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Volume 130 • Issue 20
kmherald.com • 704-739-7496
May 16, 2018
TED ALEXANDER
CHRIS GASH
KELLY HASTINGS
EDDIE HOLBROOK
75¢
PATRICK McHENRY
5 May Primary winners Move on to Nov. 6 election
Chad Gunter will graduate Saturday from Grace Academy, starting Kindergarten there 13 years ago when the school was organized. A total of 140 students from K-3-12 are now enro lled. Photo by LIB STEWART
Eddie Holbrook, Chris Gash, Ted Alexander, Rep. Kelly Hastings and US Rep. Patrick McHenry were the big winners among 22 candidates in the May 8 Primary and now move on to the November general election where they face opposition. Incumbent Eddie Holbrook and Chris Gash defeated Todd McIntosh
during the Democratic primary in Cleveland County with Gash, a newcomer to politics, securing the highest number of votes. Gash received 3,094 or 43.86 percent and Holbrook received 2,114 or 29.97 percent of the votes. McIntosh received 1,846 or 26.97 percent of the vote as a light turnout of people went to the polls. Holbrook has served as
county commissioner for 12 years and is currently chairman of the board. In 2011 Gash was the youngest politician elected in Cleveland County and served as mayor pro tem in his hometown in Kingstown where he is pastor of New Zion Baptist Church and a former employee of the Department of Social Services having See WINNERS, Page 7A
Chad Gunter Jr. beat the odds and graduates Saturday ELIZABETH STEWART lib.kmherald@gmail.com
By the Grace of God and the love of his adoring parents and sister, Chad Eric Gunter Jr., 18, affectionately called “Wiggles,” will receive his high school diploma Saturday, a feat that no one ever dreamed he could accomplish. Chad was born July 15, 1999 with Down Syndrome and his parents, Robin and Chad Eric Gunter Sr., were given little hope from doctors that Chad would talk and walk or go to school. Those people should see
him now. Chad has sent out 200 invitations to his graduation. “I don’t want gifts, I just want my friends to come.” Doors opened for Chad when Stephanie and Rev. Mike Chambers founded Hope Christian Academy, now Grace Academy, 13 years ago. Chad’s parents enrolled him in kindergarten and Tim Barrett was principal. Chad had been attending Pre-School in Gastonia. Chad’s remarkable story is his sister Shannon’s love story too. Shannon is 18 years older than her brother. She graduated Kings Moun-
tain High School in 2000 and her brother was a baby. Shannon quit her office job and started back to school with her little brother. Every day she accompanied “Wiggles” to Grace Academy for 13 years. “I am so proud of him and I hope he can go further in his education.’’ And if there is other special training for a special student Shannon will go with her brother to class every day. Shannon and her husband, Bruce Messer, have two little ones: Shalee, 5, and Waylon, 5. Her Mom See GUNTER, Page 7A
Teachers will get raises: Moore Teachers in Cleveland County and all over North Carolina will receive an a v e r a g e TIM MOORE $4,412 raise between 2017 and 2019 as the state placed top-2 in the U. S. for fastest rising educator salaries twice over that period, part of a teacher appreciation agenda in the state General Assembly that delivered five consecutive pay raises to educators since
2014. North Carolina House Speaker Tim Moore (R-Cleveland) released key factors demonstrating the state legislature’s commitment to educators on National Teacher Appreciation Day. While salaries have increased as much as 48% for thousands of teachers, a number of new bonus programs are also increasing educator pay in North Carolina. Moore said. “When we peel back the political rhetoric on teacher pay, the facts indicate North Carolina educators received considerable gains in com-
pensation for the incredible work they do in our schools,’’ Moore added. “In the N. C. House, we prioritize every child’s education with the goal of results that improve student performance. With five consecutive years of higher salaries for teachers, families can expect a better education from North Carolina schools, ’Moore said. The Speaker announced these key facts on teacher pay in North Carolina. • In 2018 a fifth consecutive pay raise will be provided to North Carolina teachers. See TEACHERS Page 7A
Motorists pay more at the pumps Motorists may pay more at the pumps this summer in part due to the White House’s decision to re-impose sanctions on Iran. At $2.87, the national gas price average jumped six
cents on the week. Motorists are seeing 19 percent of gas stations selling gas for $3.01 or more. Today’s national average is 16-cents more expensive than one month ago and 53-cents more than one year ago. Pump prices have jumped across the Carolinas as well. North Carolina’s average
($2.70) is up three cents on the week and South Carolina’s $2.57 is up two cents on the week. Today’s NC average is 50-cents more than a year ago, while SC’s average is 56-cents more than last year. “The Administration’s move combined with the See PUMP, Page 7A
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Twenty-two Kings Mountain High School students also studied at Cleveland Community College this year and participated in the college finals exercises. Photo submitted
22 KMHS students in CCC finals Twenty-two Kings Mountain High School students completed courses at Cleveland Community College and were eligible to participate in recent graduation exercises at the college. Bailey Bennett, Ian Bishop, Samuel Etters, Collin Franks, Nathan Lease, Rafael Miranda-Perez, Timothy McRae Moore, Katherine Pittman, McKenzie
Pullen, Jada Roberts, Frank Stump, Steven Tomberlin and Travis Wright completed Criminal Justice Technology. Mechanical Drafting Engineering graduates were Collin Briggs, Zanden Cox, Caleb Mayes and Hunter Cabaniss. Michael Brown and Thomas Edwards completed Basic Welding Technology.
Fire Protection Technology graduates were Jonathan Clucas, Caleb Smith and Joshua Sheffield. Justin Watkins, Andrew Gibbs, Clayton Dodgen, and James Tucker Carroll completed n Mechanical Drafting Technology. Richard Brackett completed basic Welding Technology.
Dramatic drop in crime rate Not a matter of good luck Clevel a n d County has experienced a dramatic d r o p across several SHERIFF importNORMAN ant crime indices, Sheriff Alan Norman says. But he adds, “This is not just a matter of good luck. Rather, it is the result of a well-constructed, multi-faceted plan to address crime in our county. The various divisions of our agency work extremely well together to target crime. Each brings different abilities to the fight against crime. There is not one single initiative that has led to
the reduction in crime in our county, but several programs. Additionally, citizens who are well-educated about crime prevention and always alert, prove to be powerful allies in our fight against criminals. ‘’ Upon first taking office, Sheriff Norman immediately rebranded the agency’s Interstate Criminal Enforcement team to the Community Interdiction Team. The respective names communicate the intent of each. While the ICE team was tasked with finding drugs as they traveled through Cleveland County’s ten-mile stretch of Interstate 85, the team that replaced it was focused on criminal predators in our neighborhoods. Instead of the unit working a remote area of our county, looking for passers-through, they now
concentrate on quality of life issues that face our citizens at home. CIT conducts numerous presentations on Crime Prevention, empowering residents with knowledge. There are a few tips that can tremendously help citizens to avoid being the victims of crime: • Always lock your doors and windows • Lock your vehicle doors and don’t leave valuables inside • Don’t let strangers into your home • Keep your residence well-lit, inside and out • Record make, model and serial number information for all of your valuables • Take photographs of your valuables, particularly See DROP, Page 7A
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703 E. Kings St., Suite 9, Kings Mountain • www.BakerDentalCare.com