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www.KMinsure.com Volume 132 • Issue 11
kmherald.com • 704-739-7496
Wednesday, March 11, 2020
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Scene from last year’s race. Photo by Ellen Devenney.
Gateway Trail races Saturday By Loretta Cozart
TWO NEW KMPD OFFICERS SWORN IN – Officer Jordan Bullins (left) and Officer Devin Wright (right) were sworn to the Oath of Office by Mayor Neisler in City Hall Council Chambers on March 5 at 3 pm, while their friends and families watched. A welcome reception honoring the new officers was given immediately following the ceremony. Police Chief Lisa Proctor (center) commented, “I am very proud to be able to hire these new officers. They both come with previous law enforcement experience and they are very excited to come to serve the citizens of Kings Mountain.” Photo provided
Recycling suspended Effective April 1, 2020, the City of Kings Mountain will suspend residential and commercial recycling collection. The primary factor for this change is the decreased market demand for raw recyclable materials, such as plastic, glass, and paper. Processing countries, such as China and others are no longer purchasing these materials. On Monday, March 30
(Route 1), City crews will begin collecting the blue recycle containers from the road after the recyclables are collected, and this process will continue thru Thursday, April 9 (Route 9 & 10). From this point forward all recyclable materials should be bagged and placed in your green refuse container for collection on the scheduled day for gar-
bage pick-up. Those who wish to continue recycling can carry the sorted recyclables, paper, plastic, and aluminum to the County Dump Site at 615 Margrace Road and place them in the appropriate bin. If you have any questions please contact the Public Works Department at (704)734-0735.
City announces
KMPD Summer concert series needs LIVE at Patriots Park your help By Loretta Cozart
City of Kings Mountain Special Events announces their upcoming summer concert series for select dates between April 4 and October 3 at Liberty Falls Amphitheater at Patriots Park. The city is marketing the concert series as LIVE at Patriots Park. The announcement came in a Watch Party on the city’s Facebook page on Friday, March 6 at 1 pm. Currently, there are six acts booked, but that isn’t all. Scheduled events also include food trucks, classic cars, and other family fun. Announced acts feature an assortment of music sure to appeal to a wide variety of audiences. Additional
info on the food trucks and classic car cruise-in will be released in the coming weeks. Announced bands and scheduled dates include: On the Boarder, The Ultimate Eagles Tribute Band Saturday, April 4 Pre-Show DJ @ 6 pm Main Show @ 7 pm A1A Jimmy Buffet Tribute Saturday, May 2 Pre-Show DJ @ 6 pm Main Show @ 7 pm ACE Party Band Saturday, June 6 Pre-Show DJ @ 6 pm Main Show @ 7 pm Voltage Brothers Saturday, July 18 Pre-Show DJ @ 6 pm Main Show @ 7 pm See CONCERT, Page 7A
On March 8, at approximately 8:39 pm, Kings Mountain Police responded to the area of 220 Cleveland Avenue in reference to a motor vehicle accident with injuries. Upon arrival, it was determined that a pedestrian, Michael Gabriel Rollins of Cherryville, 25, had been struck by an automobile that fled the scene after striking him. Rollins was transported to Caromont Regional Medical Center in Gastonia, NC with life-threatening injuries. Police are looking for a small passenger vehicle, possibly a 2007 – 2011 Nissan Altima, silver/gray in color with body damage to the front and on the passenger side, including passenger mirror. Investigators are asking any person who may have any information regarding this incident to please call Corporal Bryant at 704-7340444.
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Kings Mountain Gateway Trail’s 5K, 10 Mile and Fun Run races are this Saturday, March 14, from 9 am to noon at 807 S. Battleground Avenue in Kings Mountain. Sign up today on-line at www.racesonline. com or contact 704 7399663 for more information. It’s not too late to sign
up and runners can even do so the morning of the run. However, runners who sign up this week won’t receive an event shirt. Fun Run participants get a medal and there are trophies for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place. “There are lots of trophy categories for the 5K and the 10 Mile including Overall and Masters,” said Shirley Brutko, Director of
the Gateway Trail Association that sponsors the event. Two hundred participants are expected. Current officers for the trail are Ronnie Franks, President, Doug Satterfield, Vice President, Mary Wade Smith, Secretary, Bill McMurrey, Treasurer, and Shirley Brutko, Director. For more information, visit www.kmgatewaytrails.org.
Athitang publishes first book By Loretta Cozart On January 23, Myla Athitang, a senior at Kings Mountain High School, published her first book, Annalise: Twenty Years Everlasting. The book came about as part of her senior project and a lifelong goal to write a book. “This is really a coming-of-age story for Clyde, an eight-year-old boy, and his friend, Annalise. I don’t want to give too much of the story away,” Myla said. “Clyde sees things in an abstract way, while most children see things in a very concrete way. Annalise helps him cope during a difficult time in his life. After leaving town, Clyde returns 20 years later only to find Annalise has disappeared” This book isn’t Myla’s first publication. Last year Myla collaborated with Reverend Swofford to illus-
Myla Athitang with her new book, Annalise: Twenty Years Everlasting, published Jan. 23. Photo provided trate his book, Goin’ South. With Swofford’s mentorship and encouragement, Myla finished her book and
submitted it to Amazon. It was released in January. “Since then, to my surprise, See ATHITANG, Page 7A
All parents, caregivers, and concerned citizens invited
Free Youth Vaping Epidemic Community Forum March 12 The Cleveland County Public Health Center in partnership with the Cleveland County Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition will host a Youth Vaping Prevention Community Forum on March 12 as part of their continued work to help alleviate the impact of youth vaping in Cleveland County. According to the 2019 Pride Survey, 35.3% of 12th grade students and 30.3% of 9th grade students in Cleveland County have used an e-cigarette in the
past 30 days. This is more than triple the number of students that reported using traditional tobacco products in the past 30 days. DeShay Oliver, spokesperson for the Cleveland County Public Health Center, shares, “Research shows teens who use e-cigarettes are far more likely to begin using traditional tobacco products in the future than those who do not use e-cigarettes. We have made great progress in reducing the prevalence of tobacco use among youth.
There is a great concern than the use of e-cigarettes will begin to reverse the overall downward trend in tobacco use.” State and local public health professionals, parents and youth will speak about youth vaping trends, prevention and treatment resources available in the community, current efforts to help alleviate the issue, and what others can do to get involved. A local teen and his mother will tell their personal story about See VAPING, Page 7A
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