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INSIDE ▼ United Way names new leader PAGE 2A Friday, March 21, 2025 • Vol. 25 • No. 11
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Company considers investing $7M in Monroe for consolidation MONROE – Union County commissioners awarded a $133,000 economic development incentive grant March 3 to Southern Electrical Equipment Company.
Headquartered in Charlotte with a satellite facility in Indian Trail, SEECO is exploring an option to consolidate all operations at a location that supports its current business with room to accommodate future growth. An available 109,000-square-foot building on 15 acres in the Monroe Corporate Center
is under consideration. If Union County is selected, the project would bring an anticipated capital investment of $7 million and secure 120 jobs paying an average annual wage of $64,000. “Union County is proud to offer an economic development incentive grant in support of SEECO’s potential consolidation to our community,” Commissioner Melissa Merrell said. “We are confident our combination of available skilled workforce, low
taxes, support from South Piedmont Community College and our top-rated public schools will result in an affirmative location decision by SEECO.” SEECO manufactures transmission and substation sectionalizing products for the electrical utility industry. “Precision manufacturing is one of the business sectors we target for recruitment, and SEECO is exactly the type of manufacturer we want in Union County,” said Ron
Union County legend’s life headed to the big screen
Clay Walker performed the Randy Travis hits “I Told You So” and “Forever and Ever, Amen” March 5 at The Grand Ole Opry. Travis and his wife, Mary, announced the biopic during the show.
Randy Travis was a Country Music Hall of Fame inductee in 2016 and CMT Artist of a Lifetime winner in 2021. He has sold more than 23 million units over the course of his career.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The life and times of music legend and Marshville native Randy Travis will be the subject of a movie, “Forever And Ever, Amen,” currently in development.
Travis and his wife, Mary Travis, will executive produce, alongside country music star Clay Walker. “We’ve been approached many times through the years about doing a movie … but the timing or team has never felt quite as good as it feels right now,” Travis said. “With Clay on our side, and the creative direction
Mahle, economic development director for Union County. “Our experience has shown that once precision manufacturers locate in Union County, they regularly expand their facilities, thereby adding to the tax base and creating more career opportunities for county residents.” CEO Andrew Panto said his company is considering many factors with its future location and expects to make a final decision by the end of the month.
he and the producers have, I feel good about telling my story through this medium.” Walker will portray Travis in his 40s and 50s in addition to serving as executive producer. “Randy Travis is the voice of a generation and one of the greatest country singers of all time,” Walker said. “I am truly honored to be a part of this project, and cannot believe I get to play one of my heroes.” Veteran film producer Eric Groth and writer/director Andrew Hyatt, of Sacred Arthouse, and Zach Dasher and Korie
Clay Walker will portray Clay Travis in an upcoming biopic.
Randy and Mary Travis share the stage at The Grand Ole Opry on March 5 with James Dupré. Dupré received a standing ovation for his performance of the Travis hit, “Where That Came From.” Photos courtesy of Cole Prine and Dawson Skinner
Robertson, of Tread Lively, are involved in the project. Hyatt will direct off of his own script. Anne McCarthy, Kellie Roy and Morgan Robbins, of Engine Casting, are searching for another actor to portray Travis around 9 to 12 years old and another at 20 to 30 years old. The arrival of Travis on the music scene signaled the “new country” sales explosion of the 1990s. Travis is a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame with 23 No. 1 worldwide hits, seven Grammy Awards, 11 ACM Awards, 10 American Music Awards and 5
CMA Awards. The film’s titular song “Forever and Ever, Amen” earned CMA awards as Single and Album of the Year when it debuted in 1987. It went on to be certified quintuple platinum. Almost 12 years ago, Travis suffered a debilitating stroke but he continues to release original music with the aid of new technologies. Travis was also back in his hometown in September 2024 to greet fans at the Marshville Chamber of Commerce’s Randy Travis Music Festival.
Tanner wins silver at Special Olympics World Winter Games
Waxhaw seeks community input for Downtown Master Plan
CHARLOTTE – Ashley Tanner was among Special Olympics North Carolina athletes to return home with medals or ribbons from the Special Olympics World Winter Games in Turin, Italy.
WAXHAW – The Town of Waxhaw will be working with consulting firm Boudreaux Group to update its Downtown Master Plan.
Tanner won a silver medal in the Level 3 Free Skating event during the competition, which was held from March 8 to 15. Other SONC winn e r s we re Tre n t o n D’Agostino of Watauga County (snowboarding) and Stephen Foster of Buncombe County (Alpine skiing). Nearly 1,500 athletes competed in the games. Tanner has been involved in Special Olympics since her days attending Butler High School in Matthews. She skates at Extreme Ice Center in Indian Trail.
Ashley Tanner impressed judges at the Special Olympics World Winter Games in Turin, Italy.
The three free skate medalists, including Ashley Tanner (left), share a special moment during the awards ceremony.
Ashley Tanner was one of three athletes from Special Olympics North Carolina to compete in the World Winter Games. Photos courtesy of Special Olympics North Carolina
The plan is a guiding policy that contains the community’s vision for downtown. It will establish a framework, strategies and priorities for achieving the vision. The Town of Waxhaw prioritized the Downtown Master Plan in its FY25 Capital Improvement Plan. This plan will focus on the vision and goals for Downtown Waxhaw over the next five to 10 years. It’ll include strategies for infill development, look at parking and streetscape lighting, and review accessibility and walkability. Information will then be filtered into a 10-year implementation framework, taking into consideration all partners that work in the Main Street District. The Town of Waxhaw and the Downtown Waxhaw Association are entering the research, analysis and public engagement phase of the Downtown Master Plan. The consulting team, steering committee, town staff and Downtown Waxhaw Association Board will host a three-day Master Plan Charrette from March 24 to 26. These three days will include opportunities for stakeholders, residents and visitors to share their dreams for downtown. The town will hold the following public input sessions: • March 24, 5 to 6:30 p.m. at Waxhaw Downtown Park under the large shelter. • March 25, 8 to 9:15 a.m. at Provisions Waxhaw. • March 25, 5 to 6 p.m. at Waxhaw Town Hall board chambers. • March 26, 3 to 4:30 p.m. at Middle James Brewing. An online survey will launch on March 24 with access at waxhaw. com and downtownwaxhaw.com.