Scout Troop Rescued from Snowstorm, Can't Escape the Obvious

Eleven Scouts and leaders in a troop with the First Presbyterian Church of Gastonia were rescued and treated for frostbite and hypothermia Sunday after being trapped by a blizzard on a mountain in Virginia's Grayson Highland State Park. Scout leaders say if they'd known what they were getting into, they would not have gone. Anxious parents of the young scouts say, "Duh!"

Gastonia Officials Deliberating How to Waste $700,000 of Taxpayer Money

Gastonia city officials have decided against building a new civic center, so the $700,000 raised from a 3% hotel/motel tax will have to be spent on something else. Local officials insist the money has to be spent on a tourism-related project that would put "heads in beds" in local hotels. Some hotel proprietors—who feel the 3% tax actually discouraged potential patrons—are not holding their breath that the city will just give them the money. Other taxpayers have no such similar hopes.

Gaston College Radio May Commit Week of Airtime to Limp Bizkit

Gaston College radio station WSGE (91.7 FM) will celebrate local music this week with its second annual Grassroots Music Tribute, featuring only artists from the Carolinas. Ben Dungan, the station's development coordinator, did not elaborate on how much of the playlist would be dedicated to Limp Bizkit tunes.

Elvis Cup to Appear at Fundraiser January 25

Wade Jones of Belmont has become an international celebrity, following two successful eBay auctions related to his 27-year-old styrofoam cup used by Elvis Presley. First Jones auctioned off the water from the cup on eBay for $455, then he auctioned off a "viewing" of the cup itself, which snack food company Nutballz™ purchased for a January 25 fundraising dinner. The dinner will raise money for the Center for Celiac Research, a division of the University of Maryland that is dedicated to research, awareness, consultation, diagnosis, and treatment of celiac disease. Researchers say they have not yet determined if there's a correlation between celiac disease and styrofoam viewing.

Panera Bread Not Opening Soon Enough

A new Panera Bread bakery/cafe is opening February 8 on Franklin Boulevard in Gastonia (located next to the new Circuit City and Blockbuster Video). They're hiring now if anybody's interested. No word yet on whether the new Panera will be offering free wifi along with their sinful desserts and delicious coffee.

Hollywood Video May Soon Stock Porn

Hollywood Video in Gastonia may soon be setting up a backroom of XXX-rated videos. That's according to the American Family Association who says that Hollywood Video's merger last week with Movie Gallery could lead to Movie Gallery's porn business being transferred over to Hollywood Video. There are at least three Movie Gallery locations in Gaston County, but the Spectator has not learned whether they currently rent porn. Conservative groups do not yet appear to be mobilizing to address this potential threat. The Spectator will keep you abreast of any developments in this breaking news story.

Welcome to the Gaston County Spectator

Charlotte and Raleigh have their Observers. Gaston County now has The Spectator. Written by real people who really live in Gaston County, the Gaston County Spectator will occassionally make observations—like our "big city" counterparts—but mostly we'll just spectate. And sometimes we'll prognosticate. We'll possibly even expectorate. All for you, our faithful readers in Gaston County, North Carolina (and across the webosphere). Boo-ya!