SEE SPECIAL 2023 GRADUATION SECTION INSIDE! Volume 117 • Issue 21
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Wednesday, May 24, 2023
Cherryville bounces back after strong storm’s damage Trees downed, power knocked out, houses & businesses damaged area-wide by MICHAEL E. POWELL Editor michael@cfmedia.info
The town of Cherryville was hit Tuesday, May 16, by a fast moving, straightline winds storm, which brought very high winds and damages, including city and area-wide power outages to this area of northwestern Gaston County. It has been over a week and damages from the storm are still being handled by city, county, and state emergency services. Some estimates put the straight-line winds and micro-bursts as high as 85 miles per hour. Shortly after the storm moved through the area, a media advisory from Gaston County Schools’ Com-
A section of the north side fence at Fraley Field was blown down during On Oak Grove Drive, in Cherryville, broken power pole and generator were last Tuesday’s, May 16, strong storm and high winds. blown down by a fast-moving storm that brought heavy rain and very high winds (photos by MEP/The Eagle/CF Media) last Tuesday, May 16. munications Director, Todd Hagans, noting, “Due to damage and power outages caused by a severe storm this evening (5-16-23) in Cherryville, the following four schools will be closed on Wednesday, May 17 for students and employees: Cherryville Elementary
School; W. Blaine Beam Intermediate School; John Chavis Middle School; and Cherryville High School. All school-related activities on Wednesday at these four schools are canceled.” Since then, the four schools have reopened and are back up to full working speed.
Cherryville Mayor H.L. Beam, III called a news conference on Wednesday, May 17, and, along with City Manager Brian Dalton, a couple of the city’s council members and the fire and police chiefs, spoke to a group of about 15-plus media outlet’s reporters
about what the city is doing to alleviate the problems and issues brought about by the damage wrought by the high-powered storm. Said Mayor Beam, “I want to thank all of the media for attending this press conference. I also want to thank our citizens
for the great support we have received from them in this trying time. We have a command center set up at the Cherryville Fire Department and it is an area-wide set-up to help everyone.” Mayor Beam spoke from a prepared sheet that noted See STORM, Page 4A
Cherryville man’s turn as a “Good Samaritan” a lesson to live by The cost in helping others can be high but is well worth it… by MICHAEL E. POWELL Editor michael@cfmedia.info
Gabbie McCorkle signs a LOI to play basketball for Methodist University. Front row, left to right are: Mom, Amanda McCorkle; Mekia McCorkle; Gabbie; Logan McCorkle; and Vincent McCorkle. Back row are, left to right: CHS Athletic Director Scott Harrill; Ja’Quincy Boykins (her AAU coach); CHS Principal Shawn Hubers; and Lady Ironmen head basketball coach, Carrie Dalton. (photo provided)
Gabbie McCorkle signs to play basketball at Methodist University Plans to major in Criminal Law; English by MICHAEL E. POWELL Editor michael@cfmedia.info
CHS senior Lady Ironmen basketball player Gabbie McCorkle has signed a letter of intent (LOI)
to play basketball for the Methodist University Monarchs. The school is located in Fayetteville, N.C., said McCorkle. Gabbie said the school recruited her in the middle of her high school season, having seen clips of her talents on the hardwood. Also, she said she heard about the school from friend Kaden Beaver. McCorkle said she wants to perhaps major in criminal justice or have a double major in that discipline and English. Her
goal, she said, is to become a lawyer, adding, “That has always been my career goal.” She wants to be true to that goal because, as she said her mother once told her, “The greatest trust you can ever have is in yourself.” She also noted her father told her to “…always keep God first.” Gabbie, though she does love playing sports, said right off, “I’m going to school for an education. That is the first goal,” adding she does want to get See GABBIE, Page 2A
For Cherryville residents Jason Day and his wife, Stacie, last week’s severe storm will be one they will long remember. Jason especially, for he has the actual wounds and will later have the scars to show for his time as a Good Samaritan, out to help others. Stacie’s scars are more internal as she worried for her husband while they were in the ER, waiting to be released after making sure he
Jason Day, of Cherryville, with the abrasions and injuries he sustained the day of the storm as he helped a mother and her daughter out of their truck after a tree had fallen onto it. (photo provided)
was okay. Jason and Stacie will no doubt tell any and all who want to hear it the cost of helping others; of getting involved, can be high sometimes, but it is always well worth it. Jason said as the storm that blasted through Cherryville last week began its daunting and scary tour of the “…Town Where Life Blossoms”, he and his wife were just enjoying the day at the softball fields at Robert Ballard Park. Said Jason, “I was at the softball game for our oldest daughter, Maggie, when it started lightning and they See SAMARITAN, Page 10A
2023 Star Teacher/Star Student from CHS shine at April 27 ceremony (Editor’s note: The following article is comprised of the Star Student/Star Teacher speeches given at the April 2023 event. We chose to print them in their entirety in order to let the recipients words tell their story plainly) This is CHS 2023 Star Student Joseph England’s speech he wrote and gave
at the April 27, Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden ceremony. “Sidney Cole – Star Teacher – Sidney Cole is not just a teacher in my eyes. She is an inspiration, a mentor, and a friend. When I first met Mrs. Cole, I thought that she looked like my sister. She had the same hair color,
was about the same height, and had a similar, downto-earth attitude, which I don’t see often anymore. I had her for Creative Writing I, a class that, looking back, I did not write the best in, as I once thought. However, it was through her encouragement that I became a better writer. She See STAR, Page 3A
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