Memorial dove release planned for August 26th

The Keystone Kops from Oasis Shriners Temple will be having a special memorial dove release for Ronnie Jonas on Wednesday, August 26 at 6pm in the Glenway St. parking lot behind Friends in downtown Belmont. Penny Briggs will be supplying the doves. Rain date is Sept. 2, 2020.
Money raised by the donations and 50./50 tickets will go to Shriners Hospitals for Children. There will be a DJ and entertainment. In addition to Jonas the event will memorialize Keystone Kops who  have passed including Patsy Norwood, Cris Oehler, Mike Gheesling, Paulette Edwards, Robert Grant, and Wayne Robbins.

Kennerly and Karns celebrate 50 years at Ramsey Products

Gloria Kennerley and Raymond Karns are both celebrating 50 years of service  at Ramsey Products Corp.  An amazing accomplishment! Gloria works in sales/customer service and Raymond works in the chain assembly/finishing department. They both started at Ramsey in early 1970. Gloria will be retiring at the end of August and Raymond has plans to retire in the near future. Gloria enjoys traveling and spending time with her husband and Dachshunds. Raymond is a semi-professional cornhole player. Ramsey Products is grateful for their work ethic and loyalty through the years and wishes them nothing but the best! Ramsey products is located in Belmont, NC and has been manufacturing silent chains and sprockets since 1923.     Photo provided
 

Book Bag Giveaway...

Thanks to Kintegra Health for sponsoring the Back to School “Splash into Wellness” Drive-Thru Book Bag Giveaway event. Nearly 1,000 book bags were distributed to families on Saturday, August 7. Everyone who attended was appreciative of the book bag, food and other items received. This is just another example of a great business and community partner that contributes to Gaston County schools.
 

Belmont Central Elementary

Belmont Central Elementary Coach Daniel and the PTO are working hard to create and paint fun new games on the blacktop! Thank you to Coach Daniel, Mrs. Smith, Holly Sass, Michelle Crawford, Martha Carter, and Sara Ernst and all other PTO members that came out or shared ideas!
 

Lynn Nichols of Gaston College wins 2020 Altrusa Award of Excellence
 

Lynn Nichols, Associate Dean for Health and Human Services at Gaston College, is the recipient of the 2020 Award for Excellence presented by Altrusa International of Gastonia. The award was announced in February at the annual Gaston College Employee Appreciation and Recognition Ceremony. The award was “in recognition of outstanding service to students and representation of the highest ideals of Gaston College and Altrusa International.”
The Altrusa Award for Excellence recognizes an outstanding Gaston College faculty or staff member who personifies the College’s mission, vision, and values. Nominees are judged on their involvement with Gaston College students and their positive impact on the students’ lives. They must exhibit an enthusiasm for life, concern for others, and a commitment to the concept of lifelong learning. They are also evaluated on their extraordinary accomplishments and contributions to the College, community, or other civic activities.
Penny Ewing, an Instructor in the Medical Assisting program, nominated Nichols for the Altrusa Award. Ewing said that Nichols is “the epitome of what a lifelong learner and teacher is. She stands above all others in her commitment to hard work and being committed to student success.”
Nichols is a first-generation high school graduate. She enrolled in the Gaston College Medical Assisting Program in her late twenties. The Department Chair at the time, Betty Jones, was one of her instructors. “She saw potential in me as a student that no one else had ever recognized,” said Nichols, “and she convinced me that I could succeed in college.” After graduating from Gaston College, Nichols enrolled in and graduated from Pfeiffer University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Health Care Management.
While working on her undergraduate degree, Nichols was given the opportunity to work as an adjunct instructor in Medical Assisting and then to become the full-time lead clinical and lab instructor. After becoming a full-time instructor, and with continued encouragement from Ms. Jones, Nichols obtained her master’s degree in Adult Education/Higher Education from Appalachian State University.
Nichols served over 15 years as the lead clinical and lab instructor in Medical Assisting and then became the Coordinator for Medical Assisting, a position she held for five years. She has been the Associate Dean for the Health and Human Services division since 2016.
“My educational philosophy includes the belief that it is my role as an instructor to provide a safe and respectful classroom environment conducive to learning,” said Nichols. “Students want to learn content that will be useful, meaningful and relevant to their life and interests. When teaching, I try to connect the learning content to life.”
 In her Altrusa Award nomination form, Ewing said that Nichols’ “hard work and commitment have been an inspiration, not only to myself but to others as well. I aspire to be to others what her example has been to many.”
“Knowing what the Altrusa Award for Excellence represents, I am truly honored to have been nominated for and to be a recipient of the Altrusa Award,” said Nichols. “I believe my receiving this award is actually honoring all the individuals who through the years have mentored and supported me in my education and in my career. I am an alumnus of Gaston College, Pfeiffer University and Appalachian State University, but without the education and opportunities that I first received as a student at Gaston I would not have the career I now have.
“I am so blessed in my career that it is important for me to make a positive difference in the lives of our students and in whatever role I am in as a member of the Gaston College family, because that is what I have received from Gaston College both as a student and as a faculty member.”
Altrusa International Inc. is an international community service organization dedicated to making communities better through leadership and service. Through the Gaston College Foundation, Altrusa International of Gastonia established an endowment to support the award in 1993, and the first recipient was selected in 1995. The organization also provides three scholarships to Gaston College students each year. More than $16,500 has been distributed through the scholarships and the Award for Excellence since the endowment began.
 For information on this and other activities of the Gaston College Foundation call 704-922-6511 or email gcfoundation@gaston.edu. 

Girl Scouts volunteer to keep Belmont Beautiful

These Girl Scouts are just one of the many groups that has come to volunteer with Keep Belmont Beautiful over the years. This year looks a little different, with new rules about staying socially distant, wearing masks and remote learning for some of our schools. Keep Belmont Beautiful is still here, still active with the Main Street program “Flower Power”, as well as targeted roadside cleanups that KBB volunteers are doing. If you as Belmont residents see an area that needs attention, please let KBB know either email or by phone. KBB needs you to be our eyes and be advocates for keeping our city clean. Keep Belmont Beautiful is located at 1401 East Catawba Street 28012. Phone 704-825-8587 or email keepbelmontbeautiful@gmail.com. 
 

New Fairfield Inn & Suites now open

The new Fairfield Inn & Suites in Belmont is now open and ready to welcome guests. The address is 1 Caldwell Drive, Belmont. The hotel is in the Mount Holly city limits, just off I-85 exit 27. The hotel has 91 spacious rooms with mini fridge and coffee makers. Over 1,100 sq. ft. of meeting space that is perfect for trainings and receptions. Amenities include a complimentary hot and healthy breakfast buffet along with outdoor pool and fire pit.

 

Tri-County Animal Rescue: Pets Of The Week

Due to COVID-19, all adoptions will be done by applications.  Once approved you will be contacted for a meet/greet and to complete the adoption.  If interested in any of our pets, please EMAIL tricountyanimalrescue@yahoo.com for an application.  
Tri-County Animal Rescue Pets of the Week are:
This is Arthur aka Sweet Boy. He is a 5 months old heeler mix. Arthur weighs about 30 pounds and will be a big boy as an adult. He loves belly rubs and snuggling. Arthur loves to play with toys and other dogs.  He is working on house-training. Arthur prefers a fenced yard for playing. Arthur is neutered, current on vaccines and micro-chipped.  Send for the application and ask for Arthur.
This lovely Border Collie mix is Jinx.  She is 2 years old and weighs about 35 pounds.  Jinx is a typical Border Collie that would be great for agility.  She is a sweet girl with lots of energy. Jinx loves wading in a pool, sitting on top of things and watching over her kingdom. She is very smart!  Jinx is spayed, current on vaccines and micro-chipped.  Send for that application and ask for Jinx. 
This big girl is Delilah. She is a Great Dane and Labrador Retriever mix. Delilah is 2 years old and weighs about 80 pounds.  She is looking for a home with no small children…. only adults and teens. Delilah wants all the attention and refuses to share. She is fully house trained and crate trained. Delilah is spayed, current on vaccines and micro-chipped. Send for that application and ask for Delilah. 
If you are looking for an addition to your family, please send that email and ask for an application.  Tri-County Animal Rescue will be available for scheduled meet and greets for adoptions by appointment ONLY.  
About Tri-County Animal Rescue
Tri-County Animal Rescue is a non-profit organization serving Lincoln, Gaston and other surrounding counties. We are committed to ending pet homelessness in this area and we need your continued support.  If you cannot adopt a pet, then support Tri-County in other ways. We need volunteers and donations to continue our mission of finding homes for these unwanted animals. Please help Tri-County Animal Rescue continue to save pets by adopting your next pet this weekend? Our “needs” list includes:  towels, Clorox, laundry detergent, paper towels, dry dog food and dry cat food.
 For more information, call 704.263.2444, send an email to TriCountyAnimalRescue@yahoo.com or on FaceBook at Tri-County Animal Rescue.  Donations can be sent to Tri-County Animal Rescue, PO Box 483, Alexis, NC  28006.

Ritchie Celebrates 8th Birthday By Giving Back To Tri-County Animal Rescue

Tenley Ritchie celebrated her 8th birthday recently.  She adopted a pet two years ago for her birthday and now wants to give back to Tri-County Animal Rescue.  Tenley decided to give gifts to the cats and dogs at the rescue for her birthday.  Just as she did last year for her seventh birthday, Tenley collected dog food, cat food, cat litter and other items instead of presents for herself!  Tenley goes to Belmont Central third grade.  Everyone at Tri-County Rescue wants to give Tenley a big Happy Birthday shout out! Tenley (on the left) and her sister, Mckenna, are pictured with the donations. Thanks Tenley!  

New Outdoor Art In Downtown Belmont

Luke Manlove, owner of Belmont’s Specialty Foods in downtown Belmont next to City Hall, has put a series of great looking archival photos on the side of his building. The photos came from Allen Millican and were applied directly to the bricks with a heat gun.
“I’ve had the building for five years and saw the wall as a big billboard,” Manlove said. “I plan on changing the pictures with each season.”
The photos went up last Monday and have already getting plenty of notice from folks.

See more photos in the July 23 issue of Banner-News.

Tri-County Animal Rescue: Pets Of The Week

Due to COVID-19, all adoptions will be done by applications.  Once approved you will be contacted for a meet/greet and to complete the adoption.  If interested in any of our pets, please emqail tricountyanimalrescue@yahoo.com for an application.  
Tri-County Animal Rescue Pets of the Week are:

A rambunctious Chihuahua/Dachshund (Chiweenie) mix named Peanut.  This little man is one year old and weighs about 12-15 pounds.  He is an adult and will stay small.  Peanut has a lovely tan/white coat..  The grooming for Peanut is very simple…bath and brushing.  Peanut is very much a puppy and has lots of energy.  Peanut is neutered, current on vaccines and micro-chipped.  Send for that application and ask for Peanut. 
A beautiful Papillion named Peppy.  This toy breed little man is four years old and weighs about 10-12 pounds.  He is an adult and will stay small.  The Papillion is known for their butterfly-like look with the long and fringed hair on their ears.  Peppy has a beautiful longer coat that is mostly white.  Peppy will need to be groomed more often due to the long hair. Peppy needs a home with adults and older children (14+ years of age).  He likes a quiet, settled home.  Peppy is neutered, current on vaccines and micro-chipped.  Send for that application and ask for Peppy. 
An energetic Terrier/Beagle mix named Odie.  This boy is six months old and weighs about 20+ pounds.  He is still growing but should max out at about 25-30 pounds. Odie has a short, tan/white coat that will be easily maintained with a bath and brushing.  Odie is very active and will need lots of activities.  A fenced yard will be needed for his exercise routine.  Odie does not like a lot of new people.  He gets possessive and will try to protect his owners.  A strong alpha pet owner is needed to keep him in line and provide the leadership he needs. Odie is neutered, current on vaccines and micro-chipped.  Send for that application and ask for Odie. 
 A beautiful Pomeranian mix named Bella.  This little girl is three+ years old and weighs about 15 pounds.  She is an adult and will stay small.  Bella has a beautiful longer coat that is reddish blonde.  Bella will need to be groomed more often due to the long hair. Bella needs a home with adults and older children (14+ years of age).  She likes a quiet, settled home.   Bella is spayed, current on vaccines and micro-chipped.  Send for that application and ask for Bella. 
If you are looking for an addition to your family, please send that email and ask for an application.  Tri-County Animal Rescue will be available for scheduled meet and greets for adoptions by appointment only.  
About Tri-County Animal Rescue
Tri-County Animal Rescue is a non-profit organization serving Lincoln, Gaston and other surrounding counties. We are committed to ending pet homelessness in this area and we need your continued support.  If you cannot adopt a pet, then support Tri-County in other ways. We need volunteers and donations to continue our mission of finding homes for these unwanted animals. Please help Tri-County Animal Rescue continue to save pets by adopting your next pet this weekend?  Our “needs” list includes:  towels, Clorox, laundry detergent, paper towels, dry dog food and dry cat food.
 For more information, call 704.263.2444, send an email to TriCountyAnimalRescue@yahoo.com or on FaceBook at Tri-County Animal Rescue.  Donations can be sent to Tri-County Animal Rescue, PO Box 483, Alexis, NC  28006.

GEMS Major Lisa Gunn Retires

Congratulations to GEMS Major Lisa Gunn on her retirement. Her determination and humble attitude impacted many people over the last 28 years. Best wishes for a retirement  full of happiness and fulfillment.

Belmont police visit Catherine’s House

Most importantly, they prayed together.
Catherine’s House representative reported- “We prayed that the centuries of hurt and anger of our black brothers and sisters would be heard and understood. We prayed that, as the amazing men and women of the Belmont Police Department continue to protect our safety and ensure our right to peacefully protest, that they too would be protected and safe from those who would intend to do them harm. Lastly, we prayed that our communities and nation would come together, in a similar fashion, to listen and understand one another. That, through these types of conversations, we would begin to see, and then treat each other with a level of mercy, love and humanity, never seen before in this country.”

Historic Belmont City Hall Building New Home For Montcross Area Chamber

After nine years in one of Belmont’s most iconic buildings, the Montcross Area Chamber of Commerce will relocate its offices to another in July.
The growing Chamber moved in 2011 from a one-room office on Main Street into multiple offices in the historic white-brick, two-story Stowe Building, formerly the headquarters of R.L. Stowe Mills.
The next home for the Chamber will be in the historic Belmont City Hall Building at 115 N. Main Street, just across the street from the present Chamber location.
The Belmont City Council unanimously approved a lease making it possible for the Chamber to locate its offices in the City Hall Building. Space for the Chamber is becoming available when some of the city’s administrative staff move into new offices being completed in what soon will become known as the CityWorks Building on Catawba Street.
“Working from this beautiful and historic City Hall Building will give the Chamber more visibility,” said MACC Board Chair Heath Jenkins. “We’re tremendously excited and grateful to the city for the opportunity to serve our members and the communities of the Montcross Area from this prestigious location.”
The new home also will enable the Chamber to be more effective in its economic development role and in welcoming visitors and newcomers to Gaston County, said Chamber President Ted Hall.
The Belmont City Hall is a historic post office building built in 1939. It housed the Belmont Post Office until 1970, then was converted for use as City Hall in 1973. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1995.
The Chamber plans to move into its new offices before the end of July.

Harmon Graduates With Two Degrees From Gaston College

Positivity and determination have helped Sharima Natasha Harmon pursue her studies at Gaston College. At the end of the current school semester, she will graduate with Associate in General Education and Associate in Criminal Justice Forensics degrees.

Harmon is a full-time student carrying an overload of classes and is a single mother to a 10-year-old daughter and a four-year-old son. She was pregnant with her son when she enrolled in Gaston College in 2015, but because it was a high-risk pregnancy she eventually had to withdraw from her classes. To further complicate the situation, she was taking care of her 92-year-old great-grandmother at the same time.

In 2016, Harmon re-entered Gaston College with a continuing education class and she hoped to be accepted into the nursing program. Science class credits she had earned during previous college studies had either expired or were not transferable, but she had high hopes that eventually she would be able to get into the program. “I attempted to go back to school in summer 2017, but had to withdraw again due to childcare problems,” Harmon said. “I came to the conclusion that taking classes while my older child was attending school would probably be the best course of action. I had to refocus and come up with a master plan.”

Everything changed for the better for Harmon in fall 2018. She was back at Gaston College, and mid-way through the semester she learned about the TRiO program, which helps students meet their educational goals. “Ever since I have been focused and successful,” she said. “They told me about all the resources available to me and that is one of the reasons I have been completing all my goals.”

In addition to attending to her academic and personal responsibilities, Harmon works two part-time jobs. One of those jobs is as a PRN Tech with CaroMont Regional Medical Center. A PRN employee works when called, to fill in for an absent employee or to cover a special situation. Her other part-time job is as a work-study student with the Gaston College Financial Aid Office.

The staff at the Financial Aid Office first got to know Harmon when she would come in to submit documents and paperwork to apply for aid. They were impressed by her optimistic outlook and drive to get her education at Gaston College. They learned more about Harmon when she became their work-study student and they found that her positive attitude and willingness to help were “impeccable.”

Harmon is also a cancer survivor, and pushed herself to work, go to classes, and be positive while dealing with another recent cancer scare and biopsy. “I kept pushing through and I have to say that the only person that can hold you back is yourself,” she said. “Every day I told myself that I could do it. I couldn’t let any obstacles stop me from being the best I could be for my children.”

Harmon will be back at Gaston College in the fall, starting the Licensed Practical Nursing program. She would like to combine her forensics knowledge with nursing to pursue a career in Forensic Nursing.

Bessemer City High School Graduate Wins Paul Fuller Mentoring Scholarship

By SEAN CORCORAN
Gaston County Schools

Chloe Lamtman-Dillon will tell you that her mentor shaped her into the confident young woman she is today.

She became involved in the Gaston County Schools mentoring program as a student at Cramerton Middle School, which gave her an amazing opportunity to talk to her mentor, Julie Watkins, about the struggles that were going on at home.

“Mrs. Watkins would always give words of encouragement, and I would look forward to days when I would meet with her,” explained Lamtman-Dillon.  “Having her as my mentor meant having someone who was devoted to building me up and steering me toward success.” 

The Bessemer City High School graduate is this year’s winner of the Paul Fuller Mentor Scholarship, which is given each year to an outstanding student who has been involved in the school district’s mentoring program.  The $1,000 scholarship is renewable for up to four years.

The mentoring scholarship is named in memory of Paul F. Fuller, who was one of the first mentors in Gaston County Schools and was an avid supporter of the program.  The program began in 1992 with just 10 mentors at Mount Holly Junior High School.  Today, it involves approximately 250 adults who serve as mentors at more than 30 schools.

“The amount of kindness and support I received from my mentor helped me believe that I have the potential to become the person I always dreamed of as a child,” added Lamtman-Dillon.  “Because of her, I pushed myself to set goals and become successful in high school.”

Lamtman-Dillon plans to study political science and criminal justice at Gaston College and obtain an Associate of Science degree.  After Gaston College, she plans to apply to UNC-Charlotte and pursue a major in political science.  Ultimately, she wants to attend Wake Forest University School of Law.

“Although I went through many things, I never let it affect my school work, and I always bounced back from anything life threw at me,” said Lamtman-Dillon, who graduated fourth in her class.  “With the help of my mentor, I became stronger.”

Bessemer City High School counselor Katrina Hopkins said that Lamtman-Dillon is an outstanding student who has been through quite a bit and pushes forward without complaining.

Hopkins added, “She is an exceptional young lady, and all she needs is a chance and opportunity to be successful in life.”

 Porter Is Global Music Fellows Program Fellow

Judith Porter, instructor of music at Gaston College, is one of 12 exceptional educators selected from applicants across North Carolina to participate in a unique professional development and curriculum fellowship program offered by UNC World View in partnership with Carolina Performing Arts. The program received financial support from the Carolina Asia Center. The UNC World View Global Music Fellows Program provided an interdisciplinary professional learning experience designed to enhance Fellows’ global competency skills and expand their pedagogical toolkits for integrating music into classroom instruction. The UNC World View Global Music Fellows Program culminated in the creation of teaching materials designed to integrate global music into K-12 and community college classrooms. The teaching materials accompany the original album, Wu Fei and Abigail Washburn, released by Smithsonian Folkways in April of 2020.

Representing schools, districts and community colleges from North Carolina’s mountains to the sea, the UNC World View Global Music Fellows engaged in an intensive study of global music and strategies for integrating music across the curriculum through this yearlong interdisciplinary, collaborative learning experience.

The 2019-2020 UNC World View Global Music Fellows Program culminated in the publication of the teaching materials that are now available on World View’s website   These materials are designed to support educators in teaching and learning about the album, Wu Fei and Abigail Washburn and, more broadly, the Chinese and Appalachian folk music traditions connected to the guzheng and the banjo. The educator materials include background information, lesson plans, learning activities and educator resources.

Judith’s culminating projects are entitled “Do You Hear What I Hear?”, “It’s Your ‘Thang’: Creating Your Own Musical Instrument” and “Kodachrome: Capturing Life through Music and Visuals.” Judith’s materials feature the songs “Four Seasons Medley: Four Seasons/Dark Ocean Waltz” and “Ping Tan Dance” from the album Wu Fei and Abigail Washburn. These materials were written for use in the community college music classroom. To find out more about the UNC World View Global Music Fellows Program, visit the program page at https://worldview.unc.edu/resources/world-view-fellows-resources-2019/.  Applications for UNC World View’s 2020-2021 Fellowship Program focused on Exploring Indigenous Cultures will open in the fall of 2020.