KM Herald 4-10-19

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www.KMinsure.com Volume 131 • Issue 15

kmherald.com • 704-739-7496

April 10, 2019

75¢

Earth Day April 13

Atrium Health Kings Mountain – Photo provided Atrium Health

KM Hospital licensed under Atrium Cleveland By Loretta Cozart Last week the Herald received several calls regarding the future of Atrium Health Kings Mountain. In response to those calls, we reached out to Atrium Health sharing those concerns. Atrium Health’s Corporate Communications Director, Marcey Stone shared a statement that reads,

“Atrium Health Cleveland and Kings Mountain are on track to complete the tri-annual accreditation survey at both campuses in 2019. “Our ongoing commitment to quality, safety, process improvement and outcomes keep us ever prepared for the survey and, more importantly, ready to deliver the very best patient care at both locations. “Atrium Health Kings

Roadwork scheduled for completion today By Loretta Cozart Roadwork began on Tuesday, April 9, to repair the roadway on Hwy. 161, near the Food Lion access road just south of Kings Street. For several months, the access road has been closed due to a washout beneath the roadway at the intersection. Detour signs were placed a week ago, according to Public Works Director Rick Putnam. Drivers traveling northbound on Hwy. 161 will be redirected right onto E. Gold Street, left on S. Oriental Avenue, left on E.

King Street and right onto Hwy. 161 North. Drivers traveling southbound on Hwy. 161 will be detoured right onto E. King Street, left on Battleground Avenue, left at Gold Street, and right onto Hwy 161 South. Drive with caution near the construction area. Work zones result in unexpected traffic patterns, so use caution in the area or utilize an alternative route to avoid the work zone. Work is scheduled to be completed by the end of the day on Wednesday, April 10.

Mountain will move onto the Atrium Health Cleveland license and provider number effective August 1, 2019, and Kings Mountain will operate as a campus of Atrium Health Cleveland. Our goal is for the core services at Kings Mountain to stay the same, including emergency services, inpatient care, behavioral health, and outpatient services. “Under a shared license, both campuses will continue to participate willingly in quality surveys and data sharing that provide opportunities to showcase our quality and continuously improve. “The belief that we are better together is at the core of Atrium Health and practiced every day between Kings Mountain and Cleveland. For many years, we’ve worked as a unified team bringing health, hope and healing to all. This recent step makes it official. “Joining together under one provider number improves the longer-term financial outlook of Atrium Health Kings Mountain and enables us to provide robust healthcare to the community, with an opportunity to expand services in the future,” she wrote.

NCDOT road work planned for Shelby Road The NCDOT has plans for improvements along a 0.454 mile stretch of US 74 Business at the intersections of US 74 Business / Roxford Road and US 74 Business / Castlewood Drive. Work will include the installation of traffic signals and associated turn lanes as required at each intersection along with the associated grading, installation of appropriate drainage facilities, construction of concrete islands,

milling and resurfacing, and the installation of pavement markings along US 74 Business from west of Roxford Road to east of Castlewood Drive. The contract for this project will be let on April 23, with work beginninng by May 31. The contract completion date is scheduled to be October 31. This project, which is estimated to cost approximately $1.35M, is primarily funded with High Impact / Low Cost funds, a program funded by the General Assembly as part of Senate Bill 257 in the

2017-18 Session. High Impact/ Low Cost projects are intended to address needs such as intersection improvements, minor road widening, and other operational needs. US 74 Business currently carries approximately 10,000 vehicles per day through these intersections. This project, which can be constructed within existing right of way, will make intersection geometry improvements and will provide motorists with the opportunity to make their movements under signal control.

The City of Kings Mountain’s Earth Day celebration is this Saturday, April 13, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Kings Mountain Gateway Trail located at 807 S Battleground Ave. The city of Kings Mountain holds this event in partnership with the Kings Mountain Gateway Trail and Mauney Memorial Library. Music will be provided by the Limber Twigs and Martin Grass band. Free activities include crafts and jewelry making by Scrap Exchange, live music, Drum Circle, petting zoo, food vendors, and upcycle artisans. Attendees are invited to participate in a hands-on activity creating upcycled projects using recycled materials. This activity is

Kids enjoy unique art projects at last year’s Earth Day. Photo provided provided by The Scrap Exchange of Durham. This a non-profit group is dedicated to promoting creativity, environmental awareness and community through reuse. Ten dozen butterflies will be released back into their natural habitat and supports the national and environmental cause to save our

pollinators. Extra parking is across the street from the trailhead and along Quarry Road. Bring your friends and family to enjoy this event with the entire family. For additional information, please call 704-7340333 or visit www.cityofkm. com.

Scene from the crowd at last year’s Earth day. Come out and enjoy the fun this Saturday, April 13. File photo

Legislators file new bill for death by distribution charge for drug dealers By Loretta Cozart Almost two years after the overdose death of Austin Chowdhury, on March 27, Legislators filed a bill that would create a new charge known as death by distribution for drug dealers who supply lethal drugs that result in overdose deaths. On June 9, 2017, Tammy and Nazural Chowdhury lost their son, Austin, to a drug overdose in his bedroom at their home overnight. His parents discovered, through phone records, that Austin had drugs delivered to their home the day he died. What Austin thought was heroin was almost 100% fentanyl, a lethal dose. “When he took it, he was gone,” Nazural said. Austin’s addiction began after a dental procedure when he was just 16 years-old. “The doctor prescribed hydrocodone for pain and he took it for

Austin Chowdhury died of a fentanyl overdose in 2017. Photo provided a few days until he felt better,” Nazural said. A few months later Austin’s experimented with the remaining drugs and became addicted. Current state laws limit prosecutors’ ability

to charge drug dealers in overdose cases with firstor second-degree murder. Typically, such cases result in involuntary manslaughter charges, which can carry a sentence of just 10 to 20 months. Under House Bill 474 and Senate Bill 375, a death by distribution charge could be brought against a drug dealer where death results from their distribution of an opioid, methamphetamine or cocaine. Simple death by distribution would come with a sentence roughly the same as the sentence for voluntary manslaughter – 3 ½ to 7 ½ years. For aggravated death by distribution, for drug dealers with prior convictions, the sentence would be 8 to 17 years – the same sentence as second-degree murder. Unlike first- or second-degree murder charges, death by distribution would not require prosecutors to prove malice, or intent to kill.

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KM Herald 4-10-19 by Community First Media - Issuu