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Volume 117 • Issue 25
Friday, July 14, 2023
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Wednesday, June 21, 2023
City of Cherryville’s 2023-2024 proposed budget is $16,491,725 A three (3) percent reduction in the electric rates was approved. Cherryville will now have one of the lowest electrical rates in the area. by MICHAEL E. POWELL Editor michael@cfmedia.info
This 2019 Eagle file photo shows the ladies manning the 2ndgrade back pack and supplies table. They were (L-R) Cherryville Elementary second grade teacher Kelly Brown, Leigh Carpenter, and Pam Owens. See more photos on page 9A.
One Body One Mission still going strong; helping kids with school supplies by MICHAEL E. POWELL Editor michael@cfmedia.info
Still going strong in spite of past COVID-19 issues, the Annual Cherryville Community School Supply Drive is, according to its organizers, registering students for the 2023-2024 school year for the One Body One Mission backpack drive. Kim Eaker, one of the organizers, said recently via email, “We will be registering students from now until Aug. 1. If you need assistance with your child’s school supplies, call Barbara at St. John’s Lutheran Church during regular business hours.” Ms. Eaker further noted that, “Cherryville Area ministry and community churches and organizations will be sponsoring the event.” Families with school-age children are asked to please join with Cherryville Area Ministries on Saturday, Aug. 12, from 10 a.m. to 12 noon at First Wesleyan Church, Cherryville, located on Pink Street for, as Ms. Eaker noted, “…music
by the Praise Band, hot dogs, and free haircuts. Be sure and register your child soon.” Again, One Body One Mission’s Community School Supply Drive is where parents and grandparents can get help as soon the new 2023 – 2024 school year will soon be upon them, noted Ms. Eaker. “Don’t forget to call and register your child(ren) for a back pack filled with school supplies to be prepared for a fresh new start,” she stated in her email. It’s easy to register. Eaker wrote, you just call St. John’s Lutheran Church, 800 N. Pink St., Cherryville, at (704) 435-9264, from now until Aug. 1, and, said Eaker, “Come join us for a morning of giving, dedicated to serving the children of the Cherryville community with school supplies.” As has been done for many years since the event began, hot dogs and refreshments will be provided by St. John’s Lutheran Church’s “Table of Grace” ministry team. Again, to register, or for more information, call (704) 435-9264.
Governor Cooper vetoes compelled speech bill (SB 364) Veto complained bill would “eliminate training that can help us understand the unconscious bias we all bring to our work and our communities” by CJ STAFF Gov. Roy Cooper has recently vetoed a bill designed to prevent compelled speech
for people seeking jobs with state government or local community colleges. The bill also would prevent state government agencies from promoting a list of 13 proscribed concepts. “In North Carolina, the diversity of our people is a strength. This legislation attempts to eliminate training
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Over 90 Years!
At the Monday night, June 12 regular City Council meeting, Cherryville Mayor H.L. Beam, III presented Donald Richard “Quack” Alexander a copy of the proclamation honoring his many years of work with the Cherryville Little League program and Cherryville baseball. With Mr. Alexander is his mother, Rachel, his sister, Mary Capps, his wife, Kimberly, and his, son, Bryce. (photo by MEP/The Eagle/CF Media) companies from neighboring counties for their help as well, saying, “Cherryville will forever be grateful for all the help. The city is undergoing a lot of recovery work, so please have patience with us as we do our jobs. Our citizens and our
employees are very resilient.” Mayor Beam mentioned the city had, so far, around 220-plus tons of debris that was put in the Gaston County landfill. “Costs continue to rise,” said Mayor Beam, adding
the city has spent $500,000plus on clean-up already. Under Citizen’s To Be Heard, businessman Rusty Wise spoke to council, asking about the bidding process on the Historical Museum, wanting to know See BUDGET, Page 3
City’s 1st Juneteenth celebration fills Mini Park with music, food and fun Saturday event was “a long time in coming,” but its day finally arrived by MICHAEL E. POWELL Editor michael@cfmedia.info
Cherryville’s first-ever Juneteenth celebration finally came to pass after a couple of past attempts to bring the holiday’s events to the city. Some of the participant’s said it was a day that was a long time in coming, but it’s day had “finally arrived!” David Day, Downtown Director of the Cherryville Main Street Program welcomed everyone last Saturday, June 17, to the city’s downtown Mini Park, for the small town’s first-ever Juneteenth celebration. A couple of reasons were cited for the event’s having to be postponed; primarily the downtown Streetscape construction and its delays, and perhaps the biggest issue – that can help us understand the unconscious bias we all bring to our work and our communities,” Cooper wrote in his veto message for Senate Bill 364. “It is troubling that a legislature that witnessed open racism on the floor of the House of Representatives wants to stop training aimed at creating a more effective and understanding workforce.
Cherryvillle Mayor H.L. Beam, Mr. David Day, and City Council member Jon Abernethy presented the first-ever Juneteenth Day celebration proclamation to one of the event’s organizers, Mrs. Bernice Harris, of Cherryville. (photo by MEP/The Eagle/CF Media) the COVID -19 pandemic and the fears it caused. Mayor H.L. Beam also welcomed Donna Beringer, of the Cherryville Main Street Program, as well as city councilman Jon Aber-
nethy. He then gave a brief history about the public holiday, then read the proclamation, which had been mounted on a plaque. Mayor Beam said, “PROCLAMATION –
WHEREAS, on January 1, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, setting in motion the end of slavery in the United State; and – See JUNETEENTH, Page 4
Instead of pretending that bias and racism don’t exist, the legislature should instead encourage training that can help eliminate discrimination so we can work toward common goals.” Cooper did not spell out details of the “open racism” he alleged. It’s possible he was referring to an exchange last month between Rep. Jeffrey McNeely, R-Ired-
ell, and Rep. Abe Jones, D-Wake. During a debate about a bill to expand Opportunity Scholarships, McNeely interrupted Jones’ floor speech. McNeely asked Jones whether he believed his admission as a student at Harvard was linked to his race or his status as an athlete. Jones is black. McNeely later apologized for the question. Republican
House leaders stripped him of a leadership position as majority whip. The House approved S.B. 364 with a party-line 72-46 vote. Every Republican supported it. All voting Democrats opposed it. The Senate approved the measure, 3015. Three Senate Democrats joined Republicans to approve the bill’s final version. See VETOES, Page 2 Like Us On
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The Cherryville City Council met on Monday night, June 12, for their monthly regular session and, after approving the agenda and the minutes of two previous meetings (May 8, and May 30), moved ahead with discussing the numerous items on their recent agenda. Mayor H.L. Beam, III, under the section where he gives his comments said he had nothing but praise for the city staff and employees for the help they gave everyone during and after the recent storm. He also thanked all the local power
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