🌱 What a grieving father shared after his Gastonia toddler’s overdose death

Coffee in hand, Gastonia? We've got the latest town updates for you. Keep reading to stay in the loop. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• What a grieving father shared after his Gastonia toddler’s overdose death
• How a space heater may have sparked a deadly Gastonia camper fire
• How Gaston County Police tracked a Bessemer City suspect online

Also on today's calendar: Cody Gentry and 5 more events.

Today's riddle: My brother swallowed a box of firecrackers. - Is he all right now? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Thursday: Occasional rain, with a high of 53 and low of 47 degrees.
• Friday: Pleasant and not as cool, temps: high: 60, low: 27.
• Saturday: Plenty of sunshine, with a high of 55 and low of 36 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• Father remembers toddler who died of an alleged overdose in Gastonia (gastongazette.com) — A Gastonia-area father is mourning his 1-year-old son, who police believe died from a drug overdose in Gastonia after being exposed to a powerful synthetic opioid. The child’s mother has been charged with second-degree murder as Gaston County police detail their response and ongoing investigation into the July incident.
   

• Gastonia man dies in camper fire (gastongazette.com) — A 44-year-old man died early Wednesday after a camper caught fire on Hemlock Avenue in Gastonia, where two people had been sleeping. Fire officials say space heaters may have sparked the blaze and noted there were no smoke detectors inside as crews worked about 15 minutes to control the flames.
   

• Bessemer City man faces 40 charges related to internet sex crimes against children (wccbcharlotte.com) — Gaston County Police in Gastonia have arrested a 54-year-old Bessemer City man on 40 counts related to alleged online sexual exploitation of minors, and he is currently held without bond in the county jail. Investigators say the case centers on downloading and sharing illegal digital images and involved cooperation with state and national child-protection partners. Anyone with information is urged to contact Detective R. Smith or CrimeStoppers.
   

📸 Around Gastonia

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

🗓 Upcoming Events in Gastonia

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Saturday December 20

• Music Under the Stars: Merry Melodies
  The Schiele Museum of Natural History & Planetarium, 1500 E Garrison Blvd, Gastonia
  5:30 pm

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Friday December 19

• Story Time @ Union Road In-Person
  Union Road Branch Library , Branch Library - Meeting Room , Gastonia
  10:30 am

Saturday December 20

• Cody Gentry
  Little Theater of Gastonia , 238 S Clay St , Gastonia
  7:00 pm
• Rocking Christmas Show
  The Rooster , 334 W Main Ave , Gastonia
  8:00 pm

Tuesday December 23

• Legos + @Union Road Branch In-Person
  Union Road Branch Branch Library - Meeting Room,
  10:30 am

Wednesday December 24

• Toddler Time In-Person
  Union Road Branch Branch Library - Meeting Room,
  10:30 am

Thursday December 25

• UR Rockin' Childrens Program In-Person
  Union Road Branch Branch Library - Meeting Room,
  10:30 am

Tuesday December 30

• Legos + @Union Road Branch In-Person
  Union Road Branch Branch Library - Meeting Room,
  10:30 am

📣 Gastonia Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

🗓 Events Nearby

Thursday December 18

• Hungry Howie's Spirit Night
  W C Friday Middle School Dallas, NC 28034
  4:00 pm
• Lake Pointe Academy Boys Varsity Basketball @ UR Academy
  UR Academy , 2315 Union Rd , Gastonia
  7:30 pm

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

Thank you 👏👏👏 to the local businesses for making Gastonia PatchAM possible:

• Hunter’s Junk Removal — (980) 318-6302
  20% off your first service!
• Bruce Concrete Coatings — (803) 554-7923
  Use Code Patch10 for 10% your Brand New Garage Flooring.

Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Sunrise today!
  So beautiful. We love living in the woods and being able to capture this beauty! Right off Beaty Rd. (Nextdoor Woodleigh)
• Young short haired Black Cat showed up on my porch this evening, looked like one of its ears was almost missing (not sure if it was born that way or something happened) It was sweet and came to me.
  I had food and water out but I never saw it eating, Posting hoping it’s belongs to someone. It had a lil white on its chest right under its chin,… (Nextdoor Fern Forest)

• The Stepping Stones Group, LLC posted a job opening for Paraprofessional / Educator in Gastonia. Apply here.
• Independence Corrugated posted a job opening for Machine Operator (2nd Shift) in Gastonia. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Gastonia here.

🗞 Nearby News

Bessemer City

• Gaston County man killed in crash memorialized by the city he served (gastongazette.com)
• Four-Star Offensive Playmaker Legend Bey Announces He Will Sign with Ohio State After Securing Release from Scholarship Agreement with Tennessee (elevenwarriors.com)

Belmont

Ok Gastonia! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I don’t know. I haven’t heard the last report.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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