Students will experience history like never before in this fully immersive, 360-degree theatrical event – where learning comes alive through sight, sound, movement and emotion. This is more than a field trip! It is a dynamic, multimodal learning experience designed to engage every type of learner and leave a lasting impression.
Liberty Mountain, by playwright Robert (Bob) Inman, brings the powerful story of the Battle of Kings Mountain to life right here in our own community –connecting students directly to the land, thepeople and the legacy of this pivotal moment in local and national history. Through live performance, students will engage with history in a deeply meaningful way, experiencing the sights of battle, thesounds of live music, the intensity of storytelling, and the emotional weight of real historical events.
This groundbreaking production features state-ofthe-art projection technology, live music, immersive staging and thrilling battle sequences that place students at the center of the action. By combiningvisual, auditory, and kinesthetic elements, the performance supports diverse learning styles and helps students build deeper connections to historical content.
Following the performance, students will extend their learning through an interactive Q&A session with actors and members
of the Creative Team – offering a unique opportunity to reflect, ask questions and explore the creative and historical process behind the production.
This is more than just a show – it is an unforgettable educational journey that connects curriculum to community, sparks curiosity and inspires a lifelong love of learning.
There are twelve chances to secure this experience for your students in 2026: 2026 SCHOOL PERFORMANCE DATES
Tuesdays, September 22 and 29, 2026 at 9:30 AM & 11:30 AM
The full experience is open for any age and school group. It lasts 60 minutes and is hosted at the Joy Theatre in Kings Mountain with nearby bus parking and lunch options available.
Student tickets are only $5!
For more information, contact Jim Champion, General Manager: Contact Jim: (704) 6922897 | jim@kmlt.org More About The Show: www. LibertyMountainDrama. com
Liberty Mountain is produced by Kings Mountain Little Theatre, Inc., with Gilbert and Jancy Patrick as the Founding Sponsor
Second Saturday Movies at Joy Theatre on May 9
Presenting sponsor, Align Chiropractic, in association with KM Forward and The Joy Theatre, invites you to the Second Saturday Movies at the Joy, featuring The LEGO Batman, on Saturday Morning.
Bring the kiddos and their friends out for a great morning on Saturday, May 9, at 10:30 AM, at 202 S. Railroad Avenue in Kings Mountain! Attendees receive FREE popcorn and soft drink. Other offerings are available for purchase at the concession stand.
Presenting sponsors for the series include 133 West, Coldwell Banker Mountain View Real Estate, Align Chiropractic, Gutter Guys, Inc., and Farm Bureau Insurance - Heather Siak.
Supporting Sponsorships include Social House by Royal T, Harris Funeral Home, Inc., Ronald's Ga-
rage, Mountaineer Motors, Bridges Hardware, Cindy Souza Real Estate, Foothills Iron Works, Darrell L. Keller, CPA, PA, The Imperial Mercantile, Ingram’s Barber Shop, Bank OZK, Foothills Historic Preservation, Kings Mountain Family Dentistry, Dellinger's Jewel Shop, Inc., Community Bank, Jolly Realty, C & C Heating, Cooling and Insulation, LLC, Hometown Hardware, ScissorSmith & Co. Salon, Edward JonesJack Buchanan, Southern Arts Society, Inc., 133 West, Coldwell Banker Mountain View Real Estate, CRAVE Hot Dogs and BBQ, Trackview Hall, Kings Mountain RV Resort, Align Chiropractic, Gutter Guys, Inc., and Farm Bureau Insurance - Heather Siak.
Everyone is welcome to join this great FREE event for the whole family!
KMPD joins Road To Hope Shelby to honor fallen officers
They will cycle approximately 700 miles from the
Their commitment reflects the very best of our families, and carrying forward the memory of heroes. recaps and reflections from the road.
CCC breaks ground on highly anticipated Beam Student Center
Cleveland Community College marked a historic milestone on Friday, May 1, with a ceremonial groundbreaking for its longawaited student center, a transformative project designed to centralize and enhance services for students across campus.
The new facility, to be named the Beam Student Center in recognition of a landmark $3 million gift from Don and Carla Beam, the largest single donation in the College’s history, will serve as a hub for student success. The 43,000 square-foot building will bring together essential services including admissions, advising, registration, financial aid, and other wraparound supports, all under one roof.
“For years, student services have been spread across campus—admissions, advising, financial aid, payments, TRIO, and Continuing Education all in
different locations—making it harder than it should be for students to find what they need,” said Dr. Jason Hurst, president of Cleveland Community College.
“The Beam Student Center will enhance the student experience from start to finish, helping us remove barriers, strengthen community, and support persistence so more students can reach their goals.”
In addition to the Beam family’s historic contribution, several other donors were recognized for their generosity and lasting impact. Steve and Micki Padgett have named the Career Center within the building, while David and Melissa White have named the Executive Conference Room. Because construction of
the Beam Student Center is fully funded by the North Carolina General Assembly, these private donations will be used to support student scholarships.
The ceremony drew a wide range of attendees, including state and local officials, members of the College’s Board of Trustees, county commissioners and former commissioners, former Trustees, faculty and staff, and community donors. The College was also honored by the presence of its first president, Dr. James Petty. Dr. Hurst emphasized that the new building represents more than a physical structure, it reflects a See CCC, Page 5A
CCC President Dr. Jason Hurst welcomes the crowd of about 100 people to the groundbreaking ceremony. (Photos provided)
CCC President Dr. Jason Hurst, Representative Kelly Hastings, Senator Ted Alexander, Representative Paul Scott, and CCC Board of Trustees Chair Allen Langley pose with a check representing the funding allocated by the North Carolina General Assembly to construct the Beam Student Center.
KMPD - Road To Hope Shelby, will cycle approximately 700 miles. (photo/KMPD FB)
■ OBITUARIES
Jessie Leland Meacham
KINGS MOUNTAIN, NC – Jessie Leland Meacham, 80, of Kings Mountain, NC passed away on May 1, 2026.
Born on January 9, 1946, Leland was a lifelong resident of the Kings Mountain area. He dedicated many years of his life to his work as a skilled welder, retiring from Freightliner. Following his retirement, he continued serving his community through the North Carolina Department of Commerce, Welcome Center I-85 South, where he retired as well and enjoyed meeting people from all walks of life.
Leland proudly served his country as a member of the Army National Guard with the 505th Engineering Battalion in Kings Mountain, from which he later retired. His faith was a cornerstone of his life, and he was a devoted member of Patterson Grove Baptist Church.
Leland deeply loved his grandchildren and took great pride in them, treasuring every moment spent together and the joy they brought into his life. He was a devoted husband who made it a point to check on Sheryl whenever she was away from home, always calling to make sure she was safe. He stayed closely connected to his family, calling his children and grandchildren daily to remind them how much he loved them.
Even during his illness, Leland’s concern remained for others. He would say to each of them, “Make sure you call me if you need anything.” And they did, because he was always there, ready to help, never hesitating to give his time, his strength, and his love.
Leland will be remembered for his strong work
ethic, his unwavering devotion to his family, and his steadfast faith. His presence will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.
“Well done, good and faithful servant.”
He is survived by his loving wife of 46 years, Sheryl Brodnax Meacham; his children, Michelle Kaylor Sherwood and her husband Todd of Shelby, NC and Chuck Kaylor and his spouse Glen Blount of Asheville, NC; and his cherished grandchildren, Eleyna Ledbetter and her spouse Austin of Gastonia, NC, and Andrew D’Angelo of Shelby, NC.
The family will receive friends on Wednesday, May 6, 2026 from 3:00 PM to 4:45 PM in the parlor of Harris Funeral Home. Military Honors will be rendered at 4:45 PM on the lawn of Harris Funeral Home
Guest register is available at: www.harrisfunerals.com.
Harris Funeral Home and Cremation Services , Kings Mountain, NC is in charge of arrangements.
Fourteenth case of rabies identified in Cleveland County
On April 30, 2026, the Cleveland County Health Department was notified of a skunk that tested positive for rabies. This is the fourteenth rabid animal case identified in the county this year. The animal was found on Gatewood Drive in Lawndale. Any person bitten or exposed to potentially infectious saliva from this animal should contact their healthcare provider or the local health department for a rabies risk assessment. You may contact the Cleveland County Health Department at 980-4845169 or 980-484-5100.
Rabies is a fatal yet preventable disease if post exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is administered.
Rabies is transmitted by the bite of an infected animal or via contamination of open wounds or mucus membranes with potentially infectious material such as saliva.
Prevention of rabies is based on protection of susceptible animals and people and appropriate management of persons and animals exposed to rabies:
1. Vaccinate pets. In accordance with NC State Law, all dogs, cats, and ferrets must be kept currently vaccinated against rabies and must wear a rabies tag. Cats are the most commonly identified domestic animal with rabies.
2. Control measures for pets exposed to rabies: If pets are exposed to rabies, they should receive a booster dose of rabies vaccine if they are currently vaccinated at the time of exposure. If pets are not currently vaccinated against rabies when exposed, the animals will be euthanized or quarantined for six months in accordance with state law.
3. Control measures for persons exposed to rabies:
Sunday’s Cookin at Bynum Chapel May 17
Sunday’s Cookin will be held at Bynum Chapel Family Life center on Sunday, May 17, 11 AM-3:30 PM.
Cost is $20 per person for 2 meats and 2 sides, including roll, drink and dessert. $10 per child (10 years and under), includes 1 meat and 2 sides, including roll, drink and dessert.
Menu consists of: fried chicken (fried by Doane’s Carolina Café), ham, turkey, mac & cheese, potato salad, rice and gravy, collard greens, broccoli casserole and green beans. Come and join them for the fellowship and good food. The church is located at 310 Ellis St., Kings Mountain.
Seek medical guidance from your healthcare provider or the local health department if you believe you have been exposed to rabies.
4. Limit stray and feral animals. In the cities of Shelby, Kings Mountain, Boiling Springs, and Grover all dogs must be kept on a leash. People should not approach stray or feral dogs or cats. Feral cat colonies should be intensively monitored, and their location reported to Cleveland County Animal Services.
5. Leave wildlife alone. Raccoons, skunks and other wildlife serve as the reservoir for rabies in North Carolina.
Rabies occurs throughout North Carolina. Anyone that sees an animal demonstrating unusual behavior should call Cleveland County Animal Services at 704-481-9884.
■ POLICE
KM ACCIDENT LOG
APRIL 20 – MAY 2, 2026
• April 20, 10:45 a.m. –
Phifer Road: Collision involving a 2010 military vehicle and a 2016 Chevrolet.
• April 20, 3:53 p.m. – US 74 at Watterson Street: Collision involving a 2021 Taih and a 2013 Chrysler.
• April 20, 6:00 p.m. – NC
161 at US 74: Collision involving a 2026 Ford and a 2009 Ford.
• April 20, 9:20 p.m. – Industrial Drive: Collision involving a 2015 Subaru and a 2018 Honda.
• April 21, 5:33 p.m. – 2111
Shelby Road: Single-vehicle incident involving a 2019 Nissan.
• April 21, 10:51 p.m. –Waco Road at Herdon Farm Road: Single-vehicle incident involving a 2012 Jeep.
• April 22, 10:07 p.m. –Waco Road at Patterson Road: Single-vehicle incident involving a 2007 Hyundai.
• April 23, 10:29 a.m. – NC 161 at Galilee Church Road: Single-vehicle incident involving a 2005 Mazda.
• April 23, 11:44 a.m. –Bennett Drive at Chestnut Street: Collision involving a 2011 Toyota and a 2018 Chevrolet.
• April 24, 8:37 a.m. – S. Sims Street at W. Gold Street: Collision involving a 2007 Honda and a 2023 Chevrolet.
• April 24, 12:05 p.m. – NC
161 at E. Gold Street: Hit-and-
run collision involving a 2007 Hyundai and a 2016 Chevrolet.
• April 24, 2:03 p.m. – E. Gold Street at Piedmont Avenue: Collision involving a 2014 Chrysler and a 2017 Mazda.
• April 24, 3:08 p.m. – 500 Phifer Road (PVA): Collision involving a 2017 Thomas bus and a 2020 Honda.
• April 26, 2:49 p.m. –Walmart (PVA): Collision involving a 2020 Jeep and a 2010 Dodge.
• April 26, 3:18 p.m. – NC 216 (Nick’s Country Store): Single-vehicle incident involving a 2010 Ford.
• April 26, 7:46 p.m. – 106 Holiday Inn Drive (PVA): Single-vehicle incident involving a 2004 Ford.
• April 27, 12:32 p.m. –Tom’s Family Mart (PVA): Collision involving a 2017 Toyota and a 2025 Ford.
• April 27, 1:16 p.m. – NC 161 at Slater Street: Collision involving a 2007 Acura and a 2021 Dodge.
• April 27, 1:30 p.m. – NC 216 at Gold Street: Collision involving a 2012 Toyota and a 2021 Nissan.
• April 27, 4:55
Clev. County Sheriff’s office investigation results in Detention Officer’s termination
The Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office received information from an inmate regarding possible misconduct involving Detention Officer David Todd Morrow. The Sheriff’s Office immediately initiated both a criminal and internal investigation. David Morrow was suspended pending the outcome of the investigations.
The internal investigation concluded with Morrow’s termination on April 22, 2026. The findings from the criminal investigation were presented to a grand jury on April 27, 2026, and a True Bill of Indictment was returned on April 28, 2026.
David Morrow was arrested on April 29, 2026,
for Sexual Activity by a Custodian (True Bill of Indictment). His bond was set at $25,000 unsecured.
Morrow was originally hired on August 1, 2019, and was terminated on April 22, 2026.
The Sheriff’s Office holds its employees to the highest professional and ethical standards. Any conduct that violates the law or the trust placed in this agency is taken seri-
ously and addressed appropriately.
Sheriff Norman stated, “This type of allegation is concerning, and we are committed to ensuring accountability and transparency throughout the process. We will continue to cooperate with the judicial process.”
As this remains an active criminal matter, no further details will be released at this time.
Lack of NC budget may lead to panic in UNC college system
By Allyson Parker
In the midst of fiscal uncer-
tainty, the University of North Carolina (UNC) System is entering the Fall 2026 semester facing a historic problem. While enrollment has recently surged—as the state's public universities increased student numbers by 3.7% last fall— these institutions are currently navigating a combined funding gap totaling millions of dollars. Because North Carolina remains the only state in the nation without a finalized budget, institutions are being forced to self-fund thousands of new students without the state reimbursement amounts being disclosed. UNC System colleges have been reportedly feeling anxious due to this uncertainty. Without the specifics of anticipatory disbursements from the state, schools are being impacted by a default in operational stability. This, cou-
pled with looming budget cuts and a changing trend in student interest toward business and technical fields, has the potential to place financial aid in a state of despair. Without the state reimbursement amounts being disclosed, individual campuses are left in a state of financial paralysis. According to recent impact statements from the North Carolina Office of State Budget and Management, university administrators are unable to guarantee the replenishment of need-based aid pools or the expansion of student support services. This fiscal limbo forces institutions to operate on a "continuing resolution" basis, which limits their ability to offer new scholarships or longterm financial commitments to incoming students who are already struggling with the rising cost of living.
Adding to this pressure is the tuition increase recently
passed by the UNC Board of Governors on February 26, 2026—the first hike for instate residents in nearly a decade. As reported by The News & Observer, this increase is contributing to the fear that universities may lose even more ground if the eventual state budget does not allocate funding to incorporate these rising costs. For some campuses, the answer to this financial conundrum is to eliminate undergraduate programs entirely. With an increasing trend of student interest in business and technical fields and a shift away from the liberal arts, the resulting ramification is the closure of specialized programs, leading to a perceived loss of academic diversity across the state. One prominent example of this political deadlock’s direct effect is the UNC-Chapel Hill campus, which is currently navigating a reduction plan involving millions in cuts. While the uni-
versity has not yet eliminated the Art and Philosophy majors, these programs are under intense scrutiny as the administration consolidates academic centers and strips funding from the humanities. The decision to close various area studies centers earlier this year highlights a shift toward prioritizing administrative efficiency over specialized academic hubs. The effects at East Carolina University (ECU) are even more severe. Following a systemic academic program productivity review that gained momentum in late 2025 and was cemented by the system-wide Workforce Alignment Report in February 2026, the university reached a breaking point. By April 28, 2026, ECU officials formally announced that dozens of programs had become the focus of potential elimination to bridge a deficit of millions. This "audit" mentality serves as a sobering preview of what
may happen to other liberal arts programs across the state if the budget deadlock continues.
Gardner-Webb University (GWU), being a private institution, has decided to cope with the issues at hand differently. Currently considering the burden of unallocated funding and the liberal arts class eliminations occurring elsewhere, GWU has been proactive in using these issues to the private sector's advantage. University communications indicate that the school has the ability to use its own endowments, which lessens the need to wait on North Carolina’s state funding budgets. Furthermore, the university has incorporated the liberal arts as an integral part of being diversified and well-rounded in an educational environment. With a low student-to-professor ratio, they are positioning themselves as a stable haven for those seeking the personalized mentorship that is
disappearing from larger, public campuses.
Perhaps the most permanent cost, however, is the human one. As documented by The Daily Tar Heel, this legislative dreadlock is triggering a wave of faculty resignations, as veteran professors—more versed in their materials and traditional academic rigor— seek positions in states with more stable funding. In their place, universities are increasingly relying on adjunct and interim professors to fill the gaps. For the Fall 2026 student, the management of their education now involves navigating a landscape of rising costs, disappearing majors, and a decline in the mentor-driven environment that defines a true university experience.
High schools to conduct graduation ceremonies for Class of 2026
More than 2,100 seniors to receive their diploma from Gaston County Schools
Graduation for Gaston County Schools is Friday, May 22, and ten high schools will conduct ceremonies that day to present diplomas to the Class of 2026. This year, more than 2,100 seniors will graduate from Gaston County Schools.
High school graduation is a well-planned, formal ceremony intended to highlight the seniors in the Class of 2026 as each student receives his or her diploma.
Ashbrook, Bessemer City, Cherryville, Stuart W. Cra-
mer, East Gaston, Forestview, Highland, Hunter Huss, North Gaston, and South Point will hold graduation on Friday, May 22 at 6:00 p.m. The ceremonies will be held outdoors in the stadium with the exception of Highland – the Highland ceremony will be held in the school’s auditorium. In the event of inclement weather, the outdoor ceremonies will be held indoors.
In addition to ceremonies at the 10 traditional high schools, ceremonies will be held for five other schools with a graduating class.
The Gaston Early College High School ceremony will be held on Tuesday, May 19 at 3:00 p.m. in the Myers Center at Gaston College in Dallas; the Gaston Early College of Medi-
cal Sciences ceremony follows at 6:00 p.m.
Graduation for the Gaston Virtual Academy, Webb Street School, and Warlick Academy takes place on Wednesday, May 20. The Gaston Virtual Academy ceremony is at 9:00 a.m. in the Myers Center at Gaston College in Dallas. The Webb Street ceremony is at 11:00 a.m. in the school’s gymnasium, and the Warlick
ceremony is at 2:00 p.m. in the school’s gymnasium.
Superintendent of Schools
Morgen A. Houchard stated, “Graduation is a special time for our seniors in the Class of 2026 to celebrate their achievements in academics, athletics, the fine arts, extra-curricular activities, volunteer and community service, and other areas.
The Board of Education joins me in congratulating our grad-
uates and extending our best wishes to them for continued success and prosperity as they have a bright and promising future ahead of them.”
Tickets for Graduation
Each school will communicate with students/families about the number of graduation entry tickets that will be allotted for each senior. Anyone with questions about tickets should contact the school office.
Safety at Graduation All high schools have a comprehensive safety plan for graduation, and school officials have spent time working with local law enforcement to ensure that graduation is an enjoyable experience for everyone in attendance. To ensure safety, the following procedures will be in place: See GRADUATION, Page 7A
OPINION
Pieces of Kings Mountain History
As a member of the Col. Frederick Hambright DAR chapter, I have a strong interest in the Battle of Kings Mountain. Ida Pauline Neisler was the first Regent of our chapter in 1916; her half-sister, Bonnie Eloise Mauney Summers, was the first chapter historian. Growing up in Kings Mountain during the 1960’s and 1970’s resulted in my love for the history of this community and its people. I remember reading Bonnie Summers’s works on the forefathers of our city and trying to imagine what life in Kings Mountain was like in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
I wasn’t sure why these ladies chose to form our DAR chapter that year, but I knew they had hoped to name it the “Kings Mountain Chapter” or the “Kings Mountain Battle Chapter,” though the name was already taken by an existing DAR Chapter in York, SC. So, they decided to name the chapter for Col. Frederick Hambright, “because six Charter members were of lineal descent,” and because they considered him to be “one of the bravest officers in the battle.”
I stumbled across a pamphlet at the Library of Congress online entitled “Battle at King’s Mountain Proposed Centennial Celebration, October 7, 1880”. To my surprise, I realized that the individuals who conceived the idea of a centennial celebration were from the City of Kings Mountain. Imagine that! Just five years after the city received its charter on February 11,
1874, our citizens became the catalyst for the 1880 celebration of the Battle of Kings Mountain. While reading the program, I found the following passage. I have taken the liberty of using the gentlemen’s full names when I knew them. “A meeting of the citizens of Kings Mountain and vicinity, on Saturday, May 24th, 1879, to take the initiatory steps towards the celebration of the centennial of the battle of Kings Mountain. Dr. James Wright Tracy was called to the chair; Isaac Walton Garrett and William Andrew Mauney were appointed secretaries.” Others noted in the meeting were Capt. William T. Reilley Bell, Dr. Benjamin Franklin Dixon, P.S. Baker, Dr. T.J. Walker, F.S. McGinnis, and R. S. Sugg.”
A second meeting was planned for July 25, 1879, at which the King’s Mountain Centennial Association was formed. The Executive Committee included the names of Governors of Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. Committees on “Invitations and Correspondence”, “Ways and Means”, “Historical Records and Relics”, “Monument”, “Troops”, “Police”, and “Transportation” were formed. It is obvious that the planners of this event knew that in order to be successful, influential men of means from across the region would be needed to bring their goal to reality. It was at that moment that I realized that the apple didn’t fall far from the tree. Ida Pauline Mauney Neisler and Bonnie Eloise Mauney Summers, two charter members of the Col. Frederick Hambright Chapter,
were following in the footsteps of their father, William Andrew Mauney, who made a great effort to honor those who sacrificed much for liberty at the Battle of Kings Mountain. The other charter members of our chapter, and every new member since, join to honor those who came before and won for us, as Thomas Jefferson said, “the seal of our Independence.”
In a Report submitted by the Library Committee, Senate Report 557, Sixtieth Congress, First Session, Mr. Swanson reported: “It was a battle in which there was not a regular soldier of the American Army, but was fought solely by the people of a few States who helped to create the country and to win its independence.”
It humbles me to realize that the citizens of Kings Mountain continue to associate themselves so closely with the Battle of Kings Mountain, not to be boastful or to brag. We do so to honor those patriots who sacrificed much for our freedom. These men left their families during the height of harvest season, with the possibility of Indian raids upon their families imminent, to put an end to the threats issued to them by Maj. Patrick Ferguson. Maj. William Chronicle and Col. Frederick Hambright, with their “Lincoln County Men”, were chosen to lead the men to Little Kings Mountain to meet and defeat Ferguson. They did their job and quickly returned home to their families, without desire for fanfare or praise. To them, God, Home, and Country meant everything.
Looking Back
but
the shops, the current day Cherokee Street parking lot.
Presidential Assassins and National Notoriety
Cole Thoms Allen recently tried to kill President Donald Trump. The 31-year-old from Torrance California has been charged with attempted assassination, discharging a firearm during a crime of violence and illegally transporting firearms and ammunition across state lines. Cole rode Amtrak all the way from California to check into the Washington Hilton Hotel where he stayed three nights plotting his attempt to kill. Fortunately, law enforcement was able to stop Allen but not before he wounded one Secret
Service officer who survived because he was wearing a bullet-resistant vest. Allen now becomes the third assailant who has attempted to kill Present Trump. The other two names have been mentioned enough and I regret even mentioning Allen’s name. I suppose assassins will always have their names printed across the country and probably most of the world. They will be remembered throughout history. Lee Harvey Oswald, John Wilkes Booth and others who have made attempts or have been successful at killing high profile people gain worldwide attention.
Tragically, the target doesn’t have to be the President of The United States. Too many mentally ill people have carried out school shootings or acts of public violence and had their names smeared all over television and throughout the media. I supposed it will never stop. Most of the world feel like they have the right to know everything. The media makes huge sums of money telling people everything. The bad news is what sells. If people are killed or there is an attempted assassination then we all rush to the television or our news feeds on our phones. Someone who is preparing food for hungry school kids after school See ASSASSINS, Page 5A
LORETTA COZART
James H. Moser’s illustration of the King’s Mountain centennial celebration was featured on the cover of Leslie’s Illustrated Newspaper on October 13, 1880.
The Kings Mountain Herald’s April 9, 1914, edition shared the story of the Mauney Brothers store fire at 213 S. Battleground Avenue, and described what happened that night to readers with the on-the-scene account. The story revealed that the fire was not a minor incident
a dramatic, devastating event that reshaped far more than the building’s facade. It took until May to print a photo of the devastation taken the next day, and it looks to have been taken from the hitching yard behind
Glenn Mollette Guest Editorial
sidewalk survey
Juliana Hernandez Giselle Duran (right). Juliana remembers when games used to be bigger and better with rivals and that everyone used to look forward to them. Giselle remembers KM prior to it being involved with the casino.
Henry Hartleb remembers when he owned his own coffee shop, The Revolution, and how wonderful it was to seeing his clientele each day and how many good people he met in KM
Kings Mountaineers Remember Kings Mountain When
Patrick Senior Center events for May
Programs
The Patrick Center will be closed Monday, May 25 for Memorial Day. May 2026 Special Events:
• Senior Appreciation Day at the Kings Mountain Hometown Farmers’ Market: Saturday, May 2, 8am-12pm.
Operation Medicine Drop (Sponsored by the Kings Mountain Police Dept): Saturday, May, 8am-12pm at the Kings Mountain Hometown Farmers’ Market. Bring your unused or expired medicines and dispose of them safely.
• Addressing Anxiety & Depression in Older Adults (Part 2 – Coping Skills) by Partners: Tuesday, May 5, 11am-12pm. Join us to learn about the differences between sadness and depression, worry and anxiety. Call the Center to RSVP.
• Your Story, Your Way: Wednesday, May 6, 11:30am12:30pm. Come share your memories and write them down so they can be remembered and passed down. Call the Center to RSVP by the Monday before the class.
• Medicare 101 Presentation: Wednesday, May 6, 5-7pm. Dinner will be provided. Open to the public. Please call the center to RSVP by Friday, May 1.
• Avoiding Scams and Fraud Presentation by Mike Hawkins, NCDOJ: Tuesday, May 12, 10-11am. Join us to learn about the most recent scams and how to avoid being a victim. Call the center to RSVP by Friday, May 8.
• Reflections Support Group by Via Health Partners: Next session is Tuesday, May 12, 1-2pm. This group is designed for those who have experienced the death of a loved one.
• Talent Show (Sponsored by Oak Street Health): Tuesday, May 19, 1-3pm. Come to show off your talent and enjoy the show! Call Karen for more information and to sign up to participate.
• Red Cross Blood Drive: Tuesday, May 26, 10am-
ASSASSINS
From Page 4A isn’t news but just a good person living their daily life.
Living daily life and doing good things are what most everyday people are doing. We don’t hear about the policeman who spent most of his day helping a stranded motorist. We don’t hear about the mother who was up all night with a sick child. We don’t read about the grandparents who have stepped in to raise children because something bad happened to their parents. We don’t hear about the school teacher who doesn’t make much money but often covers the cost of school supplies, for an entire class, out of her own pocket. The list of everyday people doing everyday
2:30pm. Call Karen at the center to schedule an appointment.
• Spring Dance: Friday, May 29, 7-9pm. Join us for an evening of fun! Call the center to sign up. Cost is $3 per person. Proceeds go to our pet food pantry.
Ongoing Activities at the Patrick Center
• Ceramics: Mondays, 9:3011:30am.
• Technology Presentation by Trey Ross: 2nd Mondays, 10-11am. Join Trey from the Mauney Memorial Library for a technology topic presentation. Next presentation is May 11.
• Facebook Chat: Mondays, 10-10:45am. Online via Facebook.
• Seniors in Motion: Mondays/Wednesdays/Fridays, 10:30-11:30am. Suggested donation of $1 per class for nonYMCA members.
• Better Balance: Mondays, 3:30-4:15pm. Suggested donation of $1 per class for nonYMCA members.
life is endless. Most will live valiant lives and die quietly. You’ll never know very much about them. There surely is a place and time reserved somewhere in eternity when the people who have lived good quiet lives and did their best will hear their names called and a “well done, good and faithful servant.”
In the meantime, in this life, we have mentally ill people who are so crazed they will attempt heinous acts in order to have their sick manifestos read on national television. Maybe we could start identifying all such people by some general name like Deranged Idiot 101, Deranged Idiot 102, and so on. Somehow we have to cease promoting the national fame/notoriety associated with such evil acts.
• Chair Volleyball: Tuesdays, 1-3pm and Fridays, 122pm.
• Canasta: Tuesdays, 1-3pm.
• Seniorcise: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 3:30-4:15pm. Sug-
CCC
From Page 1A
long-standing vision and a commitment to student success.
Designed as the “heart of campus,” the Beam Student Center will welcome students from Marion Street
gested donation of $1 per class for non-YMCA members.
• Tai Chi for Arthritis: Wednesdays, 9-10am.
• Jewelry Class: Wednesdays, 10-11am.
• Blood Pressure Clinic
(Sponsored by Centerwell Home Health): 1st Wednesdays, 10-11:30am.
Wednesdays, 1-2:30 pm. Please call to sign up each month.
• Healthy Lifestyles Class: Thursdays, 8-9:30am. See PATRICK, Page 7A
and feature a redesigned surrounding area to create a more pedestrian-friendly, connected space for gathering and engagement.
“This building is about more than convenience— it’s about connection,” Dr. Hurst added. “As we break ground today, we mark more than the start of construction, we celebrate a
milestone that has been years in the making, and we reaffirm our promise to serve students with excellence, compassion, and opportunity.”
The timing of the project underscores the College’s continued growth and momentum. In just two weeks, Cleveland Community College will graduate its largest class ever—for the fourth consecutive year. The Beam Student Center stands as a powerful investment in the future of Cleveland Community College students, one that will shape their experience from their first step on campus to the moment they achieve their goals.
Evan Brown is new to Kings Mountain but he knows what it is like now and he loves it.
Carla Taylor remembers Kings Mountain when there was a Winn Dixie and behind there was a Chinese restaurant that she walked to daily to eat after she finished the school day.
at the Patrick Senior Center are open to people age 55 and up unless otherwise noted.
In the Presence of the Lord there is Joy and Peace
Matthew 6:34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” It is common to wake up and begin to think of the challenges of the day and become anxious. Most of us are being inundated with information and requests daily and we are living in a time with increased spiritual warfare. Jesus gives his followers some important instruction in Matthew 6 and in this 34th verse He tells us not
to worry about tomorrow. Sometimes we get filled with anxiety before a situation has arrived. Jesus isn’t telling us that our worries are not real. He knows that they are real but is instructing us not to worry. This reminds me of an old story about the chicken farmer’s neighbor called ‘Waiting for The Rooster’ - The story is told of a chicken farmer who had a rooster whose occasional crowing greatly annoyed a neighbor. Early one morning the disgruntled neighbor called the chicken farmer and complained, “That miserable bird of yours keeps me up all night!” The chicken farmer replied, “I don’t understand, He hardly ever
crows; but if he does, it’s never more than two or three times.”
“That isn’t my problem,” retorted the neighbor. “It’s not how often he crows that irritates me! What keeps me awake is not knowing when he might crow!” Many of us are like the neighbor of the chicken farmer. We worry about the difficulties and distressing circumstances that could arise tomorrow. The original wording for anxiety means to be drawn in different directions or better to be distracted from our main goals. Please remember Jesus has just told His followers that God provides food for the birds and clothes the plants and He cares much more for
you. Christ assures us that God has promised to sovereignly provide for our future needs. We need to keep our focus on living righteously and living in the present. Let us focus on living one day at a time and rejoicing in the Lord’s sufficiency for the present. Anxiety about tomorrow is like worrying about a bill that hasn’t arrived yet. Paying interest on a debt that isn’t due! God is serious about this matter, and we can see how He addressed this issue in Exodus 16. God provided manna for His children in the wilderness. He instructed them to only gather what they could eat for that day and when they did so in alignment with God’s instruction
Long Creek Presbyterian Church
701 Long Creek Road
704-629-4406
Love Valley Baptist Church
2032 Bethlehem Road
704-730-0075
Macedonia Baptist Church
1101 S. Battleground Ave.
704-739-6811
Midview Baptist Church
703 Margrace Road
704-739-6711
Mount Zion
Missionary Baptist Church
220 N. Watterson Street
704-739-8354
Mountain View Agape Church 506 Sparrow Springs Road
704-739-0160
Mt. Olive
Baptist Church
Compact School Road
704-739-4516
Mt. Zion Baptist Church
220 N. Watterson Street
704-739-8354
New Beginnings Church of Jesus Christ 541 Crocker Road
704-730-9507
New Bynum Chapel
AME
Zion Church N. Cansler Street 704-739-2606
New Camp Creek
Baptist Church 863 New Camp Creek Ch. Road
704-487-7128
New Life Family Worship Center 428 Oak Grove Road
704-739-9371
New Way Missionary
Baptist Church 105 Waco Road
704-724-0414
Oak Grove Baptist Church 1022 Oak Grove Road 704-739-4833
Oak View Baptist Church 1517 York Road 704-739-7831
Pathway Baptist Church
3100 Parkdale Circle
704-734-0852
Patterson Grove
Baptist Church 301 Oak Grove Road 704-739-5826
Penley’s Chapel Church 1805 N Piedmont Ave
704-524-4139
Peoples Baptist Church 1010 Groves Street 704-739-0398
Proclaiming the Word Ministries
7011 Cleveland Avenue
Progressive Church of Our Lord 1001 Cleveland Avenue 704-734-1070
Resurrection Lutheran Church
600 Crescent Circle 704-739-5580
Royal Praise Ministries 2055 Shelby Rd.
Saint Matthew’s
Lutheran Church 201 N. Piedmont Avenue 704-739-7466
Second Baptist Church 120 Linwood Road 704-739-4216
Shady Grove Baptist Church 339 Shady Grove Road 704-739-8920
those that gathered much had ‘no leftovers’ and those that gathered little had ‘no lack’. Sadly, some tried to keep some until the next day which God had prohibited, and it stank and had worms grow in it. The children thought they would save some, just in case God didn’t come through. Let us follow Jesus’ instructions and handle the problems of today and not worry about tomorrow. The love and compassion of the Lord are new every morning. We need to trust in His faithfulness. Jesus tells us that He is the Bread of Life (John 6:35). Let us trust in the Lord for today. Live in the present and avoid trying to ask God for a roadmap of your entire life.
St. Paul United
Methodist Church N. Cansler Street 704-739-1256
Sunrise Baptist Church 208 Mail Road 704-692-3007
Temple Baptist Church
612 N. Cansler Street 704-739-4716
The Favor Center Church 602 Slater Street
True Gospel Holiness Church 1608 Shelby Road 704-739-6764
Unity AME Zion Church 948 Unity Church Road 704-228-0328
Vestibule AME Zion Church 2175 Vestibule Church Road 704-739-7961
Westover Baptist Church 114 Westover Drive
Advent Lutheran Church, NALC Member 230 Oak Grove Rd. 704-750-0171
Anew Beginning Baptist Church 415 Dixon School Rd. 704-473-1372
Ardent Life Church 420 Branch Street 704-739-7700
Arise Church 830 E. King St. Bethlehem Baptist Church 1017 Bethlehem Road 704-739-7487
Trust that He has your best interest and will provide. Show up each day and live in the present, trusting that Jesus will provide the mercy and grace needed for today. The Apostle Paul provides us with a good remedy for anxiety. Paul wrote in Philippians 4:6, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” Don’t get caught up in what my younger friends call a ‘Doom Loop’ of worry. Walk in the Spirt trusting in the sufficiency of Jesus Christ. May the Lord keep and bless you today!
Boyce Memorial ARP Church Edgemont Drive 704-739-4917
Calvary Way Holiness Church 1017 Second Street Pastor Clifton Morgan
Carson Memorial Baptist Church 262 Sparrow Springs Road 704-739-2247
Central Methodist Church 113 S. Piedmont Avenue 704-739-2471
Cherokee St. Baptist Church 421 S. Cherokee Street 704-739-7697
Chestnut Ridge Baptist Church 618 Chestnut Ridge Road 704-739-4015
Christian Freedom Southern Baptist Church 246 Range Road 704-739-4152
Christ The King Catholic Church 714 Stone Street 704-487-7697
Concord United Methodist Church 2404 Tryon Courthouse Rd. Bessemer City, NC 704-629-3571
Cornerstone Church Of God 202 Margrace Road 704-739-3773
Cornerstone Independent Baptist 107 Range Road 704-737-0477
N.C. Forest Service assessing the need for burn bans
By NC Forest Service
When assessing the need for burn bans, the N.C. Forest Service evaluates several factors. Those factors include weather, fire danger, fuel conditions, fire activity and the difficulty to control wildfires. In general, a burn ban is considered when the long-range forecast indicates weather and wildland fire conditions are expected to worsen, and we don’t see improvement in conditions on the ground. Resource availability is also part of the decision-making process when it comes to determining when and where burn bans are needed. This is also the case when we look at lifting burn bans or removing restrictions on open burning.
Let’s dissect the statewide ban that was enacted March 28. The ban was lifted for 81 counties effective 8 a.m., Sunday May 3 and remains in effect for 19 counties. Why?
First, let’s talk about drought. It took us a long time to reach the drought severity we’ve arrived at. It will take us a substantial stretch of time to recover. The U.S. Drought Monitor provides a “snapshot” of current conditions. A new drought monitor is released every Thursday. The data captured in that monitor is from the week leading up to that Thursday. In other words, the drought monitor is not a forecast. It’s a snapshot, essentially looking back over the period of a week at drought conditions leading up to the date the drought monitor is released. For ex-
GRADUATION
From Page 3A
Each school will have additional security personnel – a police presence will be noticeable on campus.
Attendees should arrive early and be prepared to stand in line to enter the ceremony.
Metal detectors (walkthrough units and hand-held wands) will be used. Everyone at graduation, including students, parents, relatives, school personnel, and guests, will be subject to metal detection screening.
Attendees should not bring any bags (purses, handbags, bookbags, etc.) to graduation.
Traffic congestion is likely near the high schools beginning one hour before the start of graduation. Attendees should plan accordingly to allow enough time for parking, entering the ceremony, and being seated before the procession of graduates begins.
Being vigilant is important. Anyone who sees or is aware of suspicious activity at graduation should contact a school official or law enforcement immediately.
Special Guests
Each graduation ceremony will have its share of speakers and special guests. Traditionally, the school’s valedictorian and salutatorian give a speech
OPEN BURNING BAN LIFTED
ample, if you look at the current drought monitor that was released Thursday, April 30, the data you’re looking at reflects conditions that existed between April 21 and April 28.
as does the principal and other student representatives.
Gaston County Board of Education members are scheduled to attend graduation on May 22 and are among the dignitaries who congratulate the graduating class. A Board member and the Superintendent of Schools are assigned to attend a ceremony (see list below):
Stuart W. Cramer: Jeff Ramsey, At-Large Member East Gaston: A.M. Stephens III, Riverbend Township
▪ Forestview: Dr. Morgen Houchard, Superintendent of Schools
Highland: Dot Cherry, Vice Chairman, At-Large Member
▪ Hunter Huss: Lee Dedmon, Gastonia Township
▪ North Gaston: Josh Crisp, Chairman, Dallas Township
▪ South Point: Tod Kinlaw, South Point Township
All Board of Education members are invited to attend the Early College graduation ceremonies on May 19 and the Gaston Virtual Academy, Warlick Academy, and Webb Street School ceremonies on May 20.
First, let’s talk about drought. It took us a long time to reach the drought severity we’ve arrived at. It will take us a substantial stretch of time to recover. The U.S. Drought Monitor provides a “snap-
shot” of current conditions. A new drought monitor is released every Thursday. The data captured in that monitor is from the week leading up to that Thursday. In other words, the drought
monitor is not a forecast. It’s a snapshot, essentially looking back over the period of a week at drought conditions leading up to the date the drought monitor
if you look at the current drought monitor that was released Thursday, April 30, the data you’re looking at reflects conditions that existed between April 21
Libby Spires competes in Ms. Universe United Elite Old North State Contest
Ted Alexander and his wife Patti had a delightful visit with Libby Spires Mitchell, the reigning Ms. North Carolina World 70, and her husband Kenny Mitchell, a retired and renowned NASA engineer from Huntsville, Alabama.
Libby is a native of Kings Mountain and will be competing in the Ms. Universe United Elite Old North State contest to be held in Lenoir July 1011, 2026.
Kenny, who still does contract work with NASA, presented Ted with a fascinating book he has authored about the NASA space program and the many famous astronauts he has encountered over the years. Libby loves the Lord and loves serving the community and is available to come talk to churches, women’s groups, civic groups, and others regarding her life testimony. Her platform in her current position is supporting wounded warriors
PATRICK
From Page 5A
• Gentle Exercise: Thursdays, 9:30-10:15am.
• Bingo: Thursdays, 10:3011:15am.
• Coffee & Conversation: Fridays, 8:30-10am.
• Dulcimer Jam: Fridays, 9-10am.
• Senior Chorus: Fridays, 10-11am. New members welcome.
• Friday Lunch: Fridays, 11am-12pm. Call to sign up by Thursday at Noon or until we are full. Cost is $4.
• Ping Pong/Corn Hole: Fridays, 12-2pm.
• Shred Truck: Truck will come by once every four weeks to shred onsite, but you can bring your items to be shredded at any time the center is open and put them in the locked bins in the lobby. Pick up times are not given. The Patrick Center is a SHIIP site and can help with Medicare questions and check to see if you qualify for Extra Help with your drug costs. We can also assist with transportation, loan equipment, incontinence supplies, nutritional supplements, and other services. Please call the center at 704-734-0447 for more information or to sign up for programs.
EASY FISH TACOS
Yields: Approximately 6 tacos
Fish: 12 ounces of cooked fish (salmon, flounder, or a preferred substitute).
Coating: 1/2 bottle of prepared BBQ sauce OR a dry seasoning packet (such as McCormick or Sauer’s).
Base: 6 small tortillas.
Toppings: 8 oz bag of shredded cheese (Kraft brand or substitute). shredded lettuce. diced tomatoes. chopped onions
Garnish: Small container of sour cream (Breakstone’s brand or substitute).
Instructions
1. Coat the Fish: Place the cooked fish in a large ziplock bag. Add the BBQ sauce or dry seasoning. Seal the bag and shake
Pre-warm your six small tortillas until they are soft and ready to fill.
3. Assemble: Place approximately 2 ounces of fish into each warmed tortilla. If desired, add an extra drizzle of BBQ sauce at this time.
4. Add Fresh Layers: Top with the shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, and chopped onions.
5. Finish & Serve: Garnish each taco with the shredded cheese and a dollop of sour cream.
ROASTED PEPPER AND CORN Side Dish for Easy Fish Tacos
12 Mini Ears of Corn (If fresh corn is desired, 6 full-sized pieces cut in half and pre-cooked)
1 green pepper
1 red pepper
1 small sweet onion
Paprika garlic powder or one
butter or margarine
aluminum foil
• Place corn on sheet of foil, enough foil to completely wrap and seal corn
• Melt ½ stick of butter
• Brush all sides of corn with butter and follow by seasoning each piece with a salt, pepper, garlic, and paprika
• Top with finely diced pepper and onion.
• Add additional melted butter to taste preference
Completely seal foil, cutting about six small slits in top
• Place in preheated oven, (400 degrees) for 20 minutes or on a grill for about thirty minutes *peppers and onions should be tender when finished.
Kenny and Libby
Spires and Patti and Ted Alexander. (photo provided)
Guernsey Girl Creamery is “a little dairy with big flavor”
By Alan Hodge
Spring is here and Guernsey Girl Creamery near Polkville is moo-ving swiftly into another season of offering superior dairy and other homemade food products to its customers.
The operation, whose apt motto is “The Little Dairy with Big Flavor”, is located at 3361 Bridges Dairy Rd. off Stagecoach Rd. near Polkville.
Ashley McMurry, her husband Dustin, and kids Molly, 4, Silas, 9, and Charlie, 13, run the 140-acre place.
Ashley is the fourth generation of her family, the Bridges, to live on Bridges Dairy Rd. She gave a rundown of its history.
“My great-grandparents Charles and Kathleen Bridges started farming on this road,” Ashley said. “They grew cotton, tobacco, and raised hogs, and chickens. In 1949 my grandfather Charles, Jr., started the dairy. My father Kevin eventually took it over. He still lives here in the house great-grandfather built.”
In 2008, Ashley graduated
Agriculture and a minor in Animal Science. In 2010 her father retired, and she began running the operation.
“I was able to keep some of the cows,” she says. “In 2011 I received a $10k grant from Rural Advancement Foundation International. I was also able to borrow equipment like a milk
pasteurizer from the NCDA.”
Since then, the farm has grown.
“We now have fifty Guernsey cows,” she says. “We also have fifty beef cattle in Belwood.”
The cattle eat a lot of hay.
“We grow hay on 500 acres of rented land in places like Cliffside, Casar, and Lawndale,” said Ashley.
According to Ashley, the Guernsey cows produce about 700 gallons of milk per week.
“I do the milking twice a day,” she says. “The milk is A2 which makes it easier to digest. It is vat pasteurized.”
The milk is sold in one-gallon and half-gallon jugs at the dairy roadside store in plain, chocolate, strawberry, and coffee flavor. The chocolate is especially rich and its smooth, creamy, chocolatey flavor makes the big box store variety seem like brown water.
“We have a very broad customer base,” Ashley says. “People come from as far away as Charlotte, Asheville, and Morganton. They take it home in coolers.”
Ashley also churns the milk into cheese which is also available at the store in the form of curds and pimento cheese.
“I taught myself how to make it,” she says. In addition to milk, Dustin grows a variety of vegetables like peppers, tomatoes, lettuce, and broccoli for sale.
“He has a two-acre garden and a greenhouse,” said Ashley.
The store is a cornucopia of good things. About half of the space is open air and the space where the vegetable stand and refrigerators holding milk and cheese from the Guernseys, homemade sausage, and sourdough bread from Martha’s Amish bakery in Polk County.
The indoor portion has shelves loaded with jams, jellies, molasses, eggs, and a freezer chockfull of beautiful steaks, chops, hamburger, and other meats.
Payment is by the honor system with a jar for a cash register or by putting your phone in front of a Venmo code. The open-air part is
fairs. Ashley is a member of the Cleveland County Farm Bureau board, the American Guernsey Assoc., and Young Farmers and Ranchers. Dustin is a member of the Polkville VFD.
Odds are great that a fifth generation will one day be running the farm.
“The kids are very much involved with everything on the farm,” Ashley says. “Silas loves to cut the grass, Charlie can drive
“It’s fun!” said Silas. In any case, the family is here to stay, keeping the Guernsey Girl Creamy legacy alive and well.
“If Dustin and I ever retire,” said Ashley, “We will never sell the land.” For more information see the Guernsey Girl Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/ guernseygirlcreamery/ or call 704-692-8230.
Husband Dustin McMurry watering some of the plants that are offered at the dairy store. (Photos by Alan Hodge)
barn cat Oliver. (Photo provided)
This tank holds 285 gallons of raw milk fresh from the Guernsey cows.
Ashley with sons Silas, 9, Charlie, 13, and cow Twinkle.
Ashley shows off a sample of the prime meat available at the dairy store
Mountain
The
nior
beat South Point 5-4 on Friday. The Red Raiders struck initially when Jackson Penley singled, scoring two runs in the top of the first inning.
Kings Mountain jumped back into the lead in the bottom of the first after South Point committed an error.
Will Acuff was struck by a pitch, Ethan Tran walked, and South Point committed another error, each scoring 1 run making the score 4-2 in favor of the Mountaineers.
Wyatt
KM Hall of Fame Ceremony May 9
By Jimmy Black
The Kings Mountain Sports Hall of Fame will hold its annual induction ceremony this Saturday, May 9 at 6:00 pm at Central Methodist Church in Kings Mountain. The purpose of this event is to recognize and celebrate athletes who have significantly contributed to the rich athletic history of Kings Mountain High School and its long-standing sports culture. Four previous Mountaineer athletes will be recognized and honored – Jonathan Clark, Eleanor Crosby Turner, Wil Sellers and Deborah
Crockett Bell. Steve Baker will be remembered through the Distinguished Service Award. Also, the Kings Mountain Men’s Basketball Team will be honored for their 2025-2026 season, along with two-time state wrestling champion Will Varner.
Below, you will find a biographical sketch of those who will be enshrined at this event.
By Jimmy Black
The Kings Mountain Varsity Baseball Mountaineers finished the regular season on a high note last week by winning their final two games of the regular season. On Friday, May 1, the Mountaineers defeated the South Point Red Raiders by a score of 6-2. Kings Mountain started quickly by scoring 1 run in the bottom of the first inning, followed by 4 runs in the third and 1 run in the fourth for a 6-0 lead. South Point got on the board by plating 2 runs in the top of the fifth, cutting the deficit to 6-2. That would end up being the final score. For the game, the Mountaineers collected 8 hits. They were led by Lawson Kennedy and Luke Heavner who had 2 hits each. Mason Wright also chipped in by driving in 2 runs.
KJ Bell was the winning pitcher. The sophomore
pitched 4 and 2/3 innings, giving up 2 hits, 2 runs (none earned), 2 walks, and by striking out 8 Red Raider batters. Wesley Turner finished the game on the mound by pitching 2 and 1/3 innings, yielding 1 hit, no runs, 1 walk, and by striking out 2 South Point hitters. Kings Mountain finished regular season play with a record of 11-10, while South Point slipped to 19-4. Earlier in the week, Jordan Buckner drove in five runs on two hits to lead the Kings Mountain Varsity Mountaineers past the Ashbrook Green Wave 16-1 on Tuesday, April 28. With the win, Kings Mountain improved to 10-10 on the season, while Ashbrook fell to 10-14.
The Mountaineers won thanks in part to 9 runs in the third inning. KJ Bell homered to left field, scoring two runs, Mason Wright singled, scoring one run, Luke Heavner doubled,
scoring three runs, and Jordan Buckner homered to left field, scoring three runs.
Gavyn Manion earned the win for the Mountaineers. The hurler gave up 1 hit and zero runs over three innings, striking out 6 and walking none. Ben Alvarez took the loss for Ashbrook. He went 2 and 1/3 innings, giving up 10 runs (5 earned) on 5 hits, striking out 1 and walking 2. Mason Wright appeared in relief for Kings Mountain. The game was called after 4 innings due to the Mercy Rule.
Jordan Buckner and Luke Heavner each collected 2 hits for the Mountaineers. Buckner had 5 RBI for the contest, while Heavner and KJ Bell each had 3 RBI. Kings Mountain drew 7 walks while stealing 4 bases. Lawson Kennedy had the most chances in the field with 9.
The Kings Mountain Baseball team will see action this week in the state 6A baseball playoffs.
The Kings Mountain Women’s Softball team just keeps on rolling! With wins in their final two regular season home games, the Mountaineers finished their campaign with a 20-3 record, riding a 15-game winning streak.
On Friday, May 1, Kings Mountain defeated South Point by a score of 11-0 in a game shortened to 5 innings due to the mercy-rule. Both the pitching and the offense were once again dominant! Maddie Huffman threw another no-hitter on the mound. She pitched a complete game with no hits allowed and 14 strikeouts. Huffman lowered her ERA on the year to .34 which is the 29th best ERA among high school pitchers in the nation.
On o ffense, Kings Mountain scored 4 runs in
See SOFTBALL, Page 2B
By Jimmy Black
On Tuesday, April 28, the Kings Mountain Women’s Soccer Team put a beating on the Ashbrook Green Wave by a score of 9-1. The Mountaineers were led by Taylor Belcher who recorded 3 goals in the contest. The KM squad also got 2 goals each from Kayla Abrams and Naomi Houston. Olivia Carrillo also contributed a goal for the Mounties.
Jimmy Black
By
The Kings Mountain Men’s Golf Team participated in their final match of the year last Monday, April 27, at the Cramer Mountain Country Club in Cramerton. The match was hosted by Forestview High School. The Mountaineer squad concluded the season with a third-place finish in the Big South 5A/6A Conference. The medalist for
The goalkeeping was excellent on the night for the Kings Mountain squad. Brooke Salvator was in the net for 65 minutes and she did not allow any goals.
Carmynn Barnes finished the game in net and allowed only one goal. Kyndall Adams had the lone goal for the Green Wave.
Before heading on to the NC state playoffs, the Kings Mountain Women’s team will face Stuart Cramer tonight at home at 6:00 pm.
the match was Will Montieth of South Point who shot a round of 72. Individual scores for the Kings Mountain team are as follows: Noah Rhodes, 82; Joseph Johson, 84; Maynor Lopez, 90; Matthew Kiser, 92; and Grant Moorhead, 97.
Noah Rhodes, Grant Moorhead, and Joseph Johnson made the Big South All-Conference Team. Also, Rhodes and Moorhead both qualified
for the 6A Western Regional Tournament that will be played on Tuesday, May 5th at Brushy Mtn. Golf Club in Taylorsville. Here are the final numbers from the match in Cramerton:
1. South Point - 295
2. Forestview - 337
3. Kings Mountain - 347
4. Crest - 361
5. North Gaston - 423
6. Ashbrook - 430
7. Hunter Huss - No team score
Eleanor Crosby Turner Eleanor Turner was a member of the class of 1953. She led the Compact Girls Basketball Team to three undefeated seasons. She was the team’s leading
See HALL OF FAME, Page 2B
Jonathan Clark Jonathan Clark was a standout in football and wrestling at KMHS. In football, He was the 2012 Cleveland County Player of the year. He was a two-time all-conference, all-Gazette, and all State honorable mention. He had 4800 all-purpose yards along with 4200 passing yards. While wrestling, Jonathan was a three-time all-conference wrestler and a two-time conference champion with 97 career wins.
By Jimmy Black
By Jimmy Black
Kings
Ju-
Varsity Mountaineers
That was just a little too close! KM batter Maddie Camp (#21) hits against Ashbrook in their game from Tuesday, April 28. (Photo courtesy of Scott Meade)
HALL OF FAME
From Page 1B scorer and rebounder, scoring over 1,000 points in her high school career. After high school, she attended Mississippi Valley State University where she was a star basketball player on the women’s basketball team. Eleanor earned many awards while pursuing her education. In 1984, she was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame at MVSU. In 2002, she was inducted into the Connecticut Women’s Hall of Fame.
Eleanor’s coaching career began in the mid 1970’s. From 1977-1979, she assisted Head Coach Barbara Thaxton at Wilbur Cross High School. Together, they guided a Wilbur Cross team that had arguably one of the most dominant seasons in Connecticut Girls’ Basketball history.
In 1982, Eleanor became the head coach at Wilbur Cross High School. From 19831985, Eleanor’s teams won the District League titles. They were co-champs in 1987. In 1984, Wilbur Cross won the Class LL State Championship and Turner was named New Haven’s Shoot-Out Coach of the Year. Later in 2007, as head coach, she was inducted into the Wilbur Cross Athletic Hall of Fame. She coached Cross until 1990, compiling an overall won/loss record of 100-58. In 1996, Eleanor was honored by the New Haven Girls’ Basketball Festival with the Outstanding Coach Award.
A committee of 26 coaches voted Eleanor Turner into the Alumni Basketball Association Wall of Fame in 2026. She is one of only 10 women selected from Kings Mountain to represent Women Basketball Players in the history of Cleveland County Sports.
Wil Sellers
Wil Sellers was a standout athlete in baseball and basketball at KMHS from 2010-2013. Wil was a multi-year All-Conference baseball player. He was the 2012-2013 Defensive Player of the Year in baseball and in basketball in 2012, and he was an Underclass Honorable Mention by Perfect Game. Wil also won the Male Mountaineer Career Athlete Award in 2013, as well.
Wil signed to play baseball at Gardner-Webb University where he had a standout career for the Running Bulldogs. He was a four-year closer for Gardner-Webb from 2014-2018. He was awarded second-team AllBig South Conference honors. Wil was chosen to the 2016 National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Stopper of the Year Midseason Watch list. He was named the 2017 Big South Conference Preseason Pitcher of the Year by the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper. Wil came in fourth in voting for the Big South Conference Preseason Pitcher of the Year in the Big South Conference Coaches poll. He was a 2017 Perfect Game Preseason Big South All-Conference Team selection. And Wil garnered multiple Big South Pitcher of the Week honors from 2014 through 2018.
Wil set several career baseball records at Gardner-Webb. He holds the all-time record for recording the most saves in Gardner-Webb baseball history. He is second all-time in most career appearances at GWU. Wil was also second in most games finished. He had the third most combined shutouts all-time in school history, and Wil had the ninth most strikeouts looking. Wil also had the ninth lowest ERA (2.27) for a single season in Bulldog history in 2015.
Among Wil’s single-season records at Gardner-Webb, he holds the record for most saves in a season in 2016. In 2018, he had the second fewest walks allowed per nine innings in GWU history. Wil also had the lowest batting average given up among pitchers in 2016 with an average of .215. And Wil led the Bulldogs in appearances in 2016 and 2018, along with leading the team in saves in 2016 and 2017.
Wil became the Head Baseball Coach at KMHS in 2023. In his first season, he led the Mountaineers to a 17-8 overall record, and an 11-3 conference record, and they advanced to the second round of the state playoffs. Wil was also a previous assistant coach for the powerhouse Cleveland County Post 82 Legion Team. Under Wil’s leadership, players have continued their baseball journeys, earning opportunities to compete in college programs
KM shortstop Casey
a line
From Page 1B
and even the professional ranks.
Deborah Crockett Bell
Deborah Crockett Bell was a three-year player and starter in basketball and track. She earned Team MVP honors in her junior and senior years. She was named All-SWC as a junior and senior. She scored 951 points in basketball. And Deborah was runner up for Conference player of the year in basketball for her senior year.
Steve Baker
Steve Baker was a graduate of Kings Mountain High School. He taught History and Social Studies at KMHS.
Steve served as a coach on the football team for numerous years along with being a track coach. He founded the Kings Mountain chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
Steve was also a Sunday School teacher in his church along with being an encourager to everyone who came into contact with him. He was married to his wife, Joan King Baker, for 57 years. Steve passed away on September 23, 2025, at the age of 77.
Steve was on the Kings Mountain Sports Hall of Fame Committee for 10+ years. He served as Vice-President and will surely be missed!
Steve was such an inspiration to everyone he came in contact with. The Kings Mountain High School Class of 1974 had a plaque made in remembrance of Steve. This is what it said, “We do not just mourn your passing, we celebrate your life. We honor the countless hours you gave, the patience you showed, and the love you poured into your work. You were not just a teacher – you were a lifechanger. You inspired us as a teacher, encouraged us as a coach, and loved us as friends.”
If you are interested in going to the banquet, you can purchase tickets from Paul Ingram’s Barbershop through Saturday, or you can contact Rick Henderson by text message at 704.460.8066. Tickets are $15 each.
KM sports calendar
(May 6-12, 2026)
May 6
• Men’s Tennis, Dual Team, 4th Round (All Day)
• Women’s Soccer vs. Stuart Cramer (6:00 PM)
May 8
• Baseball/Softball Playoffs, 2nd Round (All Day)
• Men’s Golf State
SOFTBALL
From Page 1B
the bottom of the second inning, and 6 runs in the fifth to seal the victory. The Mountaineers had 10 hits in the contest, including a home run by Avery Cruise and 4 runs driven in. Maddie Huffman also had 2 hits and 1 RBI for Kings Mountain. Desiree Green, Kayla McSwain, Katie Huffman, Addison Pruett, and Ezra Lynn also contributed 1 hit each. The team also had 4 stolen bases.
Championship @ Sapona Golf Club in Lexington (All Day)
• Men’s Tennis State Championship (All Day)
• Track & Field Regionals @ AC Reynolds High School in Asheville (All Day)
• Wrestling Banquet (6:00 PM)
• Swimming Banquet (6:30 PM)
May 11
• Women’s Soccer, 1st Round Playoffs (All Day)
• Football – 8th Grade Meet & Greet (5:00 PM)
May 12
• Baseball/Softball Playoffs, 3rd Round (All Day)
• Men’s Tennis, Dual Team – Regionals
Earlier in the week, on Tuesday, April 28, Kings Mountain demolished Ashbrook by a score of 18-0 in a game shortened to just 3 innings. The Mountaineers pounded out 12 hits for the contest. They were led by Kayla McSwain who had 3 hits and 5 RBI. Maddie Huffman contributed with 2 hits and 4 RBI. Anna Wooten had 2 hits and 1 RBI, and Desiree Green had 1 hit and 2 RBI to help lead the Kings Mountain attack. On the mound, Anna Wooten and Maddie Huffman combined for the no-hitter. Wooten pitched 1 inning, walking none and striking out 3 Green Wave batters. Huffman pitched 2 innings, also walking none and striking out 7 hitters. Wooten and Huffman struck out all 10 batters they faced, and Ashbrook only had 1 baserunner in the game due to a passed ball on a strike out.
Andi Ballard took the loss for Ashbrook pitching 1/3 of an inning, while giving up 10 hits, 12 earned runs, and walking 3 Mountaineer batters. Rosado Mya came on in relief working 1 and 2/3 innings, surrendering 2 KM hits, and 6 earned runs while issuing 6 baseon-balls. Kings Mountain will now continue their remarkable season in the North Carolina 6.
KB Richards earned the win for the Mountaineers. The starter surrendered 4 hits and 4 runs over 4 innings, striking out 4 and walking 4. Caleb Simmons took the loss for South Point. The pitcher went 5 innings, allowing 5 runs (2 earned) on 4 hits, striking out 4 and walking 5. Brock Phillips collected the save. Braeden Morrissette pitched 2 and 1/3 innings of zero-run ball for Kings Mountain in relief. The hurler surrendered 2 hits, striking out 2 and walking 3. Wyatt Benfield, Ethan Tran, Will Acuff, and Amir Parker each drove in 1 run for the Kings Mountain Junior Varsity team. KB Richards went 2-for-3 at the plate to lead the Mountaineers in hits. KB Richards also stole 2 bases, while the team turned 1 double play in the game.
The number eight hitter, Wyatt Tidd, showed the depth of South Point’s lineup, by leading them with 2 hits in 4 at bats. Jackson Penley and Wyatt Tidd each drove in 2 runs for South Point. The Red Raiders had patience at the plate, amassing 7 walks for the game. Caleb Simmons and Jackson Penley led the team with 2 free passes each.
Hendrick (#1) makes a leaping catch of
drive off the bat of a South Point hitter. (Photo courtesy of Scott Meade)
Anna Wooten (#13) is excited as she stands on second base in the game against Ashbrook. (Photo courtesy of Scott Meade)
By Gary Miller
26E000252-220
This the 22nd day of April, 2026. Janice Lewis Clark, Administratrix PO Box 25 Dallas, NC 28034
KMH(4/22, 29, 5/06 &13/2026)
That morning I had located what turned out to be four toms and some hens. They were still on the roost. And even though they had not been pressured, I made sure to do minimal and only light calling. A soft yelp on my slate call was enough for all the ears within 100 yards to hear me. So, I laid down the call, got my gun ready, and began scanning the top of the hill in front of me. I knew pretty much what any older tom would do. He would not come directly in line with my call. He would show up to one side or another. These birds know not to trust their ears as much as their eyes. I also knew that any other tom that might be with him would follow. Sure enough, in just a few minutes, two hens and four gobblers showed up about 100 yards to my right – which is a terrible place if one is right-handed like myself. Two of the toms began to perform in full strut. The other two shortly followed suit. The hens were not impressed. I thought about how I might go about getting a shot without being seen. Nothing came to mind other than “be patient.” Soon the hens moved within 35 yards of me, and two big toms were following. The problem, however, remained. They stayed to my right. How would I rearrange my seating, raise my gun and aim without them seeing me and flying away. I couldn’t. So, I decided once again to just be patient. Before too long, all those toms began coming my way and moving perfectly in front of me. The biggest one came to about 40 yards. When he moved behind a tree, I raised my gun, got ready, and waited (patiently again) for him to clear the tree. When he did, I aimed carefully and pulled the trigger. I ate smoked turkey breast for lunch the next day. He was a big bird. Eleven inches of beard. One and a half inch spurs. It was a fun hunt. When you look at the subject of patience in the Bible,
Having qualified on 8th of April, 2026 as Administratrix of the Estate of BOB JACK LEWIS, deceased late of Cleveland County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons, firms, and corporations having claims against said estate to present them to the undersigned, Janice Lewis Clark, Administratrix on or before the 25th of July, 2026, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, firms, and corporations indebted to said estate to please make immediate payment to the undersigned.
Kings Mountain Principal, Melissa Wilson, welcomed everyone to the dedication of the Kings Mountain High School newly renovated gym. The ceremony was held last Thursday, April 30. (Photo courtesy of Scott Meade)
Former Kings Mountain basketball coach, Larry Sipe, along with several former players at the dedication of the basketball court to him. (Photo courtesy of Scott Meade)
GARY MILLER
Wake Forest Edges Appalachian State 3–2 in annual Jim Horn Tribute Game at Keeter Stadium
Strong Crowd, Bat Kid Tradition Highlight Memorable Night in Shelby
The American Legion World Series (ALWS) Executive Committee once again delivered a memorable evening of baseball at Keeter Stadium as Wake Forest University defeated Appalachian State University 3–2 in the annual Jim Horn Tribute Game on Tuesday night.
After a brief morning shower cleared, fans were treated to a beautiful evening for baseball, with approximately 3,500 attendees filling the stands to celebrate one of Shelby’s favorite annual traditions. The close contest kept fans engaged throughout, with Wake Forest ultimately holding off Appalachian State in a fiercely competitive finish.
Now in its ninth year, the tribute game continues to honor the legacy of Jim Horn while bringing highlevel college baseball to the community. The event remains a cornerstone of the ALWS’s commitment to providing family-friendly experiences and celebrating the rich history of baseball
in Shelby and Cleveland County.
One of the night’s most anticipated moments came during the fourth inning, when 2026 American Legion World Series bat boys and bat girls were selected live on the field. This year saw tremendous enthusiasm, with 90 applicants eagerly hoping to hear their names called, further showcasing the event’s growing community engagement.
Wake Forest Head
Coach Tom Walter continued his strong support of the event by once again bringing the Demon Deacons to Shelby. The annual game serves as a tribute to Horn, a Wake Forest graduate, multi-sport athlete, and member of the university’s 1955 national championship baseball team, as well as a former American Legion Post 82 player.
Horn played a pivotal role in the success and growth of the American Legion World Series in Shelby, serving as co-chairman of the local organizing committee alongside Eddie Holbrook from 2002 until his passing in 2015. His lasting impact continues to be felt throughout the event, with his wife, Linda Horn
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE TO CREDITORS
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA CLEVELAND COUNTY
IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION 26E000281-220
Having qualified on 22nd of April, 2026 as Administratrix of the Estate of ZONIE T. HAMILTON, deceased late of Cleveland County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons, firms, and corporations having claims against said estate to present them to the undersigned, Janice H. Burris, Administratrix on or before the 29th of July, 2026, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, firms, and corporations indebted to said estate to please make immediate payment to the undersigned.
This the 29th day of April, 2026.
Janice H. Burris, Administratrix 248 Branchwood Circle Kings Mountain, NC 28086
KMH (4/29, 5/06, 13 & 20/2026)
LEGAL NOTICE
NOTICE OF ADMINISTRATOR
Having qualified on the 9th of April 2026 as Administrator of the Estate of Sajad Damon Roberts, Sr. (26E000232-220), deceased, late of Cleveland County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against said estate to present them, duly verified, to A. Susan Biggers, Administrator, Deaton & Biggers, P.L.L.C., 402 East Graham Street, Shelby, North Carolina 28150, on or before July 23, 2026, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said estate will please make immediate settlement with the undersigned. This the 22nd day of April, 2026.
A. Susan Biggers, Administrator of the Estate of Sajad Damon Roberts, Sr. Deaton & Biggers, P.L.L.C. 402 East Graham Street Shelby, North Carolina 28150
KMH (4/22, 29, 5/06 &13/2026)
LEGAL NOTICE
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF CLEVELAND
IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION BEFORE THE CLERK File No. 26E000228-220
In the Matter of the Estate of: RAYMOND JOSEPH VAMPRAN, Deceased.
Having qualified on the 6th day of April, 2026 as Administrator of the Estate of Raymond Joseph Vampran, deceased, late of Cleveland County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against the decedent to exhibit the same to the undersigned Administrator on or before the 14th day of July, 2026 or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, firms and corporations indebted to the estate should make immediate payment.
This the 15th day of April, 2025.
Kiyomi Kitamura Vampran 105 Wells Street Kings Mountain, NC 28086
T. Brandon Jaynes Archonix Law 412 N. Lafayette St. Shelby, NC 28150
KMH (4/15, 4/22, 4/29 & 5/6/2026)
and her family, remaining actively involved in organizing and supporting the tribute game.
“The atmosphere tonight was exactly what this event is all about,” said ALWS Executive Committee Chairman Eddie Holbrook. “A great game, a tremendous crowd, and a meaningful way to honor Jim Horn’s legacy. We’re grateful to Coach Walter, both teams, and our community for making this such a special
Having qualified as Executrix over the Estate of Charlotte S. Stinnett, deceased, late of Cleveland, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against said Estate to present them, duly verified, to the undersigned on or before July 17th, 2026, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate will please make immediate settlement with the undersigned estate administrator.
This is the 15th day of April, 2026
26 E 173
Jennifer Stinnett Thomas, Executrix
c/o Brenton S. Begley
McIntyre Elder Law
233 E. Graham St. Shelby, NC 28150
KMH (4/15, 22, 29 & 5/06/2026)
LEGAL NOTICE
NOTICE OF CREDITORS
Having qualified as Executrix over the Estate of Steven Odis Costner, deceased, late of Cleveland County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against said Estate to present them, duly verified, to the undersigned on or before, July 25th, 2026, or this notice will be pleaded in the bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate will please make immediate settlement with the undersigned Estate Executrix.
This the 22nd day of April, 2026.
25 E 692
Carolyn Smith Costner, Executrix
C/o Brenton S. Begley
McIntyre Elder Law
233 E. Graham St. Shelby, NC 28150
KMH (4/22, 29 , 5/06 & 13/2026)
LEGAL NOTICE
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA CLEVELAND COUNTY
IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION 23 E 57
Having qualified on 10th of April, 2024 as Co-Administrator of the Estate of DAVID LEON BRADSHAW, deceased, late of Cleveland County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons, firms, and corporations having claims against said estate to present them to the undersigned, Linda E. Bradshaw, Co-Administrator on or before the 17th of July, 2026 or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, firms, and corporations indebted to said estate to please make immediate payment to the undersigned.
This the 15th day of April, 2026.
Linda E. Bradshaw, Co-Administrator
1426 Frederick Street Shelby, NC 28150
James A. Bradshaw Jr., Co-Administrator
1426 Frederick Street Shelby, NC 28150
KMH (4/15, 4/22, 4/29 & 5/6/2026)
Having qualified on the 2nd of April 2026 as Executor of the Estate of Carolyn W. Arrowood (25E001914220), deceased, late of Cleveland County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against said estate to present them, duly verified, to Barry Wayne Arrowood, c/o A. Susan Biggers, Deaton & Biggers, P.L.L.C., 402 East Graham Street, Shelby, North Carolina 28150, on or before July 23, 2026, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said estate will please make immediate settlement with the undersigned.
This the 22nd day of April, 2026.
Barry Wayne Arrowood Executor of the Estate of Carolyn W. Arrowood c/o A. Susan Biggers Deaton & Biggers, P.L.L.C. 402 East Graham Street Shelby, North Carolina 28150
KMH (4/22, 29, 5/06 &13/2026)
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE TO CREDITORS STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA CLEVELAND COUNTY IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION 24E000720-220
Having qualified on 7th of April, 2026 as Executrix of the Estate of JOANN S. SMITH, deceased late of Cleveland County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons, firms, and corporations having claims against said estate to present them to the undersigned, Teresa S. Negus, Executrix on or before the 17th of July, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, firms, and corporations indebted to said estate to please make immediate payment to the undersigned.
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE TO CREDITORS STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA CLEVELAND COUNTY IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION 26E000256-220
Having qualified as Executor of the ESTATE OF BONNIE S. STROUD aka BONNIE SIMPSON STROUD, deceased, late of Cleveland County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against the Estate of said Bonnie S. Stroud aka Bonnie Simpson Stroud to present them, duly verified, to the undersigned, Jacqueline Loats, c/o Loann S. Meekins, Teddy Meekins & Talbert, PLLC, 405 E. Marion Street, Shelby, NC 28150 on or before the 29th day of July, 2026 or same will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate please make immediate payment to the undersigned.
This the 29th day of April, 2026.
Jacqueline Loats, Executor of the Estate c/o Loann S. Meekins Teddy Meekins & Talbert, PLLC 405 E. Marion Street, Shelby, NC 28150.
KMH (4/29, 5/6, 5/13 & 5/20/2026)
Players from Appalachian State and Wake Forest stand at attention during the singing of the National Anthem prior to their
LEGAL NOTICE
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA CLEVELAND COUNTY
IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION 23E000629-220
Having qualified on 9th of April, 2026 as Administratrix of the Estate of JOHN WESLEY BOTTS, deceased late of Cleveland County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons, firms, and corporations having claims against said estate to present them to the undersigned, Christie M. Botts, Administratrix on or before the 17th of July, 2026, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, firms, and corporations indebted to said estate to please make immediate payment to the undersigned.
This the 15th day of April, 2026.
Christie M. Botts, Administratrix 313 Cornith Church Road Casar, NC 28020
KMH (4/15, 22, 29 & 5/06/2026)
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE TO CREDITORS
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA CLEVELAND COUNTY
IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION 26E000201-220
Having qualified on 15th of April, 2026 as Executor of the Estate of ROSEMARY MILLER ARMOUR, deceased late of Cleveland County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons, firms, and corporations having claims against said estate to present them to the undersigned, Anthony Wayne Armour, Executor on or before the 25th of July, 2026, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, firms, and corporations indebted to said estate to please make immediate payment to the undersigned.
This the 22nd day of April, 2026.
Anthony Wayne Armour, Executor 515 Gantts Grove Church Rd Mooresboro, NC 28114
KMH (4/22, 29, 5/06 &13/2026)
LEGAL NOTICE
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA CLEVELAND COUNTY
IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION 26E000233-220
Having qualified on 21st of April, 2026 as Executrix of the Estate of VIRGINIA B. SCRUGGS, deceased late of Cleveland County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons, firms, and corporations having claims against said estate to present them to the undersigned, Ann S. Miller, Executrix on or before the 29th of July, 2026, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, firms and corporations indebted to the said estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned.
This the 29th day of April, 2026.
Ann S. Miller, Executrix 11020 Lake Ridge Lane Seneca, SC 29672
KMH (4/29, 5/06, 13 & 20/2026)
LEGAL NOTICE
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF CLEVELAND
IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION BEFORE THE CLERK 26E000276-220
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Having qualified as Executor of the Estate of HAZEL H. ALLEN of Cleveland County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against the said Estate of Hazel H. Allen to present them to the undersigned by August 4, 2026, or same will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate, please make immediate payment.
This the 6th day of May, 2026.
David Ray Allen
1414 Deborah Circle Shelby, NC 28150
Executor of the Estate of Hazel H. Allen
John V. Schweppe, III
THE SCHWEPPE LAW FIRM, P.A.
Post Office Box 1269 Shelby, North Carolina 28151-1269 (704) 487-7204
KMH (5/6, 5/13, 5/20 & 5/27/2026)
LEGAL NOTICE
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA CLEVELAND COUNTY
IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION
FILE NO. 26E000166-220
EXECUTOR’S NOTICE
Having qualified on the 11th day of March, 2026 as the Executor of the Estate of DAVID WAYNE ALLEN, deceased, late of Cleveland county, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against the decedent to exhibit the same to the undersigned Executor on or before the 29th day of July, 2026, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, firms and corporations indebted to the estate should make immediate payment.
This is the 29th day of April, 2026.
JERRY L. ALLEN
Executor of the Estate of
David Wayne Allen P.O. Box 1588
1206 Cherryville Rd. Shelby, NC 28151
KMH (4/29, 5/06, 13 & 20/2026)
LEGAL NOTICE
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA CLEVELAND COUNTY
IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION 26E000227-220
Having qualified on 17th of April, 2026 as Executor of the Estate of GLORIA WHITAKER STRICKLAND, deceased, late of Cleveland County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons, firms, and corporations having claims against said estate to present them to the undersigned, Earl Douglas Strickland, Executor on or before the 20th of July, 2026 or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, firms, and corporations indebted to said estate to please make immediate payment to the undersigned.
This the 29th day of April, 2026.
Earl Douglas Strickland, Executor 1550 Charles Rd. Shelby, NC 28152
KMH (4/29, 5/6, 5/13 & 5/20/2026)
LEGAL NOTICE
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA CLEVELAND COUNTY
IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION
26E000226-220
Having qualified on 27th of April, 2026 as Executrix of the Estate of RONALD PAUL McCULAR, deceased late of Cleveland County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons, firms, and corporations having claims against said estate to present them to the undersigned, Emily Danielle McCular, Executrix on or before the 6th of August, 2026, or this notice will be pleaded in the bar of their recovery. All persons, firms and corporations indebted to the said estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned.
This the 6th day of May, 2026.
Emily Danielle McCular, Executrix
810A Cleveland Ave Grover, NC 28073
KMH (5/06, 13, 20 & 27/2026)
LEGAL NOTICE
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA CLEVELAND COUNTY
IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION
25E001836-220
Having qualified on 3rd of December, 2025 as Executrix of the Estate of GARY CURTIS WALKER, deceased late of Cleveland County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons, firms, and corporations having claims against said estate to present them to the undersigned, Debbie Bridges, Executrix on or before the 6th of August, 2026, or this notice will be pleaded in the bar of their recovery. All persons, firms and corporations indebted to the said estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned.
This the 6th day of May, 2026.
Debbie Bridges, Executrix
604 West Warren Street
Shelby, NC 28150
KMH (5/06, 13, 20 & 27/2026)
LEGAL NOTICE
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF CLEVELAND
IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION BEFORE THE CLERK
26E000072-220
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Having qualified as Executor of the Estate of JO ANN RICHARDS of Cleveland County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against the said Estate of Jo Ann Richards to present them to the undersigned by July 21, 2026, or same will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate, please make immediate payment.
This the 22nd day of April, 2026.
Edward Kenneth Richards
503 S Battleground Avenue
Kings Mountain, NC 28086
Executor of the Estate of Jo Ann Richards
John V. Schweppe, III
THE SCHWEPPE LAW FIRM, P.A.
Post Office Box 1269
Shelby, North Carolina 28151-1269
(704) 487-7204
KMH (4/22, 4/29, 5/6 & 5/13/2026)
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE TO CREDITORS STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA CLEVELAND COUNTY IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION 26E000282-220
Having qualified on 22nd of April, 2026 as Administratrix of the Estate of JANICE CORAL POTLOW-WATKINS, deceased late of Cleveland County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons, firms, and corporations having claims against said estate to present them to the undersigned, Lisa Tate Mercer, Administratrix on or before the 29th of July, 2026, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, firms, and corporations indebted to said estate to please make immediate payment to the undersigned.
This the 29th day of April, 2026.
Lisa Tate Mercer, Administratrix
206 N Carpenter St. Kings Mountain, NC 28086
KMH (4/29, 5/06, 13 & 20/2026)
LEGAL NOTICE
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA CLEVELAND COUNTY
NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND DEBTORS
Having qualified on 26th of September, 2025 as Executrix of the Estate of LARRY SADLER (25 E 704), deceased late of Cleveland County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons, firms, and corporations having claims against said estate to present them to the undersigned, Rashawn Brooks, Executrix on or before the 6th of August, 2026, or this notice will be pleaded in the bar of their recovery. All persons, firms and corporations indebted to the said estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned.
This the 6th day of May, 2026.
Rashawn Brooks, Executrix Estate of Larry Sadler 1318 Gidney St. Shelby, NC 28150
KMH (5/06, 13, 20 & 27/2026)
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF CREDITORS
Having qualified as administrator over the Estate of Lisa Michele Dover; aka, Lisa M. Dover; aka, Lisa Michelle Dover; aka, Lisa Swindall Dover deceased, late of Cleveland County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons, firms, and corporations having claims against said Estate to present them, duly verified, to the undersigned on or before August 7th, 2026 or this notice will be pleaded in the bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate will please make immediate settlement with the undersigned Estate Administrator.
This is the 6th day of May, 2026
FILE No. 26E000181-220
John Keith Dover, Administrator C/o Brenton S. Begley McIntyre Elder Law 233 E. Graham St. Shelby, NC 28150
KMH (5/06, 13, 20 & 27/2026)
LEGAL NOTICE
Published Notice to Creditors
Having qualified as Administrator of the Estate of James David Sisk, Jr., late of 1108 Old Charles Road, Shelby, Cleveland County, North Carolina, 28152, the undersigned does hereby notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against the estate of said decedent to exhibit them to the undersigned at 1009 East Boulevard, Charlotte, NC 28203, on or before the 15th day of July, 2026, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, firms and corporations indebted to the said estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned.
This the 15th day of April, 2026.
Thomas M. Caune II
Attorney for Administrator, Tammy Sisk Ledbetter
Thomas M. Caune II Hull & Chandler, P.A. 1009 East Boulevard Charlotte, NC 28203
KMH (4/15, 22, 29 & 5/06/2026)
LEGAL NOTICE
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF CLEVELAND IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION BEFORE THE CLERK 26E000258-220
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Having qualified as Administrator of the Estate of RALPH EUGENE CRONAN of Cleveland County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against the said Estate of Ralph Eugene Cronan to present them to the undersigned by August 4, 2026, or same will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate, please make immediate payment.
This the 6th day of May, 2026.
Nancy Kay Bridges P. O. Box 11373 Hickory, NC 28603
Administrator of the Estate of Ralph Eugene Cronan
John V. Schweppe, III THE SCHWEPPE LAW FIRM, P.A. Post Office Box 1269 Shelby, North Carolina 28151-1269 (704) 487-7204
KMH (5/6, 5/13, 5/20 & 5/27/2026)
ANNOUNCEMENTS
EMPLOYMENT
FOOD SAFETY QUALITY ASSURANCE(FSQA) MANAGER. (Bud Antle, LLC (fka Bud Antle, Inc.); Bessemer City, NC): Ensure compliance with Federal (FDA & USDA), State, & local regulations. Travel to any Dole value-added manufacturing facilities, as needed – up to 30% domestic travel required. Salary: $140,000 - 142,000/yr. Apply: https://tinyurl.com/3fbukxxa or email maureen.brennan@ theogcompanies.com | Req #OG885
CHIROPRACTIC ASSISTANT PART TIME. 20-28 hours possible. $15.00 per hour. (2 locations Forest City and Boiling Springs NC). Energetic person with positive outgoing personality to work in a fast-paced office setting as a chiropractic assistant. Working directly with patients. Must have great communication skills, outgoing and caring. Computer skills a plus. Stop by 218 Doggett Road, Forest City to fill out an application. Drop off a resume.
LOCAL CONSTRUCTION COMPANY LOOKING FOR framers and concrete workers. Work is local. Prefer skilled or will train. Call/text (352) 807-1048
NOW HIRING PART-TIME MUSIC MINISTRY/CHOIR DIRECTOR. We are seeking a passionate and dedicated individual to lead and grow our music ministry. Primary responsibilities include plan, select and lead music for worship services. direct and rehearse choir (weekly or as scheduled), coordinate special music (seasonal programs, funerals, weddings), work collaboratively with pastor to align music with sermon themes and maintain/ organize music resources.
BUSINESS SERVICES
SHIPMAN’S MASONRY. Small jobs: underpens, outside fireplace, patios, retaining walls- brick, block and stone. 40 years experience. Call/text (863) 532-1587
CLEVELAND COUNTY GARAGE DOORS. Summer Tune-up Special, $69.95. We will check all your equipment lube, make sure it’s working correctly. We repair broken doors. Also offering new installations. (704) 472-9367
HANDYMAN SERVICES. K&M Handyman Service LLC is looking for new clients. Please contact us now for a Free! Estimate. (M-F 8am-4pm) Thank You! (864) 881-3816 kengrubb1973@gmail.com
LAWN CARE SERVICES. Lawn services for Cleveland and surrounding areas. We offer mowing, spraying and fertilizing. Free estimates and first lawn cutting is half price, call or text 704-472-3488 (704) 472-3488
J&J MOVING SERVICE. Need something moved? “We will haul it!”. We also haul off junk furniture, appliances, etc. “Fair Prices”. Call 980-4373590 or (980) 577-8180
BUSINESS SERVICES
BOLIN’S TREE SERVICE. We cut down trees, top out trees, grind stumps, and clean up brush. (704) 937-9841
YARD SALES
CLEVELAND COUNTY COMMUNITY YARD SALE.
Thurs-5/07, Fri-5/08 (both days-9 am-6 pm) & Sat-5/09, 9 am-4 pm. Decorating business items from runners, table cloths, dishes, table wear, vases and more! Used for small weddings, showers, church events, mothers day gatherings. Books, Dave Ramsey, Christian, Health. Teeter hang ups inversion table. A large variety of items. Something for every one. Don’t miss out, come and see!! 104 Lake George Drive, Shelby, NC 28152
RUTHERFORD COUNTY
YARD SALE -3 FAMILIES Sat., May 9th, 2026 from 7:00 AM - 12:00 PM. Something for everyone! Baby clothes, swing, bassinet, car seat/stroller, bouncer. Kitchen stuff, furniture, decor, holiday items, toys. 168 Westmore Drive, Ellenboro, NC 28040
MULTI-FAMILY GARAGE
FOR SALE
HORSE BARNS OR LIVESTOCK RUN IN SHEDS. Barns - Grading, Concrete & Electrical Work If Needed, OR Just Install in Your Pasture. “Large Onsite Display!” J Johnson Sales 2690 Hwy 221 S. Forest City, NC. (828) 245-5895
BEDROOM SUITE. light finish, bought at Holland Furniture in 1952. 4-drawer chest of drawers, full bed w/bookcase headboard, nightstand, dresser with mirror and stool. $500. Wall and other decorations also available at additional cost. 828-289-6114.
FIREWOOD FOR SALE. Also Fire Pit Wood, and Cooking Wood. Delivery Available. (803) 627-9408
STEEL BUILT BUILDINGS, CARPORTS, GARAGES, BARNS or WAREHOUSES. Engineered Drawings. “If You Have Vacant Land.... This Can Be The Perfect Source For Rental Income!” One of North Carolina’s Largest Site Displays. We do grading, concrete, plumbing, etc. J Johnson Sales 2690 Hwy 221 S. Forest City, NC. (828) 2455895
ia, Autographed Items, Hard to Find Items! See Mike & Brandon Willis. We’re located at 104 Oliver Ave. (behind El Acapulco Mexican Restaurant in Boiling Springs), Shelby 704-297-0102 or 704-2970103 1705 S. Lafayette St., Shelby, NC 704-482-7880
Qualifications include experience in choral directing/ music ministry, ability to lead both traditional and/or contemporary worship music, good communicational skills and most importantly a heart for worship and a willingness to serve the church community. Please submit resume, a brief statement of interest and any relevant references to: Southern Baptist Church Attn: MUSIC COMMITTEE 140 Church Street, Rutherfordton, NC 28139
NOW HIRING LANDSCAPERS FOR FULL TIME YEAR ROUND EMPLOYMENT. Must have valid driver’s license and transportation. Over time available. (704) 473-0341
SECRETARY
Zion Baptist Church is seeking a dependable and detail-oriented individual to serve as Church Secretary. This is a part-time position, working up to
NOW HIRING PART-TIME CHURCH PIANIST. We are seeking a reliable and talented pianist to support our worship services. Primary responsibilities include providing piano accompaniment for weekly worship services, collaborating with music leader to prepare music, attending and participate in rehearsals (weekly or as scheduled), and providing music for special services including holidays, funerals and weddings. Qualifications are to be proficient in piano playing and ability to read music, ability to play a variety of worship styles (traditional and/or contemporary), being dependable, organized and able to prepare music in advance, and most importantly a heart for worship and a willingness to serve the church community. Please submit resume, a brief statement of interest and any relevant references to: Southern Baptist Church Attn: MUSIC COMMITTEE 140 Church Street, Rutherfordton, NC 28139
HOME REPAIRS WITHOUT THE STRESS. HANDYMAN SERVICES FOR HOME REPAIRS AND IMPROVEMENTS, INCLUDING INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR DOOR INSTALLATION, TRIM WORK, SMALL DRYWALL REPAIR, MINOR CARPENTRY, AND GENERAL MAINTENANCE. RELIABLE SERVICE WITH QUALITY WORKMANSHIP AT FAIR PRICES! (704) 466-2333
FOR REASONABLE RATE
LAWN SERVICE. Call (704) 472-4737
DO YOU NEED HELP??? Offering painting, debris removal, cleaning, pressure washing, garage clean-ups and more. Specials for landlords. Reasonable rates. Rutherford County area. Call Thomas (828) 429-9276
MULCH HAULED AND SPREAD. Bulk or bagged (small truck loads). Call Robert at (980) 295-0750 for a fast quote to top off your gardens and beds in Cleveland County.
SALE. Sat., May 9th, 2026 from 7:00 AM - 12:00 PM. Free Item Bin. Everything cheap, priced to sell. Beautiful new handmade wreaths. Some furniture and antiques. Boutique and name brand women’s clothing size M-2X. Men’s clothing XL-2X. Women’s and kids shoes. Women’s scrubs. Name brand boys clothing 12 months-big boy sz 18 (UA, New Balance). Household items and home decor. Older vinyl records. Diecast cars. New Tow-behind Mow-in-Vac. Truck tool box (locked w/ no key). Adult and children’s books. PS4 games. 137 Williamsburg Dr. Spindale, NC 28160
FOR SALE
HORSE QUALITY HAY FOR SALE. Call (704) 487-6855
CARPORTS & GARAGES. RV, Boat or Camper Covers. One of North Carolina’s Oldest Dealers! J Johnson Sales. 2690 Hwy. 221, Forest City, NC. (828) 245-5895
TRAILERS, LAWNMOWER TRAILERS, FLATBED
TRAILERS, Enclosed Trailers, Horse and Cattle Trailers, Saddlery. Check our prices and quality before you buy. Bridges Riding Equipment. Boiling Springs, NC. 704-434-6389, (704) 473-0867
STORAGE BUILDINGS
BURIAL PLOTS FOR SALE. 3 burial plots for sale at Rose Hill Cemetery in Fallston. $1,800. If interested call 704477-6485.
MEN’S NEW CRUISER BICYCLE $50. Three DVD players $30. Men’s Cruiser Bicycle, used, $50. (828) 782-7221
TRAILERS • TRAILERS • TRAILERS. Utility, Enclosed, Dump, Gooseneck, Equipment, Aluminum. Car or Tractor Haulers. “All In Stock!” Parts Department, Service Department “One Stop Shop!” J Johnson Sales. 2690 Hwy. 221, Forest City, NC. (828) 245-5895
METAL ROOFING
1705 S. Lafayette St., Shelby, NC 704-482-7880
METAL ROOFING ! Metal
Roofing - 1 Piece or the Whole Rooftop. “We Also Can Deliver” Deliveries Every Monday & Thursdays. J Johnson Sales. 2690 Hwy. 221, Forest City, NC. (828) 245-5895
for a quote: 1-833-6416577
Miscellaneous
Miscellaneous Get a break on your taxes! Donate
tion ready when you call! Miscellaneous We Buy Vintage Guitar’s! Looking for 1920-1980 Gibson, Martin, Fender, Gretsch, Epiphone, Guild, Mosrite, Rickenbacker, Prairie State, D’Angelico, Stromberg. And Gibson Mandolins / Banjos. These brands only! Call
Donate your car today, running or not. Support Patriotic Hearts for our Veterans and their Families! Free fast pickup. May be tax deductable. Se habla Español. Call now: 877-317-3360 Miscellaneous BEHIND ON YOUR MORTGAGE PAYMENTS? Threatened with foreclosure? Denied a loan modification? Let us help! Call the Homeowner Relief Line to speak with a mortgage specialist 844492-0883
Miscellaneous Get a High Quality, Modern Design bath or shower transformation in as little as One Day. $0 Down, $0 Installation, $0 Payments for 12 months! Call: 1-877243-7050.
CROSSWORD PUZZLE
Great gifts for moms from all walks of life
Mother’s Day is an opportunity to show moms how much they’re loved and appreciated. Though many moms may insist they don’t want anything beyond spending the day with their children, gifts are a big part of Mother’s Day.
No two moms are the same, and though standards like flowers and greeting cards will always have a place on Mother’s Day, the following are some gift ideas that can put smiles on the faces of moms from all walks of life.
Bookworm
9. Quantitative fact 11. Utah city 14. Where a golfer begins 15. Attendant 18. The ancient Egyptian sun god 19. Book of Chronicles (abbr.) 20. Benedictine monk 22. Not turbulent 23. Car mechanics group 24. Buffer used in chemistry 27. Fall heavily 28. Pie _ __ mode 29. The Brits love it 31. Children’s TV channel (abbr.) 32. Jacksonville footballer
33. Helps little firms 34. __ and behold
35. A way to resemble 36. Fingers 37. Excessive indulgences
38. You might be an “empty” one 39. “How the West Was Won” writer 40. European river 44. They begin the alphabet
47. The body’s messenger
There’s no end to the gift options for mothers who love to curl up with a good book. Of course, some new books may delight Mom, but gifts that can improve the reading experience also merit consideration. For example, an ergonomic backrest reading pillow can make bedtime reading sessions more comfortable and ensure Mom’s neck and back get ample support as she reads the latest
page-turner. A nightstand book holder also can be ideal for moms who can’t seem to keep track of their bookmarks.
Fitness enthusiast Some moms simply love to get in a good workout. Shoppers whose mothers or wives love to break a sweat might want to look into home gym equipment, as many fitness enthusiasts transformed part of their homes into exercise areas during the pandemic. If that sounds like the mom on your shopping list, then a suspension training system won’t take up much room but can provide an intense, full-body workout. A new yoga mat, some wireless Bluetooth headphones or a compression stretching mat are some additional gifts that might make exercise-loving moms smile this Mother’s Day.
Traveler
Moms whose children still live under the same roof may not have much opportunity to travel, but empty nesters and
grandmothers might. For such moms, a foldable, hanging travel bag can make it easy and convenient for mom to carry all of her toiletries and access them without taking up what’s often minimal hotel room counter space. For moms who want to document their excursions, a leather travel journal encourages them to note their experiences and gives them something they can revisit for years to come. Of course, some new luggage can make the perfect gift for newly retired moms who can’t wait to start visiting places on their travel bucket lists.
Businesswoman Millions of moms manage to juggle the obligations of family life with a challenging career. Mother’s Day can be a great time to recognize that balancing act. A self-heating coffee mug can ensure Mom’s morning cup o’ joe doesn’t
go cold as she traverses her way through a hectic morning routine. Another great gift is a charging mouse pad that can charge all of Mom’s devices even while she’s working. If you want to help Mom remain calm as she navigates her way through a day filled with personal and professional obligations, an essential oils diffuser can create a sense of relaxation on the most hectic of days. No two moms are the same. Fortunately, great gifts can be found for moms from all walks of life this Mother’s Day.
LOTS OF LAUGHS WORD SEARCH
Dear Getting, If you die without a will, your assets will be distributed according to the laws of your state, known as intestacy laws. These laws determine who inherits your property and financial accounts when there’s no will or trust.
Since rules vary from state to state, it’s important to check the specifics where you live.
A helpful starting point is heirbase.com, which offers Intestacy Evaluators for 37 states. You enter your household information and see how your estate might be distributed. If your state isn’t in-
cluded, Nolo has a useful state-by-state intestate succession guide at nolo. com/legal-encyclopedia/ intestate-succession.
In the meantime, here is a general overview of what can happen, depending on your family situation.
Married with children: When a married person with children dies without a will, all property, investments and financial accounts that are “jointly owned” automatically goes to the surviving co-owner without going through probate, which is the legal process that distributes a deceased person’s assets.
But for all other separately owned property or individual financial accounts, the laws of most states award one-third to one-half to the surviving
spouse, while the rest goes to the children.
Married with no children: Some states award the entire estate to the surviving spouse, or everything up to a certain amount (for example the first $100,000). But many other states award only one-third to one-half of the decedent’s separately owned assets to the surviving spouse, with the remainder generally going to the deceased person’s parents, or if the parents are dead, to brothers and sisters.
Jointly owned property, investments, financial accounts, or community property automatically goes to the surviving co-owner.
Single with children: All state laws provide that the entire estate goes to the
children, in equal shares. If an adult child of the decedent has died, then that child’s children (the decedent’s grandchildren) split their parent’s share.
Single with no children or grandchildren: In this situation, most state laws favor the deceased person’s parents. If both parents are deceased, many states divide the property among the brothers and sisters, or if they are not living, their children (your nieces and nephews). If there are none of them, it goes to the next of kin, and if there is no living family, the state takes it.
Make a Will
To ensure your assets go to those you want to receive them, you need to create a will or trust. If you have a simple estate and an uncomplicated family situation, there are
Fill in the blank squares so that each row, each column, and each 3 by 3 block contain all of the digits 1 thru 9 using logic.
By JIM MILLER Editor
do-it-yourself resources that can help you create all these documents for very little money.
Some top-rated options include the Quicken WillMaker & Trust (willmaker.com, $109) and Trust & Will (trustandwill.com, $199). Or, if that’s more than you’re willing to pay, you can make your will for free at freewill.com or doyourownwill.com.
If, however, you want or need assistance or if you have a complicated financial situation, blended family or have considerable assets, you should hire an attorney. An experienced attorney can make sure you cover all your bases, which can help avoid family confusion and squabbles after you’re gone.
Costs will vary depend-
ing on where you live, but you can expect to pay anywhere between $200 and $1,000 for a will.
The National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (naela.org) and the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (actec. org) websites are good resources that have directories to help you find someone in your area.
If money is tight, check with your state’s bar association (findlegalhelp.org) to find low-cost legal help in your area. Or call the Eldercare Locater at 800677-1116 for a referral.
Send your questions or comments to questions@savvysenior.org, or to Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070.
