KMPD urges caution as school begins

KMPD Chief Gerald Childress reminds citizens to be cautious this week, as the new school year starts, “Kings Mountain Police would like to remind everyone to be a little more careful and vigilant as they travel the roadways. Cleveland County School buses, along with our local buses, will be in and out of communities running their routes and stopping periodically to administer the universal ‘stop sign’ and flashing red lights.

“For many Kings Mountain students, the school bus will be their mode of transportation to and from their educational facilities. To assure everyone’s safety, we ask that you be mindful of these buses as they make their way around the county and city. Allow extra time, especially in the mornings, to navigate the expected delays produced by commuting school buses.

As buses are approaching a designated stop, watch for anxious children as some may have to cross the road- way to gain entry to their bus. Also, allow yourself plenty of following distance and try to be patient because these buses are carrying precious cargo and we want to make sure they reach their intended school safely.

”As expected, Phifer Road will become very congested during morning commute times and afternoon dismissal. We will have crossing guards to assist students while they make their way to and from school campuses, but please lower your speeds and be cautious of the crosswalk areas and students walking along these areas.

“We hope that everyone will have a safe and wonderful school year!”

Senator Ted Alexander hosts Human Trafficking panel

In July, Sen. Ted Alexander hosted Anne Basham, Founder & Chair of the Interparliamentary Taskforce on Human Trafficking, in Mooresville, N.C., for a panel on combatting human trafficking.

Several anti-human trafficking groups, such as The Lantern Project and Justice Ministries, attended the panel. “I was joined by several of my colleagues in the General Assembly to discuss what we, as legislators, can do to combat this plague on our society,” Alexander shared. “One of the biggest needs identified is finding victim housing which is in particularly short supply since the federal government cut safe house funding from $35 million to $14 million.”

Things shared during the panel discussion:

1. There are at least 50 million victims of human trafficking but less than one percent are identified. In North Carolina, only 6,000 victims have been identified since 2007 until the present day via the National Human Trafficking Hotline. As a result of the 27-armed conflicts around the world, many unaccompanied minors travel to the U.S. and are particularly vulnerable to human trafficking.

2. Wilmington, N.C., has a high number of victims which has a lot to do with the ports and monitoring the volume of shipping containers that human traffickers use to transport victims. Only four percent of shipping containers are checked; however, even with the high number in Wilmington, Charlotte is the heaviest city for human trafficking and less than one percent of traffickers are ever prosecuted.

ARRESTS

AUG. 4: Asiaianna E. Littlejohn, 29, 128 Kings Oak Circle 102, damage to property, $2,500 unsecured bond.

AUG. 5: Michael Scott Ramsey, 46, Gastonia, failure to appear protection order violation; failure to appear DWI; Failure to appear fictitious tag, no bond.

AUG. 6: Gregory Keith Young, 53, 117 Jack Adams Road, assault on female, drugs, all other, no bond.

AUG. 6: Austen Kyle Mosley, 814 Cleveland Avenue, assault on female, no bond.

AUG. 7: Christopher Andrew Watts. 703 Church Street, assault on female, no bond.

AUG. 8: James Michael Beaver, 37, York, SC, drugs, all other, felony; equipment paraphernalia, DWI, $1,500 secured bond.

INCIDENTS

AUG.4: A resident of Caley Street reported damage to property.

AUG. 5: A resident of N. Dilling Street reported larceny of a pressure washer valued at $150.

AUG. 7: A resident of Gold Creek Trail reported theft of two vehicles, Dodge Durango.

AUG. 7: A resident of East Gold Street reported a break-in and theft of a flat screen TV valued at $1,000.

AUG. 8: A resident of Chesterfield Court reported larceny of tennis shoes, mattress and T-shirts.

AUG. 8: A resident of Scotland Drive reported identity theft. WRECKS

JULY 31: Officer Dee said vehicles operated by Michael Kenneth Clark, 604 Bridges Circle, and Jessie Winstead III, 1224 Mary’s Grove Church Road, hit on the US 74 Bypass at NC 216. Property damage was estimated at $3,500.

JULY 31: Officer Matheson cited David Weiss, Gastonia, with failure to reduce speed after the 2017 Volk he was driving rear-ended a Kenworth 2022 operated by Daquan Lavante McClendon, 330 Margrace Road. The accident happened on the US 74 Bypass with estimated $8,000 property damage.

AUG. 1: Officer Dee said vehicles operated by Alexis Hall, Shelby, and Jennifer Shehan, Arrowood Road, hit at the light at El-Bethel Road and Shelby Road. Property damage was estimated at

Thursday, August 3, without incident. Justice was transported to the Cleveland County Magistrates Office, where she received a $20,000 secured bond. Justice was released to the custody of the Cleveland County Detention Center, and she posted bail and was released that afternoon.

$6,000.

AUG. 2: Officer Geissinger said Lynda Allen, 109 Baptistry Drive, was pumping grass at Grandpa’s Store on Bethlehem Road and a 2008 Toyota operated by James Bivins, 406 Greyfield Drive, backed into her vehicle. Property damage was estimated at $1,500.

AUG. 3: Officer Carpenter said Ashley Stenger, 323 Pinnacle Road, operating a 2013 Hyundai, struck a 2017 Toyota by Prince Asmah, 1234 Phifer Road, on NC 216.Property damage was estimated at $4,000.

AUG. 5: Officer Dee charged Andre Casanova Cordero, 2216 Pinnacle View Drive, with DWI after Cordero, speeding in his 2017 Lexus at a high rate of speed, was trying to elude officers. The Lexus hit a concrete barrier on the US 74 Bypass. No injuries were reported. Property damage was estimated at $20,000.

CITATIONS

July 23: Alyson Beth Kimbro, 41, 1355 Ike Brooke Road, failure to maintain lane control.

AUG. 1: Tiffany Diane Williams, 121 Tack Court, driving while license revoked.

AUG. 2: Terry Morrow Mizelle, 66, Grover, expired tag, no inspection.

AUG. 2: Brittany Auton, 33, 313 Goforth Road, expired tag, no inspection.

AUG. 2: Christopher

Are

Alexander Love, 32, 204 Walker Street, no operator’s license, expired tag.

AUG.2: Christopher Steele Barber, 37, 103 Fulton Drive, revoked license.

AUG. 3: Devyn Sheron Smith, Dallas, expired tag.

AUG. 4: Christopher Chad Short, 43, 702 Bridges Drive, revoked license.

AUG. 4: Mindy Callahan, Mint Hill, expired tag.

AUG. 4: Justin Bryan McNeely, Bessemer City, revoked license, fictitious tag.

AUG. 4: Semaj Bristol, 37, Gastonia, expired tag.

AUG. 4: Charles Tarras Banks, 43, 403 N. Cansler Street, no operator’s license, expired tag, no inspection.

AUG. 6: Diantha Fine, 49, Ware Road, expired tag, no inspection.

AUG. 7: Johnny Harris, 61, Charlotte, expired inspection, mirror violation.

AUG. 7: Cherise Anderson, 46, Grover, expired tag.

AUG. 7: Justin Bowman, 29, Bessemer City, expired tag.

AUG. 7: Jennifer Sarmiento, 40, 1716 Northwoods Drive, revoked license, expired tag.

AUG. 8: Joseph Lee Hardison, 35, 205 Farris Road, expired tag.

AUG. 9: Andrew Howard Loftin Jr., 35, 239 Patterson Road, expired tag.

AUG. 9: Bobby Scott Greene, 54, 120 Kings Forest Drive, expired tag, no inspection.

231 E. Marion Street Shelby, NC

704-477-1426