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Midland sewer updates coming soon

Development, Government, Growth No Responses »

May 172012

Cabarrus Acres subdivision will soon benefit from sewer service from McGill Associates, an engineering firm contracted by the Town of Midland. The project will be funded through a low (0%) interest rate State Revolving Fund (SRF) loan amounting to $1,200,000 if the town completes the first steps of processing by July 2.
In order for the town to benefit from this fund, the council and staff must submit an Engineering Report to Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) by July 2. The fund is offered from the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources. If the report is not submitted before that date, the funding will not be available. Once the report is approved the town can proceed with construction plans and specifications.
Richard Flowe, the Midland Planning, Zoning, and Subdivision Administrator, described this as an “exciting opportunity for the town and we want to maintain the pace.”
The low interest loan would be combined with a $1,200,000 grant from the Clean Water Management Trust Fund giving the town $2.4 million in total.
The project will affect approximately 50 residents within the Cabarrus Acres Subdivision located off of Midland Road. The preliminary engineering fee for McGill Associates will be $23,000, which does not include design, permitting, surveying, geotechnical, bidding and award, construction observation, or construction administration services.
The town hopes to have construction begin between March and August of 2013.
“This is a monumental time and place in Midland’s brief history as an incorporated town,” said Flowe.

Read more about Mildand’s meeting in this weeks The Weekly Post!

Dynamic Comfort Solutions celebrates grand opening

Development, Growth, News Notes No Responses »

May 032012

The mayor of Locust and business leaders joined Dynamic Comfort Solutions in celebrating its grand opening in a ribbon cutting ceremony in Locust last Friday. Dynamic Comfort Solutions is an HVAC provider and has a wide variety of services to offer from mold assessment to duct cleaning and air cleaning and treatment solutions. It also offers 10 percent off the final bill for military, fire, police, and rescue personal. Offices are located on Ray Kennedy Drive in the Locust Town Center.

Town of Red Cross constructing two lane road

Development, Growth No Responses »

May 032012

The Town of Red Cross is in the process of constucting a new two lane road from Hwy. 24/27 to the Town Hall. The first 50 feet of the road way will be paved and then the remaining portion will be composed of a hard compacted gravel. The new road will be called Town Hall Drive and should be completed soon.

Midland approves land annexation

Development, Growth, Weekly Post Front Page No Responses »

Apr 192012

At the April Town of Midland meeting, the council approved the voluntary annexation of two properties into the town limits. The first property, G and G Albemarle Road Business Park, consists of nearly six acres, and the second property, bordering Rocky River by the Catawba Lands Conservancy consists of 66 acres.
Land zoning will be the next step in the process for annexing the properties. The business park will be used for industrial use, and the Catawba Lands Conservancy will be zoned for agricultural use.

Locust greenway receives the go ahead

Development, Government, Growth No Responses »

Apr 132012

Last Thursday at the Locust City Council meeting Mayor Efird and the council recognized NC House Representative Justin Burr’s efforts to secure funding for the Greenway project in Locust. The city is requesting $175,000 to design and build a system of trails that will connect the community with the regional points of interest.

Midland council outlines goals for coming year

Development, Government, Growth, Towns No Responses »

Apr 132012

The Midland Town Council met for a second retreat Monday, April 9. The council members continued their discussions from a previous meeting in January.
The purpose of the retreat was to outline goals and objectives for the town of Midland in the coming year. Each objective was broken down into sections based on importance and then given a specific action, time frame, and resources that would be needed to complete the goal.

Midland welcomes new industrial park

Development, Growth, Towns No Responses »

Jul 262011

By Joyce Lavene

Midland Town Council members got good news from Aberdeen, Carolina and Western Railroad (ACWR) at their July meeting. ACWR’s marketing director Russ Smitley came to talk about the Gladstone Industrial Park plans that could bring unexpected prosperity to the town.
The park would be 70 plus acres near the intersection of Old Camden Road and Flowe’s Store Road. The park would have the advantage of being only about four miles from Interstate 485 and would have its own spur on the railroad line. The property is owned by Rob Wallace who also owns the property where the Midland Industrial Park is located off of Hwy. 601.
Smitley also said something Midland residents have wanted to hear for a long time—that the transloading facility in Old Midland would be moved to this site—when possible.
Smitley presented an overview of the project which is already being marketed across the country. “We looked at the potential for this project between the railroad and the community and thought they dovetailed well with what the town wants to do.”
The railroad hired Land Design, a firm from Charlotte, to help plan the facility. President Dale Stewart was at the meeting to share his insights into the project as well. The idea began with the railroad quickly outgrowing its space at the transloading site in Old Midland.
“There has been a tremendous amount of work already put into this,” Smitley said. “We had to look at wetlands, archaeological spots and environmental needs.”
ACWR will be the exclusive advisor on the project. It will be a multi-modal park which will be developed into a major logistics hub serving the Charlotte and mid-Atlantic markets over the next 15 – 20 years, possibly hiring thousands of workers. Predevelopment efforts are already underway.
Smitley showed the marketing video, which has been sent out to more than 600 target prospects, saying that the site is tremendously marketable with the cost of fuel and the ability to develop other parcels of land around the site.
“We recognize that our coming here originally was a great source of concern for the people of Midland,” Smitley said. “That was one reason we wanted to work with the town on this project, why we’re here asking for annexation into the Town of Midland. We want to collaborate with the community so that we can both be prosperous.”
Smitley said the problems caused by the transloading facility being opened in Old Midland were unintentional. “We apologize for that.”
The project is several months away from specific development but companies are beginning to show interest in the site. “We are proud of the business that we have brought to Southern Cabarrus County,” Smitley said. “We are even more excited about the potential we see for better jobs, taxes and investment to the region.”
Council member Don Fleener said the town was “excited” about the development.
Mayor Kathy Kitts read from a statement prepared for the meeting. “This is the culmination of hard work, positive and progressive thinking and cooperation that goes beyond this council to the determination and diligence of staff, previous councils and most importantly, our wonderful community.”
Kitts went on to say, “As Midland strives to strengthen its economic presence, this unique opportunity is, hopefully, only the beginning and will continue Midland on the path to a town with desirable employment opportunities in a number of diverse number of professions. On behalf of the Midland Town Council and the citizens of Midland, I would like to thank Aberdeen, Carolina and Western for this opportunity and a strong relationship moving forward.”
There will be a Public Hearing held on the annexation of the Gladstone Development into the Town of Midland on August 9.
Cutline:
Aberdeen, Carolina and Western Director of Marketing Russ Smitley (front foreground) said all the right things to the Midland Town Council as well as the people of Midland at the July meeting last week. He is pictured here at the meeting with Land Design’s Dale Stewart (middle) and industrial park property owner Rob Wallace (far left).

Home Savings celebrates 100 years

Growth, Your Hometown No Responses »

Jul 062011

Home Savings celebrates 100 Years
By Joyce Lavene
Senior Staff Writer

Home Savings Bank issued an invitation to everyone—come to Albemarle for a party—and everyone came. Hundreds of people lined the blocked-off streets outside the bank’s office. There was dancing on First Street and chalk drawing on Main Street. Kids waited n line to jump in bouncy houses and counted pennies at the corner.
DJ Joey Gathings kept the party atmosphere going with his blend of seventies, eighties and nineties music until the Craig Woolard Band took over. There were 2,500 free hot dogs, games and giveaways for everyone from 5 to 10 pm. Green balloons filled the evening, some sailing away into the skies above the city buildings.
Ron Swanner, chairman, president and CEO of South Street Financial Corp., the parent holding company for Home Savings Bank, said this event was a small attempt by the bank to say thank you for the 100 years the bank has enjoyed.
“We have close to $100 million in business just in Western Stanly County. We owe our success to our customers, our employees, and a lot of hard working people who came before us. What sets us apart is our customer base—the people of Stanly County—who pay their bills on time and save their money. We rely on them. They are what has gotten us through the hard times because they are extraordinary.”
Home Savings is celebrating their first 100 years in business. The bank organized on June 27, 1911. It was only open on Saturdays back then but is now Stanly County’s oldest financial instituion with branches in Albemarle, Oakboro, and Locust.
The bank began with a small group of business and civic leaders. They met at the Stanly County Courthouse with the goal of forming a financial institution for the mutual benefit of savers and borrowers. Among the group’s objectives was to develop and implement a savings organization which would create a pool of funds to be loaned to local people for the purpose of building and buying the homes in Stanly County. Those at the meeting decided to call the organization the Home Builders Association.
Nine men were chosen as the first Board of Directors for the new financial institution. They were the movers and shakers of their time and included J.M. Morrow, P.O. Skidmore, A.P. Harris, W.L. Mann, T.C. Rivers, E.E. Snuggs, Dr. J.C. Hall, S.H. Hearne and J.E. Ewing.
The group elected the bank’s first officers—J.M. Morrow, who served as president from 1911 to 1941; S.H. Hearne, Vice President and W.L. Mann, Secretary/Treasurer. R.L. Brown, Sr. was chosen to be the association’s attorney.
The group’s first loan was made to S.K. Lowder on July 10, 1911. Most of the early loans were for amounts of less than $1,500. The bank operated out of a teller window inside Stanly Bank and Trust at that time.
The first annual financial statement for the Home Builder’s Association was for $8,061.46 in assets.
The association’s name was changed to Home Savings and Loan in 1957 then again in 1992 to Home Savings Bank.

New Life For Old Bethel School – Midland, NC

Development, Growth, Schools, Towns, Weekly Post Front Page No Responses »

Jun 032011

Old Bethel School gets a new name
By Joyce Lavene
Senior Staff Writer
Cabarrus County Commissioners agreed to sell the Old Bethel School campus on Hwy. 24/27 in Midland to Woodson University last week. The price was $10,000, a sharp decline from the original asking price of more than $2 million.
The county decided last year that they would open bids on the property with a base of $200,000. But the bids were much lower and the county changed its mind.
Earlier this year, there was a proposal from a group that called itself A New Beginning. That group wanted to make the school into a community center. There was also a bid of $10 and $1,000 made in March.
The county estimated that the property was worth about $1 million but would cost between $3 and $4 million to renovate. The property has been vandalized through the years since the school closed in 2007 and has sustained heavy damage as well as the expense of removing asbestos from the old building.
The new university’s main campus will be at this site and will be known as Woodson University-Old Bethel Campus.
Woodson University began in April of this year with five students enrolled in a class called Theories of Leadership, an online course for its bachelor’s degree in Christian Management and Leadership. The university eventually plans to offer certificates and bachelors, masters and doctoral degrees in Christian studies.
A. L. Fleming is the president of Woodson University. He spoke to the Town of Midland at their monthly meeting about his plans for the 10 acre, five building campus. “We look forward to working with school alumni, the citizens of Midland, Cabarrus County, and local government. Our purpose is clear—we are here to add to the local economic and academic landscape of our community.”
The university will work with county staff in the coming weeks to finalize the acquisition and transfer of the facility, said Fleming. He said he expects it to be 18 to 24 months for completion of renovations after closing on the purchase. Woodson University will continue to occupy their current offices and academic space in Concord until the completion of renovations.
“First steps should occur after the closing of the sale, within 60-120 days,” Fleming said. “Site cleanup and landscaping is scheduled to occur. The timeline for occupation, active academic course work and administrative work, is unable to be adequately determined until the pre-design phase is completed.”
The university is named after Carter G. Woodson, who founded Black History Month. Fleming was previously employed as an academic counselor, special assistant to the chief financial officer and assistant to the chief development officer at Elizabeth City State University. He was a presidential fellow in the University of North Carolina system.
He was also the chief advancement officer and interim chief financial officer for Barber-Scotia College, before leaving last year to spend time as the director of development at Saint Augustine’s College.
Why Midland? Fleming said the campus is a gem in the community. “The school has provided educational opportunities for citizens of all ages for the past three quarters of a century, approximately. The campus is also a historic beauty in the manner of its construction, and is strategically located near four counties and direct access to major N.C. roadways and Interstates. Therefore its history and location suit our needs in our long range plan to inhabit a small physical campus.”
There seems to be no bitterness about this once devisive issue. Midland Town Council member Mike Tallent, who is on the Old Bethel School Committee, said he and his family support the initiative.
“We feel this would be an appropriate use of the old school. How better to show respect and appreciation to the students that roamed these halls in the past than to honor them by the use of this facility as a university. We look forward to the County Commissioners’ support of this community opportunity.

Second Gold Rush at Reed Gold Mine, Midland, NC

Growth, People, Weekly Post Front Page No Responses »

May 102011

Second gold rush at Reed Mine
By Joyce Lavene
Senior Staff Writer
Reed Gold Mine is known for its large gold nuggets—such as the 17-pound nugget found by John Reed’s son, Conrad, in 1799. That find began the gold rush that eventually changed the country.
By the late 1800s, farmers had given up their crops to prospect for gold. Surface panning in creeks and riverbeds had turned into deep-mining operations. Small towns like Gold Hill popped up to support the search for more and bigger gold nuggets. Mining enterprises, like the Mecklenburg Gold Mining Company, hired as many as 600 people. For a while, the world narrowed down to prospectors and what they needed as an industry and lifestyle built up around the pursuit of gold.
Charlotte suddenly became more than a sleepy village as it evolved into a regional financial center for prospectors to register claims and assay their wealth. It may be hard to believe today, but the largest amount of gold in the state was found in the piedmont counties of Guilford, Randolph, Davidson, Rowan, Montgomery, Stanly, Cabarrus, Mecklenburg, Gaston, and Union. For many years, those counties provided the only native gold for the United States Mint.
It wasn’t until much later that the better known gold rush began in California. Gold was still being mined in N.C. until the Civil War when it completely stopped.
Now a second gold rush is going on in the piedmont area. Mining Companies using new technologies are investing in gold mining. Old mines are being revived, thanks largely to the high price of gold making exploration profitable again. Mines that have been abandoned for more than a hundred years are being opened and gold is being extracted.
The gold rush at Reed Mine is a little different. Despite persistent rumors that the long dormant mine shaft on the property is being sold to gold mining interests, Reed Mine Site Manager, Sharon Robinson, said the rumors are not true.
“We are governed by preservation laws and the state of North Carolina,” she said. “Also, most of the profitable mining done here in the 1800s was close to the surface. The shaft they are talking about is 150 feet down. The crystals further down just don’t contain enough gold.”
Some people may not know, but originally the dirt used for panning at Reed Mine was taken from the Cotton Patch Mine in New London. Now the dirt comes from Little Meadow Creek, the same one Conrad Reed found his large chunk of gold.
“We take the dirt from the creek with a backhoe,” Robinson said. “We created a natural sluice spot and have been digging there. We’ve had a lot of what we call ‘new’ gold coming up. This is gold that has recently broken free of the creek bed. This gold isn’t smooth—it’s still got some edges because it hasn’t been worn down by the water.”
This new gold rush at Reed may be attributed to that new gold. Some of it is coming up in quartz pieces, worth $50 to $75. A lot of it is coming up in big nuggets that have been recently found by gold panners.
A large nugget was found in 1997 but now those nuggets seem to be weekly finds. During this year’s Heritage Days event, a student found a nugget worth about $300. “The spot price for gold was at $1,475 per ounce,” Robinson said. “I offered him $300 out of my own pocket, but he was a smart kid and turned me down. He knew he had found something special.”
Just two weeks before, a French Exchange student found a nugget weighing approximately three grams. Robinson offered for that nugget too, for the museum at the site, but was turned down as well.
Since the start of the gold panning season in March, Robinson said there have been record numbers of panners at the mine. For $2 per pan, visitors search through dirt taken directly from Little Meadow Creek and have a chance to find a fortune. “Anything found in the panning area belongs to the panner, not the state,” Robinson said. “Your $2 ticket is your claim. So, if you did happen to find a 17 pound gold nugget at the bottom of your pan, it would be yours to keep.”
The educational panning area at Reed Mine teaches visitors how to pan for gold in much the same way that the first panners in North Carolina creeks looked for their fortune. Besides panning, the mine site has 1.5 miles of nature trails, a short film, museum, a guided underground tour, a working original 1895 Stamp Mill, and a picnic area. All of it is free.
Reed Gold Mine is part of the Division of State Historic Sites, Office of Archives and History, an agency of the N.C. Department of Cultural Resources, and site of the First Discovery of Gold in America, 1799. For more information, call 704-721-4653 or visit the web site at www.nchistoricsites.org/reed. You can also find them on Facebook at facebook.com/reedgoldmine.
Other local mines to search for your treasure are Cotton Patch Mine and Mountain Creek Mine in New London.

Sidebar:
Tips for panning from Sharon Robinson
Either look in the bend of the curve in the creek or where you see an obstruction like a tree or a big rock. Check the opposite side with the curent. This makes a natural sluice and gravity will hold some gold there. You have to get to the dirt that is closest to the bedrock because gold sinks. Trust the gravity.

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