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Volume 137 • Issue 9 Wednesday, February 26, 2025
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Lib Stewart: a woman of courage, strength, and compassion By Loretta Cozart The Kings Mountain Herald family is saddened to report the passing of our dear friend and colleague, Elizabeth (Lib) Stewart, on February 20, 2025. Lib stood out as one of the most gifted professionals in the history of this newspaper. She loved and dedicated herself to her job every moment of every day throughout the more than sixty years she worked for the Herald. It is doubtful anyone can match the number of years she devoted to sharing the news with Kings Mountain residents, far and wide. Everyone felt as if they knew Lib, and, in most cases, they did. She was familiar with them, having seen many grow up and establish their lives in this community, as I can personally attest. In August 2017, Lib took a rare vacation and asked me to sit at her desk to write stories for the upcoming week’s paper. The prior year, I began writing my biweekly Pieces of Kings Mountain History column for the paper and enjoyed that immensely. As I filled in for her those few
This is how her friends and colleagues at the Herald will fondly remember Lib, hard at work at her computer. (Photos from KM Herald Archives) days, I remembered dreaming of becoming a reporter for the Herald in high school. Just a year after I subbed at the Herald, I found myself in that role daily. I had no idea this would happen, but Lib knew somehow. Through her invitation, she guided me into the life of a reporter. Lib came to work at the Kings Mountain Herald in 1952, and the first Masthead that indicated her as a
member of the paper’s staff responsible for advertising/ news ran on Thursday, July 3, 1952. Fittingly, the very first article Lib had a byline on ran on August 20, 1953, a story regarding politics. The headline read, “County Chairman J. Worth Silver Is Under Attack.” This was fitting because Lib loved covering politics and did so even after she retired. She would contribute arti-
By Loretta Cozart
Last Sunday, February 23, Shirley Austin commemorated her 90th birthday. She and a large gathering of family members celebrated the occasion during the worship service at First Presbyterian Church. Beautiful flowers, arranged by Kings Mountain's own Susan Patterson, were placed in the church by her family. Photo by Shirley Brutko
House Republicans file Bill to ban foreign enemies from buying NC farmland State Representatives Jennifer Balkcom (R-Henderson), Neal Jackson (R-Moore), Jeff Zenger (R-Forsyth), and John Bell (R-Wayne) filed House Bill
all her life, beginning as a young cub reporter covering police and recorder’s court. Lib and her brother, Gary—who is the retired Editor of the Herald and its longest-serving editor, still writing sports for the Herald—were once the only brother and sister team in North Carolina to co-edit a biweekly newspaper, the Mirror-Herald. Lib retired from the Herald in 1998 (1952-1998) to run for National President of the American Legion Auxiliary. She returned to the Herald/Eagle in November 2001, working at the Eagle until mid-2008, when she returned to the Herald as a reporter working with Editor Emily Weaver. At one time or another, she worked on all the Herald’s sister papers: The Cherryville Eagle, the Belmont Banner, and the Herald. Lib advanced through the ranks to lead two major organizations. In the late 1980s, she was the state president of North Carolina Press Women. In 1999-2000, she served as the National President of the world’s largest veterans’ patriotic service organization, with one million members,
the American Legion Auxiliary. In 1976-77, she served as state president of the American Legion Auxiliary. She joined the Auxiliary at Kings Mountain Unit 155 in early 1970 and was eligible for membership through the service of her two brothers: the late retired MSgt. Herman Stewart, a career veteran who served in the Korean Conflict and Vietnam, and the late Ralph Stewart, who served in the US Navy during the Korean Conflict. Before becoming the Auxiliary’s National President, Lib worked on numerous committees and chairmanships, serving as National Historian, Southern Division VP, and National VP (20082009). During her one-year term as National President, Lib traveled from National headquarters in Indianapolis, Indiana, to nearly every state in the US and to about ten foreign countries where the Auxiliary has Units (chapters). As a breast cancer survivor, she had a perfect platform, as she was then an 11-year survivor, to promote breast cancer awareness See LIB, Page 8A
KM Farmers’ Market finds permanent home
KM TechWiz moves to new location KM TechWiz has moved operations to 213 N. Piedmont Avenue in Kings Mountain. This woman-owned business specializes in computer, cell phone, and game console repair, according to Telina Griffin Glover. Items they specialize in include consoles, controllers, computers, tablets, and phones, among others, Neil Glover shared. Business hours: Tuesday through Friday, 8:30 am-6 pm, Saturday, 9 am-3 pm. 704-750-3251. Be sure to drop by to check out their new location.
cles covering politics, as only she could write. She was a consummate reporter. Before taking the job at the Herald, Lib was a citizen of our community who had a passion for our people, and it shined brightly through her words and how she treated all people with respect. Lib, born in 1933, was a native of Cleveland County and a lifelong resident of the Dixon Community near Kings Mountain. Her full name was Russia Elizabeth Stewart, named after her grandmothers, Russia Hambright Stewart and Elizabeth Jackson Bell. She was the eldest of five children. In the 1950 U.S. Census, her siblings were Herman “Buck” Odell Stewart, Ralph Edward Stewart, Linda Darnell Stewart, and Gary Dean Stewart. Lib is the daughter of the late Mr. George T. Stewart and his wife, Letha Bell Stewart. She was raised on a farm on Wells Road and educated at Grover High School and Montreat College. Except for a few years as Editor and then reporter of the Herald’s sister newspaper, the Cherryville Eagle, Lib worked for The Kings Mountain Herald
133, N.C. Farmland and Military Protection Act, to prohibit hostile foreign governments, like China and Russia, from buying agricultural land and property surrounding military installations. In the 2023-24 legislation session, the House
unanimously passed similar legislation, but it was not considered in the Senate. “Having grown up on a family farm, I know how important it is to preserve North Carolina’s farmland,” said Rep. Balkcom. “Our state’s agricultural land is See FARMLAND, Page 5A
On January 21, the Cleveland County Commissioners approved the purchase of a new permanent location for the Foothills Farmers’ Market in Kings Mountain. The market will soon be located at 313 S. Battleground Avenue in Downtown Kings Mountain with a Grand Opening planned for Saturday, May 17, 2025. The new site offers excellent visibility, easy access for residents, ample parking, and additional foot traffic for surrounding businesses, making it an exceptional location for the market’s long-term operations. Since 2023, Foothills Farmers’ Market board members and community volunteers have worked diligently to establish a peak-season market to serve the Kings Mountain community. The Market currently operates under tents on Saturdays from May through September, featuring approximately 20 vendors, attracting an average of 300 customers each week, and generating more than $50,000 in sales for local farmers and homebased businesses. “Given the market’s success, we quickly rec-
Kings Mountain Farmers Market is known for its colorful tents filled with delicious locally grown food. Photo by Cleveland County ognized the need for a permanent market location that would protect vendors and customers from extreme weather and be able to extend the market season,” said Greg Traywick, Extension Director. “After exploring several potential locations, we identified the parcel at 313 S. Battleground Avenue as the best option.” The County will be drafting a memorandum of agreement to outline responsibilities and expectations related to the ownership, stewardship, and use of the property. Plans are underway to construct
a "Kings Mountain Hometown Farmers' Market" pavilion, modeled after the one in Uptown Shelby, with an architectural plan and construction cost estimate in development. Once finalized, organizers will begin seeking grant funding to help finance the project. Follow the Kings Mountain Farmers’ Market on Facebook for future news and announcements. Vendor applications are now open for the 2025 Market Season for Kings Mountain and Shelby at www.foothillsfarmersmarket.com.
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