Wednesday, December 11, 2013
Page 3A
The Kings Mountain Herald | www.kmherald.net
Rockin’ Run a success despite rainy start Falls new chair The rain couldn’t dampen the spirits of runners and spectators for Saturday’s Jingle Bell Rockin’ Run. A total of 250 runners completed the 5K and 56 completed the 10K. Justin Tucker, 16, of Shelby finished first overall in the Jingle Bell Rockin’ Run 5K on Saturday with a time of 18:30. Top 5K runner in the women’s category (8th overall) was Katherine Crowell, 36, of Kings Mountain, who finished in 20:34. Mike Finger, 42, of Maiden, took first prize in the 10K race with a time of 43:49. Melissa Phillips, 35, of Kings Mountain, was top female runner (5th overall) in the 10K with a time of 44:37.
of CC Board of Commissioners DAVE BLANTON dave.kmherald@gmail.com
Just over 300 runners started off with a light drizzle coming down for Saturday’s Jingle Bell Rockin’ Run. Photos by Jim Zyble
These Christmas elves were some of the costumed runners to complete the race.
Justin Tucker, 16, of Shelby was the first runner across the line with a time of 18:30.
A lineup of runners sprint for the finish line of Saturday’s Jingle Bell Rockin’ Run.
Tonnie Bearfield and her daughter, Mary, ran in the 5-K Jingle Bell run Saturday and finished in Mary's first 5-K in 33: 39. Mary, 9, is a fourth grader at Bethware School.
Katherine Crowell of Kings Mountain was the first woman across the finish line with a time of 20:34.
This ‘bride’ was another of the costumed runners to complete the race.
The Nutcracker Ballet Special production this weekend at the Joy! The Nutcracker Ballet, the all time favorite story of Clara's magical trip to the land of sweets, will be presented by Kimberla's School of Classical Ballet and performed by Dance Magic, Elements in Dance, Dance Productions, and Dance Reflections students Saturday, Dec. 14, at 6 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 15, at 3 p.m. at Joy Theatre in Kings Mountain. Tickets can be purchased by calling 704-300-4130 or visiting the website – https://sites.google.com/site/ kmnutcrackerballet. General admission seats are $10 each and the Mezzanine seating cluster ( 4 seats around the table in balcony with hors'douvres is $75. “Experience this magical storybook ballet with your family and friends or escape Saturday evening or Sunday afternoon to dream with your children,'' says Burrows.
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The Cleveland County Board of Commissioners has unanimously picked Jason Falls as its new chairman. The Cleveland County native and K i n g s Mountain resident is serving his first four- Jason Falls year term. Eddie Holbrook, a Shelby resident, has been chosen as the body’s vicechair, a post vacated by Falls. Falls replaces Ronnie Hawkins in the chairman’s job, which is responsible for conducting meetings and acting as a spokesperson for board and the county itself. The board of commissioners presides over the county’s budget and more than a dozen departments, including the health department, the sheriff’s office, the district attorney’s office, county libraries, the soil and water department and social services. The county has an operating cost of $117 million for the current fiscal year and employs about 800 full-time workers. Since an economic downturn hit the nation and N.C. in 2008, it has also been focused on attracting new businesses and employers to the county, which during most of 2013 recorded an unemployment rate that topped 9.5 percent. “Looking ahead ‌. we’ve got to continue to work on new employers to come to the area,â€? said Falls. He said bringing the jobless
rate down as far as possible will be a major goal for county administrators. “There are too many empty buildings that need to be filled up,� he said. “There’s too much sales tax bleed going to Gaston County and other (neighboring) areas.� Falls also said that the county budget has become too heavily dependent on property taxes to pay its bills. He pointed up two major initiatives on the horizon for the county going into 2014: a county-operated gun range in Cherryville and a new county Health Department building in Shelby that is projected to cost around $17 million. New board members and officers were sworn in at a meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 3. Falls, who is 45, won election to the board in 2010 in his first foray into politics. He said he was motivated then to run for the office by a longing to give back to the community he grew up in. “This is home. This is where I’ve from,� he said. “The community has given me so much.� In the 1980s, Falls joined the U.S. Air Force, and lived in California while he served four years. “Whenever it was time to raise a family, we pulled up stakes and drove across the country to Cleveland county,� said Falls, who with his wife Nancy has two children, Ashley, 15, and Nicholas, 11. “In our family, our philosophy is that we should serve our faith and our community. That’s why I do this.�
BANK GIFT – Bank of the Ozarks President Helen Jeffords, left, presents the bank’s first year payment of a $15,000 pledge to Mayor Rick Murphrey, Honorary Chairman of the Patrick Center’s “building the future campaign� at City Hall Monday. KM bank executive and loan officer, Brenda Lovelace, center is a member of the campaign steering committee. The campaign has a goal of $1,065,000 to build a 4,305 square foot addition to the 17,000 square foot center. The additional space will accommodate current and future growth of the senior population, projected to double within the next 10-15 years. The campaign has raised about $800,000 or 75% of its goal. The campaign is expected to be completed in February 2014. Photo by ELLIS NOELL
Cash in your OLD GOLD!