Gaston removes fences around monuments before Martin Luther King Day
Gaston County officials have removed the chain link fences from around both the Confederate monument at the courthouse and the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. memorial near the social services building on Long Avenue. It looks pretty good right now, said Tom Keigher, chairman of the Gaston County Board of Commissioners. I think it s a great thing, particularly with Martin Luther King Day upon us in a week.
Gaston County did not recognize Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a county holiday until January 2003.
At the time, fewer than five other counties in North Carolina did not give county employees the day off in honor of the Civil Rights icon. The federal government first celebrated Martin Luther King Jr. Day in January 1986.
Gastonia Police Chief Travis Brittain announced four new sergeants and eight recently hired officers during a virtual promotion and swearing-in ceremony on Dec. 17.
“This ceremony is different than how we’ve done it in the past due to the pandemic, and this is a proud moment for us as we formally recognize our new officers and sergeants,” Brittain said. “We look forward to the great work they will do with our department and our community.”
Promotions:
Sgt. Shane Johnson, promoted on Dec. 3, joined Gastonia Police Department in 1998 and has served in patrol, and as a community coordinator, field training officer, police training officer and shift tactical officer. Johnson served the N.C. Air National Guard for 23 years.