Good morning- David here. Today is Tuesday December 22nd. There are 3 shopping days until Christmas...
Today it will be sunny, with a high of 58, and zero per cent chance of rain. Tonight it will be clear, with a low of 35.
The vaccine is coming-can your boss legally require you to take it?According to lawyers and health experts, it is entirely legal, as long as religious and medical accommodations are made.Although many companies would prefer for the vaccine to be mandatory, it is unlikely that many will go that route. The State of North Carolina will not require a Covid-19 vaccination, although some companies may make taking the vaccine a condition of employment.According to a recent survey, only about 5% of companies will require a vaccination, 45% will not, and the rest are undecided.
This "present" with a bow on top is actually crocheted on four sides by ladies from Arts On The Greenway in Mount Holly. You can see it nightly on the corner of the Mount Holly Citizens Center on East Central Avenue.
Kings Mountain police officer shotKings Mountain police officer Frank Lee Whittington Jr was shot last Saturday night, as he was responding to a call on Downing Drive, near Kings Mountain Country Club. A resident had called about an unknown person on their back porch. The suspect then ran toward the country club, and at some point was encountered by officer Whittington.Police Chief Lisa Proctor said she spoke briefly with Whittington before he went into surgery.
“He’s very thankful for the support and the fact that he is still alive,” she said.The suspect, who was not identified, was taken to Caromont in Gastonia for surgery.
Read more here: https://www.charlotteobserver.com/article247986975.html#storylink=cpy
Gaston County drops lawsuit against Gazette, plans on pulling adsThe Gaston County commissioners are still at odds with the Gazette. On Friday the county said it plans to pull it's legal notices and advertisements, in retaliation for the Gazette reporting on alleged closed-door settlements. “Commissioners settled these claims without a record of a vote being taken while meeting in closed session,” wrote Gazette reporter Adam Orr. Mike Grygiel, an attorney for Gannett newspapers, owners of the Gazette said " It is unconstitutional... to retaliate against a newspaper by threatening to withhold advertising revenue."Gaston County commissioners have called the article “libelous, reckless, and irresponsible.”The move will most likely prompt legal action. It is estimated that the county spends between $70-$100 thousand per year on notices. Read more here: https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/politics-government/article247961850.html#storylink=cpy Read more here: https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/politics-government/article247961850.html#storylink=cpyThe move will most likely result in a legal challenge. The county says it spends between $70-$100 thousand a year on notices.
Hope you have already bought that Christmas tree....If you haven't already bought a Christmas tree, all that my be left to choose from is a Charlie Brown Christmas tree.This year, possibly because of the Pandemic, many folks rushed to buy a tree early. Also, as a Fraser fir can take ten years to mature,and the recession having put many growers out of business, the number of trees now available is limited. So that $90 tree may now cost $120, or even more. Can 2020 get out of here soon enough?
65 Years for Christmas lights in McAdenvilleThe tradition continues in McAdenville, although somewhat smaller due to Covid.
The lights are on daily from 5:30-10:00 through December 26- and it's free!
GSOA Friends and Family Campaign 2020 - 2021
Gaston School of the Arts is continuing its annual GSOA Friends and Family fundraising campaign with a goal of $20,000 this year to offset operating costs. Why do we need more funds? We strive to keep costs affordable for the entire community while still providing excellence in arts education. However, this year, funds are especially needed to offset the losses incurred by the COVID-19 pandemic. The student fees collected by the school usually cover approximately 63% of our total operating costs, so we must find other means of revenue for about 37% of our budget each year.
If you love the school and appreciate its work in the community, please join the supporters in the community who faithfully give a gift once or twice a year to the school.
SC firm buys Aberfoyle Village Apartments in Belmont for $21.6 millionPassiveInvesting.com has bought Riverside Flats at Aberfoyle Village for $21.6 million. There are 102 units, which means they paid about $211,674 per unit. According to PassiveInvesting.com's website, the company owns properties in Carolina, Tennessee and Texas.
Biden plans to tap North Carolinian for top postIt appears that President elect Joe Biden will tap North Carolinian Michael Reagan to lead the Environmental Protection Agency. Reagan would be the first African American to lead the EPA, and would inherit it at a tumultuous time.
Amy Adams, program manager for Appalachian Voices North Carolina, said Regan has “many of the qualifications and qualities of a strong leader.”
“In North Carolina, he inherited a fractured, demoralized agency that had lost the public’s trust and rebuilt it to be a more responsive, pro-environment protection entity that serves the public’s interests over corporate interests,” Adams stated.
Panthers GM Marty Hurney outThe Panthers are 4 and 10 for the season, and GM Marty Hurney is fired for the second time with the Panthers. "I notified Marty that we would not be extending his contract beyond the 2020 season," said owner David Tepper in an article posted on the Panthers website. "This was a difficult decision. Marty has been a valuable member of our franchise and there is no way to convey my level of respect for him. We sincerely appreciate his hard work over 19 seasons and wish him well moving forward."Tepper intends to incorporate a more data driven approach, while Hurney is considered to be more old school (Moneyball anyone?) There is some talk of Hurney going to Washington, where Ron Rivera is coach.
We told you a week or two ago about two new commercial buildings being built on Woodlawn near Belmont Abbey. Turns out Tribek Properties out of Charlotte does indeed plan to build two speculative industrial building on that property, totaling more than 600,000 feet, according the the Charlotte Business Journal.
Rumor is that Terra Mia is opening another location in Belmont
Word on the street is that Terra Mia is opening a new location in the former Peace and Hominy location behind the Belmont Drug Store. Also- Floyd and Blackies Bakery will reportedly have a cooler there with cheesecakes, brownies, cupcakes, cakes and cookies.I wish it didn't - but sounds delish!
Ice Skating is back at the Whitewater CenterSkate your trouble away.... 12-10 PM today.Details here...
Holidays at the Garden
Through January 3, 2021 from 5 to 9 p.m. Advance tickets available now.
One for the road? Yes, but...Governor Cooper signed an executive order Monday that allows consumers to purchase one cocktail to go. The drink must be inside a sealed container at all times during.transport.
Pet Supplies Plus now open in Belmont
Pet Supplies Plus, who operates 460 locations in 33 states, has opened at 608 Park Street in Belmont .That's the shopping center behind Wendy's and Starbucks.The
store will offer natural pet foods, pet toys, equipment and other items. Employees are trained in the areas of natural and holistic foods and are able to answer a broad range of questions about dogs, cats, birds, reptiles and fish.
It also features a self-service dog wash.
17 people dead in Gaston County-Families Heartbroken
Wear a mask!
17 Gaston County People Have died of Covid-19 since last TuesdayWe have had 13,756 positive tests to date, and 234 people have died in Gaston County from the virus. 102 people are hospitalized with Covid, and 6 people are on ventilators. The largest group affected is ages 25-49. See interactive graphic here...
