SPORTS - 1B
Buzzard knocks out power in 3,000 homes
■ Dellinger
see page 7B
scores 9th goal of week
Volume 128 • Issue 12
Wednesday, March 23, 2016
kmherald.com • 704-739-7496 75 CENTS
Hoppin’ along the bunny trail Best innovation in downtown development
City wins Main Street award
Mackenzie Nantz with the Easter Bunny at the Eggstravaganza Saturday morning honoring the visually impaired sponsored by Mr. and Mrs. Larry Carroll. Photo by GARY SMART, SR.
First Eggstravaganza big success for kids Larry and Rachel Carroll didn't learn about Eggstravaganza for the visually impaired held in other cities in the state in time last year to take their two-year-old granddaughter, Huntlee. “So, why don't we plan one of our own here and have it every year for anyone visually impaired?” said Carroll to his wife. Carroll contacted the City of Kings Mountain to get the walking track rent-free for the event Saturday and Mountain View Restaurant chipped in with 240 hot dogs with all the trimmings and free to the 10 families and 30 volunteers who had a blast seeing the visually impaired find more eggs and faster than those children who put on blindfolds to join them in what turned out to be a fun event
for all. Zach Carroll put on a Easter Bunny outfit he borrowed from the City of Kings Mountain and the kids also enjoyed a Bouncy House, face painting, eating hot dogs and cotton candy, and having a good time. A visually-impaired 20-month-old baby was the youngest child present and a 14-year-old visually impaired boy was the oldest child present. Volunteers wore bright orange shirts. Hudson Weisner, 4, and his parents came from Charlotte because it was much closer than driving to Winston Salem, Raleigh and Asheville. The Carrolls plan to host the 'beeping' egg hunt annually. See more photos on page 3
Commissioner Incumbents will be on November ballot All three Cleveland County incumbent commissioners will appear on the November general election ballot after they defeated a challenger in the May 15 primaries and will face Democrat challengers Mary Accor and Willie B. McIntosh, both former commissioners, for the three seats up for grabs. Republicans Ronnie Hawkins, Johnny Hutchins and Susan Allen won on
Tuesday in the Primary. Challenger Doug Bridges lost his bid but received 20 percent of the vote. Hawkins and Hutchins each received 29 percent of the vote cast and Allen received 22 percent of the vote. Commissioner Hawkins said “Over the last 27 years as an elected official I have tried to put my community first in all of my decisions. I appreciate the support that I have been given and will try to continue to listen and serve the people to the best of my ability. My life has been truly blessed by serving!'' Commissioner Allen said “I am very excited to See COMMISSIONER, Page 7A
Kings Mountain was honored for its Small Business Success project - an effort between its Main Street group, Planning and Economic Development and the Mauney Memorial Library by the North Carolina Main Street Center during a recent conference attended by Main Street Director Jan Harris. Through the two-year project, local business owners received free intensive one-on-one assistance with such things as professional email development, internet advertising and promotion,
web site development, logo development, safety and security audits, technical assistance in such areas as marketing, small business development, business plan development and customer service. Small business centers were set up in both the library and the Main Street office to assist small businesses with their printing and laminating needs among other things. Kings Mountain Main Street director Jan Harris said the project was a rewarding experience for both the local businesses
JAN HARRIS STEVE KILLIAN SHARON STACK Main St. Director Planning Director Mauney Librarian or a business email and Main Street and Kings address, and we helped get Mountain officials. them there. We held semi"We wanted to try to nars from customer service help our small businesses in to tax prep. We all learned a the downtown area compete lot. It increased my knowlin the 21st century market- edge as well. We benefited place," she said. "Some and learned to increase our didn't have a web presence skill set."
KM area citizens preparing for Easter ELIZABETH STEWART lib.kmherald@gmail.com
Several area churches have planned special Holy Week services this week, beginning on Maundy Thursday and continuing through Easter Sunday. The Kings Mountain Ministerial Association will lead the community-wide Easter Sunrise Service at 7 a.m. around the huge white cross at Mountain Rest Cemetery. Rev. Dennis Pruitt, pastor of Second Baptist Church, will bring the message and special music will be presented by Bill McMurray. Rev. Scott Whitney, pastor of East Gold Street Wesleyan Church, and Rev. Ron Caulder, pastor of Eastsid Baptist Church, will assist in reading scriptures and offering prayers. “Everyone is invited to come and worship with us
as we celebrate the greatest event in our history – the Resurrection of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ,'' said KM Ministerial Association President Ron Caulder. Easter Sunrise Services will be held at several churches in the community. Dixon Presbyterian Church, Dixon School Road, will hold Easter Sunrise service at 7:15 a.m. followed by breakfast in the church fellowship hall, the former Dixon School House. The church will also have Maundy Thursday communion at 7:30 p.m., Good FridayTenebrae service on Friday at 7:30 p.m. with Dixon youth in charge of the special service at the fellowship hall; a Saturday afternoon children's and youth egg hunt from 2-4 p.m., and Sunday School at 10 a.m. followed by morning worship at 11 a.m. featuring an
Hey Kids! City’s egg hunt at Murphrey Park Saturday Take your Easter basket and ask your folks to take a camera and enjoy the fun at the annual City of Kings Mountain and Parkwood Baptist Church Easter Egg Hunt Saturday at 10 a.m. at the Mayor Rick Murphrey Children's Park beside the YMCA on Cleveland Avenue. Storytelling, singalongs, and other activities will also be featured and the fun will include a petting zoo with baby bunnies and peeps and hundreds of eggs will be there for you to fill your baskets and win the prizes. The Easter Bunny will be on hand for pictures. Volunteers from Parkwood Baptist Church will be providing music and hot dogs with all the trimmings.
For Dental Implants Locally Here In Kings Mountain
Baker Dental Care Preventative, Restorative & Cosmetic Dentistry
For the egg hunt, one gold egg will be mixed in with the other eggs in each age category: 2 and under; 3-5 and 6-10 years old. Each child who finds the golden egg will receive a $25 gift certificate from Toys R Us. For additional information call 704-734-0333 or visit www.cityofkm.com
The cross is draped with purple as churches hold Holy Week services this week. Photo by LIB STEWART Easter Cantata by the youth and senior choirs directed by Heather Stevenson. Advent Lutheran Church, Oak Grove Road, will hold
Lenten service on Wednesday, Maundy Thursday and Good Friday services, all at 7 p.m. A Sunrise Service will See EASTER, Page 7
Top speller heads back to DC for National Bee For the second year in a row Rexen Venevongsoth, 13, will head back to Washington, DC to represent Cleveland County in the Scripps National Spelling Bee. The KM Middle School student emerged the winner among 20 other elementary and middle school students at the Cleveland County Bee March 15 at the Cleveland County Schools Central Office Auditorium. Savannah Burns, 12, of Shelby Middle, was stiff competition for the winner in the last 45 minutes of the Bee. The repeat champion correctly spelled “eclectic” to win the handsome, first place trophy.
VENEVONGSOTH Rexen's sister, Kaitlin Belle, participated in the Scripps National Bee in 2013. This will be the third time that the Venevongsoth family represents the county at the National Bee in May.
Just a few benefits of Dental Implants: • Improved appearance. Dental implants look and feel like your own teeth. • Improved speech. Dental implants allow you to speak without the worry that your dentures might slip. • Improved self-esteem. Smile again and feel better about yourself. • Durable. Implants are very durable and with proper care, can last a lifetime. To find out more about Dental Implants and schedule your next appointment
call us at 704-739-4461
703 E. Kings St., Suite 9, Kings Mountain • www.BakerDentalCare.com