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East Mountain Street 704.739.3611 106 Kings Mountain, NC 28086
www.KMinsure.com Volume 137 • Issue 11
Wednesday, March 12, 2025
kmherald.com • 704-484-1047
75¢
Arson not suspected in East Gold Street house fire A delicious lunch will be provided for local social workers. Photo by Summit Place
Summit Place hosts a social workers appreciation lunch March 21 Summit Place is holding its annual Social Workers Appreciation Lunch on March 21 from 10 a.m. to noon at 1001 Phifer Road in Kings Mountain. In the Facebook announcement, Summit Place posted, “All social workers are invited! It’s time to take a break and celebrate! You pour your heart and soul into making a difference every day, and we want to take a moment to show our appreciation for YOU!” Come enjoy a delightful brunch filled with delicious food, great company, and inspiring conversations. This is a chance to connect with fellow social workers and industry professionals, share stories, and recharge your spirit! “At Summit Place, we believe that social workers are the backbone of our community. Your dedication, compassion, and unwavering support make a difference
in countless lives every day. It’s time to honor YOU! Indulge in a delicious brunch, explore a vendor showcase highlighting local businesses that support the social work community, and enter for a chance to win exciting raffle prizes,” the announcement said. What to Expect: • A delicious variety of brunch favorites • Sharing insight and inspiration • Giveaways • A warm, welcoming environment that feels like family The announcement encouraged social workers to come together, uplift one another, and celebrate the incredible work they do. RSVP by March 14 to secure your spot! RSVP: 704739-6772 or tyesha.peak@ phoenixsrliving.com.
From Kings Mountain to Sicily
John Connor’s Collection of Rocks and Minerals Kings Mountain Historical Museum invites the public to mark their calendars for Saturday, March 15, from 2 pm to 3:30 pm, for a program event sponsored by Albemarle Corporation: From Kings Mountain to Sicily. Are you ready to travel the globe with John Connor’s collection of rocks and minerals? John Connor was a native of Kings Mountain and a geologist who donated a large collection of rocks and minerals from around the globe. The collection holds rocks
and minerals from five different continents: Africa, Asia, Europe, and North and South America. The program will be presented by Jennifer Baar, who lives in Kings Mountain and is an economic geologist. Baar is currently volunteering at KMHM, where she is working to catalogue John Connor’s collection of rocks and minerals. Kings Mountain Historical Museum is at 100 East Mountain Street, in Kings Mountain, and is open Tuesday through Saturday, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. To discover more about upcoming exhibits and events, please visit www. kingsmountainmuseum.org or call (704) 739-1019.
At approximately 7:14 p.m. on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, the Kings Mountain Fire Department (KMFD) received a dispatch call reporting a fire in the woods behind Cleveland Ridge Apartments, located at 206 E. Gold St., Kings Mountain, NC. Upon arrival, responding units discovered that the source of the fire was an abandoned house, which was fully engulfed in flames.
Despite the challenging conditions posed by strong winds, KMFD took immediate and decisive action to control the fire. Firefighters prevented the fire from spreading into the wooded area behind the property and ensured no evacuations were necessary within the apartment complex. A statement released by KMFD shared, “The cause of the fire is currently undetermined, though preliminary investigations indicate
that arson is not currently suspected. The Kings Mountain Fire Department extends special thanks to all the on-duty firefighters and off-duty personnel who were called in to assist. The Kings Mountain Police Department, Oak Grove Fire Department, and Bethle-hem Fire Department also played crucial roles in successfully managing the incident.” Fortunately, no personnel or citizens were injured
during the fire, and the situation was resolved without further incident. The Kings Mountain Fire Department remains committed to providing the community with a timely and professional emergency response. Anyone with additional information is asked to please contact the Kings Mountain Fire Department at 704-734-0555 Arson not suspected in East Gold Street house fire
Human Trafficking: it is closer than you think By Loretta Cozart In a Facebook Post by Gaston County Police, North Carolina consistently ranks within the top 10 states for human trafficking. Charlotte ranked #1, How often and how many? In a 1-year period, from July 2020 to June 2021, a total of 368 human trafficking victims were served by state-funded sexual assault agencies, according to the NC Department of Administration. In 2022, the state Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force received a total of 18,873 cyber tips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, 48% increase from the year 2021. Even more shocking, this is a 383% increase since 2019. According to a brochure by the North Carolina Faith & Freedom Coalition, Human Trafficking
is one of the most prevalent crimes and forms of victimization in the world. Human Trafficking is the second most prevalent crime in the United States, second only to narcotics. According to the FBI, between 60% and 70% of trafficked children in the US come from child social services or foster care programs. According to the US Department of Justice, the average age a child first becomes a victim of sex trafficking is between 12 and 14 years old. And 84% of those in sex slavery were first sexually abused as children. To fight human trafficking, you need to know the warning signs: • Appearing malnourished • Showing signs of physical injuries and abuse • Avoiding eye contact, social interaction, and authority figures/law enforce-
ment • Seeming to adhere to scripted or rehearsed responses in social interaction • Lacking official identification documents • Appearing destitute/ lacking personal possessions • Working excessively long hours • Living at the place of employment • Checking into hotels/ motels with older males and referring to those males as boyfriend or “daddy,” which is often street slang for pimp • Poor physical or dental health • Tattoos/branding on the neck and/or lower back • Untreated sexually transmitted diseases • Small children serving in a family restaurant • Security measures that appear to keep people inside an establishment – barbed wire inside of a
fence, bars covering the insides of windows • Not allowing people to go into public alone or speak for themselves Everyone has a role to play in combating human trafficking. Recognizing the signs of human trafficking is the first step to identifying a victim. Remember to SEE. CALL. SAVE. Do not at any time attempt to confront a suspected trafficker directly or alert a victim to your suspicions. Your safety, as well as the victim’s safety, is paramount. Instead, call local law enforcement directly by dialing 911. Or, call the National Human Trafficking Hotline is 1-888-373-7888 or text 233733.
CCLS relaunches bookmobile services Thanks to a generous LSTA Grant from the State Library of North Carolina and the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the Cleveland County Library System (CCLS) is excited to announce the relaunch of its mobile library service. This revitalized initiative is designed to bring the library experience directly to the residents of Cleveland County. “The mobile library will not only inspire a love of reading in children but also make library resources accessible to senior adults and others who may face challenges visiting our Main or Spangler branches,” said Todd Dellinger, Outreach Manager. “We are thrilled to be a part of this exciting new chapter for CCLS,
bringing library services to every corner of Cleveland County.” The newly revamped bookmobile will offer a range of library resources, including books, DVDs, audiobooks, and a library of things, all available for checkout at convenient community stops. Additionally, the mobile library will provide programming, such as preschool story times, workforce development training, and a seed library. The Bookmobile will also feature a mobile Makerspace equipped with tools such as a 3D printer, Cricut vinyl cutter, craft supplies, and other creative resources to foster hands-on learning and innovation throughout the County.
With this innovative service, the Cleveland County Library System enhances residents' access to information, education, and community engagement. For more information, including the mobile library schedule and locations, please visit www. clevelandcounty.com/library The closest location to
Kings Mountain, where the Bookmobile is currently scheduled, is the Washington Outreach Ministry, which is south of Waco. However, KM organizations that want to host the Bookmobile should contact Cleveland County Library System’s Outreach and Community Engagement Manager Todd Dellinger, at 704-487-9069.
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