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Volume 129 • Issue 11
Wednesday, March 15, 2017
kmherald.com • 704-739-7496
75¢
At East School
Crossing guard ‘Big Brother’ Rain or shine, Pressley Anderson, 69, escorts his special “charges” safely across the street after school at the corner of Woodside and Cleveland Avenue. Anderson is East Elementary School’s popular crossing guard. He calls himself the children’s “Big Brother.” He reports to work at Pressley Anderson, East Elementary 2 p.m. five days School crossing guard, escorts young a week for his Jackson Clemmer from East School safely shift from 2:30 across the street at the corner of Wooduntil 3:10 p.m. side and Cleveland Avenue. Anderson hugs the chilhas been a “Pressley of all dren and with a big smile trades.” waves to them, their parents A former service station and to motorists who stop at attendant for 17 years at his signal. Phillips 66, then Texaco, “I love my kids,’’ says Pressley got on a first name Pressley. He has looked basis with city police who after their safety for 13 came to the station to fill years. He knows them by up patrol cars with gasoline. name. Former Police Chief War“I love him too,’’ says ren Goforth suggested that young Jackson Clemmer. Pressley would be a Over the years, Pressley See BIG BROTHER, Page 7A
AWARD TO HAMRICKS – Kings Mountain Historical Museum President Susan Champion, right, presents an award to Evelyn and Larry Hamrick for over 30 years’ service, dedication and invaluable contributions to the Museum’s Board of Directors.
IF WINTER COMES CAN SPRING BE FAR BEHIND? – It’s almost 6 days until the first day of Spring and last Saturday night and Sunday morning a light dusting of snow turned trees and bushes into a pretty picture but the late winter wonderland didn’t stick around long. By noon the white stuff was history and the second snowfall of winter quickly melted. Kings Mountain’s first snowfall on Jan. 7 dumped 6 inches of snow on the area. Photo by ELLEN DEVENNY
Ashley Kerns, Andrea Yates
Top Teacher Awards to Bethware Alumni
Sydney Lucas sand Destiny Fuqua perform in KMHS Improv Troupe on Friday night.
KMHS Improv Troupe to perform Friday night The Kings Mountain High School WIT? Improv Troupe presents their next show on Friday, March 17 at 7:30 p.m. in Barnes Auditorium on the campus of Kings Mountain High School. Tickets for the show are $5 and can be purchased at the door or by visiting www.kmhsarts.org. Cleveland County Schools Renaissance Gold Card holders and children 5 years old and under get in for free. The WIT? Improv Show is similar to the TV show “Whose Line Is It, Anyway?” Players present either short-form improvisation games or a long-form
Harold. In each scene, they will use various ideas and scenarios to create random stories with unique characters. All scenes will be created on the spot, with participants having no prior knowledge of the characters, locations, or quirks they are given. The show offers a blend of spontaneity and creativity for the audience to enjoy. This year’s troupe is being trained by a professional improvisation coach and KMHS alumnus, Austin Simmons. For more information, visit www. facebook.com/kmhstheatre or www.kmhsarts.org.
Former Bethware Elementary and KM High School alumni Ashley Ray Kerns and Andrea Lail Yates are now teaching at Bethware School. Kerns, 25, a 4th grade teacher for two years, was recently ASHLEY KERNS ANDREA YATES named Bethware’s US Marine Corps and com2017 Teacher of the Year. Yates, 35, first grade pleting his fifth year in the assistant teacher for Marines. Daughter of Mark and three years, was named Debby Ray of Kings MounBethware’s 2017 Assistant tain, Ashley enjoys hiking Teacher of the Year. and outdoor activities. The Kerns graduated in 2010 family is active in Central from Kings Mountain High School and from Queens United Methodist Church. How has her personal beUniversity on a North Carliefs about teaching demonolina Teacher’s Fellowship, strated in her personal where she majored in eleteaching style? mentary education. She will “This might seem too receive her Master’s degree simple, yet I know it to be in Library Science from Aptrue: teaching is the best capalachian State University reer in the world. Teaching on May 12. Kerns formerly makes every other occupataught at Carr Elementary tion imaginable possible. in Dallas for a year and Meadow View Elementary Teaching allows for tiny in Jacksonville for a year acorns to turn into mighty where her husband, Clay oaks. Even the acorn that Kerns, was serving in the See TOP TEACHER, Page 7A
Museum Board honors Hamricks Two nights remain of L-T show
From its founding in 1986, two people in particular have been unwavering champions of Kings Mountain Historical Museum. Evelyn and Larry Hamrick Sr. have served for over 30 years as members of the Board of Directors and were honored recently with special recognition. Museum President Susan Champion presented certificates of recognition to the couple recently. Mr. Hamrick will continue on the board of directors. Mrs. Hamrick will continue her involvement as a volunteer. The Hamricks helped collect and store items in the old City Hall building until the
new KMHM opened in 2000 in the old Kings Mountain Post Office. “Evelyn and Larry Hamrick’s leadership, their service on the Executive Committee, their ideas and input, their commitment to the annual fundraiser and the relationships they have fostered have made them invaluable assets to the Museum,’’ said Museum President Susan Champion. “They have established a lasting legacy here. Their selfless devotion inspires us all to carry that torch – to give of our time, talents and treasure as they have to keep moving the Museum forward. With the foundation laid by dedicated board members like Evelyn and Larry Hamrick, I have every confidence that KMHS will continue to be successful in the future.’’
Two nights remain of “The Fantasticks” Friday and Saturday nights at 7:30 p.m. at Joy Performance Theatre in Kings Mountain. Since its opening in May 1960 at the Sullivan Street Playhouse in New York, and its subsequent revival at the Snapple Theatre Center, “The Fantastics” has become the longest-running production of any kind in the history of American theatre. The musical is a story of young love, disillusionment, reconciliation and funny, a child-friendly production. It tells an allegorical story about two neighbors who trick their children, Luisa and Matt. Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for students and senior citizens. An eight-member cast
TWO SHOWS REMAIN - “The Fantastics” will perform two more nights at Joy Theatre Friday and Saturday. From left, Katie Ujevich as Luisa, Austin Willis as Matt, Caroline Dedmon as Mortimer, Trey Ross as El Gallo, and Kevin Burke as Henry. Standing in the back is Erica Carpenter as the mute. Photo by BRYAN HALLMAN enjoyably brings the show locally for Kings Mountain Little Theatre and corporate sponsor Harris Funeral
Home and are all mostly from Cleveland and Gaston Counties. The leading lady in the romantic role of Luisa
(Katie Ujevich) with Austin Willis, as Matt, a sophomore at Cleveland Community See L-T SHOW, Page 7A
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