WHAT? !!!
Permit guns in schools to stop massacres
Yeah, that’s the title of a community columnist in today’s Charlotte Observer.
Mr. Lane is an older person, having grown up in a completely different age and time. His assertion that when researching his opinion for the above article link, that, “…What changed? When guns were readily available to students, when they were often actually inside the schools themselves, there were no killings — none! …”.
With all due respect for the Observer, offering opinions such as this person proposes, just brings out the nut-jobs and wackos from our area society.
We already have school resource officers (county or local police officers) in most — if not all — middle schools, and every high school. We believe that “arming a responsible adult” is achieved by this practice in Gaston County already. We don’t need teachers, certified/tenured, or substitutes, packing heat in the hallways.
The Little Train That Could
Belmont’s train got an locomotive yesterday, replacing the engine that was removed a couple of years ago.
The placement of the engine drew a crowd to an already vibrant downtown, right at the same time as the middle school dismissal.
Dozens of 6th, 7th, and 8th graders already regularly mingle in the downtown area at the Belmont General Store and Caravan Coffee, waiting for their parents to pick them up.
This event, however, brought out city staffers, employees of the busy downtown merchants, and the chamber of commerce. Train enthusiasts, passersby, and curiousity seekers all stopped to watch the placement
Everyone was busily snapping pictures of the two large cranes that lifted the axles onto the track next to the already placed caboose and dining car. Shortly thereafter, the body of the locomotive was raised and set into place.
This should complete the little train, bringing back some interest in the train-related heritage that Garibaldi Station/Belmont holds within its history. The train station was a museum until just a few years ago. It sat empty until the upscale clothing store, Jolie, began operating. The volunteers who ran the Train Museum had decided to close because they struggled getting volunteers to staff the facility on a regular basis.
According to the now local entreprenuer, Richard LaVecchia — owner of several downtown properties, including Piccolo, OldStone Steakhouse, and the old Leader building (now being called, “the Rose Building” — ’cause it was owned and sold by Art Rose) — “…several projects…” are planned, “…where people can get into the locomotive and take pictures”.
Does the completion of the little train mean the return of a destination place in downtown Belmont?
Donut Derring-Do Does Damage
This one’s too good to comment on, the Gazette article speaks for itself.
(not really this car, but he thought it was)
We are happy that the traffic enforcement division didn’t suffer any injuries, or that any other property or personal damage occurred —
2:30 PM? geez, what do people think when they decide to fly through town…




