katiet the major School.He this Catholic but lived St Michael’s Ashbrook High ook be- part of present at the meetin of Sgt. was Augus Not to the rank nt PD since at Ashbr attended there attended promoted with Belmo BLET 137 senior year been the ing been graduatinghis junior and He attended the ted from hired by e who has she gradua wrestled ting in 2012. on to e and was graduation. Ritchi r, N.C., y then went to 2012. from fore gradua at Gaston Collegshortly after of Denve Count education . A native in Catawba Criminal Justice night classPolice Department condary career in postse s e Bandys Highyear degree Belmont to continue his a law enforcement nt’s to enforc I’ve alway a four hing earn g as Belmo He plans development of a police officer every t theml meetin Pembroke. ement is somet a job where . aid in the d to become who can't protec n in UNC“It’s city counci his badge “Law enforcRitchie said. Monday’s Sisk pinned on “I wante protect those ge can only happe g Alan Hodge departin at last ca and are willin wanted to do,” and not routine.” Photo by “Chan police law said. people other the was sworn fiancee, Rebec nt l make if Kimble at severa go out and nt. day is differe selves,” and communities place Gerod Kimble officer. His looked line and a part of a fanpolice Ritchie deciding on Belmo and a great newest our cities hing on the d to be ful city.I community before everyt honore beauti put small ments am the and to is a n. I 2 agency IL page “Belmont life to God, ued things happe enforcement had in my NT COUNC contin tastic lawthe success I've life that have r things, See BELMO my te in greate attribu me to do has placed people he te me and inspire began Paul who to motiva ing.” Sgt. Harold and wrestl in was Also sworn
Volume 83
Belmon By Alan
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er 24, Center in Hall ay, Octob nt Sports Life The Belmo at 7:00pm TuesdChurch Family et dist 13, of Pollard, Hodge nual banqu United Metho l.com Elijah Head, by Chris s 25th s@gmai m and takesa Sergeant delivered Park Street Duke’ became sful stints s will be Cadet StaffForce blue unifor riding in Belmont. te addres all Coach. Chris ion and Air Patrol or Air all the after succes rsity. In The keyno When Civil on his camo aerospace educat on that goes ca’s rsity Baseb June of 2012 State Unive to the puts e as a traditi patrol Ameri Duke Unive ll coach in Cramerton ies as divers carrying on Appalachian at-large bid ason d to rsity and received an postse in head baseba was founde part in activithelicopter, he’s r Unive 55-year the CAP n has been ts. at Pfeiffe d’s Duke teamwhich broke from Davidson ly Blackhawkto 1941 when n U-boa of citizen Airme a premier Pollar ted ment Germa 2016, tourna d into service professionalbed gradua way back searching for t organization has evolve 2016 NCAAht. Coach Pollar logy. He playedern League emergency shoreline then, this vigilan ca. CAP cato Ameri still carries outground. berth drouga B.A. in psychoe and the Northhis coaching Since service CAP ion/ that to with the Leagu the began on of rn he 1996 al educat Weste committed e organizationin the air and Squadron group. son where in physic both the — the Composite r's degree t), in returning to David public servic when needed Gastonia ook post abouteducational and a Maste sippi State in 2004. ll team is ant (C/SSg fore d earned missions joined the local l baseba the a Faceb fact it was Staff Serge at the Gasreer. Pollar ion from MissisHigh Schoo Fame on Head night after seeing so tly a Cadet liked the Hall of l Baseball part in year ago LeadershipCarey Head photo health educat South Point nt Sports cool and ies,” he said. to take y, Elijah Head, curren Schoo about a t it was tion during The 2011ed into the Belmo been able drill academ State High “I though of hands on activit page 5 es a promo Squadron. Head has to military Carolina in a C130 receiv a lot OF FAME site being induct we have also had few of the thingsinclude going S HALL their North ers, riding t, and tonia Compo “However, merit of See SPORT Just a the CAP other CAP memb a light aircraf of the rank. Elijah said.of command.” g out joining with in a Cessnthe grave sites fel- respect of all friends,” far since solar eclipse helpin chain flights his are and style and “We the CAPseeing the taking orientation aircraft carrier ston. Elijah L page 4 an Air Force s side to wn shows. Charle AIR PATRO to follow is a very seriou airplane, USS Yorkto y crew in g at major air fun. To See CIVIL the There visiting submarine Hunle with parkin and having U.S. Air ing around of the Civil War have also helped than swann r and Auxiliaryy discipline and low cadets CAP is more partne militar But the it’s a Total Force ed to maintain begin with, Cadets are expect Force, and
By Alan
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with a variety It’s a fact that Belmo of life jackets and throw merton, nt, and of the CatawbMcAdenville Mt. Holly, Cra- wheeler lines. The station, ring type floats, a and South are on the banks are swiftand a kayak. Crame also has a tively, so Fork rton fire fouring shouldwhat would happen rivers respec- fire trucks water rescue trained fighters carry departm take place in our if serious floodCramerton life jackets as . Cramerton’s ents are area? Local well. assista ready to The Crame fire son also has anothe nt fire chief rton Fire come to the rescue. playbook. Avenue r flood rescue Barry WilDepartment in plan in his miliar withthe downtown “If we had on 8th area is highly flooding. get capricious a ‘deuce to evacuate people faBack in and half’ undated South Fork rose we could 2013 the National Goat Guard Armormilitary truck fire station Island Park to a depth that in- use Town y in Gaston from the and ia or even Firefighters itself with several even filled the trucks and of Cramerton public put feet put sandba and citizens Wilson also people in those,” works dump worked of water. Wilson said. offered this together floods. Cramerton gs around the to station as advice regardi in Crame Drugs next door. “Don’t drive well as ng rton is also Riverside the South prone to Drive .”Don’t be canoeiwhere it’s flooded Fork flooding ,” he said ng or kayaki As far as rises. when areas either.” ng in flooded rescue merton Mt. Holly has a 20-foo equipment goes, Cra- rescue craft- Fire Department ered by a 40hp enginet flat bottom has a . The boat boat pow- outboard engine20-foot flat-bottomthree water is equipp and equipped boat ed with rescue two jet skis. The with boat is baskets that can See FLOOD float. page 5
Thursday,
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Mount Ho Organizat lly Community Rel ion stay s busy hel ief Hodge ping clie
By Alan
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County dedicat es million element new $20 ary scho ol it’s time tow to support n of Belmont, See ad on pag e 11 for our friends in Texas. more info rmation . TER:
DROP OFF CEN
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P OFF EVEN Friday, Septem T: ber 8th from 6700 WilkinThe Pointe Church8am - 6pm son Blvd, Across from Belmont, NC 28012 Walmart
7, 2017
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it all got Cramerton started Ever since “The Mt. . some of Fire Dept. Assista the its foundi Holly Minis- are 9am-1 way back terial Assoc. available. water rescue nt Chief Barry Wilson 2:30pm, ng in 1952, equipment saw a need Wedne Holly Comm Monday, (right) and the Mt. serve the the HQ station to Friday. sday, Thursd community fireman ganization unity Relief ay, and Colema on the banks Or- short term with stepping (CRO) has been like food,” aid in critical needs The CRO of the Southn Hattaway show in to help Fork clothes, with food, “The first Faulkenberry said. vital mission has a simple, yet Photo by River has rent . when people and other needs up in the CRO office was Alan Hodge ‘The CRO set basement assists nancial pinch.are feeling a police departm of the old viduals and familie indifithem to ent.” s enablin CRO Curren mainta their familie in stability g FaulkenberryCEO Bobby located tly, the CRO for at is 2120 explained gency basis,”s on an emerhow nestled betwee Spring St. Faulke said. n the Lion and ABC store. Food primar“Contributions nberry ily to provide are used Hours are also food, but partial rentused to assist with or utility when utilitie payment s are subjec to immin Some fundsent disconnection t . are also to assist clients withdisbursed chase of the purneeded medication.” prescription The CRO serves folks the Mt. Holly well as others city limits in Clutching a pair considered as Jeffrey Booker of oversized scissor dents but (center), resi- openin outside a quintet s and surroun g of Pleasa ary. Clients the boundded of studen nt Ridge docum entatio must provid ts cut the by school leaders Elementary red ribbon School. n qualify e them for on Sundayincluding Superin ing service tent to signify is a nonpro s. The CRO the official Gaston School fit design 501(c)3 ated Mt. Holly by s photo ment and the U.S. govern at the CRO.CRO staffer Marilyn is a United partner. There is Price checks Way The CRO always a out the by a is govern need for ed food donatiofood supply citizenboard made up Gaston of local County s, busines bon-cu Photo by ns. School s owners s conduc Alan Hodge clergy. , and celebra tting ceremo ted a ribny and tion for Gastonia. grand openin Pleasant School See CRO Ridge Elemen g page 4 school on Sunday, Ahead of August is located 20. The tary emony, crews Sunday’s ribbon at 1260 -cutting h spent time Floyd Lane new ing touche cerputting s on the near state-of-the-a the finishWe See NEW rt facility. SCHOOL but now love to help our page 5
1 BelmontBisque Imports Ave., 704-829-929Belmont, NC 28012 0 / 8am - 8pm
7, 2017
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