Good morning, it's David. Today is Tuesday January 12th. We are off to a rocky start politically and virus wise, but this year still holds lots of promise. Let's make the best of it!
Today will be milder with increasing amounts of sunshine, and a high of 54. Tonight will be clear to partly cloudy, with a low of 32..
Covid vaccinations begin at Gastonia Farmers MarketLet Covid stop with you!Find out which group you are in with this graphic.Find out when and how shots are scheduled in Gaston County, or call 704-866-3170.Appointments are already scheduled for January 15th and 22nd. Appointments are open for the 29th.
Fences come down
Fences came down Monday around both the Confederate and Martin Luther King monuments in Gastonia. The decision was made to remove the fencing after Gaston County Board of commissioners Chair Tom Keigher consulted with local law enforcement and county officials.Keigher said he felt the fencing gave visitors the wrong message.
Samaritan's Purse opens field hospital in LenoirSamaritan's Purse opened a field 30 bed hospital in Lenoir last Thursday. This was in response to area hospitals being overwhelmed with Codid-19 patients. The hospital is a specialized respiratory care unit.
"This battle against COVID is really a community-wide and region-wide effort. Now, with the arrival of Samaritan's Purse and the personnel that they are bringing, it is a national effort. It takes all of us working together," said Laura Easton, president and CEO of Caldwell UNC Health Care. "My hope is that we get through this surge and have taken outstanding care of every citizen who has a need."
Where do you get your groceries?Wish we had a Trader Joe's?
Every year on April Fool's day some clever graphic designer puts a "Trader Joe's-Opening Soon! sign on the old Bi-Lo's building in Belmont on Facebook, and last year I fell for it. (That Bi-Lo's is where I met my wife!)Gaston County is not brimming with places to shop for groceries. There are two Food Lions near me (within 5 minutes) but not much else. In Gaston County we have Food Lions-pretty much everywhere. There are other grocers, depending on what you are looking for, but they are pretty spread out.There are two Harris Teeter's, one in Belmont and one in Gastonia.There are three Adis, one in Belmont and two in Gastonia. There is one Lidl; Wal Marts have groceries, as does Target. There is one Publix in Hoffman Village, and two Ingles, one in Dallas and one in Bessemer City.There are a couple of specialty food stores; Belmont's Specialty Foods in Belmont, and Organic Marketplace in Gastonia.Other than that there are a few independents-mostly on the West side, and two or three Asian markets.Take our survey: Where do you normally grocery shop? What grocery store do you wish you had access to?
It was already good- now Duke's mayonnaise is cool! After the Belk Bowl...err Duke Mayo Bowl, the Wisconsin quarterback dropped the crystal trophy. So of course the memes went wild on social media, and the Duke's Twittter account was up 53% and still trending.
Heirloom restaurant coming to BelmontHeirloom restaurant is moving from Coulwood to Belmont. According to our sources they are moving to North Main Station, which is the new building where the train cars used to be in Belmont. They are already creating a lot of buzz on FB!
15 people dead in Gaston County
Wear a mask!
15 Gaston County people have died of Covid-19 since last TuesdayWe have had 18,228 positive tests to date, and 278 people have died in Gaston County from the virus. 117 people are hospitalized with Covid, and 9 people are on ventilators. The largest group affected is ages 25-49. See interactive graphic here...
