Now more than ever, your agent matters!
Tracy Whisnant 704-477-7391 S Select tracywhisnant@remax.net Volume 138 • Issue 8
Wednesday, February 25, 2026
kmherald.com • 704-484-1047
75¢
The Gem, Mineral and Jewelry Show will be held on March 14–15 at the Gastonia Farmers Market. The show will be open on Saturday, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. and Sunday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Shown above is the 2025 Gem Show set-up before folks arrived. (Photos provided)
Kings Mountain Police Department Community Resource Officer, McGinnis, had the opportunity to assist with cooking for Cub Scout Pack 92 and attend their Pinewood Derby recently. Congratulations to all the Scouts for an outstanding job on their cars—excellent craftsmanship, creativity, and teamwork were on full display. KMPD is proud to support our Scouts and remains committed to supporting our community. See more photos on page 8A. (KMPD Meta Page)
The Patrick Senior Center had a lot of fun celebrating their Valentine’s Day. Their Bingo Party and Valentine’s Dance were filled with smiles, friendship, and joyful moments. The amazing participants made the day extra special! See more photos on page 7A. (Photos Patrick Senior Center)
The Ace Party Band will kick of the 2026 “Live at Patriots Park” Concert Series on May 2. (Photo provided by City of KM)
City of KM announces 2026 “Live at Patriots Park” Concert Series Line-Up Live entertainment is BACK at Patriots Park! The City of Kings Mountain is thrilled to bring live music back to Downtown Kings Mountain with the 2026 “Live at Patriots Park” Concert Series, presented by the Albemarle Corporation. The series features a talented group of entertainers at the Liberty Falls Amphitheatre, performing
a diverse range of genres, including Rhythm and Blues, Soul, Classic Rock, and more! Each concert will begin at 7:00 PM. The line-up for this series includes: 5/2 - Ace Party Band 6/6 - Slippery When Wet-Ultimate Bon Jovi Tribute 9/10 - Travis Powell as Elvis with special guests, Carolina Quartet and Travis' All-Star Band Get your taste buds ready! Food trucks and an adult beverage garden will be on hand.
Great food, beverages, and LIVE Music-Saturday nights in Downtown Kings Mountain will be epic! Patriots Park is located at 220 South Railroad Avenue, Kings Mountain, NC. For more information on the concert series, contact the City of Kings Mountain’s Communications, Tourism, and Events Department at 704-730-2101 or visit their website at www.kingsmountainevents.com or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/COKMTourismandEvents/.
©CommunityFirstMedia
ED STEIBEL IMPORTS.com
Gaston Gem and Mineral Club to host 47th Annual Show March 14 - 15 Have you ever gone for a walk in the woods and come home with a pocket full of rocks? Whether you’ve built a collection over many years or you’re simply curious about what might be glittering in a creek bed, you’ll find plenty to discover at the Gem, Mineral and Jewelry Show in Gastonia on March 14–15 at the Gastonia Farmers Market. The show will be open on Saturday, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. and Sunday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Hosted by the Gaston Gem and Mineral Club, the annual event has become a wonderful family outing and one of the largest shows in the Piedmont. This year marks the club’s 47th show and its second year at its larger indoor home, the Gastonia Farmers Market. The show will feature 25 vendors offering a wide variety of items, including rough rocks and gems, cut specimens, handmade jewelry, and more. Admission is free. Visitors can roll up their sleeves and try sluicing or watch a geode being cracked open to reveal the crystals inside. New this year is an educational area designed for all ages, where guests can learn more about rocks, minerals, and gems. Visitors can also bring their own mystery rocks, and club members will do their best to help identify them. The show is the main fundraiser for the Gaston Gem and Mineral Club. Founded in 1977, the club is a nonprofit organization created to foster interest in geology, gems, minerals and the lapidary arts. Today, it has approximately 125 members from Gaston and surrounding counties, and they have a wide range of interests. Some members specialize in topics such as fossils, luminescent minerals, or crystals. Others enjoy activities such as gem faceting, cabochon cutting, tumbling, and metalwork for finished jewelry. “We have a welcoming and enthusiastic group of people at the Gaston Gem and Mineral Club,” says Eric Clymer, club president. “You can always find someone with similar rock-related interests who is willing to share their knowledge and experience.” The club meets monthly at Lutheran Church of the Re-
Field trip to Spruce Pine.
Field trip to Due West, South Carolina. deemer. Meetings typically include a presentation on a gem or mineral topic, time to share personal finds, and planning for upcoming field trips. There are plenty of adventures to plan. North Carolina is home to more than 300 differ- Gaston Gem and Mineral Club annual picent gems and nic. A club member demonstrates how to minerals, and make a cabochon. (Photos provided) the club organizes field trips go gold panning. for almost every month of The goal of the club is to the year. Members travel to share knowledge, learn new public and private sites across things, and experience the the Southeast in search of thrill of discovery together. treasures, but most trips are That’s why annual dues are within about a two-hour drive kept affordable at $20 per from the Gastonia area. “The family or $15 for individufield trips and events are opals. The monthly meetings portunities for us to bond as a are free, and visitors are welcommunity of like-minded income. dividuals, despite our diverse Bring the family and join ages and life experiences,” us at the Gem, Mineral and said Clymer. Jewelry Show on March 14In recent years, field trips 15. Enjoy the activities, exhave yielded finds such as pink and red rubies in Mar- plore the vendor booths, and ion, green emeralds around meet some of the club memHiddenite, deep red garnets in bers. It’s a great opportunity the mountains, and purple am- to discover whether the Gasethysts from several regional ton Gem and Mineral Club is sites. The group has also a good fit for you. Also, you found clear and white quartz can connect with us anytime crystals at sites in North and online at gastongem.org, or on South Carolina, and they even Facebook or Instagram.
Used Hondas” 1016 COLLEGE AVE. • SHELBY, NC “Quality * Down Payments are 20% or less
(Hwy 150 Near Boiling Springs)
704-487-5520
of cash price, O.A.C.
2001 PONTIAC MONTANA
2004 HONDA ACCORD LX
2007 HONDA ACCORD SE
2007 CHEVY SILVERADO 1500
2013 HONDA ODYSSEY
2016 HONDA CIVIC EX-T
V/6, Auto., 171K Miles.
4-Cyl., Auto., Only 135K Miles.
Black, Auto., 4-Cyl., 4 Door.
Blue, V/8, 2 Seating Rows.
White, EX-L, Auto., V/6.
1.5 Ltr. Turbo, Auto, 137K Miles.
$
$
$
$
$
2,000
$
5,598
5,995
7,900
8,950
13,500