INSIDE... Obituaries ........................ 2A Police Log ........................ 2A Lifestyles ......................... 6A
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A tragedy for everyone
Javion Burris gets some help with fractions from Math Academy Principal Monica Browner as the Mount Zion Baptist Church educational building became a beehive of activity with opening of the second year of summer classes.
At Mt. Zion Church site
Math Academy growing The Community Math Academy at Mount Zion Baptist Church has grown in its second year to an enrollment of 50 rising 5th and 6th grade students. Classes began July 11 for 50 students under the direction of Principal Monica Browner and five teachers Samantha Rikard, Charlene Weaver, Julie Sparrow, Jeannie Brittain and Adrienne Ledbetter. Students
from Kings Mountain High School are serving as assistants. “We are seeing more growth during this second year and our students struggling with math are enjoying fractions and doing math problems they like,'' said Principal Monica Browner. After registering for classes, the boys and girls were pre-tested to find See MATH ACADEMY, Page 7A
New parking lot opens Friday Mayor Scott Neisler will cut the ribbon Friday morning at 9 a.m. celebrating the completion of the hardscape renovations to the Cherokee Street Parking Lot. The public is invited. This project was funded in part through the $97,000 grant the City of Kings Mountain received from the State of NC for downtown revitalization projects in last year’s state budget. Main Street Director
Jan Harris said, “We recognize that some of the businesses located in buildings adjacent to the Cherokee parking lot were inconvenienced and may have suffered financial losses during the weeks that the parking lot was closed to traffic.'' Mayor Neisler has authorized coupons to be developed and available for public use with the goal of See PARKING LOT, Page 7A
National Night Out Aug. 4 National Night Out, a free event to promote community and police partnerships, will be held at Patriots Park Thursday, Aug. 4 from 6-9 p.m.. The event was originally slated for Tuesday but has been rescheduled to Thursday, Aug. 4, to combine with the Farmers Market underway from 4-7 at Patriots Park.
“Why don't all you Pokemon Go players come out and find and capture those animated creatures at Patriots Park,'' says Mayor Scott Neisler. The newest digital popularity craze, Pokemon Go, has hit Kings Mountain and there are about 10 “stops” in Kings Mountain and Patriots Park is one. “It's a great place for you Pokemon fans to get together,'' adds the mayor. There will be free food and exhibits by law See NATIONAL NIGHT, Page 7A
A mother and her baby boy were fatally struck by a vehicle in Kings Mountain early last Thursday morning. Kings Mountain Police Det. K. L. Hamrick said that Clarissa Mechel Clemons Ussery, 30, of 120 Centerfield Drive, Shelby, was walking with her 27-month-old son Kadence in the middle of the road and they were struck by a 1999 Dodge truck operated by Danny Ray Cook, 41, of Mail Road, in Kings Mountain. No charges will be filed against Cook. The accident happened about 5 a.m. on Cansler Street near Barnette Drive. Police are looking for a witness, an African American male who was reportedly Ussery's boyfriend who may have been with Ussery on the day of the accident. “We need to talk to him,'' said police.
Anyone with information is asked to call KMPD at 704734-0444. Cook stayed at the scene and called 911. Neighbors reportedly heard the impact and ran to help but say nothing could be done for the woman and her son. Ussery and her baby were pronounced dead at the scene. The investigation is continuing by investigating officers Hamrick and KMPD Cpl. Wayne Carpenter. Hamrick said authorities are still looking into why Ussery was walking on the road with her child at 5 a.m. Her family is also looking for answers. Chavis Clemons of Charlotte, brother of Clarissa Ussery, said on Facebook, “My sister is gone. I've never had someone so
Ed Clemons, father of Clarissa Mechel Clemons Ussery and grandfather of 27-month-old Kadence, supplied this picture of Clarissa holding Kadence and her older son, Kevin. close to me die, but this is a horrible feeling and I feel for all my family that are touched by this tragedy.
Thanks to Jehovah, through His son, Jesus Christ, we have hope. It's a tragedy for everyone.”
No charges will be filed in fatalities: DA Cleveland County District Attorney Mike Miller said yesterday that no charges will be filed against the driver of a truck that struck Clarissa Ussery and her baby boy on North Cansler Street near Barnette Drive early Thursday morning. The Kings Mountain Police Department is continuing to investigate the accident and want to talk to a black male identified as Eric Odem. Investigators believe he placed the body of the little boy in the mother's arms. Police say their investigation reveals that Ussery
and her son were walking in the middle of the road in the northbound lanes of North Cansler Street.. Danny Ray Cook, the driver of the 1999 Dodge truck traveling north on Cansler Street, told police that he applied his brakes and veered to the left side of the road way crossing the center line in an attempt to miss Ms. Ussery and her son. Investigating officers said the vehicle came to rest in the south bound lanes of North Cansler Street with the body of Ms. Ussery underneath the driver's side of
Making history Kings Mountain's Betsy Wells has spent a lifetime in politics. This week she's ready to make history as she sits in the North Carolina delegation section at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, Pa. and casts her vote for the first ALL SMILES - Betsy Wells is shown female ever nomi- smiling from her seat in the North nated for president by Carolina delegation at the Demoa major political party. cratic National Convention in PhilWells has been adelphia, Pa. Two TV stations, MSNBNC and CNN, flashed her a supporter of Hilpicture during their coverage of the lary Clinton for many convention Monday night. years and is attending her 16th Democratic screens. national convention and the “I am just having a ball. current one is “just icing on It's just phenomenal,'' said the cake.” Betsy from the convention If you were watching First hall Tuesday. Lady Michelle Obama speak Wells said the opening at the convention Monday day was a “little hectic but night on television a picture ended on a high note. The of Betsy Wells was flashed on both the MSNBC and CNN See MAKING HISTORY, Page 7A
the truck. Cook witnessed a black male at the scene of the accident who came from the right side of N. Cansler Street. “He demanded that I back up my truck,'' said Cook which he did while trying to avoid running back over the body of Ms. Ussery. Cook said he witnessed the black male pick up what he thought to be a black book bag and place it beside of Ms. Ussery but authorities during their investigation believe that it was the body of the child. No alcohol, speed or cell
phone usage was a determining factor in the accident, said police. KMPD is awaiting the toxicology report for Ms. Ussery from the Cleveland County Coroner's office. Police said there have been no other witnesses that have come forward that witnessed the actual accident or events that led up to the accident. Anyone with information is encouraged to call the Kings Mountain Police Department, Det. Cpl. K. L. Hamrick, 704-734-0444.
Real to Reel opens tonight
We're moving
Y o u may be the first to see a future Oscar-winning film at the 17th annual Real to Reel International Film Festival which starts tonight ( Wednesday) at 7 p.m. at the Joy Theatre in Kings Mountain and presented by the Cleveland County Arts Council. Screenings will be held at 7 p.m. tonight, Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings p lus a 1 p.m. Saturday matinee and an awards presentation after the Saturday night show. See the schedule of screenings in today's Herald. Mayor Scott Neisler is operaing the projector for the 10th year for the festival sponsored by the Kings See REEL TO REEL, Page 7A
The Kings Mountain Herald will be in a new location next week – 219 S. Battleground Ave., Second Floor, Suite 6. “We want to embrace the community and be more visible and accessible,'' said Publisher Greg Ledford. The Herald's new location is in the Amity Finance Building, formerly called the Blazer building. The four office suite is owned by Walter Wade. Entrance is from the city's new Cherokee Street parking lot and you can enter the second floor offices of the Amity building via a ramp that can been seen as you enter the parking lot. The Herald moved to its present location, 700 East Gold Street, eight years ago from the log building at King and Canterbury Road. Ledford and Community First Media purchased The Herald two years ago.
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