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The Banner News / banner-news.com
Thursday, November 5, 2015
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g Bein f l k n a h T The BannerNews November 25th issue will be a special one featuring stories of thankfulness. If you have a story you would like to share about something you are thankful for, email it to alan.bannernews@gmail.com, mail it to PO Box 589, Belmont, NC 28012 or 128C N. Main, Belmont, 28012 or drop it by the office at that same address. We all have something to be thankful for past or present and your stories are important. The deadline for submissions is Nov. 18.
Portion of NC27 named for Forrester The stretch of NC27 between Mt. Holly and Stanley was named last Friday in honor of former state senator and physician the late Dr. James Forrester. The dedication event took place at First Baptist church Family Life Center in Stanley. Speakers included NC Transportation Secretary Nick Tennyson, NC Rep. John Torbett, Gaston County Board of Commissioners Chairman Tracey Philbeck, Stanley Town Manager Dr. James Forrester Heath Jenkins, and James S. Forrester Jr. MD. A native of Scotland who came to the US as a child, Forrester served eight terms as a member of the NC Senate starting in 1990. He retired as a Brigadier General from the US Air Force and the NC Air National Guard. He was a physician in Stanley for over 40 years. He passed away in 2011 at the age of 74.
94-year-old Bill Yelton saw plenty of action in WWII By Alan Hodge alan.bannernews@gmail.com
“There were a lot of nights I didn't think I would see daylight.” That's one way 94-year-old Bill Yelton described his experience fighting in six major battles across North Africa, Sicily, France, and Germany in World War II. His service earned him several medals including the Purple Heart as well as a load of memories that have lasted a lifetime. Born in 1920 in Kings Mtn., Yelton grew up in several other Cleveland and Rutherford county communities including Mooresboro and Cliffside before moving to Mt. Holly where he lived for several decades. He's currently a resident of Brookdale New Hope in Gastonia. In 1939, Yelton made a life-changing decision. “I was in school in Mooresboro but decided to join the army,” he said. “I was just 18-years-old and had no idea that soon a war would start.” Yelton's military job was in the field artillery. He aimed a 155mm cannon that could shoot a shell that weighed nearly 100 pounds. In 1943, Yelton got a chance to practice his craft. “We were shipped to North Africa to fight the Germans,” Yelton said. “We landed at Casablanca on Christmas Eve 1943. I was in several battles in Tunisia and Algiers including the Kassarine Pass where we filled the road with burning German tanks from our artillery.” After running the Germans out of North Africa, the Allies chased them to Sicily and Yelton's unit 87th Field Artillery, 9th Division, was in it hot and heavy. “We beat them there and then we were sent to England for training to get ready for the Normandy Invasion,” said Yelton. June 6, 1944 came and Yelton along with tens of thousands of other guys, hit the D-Day shore. “The navy and air force had shelled and bombed the German pillboxes and beach,” he said. “Those holes came in handy for cover,” Yelton said. “Our artillery had to be brought by barge so I went in with just a rifle.” see more YELTON page 2
Bill Yelton, 94, grew up in Cleveland and Rutherford counties and lived in Mt. Holly for over 30 years. He took part in six major WWII battles. On his chest are the Purple Heart and Normandy Invasion medals he received for his service. Photo by This is Bill Yelton as a young solAlan Hodge dier in WWII. Archival photo
Mt. Holly breaks ground for Catawba Riverfront Greenway By Alan Hodge
alan.bannernews@gmail.com
City of Mt. Holly officials and other luminaries from a variety of firms, foundations, and agencies greeted the sunrise at Tuckaseege Park last Friday and broke verdant ground for the new Catawba Riverfront Greenway. The greenway will be paved and 10-feet wide The City of Mount Holly was awarded $800,000 in Federal and State funding for the 1.2 mile segment of greenway, which will extend from the Municipal Complex to the exOfficials are seen breaking ground for the new 1.2 mile Catawba Riverfront Greenway that will isting section along the river in Tuckaseege be built in Mt. Holly starting in early 2016. Photo by Alan Hodge Park. The greenway will skirt properties of
Duke Energy, A&E, Clariant Corp. and the NCDOT Rail Division. During the groundbreaking ceremony, the companies were recognized for their part in the greenway project.that was years in the making. Project team members worked hard to finalize design documents and secure the proper permits and necessary easements for the greenway. The Mt. Holly Community Development Foundation helped greatly with planning and fundraising. see more GREENWAY page 2