Be sure to pick up next week’s (June 6) Graduation Edition Volume 130 • Issue 22
kmherald.com • 704-739-7496
May 30, 2018
Baccalaureate Sunday at KMHS
Frederick charged in baby’s death Garrett Clay Frederick, 24, of 127 Galilee Church Road, has been charged with first degree murder in the death of 7-month-old Damion Bell he was baby-sitting May 20. According to the Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office, Frederick was watching the child while his mother, Brittany Bell, and her boyfriend J a m e s Locust went out to dinner last SunFREDERICK day night. When the couple returned Frederick reportedly told them something was wrong with the baby, but he did not call for help and when the couple called 911 Frederick fled. At approximately 9:10 p.m. Cleveland County Sheriff’s deputies responded to 126 Ferguson Drive, Kings Mountain, to assist medical workers with a cardiac arrest call. Deputies arrived before EMS to find a mother performing CPR on her baby. Deputies continued CPR until EMS arrived a few minutes later. Bell and Locust told deputies they had only been gone about 35 minutes and that Frederick, an acquaintance, had been at the residence since earlier that afternoon. Damion was transported to Carolinas Healthcare System- Kings Mountain where doctors restored the child’s pulse and breathing. Damion was airlifted to Levine Children’s Hospital in Charlotte where doctors found trauma-related injuries and determined if the baby survived he would likely be brain-dead, according to the press release from the Sheriff’s office. At 4:01 a.m. Tuesday, May 22, Damion died. Frederick was arrested at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday at 157 Galilee church Road, Kings Mountain, after an intensive manhunt, according to the Sheriff who said that while Frederick is from the Galilee community residents of the community said he has not been staying in one location for very long. He was also wanted for outstanding probation violation warrants in Buncombe county, indicating he had ties to other areas of the state, the Sheriff said.
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Kings Mountain High unveiled over $200,000 weight room equipment last week. For more photos see page 1B.
Commencement exercises for 270 Kings Mountain High School graduating seniors will begin Sunday, June 2 with the baccalaureate service at 7 p.m. in B. N. Barnes Auditorium and end on Saturday, June 9, with finals exercises at 9 a.m. in John Gamble Stadium. Rev. Robert Craig, Pastor of Youth and Children at David Baptist Church, will deliver the baccalaureate sermon on the topic, “An
Anchor that drives us” from Hebrews 12:1-3. Several graduating seniors will assist in prayer, music and scripture readings. Special music will be presented by the Symphonic Chorale under the direction of Mrs. Sarah E. Fulton. Catherine Holland will play the prelude and postlude for the service. See BACCALAUREATE, Page 7A
Local pastor’s book brings history alive ‘’Stories about people bring history alive,’’ says Rev. Dale Swofford, Kings Mountain native whose new book, “Going’ South’’” is published this month. Swofford gives credit to God for the inspiration for the book which was written through laughter and tears and first started some years ago. “I started writing in Kings Mountain when I was driving back and forth to Hood Theological Seminary in Salisbury in 2004 and shared copies of four chapters with my professors who said they couldn’t wait to read the ending,’’ said Swofford, former pastor of Grace United Methodist Church and son of Ruth and Roy Swofford of Kings Mountain. Last year Swofford expanded the story and the book will be on the Amazon shelves this month. He will also be in Kings Mountain for a book signing on July 4th. The story is told through the eyes of a young black boy who never witnessed discrimination but while it is fiction it is based on
Rev. Dale Swofford historical facts. “Goin’ South’’ lays bare the viciousness of bigotry and the evil that man can do to man while still holding hope that trust and belief in God may change the dark vitriol and fear that some hold in their hearts against others of different color to peace and good will without regard to the color of a man’s skin.
The 12-year-old goes to visit his grandparents in Birmingham, Ala. in 1963 and experiences racism, hatred and prejudice. He was there with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and was in the group of protestors locked up in animal stalls. His journey took him to Washington, DC where he heard the “I Have A Dream” speech. The book
is illustrated by 15-year-old Myla Athitang, a freshman at Kings Mountain High School. She also painted the cover. Swofford said he inherited his love of history from his great grandfather Grier McDaniel who told him stories about the Battle of Kings Mountain. His book is laced with historical facts along with fictional story of a young boy. Swofford is writing two more books: “Colonial Patriot” and “Gold” and both are fiction but contain historical content. “Colonial Patriot” is the story of a young boy growing up in the hills of Pennsylvania in colonial times. He strikes out on his own at age 16. The great Wagon Road brings him to Salem, NC. He spends the winter with the Cherokee Indians. He joins the Allentown Settlement in Jonesville and meets with Cleveland and fights in the Battle of Kings Mountain. He has outlined a third book, “Gold” which recounts the first gold rush in America in California and the first gold discovered at Kings Creek, SC
and mined at Kings Mountain Mining Co. in 1961, and thee US Governments ’opening of a mint in Charlotte which is now the Mint Museum.is ne “I hated History in school,’’ says Swofford, adding, the dates were not important as the stories of people.” Swofford’s goal is to volunteer and share history with history classes. Swofford graduated from Crest High School, earned his B. A. degree from UNC at Charlotte and his Master of Divinity from Hood Theological Seminary. He is married to Karen Marie Black Swofford and they have two sons, Christopher, 22, and Benjamin, 17, a junior at Crest High School. They live near Boiling Springs.
Speaker Tim Moore visits the White House
See DEATH, Page 7A
N. C. House Speaker Tim Moore is pictured with President Donald Trump at a conference for House Speakers at the White House in Washington, DC. (Special to the Herald)
North Carolina House Speaker Tim Moore (R-Cleveland) joined his colleagues from across the country at the White House last Monday for a State House Speaker’s Conference. The White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs hosted the country’s state House and Assembly Speakers for briefings on President Trump’s policy initiatives from senior administration officials. “I appreciate the White House’s outreach to state governments and support of our citizens in North Carolina and across the United States,’’ said Moore. The meetings connected state House Speakers with federal officials to improve
intergovernmental collaboration among state, local and federal agencies. Attendees joined President Trump to celebrate NASCAR Cup Series Champion Martin Truex and his team at the White House on Monday afternoon following the conference. “Thanks to President Trump and Vice-President Pence for the opportunity to share idea s among state legislative leaders and work t together for the success of our constituents,’’ Moore said. He added, “Our nation is fortunate to have leaders focused on the prosperity of our people who are working hard to make a living, raise a family and realize the American dream.”
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