INSIDE...
SPORTS - 1B
KINGS MOUNTAIN & GROVER
■ Mack
Obituaries ........................ 2A Police Log ........................ 2A Lifestyles ......................... 7A
Christmas Parade Photos
to play in All-American Bowl
See pages 6A & 6B
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Volume 128 • Issue 49
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New Chairman elected
County leadership passes from Falls to Holbrook
Santa Claus came to town Saturday in the annual Christmas parade. The Winter Wonderland continues with events on Friday and Saturday night in Kings Mountain. Photo by Don Crawford
Winter Wonderland continues The second weekend of three weekends planned before Christmas in the city-sponsored Winter Wonderland continues Friday and Saturday at Patriots Park, Saturday afternoon at the Historical Museum, and the popular Fantasy Light show continues every night from 5:30 p.m.-11 p.m. until Jan. 7, already drawing crowds to the downtown.. At the Park Friday West Elementary Chorus will perform from 5:30-6 p.m., Bethware Elementary and North Elementary Choruses from 6-6:30 p.m, and from 7-7:30 p.m. 2017 USA National Miss North Carolina Pre-teen BreAnn Jenkin will read “ Fancy Nancy Splendiferous Christmas” by Jane O’Connor. Sophia Kellstrom, Jayla Pettis and Jenkins will present special music. Connections Church will serve hot chocolate, warm
apple cider, coffee and cookies on Friday night and also on Dec. 16 in the Park. Craig Pittman, owner of Mr. B’s fun foods and a member of CCKM, will be donating treats just as he did for the tree lighting ceremony last year at Mauney Memorial Library. Uptown, wine and chocolate pairings is planned at Gentle Moon Café where reservations are preferred. Saturday, Dec. 10, Santa and Mrs. Claus will be at the Historical Museum from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. There is no admission charge. Mrs. Claus will read the classic 1823 children’s story,”Twas the Night Before Christmas.” This is also a good time for children and adults to enjoy the Christmas train display inside the museum. Children are invited to write their letters to Santa and deposit them in a mailbox at City Hall from 8 a.m.- 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays.
Thousands of lights in “Little McAdenville” Over two decades of work, all handmade in his shop, is in Grady and Katie Costner’s yards sparkling with thousands of Christmas lights. It’s a wonderland for people who turn at the Costner home on Margrace Road ( Midpines Community) and travel around his residence to enjoy the special beauty of the holiday season. It’s a fabulous show
– a Little McAdenville- a decorating project the couple started years ago with just a few lights and now host the granddaddy of home decorations open to the public from 5:30-9 p.m. every night. Grady was recently hospitalized for surgery but he and his wife – with the help of their son- got everything ready for children and others “young at heart” to walk or ride through their yard, talk with Santa and get a candy cane, and enjoy the season.
There will be paper stickers and crayons available for the children to use to send their special message and wish list to Santa Claus. Mayor Scott Neisler flipped the switch on the Christmas lights at 5:30 p.m. Saturday and in time for the first weekend of Winter Wonderland events. Santa Claus came to town Saturday as star of the 73unit Christmas parade which wound about a mile through the city with crowds in the thousands standing three or more deep lining the streets. The nightly light show downtown features a parody on the Beatles’ classic, “All You Need Is Love’ called Elves. It also features new music and sequences including Luke Bryon’s “Run, Rudolph Run” and ”Mary did you know?” by Pentatonix.
The torch of leadership of the Cleveland county board of commissioners passed to Eddie Holbrook, currently vice-chairman of the five-member board, at an organizational meeting and swearing-in of three newly-elected incumbents Monday. Chairman Jason Falls, who is completing a threeyear term on the board, made the motion, seconded by Johnny Hutchins, to elect Holbrook. Hutchins made the motion, seconded by the new chairman, to elect Susan Allen as vice-president. Falls received allocades from his fellow commissioners for his service. See LEADERSHIP, Page 5B
County commissioners Eddie Holbrook, Susan Allen, Johnny Hutchins, left to right, and Speaker of the House Tim Moore are pictured at Monday morning’s swearing-in of newly reelected county commissioners Allen and Hutchins. Holbrook was elected chairman of the board and Allen was elected vice-chairman. The third member of the board, Ronnie Hawkins, reelected to his fourth four year-term, took the oath of office at his residence in Kings Mountain. Photo by LIB STEWART
Commissioners sworn Monday A packed crowd applauded the swearing-in ceremonies for newly-elected c o u n t y RONNIE HAWKINS commissioners Johnny Hutchins, who will be serving a fourth four year term, and Susan Allen, who will be serving a second four year term, Monday morning in the Commissioners’ Cham-
bers at the Charles F. Harry Administrative Building in Shelby. The third incumbent, longtime commissioner Ronnie Hawkins, fighting illness at home, took the oath at his residence in the presence of all commissioners and Speaker of the House Tim Moore, who had earlier installed Hutchins and Allen. Brad Ellis, assistant manager, and Monty Thornburg, director, both co-workers and friends of Hawkins at Harris Funeral Home, led
the swearing-in ceremony at the Hawkins home. Hawkins was sworn-in for a fifth fouryear term. Libby Hawkins, Ronnie’s wife, looked on at the ceremony. The re-elected commissioners pledged to represent all the people. “I appreciate everyone who has worked for and with me,’’ said Hutchins. “We have a lot of great things going on in the county. We plan to build on the successes as we work together,’’ said Allen. She asked for prayer for the board.
‘Messiah’ is Christmas gift to the community Five years ago, the Kings Mountain community opened their hearts, minds, and ears to the Messiah. The musical work by Handel, that is. Dr. Jonathan Bundon, the worship pastor at First Baptist Kings Mountain, had Handel’s Messiah on his bucket list since coming to Kings Mountain in 2006, but it was not until 2011 he checked it off his list. “I have conducted, and performed Handel’s Messiah several times before, yet I keep them on my
bucket list.” Bundon continues, “Extraordinary life experiences such as Messiah must not be experienced only once. I realize we all have different tastes in music, yet Messiah seems to transcend style and culture. The oratorio (fancy word for a large religious musical) shares the good news of Jesus through song. As a gift to the community, First Baptist Church in Kings Mountain will present Messiah free of charge. Additionally, due to the overflow crowd last time
(1,000+), two performances will be held at 3 and 6 p.m. December 18. “Tell us something about the work Messiah we may not know,’’ Herald reporter Lib Stewart asked. G. F Handel was said to have completed Messiah in three to four weeks. There are multiple versions of Messiah in circulation. Some are much better than others. Legend holds the “Hallelujah Chorus “ so moved King George II he stood, and the people followed. Today,
the tradition of standing for the “most famous chorus ever” continues. Many think Handel wrote his work for Christmas. Handel, however, first performed Messiah in April, not in December. The first performance of Messiah consisted of about 24-32 professional singers 12 men and 12 boys plus soloists and an even larger orchestra. We now know, Handel performed his music faster than many conductors do See ‘MESSIAH’ GIFT, Page 8A
Living Creche, White Christmas at Patterson Grove Baptist The Kindergarten-Sixth grade children of Patterson Grove Baptist Church will present “The Living Creche” beginning at 5:30 p.m. on Sunday evening Dec. 11.
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This will also be the night that Patterson Grove participates in their “White Christmas.” During “White Christmas” everyone in attendance is asked to take
a canned or boxed food item wrapped in plain white tissue or other type white paper. These are placed under the Christmas tree in the order of your birthday month and
these items are distributed to a family in need during this holiday season. Everyone welcome. The church is located at 301 Oak Grove Road.
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