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Volume 117 • Issue 28
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Wednesday, July 12, 2023
Independence Day celebration at Rudisill Stadium always a fan favorite 2023 holiday celebration; fireworks even better than last year’s, according to Mayor, city staff and officials and attendees by MICHAEL E. POWELL Editor michael@cfmedia.info
Having this years’ Independence Day celebration at Rudisill Stadium again turned out to be another fan favorite, according to Mayor H.L. Beam, III, and city council members, staff, and the fans of the fireworks-laden holiday. On top of all that, many of the families that came to the June 30 event were glad to
be able to, once again, have room for the kids and all to just be kids. The fireworks displays were – as always – astounding, as the night sky lit up with the handiwork of the pyrotechnic know-how of the Cherryville Fire Department, led by Assistant Chief Colby Heffner and Capt. Nathan Bowman, Capt. Trent “Bam Bam” Rayfield, Driver/Engineer Doyle Brown, and all the amazing crew of the CFD smoke eaters. And to make things even better, it was reported by members of the CFD crew that two of their members got engaged at the fireworks show – Will Greenway, a second-generation firefighter and his sweet-
A wide shot of the June 30, 2023 Independence Day celebration from the Rudisill Stadium stands just as things got under way. (photo by MEP/The Eagle/CF Media and Susan L. Powell) heart, Lauren Dunivan, who is also a firefighter. Cherryville ID4 festival coordinator and director and Mary Beth Tackett said while at the Chamber of
Commerce’s tent up by the fieldhouse at Rudisill, that she is always glad when things come together so well for events the size of the 4th of July festival.
“It is one of the city’s biggest, so, yeah, it’s good to see things we’ve all worked so hard on come together like this and see people come out and have fun,”
she noted. Mayor Beam also was very happy to see everyone come out and said as much when he took the stage See CELEBRATION, Page 12
“Fuzzy Cow” yogurt shop now open in downtown Cherryville Come on in, get a cool treat and beat the heat while chilling out! by MICHAEL E. POWELL Editor michael@cfmedia.info
The three-alarm fire at the Bessemer City Lithium plant on June 26.
Three-alarm fire destroys Livent Lithium building in Bessemer City BESSEMER CITY, N.C. – Multiple Gaston County fire departments and the Gaston County Office of Emergency Management and Fire Services are responded quickly to a three-alarm fire, June 26, at the Livent Lithium Processing Plant in Bessemer City. According to a report from the county’s OEMFS, around 1:30 a.m., calls went out for a fire at the facility. Fire crews worked to contain the blaze, and officials have confirmed that all plant workers are accounted for. No injuries were reported as of 5:30 a.m. This is now classified as a
three-alarm fire. Highway 161 was closed from JE Herndon Access Road to 14th Street, noted the media release. Residents near the plant were encouraged to stay indoors and not drive around barricades. No evacuation order was put in place at that time. Officials said smoke from the fire was not hazardous. More information will be released as it becomes available. UPDATE: On June 28, the Gaston County Office of Emergency Management and Fire Services announced the cause of the Livent Corporation facility fire is undetermined, pending additional investigation. See LITHIUM, Page 3
Kari Thurber and Carson Heafner’s frozen yogurt shop, The Fuzzy Cow, is officially open to do (sweet) business in Downtown Cherryville. It is another indication that Cherryville’s revitalized downtown is not only growing but attracting people and thriving all at the same time. Thurber, originally from Maryland, said she and Heafner – a Newton, NC native – were looking at business ideas they could get involved with as a couple and eventually came upon frozen yogurt as a just the thing. The shop also has bubble teas, milk shakes, and a host of fantastic toppings to go on the frozen yogurt. “It is our first venture into business together. The
frozen yogurt idea, in general, was mainly his idea,” said Thurber. The couple live in Belwood at their aptly-named Belwood Ranch, where they and an assortment of large fuzzy cattle, a mix of Highland cows, or “coos”, as they say in Scotland, about five Angus cows, and a few White Parks, along with an assortment of other farm-type critters and such enjoy life at a bit of a slower pace. Thurber went over a couple of the names of the cows, most of which were given them by Thurber’s and Heafner’s daughters, Sydney, Savannah, Kara, and Abigail. The shop came about thanks to one cow in particular, named Debra, who wound up as the inspiration for the colorful logo for the shop. The shop’s logo was done by Raleigh artist Elisabeth Farnsworth, said Thurber. Thurber is a trained Diagnostic Medical Sonographer, was a stay-at-home mom, but has always done See COW, Page 2
Kari Thurber, co-owner and operator of The Fuzzy Cow Yogurt Shop in Downtown Cherryville, stands ready to prepare any sweet frozen yogurt treat your heart desires. (photo by MEP/The Eagle or provided)
NC Senate Republicans unveil plan to make Board of Elections bipartisan by ALEX BALTZEGAR Carolina Journal
On Monday, June 10, Senate Republicans unveiled a plan to make the North Carolina state and local elections boards bipartisan. Senate Bill 749, No Partisan Advantage in Elections, restructures the North Carolina State Board of Elections by splitting the appointments between the majority and minority legislative leaders. The State Board of Elections (NCSBE) would be composed of four majority and four minority party appointments. All would come from the legislature, with the Senate Leader Phil Berger, R-Rockingham, speaks to reporters at See PLAN, Page 11 a press conference while introducing S.B. 749. (photo provided)
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