Kings Mountain couple trip the light fantastic during “Night To Shine”

Feb. 10 event, sponsored by the Tim Tebow Foundation

by MICHAEL E. POWELL

Special to the Herald

F or handsome Chad Gunter, Jr., and his beautiful date, Katie Reese, dancing the night away among friends and family at the Feb. 10, 2023 Tim Tebow

“Night To Shine” event, was a night they will never, ever forget. The event was hosted by Anthony Grove Baptist Church, located in Crouse, N.C.

That said, it’s not every day a guy gets to take his best girl out, twirling her around to tunes meant to make you tap your toes and shake a leg, but Feb. 10, 2023 was that “night of all nights” for the young Kings Mountain couple.

According to Tebow’s web site, “Night to Shine” is a “…complimentary event for people with special needs hosted by local churches around the world. The event is open to anyone living with disabilities, ages 14 and older. Although each event is a little bit different, some activities included are a red-carpet entrance, limousine rides, dancing, karaoke, gifts, a catered dinner, a Respite Room for parents and caregivers, a crowning ceremony where every honored guest will receive a crown or tiara, and more – Night to Shine is a celebration of God’s love for YOU, our Kings and Queens!”

Chad’s father, Chad Gunter, Sr. said his son is 23, and his girlfriend Katie See NIGHT, Page 4

ABC Board gives $40,000 to city for KMPD

On March 8, City of Kings Mountain’s ABC Board delivered a check to the city in the amount of $40,000, to be used by the City’s Police Department to purchase an unmarked vehicle for use by the Investigation Division.

“The ABC Board, in addition to its State-mandated distributions for alcohol education and rehabilitation, along with law enforcement relating to alcohol; distributes any remaining surplus funds deemed to be profits to the City of Kings Mountain. This however occurs after all expenses, including the maintenance of a significant fund pool of retained earnings for capital replacement or new construction,” City Manager Jim Palenick shared with city council and the Herald.

“This $40,000 came before retained earnings and not as part of what would be expected as the normal yearly return of profits, but rather somewhat, over and above.

As such, our gratitude goes out to the ABC Board for its assistance to Chief Childress and the Police Department for what would have otherwise had to have been budgeted for in the City’s 2023-24 General Fund.”

Gladys Runell Etters

GROVER, NC – Gladys Runell Etters, 92, of Grover, NC, went to her Heavenly reward on March 12, 2023 at White Oak Manor in Shelby, NC. She was born in Gaston County, NC, daughter of the late A.D. and Eula Mae Crain Cochran and was preceded in death by her loving husband, Ernest Etters; her brothers, Charles Cochran, Paul Cochran, Lester Cochran, Lemuel Cochran,

Max Cochran Sr., and Roy Cochran and her sisters, Ruby Cochran and Frances Pruett.

Runell was a longtime, faithful member of Antioch Baptist Church where she took great joy in spending time with the youth. She was a devoted homemaker and wife to Ernest and a dedicated daughter-in-law and caregiver for both her fatherin-law and mother-in-law.

Always keeping her hands and mind active, Runell enjoyed creating beautiful potholders and place mats for her family and friends also working crossword and word search puzzles. Through life’s ups and downs, Runell was always the happiest when she could take a few moments to sit and talk with the people she cared about. She always took pride in her home and worked diligently to keep a tidy home and lawn.

Runell was a wonderful daughter, wife, sister, aunt ter of Sarah Runyans and the late Douglas Runyans. She was a loving wife of 40 years, mother and was known to her grandkids as “Mawmaw JoJo”.

In addition to her father, she is proceeded in death by her brother, Tony Runyans; sister in-laws, Patricia Passmoore and Same Mote; and brother in-law, Keith Bingham.

■ POLICE

and friend to many. She will be dearly missed by her loved ones and friends. She is survived by her sister, Shirley Owen of Zephyrhills, FL; sister-in-law, Maxine Cochran, Shelby, NC and many loving nieces and nephews ter and wife Sarah; sisters, Jane Bingham of Gastonia; Susie Hawkins and husband Willie and Glenda Bowne; grandchildren, Austin, Eric, Hannah, Taylor, Christian, Logan, Chandler, Hailey, Kayla, Madison, and Chloe; great-grandchild, Sylvia; and brother in-laws, Ronnie Green and Adam Green.

Funeral service will be held on Wednesday, March 15, 2023 at 11:00 AM in the Ollie Harris Memorial Chapel with Brenda Wellmon leading the service Visitation will be held on Wednesday, March 15, 2023 from 10:00 AM to 10:50 AM prior to the service in the parlor of Harris Funeral Home . Interment will be held in Antioch Baptist Church Cemetery, Blacksburg, South Carolina. Guest register is available at: www.harrisfunerals. com. Harris Funeral Home and Cremation Services , Kings Mountain, NC is in charge of arrangements.

ARRESTS

MARCH 7: Tim Teontay Cash, 34. Charlotte, Failure to appear speeding; failure to appear driving while license revoked; failure to appear seat belt violation, cited for expired tag and revoked license.

MARCH 8: Justin Wade Bolin, 38, 117 Green Meadows Drive, failure to appear, worthless check, $445 bond.

INCIDENTS

MARCH 1: A resident of Kings Row Drive reported front door damage at residence.

MARCH 2: Patriot Jacks Outfitters, 832 E. King Street, reported larceny of clothing items valued at $345.73

MARCH 3: Grandpa’s Store, 903 Bethlehem Road, reported damage to a propane tank valued at $4,000.

MARCH 5: POP Homes, Phenix Street, reported damage to insulation on a residence.

MARCH 6: A resident of Redwood Circle reported identity theft.

MARCH 8: A resident of Kings Oak Circle reported damage to a metal exterior door frame.

WRECKS

Cleveland Avenue when Rivas went over the median into oncoming traffic.

Property damage was estimated at $6,000.

MARCH 7: Officer Bullins aid Melissa Denise Phillips, 818 Brooklee Drive, operating a 2023

Kia, pulled out in front of a 2001 Ford operated by Jason Lee Hamrick, Cherryville, on US 74 Business.

Property damage was estimated at $2,050.

MARCH 8: Officer

Childers said Stephan Spikes, Shelby, operating a 2007 Toyota on Harmon Court, swerved his vehicle and hit a 2004 Honda operated by Bryant Paysour, 115 Branchwood Circle. Property damage was estimated at $2,000.

CITATIONS ble, 29, Grover, failure to make a left turn from the designated lane for such turn, failure to drive on the right half of the road.

MARCH 1: James Nicholas Braun, 28, Lenoir, fictitious tag, no registration, revoked driver’s license.

MARCH 1: Latoya Sharmaine Allen, 39, Mooresboro, expired tag.

MARCH 1: Donald lee Galloway Jr., 51, Cherryville, revoked driver’s license.

MARCH 2: Tyler Lee Harris, 36, 149 Crown Court, expired tag, no vehicle inspection.

MARCH 3: Kimberly Gail Perkins, 38, 108 Cash Road, revoked driver’s license.

MARCH 4: Jallien Parker, 22, Shelby, no liability insurance.

MARCH 4: Kevin Michael Deshaun Jackson, 23, Bessemer City, speeding.

MARCH 4: Christopher Dwane Kimble, 21, 609 Sterling Dive, no vehicle registration, no inspection.

MARCH 4: Dominique Sheiquire Bostic, 30, 308 El Bethel Road, speeding, expired tag.

MARCH 5: Zachary Travis Miller, 24, Anderson, SC, speeding.

MARCH 5: Jonathan Terry Reid Farris, 26, 119 Mountainside Drive, littering.

MARCH 8: Stephen Russell Jamerson, 78, 123 Galilee Church Road, stop lamp violation, revoked driver’s license.

KINGS MOUNTAIN

–Joann Green, 62, died Saturday, March 11, 2023 at Atrium Health Cleveland.

A native of Cleveland County, she is the daugh-

In addition to her mother, she is survived by her loving husband of 40 years, Larry Green of the home; sons, Jeffrey Green and wife Natalie of Blacksburg, SC; Kevin Green and wife Amy and Ray Ledbet-

According to Gaston County Police, this suspect who stole a gold twisted rope chain and a Jesus charm from the Banter by Piercing Pagoda located inside the Eastridge Mall.

The suspect asked an employee to look at the rope chain and charm and while the employee was showing the suspect the jewelry, he snatched the chain and charm and fled.

If you have any information about this suspect, please call Crime Stoppers of Gaston County at 704-8618000. You may be eligible for a cash reward and callers may remain anonymous

The family will receive friends 5:00-7:00 P.M. Wednesday, March 15, 2023 at Clay-Barnette Funeral Home in Kings Mountain.

Funeral services are entrusted to Clay-Barnette Funeral Home & Aquamation in Kings Mountainwww. claybarnette.com

MARCH 6: Officer Medlin said a 2021 Nissan operated by Lucifer Rivas, Bessemer City, struck a 2016 Peterbilt operated by Donald Jenkins, 1130 Rollingbrook Court. The accident happened on

MARCH 2: Charles Carr, Bessemer City, revoked driver’s license.

MARCH 2: Donquavius Avernon Cervetius Boyd, 28, Gastonia, expired tag, no vehicle inspection.

MARCH 3: Corey Kim-

MARCH 8: Katie Nicole Arndt, 26, 239 Jim Patterson Road, speeding.

MARCH 8: Marie Courtney Brooks, 27, Shelby, speeding.

Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office releases February statistics

By Loretta Cozart

Cleveland County Sher- iff’s Office released their February statistics. During the month, there were 7,913 calls for service, 116 arrests, 1,085 papers served including 277 criminal, 533 civil, and 275 subpoenas.

One hundred forty-two incident reports were handled: 111 were criminal and 31 were non-criminal. Two-hundred seventy-eight-gun permits were issued, along with 316 concealed carry permits.

Narcotics seized were 13,790.0 DU pills, Cocaine 1.5 g, Marijuana 117.7 g, Meth 165.5 g, and Heroin 2.5g. The monthly average of inmates handled by the sheriff’s office were 240 males and 48 females.

On Sunday March 12, at 4:26 p.m., Lowell Police Department, along with the Gaston County Police Department and Gaston County Sheriff’s Office, responded to 307 South Church Street in Lowell in reference to a shooting.

Upon arrival, responding officers located a male deceased from an apparent gunshot wound. Officers detained several individuals in the residence, including the suspect. All individuals were transported to the Gaston County Police Department as part of the investigation.

The victim was identified as Michael Antoine Drayton Jr, B/M, 21. The suspect was identified as Samuel Colt Usery, W/M, 29. Both the victim and suspect resided at 307 South Church Street in Lowell.

The Lowell Police Department and the Gaston County Police Department worked with the Gaston

County District Attorney’s Office throughout the investigation. Mr. Usery was charged with second degree murder. He is currently in the Gaston County Jail on a hold awaiting his first appearance in court.

This is an on-going investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact Lowell Sergeant R. Hoffman at 704-824-8540, Gaston County Police Detective H. Lloyd at 704866-3320 or Crimestoppers at 704-861-8000. There is no further information available currently.