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Volume 117 • Issue 17
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Wednesday, April 26, 2023
2023 Cherry Blossom Festival – the 31st – had a “great to be back!” feel People were just waiting for the much-loved festival to come back “full force” by MICHAEL E. POWELL Editor michael@cfmedia.info
The 2023 Cherry Blossom Festival – the 31st – was back, and in earnest. as crowds of people who were unable to come out during and after the COVID-19 pandemic’s shutdown of the venerable festival turned out for a little food, camaraderie, and general fun in the sun last weekend. Event mastermind and
general mover and shaker, Cherryville Chamber of Commerce’s Mary Beth Tackett, Downtown Director David Day, as well as a host of her fellow Chamber staffers and C-of-C members, i.e. Gary Dellinger, Hannah Garrett and, well… a whole host of others (too numerous to name in this article!) all came out to make sure this year’s iteration of the much-loved (and muchmissed!) festival – the 31st – made up for lost time. And it pretty much did, by all accounts of those who came out on Friday, April 21 and Saturday, April 22, to see and be seen. While waiting for the entertainment for Friday’s event to begin, a local Cherryville soul, who asked that
his name not be used, said, “This here (gestures with hand to crowd gathering in the mini-park stage area)? This is what I wanted to see more’n anything! This is always good to see. Everybody coming out to the Cherry Blossom Festival and having a good time!” That sentiment appeared to be the general theme for those who came back, ate food from the food trucks and vendors, bought the toys and whose kids played on the inflatables, and then stayed to listen to the bands play great beach music and old-time rock and roll. Friday’s band was Cat5, with some platter-spinning by DJ Johnny B (aka John Barkley), and Saturday’s See FESTIVAL, Page 10
Cherryville Mayor H.L. Beam, III, asks everyone at the Friday night, April 21, Cherry Blossom Festival start, “Are you ready to party!?” as the band, Cat5, kicks out the jams! (photos by MEP/CF Media/The Eagle)
Cherryville Shrine Club Local minister pens President Moss presents personal book on check to CAM
his father’s suicide
Money is a “tribute” to Decker and her hard-working staff
Book signing is planned for May 7 at First Baptist Church of Shelby
by MICHAEL E. POWELL Editor michael@cfmedia.info
Bill Moss, President of Cherryville Shrine Club, recently presented a $500 check to Barbara Decker, Director of Cherryville Area Ministries. Moss noted Cherryville Area Ministries does so many wonderful things in the Cherryville area and that such “…is a tribute to Mrs. Decker and her hard-working staff.” Moss continued, “The check was for sponsorship of Second Harvest Food truck on May 3.” Moss said, “It’s a small See SHRINE, Page 2
by MICHAEL E. POWELL Editor michael@cfmedia.info
Shelby minister Dr. Jim Wooten has penned a very personal book he feels will help many people who have been touched in some way or fashion by suicide. He knows about the issue as he Cherryville Shrine Club President Bill Moss presents a check has been touched by it; his for $500 to CAM Director Barbara Decker. (photo provided) father was a suicide. As per his book information, he is currently serving as the Interim Pastor of First Baptist Church of Shelby, NC, after a ministerial career spanning 44 years. Dr. Wooten said this is his first narcotics investigation – the juana; along with trafficking book, which is described CPD’s narcotics investiga- and maintaining a dwelling as “…a compelling and tors, with the help of patrol for sale of a controlled sub- heart-wrenching memoir, officers, have made “… stance. tinged with a dash of mys“In total,” continued tery, a touch of ‘whodunit’, multiple narcotic arrests on Chief Hunsucker in the re- and a strong dose of reflecnumerous suspects.” Said Chief Hunsucker, lease, “approximately 32 tion and insight.” “The arrest and charges grams of illegal narcotics The book’s title is “The were obtained through vehi- were seized, and 40 narcot- Suicide’s Son: A Story of cle stops by patrol officers ics violations were issued.” Loss, Struggle and Hope.” The following are the and through undercover Wooten said it wasn’t subjects who have been ar- hard for him to write the controlled buys.” Chief Hunsucker also rested during this investiga- book, which is set in 1962, noted the many charges tion: in the small town of Lau• Jeffery Paul Homes- rens, SC. He noted the small include: possession of controlled substance; pos- ley, 51, of 966 Mary’s volume gives what he said session with intent to man- Grove Rd., Cherryville. are “the dramatic events that ufacture sell and deliver Mr. Homesley currently has culminate in the shocking (PWIMSD); sale and deliv- warrants outstanding and death of a thirty-five-yearery of methamphetamine, has not been arrested at this old fa-ther.” The story, as it heroin, fentanyl and mariSee ARRESTS, Page 2 is recounted, is told through
Ten-month long investigation results in many drug-related arrests 32 grams of illegal narcotics were seized; 40 narcotics violations issued by MICHAEL E. POWELL Editor michael@cfmedia.info
Cherryville Police Chief Brandon Hunsucker, stated in a media release to the Eagle last week, that – as a result of a 10-month long
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Local author Dr. Jim Wooten at a book signing for Southern authors. Photos provided
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been “in his head years and years earlier.” He said he finally found the time to write it all down and when he did, he said it flowed and flowed out of him! “It’s amazing how it all went so fast,” he added. “It was cathartic!” Wooten also noted that organizing his thoughts in order to write the memoir helped him to heal as well. But a big part of this whole story can be summed up in the following blurb, “The Suicide’s Son is also the story of the author’s lifelong quest to deal with the impact See BOOK, Page 2