Road closures near Patriots Park

City of Kings Mountain is proud to host its annual Veterans Day Parade and Observance, Thursday, November 11.
Beginning at 10:30 am, this special event will begin at the Joy Theatre with a parade to Patriots Park being led by the KMPD Color Guard. A service, which will feature a five-minute presentation entitled “Recognition of Service”, music by Dale Brittain and the Loch Norman Pipe Band, and a keynote address by Mr. Jason Falls, will then be held at the Liberty
 Falls Amphitheatre followed by a wreath ceremony at the War Memorial located in Patriots Park.
“The Veterans Day Observance is a very special event in our city,” states Scott Neisler, Mayor of Kings Mountain. “It’s a time to acknowledge those who put their lives on hold to defend our country! We owe them a debt of gratitude for sacrificing their lives for our freedom.”
The City of Kings Mountain encourages everyone to support our veterans by attending the observance.
To host this event, a portion of South Railroad Avenue and West Gold Street will be closed beginning at 9 am and remain closed or barricaded until 11 am. Use extreme caution when traveling on Railroad Avenue and West Gold Street due to the increase in motor vehicles and pedestrians walking. Plan to travel different roads if you are impacted by this change. The city thanks you for your cooperation in this matter.
For more information or to participate in the parade, contact the City of Kings Mountain’s Special Events Department at 704-730-2101, or visit their website at www.KingsMountainEvents.com.

Anne Hord Gamble was honored by the Colonel Frederick Hambright Chapter, NSDAR, for her work with children’s literacy. Storytime with Miss Anne is a favorite among young readers at Mauney Memorial Library. During the pandemic, Storytime continued via Zoom meetings. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, Storytime with Miss Anne is held at 10:30 a.m. And Bedtime Storytime is held the fourth Tuesday of the month at 7:30 p.m. In-person Storytime is held on Fridays at 10:30 a.m. at Mauney Memorial Library.
Congratulating Gamble, Chapter DAR Literacy Chair Loretta Cozart said, “Anne, this acknowledgment is much deserved! You are a tireless advocate for literacy among our youngest readers. You have ‘Storytime with Miss Anne’ several times a week and even do a bedtime story once a month. Encouraging young readers early is the key to a lifetime of reading and learning.”

By Loretta Cozart

Chief of Police Lisa Proctor, Terricia Wingo, and Carol Ann Hoard were honored at the 2021 Cleveland County Distinguished Women’s Banquet at the LeGrand Center in Shelby on November 4. Proctor and Wingo are from the Kings Mountain area. Carol Ann Hoard is a minister in Shelby.
Senator Ted Alexander was in attendance and spoke of these honorees saying, “Each of these women have excelled in their various civic endeavors making our county a better place to live and setting an example for others. Thanks to the Commission for Women for putting on a moving event honoring these recipients.”
The recipients were given certificates of appreciation from the NC Senate in recognition of their award from the commission.
Senator Alexander went on to share, “Each of these women, in their own way, gave God and Jesus Christ the honor and glory for their work and achievements. Chief Proctor: the first Woman chief of Police in Cleveland County who also has her own ministry; Carol Ann Hoard: her work as a youth minister and as the Christmas Tree lady; and Terricia Wingo for her selfless ministering of the gospel to the homeless and bereft in the community. Each of their stories were uplifting and further attest to how living out of one’s Christian faith always makes for a better community! Thanks to each of these women for their magnificent achievements!”

At Cleveland County’s school board meeting on November 8, at 6 p.m., the board voted to table the decision on the sale of Central School for 60-days, until January 10. A closed session to discuss a personnel matter and two properties on the surplus list lasted about one-hour.
The property behind Grover School received a bid of $49,000 and the school board unanimously voted to accept that bid.
During the October 11 school board meeting, members voted to place Central School in Kings Mountain and a home behind Grover School on their surplus property list.
School policy is to afford the board of county commissioners the first opportunity to obtain any real property
at  the fair market price or a
price negotiated between the two boards. County Commissioners met on October 19 and voted to decline the opportunity.
During the Public Participation portion of the meeting, Michael S. Smith of Gaston Street addressed the board regarding the sale of surplus property being offered for sale in Kings Mountain. “I own two properties across from Central School and do not feel the citizens have been given the proper opportunity to address what they would like to see happen with this property.”
“What’s the hurry?” he asked. “The school board has asked for 12-months to vacate this building that sits at the heart of the historic district. Citizens nearby should be given the opportunity to have input regarding what happens with Central School.”

Chris Long, retired NFL player and Waterboys founder, teamed up with Xylem Inc., Water Well Trust and Talking Rain AQA to provide clean, safe drinking water to a Kings Mountain.
The Blanchard family received a donated water well system, including equipment, well drilling and installation on Wednesday, November 3. The family’s water well had a hole in the casing, causing their water to be brown and rusty. They relied on bottled water for drinking.
The donation is the seventh joint Hometown H2O project for The Chris Long Foundation, Xylem, and the Water Well Trust. Hometown H2O is a domestic water program dedicated to bringing clean, sustainable water to people and communities in need across the
 United States. Hometown H2O – a program launched in early 2020 – is a united effort between Chris Long and his Foundation’s Waterboys initiative and water technology company Xylem Inc. to address domestic water scarcity issues, which currently leave more than 2 million Americans without access to clean water. Hometown H2O, Xylem and Talking Rain AQA work alongside the Water Well Trust, a national nonprofit that helps funds and supply water to low-income families.

Parade to be held
December 4 at 3 pm      

It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year! Registration is now open for the Kings Mountain “Home for Christmas” Parade scheduled for December 4th, 2021, at 3:00 pm in downtown Kings Mountain.
Want to participate? Participants may register online by accessing the “Home for Christmas” website at www.kingsmountainchristmas.com.  For more information, or assistance with registration, please contact Angela Padgett, Special Events Coordinator at 704-730-2101 or via email at specialevents@cityofkm.com.
Over 100 entries are expected. More exciting information concerning this special parade will be available soon. Deadline to register for the parade is November 15, 2021.

Parade to be held
December 4 at 3 pm      

It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year! Registration is now open for the Kings Mountain “Home for Christmas” Parade scheduled for December 4th, 2021, at 3:00 pm in downtown Kings Mountain.
Want to participate? Participants may register online by accessing the “Home for Christmas” website at www.kingsmountainchristmas.com.  For more information, or assistance with registration, please contact Angela Padgett, Special Events Coordinator at 704-730-2101 or via email at specialevents@cityofkm.com.
Over 100 entries are expected. More exciting information concerning this special parade will be available soon. Deadline to register for the parade is November 15, 2021.

On Monday, November 1 at 7:30 p.m., the Pottery Studio at Kings Mountain Art Center went up in flames. Pottery wheels and a kiln, along with other contents in the room, are now covered in water and soot. The extent of the damage is not currently known, and the cause of the fire has not yet been determined. The blaze in SASi’s Pottery Studio was reported around 7:30 p.m. Monday night by Jewel Reavis and a neighbor who spotted the flames. 
                                           
 Photo by Yola Lawson
 

 Governor Roy Cooper announced 22 grant recipients through the North Carolina Rural Infrastructure Authority on Oct. 21. Appalachian Gear Company and the City of Kings Mountain were chosen as a grant recipient this year.
This $50,000 grant will support the reuse of a 10,000-square-foot building, where Appalachian Gear Company, LLC, plans to expand its current manufacturing operations to a second facility. The company, a cut-and-sew operation specializing in alpaca fiber garments, plans to create 12 jobs, and invest $486,000 in this project.
“I am delighted that Kings Mountain will be receiving one of the rural infrastructure authority grants from the state. The important and much-needed grant will continue the positive trajectory that this region is enjoying,” said Senator Ted Alexander.
Appalachian Gear Company announced its relocation to a new manufacturing facility in April 2021 and has seen such tremendous growth that the company is expanding to a second facility. This second facility will be located in downtown Kings Mountain, which will enable AGC to do its own garment and research and development in-house.
“Textiles has always been the fabric of our society. It’s in our blood!" said Kings Mountain Mayor Scott Neisler. "So, it is gratifying to see that Appalachian Gear has found a niche in the ever changing textile climate. We welcome them to Kings Mountain and hope it will result in them being very successful.” 
Appalachian Gear Company's founders John Gage and Mike Hawkins aren't new to Kings Mountain. They designed, built, and ran a textile dyeing and finishing operation from 1991-2002, and are excited to come back home and grow their business.
"Appalachian Gear Company is so excited to once again be a part of the Kings Mountain and Cleveland County Community, a community in which we have a long history. It is so important for city and county governments to support small manufacturing companies, especially in the current economic times. We are so appreciative that Kings Mountain, Cleveland County, and the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina have such an accomplished and energetic team that was absolutely the spark plug for Appalachian Gear Company’s expansion," commented John Gage, Appalachian Gear Company.
   "The Building Reuse Grant is a cornerstone in our effort to not only bring Award-Winning Apparel Manufacturing back to the U.S., but also to become one of the only vertically integrated Outdoor Lifestyle Brands in the U.S. that starts with a raw material, produces a fabric with our patent pending process, and then produces the finished garments and Outdoor Gear that we sell directly to consumers," he said.
Appalachian Gear Company is an outdoor lifestyle company specializing in American-made performance apparel and gear. They combine 100 years in the textile industry and have won consecutive editor’s choice awards from Backpacker Magazine for their All-Paca Fleece Hoodie, made from 100% Alpaca Wool.
“Although Kings Mountain-Cleveland County, NC just recently became home to Appalachian Gear Company, we are thrilled to hear that the company is already proceeding with an expansion of their local operations," said NC House Speaker Tim Moore. "The ongoing growth of the company has spurred innovation and new job growth in our community, and we are grateful to them for their continued investment.”
“Cleveland County is proud to be home to Appalachian Gear Company and congratulates them on their second facility in Kings Mountain. Not only does this company provide award winning products, but high-quality jobs for our citizens. We thank them for choosing to continue to invest in our community,” added Johnny Hutchins, Economic Development Liaison for the Cleveland County Board of Commissioners.

On October 22, Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office Community Interdiction Team along with their K-9, Karma, conducted a vehicle stop in Kings Mountain. During the investigation deputies located approximately 5 kilograms (11.2 pounds) of methamphetamine in the vehicle.
Both occupants, Luviana Ramirez Moreno. 42, and Jonathan Lugo Valdez 39 of Grayson, Georgia, were charged with two counts of Trafficking Methamphetamine and transported to the Cleveland County Detention Center for processing.
The street value of the seized drugs was approximately $176,000. During the month of October 2021, the Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Division, which includes the Community Interdiction Team has seized 37 pounds of methamphetamine with a total street value of approximately $600,000.
   The Sheriff’s Office takes complaints of drug trafficking and drug sales in Cleveland County very seriously. Sheriff Norman requests that anyone with information on drug dealers in their neighborhood contact the Vice/Narcotics Division at 704-484-4987.

City of Kings Mountain’s Pumpkin Palooza at Patriots Park wraps up this week with two events scheduled on Thursday, Oct. 28 and Friday, October 29.
Thursday’s movie is Hocus Pocus. This Walt Disney Pictures film features Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy and shares the story of a curious youngster moves to Salem, where he struggles to fit in before awakening a trio of diabolical witches that were executed in the 17th century.
At 6:00 p.m., meet live, interactive characters from the movie, along with some other spooky friends! There’s free trick-or-treating and fun in store, too. The movie starts at 7:00 p.m. on the big screen at Liberty Falls Amphitheater in Patriots Park.
Friday’s Bonus Feature is the iconic classic, It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown with a special showtime at 5pm.
One ticket reserves a pod for up to 10 people. A limited number of pods are available for each night. These free tickets must be reserved to control crowd size and safety.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
• Tickets must be redeemed to view each movie
• Patrons of up to 10 per family will be assigned a 10ft area to view each movie
• Patrons must stay in their own viewing areas
• Patrons are responsible for bringing a blanket or lawn chairs for the viewing area
• No outside food is allowed at this event. A concession vendor will be on hand to sell.
• Free parking is available throughout the downtown

By Loretta Cozart

On Monday, October 18, Assistant City Manager Nick Hendricks and consultant Richard Flowe of NFocus, Inc., along with members of the city’s staff and council members, met with stakeholders on the patio of 133 West regarding the downtown Streetscape plan.
In February’s city council meeting, the $1.5M plan was approved with plans for the first phase of the project to be completed by November.
Due to a variety of challenges, the Streetscape project was pushed off several times and, aside from removing the trees along Battleground Avenue and Mountain Street, few outward signs can be seen. However, the task of slip-lining of pipes along both streets in the downtown core has been completed.
With winter coming, Hendricks explained that the project has now been divided into three sections: Phase IIA focuses on Mountain Street, Phase IIB includes Battleground Avenue, and Phase III concentrates on Railroad Avenue. By dividing the project into three sections, work on non-state roads can move forward even if there are delays on Battleground Avenue.
Stumps along Battleground Avenue will be ground down in the coming week and the city will start the bid process by advertising in the Herald and on the city’s website. Once contractors are chosen, the work will begin in the spring as soon as weather permits.
The goal is to have received bids and chosen contractors by the city council in the December. “We hope to have everything ready to go so the project on Mountain Street can be completed in 90 to 120 days once construction starts,” Nick Hendricks told the group. Due to current supply chain issues, it is the city’s hope that materials can be ordered early in anticipation of project procurement.

Get in the Christmas Spirit a little early this year when Kings Mountain Little Theatre presents Lots of Love and A Charlie Brown Christmas Double Feature at Joy Performance Theater in November.
Shows are Friday November 5 & 12 at 7:30 pm, Saturday November 6 & 13 at 7:30 pm, and Sunday November 7 & 14 at 3:30 pm. Performances are suitable for young children with short attention spans
Join Kings Mountain Little Theater for family friendly, heart-warming stories for the holidays and support local theatre.
Enjoy an original, never-before-seen stage show and the classic Peanuts gang all in one night. This 2 for 1 holiday special will set you in the spirit for the upcoming holidays. You are invited to Cletus' tree farm where every tree is cut and carried with "lots of love".  You will also fall in love with the Smith family as they try to celebrate the holidays without their loved one.  As both our family and our Christmas trees learn about friendship and family, you will find yourself settling into the spirit of Christmas.  
Celebrate the true meaning of Christmas with Charlie Brown, Linus, Snoopy, Sally, Lucy, Schroeder, Frieda, Pig Pen, Patty, Shermy, and Violet as they play in the snow, practice the Christmas play, search for a tree, and discover "what Christmas is all about."
Tickets are on sale now and are $10 General admission.

Catawba Two Kings Casino in Kings Mountain, N.C. –   through its new and ongoing Share Change program – has raised $10,000 for the Cleveland County Fund for Children and Adults with Disabilities.
The casino, which features 500 slot machines in a pre-launch temporary facility, launched the Share Change program several weeks after its July 1 opening. The proceeds for the Cleveland County Fund for Children and Adults with Disabilities were raised through Sept. 30. Casino patrons donated the remaining change on slot vouchers, dropping them in wishing wells and large ticket barrels located on the casino floor.
The Share Change program represents the Catawba Nation’s first charitable initiative with the new casino. New charitable recipients will be designated every three months, with two organizations – Cleveland County Hospice and the Cleveland County Partnership for Children – set to receive funds raised this month through Dec. 31.
“The Catawba Nation and our Catawba Two Kings Casino are committed to making a positive change in our local communities, and the Share Change program is a way for us to begin fulfilling that commitment,” Catawba Assistant Chief Jason Harris said. “We thank our casino patrons for their generosity and are thrilled to provide these funds to such a worthy cause as assisting adults and children with disabilities.”
The fund, a service of the Junior Charity League of Shelby, provides emergency financial assistance to individuals and families living with a disability. One example of how this fund helps is to provide orthopedic equipment to adults and children who may be financially challenged and unable to obtain these necessities.
The Junior Charity League of Shelby was established in 1934 as a non-profit organization with its primary purpose to raise funds to provide necessaries such as clothing, fuel, food, medications, or any other needs that arise for the children and citizens of Cleveland County.
“On behalf of the Junior Charity League of Shelby, we would like to thank Catawba Two Kings Casino patrons for their donations,” league representative Jennifer Reynolds said. “With these funds, we will work with the United Way of Cleveland County to help children and adults with disabilities who are in need within our community. Thank you for selecting the fund and for caring for the people of Cleveland County.”
Catawba Nation and Catawba Two Kings Casino leaders anticipate that the Share Change program will grow as the casino grows. Construction work began in September to add an additional 500 gaming machines to the pre-launch facility by year’s end.
“With the expansion, our hope is that we will be able to provide even more for area charitable organizations as the number of casino patrons grows and as a result of their continuing generosity,” said Mike Ulizio, president of the Catawba Nation Gaming Authority.

By Loretta Cozart

On Thursday, October 13th, Bess-Alice Hambright Phifer, known to many as Bess, will be 104 years old. Her family gathered Sunday for an early birthday celebration.
Growing up on the family farm near the Kings Mountain National Military Park, Bess had a strong sense of self. Her parents were Tom and Mable Weir Hambright. She had 7 siblings: Louise, Aileen, Lucy, Sue, Anderson, Lawrence, and Tom. Their lives revolved around family, school, and church and their roots run deep in the community.
Bess knew her grandparents and often visited them in Grover and Kings Mountain. Her Uncle Gill Hambright lived in the home currently occupied by the Patrick family on Battleground Avenue.
On her mother’s side of the family, she is related to the Weir and McGill families; Grandfather Ted Weir was the postmaster. “At that time, the post office had moved out of Mauney Brothers Store and was located on Battleground Avenue,” Phifer explained.
Her dad’s family descends from the Dickson and Hambright families. The Hambright line goes back to Colonel Frederick Hambright, commander of the Lincoln County Militia during the battle of Kings Mountain.
Her family belonged toAntioch Baptist Church, and she attended school in a one-room schoolhouse her mother founded.
   When Bess was just 12, she attended the one hundred- fiftieth anniversary of the Battle of Kings Mountain. The year was 1930. President Herbert Hoover was the keynote speaker. Her mother had responsibilities during the celebration, so Bess and her siblings were free to wander.
   She remembers the throngs of people. “The President speech was good; I can remember seeing the speakers’ stand. Most of all,” she says, “I remember having the whole day free with all those people I didn’t know”
   While in her junior and senior years at Blacksburg Centralized High School, Bess played basketball and participated in class plays. In her senior year, she was a founding member of the very first Beta Club in the United States in 1934 - 1935. After high school, she attended Asheville college and earned a teaching degree. She taught 6th graders at Waco Graded School and coached their high school women’s basketball team.
   In the early part of World War II, Bess also took on work in the Shell Plant in Charlotte “making 40 mm shells. I inspected the little percussion cup to make sure it had powder in it. I did it at night on the third shift.” The plant went into operation on December 17, 1942 - just 10 days after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.
   With the war raging in Europe and the Pacific, Bess was about to face the biggest challenge of her life: serving in the American National Red Cross from 1943 until 1946. A co-worker at Waco suggested they apply for the American National Red Cross together.
   “When I got to Washington, Kings Mountain native Hazel Frye was there. I was in training with Hazel for six weeks. We thought we’d go overseas together. I certainly didn’t have any idea I’d be going to the Pacific. I knew Hazel a little bit because mother and daddy were friends to her parents.” Hazel was assigned to Europe and Bess was assigned to the Pacific.
   Bess began her service on the island of Hawaii at a Red Cross Rest Camp that had been established during World War I. “We had everything: a golf course and tennis courts. We had about 200 bicycles. All the men seemed to like to ride bikes. We had archery. And we’d take the men by van around the volcano and the bird park.”
   Every five days, five hundred men would arrive at the rest camp for five-days of rest and relaxation. “We worked from 7 am to 10 pm,” said Bess. Every five days, a new group of men would arrive.
   “The men appreciated having a few days of rest. I didn’t realize it meant so much to them. They had such a poor life. Even when I was there, I knew it was rough. They would tell you a few things. But I didn’t realize it was quite as bad as it was.”
   By this time, Bess had received four promotions. She had “taken over as the head of the camp, seeing that it was all taken care of. I was over the Red Cross work, not the food,” she said. “It was a pretty big deal.”
   While working in Hawaii, Bess met her husband-to-be, Marriott Phifer who was a Kings Mountain native. Due to her duties, she didn’t see him much when he was at the camp. When asked if they dated in the Pacific, Bess replied, “When they told me they needed me to go to Guam, I got a week off. I spent a right smart time with Marriott that week.”
   While in Guam, Bess was assigned to a field hospital processing the troops who were freed from prison camps. “Most had spent four or five years as prisoners. And to see those fellows…” her voice trailed-off. “I stayed up all night trying to process who they were, to gather a little information about them.
   “They looked like death standing, practically every one of them. I had seen a lot of wounded because at Guam I stayed at the field hospital. There were 200 – 300 doctors there. I ate the same places the men ate. In that hospital, all the wounded fellows were there. They couldn’t go home because they were waiting for transportation.
   Bess was discharged on May 13, 1946. Six weeks later, on June 26, 1946, Bess Alice Hambright married Marriott Phifer in a double wedding at Antioch Baptist Church with sister, Lucy Hambright Kinard and her husband, James Herman Kinard.
   Marriott’s family belonged to Boyce Memorial Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, so they joined that congregation. She has now been a member for 75 years.
   Together, Bess and Marriott have four children: Dr. Reta Phifer, Doyt Phifer, Connie Savell, M.D. Phifer Jr., and one granddaughter, Lesley Phifer.
   Throughout her life, Bess Phifer held close to her faith. She never feared serving in the Red Cross, saying, “I wasn’t scared a bit. I felt like I was where I needed to be. I never felt like I shouldn’t have done this.”
   Last summer, Bess was interviewed by a representative from the Betty H Carter Women Veterans Historical Project UNC Greensboro Special Collections & University Archives to document her work in the American Red Cross during WW II.
   She wants most for her children to “stay close to the Lord.” When asked what got her through the difficult times of her life, Bess replied without hesitation, “I lean on the Lord all the time, every day. If you didn’t have him to lean on, you’d be in bad shape, wouldn’t you?”

By Loretta Cozart

On October 5, Cleveland County business development director Jason Falls, presented an updated plan for Catawba Two Kings Casino Resort to the Cleveland County Board of Commissioners.
Falls shared that on average 2,500 people have visited the pre-launch facility each day, which equates to over 900,000 visitors in a year’s time.
On September 28, expansion modules were delivered to the casino property which will double its size from 15,000 square-feet to 30,000 square-feet. The completion date is set for December 15, but, according to Falls, “There is a big push from the owners, the Catawba Nation, to be open by Thanksgiving.’
The Introductory Phase has been renamed Opportunity Phase I. Initially, a 5-story parking deck was to hold 600 vehicles, according to Falls. That number has increased to 2,500 – 2,600 and will be 87-feet tall, which was approved by Kings Mountain City Council. All floors, total, will comprise 638,875 square-feet.
The proposed building is referred to as Master Plan Phase I and is roughly 450,000 square-feet. It will have two floors comprised of an upper level of 198,400 square-feet and a lower floor measuring 57,432 square-feet. The original plan was for a 60,000 square-foot building, but those plans have changed.
“They have changed things because of the number of visitors they have been seeing out there. Because of the success they’ve been seeing as far as the casino, they have really ramped up how quickly they want to build and get into a larger facility,” Falls said. “One caveat is that the plans change often. So, this is what it is today.”
The proposed hotel tower is 29-stories tall and will house four restaurants totaling 37,000 square-feet. A stoplight is planned for a new entrance on Kings Mountain Boulevard.
To view the presentation, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PepV401uJDE

A   “Nature Reconsidered” art competition and “Trail” photography competition opened last week at Southern Arts Society in Kings Mountain. Both are judged shows with cash prizes.
“Nature Reconsidered” is an art exhibition and competition sponsored by Southern Arts Society that aims to explore the ever-changing relationship between humans and nature. Artists were asked to create work that references, investigates, challenges, and/or celebrates our relationship with the natural world. There is a wide variety of media featured in the show - painting (oil, watercolor, acrylic, pastel), drawing, glass, photography, and mixed media. Thirty-eight artists from around the region entered 76 pieces of work for this year's exhibit. While most entries reflect the beauty of our natural world, there are several that play on the impact or interference of man with our environment.
The “TRAIL” photography competition is sponsored by the Kings Mountain Gateway Trail and Southern Arts Society. This exhibit features photos taken on the Gateway Trail over the past two years. There are 13 entries from five photographers in this show. The butterfly garden at the top of the Gateway Trail continues to be a prime spot for great photos. Much of the trail is surrounded by trees which requires photographers to be patient and search out interesting flora and fauna to capture on film.
Judging both shows is Michael Grady, an exhibiting artist, writer, and Professor of Art at Appalachian State University. Mr. Grady grew up in South Carolina but lived for three decades in New York and San Francisco before relocating, in 2008, to his ancestral homeland in North Carolina. Grady has a special interest and expertise in spirituality and art, expressive arts therapy, and Asian philosophy and culture. Grady sees the future of art as necessarily integrating a variety of cultural concepts; self and community; spirit and healing. He has exhibited his paintings and lectured in Germany, New Zealand, China, and throughout the U.S.
The public was invited to meet the artists at a reception Saturday October 2 from 6-8 p.m. Awards for both competitions were announced at 7 p.m. More of the work in the exhibit can be seen on the website and Facebook page of Southern Arts Society.
“Nature Reconsidered” and ‘Trail” will be on display in the galleries of Southern Arts Society through November 5. Visitors are required to wear a mask and practice social distancing while visiting the gallery.
Southern Arts Society (SASi) Gift Shop & Gallery is located at 301 N. Piedmont Avenue in the historic Southern Railway Depot, at the intersection of Piedmont and Battleground. SASi offers a gift shop, ongoing exhibits, programs, and classes in a variety of media for artists of all levels. Hours: Tues - Sat, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and by appointment. Admission is Free. For more information, visit   www.SouthernArtsSociety.org, or their Facebook page. Contact 704.739.5585 or email  SouthernArtsSociety@gmail.com.

The City of Kings Mountain’s Special Events Department is proud to partner with the Mauney Memorial Library to present It’s The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown StoryWalk.
This unique StoryWalk will feature the timeless Peanuts tale of Linus Van Pelt’s dream to meet the Great Pumpkin!  Located at Patriots Park in Downtown Kings Mountain, this safe, outdoor event will begin Friday, October 9th,  2021 and run throughout the month of October.  This month long event allows for families to visit at their leisure to prevent any mass gatherings. Photo ops will be available in Linus’ pumpkin patch. Festive music will fill the air.
“The Mauney Memorial Library has hosted the
StoryWalk experience at the Gateway Trail”, says Christina Martin, of Mauney
Memorial Library.  “We placed pages of a children’s storybook along the walking trail for families to enjoy. We are excited to partner with the Special Events Department to host this event at Patriots Park.”
The StoryWalk® Project was created by Anne Ferguson of Montpelier, VT and developed in collaboration with the Kellogg-Hubbard Library.
“This passive activity connects literacy, the great outdoors, physical activity, and the magic of the holiday season,” says Christy Conner, Special Events Director for the City of Kings Mountain. “How can you and your family participate?  It’s simple.  Bring your imagination, talk a walk, read a book and have an adventure.”
Patriots Park is located at 220 South Railroad Avenue in Kings Mountain.
Fun for the entire family, mark your calendar today!
For more information, call the City of Kings Mountain’s Special Events Department at 704-730-2101, or visit their website at www.kingsmountainevents.com

By Loretta Cozart 

Last week, Keith Corporation shared more information about Kings Mountain Corporate Center, a 164-acre, master-planned business park in Kings Mountain. The business park will be located at 705 Canterbury Road behind Hanes Brands.
Building One, with 1,015,740 square feet under one roof, will offer all utilities including water, sewer, gas, and electricity provided by City of Kings Mountain. With approximately 136-acres, Building One will be built using tilt-wall concrete construction with a cross-dock configuration. The building is a speculative property and could be used for either warehouse or manufacturing.
The property has extensive I-85 frontage with access to the interstate by two interchanges. The parking lot will have 900 spaces for cars and 350 spaces for trailers.
The property or build-to-suit for purchase or lease by The Keith Corporation. Industrial Developers on the project are Alan Lewis and Justin C. Curis. The Charlotte Douglas International Airport is located 26 miles northeast via I-85.

By Loretta Cozart

Work has begun to add an additional 500 gaming machines to the Catawba Two Kings Casino pre-launch facility in Kings Mountain that opened July 1.
Initial site work began in September on the expansion, which will be attached to the current facility and once again constructed using prefabricated modular structures. When the expansion is completed, which is expected by the end of 2021, the temporary casino will feature 1,000 gaming machines. 
“With the overwhelming success of the Catawba Two Kings Casino’s pre-launch facility since opening, it makes sense to work as  quickly  as  possible  to  provide additional gaming opportunities for our patrons across the Charlotte region,” said Mike Ulizio, president of the Catawba Nation Gaming Authority.
The Catawba Nation and its consultants, including hospitality and gaming company Delaware North, SOSHNY Architects and developer Skyboat Gaming, are simultaneously continuing planning and development work on the permanent casino resort project. The timing for construction of that project is also being determined. Modular units began delivery last week.
The Catawba Two Kings Casino is practicing safety procedures and protocols to best protect guests and employees from COVID-19. All employees are required to wear a mask, and guests are encouraged to wear one as well. Disposable masks are available for guests when they enter the casino.
Updates on the expansion construction will be posted to the casino’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/TwoKingsCasino/.
Catawba Two Kings Casino Resort is being developed by the Catawba Nation at a 17-acre site at 538 Kings Mountain Blvd. in Kings Mountain. The site is near Interstate 85 Exit 5 and about 35 miles west of Charlotte.
A temporary “pre-launch” gaming facility opened July 1, with 500 gaming machines to provide an initial opportunity for patrons to game with limited food & beverage and other guest amenities. At full buildout, the casino resort project is expected to create thousands of permanent and construction jobs in the region.
   The Two Kings name celebrates the Catawba Nation’s history and hopeful future in their ancestral lands in North Carolina, paying tribute to the 18th century Catawba Chief King Hagler and the City of Kings Mountain.

Dancing Fleas to perform

The Dancing Fleas will perform a special 90-minute benefit concert for the GFW Kings Mountain Woman's Club on Saturday October 23, at 6 pm in the Joy Performance Theater at 202 South Railroad Avenue Kings Mountain. Doors open at 5:30 pm.
General admission tickets are $25 and Balcony seats are $30. Tickets can be purchased by visiting PayPal (PayPal.Me/7nana) or by contacting Denise Cobb 704-477-4285.
For safety, masks are encouraged, but not required. All proceeds to benefit the Kings Mountain Woman's Club.

By Robin Masters Meyer

Recently we celebrated an important document from our Nation’s history. A document that is as relevant today as it was at the founding of our Country. As a member of the Colonel Frederick Hambright Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution I am proud of one of our leaders who was instrumental in establishing September 17-23 as National Constitution Week. Before I go into that story, I want to point out something that has struck me as important in recent months concerning the beginning of that document.
Have any of you had to memorize the preamble to the U.S. constitution?  For most of my life I had it memorized thanks to a cartoon series that used to be very popular called School House Rock. They put it to a catchy tune, and I can still sing it to this day. The preamble to the U.S. Constitution begins with the following: “We the People of the United States of America…”. I’ll say that again, “WE THE PEOPLE.” It doesn’t say “We the Continental Congress” or “we the landowners” or “we the legislature” or “we the President”. It says WE THE PEOPLE. It is our document. It was established by the people for the people. If you listen carefully, this one paragraph says everything that is important for a nation to survive and thrive. It’s a powerful paragraph when you really think about the meaning behind the words:
“We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect Union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”
So, what does the Preamble to the Constitution have to do with DAR. We are a PATRIOTIC Lineage Society, and the objectives of our Society are the same today as they were at our National founding 131 years ago – Historic Preservation, Education, and Patriotism. Each year September 17-23 is designated Constitution Week. The tradition of celebrating the Constitution was started in 1955 by the Daughters of the American Revolution. Our then President General Gertrude S. Carraway (who was from New Bern, North Carolina) was responsible for the annual designation of Constitution Week.
You see, DAR made its own resolution for Constitution Week, which was adopted April 21, 1955. The National Society then petitioned Congress to set aside September 17-23 annually to be dedicated for the observance of Constitution Week. The resolution was adopted by the U.S. Congress and signed into Public Law #915 on August 2, 1956, by Miss Carraway’s good friend, President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Today, Constitution Week is celebrated by setting up displays in schools and libraries, obtaining city proclamations, providing copies of the Constitution and Bells Across America. This is an event that is always scheduled for September 17 at 4:00 p.m. For one minute church and community bells are rung to celebrate our Constitution.
The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution was founded in 1890 to preserve the memory and spirit of those who contributed to securing American independence. Any woman 18 years or older, regardless of race, religion, or ethnic background, who can prove lineal descent from a patriot of the American Revolution is eligible for membership. DAR is one of the world’s largest and most active service organizations with nearly 180,000 members in approximately 3,000 chapters worldwide. These members passionately carry out the timeless mission of promoting historic preservation, education, and patriotism. To learn more about the work of today’s DAR, visit www.dar.org or the Colonel Frederick Hambright webpage at www.colfrederickhambright.com

By Loretta Cozart

Kings Mountain Historical Museum is preparing for the holiday season and has asked the community’s help with this year’s 19th Annual Toys, Games & Trains exhibit which opens on November 26 and runs through January 7, 2022.
A large part of this annual exhibit is the display of various types of antique toys and games. If you have some old toys or games that are unique that you think people would like to see, consider loaning them for display in the museum.
Contact Director January Costa at kmhmdirector@outlook.com or call the museum at 704-739-1019. They need to be contacted by November 1, with the loan items to be delivered in the first week of November.

Throughout the Summer, the City of Kings Mountain and the Cleveland County Music Hall of Fame have proudly sponsored Pickin’ at the Park, an acoustic jam which runs every Thursday night at the Gazebo located in Patriots Park. It begins at 6:00 p.m.
With the success of Pickin’ at the Park, the City of Kings Mountain and the Cleveland County Hall of Fame have decided to continue to host this weekly event throughout the fall.
• Bring your lawn chair and join the fun.
• Want to participate? All pickers are welcome!
• Patriots Park is located at 220 South Railroad Avenue, Kings Mountain.
For more information on Pickin’ at the Park, contact the City of Kings Mountain’s Special Events Department at 704-730-2101, or the Cleveland County Music Hall of Fame at 704-860-4068.

By Loretta Cozart

In a press conference on Monday at 2 p.m., Cleveland County shared dire news. Cleveland County is in crisis.  Cleveland county is experiencing 78 average daily hospitalizations, far more than surrounding counties.
The Delta variant is six times more transmissible than the original virus. In the last five weeks, there have been 40 deaths due to the virus. Of those who died, only five were vaccinated. In Cleveland County, only 40 percent of the population has been vaccinated and there is a direct correlation between the number unvaccinated and the number of deaths,” according to Cleveland County staff. And the fastest growing population of infected patients are in the 0 to 17 age group.
Dr. Inga Kish, Chief Medical Officer for Atrium Health facilities in Shelby, Kings Mountain and Lincoln spoke regarding cases and their impact upon the medical community. “Cleveland County is experiencing approximately 1,400 new cases of COVID-19 each week. The Delta variant is much more potent and one in every 59 patients who contract the virus have died,” she said.
Dr. Kish also shared that 40 percent of the patients at Atrium Health Cleveland have the virus and that Kings Mountain has begun accepting COVID-19 patients out of necessity. Currently, 20 percent of Atrium Kings Mountain’s patients are COVID-19 positive.
The problem is made worse by the crowded situation in the Emergency Department. “Of the 35 Emergency Beds we have, half are occupied by patients waiting for a bed of any type, be it a medical bed, a step-down bed, or an ICU bed,” she said. The process has resulted in EMS diversion to other hospitals. There is a subset of critical patients we will continue to take in who present at our door.”
   Atrium Cleveland and Atrium Kings Mountain have been on diversion collectively 18 times for a total of 287 hours out of the last 15 days, according to the Cleveland County Health Department’s PowerPoint presentation. Cleveland County has called for Mutual Aid twice in the last three weeks due to most ambulances transporting out of county to hospitals not on diversion status.
   “Less critical patients can be diverted between Shelby, Kings Mountain, and Lincolnton. And we continue to look for additional space. Last week, 90 percent of our ER patients were COVID-19 positive, this week that number has dropped to 40 percent,” Dr. Kish said. “The hospitals are also looking at the needs of ancillary departments, like pharmacy. Being aligned with Atrium Health, we can share resources across all our hospitals as needed. We have staff to do that.”
   Then Dr. Kish addresses the four deaths the hospital experienced in four hours. “This is  devastating  every  time we lose a patient,” she said her voice trembling. “Health care workers get downtrodden. They need community support to keep them uplifted in this work. This has been the most difficult encounter, endeavor, experience that anyone in healthcare has ever taken part of. I have been an emergency medical physician for 24-years, and I have never seen anything like this. And I hope we will never see anything like this in the future. I just want you to know this is happening here, in your own backyard.  It is serious and is impacting us greatly. I hope you will understand the reality of what is going on in our hospitals and our county. I will end on a good note, because my mother always told me that, to end on a positive. “We are here for you, and we will take care of you.”

Due to an increase in COVID-19 cases, City of Kings Mountain has cancelled the last Cruise-in and Car show of the season featuring Who’s Bad: The Ultimate Michael Jackson Experience and October’s Wonderful Adventure to Oz.
 “Out of an abundance of caution, and to help slow the transmission of COVID-19, we made this difficult decision to cancel two events. We hope our Coronavirus numbers drop as a result and we will monitor the situation regarding our Christmas Events,” said Kings Mountain Mayor Scott Neisler.

By Christy Adkins,
Main Street Coordinator

The Kings Mountain Main Street Program is accredited through the state of NC Main Street and the National Main Street Programs. The goal of the program is to help the city create a more inviting and beautiful downtown area for the citizens and visitors to enjoy. The program is a public-private partnership between the city and volunteers from the residents of Kings Mountain.
Some of the projects the program is working on are helping to design streetscape elements, promotion, and marketing of the downtown businesses, creating training and a platform to help businesses maintain an online presence, and facilitating communication between city residents and city management, to receive more input and ideas that will make Downtown Kings Mountain even better than it is.
The Kings Mountain Main Street Advisory Board just completed work on a new logo. There were several goals for the new logo
 design: to visually complement the City of Kings Mountain logo; to reflect the growth and vibrancy of downtown Kings Mountain; and to present  the Downtown District as a great place to eat, shop, and discover the arts.
The Main Street Advisory Board worked with a marketing agency, NP Strategy, on the logo redesign project. The agency created multiple strong design concepts, and the Advisory Board recognized a unique opportunity in the selected logo design. The triangular shapes within the logo contain icons that represent a wide range of downtown activities. The Advisory Board plans to use the triangle design element in other creative ways, outside of the logo, such as signage and promotional materials. The boldly colored triangle shapes will serve as a wonderful visual guide that allows visitors to explore and appreciate downtown Kings Mountain.
If you have great ideas and are interested in volunteering on the Kings Mountain Main Street Program, please contact Christy Adkins at 704-730-2197 or send an email to christy.adkins@cityofkm.com

by MITCH KOKAI
Carolina Journal

Gov. Roy Cooper has pulled out his veto stamp again to reject bills dealing with public school indoctrination and penalties for rioting. Cooper now has vetoed 10 bills this year and 63 bills since becoming governor in 2017.
House Bill 324, Ensuring Dignity and Nondiscrimination in Schools, was designed to prevent schools from forcing students to adopt certain controversial beliefs. Supporters and opponents alike linked some of those beliefs to the controversial Critical Race Theory.
“The legislature should be focused on supporting teachers, helping students recover lost learning, and investing in our public schools,” Cooper said in his veto message. “Instead, this bill pushes calculated, conspiracy-laden politics into public education.”
Senate leader Phil Berger, R-Rockingham, led the push for the final version of H.B. 324. “It’s perplexing that Gov. Cooper would veto a bill that affirms the public school system’s role to teach students the full truth about our state’s sometimes ugly past,” Berger said in a prepared statement. “His invented excuse is so plainly refuted by the text of the bill that I question whether he even read it.”
“More broadly, Democrats’ choice to oppose a bill saying schools can’t force kids to believe one race is superior to another really shows how far off the rails the mainstream Democratic Party has gone,” Berger added.
The idea that members of one race or sex are superior to another is one of 13 concepts targeted in H.B. 324. The bill would ban schools from promoting those concepts, with “promotion” defined as forcing students or staff to endorse those concepts.
House Bill 805, Prevent Rioting and Civil Disorder, aimed to step up penalties for people who commit violent acts during protests.
“People who commit crimes during riots and at other times should be prosecuted and our laws provide for that, but this legislation is unnecessary and is intended to intimidate and deter people from exercising their constitutional rights to peacefully protest,” Cooper said in his veto message.
Berger’s counterpart in the state House, Speaker Tim Moore, R-Cleveland, led the push for H.B. 805. His support for the measure included a rare speech from the floor of the House chamber.
Both vetoed bills passed on party-line votes. The Senate approved H.B. 324 with a 25-17 vote, while the House approved it, 61-41. Every “yes” vote came from a Republican, every “no” vote from a Democrat.
The Senate approved H.B. 805 with a 25-19 vote, while the House approved it, 63-41. Two House Democrats joined Republicans to support the measure. Every Senate Democrat voted no.
Republicans don’t have enough votes in either the House or Senate to override one of Cooper's vetos by themselves. If every member of the legislative chamber is present and voting, Republicans need support from three House Democrats and two Democratic senators to meet a three-fifths, or 60 percent, threshold. That’s the minimum support needed to overcome the governor's objections.
State legislators haven’t voted successfully to override a Cooper veto since December 2018. Cooper has issued 35 vetoes since 2019 after Republicans lost veto-proof supermajority control of the state House and Senate in the 2018 elections. So far, Republican lawmakers have not secured enough Democratic support to set aside any vetoes from the past three years.
Along with the two vetoes, Cooper also signed nine bills into law Friday.

Friday, a three-judge panel blocked North Carolina’s voter ID law, which 56% of North Carolina voters supported in a ballot measure in 2018.
Sam Hayes, General Counsel for North Carolina House Speaker Tim Moore, said, “Once again, liberal judges have defied the will of North Carolinians on election integrity. Voters of this state have repeatedly supported a voter ID requirement – going so far as to enshrine it in our state constitution. Senate Bill 824 is one of the most generous in the country, and it was modeled on those of other states. At trial, Plaintiffs could not produce a single witness who would be unable to vote because of the law.”
He continued, “In his dissent, Judge Poovey noted that “[n]ot one scintilla of evidence was introduced during this trial that any legislator acted with racially discriminatory intent.” In fact, the bill was co-sponsored by African-American State Senator Joel Ford. This fight is far from over. We look forward to appealing this partisan ruling on behalf of the people of North Carolina.”

Cleveland County Schools will continue requiring students and staff to wear face masks in schools during instruction time. Exemptions are allowed for medical, behavioral, and religious reasons.
The school board voted on Monday 5-3 to continue requiring masks to combat Coronavirus in schools. Robert Queen, Danny Blanton, Ron Humphries, Joel Shores, and Greg Taylor voted to continue the mask policy.
Under a new state law, every school board across North Carolina is required to hold a public vote every month on their policies regarding wearing masks at school, regardless of whether officials plan to change the policy.

By Loretta Cozart

President Biden signed two executive orders on Friday, with sweeping rules to requiring federal employees be vaccinated against COVID-19. One might infer from their titles, “Executive Order on Ensuring Adequate COVID-19 Safety Protocols for Federal Contractors” and “Executive Order on Requiring Coronavirus Disease 2019 Vaccination for Federal Employees,” that these executive orders only apply to federal employees, but that isn’t the case.
These new executive orders also impact many citizens who do not work in federal agencies. The orders require that private employers with 100 or more workers will have to require them to be vaccinated or tested weekly. Employers must provide paid time off for vaccination. In addition, about 17 million health care workers in hospitals, clinics and other facilities that accept Medicare and Medicaid payments must get vaccinated. Some 300,000 employees of Head Start early childhood education and other federal education programs must get vaccinated.
President Biden said, “The Safer Federal Workforce Task Force (Task Force), established by Executive Order 13991 of January 20, 2021 (Protecting the Federal Workforce and Requiring Mask-Wearing), has issued important guidance to protect the Federal workforce and individuals interacting with the Federal workforce.  Agencies have also taken important actions, including in some cases requiring COVID-19 vaccination for members of their workforce,”
“Accordingly, building on these actions, and in light of the public health guidance regarding the most effective and necessary defenses against COVID-19, I have determined that to promote the health and safety of the Federal workforce and the efficiency of the civil service, it is necessary to require COVID-19 vaccination for all Federal employees, subject to such exceptions as required by law.”
The president also committed the federal government to follow through with money for widespread testing in schools.
Biden also urged governors to require vaccination for school district employees. He also urged stadiums, concert halls and other venues for large events are urged to require proof of vaccination or negative COVID-19 test.
Booster shots for COVID-19 require FDA approval, which has not yet occurred. Until that time, Federal agencies will lay the groundwork for a smooth booster shot campaign as early as Sep. 20, or when the Food and Drug Administration approves them.
Be aware that mask requirements will continue for interstate travel and in federal buildings. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will double fines on airline, train, and other travelers who refuse to wear a mask.
Free COVID-19 testing will be expanded to 10,000 pharmacies and Walmart, Amazon, and Kroger will offer at-home COVID-19 tests at cost, about a 35% savings for consumers.
Militarily, the Pentagon will double military medical teams helping local hospitals overwhelmed with virus patients. To assist with those who contract COVID and are not vaccinated, Federal agencies will boost shipments of a COVID-19 treatment known as monoclonal antibodies by 50%. Medical teams will be dispatched to help administer the treatments.
   To assist small businesses, the top loan amounts for PPP loans will be increased to $2 million from $500,000 currently.
   OneDigital, a national health and benefits provider for corporations advises, “Employers should expect further clarification of these rules as regulations and guidelines are issued in the coming weeks, including effective dates and documentation guidance. It is unclear whether anticipated legal challenges will be successful and alter implementation. In the meantime, applicable employers should prepare to comply with the new rules and continue looking for updates on this emerging issue.”
   Regarding mandatory vaccination of Federal Employees, President Biden said, “The Task Force shall issue guidance within seven days of the date of this order on agency implementation of this requirement for all agencies covered by this order.” With that in mind, further instructions should be shared by September 17.
   On September 1, in accordance with North Carolina Executive Order 224, state cabinet agencies started requiring state employees to verify that they have been vaccinated, with consequences of weekly testing and required masking for not doing so.
   The Order authorizes and directs State Health Director, Dr. Betsey Tilson, to issue a statewide standing order to expand access to monoclonal antibody treatment, which if taken early can decrease the risk of severe disease, hospitalization, and death. Administrations of monoclonal antibody increased 73 percent during the last week of August as compared to the week prior.
   Governor Cooper said, "We know that keeping kids learning in the classroom is the most important thing for our students right now. Getting vaccinated, wearing a mask in public indoor settings, and following the science is what we need to do. The faster we put this pandemic behind us, the sooner we can all rest easy and stay healthy."
   In the meantime, many Republican governors have vowed to push back on mandatory vaccinations. In a Twitter Statement, Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas called the actions an “assault on private businesses,” and he issued an executive order protecting Texans’ right to choose to be vaccinated. “Texas is already working to halt this power grab,” he wrote.