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Volume 132 • Issue 16
Wednesday, April 15, 2020
kmherald.com • 704-739-7496
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Storm clean-up after 60 MPH winds blew through Kings Mountain early Monday morning. See more photos on page 10. Photo by Shirley Brutko.
Easter storm brings damage, but no fatalities in KM By Loretta Cozart On Easter Sunday, severe thunderstorms rolled through the south destroying houses and cars in its wake from the Gulf Coast to the Atlantic Ocean. As of Monday morning, twenty people are known to have died during the storm, according to The Weather Channel. More than 50 tornadoes were reported but those have yet to be substantiated by NOAA. Monday morning, the City of Kings Mountain posted, “At approximately 3:30 am, we experienced
severe thunderstorms with winds in excess of 60 mph causing significant power line damage across our service area. We experienced 2,500 power outages and over a dozen broken power poles. As of 8:30 am this morning, power outages are down to 1,500. We expect 90% of the remaining 1,500 outages to have power restored by 12 noon today. There may still be isolated outages throughout the day,” according to Janet Hart with the City of Kings Mountain. Trees and telephone poles sustained the most
damage across the city. In Patriots Park, trees were uprooted and fell onto West Gold Street. Utility poles were snapped, with sections left dangling by electrical wires. But damage was not limited to this section of town. The newly installed third screen at Hounds Drive-in was destroyed by high winds. Many other homes across the area sustained damage due to trees falling in their yards and on their homes and outbuildings. As of 4:30 pm, the city restored power to all but See STORM, Page 10
American Legion Auxiliary honors Lib Stewart Recently, Linda Quinlan, District 13 President for the District of NC American Legion Auxiliary, along with the Past Department Chaplain, Shirley Thompson, visited with Lib Stewart at her home in the Dixon Community. “Our mission was to deliver a unique little chair adorned in hundreds of buttons which had been on loan to the NC Auxiliary Department Headquarters,” Quinlan said. “Lib served as 19992000 President of the National ALA, and during her tenure had several projects. One was to raise funds for the World War II Memorial, and another to improve awareness and research for breast cancer. During her year as President, Lib was presented with many gifts, one of which was the little chair. Each button represented a woman, a story and a life affected by breast cancer, and was provided by North Carolina breast cancer survivors and victims’ families,” said Quinlan. The original button chair traveled the country as part
Thumper, the Easter Bunny poses with city employees. See more photos on page 6. Photo provided by Angela Padgett
Easter bunny visits KM Thursday, April 9, our friend, Thumper the Easter Bunny, toured around Kings Mountain on the big red fire truck visiting neighbors to spread Easter cheer. Thumper's journey began at 9:00 AM and continued until after lunch. Thumper said, “It was a Terrific Thursday!” Friends and families anxiously awaited Thump-
er’s arrival and greeted him with smiles, signs and lots of giggles! "Bringing smiles to the faces of the residents of White Oak Manor and Testa Hospice House was very rewarding," says Christy Conner, Special Events Director for the City of Kings Mountain. "The anticipation of the children in the city and excitement on their
faces was special,” added Conner. “This year, Easter was much different for everyone and we were happy to uplift the community’s spirits,” Conner said. “We think Thumper had a great day, as well.” Special thanks to the City of Kings Mountain’s Fire Department for letting Thumper “hop” on board with them.
Dymax Corporation creates 59 new jobs in Gaston County Global chemical manufacturer Dymax Corporation will create 59 new jobs at a new production site in Gaston County, North Carolina Commerce Secretary Anthony Copeland announced last week. The Connecticut-based company will invest more than $21.5 million in establishing a manufacturing facility in Gastonia. “Even amid unprecedented short-term challenges facing the global economy, advanced manufacturers remain eager to
invest in North Carolina because they know our business climate is conducive to their long-term success,” said Secretary Copeland. “North Carolina has the fifth largest manufacturing economy in the nation, a strong manufacturing workforce and a robust transportation network to support Dymax’s continued business growth.” Founded in 1980, Dymax Corporation is a leading
solutions provider of integrated rapid and light-cure formulations and equipment for the consumer and automotive electronics, aerospace, defense, and medical markets. Dymax provides unique solutions for their customers by developing a deep understanding of the challenges each customer faces. “Dymax is experiencing steady and significant growth, and our expansion from our Northeast roots into North Carolina opens See DYMAX, Page 2
Governor Cooper tightens social distancing measures Linda Quinlan and Shirley Thompson returned a little chair adorned in hundreds of buttons to Lib Stewart which had been on loan to the NC Auxiliary Department Headquarters in Raleigh. Photos Linda Quinlan of the BlueCross BlueShield company’s campaign promoting breast cancer awareness. That chair was auctioned off and the $25,000 winning bid proceeds were donated to North Carolina research. Edenton ALA Unit 40 donated the replica chair to Lib. In
1999-2000, the 80th birthday of the organization, the American Legion Auxiliary boasted nearly 1,000,000 members. In Lib Stewart’s President’s message from the May 2000 ALA National News Magazine, she wrote See LIB, Page 6
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Governor Roy Cooper addressed the spread of COVID19 by issuing stronger social distancing requirements and speeding up the process to get benefits to people out of work through Executive Order No. 131. Three key areas are addressed in Executive Order 131. The first requires retail stores that are still operating to implement new social distancing policies to make shopping safer for customers and employees. The second makes earlier COVID-19
guidelines mandatory for nursing facilities and recommends other long-term care facilities to do the same. The third area is unemployment benefits, issuing changes that will speed up certain benefit payments to those who are out of work. “North Carolina continues to take strong action to slow the spread of COVID-19, and today’s Order will help make stores safer, protect those living and working in nursing homes, and get more unemployment benefits out
quicker. Our state is resilient, and we will get through this crisis together if we all do our part,” said Governor Cooper. Policies for Social Distancing in Retail Stores This Order offers clear requirements that essential businesses must implement in order to safeguard the health of customers and employees. Some of the directives include: • Setting limits of how many people can be in a store at one time, 5 people See MEASURES, Page 2
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703 E. Kings St., Suite 9, Kings Mountain • www.BakerDentalCare.com