Last Friday turned into an unexpected winter wonderland for Kings Mountain! It started with a delightful dusting of snow that sent local kids scampering outside, eager to build snowmen and throw snowballs. School had been cancelled in preparation for the storm, which was predicted to drop 2 – 3 inches of snow in the area.
The children bundled up in their coziest jackets, their laughter ringing through the chilly air as they dashed around, delighting in the frosty fun.
But then, Mother Na-
ture had a few tricks up her sleeve. Just as the snowmen began to take shape, the skies shifted to a mix of sleet and freezing rain, turning the fluffy white snow into a slippery, slushy mess. What once was a snowy playground transformed almost magically into a winter obstacle course!
Even though the snow melted away faster than it arrived, for those few precious hours, the excited squeals of kids enjoying the snow made it a day to remember. After all, who doesn’t love a surprise snow day, even if it comes with a side of sleet?
NC House Speaker announces Select Committee on Hurricane Helene Recovery
In one of his first acts as the newly-elected Speaker of the North Carolina House of Representatives, Speaker Destin Hall announced Friday the formation of the "Select Committee on Hurricane Helene Recovery" to address the ongoing needs of communities affected by the storm.
The bipartisan committee will focus on assessing recovery efforts, identifying gaps in resources, and ensuring state and federal assistance is delivered efficiently to those in need. Members will work closely with local leaders, emergency management officials, and nonprofit organizations to support recovery and rebuilding efforts.
“Hurricane Helene caused widespread devastation across North Carolina, and it’s our duty to ensure impacted communities have the resources they need to rebuild stronger than before,” said House Speaker Destin Hall.
He continued, “We are fully committed to Western North Carolina and will see this recovery through to the very end, and this committee will play a vital role in providing the oversight and leadership needed to ensure a strong and lasting recovery.”
Speaker Hall has appointed Rep. John Bell and Rep. Dudley Greene cochairs of the committee. Rep. Jennifer Balkcom, Rep. Mike Clampitt, Rep. Karl Gillespie, Rep. Jake
See HELENE, Page 5A
US Representative Tim Moore sworn in
If you're looking for nostalgic fun, head over to Cherryville Little Theatre for Schoolhouse Rock Live JR! Based on the ever-popular, award-winning 1970s cartoons, this fast-paced musical teaches lessons with clever, catchy tunes.
The cast of 20 kids and teens perform a blast from the past featuring classics like "I'm Just a Bill" or
In the coming weeks, the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) will automatically send up to $1,400 in special payments to approximately 1 million taxpayers. The money will be
"Conjunction Junction". The production is directed by Angie Dolan, assistant directed by Noah Bolton and music directed by Autumn Bolton.
Performances are January 17 and 18, at 7:00pm, and January 18 and 19 at 3:00pm.
Cherryville Little Theatre is located at 301 W. Academy st Cherryville NC
28092.
Tickets are $10 and on sale now at https://cherryvillelittletheatre.org/tickets.
Schoolhouse Rock Live!
JR was originally adapted and produced for the stage by Theatre BAM. From the series created by George Newall and Tom Yohe and based on an Idea by David McCall. It was originally conceived and directed by Scott Ferguson. Book is by Scott Ferguson, Kyle Hall and George Keating.
Schoolhouse Rock Live! JR. is presented through special arrangement with and all authorized materials are supplied by Music Theatre International, New York, NY, (212) 541-4684 mtishows.com
Tim Moore was sworn into the U.S. House of Representatives on January 3. (Photo provided)
Cherryville Little Theatre will hold the Schoolhouse Rock Live!
4A. (Photo by Jennifer Hord)
■ OBITUARIES
Robert
Lee Smith III
SHELBY, NC – Robert Lee Smith III, age 60, of Shelby, NC, passed away peacefully on January 6, 2024, at Duke University Hospital in Durham.
He will be remembered for his positive attitude, gentle spirit, and zeal for life. Bob touched many lives with his kindness, wisdom, and unwavering faith, and his presence will be greatly missed by all who knew him.
He was preceded in death by his father, Robert Lee Smith, Jr., and his sisters, McLendon “Wendy” Smith Winstead and O’Kelley Smith Broadway. He is sur-
face, on January 5, 2025, at White Oak Manor in Shelby, NC.
vived by his beloved wife of twenty-five years, Lisa Toms Smith of Shelby; his mother, Mary Wade O’Kelley Smith of Kings Mountain; his father-in-law and mother-in-law, John and Barbara Toms of Shelby; his brother-in-law and sister-in-law, David and Angela Lawrence of Hickory, and brother-in-law, Michael Winstead of Kings Mountain, and his special nieces and nephews.
Bob graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a degree in journalism. In 1997, he earned an architecture degree from the College of Architecture at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Serving as president of Talley and Smith Architecture since 2008, his work reflected his creativity, attention to detail, and passion for shaping spaces that served the community. Beyond his professional achievements, Bob had a heart for service. He served as Chairman of the Shelby Exchange Club, was a founding board member for Christine’s Christian Home for girls and chaired the Cleveland County Historic
He was born July 7, 1958, in Cherokee County, SC, to the late Floyd and Dollie Campbell Lovelace. Floyd was a member of Trinity Baptist Church (Asheville, NC) and David Baptist Church (Kings Mountain, NC). He sang in the choir and played church softball while he was at David Baptist Church. He loved bowling, tennis, and golf. He LOVED the Green Bay Packers, as well as, the Kings Mountain Mountaineers. He enjoyed playing Bingo while at the nursing home. He shared the gospel of Jesus with everyone he came into contact with. In addition to his parents, Floyd was preceded in death by his wife, Libby Fitch Lovelace; and brothers, Ronnie Lovelace and Alvin Chris-
Marjorie Ann Carpenter Alexander
KINGS MOUNTAIN, NC – Marjorie Ann Carpenter Alexander, 97, of Kings Mountain, NC, passed away on January 7, 2025 at Atrium Health Kings Mountain. Born December 20, 1927 in Gaston County, NC, she was the daughter of the late Z.S. “Bub” Carpenter and Laura Elizabeth Harmon Carpenter and was preceded in death by her husband of 72 years, James Julius Alexander, and siblings, Troy Carpenter, Lathan Carpenter, Beth Carpenter Terres, Earlene Carpenter Mosteller, and Shirley Carpenter Payseur.
Marjorie graduated from
Tryon High School, where, as a talented basketball player, she helped lead her team to a conference championship. After graduation, she attended Evans Business College in Gastonia. Marjorie worked in the office, keeping books and accounting for several businesses including Duplex International in Kings Mountain, Clyde A. Short in Shelby, and the Eaton Corporation, from which she retired.
Marjorie grew up in the Landers Chapel community and attended Landers Chapel Methodist Church. She was a faithful member of over 70 years at Central Methodist Church in Kings Mountain. Marjorie was a gifted seamstress and developed a green thumb through her years spent gardening. She also enjoyed housekeeping. Marjorie loved spending time with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She is survived by her daughters Libby Alexander Putnam (Roger) and Janet Alexander Edwards (Terry), both of Kings Mountain, NC; grandchildren: Laura Putnam Evans (Reid) of Stanley, NC, James Putnam (Sarah) of Dallas, NC, Susan Putnam Dover (Matt)
Preservation Council. His dedication to his community was evident in his tireless efforts to improve the lives of others.
A follower of Christ, Bob was an active member of Elizabeth Baptist Church, where he found strength in his faith and fellowship. He was a former member of Westview Baptist Church where he served as chairman of the deacons. Bob also volunteered on numerous mission trips, sharing his love for others and spreading hope wherever he went.
A celebration of life service was held at Elizabeth Baptist Church on Thursday, January 9 at 3:00 pm. Following the service, a reception was held in the Christian Life Center.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Samaritan’s Purse at samaritanspurse.org or to Elizabeth Baptist Church at 301 North Post Road, Shelby, NC 28152.
The Padgett and King Mortuary & Crematory of Forest City is in charge of arrangements and an online guest registry is available at www.padgettking.com
topher Lovelace. Floyd is survived by his sister, Wanda Price and husband Gordon; nieces and nephew, Jason Matthew Price, Halie Danielle Price, Sharon Lovelace, Wendy Shetters, and Jessica Black; and sister-in-law, Joyce Lovelace
A service to celebrate Floyd’s life was held Thursday, January 9, 2025, 2:00 pm, at the West Chapel of Greene Funeral Service, 216 Archie Whitesides Road, Gastonia, NC 28052.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to David Baptist Church, 2300 David Baptist Church Road, Kings Mountain, NC 28086 Online condolences may be made at www.greenefuneral.com
of Kings Mountain, NC, Stephanie Edwards Greenwood (Tyler) of Charlotte, NC, Emily Edwards Nishiyama (Yuuki) of Mt. Holly, NC, and Alexandra “Alex” Edwards Sellers (Hogan) of Kings Mountain, NC; great-grandchildren: Zoe, Kara, and Erin Evans, Russell and Catherine Putnam, Joanna and Wesley Greenwood, Beckham and Owen Nishiyama, and Boston Sellers.
Marjorie is also survived by many nieces and nephews.
Memorial service was held on Friday, January 10, 2025 at 11:30 A.M. at Central Methodist Church of Kings Mountain with Rev. Perry Hines officiating.
Prior to the service from 10:30 to 11:20 A.M. at Central Methodist Church.
Preceding the service, burial took place at Mountain Rest Cemetery in Kings Mountain at 9:30 A.M.
Guest register is available at: www.harrisfunerals.com.
Harris Funeral Home and Cremation Services Kings Mountain, NC is in charge of arrangements.w
Hike With a CARE doggie February 1
CARE will kick off their 2025 season for "Hike With A CARE doggie” on Saturday, February 1 at Gateway Traill, 807 S. Battleground Ave., Kings Mountain.
Hikes will be the first Saturday of every month, weather permitting. (check on Clifford's FB Event pages each month) This is a great way to get some fresh air and exercise while helping a CARE doggie get
out, socialize, and be seen by potential adopters. Its a win win for humans and doggies. You may even make some new friends ! They have many dogs in rescue: young, older, small, medium, large, so there is one for everyone's interest and needs. Let them know when you sign up, in the comment section, what size and energy level of dog you would like to walk, so they
Senator W. Ted Alexander appointed to eight committees
Senate Leader Phil Berger (R-Rockingham) appointed Sen. W. Ted Alexander (R-Cleveland County) to eight committees for the 2025-26 legislative biennium.
Additionally, Sen. Alexander was tapped to serve as the co-chair of Appropriations on General Government and Information Technology, Pensions and Retirement and Aging, State and Local Government Committee.
Sen. Alexander will serve on the following committees during the biennium:
• Appropriations/Base Budget
• Commerce and Insurance
• Elections
• Finance
• Joint Legislative Commission on Government Operations
Legislative committees are the bedrock of the legislative process. They are where bills are debated, amended, and receive significant public input.
“Sen. Alexander is well-versed in the matters that will come before the
committees he will serve on. I’m thankful for Sen. Alexander’s willingness to bring his expertise to these Committees, and I look forward to seeing the work he accomplishes this biennium for his constituents and the state,” Sen. Berger said.
Sen. Alexander said, “I greatly appreciate the confidence given me by my NC Senate Colleagues. The N.C. Senate shares a united commitment aid and restore Western, N.C. and continue this support for years to come. As in years past, we will support the needs our students and teachers, health care recipients, businesses and taxpayers face as we develop legislation and the 2025-26 biennium budget.”
CCSO releases December stats
By Loretta Cozart
can match you with a dog. Go to their Facebook page "Clifford's Army Rescue Extravaganza" and under the events tab, click on the Feb. 1 event, and it will take you directly to the Genius signup link. Let's hit the trails!
C.A.R.E (Clifford's Army Rescue Extravaganza) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, all volunteer, dog rescue organization.
Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office released its December statistics. During the month, 10,155 calls for service,
188 arrests, and 1,124 papers served, including 436 criminal and 502 civil, were served. 186 subpoenas were served.
One hundred sixty-two incident reports were handled: 137 were criminal, and 25 were non-criminal. One hundred forty-three concealed carry permits were issued.
Narcotics seized were 64,979 DU pills, Cocaine 3 g, Marijuana 208 g, Meth 515.60 g, and Fentanyl/Heroin 16.41
GCPD charges Dallas man for internet crimes against children
Gaston County Police arrested David Travis Benton regarding the exploitation of children. Benton, 28, of Dallas, was arrested on January 8, by GCPD. Benton has been charged with five counts of Second-Degree Sexual Exploitation of a Minor and five counts of Third-Degree Sexual Exploitation of a Minor. He is currently being held in the Gaston County Jail with no bond. He is awaiting his first appearance.
Gaston County Police investigators worked jointly with the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation and the Na-
tional Center for Missing and Exploited Children. All listed agencies are members of the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) task force. The
ICAC task force program helps local and State law enforcement agencies enhance their investigative response to offenders who use the internet, online communication, or other computer technology to exploit children sexually. The investigation focused on the downloading and sharing of digital images. There is no additional information available for release. Anyone with additional information on the incident is asked to call Detective R. Smith at 704-866-3320 or CrimeStoppers at 704861-8000.
GCPD investigates a domestic assault involving a handgun
JOSHUA BROWN
On January 4, at 7:18 pm, Gaston County Police Department officers responded to 317 Briarwood Dr. about a domestic assault involving a weapon. The suspect, Joshua Brown, 42, had assaulted a family member and fired a handgun in the direction of the victim. Brown left the scene before the officers arrived. No one was injured by the gunshot.
An extensive search for Brown included GCPD K9 units, Emergency Response Team members, and Drone units. The victim was treated and released from the hospital for injuries from the physical assault.
Brown was arrested on January 6 by GCPD K9 units. Brown has been
charged with Assault on a Female and Assault with a Deadly Weapon with Intent to Kill. He is currently being held in the Gaston County Jail.
This is an active investigation. We will provide
additional information when it becomes available.
Anyone with additional information on the incident is asked to call Detective G. Lancaster at 704-8663320 or CrimeStoppers at 704-861-8000.
Floyd Eugene Lovelace
SHELBY, NC – Floyd Eugene Lovelace, 66, of Shelby, entered his heavenly home and saw his Savior face to
DAVID TRAVIS BENTON
•
SERVICE
& ALIGNMENTS • NC INSPECTIONS • CERTIFIED MECHANICS • FLEET RATES AVAILABLE • FRIENDLY SERVICE 404 E. King St., Kings Mountain, NC (Across From KFC) Monday-Friday 8:30-5:00 • 704-750-4645
Remembering Jimmy Carter, 39th President of the US
versation.
By Loretta Cozart
Kings Mountain Historical Museum’s Executive Director Michael Turner Webb began work this week, getting acclimated at the museum. On Thursday, he was invited as a guest speaker to the Kings Mountain Rotary Club
where he shared his experience and vision for the museum with members. Members enthusiastically shared tidbits of Kings Mountain history with the new executive director. Be sure to stop by and welcome Michael to the community.
President Carter gets a tour of the Battleground Loop and the cairn of Maj. Patrick Ferguson.
President Jimmy Carter and First Lady Rosalynn Carter visited the Kings Mountain National Military Park Visitor Center. Chris Revels and President Carter are engaged in lively con-
President and Mrs. Carter in the parking lot with Ranger Chris Revels and Superintendent Erin Broadbent. Images courtesy of the National Park Service.
President Jimmy Carter and First Lady Rosalynn Carter stand with park officials and guests.
Snow Scenes
Savannah Hubbard with her puppy Paris.
Young Miss Mountie Bella Smith taking selfies in the snow
Colton and Lanie having fun in the snow. Photo by Phyllis Weaver
2-year-old Alannah's first-ever snow.
Eleanor Money. Photo by Lacey Tuthill
Tripp R. built a tiny snowman. Photo by Tori Dover
Millie Money and her sister saw snow for the
Destiny Cantrell enjoyed playing in the snow and throwing snowballs at her mommy.
Photo by Mandy Cantrell.
Boone and his truck. Photo by Stephanie Westbrook
Abigail pauses playing for a photo with her doggie. Photo by Stephanie Westbrook
January always brings snow and ice unless you live in the most southern part of the United States. Even then, you aren’t guaranteed to escape January without some harsh weather.
Glenn
Mollette Guest Editorial
This current mess that came from the west has piled about eight inches of snow and ice on us. Keeping us inside for a couple of days. So far, we’ve only been without power for one hour, but many others have not been as fortunate.
The best we can do is prepare and hunker down. We need alternative lighting and heat sources. You can almost count on the power to go out sometime in January. Especially if you aren’t prepared. It’s better to be over prepared and not need it than to be underprepared and in danger of freezing to death.
This seems to be one of the golden rules of life. Be prepared. We spend our lives studying and thinking about being prepared. School and education are about learning, develop-
From Page 1A
Johnson, Rep. Ray Pickett, and Rep. Mark Pless have been appointed Vice Chairs.
ing and training. We study for knowledge but also to be prepared. We try to save money so that we might be prepared for the time when we aren’t able to make any more. The team than wins the game is the team who works hard to prepare mentally and physically.
Every aspect of life is about preparing. The musician, athlete, actor, politician, butcher, baker, candlestick maker, homemaker, and so forth must have a rigid daily routine to experience success.
One reality of life is that there is much for which we can’t prepare. We hear about cancer but we are never prepared for such a diagnosis. We aren’t prepared for breaking a bone but then we are suddenly faced with months of recuperation. Accidents and hard times can come suddenly and painfully. These are the things in life that come at us suddenly and out of nowhere. Although they are painful, we have no choice but to face the agony of whatever it is and try to work through it one day at a time.
Other committee members include: Rep. Paul Scott, Rep. Kelly Hastings, Rep. Kyle Hall, Rep. Phil Shepard, Rep. Mitchell Setzer, Rep. Frank Iler, Rep. Sarah Stevens, Rep. Keith Kidwell, Rep. Larry Strickland, Rep. Donny Lambeth, Rep. John Torbett, Rep. Donnie Loftis, Rep. Brian Turner, Rep. Carolyn Logan, Rep. Steve Tyson, Rep. Jeff McNeely, Rep. Harry Warren, Rep. Jay Adams, Rep. Charles Miller, Rep. Shelly Willingham, Rep. Eric Ager, Rep. Erin Paré, Rep. David Willis, Rep. Hugh Blackwell, Rep. Howard Penny, Rep. Allen Buansi, Rep. Garland Pierce, Rep. Laura Budd, Rep. Lindsey Prather, Rep. Carla Cunningham, Rep. Reece Pyrtle, Rep. Allison Dahle, Rep. James Roberson, Rep. Jimmy Dixon, Rep. Stephen Ross, and Rep. Blair
We prepare for life and we should prepare for death. As long as we live, we have all that comes with life. What about death? We must be prepared for that as well. There are funeral plans we need to make, but most importantly, our eternal plans must be made. Where do you want to spend eternity? Consider, when it comes to the end of our lives and meeting God face to face. Look to him today and prepare your heart and mind. Embrace His gift to us in His son Jesus.
January won’t last forever and there is much excitement in January such as college basketball, NFL playoffs, my birthday if I live, the swearing in of our new President, a raise in Social Security, and many occasions to drink hot chocolate. Don’t miss the hot chocolate and don’t miss the opportunity to take some time for a few naps on these snowy days. God surely gave us January to hibernate a little and rest after the hectic holidays.
Eddins.
The Select Committee on Hurricane Helene Recovery will commence its work immediately. It will provide regular updates and recommendations to the General Assembly, and an appropriations bill is expected to follow shortly.
On October 15, 2024, FEMA added twelve counties to the list of North Carolina counties adversely affected by Hurricane Helene, bringing the total to 39. Cleveland County has been named a North Carolina Disaster County.
Liz Pflieger presents HR training session
KM Forward announces its first Workbench Session of 2025 at Mauney Memorial Library Community Room on Wednesday, January 15, from 5 – 6:30 p.m., sponsored by 133 West. Liz Pflieger, PHR, SHRM-CP, HR Consul-
tant, and President of HR Engagement, LLC, will present this free human resource overview training session. Business leaders are encouraged to attend this workbench session to sharpen their skills as we enter the new year.
LIZ PFLIEGER
Bynum Chapel FLC holds Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Breakfast
Bynum Chapel Family Life Center will hold a Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Breakfast on Monday, January 20 at 8 AM at their
church located at 310 Ellis St., Kings Mountain. Rev. Eleanor B. Wilson, Pastor. Speaker will be Rev. John Houze, Senior Pastor
of Peoples Baptist Church, Kings Mountain. Cost is $10 for adults and $5 for children under 12 years of age.
Atrium Health implements visitor restrictions to help protect patients
As respiratory illnesses rise, Atrium Health is urging everyone to take steps to protect themselves and those around them. Simple actions, like staying up to date on vaccinations, practicing good hygiene and staying home when unwell, can help keep individuals, families and communities safer this sick season.
“By taking these steps, everyone in the community can contribute to slowing the spread of respiratory illnesses this season,” said Dr.
CHECKS
From Page 1A Economic Impact Payments (EIP), also known as stimulus payments.
No action is needed for eligible taxpayers to receive these payments, which will go out automatically in December and should arrive in most cases by late January 2025. The payments will be automatically directly deposited or sent by paper check; eligible taxpayers will also receive a separate letter notifying them of the payment.
Katie Passaretti, chief infection prevention officer for Advocate Health, of which Atrium Health is a part.
“These preventive measures are simple but powerful in helping us protect ourselves and those most vulnerable.”
Due to a sustained increase in respiratory viruses in our communities, Atrium Health is implementing temporary visitor restrictions in acute care hospitals, emergency departments, rehabilitation units and facilities, behavioral health,
be eligible as well, but they face an April 15, 2025, deadline to file their returns to claim the credit and any other refund they might be owed.
inpatient hospice, infusion centers and certain cancer areas including bone marrow transplant clinics, effective Tuesday, Jan. 14. These restrictions apply to:
• Visitor age limit: Children 12 and under should not visit the locations listed above.
• Masking policy: Visitors will be asked to wear masks in areas where direct patient care is provided and in emergency department waiting areas.
swers at https://www.irs. gov/newsroom/2021-recovery-rebate-credit-questions-and-answers.
The IRS reminds taxpayers who have not yet filed their 2021 tax returns that they may be eligible for a refund if they file and claim the Recovery Rebate Credit by the April 15, 2025, deadline. Eligible taxpayers who did not file must file a tax return to claim a Recovery Rebate Credit, even if their income from a job, business or other source was minimal or non-existent.
“The IRS continues to work hard to make improvements and help taxpayers,” said IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel. “These payments are an example of our commitment to go the extra mile for taxpayers. Looking at our internal data, we realized that one million taxpayers overlooked claiming this complex credit when they were actually eligible. To minimize headaches and get this money to eligible taxpayers, we’re making these payments automatic, meaning these people will not be required to go through the extensive process of filing an amended return to receive it.”
The payments vary depending on several factors, but the maximum is $1,400 per individual. The estimated total amount of payments will be about $2.4 billion.
The IRS also reminded taxpayers who haven’t filed 2021 tax returns they might
Most taxpayers eligible for EIPs have already received their EIP or Recovery Rebate Credit. These new payments for the 2021 Recovery Rebate Credit are only going to taxpayers for whom IRS data demonstrates that they qualify for the credit. Qualified taxpayers are those who filed a 2021 tax return but whose data field for the Recovery Rebate Credit was left blank or filled out as $0 when the taxpayer was actually eligible for the credit.
Taxpayers who qualify but did not claim any portion of the credit on their 2021 tax return should receive these payments by late January 2025. The payment will be sent to the bank account listed on the taxpayer’s 2023 tax return or to the address of record.
An IRS letter will be sent to the taxpayer receiving these 2021 Recovery Rebate Credit payments. If the taxpayer closed their bank account since filing their 2023 tax return, taxpayers do not need to take any action. The bank will return the payment to the IRS and the refund will be reissued to the address of record.
For questions regarding eligibility and how the payment was calculated, see 2021 Recovery Rebate Credit Questions and An-
Any Recovery Rebate Credit received does not count as income when determining eligibility for federal benefits such as Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). As the 2025 tax filing season approaches, the IRS is committed to helping taxpayers understand and claim the credits and deductions for which they are eligible, including Coronavirus tax relief. Many taxpayers are unaware of tax credits and deductions for which they are eligible or face other barriers keeping them from claiming them. The IRS will remind taxpayers about these credits, including the Earned Income Tax Credit, during the 2025 filing season
A Vision of Milk and Honey
Imagine driving through a hot desert. The sun sizzles on your skin. The dust blows across the horizon. You barely remember water and dream of having access to it again.
BRAD BRIDGES Pastor Patterson Grove Baptist Church
Then you remember God’s promises to lead your people into a land flowing with milk and honey. (Exodus 3:8) The Israelites endured years in the wilderness and likely only survived because God reminded them over and over of His promise to lead them into a land flowing with milk and honey.
Now we must address the issue of milk and honey. The point isn’t that we should all love milk or honey. It isn’t even that God would give Israel lots of cartons of milk and bottles of honey. (Although he certainly did.) But the point is likely something even bigger.
God wanted His people to catch a vision of a future of abundance. He wanted them to imagine the blessings that come from a life of obedience to God and His Word. He wanted them to be captivated by His promises with a picture of a future they would all joyfully look forward to experiencing.
What about us? Do we live with vision for the future? Has God given your family a vision for the next 5 years? Has God given you a vision for you personally? Does your church have a clear picture of
the future reality that He’s leading your church to?
In my experience my churches do a great job saying what they are about, what they believe, and what they do. But they struggle to ever clarify the vision for where they are going. By extension most families and individuals don’t live with a God-sized vision of where they are going.
Don’t get me wrong here. I’m not talking about some overly spiritual, radical, over zealous hyped up sermon or challenge. I’m talking about how God has historically given wisdom and clarity to His people about where He was leading them.
Vision is really simple. It is a picture of the future God is leading you, your family, or your church to using words. The vision of the
future for the Israelites was crystal clear…a land flowing with milk and honey. But what about us?
What about in 2025? How would you answer these questions?
…Using words, how would you describe how your life will look different at the end of 2025 or 2030?
…If God were to bless your family, what will your family look like, being doing, and have accomplished by the end of 2025 or 2030?
…You could ask the same questions about your church, the city of Kings Mountain, your business, or non-profit.
Let’s be a people that not only dream big but also do the work of putting our dreams on paper so that we clarify the God-sized vision God has placed on our hearts.
www.momsinprayer.org
Our Mission: Moms In Prayer International impacts children and schools worldwide for Christ by gathering mothers to pray.
Kings Mountain Area Church Directory
704-750-0171
Anew Beginning Baptist Church
Patterson Grove Baptist Church
301 Oak Grove Rd. • Kings Mountain, NC
Pastor Clifton Morgan
Carson Memorial Baptist Church
262 Sparrow Springs Road
145 Battleground Dr.
704-473-1372
Ardent Life
Church
420 Branch Street
704-739-7700
Arise Church
830 E. King St.
Bethlehem Baptist Church 1017 Bethlehem Road
704-739-7487
Boyce
Memorial
ARP Church
Edgemont Drive
704-739-4917
704-739-2247
Central Church 113 S. Piedmont Avenue
704-739-2471
Cherokee St.
Baptist Church 421 S. Cherokee Street 704-739-7697
Chestnut Ridge Baptist Church 618 Chestnut Ridge Road 704-739-4015
Christian Freedom Southern Baptist Church 246 Range Road 704-739-4152
704-487-7697
Concord United Methodist Church
2404 Tryon Courthouse Rd. Bessemer City, NC
704-629-3571
Connections Church
306 N. Piedmont Ave. 704-750-4972
Cornerstone
Church Of God
202 Margrace Road
704-689-4430
Cornerstone Independent Baptist 107 Range Road 704-737-0477
Crowders Mountain Baptist
125 Mayberry Lane 704-739-0310
David Baptist Church 2300 David Baptist Ch. Rd. 704-739-4555
dixonpresbyterian.com
East Gold Street
Wesleyan Church 701 E. Gold Street 704-739-3215
East Kings Mountain Church of God Hwy 161, Bessemer City/ KM Hwy. 704-739-7367
Eastside Baptist Church 308 York Road 704-739-8055
Ebenezer Baptist Church 1621 County Line Road 704-739-8331
El Bethel United Methodist Church 122 El-bethel Road 704-739-9174
Emmanuel Independent Baptist Church 102 Canterbury Road 704-730-7855
Faith Ablaze Church 1128 S. York Road 704-739-8496
Faith Baptist Church 1009 Linwood Road
Faith Holiness Church Hwy. 161/ Bessemer City Rd. 704-739-1997
Family Worship Center 1818 Shelby Road 704-739-7206
First Baptist Church 605 W. King Street 704-739-3651
First Church of the Nazarene 121 Countryside Road 704-734-1143
First Presbyterian Church 111 E. King Street 704-739-8072
First Wesleyan Church 505 N. Piedmont Avenue 704-739-4266
Galilee United Methodist 117 Galilee Church Road 704-739-7011
Gloryland Missionary Baptist Church 101 Benfield Rd. 704-740-7212
Gospel Assembly Church 202 S. Railroad Avenue 704-739-5351
Good Hope Presbyterian Church 105 N. Cansler Street 704-739-1062
Grace Fellowship 144 West Mountain Street 704-481-8888
Grace United Methodist Church 830 Church Street 704-739-6000
Harvest Baptist Church 144 Ware Road 704-734-0714
Kings Mountain Baptist Church 101 W. Mountain Street 704-739-2516
Life of Worship Ministries
405 S. Cherokee St. 704-777-2927
King’s City Church 1128 York Road 704-739-8496
Lighthouse Ministries
1908 Shelby Rd.
R E C I P E S RECIPES
Worcestershire sauce
2 TBSP. prepared dijon-style mustard
2 12-oz. pkg. Hawaiian rolls
1/2 pound chopped cooked ham
5 oz. Swiss cheese
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a medium bowl, mix together butter, poppy seeds, onion, Worcestershire sauce and prepared Dijon-style mustard.
• Slice rolls in half horizontally and set aside tops. Spread bottoms with the butter mixture. Top with ham and Swiss cheese. Replace tops.
• Arrange rolls in a single layer in a medium baking dish. Bake in the preheated oven 10 to 12 minutes, until rolls are lightly browned and cheese is melted.
CHILLI CHEESE DIP
1 15-oz. can Hormel chilli with no beans
1 16-oz. Velveeta cheese, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1 16-oz. Neeses sausage
Cook sausage in pan and crumble into small pieces, until fully cooked. Drain off grease, stir in cubed cheese and hormel chilli. Serve with tortilla chips or put into crock pot on lowest setting to keep warm.
BLACK BEAN SALSA
2 cans black beans (drain, rinse)
to 375 degrees. The oil should be just enough to cover wings entirely, an inch or so deep. Combine the butter, hot sauce, pepper and garlic powder in a small saucepan over low heat. Stir together and heat until butter is melted and mixture is well blended. Remove from heat and reserve for serving.
• Fry coated wings in hot oil for 10 to 15 minutes, or until parts of wings begin to turn brown. Remove from heat, place wings in serving bowl, add hot sauce mixture and stir together. Serve.
MARSHMALLOW
CREAM CHEESE DIP
1 8-oz. pkg. cream cheese, softened
1 15-oz. jar marshmallow cream Fresh fruit (grapes, bananas, strawberries, apples, blueberries etc.) Blend cream cheese and marshmallow cream with hand mixer until combined. Serve with assorted fresh fruit.
HAM AND CHEESE
APPETIZER
SANDWICHES
1 cup butter, softened
3 tablespoons poppy seeds
1 onion, grated
1 tablespoon
1 can Summer Crisp corn (drain)
2 cans petite diced tomatoes w/jalapeno peppers (mild)
1 green bell pepper, chopped
1 red bell pepper, chopped
1 Vidalia onion, chopped
½ bottle Zesty Italian dressing
Refrigerate overnight. Great as a side dish or with tortilla chips.
GARDEN VEGETABLE DIP
16 oz. sour cream OR greek yogurt
1 pkt. Hidden Valley original ranch dressing
¼ cup chopped green onions
¾ cup diced tomatoes
Assorted vegetables potato or corn chips for dipping
• Combine dressing with sour cream. Stir in tomatoes and onions. Chill at least 1 hour. Serve with assorted vegetables, potato chips or corn chips.
COCKTAIL MEATBALLS
2 pounds ground beef
10 oz. grape jelly
1/4 cup chili sauce
2 tablespoons prepared mustard
• Preheat oven to 350 de-
grees. Line a large roasting pan with aluminum foil.
• Shape ground beef into golf-size balls. Place on prepared roasting pan for 20 to 25 minutes until done.
• Meanwhile heat the jelly, chili sauce and mustard together in a 2 quart Dutch oven. Drain and add meatballs to the Dutch oven. Cover and simmer on low for 1/2 hour. Serve hot in chaffing dish with toothpicks.
SPINACH DIP
1 cup mayonnaise
16 oz. sour cream
1 pkg. Knorr Vegetable Soup mix
8-oz. can water chestnuts, drained and chopped
10 oz. box frozen spinach, chopped, thawed and drained
Combine all ingredients and chill about 2 hours. Serve with your favorite dippers: crackers, tortilla chips, etc. or place dip inside a bread bowl.
CHILLI
1 large can kidney beans
1 large can pinto beans
1 pk. Chillio Mix Curry powder, to taste Chilli Powder, to taste
1 can diced tomatoes w/ jalapeno peppers
1 small can tomato
paste
1-1/2 lbs. ground beef
4 regular cans diced tomatoes
Put all together in crock pot. Makes large pot. Serve with cornbread or tortilla chips and cheese.
PARTY MIX
3 cups Corn Chex cereal
3 cups Rice Chex real
3 cups Wheat Chex
cereal
1 cup mixed nuts
1 cup bite-size pretzels
1 cup garlic-flavor bite-size bagel chips
6 tablespoons butter or margarine
2 TBSP. Worcestershire sauce
1-1/2 tsp. seasoned salt
3/4 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. onion powder
• In large microwavable bowl, mix cereals, nuts, pretzels and bagel chips; set aside. In small microwavable bowl, microwave butter uncovered on High about 40 seconds or until melted. Stir in seasonings. Pour over cereal mixture; stir until evenly coated.
• Microwave uncovered on High 5 to 6 minutes, thoroughly stirring every 2 minutes. Spread on paper towels to cool. Store in airtight container.
8th annual Miss Mountie Scholarship Pageant winners
New queens were crowned at the 8th Annual Miss Mountie Scholarship Pageant held on October 5, 2024, at the Family Worship Center in Kings Mountain.
Haddie Smith was crowned Mini Miss Mountie, Josie Stogner was crowned Tiny Miss Mountie, Paris Faraday was crowned Little Miss Mountie, Bella Smith was crowned Young Miss Mountie, Miley Carroll was crowned Teen Miss Mountie, and Adalie Black was crowned 2025 Miss Mountie.
Haddie Smith won the Overall Photogenic Award and the Judy Phillips Community Service Award.
For the past three months, the queens have been serving the Kings Mountain community with pride and dedication, appearing at and participating in community service events like Mountaineer
Days in October 2024, Halloween and Christmas parades, the Kings Mountain Veteran’s Day Parade, the Kings Mountain Women’s Club Breakfast for Santa, the Children’s Christmas Closet, and the Earthen Vessels Benevolence Ministry. Furthermore, some queens have been serving individually, like helping hurricane victims by sorting supplies and clothing and sharing treats and love at nursing home centers.
All Mountie winners went home with beautiful crowns, sashes, and prizes. Additionally, Miss Mountie, Adalie Black, was awarded $1700 in scholarship money, which will be given to her at the end of her reign. The scholarship funds are 100% from program ad sales and contributions.
The Miss Mountie organization would like to thank all contestants' sponsors, benefactors, advertisers,
parents, and families.
Miss Sophia Kellstrom, who started the pageant as a result of her senior project at Kings Mountain High School, served as emcee and sang during intermission. Other special entertainment included singing and dancing by the 2024 queens. The Miss Mountie Scholarship Pageant, a proud partner of the City of Kings Mountain, is a community-based organization that empowers young women to reach their full potential and educational goals through personal development, scholarship, life-long sisterhood, and community service while representing the historically pivotal city of Kings Mountain.
Please make sure to follow the Miss Mountie organization on Facebook and Instagram to see how the new queens continue to serve Kings Mountain.
67th Annual Debutante Ball
The 67th annual Debutante Ball, sponsored by Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, Zeta Mu Omega Chapter, in partnership with Twenty Pearls Foundation, was held on Saturday, November 23, 2024, at the Pamela K. Warlick Performing Arts Center, on the campus of Gaston Day School. Thirteen Petite Pearls and nineteen Debutantes were presented during this year’s annual Debutante Ball. Both the Pearls and Debutantes participated in numerous activities and events throughout the season, and both completed a service project.
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated® is America’s first Greek-letter organization established by African American col-
lege-educated women. Founded on January 15, 1908, on the campus of Howard University in Washington, DC, Alpha Kappa Alpha’s mission is to cultivate and encourage high scholastic and ethical standards, promote unity and friendship among college women to improve their social stature, maintain a progressive interest in college life, and to be of “Service to All Mankind.” Alpha Kappa Alpha has over 355,000 initiated members in graduate and undergraduate chapters in 12 countries including the United States, Bahamas, Bermuda, Canada, Dubai, Germany, Japan, Liberia, Nigeria, South Korea, South Africa, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The Petite Pearls were
selected because of their good citizenship qualities. Debutantes were selected based on their academic/ scholastic achievements, personality, and high moral characteristics. The culmination of the ball was the crowning of the 2024 Miss Petite Pearl Princess and the 2024 Debutante Queen of the Ball.
Zeta Mu Omega is involved in and supports local programs in Cleveland County, Gaston County, and York County as well as national service programs. Zeta Mu Omega also supports health services, including Aids, Alzheimer’s, Cancer, Heart and Stroke, and Mental Health.
Miss Mountie winners. Photo by Molora Kellstrom
Debutante winners: Kennedy Davis, Zaniah McDowell, Jaelynn Nickson, Jada Martin, and Sanye Miller. Photo by Katherine Pendergrass
The Cleveland County Health Department joins the NC Division of Public Health and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in urging everyone to protect themselves by getting vaccinated against the flu and COVID-19. Everyone aged 6 months and older is encouraged to be immunized.
Flu and the new 202425 COVID-19 vaccine are available Monday through Friday from 8:00 to 11:30 a.m. and 1:00 to 4:30 p.m.; no appointment is necessary. The flu and COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective and the best way to protect yourself and your family from respiratory illness. Both the flu vaccine and COVID-19 vaccine help protect you from severe disease, hospitalization, and death.
Both vaccines have been updated for the new flu and COVID-19 virus strains that will continue to spread this fall and winter.
It is especially important to get your 2024–2025 COVID-19 vaccine if you are ages 65 and older, are at high risk for severe COVID-19, or have never received a COVID-19 vaccine. Vaccine protection decreases over time, so staying up to date with
your COVID-19 vaccine is important.
In addition to vaccination, continue practicing healthy habits to protect yourself and others from viruses:
• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.
• Throw the tissue in the trash promptly after use.
•Wash your hands frequently with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
•Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth. Germs spread this way.
• Stay home if you are sick. You should stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone and other symptoms are improving, except to get medical care. The flu vaccine is free of charge for children 18 and younger who have Medicaid, do not have insurance, or are underinsured (meaning insurance does not cover the flu vaccine). The vaccine will also be free for uninsured (non-Medicaid) pregnant women 19 and older who
are serviced by the health department and women and men 19 and older who have a family planning waiver (Family Planning Medicaid Program) and are receiving services at the health department. If you have insurance, Medicare or Medicaid, we will bill these third-party payers. We also have a limited number of high dose flu vaccines available for those 65 and older.
Insurance, Medicare or Medicaid can be billed for these vaccines. Individuals who do not meet the above criteria for a free flu vaccine and do not have insurance, Medicaid, or Medicare may call the health department at 980484-5100 for additional information. Insurance, Medicare and Medicaid will be billed for the new 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine. If you are 19 or older and do not have insurance or your insurance does not cover the vaccine, this vaccine will be free.
To learn more about the flu, please visit www.flu.
nc.gov.
To learn more about the new 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine, please visit www. cdc.gov/covid/vaccines/ stay-up-to-date.html
Cleveland County Juvenile Crime Prevention Council 2025-2026 Funds Available
The Cleveland County Juvenile Crime Prevention Council announces the availability of $340,063 in intervention and prevention funds for services to youths most at risk of court involvement. JCPC funds require a local cash or in-kind match of 20%.
Based on the JCPC planning process the continuum of program services and structures needed in this county have been identified to be the following:
Parent/Family Skill Building
Interpersonal Skill Building
Vocational Skills
Tutoring/Academic Enhancement
Mediation/Conflict Resolution
Mentoring Services
Substance Abuse Counseling
Restitution/Community Service
Teen Court Psychological Assessments
Family counseling
Home Based Family Counseling
Individual/Group/Mixed Counseling Services addressing Problem Sexual Behavior
Program Managers, or anticipated Program Managers, of organizations interested in applying are required to attend a mandatory orientation meeting to be held VIRTUALLY on January 23,2025 at 11:00 am. Contact margiesc822@gmail.com for instructions to join the Webex.
Local public agencies, 501(c)3 non-profit corporations and local housing authorities wishing to submit applications for programs to provide any of these intervention services will need to access application forms and other necessary information from the NC ALLIES website with instructions at https:// cp.ncdjjdp.org/CP or by contacting Melissa Johnson at the Area Office of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention at 828-808-3019 or melissa.g.johnson@ncdps.gov. Private non-profits are also required to submit No Overdue Tax forms, Conflict of Interest Statements, and proof of 501(c)3 status. Program Applications are to be submitted electronically into NC ALLIES by February 13, 2025 by 12:00 pm.
In addition, a copy of the application should be sent to Margie Christopher at margiesc822@gmail.com or brought to Sara Brunner at NCDPS, Juvenile Division at 315 Patton Street, Shelby no later than 12:00 pm on February 13, 2025. Attachments to be included are: a copy of the most recent agency audit, a list of current Board of Directors designating officers, a No Overdue Tax Form, and Conflict of Interest policy including any existing conflicts. New applicants will also need to submit three (3) letters of support and proof of 501(c) 3 status. Interviews will be held by the allocations committee with the Program Manager of each applying agency on February 18, 2025 at the Advanced Technology Center, at Cleveland Community College, Room 7270. Times will be assigned as the applications are received.
Human Trafficking Awareness
On January 7, Governor Josh Stein proclaimed January Human Trafficking Awareness Month and January 11 as Human Trafficking Awareness Day to bring attention to this crime and highlight ways North Carolinians can identify and help victims. From January 6 through 8, nine state government buildings in downtown Raleigh were illuminated with blue lights to raise awareness for survivors and victims of human trafficking. The North Carolina Department of Administration’s Council for Women and Youth Involvement designated January 8 as an honorary #WearBlueDay for state employees who want to show support ahead of the national #WearBlueDay campaign on Saturday, January 11.
“Even one victim of human trafficking is one too many,” said Governor Josh Stein. "I am grateful that our state is taking real measures to combat this issue and raise awareness. We must stay vigilant and do everything we can to end this horrific crime."
“Human trafficking is a heinous crime that deprives victims of their freedom and dignity,” said Department of Administration Secretary Gabriel J. Esparza. “Addressing this issue will take all of us, and can be achieved through partnership, continued funding, prevention, and prosecution.”
Human trafficking is a crime that involves using force or coercion to recruit, harbor, transport, provide, buy, or sell human beings for labor and/or services. It is a crime that impacts people regardless of race, religion, gender, age, citizenship or socioeconomic status. However, it disproportionately impacts vulnerable populations, including immigrants, refugees, Black and Indigenous people, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and individuals living in poverty or experiencing abuse or violence. State-funded victim service agencies in North Carolina reported serving 767 human trafficking survivors during fiscal year 2023-2024.
Newly enacted legislation will continue expanding resources for victims and training for providers in communities across the state. With the recent
passing of House Bill 971, human trafficking awareness training is now required for employees and contractors of lodging establishments and vacation rentals. This year, the Council for Women and Youth Involvement will improve and expand training, technical assistance, and resources to help combat human trafficking statewide. To find more information and resources about combatting human trafficking and to view a map of buildings participating in the blue light campaign, visit the Department of Administration website. If you believe someone may be a victim of human trafficking, report your suspicions to the 24-hour National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 or text “BEFREE” to 233733. Contact local law enforcement only if someone is in immediate danger.
Norovirus is a highly contagious virus that causes symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea. Often referred to as the “stomach flu” or “stomach bug,” the Centers for Disease Control notes that norovirus is not related to the influenza virus that causes the flu. Instead, norovirus results in acute gastroenteritis, which is an inflammation of the stomach and intestines.
Most individuals recover from norovirus within 1 to 3 days, but spreading it for several days is possible even after symptoms have subsided. One of the interesting facts about norovirus is that people can contract it multiple times throughout their lives due to the existence of various types of the virus. This diversity can make it challenging to develop lasting immunity, although some protection against specific types may occur.
Be aware that hand sanitizer does not work well against norovirus. You can use hand sanitizers in addition to hand washing, but hand sanitizer is not a substitute for handwashing, which is best.
According to WastewaterSCAN — a program that monitors viruses through municipal water systems led by Stanford and Emory University scientists — in a January 3 statement that norovirus levels are “high” nationwide and have been increasing over the past 21 days.. “Norovirus levels are rising all across the country,
and in the ‘high’ category in all regions,” Marlene Wolfe, Ph.D., assistant professor at Emory University and principal investigator of WastewaterSCAN, told TODAY.com.
Signs and Symptoms: Symptoms typically appear 12 to 48 hours after exposure and can include:
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Nausea
• Stomach pain
In addition to these, some individuals may experience fever, headaches, and body aches.
Dehydration Risk:
Severe cases of norovirus can lead to dehydration, especially in vulnerable populations like young children, older adults, and those with other health conditions. Watch for signs of dehydration, which may include:
• Decreased urination
• Dry mouth and throat
• Dizziness upon standing
• Few or no tears when crying
• Excessive sleepiness or irritability
Who is at Risk: Norovirus can affect anyone, regardless of age, and is commonly transmitted during outbreaks. Interestingly, genetic factors can play a role in how susceptible someone is to infection. Raw oysters and other filter-feeding shellfish can also be a source of norovirus if consumed, so it’s wise to avoid eating them raw. Those at greater risk for severe illness include children
under 5, older adults, and individuals with weakened immune systems.
How It Spreads: Norovirus spreads rapidly and can be contracted through:
• Direct contact with an infected person (e.g., caring for them, sharing food or utensils).
• Consuming contaminated food or drinks.
• Touching surfaces or objects contaminated with the virus and then touching your mouth. Even after recovery, individuals can continue to spread the virus for up to 2 weeks or more.
Prevention Tips: Although norovirus is highly contagious, there are effective ways to reduce the risk of infection:
• Wash your hands thoroughly and frequently, especially after using the restroom or before eating.
• Avoid raw or undercooked shellfish; ensure shellfish are cooked properly and wash fruits and vegetables.
• Clean and disinfect surfaces that may be contaminated.
• Wash laundry in hot water.
• If you’re feeling unwell, staying home for at least 48 hours after symptoms have resolved is a good idea.
By taking these simple steps, you can help protect yourself and those around you from norovirus and contribute to healthier communities.
KM Middle School basketball off to big start
The Kings Mountain boys basketball team picked up its first win of the year with a 55-30 win over Crest in the consolation game of the Cleveland County Tournament.
KM opened up a 6-2 lead with Antonio Gomez’s layup and his two assists to Kavion Byers and Carlos Boyce to tie the game at 8-all after one period.
The second quarter saw the young Patriots grow cold from the field as the Dragons built a 17-10 lead with 1:40 to go in the second quarter before Gomez’s assist found teammate Boyce on the wing for a three.
Boyce’s free throw cut the lead to three before Gomez found Boyce again for his second three of the quarter with 15 seconds to go before halftime to give KM a 19-17 lead.
Bryce Wilson’s offensive putback and a third assist from Gomez to Boyce increased the Patriots lead to 24-17. Amri Parker’s layup helped KM to a 34-22 lead as the period ended.
In the fourth quarter, KM picked up its defensive tempo, which was led by King Moore, and limited the Dragons to two field goals. Elijah Long’s four points and Desmond Nolan’s five points helped KM shoot 10 for 15 in the quarter as they ended the game on a 21-8 run to seal the win.
KM was led by Carlos Boyce with 21 points. He hit 8 of 13 field goals, including 3-for-3 three-pointers, and had five rebounds and two steals.
Antonio Gomez had nine points, five rebounds, seven assists and five steals.
Desmond Nolan had five points on 2-for-2 shooting and two offensive rebounds and a blocked shot.
King Moore had four points, four rebounds, two steals and two blocked shots.
Elijah Long had four points on 2 for 3 shooting and four rebounds.
Kavion Byers had four points on 2 for 4 shooting, five rebounds, two steals and a blocked shot.
Bryce Wilson had four points on 2 for 2 shooting, Amir Parker had two points and four rebounds, and Jaden Byrd had two points. Ajay Fagan and Myles Parks each blocked a shot.
KM shot 59 percent (20 for 34) from inside the arc, had 32 rebounds including 11 on offense, 11 assists, 10 steals and six blocked shots. KM had nine players who scored a total of 13 points.
The Patriots followed that win with a 52-32 victory over Lincolnton.
KM got off to a torrid start, converting its first five possessions. Carlos Boyce’s assists to King Moore, Antonio Gomez and Kavion Byers, followed by his fast break layup and Moore’s steal for a layup gave the hosts a quick 10-4 lead. KM shot 8 for 10 (all layups) in the first period as six Pats scored for a 16-6 lead.
In the second period, Boyce and Gomez shot a combined 7 for 9 to help extend the KM lead to 30-12 at the half. Moore, Byers, Ajay Fagan and Jaden Byrd helped lead the KM defense by holding the Wildcats to just four first half field goals.
The third period saw Lincolnton make a quick 5-1 run to cut the lead to 31-17, but they never got closer as Boyce’s six points and Amir Parker’s three helped keep the KM lead to 18 points at 44-26.
In the fourth quarter
KM held the visitors to six points as Elijah Long, Mani Anderson and Parker finished off the KM offensive attack as the Patriots went over the 50-point mark for the second time this year.
KM was led by Carlos Boyce with 20 points on 9 for 13 shooting, four rebounds and three assists.
Antonio Gomez had eight points on 4 for 9 shooting, three boards, four assists and four steals.
Amir Parker had seven points on 3 for 4 shooting and four rebounds.
King Moore had six points on 3 for 3 shooting, six rebounds, three assists and four steals.
Kavion Byers had two points, four rebounds and three blocked shots.
Jaden Byrd had two points, two rebounds and a blocked shot.
Mani Anderson had two points on 1 for 1 shooting and Bryce Wilson had one point and two assists.
KM shot 23 for 35 inside the arc (66 percent) and 57.8 percent overall. KM shot 15 for 19 inside the arc in the first half.
KM had 28 rebounds, 14 assists, 12 steals and four blocked shots and had nine players who scored a total of 15 points.
KM was 2-1 overall and 1-0 in the East Division heading into a Monday game against North Lincoln.
Offensive player of the week was Carlos Boyce with 58 points on 23-for-38 shooting, 3 of 5 threes, 19 rebounds, thee assists, five steals, two blocked shots and a double-double.
Defensive players of the week were King Moore with 25 points, 18 boards, three assists, nine steals and two blocks; Antonio Gomez with 19 points, 14 rebounds, 13 assists and nine steals; and sixth man of the week was Kavion Byers with 14 rebounds and five blocked shots.
“We’ve gotten so much better in just a week,” noted Coach Shane Cole. “The kids are starting to buy in and they are working hard. We fell a little short in the county tourney, but the team has set its eyes on winning the division.”
Huss, Ashbrook sweep KMHS
Hunter Huss and Ashbrook swept Kings Mountain in Big South basketball action last week.
The Ashbrook women won 55-27 before the Ashbrook men took a 77-60 victory.
Aaliyah Miller scored 10 points and grabbed six rebounds in the loss to Ashbrook. The men’s statistics were not reported.
The Huss girls defeated the Lady Mountaineers 76-
21. Antonio Worthy led the Huss men with 19 points. KM statistics were not reported. In a non-conference game last week the KM ladies fell to Jesse Carson 42-37 in overtime. Regulation ended in a 31-31 tie.
GIRLS RESULTS
Carson (42) – Burleson 3, Guiton 5, Hedrick 12, McBride 2, Benfield 2, Martin 15, Sheets 3. KM (37) – Miller 8, Martin 7, Pettis
The NCWorks Career Center-Cleveland, currently located at 404 E. Marion Street in Shelby, will relocate to the campus of Cleveland Community College. The current location is scheduled to close on Wednesday, January 29, 2025. The Center will then reopen to the public on the campus of Cleveland Community College in the LeGrand Center Building, Room 6103, on Monday, February 3, 2025. The LeGrand Center is located at 1800 E. Marion Street in Shelby.
The NCWorks Career Center-Cleveland operates Monday-Thursday from 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. and Friday from 8:30 a.m. - 12:00 noon. Once relocated, the Center will have a new telephone number; the new number is 980552-4670.
Annette Staley, Foothills Workforce Development Director, stated,
“This move will enable the Center to utilize resources more efficiently and provide access to services to a broader range of customers.”
“We are excited to welcome the NCWorks Career Center to our campus,” said Dr. Jason Hurst, president of Cleveland Community College. “The Career Center will provide essential services and assistance to our students. As they gain new job skills, they will now have better access to the opportunities that will allow them to use those skills.”
NCWorks services help North Carolinians find work, improve their skills and connect to other resources to help them prepare for job interviews and make a good impression on employers. The following services are offered to job-seekers, at no charge:
• Career assessment and guidance
• Access to training and education programs
• Job fairs and workshops
• Information on the job
market
• Assistance with searching for jobs
• Résumé and cover letter preparation
• Practice interviewing for jobs
• Free computer and Internet access
• Help registering with and using NCWorks Online (www.NCWorks.gov).
The Career Center also offers special programs for veterans, young adults, migrant/seasonal farm workers, and the justice-involved.
In addition, NCWorks provides local employers with help recruiting and screening job applicants, labor market information and access to training resources, among other services, which are also free of charge.
KM
Camp 4, Worthy 6.
KM wrestlers fall to North Gaston
Kings Mountain fell to North Gaston 39-37 in a Big South Conference wrestling match last week.
Results:
106 – Marquez McArthur (NG) won by forfeit. 113 – Karlos Watson (NG) def. Davis Cavender.
120 – Louis Scott (NG) def. Kenny Ramirez Martinez (tech fall).
126 – Lucas Villarreal (KM) def. Hashimi Cole. 132 – Lucas Davis (KM) def. James Whitley. 138 – Cooper Black (KM) def. Joshua Boekhoff.
144 – Bryce Davis (KM) def. Rylan Barber.
150 – Jamarius Hill (KM) def. William Long.
KM Elite basketball
2025 KM ELITE FYCBL INTRALEAGUE
WEEK #1 RESULTS
Elite K-2nd Grade Beginners Division
Elite Kings-Trull 13
Elite Orangemen-Jordan 9
Elite Kings Trull: Ryan Smith 11, Aaydin Foster 2. Elite Orangemen-Jordan: Ki Homsley 7, Kendrick Halvorson 1, Mahkai Hayes 1.
on-Velez 4, Williams 5. KM (27) – Miller 10, Martin 7, Byrd 3, Ford 2, Williams 5. AB (55) – Hayes , Morales 6, Hardin 9, Mooring 3, McDowell 9, Miller 11, Sadler 15.
(21) – Miller 4, Martin 4, Pettis 2, Byrd 8, Dixon-Velez 2, Guy 1. Huss (76) – McCoy 19, Griffin 2, James 4, Bennett 3, Swann 17, Littlejohn 15, Floyd 4,
KM Middle School boys basketball summaries
Game #1: Shelby vs. KM: Cleveland County Tourney
The KM boys' basketball team kicked off the Cleveland County boys' basketball tourney versus the Shelby Bluedevils. In a hard-fought game, the Patriots came up short 44 to 38. KM jumped out to a quick 9 to 5 lead as Carlos Boyce scored five points and King Moore chipped in with four, as the Pats took a 9 to 8 lead into the second period.
The second period saw both teams grow cold on offense as Shelby to a onepoint lead at 14 to 13 with 2:40 to go in the quarter. KM continued their offensive drought, scoring only three more points in the quarter. Bryce Wilson's offensive putback at the buzzer cut Shelby's lead from 23 to 16 at the half.
KM slowed Shelby down with their zone defense in the 3rd quarter, holding the Bluedevils to just 7 points, but KM's offensive struggles continued as Boyce, Moore, and Antonio Gomez combined for 6 points to end the third as they trailed 30 to 22.
The 4th quarter saw Shelby increase its lead to 12 at 39 to 27 with a little over three minutes left before KM mounted one final rally. Boyce made three free throws to cut the margin to 43 to 36 with 20 seconds left. The final score was 44 to 38.
KM was led by:
Carlos Boyce 17 points (6 for 12 shooting, 10 rebounds, 3 steals 2 BS)
King Moore 15 points (8 rebounds, 3 steals)
Antonio Gomez 2 points (6 rebounds,2 assists)
Amir Parker 2 points (4 rebounds)
Bryce Wilson 2 points (2 rebounds)
Kavion Byers (5 rebounds, 1 BS)
Elijah Long (4 rebounds)
KM Team Stats:
KM had 42 rebounds (18 offensive)
KM had 8 steals Game #2: Crest vs Kings Mountain: Cleveland County Tourney (Consolation Game)
The KM boys' basketball team picked up its first win of the year defeating county rival Crest 55 to 30 in the consolation game of the Cleveland Couty tourney. KM opened up a 6 to 2 lead with Antonio Gomez’s lay-up and his two assists to Kavion Byers and Carlos Boyce to keep the game close at 8 to 8 after one period.
The second quarter saw the young Pats grow cold from the field as the Dragons built a 17 to 10 lead with 1:40 to go in the second before Gomez’s assist found teammate Boyce on the wing for an and-1 three, Boyce's free-throw cut the lead to three before Gomez found Boyce again for his second three of the quarter with 15 seconds to go before halftime to give KM the lead at 19 to 17.
KM’s Bryce Wilson’s offensive putback and a third assist from Gomez to Boyce increased the Patriot's lead to 24 to 17. Amri Paker's lay-up helped the KM team to a 34 to 22 lead as the period ended.
In the fourth quarter, KM picked up its defensive tempo, led by King Moore, limiting the Dragons to two field goals. Elijah Long, 4 points, and
Desmond Nolan, 5 points, helped KM shoot 10 for 15 in the quarter as they ended the game on a 21 to 8 run to seal the win.
KM was led by:
Carlos Boyce 21 points (8 for 13 shooting, 3 for 3 from 3’s, 5 rebounds, 2 steals)
Antonio Gomez 9 points (5 rebounds, 7 assists, 5 steals)
KM is 1 and 1 and plays at home on Thursday versus Lincolnton, the start time is 515
Game #3:
Lincolnton vs Kings Mountain
Kings Mountain got off to a torrid offensive start as they converted their first five possessions to start the game. Carlos Boyce assists to King Moore, Antonio Gomez, and Kavion Byers, followed by his fastbreak lay-up, and Moore’s steal for a lay-up gave the host team a quick 10 to 4 lead. KM shot 8 for 10 (all layups) in the first period as six Pats scored for a 16 to 6 lead.
In the second period, Boyce and Gomez shot a combined 7 for 9 to help extend the Patriots lead to 30 to 12 heading into the half. Moore, Byers, Ajay Fagan, and Jaden Byrd helped lead the KM’s defense holding the Wildcats to just four first-half field goals.
KM shot 57% overall
KM shot 15 for 19 inside the arc in the first half (79%)
KM had 28 rebounds
KM had 14 assists, 12 steals, and 4 BS
KM had 9 players who scored a total of 15 points
KM is 2 and 1, 1 and 0 in East Division, and plays at home on Monday versus North Lincoln, the start time is 515
Offensive Player(s) of the Week: Carlos Boyce 58 points (23/38 shooting, 3/5 3’s, 19 rebounds, 3 assists, 5 steals, 2 BS), 1-Double/ Double
Defensive Player(s) of the Week: King Moore 25 points (18 rebounds, 3 assists, 9 steals, 2 BS), Antoni Gomez 19 points (14 rebounds, 13 assists, 9 steals)
Sixth-Men of the Week:
Kavion Byers (14 rebounds, 5 BS)
Coach Cole:
“We’ve gotten so much better in just a week. The kids are starting to buy in and they are working hard. We fell a little short in the county tourney, but the team has set their eyes on winning the division.”
New rule removes medical debt from credit reports
By Loretta Cozart
On January 7, Vice President Harris announced a final Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) rule to remove medical debt from consumer credit reports. This rule will reduce the burden of medical debt and ensure that patients are not denied access to credit for home mortgages, car loans, or small business loans due to unpaid medical bills.
Further, Vice President Harris announced that states and localities have leveraged American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds to support the elimination of over $1 billion in medical debt for more than 700,000 Americans. These actions build on President Biden’s and Vice President Harris’ call to action for states to reduce the burden of medical debt, including by directly purchasing the debt from providers and third parties. Overall, authorities are on track to eliminate $15 billion in medical debt for up to six million Americans.
“No one should be denied economic opportunity because they got sick or experienced a medical emergency. That is why President Biden and I canceled over $1 billion in medical debt – part of our
overall plan to forgive $7 billion by 2026 – with support from our American Rescue Plan (ARP), legislation that I advanced with my tie-breaking vote in the Senate. We also reduced the burden of medical debt by increasing pathways to forgiveness and cracking down on predatory debt collection tactics,” said Vice President Harris. “Today, we are building on this meaningful work by announcing an unprecedented final rule that will make it so medical debt is no longer included in your credit score. This will be life-changing for millions of families, making it easier for them to be approved for a car loan, a home loan, or a small business loan. As someone who has spent my entire career fighting to protect consumers and lower medical bills, I know that our historic rule will help more Americans save money, build wealth, and thrive.”
More than 100 million Americans struggle with medical debt. Medical debt is the largest source of debt in collections, making up a larger proportion of debt tradelines than credit cards, utilities, and auto loans. However, medical debt is not like other forms of debt because it is often the result of unavoidable medical
complications and medical bills often contain significant errors, such as inflated or duplicative charges and fees for services never received or already paid. Reducing the burden of medical debt has been a key priority in President Biden and Vice President Harris’s effort to lower costs for American families.
The CFPB is finalizing a rule that will remove medical debt from the credit reports of more than 15 million Americans, raising their credit scores by an estimated average of 20 points and leading to the approval of approximately 22,000 additional mortgages every year. Under the CFPB rule, there will be zero Americans with medical debt listed on their credit reports, down from 46 million in 2020. CFPB’s research indicates that medical bills are poor predictors of an individual’s ability to repay a loan and that medical bills are often confusing and erroneous. In March 2022, the CFPB released a report estimating that medical bills made up $88 billion of reported debts on credit reports. After the March 2022 report, the three largest credit reporting agencies announced that they would no longer include paid medical debts, unpaid medical See DEBT, Page 3B
The third period saw Lincolnton make a quick 5 to 1 run to cut into the lead at 31 to 17 but never got closer than that as Boyce's 6 points and Amir Parker’s three-pointer helped keep the KM’s lead to 18 points at 44 to 26.
In the fourth quarter
KM’s held the visitors to 6 points as Elijah Long, Mani Anderson, and Parker finished off the KM offense attack as the Pats went over the 50 points mark for the second time this year for a final score of 52 to 32.
KM was led by:
Carlos Boyce 20 points (9 for 13 shooting, 4 rebounds, 3 assists)
Antonio Gomez 8 points (4 for 9 shooting, 3 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 steals)
Amir Parker 7 points (3 for 4 shooting, 4 rebounds)
King Moore 6 points (3 for 3 shooting, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 4 steals)
Elijah Long 4 points (3 rebounds, 4 steals)
Kavion Byers 2 points (4 rebounds, 3 BS)
Jaden Byrd 2 points (2 rebounds, 1 BS)
Mani Anderson 2 points (1 for 1 shooting)
Bryce Wilson 1 point (2 assists)
KM Team Stats: KM shot 23/35 inside the arc (66%)
Data Breach affects NC schools, students & families DEBT
By Loretta Cozart
North Carolina public schools have experienced a significant data breach, compromising the personal information of both teachers and students. The breach occurred when a hacker targeted the PowerSchool information system, which schools use to manage student enrollment, grades, health records, and attendance. The data breach impacted all 115 North Carolina public school districts and three out of four charter schools.
Sensitive personal information, such as names, addresses, Social Security numbers, medical details, and other sensitive information, was stolen by unauthorized individuals in a data breach on December 28, 2024. Data breaches can cause identity theft and expose victims to fraud and other illegal activities.
When asked about how many people may be impacted by the data breach, a spokesperson for PowerSchool, the largest provider of cloud-based education software for K-12 schools in the U.S., told Newsweek that they "don't have specifics to share at this time, I can tell you that we are still working through our detailed data review, and our priority is providing all necessary details to our customers as soon as possible."
The company mentioned that "a certain subset of the customers" may also have had their Social Security numbers and "other personally identifiable information and limited medical and grade information" stolen.
"Not all PowerSchool student information system customers were impacted, and we anticipate that only a subset of impacted customers will have notification obligations," the company said.
“We are currently analyzing the entire North Carolina impact, and we will get a better understanding as this data becomes available to us,” said Venessa Wrenn, chief information officer for the North Carolina Public Instruction. “We take student and teacher data privacy very seriously, and we'll continue to provide supports and updates as they become available.”
PowerSchool reported that the attack took place on December 28. On January 7, PowerSchool notified affected customers, including individual schools and the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. The software vendor issued a statement saying, “On December 28, PowerSchool became aware of a potential cybersecurity incident involving unauthorized access to certain information through one of our community-focused customer support portals, PowerSource. Over the succeeding days, an investigation determined that an unauthorized party gained access to certain PowerSchool Student Information System ("SIS") customer data using a compromised credential, and we regret to inform you that your data was accessed.”
PowerSource said, “As soon as we learned of the potential incident, we immediately engaged our cybersecurity response protocols and mobilized a cross-functional response team, including senior leadership and thirdparty cybersecurity experts. We have also informed law enforcement.”
PowerSource confirmed that the information accessed by the hackers using compromised login credentials belongs to certain SIS participants and relates to families and educators. The unauthorized access point
was isolated to the PowerSource portal. Since the PowerSource portal only allows access to the SIS database, we can confirm no other PowerSchool services were affected during the incident.
The incident is now contained. Fortunately, no evidence of malware or continued unauthorized activity was found within the PowerSchool online environment. PowerSchool has not experienced, nor expects to experience, any operational disruption and continues to provide services as normal to our customers.
According to online media reports, the hacker extorted PowerSchool for money in exchange for keeping the data, which included the personal information of students and teachers, from being leaked.
PowerSource emphasized, “Rest assured, we have taken all appropriate steps to prevent the data involved from further unauthorized access or misuse. We do not anticipate the data being shared or made public, and we believe it has been deleted without any further replication or dissemination.”
“We have also deactivated the compromised credential and restricted all access to the affected portal. Lastly, we have conducted a full password reset and further tightened password and access control for all PowerSource customer support portal accounts,” the statement continued.
PowerSchool will be providing credit monitoring to impacted adults and identity protection services to affected minors in accordance with regulatory and contractual obligations. The information compromised will vary by affected customer.
From Page 2B debts less than a year old, and medical debt under $500 from credit reporting. Despite these voluntary changes, 15 million Americans still have $49 billion in outstanding medical bills in collections appearing in the credit reporting system. Today’s action will remove these outstanding $49 billion in unpaid medical bills from the credit reports of the remaining 15 million impacted Americans.
In June 2024, Vice President Harris called on states, local governments, and healthcare providers to take action to reduce the burden of medical debt. States and localities have responded to this call by directly relieving debt and launching innovative programs to improve their health systems. In response, states, counties, and cities have already eliminated more than an estimated $1 billion in medical debt for over 750,000 Americans. These and other authorities are on track to eliminate an estimated up to $7 billion in medical debt for 3 million Americans by the end of 2026 thanks to ARP-supported efforts.
In addition to directly relieving debt, states and localities have responded by launching innovative programs to improve their health systems. For instance, North Carolina recently announced that all of the state’s 99 eligible hospitals have committed to participating in a medical debt relief program that will eliminate up to $4 billion in existing medical debt for nearly 2 million low- and middle-income North Carolinians. The program also ensures that hospitals have policies in place to reduce the chance individuals will end up in debt in the first place.
North Carolina’s program utilizes a novel approach, where hospital systems become eligible for enhanced Medicaid reimbursements under the State Directed Payments Healthcare Access and Stabilization Program by implementing policies that relieve all medical debt deemed uncollectible dating back to Jan. 1, 2014, for any individuals not enrolled in Medicaid with incomes at or below at least 350% of the federal poverty level (FPL) or for whom total debt exceeds 5% of annual income. The program further relieves all unpaid medical debt dating back to Jan. 1, 2014, for individuals who are enrolled in Medicaid and sets a charity care floor in the state that provides discounts on medical bills of between 50-100% for patients with incomes at or below 300% FPL, with the amount of the discount varying based on
the patient’s income. The program automatically enrolls people into financial assistance, known as charity care, by implementing a policy for determining individuals eligible for financial assistance through a streamlined screening and income validation approach. Also, the directive prevents selling any medical debt for consumers with incomes at or below 300% FPL to debt collectors and reporting a patient’s debt covered by these policies to a credit reporting agency.
The NC Justice Center is celebrating the CFPB’s new rule, which will affect 800,000 North Carolinians with medical debt on their credit reports.
“Individuals and households should not be penalized with higher costs for credit—or be denied credit entirely—simply because they experienced a health issue that resulted in medical debt they cannot afford,” said Jason Pikler, Senior Attorney at the NC Justice Center. “The CFPB’s new medical debt rule will also stop debt collectors from coercing payments, including for inaccurate or false medical bills, by threatening to harm consumers’ credit.” While the CFPB’s new rule is an important step in North Carolina—where nearly one in ten adults have medical debt in collections—the rule does not apply to medical debt on credit cards, including specialized credit cards, which advocates urged the CFPB to include. It also does not apply to credit reports used for non-lending purposes, such as employment and tenant screening. The NC Justice Center, therefore, will continue to push for even greater protection for North Carolinians relating to medical debt.
The White House announcements build on efforts by the Biden-Harris Administration to reduce the burden of medical debt, including:
The Internal Revenue Service announced new steps to ensure that nonprofit hospitals provide free and reduced-price care for patients who need it, as is required by law. This includes issuing new guidance in the coming months to clarify the obligations of tax-exempt hospitals to offer and publicize financial assistance policies and committing to prioritizing enforcement actions against tax-exempt hospitals that violate these responsibilities.
The CFPB issued an Advisory Opinion and Consumer Advisory clarifying the responsibilities of debt collectors to confirm that debts are accurate, valid, and substantiated before engaging in collection actions and explaining to consumers what actions they can take when they suspect that they have been improperly billed
or if they have had improper or illegal collection actions taken against them.
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) implemented a streamlined process to make it easier and faster for lower-income veterans to get their VA medical debt forgiven. This has already provided relief to over 10,000 veterans and saved them more than $10 million in copay debt.
The Department of Defense has proposed a rule to provide financial relief for civilians receiving medical care at military medical treatment facilities (MTFs). If finalized as proposed, this rule would implement fee reductions through a sliding-scale discount program and catastrophic cap waivers. Through these measures, the DoD aims to significantly reduce the financial burden on patients while maintaining high-quality care.
The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) validated and approved the use of Vantage Score 4.0, along with FICO 10T, for the underwriting of mortgages by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. This marks the first time that a credit score that excludes medical debt has been approved for the underwriting of Enterprise loans.
The Small Business Administration (SBA) is taking steps to reduce the role of medical debt in the underwriting of loans for its flagship 7(a) guaranteed loan program. These include revising its lender Standard Operating Procedures and Lender Match tool to discourage medical debt consideration.
The Departments of Health and Human Services, Labor, and Treasury have prioritized implementing surprise billing protections, which prevent 1 million surprise medical bills every month. Last year, as a part of the Inflation Reduction Act, President Biden capped the cost of insulin at $35 for a month’s supply of each covered insulin and capped out-of-pocket prescription drug costs at $2,000 in 2025 for seniors and others with Medicare. Thanks to the $3500 cap, 1.5 million Medicare enrollees saved $1 billion on prescription drugs in just the first half of 2024. Since taking these actions, President Biden has called on Congress to expand the cap on out-of-pocket prescription drug costs to cover all Americans. Also, the Biden-Harris Administration issued a final rule that protects consumers from junk health insurance and ensures Americans aren’t scammed into low-quality coverage that leaves them on the hook for thousands of dollars in medical bills.
FRIDAY, JANUARY 31st, 2025
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Bethware Elementary students explore nature through owl pellet dissection
Bethware Elementary School 4th grade students recently took their learning to the next level by participating in a hands-on science activity tied to their reading of Poppy, the beloved children’s novel by Avi. The book, which tells the story of a brave mouse named Poppy and her encounters with a fearsome owl named Mr. Ocax, inspired the students to explore the real-life habits of owls through a fascinating dissection of owl pellets.
The project was spearheaded by Bethware’s Librarian Joy Laney, who wanted to connect literature with science in a way that would spark curiosity and critical thinking.
“Reading Poppy really captivated the students’ imaginations,” said Mrs. Laney “I thought it would be a perfect opportunity to introduce them to owl pellets, which are a real-world connection to the predator-prey relationships de-
scribed in the book.” Owl pellets are compact masses of undigested bones, fur, and feathers that owls regurgitate after consuming their prey. By dissecting these pellets, students can learn about the diets of owls and the small animals that inhabit their local ecosystem.
Armed with toothpicks, magnifying glasses, rulers and owl pellet dissection mats the students eagerly began the dissection process. As they carefully pulled apart the pellets, they discovered tiny skulls, jawbones, and other bones belonging to rodents, birds, and other small creatures.
Mrs. Laney explained that the dissection activity helped students apply scientific observation skills and reinforced themes from Poppy such as survival, food chains, and the balance of nature. The students were encouraged to record their findings, compare notes, and
discuss the importance of predators like owls in maintaining healthy ecosystems.
At the end of the project, students shared their findings with the class and reflected on what they learned. Many were surprised by the diversity of animals in an owl’s diet and gained a new appreciation for the role owls play in nature.
“The best part was seeing how excited the kids were,” said Mrs. Laney. “They were able to connect what they read in Poppy to real-world science, and that’s the kind of learning experience that stays with them.”
As the students packed up their tools and reflected on the activity, it was clear that both the book and the dissection had left a lasting impression. One thing was certain: learning about Mr. Ocax and the world of owls had never been more engaging—or memorable.
Pope Francis awarded the Medal of Freedom
By Loretta Cozart
On January 11, President Biden spoke with His Holiness Pope Francis and named him as a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom with Distinction. The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the Nation’s highest civilian honor, presented to individuals who have made exemplary contributions to the prosperity, values, or security of the United States, world peace, or other significant societal, public or private endeavors.
This is the first time that President Biden has awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom with Distinction.
The citation read: “As a young man, Jorge Bergoglio sought a career in science before faith led him to a life with the Jesuits. For decades, he served the voiceless and vulnerable across Argentina. As
Pope Francis, his mission of serving the poor has never ceased. A loving pastor, he joyfully answers children’s questions about God. A challenging teacher, he commands us to fight for peace and protect the planet. A welcoming leader, he reaches out to different faiths. The first pope from the Southern Hemisphere, Pope Francis is unlike any who came before. Above all, he is the People’s Pope – a light of faith, hope, and love that shines brightly across the world.”
Los Angeles instead in a show of support for the local communities impacted by the historic Southern California wildfires.
Biden was expected to travel to Rome and Vatican City last week to make the award in person. However, the president’s travel plans were altered when he decided to visit
PUBLIC NOTICE
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF CLEVELAND
NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND DEBTORS
Having qualified on 23rd of February, 2024 as Administrator of the Estate of BILLY SMITH (24 E 165), deceased, late of Cleveland County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons, firms, and corporations having claims against said estate to present them to the undersigned, Robert Louis Pagan, Administrator on or before the 15th of April, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, firms, and corporations indebted to said estate to please make immediate payment to the undersigned.
This the 15th day of January, 2025.
Robert Louis Pagan, Administrator Estate of Billy Smith 807 E 3rd Ave Gastonia, NC 28054
KMH (1/15, 22, 29 & 2/05/2025)
PUBLIC NOTICE
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF CLEVELAND
IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION BEFORE THE CLERK
In the Matter of the Estate of: CRAIG FORD HAWKINS, Deceased.
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Having qualified on the 6th day of January, 2025, as Administrator of the Estate of Craig Ford Hawkins, deceased, late of Cleveland County, this is to notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against the decedent to exhibit the same to the undersigned Administrator on or before the 17th day of April, 2025, this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, firms and corporations indebted to the estate should make immediate payment.
This the 15th day of January, 2025.
Billy H. Hawkins, Admin.
1004 Woodside Drive Kings Mountain, NC 28086
C. Andrew Neisler, Jr., Admin. CTA
CLONINGER & NEISLER ATTYS
P.O. Box 515, 300 E. King Street Kings Mountain, NC 28086
KMH (1/15, 1/22, 1/29, 2/5/2025)
"After returning this evening from Los Angeles, where earlier today he had met with police, fire and emergency personnel fighting the historic fires raging in the area and approved a Major Disaster declaration for California, President Biden made the decision to cancel his upcoming trip to Italy to remain focused on directing
the full federal response in the days ahead," the White House said in a statement. The White House reported that Biden, a lifelong Catholic, spoke by phone with Francis on Saturday and conveyed his regret for not being able to visit Rome and Vatican City. The two leaders discussed global peace efforts, including Francis' initiatives to support vulnerable communities.
Francis, 88, has pushed to open the Church to the modern world since he took the helm in
PUBLIC NOTICE
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF CLEVELAND
NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND DEBTORS
Having qualified on 30th of December, 2024 as Administrator of the Estate of MICHAEL VON MARTIN (24 E 1003), deceased, late of Cleveland County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons, firms, and corporations having claims against said estate to present them to the undersigned, Michael Von Martin II, Administrator on or before the 8th of April, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, firms, and corporations indebted to said estate to please make immediate payment to the undersigned.
This the 8th day of January, 2025.
Michael Von Martin II, Administrator Estate of Michael Von Martin 221 Morgans Branch Rd Belmont, NC 28012
KMH (1/08, 15, 22 & 29/2025)
PUBLIC NOTICE
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF CLEVELAND
IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION BEFORE THE CLERK
In the Matter of the Estate of HAZEL JILL SMITH, Deceased.
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Having qualified on the 7th day of January, 2025, as Administrator CTA of the Estate of Hazel Jill Smith, deceased, late of Cleveland County, this is to notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against the decedent to exhibit the same to the undersigned Administrator CTA on or before the 17th day of April, 2025, this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, firms and corporations indebted to the estate should make immediate payment.
This the 15th day of January, 2025.
C. Andrew Neisler, Jr., Admin. CTA
CLONINGER & NEISLER ATTYS
P.O. Box 515, 300 E. King Street Kings Mountain, NC 28086
KMH (1/15, 1/22, 1/29, 2/5/2025)
2013. He has drawn criticism from some U.S. Catholics who view him as too liberal.
Francis has pushed for an end to Russia's war with Ukraine and has been critical of Israel's military campaign against Palestinian militant group Hamas. Both conflicts are ongoing.
One week ago, Biden awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to 19 recipients, including former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, chef Jose Andres, conservationist and ethologist Dr. Jane Goodall, rock entertainer and activist Bono, former Secretary of Defense Ashton Baldwin Carter, actor and advocate for Parkinson’s disease research Michael J. Fox, vision-
ary entrepreneur and LGBTQI rights advocate Tim Gill, racial justice advocate Fannie Lou Hamer, basketball legend Earvin “Majic” Johnson, fashion designer Ralph Lauren, soccer legend Lionel Messi, science education advocate William Sanford “Bill” Nye, former American Motors Corporation chairman and president and 43rd Governor of Michigan George W. Romney, co-founder and co-chairman of The Carlyle Group David M. Rubenstein, inventor and philanthropist George Soros, writer, director, and playwright George Stevens, Jr., actor and director Denzel Washington, and renowned fashion icon and Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour.
PUBLIC NOTICE
COUNTY OF CLEVELAND
NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND DEBTORS
Having qualified on 9th of January, 2025 as Executrix of the Estate of PATRICIA CRESWELL FAGGART (24 E 969), deceased, late of Cleveland County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons, firms, and corporations having claims against said estate to present them to the undersigned, Susan F. Beaver, Executrix on or before the 15th of April, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, firms, and corporations indebted to said estate to please make immediate payment to the undersigned.
This the 15th day of January, 2025.
Susan F. Beaver, Executrix Estate of Patricia Creswell Faggart 8105 Wonderland Ct Charlotte, NC 28215
KMH (1/15, 22, 29 & 2/05/2025)
PUBLIC NOTICE
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF CLEVELAND
NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND DEBTORS
Having qualified on 30th of January, 2024 as Executor of the Estate of ROBERT EUGENE BLANTON (23 E 512), deceased, late of Cleveland County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons, firms, and corporations having claims against said estate to present them to the undersigned, William Michael Blanton, Executor on or before the 15th of April, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, firms, and corporations indebted to said estate to please make immediate payment to the undersigned.
This the 15th day of January, 2025.
William Michael Blanton, Executor Estate of Robert Eugene Blanton 827 Parson Road McConnells, SC 29726
KMH (1/15, 22, 29 & 2/05/2025)
Bethware Elementary fourth graders participated in a hands-on science activity tied to their reading of Poppy. Photos by Joy Laney
Students dissected owl pellets to determine what was in their diets.
President Joe Biden visited with Pope Francis at The Vatican on June 24, 2024. Photo by The Vatican
NC train travel breaks record, Federal Grants support growth
By Loretta Cozart
NC By Train, the state-supported Amtrak service, achieved record ridership in 2024 for the third year in a row.
The state's intercity passenger rail service carried over 720,000 passengers in 2024, a 12% increase from 2023 and a 55% increase since 2019, before COVID19.
“We're excited that NC By Train continues to grow and be an important transportation option for North Carolinians," said Transportation Secretary Joey Hopkins. “Based on the success of the last three years, we are continuing to explore opportunities to further increase frequencies and expand service to more communities across
the state."
NC By Train's growth since 2022 has been astounding, with the service carrying 522,000 passengers in 2022 and 641,000 passengers in 2023. More people than ever are traveling by train in North Carolina. The service's popularity appears to be growing as more people learn how easy and stress-free it is to use, the affordability of tickets, and the positive environmental benefits and sustainability of traveling by train, rail officials say.
Increased availability of daily trip options has also benefited the service as NCDOT's Rail Division continues to see a positive response to the addition of a fifth-round trip on the Piedmont between Raleigh and Charlotte in July 2023.
2025
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Thursday, June 5th, 2025
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A new schedule that carries passengers between Charlotte and Raleigh in as little as 3 hours also increased ridership. Including the Carolinian, people can choose from five daily round trips between the state’s two largest metro areas.
Special stops and events in 2024, such as the N.C State Fair, the Lexington Barbeque Festival, and adjusted schedules to early football games in Charlotte, have also contributed to NC By Train's growth and popularity. NC By Train operated the first Open Express to Pinehurst, N.C., during the U.S. Open in June and launched a new partnership with the NC Craft Brewer's Guild called the “N.C. Ale Trail by Rail,” which encourages people to use the state's intercity passenger rail service to explore N.C. craft breweries and support local businesses.
“Demand for North Carolina’s train routes continues to boom as people look for fast, affordable ways to travel our beautiful state,” Governor Roy Cooper said in a statement in July.
“Every month this year has set records and made clear that by continuing to invest in passenger rail we can unlock new markets and strengthen communities across our state.”
Last week, North Carolina was awarded a $14 million federal grant to enhance Amtrak passenger train service within the state. The funds will be allocated for safety improvements to separate the rail line in Charlotte from regular vehicle traffic to prevent collisions, a railroad crossing safety training program at N.C. State University, and enhancements to the food service on Amtrak’s Piedmont service between Charlotte and Raleigh.
“The project will help enhance the on-board cus-
tomer experience on the service, which operates four roundtrips daily from Charlotte to Raleigh,” the Federal Railroad Administration said in a release.
These grants are part of a larger national package exceeding $1 billion, announced by the Federal Railroad Administration on Friday.
Amtrak’s Piedmont service, running between Charlotte and Raleigh, is a three-hour journey with stops in Cary, Durham, Greensboro, Kannapolis, Burlington, High Point, and Salisbury.
An additional $3 million was provided to establish RailTAP (Rail Technical Assistance Program), a training and education initiative at North Carolina State University to improve safety and reduce accidents at highway-rail grade crossings. The funding is provided through the Railroad Crossing Elimination Grant Program and will educate the public and workers about rail crossing risks, promote safety practices to reduce accidents and injuries, and provide localized training for those involved with rail crossings. The project aligns with the selection criteria by enhancing safety, as the project will educate railway workers, contractors, first responders, citizens, municipal and state employees, business owners, and others. The North Carolina Railroad Company will contribute 20 percent to non-Federal match.
“...We have engaged with residents, community leaders, and stakeholders across the country on the issue of grade crossing safety and blocked crossings,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “The Railroad Crossing Elimination Grant Program funding we’re announcing today (January
PUBLIC NOTICE
COUNTY OF CLEVELAND
NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND DEBTORS
Having qualified on 7th of January, 2025 as Executrix of the Estate of TODD KERWIN LANEY (24 E 10), deceased, late of Cleveland County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons, firms, and corporations having claims against said estate to present them to the undersigned, Ashton Lea Laney , Executrix on or before the 15th of April, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, firms, and corporations indebted to said estate to please make immediate payment to the undersigned.
IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION BEFORE THE CLERK
In the Matter of the Estate of: GLORIA WHEELER SLYCORD, Deceased. NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Having qualified on the 13th of December, 2024 as Executor of the Estate of Gloria, deceased, late of Cleveland County, this is to notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against the decedent to exhibit the same to the undersigned Executrix on or before the 1st day of April, 2025, this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, firms and corporations indebted to the estate should make immediate payment.
P.O. Box 515, 300 E. King Street Kings Mountain, NC 28086
KMH (1/1, 1/8, 1/15 & 1/22/2025)
10) is a sweeping effort that directly supports cities, towns, and villages in every region of the country in their efforts to protect lives, prevent drivers being delayed by blocked crossings, and improve the overall quality of life for their citizens.”
Accidents at grade crossings are the second leading cause of rail-related deaths in the United States, with more than 2,000 incidents and 200 fatalities occurring at grade crossings each year. Furthermore, blockages resulting from slow-moving or stalled trains at crossings cost time and resources for American families and may cut off access roads and delay first responders from reaching emergencies. Over the last twelve months, FRA has received more than 26,000 complaints of blocked crossings through the agency’s Public Blocked Crossing Incident Reporter.
“From day one of the Biden-Harris Administration, we have committed ourselves to making rail safer for all Americas, and since President Biden signed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we have made unprecedented investments to modernize and improve America’s rail networks,” said FRA Administrator Amit Bose. “Today’s grants are another example of the Biden-Harris Administration reversing a half-century of federal underinvestment in America's rail network and delivering for the American people, helping people in communities big and small get to and from their homes, schools, businesses, and workplaces safely and without delays.”
Earlier in the year, North Carolina received more than $105.5 million to be invested in the North Carolina Railroad Company (NCRR) Carolinian and Piedmont Passenger and Freight Improvements Project to improve the capacity of the NCRR’s NC-Line to meet the growing demands of both freight and passenger rail traffic. Upgrades would add over five miles of sidings, reconstruct up to 69 miles of track, eliminate one grade crossing, and improve track geometry. The project will increase ontime performance for existing Amtrak routes, allow for added passenger trains along the growing corridor, and meet the needs of a growing manufacturing sector.
Also, last year, a pro-
posed $18.2 million project was selected for final design and construction to upgrade the Aberdeen, Carolina & Western Railway Company (ACWR) rail line between Charlotte and Oakboro, North Carolina. The project will continue efforts to modernize and increase capacity on the Piedmont Subdivision to better serve rail customers by installing almost 30 miles of continuous welded rail (CWR). The project will enhance safety by removing the jointed rail laid in the early to mid1900s that exceeded its reasonable life expectancy with a new 136-lb CWR to accommodate the industry standard of 286,000-lb railcars. The project will upgrade the track to meet FRA Class 3 classification requirements. The ACWR and North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) will contribute 52 percent non-Federal match. This project qualifies for the statutory setaside for projects in Rural Areas.
In addition to deploying funding to modernize and upgrade rail infrastructure, the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) and the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) have taken other actions to improve rail safety. This includes finalizing new safety regulations, conducting focused safety audits, expanding a vital safety program to include workers at Class I freight railroads, and pushing freight railroads to provide guaranteed paid sick leave to all their workers. The USDOT and NCDOT encourage people to take advantage of the safe, comfortable, and convenient transportation available on North Carolina trains with their large seats, charging outlets at each seat, and free Wi-Fi. NC By Train offers a variety of everyday discounts for children, students, active military personnel, veterans, and seniors. The service also offers Share Fare, which allows groups of up to eight people to save money with each additional ticket that is purchased.
Taking NC By Train is an environmentally friendly and sustainable transportation choice that helps reduce congestion on the state's highway system. Travelers are encouraged to skip the traffic and hassles of parking and take the train to a variety of events throughout the year.
LEGAL NOTICE
KINGS MOUNTAIN HOUSING AUTHORITY HAS OPENED BIDS FOR: LANDSCAPING GROUND MAINTENANCE AND VACANT UNIT TURNS
Bids must be received no later than January 31, 2025. For the scope of work contact Veronica Williams at vwilliams@kingsmountainha.org or visit our website kingsmountainha.org
KMH (1/08 & 15/2025)
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF CLEVELAND
NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND DEBTORS
Having qualified on 30th of December, 2024 as Administratrix of the Estate of JOHN FRANKLIN BALLENGER (24 E 991), deceased, late of Cleveland County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons, firms, and corporations having claims against said estate to present them to the undersigned, Jackie Jones Ballenger, Administratrix on or before the 8th of April, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, firms, and corporations indebted to said estate to please make immediate payment to the undersigned.
This the 8th day of January, 2025.
Jackie Jones Ballenger, Administratrix Estate of John Franklin Ballenger 1310 Ellis Ferry Rd Shelby, NC 28152
KMH (1/08, 15, 22 & 29/2025)
GOLDEN DOMERS TOY AND HOBBY. Visit our NEW LOCATION .....Model Cars, Die-cast Cars & Trucks, Tractors, Hot Wheels, Construction Toys, Sports Memorabilia, Autographed Items, Hard to Find Items! See Mike & Brandon Willis. We’re located at 104 Oliver Ave. (behind El Acapulco Mexican Restaurant in Boiling Springs), Shelby 704-297-0102 or 704-2970103
COMMUNITY EVENTS
2025 BEGINNING BEEKEEPING CLASS. Learn to be a beekeeper. Cleveland County Beekeepers Association 2-day class 1/25 & 2/1. $75/per person $120 for couples sharing resources. (704) 487-7731 clevelandcountybeekeepersnc@gmail.com
EMPLOYMENT
LOOKING FOR SHORT ORDER COOK. New restaurant opening in Mooresboro. Opportunity to grow with this business. Billingual Spanish/ English preferred. Call 845629-4501.
CUSTOMER SERVICE HELP NEEDED. Wanted for parttime employment for Folk’s Cleaners in Forest City. Call 828-245-4074.
EMPLOYMENT
FOOD SERVICE MANAGER INCLUDES APARTMENT. William Black Lodge in Montreat is seeking an experienced manger for food services. Compensation includes housing and benefits. (828) 669-6314 tbrown@ williamblacklodge.org
POSITIONS AVAILABLE. Southern Artisan Spirits. Located at 1033 York Road, Kings Mountain, NC. Hiring line cooks, dishwashers, bussers, and food runners. Email resume to info@southernartisanspirits.com
BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES
MAKE MONEY WOODWORKING FROM HOME. Visit www.Woodworking411. com to learn how to make money woodworking from home. NC4ever@usa.com
BUSINESS SERVICES
BUSINESS SERVICES
NEED HELP WITH PROJ-
ECTS Around Your House or Business? 30 years of experience. Free estimates. Landscaping, Minor Repairs, Ceiling Fans Installed, Install Mini Blinds, No job to small! Call or text (704) 692-4449
AFFORDABLE LANDSCAPING. IS YOUR LAWN IN NEED OF SOME TLC? LET US TAKE CARE OF IT. WE CAN ENSURE A MANICURED LAWN THAT ENHANCES THE BEAUTY OF YOUR HOME. GRASS CUTTING, WEED EATING, AND MULCHING IS WHAT WE OFFER. CALL FOR A FREE ESTIMATE (704) 466-2333
YARD SALES
FOR SALE
HORSE QUALITY HAY FOR SALE. Call (704) 487-6855
CRATES FOR PLANTER BOXES, or Many Other Uses. Various Sizes. Some with Lids. $25 to $35 each. Call (704) 300-1818
CARPORTS, GARAGES, BOAT, RV COVER HAY BARNS, Etc. “Check Out Our Price Before You Buy... There Is Difference!” J. Johnson Sales, inc. 2690 Hwy. 221 South, Forest City. (828) 2455895
LOST & FOUND
LOST: MEDIUM SIZE DOG, ANSWERS TO BUDDY. Has collar but no tags. Lost near Kings Mountain High School and Mtn, View Orchard. Reward. Please contact me 704419-3167.
WANT TO BUY WANTED: OLD AND NEW AMMO. Reloading supplies. Call 828-245-6756 or cell # 828-289-1488.
CASH
KEPT SECRET AROUND! COLLECTOR’S DREAM! We Buy, Sell & Trade. Gold, Silver, Rare & Unique Items, Knives, Antiques, Coins, Gold Eagles, Collectibles and Much More. We Offer Appraisals on Coins•Knives•Jewelry. You’ve Gotta Come Check Us Out! Jake’s Knives & Coins located at 1008 S. Lafayette St., Shelby. Call 704-6006996 or (980) 295-5568 NEWS GIFTS JOKES AND MORE. Click on www.nc4ever.com to read the news, learn about gifts, read jokes and more. NC4ever@usa. com
HIRING NURSES & OFFICE HELP. F/T Nursing Positions Available for CMA/CNA/MOA/ LPN. F/T Front Office Position Available: Check-in Receptionist/Check-out. Medical Records-Phones. Fax resume to:Shelby Medical Associates.704-482-0811.
2023 KITCHEN FOOD CONCESSION TRAILER. LikeNew, with Porch and Pro-Fire Suppression System. All NSF certified equipment. Chargrill, Flatgrill, Electric BBQ Smoker, Double basket fryer, Prep Table, 3 bay sink, Handwashing sink, Pro Fire Suppression System, Propane tank, Large Refrigerator. Overall length 24ft and box length 20ft. Runs on electric and propane. $40,000. 704-4732146. (704) 473-2146
NOW HIRING RESIDENTIAL SERVICE PLUMBERS. Are you a skilled plumber with 6+ years of service plumbing experience. We offer competitive pay options (up to $32 / hour OR commission-only pay structure. Comprehensive benefits package: 401(k) with 3% company match • Health, dental and vision insurance • Company vehicle for professional use. At Badger Plumbing Company, we recognize and reward expertise. To Apply call 980-403-5859 or Email Resume to 1badgerplumbing@gmail.com - Located in Shelby, NC.
WWTP SENIOR OPERATOR POSITION. The Town of Spindale is currently Accepting applications for the position of WWTP Senior Operator Salary Range: $42,138 - $52,673 DOE. Main duties include, but are not limited to, daily plant inspections, collection and analyzing daily samples as required by our NPDES permit, assist in pretreatment sampling and inspections, maintenance of equipment, computer work as required and directed by the WWTP Superintendent. This position acts as the backup ORC. The position requires a Grade III wastewater certification however we will entertain candidates who currently have a Grade II and can obtain Grade III within 6 months. Maintenance experience, computer skills in Excel and Word a plus. Some weekend work is required. The Town provides health, dental and vision insurance, NC State retirement, 5% 401k, holiday pay, sick and vacation days. Apply online at www.spindalenc.net/home/ employment or in person at Spindale Townhall located at 125 Revelry St., Spindale, NC 28160
HOME HEALTH/CNA. Reliable home care aid needed for mobile stroke victim; ADL’S, medication, feeding tube. Rutherfordton, NC. (803) 4293520 dianetsilva15@gmail. com
PAINTING, ROOFING, TILE FLOORS, wood decks, fences & carpentry work. Free estimates. Now is the time to paint outside! Ask for Harold or Jim 828-429-7511.
FOR ALL YOUR AUTOMOTIVE NEEDS. HAVING VEHICLE ISSUES? CALL (828) 501-2831 DAVY717703@ GMAIL.COM
CLEVELAND COUNTY GARAGE DOORS. Summer Tune-up Special, $69.95. We will check all your equipment lube, make sure it’s working correctly. We repair broken doors. Also offering new installations. 704-472-9367.
HYDRAULIC CYLINDER REPAIR. Skid Steer, Wreckers, Rollbacks, Splitters, Tractors, etc. 30 years experience. Shelby, NC. (Joe) (704) 692-1097
ERIC MOBILE MECHANIC. I will come to you to repair any car, full service on lawnmowers or tractor. Honest & Reliable! (704) 300-2332
YOUR TRUSTED HANDYMAN SERVICES. NEED A HELPING HAND AROUND THE HOUSE? LOOK NO FURTHER! WE ARE HERE TO HELP TACKLE YOUR NEEDS. DON’T LET THOSE HOME REPAIRS PILE UP— CONTACT US TODAY FOR A FREE ESTIMATE! (704) 466-2333
HANDYMAN SERVICES. No job too small. Have references. Construction, landscaping, etc. Jack of all trades! 40 plus years of experience. 828375-5773.
CLEVELAND COUNTY INDOOR YARD SALE. Every Monday - Saturday, 9am-6pm. 4120 Kings Mtn Hwy, Bessemer City on Hwy 74. 704-6164827
FOR SALE
HARDWOOD FIREWOOD DELIVERED. 1-1/2 ton hardwood firewood delivered on a dump trailer within 20 miles of Lattimore $200. Can deliver farther for extra. You can pick up on your pick-up $50 for short bed, $65 long bed. Larger trucks call for price. Campfire bundles also available. (704) 434-6865 smpc1@ bellsouth.net
NATURAL GAS FURNACE in Good Condition. $300 or Best Offer! (704) 300-9277
HAND CRAFTED WOODEN ENTERTAINMENT CTR. Great Deal! Has bottom cabinet doors. Can send pictures, $120.00 or best offer! (704) 718-9122
METAL ROOFING- GALVALUME $1.70 LF. Galvalume $1.70 linear foot 45 yr warrany. (704) 482-7880 tracy@getabuilding.com
MISCELLANEOUS FURNITURE FOR SALE. Queen Bedroom Suite, Beautiful Computer Desk & Hutch, Glass Top Coffee Table, End Table, Schwinn Airline Exercise Bike. All items priced to sell & in excellent condition. (704) 419-3136
TRAILERS, LAWNMOWER TRAILERS, FLATBED TRAILERS, Enclosed Trailers, Horse and Cattle Trailers, Saddlery. Check our prices and quality before you buy. Bridges Riding Equipment. Boiling Springs, NC. 704-434-6389, (704) 473-0867
PROMOTE YOUR BUSINESS with Scratch Pads! Press Room Printing. 704482-2243. (704) 538-5788
STORAGE BUILDINGS WOOD OR METAL. New, Used, Repo. New Buildings from $3756.00. Inventory changes weekly! J. Johnson Sales, inc. 2690 Hwy. 221 South, Forest City, NC. (828) 245-5895
METAL ROOFING FOR SALE INSTOCK! Deliveries Twice A Week. One Piece or the Whole Roof. J. Johnson Sales, inc. 2690 Hwy. 221 South, Forest City. (828) 2455895
NEW-USED TRAILERS PARTS & ACCESSORIES FOR ALL TYPES OF TRAILERS. 1500 Square Feet of Parts, Axles, Tires, Lights, Gates, Ramps, etc. J. Johnson Sales, inc. Forest City, (828) 245-5895
TINY HOUSE / OFFICE UNIT. 12’ X 28’. Small Kitchen, 1/2 Bath, TV on Wall, Heat & Air. $35,900. Deliver & Blocked. “Financing Available”. J. Johnson Sales, inc. Forest City. (828) 245-5895
DUMP TRAILERS. Lots of Options 7x16, 7x14, 7x12, 6x12, 6x10. From $1500 down, with payments as low as $275. Also: Rent to Own no credit check! J Johnson Sales, Inc. Forest City, NC (828) 245-5895
STEEL BUILDINGS. “Large On Site Display”. Concrete Pads, Grading, Plumbing, Electrical. “One Stop Shop For All !” J. Johnson Sales, inc. Forest City, 2690 Hwy. 221 South. (828) 245-5895
HARDWOOD FIREWOOD Seasoned 90% Oak. $70-1/2 ton, $85 delivered, small bundle packs-$3 ea. 312 Helton Rd., Cherryville. 704-4353970.
TWO USED CRUISER BICYCLES $50 for both! 828-7827221.
LOST & FOUND
JEWELRY LOST NEAR HOSPITAL WALGREENS. EMERALD CUT DIAMOND SOLITAIRE WITH BAND, WHITE GOLD, LARGE CARAT ALEXANDRITE 18 KT YELLOW GOLD, WHITE AND YELLOW GOLD EARRINGS. PLEASE LEAVE MESSAGE AT NUMBER BELOW. REWARD. (704) 4194413
DAY SPECIAL. Is it possible to put a price on this love? 2 Female Yorkie puppies. CKC certified, Vet certified. Ready to move to forever home on Feb. 1. $1,000 each or take both for $1,800. (704) 473-7042 RVCOLLINS70@GMAIL.COM 20 SOLID WHITE HOMING PIGEONS. FOR SALE. $250. Lawndale. (704) 472-9481 PUPPIES. AKC REGISTERED AUSTRALIAN SHEPHERD Puppies for sale. Born 11/22/24. (251) 5990124 pod3399@aol.com 2 MALE MALTIPOO. Both less than 1 year old, Champagne & white color, Toy size, wormed, shots, & neutered. $450 each. MaltiPoo Male stud, 1 year old, white color, 6-7 lbs, $600. Also male Lab rescue, neutered, 1 year old. Loves kids, $100. Have a variety of rescues and small dogs for adoption. Please call (no texting) for prices/info. 828391-0919
PETS & LIVESTOCK
DOG KENNELS. 5X10X6, 10x10x4, 10x10x6, 10x20x6. Single Kennel, Double Kennel or Triple Kennel. Dog Houses. Rain Tops Available. “Pickup or Delivery Available.” J. Johnson Sales, Forest City, (828) 245-5895
DOBERMAN PUPPY 11
MONTHS OLD. Black/tan, neutered male, up on all vaccinations. Needs working with. Weighs 66 lbs. $1000.00 (252) 975-7442
GENTLE RIDING HORSE. 22 years old. Needs a good home. Great with kids. Owner passed. $900 negotiable. (828) 447-8498
CHIHUAHUA PUPPIES NEED FOREVER HOMES. 6 beautiful puppies. No papers. Have been dewormed. $150 ea. Please TEXT me at the number shown if Interested. (704) 860-2647
PETS & LIVESTOCK
FREE TO GOOD HOME. AKC Registered Black Lab. Female. 2 years old. Had 1 litter of pups. Also, Shi Poo, Black male. 1 year old. Free to good home. Call or text 704-6921627.
CARS & TRUCKS
2016 FORD FUSION. 4 CYLINDER. Ecoboost, aluminum wheels, sunroof, 110K miles. $5,500. 828-287-3820. 2014 FORD FOCUS. GOOD CONDITION except needs transmission. $750. Lawndale. (704) 472-9481 2013 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500HD, BLACK. $11,000. 2006 Lexus ES330, black, 200 thousand miles. $5,000. 704-300-9223.
CARS & TRUCKS
2012 FORD F-150 207,000 miles. $11,700, Lariat, 2wd, 4dr Crew Cab, 5.0L V8, 6 spd. Elec Trans, Tow Pkg w Trailer Sway Control, White Ext., Tan Leather Int., Sun Roof, Navigation, AM/FM/Sirius/ CD, Heat n Cool power Front Seats, 1 owner, Entire Maintenance Record, All service at Ford dealer. Call Mike, Shelby, NC. (803) 548-8690
MOTORCYCLES
& ATVS
2007 BLACK HARLEY HERITAGE. Only 14,000 miles. $6,200. Call 828-429-5155, leave message.
REAL ESTATE
CLEVELAND COUNTY
10.46 ACRES Land w/creek. Great opportunity to build homes. Located beside Colony Homes. Utilities on property in Kingstown. $190,000. 704-576-2332 or 754-8160853. RUTHERFORD COUNTY
2/2 RENT TO OWN -OWNERFINANCE!! ANOTHER FABULOUS OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE HOME OWNERSHIP A REALITY!! MOBILE HOME FOR RENT-TO-OWN. NEW ROOF, WINDOWS, PORCH, FLOORS, BASEBOARDS, TUB, SHOWER/SINK/TOILET AND BLINDS! W/D HOOK UPS AVAILABLE. LOT RENT, SEPTIC, AND TRASH INCLUDED!! $7500 DOWN PAYMENT AND $928.52/MO. RUTHERFORDTON, NC 28139 (727) 743-4908 CRAIG@BLUERIDGEMOBILEHOMEPARK.COM
PUBLIC NOTICE
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF CLEVELAND
NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND DEBTORS
Having qualified on 23nd of December, 2024 as Administratrix of the Estate of TIMOTHY LAMONT RUFF (24 E 410), deceased, late of Cleveland County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons, firms, and corporations having claims against said estate to present them to the undersigned, Phyllis Lee Ruff, Administratrix on or before the 8th of April, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, firms, and corporations indebted to said estate to please make immediate payment to the undersigned.
This the 8th day of January, 2025.
Phyllis Lee Ruff, Administratrix Estate of Timothy Lamont Ruff 833 E Main St Shelby, NC 28150
KMH (1/08, 15, 22 & 29/2025)
PUBLIC NOTICE
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF CLEVELAND
IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION
In the Matter of the Estate of: Claude Junior Davis 24 E 641
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Having qualified as Executor of the Estate of Claude Junior Davis of Cleveland County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against the said Estate of Claude Junior Davis to present them to the undersigned by April 8, 2025, or same will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate, please make immediate payment.
This the 8th day of January 2025.
Claude Keith Davis
160 Piney Rd., PO Box 145
Ellenboro, NC 28040
Executor of the Estate of Claude Junior Davis
John V. Schweppe, III
THE SCHWEPPE LAW FIRM, P.A.
Post Office Box 1269 Shelby, North Carolina 28151-1269 (704) 487-7204
KMH (1/8, 1/15, 1/22 & 1/29/2025)
MOBILE HOMES
2003 DYNA FOR SALE. 2BR, 1 BA, special order, 14x56 with 8x12 factory add on. New floors in kitchen, living room, bathroom, hall, $20,000 negotiable. Must be moved. 828-702-2333.
FOR RENT
CLEVELAND COUNTY
APARTMENT FOR RENT 5 RM/2 BR Apartment. Stove/ refrig. Adults only. No pets. 515 W. Sumter, Shelby. $525/ mo. 704-487-9622.
1624-7 SOUTH POST ROAD. Shelby, NC. Camper. Rent $975, Deposit $975. Includes power and water. App Fee $25 per adult. 704-214-4180.
SMALL MOBILE HOME. 2 BR, 1 BA. Electric heat & air, NO PETS. Background check. Near Cleveland Mall. 704477-6355.
2&3 BEDROOM MOBILE
HOMES. Nice and clean, water furnished. Oak Grove Community, Kings Mtn. Call or text, (704) 739-0259
CAMPER LOT AVAILABLE FOR RENT. 1624-9 S Post Rd., Shelby, NC. Lot rent $500 includes up to $125 in utilities & $375 deposit. App fee $25 per adult. 704-2144180
LIONS SENIOR VILLAGE. Has 1 bedroom HUD subsidized apartments for low income seniors. Taking applications now. Age 62 or older. Equal Housing Opportunity. 211 North Morgan Street, Shelby, NC (704) 482-7723 (704) 482-7723 Lions@RPMMANAGED. COM
Having qualified on 30th of December, 2024 as Executrix of the Estate of ROSA LEE ROSS (24 E 946), deceased, late of Cleveland County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons, firms, and corporations having claims against said estate to present them to the undersigned, Tonya Solange Ross, Executrix on or before the 8th of April, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, firms, and corporations indebted to said estate to please make immediate payment to the undersigned.
This the 8th day of January, 2025.
Tonya Solange Ross, Executrix Estate of Rosa Lee Ross 3143 Winged Elm St Gastonia, NC 28056
KMH (1/08, 15, 22 & 29/2025) PUBLIC NOTICE
PUBLIC NOTICE
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF CLEVELAND
IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION
In the Matter of the Estate of: Martha B. Davis 22 E 965
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Having qualified as Executor of the Estate of Martha B. Davis of Cleveland County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against the said Estate of Martha B. Davis to present them to the undersigned by April 8, 2025, or same will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate, please make immediate payment.
This the 8th day of January 2025.
Hayley D. Lowery 1226 New Crest Ln. Shelby, NC 28150
Executor of the Estate of Martha B. Davis
John V. Schweppe, III
THE SCHWEPPE LAW FIRM, P.A.
Post Office Box 1269 Shelby, North Carolina 28151-1269 (704) 487-7204
KMH (1/8, 1/15, 1/22 & 1/29/2025)
HICKORY CREEK APARTMENTS FOR SENIORS. (62 and
PUBLIC NOTICE
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF CLEVELAND IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION BEFORE THE CLERK 24 E 965
In the Matter of the Estate of: DELORES H. TURNER, Deceased. LETTERS OF TESTAMENTARY
The undersigned, having qualified as Executor of the estate of Delores H. Turner, deceased, late of Cleveland County, hereby notifies all persons having claims against this estate to present them to the undersigned on or before the 24th Day of March 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to this estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned.
This the 24th Day of December, 2024.
Thomas B. Hamrick, Jr. 133 Norris Acres Dr. Shelby, NC 28150
KMH (12/24, 1/1, 1/8 & 1/15/2025)
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF CLEVELAND COUNTY IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE
SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION BEFORE THE CLERK FILE NO. 24 E 679
IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF: HENRY WAYNE DAVIS.
Having qualified on October 14, 2024 as Executrix of the Estate of Henry Wayne Davis, deceased, late of Cleveland County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against the Estate of said Henry Wayne Davis to present them, duly verified, to the undersigned, Kimberly Gail Hawk, c/o Nichóle B. Greene, Greene Law Offices, PLLC, 806 North Lafayette Street, Shelby, NC 28150 on or before the 20th day of April, 2025 or same will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate please make immediate payment to the undersigned.
This the 15th day of January 2025.
Kimberly Gail Hawk, Executrix of the Estate c/o Nichóle B. Greene Greene Law Offices, PLLC 806 North Lafayette Street Shelby, NC 28150
KMH (1/15, 1/22, 1/29, 2/5/2025)
CROSSWORD PUZZLE
What
Dear Savvy Senior,
Can my kids inherit my debt after I die?
I have taken on a lot of credit card debt over the past 10 years or so, and I’m worried that my son and daughter will get stuck with it when I die. Indebted Senior
Dear Indebted,
In most cases when a person with debt dies, it’s their estate, not their kids, that is legally responsible. Here’s what you should know.
Debt After Death
When you die, your estate – which consists of the stuff you own while you’re alive (property, investments and cash) – will be responsible for paying your debts. If you don’t have enough cash to pay your debts, your kids will have to sell your assets and pay off your creditors with the proceeds.
Whatever is left over is passed along to your heirs as dictated by the terms of your will, if you have one. If you don’t have a will, the intestacy laws of the state you reside in will determine how your
estate will be distributed.
If, however, you die broke, or there isn’t enough money left over to pay your “unsecured debts” – credit cards, medical bills, personal loans – then your estate is declared insolvent, and your creditors will have to eat the loss.
“Secured debts” – loans attached to an asset such as a house or a car – are a different story. If you have a mortgage or car loan when you die, those monthly payments will need to be made by your estate or heirs, or the lender can seize the property.
There are, however, a couple of exceptions that would make your kids legally responsible for your debt after you pass away. One is if your son and/or daughter is a joint holder on a credit card account that you owe on. And the other is if either one of them co-signed a loan with you.
Spouses Beware If you’re married, these same debt inheritance rules apply to surviving spouses too, unless you live in a community
By JIM MILLER Editor
property state, which includes Arizona, California, Idaho, Louisiana, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Washington and Wisconsin. In these states, any debts that one spouse acquires after the start of a marriage belongs to the other spouse too. Therefore, spouses in community property states are usually responsible for their deceased spouses’ debts.
Protected Assets
If you have any IRAs, 401(k)s, brokerage accounts, life insurance policies or employer-based pension plans, these are assets that creditors usually cannot get access to. That’s because these accounts typically have designated beneficiaries, and the money goes directly to those people without passing through the estate.
Settling the Estate
You should also make your kids aware that if you die with debt, and you have no assets, settling your estate will be fairly simple. Your executor will need to send out letters to your creditors explaining the situation, including a copy of your death certificate, and that will probably
take care of it. But your kids may still have to deal with aggressive debt collectors who try to guilt them into paying.
If you have some assets, but not enough to pay all your debts, your state’s probate court has a distinct list of what bills get priority. The details vary by state, but generally estate administrating fees, funeral expenses, taxes and last illness medical bills get paid first, followed by secured debts
