By Loretta Cozart

City of Kings Mountain hired their new Economic Development Manager Michael Worley about a month ago and, he has made great strides to meet with businesspeople in town. He is familiar with Kings Mountain, having gone to high school in Gastonia and is from the Chapel Grove/Crowders Mountain area of Gaston County.
Michael comes to Kings Mountain with a diverse background, giving him a unique perspective in his new role with the city. His own experiences in a variety of business helps him understand the challenges if running a business.
He has been in sales and marketing since 1999, when he started out selling Kirby vacuums door to door, earning top awards, and winning trips across the world. Michael has managed various businesses in some form since starting a mail order catalogue in 2001. He later became a lead pastor in Dunn, NC, and graduated from Southeastern Theological Seminary.
In 2013, Michael started an antique business and became interested in auctions; he has  held  an Auctioneer
License since 2016. Since 2017, he is a REALTOR/Broker and has practiced Real Estate.
He and his wife started a brick-and-mortar auction business in Dunn, NC in 2018 and a year later began pursing online sales and marketing. As he pursued this new venture, he shifted to virtual auctions.
He now runs an online consulting business with a partner that helps both brick and mortar, as well as virtual business get more clients through innovative marketing techniques. Since 2020, they specialize in helping business move toward their identity and who they specifically need to target to grow. He is also a public speaker for public, private, and business events.
Throughout his career, Michael has worked with several government officials on various projects as a consultant to better serve the community during economic downturns as well as prosperous times.
   He and his wife, Tabatha currently live in Kings Mountain and have two small children: Lily-Ann, 7 and Micah, 4. “My ties to Kings Mountain go back as far as I can remember. And my ties to Kings Mountain have gotten deeper as I married a Kings Mountain Mountaineer, Tabatha,” Michael said. If you see him out and about in town, be sure to stop and welcome him to Kings Mountain.

Football is back! What better way to celebrate 100 years of Mountaineer football than to attend the Kings Mountain High School Homecoming Parade at 3:30 p.m. on Friday, September 16th?
The parade will begin at First Baptist Church in Kings Mountain and travel down Mountain Street and Railroad Avenue, ending on Gold Street at Patriots Park.
Roads will close early for this event. Please use extreme caution when traveling in this area due to the increase in motor vehicles and pedestrians. Please plan to travel different roads if you are impacted by this change.
   Go Mountaineers!

The Patrick Senior Center in Kings Mountain will host a yard sale, bake sale and craft sale fundraiser this Friday, September 16, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. The event will be held inside and outside, rain or shine.
The public is welcome to come shop that day.
The Patrick Center will have a bake sale table at the event and will be accepting baked goods to sell at the table. If you would like to donate a baked good, please call the Patrick Center or bring it by on the morning of the sale.
Come enjoy a morning of shopping while supporting their efforts to feed seniors in need in the Kings Mountain area. The Patrick Center is located at 909 E King Street in Kings Mountain.

By Loretta Cozart

For a brief period of two days, Mountain Street and Cherokee Street were open for traffic. The 100 block of W. Mountain Street saw traffic moving through and local business owners were excited to see cars flowing by, if only for a brief time.
Beginning on Monday, September 12, the 200 block of W. Mountain Street saw the next phase of Streetscape begin and traffic blocked between S. Piedmont Avenue and Cherokee Street. This phase is slated to completed by October 31.
City officials, including City Manager Marilyn Sellers, Special Events Director Christy Conner, and Economic Development Manager Michael Worley visited the shops communicating their plan and keeping the shopkeepers appraised of the situation. In addition, representatives from Green
Construction communicated with owners how they planned to handle this phase of the project.
The south side of W. Mountain Street will have work done first, as crews check underground utilities and make necessary upgrades. When the south side of the street is completed, crews will work on the north side and repeat the process. Next, sidewalks will be removed, and work will begin to install catch basins and  run conduit for the electrical. Once curb and gutter are installed, sidewalks can be poured and  the final steps of installing the streetlights, filling the planters with dirt, and adding mulching can be completed. Hopefully by then, the time will be right for fall plantings.
City officials admit that they tackled the worst part of the project in the first phase, knowing that the intersection of Cherokee and Mountain Streets was an unknown as to what they might find below the surface. They are optimistic that the next section will be significantly easier, and they will be finished by the end of October.

By Loretta Cozart
 
Nuevo Pacto Wesleyan Church held their Inaugural Service on Saturday, September 3 at 2:00 p.m. in the Family Life Center of East Gold Street Wesleyan Church at 701 East Gold Street, in Kings Mountain.
East Gold is honored to host this developing congregation of Hispanic Christians! In less than one year, they have established a core group of approximately 20 committed Kingdom building laborers.
Pastor Scott Whitney of East Gold Street Wesleyan Church formally welcomed the new church and celebrated their partnership in ministry together in Kings Mountain. District Superintendent Reverend Jerry Lumston was present to welcome the new church to the North Carolina West District of the Wesleyan Church and welcomed Pastors Jose Rodriguez and Elizabeth Padrón, as pastors of the new congregation.
Mayor Scott Neisler was present to welcome the new church to the City of Kings Mountain.
The church’s Board of Directors were presented at their August 28 service and the first three members baptized on August 27 are Manuel Alexander Guerra Yero, Yumy Martinez Santana, and Arielys Mendez.

By January Costa
KMHM Director and Curator

Every September, Kings Mountain Historical Museum hosts a fundraiser to generate revenue necessary to support our programming. The Annual Reverse Raffle and Auctions has been acclaimed the “best event of the year in Kings Mountain” and this 19th annual fundraiser will be held in-person at the Joy Performance Center.
The  event will be held on September 17. “We anticipate a sold-out event with 300 tickets bought by individuals throughout the region, and we offer a Grand Prize of $10,000.”
This year the 19th Annual Reverse Raffle and Auction will be back to the tradition again of the reverse raffle for prizes. Each ticket is $125 which gets two people into the event with drink tickets, hors d’oeuvres and entertainment. It also includes a 1 in 300 chance of winning the $10,000 Raffle Prize, along with other raffle items! Unique auction items and great raffle prizes are included in this year’s event.
Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased from Board Members, calling the museum, emailing the museum at  kmhmdirector@outlook.com or by mailing a check to Kings Mountain Historical Museum, P.O. Box 552, Kings Mountain, NC 28086.
This event is a great opportunity for local business owners to showcase their business while investing in the community. Kings Mountain Historical Museum is currently welcoming event sponsors as well as in-kind donations for auction items. The Museum is recognized as a 501(c)(3) non-profit tax-exempt organization; donations are tax deductible as permissible by law.  To find out more about sponsorship and donation opportunities, please call 704-739-1019 or email kmhmdirector@outlook.com.
For more information, please visit our event page:
https://www.kingsmountainmuseum.org/annual-fundraiser You can also call (704) 739-1019 or follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

On September 7, the Catawba Two Kings Casino opened an on-property sportsbook ahead of the pro football season, bringing sports wagering to greater Charlotte and a new option for sports bettors in the Carolinas.
The temporary casino now features a branded Catawba Two Kings Casino sportsbook, agent/teller services with betting voucher redemption, as well as 30 betting kiosks in the sportsbook and throughout the facility. The sportsbook is open 24 hours daily, and the betting kiosks can be accessed at any time during the casino’s 24/7 operating hours.
Patrons can now place wagers on an array of sports, including auto racing, baseball, basketball, boxing, football, golf, hockey, mixed martial arts and soccer.
“We’re very excited to bring a sportsbook and betting kiosks to the Catawba Two Kings Casino so our loyal patrons can enjoy sports wagering,” said Trent Troxel, vice president of the Catawba Nation Gaming Authority.
“We also anticipate that a new audience in the Charlotte region and beyond will discover the casino as they come to wager on their favorite teams.”
The Catawba Two Kings Casino opened in July 2021 with 500 gaming machines and expanded in December to 1,000 gaming machines, including electronic table games. Several additional prefabricated modular structures have been added to the temporary facility to accommodate the sportsbook.
The Two Kings sportsbook and kiosks are powered by International Gaming Technology (IGT) under an agreement with the Catawba Nation Gaming Authority. Delaware North is also advising on the sports betting operations at Catawba Two Kings Casino.
The Catawba Nation will operate sports betting at the casino under the terms of its compact with the State of North Carolina.

September 11, 2022, marks the 21st anniversary of 9/11, a series of attacks on America that began the morning of September 11, 2001. To commemorate the incredible heroics of that fateful day, the City of Kings Mountain will honor the military and first responders on Saturday, September 10, during the LIVE at Patriots Park Concert Series featuring FREEBIRD: The Ultimate Lynyrd Skynyrd Tribute and the Dirty Grass Soul. The concert is scheduled to begin at 6:00  p.m.
Men and women, who serve or have served in the military or as a first responder, are encouraged to attend and bring their families to this special event.
A Cruise-In, also hosted by the City of Kings Mountain, will begin at 5:00  p.m. Agencies all over Cleveland County are encouraged to bring a service vehicle to the Cruise-In. To register, contact the Special Events Department at 704-730-2101.
This year, September 10th is sure to be memorable in Kings Mountain. Please join us to salute all our community heroes.
Patriots Park is located at 220 South Railroad Avenue, Kings Mountain. For more information on the Concert or Cruise-In, contact the City of Kings Mountain’s Special Events Department at 704-730-2101, or visit their website at www.KingsMountainEvents.Com. You may also visit their Facebook page at @cityofkmspecialevents.
See page 3A for road closure information.

September 11, 2022, marks the 21st anniversary of 9/11, a series of attacks on America that began the morning of September 11, 2001. To commemorate the incredible heroics of that fateful day, the City of Kings Mountain will honor the military and first responders on Saturday, September 10th during the LIVE at Patriots Park Concert Series featuring FREEBIRD: The Ultimate Lynyrd Skynyrd Tribute and the Dirty Grass Soul. The concert is scheduled to begin at 6:00  p.m.
Men and women, who serve or have served in the military or as a first responder, are encouraged to attend and bring their families to this special event.
A Cruise-In, also hosted by the City of Kings Mountain, will begin at 5:00  p.m. Agencies all over Cleveland County are encouraged to bring a service vehicle to the Cruise-In. To register, contact the Special Events Department at 704-730-2101.
This year, September 10th is sure to be memorable in Kings Mountain. Please join us to salute all our community heroes.
Patriots Park is located at 220 South Railroad Avenue, Kings Mountain. For more information on the Concert or Cruise-In, contact the City of Kings Mountain’s Special Events Department at 704-730-2101, or visit their website at www.KingsMountainEvents.Com. You may also visit their Facebook page at @cityofkmspecialevents.

Several roads in the Downtown area will be impacted during the City of Kings Mountain Special Events Department 2022 LIVE Music at Patriots Park Concert Series and Cruise-In, Saturday, September 10.
Railroad Avenue, West Gold Street surrounding Patriots Park and a portion of West Mountain and South Cansler Streets will be closed beginning 2:00 p.m., September 10th and remain closed or barricaded until 11:00 p.m. Further information regarding road closures is listed below.
• Partial Barricade placement will begin at 8:00 a.m. – some roads will still be accessible during this time, but vehicles must be moved by 2:00 p.m.
• Additional Barricade placement will begin at 2:00 p.m.
• Roads closed at 2:00 p.m. and remain closed until 11:00 p.m. (ALL unauthorized vehicles will be towed after 2:00 p.m.)
• Arrival time for Cruise-In participants will begin at 4:00 pm with the Cruise-In beginning at 5:00 p.m.-Concert will begin at 6:00 p.m.
• Participants in the Cruise-In and concert goers, must use thoroughfare King Street to Cansler Street for access to Railroad, Mountain, and Gold Street
Motorists are urged to use extreme caution when traveling through Downtown Kings Mountain due to the increase in motor vehicles and pedestrians walking. Please plan to travel different roads if you are impacted by this change.

Summer may be ending, but the Cruise-In continues.
On September 10, local car enthusiasts will once again fill the streets in Downtown Kings Mountain with their favorite street or stock cars, motorcycles, and trucks.
The Cruise-In, will coincide with the 2022 Live Music at Patriots Park Concert Series scheduled to the same day. Roads impacted during the events will be Railroad Avenue, West Gold Street and a portion of West Mountain and South Cansler Streets.
The Cruise-in will start at 5:00 p.m. Want to participate in the Cruise-In? All makes and models are welcome! No fee required. It’s FREE!
For more information on the Cruise-In or Concert Series, contact the City of Kings Mountain’s Special Events Department at 704-730-2101, or visit their website at www.KingsMountainEvents.Com. You may also visit their Facebook page at
@cityofkmspecialevents.

By Loretta Cozart

On Friday, August 26, the City of Kings Mountain announced the selection of their newest Police Chief, Gerald Childress, who succeeds Chief Lisa Proctor.
Childress served as the Administrative Lieutenant for the Town of Spindale. Prior to that, he served as the Deputy Chief of the Town of Mooresville for two years after a lengthy career with the Mooresville Police Department.
Childress has a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Psychology from Lenoir-Rhyne University and a Master of Arts in Justice Administration from Methodist University.
A statement from the City of Kings Mountain shared that Chief Childress is excited to join the Kings Mountain Police Department and the Kings Mountain community.
With over 26 years in municipal law and extensive administrative experience, he brings solid leadership to the Kings Mountain team. Chief Childress will report to the City Manager, Marilyn Sellers.
The Childress family will be re-locating to the City of Kings Mountain from Newton.

On September 2 – 4, 2022 Shelby Amateur Radio Club (SARC) will host its 66th Annual Shelby Hamfest.  Shelby Amateur Radio club sponsors the annual Shelby Hamfest which is being held at the Cleveland County Fairgrounds on Labor Day weekend!  Shelby Amateur Radio Club began hosting this event in 1957. Shelby Hamfest is an event where Amateur Radio vendors and  manufacturers set up to show their latest products. Campers begin arriving a week ahead of time to visit and fellowship with each other. It is also a place where amateur radio operators who talk on the radio regularly are able to have an “eyeball qso.”   A QSO is a contact between two amateur radio stations.   There is also a flea market for folks to sell their used equipment, antique radios, crafts, etc. The hamfest will have several education
forums  for  attendees  to participate.   There will be amateur radio license testing available throughout the week and on Saturday September 3.  If interested in attending the hamfest this year, admission is $10.00 at the gate and is good for all three days.   There will be a Youth Scavenger hunt on Saturday for those younger than 18.  There are lots of door prizes being awarded this year.    Children 12 and under can attend free. 
The first Shelby Hamfest was held at Brackett’s Cedar Park in 1957 with about 300 in attendance and over the years it outgrew the park moving to the Cleveland County Fairgrounds in 1979.  In the mid 1990’s the attendance had grown into the 10,000s.  In 2008, the hamfest moved temporarily to Dallas Park in Dallas, NC and returned home to the Cleveland County Fairgrounds in 2013.  While attendance has dropped in recent years, the Shelby Hamfest is still considered one of the largest hamfest on the east coast and is the largest in the ARRL Roanoke Division (North & South Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia).   Shelby Hamfest attendees come from all over the United States and the world each year and stay in area hotels and eat at local restaurants.   The hamfest has drawn amateur radio operators from as far away as New Zealand, Turkey, India, Great Britain and Sweden.  
Some of the proceeds from the Hamfest go towards maintenance and upkeep of the club’s 6 repeaters.   These repeaters are available for service to the Cleveland County Emergency Management and other served agencies such as the American Red Cross should a disaster occur in the county.  Some of the proceeds are donated to local and deserving charities.  In past years,
The Shelby Amateur Radio Club donated to Salvation Army, Cleveland Rutherford Kidney Association, Crossroads Rescue Mission, Life Enrichment Center, Council on Aging, ARRL Spectrum Defense Fund and other organizations in and around Cleveland County. 
Shelby Amateur Radio Club holds its monthly meetings at the Red Cross Building in Shelby on the Second Tuesday of each month (Except December) at 7:00 PM. 
For more information related to the Shelby Hamfest, please email chairman@shelbyhamfest.org or call 980-295-5151.  If you or someone you know is interested in becoming part of this growing service, secretary@shelbyhamfest.org  or see http://www.shelbyarc.org or http://www.shelbyhamfest.org.   

By Loretta Cozart

On Wednesday, August 17, U.S. District Judge William Osteen lifted his injunction against North Carolina’s abortion law, reinstating a ban on most abortions after 20 weeks.
Judge Osteen made his ruling based upon the Dobbs decision writing, “Most notably, this injunction does not preserve Plaintiffs’ ability to provide services contrary to North Carolina law; under Dobbs, there is now no constitutional right to a pre-viability abortion, thus depriving the injunction of any constitutional basis from which to enjoin the challenged North Carolina laws regulating abortion. Contrary to the parties’ arguments, leaving the injunction in place wrongfully heightens confusion because to do so is misleading as to the effect of Dobbs.”
On this action, House Speaker Tim Moore said, “Today a federal judge ruled that the injunction on North Carolina’s 20-week abortion ban is ‘patently contrary to the rule of law as determined by the Supreme Court’ and should be lifted. I am encouraged that, although our attorney general has failed to do his duty, today we have a ruling that upholds the law.”
Governor Roy Cooper issued the following statement in response to a judge reinstating North Carolina’s 20-week abortion ban:
“Although I disagree with this ruling, the vast majority of patients will still be able to access reproductive health care in North Carolina, and I remain committed to protecting it.
“The significant problem with this ruling is that it will criminalize important health care that’s needed in certain extraordinary circumstances. Abortion past 20 weeks in pregnancy is exceptionally rare and happens because of a devastating health emergency or diagnosis. Denying women necessary medical care in extreme and threatening situations, even if rare, is fundamentally wrong, and we cannot let politicians mislead people about the real world implications of this harmful law.”

On August 15, Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office Community Interdiction Team (CIT) conducted a vehicle stop on Highway 74 at the Oak Grove Rd Exit.
During the traffic stop, the deputy’s investigation led them to believe there was illegal narcotics being transported. A Sheriff’s Office K-9 was on scene and indicated on the suspects’ vehicle. Shortly after a search was conducted, approximately 44 pounds of methamphetamine and 2.2 pounds of cocaine was seized from inside the vehicle.
CCSO estimates the street value of these drugs to be over a million dollars and suspect the destination was in the heart of Cleveland County to be dispersed throughout our neighborhoods.
The sheriff’s office commented, “With the hard work and dedication of these deputies and the K-9 team, they were able to stop these drug traffickers from contaminating the county we are so proud to serve.”  
Two suspects were arrested and charged:
• Malra Idania Carrizales-Rivera, of Columbia, SC, was charged with 2 counts of Trafficking Methamphetamine and 2 counts of Trafficking Cocaine. Bond: $250,000.00 secured.
• Juan Carlos Covarrubias, Charlotte, NC, was charged with 2 counts of Trafficking Methamphetamine and 2 counts of Trafficking Cocaine. Bond: $250,000.00 secured.

The City of Kings Mountain’s Special Events Department is celebrating the nomination of the 2021 NC BeachBlast Festival for the Carolina Beach Music Awards “Event of the Year”. The NC BeachBlast Festival was one of six events nominated for this prestigious award.
   Each year, members of the Carolina Beach Music Awards Association nominate the best in Beach Music entertainment, such as, radio announcers, bands, events, and clubs. After the nominations are announced, members then vote for the official winners of each category.
    “The Special Events team is honored by this nomination,” stated Christy Conner, Special Events Director. “I would like to express my sincere thanks to our team of staff and volunteers. This would not be possible without the creativity, dedication, and passion of this group. I am grateful for our City Council and Administration and their continued support. Cleveland County is full of talented performers and exciting festivals and events. We are honored to be a part of a county that recognizes how important music, whether it be Beach, Soul, Country, or R&B, is to the landscape of the area. We hope to bring home this award not only to Kings Mountain, but to the county as well.”
The Carolina Beach Music Awards will be held November 13, from the Alabama Theatre in North Myrtle Beach. The awards ceremony will air online at www.949thesurf.com. The event starts at 3:00 p.m.
The 2022 North Carolina BeachBlast Festival will be held Friday, August 19, and Saturday, August 20, at Patriots Park in Kings Mountain.
For more information, you may call the City of Kings Mountain’s Special Events Department at 704-730-2101 or visit their website at www.KingsMountainEvents.Com.

The City of Kings Mountain brings the Beach back to downtown as the NC Beach Blast Festival comes to Patriots Park, Friday and Saturday August 19  and 20!
Presented by Two Kings Casino, the festival opens Friday August 19 at 5pm with DJ Eric Bowman followed by Blackwater Band at 6:00 pm and East Coast Party Band on stage at 8:00 pm. Beginning Saturday, August 20 at 10:00 am, you can enjoy a full-day of food, music and fun with DJ Johnny B and five of the hottest Carolina Beach Music bands in the Southeast – The Embers featuring Craig Woolard, Carolina Coast Band, The Catalinas, and Gary Lowder and Smoking Hot. Carolina Beach Music legends, The Original Drifters, will perform at 9pm!!
Vendors will be on hand with great food and beverages, and you can shop till you drop at the Boardwalk Vendor Market with over 50 vendors!
There’s fun for the whole family – with inflatables, games, the Rotary Splash Pad, Water Wars, watermelon eating, hula hoop and tiny tots and teenie bikini contests, the big beach ball drop, pirates, mermaids and more at the 2022 NC BeachBlast Festival at Patriots Park, 220 South Railroad Avenue, Kings Mountain!! For information go to kingsmountainevents.com/nc-beachblast-festival , or call 704-730-2101.
Special thank you to our sponsors:
City of Kings Mountain
Kings Mountain Travel and Tourism Authority
Two Kings Casino
Butler’s Tire and Auto
Butler’s Outdoor Services
Gutter Guys
Point 135 Real Estate
Metcon
Carolina Power Partners

Splish Splash! We are going to have a BLAST!
Contests, dance performances and much more are back at the NC BeachBlast Festival presented by Two Kings Casino, Saturday, August 20.
Tiny Tots ages 6 and under can enter to take part in the Tiny Tots and Teenie Bikinis Contest while all ages can register to take part in the annual Watermelon Eating Contest.
Join the fun at the Patriots Park Gazebo as many of your neighborhood dance troops perform their latest routines with music provided by DJ Lamar Walker.
The NC BeachBlast Festival would not be the same without its traditional Beach Ball Drop. Over 150 beach balls will be dropped courtesy of our friends at the Kings Mountain Fire and Energy Services Departments
Look for our timeline of events at www.kingsmountainevents/nc-beachblast-festival or on the City of Kings Mountain’s Special Events Department’s Facebook page.
The 2022 North Carolina BeachBlast Festival will be held Friday, August 19 with the full-day festival beginning at 10:00 am, Saturday, August 20 at Patriots Park in Kings Mountain. Patriots Park is located at 220 South Railroad Avenue.

Ahoy, Me Hearties! Pirates, Mermaids, and more are on their way to the NC BeachBlast Festival, Saturday, August 20.
Pirate Bay, an immersive pirate adventure brings pirates, swashbuckling swordfights, and treasure hunts to Patriots Park.
Inflatables, balloon artists, face painting and a caricature artist will be on hand to liven the fun.
The Mermaid Encounter comes back to the festival with fin-tastic photo opportunities for lads and lassies throughout the day.
Amazing stilt performers and other pop-up characters will be seen throughout the festival as well. Be sure to say hi to old friends Fin, Gill, and Ollie the Octopus!
The 2022 North Carolina BeachBlast Festival will be held Friday, August 19 with the full-day festival Saturday, August 20 at Patriots Park in Kings Mountain. Patriots Park is located at 220 South Railroad Avenue.
For more information, you may call the City of Kings Mountain’s Special Events Department at 704-730-2101 or visit their website at www.kingsmountainevents/nc-beachblast-festival.

Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office continues their search for Asha Degree, a nine-year-old who went missing on February 14, 2000.
Since her disappearance, Cleveland County Sheriff's Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation have followed hundreds of leads and conducted hundreds of interviews.
Sheriff Alan Norman issued the following plea to the community asking for their help in finding Asha Degree, “Our search for Asha Degree won't stop until we find her. Our goal has always been to uncover new information to help us find Asha. And we still need your  help.”
“During the next 30 days, teams of detectives and agents from the CCSO, the FBI, and the SBI may contact you for an interview,” he said. “Our goal is to speak to anyone in the community who may have encountered Asha in her daily life. Even if you think you don't have information that is helpful, you may know something that could be a key to our case. 9-year-old Asha was last seen walking along Highway 18 on February 14, 2000.”
There is a combined reward of up to $45,000 for information to find her. We know our community cares deeply about Asha, help bring her home.

By Loretta Cozart

Streetscape work on W. Mountain Street continues, as sidewalks are being poured and stamped. The project is running late, as this section was to be completed by the end of July. Nonetheless, merchants are pleased for the progress and hopes are high it will be finished quicker than expected.
Merchant Iris Hubbard is holding a contest that ran through the end of July asking her patrons to guess when W. Mountain Street will reopen. Winner gets a free lunch for six. If multiple guests choose the same date, a drawing will be held between them.
Other merchants have kept their chins up during this time, struggling with rents and loss of revenue. On Tuesday, August 11, city council discussed a low or no-interest loan for merchants who struggled during this period. Details will be shared as soon as they are known.

By Loretta Cozart

If you drove by Kings Mountain Police Department recently, you noticed a police vehicle out front with a large, digital thermometer next to it. The display is to remind everyone not to leave a child alone in a vehicle. That warning is especially important in hot weather.
Outside, the temperature on July 30 before noon was 85.5 degrees. Inside, the vehicle’s temperature soared to 105 degrees Fahrenheit.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that 53 percent of hot car deaths are because an adult accidentally leaves a child in a vehicle.
“In 2019, we saw the highest number of deaths, 53, because children were forgotten, according to Jan Null, who has been tracking vehicular heatstroke deaths since 1998,” NHTSA’s website reports. “Among the trends he discovered over the years:
• About 46% of the time when a child was forgotten, the caregiver meant to drop the child off at a daycare or preschool.
• Thursdays and Fridays — the end of the workweek — have had the highest deaths.
• More than half of the deaths (54%) are children under 2 years old.”
The average number of children who die after being left in a hot vehicle in NC is 36. However, in 2018 that number soared to 52.
As temperatures heat up during the summer, Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey reminds North Carolinians of the dangers of leaving children and pets inside cars.
“The fun of summer can quickly become tragic if parents mistakenly leave their child or pet inside a car,” said NC Department of Insurance Commissioner Causey. “It only takes 10 minutes for the temperature to rise to dangerous levels, so be sure to look before you lock.”

City Manager Marilyn Sellers updated the Council on the major budget highlights for Fiscal Year 2022-2023 during a special meeting held on June 14. The budget ordinance before them was $53,904.833.
Highlights of the budget included:
• No property tax rate increase, which remains at .43 cents per $100. Each penny on the tax rate generates approximately $190,000. The city has one of the lowest rates in the region and the state and no change is recommended at this time. The city must continue to evaluate annually, given the economy and inflation and increase in recurring costs and the ability of the Electric Fund to transfer monies. City of Kings Mountain is approximately 8 cents below their peer group average as defined by the Local Government Commission and we offer more services. The city offers several services, the tax rate is lower and there are very few in their peer group that operate their own water source, Moss Lake, and operates the Senior Center and a municipal library. Kings Mountain is one in two cities in NC that operates five utilities. The city is proud of its rate and all that it offers the citizens.
• No proposed adjustments to City General Fund fees
• No proposed Electric rate increase
• No proposed Water rate increase
• No proposed Wastewater rate increase
• No proposed Natural Gas rate increase
• No proposed Sanitation or Stormwater rate increase at this time, but Sellers noted that on June 9th, she received a notice from Cleveland County that tipping fees for landfill disposals will be increasing 10%, but the city had already prepared  the  budget.  The city manager spoke with the County Manager, and he agreed this was late notice but there was a delay in the results of the outside landfill study. He stated that if this is a hardship then we could make it effective mid-year in January. So, we are currently evaluating and will bring a recommendation. It looks like this is an impact of $25,000-$30,000 annually.
Important items discussed during the year included: The city is in the process of completing an UDO, Comprehensive Plan, setting up a Strategic Plan to be led by an outside consultant as requested, 3rd party Comprehensive Plan Pay & Classification Study, Utility infrastructure upgrades, Project South, Grant received in the amount of $39 million for new wastewater project to provide wastewater needs to the southeastern portion of Cleveland County and this is huge, a major economic project.
   The city completed the loop system at all three major utilities, $1.8 million EPA Grant received for sewer improvements, new Economic Incentive Policy to retain and attract new businesses, implemented Open Gov – an online permitting system to allow automation of codes and planning development permits, thus allowing developers and citizens expedited review processes.
   The city has seen many downtown investments: Trackside Hall, Stonewright Properties, sale of McGinnis building and many others, a lot of subdivisions are being reviewed now, completion of the Kings Mountain Boulevard line extension from Phifer Road to Kings Mountain Intermediate School, completing the transmission easement right-of-way to the new substation, #5, located on Kings Mountain Boulevard, integration of the AMI project with the NorthStar Billing Software, completion of the final Duke purchase power agreement – tis resulted in a  refund of almost $700,000, I-85 natural gas connection to York Road station in progress, new second gate station with a 5-year payback, more aggressive ordinances dealing with minimal housing and new non-residential code.  Clint Houser, Codes Director, reported that thus far in this current budget year, 7 dilapidated structures have been demolished, 10 minimal housing conditions abated, 66 junk vehicles removed, 225 community appearances violations abated, and they conducted over 1700 building inspections and issued 727 building permits. LED lighting changeover project is in progress, Phase IIA of Streetscape is in progress, improved concerts and growth of Special Events at the park and amphitheater, new subdivisions on the horizon, casino development and progress with all the utility deadlines met for the pre-launch facility, expansion of that facility, improvements being made at Exit 5 by the DOT – Staff has been working with the DOT, Benestar was completed – the infrastructure and now it has been sold to a larger company, several promising Economic Development inquiries with about five spec buildings. The city is very fortunate that they have not had to partner to bring these spec buildings in the county, they have been coming to the city, including one 300,000 square foot building, 1.2 million square foot building, which is the largest in the Southeast in progress, street paving project is almost complete – and the city is getting ready for the next phase.
   City Manager Marilyn Sellers said she “could go on and on but we are a really blessed city.” She said that she is proud to be city manager. She thanked the management team and the staff who have worked diligently to produce budget requests that are responsible, and she is proud. She also said city employees have a lot of passion and pride for the community. She also said, “Thanks also to Nick Hendricks, Assistant City Manager, for his expertise in utilities and the projects. Thanks to Chris Costner, Finance Director, for his financial expertise and for the great audits we have received. We have so much to be proud of.” She also thanked City Council for their leadership.

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The popular 7th Inning Stretch Festival is returning to Uptown Shelby on August 6, after a two-year absence caused by the COVID-19 virus. The festival is sponsored by The American Legion Department of North Carolina. The festival is held the Saturday before the games begin to celebrate our community for all their hard work each year for ALWS.
This year’s headliner concert will feature country music artist Josh Turner, a native of South Carolina, and a multi-platinum-selling star. For nearly two decades, he has been one of country music’s most recognizable voices, selling more than 8.5 million units and amassing more than 2.5 billion global streams. His wife Jennifer plays keyboards and sings background vocals with the band.
In December 2001 Turner made his debut at the Grand Ole Opry and received a standing ovation for his original song “Long Black Train.” His album by the same name was certified gold within a year of its release; the song spent more than 40 weeks on the Billboard country charts.
A secondary stage with local performers will feature Tangerine Trees, a Beatles
tribute band, Justin Clyde Williams, marine veteran performing blue grass and rock n roll, and Diz Viola, a local contemporary Christian singer.  The Giggle Box Circus will perform and living statues will interact with the crowd. Gymnasts, kids’ crafts, two inflatables manned by Cleveland County YMCA staff, stilt walkers, mascots from local athletic teams, and more, will mean twice as many activities for the younger set than in any other year.
For more information about the festival visit www.7thInningStretch.cc or call 704-600-6599.

The Uptown Shelby Association’s annual summer concert series continues in July with 80z Nation! Join the fun at the Bobby Bell Pavilion, located at 126 W Marion Street in Shelby, from 6-9 pm on Thursday, July 21.
Come dressed to party in your favorite 80’s outfits: big hair, neon, spandex, colorful makeup, or your favorite punk jacket! Shelby Alive concerts are free, thanks to the generosity of these sponsors: American Restoration, City of Shelby, Steffes, BWF, Nissan of Shelby, Go Big Print, HomeTrust, Backstage Productions, and Cormetech.
80z Nation is an authentic cover band that does one thing — delivers a high-energy, professional show to people who love the 80s. 80z Nation is composed of six experienced musicians, led by a husband and wife team and backed by a band who, collectively, have performed hundreds of shows throughout the southeast. This band incorporates audio/visual elements, style, and lights into a professional performance featuring the best pop songs of the decade. https://www.80znation.com/

If you haven’t yet done so, you need to enroll your child for the new school year. The first day of school for Cleveland County Schools is August 17.
New students or incoming kindergartners who reside in the Cleveland County School District should present an official birth certificate (not the hospital's record of birth), and a certificate showing that the student has received the required immunizations.
Transferring students should also provide a transcript or report card from the previous school year to document grade placement. Kindergartners should pass a physical examination - a physician's signature is required on a form provided by the school system.
Kindergartners must be 5 years old on or before August 31. If a child is homeless or is identified as being homeless, he or she shall be immediately enrolled in and allowed to attend school, even if the child or his or her parents cannot produce such records.
In addition, parents must show proof of residency (lease or real estate document, power bill, etc.). Visit http://www.clevelandcountyschools.org/parents/enrollment to download Proof of Residence Verification Forms.
Cleveland County Schools cannot and will not refuse to enroll any student based on his or her immigration status of the status of his or her parent.
North Carolina law requires every child to be immunized against diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, polio, red measles (rubeola), rubella and (German measles). Children under 5 must be immunized against Hemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), and a Hepatitis B vaccine is required for children born on or after July 1, 1994.
To obtain a transfer for a child into Cleveland County Schools from a district outside of Cleveland County, parents must complete an Application for Change of Pupil Assignment Form available from the Central Administrative Office or any of the schools. Each year, the applicant must reapply.
A check for $1414 must be submitted with the application. Out-of-district students attending Cleveland County Schools will be assessed an annual tuition of $1414.
Parents must also obtain a formal release from the school system that the child is assigned. Although the superintendent may give temporary approval of the transfer request, final approval is granted by the Board of Education. The Board also will grant requests for transfer to other school systems if it feels a student's need can be better met elsewhere.
Applications for transfers to other school systems also are available at the Central Administrative Office or from any of our schools.

By Loretta Cozart

The Pauline Store, at 205 Walker Street, will soon be demolished. City of Kings Mountain Code Enforcement Director Clint Houser met with the owner last November. At that time, the owner agreed to remove the building in 180 days; that deadline passed on June 11. Houser asked city council to approve demolition of the walls that remain of the structure, and they unanimously approved his request. In a subsequent interview with
Houser, he said the building should be demolished in the next few weeks.
The store served the community for decades and was owned by several merchants over the years including R.C. (Lum) Gantt, James Dewey Allen, and Charlie and Mary Spearman.