KM Herald 4-24-24

Tea and biscuits at the W.A. Mauney House May 4

• Bring your EBT/SNAP

See MARKET, Page 5A

Beauty and The Beast at Joy Theater

By Loretta Cozart

Following his mother’s footsteps, Scott Neisler is opening W.A. Mauney’s first home at 104 N. Battleground Avenue for tea and biscuits on Saturday, May 4, at 9 a.m. to celebrate the city’s 150th birthday. Every 45 minutes, citizens can reserve seats to enjoy the better part of an hour in W.A. Mauney’s original home in Kings Mountain. Tickets are $20 each. A total of 48 tickets will be available.

According to a Herald article written by Lib Stewart on March 29, 2007, in anticipation of opening the Mauney Brothers Store, run by Andrew and his brother Jake (J.S.), the house was built in 1870 at 104 N. Battleground Avenue, and the two front rooms were added in 1873 to turn it into a residence. When the railroad came, their business grew,

and within no time, the brothers built a store at 213 S. Battleground Avenue. Andrew Mauney was Kings Mountain’s first Mayor, and the city was incorporated on February 11, 1874.

According to Bonnie Mauney Summers, Andrew Mauney’s daughter, the family’s original house was a two-story structure. After the Mauney brothers relocated their store downtown, the building was turned facing west. An ell was added in the rear of the original house, making it a four-room dwelling.

In 1877, W.A. Mauney built a new house just north of the original home, which remained his residence until he died in 1929.

The original houses were passed to one of Andrew’s daughters, Virginia Mauney Herndon, and then to her sons, James E. Herndon, Jr., and William Mauney Hern-

opened for visitors in 2002, ensuring that this piece of history remains accessible. There is no parking at the Mauney house, but parking is available in front of a vacant store at the corner of Battleground and King Street.

The

Nation’s nonprofit charitable foundation has begun work to determine its initial priorities in funding economic development, education and conservation programs and projects for tribal citizens and the regional community. The Catawba Indian Nation Foundation Inc. was established as part of the Nation’s 2021 Compact with the State of North Carolina. It is funded from proceeds generated by the nation’s Catawba Two Kings Casino, which has operated in a temporary facility in Kings Mountain since July 2021. To date, the foundation has received $2 million from the casino, including the most recent annual $1 million payment on

The City of Kings Mountain, in partnership with Kings Mountain Gateway Trail, hosted the Earth Day Celebration on Saturday, April 20, at 807 South Battleground Avenue. This year marked Earth Day's 54th anniversary.

Community organizations and vendors provided free activities for the whole family on a warm Saturday.

The highlight of the event was the butterfly release at 12:30 p.m.

■ OBITUARIES

Samuel Robert Suber III

KINGS MOUNTAIN, NC – Samuel Robert Suber III, age 76, affectionately known in childhood as “Robby” and later in adult life as “Bob”, passed away on April 18, 2024, the same date his father died 40 years earlier in 1984.

He was born on September 18, 1947, son of the late Samuel Robert Suber, Jr. and Rosalie Polk Suber, and enjoyed a storybook childhood in Kings Mountain that he loved to tell about. He graduated from Kings Mountain High School where he played football as an offensive lineman on the 1963 and 1964 conference championship teams and was the #1 seed on the first men’s tennis team at KMHS. After graduation he attended Lenoir-Rhyne College where he was a member of Theta Chi Fraternity, majoring in Chemistry, then enrolled in graduate school at Clemson University where he earned a Masters in Textile Chemistry. His first job was as General

Manager of Dependable Knits, Inc. and later as coowner of Kings Mountain Knit Fabrics, Inc., both in Kings Mountain. Before retirement he worked as a recruiter of textile executives for companies on the east coast.

He was a faithful member of St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church, serving on Church Council and as property chairman. He was a member of Kiwanis for many years, president of Kings Mountain Country Club, and vice-president of the Kings Mountain Hospital Board.

Bob was a family man, enjoying time with his wife Emily and their two sons, Lindsay and Hunter. He liked the outdoors and took pride in his yard everywhere they lived. He also enjoyed sports, coaching his sons’ teams in their younger years and cheering vociferously for their swim and baseball teams in high school.

As proud Granddaddy he loved attending his granddaughter’s swim meets. He rooted for the KMHS Mountaineer football team every week and the UNC Tar Heels in basketball and football as well as looking forward to regular games of golf with friends at Kings Mountain Country Club. Bob had friends from all walks of life and had a way of finding the good in everybody. His pet peeve was “man’s inhumanity to man,”

help each other along the way.

Bob is survived by his wife of 53 years, Emily Ramsey Suber of the home; sons Robert Lindsay Suber (Beth) of Gastonia and John Hunter Suber of Kings Mountain; cherished granddaughter Eva Caroline Suber of Gastonia; brother Claude Suber (Janet) of Kings Mountain; brotherin-law Dr. David Ramsey, Jr. (Dr. Glynda) of Johnson City, TN; nieces Meredith Ramsey of Cincinnati, OH, Andrea Walker (Jonathan) of Cold Spring, KY, Lauren Martin (Alex) of Charlotte, NC, Caitlyn Adcox (Graham) of Easley, SC, and Bennett Salter (Blair) of McLeansville, NC. The memorial service was held on Monday, April 22, at 11:00 at St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church with the Rev. John Yost, III officiating. The family received friends prior to the service from 9:30 to 10:50 in the church fellowship hall. Burial was private at Mountain Rest Cemetery.

Memorials may be made in Bob’s name to St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church, 201 North Piedmont Avenue, Kings Mountain, NC 28086, or to a charity of the donor’s choice.

Guest register is available at: www.harrisfunerals.com.

On Friday, April 12, the Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Division concluded a month-long investigation of the residence at 2120 S. Lafayette St., Shelby. Brandon Barnette and several associates were the focus of the investigation.

This investigation resulted in the following arrests:

• Brandon Barnette: Two counts of Trafficking in Methamphetamine, Trafficking in Opium or Heroin, and Possession of a Firearm by a Felon. $50,000 Bond.

• Dylan Stone: Felony Maintaining a Dwelling (for sell/delivering controlled substance) and Felony Possession of Schedule II controlled substance. $15,000 Bond.

• Tiffany Jackson: Felony Possession of Schedule II controlled substance. $10,000 Bond.

• Whitney Hall: Multiple Motor Vehicle Violation Warrants, Possession with Intent to Sell/Deliver Methamphetamine, Sell/Deliver Schedule II Controlled Substance, Probation Violations and Child Support Warrants. $16,200 Bond.

Vehicle. $10,000 Bond.

• Alyssa Branch: Possession of Methamphetamine, Felony Possession of Schedule VI, and Controlled Substance, $5,000 Bond. A search warrant served at the residence resulted in the following items seized:

• Approximately 200 grams of Methamphetamine

• Approximately 32 grams of Fentanyl

• 11 dosage units (blue pills, suspected fentanyl)

• 32 grams of Marijuana

• Various drug paraphernalia

• Three handguns and numerous rounds of ammunition

“The Sheriff’s Office will continue to make drug investigations a high priority,” Sheriff Alan Norman said. “Statistics have shown for years that drug use leads to other crimes, in particular breaking and entering and larcenies, where users have to steal to fund their habit.”

“The violence associated with drug dealing is also a huge concern of mine, and those dealers who possess guns during drug transactions will be a very high priority.”

Harris Funeral Home , Kings Mountain, NC is in

• Allaya Hite: Three counts of Trafficking Methamphetamine, Trafficking in Opium or Heroin, and Possession of a Firearm by a Felon. $250,000 Bond.

• Jason Butler: Warrant for Possession of Stolen Motor

• Armored plate carrier vest

• Approximately 1,700.00 Cash.

• Estimated value of narcotics seized at residence: 5,800.00.

■ POLICE

ARRESTS

APRIL 11: Egner Jose Delion. 26. Winston-Salem, resisting arrest; all other liquor violations, misdemeanors, no bond.

APRIL 12: Jason Matthew Greene, 45, Grover, impeding flow of traffic, $2,500 secured bond.

APRIL 12: Michael Lee Garrett, 42, 314 Clinton Drive, driving while license revoked, $4,000 secured bond.

APRIL 13: James Thomas Eaton, 51, 803 W. King Street, DWI, $2,500 secured bond.

APRIL 13: Christopher Ledford, 30, 142 Murfield Road, possession, stolen goods, misdemeanor, $1,000 secured bond.

APRIL 13: Jessica Nicole Rhea, 39, Dallas, trespassing, $ 2,500 secured bond.

APRIL 14: James Adams, 44, Gastonia, intoxicated and disruptive, no bond.

APRIL 16: Brandon Lee Smarr. 38, 117 Cameron Oaks Circle, domestic violence, simple assault, communicating threats, no bond.

“The Sheriff’s Office takes complaints of drug sales very seriously,” Norman said and requested that anyone with information on drug dealers in their neighborhood contact the Vice/Narcotics Division at 704-484-4831.

APRIL 11 A resident of Northwoods Drive reported a break-in and damage to property.

APRIL 11: A resident of Stroupe Street reported damage to vehicles.

APRIL 12: A resident

APRIL 17: Charles David Ruff, 52, 112 Bessie Drive, larceny. $1,000 unsecured bond. INCIDENTS

April 18

Nearly 50 business leaders attended, including City Manager Jim Palenick and councilmembers Jay Rhodes, Annie Thombs, and David Allen. The event also drew community partners and interested citizens who wished to learn more about KM Forward’s mission and network with other businesses.

President David Stone welcomed everyone and shared the organization’s mission, “Kings Mountain Forward's Mission is to build a community of citizens and business leaders who advocate for Kings Mountain as a place to live, work, play, shop, explore, and invest, promoting the economic, social, and cultural environment across the city.”

Director Loretta Cozart thanked everyone for coming to the after-hours, including the sponsor, host, and caterer.

Kings Mountain Little Theater hosted and provided door prizes and 133 West catered. Suzanne Amos assisted Cozart in the door prize drawing at night's end. Winners included Woody Edwards of Ronald’s Garage, Dru Patterson of Yates Construction / metcon, Dr. Jennifer Hickman of Allign Chiropractic, and Tim Miller of Bridges Hardware. KM Forward’s next after-hours will be the third Thursday of the month, May 16.

BOXES

From Page 1A move forward. Stella Putnam shared that this was a project both Mary and Marylyn Neisler would have supported, so she donated in their memory.” Loretta shared.

Dee contacted Jason Butler of Butler's Outdoor Design, LLC, who cleaned the flower beds last Thursday. Foothills Historic Conservation provided the wood for the raised bed and the dirt to fill it.

Nine students from Kings Mountain High School’s Future Farmers of America, FFA, helped build the planter to be added to the lower bed. This box will eventually showcase Kings Mountain Daylilies, which will be planted later this year. Saturday, students worked hard for two hours, putting dirt in the raised planter and placing flowers throughout the beds. Teachers Nate Blanton and Sarah Robbins supervised.

Two planters at the front door to the post office have been replanted with beautiful plants and flowers. The center planter was cleaned out, except for the Rosemary, which was thinned. Pollinator plants and herbs were added to draw pollinators to the site.

Students placed the raised planter and filled it with dirt. “We got started at 9 a.m. and finished just after 11 a.m. These students were hard workers, staying on task and getting the job done,” Loretta said. “At the post office, Sandra ‘Bebe’ Hamrick was instrumental, supplying water for the flowers, hauling planter waste away, and using her backpack blower to clean the sidewalks.” Regarding the work, Bebe added, “I would have never gotten so much done on my own. I am grateful to the students who worked hard to beautify the Post Office today.” “All that remains on the project is mulch for the flowers and the project

will be finished. If anyone is inclined to help with that, please let us know. This project was a wonderful collaboration for a beautiful gift to the entire community. Many people use the Post Office daily. We hope the flowers add some sunshine to everyone’s day,” Cozart said.

If you have questions regarding the project or Kings Mountain Forward, contact Loretta Cozart at 704-6928863.

as a member-at-large. Porter is the director of community engagement at Cleveland County Community College.

offices in Rock Hill (see photo below).

“Catawba are continuing to move forward with not only our plans for a full casino resort in Kings Mountain but also to begin using proceeds from the casino for our foundation to have a large positive impact on the quality of life for our members and the larger community,” Catawba Nation Chief Brian Harris said.

• John Searby of Belmont as a member-at-large. Searby serves as the CEO of the partnership between Catawba Riverkeeper and Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden and is the executive director of both organizations.

• Phillip W. Glover of Shelby as a member-at-large. Glover is a retired state trooper with the North Carolina State Highway Patrol and is the owner and operator of Safe Lane Driving School LLC. Glover served for 17 years on the Cleveland County Board of Education.

• Nicole Braswell of Gastonia as an enrolled citizen of the Catawba Nation. Braswell is a service parts manager for the Husqvarna Group

•

“I want to thank Governor Cooper for his continued stewardship and collaboration on the vital relationship between the State of North Carolina and the Catawba Nation. We have assembled a dedicated group of people from the community and tribal members to guide this foundation and are getting to work,” Harris said.

Gov. Cooper’s appointees to the Catawba Indian Nation Foundation Board of Directors are:

• J. Newton Craver II of Shelby as a member-at-large. Craver co-founded Legion Brewing Company in Charlotte in 2014, where he remains involved as a principal investor. Craver is also president of Shelby Loan & Mortgage Corporation, a real estate investment firm he manages in Shelby.

• Deb Hardin of Shelby as the county commissioner from Cleveland County. Hardin has served on the Cleveland County Commission for the

•

Members of the Catawba Indian Nation Foundation Board of Directors on March

met at the nation’s offices in Rock Hill, S.C. Picture from left to right are Nicole Braswell, Lacey Edwards, Omar A. Porter, Jennifer Beck Walker, John Searby, Brooke Richey, Phillip W. Glover, Assistant Chief Patricia Leach, Chief Brian Harris, J. Newton Craver II and Harvey Godwin

Sandie Dee and Nate Blanton work on reinstalling the sign. (Photos by Loretta Cozart)

The lower flower bed was empty of plants when the project kicked off Saturday morning.

These two students add flowers to the raised bed.

Teacher Sarah Robbins sports a KMHS FFA t-shirt.

Jesus and the Lost Coin

15: 1132—a story of two sons and a seeking Father. One son stayed home, and one left in blatant rebellion. In desperation, this rebellious son hits rock bottom and turns from his rebellion to come home. He thinks he will be better off at home even if his Father treats him as an enslaved person. Yet, on his way home, he sees

his father running towards him. He had been rehearsing what he would say on his long journey home but barely got it out before he was embraced, kissed, and showered with his father’s robe, ring, and sandals for his feet. But his father isn’t done. He brings his son home and throws a celebration.

At this celebration, we get reintroduced to another son who stayed home, seemingly obeying the rules of the house, but oh, the attitude we see in this other son! He is jealous, angry, and entitled. However, true to the Father’s character, the father goes to him, encouraging him to join the celebration of his lost brother, and now, if found,

he would not. This story ends abruptly, leaving the hearers to wonder what happened next. Let us consider that this story is finished at the cross where the religious elite, the son who stayed home, rose and killed the Father! So, what can we learn from this parable? Ultimately, this is a parable about our Lord Jesus Christ and how he seeks to save those who are lost and wandering. Is that you today? Remember that robe the father brought to his repentant son? This robe is a covering of righteousness provided to those who repent and place their faith in Jesus alone. How about that ring he gave to his returning son? The ring was authority given to him by the

Father. Like the robe, the ring belonged to the Father, and the Father gives. Finally, the Lord promises all those who turn to Him through Jesus Christ the sandals of sonship. This sonship pulls us in closer than the son ever expected. The Lord pursues the lost and broken, not to enslave them but to adopt them as sons and daughters, sitting us at his table and giving us the gift of his unending presence now and forever! The invitation and call is to repent of your sin and return to a Father who will hold you fast! Will you come home?

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

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

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

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

Penley’s Chapel

1508 N. Piedmont Ave., Kings Mountain, NC

262 Sparrow Springs Road 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

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

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

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

Life of Worship Ministries 405 S. Cherokee St. 704-777-2927

King’s City Church 1128 York Road

Lighthouse

Two upcoming KMHS FFA events

By Loretta Cozart Kings Mountain

High

School’s

Museum begins the process of cupola restoration

By Loretta Cozart

Along with the banquet, the FFA will hold a silent auction, and businesses are encouraged to donate.

On May 17, at 5 p.m., the FFA will hold its Annual Banquet at Kings Mountain High School. Linwoods is catering the event, and all FFA students eat for free. Everyone else is $15.

Future Farmers of America, FFA, announces its Plant Sale on May 4, from 9 a.m. until (they decide they have sold enough). FFA teacher Nate Blanton shared they have ferns, houseplants, hanging baskets, vegetables, and succulents.

Piedmont

By Loretta Cozart

nounced on April 15 that the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s (“NCDEQ”) Division of Energy, Mineral, and Land Resources (“DEMLR”) has issued approval of its mining permit for the construction, operation, and reclamation of the proposed Carolina Lithium project in Gaston County. DEMLR provided the permit approval following a thorough review of the application submitted by Piedmont on August 30, 2021.

“This is an exciting day for all of us at Piedmont Lithium. I would like to thank the leadership and staff at NCDEQ and DEMLR for their diligence in the process, as well as the members of our team who worked rigorously for more than two and a half years to ensure that every aspect of the project met the state’s high standards for approval,” said Piedmont Lithium President and CEO Keith Phillips. “We plan to develop Carolina Lithium as one of the lowest-cost, most sustainable lithium hydroxide operations in the world and as a critical part of the Amer-

ican electric vehicle supply chain.”

The project is expected to contribute billions of dollars of economic output and several hundred jobs to Gaston County and North Carolina’s growing electrification economy.

“Carolina Lithium is a highly strategic project,” continued Phillips. “Located within both the renowned Carolina Tin Spodumene Belt and the U.S. Battery Belt, the project is being designed as a fully integrated mining, spodumene concentrate, and lithium hydroxide manufacturing operation. There are currently no such integrated sites operating anywhere in the world, and the economic and environmental advantages of this strategy are compelling.”

“Technical studies have demonstrated that Carolina Lithium could be a lowcost producer of spodumene concentrate and lithium hydroxide, benefitting from exceptional infrastructure, minimal transportation distances, low energy costs, a deep local talent pool, and proximity to cathode and battery customers as well as local markets for the monetization of by-product industrial minerals.” The competitive corporate tax regime offered in the United States, the absence of significant royalties, and

All funds raised for both events support KMHS FFA and go directly back into their program. For further information, contact Nate Blanton or Sarah Robbins at KMHS at 704476-8330.

the benefits of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 provide further advantages. “After-tax returns are what matter, and we are not aware of any jurisdiction that better combines the benefits of significant spodumene resources, deep customer markets, and low royalty and income tax rates,” Phillips continued.

“The North Carolina mining permit approval is the precursor for the county rezoning process, and we look forward to continued engagement with the local community and the Gaston County Board of Commissioners. Construction would commence following receipt of all required permits, rezoning approvals, and project financing activities. We have had extensive and ongoing dialogue with possible funding sources for Carolina Lithium, including the U.S. Department of Energy’s Loan Programs Office and strategic parties who could provide some combination of capital, offtake, and technical support,” said Phillips. “We have been encouraged by those discussions and will endeavor to put a strong funding plan in place to maximize value for Piedmont shareholders. Albemarle Corp., based in Charlotte, is also in the approval process to reopen a lithium mine in Kings Mountain.

Last Saturday, Baker Roofing’s Raleigh Division visited Kings Mountain Historical Museum to assess the cupola on the building, the town’s

Susan Canipe, piano accompanist, along with organ and string musicians, will add to the beauty of this event. Selections include "Glorious Everlasting" by Cousins, "Ubi Caritas" by Forrest, and "Daniel, Daniel, Servant of the Lord" by Moore. The second half of the concert features Broadway favorites such as "For Good" from Wicked, "Till There Was You" from The Music Man, and many more.

we have life insurance. because, well, you can’t predict the future. simple human sense

CCCS is sponsored, in part, by a grassroots grant from the North Carolina Arts Council and generous patrons and supporters. Concerts are on Saturday, May 4, at 7:00 p.m., and Sunday, May 5, at 3:00 p.m. at Central United Methodist Church, 200 East Marion Street, in Shelby. Admission is $5.

By Loretta Cozart

April 24th

marks the first day of the 2024 North Carolina House and Senate short legislative ses-sion featuring a long list of potential initiatives vying to appear on the docket. Set for debate, increasing private school vouchers is high on outgoing State House Speaker Tim Moore’s agenda. More than 72,000 people applied to the state’s “Opportunity Scholarship” program after lawmakers expanded eligibility to all families regardless of income. Only 13,500 lower-income students received vouchers this year due to demand exceeding the available funding. Moore would like to add $300 million to the program to help others with tuition, saying “There’s a lot of parents who want their kids to be attending either religious or private school. And so I think we ought to be able to step up, but we have the money. The savings reserve has money set aside.” Currently, funding is first offered to families in the “Tier 1” classification with incomes up to $37,814 for a two-person household or somewhat higher for larger families. The available allocation leaves

little or no funding for other families with higher incomes.

Opponents of the voucher program would rather spend the available funds to support public school programs. Governor Roy Cooper posted on Twitter/X, “Republicans are admitting they want hundreds of millions more dollars to help wealthy families attend unregulated private schools while treating public schools as an afterthought. We must end destructive private school vouchers until our public schools are fully funded.” Public teacher salary increases and expansion of childcare funding are also high priorities for many in the House and Senate this session. Childcare facilities anticipate increasing financial stress as federal money associated with previous relief programs is ending. State revenue projections have not yet been revealed. “We’re going to look and see what the num-bers are,” Moore said.

Other potential actions include flood mitigation, water and sewer-related projects, Customs En-forcement (ICE) legislation, medical marijuana, and casinos.

In 2021, the General Assembly appropriated $20 million to the Department of Environmental Quality to implement flood mitigation strategies for the Neuse River basin, but only $1.9 million has been spent. House Majority Leader John Bell explained, “I’ll be making sure

chicken breast

½ tsp. cinnamon TOPPING

3/4 to 1 c. crushed corn flakes

½ c. chopped pecans

½ stick margarine, melted

½ c. brown sugar

(Ed. Note: The recipes in today’s Cooking Corner are from:” Favorite Recipes” of Macedonia Baptist Church.)

SWEET POTATO

CASSEROLE

Edna Harrison

2 cups mashed potatoes

2 eggs

1 cup milk (1/2 c. if canned)

½ tsp. nutmeg

1 ¼ c. sugar

Mix potato ingredients together and bake in oven at 350 degrees for 10 minutes.

Topping: Mix and spread over top of casserole and bake at 350 degrees about 20 or 30 minutes.

CHICKEN TORTELLINI

Bridget Glass Martin

1 pkg. spinach or regular cheese tortellini

2 c. diced, cooked

1 large head broccoli

1 stick butter

1 tsp. basil

1 minced garlic clove Cook tortellini per package instructions. Rinse gently with hot water; add to chicken. Steam broccoli until tender, do not overcook. Add to chicken mixture. Melt butter and add basil and garlic. Sauté for 1 minute. Add to chicken mixture. And toss. Serve immediately. The key to this is to not let the Chicken Tortellini and broccoli get cool. I suggest you keep any item already cooked, covered in the oven at 200 Degrees.

that funding is appro-priately spent and if there are any types of bureaucratic red tape or any type of regulations that need to be handled to move that forward in a very expedited manner.”

With nearly $2 billion already allocated for over 200 individual water and sewer-related projects, implementing these initiatives will be a priority.

The House approved the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) bill in March, which would require all sheriffs to collaborate with ICE. This bill is pending action in the Senate. Presently, six counties in North Carolina abstain from cooperating with ICE in illegal immigrant affairs. According to a 2023 poll conducted by the Carolina Journal, a quarter of likely voters cited immigration as the primary concern when casting their votes in the primary election. Additionally, a study conducted in 2023 by FairUS.org revealed that close to half a million undocumented immigrants reside in North Carolina, costing taxpayers approximately $3.14 billion annually.

Although it did not clear the House last year, the NC Compassionate Care Act that would legalize medical marijuana may reemerge during the short session.

The Assembly may also revisit the option of legalizing casinos in the state, although previous at-tempts have failed.

1967-68 basketball team featured some of the best KMHS athletes in school history

(First in a series of stories on the Kings Mountain Hall of Fame inductees for 2024. The dinner and induction ceremony will be held on Saturday, May 16 at Central Methodist Church). Kings Mountain High’s 1967-68 basketball team will be inducted into the KM Sports Hall of Fame on Saturday night, May 16 at the Central Methodist Church fellowship hall.

The team featured some of the Mountaineers’ alltime great players who are already individual members of the Hall of Fame.

The Mountaineers, led by the likes of George Adams and Otis Cole, won 25 straight games before falling to Kannapolis A.L. Brown in the Western North Carolina Activities Association championship game. Adams is one of the four original inductees into the Hall of Fame and Cole, now deceased, followed a few years later.

Adams was a powerful 6-5 center who was hard for anyone to handle inside and was a powerful rebounder. Cole was smaller, a 6-3 guard, that could get points from anywhere on the court

and could also battle hard on the boards.

They were joined by many teammates who were good in their own right including Ken Mitchem, Charlie Barnes, Nelson Connor, Darrell Whetstine, Gene Putnam, Phil Francis, Bert Smith, Bobby Etheridge and others. Adams went on to become the all-time leading scorer and rebounder at Gardner-Webb University.

Cole went on to help the Florida State Seminoles make it to the NCAA championship game against the powerful Lew Alcindor-led UCLA Bruins.

The team had very few close games in the Southwestern 3A Conference. Their toughest foes were Crest, that had a future superstar of its own in David Thompson, and South Point which was hard to beat in Belmont. The Mountaineers’ final game loss probably shocked basketball people all over the state, but on that night the Wonders had everything going their way. Their big weapon was Dan Dayvault, who was a strong scorer and rebounder

inside, but the Wonders’ guard Vernon Long probably surprised the Mountaineers and the state with his excellent play in the backcourt that night.

In fact, a Kannapolis-area newspaper tagged it the “game of the century.” Over 3,500 fans packed the Wonders’ gym. After the game, many Kannapolis fans said it was “the best game” Kannapolis had ever played.

At that time, the WNCHSAA was a 39-team asso-

ciation which was broken into four conferences – the Northwestern, Southwestern, South Piedmont and North Piedmont. Kannapolis was the third place team in its conference but rallied for wins over some powerful teams to get to the championship game. Kings Mountain got to the championship game by defeating R-S Central, Lincolnton and Crest to win the SWC.

In the first round of the WNCHSAA championship

Mountaineers host Raiders, Chargers in final home games

Kings Mountain’s Mountaineers defeated Forestview 11-0 Friday night and will host South Point Friday and Crest Tuesday in their final two regular season home games. They will close out the regular season May 3 at Crest. Depending on the final standings they could have some home playoff games.

Wesley Turner and Colton Mayes shared pitching duties. Turner went one inning and fanned one and Mayes hurled four frames and struck out three. Freshman Lawson Kennedy led the hitting with 2-for-2 and two runs batted in. Kandan Zollo was 2-for-3 and scored two runs.

tournament, the Mountaineers defeated a good Hickory team while the Wonders defeated Concord. Bob Hussey’s Mountaineers knew all about Dayvault, who was around 6-3, but some of the other Wonders like Vernon Long who could swish the nets from the outside and corners probably surprised them.

Dayvault hit 12 of 18 shots, with most of them coming from what would be three-pointers today.

Kings Mountain led

most of the game and was up 52-47 with just under six minutes remaining. The Wonders whittled the margin down to 52-51 but Adams responded with a goal to put KM up 56-53.

Dayvault canned a long jumper to make it 56-55 and the Wonders took a 57-56 lead with just under two minutes remaining. The Wonders went into a delay game and the Mountaineers were forced to foul and the Wonders hit their free throws to lock up the win.

Brayden Patrick and Colton Mayes each had a double. Aidan Taylor, Tucker Cash, Jason Melton and KyLei Anderson each had run-scoring hits. The Mountaineers swiped seven bases with Cole, Heavner and Kennedy getting two each and Patick one.

Kings Mountain rolled over Forestview 13-1 in a 4 ½ inning contest last Tuesday night at Lancaster Field.

Kings Mountain went into this week with a 9-1 conference record and 14-5 overall mark. South Point leads the race with a 10-0 conference and 12-4 overall mark.

KMMS Patriots lock up title with 9-0 victory over Shelby

Kings Mountain Middle School’s tennis team extended its record to 8-0 last week with a 9-0 victory over Shelby Middle School.

The Patriots locked up the regular season title and were scheduled to complete the conference season Monday at Burns.

Brayden Patrick went the distance on the mound, giving up just two hits and striking out 10 Jaguars. He also had a big night at the plate with a double, home run and two runs batted in.

Aidan Taylor was 1-for-3 with an RBI and Wesley Turner was 1-for-3.

The Mountaineers scored all the runs they would need with five in the first inning. They tacked on the other eight in the bottom of the fourth and held the Jaguars scoreless in the top of the fifth to end the game on the 10-run rule.

Ky’lei Anderson went 2-for-3 with three RBIs, Colton Mayes was 2-for-3 with one RBI and Luke Heavner was 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBIs.

Spicer’s 72 leads KM in BSC match

Seanna Simon defeated Emerson Lowery 8-3.

Dominic Allen defeated Pierce Conner 8-1.

“The victory and championship have been due to the hard work of all our student-athletes,” said Coach Ed Guy. “They have been dedicated to improving their skills and give a total effort to their team. The students excel on the courts and in the classroom and show good leadership and good behavior. The individual performances by the starting six were excellent.”

Alice Frye defeated Ava Flack 8-0.

Landon Webster defeated Olivia Mauney 8-3.

Camden Morris defeated Ayana Brown 8-0.

Cindy Tipton defeated Holden Carrigan 8-4.

In doubles, Simon and Allen defeated Lowery and Conner 8-1; Frye and Webster defeated Carrigan and McDaniel 8-0, and Morris and Tipton defeated Mauney and Walker 81.

In practice matches, KM got wins from Green and Huffstetler, Hawkins and Boyd and Laney and Laurich.

“Practice matches allow inexperienced players to compete against other school players to develop their skills in competition,” said Coach Guy. “They can learn from their wins as well as their losses.”

KMHS EMT students going to the International HOSA competition

Adam Philips and Turner Brown attend the Emergency Medical Technician program at Kings Mountain High School. This program, which is in its second year at KMHS, is a joint program between the Cleveland County School System and Cleveland County. Shelby High School is in its first year of the program, and Crest High School will begin its program next year. This year, Shelby High School and Kings Mountain High School started a HOSA club to complement the existing Emergency Medical Technician program. The HOSA club is a student-driven club for future health professionals where students can compete against other schools in their discipline. Adam and Turner competed at regionals in September and placed in the top 5 in the Emergency Medical Technician discipline.

Recently,

OTIS COLEGEORGE ADAMS

HOF scholarship winners announced

The Kings Mountain Sports Hall of Fame scholarship committee held its interviews Monday at Kings Mountain High School. The recipients are as follows: Neisler Brothers scholarship – Parker Wilson.

Jake Dixon scholarship –Matthew Rikard. Harris Funeral Home scholarship – Callie Stimpson. Mearl Valentine scholarship – Hunter Cruise.

Dub Blalock scholarship – CJ Houser.

Jerry Adams scholarship

– Malik Littlejohn. City of Kings Mountain scholarship – Anthony Anselmo. Innovative Pools scholarship – Ja’Niya Hunt. Jolly Realty and others scholarships – Jessie Ozmore, Mary Grace Hogue, Melia Myers, Meile Songaila. “This is an exceptional group of focused young men and women who are well deserving student athletes,” said KMHS assistant principal Tandra L. Ramsey.

To further support workforce development programs

Albemarle donates $1M to Cleveland Community College

Albemarle Corporation, a global leader in providing essential elements for mobility, energy, con-nectivity and health, announced a $1 million donation to Cleveland Community College (CCC) for the purchase of equipment, supplies and facility improvements to benefit workforce training pro-grams that CCC is developing to support regional industries and projects, including the proposed redevelopment of the Kings Mountain Mine. The programs are designed to support the growth of businesses and strengthen the pipeline of skilled and diverse workers for the region.

training pro-grams, but it also provides Cleveland Community College with the means to develop new and innovative training programs and apprenticeships that support local and regional businesses. CCC has high-quality, professional instructors eager to deliver training with the proposed new equipment. Albemarle’s commitment to this community, and its community college, is unique and much appreciated.”

The equipment and facility improvements are expected be an integral part of CCC’s Heavy Equipment Operator Program and support apprenticeship programs Albemarle is developing for several electrical and process operations roles. In addition, Albemarle employees are expected to benefit from customized training programs for the mine’s mineral processing facility. These programs allow students and incoming Albemarle employees to learn and train on state-of-the-art equipment and simulators.

“A skilled and capable workforce is one of the most critical ingredients needed as we work to strengthen our U.S. supply chain of lithium,” said Ellen Lenny-Pessagno, Global Vice President of External Affairs and Sustainability.

“We are fortunate to have CCC’s experienced faculty and re-sources right here in the community that can be leveraged to build a pipeline of talent.”

“We are grateful to Albemarle for this significant investment,” said Dr. Jason Hurst, President of Cleveland Community College.

“Not only does it benefit the delivery of workforce

The donation builds upon $5 million of announced funding to CCC as a subrecipient of the U.S. Department of Energy’s $150 million grant to the Kings Mountain Mine project. The overall grant is anticipated to support part of the construction cost for the mine’s mineral processing facility and CCC’s portion of the grant is expected to fund the development of a customized operator training program for the planned facility.

The Kings Mountain site is one of the few known hard-rock lithium deposits in the U.S. Currently, Albemarle is preparing permits for submittal to regulatory agencies and undergoing studies and social impact assessments to determine the feasibility of reopening the mine. Albemarle expects the proposed mine and mineral processing facility to require a workforce of more than 1,000 construction jobs and an additional 300 full-time, skilled roles. The current Kings Mountain site has more than 300 employees.

Since 2016, Albemarle has committed over $1 million to community initiatives in the region, with a focus on health, social services, educational, and cultural initiatives intended to strengthen Kings Mountain and surrounding communities.

North Elementary artwork at Cleveland County Arts Council

By Loretta Cozart

The Cleveland County Arts Council is hosting a unique Student Art Competition and Exhibit, a showcase of creativity that commenced on Thursday, April 11, and continues until May 4.

Don't miss the oppor-

Kinsley Husky, a third grader at North Elementary School, visited CCAC to see her artwork on display. Photo by Elizabeth Harlow

Kinsley’s artwork, along with other works done at North El- North Elementary students created beautiful artwork for the annual art exhibition.

Scenes from KM’s citywide clean-up

By Loretta Cozart

Due to rainy weather

last week, the City of Kings Mountain moved its community clean-up day to Friday, April 19. KMPD, KMFD, Special Events, and Public Works members came out to pick up trash

along roads across Kings Mountain. Cameron Allison from Kings Mountain Family YMCA joined to round out the group. The weather was warm and humid, but it didn’t slow them down. See the photos and see what good work these folks did to beautify Kings Mountain.

10th Annual plant sale May 11

By Loretta Cozart

The Master Gardener Association of Cleveland County announces its 10th Annual Extension Master Gardner Plant Sale on Saturday, May 11, from 8 to 11 a.m. at the Cooperative Extension Auditorium at 130 S. Post Road in Shelby. EMG volunteers have been propagating and potting plants for months to ensure a wide selection of perennials, herbs, annuals, and interesting house plants. The first 100 customers will receive free seed packets, so shop early! The sale is open to the public, and cash, debit, and credit cards are accepted. The event will be held rain or shine.

New NC sports betting hits $659 Million in first month

By Loretta Cozart

Legalized sports betting statewide saw significant activity during its inaugural month. In March, North Carolinians placed bets totaling $659,308,541 and won $590,750,303. These wagers en-compassed various sporting events and contributed to a total paid wagering revenue of $456,702,632, with additional revenue from promotional bets amounting to $202,605,909, as re-ported by the N.C. State Lottery Commission.

Sports betting became legal at noon on March 11, so these figures represent only a portion of the month’s activity. To place an online sports bet in North Carolina, individuals must be at least 21 years old and physically located within the state’s borders.

The absence of legalized sports betting in neighboring South Carolina and Georgia has provided North Carolina with increased revenue opportunities.

Experts anticipate fluctuations in online betting activity depending on the season. The inaugural month saw heightened participation due to annual college basketball tournaments and special introductory promotions, stimulating initial trial activity. However, promotional betting funds offered by the state’s seven approved sportsbooks are expected to diminish as online betting becomes more established. Nonetheless, the legislature’s Fiscal Research Division projects first-year expenditures of $3.9 billion, with other industry experts forecasting even more significant revenue potential. North Carolina levies

an 18% tax on the gross wagering revenue, calculated before any deductions are made. In March, the gross wagering revenue amounted to $66,496,213. According to projections from the state’s Fiscal Research Division, sports betting is expected to yield a net financial impact of $53 million to $72 million annually over the next four years.

Revenue generated from taxes, licenses, and fees will be distributed as follows:

• $2 million allocated for gambling education and treatment programs

• $1 million designated for youth sports statewide

• $300,000 earmarked for each of the athletics departments at 13 universities, including UNC Charlotte

• $1 million dedicated to covering amateur sports team travel expenses and recruiting amateur sports events

• Reimbursements to the state revenue department and the lottery commission for costs associated with administering sports betting

• Any remaining revenue to be divided among the aforementioned 13 universities (20%), the newly established major events recruiting fund (30%), and the state’s general fund (50%).

Individuals who profit from sports betting at the end of the year will be subject to state taxes on their winnings. North Carolina imposes a flat rate of 5.25% on individual sports betting profits. Additionally, winners will be responsible for federal income tax based on their respective tax brackets.

Upcoming events at the Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC) in nearby Mill Spring, NC, include Spring and Summer national dressage competitions, interscholastic events, and a major national championship.

The Tryon Spring Dressage 1 – National was held on April 19 – 21 serves as the first of six dates on the calendar in 2024. A dressage horse show is an equestrian event showcasing the art of Dressage, a forum demonstrating skill and training. These competitions offer a captivating display of harmony, precision, and artistry between horse and rider, where they perform intricate movements and routines for spectators, often including a musical interpretation round. The Tryon Spring Dressage 2 –National will be held May 4 -5. Tryon Summer Dressage 1 and 2 returns on June 13 – 16. Attendance at each event is free.

in classes such as over fences, reining, and horsemanship. The venue has grown considerably since hosting its first horse show in July 2014. Known for its equestrian activities and frequent music events, the Tryon International Equestrian Center is a world-class lifestyle destination offering entertainment, hospitality, and diverse sports. The facility is a popular destination located at 25 International Blvd. in Mill Spring, NC, along the rolling foothills

Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association (IHSA) presents the National Championship competition in Tryon International's indoor complex on May 3-5. The IHSA National Championship is a prestigious equestrian event that brings together talented college riders across the United States. Riders qualify for Nationals through a point system.

The Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA) will host the 2024 Intercollegiate Dressage Association (IDA) National Championships alongside their own IEA Hunt Seat and Dressage National Finals on April 25-28, at the Tryon International Equestrian Center. In its 5th official year as an IEA discipline, the fast-growing IEA Dressage program has collaborated with IDA as a Member Partner for several years. This newly expanded partnership will be the first time IEA and IDA will hold their respective National horse shows together to promote Dressage as an equestrian sport and collegiate riding opportunities for young riders.

Throughout the year, contestants accumulate points at IHSA local shows. The top two riders in each class at the Regional Finals move forward to the Zone Finals. The journey to Nationals is arduous, involving hundreds of regular-season shows, 39 Regional Championships, eight Hunter Seat Zone Finals, and three Semi-Finals for Western riders. The event is known for its competitors' skills, displays of emotion, and team camaraderie. It features Hunter Seat and Western challenging disciplines, with riders competing

City of KM employees, aided by YMCA volunteer Cameron Allison, gathered at Patriot’s Park at 8 a.m. on Friday, to begin four hours of trash pickup across the city. Photos by City of KM

Crews return with bags of trash.

By the end of the day, the pile had grown to include a sofa and loveset.

“Can You Hear Me” phone scam warning

The “Can you hear me?” scam has been targeting consumers for quite some time. The Better Business Bureau (BBB) continues to receive reports to BBB Scam Tracker about these calls. Usually, the caller will hang up immediately after you respond to the question, “Can you hear me?” However, some consumers say the calls can also be about banking, vacation packages, warranties, and even Medicare cards. The callers may be impersonating a business like your bank or another financial institution, a government agency, an insurance company, or others.

So far, BBB has no reports in Scam Tracker that mention monetary loss, and BBB is unsure if any victims have reported any losses to the FTC or another entity. However, it’s unclear how the scams will play out over time or if the targets will be victimized later.

How the scam works: You get a call from someone who almost immediately asks, “Can you hear me?”

Their goal is to get you to answer “Yes,” which most people would do instinctively in that situation. There may be some fumbling around; the person may even say something like, “I’m having trouble with my headset,” or “I’ll call you right back.” But in fact, the “person” may be a robocall recording your conversation, and that “Yes” answer you gave could later be edited to make it sound like you authorized a major purchase.

Your “Yes” could also confirm to the scammer that the phone number they dialed is real, enabling future targeting of phone call scams. The FCC previously issued a unanimous ruling making AI-generated voices in robocalls illegal, but current enforcement is uncertain. In other variations of the scam, the caller may say, “Is this [your name]?” or some other question where the answer will be “Yes.” The caller may not hang up right away either and may continue the conversation to attempt to steal your personal

information or record more of your voice.

Here are some recent examples from BBB Scam Tracker:

• “They called and said hello, hello? Then, they asked if I could hear them. I assumed they wanted me to say yes, but instead, I said, “Mhmm,” and they immediately hung up. I immediately tried calling the number back and got an error message saying the number had been disconnected.”

• “The caller asked, ‘Can you hear me?’ Then he represented himself as a representative of [company name redacted] and asked for personal finance information.”

• “A man called and immediately said, “Can you hear me?” And then told me that my identity was stolen and used for a crime in San Antonio, TX. He said that someone was laundering money using my name. I then hung up the phone.”

• “The caller asked, “Can you hear me.” My husband responded with YES. The caller hung up. We think they recorded his response to be used as a scam.” The BBB offers the following advice:

• Use Caller ID to screen calls and consider not answering unfamiliar numbers. If the call is important, they will leave a message, and you can call back.

• Just hang up. If someone from an unfamiliar

number calls you and asks, “Can you hear me?” or “Is this [your name]?” do not answer “Yes.” Just hang up. Scammers change their tactics as the public catches on, so be alert for other questions designed to solicit a simple “yes” answer or any response.

• Note the number and report it to the BBB Scam Tracker to help warn others. The BBB also shares Scam Tracker information with government and law enforcement agencies, so every piece of information helps track down scammers.

• Join the Do Not Call Registry (https://DoNotCall. gov) to reduce telemarketing and sales calls. This may not help avoid scammers since they don’t tend to pay attention to the law, but you’ll get fewer calls overall, which may help you more quickly notice the ones that could be fraudulent.

• Check your bank and credit card statements regularly for unauthorized charges. Also, check your telephone and cell phone bills. Scammers may use your voice's “Yes” recording to authorize phone charges. This is called “cramming,” and it’s illegal. If you’re worried, notify your bank and credit card company. They may be able to alert your accounts for unauthorized transactions or temporarily freeze your credit cards.

52% of NC roadway bridges in only fair condition

The U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration released its 2023 “Bridge Condition by County” safety report. 18,817 North Carolina bridges were inspected. 9,766 (52%) bridges were found to be in Fair condition. 1,336 (7%) bridges were rated as Poor. 7,715 (41%) bridges were reported in Good condition. The report excludes federal bridges.

In Cleveland County, approximately 52% of its 263 bridges are in Fair condition, and nearly 11% are rated as Poor.

In Gaston County, nearly 59% of its 228 bridges earn a Fair rating, and almost 6% are found to be in Poor condition.

North Carolina’s highest concentrations of roadway bridges in Poor condition are found in Hoke County (nearly 26%) and Ashe County (just above 24%).

The National Bridge Inspection Standards (NBIS) establish the guidelines for recurring safety inspections of highway bridges on public roads throughout the United States.

The overall condition of a bridge is divided into three categories: good, Fair, and Poor. Inspections are performed every two years.

According to the Bridge Inspector’s Reference Manual (BIRM) (2022), a Good rating indicates on-y some minor or inherent defects, if any. These defects typically occur during or shortly after con-struction. Examples of concrete material defects include pop-outs, honeycombing, and limited tem-perature and shrinkage

See BRIDGES, Page 5B

Scotland County has no bridges in poor condition, while Blanden, Currituck, Jones, Lee, and Washington counties each have only one bridge rated as poor condition.

BRIDGES

From Page 4B cracking unrelated to ongoing deterioration. A Fair rating may indicate widespread minor deterioration or some moderate defects, but the structural capacity is generally unaffected. Examples may include minor section loss, spalling, widespread transverse deck cracking with efflorescence, or surface rusting of steel that is typically not measura-ble.

A rating of Poor suggests that the member’s structural capacity is affected or jeopardized. Examples may include advanced section loss, spalling, cracking, or undermining, which affect the structure’s strength or performance.

EXECUTRIX NOTICE

Having qualified on 26th of March 2024 as Executrix of the Estate of William C. Thompson aka William Clayton Thompson, III (23 E 867) deceased, late of Cleveland County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against said estate to present them, duly verified, to Cynthia L. Thompson, c/o A. Susan Biggers, Deaton & Biggers, P.L.L.C., 402 East Graham Street, Shelby, North Carolina 28150, on or before July 5, 2024, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said estate

Bridges degrade over time, caused by various factors, such as materials breaking down, weather, erosion, heavy traffic, damage due to accidents or abuse, or the weight of vehicles traveling on the bridge.

North Carolina State Constructed Lab Manager

Dr. Gregory Lucier told WRAL News, “Just because

a bridge is ‘poor,’ doesn’t mean it is rated as unsafe. It may need maintenance, repair [or] replacement in the near future, but at the moment, remains open because it is safe to use.”

“We’re designing structures with stronger materials, lighter materials, and probably most importantly – materials that are not subject to corrosion in the way that traditional steel can corrode,” Lucier continued.

“As a bridge degrades over time, the amount of load a bridge can safely carry may be reduced,” Lucier said.

EXECUTRIX NOTICE

Having qualified on 12th of April 2024 as Executrix of the Estate of Charles Wesley Ross (24 E 331) deceased, late of Cleveland County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against said estate to present them, duly verified, to Jennifer Grigg, c/o A. Susan Biggers,

PUBLIC NOTICE

Having qualified on

March, 2024 as Administrator of the Estate of Jerry Ronald Scruggs (24 E 163), deceased, late of Cleveland County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against said estate to present them, duly verified, to Danny Scruggs, Administrator c/o A. Susan Biggers, Deaton & Biggers, P.L.L.C., 402 East Graham Street, Shelby, North Carolina 28150, on or before July 5, 2024, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said estate will please make immediate settlement with the undersigned.

This the 3rd day of April, 2024.

Danny Scruggs Administrator of the Estate of Jerry Ronald Scruggs c/o A. Susan Biggers

Deaton & Biggers, P.L.L.C.

402 East Graham Street Shelby, North Carolina 28150

KMH (4/3, 10, 17, 24/2024)

Having qualified on the 22nd day of March, 2024 as Administrator CTA of the Estate of LaDonna Renee’ Hand, deceased, late of Cleveland County, North Carolina, 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 5th day of July,

PUBLIC NOTICE

NOTICE OF ADMINISTRATRIX

Having qualified on 17th of April 2024 as Administratrix of the Estate of Joseph Glenn Allen (23 E 615), deceased, late of Cleveland County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against said estate to present them, duly verified, to Joyce Moore Allen, Administratrix c/o A. Susan Biggers, Deaton & Biggers, P.L.L.C., 402 East Graham Street, Shelby, North Carolina 28150, on or before July 24, 2024, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said estate will please make immediate settlement with the undersigned.

This the 24th day of April, 2024.

Joyce Moore Allen Administratrix of the Estate of Joseph Glenn Allen c/o A. Susan Biggers Deaton & Biggers, P.L.L.C. 402 East Graham Street Shelby, North Carolina 28150 KMH (4/24, 5/01, 08 &15/2024)

PUBLIC NOTICE

He explained, “If unsafe bridges are found, the engineer has an ethical and legal obligation to close them immediately.”

North Carolina is set to receive a projected $15 billion in federal and state funding over the next decade for road, highway and bridge projects, according to TRIP, a private Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit

organization that researches transportation issues. The total includes about $7.2 billion derived in part from state sales tax revenue, according to TRIP, and another $7.8 billion in federal funds approved through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which was signed into law in 2021.

P.L.L.C.

402 East Graham Street Shelby, North Carolina 28150

KMH (4/24, 5/01, 08 &15/2024)

clothes and shoes of all sizes, household and seasonal items, and so much more. Free Bradley’s T-Shirt while supplies last. 2522 W Dixon Blvd., Shelby, NC 28152 RUTHERFORD COUNTY 4 FAMILY YARD SALE. Sat Apr 27th,

Dear Savvy Senior, What types of funeral benefits are available to old veterans? My 83-year-old father, who has Alzheimer’s disease, served during the Vietnam War in the 1960s.

Planning Ahead

Dear Planning, Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) National Cemetery Administration actually offers a variety of underutilized burial benefits to veterans as well as their spouses and dependents.

Most U.S. veterans (both combat and non-combat) who didn’t receive a dishonorable discharge are eligible for burial benefits. To verify your dad’s discharge, you’ll need a copy of his DD Form 214 “Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty.” If you don’t have it, you can request online at Archives.gov/veterans.

Here’s a rundown of some of the different benefits that are available to veterans that die a nonservice related death.

Military Cemetery Benefits

If your dad’s eligible and would like to be

buried in one of the 155 national or 119 state, territory or tribal-operated cemeteries (see VA.gov/find-locations), the VA provides a number of benefits at no cost to the family, including: a gravesite; opening and closing of the grave and perpetual gravesite care; a government headstone or marker; a United States burial flag that can be used to drape the casket or accompany the urn; and a Presidential Memorial Certificate.

If your dad is cremated, his remains will be buried or inurned in the same manner as casketed remains.

But be aware that funeral or cremation arrangements and costs are not taken care of by the VA. They are the responsibility of the veteran’s family, but some veteran’s survivors may be eligible for burial allowances.

The VA also offers a memorial web page called the Veterans Legacy Memorial for any veteran buried in a national, state, territorial or tribal cemetery. This allows families to post pictures and stories of their loved one online as a way to remember and honor their service.

By JIM MILLER Editor

If you’re interested in this option, the VA has a pre-need burial eligibility determination program to help you plan ahead before your dad passes. See VA.gov/ burials-memorials/pre-need-eligibility or call the National Cemetery Scheduling Office at 800-535-1117.

Private Cemetery Benefits

The VA also provides benefits to veterans buried in private cemeteries. If your dad chooses this option, the VA benefits include a free government headstone or grave marker, or a medallion that can be affixed to an existing privately purchased headstone or marker; a burial flag; and a Presidential Memorial Certificate.

Funeral or cremation arrangements and costs are again the responsibility of the family, and there are no benefits offered to spouses and dependents that are buried in private cemeteries.

Military Funeral Honors

Another popular benefit available to all eligible veterans buried in either a national or private cemetery is a military funeral honors ceremony. This includes an honor guard detail of at least two uniformed military persons, folding and