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Volume 115 • Issue 40
75¢
Wednesday, October 6, 2021
Saint John’s Lutheran Church of Cherryville’s new pastor, Rev. G. Scott Homesley, at the pulpit. (photo by MEP/The Eagle/CF Media)
Rev. Homesley new pastor at St. John’s Lutheran Church Pastor Homesley: “I love the feeling of coming home to Cherryville and ministering!” by MICHAEL E. POWELL Editor michael@cfmedia.info
Just like St. Paul, the Apostle, many men and women of God who are called into His service often find the pathway takes them to many other places in their lives before they actually wind up standing behind a pulpit preaching His gospel. Such was the case with the Rev. G. Scott Homesley, Saint John’s Lutheran Church’s new pastor. Though
born and raised in Cherryville, Rev. Homesley’s road to service in Christ has had a couple of turns at being what he calls a “second career pastor.” A 1978 graduate of Cherryville High School and trombonist in the CHS band, Rev. Homesley said, “I originally wanted to be a band director because I love music.” Though wishing to attend East Carolina University and get involved in their band, things didn’t work out as he wished. He was invited by a couple of Lenoir-Rhyne faculty members to visit their campus and look at their music program. He did, and fell in love with the university and its culture. The Eagle See PASTOR, Page 10
Hall of Fame committee members who were present at the event were Jerry Hudson (President), Scott Harrill (Vice-President), Mike Powell (Treasurer), Dennis Tate, Danny Eaker (Secretary), Calvin Hastings, Dr. Bud Black, Al Graves, and Dr. Floyd Wright. Not present due to other commitments were Larry Sipe and Rocky Bennett. (photo by MEP/The Eagle/CF Media)
Cherryville Hall of Fame Sports Banquet inducts 10 new members 1985 CHS Basketball State Championship team also inducted by MICHAEL E. POWELL Editor michael@cfmedia.info
At the Saturday, Oct. 2, Cherryville Sports Hall of Fame induction banquet, 10
individuals and one sports team from CHS were honored by a large crowd of family and well-wishers. The 6 p.m., dinner was held at Cherryville’s First Baptist Church COC. The crowd was regaled by guest speaker and 1994 Duke Basketball Hall of Fame inductee, Gene Banks. Banks was part of the 1977-
1978 team that reached the NCAA Championship that year, according to his short “bio”. Banks also played two seasons in the NBA, continuing his pro career in Italy and Israel. In his introduction, Hall of Fame Committee member Calvin Hastings, himself a 2002 Cherryville Sports Hall of Fame mem-
ber, noted that Banks “… coached in the NBA with the Washington Wizards,” and is currently the Athletics Director for Gaston College and their new team, the Rhinos. Banks is also special assistant to Gaston College President, Dr. Hauser, said Hastings. Hall of Fame committee See BANQUET, Page 9
JCMS teacher nominated for GCS Leadership Academy Meghann Sneed one of 14 nominated for school administration program by MICHAEL E. POWELL Editor michael@cfmedia.info
With the recent Lincoln County Schools new mask-optional policy in place, some students wore masks and some didn’t during the West Lincoln High School college fair in Vale. (photo courtesy of Lincoln County Schools)
Judge says:
NC school boards don’t have to mandate masks Parents and Disability Rights NC lose ruling in lawsuit against Lincoln County’s school board over mask-optional policy by KATE MARTIN Carolina Public Press
The Lincoln County Board of Education may con-
tinue its mask-optional policy throughout its school district, a judge ruled Thursday afternoon, Sept. 30. Superior Court Judge James Morgan declined to issue a temporary restraining order that would require the district to enforce a mask mandate for students, staff and visitors to their schools. Masks became optional for students in the district on Wednesday, Sept. 29, after a 4-3 vote by the board earlier in the month. Parents of 13 See MASKS, Page 6
John Chavis Middle School teacher, Meghann Britton Sneed, is one of 14 Gaston County Schools’ finest to be nominated to the Superintendent’s Leadership Academy. Sneed, 30, is a 7th-grade Math and Science teacher at the Cherryville middle school and has been a teacher for five years, she said, having first taught for three years at Belmont Central Elementary School before coming to Chavis. She said she is “happy to have been nominated” and is looking forward to growing and going forward as an education professional. Mrs. Sneed comes from a family of educators as her mother and father both teach in Cherryville school: her mom, Lara Britton, is a current 5th-grade teacher at W.B. Blaine Beam Intermediate and her father, Jeff Britton, has worked for Gaston County schools for several years. Meghann noted, “My
John Chavis Middle School 7th-grade Math and Science teacher Meghann Sneed will soon be attending the Superintendent’s Leadership Academy at Gardner-Webb University. (photos by MEP/The Eagle/CF Media) dad is currently is a Pre-Kindergarten Assistant at Cherryville Elementary, and husband, Josh Sneed is an EC Assistant at W.B. Beam Intermediate as well.” She and her husband have been married for almost four years now, she said, adding, “We have a 2-year-old little boy, Jude. We also have a pug, Karl. We love to take walks in our neighborhood and be outside.” Additionally, Mrs. Sneed said her grandmother, Penny Buff, is a retired high
school English teacher who taught at Bessemer City High School for a number of years. Sneed noted she was informed of the nomination to the Leadership Academy via a letter from Dr. Melissa Wilson Balknight, Associate Superintendent of Academic Services of Gaston County Schools. In that letter, Dr. Balknight stated GCS “…looks forward to having (Sneed) among the 14 teachers who will complete the master’s degree program in school
administration through Gardner-Webb University. Furthermore, we anticipate having you prepared to be an administrator in our school district within the next two years.” The school system told Sneed they were very impressed with her credentials and achievements in education as well as her eagerness to become a school administrator in the county. The letter to Mrs. Sneed closed with these words, “We are confident that this See JCMS, Page 10
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