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Volume 131 • Issue 3
kmherald.com • 704-739-7496
January 16, 2019
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Martin Luther King Day observances this Monday Kings Mountain: The City of Kings Mountain will host a Martin Luther King Day Observance on Monday, January 21, at 3 pm at the Joy Performance Center in downtown Kings Mountain. Struggle for Freedom: The Life of Dr. King is a 45-minute educational production that celebrates the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. presented by Bright Star Touring Theatre, Asheville, NC. One of Black History’s most influential Civil Rights Leaders, the life and story of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is one of both triumph and tragedy. Learn how Dr. King came to be such an influential leader in this dramatic show. Follow Dr. King’s life from his time as a young boy in Georgia, to becoming a preacher in Alabama, to becoming an important figure on the international stage. A powerful and impactful story, audiences will come to recognize that the Civil Rights won during See MLK, Page 2A
Speaker Tim Moore receives congratulations after election to a third term as presiding officer of the North Carolina House of Representatives. The Kings Mountain attorney is the longest serving Republican Speaker of the House in the state’s history. Photo provided
Moore elected to third term as Speaker of House
The City of Kings Mountain will host a Martin Luther King Day Observance on Monday, January 21, 2019 at 3 pm at the Joy Performance Center. Photo provided by Bright Star Touring Theatre
Taylor, an advocate for children’s education retires Cathy Rayfield Taylor has been advocating for the value of a good education for children all her life and for 30 years she has made it her life’s work to assure children arrive at school healthy and ready for success. Taylor is retiring Jan. 25 as executive director of Partnership for Children for 22 years but before that she stayed in high school determined to graduate and held a job in a textile mill. Her first job was raising her own children while opening a day care center in her home. February 25, 1994, 19 days after her 41st birthday she became business manager as part of the inaugural staff of the newly established Partnership for Children which has offices in the old Central School plant, moving on to the See TAYLOR, Page 2A
The State House of Representatives elected Speaker Tim Moore (R Cleveland) to a third term as its presiding officer Jan. 9 making him the longest serving Republican Speaker of the House in North Carolina history. “It is with the resilient spirit of families still recovering from the storms that the North Carolina General Assembly reconvenes this session,’’ Moore said in Raleigh at the opening of the legislature. Speaker Moore said the state legislature should maintain its effective record of reform by collaborating on behalf of working people and businesses. “Tomorrow holds enormous promise for our people because today our state of storied tradi-
tions and rich landscapes faces far more opportunities than challenges,’’ he said, adding “I am proud to say that we are well prepared and poised to fulfill these opportunities.’’ Moore listed priorities for the new year, including continuing to prioritize recovery for citizens still suffering from devastating floods who need new investments to rebuild their school systems and higher education campuses. He said he will file this session of the General Assembly a second school construction bond essential to addressing those desperate needs he said he saw when he visited Eastern North Carolina and is in awe of the perseverance of the residents through both
storms. Speaker Moore said the state will continue to compete around the world for cutting-edge industries and a top tier workforce for the next generation whether you represent a major city, a historic small town or our rural splendor. ‘’ Each of us is here to give good people the voice they deserve in Raleigh and in their state government. Public safety is a top priority along with providing a strong education and getting good jobs for families, the Speaker continued. “We want to improve state government services and we each have a vision of serving our district for a better North Carolina,’’ he said. See MOORE, Page 2A
Lou Ballew gave of herself to community and friends By Loretta Cozart
HONORED- Cathy Taylor, retiring January 25 as executive director of Partnership for Children, has been honored with the prestigious Order of the Long Leaf Pine from Governor Roy Cooper. Pictured are, from left, Mrs. Taylor, Kings Mountain Mayor Scott Neisler, making the presentation, and retired Mauney Memorial Librarian Sharon Stack, former director of Partnership for Children. Photo submitted
Shortly after Christmas, ‘Lou' (Louise) Ballew passed away from lung cancer at Testa Family Hospice House. Within a week, her friends began contacting the Herald and sharing stories about her life. For those who didn't know Lou Ballew, it is important to share that she dealt with everyone in a direct manner. This was a common fact shared about her by many of her friends. It was clear her friends always knew where she stood
LOU BALLEW
on things they did. If she liked something, they knew it. And if she didn't, they knew that too. For Ballew, being direct was an art. Her friends remembered
her for the many things she did in the community and for maintaining her active lifestyle well into her 90's. Stella Putnam shared this about Ballew, "It would not be fitting to omit Lou's involvement with the turfgrass industry in North Carolina. Around 1970, my father, Joe ‘Bud' Neisler, decided to start a sod farm at Oakland Plantation. At the time Lou was the bookkeeper for the family's yarn mill in Pageland, SC. This farm would be one of the first, if not the first turf farm in North See BALLEW, Page 2A
KM’s SECU branch holds open house, ribbon cutting The Kings Mountain branch of State Employees’ Credit Union (SECU) held its Open House and Ribbon Cutting ceremony
on Tuesday, January 8th at 4:30 p.m. in celebration of their new branch office at Shelby Road, Kings Mountain, N.C. Local and regional SECU staff were on hand to welcome members and community supporters. SECU branch Vice President/City Executive Kara Herrick said, “We’re
excited to be in our new branch and thank everyone who joined us for this Open House event. It was the perfect opportunity to show our appreciation to the local community for all the support given to us through the years and during this move to our new location.” See additional Photo 8A
State Employees’ Credit Union, located on Shelby Road. (Photo by Greg Ledford)
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