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Volume 114 • Issue 53
Wednesday, December 30, 2020
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Looking back on 2020 – The Year of COVID-19 A year of losses, quarantines, masks, stay-at-home orders; of lay-offs, a depressed economy, but also a fasttracked, much-anticipated vaccine by MICHAEL E. POWELL Editor michael@cfmedia.info
(Ed. Note: This is Part One of a two-part series looking back on 2020 and how we dealt locally with the COVID19 pandemic. It covers the first six months of the year, January through June.) JANUARY • As Cherryville New Year’s Shooters, Inc., Treasurer Rusty Wise noted, “There is always something new about their group whenever a ‘shoot’ is planned” or is taking place. Those new
things are rarely seen as they mostly involve insurance items or changes, or schedule changes by way of either adding stops or removing stops. • As Traditional New Year’s Shooter crier and member Gary Dellinger said about what’s new with their group at the beginning of 2020, “It’s hard when you basically do the same thing every year for the past 250 years, to come up with a new ‘spin’ for that story; to keep it fresh and new every year.” He noted there have been some changes over the years that have been made for safety, and to keep them up to date with laws and technology, but added they are still just “shooting guns and welcoming in the new year.” • The team members and coaches of the NCHSAA See 2020, Page 10
Members of the Cherryville New Year’s Shooters, Inc., group line up at the railroad tracks by the Heritage Mural on the building at the corner of Main and Mountain Streets in January 2019. (Eagle/CF Media file photos by Michael E. Powell)
Gaston County track one of 17 short line railroads $16.7M awarded grants The total cost of that project is estimated at $1 mifllion, according to NCDOT by MICHAEL E. POWELL Editor michael@cfmedia.info
According to a Monday, Dec. 21, media release from NCDOT’s Katie Trout, a track in Gaston County is one of 17 short line railroads that will soon be making improvements to their infrastructure. In Trout’s release it was noted that the Piedmont and Northern short line track project will “…complete construction of track storage and a second switching lead to a transload facility in Gaston County.”
The total cost of that project is estimated at $1 million, according to NCDOT information. Trout’s release continued, all of this is due, “… thanks to approximately $16.7 million in matching grant funds being awarded as part of the N.C. Department of Transportation’s Freight Rail and Rail Crossing Safety Improvement program (FRRCSI).” It was further noted the FRRCSI “…supports rail infrastructure health, safety and performance throughout the state, enabling NCDOT to partner with rail companies on improvement projects. This partnership helps railroads meet customer needs in an efficient and cost-effective manner while also preparing them for
growing service demands and partnerships with new businesses and industries across the state.” Ms. Trout’s information continued by adding that the projects will “provide more than $32 million in rail infrastructure improvements statewide.” In addition to the Gaston County short line track mentioned, the remaining projects awarded funding and their estimated total costs, including railroad matching funds, are as follows: • Aberdeen Carolina and Western Railway Company (total cost: $3 million) – The project will construct two phases of track spur and storage at the ACWR shop facility, construct two double-ended passing sidings See GRANTS, Page 8
Butch Boyd, Amy Butler, John Randall, and Sandy Homesley are all diligently cleaning the equipment at the Cherryville Family YMCA. This is an hourly routine at all the Gaston County YMCA’s in this time of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Cherryville ‘Y’ is hosting Open House Friday, Jan. 1, 2021 It’s a part of County YMCA’s “Resolve to help yourself, your neighbors this New Year’s” program by MICHAEL E. POWELL Editor michael@cfmedia.info
Short Line Railroad track located in Gastonia, is one of many short line tracks across the state, like this one, that have been awarded grants. (photo provided)
According to Molly D’Avria, Director of Advancement for the Gaston County Family YMCA, and the staff at the Cherryville Family YMCA, Friday, Jan. 1, 2021 will be a special day for the Cherryville Family ‘Y’. D’Avria said simply in a media release, “We are preparing for New Years at the Y.” The big deal that day, noted D’Avria, is that the Cherryville ‘Y’ is hosting an Open House that Friday, Jan. 1, from 7 a.m., to 2 p.m. “The community is welcome to
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Blessings of Peace, Joy & Health in the New Year!
come in to check out the ‘Y’ and work out,” she said, adding there is also a ‘No Joining Fee’ offer from that Jan. 1, to Saturday, Jan 9. “We hope people take advantage of this offer,” she said, as we are asking that this New Year’s, we all resolve to help ourselves and our neighbors.” Cherryville Family YMCA Administrative Coordinator Butch Boyd said, “As Molly said, we are doing our annual Open House on Jan. 1 2021, at the times listed, and anyone is welcome to drop in, tour our facilities, ask questions, get ‘demo’s’ or whatever, and if they join from Jan. 1, through Jan. 9, we will waive the $50 joining fee. “Plus, we will give them a $20 off their first months’ membership fee, that’s a savings of $70!” He continued, “If a current
member gets a new member to join, we will also give that member a $20 savings for their first membership fee in January.” Boyd said they will have invitations at the front desk at the Cherryville Family YMCA for their members to give out to prospective members in order to take advantage of this opportunity. He also noted the Cherryville Branch will not have any group exercise class on Jan. 1, but added, “Members can take advantage of our Virtual Fitness, and Health and Wellness Classes. They can take a look at these on our Gaston Family website.” Said Boyd, “We in Cherryville continue to follow the COVID-19 policies and protocols at all of our four locations and our number one priority is the safety and See Page 2
2021