Development to reshape Cramerton

The new development called Villages at South Fork  along with any earlier plan simply called Lakewood Village will bring 1,409 “upscale” housing units to the Town of Cramerton along with a combined 170,000 square feet of commercial space over the next 5 to 7 years.

Of course, this development impacts the whole area, and most importantly the school system and roads.

Hold on for this ride.

Red Raiders favored to win Big South baseball title

  (Zach Horne - Gazette file Photo)

The Gazette is reporting that the South Point boys baseball team is favored to win the Big South Conference title this season.

“Lineberger isn’t sold that his team is the one to beat in the Big South this season” stated the article. While we tend to agree with the coach, there are some good possibilities to the season. Like the girl’s soccer in the conference, anybody could win with the right combinations.

South Point has good pitching, however the young sophomores have a lot of strength to face with opposition hitters at Crest, Forestview, and East Gaston.

South Point’s infield is good, and fast which should make for some interesting games this season.

Count on the Gazette and the BannerNews for most of the complete coverage articles during the season. Click here for team “capsules”.

A couple of the ballplayers for the Red Raiders have promised to submit their thoughts to the Front Porch, but it IS spring, the PROM and graduation seem to be occupying a lot of minds at 906 South Point Road right about now.

Gaston: No ICE detention facility

No Doubt!

Both the papers are now reporting that a 1,500 bed federal detention center most likely will not be built in Gaston County.

We kinda wonder why our county officials had to travel to Washington “for discussions” about this project? Wouldn’t have been a bit cheaper for Sue Myrick and former Mecklenburg Sheriff, Jim Pendergraff to have visited Gaston?

 The Gazette, ever hopeful for downtown revitalization, expressed an interest for an “ala carte” project that would be less expensive.

Seems to us that the project tab of $150 million fits into “Big Plan” Palenick’s vision for Gaston – right along with the laundry list of a “conference center/hotel”, restaurants, a hidden homeless shelter, and an $18 million baseball field.

This is leaving us wondering what sort of earmarks that Ms. Myrick is planning to dangle for us as her re-election campaign gears up. Our schools who qualify for Title I funding are shrinking even when the number of poor students grows. The estimated $1.6 Billion (yes, billion) “Garden Parkway” is still an apple of David Hoyle’s eye, but without federal funding and passage of a Toll Authority from the state, that will be out of his lifetime. Maybe he and Ms. Myrick could talk - surely there is still a bit of money at the bottom of the pork barrel for good ‘ol Gaston.