GOLF TOURNAMENT

When: Friday August 25, 2023

Where: Riverbend YMCA Golf Course

Format: 4-man Captain’s Choice

Time: Tee-Time Start (Call for Tee-Time 704-482-4286)

Cost: $75/player, $300/team

Deadline to register: Friday, August 18, 2023

A box lunch and drink will be provided

For more information, call Rick Hord of Tumbleweed Marketing at 704/473-6744 or email at rick.tumbleweed@gmail.com

All proceeds benefit the Council on Aging

Davidson Association Health Fair August 19

Davidson Association will hold their Big Health Fair on Saturday, August 19, 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., including vendors from Kintegra, Atrium Health, and the Cleveland County Health Dept.

10,000 Fentanyl pills were discovered hidden inside a statue in a vehicle that was searched during a traffic stop by Gaston County Police Department. The pills weighed approximately 1 kilogram and have a street value of roughly $330,000.

(Photo provided)

GCPD K9 Unit makes drug trafficking arrests

On Monday, July 24, the Gaston County Police Department K9 Unit conducted a traffic stop around Hudson Boulevard and Armstrong Park Road that resulted in the seizure of approximately 10,000 Fentanyl pills. Around 3:32pm, a GCPD K9 Officer conducted a traffic stop on a 2010 Buick sedan that committed several traffic violations.

During the traffic stop, the Officer’s canine alerted the odor of narcotics in the vehicle. A subsequent search by the officer and his K9 resulted in the seizure of the Fentanyl pills that were hidden inside a statue in the vehicle. The 10,000 pills weighed approximately 1 kilogram and have a street value of roughly $330,000.

The Gaston County Police Department has a steadfast commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of our citizens. The efforts of these officers have prevented the distribution of this dangerous drug, saved countless lives, and prevented widespread harm to our community. The driver of the Buick, Angel Alvarez De Leon, as well as the passenger, Alfredo Diaz, both of Dallas, Texas, were arrested and charged with multiple counts of Trafficking Fentanyl. Each suspect was held at the Gaston County Jail on a $1,000,000 secured bond.

The event will be at Mt Zion Baptist Church Life Center at 220 N. Watterson Street in Kings Mountain. Davidson Alumni Resource Center, Inc is a nonpartisan 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Citizens enjoy Davidson Association’s Health Fair, visiting with local health care officials and learning ways to lead healthier lifestyles. Photo provided

SECU and Communities in Schools support Governor’s school supply drive

Governor Roy Cooper announced the beginning of the Governor’s School Supply Drive on Monday, July 14, encouraging people across the state to donate school supplies in support of public schools, students, and teachers. North Carolina teachers spend over $500 out of their own pockets for classroom supplies each year.

The Governor’s School Supply Drive will run from July 24 to August 18, 2023.

As in past years, the State Employees' Credit Union (SECU) and Communities in Schools of North Carolina are partnering with the state to collect and deliver the school supplies to classrooms.

“Communities In Schools affiliates across North Carolina know all too well how having the right tools to start the school year strong allows students to show up and engage in the classroom without unnecessary barriers to success,” said Jill Cox, President, and CEO for Communities in Schools of North Carolina.

“Everyone can ensure students start the school year strong by participating in the Governor’s School Supply Drive and dropping off school supplies at their local SECUs. Together, we can remove barriers to student success before students even enter the class- room this year.”

“North Carolina Parent Teacher Association (NCPTA), the oldest and largest child advocacy organization in North Carolina, is excited to join Governor Cooper and others to support this important initiative aimed at ensuring that students and teachers have the resources they need to have a successful school year,” said Dr. Shaneeka Moore-Lawrence, President of NCPTA. “We are encouraging our members and others across the state to donate. This heart work aligns with our mission to make every child’s potential

“We are so pleased to show our support for North Carolina educators and students by serving as statewide branch collection sites for the Governor’s Annual School Supply Drive,” said SECU President and CEO Leigh Brady. “Our presence in all 100 counties makes this initiative a perfect fit for the Credit Union. The Drive is a tangible and impactful way we can give back to the community and ensure teachers have what they need to help prepare students for a successful year ahead.”

Requested supplies include:

• Paper - all types, including copy paper

• Pens and pencils

• Crayons and markers

• Dry erase markers

• USB flash drives

• Spiral notebooks

• Sanitizing wipes

• Tissues

Donation bins will be in all State Employees’ Credit Union locations across the state. North Carolina residents can contribute by dropping off items at a SECU location or by organizing their own drive at their workplace. SECU in Kings Mountain is at 2104 Shelby Road. At the conclusion of the drive, volunteers with Communities in Schools of North Carolina and VolunteerNC and Governor Cooper’s cabinet members will help distribute the supplies to public school classrooms across the state.

Governor Cooper’s School Supply Drive is offered in partnership between the North Carolina Governor’s Office, State Employees’ Credit Union, Communities in Schools of North Carolina, TeachNC, North Carolina Business Committee for Education, the North Carolina PTA and VolunteerNC (the North Carolina Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service).

5 Mosquito Repellants That Work

By Loretta Cozart

As the summer wears on, rains fall, heat waves continue, and mosquitos flourish, WebMD recommends eight mosquito repellants that work. Ranked in order of their effectiveness, here are the top five contenders:

DEET: A repellent with DEET tells mosquitos to buzz off loud and clear. You'll need one with at least 20% DEET to protect your skin for several hours at a time, although more than 50% doesn't work any better (kids should use 10%-30%). DEET is safe for almost everyone, and if used as directed, it should be OK for pregnant and nursing women and for babies more than 2 months old. But it can make your sunscreen less effective.

Picaridin: Whether in a spray, lotion, or wipes, picaridin is another EPA-approved ingredient that works well as a skin barrier for mosquitoes. It's a plant-based compound you'll find in products like Cutter Advanced and Skin So Soft Bug Guard Plus. It's also safe for kids and pregnant women.

IR3535: You can get this synthetic mosquito-blocking compound in Avon's Skin So Soft Bug Guard Plus IR3535 Expedition. It's A-OK by the EPA and will shoo mosquitoes off skin for several hours. It's another kid- and pregnancy-safe option.

Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus: OLE is EPA-approved and effective for warding off mosquitoes. You can get it (or its synthetic version, PMD) in products like Repel and Off! Botanicals. Avoid "pure" OLE (the oil alone, not in a repellent) -- it hasn't been tested for safety and isn't recommended by the EPA.

2-undecanone: This chemical, also called BioUD, comes from tomatoes. It's available in BiteBlocker, and some studies say it works as well as products with 30% DEET.

Equally important are things that do not work:

1. Wristbands

2. Citronella

3. Essential oils

4. Garlic and Vitamin B

5. Bug Zappers

6. Ultrasonic Devices

Also important are non-chemical ways of protecting yourself, like wearing protective, sometimes treated clothing that repels mosquitos. You can also fog your yard, but that method only lasts for hours. Sprays last for days and both wipe out helpful insects like bees and butterflies. And, if you have pets make sure not to let them in the area until everything dries.

Lastly, take a walk through your yard making sure you have no standing water. Even a small amount of water is enough for mosquitos to breed.