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Volume 115 • Issue 34
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Wednesday, August 25, 2021
Cherryville school principals talk about “Back-2-School 2021” by MICHAEL E. POWELL Editor michael@cfmedia.info
Though they are four different people, the four principals of the Cherryville schools all have two things in common (and probably more, if the truth were known!), and they are: they are very happy to be back doing what they love and seeing kids get a great education. Let’s look at the schools one at a time. Cherryville Elementary Cherryville Elementary’s new Principal, Mrs. Audrey Hovis, said, “We are excited to welcome 18 pre-K students, 87 new kindergarten students; with a total of 359 students returning in person!” As for new teachers,
staff, or personnel, Mrs. Hovis noted, “We would like to welcome Mrs. Sherry Wilson to our Cherryville family as our new media center specialist, and Mrs. Windi Humphries as our new third grade Teacher Assistant. We would also like to congratulate Mrs. Geraldine Anthony on her retirement from school nutrition. We will truly miss her smiling face and positive energy!” Hovis continued, “To enhance our curriculum this year, our students will be introduced to iReady Math. This resource will assist in personalized learning for each student in math to help close possible learning gaps. We are also going to introduce Innovation Station this year. This will be added as an itinerant class
for students to enjoy. It is a hands-on curriculum that focuses on STEM activities, which are science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. We are super excited to see what our students will learn and build this year!” The COVID Delta variant will affect the school year this year, said Mrs. Hovis, who said, “Our school year will look slightly different this year as we all wear masks, practice social distancing, and have enhanced sanitizing procedures. My goal as a leader is to keep our students as safe as possible while showing them we love them!” As the leader of Cherryville Elementary, Mrs. Hovis plans to bring to bear her many years experience, See SCHOOL, Page 8A
Mrs. Audrey Hovis, Principal of Cherryville Elementary, with four of her students. They are all glad to be back at school, learning and being back with their friends. They are (L-R) Eli Christy (Ms. Katy Beam’s Kindergarten); Noah Beam (Mrs. Burgess’ 3rd grade); Mrs. Hovis; Maggie Day (Mrs. Hendrick’s 1st grade); and Mikki Jane (Mrs. Christy’s 3rd grade). (photo by MEP/The Eagle/CF Media)
City’s Finance Director Wall wins ElectriCities award by MICHAEL E. POWELL Editor michael@cfmedia.info
Cherryville Financial Director Dixie Wall was recently recognized by ElectriCities with their Public Power Rising Star Award at their Tuesday, Aug. 17, annual conference in Hilton Head, S.C, Aug. 15-19. Mrs. Wall was nominated for the award by City Manager Cash. Mrs. Wall, who was hired in April 2012, is a nine-year staff member of the City of Cherryville’s administration, said of receiving the award that she is grateful to have been given it, adding it is the first time s he has ever See AWARD, Page 7A
Bret Morey and son, Elijah, with their new Elijah’s X-Treme hot sauce vending machine. (photo by MEP/The Eagle/CF Media)
Cherryville City Manager Jeff Cash and City Financial Director Dixie Wall at the ElectriCities Annual Conference, in South Carolina. Dixie holds her Public Power Rising Star Award. (photo provided)
It’s back to school time for Gaston County Schools
Father, son hot sauce entrepreneurs expand business again
Bret Morey: “Our 2021 on-line sales will exStudents returned to class year with enthusiasm and learning loss as a result of on Monday, Aug. 23 to begin optimism and hopes of expe- the pandemic, schools will ceed $1.8 million” riencing a school routine that is as normal as possible while still navigating the effects of the on-going COVID-19 pandemic. It is the goal of all teachers and school employees to see students grow and thrive this school year, according to Superintendent of Schools W. Jeffrey Booker. Here is a look at some back-to-school information for students, parents, and employees. ▪ Academic achievement is a priority In an effort to mitigate
concentrate attention on helping students to build on what they learned last year. With a focus on small-group enrichment lessons and activities, teachers will be able to review materials and concepts in subjects like math and reading and personalize learning to address content areas where students need the most help. Schools also will offer various programs to support students socially, emotionally, and behaviorally. Additional highlights See GASTON, Page 5A
by MICHAEL E. POWELL Editor michael@cfmedia.info
Asked to describe their most recent move and expansion for their ever-growing hot sauce business at the ribbon cutting on Friday, Aug. 20, former Cherryville resident and Gaston County entrepreneur, Bret Morey, said simply, “We are blessed beyond measure!” And he is not kidding, as he described how their small, seven-person business started
2021
the 2021-2022 academic year On Monday, Aug. 23, approximately 29,000 students (pre-kindergarten through high school) and more than 1,900 teachers in Gaston County Schools returned to class at the district’s 56 schools to begin the 20212022 year. Students, parents, and school employees are looking ahead to the new academic
out with him, son, Elijah, and one or two sauce cooking pans out of their own home kitchen and burgeoned into what it is now: a large Gaston County-based company that markets its own Elijah’s Extreme Ghost Pepper sauce, as well as a whole family of other flavorful sauces, across the nation and the world. Their growth has caused them to move twice in the last year, Bret said. “For an old marketing guy like me, keeping up with the latest trends and how to reach folks, the world is a different place. Marketing today is unbelievable, complicated and yet extremely rewarding as long as you understand what
to do and how to leverage it. “I had dabbled in social media to the best of my ability and had some success. However, Elijah took a full-on approach. Being tuned-in to trends, social media platforms and what’s most popular and where the best audience can be found for our products and learning how to leverage that is no small task. “Elijah began taking over all the marketing while still in college. We agreed on a budget that began as a daily spend for ads and he began to craft content, pictures, headlines, create and edit his own videos, adding music and even voice overs. Then See EXPAND, Page 2A
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