Winter 08 Foothills

HELPING YOU EXPERIENCE, EXPLORE, LEARN & LIVE IN THE FOOTHILLS

{ No.

8}

PRICELESS

Winter 2008

In this issue

the

Gift

of

Giving featuring :

John Church Details Inside...

Plus: Mountain Music

Suzanne Grayson Hotels of Shelby’s Past

Dairy Queen love live the queen see page 32

www.foothillsspotlight.com

He a r t

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ClevelandLumberCompany.com 6 Foothills Spotlight Winter 2008

Winter 2008

contents

{ staff & contributors } { be sure to see }

president Jeff Champion publisher Ebbie Champion

8 welcome

graphics

Gratitude and congratulations

Hal Alexander Mike Bencivengo Ebbie Champion JD Ledford - 18 STONE DESIGN Frank Olezewski Stuart Thompson

20 amazing mind What should I do?

26

photographers Amy Brooks Kim Davis Robin King The Victorian Rose Studio

controller Mary Jo Austell director of sales Lynn Zook sales staff Sam Brackett Kim Davis, Sales Manager Katie Bradley Sam Davis

website design Frank Olezewski Foothills Spothlight is a publication of CHAMPION COMMUNICATIONS PO Box 1726 Shelby, NC 28150 704.466.3847 info@foothillsspotlight.com foothillsspotlight.com ww w.f o o t hills s po t li g h t .c o m

Politically incorrect

24 hotels of shelby Beautiful hotels of Shelby’s past

writers Rev. Crystal Champion Scott Darnell Judy Gaultney Dr. Don Miller Bob Mori Kathrine Panther-Potemkin Gilda Pruitt Lynn Zook Meredith White

22 foothills viewpoint

40 therapy Rx Building a winning team

10

41 foothills sports Area athletics

48 life coaching

{ features }

The winter blues - it’s SAD

51 foothills business

10 miracles and a gift John Church is a man who has followed a journey which has brought him to a new life

32

14 heart ball

Advertising in a slow economy & Planning for 2009

56 dining guide Guide for local dining facilities

57 entertainment guide

Save the date information for Cleveland County’s 2009 Heart Ball

Guide for local entertainment

60 reflections

26 mountain music

Baby Jesus

What began as hobby for Dr. Joe Collins has now morphed into a home-based business and a life long passion

61 medical & home care Guide for local medial and home care facilities

32 love live the queen Why we love Shelby’s long standing Dairy Queen

42 q&a with suzanne grayson Q & A with Cleveland County’s first female athletic director

42

FOOTHILLS

SPOTLIGHT

Also available at

www.foothillsspotlight.com ON THE COVER Painting by local artist Margaret Hicks. You can see her work and others at Buffalo Creek Gallery

Winter 2008 Foothills Spotlight 7

{ welcome } For looking ahead to 2009

I hope to see great work from our newly elected officials – locally, statewide and for our great United States of America.

As a small business I can tell you there have been struggles these past few years as I’m sure many of you have faced. One thing that hasn’t been a struggle though is your embracement of our magazine and all the positive feedback we have been given.

In our Foothills region we need to continue to support our fellow businesses – whether it’s financial (which we all need to survive), a pat on the back for an excellent job or just encourging words to go for your dream. It certainly has been a blessing to us to hear that we are doing a great job.

In this issue we introduce a new section called Foothills Sports. This will feature sports icons from past and present. We’re planning on it being a whole new journey in 2009.

Remember to patronize our advertisers and other local businesses to help grow our economy at home. I hope that 2009 will be all that you hope and dream for.

...support our local businesses...

Please let us know how we’re doing.

Send us your ideas, comments or suggestions to

info@foothillsspotlight.com.

Until next time...

Ebbie Champion PUBLISHER

Salon 206

Wishing you a Happy NewYear from the staff of Salon 206

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Walk-ins Welcome ~ 704.487.8440

IF YOU’RE NOT AT YOUR LAST JOB, YOUR 401(k) SHOULDN’T BE EITHER. To see why it makes sense to roll your 401(k) to Edward Jones, call today.

Barbara W. Mull Financial Advisor 133 N Main St. Boiling Springs, NC 28017 (704) 434-9193

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Winter 2008 Foothills Spotlight 9

Miracles and a WORDS GILDA PRUITT

J

Gift

ohn Church is a partner in the Shelby law firm, Church and

Wray. He and his wife, Debbie, live in Shelby. He is a man who has followed a journey which has brought him to a new life. This was made possible by miracles and a unique gift. His countenance portrays his humble gratitude.

10 F o o t hills S p o t l i g h t W i n t e r 2 0 0 8

www. foothillsspotlight. com

Please share with our readers some biographical information: I was born here in Shelby on February 12, 1942. My father was an engineer with the North Carolina State Highway Department at the time and my mom was a stay-at-home mom. My dad was originally from Allegheny County here in North Carolina. He started his work during the depression on one of the relief programs that they had, to support the family. And by working in that capacity, he became involved with the North Carolina Department of Transportation and worked his way up and became District Engineer for NC DOT here in Shelby. My mom had a teacher’s degree and didn’t like teaching so she went into other work and then became a housewife. She was from up there in Casar, NC. And, that is how I began this course.

I went through Shelby Public Schools. At that time it was Washington Elementary School where I started.

They call it Shelby Middle School now, but it was Shelby Junior High School when I matriculated and then went to Shelby High School which was a grades 9-12 program.

I graduated from Shelby High School in 1960 with a whole lot of other good people who graduated that year and came back to Cleveland County and are still here in Cleveland County.

Then I had the opportunity to go to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, so from l960 until l964, I got my undergraduate degree. I had a general background; I didn’t specialize in anything; although I did have a major in economics. Then I was accepted into law school, I decided that was one thing I would want for a career. You know when you are that young, you are still uncertain about what you want to do. My aptitude tests that I had kind of steered me toward the law. I didn’t have a specific thing that I wanted to do except get a job where I felt like I could make a contribution.

So I went to law school at UNC from l964 through l967. I obtained my juris doctorate in l967. From there I came to Shelby and began a practice in Shelby with Horace Kennedy, who was a well respected attorney here. I had a very small practice and over the years, my practice has grown.

Did you participate in athletics or outside activities?

I have always been very interested in sports; I played football and ran track in high school. In college, I wasn’t big enough to play the major sports, but I participated in intramural football, intramural basketball, I did some intramural track. I ran track for the law school intramural team and also played football for the intramural undergraduate and law school team. I was interested in racquet sports.

I played racquet ball and actually became fairly accomplished in that. And I continued to do that when I was

ww w.f o o t hills s po t li g h t .c o m

practicing in my earlier years here in Shelby on a regular basis. I enjoy weight training, I enjoy most anything involved with the outdoors.

Tell us about your family: My wife, Debbie, and I have four wonderful adult children. Darbi graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She took her graduate degree at the University of South Carolina and works in public administration for the State of South Carolina. Our son, John is back in Shelby and living with us right now. I believe he has come to “check on me.” Ashley is engaging in a career in cosmetology and is doing very well. And, Travis is starting up his own business in countertops and also works with Walker Woodworking here in Cleveland County.

Our children have blessed Debbie and me with four grandsons. It is a joy to be around them and to watch them grow over the years. You know, the changes you see in youngsters from the time they are infants, on into early school years, to the teenage years; it is one of the great joys I have in my life.

Tell Us About Any Hobbies or Interests: Well, I have a lot of hobbies that I couldn’t have had before the operation. I like to get outdoors, I like to walk and I am getting up to running now, which I hadn’t been able to do for 15 years. I am now able to do things in the labor area, like getting out in my yard and tending my yard. I was very active before and before I received the gift I received, I was in a condition that I couldn’t do any of these things. I could go to work and I could do my job and I could go back home, but my physical limitations were such that is about all I was able to accomplish. I wasn’t able to enjoy life the way I have been able to enjoy it since I received a new heart on April 13, 2008.

What medical problems precipitated this transplant?

I don’t think that I was really as able to provide the services that I provide as efficiently as I am able to do now. You see, I may be getting close to retirement age; but it is not my plan to retire, because I enjoy what I am doing so much that I want to continue to do it. And I do not believe I would have been able to do it for a long period had I not been able to have the operation, the heart transplant.

When and how did you learn that a heart transplant might be an answer for you?

Well, I learned that about 12-14 years ago when I was first diagnosed with congestive heart failure. The congestive heart failure arose as a result of some chemotherapy that I had been required to have because I have

had lymphoma, a type of cancer that can be treated with chemotherapy treatment. So, that was my condition at the time that I first learned that I had heart problems. And at first I was very functional, and they gave me medication. In fact, throughout the course, I was reasonably functional because of medication that was prescribed for me by Dr. Alan Thomley from down at the Sanger Clinic and he was able to give me some medications that enabled me to function at a very high rate for about ten years. That was part of the miracle.

The other thing, I go back to what your question was, I learned that the only thing that I could do to overcome heart failure was to have a new heart. Heart failure is a progressive disease and there is no medication you can take. There is medicine to help preserve it but there is no medicine or treatment that can cure, except to have a new heart. I was initially discouraged that I may not have that option because of my history with lymphoma.

So during the 10 years before I had my transplant, I was working under the impression that I might not be able to have a transplant. But I just didn’t give up with the hope that something might happen.

I had to have two defibrillators during this time, during the ten years. The second time I had a defibrillator, Dr. Thomley never promised me anything, but he said, “John, if this defibrillator can go another five years, we might try something else.”

And I thought, wait a minute, maybe there is something that can be done, because I was still working; I was helping people, still not to as good as extent that I do now.

And I said,” What do you mean by that, what do you mean you have to do something else in five years?”

You see, I had thought that I would get another defibrillator after five years, then another, that was my plan.

That wasn’t realistic, but that was me.

Sure enough in about four and a half years, I started having some major drop backs in what I was able to do.

It was very difficult for me physically to get up the steps to my office. I would get exhausted and I would try to lift a tea cup up and put it up in my cabinet and I could barely do that. And this was just a tea cup. And this went on for months and in this last fall, when I walked up the steps to the office with great difficulty; I would just have to flop down in a chair and sit for about 5-10 minutes before I could get up.

And so I went back to my doctor and he was concerned. He put me in the hospital and ran some tests but they did not show much difference. Well, a friend of mine, Doug Brown, knew I wasn’t getting anywhere with what I was doing. So, he knew somebody in Charlotte.

He called Dr. Colavita, who was head of the heart trans-

Winter 2008 Foothills Spotlight 11

plant program at Carolinas Regional Medical Center. He told him that he had a friend who was having all these problems, and he asked the head of the heart transplant program if there was anything he could do to help.

So he got me in over there right away and they checked me out and they said, “You need a heart transplant.”

So they put me through a battery of tests. Since February I have been in a hospital more than I have been in my office, and they treat you just like you are a fragile creature. What happened then was they put me through all these additional tests and they found out that all my other systems were good—lungs, kidneys, liver, everything. I passed all the tests.

But the one lingering thing was that cancer history.

And the oncologist with the transplant team was skeptical. So I asked him to call my oncologist, Dr. David Hurd at North Carolina Baptist Hospital in Winston Salem. He is one of the higher ups in oncology at North Carolina Baptist. I said please call Dr. Hurd and ask him how well I did.

I had cancer three times since I was 38. The first one at 38 was nodular lymphoma, and I had radiation only.

Everything went well.

Twelve years later I had a different kind of lymphoma and had to have chemotherapy and radiation. And that

was the chemotherapy drug that probably damaged my heart. It was about two years after that treatment that I learned that I had a heart problem. It takes that long for symptoms to show up. But I was clear of the cancer.

Then about 9 and a half or 10 years later, (during the time I had congestive heart failure) I had cancer again. I went to Dr. Hurd at NC Baptist Hospital. He didn’t give me the same chemotherapy drug again, but he cleared it up. So I went through that while I was having heart problems. Everything that is happening here is a miracle, you add it all up. I have beaten the odds so many times, you don’t deserve that. It has been a miracle.

Well, Dr. Hurd talked with the oncologist at Carolinas Regional Medical Center and he told him that what I had was not that bad. I really don’t know what he told him, but whatever he told him, the oncologist came to me and told me that I was good.

The miracle continues. They put me on the waiting list.

They said you go home, there is a procedure you must go through while on the list. They put me on a medicine that was so strong, it can make your heart fail faster but it will keep you going, it is called a bridge drug. They let me go home on it and lots of times they don’t. So, I came back to Shelby and tried to keep my practice together until they called me.

Exactly three weeks from the time that I was put on the list, they called me and said that there was a heart available. It was eleven o’clock at night. Never forget it, sitting around watching TV, the whole family. Carolinas Regional Medical Center Heart Transplant Team said come on down. Now, there are two in front of you and you may have to come on back home. We expected that. Sometimes you may have to go two or three times if they get a heart. It’s not like a grocery store, they don’t have them in the back and bring out a heart.

But they had this heart. I went over there, expecting one or two to get it. We were just sitting there and I asked how things were going and they said, “Well, you’re on for surgery at 7:00 a. m. in the morning.”

The other two didn’t qualify for whatever reason. So, they take me into surgery, I go to sleep and I wake up and I think, I must have my new heart. That is the first thing that popped into my head.

From there it has been progress, but you have antirejection drugs, and physically you are weakened by the operation and 10 years of congestive heart failure.

The biggest shock to me was I lost 25 or 30 pounds.

I looked in the mirror and there was this little old frail person. I asked the doctor, what happened. He said a lot of it is water but unfortunately you had long term heart

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failure and you have lost muscle mass. I had lost approximately 15 pounds of muscle mass. So, it wasn’t me that I was looking at in the mirror, but it is getting better.

My heart is functioning great, I am seven months out, and I was able to go back to work early. There are no problems anticipated, based on that progress. There are still some medication issues because I have to take some very strong medicines and the anti-rejection drugs also for the infection problems. But everything has been just doing great. So, that is where I am, I can do everything that I ever did, with the hope that it only gets better.

I just feel about 20 years younger.

What restrictions do you have?

Well, I am not supposed to get around crowds, I have some tremors that are due to medications that I must take. They are minor in the scope of things. But they are things that people might notice.

But, people say, “John, you look like you did in high school.”

That is their reaction, not mine. And I do feel that I am in about the same physical condition, it seems like.

It is a gift and a miracle. You know, somebody had to give me this heart. You think a lot about that. Somebody had to die so I could get this gift, and they gave me the heart.

Do you know who gave you the heart?

No, there may be an opportunity for me in the future to know that. I don’t know, there are certain emotional things about that and you have to think through it. I certainly want to write to the family, I haven’t done it yet, but I am going to write and express my gratitude to them for their gift. When the time is right and I hope it is a short time, I am going to be writing that letter. I won’t know who they are, they don’t tell you who it is. You take the transplant team the letter, you sign it only with your first name.

They would have the ability to contact me if they wanted to. That’s the way they work that aspect of the program.

Let me say one word about the transplant program in Carolinas Regional. It is a team effort, they have a specialist for every area of your body monitoring you after you have had your transplant. You have specialized transplant nurses who monitor you on a weekly and sometimes even on a daily basis to make sure that all systems are go. They are very professional, kind and loving. And they have helped me to be in the position I am today, sitting here talking.

There are so many others who have helped me. One thing that really helped me so much was all my friends and acquaintances who sent cards and letters. I mean it was overwhelming. I read each one of those. I still have

each one. When I see them, I try to thank them. I don’t know if I have seen them all, but I will.

I do have a lot of gratitude to my medical providers, they are angels. I do have a lot of faith and I have had some gifts and miracles. The only way I can repay anyone is to keep on doing what I am doing. I don’t think I would have made it this far if it weren’t for my wife Debbie or my assitant Wanda McMurry. Debbie has been my rock during all of these troubles and my partner and office staff have kept things going while I was away.

What advice do you have for those who might find themselves in similar circumstances?

Don’t ever give up hope. Have confidence in people that are around you to support you. Seek medical advice, find the good doctors and have the determination that everything is going to be alright and it will be.

Do you have any philosophical advice to offer our readers from your journey?

When anyone has anything difficult in life to overcome, I think the most important things that you turn to are family, friends and faith. Have a positive attitude through the help of your family, your friends and the angels in the medical profession. Just know that you will come out okay on the other side.

*

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Winter 2008 Foothills Spotlight 13

Heart Ball

2009 Cleveland County

at Cleveland Country Club

The Mission

What Will This Event Do?

The American Heart Association is a national voluntary health agency whose mission is building healthier lives free of cardiovascular disease and stroke.

• Generate revenue to fund cardiovascular research and provide support to investigators at critical points in their careers.

• Provide heart education programs to communities, schools, companies and health professionals such as Go Red For Women, Power to End Stroke, Get With the Guidelines and Start!.

• Advocate the AHA’s position to change public policies that affect our nation’s health.

The Reality

• Cardiovascular diseases are our nation’s No. 1 killer, causing 37.3% of all deaths, or one of every 2.7, in the United States • 36,000 babies are born each year with a congenital heart defect.

These defects claim more lives than any other congenital defect.

• Stroke is our No. 3 killer and one of the leading causes of serious, long-term disability.

• One out of three women has some form of heart disease and one in 2.6 women die from cardiovascular disease each year.

• Cardiovascular diseases cost the U.S. and estimated $403.1 billion in 2006.

The 10-Year Impact Goal When this goal is reached, the annual impact from a 25% reduction in risk factors and death from heart disease and stroke will represent: ~ 45,000 fewer cardiac deaths ~ 46,000 fewer stroke deaths ~ 13.2 million fewer smokers ~ 12.5 million adults with lower blood pressure ~ 36 million adults with lower cholesterol ~ 20 million adults now physically active

Save the Date March 21, 2009

Tickets are $150 per person 14 F o o t hills S p o t l i g h t W i n t e r 2 0 0 8

Research The research being done has led to the development of: ~ Angioplasty

~ Open-heart Surgery ~ Bypass Surgery ~ Drug-eluting Stents ~ Clot Busting Drugs ~ TPA ~ CPR

~ Automated External Defibrillators

Contact Information • Live and Silent Auctions: Susan Fisher, Auction Director

susan.fisher@heart.org • Heart Ball Info: Linda Simoncic, Corporate Relations Director

linda.simoncic@heart.org 2009 Heart Ball Committee Leaders Event Chair: Sam Cooper Sponsorship Chair: Jamey Davis Auction Chairs: Cindy Teddy, Terry Seen Décor Chairs: Stephanie Taylor, Trish Lucas Publicity Chair: Melissa Hill

Tickets can be obtained by emailing linda.simoncic@heart.org or by calling 704-481-1012

www. foothillsspotlight. com

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Winter 2008 Foothills Spotlight 15

WORDS BY Judy Gaultney hen Kimberly Johnson first thought of an itty bitty frog, she was vacuuming her home in Chapel Hill. A tune came into her mind and then the words, “Down by the river in the coolness of the light was an itty bitty frog that had been there ALL night.” She thought the line was cute so she wrote it down and put the paper in a box. Months later during another cleaning session, she ran across the box. When she read what she had written, a story just started flowing in her mind.

Thus was born The Adventures of the Itty Bitty Frog, and unknown to Johnson at the time, a new career.

Since the publication of Itty Bitty Frogʼs story in 1997, Johnson has written 11 more books, including stories about Itty Bitty Mouse, Itty Bitty Bunny, Itty Bitty Spider and Mr. Cat. The latest — My Mother Is My Friend — is due out in January 2009, and another, Ryan Claus Video Wiz, will be available early next year, bringing the total to 12.

“My Mother Is My Friend is a book that is near and dear to my heart,” she told Foothills Spotlight in November from her current home in York, S.C., where she lives with her husband Jeff, a career military man retired from the Air Force. “For all of those who really feel connected to their mother, this book is sure to warm your heart. Itʼs about all of these cute little animals who spend time with their mothers. Itʼs a fun rhyming book with great artwork and heartfelt messages. Ryan Claus Video Wiz is about a little boy who loves video games but hates doing his chores. It shows how to balance fun and work — a great book for parents to share with their video kids.”

Johnson grew up in Shelby under the care of her grandparents, and though they both died in 1991 just six months apart, she knows, “They would be so proud. They always believed in me and inspired me to succeed and excel. I owe them so much! They made me who I am! “My grandmother had a limited education and my grandfather was illiterate, but I knew what their expectation levels were. I tell parents, ʻYou donʼt have to be the smartest parent; you just have to be a determined parent that your children are going to get what they need.ʼ” This wordsmith read her books at the White House for the 2002 Easter Egg Roll, was honored as a Paul Harris Fellow by Rotary International in Shelby in 2005 and was featured in the September 2006 issue of Southern Living. She has a reputation across the country for her inspirational work as a guest speaker, celebrity reader and program presenter, a part of her life that requires 2022 days of travel a month. “Iʼve tried to get a better handle on my schedule this year and only work 15-20 days,” she said. “Thatʼs still a lot of travel time but I love it! I usually take the summers off and most of December. It allows me to catch up, take a breather, and write!”

Johnson is known and appreciated for her ability to get students excited about reading and writing through her writing workshops. She also teaches educators her motivating methods and provides parents with creative

W

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ways to interest their children in reading and writing. One workshop participant noted, “Her enthusiasm is electric!”

Attendees to her keynote presentations praise Johnson for her energy, wit and wisdom, as reflected in one personʼs assessment, “Everything she said made a world of sense.” She has also been called “the Fairy Godmother of Writing” and one observer noted, “If every child could be exposed to this class, the world would be a better place.”

Enthusiasm is catching and Johnson takes advantage of that truth, she says, when sheʼs working with children. “I let them see me having fun!” she says. “Theorists tell us that children learn a lot by observing. If they see that I love to write they figure it canʼt be that bad. I also encourage them and build them up. Everything they write in my eyes can be a success—so just building their confidence gives them courage to at least try to be great writers.” A student of Head Start as a child, Johnson donates a percentage of all her book sales to childrenʼs literacy projects. She also developed and helps fund a summer reading program for Head Start students and is a celebrity reader for the Charlotte Bobcats in the NBAʼs Read to Achieve all-star reading program.

Johnson says she had wanted to write a book a long time before the Itty Bitty Frog ditty popped into her head.

A graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she majored in communications studies, she started her career as an intern for WTVD News Channel 11, then worked for the Durham Morning Herald and the Chapel Hill Herald newspapers. In 1987 she became a flight attendant for US Airways, a position she held for 18 years. It was during that time she re-entered college and earned an associateʼs degree in Early Childhood Education. It was also during that time that The Adventures of the Itty Bitty Frog came to life. She told fellow flight attendant Scott Arnold about her story, and he drew the illustrations. “We had a tough time at first finding a publisher,” Johnson says. “Itʼs not easy getting someone to buy into your dream, but I didnʼt give up. I sent out a ton of manuscripts and finally I heard back from one — Pentland Press— and the rest is history, as they say!”

Johnson says her goal is to write two books a year.

She doesnʼt have a special writing spot, just wherever sheʼs comfortable. And she writes anytime, “usually at 2:00 or 3:00 in the morning. If Iʼm in the ZONE, ideas flow.

If Iʼve got a lot of other stuff on my mind, like presentations, booking schedules, etc., itʼs hard to focus on ideas.

I try to keep a clear head when I am writing, and I let my imagination do the rest.”

If you would like to read the results of her imagination, you can order her books from a local bookstore or online at her Web site (www.simplycreativeworks.com), “where the world of creativity is just a brainstorm away!”

Winter 2008 Foothills Spotlight 17

HELPING YOU EXPERIENCE -the foothills of north carolina-

Foothills Spotlight is a lifestyles publication that strives to help you experience, explore, learn and live in the foothills of North Carolina. We hope to provide visibility to all the exciting events and talented individuals and businesses in the foothills and surrounding areas. Our publication is steadily growing so look for us throughout Cleveland, Rutherford and Polk counties or visit our website www.foothillsspotlight.com.

2 Fo o t hills S pot l i g h t W i n t e r 2 0 0 8

HELPING YOU EXPLORE

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We just look expensive!

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Winter 2008 Foothills Spotlight 19

theamazingmind

{dream maker}

WORDS LYNN ZOOK

What Should I Do? A FRIEND OF MINE WAS IN A DIFFICULT SITUATION.

...So why didn’t she make the quick easy decision?...

Lynn, is Director of Sales for Champion Communications, lives in Waxsaw, is married to Jill and has two daughters.

20 F o o t hills S p o t l i g h t W i n t e r 2 0 0 8

She had to make a business decision concerning a friend. Looking in from the outside it was a no brainer. Every piece of advice was the same, easy answer. Logic would allow her to make the decision quickly and easily and the friend should logically understand. After all, we use our heads to make decisions and our brains are logical. Not such a difficult situation I guess.

So why didn’t she make the quick easy decision? It was her amazing mind! You see it is not your brain that does the deciding, it is your mind and your Mind collectively refers to the aspects of intellect and consciousness manifested as combinations of thought, perception, memory, emotion, will and imagination; mind is the stream of consciousness. It includes all of the brain’s conscious processes. “Mind” is often used to refer especially to the thought processes of reason.

The mind is a model of the universe built up from insights. Thoughts of the mind fall into 2 categories: 1) Analysis of past experience with the purpose of gaining insight for use within this model at a later date; and 2) Simulations of future scenarios using existing insights in the mind model in order to predict outcomes. A mature mind has assimilated many insights and understands cause and effect.

What that all means is that logic gets discounted by many things. So decisions get tougher! If that isn’t enough, the decision not only runs through our brain but then gets run through another organ, your heart. Emotions play a big part in our choices.

The best example of making decisions with your heart is when you are a parent. When it comes to making decisions about your kids, logic just gets thrown out the door, down the street and usually out of the neighborhood. You start believing a 5th

grader rather than an experienced teaching professional. That lacks logic!

So you start to see how easy decisions become arduous. In fact, I begin to wonder how we can ever make decisions, let alone good ones.

Emotions, experience, imagination and logic all mixing together. Then, throw in some advice and you have the recipe for deciding? And that is just for single decision, how about adding choices in to the mix. I guess that is why I don’t eat at those large buffets, too many choices, too many decisions to make. I would either go hungry or crazy!

I tell you all of this to show you how difficult some decisions are. Like my friend at the beginning of the story. She went totally away from logic and the advice of others and made a decision.

While I would like to get in her face and let her know what a bad decision she made, I won’t. I will step back and realize all of the things that went on in her head as she wrestled with what to do. (and I will be happy I didn’t have to make such a decision concerning my friend).

Next time you find yourself in a situation where you see someone make a decision contrary to what you would do, step back. Try to realize all of the things that could possibly have impacted that choice and realize that logic makes up only a small portion of our determinations. Don’t rush to judgment about how good or bad you think it is, and give them a break because it is not their fault. Fortunately (or unfortunately) it is our amazing mind and it is in control!

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eith’s K

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www.selectcleveland.com Winter 2008 Foothills Spotlight 21

{ letters } KIDSENSES

WHAT A NICE PUBLICATION!

We loved the article you did for us. Please thank everyone involved. Thank you guys so much for covering the Museum!!

I recently picked up your magazine at a local restaurant. What a nice publication! I especially enjoyed reading about Beth Mayo on Broadway. It’s nice to see there is a local media that recognizes there is more to Cleveland County than jail logs and yard sales. Consider me your newest fan. I look

- STEVE SAUCIER, M.ED.

CONGRATULATIONS I have heard so many positive comments about this edition of Foothills Spotlight. Congratulations!

Linzy and I especially appreciate the editorial on the Cleveland County Fair--very well put.

forward to your future issues.

- JANE HAMRICK, KINGS MOUNTAIN, NC

- GILDA PRUITT

Join the co

EACH ISSUE JUST GETS BETTER! To the editors & publishers of Foothills Spotlight: Thank you for publishing such a nice magazine.

Each issue just gets better! This is such a nice representation for Cleveland County. Keep up the good work.

nversation

email us

info@foot

?

at

hillsspotl

igh

t.com or mail le tt e rs to PO Box 1726, Sh elby, NC 28151

- SONNY DAVIS, SHELBY, NC We reserve the right to limit and edit letters.

foothillsviewpoint WORDS JEFF CHAMPION

Politically Incorrect IF YOU ARE EASILY

offended by politically incorrect statements, you may not want to read any further. With apologies to Ron White of Blue Collar Comedy fame, I am about to do some “profiling.” Over the past couple of years, you may have noticed an increase in the number of mopeds on the streets. I don’t think I am the only licensed driver to find this annoying, but if I am, I will learn to deal with it.

Do you realize a moped driver is not required to purchase insurance, have a driver’s license or maintain NC inspections? Yet the rest of us are expected to. For people who have lost their license due to traffic violations, in particular DUI, I feel for them, I really do. But

should the punishment include their freedom to drive as they please, with no insurance? Why should a motorized vehicle with no operators license or insurance coverage be allowed the same rights and privileges as the rest of us? I can appreciate their need for transportation to work and all, but what happens if they are involved in or cause an auto accident? I learned from my insurance agent, there is a charge for “uninsured drivers’ coverage” on our policies. So, in a way we are providing insurance for them! This just doesn’t feel right.

I am sure there are some perfectly good reasons why someone would choose to drive a moped. With gas prices the way they have been, I would consider one

myself, (what a sight that would be!) But I don’t think a DUI should allow someone the freedom to use our highways freely when they have shown a lack of responsibility with their past behavior. My apologies for “profiling” to the innocent involved here. I’m just looking for a little fairness for those of us paying our way and fulfilling our responsibilities. Requiring insurance coverage seems at least fair.

This is just an opinion, we’d love to hear yours. Please send your comments, complaints or suggestions to viewpoint@foothillsspotlight.com. Or mail to Viewpoint, c/o Foothills Spotlight, PO Box 1726, Shelby NC 28151.*

The expressed opinions do not necessarily represent the opinions of our advertisers. We welcome your comments and opinions. Send them to: Viewpoint, c/o Foothills Spotlight, PO Box 1726, Shelby NC 28151. Or viewpoint@foothillsspotlight.com

22 F o o t hills S p o t l i g h t W i n t e r 2 0 0 8

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24 F o o t hills S p o t l i g h t W i n t e r 2 0 0 8

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BY CHEF MARTI MONGIELLO • www.chefmarti.com

INGREDIENTS: A blender, 2 skillets, a broiler, knife and cutting board are needed ~ 1 lb of fresh strawberries, leaves cut off ~ 1 quart of orange juice, either fresh squeezed or in a jug of high quality OJ bought at the store. Will be used to make sauces ~ 3 bananas, peeled and those little strings pulled off ~ 2 mature, ripe mangoes, peeled ~ 4 teaspoons of Fibersure ~ 1 bottle of Trinidad Scotch Bonnet Caribbean Pepper sauce – we like the one from the Tropical Pepper Company but any will do ~ ½ cup of strong chicken broth made fresh (reduction for expert Chefs) or made from a high quality chicken broth mix (bullion crystals, cubes, paste – it’s up to you how you make it). At home folks feel it’s easier to do it with bullion or broth ~ ¼ pound of real butter or substitute-imitation butter ~ 3 fresh-chopped garlic cloves or use pre-chopped in the glass jar ~ 16 jumbo shrimp, peeled down to leave the tail on. ~ 16 jumbo, diver scallops ~ Decorative lettuce leaves (a few) commonly found in Gourmet Greens or Baby Mesclun bags at the grocery store. Sometimes they come in plastic boxes. Choose a few nice decorations like endive, oak leaf, mizuna, tat soi, arugula or whatever. It doesn’t have to look like ours. Add in your own beauty and likings. ~ Polenta made fresh and solidified with zest of lime and diced chili’s or purchase it pre-made in a tube at the grocery store. Look in the starch isle or fresh vegetables isle. Most at-home-cooks enjoy simply buying a tube at the grocery instead of making it fresh. That’s okay to do, keep it simple! ~ 1 small package of Japanese soba noodles ~ 3 cups olive oil or pepperoncini oil (your choice due to the cost) ~ 1 bottle Lawry’s seasoning or your own desired seasoning shaker.

DIRECTIONS: 1) Prepare the Strawberry-Banana Coulis by blending 1 lb of strawberries with 1 ½ cup of fresh squeezed orange juice and 3 bananas.

Reserve for pools later. 2) Prepare the Scotch Bonnet Mango Sauce by blending 2 mature, peeled mangos with 3 ½ teaspoons of Tropical Pepper Company Trinidad Scotch Bonnet Caribbean Pepper Sauce, 4 teaspoons of Fibersure and 1 cup of orange juice. Reserve for pools As featured, LIVE, on the TODAY Show later. 3) Ensure these two sauces have near identical consistency. You will be making pools with a spoon and one should not be overly with Chef Marti thick when compared to the other. You can always add more or less of OJ to thin one or the other out. 4) Prepare the Pineapple Coconut Chicken Thai Lacquer by blending 6 tablespoons of hot, strong chicken broth (reduced for flavor intensity over several hours) with 2 cups of Cream of Coconut with 3 tablespoons of Polaner Pineapple All Fruit Spread. Better blending can be achieved by ensuring the last two ingredients are at room temperature and have NOT been refrigerated. Variate chicken broth more or less for desired liking. 5) Prepare 16 jumbo shrimp by removing the shell all the way down to leaving the tail on. Butterfly only the first 1 inch of the fat end (that will help them sit up straight later on). Drench them in 6 tablespoons of melted butter and 2 tablespoons of chopped garlic. Kick around and make sure they are coated generously on a sheet pan. Assemble standing up, with tails in the air, on the sheet pan. Get ready to broil until done at 350. BUT do not put into the oven until step five is ready to go. Step five prepares the scallops in a skillet and the shrimp and scallops need to be cooked at the same time to make sure the entire dish comes out hot. 6) Get the scallops ready by marking them on a red hot grill. Remember to gently dip or brush them with butter before marking them. Marking should be done in a criss-cross fashion. Once you have the scallops marked, NOT COOKED, take them and put them into a skillet. The cooking will occur in the skillet – NOT during marking. Pour the Pineapple Coconut Chicken Thai Lacquer all over the scallops and leave on the stove top but don’t turn it on yet. 7) In another skillet heat up the oil for frying. Once hot, not smoking, fry off the soba noodles and remove quickly with metal tongs onto a paper towel for drip drying. Sprinkle liberally with Lawry’s seasoning or your own seasoning shaker while the noodles are still wet. You must be quick or get a helper to do this while those noodles are still moist with that hot oil. 8) Cut the polenta into some inquisitive or three dimensional shape, be creative or take a look at our example. This will be placed in the center of the dish. Ensure you don’t cut it so thin that when it’s carried to the dinner table it falls over from wiggling. Once you cut four of these – put them down onto the serving plates. Make a hole in the side, down by the bottom, where you will easily be able to insert one of the fried soba noodles at the last minute. 9) ASSEMBLE the whole dish by now broiling the shrimp in the broiler and turning on the heat to the scallops in the skillet. Notice, we are cooking these at the same time so everything comes out hot. The shrimp cook up easy while the scallops can be stirred here and there. 10) Once these two are cooked - use a tong or fingers to assemble the scallops and shrimp around the polenta as shown in the photo. Drop alternating pools of the two sauces as pictured. 11) OPTIONAL REHEATING: This step is optional. During the assembly you may have lost some heat on the dish. It depends on how fast you work. So let’s microwave it real quick for about 45 seconds (or more to your liking) and heat up the whole thing again. 12) Finish by putting in three decorative lettuce leaves and the fried soba noodle!

Winter 2008 Foothills Spotlight 25

WORDS Meredith White

26 F o o t hills S p o t l i g h t W i n t e r 2 0 0 8

www. foothillsspotlight. com

hat began as a hobby for Dr. Joe Collins has now morphed into a home-based business. He found a love for the dulcimer in the late 70s and has expanded since. Collins not only plays this unique stringed instrument but he is also a songwriter, vocalist, guitarist, dulcimer craftsman, and an assistant professor of religious studies at GardnerWebb University.

In the fall of 2007 he placed first in the national mountain dulcimer championship during the 36th Annual Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield, Kansas. “It was a thrill for me to finally win the national title,” he said.

“It was my fifth attempt. It was a special honor since I know the judges are carefully selected from among some of the best players in the world, and my competitors included several who had bested me in previous competitions.”

The well-known acoustic music event drew approximately 15,000 people. It showcases bluegrass and other acoustic-style competitions, such as guitar, banjo, mandolin and autoharp.

Collins has played the dulcimer for 30 years and enjoys performing in festivals, community concerts, churches and schools across the country.

“The thing that keeps that magic going for me is

the magic of music itself,” Collins said. “Because it is simple to learn to play the dulcimer at a basic level, it makes the magic of participation in music more accessible than it is with most instruments. Therefore, I can share not only the music, but I can see the blush of excitement when I put it in the hands of others and they realize, often for the first time, that they too can participate in the magic of music.”

After playing for a few years, Collins began building dulcimers. “I built my first dulcimer when I was in seminary in 1985, using borrowed tools and a lot of willpower,” he said.

A mountain dulcimer is a fretted, stringed instrument, usually with three or four strings. It is usually about 34 inches in total length and about seven to ten inches wide. The body of the instrument is usually no more than two inches deep. Dulcimers are traditional to the southern Appalachian Mountains, and since the 1950s, they have been gaining more popularity outside this region.

It generally takes about 28 to 35 hours of handson work with each instrument he builds. There is also a set-up time for gluing and drying. Collins generally builds four or five dulcimers at a time. “Because of my schedule, I have built only a few dulcimers in the last couple years. I make them available as I finish them,”

noted Collins.

According to Collins, two basic shapes of dulcimers are the teardrop and hourglass. The teardrop is narrow at one end and larger at the other, while the hourglass has a “waist” that is narrower than either end.

In addition to building dulcimers, Collins has recorded five CDs; contributed to a compilation CD entitled “Great Players of the Mountain Dulcimer;” contributed several articles to “Dulcimer Players News,” a national publication for dulcimer players; and authored nine books of dulcimer tablature.

His books include “Dulcimer Basics: A Mountain Dulcimer Primer,” “Simply Hymns,” “Simply Celtic,” “Christmas with the Mountain Dulcimer,” “Around the World with the Mountain Dulcimer,” “Sacred Hymns of the Old Church,” and “Simple Tunes” (out of print). His newest CD is titled “Looking Ahead.”

A couple of Dr. Collins’ upcoming events are the 10th Annual Mid-Winter Dulcimer Festival February 7, 2009, in Shelby and the Lagniappe Dulcimer Festival March 12-15, 2009, in Port Allen, Louisanna.

For a complete listing of Dr. Joe Collins’ CDs, books, and a updated schedule of events, please visit www.jcdulcimer.com.

*

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Winter 2008 Foothills Spotlight 27

RMemorial o s eParkH i l l Cemetary P l an you r famil yâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s gr a vesit e s in t he be aut if ul fo othill s o f up per C le v e la nd C ou nt y 608 East Stagecoach Trail Fallston, NC 704-538-9091

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Commercial Data Systems & Supplies •We sell, lease and service Toshiba copiers, printers and faxes.

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Winter 2008 Foothills Spotlight 29

2008

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30 Foothills Spotlight Winter 2008

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Vent Free Gas Logs Put the heat back in your home.

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Winter 2008 Foothills Spotlight 31

a b o p, d n a t o p !” n w o o l b r a the cu e and h y t b i a w and een “ A b e e t’ s Da i r y Q u ha s u re , t

T

WORDS BY Bob Mori

hat silly rhyming slogan was a common sound on both radio and TV in my growing up years in western Pennsylvania, but one that was hard to forget. Little did I realize that crazy line was the early hallmark of what has become an American institution… the soft frozen ice cream stand…a concept synonymous with the name Dairy Queen.

Although itʼs occupied a few different locations, Shelbyʼs local Dairy Queen, or DQ for short, has been a long-time customer favorite. Now at a brand new store just one business lot removed from the older version, the DQ has a highly visible and enviable spot on DeKalb Street just a stoneʼs throw from busy Rt. 74.

Owner-operator Milton Rachels, along with wife Rhonda, daughters

32 Foothills Spotlight Winter 2008

Lynne and Kristen, son Jay and son-inlaw Jason Floyd now run what has become a 36-year old enterprise.

Miltonʼs father, Cecil, moved the family from Savannah, GA, in 1966, to Hickory, NC because one of his railroad crewmembers convinced him that the chicken food industry was the place to be. This crew member, who bought a KFC franchise in Hickory, was so convincing that the former switch engine foreman became a food industry guy himself, opening a KFC franchise in Shelby, in the former Slimʼs Restaurant building next to Cater Chevrolet, that same year after training at his friendʼs Hickory store.

Also in 1966, Miltonʼs father and mother branched out starting Rachels Twin Pigs barbecue in the lot next to the current DQ store.

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A few years before the elder Rachels died in 1975, when son Milton, mom Mildred and brother Lem took over the KFC, he had purchased an existing DQ store where Wendyʼs restaurant now stands. At age 21, Milton switched hats and trained in that DQ store and learned the soft ice cream business. When the family tired of the barbecue business, they moved the DQ store to the Twin Pigs building until 2007 when that building was razed to make room for the new 3,900 square feet DQ in February 2007 with an expanded parking lot.

To make ends meet while raising his family, Milton worked during the day as an insurance salesman with the Ameriguard Insurance Agency, then joined his wife in the evenings at the DQ. “People always told me Iʼd never be able to make a living in ice cream,” Milton chuckles. “But Iʼm sure glad I kept at it and donʼt regret any of the hard work.”

In 1984, Milton gave up insurance and became a full-time restaurateur.

Now, Milton is territory operator for DQ in Cleveland County. That means heʼs the companyʼs countywide franchisor with the ability to open other DQ stores. “Weʼve got an expanded and somewhat different menu from what we had in the old building,” he explains. “Now working with what we call the “grill and chill” concept, we have the newest and most upscale a restaurant as any youʼll find in surrounding counties.

Youʼd have to go all the way to Spartanburg, SC, and Raleigh, NC, to find comparable stores.

An expanded menu also includes “Chillabration” and Blizzard” ice cream cakes made to order in the store.

Rachels feels proud to be a part of what is now a two and one-half billion dollar international corporate food business with stores in such varied countries as Kuwait, Thailand, China and Egypt to name a few.

Staring in 1938 in Illinois by “Sherb” Noble who offered a new semi-frozen “soft serve” dairy product formulated by his partner John McCullough, the stores quickly expanded during the 50ʼs and 60ʼs becoming the cen-

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Winter 2008 Foothills Spotlight 33

ter of social life in the small towns of the Midwestern and Southern U.S. Acquired by Berkshire Hathaway (with key player Warren Buffett) in 1998, Dairy Queen is now one of the largest ice cream franchises in the world with over 5,700 restaurants in 22 countries. â&#x20AC;&#x153;No matter how big it gets, the DQ owners are all part of their local communities, â&#x20AC;&#x153; Milton reveals. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We all have a vested interest in making it work well.â&#x20AC;?

HowĘźs the new store doing? â&#x20AC;&#x153;People seem to like the new store,â&#x20AC;? Milton reports. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have an excellent drive-through business handling 70 cars each hour during our busy times. We can also seat 86 people inside and 32 outside, a far cry from the old place. We even offer wireless Internet service here,â&#x20AC;? he adds.

One crowning success Milton is still excited about was the 1985 introduction of the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Blizzardâ&#x20AC;? Flavor Treat, a soft-serve ice cream with mechanically blended add-in ingredients such as sundae toppings and/or pieces of cookies, brownies or candy. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I knew it would be a tremendous hit when I sampled the first one at a corporate meeting in Richmond, VA,â&#x20AC;? he remembers. â&#x20AC;&#x153;A funny story in connection with

the BlizzardĘźs local introduction involves a local radio station announcer teasing people for weeks with the mysterious words â&#x20AC;&#x153;The BlizzardĘźs comingâ&#x20AC;? without telling them what, where or when,â&#x20AC;? he recalls. â&#x20AC;&#x153;When delivery of the new equipment to make the Blizzard was delayed, I told the announcer to stop the ads because they were getting too expensive,â&#x20AC;? Milton adds. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Then when the machines arrived and put in place to make the treat, I had the radio station tell folks what it was and where they could get it. Within five minutes of the first announcement, a lady came to the store all excited to get the first one we made.

She said the ads were driving her crazy and she just had to rush down here and get one before she flipped out,â&#x20AC;? he laughs.

MiltonĘźs business philosophy can be summed up with service to his customers. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I just want to make it a little better each day, â&#x20AC;&#x153;he explains. â&#x20AC;&#x153;All I ask is for a customer to pull that door handle and try us out,â&#x20AC;? he says pointing to the glass double doorway, â&#x20AC;&#x153;then, if they donĘźt come back itĘźs our fault.â&#x20AC;?

Like the menus, even DQ slogans have changed over the years. Thankfully, â&#x20AC;&#x153;The curl on topâ&#x20AC;? has improved to the current â&#x20AC;&#x153;DQ something differentâ&#x20AC;? The difference is good!!!!!

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Butch Piercy, Timberidge Landscaping, LLC.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;I would like to say that the staff of Max D. Jones & Associates, Inc. has been such a pleasure to work with on the day to day operations of our businesses. I appreciate the customer service Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve received not only with the business, but my personal policies as well. They truly want to take care of my needs and I appreciate that.â&#x20AC;?

Laura Linder, Forest City. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I have personal and commercial coverage with Max D. Jones & Associates and I have been very satisfied with their service and competitiveness.â&#x20AC;?

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212 West Dixon Blvd. Shelby, NC 704-480-8227 704-480-8195 Winter 2008 Foothills Spotlight 37

Livermush 1 23

Festival 2008

photos

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38 Foothills Spotlight Winter 2008

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All Seasons Parts & Service Making Your Workplace Safer 5, 8, 10 Panel Urine Quick Test On Site Random Testing Pre-Employment Testing Paternity Testing Hair Analysis Alcohol Testing

700 S. DeKalb St., Shelby 704-481-0433 www.DrugForceScreening.com www.foothillsspotlight.com

SPRING SPECIAL FREE Pickup & Delivery January & February

Residential & Commercial

615 N. Post Rd., Shelby, NC 704-484-2715 allseasonsshelby.com

Winter 2008 Foothills Spotlight 39

therapyRx WORDS DON MILLER

Building A Winning Team HOW CPTA HAS DONE IT CLEVELAND PHYSICAL THERAPY ASSOCIATES (CPTA) was founded in 1996

...develop a team whose... service was unmatched in our region...

Dr. Don Miller, PT, DPT, MS, CSCS, Owner, Cleveland Physical Therapy Associates & Prescription Fitness, has clinics in Shelby, Kings Mountain and Boiling Springs,NC. He has practiced as a Physical Therapist and a Nationally Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist for over 21 years.

40 F o o t hills S p o t l i g h t W i n t e r 2 0 0 8

and now serves our community providing comprehensive outpatient orthopedic rehabilitation in three locations; Shelby, Boiling Springs (est. 2000) and Kings Mountain (est. 2008).

My goal in starting CPTA was to develop a team whose combination of professional education, clinical skill, and heart for service was unmatched in our region. The staff at CPTA specializes in oneon-one hands on physical and occupational therapy. The CPTA therapists participate in ongoing training to improve their expertise in the examination, diagnosis and treatment of musculoskeletal movement dysfunctions. Many of our therapists have Doctorate degrees, are board certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialists, or are in the process of achieving various advanced certifications in orthopedic manual therapy. Only 2% of physical therapists nationwide are board certified orthopedic specialists.

At CPTA, patients find a variety of services not offered elsewhere in Cleveland County. These services include advanced manual orthopedic therapy, aquatic therapy, sports specific rehab, women’s health physical therapy, vestibular rehab, and a gait lab with on-site assessment for and fabrication of orthotics.

CPTA also offers Prescription Fitness which operates out of our 12,000 square foot clinic located in Shelby. Enhancing each member’s quality of life through appropriate exercise is our goal. Because qualified professionals who are familiar with their conditions are nearby and available, Prescription Fitness members report feeling less vulnerable to re-injury and more confident in exercising.

Our staff also includes therapists who are Nationally Licensed Athletic

Trainers and Nationally Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialists. Many of them are also former college athletes. Because of these unique qualifications, area athletes choose CPTA for their Sport Specific Rehab and Athletic Performance Enhancement programs. Athletes often report returning to their sport in top condition with improved performance.

Many physicians refer patients to our centers for care; however, because North Carolina is a direct access state, it is not necessary to have a physician’s referral to receive an evaluation from a qualified licensed physical therapist. Over the years, we have worked closely with area physicians to ensure we achieve our mutual goal of providing the best care possible. If a therapist determines a patient’s condition is not appropriate for physical therapy, or if the services of another specialist are required, referrals are made to area physicians. If you are interested in getting started, or to learn more about our services, call our main office at (704) 471-0001.

Over the next several issues, I will continue to provide information relating to our services and programs. Next issue will highlight Sports Specific Rehab and Athletic Performance Enhancement.

*

www. foothillsspotlight. com

The rich sports history of the Carolina Foothills is rivaled by few regions. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s why there should be a publication called Foothills Sports. There

soon will be!

...Ed Peeler, Bobby Bell, Millie Keeter-Holbrook, Travis Padgett, Marcus Mauney, Stick Elliot, Preston Humphries,

David Thompson, Artis Gilmore, Brandon Spikes, Suzanne Grayson, Lenny Dykstra, Billy Champion, Shelby High Golden Lions, Burns Bulldogs, Kings Mountain Mountaineers,

Gardner Webb Bulldogs, Roger Mckee, Alvin Gentry, 1945 American Legion World Champions,

Pearly, Crest High Chargers, Charlotte Smith, Fatback,... ww w.f o o t hills s po t li g h t .c o m

Winter 2008 Foothills Spotlight 41

WORDS GILDA PRUITT

with

Cleveland Countyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first female Athletic Director

42 F o o t hills S p o t l i g h t W i n t e r 2 0 0 8

www. foothillsspotlight. com

uzanne Grayson is currently athletic director at Kings Mountain High School, the only female athletic director in the history of Cleveland County Schools. She was born in Virginia Beach, Virginia to Jessie and Bob Thomas. She grew up in Shelby. She has piercing blue eyes which smile with love and remembrance as she speaks about the “kids” she has taught and coached.

Q

What is your educational background and what were your teaching, coaching assignments?

I have undergraduate and masters degrees both from Western Carolina University. My degrees are in Physical Education and Exceptional Children.

I started teaching at a middle school in Concord NC where I coached softball and basketball and taught exceptional children.

In the summer of l981, I moved back to Shelby and that fall began teaching at Crest Junior High.

Then Ed Peeler inquired about my coming to Crest High. They needed someone to start a volleyball program. Not that I knew anything about volleyball, I didn’t.

And so, I said I’ll come and do volleyball if I can also do softball.

Q

Tell me about participating in any state championships:

When I was at Crest High we went to state championship in volleyball. We got kicked once we got there. The great thing was that I had kids that really worked hard and never gave up. In the regional game that won us the trip to the state championship, the opposing team came in and they were powerful. But we were able to make them change their game a little bit. It went back and forth until we won that game. So we got to go to Chapel Hill. It was an awesome experience, the color guard coming in, the playing of the music, it was humbling.

That was the first time I realized that you didn’t have to be awesome to make it to state championship.

But once you were there, you say well, doggone it, we can work hard and do this. From that year forward, that was always the goal.

After 18 years at Crest, I took a job at Kings Mountain High School. In fall of 2001, I inherited a volleyball team that was very talented and very driven. In the summer those kids came three days per week, three hours per day. We spent an hour in the pool, an hour in the weight room and an hour running sprints.

The kids would say, “Come on y’all, think about state championship”.

So, my first year at Kings Mountain, we won the state volleyball championship.

ww w.f o o t hills s po t li g h t .c o m

In softball we struggled. Every year we kept getting better. We had a bad inning in the regionals with Inca in 2004 and we lost.

The next year (2005), all the kids were back and we won state championship in Raleigh. They were hungry and we won again the next year in 2006.

In 2007 we went to state championship but did not win. That was my last year of coaching.

They say you know when it is time to get out. In the fall of 2006, after we won the state championship, I knew it was time for me to quit. I spoke with Principal John Yarbro. Only he and my husband knew that I would be quitting with the 2007 year.

Q

How has being married to a coach helped you?

I don’t know how it could be any other way.

I am Mike’s biggest fan and he is my biggest fan. I think I have spent every anniversary at a sports camp except this year.

Q

Tell us about the food at the American Legion Regionals and World Series of Baseball held in Shelby this year:

It was an awesome job. The thing about kicked my butt. For all the monies that Eddie Holbrook and Jim Horn solicited, our team gets a great park.

But no money comes to the team. So the concession money went to our local team.

I wanted a family to be able to eat there. And we had that comment, over and over again; the quality of food was good and the prices were good.

Q

What is your Greatest Achievement?

You look at different aspects of your life and I would like to think if I have ever made a difference in a kid’s life, that is what is important.

I have a letter from a kid that had graduated, now she is off in college and she writes me a letter about what I meant to her, that is why you coach.

Then maybe three years ago, a condo came open next door to my husband and me. I called my sister and we were able to move my mother into that condominium. She is 85 years old and there have been lots of times when I have been able to “be there for her.”

I would like to think that I have been a good wife and I think that is important.

Now I am not going to say it wasn’t a great feeling to win a state championship. However, I do know this, when we win, it is kind of like; I have yet to think we are good. I walk out of there thinking thank goodness we survived longer than somebody else did.

'08-'09 basketball schedule Dec 20 Dec 29-31

Jan 6 Jan 9 Jan 16 Jan 20 Jan 23 Jan 27 Jan 30 FEB 3 FEB 6 FEB 10 FEB 16-20

FEB 23

Char. Catholic Cleveland County Tourn.

Shelby Chase - AWAY Shelby - Home East Rutherford - Home RS Central - AWAY Burns - AWAY Chase - Home Shelby - AWAY East Rutherford - AWAY RS Central - Home Bursn - Home Southwestern Conference Tourn. - TBA State Playoffs Begin TBA

'09 Swimming schedule Jan Jan

Jan Jan Jan FEB FEB

6 6

Ashbrook - Home Chase $ East Rutherford AWAY 6 RS and Crest - Home 6 Shelby - Home 6 Conference Meet - Home 6 $ 7 Regionals - Huntersville 13 $ 14 State Championship Chapel Hill

'o8-'09 Wrestling schedule Dec 20 Jan 9 Jan 16 Jan 20 Jan 23 Jan 30 Jan 31

Feb 3

Feb 5

Feb 7

Feb 13-14 Feb 22-23

Ashbrook - AWAY Shelby - AWAY Chase - AWAY RS Central - Home Burns - Home East Rutherford - AWAY Southwestern Conference Tourn. - Shelby Dual Team 1st $ 2nd Round TBA Dual Team 3rd $ 4th Round TBA Dual Team State Finals TBA Regionals - St. Stephens Individual State Championship Winston-Salem

Winter 2008 Foothills Spotlight 43

Interested in writing articles?

Foothills Spotlight continues to grow and weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re looking for feature and sports writers.

Send resume and writing example to jobs@ccagency.net or mail to PO Box 1726 Shelby, NC 28151 All applications held in strictest confidence.

BRADLEY

Athletics

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Faces in the

Crowd

Frances Hernandez

Appalachian State University – Basketball The all time leading scorer in basketball for Rutherford County and is currently playing for Appalachian State.

She averages 11.0 points per game as Appalachian State and was previously named the Southern Conference Student-Athlete of the Week.

Laura Wilcox Gardner-Webb University – Volleyball Gardnew-Webb freshman volleyball player. She is currently a six-time Big South Conference Freshman of the Week and was named Freshman of the Year. Laura also earned second-team all-conference honors. Only one other time in GWU's history of a Division I school has someone been Freshman of the Week.

Charles Duvall Golf After playing golf for 54 years, Mr. Duval had his first hole in one. At the Cleveland Country Club Mr. Duval used a 5 iron on the Par 3, 135 yard 17th hole.

Larry Ware - Comeback Kid! Sports Announcer From November 2007 until June 2008, Larry spent months and months in hospitals, rahab centers and nursing homes to regain his mobility so he could again be the Press Box announcer for his beloved Shelby High Golden Lions football team, a job he's had since 1991.

Serving American, Italian and Thai Cuisine Customer Favorites Sesame Chicken Thai Chicken Lomen Pad Thai Cheese Ravioli Chicken Alfredo

Travis Padgett US Olympics – Track A 2004 graduate of Crest High School, Padgett was named All ACC and NCAA All American and was the 2007 NCAA National Champion in the 60m dash. In 2008 Padgett qualified for the US Olympic team and ran the 2nd leg of the 4x100m relay in Beijing. He recently signed a professional contract with Adidas.

Manicotti

Brandon Spikes University of Florida – Football A 2005 graduate of Crest High School, Spikes was voted team captain for the 2008 season, was selected to the 2008 AFCA Coaches’ All-America Team (Linebacker) and was a finalist for the Bronko Nagurski award. Spikes will lead the Florida Gators as they take on No. 1 Oklahoma January 8 in the BCS title game in Miami.

Shelby Little Tar heel All-stars Baseball The Shelby City Park 2008 Little Tar heel 11-12 year old All-stars won the State baseball championship for the first time after over 20 years of competing. They battled back from the losers bracket to beat Rocky Mount twice on Sunday to win the title.

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Do you know what my favorite part of the game is? The opprortuniy to play.

– Mike Singletary, NLF player

You are never really playing an opponent. You are playing yourself, your own highest standars and when you reach your limits, that is real joy.

– Arthur Ashe, tennis great

An athlete cannot run with money in his pockets. He must run with hope in his heart and dreams in his head.

– Emil Zatopek, a great runner in the 20th Century

It's not the disability that defines you, it's how you deal with the challenges the disability presents you with. We have an obligation to the abilites we DO have, not the disability.

– Jim Abbott, one-armed pitcher in Major League Baseball

Be more concerned with your character tan with your reputation. Your character is what you really are while your reputation is merely what people think of you.

– John Wooden, college basketball coach

It's not whether you get knocked down; it's whether you get back up.

– Vince Lombardi, coach in the NFL

“

“

The key is not the "will to win" – everybody has that. It is the will to prepare to win that is important.

– Bobby Knight, college basketball coach

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Winter Warmth & Fun Quick Service Easy Access Sales & Service

Our mission is to glorify and honor God by reaching out to people with the love of Jesus Christ.

At Cleveland Physical Therapy Associates we will strive to achieve this by providing exceptional care and by using our resources to promote healing in the lives of our associates, our patients and our community.

In Shelby: 1129 E. Marion St. 704-471-0001 Mo-Th 6:30 am - 7 pm Fri 6:30 am - 5 pm

In Boiling Springs: 335-B W. College Ave. 704-434-8175 M-F 8 am - 5 pm

Don Miller

In Kings Mountain: 110-9 W. King St. 704-739-5995 M&W 8 am - 4 pm T & T 9 am - 6 pm Fri 8 am - 2 pm

506 S. Lafayette St. Shelby, NC 704-482-4405

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www.painlesspc.net Winter 2008 Foothills Spotlight 47

lifecoaching

{be well, healthy & happy}

WORDS KATHERINE PANTHER-POTEMKIN

The Winter Blues – It’s SAD WINTER IS UPON US... a time of fall-

...“cabin fever” and “down days”, are all common winter reactions...

Katherine Panther-Potemkin, Owner, Learning for Life, Personal and professional life coach and a leader in business seminar design and facilitation.

48 F o o t hills S p o t l i g h t W i n t e r 2 0 0 8

ing temperatures, chill winds, early darkness and long hours spent inside. For many people the winter months bring urges to eat and sleep more and occasional bouts of both “cabin fever” and “down days”, which are all common winter reactions. If you experience more pronounced or consistent reactions to the seasonal shift through autumn into winter, you might be suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).

SAD, a debilitating cyclic seasonal mood disorder, is actually a type of depression with symptoms typically appearing during the late autumn or early winter and disappearing during the spring and summer. Often referred to as “winter depression”, SAD affects over 10 million Americans, with milder Subsyndromal Seasonal Affective Disorder, or uncomfortable consistent “winter blues”, affecting even greater numbers of people.

Between 70 to 80% of SAD sufferers are women, but men tend to have more severe symptoms. The common age of onset is during the thirties, but there are increasing numbers of adolescent and some childhood SAD. Symptoms of SAD may include:  Feelings of depression, hopelessness, irritability, anxiety or guilt  Loss of energy, fatigue, lack of motivation  Headaches or a heavy feeling in arms and legs  Oversleeping and difficulty getting up for work or school  Social withdrawal  Decreased self-esteem  Lack of interest in activities once enjoyed  Craving for high carbohydrate and sugar foods  Overeating and weight gain  Difficulty concentrating and processing information, decreased productivity, a drop in grades for students (In rare cases the opposite symptoms of mania or hypomania may be experienced instead of depression.)

The specific cause of SAD is not definitively known, but experts believe that it is triggered by the brain’s response to changes in daylight exposure. Two chemicals in the brain, melatonin and serotonin, help regulate sleep-wake (circadian) rhythms, energy and mood.

It is thought that winter’s decreased daylight hours may increase melatonin, which is linked to sleep, and decrease serotonin, which is associated with mood, thus creating the biological and physiological conditions for SAD. A very small number of people experience reverse summer SAD, possibly in response to increased daylight hours, high heat and humidity. Summer SAD symptoms include insomnia, decreased appetite, weight loss, agitation, and extreme hyperactivity.

Evaluation and diagnosis are important. If left untreated, SAD symptoms can progressively worsen and possibly lead to severe complications. If you’ve experienced a period of SAD-like symptoms during the same season for two consecutive years, see your doctor or a mental health provider for evaluation.

Your doctor might recommend several available treatment options: Light therapy uses a specialized light box that simu lates daylight. Daily treatments can improve symptoms.  Dawn Simulator, a timed bright light that gradually reaches full intensity before you awaken, can help with symptoms.  Medications such as antidepressants or other psychiatric medications might be beneficial if symptoms are severe. Talk with your doctor or mental health provider to determine if medication is right for you.  Life Coaching or Psychotherapy can provide opportunity for discussion, understanding and learning about ways to cope with and minimize symptoms. You can identify and change negative thoughts and habits that may be affecting your mood and behavior and contributing to your symptoms. Consult your doctor to determine your best option.

Stress Management can help relieve the negative  physical and emotional effects of stress, including muscle tension, depression, overeating, sleep problems and unhealthy thoughts and behaviors. Learn and practice stress management and relaxation.

There are some simple things that you can do to help.  Learn about SAD and explain it to others so they can work with and support you in your efforts to cope.

Ask for help when you need it.  Spend time outdoors on both sunny and cloudy days.  When inside, as frequently as possible sit close to bright windows.  Bring light into you home by opening blinds and shades, using full spectrum light bulbs in your lamps, adding skylights, and trimming tree branches that block sunlight.  Get plenty of exercise on a regular basis. Exercise outdoors whenever possible.  Socialize with loved ones and friends.  Eat a healthy diet of whole grains and fresh vegetables and fruits. Avoid simple carbohydrates and sugar.  Develop a regular bedtime and sleep routine.  Avoid using alcohol or unprescribed drugs for relief.  Take a trip if possible to a warm sunny location for winter SAD or a cooler location for summer SAD.

Even though there is no known prevention for Seasonal Affective Disorder, you don’t have to dread each seasonal shift. Seeking and following medical advice and taking early steps to understand, treat and manage symptoms can help. By starting your treatment and coping plan before your difficult season starts, you might even be able to head off some of those symptoms that disrupt your life.

For information or appointments for Life Coaching or Stress Management contact: Katherine PantherPotemkin at Learning for Life 704.477.4370 cell or 704.487.4727 office.

www. foothillsspotlight. com

Foothills Spotlight publishes as the seasons change. Look for us in your neighborhood and local businesses throughout Cleveland and Rutherford Counties.

Welcome Home

Furnishings & Interior Design

“Come in, we might have what you’re looking for.”

– Carla Beam, Owner

the corner of Warren & Washington, Uptown Shelby www.foothillsspotlight.com

Hours: M,W,Th,F 10am-6pm Sat 10am-2pm

704-692-8662

Winter 2008 Foothills Spotlight 49

I never knew what to do if : • Your water heater ruptured and flooded your home during the night • You had a small kitchen fire and smoke was everywhere • Your property was vandalized and everything needed to be cleaned • A major fire occurs and everything is covered in smoke and your home or business is badly damaged from both fire and water But, thanks to seeing your ads, when it did happen to us the first thing I did was call American Restoration. Our water heater had burst during the night and we woke up to water standing in our kitchen floor. My husband put down towels while I called American Restoration. Within an hour a crew was there to take care of everything. All I had to do was call my insurance carrier and let them know that American Restoration was here and American Restoration took it from there. I was kept up to date on the progress and the only other thing I did was to pick out our new flooring…and that was fun. American Restoration handled everything!

So when disaster strikes, call the Disaster Specialist – American Restoration.

Thanks American Restoration, – KD, Shelby, NC

930 Wendover Heights Drive, Shelby, NC 28150 | 704.482.7586 | 704.477.4764 | www.amrest.com 50 F o o t hills S p o t l i g h t W i n t e r 2 0 0 8

www. foothillsspotlight. com

foothillsbusiness

{business tips}

WORDS JEFF CHAMPION

Advertising in a Slow Economy IS YOUR BOTTLE HALF FULL OR HALF EMPTY? THE ECONOMY IS CRAPPY.

...can your advertising be improved...

ww w.f o o t hills s po t li g h t .c o m

Customers are harder to find. Profits are slimmer.

You have to cut any unnecessary costs to survive. What costs can be eliminated?

Ultimately what a business decides to do with their advertising in a slow time is determined by one thing. Do they consider advertising as an “expense/cost” or as an “investment?” If your advertising and marketing is considered an expense (half empty) then you are more likely to be cutting back or in some cases eliminating completely. However some companies look at slow economic times as an opportunity to grow their business. (half full) As a fellow small business owner, I can empathize with you. We must always be looking for ways to make our companies efficient as possible, cutting costs when possible. But you should realize that making drastic cuts in your advertising provides an opportunity for your competitors to take advantage. (Remember that your customers are someone else’s prospects.)

Also, odds are if your advertising is just a “cost” then your advertising may not be as well planned and implemented as it could be.

As an alternative to cutting back or eliminating your advertising, consider making improvements.

Take this time to reevaluate what you’re doing.

There can be several reasons why your advertising is not performing as it should, it’s not always just the economy. Some things to consider and evaluate: • Is your message clear, consistent?

• If you make an offer, is it a good offer?

• How does it compare to your competitors?

• Do you have the right media mix?

• Can you define who your customers are?

Age? Gender? Geography? Income?

• Are you keeping up with the latest technology?

History has shown that the better a company’s advertising and marketing, the more successful they are. Can your advertising be improved?

Are there opportunities to even increase at this time to grow your business, even in these times?

Many of your competitors are likely cutting back their advertising as a cost-cutting move. This could be your golden opportunity!

Talk to an advertising professional to learn more. There are several individuals in the area that are qualified, including Advertising Agencies. One option would be Champion Communications, an Advertising Agency based in Shelby and the Publisher of this magazine, Foothills Spotlight. We offer free initial consultation. Our services include all areas of design, planning and placement. To learn more, phone 704-466-3847 to schedule an appointment, or visit www.ccagency.net.

Your next promotion does not have to be a “going out of business sale.” Unfortunately that’s what it will be for many companies that decide to eliminate their advertising until the economy comes around. Can you afford to wait for things to come back or should you be more aggressive and pro-active? It’s a dilemma we all face. Here’s to good times in 2009. Is your glass Half Full?

Winter 2008 Foothills Spotlight 51

foothillsbusinessextended WORDS SCOTT DARNELL, PMP, MBA

Preparing for 2009 TIPS TO HELP MAKE 2009 START OFF WITH A BANG FOR MANY, 2008 WILL BE A

...in 2008 we experienced record increase in gas prices...

Scott Darnell, PMP, MBA serves as a silent advisor to a number of organizations and small businesses in the areas of sales, marketing, strategy, change management, talent acquisition, customer service and networking.

52 F o o t hills S p o t l i g h t W i n t e r 2 0 0 8

year in business that we would like to forget. In 2008, we experienced record increase in gas prices, the meltdown of our financial system, and depending on who you listen to, a recession.

While winding down 2008 and approaching a possible slow start to 2009, here is a short list of some tips to help make your 2009 start off with a bang.

1. Understand the numbers of your business.

With rapid fluctuations in the commodity markets and its effects on raw materials, shipping, etc., your margins and break even points have changed. Start the year off understanding what your margins really are and how your break even points on your products or services have changed. The time to understand your margins is not when you’re negotiating with your customers.

2. Get to know your accountant better. A good accountant is an extension of your management and can help with your forecasting/ strategy. Use your accountant for understanding your bottom line, ways to improve, opportunity costs, what services to expand/ cut, and possible tax implications for the coming year.

3. Review your banking relationship. In 2008, we saw many changes in the financial markets with many banks increasing fees and reducing services. Review your banking relationship and understand what services they will or will not continue to offer in 2009.

Many banks will be offering great incentives to earn your business in 2009, so start shopping.

4. Develop monthly, quarterly, and yearly objectives/goals. The Project Management Institute in a recent study found that only

20% of all company objectives are met.

Communicate your objectives and goals throughout your organization and measure your performance ongoing.

5. Evaluate your top customers. Understand why your top customers buy from you, and replicate that strategy. The old sales rule “20% of your customers generate 80% of your sales”. Expand your 20% and eliminate non-producing customers.

6. Develop a customer service/retention strategy. Don’t only call on your customers when you are trying to sell them something. Continuously communicate and ask your customers on how you can better serve them. Remember “Your customers are someone else’s prospect”.

7. Evaluate your top sales performers. Top performers are always in demand, even during a slow period. Make sure you are communicating and listening to your top performers, or they might be communicating with your competition. Don’t lose your investment, its costs you far more to attract a top performer than retain one. Top employees are an investment, not an expense.

8. Communicate with your employees.

Communication is a necessary strategy to promote team work, continuous improvement, and employee relations. Great companies place a high priority on communications.

9. Increase marketing. A well documented study of 600 businesses from 1980 to 1985 found that companies who cut marketing during the 1981-82 recession only increased sales by 19 percent during the five year period following the recession. In contrast, companies who

www. foothillsspotlight. com

increased spending during the recession saw their sales jump by 275 percent in the postrecession period. Another study of a similar nature conducted in 1982, found that companies who aggressively spent money on their marketing budget during a recessionary period outperformed companies who did not by nearly 250 percent.

Review your organizational structure. Your business has or will change, and so will your organizational structure. Is your organizational structure working for you or against you? Peter Drucker, a world renowned management consultant stated, “A poor organization structure makes good performance impossible, no matter how good the individual managers may be.”

WELCOME WE ARE PLEASED TO WELCOME TO THE FOOTHILLS SPOTLIGHT – SCOTT DARNELL Scott will be producing articles on business related topics and often bringing various leaders in business to help produce productive content geared toward top issues in today’s business sector.

Scott has a successful and vast background in sales, marketing, and economic development over the past 10 years. Scott received his B.A. from the University of West Georgia in International Economics and an MBA from Gardner Webb University’s Godbold School of Business with a concentration in Human Resource Management.

He was awarded the Frank Campbell Award by the faculty of the Godbold School of Business for Academic Excellence. He also

has advanced training in sales, public speaking, facilitation, economic development, project management, and negotiation.

Scott holds the following certifications: Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) by the International Economic Development Council, Project Management Professional (PMP) by the Project Management Institute, and Six Sigma Green Belt.

He currently serves as a silent advisor to a number of organizations and small businesses in the areas of sales, marketing, strategy, change management, talent acquisition, customer service, and networking.

where is this?

Would you believe in a modular home?

Come see for yourself the affordable luxury of modular home living at Ray’s Homes in Shelby.

641 South Post Road • Shelby, NC • 704.482.0806 • www.rayshomes.net • Since 1973

ww w.f o o t hills s po t li g h t .c o m

Winter 2008 Foothills Spotlight 53

CALENDAR OF E

V

E

N

T

S

For

mor e inf o ca 704 ll: .48 2.7 8 or c 8 2 all to ll fre 1.86 e 6.3 05.

997 3

FAIRS • FESTIVALS • EVENTS

DECEMBER 2008

FEBRUARY 2009

12/22-1/17 Christmas Cards from the White House

Carrousel Winter Schedule Fri-Sat 1-5 pm, Sun 1:30-5 pm. Shelby City Park

Open Saturdays at 1pm. The Presidential Culinary Museum, Grover, NC

12/24, 27 Santa at Cleveland Mall 11am-5pm.

Cleveland Mall, 2001E. Dixon Blvd. Shelby, NC

12/28-31 Holiday Basketball Classic at Shelby High School 12/31 Gardner Webb University Men’s Basketball

7 pm. vs. Anderson College, Paul Porter Arena, Lutz Yelton Convocation Center, GWU

2/26 The 8th Annual Bowling for Dollars 11 am-1 pm $15.00, Reservations Required.

Cleveland County Arts Council

MARCH 2009

2/5-3/12 14th Annual “Treasures of the Earth”

Pottery Show and Sale Mon-Fri 9 am-5 pm.

Opening reception February 7 (5:30pm-7:30pm) Cleveland County Arts Council

3/26-4/23 Cleveland County Student Art

2/6-7 Greater Shelby Community Theatre Presents - “The Mystery of Irma Vep”, Performances at Cleveland Community College

3/23-4/23 Gardner-Webb University Annual Stu-

Competition. 9 am-5 pm Mon-Fri. Cleveland County Arts Council dent Art Exhibit times vary. Communications Study Hall Gallery, GWU

2/14 Carrousel Valentine’s Lunch 11:30-1:00 pm.

Tickets must be purchased in advance. After lunch be a kid again and ride the Carrousel (1:00-5:00 pm).

Shelby City Park

JANUARY 2009 1/17 Gardner-Webb University Theatre presents

“24 Hours” 7:30 pm. Millennium Playhouse, Communications Studies Building, GWU

2/14 Valentine’s Day Carriage Rides 5:30-8:30 pm.

Ticket price includes complimentary flowers from Holly’s Flowers. Advance Reservations& Payment Required. Uptown Shelby

1/17 Gardner Webb University Men’s Basketball

7:30 pm. vs.Coastal Carolina, Paul Porter Arena, Lutz Yelton Convocation Center, GWU

2/18 Gardner Webb University Men’s Basketball 7:30 vs. Winthrop, Paul Porter Arena, Lutz Yelton Convocation Center

1/24 The Big Chill 6:30-11:00 pm Cleveland County Arts Council 1/27-4/25 Cleveland County’s History: What you

need to know Sun. 1-4 pm, Tues-Sat 10 am-4 pm.

Kings Mountain Historical Museum

2/20-21 Gardner Webb University Baseball Season

Opener Fri 2:30 pm, Sat 12 pm. vs. Canisius, Masters Field 2/20-22, 27-28 Steel Magnolias presented by Kings Mountain Little Theatre. Fri-Sat 7:30 pm and Sun 3 pm. Joy Performance Center, Kings Mtn.

Cleveland County attraction brochuers are available at the Visitor Information Center located at the Cleveland Mall on East Dixon Boulevard, Shelby. For more information on these events contact Cleveland County Travel & Tourism at 704.482.7882 or call toll free 1.866.305.9973 or www.TourClevelandCounty.com.

Weddings * Reunions * Family * Graduation

www.carolinaportraitstudio.com

Capture those special once-in-a lifetime moments in a creative way!

1141 Oak Grove Rd, Kings Mountain, NC 704-460-2667 54 F o o t hills S p o t l i g h t W i n t e r 2 0 0 8

Robin King, Owner

www. foothillsspotlight. com

Advertiser’s Index All Seasons Parts & Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39 American Restoration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50 Arnold’s Jewelry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Bayada Nurses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9,61 Bear Mountain Cafe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56 Bootstrap Computer Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58 Bradley Athletics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44 Buffalo Creek Gallery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 Carmike . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57 Carolina Portrait Studio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54 Carolina Wall-Crete . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13 Carter Chevrolet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46 Champion Communications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23 Champion Properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59 Cleveland County Tourism . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54 Cleveland Headline News/TV33 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36 Cleveland Lumber . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Cleveland Regional Medical Center . . . . . . . . . . .61 Commercial Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29 & 39 Computer Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47 City Park of Shelby . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57 CPTRx . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47,61 Dairy Queen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28,56 Dedmnd Electric . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58 Don’s Italian . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56 Drug Force Screening . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39 Edward Jones . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 Fogel Studios . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59 Fox Distributing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64 Future Energy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31 GT McSwain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21 Hannah Orthodontics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61 Holly’s Flowers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29 Huitt & Borders Family Dentist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61 Inn of the Patriots . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35, 56 Joe’s Place . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45, 56 Jolley Electric . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31 Katie Bradley Broker/REALTOR . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59 Keeter Ford . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Keith’s Carpet & Tile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21 KidSenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15,57 Kings Mountain Dentistry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61 Kings Mountain Hospital . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61 Little Debbie 2 The Rescue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29 Max D. Jones & Associates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37 Medical Bracelets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36 Medifare Drug . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28,61 Norris Merchandise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34 Pizza Inn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56 Pleasant City Wood Fired Grill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56 Puppy Luv . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59 Ray’s Homes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53 Re/Max Select . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21 Rose Hill / Stamey Funeral Home . . . . . . . . . . . .28 Salon 206 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Settle Heating & Air . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62-63 Shelby Eye Centers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12,61 Shelby Hardware . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47 Shelby Surgical . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19, 61 Shuford Heating & Air . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Southeastern Financial Resources, LLC . . . . . . .15 Southeastern Plastic Surgery . . . . . . . . . . . . .55, 61 State Farm Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31 Summit Place . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 The Sweezy House . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56 TravelLynx . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37, 57 Victorian Rose Art Gallery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50 Victorian Rose Studio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 Walker Carpet Cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39 Walker Woodworking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Welcome Home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49 WGWG . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37 Work Force Screening . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36 Wright’s Jewelry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 Young & Associates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27,61

www.foothillsspotlight.com

Winter 2008 Foothills Spotlight 55

DINING&LODGING G

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To a dver tise Dinin in ou g&L r o dgin call: g Guid 704 e .46 6.3 847

Our foothills play host to some of the finest dining and accomodations anywhere in the Carolinas

Coffee House Plus Breakfast, Lunch, Pastries, Smoothies

Joe’s Place Grill & Pub Serving American-Italian-and Thai Cuisine for 7 years.

Proprietors: Joe and Jan Lawrence

www.joesplaceshelby.com 209 S. Lafayette St. Shelby 704-482-4603 657 Oak St. Forest City 828-245-7523

814 S, Dekalb St. Shelby 704.481.1222 Fax 704.482.6681

127 East Dixon Blvd.

Shelby 704.482.2441 www.PizzaInn.com

Buffet ALL DAY, EVERY DAY 10:30am - 10pm New Owner: Bill Simmons

Dairy Queen

Don’s Italian

From family favorites like burgers, hotdogs, fries and chicken to everyone’s temptations, ice cream treats & cakes, DQ has it ALL.

Good Food, Good Times.

Best wings in town.

Serving Italian-GreekAmerican Cuisine.

115. E. Dixon Blvd.

Shelby 704.481.1222 Fax 704.481.9944

Hours of Operation Mon-Fri 7 am - 4pm

All you can eat pizza, pasta, salad bar & “pizzerts”

Manager: John Andrews

www.dqshelby.com

704-406-9742 Available for private parties

Mention ad get 5% discount thru 2-28-09 1170-1 Wyke Road, Shelby In front of Shelby Eye Center

The Sweezy House Restaurant & Bakery An Upscale & Relaxed Dining Experience!

4629 Fallston Rd. Fallston, NC 704.538.0044

To advertise in our Dining, Medical or Entertainment Guides call 704-466-3847

56 F o o t hills S pot l i g h t W i n t e r 2 0 0 8

www. foothillsspotlight. com

ENTERTAINMENT G

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D

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To a dver tise Dinin in ou g&L r odg call: ing G 704 u ide .46 6.3 847

Our foothills play host to some of the finest entertainment anywhere in the Carolinas

Travel Lynx Tours Harrahâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Casino Cherokee, NC 2nd Tuesday of Every Month For information call 704-482-9077 www.TravelLynxTours.com Visit the Museums of Cleveland County

Super Bowl Party Want something special for your Super Bowl party?

Call us to reserve your own Superbowl Party Pak. For only $40.00, you get: BBQ Butt, Chips, Rolls, Slaw, Sauce, Dessert and a 2 Liter Drink.

Call 704-487-7396 or 704-472-6700 to order or for more information.

Sponsored by the Crest Football Horseshoe Club.

ww w.f o o t hills s po t li g h t .c o m

Kings Mountain Historical Museum 704-739-1019 Kings Mountain Historical Fire Museum 704-734-0555

Valentine Fashion Show & Luncheon

Belwood Heritage Museum 704-538-3451

Spnorsored by : Cleveland County Democratic Women Sat, February 7, 2009 County Office Building Auditorium 130 S. Post Road, Shelby, NC 2 seatings (11:30AM & 1 PM) Cost: $10. Tickets sold in advance.

Limited seating for each event Fashions by: Linda Ivester, Fashion Corner in Lawndale Call 704-482-4482- for additional information.

Lawndale Museum 704-538-7212, International Lineman's Museum 704-482-7638 Lawndale Dummy at Metcalf Station Hwy. 226.

Winter 2008 Foothills Spotlight 57

“If our customer isn’t happy, we aren’t happy.”

Call today for a FREE estimate. e ar 527 Belwood-Lawndale Road Weded & . n d o e r Lawndale, NC b su in 704-538-8901 www.DedmondElectric.com

Advertising Bradley's Screen Printing..........704-484-2077

The Foothills’ Leading Advertising Agency 704-466-3847 www.ccagency.net Champion Communications .........704-466-3847 Cleveland Headline News ............704-482-6397 www.cable33.com Valpak Direct Mail...........................704-466-3847 Art Glass & Airbrushing Fogle Studios................................704 480-5554 Arts Councils & Galleries Buffalo Creek Gallery ......................704-487-0256

HONESTY

Cleveland County............................704-481-2787 Rutherford County ..........................828-245-4000 Associations Cleveland County Chamber .............704-487-8521 Cleveland County Trvl & Tour ......704-487-8521 Downtown Forest City .....................828-247-4430 Uptown Shelby Assoc......................704-484-3100 Automobiles Carter Chevrolet ...........................704-482-4341 McCurry-Deck Motors.....................800-731-9644 Honda of Shelby .............................704-487-7261 Keeter Ford ..................................704-482-6791 S&R Auto .......................................704-487-0570 Automobile Care Fastway Oil Change........................704-484-0823 Banking Carolina FCU ..................................704-435-0186 First National Bank..............704-484-6200 Banquet Facilities/Catering Cleveland County Fairgrounds .........704-487-0652 Green River Plantation ....................828-286-1461

INTEGRITY

* 24/7 Complete on-site computer solutions * Computer Shopper Service * Remote Computer Support * Networking * Spyware and virus removal * Hardware replacement and upgrade * Computer Tutor * Data Backup * Software replacement and upgrade * Labor Warranty * Over 26 Years Experience

North Lake Country Club.................704-487-6661 Barber Shops Headquarters Barber Shop ..............704-482-9846 Bargain Stores Bargain Station Outlet.....................704-484-8371 Beverage Distribution Fox Distributing............................704-482-4466 Bookkeeping Integrity Bookkeeping Srv............704-473-8991 Building Supplies Cleveland Lumber Co. ..................704-487-5263 Elliott Supply Co. ............................704-538-8661 Business Consultant Business Consulting Group .............704-487-0638 Small Business Center (Cleveland Comm. Coll.) ................704-484-4146 Carpet Cleaning Walker Carpet Care ......................704-937-6034 Chambers of Commerce Cleveland County............................704-487-8521

COMMITMENT

Call Us Today!

704-477-5489 www.BootstrapComputer.com

Rutherfordton County......................828-287-3090 Hickory Nut Gorge ..........................828-625-2725 Cleaning Service Heavenly Scent Cleaning Srv ................704-481-0009 Little Debbie 2 Rescue .................704-974-3933 Coffee Shops Broad River Coffee Shelby (E. Marion St.)...............704-487-9955 Boiling Springs.........................704-434-8887 Colleges & Universities Cleveland Comm. College................704 484-4000 Gardner Webb University.......................704-406-4000 Isothermal Comm. College ............. 828-286-3636 Computer Sales & Service Bootstrap Computer Srv...............704-477-5489 Computer Connections.................704-482-0057 www.painlesspc.net Concrete Products Carolina Wall-Crete ......................704-480-9877 Concrete Speciality. ........................704-487-1239 Construction Companies Glenn Willialms Const. ....................704-434-5576 Hoke Enterprises Inc.......................704-482-0003 Council on Aging Cleveland County (Sr. Center) ..........704-482-3488 Crafts Sandy’s Country Christmas .............704-471-0015 DJ Services Mike McDaniel ...............................704-482-4052 Dentists Doug Huitt & Matt Borders...........704-487-8931 Boiling Springs Famiy Dentistry .........704-434-4876 Young & Associates.......................704-482-7986 Electrical Dedmond Electric.........................704-538-8901 Jolley Electric...............................704-822-6497 Entertainment KidSenses ..................................828-286-2120 Farm Equipment Parker Farm...............................704-482-7061 Financial Services Edward Jones, Barbara Mull................704-434-9193 Fireplaces Future Energy...............................704-482-4466 Fitness Boiling Springs YMCA .....................704-434-0441 Kings Mountain YMCA ....................704-739-9631 Shelby YMCA..................................704-484-9622 Floor Covering Cleveland Floor Care.......................704-482-6351 Keith’s Carpet...............................704-480-1615 Florist Boiling Spring Florist.......................704-434-9662 Holly's Flowers.............................704-487-1220 Mike’s Flowers & Gifts ....................704-482-8932 Formal Wear Joy Bridal Ultd................................704-828-0450 Funeral Homes Stamey Funeral Home..................704-538-9091 Gift Shops Arnold’s Gift Gallery ........................704-487-4521 Redbone Willy's..............................704-538-3670 Victoria-Stephen (Shelby) ................704-480-1322 Golf Courses Cleghorn Plantation ........................828-286-9117 Lake Lure Golf/Beach Resort ...........800-260-1040 Kings Mtn Country Club ..................704-739-5871 Meadowbrook Golf Course ..............866-833-9754

Government Agencies Boiling Springs City Hall ..................704-434-9419 Forest City City Hall ........................828-245-0148 Kings Mtn City Hall .........................704-734-0333 Shelby City Hall ..............................704-484-6800 Rutherfordton City Hall....................828-287-7943 Spindale City Hall ...........................828-286-3466 Tryon City Hall ................................828-859-6655 Hair Salons Salon 206......................................704 487-8440 Hardware Store Shelby Hardware ..........................704 482-4405 Health Care Adult Day Health Srv........................704-484-0405 Bayada Nurses .............................704-669-4000 Cleveland Home Health...................704-487-5225 Cleveland Physical Therapy .............704-471-0001 Cleveland Regional Med Ctr.................980-487-3000 Crawley Memorial Hospital..............704-434-9466 Gaston Memorial Hospital ...............704-834-2000 Hospice (Cleveland Cty) ....704-487-4677 Kings Mtn Hospital..........................980-487-5000 Medi-Fare Drug..............................864-839-6384 Medical ID Bracelets ........medicalinfobracelets.com Totally Fit 4 Life..............................704-481-0295 Rutherford Hospital.........................828-286-5000 Shelby Surgical ...........................704-487-8591 Shelby Eye Center........................704-482-6767 SE Plastic Surgery ..........................704-480-8519 Heating & Air Settle Heating & Air......................704-481-1788 Shuford’s Heating & Air................704-484-0025 Home Decor Loopy Lu’s...................................704 435-5000 McNeely Girls..............................704-435-5000 Home Improvement Carolina Curb Scape.......................704-692-6458 Carolina Wall-Crete ......................704-480-9877 James Gibson Plumbing...................704-4871530 Huss Ceramic.................................704-477-7213 Tim’s Home Improvement ...............704-300-4554 Home Furnishings/Appliances G.T. McSwain, Inc. ........................704-434-7829 Hendrick Appliance (Shelby).................704-487-7846 Hendrick Appliance (Chyvil)..................704-487-7846 J&D Furniture.................................704-487-6385 Norris Merchandise......................704-482-8464 Timm’s Furniture ............................704-739-5656 Insurance Nationwide............................................................

Tom Hamrick Agency ...............704-482-6384 State Farm-Robin Brackett.............704-482-0531 Jewelers Arnold’s Jewelry ..........................704-487-4521 Wright’s Jewelry (Fallston) ..........704-538-7991 Lawn Care Carolina Lawn Service.....................704 482-7821 Homestead Landscape & Feed ........704-487-7720 LawnScapes...................................704-445-1101 Lawnmowers Sales & Service All Seasons ..................................704-484-2715 Libraries Shelby ...........................................704-481-1234 Lawndale .......................................704-538-7005 Kings Mountain ..............................704-739-2371 Locksmiths J B Ellis Locksmith .........................704-487-6004 Lodgings Carrier Houses B&B ....................... 800-835-7071 Chestnut Cottage ...........................828-288-6976 Distinctive Mtn Lodging.................. 877-371-5100

www.foothillsspotlight.com

Website Spotlight

PUPPY LUV

Designs by Champion Communications Creative graphic design, cutting edge technology & years of marketing experience are why more businesses are choosing Champion. Recent designs by Champion Communications include:

Dog Grooming & Boarding

Cash for Gold www.goldorcash.com International Media Services www.intmediaservices.com Home Builders of Cleveland County www.HBACC.com Lunasom www.lunasom.com Carolina Wall-Crete www.CarolinaWallCrete.com Two Atta Time www.TwoAttaTime.net CQTA www.CardinQuality.com Cleveland County Soccer Assoc. www.gccsasoccer.com Ann’s Country Heart www.AnnsCountryHeart.com Arc Pharmacy www.arcpharmaservices.com See more at www.ccagency.net

704-466-3847 Fairfield Mountains Resort ..............828-625-9111 Foothills Family Campgrnd .............828-245-4064 Four Paws Kingdom Cmpgnd ............828-287-7324 Four Seasons Cottages ..................888-625-8714 Grafton Lodge B&B/Cabins ............828-625-5567 Holiday Inn Exp. (Shelby) .................704-480-0881 The Inn of the Patriots.................... 704-937-2940 Linne 'Ardan at Lake Lure ..............828-625-8182 The Lodge on Lake Lure .................828-625-2789 River Creek Campground ...............866-287-3915 Mailing & Shipping Services Alpha Mail Service .............................704-484-1711 The UPS Store................................704-481-0222 Valpak Direct Mail...........................704-466-3847 Meat Market Ora Supermarket.............................704 487-4377 Modular Homes Ray’s Homes ..................................704-482-0806 Mortgages NBI Mortgage .................................704-472-9755

Movie Theaters Carmike Cinemas Forest City...............................828-245-0734 Shelby.....................................704-482-6623 Musical Instruments Shelby Music..................................704-487-7404 Nutrition Hallelujah Acres..............................704-487-9572 Office Equipment Commercial Data Systems & Supplies ...............................................704-482-4006 Parks & Recreation Broad River Greenway ....................704-434-2357 Chimney Rock Park ........................828-625-9611 Cleveland County Fair .....................704-487-0651 Forest City Parks/Rec. ....................828-248-5220 Kings Mtn Natl Military Pk...............864-936-9166 River Creek Tubing..........................828-625-1990 Rutherford Outdr Coalition...............828-429-3900 Shelby City Park Office...........................704-484-6811

Climate Control Boarding

Hours: Mon - Fri

By Appt.

Certified Groomer Ashley Blanton 1623 S. Post Rd. * Shelby, NC * 704-482-3417 Pet Serivces Puppy Luv...........................................704-482-3417 Unique Pets Sitting Srv..........................704-434-2026 Photographers Carolina Portrait Studio .....................704-460-2667 The Victorian Rose.............................704-482-9360 Plant Nursery Shagreen Nursery/Arboretum ...............704-482-2224 Playground Equipment Playground Safety Srv...........................704-487-7774 Printers Gaston Gazette (Gastonia).....................704-869-1700 Shelby Printing Group...........................704-481-1492 Westmoreland Printers Inc....................704-482-9100

331-A S. Lafayette St. Shelby, NC

Katie Bradley Broker/REALTOR

Radio Stations WGWG.................................................704-406-3525 WNCW..................................................828 287-8000 Realtors BroadRiver Highlands............................704-434-5770 Champion Properties.........................877-865-7315 Century 21 Dedmon.............................704-487-7272 Diane Ledbetter....................................704-482-7727 Katie Bradley ........................................704-472-0133 Lloyd Williams III ...................................704-473-1712 Prudential Carolinas Realty ...................704-484-3003 Re/Max (Boiling Springs).......................704-434-7660 Re/Max (Shelby) ...................................704-487-7653 Shelby New Homes ..............................704-482-5020 Shorts Real Estate ................................704-538-8404 Susan Scruggs .....................................704-434-7660 Recreation Vehicles Anchor Marine....................................704-487-76618

katiebradley@remax.net Restaurants Bear Mountain Cafe...........................704-406-8742 Chen’s Chinese ....................................704-484-9669 Don’s Italian........................................704-481-1222 Dairy Queen........................................704-482-6681 5 East...................................................704-487-8266 Flying Pig..............................................704-487-0087 Fatz .....................................................704-482-8116 Georgio’s ..............................................704-434-0010 Gingerbread House...............................704-482-9234 The Inn of the Patriots .......................704-937-2940 Joe’s Place .........................................704-482-4603 Ken & Mary’s........................................704-487-1777 Love’s Fish Box.....................................704-739-4036 Ola’s.....................................................704-466-3131 Pizza Inn .............................................704-482-2441 Pleasant City Wood Fired Grill...........704-487-0016 Sweezy House....................................704-538-0044 The Purple Onion (Saluda) ....................828-749-1179 Winter House........................................704-482-6426 Self-Help Learning For Life ..................................704-481-0400 Shoes Shope’s Shoes......................................704-482-8653 Sound Systems Shelby Music........................................704-487-7404

Experience & Results Commercial

Investments

Residential

Covering Cleveland, Gaston, Lincoln, Mecklenburg & York Counties

www.ChampionProperties.com

cell: (704) 472-0133 direct: (704) 482-7727 ext 307 office: (704)487-7653 fax: (704) 487-7633

704-616-4811 Toll Free 1-877-865-7315 NC/SC Licensed

www.katiebradley.biz Sporting Goods S&M.....................................................704-484-0228 Tax Preparation Business Consulting Grp.......................704-487-0638 DTaxes, Etc ...........................................704 445-9326 Television Cleveland Headline News..................704-482-6397 Travel & Tourism Cleveland County Tourism.................704-487-8521 Rutherford County Tourism....................828-245-1492 Travel Lynx ..........................................704 482-9077 Veterinarians Blvd. Animal Hospital ............................704-482-2508 Trophies/Plaques Bradley's Screen Printing..........704-484-2077 Carolina Trophies..........................704-482-6351 Video Taping & Production The Video Factory.................................704-480-6677 Website Design & Hosting Champion Communications...............704 466-3847 Wigs & Hairpieces Manelines Unique Boutique ..................704-482-9938 Woodwork Walker Woodworking.........................704-434-0823

Devoted to sandblasting an unrestricted variety of glass and styles to amplify your residential and commercial décor.

FogleStudios.com 1014-4 Industry Drive Shelby, NC

704-480-5554

reflections

{from the well}

WORDS REV. CRYSTAL CHAMPION

I

ntroducing “Baby Jesus” to my two-year-old nephew, Jeth, was a special treat that year.

Jeth was interested in the night skies of moon and stars, and we often talked about them. We learned songs and sang about the heavenly lights. I told him the story of the Star of Bethlehem and its significance. I marveled at his understanding of this simple but powerful truth. “The Bethlehem Star,” I said, “was the biggest and brightest in the sky the night Baby Jesus was born. It showed everyone where to find Baby Jesus.” “Why were vey wookin for him? he asked, as if to imply the baby was in some sort of trouble. “Well, people believed he would grow up to be someone very special to all people everywhere and they wanted to celebrate his birthday with his family.”

Later that evening under a moon and starlit sky Jeth retold the Bethlehem story. We snuggled close together that night as he followed in our family’s rich storytelling tradition. “Bet-ly-him,” he said proudly, “It was a big ol’ star. And it kept moving ‘wound and ‘wound. And it said, ‘Come on over here. I can see Baby Jesus.” I cherished those moments as he embraced his own version of this timeless story.

60 F o o t hills S p o t l i g h t W i n t e r 2 0 0 8

Baby Jesus We stood there for sometime when suddenly a revolving searchlight from the nearby fair grounds began roaming the skies. As Jeth watched the beam appear and disappear, he whispered, “Somebody else is looking for Baby Jesus.”

That moment in time is frozen for me. Never have I been more aware of the awesome power of God’s love and the many ways in which that is revealed to us. On reflection I realize that Christmas is about searching: searching for the perfect gift, a snowy day, the best recipes, the freshest tree, the right sentiment in a greeting card. There is searching for harmony within families, a way to feel loved, companionship, financial relief, physical healing, and a spirit of inner peace.

As you search this season may you find all that the light has to say to you.

Yes, Jeth, somebody else is looking for Baby Jesus.

Wishing you Peace and Light for your search...*

www. foothillsspotlight. com

MEDICAL MEDI ICAL&HOME E CARE E G

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D

E

With many y comprehensive, state-of-the-art medical services ces and facilities. the foothills fo oothills offer complete mind&body m wellness

Shelby Eye Centers, P.A.

Huitt & Borders Family Dentistry Douglas C. Huitt, DDS, PA Matthew W. Borders, DDS General & Cosmetic Dentistry Mini Implants 222 N. Lafayette St., Suite 13 Shelby, NC 704-487-8931

Thomas D. Bailey, MD, FACS Stephen J. Bogan, MD, FACS Nancy E. Cline, MD “When You’re Concerned About Your Eyes” We provide complete high-quality medical and surgical eye care.

Shelby/Gaffney Toll Free 800-776-1054

Cleveland Physical Therapy Associates Hands-on therapy from caring professionals 1129 E. Marion St., Shelby 704-471-0001 335-B W. College Ave., Boiling Springs 704-434-8175 110-9 W. King St., Kings Mountain 704-739-5995 www.cpta-rx.com

Young & Associates General & Cosmetic Dentistry

Shelby Surgical Associates, PA Robert G. Laney, MD Michael L. Barringer, MD H. Douglas Hobson, MD Bryan Young, MD Andrew J. Taylor, MD Douglas A. Blackman, MD 200 W. Grover St, Shelby 704-487-8591

New Patients Welcome!

Young-associates.net 1429 N. Lafayette St. Shelby, NC 704-482-7986

Invisalign

®

Get ready for Prom & Yearbook Job Interviews & Wedding Photos...Today!

Friendly Hometown Pharmacy

Gaston County’s Premier Invisalign Provider

Dr. Stephen Hannon ®

704.865.8521 www.aligntech.com

Specialist in Orthodontics for over 25 Years

www.hannonorthodontics.com

Members of the American Society of Plastic Surgery

Dr. Benson Timmons, MD, FACS Dr. Eric Emerson, MD Shelby: 704-480-8519 Gastonia: 704-866-4005 Lake Wylie 704-866-4005 www.seplasticsurgery.com

ww w.fo o t hills s po t lig h t .c o m

Friendly hometown pharmacy.

We accept all insurance plans. We make specialized medicines from your Dr.’s orders.

Home medical equipment.

300 W. Pine St. Blacksburg, SC 864-839-6384

Kings Mountain To advertise in our Dentistry Medical&Home Care Guide 704-739-4473 call: 704.466.3847

We welcome children and adults.

Home care specialists offering a wide range of personal care.

Bayada Shelby 704-669-4000 www.bayada.com

Kings Mountain Hospital

Accepting: Medicaid & NC Health Choice.

107 East Mountain Street, Kings Mountain, NC

Winter 2008 Foothills Spotlight 61

THE NAME YOU TRUST Settle Heating & Air has provided quality heating, ventilation and air conditioning services to homes and businesses since 1998.

We have service agreements available. These agreements provide a system check at the beginning of the spring and fall each year. What you may not know is that our Service Agreement Customers are never charged overtime rates for weekends and holidays. As a Service Agreement Customer you are given a 15% discount on parts and receive same day service.

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Our Goal We strive to set a higher standard of service and installation in the community and for our customers. We pledge to conduct our business with commitment to personal service, quality and integrity. Our goal is to build a team of trained and dedicated employees working together to serve our customers. Our purpose is to operate Settle Heating & Air as a Christian Faith Based Company striving to improve our community.

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For a minimum cost, this factory-backed protection covers the cost of labor and/or parts to repair failed parts. Combined with the best warranty in heating and cooling business, Watchdog truly is a homeownerʼs best friend.

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All Settle-Comfort air conditioners and heat pumps offer a ONE-YEAR QUALITY PLEDGE and a TEN YEAR WARRANTY. Should our compressor fail in the first year of operation, we will replace the entire air conditioner or heat pump with an equal product, when installed with a matched Settle-Comfort air handler or indoor coil.

For the fun times, the special times, before the day begins, after everyoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been tucked in...

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