The Old Dallas Courthouse, Dallas, NCGood morning Gaston County, it's David.Today is February 4th, 2025.It's supposed to be really warm today- hot even! Maybe a good day to have lunch on a patio somewhere... 

Tuesday's weather:Today will be mostly sunny and very warm..The high will be 77 ...yup, 77!Tonight will be mild with increasing clouds. The low will be 45.

Whataburger projected to open this spring

As we've told you before, Whataburger, out of San Antonio Texas, is opening four restaurants in the The Metro Charlotte area. The first is in Gastonia, and is expected to be open this spring.  The new restaurant is being built in the former location of Backyard Burgers, at 3415 East Franklin Boulevard.

A Bacon Blaze Jalapeño Double is on the menu at Whataburger

Floor & Decor coming to GastoniaFloor & Decor is evidently opening a new warehouse between Courage Kia and the old Kate's Skating Rink. A inquiry to the company concerning timing was not returned by press time.

Northlake Mall to be sold after allIf you're like us, we don't shop at Northlake Mall anymore, except to go to the movies once in a blue moon. The mall has had it's share of troubles.The mall has been for sale, and had acquired buyers, but two objections had been filed to block the sale.Judge Adam Conrad ruled recently that the sale could go forward. “The reality is that brick-and-mortar malls — locally and nationally — aren’t worth what they once were, having plummeted in value over the last decade,” Conrad’s motion reads.

Ted Hall and Teresa Rankin to receive Epic Award from the Montcross Chamber

Montcross Area Chamber announces 3 major awards

The Montcross  Chamber annually presents a Business of the Year Award, an EPIC Award for entrepreneurial excellence and the Harley B. Gaston, Jr. Public Service Award to recognize extraordinary community service.Business of the Year Award: Receiving the Business of the Year Award will be Duke Energy line and service workers who have labored tirelessly in difficult conditions every day since Hurricane Helene devastated much of Western North Carolina in September.The job of restoring power to more than 1.4 million customers fell largely to the men and women who set poles, hang transformers and string power lines.EPIC Award: The two people most responsible for creating the EPIC Award in 2011 will receive it this year.Former Montcross Area Chamber President Ted Hal and Vice President Teresa Rankin developed the concept for the award as the Chamber strengthened programs to encourage and support entrepreneurs.In the 13 years Ted and Teresa worked together as a team before retiring in 2020, the Chamber grew to more than 500 members. In choosing them to receive the award, the selection committee said through their leadership Ted and Teresa demonstrated all the attributes of an EPIC Award recipient.Public Service Award: The late Belmont Mayor Richard Turner gave all he could for the City of Belmont for as long as he could. He passed away in July after a short illness.For his many years of service, which began long before his election as mayor in 2023, Mayor Turner’s wife Marie will accept for him the Harley B. Gaston, Jr. Public Service Award. Mayor Turner served several community organizations before running for Belmont City Council, including Boy Scout Troop 56 at First United Methodist Church, Belmont Central School PTO, Historic Belmont Foundation and Belmont Historical Society..The reception, silent auction, dinner and program will be in the Grand Hall at the Mount Holly Municipal Complex from 5:30 until 8 p.m. For more information and to register, go to: www.montcrossareachamber.com.

Zawyer Sports & Entertainment is at it again-Charlotte is getting a new women's pro basketball team in 2026Zawyer Sports & Entertainment, owner of the Gastonia Ghost Peppers,  is adding another sports team to it's roster-a women's basketball team. Based in Charlotte.  the new women's team will be  part of the new UpShot League. Zawyer recently signed a three year lease deal with Bojangles Coliseum.The new team has yet to be named, but will play a 40 game season, with 20 home games. The inaugural season begins May 2026.Zawyer also owns the Charlotte Checkers.

First United Methodist needs volunteers for cold weather shelterFirst United Methodist Church announced their commitment to open a Cold Weather Shelter for our neighbors needing it when temperatures are 32 degrees or below.  The launch date was Friday, December 20, 2024.  The hours are 8pm to 6am.  Weather will be evaluated on a weekly basis and days to be opened or closed will be announced on Friday for the next week.  This signup is through 4/30 and includes all days since we don't know weather further in advance, but having volunteers set up in case helps us plan, background check and train in advance.  For days that you sign up and we end up not opening, you will receive an email that shift has been deleted and we hope you will switch to a different day.All volunteers must be 18 years old and are required a background check prior to first time of serving in the shelter for the safety of all and church policy.  An email will be sent to you from First United Methodist to complete.  It is a short and easy online form and done at no cost to the volunteers. Volunteers can sign up here.

The Gaston County Sheriff's Department has a new app

The Gaston County Sheriff's Department has a new app. The new app has staff contact information, inmate search, and safety information.  The app will also also allow people to add money to commissary and phone accounts remotely. Presently, friends and family have to drive to the jail and use the kiosk to do so.

Original owners to operate Mountain View Driving Range

After leasing out their driving range for several years, the original owners of Mountain View Driving Range have resumed control of the business.  They are open Tuesday through Sunday with varied hours due to daylight savings time.They are located at 4064 Mountainview Street, Gastonia NCMore

Feel like going to Florida?

Frontier Airlines will begin offering direct flights from Charlotte to Tampa in May, starting at $29

At Oak Ridge Dental Arts, we are dedicated to caring for your family as we care for our own families. With years of experience and state-of-the-art dental technology we help you achieve the healthy, beautiful smile you deserve. We ensure the best possible dental experience with friendly, personalized care in a comfortable environment. If you haven’t been to the dentist in the past six months or you are interested in enhancing your smile, give us a call. With one visit you’ll see why so many families in your neighborhood trust Oak Ridge Dental Arts with all their dental needs.

Miami Fusion Cafe

by  Richard Walker

No. 23-ranked Gaston College's softball team endured its first adversity of the 2025 season on Saturday in its first road games of the season.

After a 13-0, 5-inning victory in the opener at Caldwell Tech, the Rhinos stayed unbeaten with an 11-10 come-from-behind win in the nightcap.

The sweep gives Gaston College an 8-0 record this season with all eight wins coming against teams ranked in the National Junior College Athletic Association preseason polls.

"In the second game, we just weren't as sharp," Rhinos coach Mike Steuerwald said. "But we responded well"

After falling behind 6-3 and getting tied at 10, Gaston College freshman Savanna Mullins was the standout with the first three hits of her college career including home run and a game-winning RBI single in the sixth inning in addition to picking up the win with four innings of relief.

Other standouts in the sweep were Grace Kealy (4 hits, double, 2 home runs, 6 RBIs), Sarah Johnson (4 hits, triple, 3 RBIs), Katelyn Brandon (4 hits, double, home run, 1 RBI), Mary Hinson (4 hits, triple, 3 RBIs) and Kendall Bradshaw (3 hits, double, 1 RBI).

In the opener, Hinson started and combined with reliever Kristyn Ezzo for the two-hit shutout.

Less than two days after the highest-scoring game of the year, Gaston College struggled to regain its rhythm in the final non-conference game of the year.

But a strong second half led by the Rhinos' traditional balance sparked the team to an 85-78 win on Saturday afternoon over Central Carolina Community College at Gastonia's Ashbrook High School.

"It's always hard to step out of conference during your conference schedule," Gaston College head coach Benny Moss said. "But when you've lost your last home game, there needs to be better urgency."

The Rhinos, who improved to 17-3 overall, found that urgency after falling behind by 10 points twice in the first half and trailing 42-34 at halftime. The Rhinos would eventually take a 10-point lead at 81-71 with 1:36 to play before taking the seven-point victory.

If you haven't checked out Shelli's She Shed in Stanley- what are you waiting for!

Shelli's She Shed is a home decor boutique full of floral stems & arrangements and unique, vintage, antique, retro, farmhouse styles and the perfect gift items.New Hours: Fri & Sat 10am-4pm980-318-3816106 W Dallas Rd., Stanley, NC 28164Check us out!

ONCE UPON A MATTRESS: the zany and hilarious retelling of the classic fairy tale The Princess and the Pea opens NEXT FRIDAY!

Gaston Day School is a proud participant in the 2025 BLUMEY AWARDS through Blumenthal Arts.

Running Feb 7 & 8 @ 6:30 pm and Feb 9 @ 2 pm in the GDS Theatre!

Perfect for the whole family!

Tickets:

Reserved seating: $15 online only @ gds.booktix.com (http://gds.booktix.com/)

General Admission: available at the

door: $15 cash/check only

Hosting an event?Let us help you get the word out- purchase an event listing!

 Gaston County JobsRespiratory Therapist Supervisor, nights $80-$105 k, Production Builder 1st shift $18.50, Civilian (non-sworn) Gaston County Sheriff's Office $14.38-$27.08,  and more...Info...