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Today in history: Secretariat wins the horse racing's Triple Crown

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Today is Tuesday, June 9, the 160th day of 2015. There are 205 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:

On June 9, A.D. 68, Roman Emperor Nero committed suicide, ending a 13-year reign.

On this date:

In 1870, author Charles Dickens died in Gad's Hill Place, England.

In 1911, Carrie (sometimes spelled "Carry") A. Nation, the hatchet-wielding temperance crusader, died in Leavenworth, Kansas, at age 64.

In 1915, guitarist, songwriter and inventor Les Paul was born in Waukesha, Wisconsin.

In 1934, the first Walt Disney animated cartoon featuring Donald Duck, "The Wise Little Hen," was released.

In 1940, during World War II, Norway decided to surrender to the Nazis, effective at midnight.

In 1943, the federal government began withholding income tax from paychecks.

In 1953, 94 people died when a tornado struck Worcester (WU'-stur), Massachusetts.

In 1954, during the Senate-Army Hearings, Army special counsel Joseph N. Welch famously berated Sen. Joseph R. McCarthy, R-Wis., asking McCarthy: "Have you no sense of decency, sir? At long last, have you left no sense of decency?"

In 1969, the Senate confirmed Warren Burger to be the new chief justice of the United States, succeeding Earl Warren.

In 1973, Secretariat won the Belmont Stakes, becoming horse racing's first Triple Crown winner in 25 years.

In 1985, American educator Thomas Sutherland was kidnapped in Lebanon by members of Islamic Jihad; he was released in November 1991 along with fellow hostage Terry Waite.

In 1994, a fire destroyed the Georgia mansion of Atlanta Falcons receiver Andre Rison; his girlfriend, rap singer Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes, admitted causing the blaze after a fight, and was later sentenced to probation.

Ten years ago: President George W. Bush defended the USA Patriot Act, saying it had made America safer and should be made permanent. Italian aid worker Clementina Cantoni was freed after having been held hostage more than three weeks in Afghanistan.

Five years ago: The U.S. and its allies scored a long-sought victory by pushing through new U.N. sanctions over Iran's nuclear program, punishments Tehran dismissed as "annoying flies." The Chicago Blackhawks won their first Stanley Cup in 49 years, as Patrick Kane's overtime goal delivered a 4-3 win over the Philadelphia Flyers in Game 6.

One year ago: In a wide-ranging review, the Veterans Affairs Department said more than 57,000 U.S. military veterans had been waiting 90 days or more for their first VA medical appointments, and an additional 64,000 appeared to have fallen through the cracks, never getting appointments after enrolling and requesting them. Five American special operations troops were killed by a U.S. airstrike called in to help them after they were ambushed by the Taliban in southern Afghanistan. British comedian Rik Mayall, 56, died in London.

Today's Birthdays: Comedian Jackie Mason is 87. Media analyst Marvin Kalb is 85. Actor Joe Santos is 84. Former baseball manager and player Bill Virdon is 84. Sports commentator Dick Vitale is 76. Author Letty Cottin Pogrebin is 76. Retired MLB All-Star Dave Parker is 64. Film composer James Newton Howard ("The Hunger Games" films) is 64. Mystery author Patricia Cornwell is 59. Actor Michael J. Fox is 54. Writer-producer Aaron Sorkin is 54. Actor Johnny Depp is 52. Actress Gloria Reuben is 51. Gospel singer-actress Tamela Mann is 49. Rock musician Dean Felber (Hootie & the Blowfish) is 48. Rock musician Dean Dinning is 48. Musician Ed Simons is 45. Country musician Shade Deggs (Cole Deggs and the Lonesome) is 41. Bluegrass singer-musician Jamie Dailey (Dailey & Vincent) is 40. Actress Michaela Conlin is 37. Actress Natalie Portman is 34. Actress Mae Whitman is 27.

Thought for Today: "It's innocence when it charms us, ignorance when it doesn't." - Mignon McLaughlin, American journalist (1913-1983).


10 things to know Tuesday

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Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about Tuesday:

1. FALLOUT CONTINUES FROM VIDEO OF POOL PARTY AS PROTESTERS TAKE TO STREETS

The white police officer's actions against the black teen raised tensions and led to protests in a Dallas suburb, where some community activists accused him of racism while others urged calm until the facts are investigated. TEXAS OFFICER-POOL INCIDENT.

2. OBAMA SAYS HE HAS NO ALTERNATE PLAN IF SUPREME COURT RULES AGAINST HEALTH LAW

The president says it will be up to Congress to fix the law if the high court wipes out insurance for millions of Americans. OBAMA-HEALTH OVERHAUL.

3. NEW YORK PRISON WHERE ESCAPE OCCURRED HAD HISTORY OF VIOLENCE

It was supposed to be the beacon of a new reform movement, but today it retains an infamous reputation for brutality that ranks it among the worst in the New York state prison system. ESCAPED PRISONERS-THE PRISON.

4. JUDGE ORDERS RELEASE OF LAST 'ANGOLA 3' INMATE

Albert Woodfox has been in solitary confinement for more than 40 years after being charged in the death of a Louisiana State Penitentiary guard. ANGOLA THREE.

5. WHO ARE TRYING TO BRING CUBANS AND AMERICANS TOGETHER

Richard Blanco, Ruth Behar and other Cuban-American poets are launching a website that will feature stories, poems and photo essays from writers, scholars and celebrities. INAUGURAL POET-BRIDGES TO CUBA.

6. FIRST GAY COUPLE MARRY IN U.S. TERRITORY

Guam's first same sex union comes as the U.S. Supreme Court prepares its decision on the constitutionality of same-sex unions. GUAM GAY MARRIAGE.

7. IRAN PARTIALLY OPENS STADIUM DOORS TO WOMEN

A limited number of them will be allowed to attend Volleyball World League games in Tehran later this month, a senior Iranian official tells the AP. IRAN-WOMEN.

8. WHAT CLIMATE GOAL G-7 NATIONS ARE SETTING

The Group of Seven wealthy democracies reach an agreement that the world should phase out the use of fossil fuels by the end of this century. GERMANY-G7.

9. VINCENT BUGLIOSI HAS DIED

The prosecutor in the Charles Manson trial, who later wrote the true-crime book "Helter Skelter," was 80. OBIT-BUGLIOSI.

10. BRIEF FILM TAKEN BEFORE AMELIA EARTHART'S LAST FLIGHT SURFACES NEARLY 80 YEARS LATER

It is being released this month by a publishing house along with an 80-page book that documents her final journey. AMELIA EARHART-LAST FLIGHT.

Pregnant missing woman found safe

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BOONE, N.C. (AP) — A pregnant woman from Salisbury who has been missing for a week has been found safe in Boone.

The Charlotte Observer (http://bit.ly/1KSwzFR ) reports 49-year-old Carrie Bradshaw Crowther was found Monday afternoon after investigators tracked her ATM card to a CVS pharmacy. Watauga County Sheriff's Office deputies located her van on N.C. 105.

Crowther was taken to a local hospital for evaluation, but authorities have not given an update on her condition or said whether she has given birth.

Crowther had been missing since June 2. Family members say they were worried because she was nine months pregnant and due soon.

Maxwell joins Gaston Regional Chamber

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Ellen Maxwell recently accepted the position of administrative director of the Gaston Regional Chamber of Commerce.

For the past 25 years, Maxwell has been the co-owner/director of the Junior Assembly of Gastonia. She has also been heavily involved in community efforts, including:

Past member of Planning and Zoning Commission

Political campaign manager

Co-chair of the Heart Ball

Past president of the Gaston Breakfast Rotary Club

Extensive involvement in church, Junior League, Debutante Ball, Garden Club and the Gaston Regional Chamber

“I enthusiastically look forward to assisting Jeff Sandford’s unfolding vision for the Gaston Regional Chamber and promoting a better quality of life, in work and play, for Gaston County,” Maxwell said.

“During Ellen’s 40 years of Gaston residency, she has been heavily involved in city planning, civic leadership, political campaigns, and has been at the forefront of social, service, school and church organizations,” said Jeff Sandford, chamber president and CEO. “She will bring significant customer service and professional experience as a business owner and administrator to our team.”

In her role as administrative director, Maxwell will provide executive assistance to the leadership team while helping with strategic vision implementation. She will also oversee the chamber’s member engagement initiatives. “Through years of working in environments suited for kids and adults of all ages, assisting them in making some of the most significant decisions of their lives, I have discovered there is no substitute for preparation, planning, participation, connecting and networking in promoting the success of your endeavor. The chamber is the perfect business partner for that effort.”

Maxwell’s professional experience includes stints as owner of multiple businesses, real estate agent and marketing coordinator for health-care related facilities. She has owned and operated Junior Assembly since 1990.

The Gaston Regional Chamber has been serving the business community of Gaston County since 1913.

Work on hold at Robinson, U.S. 321

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The past-due construction project is on hold while the state Department of Transportation works out issues with Norfolk Southern Railroad related to a turn lane on U.S. 321.

Those issues could be resolved in the next couple of weeks and work could soon resume, said Jordan-Ashley Walker, a spokeswoman with the state Department of Transportation.

When the state closed the road in August, it had two goals: Make the one-lane underpass at the railroad trestle wide enough for two lanes and make adjustments at U.S. 321 to leave the interchange safer.

The state will spend about $860,000 on the project.

To make the interchange safer, drivers who want to head south on U.S. 321 from Robinson Road will first have to travel north and then make a U-turn, said Walker.

The state had to replace the more than 50-year-old railroad trestle for safety reasons, Walker said.

About 3,500 vehicles a day crossed between the Robinson Road and U.S. 321 interchange, according to state figures.

Between April 2005 and March 2010, the state recorded 22 wrecks at that intersection.

Three people died in those wrecks.

And half of those 22 wrecks involved “angle crashes,” where motorists were struck coming from Robinson Road onto U.S. 321, Walker said.

Work was supposed to be finished by late spring, but the completion date has been pushed back a year to April 2016.

You can reach Kevin Ellis at 704-869-1823 or twitter.com/TheGazette.Kevin.

Do you have a question you want The Gazette to help answer? Send your questions to Gazette Answer Man Kevin Ellis at kellis@gastongazette.com.

We See You: Arts in the Park (photos)

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(Photographs by Tammy Cantrell, Fine Artist & Photographer) Seen on Scene of the Arts in the Park at Gaston County Park in Dallas Saturday evening, June 6, 2015.

Who's facing charges? 06/09

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City of Gastonia Police Department

Bracey, Antonio Jermaine, 28, 412 Wellons Dr., Gastonia, 10:00 p.m., Trespassing, 223 N Myrtle School Rd.

Bratcher, Emory Arnold, 21, 1001 E Harrison Ave., Gastonia, 9:00 p.m., Fraud-False Pretenses/Swindle/Confidence Game, 3000 E Franklin Blvd.

Davis, Tineo Alphrazier, 36, 418 E Walnut Ave., Gastonia, 2:05 a.m., Robbery-Person and Drug Narcotic Violation, 702 Linwood Rd.                                                                                                                                      

Fernandez, Marien Guzman, 37, 1403 Quail Woods Rd., Gastonia, 2:15 p.m., Assault-Simple, 1403 Quail Woods Rd.

Hiatt-Railey, Kenneth Cameron, 22, 908 Rogosin Blvd., Lowell, 11:11 p.m., Drug Narcotic Violation, 1617 N Chester St.

King, Arthur Randolph, 51, 901 E Sixth Ave., Gastonia, 6:45 p.m., Drug Equipment Violation, 901 E Sixth Ave.

Knox, Brandon Earl, 21, 602 Glenn St., Gastonia, 10:56 p.m., Assault-Aggravated, 862 Barkley St.

Loftin, Uriah Loftin, 38, 2107 Withers St., Gastonia, 7:50 p.m., Disorderly Conduct/Disturbing the Peace, 2107 Withers St.

Mcclure, Darrell Darnell, 32, 281 S Rose Ave., Kannapolis, 2:54 a.m., Weapon Law Violations, 1721 Bessemer City Rd.               

Montgomery, Michael Eugene, 56, 122 8th Ave., Hickory, 2:54 a.m., Drug Narcotic Violation, 1729 Bessemer City Rd.

Snipes, James Ronald, 43, 1213 East Park Dr., Gastonia, 2:00 a.m., Burglary-Residential-Forced Entry, 1328 E Franklin Blvd.

Wilson, Wendy Martin, 38, 3506 Mitchem Rd., Gastonia, 7:45 p.m., Larceny-from Motor Vehicle, 1328 E Franklin Blvd.

Gaston County Police Department

Dickson, Johnny Rufus, 17, 317 Mountain View St., Gastonia, 7:50 p.m., Burglary-Residential-No Forced Entry, Larceny-Other and Motor Vehicle Theft, 2514 Cove Creek Dr.

Guffey, Danny Ray, 60, 4007 Applegate Rd., Gastonia, 6:15 a.m., Trespassing, Disorderly Conduct/Disturbing the Peace and Resist Arrest or Escape from Custody, 4007 Applegate Rd.      

Hutchinson, Michael Darell, 25, 2519 Stanley Lucia Rd., Mount Holly, 1:45 a.m., Assault-Aggravated, 2519 Stanley Lucia Rd.

Thompson, David Lee, 19, 1214 Rosewood Dr., Dallas, 3:51 a.m., Burglary-Residential-Forced Entry, Drug Equipment Violation and Larceny-from Building, 533 Old N.C. 277 Rd.

Gaston County Sheriff’s Office

No arrests reported.

A Polar Express to Christmastown, and more?

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A 13-mile rail line that runs through Gaston County is getting a different conductor.

Under new management, county leaders hope to see the Piedmont and Northern Railway thrive again between Gastonia and Mount Holly. They anticipate it eventually creating jobs and growth through a mixture of freight and tourism. That could mean carrying passengers on dining excursions, or Christmas-themed jaunts in conjunction with McAdenville’s annual December light display.

“Our main interest is economic and our second involves tourism,” County Commission Chairman Tracy Philbeck when talking about the vision recently. “We want (the new operator) to take the blinders off.”

That’s the expectation of Iowa Pacific Holdings, which has established a Piedmont Railway subsidiary here to operate the line. The N.C. Board of Transportation recently made it official by approving a lease agreement with the company.

Under terms of the deal, Iowa Pacific will operate, maintain and market freight service on the P&N. The railroad also may have the opportunity to provide tourist-related passenger rail services, according to the N.C. DOT’s Rail Division.

The P&N was built in 1911 and mostly runs north of I-85, through the city limits of Gastonia, Ranlo, Lowell and Mount Holly. A spur of it also extends past Belmont Abbey College and dead-ends in downtown Belmont. Plans are to soon run a trolley on that separate span that will ferry passengers between the college and Main Street.

 

Trying to rebuild steam

The P&N served as a passenger route between Gastonia and Charlotte for decades, then carried more freight. It had become largely unused when the DOT bought the unused 13-mile portion in 1991. As a result, the P&N is the only railway in North Carolina owned by the state.

By 2010, it was thought by most people to be abandoned. That year, Gaston County spent $500,000 and the state invested $6.5 million to refurbish the rails and crossing gates.

Patriot Rail, a private short-line company, signed on to operate the route and began operations in 2012, but couldn’t secure consistent business.

The P&N’s potential value on a freight level stems from its connection to the east and west with two major carriers — Norfolk Southern in Gastonia and CSX in Mount Holly. County commissioners hope Iowa Pacific will prove more successful at operating a short line and recruiting commercial uses.

Beyond that, they see immense, untapped potential in terms of tourism. Philbeck and others envision visitors boarding a P&N train decked out as the Polar Express, which transports people from Gastonia or Mount Holly to the Christmastown USA display in McAdenville.

Similar formulas have worked on other railways, such as one in Bryson City, Tenn.

DOT Rail Division Director Paul Worley said the state believes in the P&N’s promise.

“Our department believes that this rail line has the opportunity to be an economic driver,” he said.

You can reach Michael Barrett at 704-869-1826 or on Twitter @GazetteMike.


Plans on track for Belmont trolley between downtown, Abbey

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“Clang, clang, clang, went the trolley” has become an unofficial rallying cry these days in Belmont.

Plans are still on to put one of the old-fashioned rail cars into service in the city. And residents who attend a downtown gathering Thursday night will learn more about the venture.

“If it’s as popular here as we think it’s going to be, we think there will be plenty of demand,” said Assistant City Manager Adrian Miller.

Belmont has pondered establishing trolley service for years as a way of linking Belmont Abbey College with the historic business district. The most logical solution is to use a long-abandoned spur of the old Piedmont and Northern Railway.

The P&N tracks run in front of the college and cross I-85 at Exit 26 on their own bridge. They pass the Gaston County Visitor Center and traverse Wilkinson Boulevard, then continue winding south before ending at Glenway Street downtown.

The railway is owned by the N.C. Department of Transportation’s Rail Division. The city had already begun working with the state to install a greenway that will run parallel to the tracks. Then last year, Miller was approached by trolley enthusiast Rob Pressley. He launched a nonprofit known as Belmont Trolley that has taken the lead on bringing one of the rail cars here, with plans to lease the track from the state.

That has resulted in more productive collaboration, Miller said.

“As we get into the greenway project, the DOT will be making upgrades to the railway,” he said.

 

Fundraising push

Participants in Thursday’s meeting can drop in at any time from 4:30 to 7 p.m. and ask questions about the project. While there, they can also try out beverages from the local Rivermen Brewing Co.

Belmont Trolley Secretary Nathan Wells said the event will be both informational and promotional for fundraising and community support. Residents who live along the trolley route likely want answers, he said.

“We plan to answer questions and alleviate concerns in promoting the project,” he said.

Belmont Trolley is working to raise $25,000 to buy a historically accurate, 1913 trolley that was manufactured in Philadelphia, then used in Portugal until the 1980s. It’s now being warehoused in a streetcar museum in Canada, near Vancouver.

Shipping the 30-foot-long, 30,000-pound trolley here on a truck will cost another $15,000. The nonprofit has made a $2,500 deposit on the purchase and expects grants and other community support to begin flowing in soon.

 

Setting Belmont apart

 Once the trolley is here, Wells said it could be temporarily housed at the city’s public works department, if an agreement is worked out. Additional money will have to be raised for a railcar barn near the end of the tracks off Glenway Street, where the trolley can be stored each night.

Initially, the trolley will likely run between downtown and the Visitor Center, not actually crossing I-85, Wells said. It will be powered by an electric generator on the back.

The trolley can probably run as fast as 25 mph, though it would never be operated that fast in Belmont, Wells said. The DOT would tweak traffic signals to ensure it could safely cross Wilkinson Boulevard.

People love the historical appeal of trolleys, and you have to go as far as Savannah, Ga., Memphis, Tenn., or the nation’s capital to find anything similar, Wells said.

“Charlotte will have a streetcar soon, but it will be a modern one — not an older, historic one like this,” he said. “We think this is really going to set Belmont apart.”

You can reach Michael Barrett at 704-869-1826 or twitter.com/GazetteMike.

Want to go?

What: Belmont Trolley event

When: 4:30 to 7 p.m. Thursday

Where: 10 Catawba event hall, 10 Catawba St., Belmont

Why: Supporters of an effort to establish a functioning trolley between downtown and Belmont Abbey College will talk about the status of the project.

 

By the numbers

1913 - The year the historic trolley was built by J.G. Brill Co. in Philadelphia

$25,000 - Amount needed by Belmont Trolley to purchase it

$15,000 - Cost of shipping it here on a truck from a museum in Canada

30 feet - Length of the trolley

30,000 pounds - Weight of the trolley

1.5 miles - Length of the route the trolley will travel between Belmont Abbey College and downtown Belmont

10 things to know about Belmont's new Rivermen Brewing Co.

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Belmont’s new Rivermen Brewing Co. really got its start with a simple phone call.

But it was one the brewery’s co-owner, Pat Brennan, never wanted to take.

The former Bank of America employee learned just weeks ago in a conference call with higher ups that he’d been laid off.

“It was a position where I was always looking over my shoulder wondering what was going to happen next,” Brennan said. “But then you’re never really ready for hearing it when it does come.”

But that layoff just may have been the proverbial blessing in disguise, Brennan said. It allowed him to go all-in on the fledgling Belmont-based brewing company which had been in the works for more than a year.

His combination brewery and taproom opened in Belmont three weeks ago.

Here’s what you need to know.

 

1.       Yeah, the Brewery is just off the Catawba River, but that’s not how it got its name. It’s actually a nod to whitewater kayaking, which Brennan and his partners in the brewery love.

2.       The brewery and taproom is at 1500 River Drive in Belmont’s Riverside Complex. Muddy River Distillery also calls the facility home, which is one of the main reasons Brennan said he decided to locate there. The building had already been zoned for the distillery, which Brennan said made his startup process that much easier. The business is a little hidden - Brennan said he needs better signs to let people know where he is - but drive to the rear of the complex. A large Rivermen Brewing sign hangs near the door. Once you’re in the building, follow the paper signs to the tap and tasting room.

3.       It’s the city’s only operating brewery with an open taproom. Brennan currently has five beers on tap in the company’s tasting room.

4.       And they’ve already got taps all across the county, including at Grape and Barley, Brixx: Wood Fired Pizza, Southfork Deli, Market and Cafe, The String Bean, Glenway Premium Pub and Old Stone Steakhouse. Brennan said Sammy’s Neighborhood Pub could carry his beer in the near future.

5.       But he’s not through building just yet. Brennan said the company's current tasting area is only temporary. It’s building a taproom and ingredient storage area adjacent to its current room that should be done within six weeks. He’ll expand his selection of brews on tap to 15 at that point, and at least two will be reserved for guest brews like those from nearby Ole Dallas Brewery. The expansion will also allow him to expand his actual brewing operation from roughly 930 gallons of beer per month to nearly 2,500 gallons.

6.       Belmont was the only town he ever considered for Rivermen Brewing. Brennan said the city’s strong business climate and influx of Charlotte escapees made the town his first choice to build his brewery.

7.       For Brennan, brewing was a hobby that turned into an obsession. That’s the same story many craft brewers relate to, Brennan said, and he’s no exception. He started home brewing in the 1990s before later realizing he wanted to turn the hobby into something more.

8.       Because sometimes you get tired of meatloaf and mashed potatoes. That’s Brennan’s reasoning for why American consumers will continue to turn to craft beer that’s usually harder to find and more expensive than commercial brews available from the country’s big time domestic bottlers.

9.       Brewing is all about embracing getting dirty. That’s according to John Fulcher, a Rivermen Brewery employee. The early stages of the brewing process require a lot of heat. The temperature inside the brewing room can climb above 110 degrees, and they can stay that way for hours. And the company’s pilot brewing system requires near constant cleaning. Fulcher likened the life of a brewer to that of a “glorified janitor.”

10.   Small time brewing in little towns across the country is poised for a comeback. In the late 1800s, Brennan said more than 2,000 breweries dotted tiny towns all over the United States. By the 1970s, those numbers had fallen to less than 100, Brennan said. Legislation signed during the Jimmy Carter administration opened up the possibility of brewing your own beer at home, and the number of small time experimenters like Brennan has been slowly climbing ever since.

Reach Adam Orr at 704-869-1819 or Twitter.com/AdamROrr

What: Rivermen Brewing Co.

Owners: Pat Brennan and Jim Dandro, with a lot of start-up help from Dave George and Brian Aubin

Address: 1500 River Drive, Belmont

Call: 704-363-4698 or visit rivermenbrewingcompany.com

Gastonia's Crossfit gyms merge

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Gastonia’s popular No Quit Crossfit didn’t fold up shop.

The East Second Avenue gym just merged with a competitor, Crossfit Gastonia, last month, according to Michael Heafner, co-owner of Crossfit Gastonia.

The deal made sense for both organizations, Heafner said. Crossfit Gastonia exchanged its Posterity Court location in favor of more spacious digs across town, and gym membership and equipment access effectively doubled.

“Just the stress of running the gym basically by himself, the owner of No Quit was telling us he was thinking about closing his doors,” Heafner said. “I think we’ve put together a great team here at Crossfit Gastonia that could handle the management challenge that will come from this, so we decided a merger made sense.”

 

Up your intensity

The Crossfit brand has become a popular, if sometimes polarizing, workout option in recent years, Heafner said.

It combines functional movements — think exercises like squats, deadlifts, bodyweight exercises and gymnastics movements — in constantly varied routines that are designed to crank up users’ intensity level.

And you’re not going to find many machines at a “box” — the term Crossfitters use to refer to their gym. Instead, it’s about combining things like free weights, kettlebells, and slam balls with body weight movements to come up with to constantly challenge clients.

In addition to Crossfit Gastonia, the company has spawned a handful of local affiliate gyms in recent years, including locations in Belmont and Crossfit Kings Mountain, which Heafner co-owns.

“Intensity introduced in a smart way is a good thing,” Heafner said. “And if you’re working out in a group, you’re going to be pushing each other.”

But the national brand also taken flak in recent years. Heafner said some people criticize Crossfit’s programming as too random and its injury rate as too high, but he lays that at the feet of affiliate gyms that don’t stress proper technique and safety protocols.

Heafner said part of the beauty of Crossfit is that barriers to entry are relatively low. Aspiring gym rats can start their own Crossfit affiliates, for instance, after paying a $3,000 affiliate fee to Crossfit’s parent company and taking the company’s required Level 1 certification course.  Startup fees for gym space and equipment can run around $50,000, Heafner said.

 

‘Smart move for us’

The new combined gym now has access to some 5,000 square feet of workout space, Heafner said, and room for up to 30 crossfitters per class. During good weather, Heafner and crew can take their workout outside thanks to an additional 5,000 square feet of exterior space, he said.

 “I won’t lie. The move definitely represents another level of work for everybody,” Heafner said. “But at the end of the day our customers are going to have access to a much better product. We’ve got more room and now a bigger staff that’s going to allow us to take better care of our clients.”

Reach Adam Orr at 704-869-1819 or Twitter.com/AdamROrr.

What: Crossfit Gastonia merges with No Quit Crossfit

Address: 608 E. Second Ave., Gastonia

Owners: Michael Heafner, Bill Woods and Billy Wease

For more: 704-840-5742, or www.CrossFitGastonia.com

Woman shot by cop had drugs in her system

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The Gastonia woman shot and killed by a Gastonia police officer had several different drugs in her system the day she was killed. Betty Diane Sexton, 43, was shot by a Gastonia police officer Feb. 17 after she refused to drop a gun, police said.

The drugs, which included the painkillers hydrocodone and oxycodone, may have played a role in the actions that led to her death, according to the autopsy.

Sexton was shot by Gastonia Police Officer LaDonique Neely. Sexton had called police to her home on Union Road, telling the operator there were several guests at her home who refused to leave.

During the 911 call, the operator has difficulty understanding Sexton and asks her to repeat herself several times.

According to police and to Gaston County District Attorney Locke Bell, two Gastonia police officers were turning to leave after advising Sexton on how to remove the individuals.

Bell says Sexton told Officer Neely she wanted to show her something. Sexton went into a back bedroom and came out with a rifle.

Neely told Sexton to drop the gun, and she did not. Neely then shot Sexton in the chest, killing the 43-year-old.

Neely was later cleared of any wrongdoing and cleared to return back to work. She instead left the police department.

The bullet hit Sexton in the upper right chest and exited through her lower back. The doctor who performed the autopsy, Dr. Thomas D. Owens, described the injury as rapidly lethal.

Owens also describes a year-old gunshot wound to Sexton’s head, which left bullet fragments in her skull. The doctor states the gunshot was self-inflicted.

In all, five different drugs were present in Sexton’s system that day — hydrocodone, oxycodone, 7-amino clonazepam, Alprazolam and Tramadol. Three of those are pain medications and two are used to treat panic, anxiety and seizures. Sexton’s autopsy showed low levels of each drug in her blood.

Owens ruled the cause of death as the gunshot wound to the chest but said drugs may have indirectly related to her death by causing cognitive or behavioral impairment.

You can reach reporter Lauren Baheri at 704-869-1842 or Twitter.com/lbaheri.

Meth lab bust closes off street

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Gaston County Police closed off a street in High Shoals on Tuesday morning for a meth lab bust. Turns out the alleged lab — an example of what police call the one-pot method involving a soda bottle — was on the front porch.

Police say roads near North Lincoln Street in High Shoals were blocked while police investigated the alleged meth lab, according to Gaston County Police Capt. Suzanne Mauney-Smith.

No one was home when police arrived at 413 N. Lincoln St., High Shoals.

Police recovered a bottle on the back porch containing ingredients used to make meth.

No charges had been filed as of Tuesday afternoon.

You can reach reporter Lauren Baheri at 704-869-1842 or Twitter.com/lbaheri.

Know these musical guys?

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The Mount Holly Historical Society is looking for information from anyone who can identify this Mount Holly band from the 1940s. The historical society has three photos of the 7-man band. The pictures were donated to the historical society, but society workers don’t know anything about the musicians — except, of course, that the gents had a penchant for dapper dress.
One photo is dated Jan. 4, 1949, and another is dated May 10, 1947.
If you recognize any of the men, call the Mount Holly Historical Society at (704) 951-3046 or send an email to mhhistoricalsociety@gmail.com.

Grandson charged in February killing

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A 40-year-old man has been charged with stabbing his grandmother to death.
Chadwick Allen Bean is accused of killing 77-year-old Lucille Miller Punch.
Punch was found dead in her home at 482 Beth Haven Church Road, Denver, on Feb. 22.
Her son-in-law, Max Easley, found the body.
Easley had walked to the house around 1:30 p.m. to take out the woman’s garbage when he noticed the sliding glass door was open. He looked inside and saw Punch dead on a hospital bed.

Exhaustive investigation
Punch died from stab wounds and other injuries police will not describe. Investigators are not saying how many times she was stabbed.
Detectives launched what they now call an exhaustive four-month investigation into Punch’s death.
“The investigation took detectives to multiple jurisdictions as they followed up on possible leads in the case,” according to a news release from the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office.
“Chadwick Bean was a prime suspect early in the investigation, but investigators had to put together enough evidence to charge him,” the news release said.
Bean, 40, of 3187 Rabbit Ridge Road, Morganton, is currently in a North Carolina prison for a probation violation. He will be served with the murder warrant Wednesday morning.
His previous crimes include larcenies and break-ins in 2014.

Stepson a suspect
Easley and Punch’s daughter lived on the same property as Punch for nearly 20 years.
Easley spoke with The Gazette the day after finding his mother-in-law’s body.
He said he often took Punch to the grocery store on Saturdays, and she was always willing to come over to help with chores or whatever needed to be done.
Punch was in relatively good health, according to Easley. She was found dead in a hospital bed, but Easley said that the bed was still in her home from when she broke her hip a couple of years ago.
Punch liked to do yard work, and she adored her Chihuahua, Cocoa.
Bean is Easley’s stepson.
Easley said Tuesday evening he had just heard the news from the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office.
Easley said he’s out of town on business and has only spoken with his wife about the situation by phone.
He said they hadn’t had time to process the information.
You can reach Diane Turbyfill at 704-869-1817 and www.Twitter.com/GazetteDiane.


5 things to know about your new prosecutor

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Notice a fresh, bearded face at the courthouse?
Gaston County welcomed a new assistant district attorney Monday morning. Here’s what you should know about your newest prosecutor, Howard Wellons.

1. Wellons is 26, which makes him the youngest prosecutor in Gaston County today.

2. He was born and raised in Gaston County, graduating from Forestview High School in 2007.

3. Wellons graduated from Washington and Lee School of Law in Lexington, Va. He moved back to Gaston County after getting his law degree. “I felt like it was important to contribute to the area I love,” he said.

4. Wellons served as the editor of his college newspaper while he was in law school. Under his supervision, the publication won accolades from the American Bar Association.

5. The prosecutor position is Wellons’ first job out of law school. He makes the 14th assistant working under elected Gaston County District Attorney Locke Bell.

You can reach Diane Turbyfill at 704-869-1817 and www.Twitter.com/GazetteDiane.

Today in history: First execution resulting from Salem witch trials

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Today is Wednesday, June 10, the 161st day of 2015. There are 204 days left in the year.
 
Today's Highlight in History:
 
On June 10, 1935, Alcoholics Anonymous was founded in Akron, Ohio, by Dr. Robert Holbrook Smith and William Griffith Wilson.
 
On this date:
 
In 1692, the first official execution resulting from the Salem witch trials in Massachusetts took place as Bridget Bishop was hanged.
 
In 1864, the Confederate Congress authorized military service for men between the ages of 17 and 70.
 
In 1915, author Saul Bellow was born in Lachine, Quebec, Canada.
 
In 1921, President Warren G. Harding signed into law the Budget and Accounting Act, which created the Bureau of the Budget and the General Accounting Office.
 
In 1940, Italy declared war on France and Britain; Canada declared war on Italy. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, speaking at the University of Virginia, said the U.S. stance toward the conflict was shifting from one of "neutrality" to "non-belligerency." Jamaican-born Pan-African nationalist Marcus Garvey died in London at 52.
 
In 1942, during World War II, German forces massacred 173 male residents of Lidice (LIH'-dyiht-zeh), Czechoslovakia, in retaliation for the killing of Nazi official Reinhard Heydrich.
 
In 1944, German forces massacred 642 residents of the French village of Oradour-sur-Glane.
 
In 1967, the Middle East War ended as Israel and Syria agreed to observe a United Nations-mediated cease-fire.
 
In 1971, President Richard M. Nixon lifted a two-decades-old trade embargo on China.
 
In 1985, socialite Claus von Bulow was acquitted by a jury in Providence, Rhode Island, at his retrial on charges he'd tried to murder his heiress wife, Martha "Sunny" von Bulow.
 
In 1991, 11-year-old Jaycee Dugard of South Lake Tahoe, California, was abducted by Phillip and Nancy Garrido; Jaycee was held by the couple for 18 years before she was found by authorities.
 
In 2004, singer-musician Ray Charles, known for such hits as "What'd I Say," ''Georgia on My Mind" and "I Can't Stop Loving You," died in Beverly Hills, California, at age 73.
 
Ten years ago: President George W. Bush and visiting South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun pressed North Korea to rejoin deadlocked talks on its nuclear weapons program while trying to minimize their own differences over how hard to push the reclusive communist regime. Democrat Jim Exon, a two-term Nebraska governor and three-term senator, died at age 83.
 
Five years ago: Army Secretary John McHugh announced that an investigation had found that potentially hundreds of remains at Arlington National Cemetery were misidentified or misplaced. Nelson Mandela's 13-year-old great-granddaughter, Zenani Mandela, was killed in a car accident while on the way home from a concert in Soweto on the eve of the World Cup. The NCAA sanctioned the University of Southern California with a two-year bowl ban, four years' probation, loss of scholarships and forfeits of an entire year's games for improper benefits given to Heisman Trophy winner Reggie Bush.
 
One year ago: In a stunning assault that exposed Iraq's eroding central authority, al-Qaida-inspired militants overran much of Mosul. In a major victory for the tea party, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor was defeated by Dave Brat, a little-known economics professor, in Virginia's Republican primary. A judge struck down tenure and other job protections for California's public school teachers as unconstitutional, saying such laws harmed students by saddling them with bad teachers who were almost impossible to fire.
 
Today's Birthdays: Britain's Prince Philip is 94. Columnist Nat Hentoff is 90. Attorney F. Lee Bailey is 82. Actress Alexandra Stewart is 76. Singer Shirley Alston Reeves (The Shirelles) is 74. Actor Jurgen Prochnow is 74. Media commentator Jeff Greenfield is 72. Football Hall of Famer Dan Fouts is 64. Country singer-songwriter Thom Schuyler is 63. Former Sen. John Edwards, D-N.C., is 62. Actor Andrew Stevens is 60. Singer Barrington Henderson is 59. Former New York Governor-turned-media commentator Eliot Spitzer is 56. Rock musician Kim Deal is 54. Singer Maxi Priest is 54. Actress Gina Gershon is 53. Actress Jeanne Tripplehorn is 52. Rock musician Jimmy Chamberlin is 51. Actress Kate Flannery is 51. Model-actress Elizabeth Hurley is 50. Rock musician Joey Santiago is 50. Actor Doug McKeon is 49. Rock musician Emma Anderson is 48. Country musician Brian Hofeldt (The Derailers) is 48. Rapper The D.O.C. is 47. Rock singer Mike Doughty is 45. Rhythm-and-blues singer JoJo is 44. Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal is 44. Rhythm-and-blues singer Faith Evans is 42. Actor Hugh Dancy is 40. Rhythm-and-blues singer Lemisha Grinstead (702) is 37. Actor DJ Qualls is 37. Actor Shane West is 37. Country singer Lee Brice is 36. Singer Hoku is 34. Actress Leelee Sobieski is 33. Olympic gold medal figure skater Tara Lipinski is 33. Model-actress Kate Upton is 23. Sasha Obama is 14.
 
Thought for Today: "When we ask for advice, we are usually looking for an accomplice." - Saul Bellow (1915-2005).

10 things to know Wednesday

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Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about Wednesday:

1. SUICIDE BOMBER TARGETS ANCIENT TEMPLE IN EGYPT

Karnak, in Luxor, a city frequented by millions of tourists every year, is the latest target of suspected extremists in Sinai.

2. POLICE OFFICER IN POOL PARTY VIDEO RESIGNS

White Texas officer David Eric Casebolt was recorded pushing a black teenage girl to the ground and brandishing his gun at other teens.

3. WHOSE RELEASE IS BEING TEMPORARILY BLOCKED

The state of Louisiana is contesting a federal judge's order that 'Angola 3' inmate Albert Woodfox, who has been held in isolation more than four decades, be freed immediately.

4. EX-LAWMAKER HASTERT PLEADS NOT GUILTY

The brief court appearance is the first time the former U.S. House speaker has been seen in public since he was charged in a hush-money case.

5. REPORTS BRING HEAVY POLICE PRESENCE TO NEW YORK TOWN AFTER JAILBREAK

The search seemingly turned up no signs of two escaped killers, but authorities say leads continue and law enforcement officers will remain in the area.

6. WOMAN IS ARRESTED AND CHARGED WITH MURDER AFTER TAKING ABORTION PILL

However, experts agree it will be tough to make the case hold up in court.

7. WHICH CITY WANTS SALT WARNINGS ON MENUS

New York's Health Department is proposing that all chain restaurants flag products that are high in salt.

8. CUBAN ARTISTS PROFIT FROM THEIR COUNTRY'S GROWING INTERNATIONAL TRENDINESS

It's a demonstration both of Cuba's accomplishments as well as its economic difficulties after a half-century of communism.

9. HOW NEW FEATURES IN SMARTPHONES AND IPADS CAN IMPROVE OUR LIVES

AP's Anick Jesdanun says he's looking forward to easier multitasking, better maps and smarter voice assistants.

10. CAVALIERS TAKE 2-1 LEAD IN NBA FINALS

LeBron James scored 40 points and Matthew Dellavedova added 20, leading Cleveland to a 96-91 win over the Golden State Warriors.

Man accused of DWI in wreck that kills girlfriend

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A man is charged with drunken driving after crashing his Corvette and killing his girlfriend, who was a passenger.

Kimberly A. Hardin, 50, died at the scene of the 9:46 p.m. crash Tuesday.

Police say 65-year-old Dennis Taylor, of 2006 Puetts Chapel Road, Bessemer City, was driving west on East Main Avenue when he lost control of the car. The Corvette ran off the right side of the road, hit an embankment and landed in a creek.

Police say Taylor was speeding at the time of the crash.

Taylor was taken to Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte with life-threatening injuries.

Hardin and Taylor had been a couple for more than 10 years.

He has been charged with driving while impaired. Police are consulting with the District Attorney's Office about the possibility of additional charges.

Taylor has five previous DWI convictions, dating back to 2000 and 1993. Bessemer City Police Chief Tim Ellis said he had his license revoked at the time of the crash.

You can reach reporter Lauren Baheri at 704-869-1842 or Twitter.com/lbaheri.

 

Stanley remembers fallen hero

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Community members paid tribute this week to a Stanley man who was killed by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan four years ago.

Tuesday marked the somber anniversary of Lance Cpl. Nicholas O’Brien’s death.

O’Brien died at age 21 while serving in the Marine Corps, the first local member of the armed forces to die in the war.

Stanley Parks and Recreation Department Director Tug Deason remembers hearing the news.

“It was a horrible time for everyone who knew Nic and the family,” he said.

Deason said he and city leaders vowed to always remember the fallen soldier.

A memorial to O’Brien has since been erected in his honor in Harper Park.

Deason posted on his Facebook page early Tuesday, asking people to stop by and drop off a flower or flag in O’Brien’s honor.

The response was amazing, according to Deason.

By 5 p.m., the area around O’Brien’s memorial was littered with flowers, balloons and American flags.

“It’s been a great tribute to Nic, and deservedly so,” Deason said.

In the past, the town has hosted ceremonies of remembrance on the anniversary of O’Brien’s death, but this year they decided to keep it more low-key, Deason said.

This marks the second time this year that Stanley residents have taken to Harper Park in support of the O’Brien family.

The soldier’s father, Richard O’Brien, mows grass for the town. In April, Richard O’Brien lost a lighter his son had given to him before deployment.

O’Brien suspected he might’ve lost the lighter while mowing grass at Harper Park. For more than a week, people walked through the park searching for the lighter, some using flashlights and wielding metal detectors.

Despite their efforts, the lighter was never found.

Deason stays in contact with the O’Brien family. He said that the family continues to be overwhelmed by the community support.

You can reach Diane Turbyfill at 704-869-1817 and Twitter.com/GazetteDiane.

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