By Loretta Cozart

Shaquia Jimson was born in 1979, the daughter of Kenneth Wayne Jimson and Grace Ann Watkins Jimson. Within 10 months, her mother would be dead at her father’s hand and the family broken apart. Grace Ann’s daughters were fathered by different men, so each daughter was sent to be raised by those families. Shaquia was 10-months old, her sister just two.

The story of her mother’s murder made headlines in Cleveland County and the region in 1980, and Shaquia said, “That story has always loomed over me. As I got older, I decided to learn more about what happened that caused this tragedy. My father was a military man. My mother was only 18 and didn’t finish high school,” Jimson said. “My grandmother orchestrated my parent’s marriage, but they were so young they didn’t understand what marriage really meant.”

Prior to the marriage, Shaquia’s grandmother would sell Grace Ann to men for money. “My mom was between 12 and 13-years old when that began. I’ve come to realize that what my mother experienced was nothing less than sex-trafficking. And I suspect the same may have happened to my grandmother. I think it was multi-generational. After marriage, my mother experienced domestic violence from my father,” she said. “They had a very volatile relationship.”

“When I was 10-months old, my father locked my sister and me in a shed out back of my grandmother’s home in the Compact Community and killed my mother. Then he set fire to the house.” He was charged with first-degree murder and arson.

“What I try to do after learning all this is to bring awareness to single parenting. No matter whether the children are raised by their mother or their father, it isn’t fair to the children. There aren’t many helpful resources for single parents available. Single parents have to think

of their children first and be aware of their decisions in life. They should ask themselves if they are making a choice for their children or for themselves?”

Today, Shaquia Jamison is a certified Life Coach and owner of Overcoming Bondage, LLC. She wrote the book, The Life God Gives You, to honor her mother. “Once I learned the story, that my mother was only 18-years old when she lost her life, I wanted to do something in honor of her. She was too young, and the situation too tragic, for her to be forgotten.

As a Life Coach, Shaquia specializes in dealing with the pain in life. “I started my own business to help people overcome the things that hold them down. No matter what we are bound to, God has a purpose, he has a plan for each and every one of us,” she said.

“People should humble themselves and let God be who he is. I am a witness that he can open up doors no one can shut. I am a product of not having parents. So, I know if he did it for me, he will do it for anyone else.”

“In helping others, I try to transition the hurt to joy, because joy is something God gives us, not man. I try to stick that joy to a person’s soul so they can understand it is something nobody can take from them. “God gives us hope and motivation as an avenue to transition from where we were to what we want to become,“ Shaquia said.

“Everyone has room for better, but we can’t become better until we deal with the pain.”

Shaquia Jimson’s book is available on Amazon and Barnes and Noble. “My next book is due out in late September, The Devil’s Plot vs. God’s Plan.” www.overcomingbondage.com shaquiajimson@gmail.com

In her personal life, Jimson has three grown children, “My youngest is 21-years old, two boys and a girl. In raising them and in my life I have ended the multi-generational curse on my family.” She took the lessons learned from her parents and now helps others. “I reach out to lots of people and have no stipulations to receive my services,” she said.

Betsy Wells again is a Delegate to the National Democratic Convention which started Monday, August 17. Due to the COVID pandemic, this year’s convention will be virtual, instead of in-person in Milwaukee.
Betsy has already cast her vote for Joe Biden as the Democratic nominee for President and looks forward to watching him accept the nomination on Thursday, the final night.

This is Betsy’s fifth National Convention, beginning in 2000 in Los Angeles, 2004 in Boston, 2008 in Denver, 2012 in Charlotte, and 2016 in Philadelphia.

Betsy has served as Chair of the Cleveland County Democratic Party , Chair of Congressional District 10 Democratic Party, and currently the 1st Vice Chair if Congressional District 5 Democratic Party.

Long-time Democratic activist, Betsy was honored by the NC Democratic Party in 2019 with the Order of the Long Leaf Pine Award from Governor Roy Cooper.

The 2020 winners of the Steve Wells Memorial Scholarship, all graduates of Kings Mountain High School, were Kylie Bearfield, Brandon Dover, Jesse Hughes, Alyssa Newton and Nicholas Stewart.

Steve Wells was a teacher and administrator in the Kings Mountain District Schools for 30 years, retiring in 2000. His career began at Central School, teaching Special Education, before going to Grover Elementary to teach at the elementary level for many years. Later he became the Assistant Principal at Grover and finished his education career as the Assistant Principal at Bethware Elementary School.

Steve was a product of Kings Mountain Schools, attending both Grover and graduating from Kings Mountain High School. He continued his education at Appalachian State University, obtaining a bachelor's degree in Social Science and later a master's degree in Special Education.  Later in his teaching career, Steve obtained a master's degree in School Administration from UNCC.

“Steve always valued education, and in his memory, I bestow $250 each to the graduating seniors to be used at the universities of their choice for the 2020-21 college year,” said Betsy Wells, Treasurer of the Steve Wells Memorial Scholarship.

$10,000 Gift Designated to assist in relaunching Marching Band at GWU 

In March, Gardner-Webb University announced plans to reestablish the University’s marching band under the direction of Dr. Mark R. Cole. Today, GWU comes one step closer to that day with a $10,000 gift from long-time university supporters David and Marie Brinkley.

“We are so very grateful to David and Marie Brinkley for their generous lead gift in support of the Gardner-Webb University Marching Band.  The Brinkleys certainly know good football, and they appreciate a good gameday experience.  The return of our Runnin’ Bulldog Marching Band in fall 2021 will make Saturdays in Spangler Stadium something special, and it will give our talented musicians a new stage upon which to showcase their skills.  GWU is indeed fortunate to have friends such as the Brinkleys,” noted GWU President, Dr. William M. Downs.

David and Marie Brinkley have provided GWU with financial gifts throughout the years with assistance for student-athletes, the Godbold School of Business and various other programs. 

“First, Marie and I enjoy good music. We both come from a small town where the marching band was an integral part of Friday night football. Today, the bands are more sophisticated and talented. When we read about this, we decided to help launch this project. I encourage others to get involved no matter what level. We cannot wait to hear the Gardner-Webb Marching Bulldogs,” said David Brinkley.

Gardner-Webb previously fielded marching band programs in the 1940s, 1970s and most recently, from 2007-2017. Cole is currently recruiting musicians for the Marching Bulldogs, which will take the field in fall 2021, with hopes of having 75 members. Cole’s experience includes leading several high school marching band programs. During his career as a Navy musician, he served as musical director for the Midshipman Drum and Bugle Corps at the U.S. Naval Academy, director of the Navy Band Memphis, Tenn., director of the Sixth Fleet Band in Naples, Italy, and assistant director/associate conductor of the United States Navy Band in Washington, D.C.

 “There’s nothing quite like the sights, sounds, and pageantry of college football Saturdays here in the South,” added Downs.  “With the return of the Marching Bulldogs to Spangler Stadium, we will elevate the gameday experience for our fans and help create that 12th Man that all great football teams want on their home field.”

David and Marie have lived in Kings Mountain, N.C. for several decades, and have two daughters who graduated from Gardner-Webb as student-athletes. David is also a former high school football coach, and operates the Brinkley Financial Group investment firm.

The Gardner-Webb Bulldog Club will host the 7th Annual Bulldog Club Golf Tournament, on August 6 at Riverbend Golf Course in Shelby, N.C. Proceeds from the event will also benefit the Marching Bulldogs. If you have interest in supporting the return of the marching band at Gardner-Webb, contact Aaron Hinton at 704.406.4101 or ahinton@gardner-webb.edu. You may also sponsor the band directly online at tinyurl.com/marching-bulldogs.
 

Dave Adams, a 1963 Kings Mountain High School graduate, was awarded the highest rank possible in the martial art of karate, a 10th Degree Black which is signified by the Red Belt.

Adams was inducted into the Legends of the Carolinas Fraternity of Black Belts In North and South Carolina and is credited as the Power of Karate in North Carolina. The Museum of Martial Arts for the United States awarded him the History of Generals Award for his years of promoting, teaching, and competing in the martial arts.

His Black Belt line of students has promoted over 2,000 Black Belts who have become teachers, doctors, lawyers, preachers, politicians, nurses, and leaders in their community. Three time NC fighting and form champion, 1967 Tri-State (NC, SC, GA) fighting champion, and 1968 Southern Coast Middle Weight Champion, Adams is recognized as one of the most productive instructors in the county. His Black Belts have won three world titles and their awards and stature has rivaled his accomplishments.

“My goal was to make them better than me,” says Adams. “God has blessed me, so I have tried to bless each of them.”

In high school, Adams played on the football and baseball team. His brother was the late Coach Jerry Adams who made his mark in football while in high school making all-conference and all-state. Dave currently resides in North Myrtle Beach, SC and is CEO of Adam Stone Motion Pictures, now in production of four major films to be released over the next three years worldwide.

Two years ago, David Stone and his family moved from the Crowders Mountain area to Kings Mountain when they began purchasing and restoring key properties in Kings Mountain’s history.

Their company, Stonewright Properties, LLC, is owned by David, his wife Janet, and their son, Christopher. You might recognize Christopher Stone’s name from his performances in Liberty Mountain over a six-year span. The family’s love of history, historic landmarks, and all things old runs deep as is evidenced by the properties they purchase and things they collect.

David understands what is required to restore and preserve historic buildings, both commercial and residential, through his real estate work. He also sits on the Historic Shelby Foundation board.

In 2019, Stonewright Properties purchased the W.A. Mauney home at 107 N. Piedmont and the Bonnie Mauney Summers property at 1220 N. Piedmont, becoming the owners of two of the most historically significant properties in the community.

Their most recent purchase occurred on April 30 for property at 138 W. Mountain Street, formerly known as Friendly Billiards. Although, the history of this building goes back almost a century as it was the first modern theater in Kings Mountain and the first built exclusively for that purpose.

The first task Stone took on with the newly acquired building was to repair the leaky roof and address other issues related to those leaks. The ceiling downstairs was taken down to the studs and the moisture issues have now been corrected.

The building itself is equal in size to 213 S. Battleground Avenue, with approximately 10,000 square feet combined across two levels. “Our thought about this building is to divide it into two retail spaces or keep it as a single,” David Stone said. “If we keep it single, we’d love to see a general store here. We think they could use the courtyard outside for a farmers market in the little alleyway, which would be a big draw. The other idea might be a tea and spice shop”

“To me the town needs three to five good anchors. Getting anchor stores to come in is difficult, because they have to be willing to see forward with you,” he said.

It is hard to determine the exact year the theater was built, due to spotty records from that time. Cinema Treasures.com lists the theater as opening in 1930 and having 600 seats. An ad from a 1939 Herald shows the theater offered several double features: Two-Gun Troubadour and Murder on Diamond Row on Wednesday and Thursday, Riders on the Frontier and The Girl from Rio running Friday and Saturday. The feature on Monday and Tuesday was Man in the Iron Mask. All seats were 10 to 15 cents.

A 1945 map shows the property with two retail spaces at the front, and a center entrance for the theater itself. The theater was segregated, as were most of that time. Outside there were separate stairs to balcony seating. An oval sign hung high on the building and the anchors for that sign remain in the brick facade. A marquee cover sheltered guests from both summer heat and inclement weather.

While the facility has been used as a billiard hall for decades, many items from the original theater remained with the building. Bent plywood theater seats are similar to ones in Central School Auditorium remain. Restroom facilities contain the original cast iron sinks and fixtures; they don’t appear to have been updated during the life of the facility.

At the back of the first floor, the theater stage area can be seen. Countless acts performed on the stage once there, and movies played on a screen now long gone.

Upstairs, the theater had a tin ceiling; Stone plans to repurpose it in the downstairs retail space.

After the theater closed, the second floor area was closed in, completely separating it from the downstairs, but the date of that remodel is unclear.

In 1948, additional steel I-beams were added to the roof, much like what was done at 213 S. Battleground around the same time-frame. Notes made on the I beam give us the only evidence of the date of their installation.

The upstairs space has most recently been used for storage. The new owners have now cleaned out that space. All that remains is a metal fan that hangs in the center of the ceiling.

If they do decide to divide the space, Stone plans to put lofts upstairs since access there is separate from that of the space below. “If we do divide it,” Stone said, “we’ll put five lofts there of various sizes. But that remains to be determined.”

The old pool tables have been sold and buyers are currently moving them to various locations, along with pool balls and cues. Vending machines line the wall.

A few other items from outside the original facility are being stored in the building for now. “I collect things like reclaimed timber from Firestone Mill,” David said. “I had a storage building in Gastonia and a sink I have here came out of that building. I save stuff like this because I can use it in other projects.”

Luckily, the other two properties the Stone’s own are currently being restored as primary residences for he and his wife, and the other for his son. As those projects near completion, I’ll be sure to share those stories.

By Loretta Cozart

Emma Kay Lewis has been making barn quilts for six years and does so to honor loved ones by incorporating their interests in the pattern. “I consider barn quits an extension of traditional quilting, which I also enjoy. Both continue the tradition of story telling, a means of passing on history and what is important to a person,” she said.

While barn quilts have been around for many years, there's been a spike in popularity in the last two decades.

“The first two barn quilts I painted were for my daughter,” Emma Kay explained. “My daughter lives in South Carolina and I fell in love with barn quilts because it creates a whole different was something that connects to a person’s interests on the individual level. “My brother moved to Virginia a few years ago and has a cattle farm, so his barn quilt has cows on it,” she said.

Retiring in September 2018, Emma Kay planned to move to SC to be closer to her daughter. But she found a house she loved in the Bethlehem community of Kings Mountain and decided that it was close enough to visit her daughter easily. Prior to retirement, Emma Kay was an Elementary Teacher Assistant in Wayne County, NC.

While vacationing in Western NC 10 to 15 years ago, she saw barn quilts and had to find out what they were about. But with children and obligations, she never found the time to start. “Five years ago, a friend of mine in Wayne County put a barn quilt up and I decided the time had come for me to begin. My friend was instrumental in getting started properly. We talked and compared notes on paint, sealers, hanging hardware, and things like that,” she said. “I’ve made 30 – 40 barn quilts now and they are on display in NC, SC, VA, and PA. Most are made for people I know.”

Barn quilts aren’t only for barns, they can be used on sheds, homes, and fences. Emma Kay also has two-sided ones for mailboxes. Each piece is more complicated to create than it might seem. After priming the plywood square, the artist must transfer her design to the wood. Each section is masked-off and given three coats of paint. Adjacent colors must be painted at different times due to the tape required for the straight-edge. And after all the paint for the work has dried, it must be sealed since it is displayed outdoors.

Recently, Emma Kay learned about the Gateway Trail located just a few miles from her home and she ran a 5K there during the trail’s 10th anniversary. “I run 5k and 10k races and people have encouraged me to use the trail more often because it is safe, especially during COVID-19. What sold me on the idea is that everyone shared how safe it was,” she commented.

“While walking the trail one day, I saw a lady walking her little dog. She had a grabber tool and a bag, picking up any trash she saw. I thought how wonderful it would be if everyone did their part to make the Gateway Trail as nice as possible. Then, I realized I could offer my time and talents to create a barn quilt for the trail. That is something unique I can offer to give back,” she said.

Before making barn quilts, Emma Kay spent time with traditional quilting and still makes them. “My mother-in-law taught me, and I made quilts for my kids when they were younger. As a mom, that’s what I did. I am a very sentimental person,” she said.

“Driving between VA and NC recently, I stopped in at the Visitor’s Center and found that NC has a barn quilt trail. I would love to see Cleveland County develop its own barn quilt trail here. Enough people in the community already have barn quilts and that number will only grow in time, because they are so popular now,” Emma Kay said.

“A pamphlet with a map and addresses could be created that includes the story behind the barn quilts. It would make a great day-trip and give folks something to do now and even after the pandemic is over,” she said.
— KM Herald

By Violet Arth

The Cleveland County Arts Council is excited to begin another decade of offering amazing cinema to film festival goers. Originally slated for the end of July, this year, the 21st annual International Real to Reel Film Fest has been rescheduled for September 9-12 at the Joy Performance Theatre in Kings Mountain. 

Although the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has been felt by filmmakers, event planners, and venues around the world, Real to Reel organizers are hoping the delayed dates and a new virtual companion component will expand the outreach and preparation time for this exploration of international film.

“Postponing the festival was not a decision we took lightly but one we felt was best for everyone, and it gave us the opportunity to add a virtual component. We are excited to work with Seed and Spark to bring Real to Reel Film Festival into the virtual festival space via their platform,” commented Festival Director Violet Dukes. More details are forthcoming in regard to this online element of screenings.

The selection committee screened nearly 150 film submissions, from amateur and professional filmmakers, including animated shorts, live-action shorts, documentaries (shorts and feature-length), feature-length narrative films, and films made by children ages 14 years and younger. International countries of origin for submissions include India, Japan, Iran, Russia, and Slovakia, among others.

The festival will screen approximately 1- hours of runtime (30+ films) based on the selections made by the committee, (selections are still being finalized). “This year, I’m particularly energized by the virtual/companion component of the festival. We’ll be able to introduce an entirely new audience (outside of our geographic area) to this long-standing festival,” says Noel Manning, co-founder of Real to Reel and tenured member of the film selection committee. Awards categories will be classified by their student/amateur or professional submission status.

This year especially will bring some unique and exciting virtual components to the Real to Reel Film Festival, notably for online audiences. The virtual aspect will allow audiences to catch films they may be unable to see in person (or that they may want to view again). Tickets will be sold to stream the films online through Seed and Spark. Several filmmaker interviews conducted via Zoom will be available online for general viewing in the weeks leading up to the September festival. Additionally, for the on-site portion of the festival in September, pre-recorded filmmaker Q&A sessions will be made available to audiences. As in years past, audience members can expect live in-person filmmaker Q&A panels as well.

Last year’s Real to Reel Film Festival saw an attendance of approximately 300 people. “While this year’s festival will certainly have a different feel, we’re excited to once again bring diverse, educational and entertaining independent films to our community and beyond,” said Shearra Miller, President of the Cleveland County Arts Council.

For more information about this year’s festival, contact Violet Dukes at the Cleveland County Arts Council by email violet.arth@ccartscouncil.org or phone 704-484-2787. You can also visit the film festival website at http://www.realtoreelfest.com

  The mission of the Real to Reel International Film Festival is to offer a forum for independent film, video and multimedia artists from around the world to showcase their talents and expose the works of these artists to our region.

Watch local author, Misty M. Beller, tell you about her newest adventures writing her Hearts of Montana book series. God has placed a desire in Misty’s heart to combine her love for Christian fiction and the simpler ranch life, writing historical novels that display God’s abundant love through the twists and turns in the lives of her characters.

Misty will be on location in Montana to show you the beautiful scenery that surrounds her new series, and she will tell you a bit about writing, too. You will find her story on Mauney Memorial Library’s Facebook page, as well as the library website. To receive a free copy of one of her latest books, register online at mauneylibrary.org, while supplies last!

Misty M. Beller is a USA Today bestselling author of romantic mountain stories, set on the 1800s frontier and woven with the truth of God’s love. She was raised on a farm in South Carolina, so her Southern roots run deep. Growing up, her family was close, and they continue to keep that priority today. Her husband and daughters now add another dimension to her life, keeping her both grounded and crazy.
— KM Herald

I’ve always been intrigued by theaters in Kings Mountain. As a child, we only had one movie venue in town, the Joy Theater located where the Joy Performance Center is now.

I knew the town had several theaters over the years, but I learned of a new one this week. The first movie theater was on Battleground Avenue, then known as Railroad Avenue on the East side of the tracks. The road was renamed Battleground Avenue later on. Viewing the 1908 Sanborn Map, The Opera House was located on the second floor above a Hand Printing Shop; the town’s Armory was located next door. It was just north of the Gold Street railroad crossing.

I just learned that the next theater was called Pastime Movies and was located near, or perhaps in the same building that later became the Imperial Theater on East Mountain Street. As indicated on the 1919 Sanborn Map, the theater had lights, electric, and heat stoves.

The Imperial Theater was owned by a businessman in Shelby and the Cash brothers ran the establishment and it was likely in business after 1920. By 1935, the brothers operated the Dixie Theater in a building owned by the Plonk family at 216 Railroad Avenue. The Cash brothers bought the fixtures and seating for that theater. They played movies and, during the ‘20s and ‘30s, hosted Loretta Lynn and countless road musicians on their circuit tours.

Next, the Cash brothers expanded their theater empire adding the Victory Theater in Cramerton in 1943, and the Gaston and Holly theaters in Mt. Holly the following year. With those, the Cash brothers owned four theaters.

On June 1, 1949, David and Charlie Cash opened their fifth theater, the Joy Theater, in downtown Kings Mountain. As was customary in the time, the newspaper grew from six to 20 pages that week, filled with ads welcoming the new business. The Joy Theater had the most modern equipment and seated 772 patrons. The seats were made of padded leather.

When the theater was bought by a church in the late 1970’s or early ‘80s, there was no theater in town for over 30 years until the Joy Performance Theater opened. It is now a performance venue and shows films from time to time. But the experience of catching a movie at the local theater on a Friday or Saturday night is now gone from downtown Kings Mountain.

With the Dixie property still available, one hopes a visionary with a passion to create a draw in downtown Kings Mountain might reclaim the old building for a theater or live entertainment space. We are witnessing a lot of growth in town of late and it won’t be long until that large space has a new lease on life. One can only imagine what the future might bring for the old theater, and our town.