Murphey’s Scooter Shed Toy Run is on Saturday, November 23, in Kings Mountain. This Kings police-escorted annual Toy Run will be a car/bike ride through Kings Mountain and is sponsored and hosted by Murphey's Scooter Shed, 114 Camelot Court in Kings Mountain.
Registration: 11:00 am and Kickstands up at 12:00 pm. Admission is one new, unwrapped toy and $10.00 per person. After the event, riders will settle back in the Scooter Shed for some live music, barbecue dinner, and more. This great ride makes Christmas a little better for a lot of children in the area, so come out and show your support.
This ride benefits the Shriner's Burn Center, Oxford Masonic Home for Children, Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office, and King's Mountain Police Department’s Toy Drive. The rain date for this event will be Sunday, November 24th. For more information, call (704) 477-5762.

 

By Loretta Cozart

The Great Pumpkin Parade drew hundreds of children in costume, with their parents in tow, to downtown Kings Mountain on Thursday, October 31, at 9:30 a.m. The parade stepped off at 10 o’clock sharp on Cherokee Street as businesses and shopkeepers waited in anticipation.
The parade started on Cherokee Street near The Skillet. It proceeded past Plonk Tire, turning left onto Mountain Street at the corner near Dellinger’s Jewel Shop and Scissor Smith Salon, and on past Albemarle, The Imperial Mercantile, 133 West, and Edward Jones.
Kings Mountain Police Department kept a watchful eye on traffic, and from their behavior, it was evident the officers enjoyed the event almost as much as the kids!
The children, mostly dressed like their favorite superhero or storybook character, proceeded down W. Mountain Street, crossing the railroad tracks and turning left onto S. Railroad Avenue at the Joy Theater. There, they were greeted by a host of characters, including a good witch, a Beekeeper, and a Beehive of bees.
At The Social House, next to Trackside Trader, more candy awaited. But thekids were on a mission, so they moved on to Patriot’s Park, where they enjoyed a bounce house and the much-anticipated balloon drop. There, they were greeted by Spiderman, Pikachu, and Oggie Boogie. Even Mayor Rob Wagman got into the act.
It was a beautiful fall day, and the young and young-at-heart had an opportunity to celebrate the season and enjoy a great time with family and friends. Thanks to the city staff, merchants, non-profits, and the Mayor of Kings Mountain, everyone had a great time and enjoyed creating special memories for the children.

 

On October 30, just before 9:00 a.m., Kings Mountain Communications Center received a 911 call of an unresponsive subject in the parking lot of Prescriptions Plus located at 703 E. King St. Kings Mountain Police arrived on scene and located a Loomis Fargo employee laying on the ground next to an unsecured ATM machine. Officers quickly assessed the subject for injuries and found that the subject was suffering from a gunshot wound to the upper right chest area. CPR was initiated as additional emergency responders arrived on the scene. Lifesaving measures continued for several minutes. However, the victim did not survive the injuries sustained in this incident. The victim has been identified as Richard Walter Henderson IV, 29, of Charlotte NC.
   After further investigation, witnesses and video surveillance showed a black male operating a newer model black Jeep Compass Freedom Edition that arrived before the shooting and then fled the scene after the incident. Further footage of the suspect vehicle showed a distinctive star on the hood.
   Anyone with information about this homicide is asked to contact the Kings Mountain Police Department Criminal Investigations Unit at 704-734-0444, or you may leave a tip through the Cleveland County Crime Stoppers App or by using the QR code. The Federal Bureau of Investigation is assisting the Kings Mountain Police Department in this investigation.

By Loretta Cozart

Kings Mountain City Manager Jim Palenick and Energy Services Director Wayne Ledbetter announced on Thursday, September 23, that the city has been awarded $9,609,485 to replace 23 miles of aging gas pipeline, upgrade six regulator stations, and retire two. This funding comes from the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA). According to the report, the project will create approximately 100 new jobs.
Palenick emphasized that Kings Mountain received the third-largest grant in the nation this award season, with nearly $10 million allocated for a community of 11,000 residents. In contrast, the largest grant was awarded to Philadelphia, which received $39.9 million for its population of 1.5 million, while Richmond, Virginia, received $15.7 million for its 250,000 residents.
“This grant is unbelievable; it’s transformational and will significantly impact our community and gas utility,” said Palenick.
Director Ledbetter explained that the city has nearly 100 miles of main pipelines throughout Kings Mountain. This grant will facilitate the replacement of 23 miles of pipeline, modernizing the system to accommodate new large users and support future growth. Six new regulator stations will be installed, and two aging stations will be retired. Many sections of the current system are over 70 years old and replacing them will enhance safety.
Given the age of the existing infrastructure, he noted that the community faced a considerable project that could have taken 10 to 12 years to complete and would have required residents' funding. This grant alleviates that financial burden and accelerates the process.
It is still unclear when the grant funds will be available, but they could be received as early as the first quarter of 2025. The project is anticipated to take two and a half to three years to complete.
In 2021, President Biden signed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (Public Law 117-58) on November 15, 2021, marking the most significant investment in the nation’s infrastructure in over half a century. This law includes PHMSA’s first-ever Natural Gas Distribution Infrastructure Safety and Modernization (NGDISM) grant program, which authorizes nearly $1 billion in investments over five years to modernize community-owned natural gas distribution pipes. The initiative aims to reduce energy costs for ratepayers, decrease methane pollution, and enhance community safety from pipeline failures.
PHMSA's mission is to protect people and the environment by advancing the safe transportation of energy and other hazardous materials essential to our daily lives. The agency establishes national policy, sets and enforces standards, educates the public, and conducts research to prevent incidents. Additionally, PHMSA prepares the public and first responders to minimize the consequences of any potential events.

NC ballot referendum on amendment
In the General Election, North Carolina voters will decide on a proposed amendment to the state constitution, House Bill 1074. This amendment seeks to formally ban noncitizens from voting in state and local elections. Proponents argue that the amendment will close any potential loopholes in the current constitution that might otherwise allow noncitizen voting in future local and state contests.
Those opposing the amendment contend it stems from anti-immigration sentiment and could inadvertently disenfranchise eligible voters. Notably, the measure does not impact federal elections, where federal law prohibits noncitizens from voting in presidential and congressional races. Currently, North Carolina law is understood by the courts to bar noncitizen voting in local and state elections. Still, the amendment aims to make this restriction explicit in the state’s constitution.
Earlier this year, the bill passed through North Carolina’s legislature with substantial support, seeing a 104-12 vote in the House and a 40-4 vote in the Senate. Should voters approve the measure, the General Assembly will need to enact additional legislation to specify any changes to the voter registration process.
Similar measures are being considered in seven other states during this election cycle, including South Carolina, Idaho, Iowa, Kentucky, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Wisconsin. Each state already has laws barring noncitizen voting, but lawmakers aim to reinforce these rules through constitutional amendments.

Trick or Treat,
Bags of Sweets,
Ghosts and Goblins Will Walk Down the Street!

The City of Kings Mountain will host its annual “Great Pumpkin Halloween Parade” on Thursday, October 31.  Children Newborn-7, along with their parents are invited to gather at Cherokee Street Parking at 9:30 am to line up for this spectacular spooky parade. At 10:00 am, the foot parade, will travel to the
Gazeboo at Patriots Park for a howling good time.
 Kings Mountain Marketing, Tourism and Events Department, Mauney Memorial Library’s Harris Children’s Department, in cooperation with Dance Magic Studio, Cleveland County Childcare Connections, Partnership for Children and Kings Mountain Historical Museum will provide entertainment, games, Halloween stories, songs, sing-along’s and fun for all.
Local merchants are encouraged to dress in costumes to greet the children and hand out candy along the parade route. Tables will be provided at Patriots Park for businesses to use to give away candy and treats.
Afterwards, children and parents are welcome to stay and play, have a picnic lunch, take photos with the Peanuts game in Linus’ pumpkin patch or dine in one of the convenient downtown restaurants.
The parade will start at Cherokee Street parking and continue to Mountain St, across Battleground, then left on South Railroad Ave. The parade will end at Patriots Park.
For additional information call 704-730-2101 or access our website at www.kingsmountainevents.com.

 

Last Thursday, City of Kings Mountain posted a request for citizens’ input on a new communication plan to keep residents informed with accurate and timely updates. They need your input to achieve this!
Part of that strategy includes improving certain functions of the city’s website and creating a more user-friendly workspace.
1. What do you currently like about the website?
2. What would you change?
3. What features or information would you like to see added?
They are also curious about how citizens currently receive city-related information and other communication methods they prefer.
To participate, please send your thoughts to Gabriel.Thomas@cityofkm.com. Gabriel adds, “Your feedback is invaluable in helping us serve you better!”

 

   Every vote counts. Voter activity this year is forecasted to be very high, with initial record-setting turnouts reported in the area as in-person voting begins across the state.
   For the 2024 general election, Cleveland County offers multiple early voting locations from October 17 to November 2. The sites include:
• The LeGrand Center at 1800 E. Marion St., Shelby, NC
• H. Lawrence Patrick Senior Center at 909 E. King St., Kings Mountain, NC
• Boiling Springs Town Hall at 114 E. College Ave., Shelby, NC
• Cleveland County Water – Lawndale Office at 439 Casar-Lawndale Rd., Lawndale, NC
Early voting is underway, running from October 17 to November 2, with operating hours varying daily. You can also request an absentee ballot by mail, which must arrive by General Election Day on November 5. On Election Day, polls will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
For information about voting in Cleveland County, visit https://www.clevelandcounty.com/main/departments/board_of_elections.php.
For Gaston County residents, early voting runs from October 17 to November 2 at several locations, including:
• Gaston County Citizens Resource Center – 1303 Dallas-Cherryville Hwy, Dallas, NC
• Mount Holly Municipal Complex – 400 E. Central Ave, Mount Holly, NC
• Cherryville Fire Department – 411 E. Church St, Cherryville, NC
• Gaston County Board of Elections Office – 410 W. Franklin Blvd, Suite 30, Gastonia, NC
• Gaston County Main Library – 1555 E. Garrison Blvd, Gastonia, NC
Voting hours vary by day, but they are usually from 8:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. and shorter on weekends.
Voters must show a photo ID when voting in person, but if unable to present one, they can still vote by filling out an ID Exception Form.
The North Carolina State Board of Elections reported that 353,166 people voted in person on Thursday, October 17, the first day of early voting, surpassing the record set in 2020 by about 4,500 votes.
Falling below the record but still very active, Cleveland County reported 3,978 early voters on the first day and added 304 initial absentee votes from civilian, military, and overseas mail-in participants.
Gaston County election director Adam Ragan reported that 7,132 ballots were cast Thursday, breaking the previous record of 6,723 early votes on a single day in 2020.
According to county data, Union County also broke its single-day record of 7,541 votes in 2020 after voters cast 8,396 ballots Thursday.
Voters in nearby counties came close to matching 2020's turnout levels but fell short of breaking any records. For example, 29,688 ballots were cast in Mecklenburg County on Thursday, just below the single-day early voting record of 35,195 set in 2020. However, this number significantly increased compared to previous years, with only 3,747 votes cast on the same day in 2023 and 10,971 votes on the first day of early voting in October 2022, according to county data.
Similarly, according to election director Carol Soles, Cabarrus County didn’t reach 2020’s numbers, with 5,690 ballots cast on Thursday, down from 6,191 in 2020. In Iredell County, 6,373 people voted early, and in Lincoln County, 4,268 voters cast ballots, though neither county confirmed whether these figures were record-breaking.
In the Wilmington area, long lines formed at early voting sites, with wait times reported to be as long as two hours. Karen Brinson Bell, executive director of the state board, noted that this was a common issue across various locations in the state.
In Henderson County, despite the impacts of Hurricane Helene, voters steadily turned out to vote, as reported by the Hendersonville Times-News.
The popularity of early voting has surged in recent years, rising from 55% of voters in the 2008 general election to 65% in 2020, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
As of 4 p.m. Sunday, the fourth day of in-person early voting in North Carolina, more than 1 million voters had cast ballots in the 2024 general election, according to preliminary State Board of Elections data.
   This turnout total -- 1,008,123 ballots cast -- is broken down into the following voting methods:
• In-person early voting: 916,433
• Absentee (civilian): 77,831
• Absentee (overseas): 11,168
• Absentee (military): 2,691
The ballots cast number represents a statewide turnout of about 13% of North Carolina's nearly 7.8 million registered voters.
Note: These numbers are slightly lower than the actual turnout, as there is a lag between when a voter casts a ballot and when county boards of elections upload this data to the State Board.
If you plan to cast your ballot by mail, you can track its status to verify that your vote is received and accepted. Absentee ballots may be registered with the state’s BallotTrax system at https://northcarolina.ballottrax.net/voter/. Once registered, the status of your ballot is tracked each step along the way, from “printed” to “accepted.” Participants receive a series of proactive alerts describing where their ballot is in the process.
The BallotTrax system simply tracks the ballot processing stages. It does not change or update an individual’s voter registration records.

 

Tickets are now on sale for the Kings Mountain Little Theatre production of the uproarious comedy “Christmas Belles,” written by Jessie Jones, Nicholas Hope, and Jamie Wooten.  The show will be performed at the Joy Theatre, 202 S. Railroad Ave, Kings Mountain.  Performances are Friday and Saturday, November 8, 9, 15 & 16 at 7:30 p.m., with four matinee performances on Saturday and Sunday, Nov 9, 10, 16 & 17 at 3:00 p.m.   Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for seniors/students.  The ticket price is $10 for groups of 12 or more of any age. Tickets may be purchased online at kmlt.org. Reservations for season members and groups are available by contacting the box office at 704-730-9408 or at tickets@kmlt.org.  
“Christmas Belles” is presented by special arrangement with Dramatists Play Service, Inc., New York.  Director:  Chris Huffstetler;  Asst Director:  Mark Griffin. “Christmas Belles” is sponsored by Jack and Pam Buchanan and Edward Jones Financial.
A church Christmas program spins hilariously out of control in this Southern farce about squabbling sisters, family secrets, a surly Santa, a vengeful sheep and a reluctant Elvis impersonator in the small town of Fayro, Texas.
Director Chris Huffstetler said the play begins with the Futrelle Sisters—Frankie (Caswell Martin), Twink (Lesley Villarose), and Honey Raye (Estelle Grabert)—" not exactly in a festive mood.” A cranky Frankie is weeks overdue with her second set of twins. Twink, recently jilted and bitter about it, is in jail for inadvertently burning down half the town. And hot-flash-suffering Honey Raye is desperately trying to keep the Tabernacle of the Lamb’s Christmas Program from spiraling into chaos. But things are not looking too promising: Miss Geneva (Susie Crews), the ousted director of the previous twenty-seven productions, is ruthless in her attempts to take over the show.
The celebrity guest Santa Claus—played by Frankie’s long-suffering husband, Dub (Greg Dixon)—is passing a kidney stone. One of the shepherds refuses to watch over his flock by night without pulling his little red wagon behind him. And the entire cast is dropping like flies due to food poisoning from the Band Boosters’ Pancake Supper. And when Frankie lets slip a family secret that has been carefully guarded for decades, all hope for a successful Christmas program seems lost, even with an Elvis impersonator at the manger.
But in true Futrelle fashion, the feuding sisters find a
See JOY, Page 5A
From Page 1A
 way to pull together to present a Christmas program the citizens of Fayro will never forget, Huffstetler said.
Please visit www.kmlt.org or call the Joy box office at 704-730-9408 for further information. Online ticket sales for "Christmas Belles," a Jones Hope Wooten southern comedy, have opened. Angels, other season members, and groups of 12 or more may contact the box office or tickets@kmlt.org for reservations.
At-the-door, ticket prices for Adults are $20, with Students, Senior Citizens, and Groups of 12 or more at $10.
Being a season member remains the best value, and all membership levels remain available.    Membership levels include:
• Season member: $40 and includes 1 season pass and one Liberty Mountain ticket
• Friend of the theater: $75 and includes play bill listing, three tickets, and 2 Liberty Mountain tickets
• Pilar of the theater: $150 and includes play bill listing, six tickets, and 2 Liberty Mountain tickets
• Cornerstone of the theater: $350 and includes play bill listing and reserved parking, ten tickets, and 2 Liberty Mountain tickets
• Angel of the theater: $750 (limited to 20 members) and includes play bill listing and reserved parking, 12 tickets (limited to 4 per play,  and 2 Liberty Mountain tickets
For more detailed information visit its website or the Kings Mountain Little Theatre Facebook page.
Kings Mountain Little Theatre, Inc., is a volunteer-based, 501c3 tax-exempt community theater that owns and operates the Joy Theatre and the Liberty Mountain Garden. It is a funded affiliate of the Cleveland County Arts Council and is partly supported by a Grassroots Grant from the North Carolina Arts Council, a state agency.
  Mark your calendar now for performances at the Joy Theatre. This season's show sponsors include:
• "Christmas Belles" Jack and Pam Buchanan - Edward Jones
 Performances: November 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, & 17, 2024
• "The Crucible" - Harris Funeral Home
 Performances: March 14, 15, 16, 21, 22, & 23, 2025
• "The Hobbit" - Bobby and Tosha Dearmin - Farm Bureau Insurance
 Performances: May 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, & 11, 2025

 

By Loretta Cozart

Have you seen the beautiful teal bows fixed onto the light poles at the overhead bridge on King Street? September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month in memory of Regina Ruff.
Even though Regina lost her battle with this disease, her efforts to bring awareness to Ovarian Cancer live on.
Regina’s daughter Glenda Ruff shared online, “Thank you for decorating the Overhead Bridge with the teal ribbons in honor of Kings Mountain Citizen Regina Ruff. These ribbons also remind ladies to encourage their doctors to keep on hunting for their problems if they are in pain or if they have ovarian cancer. God bless all the ladies!”

 

By Loretta Cozart

George Wiallis Melton was born on September 19, 1924, and the family will gather to celebrate his 100th birthday at home. A VA representative is expected to give George a special presentation during this time.
The party continues on Saturday, September 21. The family will celebrate this centennial milestone beginning at noon when well-wishers are invited to drive through the parking lot of Bethlehem Baptist Church at 1017 Bethlehem Road in Kings Mountain.
Later that afternoon, at 5 p.m., the family will throw George a big party in the Fellowship Hall, and his church family and friends will be invited.
George Willis Melton is a US Army 320th Infantry veteran who served his country in the European Theater from August 21, 1944, to February 6, 1946, when he was discharged. During his 18-month enlistment, George served as an Infantryman and also operated a bazooka, a man-portable recoilless anti-tank rocket launcher weapon widely deployed by the United States Army, especially during World War II.
On one occasion, the bazooka exploded, burning George’s feet. Treatment for his injuries was painful. Occasionally, he sometimes shares stories of his service with his son Johnny.
George bravely served a grateful nation, receiving three silver stars for his service in Ardennes, Rhineland, and Central Europe.

The 9th Annual Miss Mountie Scholarship Pageant will be held on October 5, 2024 at 5:30 p.m. at Kings Mountain Family Worship, 1818 Shelby Road, Kings Mountain, NC.
The pageant started in 2017 by Sophia Kellstrom as her Senior Project for Kings Mountain High School.  The pageant’s director, Molora Kellstrom (Sophia’s mother) quoted, “Sophia started competing in pageants at age seven.  The values and experiences Sophia learned from pageantry inspired her to pass those onto other young ladies as well.”  Kellstrom continued, “The Miss Mountie queens gain many incredible life skills from pageant preparation like public speaking, confidence building interaction with the community, a philanthropic nature and a sisterhood bond that lasts a lifetime.”  Another motivation for Sophia’s senior project being the Miss Mountie Scholarship Pageant is that Kings Mountain High School did not have a pageant.
The pageant offers seven titles:  Mini Miss Mountie, ages 3-4; Tiny Miss Mountie, ages 5-6; Little Miss Mountie, ages 7-9; Young Miss Mountie, ages 10-11; Junior Miss Mountie, ages 12-13; Teen Miss Mountie, ages 14-16; and Miss Mountie, ages 17-19 (must be senior in high school).
The Miss Mountie Scholarship Pageant has proudly awarded several thousand dollars in cash scholarships since its origination. The senior female that wins Miss Mountie is presented her scholarship money after she has fulfilled her one-year contract.  Immediately after winning her title “Miss Mountie” and along with the other six title winners, each queen will receive a prize package compiled of a crown, crown box, sash, crown pin, plaque and other gifts donated from local businesses and patrons.  “We are so grateful to the City of Kings Mountain, its residents and its businesses.  They help keep what started out as a school project alive and active today!”, noted Molora Kellstrom.
Each contestant competes in the following phases:  a private interview (length of which is dependent on their age category); on-stage question; Mountie spirit wear (where the contestant has a chance to show her Kings Mountain spirit in her outfit of choice dressed in yellow gold & black); and lastly, the evening gown competition.  All contestants compete in photogenic, although there is only one winner among all categories. Furthermore, each contestant can compete in the audience’s choice award which is determined by the amount of non-perishable food items brought by each contestant’s support system attending the pageant.  All nonperishables will be donated to Earthen Vessels Benevolence Ministry.
 Title holders are contractually bound to maintain above reproach behavior; be role models for other girls; and assist the City of Kings Mountain with events, parades and community service.
 An interest meeting is set for Sunday, September 15 at 3 pm; and a rehearsal is set for Sunday, September 29 at 3pm.  Both will be held at Kings Mountain Family Worship in the Youth Sanctuary, 1818 Shelby Road, Kings Mountain, NC.
For more information, please contact missmountiepageant@yahoo.com ; or visit The Miss Mountie Scholarship Pageant on Facebook or Instagram for paperwork or questions.