TABLE OF
CONTENTS

VALDESE HEADLINES - 2004

IMPORTANT
INFORMATION

 

HEADLINE ARCHIVES

12/04/04
Children and adults lined Main Street Saturday morning to welcome in the Christmas holiday with Valdese's annual Christmas Parade. The forty-minute event began at 10:00 a.m. and was highlighted by the East Burke and Freedom marching bands, the ever-exciting Shriners go-carts, and of course, Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus.

Evelyn Bounous, who worked for Alba-Waldensian and recently for the Town of Valdese was the grand marshall and was driven by her nephew, Colby. Also honored was WSVM personality J.D. Baker, who rode in a horse drawn carriage.

Friday evening, the Town Christmas tree held a lighting ceremony in the Town parking lot, adjacent to the kiosk. The ceremony was highlighted by singing from the Valdese Elementary School chorus.

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10/29/04
About forty assorted characters and their families gathered Friday night in downtown Valdese for a Halloween Costume Contest. The festivities began at 3:00 p.m. as trick-or-treaters made their way up and down Main Street to visit participating businesses. At 5:30 p.m. they gathered at the Community Center and had a parade back to the Wachovia parking lot, where the contest was held.

The winners for each age category were:

• 0 - 2 -- Cooper Greene as Dracula

• 3 - 5 -- Christa Shambley -- as a Spider Girl

• 6 - 10 -- Kayleigh Betancourt as a Genie

• 11 - 13 -- Katie Reid as an "Old Lady."

The contest was put on by the Valdese Business Association.

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08/14/04
Cool weather and overcast skies made for a unique experience at the 29th annual Waldensian Festival in Valdese. Unlike most years where people are doing everything they can to stay cool, some people even brought out their long sleeve shirts and pants on Saturday.

Though the threat of rain did keep some vendors (about twenty or thirty) from coming, it didn't detract from the crowd. In fact, the cooler temperatures kept the crowd around longer than usual.

The possibility of bad weather also hurt attendance at the car show, where only about thirty to forty cars were displayed. People who put a lot of time and effort into restoring their cars dislike having them dirtied by rain and possibly mud from a soggy football field.

233 runners showed up for the Great Waldensian Footrace, not including the one mile fun run. The 5K was won by Morganton's Zach McKee in 16:32 and the 10K was won by Josh Baker of Valdese in 35:11.

The Mount Calvary booth had a jar for collecting donations to help pay for Trevor Monk's operations and therapy. If I heard correctly, they collected over two thousand dollars at the festival alone. Trevor and his family will be in Pittsburgh for about three months as he recovers from his most recent transplants.

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07/06/04
Three area students have been awarded Steve Rostan Memorial Scholarships, according to David Moyers, Commander of Valdese American Legion Post 234, sponsor of the scholarship program.

The following winners will each receive a $1,000 scholarship...

Summer N. Grady, daughter of Tony and Donna Grady of Rutherford College, is a graduate of East Burke High School and plans to study art education at Appalachian State University in Boone.

Brian S. Burns, son of Martha Burns and the late William Burns of Morganton, is a graduate of Freedom High School and will study electrical engineering at N.C. State University in Raleigh.

Patrick B. Murray, son of Kenneth Murray of Morganton and Brenda Harris of Glen Alpine and a graduate of Freedom High School, is currently pursuing a degree in theology or pastoral ministries at UNC Chapel Hill. He was awarded a second year scholarship continuation.

Moyers says that applications from Burke County residents and/or graduates of the Burke County public or private schools and GED or High School diploma graduates from Western Piedmont Community College are eligible for the award.

The Rostan Scholarships are good for one year at any accredited post secondary institution. The award winner may also apply for a second year of the scholarship but will be in competition with with first time applicants, Moyers said.

The award is named in honor of Steve Rostan, a long time director of community services and facilities for the local American Legion Post, according to Moyers. Rostan died suddenly in December of 1994 after marching in the annual Valdese Christmas Parade with the legion color guard.

Post Adjutant Randy Evans said that, "We at Post 234, and the Rostan family feel that by investing in the future education and training of our area young people, that we are paying one of the highest tributes we can pay to honor Steve's memory and the tradition of service to the community."

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07/04/04
The new park on East Main Street held a dedication and naming ceremony at 2:00 p.m. About 100-150 people turned out to enjoy watermelon and ice cream and enjoy the opening ceremony.

Speakers included: Mayor Jim Hatley, Town Manager Jeff Morse, and the muralist, Clive Haynes. Haven Street performed the national anthem and the Old Colony Players chorus sang a few hymns.

The forty-five minute ceremony was highlighted by the unveiling of the park's new name, Village Park, a ribbon cutting, and the starting of the waterfall.

Fifty-one small "objects" are painted into the mural, some of which will require binoculars to see. A list of all the objects, but not their locations, is available at the Old Rock School and at Town Hall.

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06/28/04
There are big plans for the July 4th weekend in Valdese, beginning with the usual activities on Friday evening with the Car Show at Myra's and the concert featuring "Clarence Greene" and "Southbound" in the Town parking lot.

On Sunday, July 4th, at 2:00 p.m., the East Main Street Park will be officially dedicated and it's new name will be revealed. The waterfall will also be turned on at this time. Several hundred attendees are expected and in the event of rain, the ceremony will be held in the Old Rock School.

Also on Sunday afternoon will be the anniversary celebration at the Trail of Faith on Church street with live music and food.

At about 9:30 p.m., the fireworks will begin, launched from the football field behind the Old Rock School. The show should last fifteen to twenty minutes.

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06/15/04
You are invited to join the members of the Valdese community and Burke County in support of Trevor Monk, a five year old boy who was critically injured in a lawn mower accident on April 26th. He has had multiple surgical procedures and for his long term recovery, doctors have recommended a bowel transplant. In the first week of June, he graduated from preschool but the following week he returned to the hospital with an infection and for additional surgery. A planned trip to Pittsburgh Children's Hospital for his transplant evaluation has been postponed for several weeks. His medical expenses are unimaginable. Mt. Calvary Baptist Church has established a designated fund through Wachovia Bank.

On Saturday Morning, June 26th, beginning at 7:00 a.m we will gather at the Valdese Community Center to swim, walk, run, and ride bikes to raise money for Trevor. Registration is $5 with no fee for you under age six. All participants are requested to ask their friends, family, and co-workers to sponsor their efforts and contribute to the Trevor Monk Fund. Contributions may be made in the form of pledges per lap swim, laps walked or miles walked, run, or ridden on a bicycle. Direct donations are also welcome. Families are encouraged to come together. Bring all the folks in the neighborhood. And, you may participate in more than one event.

Class AA and B cyclists will leave the Valdese Community Center at 7:00 a.m. for a seventy mile or thirty-five mile ride over Flat Gap for the Ramsey Loop ride. At varying times, those desiring to ride fifteen miles will ride the thirty-five mile course to designated cones at a half-way turn-around. All support for the rides will be at the Valdese Community Center. Helmets are required. All riders should plan to return to the Center no later than 2:00 p.m. Ride leaders are experienced cyclists from Carolina Bikeworks and TriMyCoach.

The Community Center pool will be open for lap swims from 7:00 until 11:00 a.m. This is a twenty-five yard, ten lane facility. It will be supervised by the Community Center staff.

Massel Street, opposite the Community Center will be closed for five blocks, providing a safe area for younger cyclists and runners, along with walkers of all ages. This somewhat flat course will be marked for a down and back route. All cyclists must wear helmets. The streets of Valdese will be marked for a longer loop for those older participants wanting a more varied experience for walking and running. Valdese police and volunteers will monitor the routes for safety.

Are you an active athlete looking for a good training event on a Saturday morning? Does your family like to ride, swim, walk, or run as part of a healthy lifestyle. One of our own children needs support and love. What can you do?

For more information, call Mountain View Pediatrics at 433-4484 or Carolina Bikeworks at 433-6464 or Mount Calvary Baptist Church at 879-8831.

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05/30/04
The second annual Founders Festival took place Saturday with larger crowds, better weather, and a better selection of craftspeople than last year's inaugural event.

Approximately twenty-five booths lined Massel Avenue offering such crafts as pottery, watercolors, wood working, and jewelry.

On hand for the first time this year was an exhibit rail car from Norfolk Southern that told a little about the history of rail service and had a simulator that let kids (of any age) experience driving a train.

Musical entertainment was provided by "The Pons Brothers" and "Ronnie Franklin and Friends." "AMA Bolivian Folk Music" was scheduled to perform but a recent auto accident prevented them from making it to the Festival.

The reenactment of the arrival of the Waldenses used bits from "From This Day Forward" and included a number of American and Waldensian hymns.

Pictures from the event are on the Founders Festival page.

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05/21/04
Saturday, June 12th, is the date for the annual Fun Fishing at McGalliard Falls. The event take place from 9:00 a.m. until noon and is open to kids of age 14 and under and 55 and over. You may pre-register by calling the Valdese Community Center at 879-2132 beginning June 1st.

Competitors should bring their own fishing pole, bait, and stringer. There is a limit of seven rainbow trout per fisher. Trophies will be awarded for the biggest fish caught in each age group.

After the event, there will be a fish fry sponsored by the American Legion Post #234.

In the event of rain, the event will be rescheduled for June 19th.

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05/13/04
The Valdese location (on Faet Street, across from the Town Hall) of the Burke County Farmer’s Market will begin its season on May 19, 2004. Hours of operation are Wednesdays 9:00am till noon and Fridays 3:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. Members of the Burke Farmer's Association locally grow all produce being sold. For information on how to participate as a seller at the market, please contact the Burke County Extension office at 439-4060.

The Valdese location of the Burke County Farmer’s Market is a joint project of the Valdese Business Association and the Town of Valdese.

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04/06/04
The Valdese American Legion Post 234 at 709 Church Street will be the site for the fifty-seventh annual Easter Egg hunt, according to Tony Smith, Post Commander.

The hunt, on the grounds of the Post, begins at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 11th, and features prize eggs and 1,080 dyed Easter eggs for children 10 years old and younger, Smith says.

The egg hunt will be conducted in memory of Henry Bounous, who coordinated the event for fifty-six years. Participants should come to the upstairs meeting room at the Post by 2:00 p.m. where those who have worked on the project will be recognized and instructions for the participants will be announced.

Eggs will be dyed on Saturday morning, April 10th, at the site by Post members and other 'Easter Bunny assistants,' notes Smith.

The event is free, but parents need to provide their own Easter baskets for the children. Each participant will receive a chocolate rabbit.

"Our Post has always been a popular place for the Easter Bunny to hide eggs because there are so many 'good eggs' already at the Post doing volunteer service work to help the community and veterans through such efforts as the Rostan Memorial Scholarship program," Smith added.

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04/01/04
The East Main Street Park will soon be finished and opening day festivities are underway. It's a well kept secret that Town officials have big plans for the grand opening. Set for June 31st, the Town plans to have local and state governmental officials attend for the ribbon cutting. Included are: Mayor Jim Hatley, Representative Walter Church, Sr., Governor Mike Easley (who will be in the county for a political fund raiser) and Senator Elizabeth Dole (attending with Governor Easley.) Though the project was very dear to him, Town Manager Jeff Morse will not be able to attend the opening as he will be participating in a grueling eco-challenge race in New Zealand. If all goes well, he will survive and return in mid-to-late July.

The biggest news about the opening concerns the musical entertainment. John Pons and Chuck Moseley, who have coordinated a number of the bluegrass concerts at the Old Rock School, made some calls and were able to convince the country music sensation Willie Nelson to perform a one hour concert after the ribbon cutting. Mr. Nelson had a concert scheduled on the 30th in Charlotte and will be traveling to West Virginia by chartered bus afterwards. Since he would be passing closely to Valdese, he agreed to stop by and play at no charge. Waldensian Heritage Wines is in negotiations to be a minor sponsor of his tour. Mr. Morse, a long-time fan of Willie Nelson noted, "I'm torn between two once-in-a-lifetime opportunities, the eco-challenge which will test my physical and mental stamina, and the opportunity to meet one of the greatest entertainers of all time and my personal musical idol, Willie Nelson. It was a difficult decision, but I had already made my reservations when Willie was booked and it would have cost a fortune to lose my deposits."

There will be childrens' activities as well, including an apple bobbing in the pond and a three-legged race around the park's footpaths. Catering will be provided by local restaurants. Also planned, are hot-air balloon rides and the winner of a special drawing will have his or her picture placed into the mural and a predetermined location.

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03/09/04
The Valdese Town Council held a special meeting on Monday evening to address it's sanitation ordinance and changes the town would have to make to be eligible for a grant. The town had previously applied for the grant but did not meet all the necessary criteria.

There are a number of suggested changes to the ordinance that could have an impact on citizens, but are necessary to keep the town financially stable and cosmetically attractive. Among the changes are:

• Trees/Brush Removal
  • 8' length x 7" diameter limit to branches picked up by the brush truck. There is a two foot leeway, allowing up to ten feet in length, but if you are unsure about the length, cut the branch in two.
    • Anything greater than 7" in diameter can't be shredded and must go to the landfill.
  • The town will require a property owner to sign a waiver if he/she requests that the truck pick up the yard waste on their property. The waiver is to remove responsibility for damage from the workers if it occurs during the completion of their job. For example--normal wear on a gravel driveway, the town would not be required to regrade.
  • The town will not pick up debris from a cleared lot, i.e., someone who is taking out all or most of the trees on a lot with the intent to build.
  • Quantity of debris will not be a problem, as long as the size of individual pieces is within the parameters set by the town. It may, however, take longer to clear out a larger pile.
    • The goal is to have any pile cleared out within two weeks.
  • The town will not offer stump removal.
  • If a property owner needs services the town will not provide, the Public Works department will work with the owner to find a company who will provide the service.
• Construction Debris
  • The town is considering charging a flat fee per truckload for hauling off building materials if the work is done by the property owner.
    • The rate would be only enough to cover costs incurred by the town.
    • Morganton charges $25 per truckload.
  • The town will not handle materials left by contractors since they are building the cost of removal into the price charged to the homeowner.
  • As with yard waste, the town will assist homeowners in finding someone to haul off the materials if they choose not to use the town's truck.
  • Homeowners will be required to pay in advance at Town Hall.
  • No roofing shingles or hazardous materials will be removed by the town.
  • There will be a per tire charge for tires removed by the town equal to the rate it is charged at the landfill. If the tires must be removed from the rims, there will be a $5 per tire additional charge.
  • Refrigerators (without the door), water heaters, furniture, etc... will still be removed for residents.
• Residential Garbage
  • The town will provide up to two "Barlow Buggies" for household waste.
    • Additional units will be provided at a cost.
    • For special events such as weddings and funerals, a citizen may request additional trash bins for the duration of the event.
  • Cardboard boxes may be left beside the trash bin, but they must not contain food since dogs can get in to a box whereas food left in the trash bin would be protected.
  • The town has a small pickup truck it uses for roads too small for the garbage truck and for collecting garbage from elderly residents who cannot get their trash cans to the curb.
    • As with yard waste, using the truck on a citizen's private property may require that citizen to sign a waiver.
    • Whether a citizen is eligible to have "house side" pickup will be left to the discretion of the Public Works director.
  • All trash must be bagged.
  • Buggies will not be allowed to be left curbside for an undue length of time after collection.
    • This is primarily to keep the town looking nice.
• Commercial Garbage
  • No garbage may be left on the ground beside the dumpster.
    • Fines will be applied to the owner for each day they are in violation.
  • Trash may not be piled higher than the walls of the container.
  • If food is in the container (restaurants) the lid must be closed.

Many of the new fees outlined above are to help keep the town from having to raise taxes by assigning the cost to those who are actually creating the additional expense for the town. If you are remodeling, the expense falls on you rather than everyone through higher taxes.

It could be worse. Someone told me once that West Virginia charges $25,000 for littering.

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02/25/04
You will hear the music of Patsy Cline and other country classics Saturday, March 6th when the Valdese Old Rock School presents the next Foothills Showcase. Jackie Finley will perform as Country Music’s greatest female vocalist, the late Patsy Cline. Her performance of the legendary Cline is incredible. You’ll be taken back to the Grand Ole Opry stage; back to the 1950’s when some of country music’s purest ballads were preformed. Jackie Finley will become Patsy Cline for the evening in both voice and looks.

Several years ago Jackie Finley played the role of Patsy Cline in one of the finest productions of the Hickory Community Theater and the role has become a part of life as she has had many opportunities to appear as the country music great.

In addition to Jackie Finley, the Foothills Showcase will present an evening of country classics with Ronnie Robinson and the Can’t Hardly Playboys. John Pons will also be performing some great classics and doing his Willie Nelson impersonations. Young Parker Dylan will also be making an appearance..

The Foothills Showcase will be at 7:30 on Saturday, March 6, in the Valdese Old Rock School Auditorium. Advance tickets are $10. At the door on show date all tickets are $12. Advance tickets are available at the Valdese Old Rock School. For more information and other ticket outlets, call 828-879-2129.

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02/13/04
Friday the 13th wasn't unlucky for the East Burke Cavaliers' boys basketball team as they defeated Freedom 87-74 in front of a packed house. The game was very close until the latter part of the third quarter when East Burke gradually pulled away to take an eight point lead into the fourth quarter. Freedom made some moves but was never able to catch the Cavs and East Burke continued to hit their shots as the hasty attempts by Freedom didn't fall.

The game was delayed for a short time when the motor that extends the senior bleachers continued to run while the students were seated. The added weight strained the motor and it began to overheat and smoke. This created an overload on the circuits that shut down the score boards, but not the lights. This win gave Freedom and East Burke a tie for the conference title. Freedom won a coin toss on Saturday to receive a bye in the first round of the conference tournament.

East Burke's girls team lost, but played a much better game than they had in Morganton where they lost 101-54. They will next play Monday night at South Caldwell. The boys also play South Caldwell, but their game is on Tuesday night.

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01/07/04
Plans for Valdese's first triathlon are moving along and participants are signing up quickly--fifty had registered as of Monday. The race is being called a "Sprint Triathlon" since the distances are short enough that competitors won't need to worry about pacing themselves. The Valdese race is the first of seven such events in North Carolina in 2004.

Setup, Inc., who is helping to coordinate the race, has established a web page that describes the course: http://www.set-upinc.com/2002racepages/Valdese/valdesepage.shtml. There is also a page that offers course maps and a list of who has entered to date at: http://www.set-upinc.com/2002racepages/Valdese/valdese.shtml.

The race is scheduled for March 13th, beginning at 11:00 p.m. Cost for USAT members is $50 by mail or $45 online. For non-USAT members, the cost is $59 by mail and $54 online. See the official site, listed above, for complete details. All competitors receive a long-sleeve t-shirt. Total prize money is $1,400, given to the top seven male and female finishers.

For more information, contact the Valdese Community Center at (828) 879-2132.

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