LincolnHerald.net

A short special called meeting of the Lincoln County Commissioners has apparently set the stage for the ouster of Commissioner Carrol Mitchem as chair of the board. Commissioners voted to change their policy allowing the removal of a chair or vice chair at any meeting during the year by a vote of 'no confidence.' The action came in the aftermath of allegations of 'harassment' by a former County employee who recently quit after 22 years on the job. After the vote on the policy change, Commissioner Bud Cesena made a motion to adjourn the meeting, and while Mitchem, the only 'no' vote on the change, objected, the meeting was adjourned. Mitchem then said he wanted to talk with the news media after the meeting. (see video) None of the other commissioners would comment. Public Information Officer Vanessa Leon issued the following Wednesday evening: Regarding the action that was taken today during the Special Called Meeting at 4:00 on April 24th, 2024 the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners want to share the following statement: “It was time to update the policy and the Board felt it was necessary to update” In regards to comments made following the meeting to the media: “The comments and information provided by Chairman Carrol Mitchem are related to a personnel matter and an ongoing investigation. The actions by Chairman Mitchem are not supported by the Board of Commissioners. Discussing personnel matters that are protected is not condoned by the Board for any reason.”

DINOSAUR SHOW

It's not unusual to see some unusual animals as Upton Family Farm off Hwy 27 at Hebron Church Road in western Lincoln County...but this weekend, they'll have DINOSAURS! Yes, dinosaurs! And you can take the family on a dinosaur hunt Friday, Saturday or Sunday. Get your tickets in advance for $20 a carload at https://fareharbor.com/embeds/book/edsdinosaurslive/items/309139/calendar/2021/06/?flow=574988&full-items=yes because they'll be $30 at the gate this weekend. The dino hunt also provides admission to a show every two hours that's both educational and FUN!

City Mgr. Steve Zickefoose comments on his two years with the City of Lincolnton. He will retire Dec. 31, 2020.

Among those who spoke at Monday night's (June 1, 2020) Public Hearing on the proposed Lincoln County Budget for fiscal 2021 was Chris Rhyne, husband of Board of Education vice-chair Heather Rhyne. A long-time volunteer and former Volunteer of the Year in Lincoln County Schools, Rhyne was the chair of the committee that pushed for adoption of the additional quarter-cent local option sales tax two years ago. While by law, there is no guarantee how that money will be used, Commissioners and the School Board had agreed that it would be used for the schools. Rhyne said he had worked for the approval of the tax based on that understanding.

The first of the 2019 Independence Day parades was held in the Westport Community Thursday morning. Martin Oakes provided us with this video of the parade:

Council Approves Ordinance Amendment Dec. 7, 2017

A crowd of some 250-plus gathered at the Gaston County Courthouse on N. Marietta St. in Gastonia Saturday afternoon (June 27th) to show their support of the Confederate flag. Members of the Gaston County Major Charles Q. Petty Camp of the Sons of Confederate Veterans organized the rally to show support of the flag that has drawn criticism following the murder of nine African-Americans at a church in Charleston, SC in which racial prejudice was considered a factor in the shooting. The rally was also in support of keeping the special SCV license plate option alive in North Carolina. The Save the Flag Rally was organized by Bill Starnes, commander of the Gaston County unit, who said “Our heritage is important to us, it means something to us and we’re proud of it." Starnes delivered a 30-minute history lesson to the crowd. In his comments, he said that the Civil War was not about slavery, that President Lincoln had spoken in favor of the right of states to secede, and that Lincoln had on several occasions voiced an opinion that he did not want to end slavery. Starnes insisted the Confederate battle flag that is commonly flown in many locations throughout the South is not a symbol of hatred. Governor Pat McCrory has joined other governors in saying he wants to remove the Confederate flag from special SCV license plates that are offered as an option in NC. The decision on that will be up to the General Assembly. Tim Moore of Cleveland County, the speaker of the NC House, has expressed his agreement with McCrory's opinion. Dylann Roof, the 21-year-old killer who said he wanted to start a race war, was seen in a photograph displaying the Confederate flag.