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Volume 117 • Issue 26
Friday, July 14, 2023
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Wednesday, June 28, 2023
2023 Independence Day event at Rudisill Stadium June 30 Success of last year’s show cements choice by city for this year’s festival Farmer’s Market shopper Phyllis Lawing at last Thursday’s, June 22 Cherryville Farmer’s Market, held in the Mini Park’s Gazebo. Food vendor, and past crowd favorite, Leonhardt Farms is back, with their tables manned by Mrs. Ann Hall and Mrs. Gail McGlothin (serving the customer). In the background is Ms. Martha Pate, of Pate’s Bakery, a.k.a. “The Bread and Cake Lady.” (photo by MEP/The Eagle/CF Media)
After a two-year hiatus
Cherryville Farmer’s Market is back Smaller version of its original self but still some familiar faces; products by MICHAEL E. POWELL Editor michael@cfmedia.info
They’re here! After a two-year hiatus, the beloved Cherryville Farmer’s Market is back, although this year’s iteration was a wee bit smaller than its original self. Not to worry though… talk is there will be more vendors returning though the dates are set in stone quite yet. Mary Beth Tackett, City of Cherryville Program Coordinator and Cherryville Chamber of Commerce Director, said recently, “I’m over the market since (former FM Director/Manager) Richard (Randall) left.” She noted she will be available for Farmer’s Market-related questions at (704) 435-3451 (Cherryville Chamber of Commerce phone number). The Farmer’s Market was started in 2012 and had been a successful event for a number of years, said Mrs. Tackett, who noted the reason for the city having to stop having the market was one that couldn’t be
avoided. “We did not have the market the past two years due to the streetscape process,” she said. There really wasn’t any place feasible to have it and do it properly. As for her being glad to have it back, Tackett said, “I am so excited that the market is back! I know many citizens have missed it.” The city’s Mini Park Gazebo was the site for the return of the 2023 FM and vendor Leonhardt Farms was back in force, with tables full of boxes of good farm-to-table food, all grown locally. There was even a small sign marked “Jack’s Vegetable Crossing” to indicate the gentleman who grew the food and his little plot of God’s good earth. Customer Phyllis Lawing said, “I’ve been waiting for this (the return of the Cherryville Farmer’s Market) a long time!” Ann Hall, of Leonhardt Farms, said she has been doing Farmer’s Markets for 17 years. Martha Pate, of Pate’s Bakery was on hand, having brought her famous homemade sourdough bread and See MARKET, Page 2
by MICHAEL E. POWELL Editor michael@cfmedia.info
Assistant Fire Chief for the City of Cherryville Colby Heffner said the city will be hosting its annual Independence Day Celebration on June 30, from 6-10 p.m., at Rudisill Stadium. Assistant Chief Heffner also added he will be the lead operator/IC for the event and Captain Nathan Bowman will be the lead shooter. “The fireworks will be shot from the First Methodist Church parking lot and the best viewing location is within the Rudisill stadium complex,” said AFC Heffner, who is also the Safety Director. He continued, “The Cherryville Fire Department would also like to remind all citizens that aerial fireworks are not permitted in North Carolina. It is strongly advised that the citizens of
A wide-angle view of the July 1, 2022 Cherryville Independence Day festivities, held for the first time, and to much acclaim, at Cherryville High School’s home of the football Ironmen and men’s and CHS soccer teams – Rudisill Stadium. (file photos by MEP/The Eagle/CF Media or Susan L. Powell) Cherryville renormally been held.” frain from shootCherryville Mayor ing these types H.L. Beam, III welcomed of fireworks and everyone to the 2022 fesattend shows tivities and he will do the only operated by same this year. licensed profesBeam noted last year sionals.” he saw “quite a few people Last year, it there at the stadium,” addwas noted in the ing, “When I left shortly Eagle the venue after the fireworks began, “…had to be I drove on Pink Street and changed; moved saw many people in chairs actually, due watching. Even the tables to construction at Houser Drug were filled with many, many people, work being done on the downtown A stunning example of last year’s Cherryville and at the First Baptist area where past fireworks; as things got started, this classic See EVENT, Page 6 celebrations have chrysanthemum-style blast lit up the night.
2023 CHS Valedictorian; Salutatorian speeches great messages for students (Ed.’s. Note: Valedictorian Joseph England’s original speech was set aside right before he was to give it, he said. Instead, he spoke from his heart and gave this speech below. His and Salutatorian Rileigh Kiser’s speeches were both given on May 26, 2023, at the CHS graduation ceremony at Rudisill Stadium.) Joseph England’s 2023 CHS Valedictorian speech,
titled: “The Voice” Good evening friends, family, extended family. Once upon a time in 1997, Fiona Apple quoted Maya Angelou, saying: ‘We, as human beings, at our best, can only create opportunities.’ And I’m going to use this opportunity how I want to. “First, Mom, Dad, thank you for being the parents you See SPEECHES, Page 9
JOSEPH ENGLAND 2023 CHS Valedictorian
Rare Cherryville Bottleworks item donated to Cherryville Historical Museum
Cherryville’s Lockwood by MICHAEL E. POWELL elected NC American Legion department chaplain Cherryville Historical Editor michael@cfmedia.info
by MICHAEL E. POWELL Editor michael@cfmedia.info
Mrs. Monica Lockwood, of Cherryville, was elected N.C. Department Chaplain for the American Legion on June10. Said Mrs. Lockwood, “I am just learning what that all entails, (which is)
mainly (attending) three (3) major meetings – the fall, and spring conferences, and convention in June and going to the national convention this year in Charlotte on Aug. 25 through Aug. 31, as a delegate.” Lockwood, who served in the Marine Corp, is member of Shelby Post 82, and is also a member of Cherryville Auxiliary Unit 100. She said her duties entail sending out cards to ill veterans or their family members, if they are deceased, See LOCKWOOD, Page 9
RILEIGH KISER 2023 CHS Salutatorian
Museum Director Pat Sherrill said she was pleased to have four visitors come by the CHM last week (Monday, June 19, 2023), one of whom donated a rare bottle from the Cherryville Bottleworks. The rarity, circa 1900 – 1920s, was donated to the museum, Mrs. Sherrill noted, by Mr. David Blakely Chiswell on that Monday. Mrs. Sherrill said the Cherryville Bottleworks appears on the Sanborn map of 1910, off the Main street of Cherryville, near the location of the Roy and Troy
Standing by “Granny”, the city’s old fire engine that resides at the Cherryville Historical Museum, are – left to right – Jeanne Ellis (of Shelby); Janet Pittard (of West Jefferson); Rachel White (of Shelby); and David Chiswell (of West Jefferson). The group came by last Monday, June 19, to visit and for Mr. Chiswell to donate an old 1900’s-era Cherryville-made bottle to the city’s venerable old museum. (photo provided)
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Grocery. “Further research is pending,” she stated in an email about the donation. Sherrill noted Mr. Chiswell said he “…purchased the bottle from a collector in Marion earlier in June, 2023.” Sherrill further stated, “He (Mr. Chiswell) made the donation in memory of his two aunts, Ruby and Virginia (Jenny) Witherspoon, natives and long time residents of Cherryville.” Said Mrs. Sherrill, “David Chiswell’s roots go deep in the area. He is a descendant of Joshua Roberts, who was a native of this area and served with the Patriots at the Battle of Kings See BOTTLEWORKS, Page 9