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KM Herald 7_15_26

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Contact Me To View My Current Listings or To List Your Home! MARVIN BIDDIX Realtor®/Broker

REMAX SELECT Each Office is Independently Owned and Operated

Cell: 704.466.1944 Office: 704.487.7653 marvinbiddix@remax.net

500 W. WARREN STREET • SHELBY, NC

Volume 138 • Issue 28

Wednesday, July 15, 2026

kmherald.com • 704-484-1047

75¢

National Night Out 2026 to be held August 4 KMPD / FB The Kings Mountain Police Department is proud to invite the community to National Night Out 2026— an evening dedicated to building stronger relationships between law enforcement and the citizens they proudly serve. This family-friendly event is a wonderful opportunity to meet your local police officers, connect with neighbors, enjoy great food,

participate in fun activities, and celebrate the partnerships that help keep our community safe and strong. The event will be held on Tuesday, August 4, 6:00

PM – 8:30 PM at Patriots Park, 220 S. Railroad Avenue, Kings Mountain. KMPD extends their sincere appreciation to their generous sponsors and community partners whose support helps make this event possible. Mark your calendars and join in as we come together to celebrate community, connection, and public safety. KMPD looks forward to seeing you there. See ad on page 2A.

L-R: Melody Blakely, Stormy and Marti Mongiello, Rod Powell, Betsy Wells, and Emanuel Hunt, Jr. (Photo provided by Barry & Marti Mongiello)

Grover honors 17-Year-Old Heroine of Graham’s Fort By Marti Mongiello

Mari Slaughter celebrated her retirement from Mauney Memorial Library in Kings Mountain on July 2. The library staff celebrated with a retirement party. They congratulated Mari and thanked her for helping citizens of Kings Mountain for over 20 years. Best wishes on your retirement Mari! (Photo Mauney Memorial Library/FB)

Expanded collaboration between Atrium Health and OrthoCarolina builds on a longstanding relationship to advance access, coordinated care, education and innovation. (Photo provided)

Atrium Health and OrthoCarolina join forces to build nationally recognized orthopedic destination Atrium Health, part of Advocate Health and OrthoCarolina announced they are strengthening and expanding their longstanding affiliation to advance orthopedic care across the greater Charlotte region. The new agreements align Atrium Health's nationally recognized Musculoskeletal Institute with OrthoCarolina, one of the nation's leading independent orthopedic practices, with the goal of building a regionally, nationally and internationally recognized destination for all orthopedic care.

Together, the organizations will focus on exceptional outcomes, an outstanding patient experience and greater, more efficient access to care for the communities they serve. Through a clinical affiliation agreement, the organizations will work more closely align orthopedic care across all subspecialities, clinical operations, education and research activities. Through the affiliation, they will focus on evidence-based medicine, coordinated care pathways, aligned provider networks, shared quality measures, population health initiatives and performance goals. The organizations are also creat-

ing a new ambulatory surgery center joint venture to support broader access to high-quality orthopedic procedures in lower-cost outpatient settings. "For decades, OrthoCarolina has been committed to delivering exceptional orthopedic care to the communities we serve," said Dr. Leo Spector, chief executive officer of OrthoCarolina. "Atrium Health is the right organization for this new engagement because we share a longstanding commitment to advancing orthopedic care across all the subspecialities, training the next generation of orthopedic practitioners and improving access for patients. This new See FORCES, Page 8A

As the nation celebrates 250 years of American independence, a recent gathering at 301 Cleveland Avenue turned its attention to Susannah Twitty one courageous Medal for Bravery young woman from the Carolina backcountry. Community members assembled at the American Revolutionary War Living History Center to honor Susannah “Susan” Twitty Graham (Beller), the 17-year-old American girl whose bravery at Graham’s Fort has endured for nearly 2.5 centuries. The Susannah “Susan” Twitty tribute included a ceremonial bush planting with chrome shovels, a historical presentation about her life, and the launch of the Susannah “Susan” Twitty Medal of Bravery. Bearing her likeness, the medal was created to recognize teenage girls who demonstrate courage, selfless service, and leadership under pressure. Stormy Mongiello was the guest keynote speaker. In September 1780, approximately two dozen loyalists attacked Colonel William Graham’s (her stepfather) fortified log home near Buffalo Creek in what is now Grover. Graham was a significant target for attacks because he was an official delegate to the fifth provincial congress in Halifax, North Carolina. He was appointed Commandant of Western North Carolina’s militia and was well known as a rebel intent on combat with the army, law enforcement officers, and government. Susannah was there to load and fire that day with her famous Dickert rifle. According to surviving accounts, a Loyalist named John Burke, at one point of the battle, rushed the fort at full speed and pushed his musket through a crack in the wall (called a loophole) and fired at Susannah’s brother, William Twitty. Susannah saw the danger and shoved her brother to the floor, causing the shot to miss. She immediately yelled for him to return the fire while she reloaded. Burke was killed and shot dead. Then,

Rendering of Susannah “Susan” riding on a horse at a gallup. (Photo provided) in an extraordinary act of nerve, Susannah unbolted the massive door, ran outside under combat fire, recovered his weapon and ammunition, and flew back into the fort. With Burke dead and several others wounded, the attackers later withdrew. Susannah was a well-known crack shot and sharpshooter who often emasculated boys by riding bareback at full gallop throughout the region. Her brother taught her how to shoot at an early age. Her bold sense of bravery in the middle of warfare and firing back and forth showcased that not all women are helpless little children who need to be rescued by a white knight with a flowing red Cape that is eight feet long. At only 17, Susannah did not wait for permission, rank, or rescue. She recognized the danger, protected her family and others, and acted while gunfire surrounded her. The July 4 ceremony carried her example into a new generation. In a county who’s only documented Revolutionary War battle occurred at Graham’s Fort, Grover remembered the young woman who met fear at the door and opened it anyway. A feature special was produced by ABC Television, featuring Ken Lemon of WSOC Channel 9 and Grover, who represented the entire county, for an America 250 documentary film released by the station.

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