MONROE – Union County commissioners convened April 20 for the first time since the resignation and passing of Gary Sides.
The public servant resigned from the board March 31 as he battled brain cancer. Sides revealed in his resignation letter that he was diagnosed with stage IV Glioblastoma after four months in office.
“My treatment plan has included brain surgery to remove as much of the tumor as possible, an intensive three-week round of high dosage radiation and chemotherapy, and continues with infusions every two weeks to fight this disease,” Sides wrote. “I am, thankfully, stable and have held out hope that I could remain productive in my work on the board of commissioners.”
Sides resigned at the advice of his care team. He passed away April 7.
Flowers were placed in front of Sides’ empty seat. Colleagues spent several minutes at the start of the meeting reflecting on his life and passion for public service.
“He was always positive and full of hope and I think that’s the one thing that’s broken my heart because he wanted to work on this board so badly,” Merrell said during the
meeting. “He only got like four or five months in, before he had to call and let me know about the diagnosis.”
Chairman Brian Helms said the board would not accept nominations for a replacement during the April 20 meeting out of respect for Sides and his family. State statute requires the board select a successor within 60 days.
The county faced similar circumstances with the passing of Stony Rushing on Aug. 8, 2023. Brian Helms and Melissa Merrell were on the board then.
“It is very difficult to lose a board member,” Vice Chair Christina Helms said. “Commissioner Helms and Commissioner Merrell just a few short years ago lost somebody else that they loved and so it has reopened feelings for them.”
Merrell and Christina Helms also worked with Sides during their time on the Union County Board of Education, where he served for 10 years.
Waxhaw commissioners Richard Daunt and Susanna Wedra offered reflections during the public comment portion of the meeting about Sides’ work on the school board.
“Most memorably during the 2021 school lockdowns and mask mandates, Gary showed real courage by standing against the authoritarian
Remembering Gary Sides
Colleagues mourn death of compassionate, spirited leader
overreach,” Wedra said. “When I emailed the school board expressing my concerns for her children, Gary personally replied with a message full of encouragement and hope affirming that these measures would not stand. His willingness to speak truth gave strength to the families at this very difficult time.”
Colleagues described him as a cowboy with a servant’s heart, not afraid to speak his mind and fight for what he believed in.
“He always had his own style – cowboy hat to the red Corvette,” Commissioner Clancy Baucom said.
Merrell recalls how Sides would jump in his red Corvette to spring into action, including very early in his tenure to help with the Union County Senior Nutrition program.
“When he found out that some of our senior citizens were sitting on a wait list, the very first thing he did is he got in that little red Corvette and he went down to the human services building and signed up, so he could start delivering meals to our senior citizens,” Merrell said. “He would just make you so proud if you got to see him behind closed doors.”
A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. April 26 at Lee Park Church, 2491 Morgan Mill Road, Monroe. Visitation will be held from 2 to 2:45 p.m. at the church.
Sides reflects on his service
by Gary Sides Resignation Letter
Gary Sides resigned from the Union County Board of County Commissioners with this letter March 31. He passed away April 7. Brian Helms, chairman of the board, read the letter into the record during the
From an early age, I always wanted to be involved in some way to work with others to make the community I lived in a better place for all. Being elected to the Union County Board of County Commissioners is one of the highlights of my community involvement efforts. I had such high hopes. And I was ready and willing to put the time in to learn all I could about county government, research those areas I was less familiar with and physically observe the actual dayto-day operations so I could make the best-informed decisions on matters that came before me during my time on the council. I knew that is what the citizens of Union County deserved and had entrusted me to do.
I was appalled to learn there were so many senior citizens on a waiting list for assistance with the
Gary Sides was sworn into the Union County Board of Commissioners on Dec. 2, 2024. A few months later, doctors would diagnose him with brain cancer. Photo courtesy of Union County
April 20 meeting.
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Lawmakers discuss rising property taxes
by David Beasley Contributor
(The Center Square) – Limits on the future increases of property tax levies through a constitutional amendment took a step April 15, gaining the approval of a committee in the North Carolina House of Representatives.
The amendment does not specify exactly how the Legislature would limit property tax hikes. It would be determined by legislators if the amendment is approved.
“Over the last decade, homeowners across our state have been confronted with significant increases in property tax bills,” Rep. Brian Echevarria, a Republican from Cabarrus County, told the Select Committee on Property Tax
Reduction and Reform. “The trend of increased property tax bills has continued and our people are anxious about it. Our neighbors need our advocacy here.”
It is the Legislature’s duty to put “guardrails” in place to stop spiraling property taxes, he added.
Property tax increases since 2020 have been nearly double the overall rate of inflation, the legislator said.
“The key policy question before us is not whether local governments need revenue – they do, and that is not in dispute,” Echevarria said. “We all know fire trucks do not run on goodwill.
We also know that the current property tax structure allows property tax increases to become disconnected from taxpayers’ capacity and predictability.
The question this committee is answering is whether North Carolinians should be protected from continual, unsustainable, unpredictable property tax increases.”
Rep. John Blust, R-Guilford, questioned why the proposed amendment doesn’t compel the Legislature to impose a cap on property taxes instead of just limiting future increases.
“That to me is saying it’s always going to be an increase,” he said. “It’s just going to make the increases go a little slower.”
In some counties, the increases “have almost gotten out of control,” the legislator said.
“A cap keeps it from getting even worse,” he said. “I do think we should not be signaling that you can always increase, because that just gets you to a horrible situation slower. I think we need
an overall cap, like we have for the income tax, a constitutional cap that says this is the most this municipality or county can milk this one tax source.”
Homeowners who purchased their houses decades ago have property tax bills soaring. The equity in their homes is not liquid – meaning it can be easily withdrawn and spent on something else, Blust said. Property taxes, on the other hand, have to be paid each year in cash.
“They are being taxed basically on a long-term capital gain, a lot which was inflationary,” Blust said. “We need to think of them first. I understand the counties and municipalities need revenue. But people should be secure in their houses. That’s as basic American Dream as it gets.”
Injunction halts TV station merger Agreement
by Alan Wooten Contributor
would have affected Charlotte channels WCNC, WJZY
(The Center Square) –Acquisition by Nexstar of Tegna involving television affiliates in the Charlotte, Greensboro and Virginia Tidewater market stretching into eight northeastern North Carolina counties will remain on hold and in litigation in part pursued by North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson.
A $6.2 billion acquisition set to take effect this month, already approved by the Federal Communications Commission and the U.S. Department of Justice last month, was stopped by a preliminary injunction. The April 17 ruling from Chief District Judge Troy Nunley in the U.S. District Court for the
Eastern District of California in Sacramento is being appealed to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco by litigators for Nexstar and joint defendant Tegna. Nunley reasons the merger could reduce competition in dozens of local markets. And, retransmission fees for consumers could rise.
Nexstar would add NBC affiliate WCNC in the Charlotte market to already owning Fox affiliate WJZY and add CBS affiliate WFMY in the Greensboro/High Point/ Winston-Salem market to already owning Fox affiliate WGHP.
“This is another big antimonopoly win, coming right on the heels of our Ticketmaster win,” Jackson said. “We sued
to stop this merger because it would hand one company 228 television stations reaching roughly 80% of American households, more than double the FCC’s 39% national ownership cap. You can’t concentrate that much media power in one company.
“This ruling freezes Nexstar and Tegna as separate companies, with separate management and separate newsrooms, while the court hears our full case.”
He says by owning two stations in the market, “it can threaten to black out two of your four major channels at once if your provider won’t pay the new price. Your cable or satellite company will have no real choice but to pay. That cost goes directly onto your monthly bill.”
3 REASONS
of
and additional
Jackson cites an example in Indianapolis to make the point of reduced newsrooms. There, the Fox and CBS affiliates are owned by Nexstar, and those two stations share anchors, reporters, new directors and websites.
“That pattern is central to the deal’s economics,” Jackson says. “Nexstar’s chief financial officer told investors the overlap stations are ‘an area where there’s a significant portion of those synergies.’ The synergies are valued at about $300 million.”
Plaintiffs are DirecTV and the states of California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, New York, Oregon and Virginia in addition to North Carolina. Nexstar Media Group and Tegna are defendants.
Drought worsens in North Carolina
(The Center Square) – Four of 554 wildfires starting since a statewide burn ban went into effect were the result of lightning strikes, says the North Carolina agriculture commissioner. The state’s drought is expected to continue through the bulk of April. In the most recent update, all 100 counties are minimum in a moderate drought with extreme or exceptional drought in 16.7% of the state, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.
That’s up from 9.6% a week earlier on March 31. Preliminary data indicates 152 of the 554 wildfires were caused by human activity. The state has issued 150 citations for illegal burning.
– Alan Wooten
Commissioners reflect on Sides
Here are some reflections of Gary Sides that his colleagues made during the April 20 county commissioners meeting.
Christina Helms
Commissioner
I was fortunate enough to meet Gary Sides in 2012, when I was first elected to the board of education.
We met for lunch one afternoon in Indian Trail. He said, “You’ll be able to recognize who I am. I’ll have on a cowboy hat.” I have to give Gary a lot of props because he loved his cowboy hat but he also removed his cover when he was inside a building. So he was raised well.
Gary was passionate and like he said, he’s zealous. That’s something that we can all use going forward – make sure our passion is directed at something that we all care about. Gary cared about special needs children and he really fought for a lot of students on a personal level.
We are praying for peace and comfort for Myra, for Gage, for Logan and for Cheyenne. But most importantly, if you’re a Christian, which Gary was, he believed in Jesus. That is something that we all can be very thankful for – is his faith.
It is very difficult to lose a board member. Commissioner (Brian) Helms and Commissioner (Melissa) Merrell just a few short years ago lost somebody else that they loved and so it has reopened feelings for them. But Gary, well done, good and faithful servant.
Clancy Baucom Commissioner
He always conducted himself as a gentleman. Even when we disagreed, there was never a harsh word toward one another. Nothing was ever personal or taken personally.
(continued from page 1A)
I would say that Gary had a servant’s heart. And I would totally agree with Christina (Helms). He always had his own style – cowboy hat to the red Corvette. He held his beliefs strong and he wasn’t afraid to voice his beliefs and speak up. I admire that.
I just want to offer my condolences to all his family members.
It truly was an honor and a pleasure to serve here with Gary. Last time I spoke with Gary, I had actually called to ask him for something for myself and asked him a question politically. He was telling me about his illness and he said, “This doesn’t end well.” That’s what he said.
But he was so upbeat and uplifting to me. He just said, “Thank you so much for calling me. I enjoy serving with you.” It was just so upbeat. He lifted me up.
I just really applaud the life he lived and reiterate Christina’s words, “well done.”
He did love Jesus and he was a solid Christian. He was always positive and full of hope, and I think that’s the one thing that’s broken my heart because he wanted to work on this board so badly.
And he only got like four or five months in, before he had to call and let me know about the diagnosis. I just want everyone to honor him. He did have goals and objectives –things he wanted to take care of for the county.
Some of you may or may not know this, but when he found out that some of our senior citizens were sitting on a wait list, the very first thing he did is he got in that little red Corvette and he went down to the human services building and signed up, so he could start delivering meals to our senior citizens.
He would just make you so proud if you got to see him behind closed doors. He would make you so proud. I never dreamed we’d lose him. I still find it hard to believe that I can’t pick up the phone and call him. But now I get to enjoy talking to Myra more. Myra and I’ve had a lot of really good conversations since Gary went home.
basic human need for food. On day one of being sworn into the office, I began trying to address that need. And although I was not entirely successful in advocating for them and probably approached the issue a bit too zealously, my colleagues on the board and I were able to find some assistance for them and many of the towns, churches and nonprofits in the county stepped up to help.
amazed at the commitment of the personnel in the Union County Sheriff’s Office. We are all so fortunate to have this caliber of law enforcement in Union County. My hat goes off to Sheriff Eddie Cathey and the entire department under his leadership. What an honor to have, although briefly, spent time in the presence of these fine officers. I believe there is work needed to improve maintaining and adequately supporting financially those working to keep our county safe.
There is outstanding work being done every day by the employees of Union County in all the other departments I have not mentioned. My thanks and appreciation go to (County Manager) Brian Matthews and the staff on a job well done.
Melissa Merrell Commissioner Christina (Helms) was already on the board of education when Gary and I ran in 2014. I remember the first time I went to a meeting, Gary scared me a little bit. This giant with the hat, the boots and everything, he was just so ready to go and I hadn’t really figured out exactly what I had done to myself to join this nine-member board of education. I just knew I wanted to help teachers and children. But Gary, before we even got sworn in, he had a checklist of everything he was going to do, and I just sat there in awe like, “Wow, that’s awesome.” He had served on the Town of Stallings. I live in Stallings. He is a person bigger than life.
If there’s something that needs to be done, I would just encourage everyone to jump in your little red Corvette and just go do it. Because that’s what Gary would have done.
That’s going to be something that I take away from this experience – to be like Gary. It’s one thing to sit here on the board and deal with policy and budgets and stuff like that. But he was very impulsive. He just wanted to get things done quickly, whether it was right or wrong, just get it done.
I think there’s a lot to be said for his spirit. If you know it’s right, figure out a way to get it done. Even if that means, you have to go do it yourself.
I’m going to say it again. Job well done. Gary Marshall Sides. We will so miss you.
We’ll make sure that Myra and the children are doing OK. We’ll make you proud, Gary.
Based on my time on the Union County Public Schools Board of Education, I wanted to work towards higher pay for our teachers, classroom support staff and the nonteaching personnel that make a school system excel at providing the best possible educational environment and opportunities for all students. I should have done better. There is a lot of work that needs to be done on this. I became aware of the need for a county jail, not only to increase the capacity to house detainees and inmates, but equally, if not more importantly, for the safety of the personnel that work in the jail. This issue has been kicked down the road for over 20 years. The last jail built in this county was done under court order and I have no doubt corners were cut to quickly build the current jail which has resulted in additional millions being spent over the years to the maintain the facility. There will be a referendum on the ballot in November for the registered voters to decide the fate of this issue. I hope citizens will support the referendum to build a new jail and that the ultimate design of that jail makes expansion, if needed, in future years a more easily addressed issue. I have been humbled and
Four months after taking office as a county commissioner, I was diagnosed with brain cancer, Glioblastoma – Stage IV. My treatment plan has included brain surgery to remove as much of the tumor as possible, an intensive threeweek round of high dosage radiation and chemotherapy, and continues with infusions every two weeks to fight this disease. I am, thankfully, stable and have held out hope that I could remain productive in my work on the board of commissioners. after much prayer and upon the advice of my care team, I am submitting my resignation from the board effective March 31, 2026.
I ask that my letter of resignation be read into the minutes during commissioner comments in its entirety at the next board meeting.
Finally, I want to thank my colleagues for your prayers, offers of support and patience. I wish you all the best. May God bless you all.
Merrell
Baucom
Helms
CALENDAR
April 24
Helpful Bugs Children learn about bugs and build a home for them using recycled materials during Homes for Helpful Bugs at Southwest Regional Library. uclnc.org
3:30-4:30 p.m.; 1720 Cuthbertson Road, Waxhaw
WXW Sk8 Night
Textile Skate Shop brings a mobile skate park during WXW Sk8 Night at Downtown Park. The event includes competitions. waxhaw. com
5-7 p.m.; 301 Givens St., Waxhaw Food Trucks
Sunny Day Markets presents Waxhaw Food Trucks Friday at The Museum of the Waxhaws. In addition to food trucks, the event will feature children’s activities, music and vendors. sunnydaymarkets.com
5-8 p.m.; 8215 Waxhaw Hwy., Waxhaw
Family Art
Families work on an art project during Coloring on Canvas at Indian Trail Town Hall. The program, offered by Indian Trail Parks & Recreation, costs $35 per family. Register in advance at itsparksandrec.com.
6-7:30 p.m.; 315 Matthews-Indian Trail Road, Indian Trail
Monthly Movie Monroe Parks & Recreation hosts a Monthly Movie at Dickerson Community Center. Call 704-2824649 or email kscott@monroenc. org for details. monroenc.org
6-8 p.m.; 899 N. Johnson St., Monroe Spring Spectacle Stallings Parks & Recreation draws inspiration from Oz for its Spring Spectacle at Stallings Municipal Park. The event includes characters, mini shows, food trucks, face painting and a potion-making station. stallingsnc.org
6-10:30 p.m.; 340 Stallings Road, Stallings Music on Main The Legacy Motown Review performs Motown music in the next installment of the 2026 Music on Main Concert Series in Downtown Monroe. monroenc.org
6:30-9:30 p.m.; Main Street, Monroe
April 25 Girls on the Run Girls on the Run Union County
holds its 5K run at Lake Park. Registration costs $35 online through April 24 and $40 in person. Register in advance at girlsontherununion.org/5k
8 a.m.; 3801 Lake Park Road, Indian Trail
Book Signing Amy Clipston signs copies of her book “The Lighthouse at the Cove” at The Book Lady.
9 a.m.-4 p.m.; 3515 W. U.S. 74, Monroe
Farm Show Union County Antique Tractor & Power Club hosts the 15th annual Union County Farm Show & Festival at the Union County Simpson Events Center. The event continues through April 26
9 a.m.-5 p.m.; 307 Cultivation Circle, Monroe
Plantin’ IT
The Town of Indian Trail hosts Plantin’ It at Chestnut Square Park.
The event explains gardening. indiantrail.org
10 a.m.-1 p.m.; 320 Chestnut
Pkwy., Indian Trail
Baby Storytime Children listen to stories and songs during Baby Storytime at Union County Library’s Monroe branch. uclnc.org
10:30-11 a.m.; 316 E. Windsor St., Monroe
Backyard Birding
Adults learn about watching and attracting birds during Backyard Birding at Union West Regional Library. uclnc.org
Noon-1 p.m.; 123 Unionville-Indian Trail Road, Indian Trail
Book Fair
Lycan Traders holds a book fair at Sweet Union Brewing. sweetunionbrewing.com
Noon-4 p.m.; 13717 E. Independence Blvd., Indian Trail
Earth Day Middle James Brewing presents an Earth Day Celebration, Vintage & More Market with Makers Market. The event includes live music by Lionnir and food trucks middlejamesbrewing.com
1-6 p.m.; 115 E. North Main St., Waxhaw
Star Party Learn about the stars and constellations at Southwest Regional Library. uclnc.org
7-9 p.m.; 1720 Cuthbertson Road, Waxhaw
April 26
Farm Show
Union County Antique Tractor & Power Club hosts the 15th annual Union County Farm Show & Festival at the Union County Simpson Events Center. The event continues from April 25. 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; 307 Cultivation Circle, Monroe
April 27
Table Tennis
Monroe Parks & Recreation
hosts Table Tennis at Dickerson Community Center. Call 704-2824649 or email kscott@monroenc. org for details. monroenc.org
11 a.m.-2 p.m.; 899 N. Johnson St., Monroe
April 28
Storytime
Children listen to stories during Storytime at Union County Library’s Monroe branch. uclnc.org
9:30 or 10:30 a.m.; 316 E. Windsor St., Monroe
Storytime
Children listen to stories during Storytime at Union West Regional Library. uclnc.org
9:30 or 10:30 a.m.; 123 UnionvilleIndian Trail Road, Indian Trail
Storytime
Children listen to stories during Storytime at Southwest Regional Library. uclnc.org
9:30 or 10:30 a.m.; 1720 Cuthbertson Road, Waxhaw
Pickleball
Monroe Parks & Recreation hosts pickleball at Winchester Community Center. Call 704-2824654 or email syoung@monroenc. org for details. monroenc.org
10 a.m.-1 p.m.; 1001 Winchester Ave., Monroe
Senior Card Club Older adults play cards during Senior Card Club at the Waxhaw Recreation Barn. Register in advance at waxhaw.com.
1:30-3 p.m.; 5412 Waxhaw-Marvin Road, Waxhaw
Inclusive Art Waxhaw Parks & Recreation offers an Inclusive Adult Edible Art class at Waxhaw Recreation Barn. The class costs $15-$20. Register in advance at waxhaw.com.
4-5 p.m.; 5412 Waxhaw-Marvin
Road, Waxhaw
Music Bingo MOR Events & Entertainment hosts Music Bingo at Mia Famiglia Pizzeria. Get tickets at eventbrite. com.
6-8 p.m.; 7870 Idlewild Road, Indian Trail
Music Bingo MOR Events & Entertainment hosts Music Bingo at Middle James Brewing. middlejamesbrewing.com
7-9 p.m.; 115 E. North Main St., Waxhaw
April 29
IT’s GameTime
Older adults (55 and older) enjoy cards and games at Indian Trail Town Hall. itsparksandrec.com
9 a.m.-noon; 315 Matthews-Indian Trail Road, Indian Trail
Storytime Children listen to stories during Storytime at Union County Library’s Monroe branch. uclnc.org
9:30 or 10:30 a.m.; 316 E. Windsor St., Monroe
Storytime Children listen to stories during Storytime at Union West Regional Library. uclnc.org
9:30 or 10:30 a.m.; 123 UnionvilleIndian Trail Road, Indian Trail
Storytime Children listen to stories during Storytime at Southwest Regional Library. uclnc.org
9:30 or 10:30 a.m.; 1720
Cuthbertson Road, Waxhaw
HERO Program Waxhaw Parks & Recreation’s HERO Program takes on the theme of Career Day with activities at Waxhaw Downtown Park. Register in advance at waxhaw.com.
3-4 p.m.; 301 Givens St., Waxhaw
Music Bingo Big Pop Trivia hosts Music Bingo at Great Wagon Road Waxhaw. gwrdistilling.com
7-9 p.m.; 122 W. North Main St., Waxhaw
Trivia MOR Events & Entertainment presents trivia at Middle James Brewing. middlejamesbrewing.com
7-9 p.m.; 115 E. North Main St., Waxhaw Music Trivia DJs on the Half Shell hosts
Name That Tune Trivia at Moochies Tavern. Teams play for prizes. djsonthehalfshell.com
7:30 p.m.; 15060 Idlewild Road, Stallings
TV Trivia Lady B hosts a trivia night around the theme of “The Big Bang Theory” at 7:30 p.m. at Home Brew Taproom & Tunes. Karaoke follows at 9 p.m. 7:30-11 p.m.; 215 S. Main St., Monroe
April 30
Storytime Children listen to stories during Storytime at Southwest Regional Library. uclnc.org 9:30 or 10:30 a.m.; 1720 Cuthbertson Road, Waxhaw
Senior Coffee Waxhaw Parks & Recreation hosts Senior Coffee Hour at the Waxhaw Recreation Barn. Older adults (55 and older) enjoy cards, games and coffee. Register in advance at waxhaw.com.
10 a.m.-noon;
DINING SCORES
FEATURE IMPACT
Making health-conscious decisions with your at-home menu doesn’t have to be complicated, but it does require commitment and a little more foresight at the grocery store. Simple adjustments to overall eating patterns, like building your plate around produce, powerful proteins and whole grains, can encourage better health.
Nutritious meal-planning can be easy, affordable and delicious – and it all starts with a little balance. Consider this advice from the American Heart Association’s Healthy for Good initiative, nationally sponsored by the Egg Nutrition Center, to adequately round out a healthy plate.
Fill Half Your Plate with Fruits and Veggies Loaded with nutrients, fresh produce is a perfect place to start each plate. Fill about half your plate with combinations of bananas, strawberries, blueberries, sweet potatoes, peas, carrots and more of your favorites. To boost variety with each meal, look for fruit and veggie blends or step out of your usual routine and try something new.
Grocery tip: Frozen fruits and veggies are often cheaper and just as delicious as their fresh counterparts. It’s frozen right after it’s picked, locking in freshness for a longer shelf life. Just be sure to avoid products with added salt or sugar.
Carve Out a Quarter of the Plate for Powerful Proteins
Healthy food isn’t just fuel. It should be easy and nourish you, too. Look for versatile solutions that provide a protein power-up like skinless chicken breast, no-salt-added beans, low-sodium tuna, tofu or eggs.
High-quality protein from foods, along with a balanced diet and regular exercise, can help support the muscles in your body. Eggs are an example, along with lean animal protein and some plant-based proteins. According to the American Heart Association’s guidelines, healthy people can include up to one whole egg daily, and up to seven per week, as
Photo courtesy of
Union County delays school bond, moves forward with jail project
by Justin Vick justin@charlottemediagroup.org
MONROE – Union County commissioners have decided not to put a school bond referendum on the 2026 ballot, opting to revisit the issue again in 2028.
For 2026, Union County Public Schools wanted $173,259,5700 for four projects: Construction of a new Parkwood High School.
• Design work for renovations and additions to Piedmont Middle School.
• Design and construction of additions at Wolfe School for additional classrooms and the expansion of a gymnasium/ cafeteria.
• A contingency fund for project management.
Had a school bond referendum passed in 2026, Finance Director Beverly Liles projected the county would have to raise the property tax rate by 0.25 cents, which would have amounted to an annual $10 increase for a home valued at $400,000. Commissioner Brian Helms saw the potential in paying down existing debt to minimize the impact on the tax rate.
“It’s not no, but it’s a no for now,” he said. “When we’re facing so many different challenges right now, I think that the responsible thing to do is pay down that debt and then see if we can have a zero impact on our tax rate in 2028.”
This was based on Liles showing commissioners a 20-year debt service model for UCPS projects.
“For FY26, we’re at about $43 million and if you look at this chart, you can clearly see as time goes along and we get to 2030 and 2031, a lot of our debt
service payments are falling off,” Liles told commissioners. “That’s because a lot of those newer schools that were built, like Weddington, Cuthbertson and Marvin, during that huge growth factor for the county, we’re now starting to see those bonds mature off. So that debt is becoming obsolete.”
UCPS planned to approach the county for a bond referendum every two years for a span of eight years.
Commissioners also decided on the direction they want to go with a potential new jail. They chose to build a new jail and reuse the existing sheriff’s building.
Commissioners Christina Helms and Clancy Baucom talked about ruling out two options in which the county would continue to use the existing jail. The harder decision was whether to keep or demolish the existing sheriff’s building.
Sheriff Eddie Cathey told the board he would prefer keeping the administrative building.
“We’re using it now,” Cathey said. “It’s fine. It is going to have to have some building done to it, where it’s cracked in the back. “(It has) sunk about six inches on the back side of it and it will have to be raised back up. The jail portion is where the problem is at.”
Commissioners went along with his recommendation.
Liles told commissioners that the option they went with would require a total debt service of $312,223,000 to finance $200 million. This would result in a property tax rate increase of 3.11 cents. A $400,000 home would see an annual property tax increase of $124.40. All this is based on a $5.344% rate.
“It’s not no, but it’s a no for now. When we’re facing so many different challenges right now, I think that the responsible thing to do is pay down that debt and then see if we can have a zero impact on our tax rate in 2028.”
– Brian Helms, Union County commissioner on delaying an education bond referendum
Retired
hr@v2solutions.com
pastor compares God’s love to a hug
CHARLOTTE – Retired pastor Gus Succop’s children’s book, “The Easter Hug,” shows readers the many ways God’s love is expressed and how it compares to how we show love to one another.
The book follows siblings Anna and Charlie as they develop an ageappropriate understanding of Easter and its meaning. In Sunday school, they learn that the many things we experience every day, like the sun or the blue sky, are exemplary of God’s love. God’s divine love for the world is everywhere we look, which Anna imagines as God giving the world a giant hug.
As a retired Presbyterian pastor, Succop’s experience has helped him understand that expressing weighty theological concepts such as the Resurrection without mentioning God’s love can be complex for children.
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Jurors find Ticketmaster, Live Nation guilty of monopoly
by Alan Wooten Contributor
(The Center Square) – Jurors on April 15 found Live Nation and subsidiary Ticketmaster guilty of illegal monopoly in North Carolina and other states.
“This was one of the biggest antitrust cases in years,” said Attorney General Jeff Jackson, successor to former Attorney General Josh Stein who joined the state into a litigation with more than 30 other prosecutors. “When the United States Department of Justice announced in March that it had cut a deal with Live Nation and Ticketmaster behind the backs of the attorneys general, I rejected their secret deal because it failed to address sky-high ticket prices for concertgoers. We wanted the jury to hear the evidence and see what consumers have known for years.
“Every fan who’s watched prices pile up on a concert ticket just got proof they were
LOUD & LIVE
right to feel mistreated by a monopoly. That’s exactly what was happening.”
Officially known as United States v. Live Nation Entertainment and filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, plaintiffs told Judge Arun Subramanian anticompetitive practices involved the venues, retaliation threats and market dominance. The trial was six weeks and went forward even after the Justice Department blindsided fellow plaintiffs with a settlement that states, including North Carolina, rejected.
“Today’s verdict confirms that Live Nation has been running an illegal monopoly in the ticket market, abusing concertgoers and artists,” Jackson said.
“The case will now head to a second phase where the judge will decide the appropriate remedies to break Live Nation’s hold on the live entertainment industry and restore competition, and our office will stay on the side of bringing prices down for consumers.”
CHARLOTTE – Debut
author Lauren Griffin ties together the themes of heartache, treasured memories and healing in her poetry collection “Nocturnes and Saudade.”
Griffin describes the collection as “a compilation of seven years’ worth of my personal endeavor to name and process life’s seasons of grief and upheaval.”
Separated into three parts, the collection first walks through the past and the anguish memories can bring, before transitioning into fond recollection. Finally, Griffin looks forward to the peace of dreams and the promises of
Poetry collection explores grief
healing.
The title has roots in both Middle English, with nocturnes meaning “of the night,” and Portuguese, with saudade meaning “indolent; dreaming wistfulness.”
“My favorite parts of the writing process were the moments when the words and phrases simply cascaded from the overflow of my heart,” Griffin said. “There was, in those moments, a true sense of emotional release and catharsis.”
Griffin lives in Greenville, South Carolina, where she works as a nurse practitioner in pediatrics. Poetry, for her, is a way to name and honor those turbulent feelings and to transform them into something beautiful.
Griffin hopes “Nocturnes and Saudade” will offer understanding to those in
the same place of sorrow. “I desire that readers will find solace in knowing that they are not alone in the most painful places and have freedom to experience every emotion as deeply and for as long as is necessary to be carried gently into whatever is to come,” she said.
By “offering a vocabulary for [her] wounds,” and “creating story out of brokenness,” Griffin reworks the lessons of her personal narrative, exemplifying how the storms of our hearts – when brought to life through poetry – can provide both understanding and healing to ourselves and others. Released by Warren Publishing, “Nocturnes and Saudade” can be ordered at warrenpublishing.net as well as amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com and bookshop.org.
Charlotte Area Chamber of Commerce members have much to do this week
CHARLOTTE – The Charlotte Area Chamber of Commerce hosts Coffee with the Chamber, a Public Policy Meeting and a ribbon cutting.
• Members mingle during Coffee with the Chamber from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. April 28 at The Place UMC, 6729 Old Mount Holly Road, Charlotte. Register in advance.
• David Howard, chair of the Metropolitan Public Transportation Authority, talks about the organization’s role in planning future transportation initiatives during the
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chamber’s Public Policy Meeting from 5 to 6:30 p.m. April 28 at Envision Charlotte, 932 Seigle Ave., Charlotte. Register in advance.
Members celebrate the grand opening of The Magnolia Assisted Living & Memory Care with a ribbon cutting from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 29 at 7416 Quail Ridge Drive, Charlotte. The ribbon cutting starts at 12:30 p.m. Register in advance.
Visit charlotteareachamber.com to learn more about the chamber and its events.
s you get older, your risk for some eye diseases may increase. However, there are steps you can take to keep your eyes healthy – and it starts with taking care of your overall health.
Set yourself up for a lifetime of seeing your best with these eight tips from the experts at the National Eye Institute in honor of Healthy Vision Month:
1. Find an eye doctor you trust. Many eye diseases don’t have any early symptoms, so you could have a problem and not know it. An eye doctor can help you stay on top of your eye health. Find an eye doctor you trust by asking friends and family if they like their doctors. You can also check with your health insurance plan to find eye doctors near you.
2. Ask how often you need a dilated eye exam.
Getting a dilated eye exam is the single best thing you can do for your eye health. It’s the only way to find eye diseases early, when they’re easier to treat – and before they cause vision loss. Your eye doctor will decide how often you need an exam based on your risk for eye diseases.
3. Add more movement to your day. Physical activity can lower your risk for health conditions that can affect your vision, like diabetes and high blood pressure. If you have trouble finding time for physical activity, try building it into other activities. Walk around while you’re on the phone, do push-ups or stretch while you watch TV or dance while you’re doing chores. Anything that gets your heart pumping counts.
4. Get your family talking about eye health history. Some eye diseases – like glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration – can run in families. While it may not be the most exciting topic of conversation, talking about your family health history can help everyone stay healthy. The next time you’re chatting with relatives, ask if anyone knows about eye problems in your family. Be sure to share what you learn with your
