The CSX going through Mount Holly, October '23. Photo courtesy of Travis Mackey
Happy Tuesday Gaston County! It's David. Today is January 9th..In this issue:* Why no baseball at Stuart Cramer?*Judge Robert Ervin says Confederate statue stays at Gaston county Courthouse^Muddy River Distillery in Mount Holly pushing for June opening*Belmont Trolley gets $1 million grant from the State.Today's weather:Today will be windy with rain,heavy at times, watch for flooding, with a high of 63.Tonight there will be rain, some heavy early in the evening, mainly cloudy and breezy, with a low of 38.
No joy in Mudville/Stuart Cramer
So what's up with the baseball field at Stuart Cramer? Stuart Cramer High School is a gem in the Gaston County School system...except for the baseball field. We are hearing that the facility hasn't been used in years due to a water problem. We got this message from a concerned taxpayer " A natural spring continues to keep left field and third base a wet mess. The retaining wall is failing, and the restroom and concession stand building have shifted."We spoke to a parent of a former player whose child played the last four years, who had this to say "Never played a home game there at all. Played at Sim's Park the past two years, and at FUSE the prior two years.".
So evidently this has been an issue for at least four years, and possibly goes back to initial construction in 2013.. This is obviously an expensive facility to continue to go unused, and requires the team to rent other facilities to play ball.We spoke to Stuart Cramer's Athletic Director Mike Patton, and he told us that based on the weather and other factors, they hope plan to play at home this season. (Spring sports start February 14). Sims Park in Gastonia remains a backup plan.Gaston County Schools has spent money trying to correct the situation, with new grading, soil, and replacement of some mechanical systems. Evidently a lawsuit with the civil engineering firm that designed the field was settled in the fall, and remediation of the main retaining wall will hopefully begin in June, or as soon as engineers determine that it is feasible.
Hey all you Sake fans...The Gastonia Sake is open again !
Judge Robert Ervin rules Confederate monument can stayJudge Robert Ervin has ruled in a case pitting Gaston County against the NAACP., saying that the Confederate Monument in front of the Gaston County Courthouse can stay.Gaston County sought a declaratory judgement that "the monument is dispute cannot be removed, relocated and/or altered in any way." The NAACP had sought the removal of the monument.Cutting through all the legalese, the ruling basically upheld North Carolina's "Protection of monuments, memorials, and works of art" laws, which pretty much says any of the above cannot be removed or altered in any way. There are exceptions for building or highway projects, and other mundane reasons, but none address the NAACP's core issues and concerns.Chris Thomason, a plaintiff and President of the Gaston County NAACP had indicated that citizens had shared "the negative feelings that arise when they see the Monument and other offensive relics that stand for the same bigoted beliefs".
Queens Feast-Charlotte Restaurant week January 19-28Queens Fast is back, and is featuring 100 restaurants in the Charlotte Metro area this year. Participating restaurants will have a Prix fixe menu from $30 to $50, per person, not including taxes and gratuity.Gaston County restaurants participating this year are:Barristers in GastoniaThe Bottle Tree-BelmontDrift on Lake WylieEstia's Kouzina-BelmontOld Stone Steakhouse-BelmontFind out more...
Opioid Forum at Belmont Abbey College on Jan. 25sponsored by the Rotary clubs of Gaston CountyWith deaths from fentanyl and other opioids rising rapidly in Gaston County and across the country, five local Rotary clubs have joined forces to host an opioid forum on Thursday, Jan. 25, 2024, at 7 p.m. at Belmont Abbey College. The forum is open to the public and there’s no admission charge. Featuring speakers active in the fight to save lives here, the forum will be in The Haid at Belmont Abbey. The address is 100 Belmont-Mount Holly Road. Coffee and soft drinks will be available after the program."We are holding the forum on the Belmont Abbey campus because college and high school students and their parents are among those we most urgently must inform about the imminent danger posed by opioids," said Whitney Norton, immediate past president of the Belmont Rotary Club, who has led in planning for the forum. "The more educated we become about these substances, methods to combat them and how to help victims, the more lives we can save," Norton said.Sponsoring the forum are the Rotary clubs of Belmont, Gastonia, Mount Holly, Gastonia East and Gastonia Evening.Norton thanked the Gaston Controlled Substance Coalition and Belmont Abbey College for supporting the forum.Speakers participating in the forum are: Diana M. Elliott, PhD, Chair of Human Services & Sociology and Associate Professor of Psychology, Belmont Abbey College. Michelle Mathis, Chair of the Gaston Controlled Substance Coalition and Director of Olive Branch Ministries, providing an overview of the opioid epidemic. Delton Russell, Recovery Specialist, Partners Health Management, speaking on mental health issues. Maceo Mayo, RHA Health Services, on substance use prevention. Andy Leonard, Chief of Police, Belmont Abbey College.Former Senior Resident Superior Court Judge Jesse B. Caldwell, III, will serve as master of ceremonies, and Whitney Norton will make opening remarks.The forum is free and open to everyone interested in learning about preventing deaths from fentanyl and other opioids.For more information on these and other forms of substance abuse, visit the Gaston Controlled Substance Coalition website at www.gcsctogether.org.
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Co-owner Robbie Delaney is pushing to open the Muddy River Distillery in Mount Holly sometime in June. After the $4 million renovation is complete. the facility will boast a craft cocktail bar, lounge, a restaurant and event space, as well as Muddy River's offices and production facilities.The Distillery also has 700 feet along Dutchman's Creek that can be used for concerts, festivals, and events
Belmont Trolley receives $1 millionThe nonprofit Belmont Trolley has received a $1 million dollar grant from the State of North Carolina.. The grant will be used construct a trolley facility and to restore and refurbish trolley cars.Phase 1 for the trolley route will be from Belmont to Belmont Abbey. Later phases may include travel to McAdenville, Lowell, Ranlo and Gastonia.The proposed station will house 3 trolleys, a museum and emerging technologies and innovation center, as well as a large event center.Find out more!
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As of December 4th, La Casa De Juli on Union Road in Gastonia is only accepting catering and meal prep orders. The restaurant portion is closed.
The Mount Holly Grill is closed for remodeling, but should reopen in just a few days.
Tampa Bay 9, Panthers 0
So, the Panthers lost again, 9-0, to Tampa Bay. The Panthers absolutely must get Bryce Young some help. He needs a decent offensive line, and some receivers other than Adam Thielen who can run routes and actually catch and hold on to the ball.The Panthers are the first team to be shut out in back to back games since 2008, and they are also the second team with multiple 15 loss campaigns.
The Panthers season is over...thankfully.
This just in:The firings will continue until morale improves...so now the Panthers are looking for a new General Manager as well as a new head coach. Genreal Manager Scott Fitterer was fired yerserday."As we move forward with the new direction for our franchise, I have made the decision that Scott Fitterer will no longer serve as our general manager,'' owner David Tepper said in a statement.As side note: former Panther's head coach Ron Rivera is out at the Washington Commanders.
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Gaston County JobsBelmont Echo Tech $3500 sign on bonus, Remote Child & Adolescent Therapist $100-$150k, Admin Asst Gaston County $18-$31 hr, and more...
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