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www.KMinsure.com Volume 129 • Issue 45
November 8, 2017
kmherald.com • 704-739-7496
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84 Acres on Dixon School Road
Maliks seeks annexation of Truck Plaza ELIZABETH STEWART lib.kmherald@gmail.com
World War II veteran George Melton was was honored at a Veterans Day ceremony at Bethlehem Church this past Sunday. 50 veterans attended the service. Photo by ANNA HUGHES
Bethlehem honors WWII Veteran Bethlehem Baptist Church honored World War II veteran Pfc. George Melton in a Veterans Day ceremony Sunday. Melton was presented with an American flag that has flown over the US Capitol, proclamation from the Cleveland County Board of Commissioners for Veterans Day 2017 and a letter and flag from US Congressman Mark Meadows. The Marine Corps League presented military honors outside the church as part of the Sunday church services before 50 veterans from the area in attendance. Melton, a member of the Bethlehem congregation, served in France during World War II. He helped liberate The Netherlands from Nazi occupation. Congressman Meadows, in his letter, thanked
Melton for “your dedicated service to our Nation, individuals such as yourself are driven by an immense amount of strength and courage to serve our country. For that reason, we will be forever grateful.” He added, “It is my honor to present you with a United States flag that was flown over the Capitol on July 25, 2017. This is in honor of your service in the United States Army during World War II. “ The proclamation honoring Veterans Day 2017 by the county commission pay tribute to all those in the American Armed Forces whose courage and sacrifice secures our freedom and keeps the peace and defends our values around the world.” It was signed by Commissioners Eddie Holbrook, chairman; Susan Allen, vice-chairman; Johnny Hutchins and J. Ronnie Whetstine.
Maliks International, Inc., Chambersburg, PA, is petitioning the city for voluntary non-contiguous annexation of Roadside Truck Plaza Inc., 400 Dixon School Road. Property tax value of the land and building is $1.3 million dollars. Laeego Khan, President of Maliks, told the Herald this week that he plans to renovate the truck plaza to include a Sonoco gas station with new pumps, restaurant, and upscale RV park. He
ROADSIDE TRUCK PLAZA - Maliks International, Inc. is asking for city annexation of Roadside Truck Plaza, Inc. on Dixon School Road which includes 84 acres of land South of I-85. Photo by ANNA HUGHES said he expects to hire 7 or 8 new employees. The two tracts, a total of 84.11 acres, are located South of Interstate I -85
and are parcels 11597 and 72941. Maliks purchased the truck stop and 84.11 acres from the Testa corporation
seven years ago. Trent Testa was President of Roadside Truck Plaza, Inc. See MALIKS, Page 7A
KM Veterans Day Friday Legionnaire and veteran John Parker, First Vice Commander of American Legion Post 155, will make the address at the city-sponsored veterans Day service Friday at 11 a.m. at Patriots Park. Prior to the service, a parade of veterans led by the Kings Mountain Police Color Guard, the Kings Mountain High School Marching Mountaineers Drum Line, and the Loch Norman Piper Band will proceed from the War Memorial on Railroad Avenue beginning at 10:30 a.m. to the Park. The ceremony at the Park will include a Toast to the Flag presented by former Green Beret Abraham Ruff, Vietnam veteran, and special music including the National Anthem sung by Christy Walker and “God Bless the USA” by Madison Kinmon and the Loch Norman Piper Band. The Final Roll Call, the names of veterans on the memorial plaques at Patriots Park will be read by Parker and a memorial wreath will be placed by Mayor Scott Neisler and Parker.
CAST OF ‘HOMECOMING’- Pictured are members of the Spencer family in the Kings Mountain Little Theatre production this weekend at Joy Theatre. Front row, from left, Chayden Hardin as Luke; Joshua Melton as John, and Will Hoard as Mark. Back row, from left, Evan Denton as Clay-Boy, Bridget Allen as Olivia, Kyleigh Jo Buckman as Pattie-Cake, Harrison Burnette as Matt, Morgan Shipton as Shirley, Darrell King as Clay and Erica Carpenter as Becky. Photo by Bryan Hallman
Buckmans have close ties with author Kings Mountain Little Theatre production of The Homecoming at the Joy Performance Center has special meaning for the youngest member of the cast. Tenyear-old Kyleigh Jo Buckman, playing the role of Pattie-Cake Spencer, auditioned for the role because her mother, Michelle Buckman, was friends with Earl Hamner, Jr., author of The Homecoming and creator of The Waltons.
Michelle Buckman’s writing career was just taking off when she met Hamner. “Earl was a special friend,” Buckman explains. “We first met in an online writing group in the early 2000s, when he was in his late 70s. Honestly, I have never met a more gracious writer.” The group included other famous authors, including Tom Clancy, but Hamner was special. “He always had a bit of inspiration to share, with uplifting and
encouraging words for everyone. We became good friends through that group and shared private emails about our projects and other activities going on in our lives.” Buckman was always tickled by the fact that Hamner, a mountain boy who began his writing career by jotting down family stories on a tablet in an old mountain house, moved with the times so that in his 80s he was sitting at a See BUCKMANS, Page 7A
YMCA helps local veterans
Some veterans dressed in their service uniform paid tribute to all veterans at Sunday’s Veterans Day service honoring World War II veteran George Melton at Bethlehem Baptist Church. From left to right, Joel Rountree, US Army; Brian Green, NC National Guard; Tracy Micah Stewart, Civil Air Patrol; George Melton, US Army WWII, Lane Evans, NC National Guard, Dean Bowen, United States Air Force and Wanda Ammay, United States Navy. Photo by ANNA HUGHES
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The YMCA has long been the prime location for workouts, pick-up basketball games, after school programs and youth sports. However, the Y also has a charitable side. The Kings Mountain Family YMCA adopted the Togetherhood initiative a couple of years ago, according to Kevin Osborne, VP / Executive Director of the YMCA. Osborne says Togetherhood leverages the Y’s charitable mission to unlock people’s potential to improve lives and create a more connected society. Osborne said that bringing diverse people together to tackle social issues creates more cohesive communities. A culture of volunteerism can also yield social benefits such as lower See VETERANS, Page 7A
HANG US LEGION LOGO - American Legion Post 155 member Chuck Sperry and YMCA board member hang the US Legion logo on the American Legion Building as other volunteers working on special projects look on.
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