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Volume 138 • Issue 21
Wednesday, May 27, 2026
kmherald.com • 704-484-1047
75¢
Graduation ceremony for KMHS Class of 2026 will be held on Saturday, May 30 at 9 AM at Gamble Stadium. In case of inclement weather, the ceremony will be held in Barnes Auditorium. A special keepsake graduation section will be in next week’s KM Herald (June 3). (Photo by TPS Photography)
View of the camp from the observation tower. (Photos by Alan Hodge)
New summer camp near Kings Mountain mixes fun with faith By Alan Hodge Fun. Friendship. Faith. Fresh air. Those are the ingredients that make the new Upper Crowders Springs summer camp near Kings Mountain a place where memories that will last a lifetime will be born. The camp is located at 413 Misty Lane just off Archie Whitesides Rd. near Crowders Mountain State Park. The camp is the newest addition to the summer camp group that includes nearby Lower Crowders Springs, Crowders Ridge, and South Mtns. Christian Camp near Bostic. Upper Crowders opened May 25 for its inaugural season. It is situated on 57 acres nestled next to the state park and even though it’s only a couple of miles from US74, the ambience is pastoral. The camps are overseen by founder and executive director Jay Oliver who is a former youth pastor. Oliver credits his own summer camp experience as a kid for hatching the Crowders Camps idea. “I remember staying in a cabin and jumping in a lake,” he said. “I wanted to recreate some of that old time nostalgia. The vision is to also ignite sparks of hope in this generation and beyond.” The new camp’s layout features a large concrete pool and fountain fed by a deep well. There’s a huge metal building called The Hub where meetings and programs will be held. There is a nice snack bar building. Basketball, volleyball, and gagaball courts are set up and
One of the very nice 12’x44’ cabins that campers will be staying in. (Photos by Alan Hodge)
KMHS 2026 Graduation to be held Saturday, May 30 By Allison Parker
Commencement exercises for the 311 seniors in the Kings Mountain High School Graduating Class of 2026 will be held on Saturday, May 30, at 9 a.m. in Gamble Stadium on the KMHS campus. In the event of inclement weather, the ceremony will be moved indoors to KMHS Barnes Auditorium. While the road these students have traveled together began in first grade for some and more recently for others, they have consistently faced decisions and held themselves to ambitious goals. Throughout their journey, they have rejoiced in accomplishments and remained loyal in supporting those facing defeat. The final countdown to the milestone begins earlier this week. Seniors will meet on Thursday, May 28 and Friday, May 29 for graduation practice ceremonies and the traditional senior breakfast to prepare for the big day.
Feeding Kids Cleveland County: Summer 1 Delivery May 30
Even though this photo was made at Crowders Ridge camp, the kids and adults who spend time at the other sites will be having the same great time this summer. (Photo provided) ready for action. Looming over the whole scene is a 65’ wooden observation tower that will feature a slide down to the pool. The tower offers stunning views of Crowders Mountain and the surrounding countryside. A wooden
dock and lounging area span the pool. Another cool camp feature will be a 400’ zip line. “We will also have paint ball, archery, and laser tag,” Olive said. “We keep the campers busy.” See CAMP, Page 5A
Feeding Kids Cleveland County is serving 312 families this summer and need approximately 70-75 volunteer teams to make this happen three times this summer (May 30, June 27 and July 25). Please consider helping deliver to families in need this Saturday, May 30, 2026. It will only take about 1-1.5 hours of your time and will make a BIG difference in the lives of 312 families in Cleveland County. You will need to provide your own delivery team and transportation. All teams must have someone 18 or older on the team. Please only have one member of your team signup and have that person indicate how many people will be on your team. You will need a SUV, Truck, or Van to deliver because of the size of this delivery. You will have 3-6 boxes of food plus fresh food bags to deliver. Boxes weigh approximately 35 lbs. and a member of your team will need to lift them. If this is your first time delivering, please bring at least
Counselor Jill Cruise has watched this group grow and refine their skills over the years, noting their unique resilience in a shifting academic landscape. "This group of students are true advocates for their own success," said Cruise. "Whether it is in the classroom, on the athletic field, or preparing for their future careers and college, they have shown an incredible talent for balancing high school life with professional growth. While college costs continue to increase, this specific group has been remarkably proactive in finding sources of funding on a level beyond other graduating classes. That drive to secure their own futures really sets them apart." A key part of that preparation has been the students' ability to look beyond the high school walls. Many have utilized Career and Technical Education (CTE) pathways and Career & College Promise (CCP) opportunities through Cleveland Commu-
nity College to get a head start on their next chapters. As they toss their hats as a symbol of finishing this chapter of their lives, they will step into their futures with the collective wish from peers, parents, and teachers that the future is bright and they are successful. Leaving the Class of 2026 with her final words of wisdom, KMHS Guidance Counselor Jill Cruise said, "Make good decisions; you all are aware of which decisions are right." Although this class remains united in spirit, their innate talents and diverse pursuits will now lead each one into different paths toward their own unique accomplishments. As the academic saying goes, "Diversity is the art of thinking independently together," and the Class of 2026 is a testament to the strength found in that variety. A special Keepsake Graduate section will be in next week’s (June 3) KM Herald.
KMHS Graduation practice and ceremony procedures Graduation practice will be held Thursday and Friday, May 28–29 at 8:30 AM on the football field. Attendance is mandatory for all seniors. Please dress comfortably and be on time. Graduation Ceremony Saturday, May 30 • Seniors must report to campus by 7:30 AM • Ceremony begins at 9:00 AM Please do NOT be late. one other adult with you! Please do not sign up if you have any doubt about showing up for delivery day. Our families are counting on us for this food. If you back out or do not show up, children will not have food. Picking up the food will be done in shifts. You will be assigned a 10-minute shift to pick up your food from the Feeding Kids space at Mt. Calvary Community Life Center. Deliveries will take place on May 30, 2026 from 8:30-1:00. You will be given your exact time by end of day, May 28. If you do not receive a confirmation email with your time
Graduation Dress Code: • Black pants • Black shoes • White collared shirt with tie • Dresses worn below the gown must be black Only school-issued cords, medals, and stoles may be worn. Caps may not be decorated. For questions, please contact Mrs. Wilson, Mrs. Messer, or Mrs. Raza-Spearman by 6:00pm on May 28, email Tabatha at cokert2@gmail.com to let her know. Deliveries start at Feeding Kids Cleveland County building located at the Mt. Calvary Community Life Center (NOT Mt Calvary Baptist Church), 1205 Northside Drive, Shelby, NC 28150. Please contact Mallory Brown with any other questions, info@feedingkidscc.org or visit their website at www. feedingkidscc.org Feeding Kids Cleveland County is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with a simple but powerful dream: no child in our commu-
nity should go hungry.
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