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Volume 114 • Issue 46
Wednesday, November 11, 2020
75¢
High voter turnout as Cherryville; Gaston Co. go ‘red’ for Trump, Republicans All vote numbers unofficial until count is complete by MICHAEL E. POWELL Editor michael@cfmedia.info
In what has been described as the biggest voter turnout in recent American history or memory, the citizens of Cherryville, Gaston County, and the citizens of the entire United States turned out in record numbers to vote. We are now into Election Day plus eight, and, as of this writing, it appears we may have a new President in the person of the projected winner, at least by electoral standards and numbers, in former VP Joe Biden. However, not all the numbers are in and all is still unofficial in spite of which news/media agency or poll-
ing group calls it. That said, Mr. Biden’s projected win status is, as we all knew it would be, being contested by President Donald J. Trump, his staff, and the GOP party in the handful of states that were razor-thin calls on the part of the mainstream national media and according to many conservative media outlets and polls. Closer to home, and in addition to the obvious political races on the ballot, a “big ticket” item for the City of Cherryville was the vote on the bond referendum, essentially three items actually on the Tuesday, Nov. 3 ballot, all concerned with getting the voters of the city to have their say on three items: namely bonds for downtown improvement; bonds for water improvement; and bonds for sewer improvement. With all three of Cherryville’s precincts reporting in, the numbers for the
downtown improvement bonds was 1,612, or 56.23 percent for it versus 1,255, or 43.77 percent against the bond. That bond vote was a little closer than the remaining two; bonds for water system improvements, 2,139, or 73.89 percent for the bonds opposed to 736 (or 26.11 percent) against it. The bonds for the sewer system improvements was 2,140, or 74.02 percent, for said bonds as opposed to 751, or 25.98 percent, against the sewer bonds. City of Cherryville City Manager/Fire Chief Jeff Cash said of the vote outcome, “We are elated with the election outcome. The bonds for water, sewer and downtown were all approved by the majority of our Cherryville voting citizens. “We are also excited to get to work with the final drawings and bid work or the projects to begin. If See TURNOUT, Page 6
Chief Judge Chip Childers and poll worker Leslie Lopez check on the number of voters who have come in to the First Presbyterian Church polling place (Precinct 37) on Tuesday, Nov. 3. (photo by MEP/The Eagle/CF Media)
Cherryville’s Main Street For military veteran Garren, to host after-Thanksgiving being a Marine was and Holiday Market is a way of life Nov. 27-28 festive event to feature Arts, Crafts vendors and local merchants
GARREN: “Veteran’s Day is a day all service men and women should be recognized and remembered for their service!”
by MICHAEL E. POWELL Editor michael@cfmedia.info
In spite of all the pandemic has thrown at us, people still want to try and get on with “life, as usual!” To that end, Downtown Director David Day and the Cherryville Chamber staff have sent out a recent media release to let townsfolk know about an upcoming two-day shopping experience for the after-Thanksgiving “Black Friday” shoppers. Mr. Day noted, in the release, “Downtown Cherryville will host (its) first Main Street Holiday Market and Small Business Weekend on Friday, Nov. 27, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and on Saturday, Nov. 28, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.” He continued, “We’ll have vendors selling all sorts of handcrafted gifts for Christmas, and our Main Street merchants are participating and offering specials. “So, we’re also billing the event as a ‘Small Busi-
by MICHAEL E. POWELL Editor michael@cfmedia.info
A brightly hued “Cherryville – Where Life Blossoms” banner attached to one of the downtown’s iconic lamp posts during last year’s Christmas holiday shopping season. (photo provided)
ness Weekend’.” To add to the festivities, Day added there will be baked goods, coffee, tea, and cider for sale, as well. “We think we’ll have a great atmosphere for our guests,” said Day. “As always, we’ll have our Main Street decked out in Christmas decorations.” Chamber President Mary Beth Tackett said, “We are so excited about this event! We have been looking for a way to join merchants on Small Business weekend
and this was the perfect idea. “Between our event vendors and our merchants, downtown Cherryville will be a one-stop shop for all of your Christmas shopping needs.” Day noted the vendors will be set up at the Cherryville Chamber of Commerce parking lot on Main Street. He continued, “Adding to the atmosphere, the nearby and newly renovated See MARKET, Page 6
Serving others and giving back to one’s country and community seems to be in the blood of the many men and women who have served, and still serve in America’s armed forces. When their time of active service is up, for the most part those same vigilant servants tend to gravitate toward public service careers in either law enforcement or a continuation of their government service. Such is the case with retired Cherryville Police Senior Patrol Officer Dell Garren. Garren, 54, was a freshfaced teenager of 17 when he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in August of 1984. He graduated from Cherryville High School in 1985, and on Dec. 2, of that year was sent to boot camp. Garren, who, like many Americans, has a rich heritage of family members who also served their country, serving with such distinguished combat companies like the 82nd Airborne in WWII, or in Korea. “My dad, Jack, was in
As a very young but very serious 19-year-old Marine, Cherryville’s Dell Garren gives the camera a tough glare as he gets his military photo made in his dress blues.
the Navy for four years, then was in the Air Force for 18 years,” said Dell. His father passed away, he said, on Feb. 9, 2015. Though some Marines describe themselves as “Retired Marines” Garren prefers to call himself a non-active duty Marine. “I feel like you’re either an active duty Marine or a non-active duty Marine,” he said, adding, “once a Marine; always a Marine!” Garren served with the 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, from 1985 until 1993, being sent to far-away places like Japan, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Korea and Okinawa. See VETERAN, Page 2
Marine Dell Garren (second from left) with his Fire Team on board the troop carrier, U.S.S. Denver (LPD-9), en route to their overseas deployment. With Garren are fellow Marines Lance Corporal Mark Rafet; Lance Corporal Ernest Villareal; and Lance Corporal Barella (no first name available). (photos provided)
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