School

Another great “away” crowd at Forestview on Friday night saw South Point stay unbeaten and at the top of the Big South Conference.

(Aaron Crumbley makes a run – David Luoto photo for the Gazette)

The football was good, even entertaining when Forestview went up early in the game. This led many to believe that maybe the Ashbrook game took something out of the team.

Then South Point took over — and the Gazette tells a better story than we could anyway.

Next Friday is South Point’s homecoming weekend. South Point will be hosting Charlotte Latin, a state power and ranked in News14’s – “14 to Watch” list. Good competition makes makes for good competitors.   

We don’t believe the players or coaching staffs of North Gaston, Crest, or South Point are looking past their next games, but the media and local communities sure are — Phillip Gardner writes a story about the upcoming three weeks of football competition. We agree with him on this one – Can’t Hardly Wait.

The line score:

SP 14 14 7 0 – 35
F 9 0 0 7 – 16

First quarter
F: Jarkeevus Alexander 88 kickoff return (Kick failed), 11:47
SP: Desmond Lowery 9 run (James Justice kick), 9:12
F: Preston Lyon 27 FG
SP: Aaron Crumbley 15 run (James Justice kick), 3:21

Second quarter
SP: Crumbley 2 run (James Justice kick), 5:13
SP: Brandon Spencer 19 pass from Lowery (James Justice kick), 0:45

Third quarter
SP: Crumbley 4 run (James Justice kick), 0:16

Fourth quarter
F: Kevin Jeter 6 run (Brant Aldous kick), 0:10

Phillip Gardner, a sportswriter for the Gaston Gazette had a couple of nice things to say about the Red Raider game versus Ashbrook the other night.

A little love offering perhaps for the gushiness expressed for Gastonia schools over the last several years perhaps?

Who knows?

Don’t like paying $5 to park in the neighborhood? COME EARLY and tailgate ! If you wrote more stuff about Belmont area sports in a more loving tone, like what is usually reserved for Forestview and Ashbrook, maybe someone would let young Mr. Gardner park for free. 

NOT !

Really, to be fair, we think Mr. Gardner does a wonderful job of covering sports in Gaston County. He makes an effort to attend the games, and get a feel for the players and coaches in his articles.

A little love goes a long way in selling papers…

1. Former councilwoman, Jane Ray has withdrawn from the city council race. Reported by the County Board of Elections. No reason given –

We suspect that a recent meeting at a prominent citizen’s home prompted several people to reconsider their candidacies. With 10, now 9, running in the Belmont municipal election certain incumbents have a slight leg up with a dilution of votes available.

As of October 1, we haven’t seen the typical growth of candidate signs around town as in previous years. Maybe the the drought has kept down the weeds so to speak, hmmm?

One candidate, neighbor, Richard Turner, must have an axe to grind with someone. His recent letter to the editor of the Belmont Banner suggests that city staff need be more accountable to council, and of course, he’s just the one to be the best for the job.

2. When are the community forums that have been successful in the past? Oh, wait, Charlie Martin is already on council — no need for those now — just ask Charlie, he has all the facts.

3. Haven’t seen much about the Parks and Recreation Bonds either in the papers or in flyers or letters. While we feel that this is a good step for the department, it seems that the staff and recreation advisory council needs to get on the ball. 

There is a very quiet effort, led by a couple of incumbent council members to see that the bond question is defeated. Shades of a past election where a secret write-in campaign brought back the consumate politician/slumlord, Billy Joye. This campaign looks very, very similar.

4. Is development even an issue with the candidates for council? Or are they all on the payroll of a real estate company in some form or another?

Incumbents running for re-election: