INSIDE... Obituaries ................. 5 Police Report ............ 7 School News ............ 3 Classified Ads ........... 7 Sports ..................... 6
Serving Belmont, Mount Holly, Stanley, Cramerton and McAdenville
Volume 79 • Issue 46 • Wednesday, November 12, 2014
75¢
Rail Trail back on track By Alan Hodge alan.bannernews@gmail.com
Contributed artwork
This conceptual graphic shows how the proposed Belmont Rail Trail would appear alongside N. Main St. and the railroad tracks in front of Sisters of Mercy campus. The trail would stretch from downtown Belmont to Belmont Abbey College.
After a lull, the Belmont Rail Trail project is back on track. The plan to have a walking trail situated parallel to the railroad tracks that go from downtown Belmont to Belmont Abbey College was the subject of a state-required public hearing at last week’s city council meeting. If everything moves forward, the Belmont Rail Trail will be built within the Piedmont & Northern railroad corridor between Belmont Abbey College on the north and the gravel parking lot on Glenway Street to the south. It will cross I-85 on the existing railroad bridge. It will cross Wilkinson Boulevard at grade, with pedestrian safety improvements designed at the intersection. At least that’s the plan as it stands now. Going back a bit, the Rail Trail idea dates to 2010 when Belmont officials and the NCDOT began talking about it. That same year, the city got a grant to study the project which is part of the Carolina
Thread Trail. In 2012, the study showed the trail could be constructed on the side of the railroad tracks. Last year, NC Gov. Pat McCrory signed a document giving the city permission to do the project. Other actions connected with the Rail Trail have included a “boots on the ground” survey by Steering Committee members on Oct. 11, 2011, and public input meetings on Nov. 10, 2011 and Jan. 10, 2012 at Belmont Abbey College. Last week’s public hearing was intended to take comments on the project and send those to the NCDOT. The city and owners of property where the trail will be built must sign a lease for what’s called “interim public recreation trail use” of the tracks. On October, 13, the city sent out a public hearing notification letter to 65 property owners that would be impacted by the trail. Three folks showed up at the hearing to render their comments and concerns. Two of the three, Erin Russell and Jim Morrison, See RAIL TRAIL, page 2
2014 election brings smiles and tears By Alan Hodge alan.bannernews@gmail.com
Voters went to the polls last Tuesday and office seekers were happy or sad depending on the outcome of their races. On top of the heap was the U.S. Senate contest between incumbent Kay Hagan (D) and N.C. Speaker Thom Tillis (R). In what was billed as the most expensive Senate race in history, Tillis defeated Hagan by a tally of 1,412,806 to 1,364,533. The Tillis victory, along with Republican wins in several other states, saw the GOP take control of the Senate. In the race for U.S. House District 10, incumbent Republican Patrick McHenry beat Democratic challenger Tate McQueen. McHenry received about 68 percent of the votes cast. The race for Gaston County Sheriff witnessed incumbent Alan Cloninger (D) retain his post for the third time by defeating Republican Jeff Bryson. Cloninger took around 60 percent of the vote. A lively set of races took place for seats on the Gaston County Board of Education. The nine member board will see three new members. In the at-large race, Dot Cherry defeated three other candidates and took over 50 percent of the votes. Retired Highland Tech principal Lee Dedmon beat incumbent Mark Stephens by gaining 47 percent of the votes. Catherine Bailey Roberts outpaced incumbent Kaye Gribble with 56 percent of the votes. See ELECTION, page 2
Photo by Alan Hodge
These folks, including Shaquil O’Neal, were at the Belmont Central Elementary polling place plugging their favorite candidates last week. Not being a local resident, plus being made of cardboard, O’Neal didn’t vote.
An electric shuttle bus for Belmont? By Alan Hodge alan.bannernews@gmail.com
Photo by Alan Hodge
City of Belmont employees Adrian Miller, Elizabeth Barker, and Shelley DeHart were enjoying the new benches installed in front of City Hall last week.
Belmont beautification By Alan Hodge alan.bannernews@gmail.com
Downtown Belmont and East Belmont have been getting some upgrades over the past couple of weeks. City Public Works Director David Isenhour has had his staff busy doing the work that began with creating concrete pads in front of City Hall. “You may have seen our
guys forming concrete bases around Main Street and East Belmont,” Isenhour said. “It's part of our on-going beautification project: we’re installing some much needed decorative benches around town for folks to enjoy.” The benches will be along Main Street starting
at Stowe Park and heading north to Woodrow Ave. Two will go in front of City Hall as part of a new court yard appearance that will also include dwarf rose bushes. “A few benches will be installed in the business district of East Belmont,” Isenhour said. “We’re installing more decorative trash and recycling containers in various locations like we put in last year as well.” Tree replacement is also part of the beautification drive. “Many or our old Zelkova trees that were See BEAUTIFICATION, page 2
A group of residents in Belmont would like to see an electric shuttle bus operating in and around town and shared that idea with the Belmont city council last week. The dream for the electric bus was sparked when a group of local folks took a recent Belmont Parks and Recreation jaunt to Chattanooga, Tenn. One of the people on the trip was Neal Winslow. “While we were there we got to ride and observe the area on a free electric shuttle bus,” Winslow told the council. “It went from one end of town to the Tennessee Contributed Photo Aquarium. The route went through the main street with A group on a Belmont Parks and Recreation trip rode an stops in every other block. It electric shuttle bus like this in Chattanooga, Tenn. and dewas wheelchair accessible. cided one would be a nice addition to the local scene. SevThe riders were of all ages eral of the day trippers approached the Belmont city council including blue collar, white last week with the idea. collar, elderly, and students going to college.” “There would be no gas or diesel used Winslow told the council that a bus like for this operation,” he said. that could connect East Belmont with the Winslow believes that since the bus downtown area and also carry passengers to would be electric, that state and/or federal and from Belmont Abbey College. money might be available for its purchase “This would eliminate the need to walk and operation. He also pointed out that across Park Street, Wilkinson Blvd., and the side of a bus makes a great advertising I-85,” he said. “It would also allow a way to venue. get to special events at the college and for “We would work with the merchants of the students to get to downtown safely. The Belmont, Belmont Abbey, as well as corroute could be easily expanded as needed. I porate sponsors to help with this plan,” could see this also being used as a shuttle to Winslow said. “On the Chattanooga bus outlying areas of Belmont to bring people to we noticed that there were numerous adverspecial events in the downtown area.” tisements on the brochure and on the buses As far as logistics, Winslow told the to defray costs. The ride was free but there council that an electric bus could be kept were donation containers on each bus.” in the public works garage at night for reOther folks on the shuttle bus bandwagon charging. See SHUTTLE, page 2