Our Office Will Be Closed On Good Friday
Volume 130 • Issue 13
kmherald.com • 704-739-7496
March 28, 2018
75¢
Nesmith is new Administrator at White Oak Nathan Nesmith, MBA, of Burlington, is the new Administrator of White Oak of Kings Mountain, a 154bed skilled nursing and rehabilitation facility in Kings Mountain. Nesmith comes to Kings Mountain from White Oak of Burlington, where he was Administrator for six years. Before working in Burlington, he was Administrator at White Oak of Lancaster, SC. Prior to his career in nursing home administration, he worked in rehabilitation hospitals with HealthSouth and Rehab Care for a combined 14 years, where he was responsible for admissions, case management, marketing and program development. A former NC state nursing home surveyor, Nesmith has extensive knowledge of CMS regulations affecting nursing homes. “I am excited by the potential for growth White Oak of Kings Mountain presents,’’ Nesmith said. He added,’’ A skilled nurs-
2017 Easter Egg Hunt at Rick Murphrey Children’s Park. (File Photo) NESMITH ing and rehabilitation facility with a memory care unit, that is also a CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services) five star-rated facility – that’s amazing. We are one of only two skilled nursing facilities in all of Cleveland County that have five stars, so our strategic plan is to continue getting excellent results for our rehabilitation residents and continue providing excellent care for our long-term residents.” White Oak management is a family-owned company that has 17 locations in the See NEESMITH, Page 7A
City of KM teams up with Legion Riders for annual Easter Egg Hunt Saturday Hop on down to the annual Easter egg hunt for a hoppy good time Saturday at the Mayor Rick Murphrey Children’s Park, located next to the YMCA at 211 Cleveland Avenue on Saturday, March 31 at 10:00 AM. More than 10,000 prizes, cash and candy filled eggs will be hidden across three sections of the children’s park. There will be three age
categories, two years and under, three to five and six to 10 years old. Patriot Jacks Outfitters will be sponsoring a golden egg in each category. Inside each golden egg will be a $25 gift certificate to redeem at Patriot Jacks. The Eggstravanganza will include a petting zoo, music and a visit from the Easter bunny. Everyone is invited to
bring a basket and camera. Along with all the fun, Parkwood Baptist Church will be providing free hot dogs. “The City of Kings Mountain has worked with various community partners to celebrate Easter and serve the community,” said Christy Conner, Special Events Coordinator for the City of Kings Mountain. “A special thank you goes out
to the Legion Riders, Parkwood Baptist Church, Patriot Jack Outfitters, Partnership for Children, Child Care Connections, the YMCA, Mauney Memorial Library, Texas Roadhouse and others for making this event possible.” For additional information, please call 704-7340333 or visit www.cityofkm. com.
Guest Column by Gary Stewart
Easter Sunrise Mearl Valentine, Service planned faithful servant The Kings Mountain Ministerial Association will be leading in an Easter Sunrise Service on Easter Sunday, April 1, at 7:00 A.M. at Mountain Rest Cemetery in Kings Mountain. The service will be held around the huge white cross. Dr. Moses Nueman, President of World Care Ministries in Kings Mountain will bring the Easter Sunrise message. Special music will be provided by Mr. Bill McMurrey and Mrs. Rainey Frady. Rev. Scott Whitney, Pastor of the East Gold Street Church will be
leading the service. In the event of inclement weather, the service will be moved to Eastside Baptist Church, 308 York Road. Everyone is invited to come and worship with us as we celebrate the greatest event in history—the Resurrection of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ!
Special Olympics Color Run re-set for May 5 at 9 a.m. The Special Olympics Cleveland County Color Run has been rescheduled for May 5 at 9 a.m. at Patriots Park. The high risk of rain and cold forced the postponed and organizers felt it would be best to reschedule for
warmer weather. The race benefits the Special Olympics of Cleveland County basketball team that was selected to represent North Carolina in the Special Olympics USA Games in Seattle, Washington. For more information contact Carol Goforth or Emily Cloninger at 704-472-4546 or 980284-1792; or cagoforth@ clevelandcountyschools. org or elcloninger@clevelandcountyschools.org
Kings Mountain in general – and young people in particular – lost one of their biggest supporters last week when Mearl Valentine died at the age of 81. From the time he played his first football game when midget football was organized here in the late 1940s, Mearl lived his life devoted to his town, sports, church and Kings Mountain High School. Whether it was playing on the youth and high school levels and even in adult recreation leagues, coaching youth sports, serving on the city recreation committee, or volunteering for well over 50 years as a spotter in the press box at Mountaineer football games, Mearl was a permanent fixture. He wasn’t all football, though. Until just a little while before his death he would be at every home basketball game. His grandchildren, Mary and Daniel Asgari, played for the Mountaineers and after his playing days were over Daniel would accompany Mearl to the basketball and football games. Mearl had to give up his football press box duties prior to last season because of his health. Daniel is now spotting for the PA announcer. Mearl would still be at every home game, though. Someone would meet him in the parking lot and drive him to the press box in a golf cart. It was so fitting that at
MEARL VALENTINE halftime of a game last fall, the Kings Mountain Hall of Fame and the Mountaineer Club honored Mearl and Jake Dixon for their service to the school. Combined, they gave well over a hundred years up top with their only pay an occasional Mountaineer hat or jacket. As Jake says, their salary was tripled every year but they got to where they just couldn’t count all those zeroes. No one will ever know the impact Mearl had on so many lives. He was not one to toot his own horn but when something needed to be done he would be the first to lend a hand. He’s the type that would bring a load of watermelons to football practice so the players could get refreshed after a hot practice session, or join with others to burn off a drenched infield so the Mountaineers could play, and win, a state championship baseball game in front of their home crowd. I first met Mearl in the See MEARL, Page 7A
Mayor Scott Neisler presents Mrs. Ruth Parker Beam the key to the city in observance of her 101st birthday. Photo contributed
Beam presented key to the city Ruth Parker Beam was presented the key to the City of Kings Mountain by Mayor Scott Neisler at a recent meeting of City Council. Mrs. Beam is a longtime resident of Kings Mountain and a dedicated educator who taught first grade at both Central and North elementary schools. She taught hundreds of young students during her distinguished career. She also helped students in need by conducting clothing drives through Kings Mountain Baptist Church, and coordinated
the pickup and distribution of the clothing. After retirement Mrs. Beam volunteered to teach seniors at the H. Lawrence Patrick Senior Life Center and received the 2010 Volunteer of the Year Award for donating over 260 hours to the program. Mrs. Beam is one of seven citizens who have received the proclamation and a day named in their honor from Mayor Scott Neisler during his current term. Mayor Neisler honors all citizens when they reach their 100th birthday.
For Dental Implants Locally Here In Kings Mountain
Baker Dental Care Preventative, Restorative & Cosmetic Dentistry
703 East King Street, Suite 9 Kings Mountain, NC www.BakerDentalCare.com
Just a few benefits of Dental Implants: • Improved appearance. Dental implants look and feel like your own teeth. • Improved speech. Dental implants allow you to speak without the worry that your dentures might slip. • Improved self-esteem. Smile again and feel better about yourself. • Durable. Implants are very durable and with proper care, can last a lifetime. To find out more about Dental Implants and schedule your next appointment
call us at 704-739-4461