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Volume 117 • Issue 6
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Wednesday, February 8, 2023
Cherryville’s McGinnis Furniture celebrates 50 years in business Store opened on Oct. 18, 1973, and hasn’t looked back since… by MICHAEL E. POWELL Editor michael@cfmedia.info
Cherryville’s Mrs. Hazeleen Brandon celebrates her 100th birthday on Jan. 31, 2023, at First Baptist Church’s Christian Outreach Center. (photo provided)
Hazeleen Brandon celebrates 100 years of life The family celebrated with a big party at Cherryville’s First Baptist Church’s Christian Outreach Center by MICHAEL E. POWELL Editor michael@cfmedia.info
A milestone has been reached as a Cherryville woman, Ms. Hazeleen Brandon, turned 100 on Jan. 31, 2023. Ms. Brandon and her family celebrated, according to City of Cherryville officials, with a big party last Saturday at Cherryville’s First Baptist Church’s Christian Outreach Center. She had over 200 guests to at-
tend. Cherryville City Clerk, Paige Green said, “…Mayor Beam and I visited her at home and presented her with a (city) proclamation.” Mrs. Green noted the wording of the city’s proclamation for this auspicious occasion were as follows: “WHEREAS, Mrs. Hazeleen LaVan Bush Brandon was born Jan. 31, ,1923 in Hartsville, S.C., at home. Mrs. Brandon is the daughter of Jimmy and Ellen LaVan. Her family farmed for a living and Mrs. Brandon quit school at age seven to farm with her family. She farmed until 1948; and…” “Whereas, Mrs. Brandon married Mr. Oscar Bush in October 1941. Together they had four children: Annie Retha, Doris Jean, Maurice,
Support for charter schools and opportunity scholarships up COVID pandemic’s learning loss a top concern by MITCH KOKAI John Locke Foundation
RALEIGH – North Carolinians are overwhelmingly supporters of school choice, according to the results of the John Locke Foundation’s latest Civitas Poll. Over two-thirds of likely North Carolina voters support the state’s Opportunity Scholarship Program, which grants scholarships to low-to-moderate-income students to attend a school of their choice. An
even greater share of North Carolinians (68.8 percent) support Education Savings Accounts, which provide families with funds to pay for educational expenses, such as tuition, tutoring, and instructional materials. Charter schools, which have become a popular education option for families, received 68.7 percent support among those surveyed. Charter schools have more than doubled in number since the state-mandated cap was removed over a decade ago. Support for school choice programs is high in spite of – or perhaps because of – North Carolinians’ displeasure with the current state of K-12 education in the state. When asked about the quality of elementary through high school education, twothirds of respondents said they are “dissatisfied.” Of See CHARTER, Page 2
Hubert K. McGinnis, Jr. said his family has been in the furniture business “for over 100 years”, so it’s no surprise, and not an understatement, to say it is in his blood. So much so, that now he can say he has a half-century at the helm of his own business in Cherryville. Hubert noted his mother and father helped with the Hubert and Pam McGinnis take a minute out of a very business morning to smile for the camfunds to purchase the build- era. They are pretty excited to tell everyone about their 50 years in the furniture business in ing and his sister, Freida, downtown Cherryville and their upcoming celebration of that half-century event. owned half of it. (photos by MEP/The Eagle/CF Media) Of his sister, Hubert said she came to work later Hubert and wife, Pam, household name in down- – a downtown staple – is (around 1978 or 1980). Humarried in 1981 and since town Cherryville. They located at 303 East Main bert said she attended Lethen, she too has been an have two children, Sam and Street. It has a large shownoir-Rhyne and later taught integral part in making Mc- Bess, they said. room replete with just about PE and Health at Crest High School. Ginnis Furniture a literal The McGinnis’ business See McGINNIS, Page 10
Council work session discusses CLT, proposed ordinances, and historical museum by MICHAEL E. POWELL Editor michael@cfmedia.info
The Cherryville City Council held their January 2023 work session last Tuesday night (Jan. 31), in the W.J. Allran Council Chambers of the Cherryville Community Building. Council had seven (7) items on their agenda, starting with an update on the Cherryville Little Theater by its Treasurer, Wade Stroupe, and ending with Council going into a pub-
The Cherryville City Council at a summer work session. (Eagle/CF Media file photo) lic hearing.
Stroupe.
First on the agenda was
Wade, using a brief his-
the CLT update by Mr.
tory of the CLT, noted the
Cherryville Little Theatre was formed by a group of local Cherryville Citizens in 1973, with its first production being ‘Barefoot in the Park’, by Neil Simon. It should be noted also the Cherryville Little Theatre was incorporated in 1978, with nine (9) Cherryville citizens forming the first Board of Directors: Burmah Carpenter, Jackie Davis, Mike Rosenberg, Rote Smith, Anne Warlick, Glenn Burgess, Wanda Sneed, Pansy Dellinger, and Margaret Smith. See COUNCIL, Page 9
Rate Bureau requests to boost rates on NC auto insurance by TERESA OPEKA Carolina Journal
I t ’ s been more expensive to fill up your gas tank in North C a r o l i n a MIKE CAUSEY in the past NC Insurance two years, Commissioner and now, it may be even more expensive to insure the vehicle you drive. How much more? How
about 28.4 percent? That is the amount the North Carolina Rate Bureau is requesting with the N.C. Department of Insurance. The average cost for car insurance in the state is $1,392 for annual coverage, which is below the national average of $1,771 per year for full coverage, according to Bankrate.com. A rate increase of 28.4 percent would bring the cost up to $1,787 or a monthly rate of $118 to 148.92. In a press release, Insurance Commissioner Mike
Causey announced recently that the request for an overall average statewide increase in private passenger auto insurance rates would become effective on Oct. 1, if approved. The N.C. Rate Bureau represents the auto insurance companies in the state and is not a part of the N.C. Department of Insurance. By law, the bureau must submit auto rate filings with the department annually by Feb. 1. While such a significant increase is not likely,
an increase of some type is likely. According to a report from research firm ValuePenguin, rates are expected to increase by 8.4 percent across the U.S. NC’s insurance rates low by comparison North Carolina ranked 44th in the nation, according to the report. Michigan had the highest cost at $4,788 for the year, and Vermont had the lowest at $1104. Overall, the state fares pretty well for drivers. See RATE, Page 2
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