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Thursday, November 12, 2015
Ida Rankin Elementary kids dig veggies (literally) By Alan Hodge alan.bannernews@gmail.com
These members of Mrs. Johnson's class at Ida Rankin sorted the vegetables from their school garden. Photo by Alan Hodge
Home for Christmas is family’s hope By Elizabeth Stewart Brody Matthew Thornburg of Belmont, 3 ½, is one tough kid. Nine months ago he was a playful and a typical little boy who liked playing outside with friends with not a worry in the world. Last February he was diagnosed with Severe Aplastic Anemia and his life, according to parents Crystal and Brian, has become a revolving door of doctor's and hospital visits, blood and platelet transfusions and emergency room visits. For the young parents it's been hard to watch their son undergo such a difficult journey but Brody always bounces back. After every treatment and extended hospital stay his smile has never faded away. Young Thornburg underwent a successful bone marrow transplant Oct. 7 at UNC Pediatric Children's Hospital in Chapel Hill where he had been a patient since Sept. 22 “We're hanging in there,'' said his mother from telephone in their apartment near the hospital where they brought him home and are caring for their son. “He's living in a bubble for possibly the next 60 days and our hope is that we could bring him home for Christmas,'' she said. “We are so thankful that a donor was found for the transplant which saved his life and we want everyone to know how important it is for people to give blood and donate bone marrow,'' said Crystal. Aplastic Anemia is a blood disorder. While it is normal for blood cells to die – the lifespan of red blood cells is about 120 days, six days for platelets and 24 hours for white blood see more BRODY
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Vegetables grow fast and kids grow fast and those two principals came together last week when third grade students from Katie Johnson's class at Ida Rankin Elementary harvested the garden they had planted behind the school in early September. Even though the drought had given the garden a fit, recent rains and diligent tending by the children saw a bumper crop of salad greens, carrots, radishes, and other tender tasty veggies grow in lush profusion. The harvest was a multi-pronged assault on the garden beds. As one group of kids pulled and plucked the goods, another group sorted the various types of veggies into piles and cleaned them. After that, the bowls of stuff were placed on a picnic table where the kids lined up and made delicious salads out of the things they had grown. “The kids have been really excited about the garden,” Johnson said. “They enjoyed the responsibility and did an amazing job.” Student Hadley Womack called the garden project “really cool”. see more SCHOOL
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Election brings light turnout By Alan Hodge
226 votes, the late Steve Mc- an 808 to 262 margin. as write-ins. The Mt. Holly Clain with 53 votes and writeIn Mt. Holly, incumbent council race had three seats ins with 29 votes. mayor Bryan Hough got 560 and the top vote-getter was inBlame it on dreary weather Voters in Belmont also ap- votes with 160 votes tallied cumbent Perry Toomey with or whatever, but last week's proved a referendum to bring muncipal elections in Gaston an ABC store to the town by see more ELECTION page 2 County towns saw just 12.1 percent of voters turn out. That's 9,996 out of 82,605 registered voters. Poll worker Ginger Feimster was at the Belmont Central Elementary voting location and pondered the situation. “People will get out in the rain to go to the mall but not to vote,” she said. Nonetheless. The Belmont city council race saw incumbent Martha Stowe come out on top with 593 votes. Stowe was followed by newcomer candidate Doug Gadd with 572 votes. Incumbent Ron Foulk came in third out of the three seats up for grabs with 524 votes. Other candidate tallies included Brian Anderson with 404 votes, incumbent Charlie The Belmont Central Elementary polling place had over 100 voters by 10am last Tuesday. Flowers with 303 votes, LeVoter Heather Head is seen with poll workers Ellie Shank, Mitzy Bondurant, and Delilah land Jackson with 269 votes, Winchester. Claudina Ghianni-Toole with Photo by Alan Hodge alan.bannernews@gmail.com