Our Office Will Be Closed December 22-December 26 Volume 137 • Issue 51
Wednesday, December 24, 2025
KM Historical Museum TOYLAND model train exhibit through Jan. 3 KM Historical Museum’s TOYLAND (Games, Trains & Toys) is on exhibit now through January 3. The exhibit is open Tuesday-Saturday, 10 am-4 pm. Model trains are provided by Metrolina Model Railroaders. Admission is FREE. The Museum is located at 100 E. Mountain St., Kings Montain.
City of KM Office Closures The City of Kings Mountain Offices will close on Wednesday, December 24th, Thursday, December 25, and Friday, December. The City offices will reopen on Monday, December 28, 2025, in observance of the Christmas holiday. Their offices will be open regular hours on December 21, 2025, but will be closed on January 1, 2026, in observance of New Year's Day and will reopen on January 2, 2026, with regular business hours.
Second Saturday Movies at the Joy Theatre kicks off January 10 By Loretta Cozart Kings Mountain Forward, with Kings Mountain Little Theater, is excited to launch Second Saturday Movies at the Joy Theatre, a new family-focused initiative that begins January 10 and runs through June. On the second Saturday of each month, families are invited to gather at the historic Joy Theatre, 202 S. Railroad Avenue downtown for a fun, welcoming family experience. Each month, a beloved, family-friendly movie will be available free of charge and open to everyone. To make the experience even sweeter, adults attending with children will receive free admission, a small popcorn, and a drink. Primary and Supporting Sponsorships are open to all Kings Mountain businesses and offer an affordable way to demonstrate community support. Thanks to the generous support of local businesses, four of the six Primary Sponsorships have already been secured. Only two Primary Sponsorship opportunities remain available at
$600 each. Primary Sponsors receive excellent visibility and recognition, including: • Their business name displayed on the Joy Theatre marquee before their sponsored film • Featured placement in event materials • Online and on-screen promotion • Recognition as a Supporting Sponsor for the remainder of the season Supporting Sponsorships provide an affordable way to show community support. For just $25, Supporting Sponsors receive recognition: • In event materials • In online promotions • On-screen before every movie throughout the entire six-month series Kings Mountain Forward, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to downtown revitalization and economic development in Kings Mountain, NC. To learn more about sponsorship opportunities or to get involved, please call 704-259-8960 or email director@kmforwardnc.org.
kmherald.com • 704-484-1047
75¢
Clev. Co. Deputies intercept 138 lbs. of meth in KM On December 16, 2025, members of the Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office Community Interdiction Team observed a 2024 Omoda sedan traveling westbound on U.S. Highway 74 in the Kings Mountain area. The vehicle was displaying a Mexico license plate from Sinaloa, Mexico, with a cover partially concealing the tag. Deputies initiated a traffic stop on Highway 74 for a registration violation. The driver and sole occupant was identified as Felix Tirado-Ramirez, a Mexican national. During the stop, a Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office K-9 conducted a free-air sniff of the vehicle and provided a positive alert. Based on probable cause, deputies conducted a search of the vehicle and located approximately 138 pounds of crystal methamphetamine concealed inside. Tirado-Ramirez was
TIRADO-RAMIREZ arrested and charged with two counts of Trafficking in Methamphetamine. He was transported to the Cleveland County Jail, where he is being held without bond. The methamphetamine seized during this operation has an estimated street value of approximately $3 million. Sheriff Alan Norman expressed his appreciation to the investigators, deputies, and K-9 personnel involved in this operation. Sheriff Norman reaffirmed the Sheriff’s Office’s com-
Approximately 138 pounds of crystal methamphetamine discovered by Cleveland County Deputies at a traffic stop. (Photos provided) mitment to aggressively investigating and removing dangerous narcotics from Cleveland County streets
and neighborhoods in order to protect the safety and well-being of the community.
Congressman Tim Moore introduces bill to expand American Nuclear Leadership and Energy Innovation The Next Generation Nuclear Deployment Act Follows Trump Executive Order on American Nuclear Energy Dominance Recently, Congressman Tim M o o r e (NC-14) introduced the Next Generation Nuclear DeTIM MOORE ployment Act to advance America’s leadership in next-generation nuclear energy and ensure the United States remains at the forefront of clean energy innovation. “Energy dominance begins with innovation,” said Congressman Moore. “This bill builds on the Trump Administration’s momentum to deploy cutting-edge nuclear technology that can power our future, from artificial intelligence to space exploration, while creating good-paying jobs here at home. America must lead, not follow, in the race for advanced nuclear energy.” Specifically, the Next Generation Nuclear Deployment Act will ensure the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program encompasses at least 10 test sites across the country, including one micro-reactor, defined as capable of producing up to 10 megawatts of electricity.
Additionally, the bill would allow advanced nuclear testing and development on non-DOE sites, a major reform that will unlock public-private collaboration and relieve pressure on limited federal infrastructure. It also encourages the Secretary of Energy to pursue cost-sharing partnerships with private industry and research institutions to accelerate deployment and reduce taxpayer risk. Moore’s legislation follows President Trump’s Executive Order 14301, which expanded the DOE’s Nuclear Reactor Pilot Program to 11
lead projects, with three expected to come online by July 4, 2026. This legislation is supported by American companies and organizations, with Duke Energy saying, “As the operator of the nation's largest regulated nuclear fleet, Duke Energy is fully supportive of advancing federal efforts to develop new nuclear generation that we can deploy on our system. We deeply appreciate and thank Congressman Moore for his continued support of the nuclear energy industry. The Next Generation Nuclear Deployment Act will bolster the crit-
ical work underway to develop and deploy advanced nuclear technology in the United States. Nuclear power serves as a cornerstone of reliable and affordable energy, and we remain committed to ongoing investment in and expansion of this essential energy source.” Congressman Tim Moore represents the 14th Congressional District of North Carolina, including Cleveland, Gaston, Burke, and Rutherford Counties, as well as parts of Mecklenburg and Polk Counties. Visit timmoore. house.gov for more.
The Kings Mountain Police Department gave a special thank you to Veterans of Foreign Wars post 9811, who brought some toys for Christmas to be given out to children who might not have a good Christmas this year. (Photo by KMPD/FB)
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