The Gazette has a good article about problem areas and driving in Gaston County. Near the end of the article is a list of deaths in the county and statewide.

This is a concern, most of the deaths were attributed to alcohol as a factor. Speed was another.

A great community is made up of a lot of things. Please drink responsibly, and slow down.

A listing of local hot spots:

Park Street and Wilkinson Blvd;

Hawley Avenue and Wilkinson Blvd;

Nixon Road and South Point Road (HS intersection);

Central Avenue and North Main Street (the “point”);

Woodlawn and Belmont-Mt Holly Road (Belmont Abbey stoplight);  

North Main Street and McAdenville Road (by Hawthorne Ford).

(Mike Hendsill – Gazette Photo)

Ok, so the county doesn’t have money to spend on a Senior Citizen’s Center, and has to charge for parking at the Courthouse, but can unamimously approve a driving track for county police?

The commissioners make the Parks and Recreation Department run through all kinds of hoops to get funding for a project that would affect thousands of people, and yet, has little comment on projects that affect a few.

“Gaston County may eventually try to recoup some of its investment by approaching other area police departments that will benefit from the track.” — a quote from the Gazette article.

We believe that’s wishful thinking on the part of the county commissioners. Their track record on “investments in the community” is not so good. It seems that it would have been more prudent to secure the collaborations and commitments to use the facility BEFORE approaching the taxpayers for money.

But again, people like Tom Keigher and Mickey Price like to spend OPM (“Other People’s Money”).

BETTER BE CAREFUL OUT THERE !