Savvy Citizen: A Gaston County Podcast

Welcome back to A Planned Party! On this episode, we're heading downtown. Belmont's Community Development Director Cassidy Lackey talks to us about all the different parts that help make a great downtown community. 

Andy Stahr with the City of Gastonia talks about a grant that is helping train youth sports coaches not only on the game, but on how to be a mentor for the children on their team. Learn how you can get involved and make a difference in a child's life!

Gaston County native and Axios DC reporter Mimi Montgomery talks to Savvy Citizen about her debut novel, Murder Bites, ahead of her appearance at the 2nd annual Belmont LitFest on Saturday, September 5 at Stowe Park. 

Have questions about the 2027 Property Reappraisal? We've got answers! We're diving into the work the Gaston County Tax Office is doing and the frequently asked questions that come up during reappraisal season. Have other questions we didn't address here? Head to WeValueGaston2027.com. 

Auburn Men's Golf Head Coach Nick Clinard is an Ashbrook H.S. grad and was inducted into the Gaston County Sports Hall of Fame last Spring. He talks with Savvy Citizen about his Tigers winning a second national championship in the last three years, as well as what it was like to coach standout Jackson Koivun, who won his first PGA Tour event as a rookie just last month. 

It's one of the most frequently talked about -- and complained about -- topic in all of government: Roads. Jamie and Peyton are back for this month's Planned Party episode with some special guests and a rundown of what you need to know about roads in North Carolina. 

Gaston County saw five residents -- two teens and three senior citizens -- recognized in 2026 with the Governor's Volunteer Service Awards. We spoke with some of the winners about what motivates them to give back to their communities and the projects they're passionate about. 

After serving nearly 1,500 students its first year, the Ready, Set, Grow event returns on August 1 for Year 2, bringing together local nonprofits, businesses and county government departments to provide back-to-school supplies and resources for those in need. 

Summer typically is a time of excitement for children, without classes and homework. But for those that are dealing with hunger, it can be a time of dread. On this month's Savvier Citizen, we dive into how different government agencies and local nonprofits are helping keep our children fed, and why this is more of a widespread issue than many people may be aware of. 

In this episode, Gaston County Museum Curator Alicyn Wiedrich joins hosts Elizabeth McGee and Adam Gaub to discuss a big new exhibit coming to the museum this summer. The Many Unheard Voices is a community-curated exhibit about the African American community in Gaston County, focusing primarily on the 1870s through the 1970s.