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904 South Battleground Ave. • Kings Mountain, NC
kmherald.com • 704-484-1047
Volume 136 • Issue 22 Wednesday, May 29, 2024
75¢
KM Marketplace will open at 125 S. Battleground Avenue this June. Photo by Terry Edwards Group
KM Marketplace opening June 1 By Loretta Cozart Last week, KM Marketplace, managed by the Terry Edwards Group, announced its opening at 125 Battleground Avenue on Saturday, June 1. The property had been a bank from the 1960s until Wells Fargo closed a few years ago. In a Facebook post at KM Marketplace, the owners, Michael Terry
and Woody Edwards, announced their newest joint venture, “From fashion to food, tech to toys, we've got it all under one roof. With food truck Fridays coming and Kings Mountain Farmers' Market on Saturdays, it will be a hotspot for the town! Come explore our mini mall and discover a world of shopping delights right in the heart of the city.”
Spaces are available for small business owners or professionals in downtown Kings Mountain offering retail shops downstairs and office spaces upstairs. The group is excited to bring weekly food trucks to the Kings Mountain Marketplace. Your input is welcome, and they would love to hear suggestions on their Facebook page.
Tickets on sale for KMLT production of “Farce of Habit” Tickets are now on sale for the Kings Mountain Little Theatre production of the uproarious comedy, Farce of Habit written by Jessie Jones, Nicholas Hope, and Jamie Wooten. The production is sponsored by the Jim and Penny Larson Family and Ken and Liz Pflieger. Performances will be at the Joy Theatre, 202 S. Railroad Ave, Kings Mountain on Fridays and Saturdays, June 14th, 15th, 21st and 22nd at 7:30 p.m, with matinee performances on Sundays, June 16th and 23rd at 3:00 p.m. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for seniors/students. Tickets may be purchased online at www.kmlt.org and KMLT season members may make reservations at tickets@kmlt.org or by phone at 704-730-9408. Comic fireworks explode in KMLT’s production of FARCE OF HABIT. Greg Dixon, Denise McCoy,
Mary Grace Keller, Madeline Spurling and Mark Griffin reprise their roles in the absurdly funny Southern-fried romp that takes us back to the Reel ’Em Inn, the finest little fishing lodge in the Ozarks. The proprietor, D. Gene Wilburn (Greg Dixon) is looking forward to a peaceful weekend on the lake. But there are only two chances of that happening: slim and none. Why, for example, has his wife, Wanelle (Denise McCoy), picked these three days to white-knuckle her way through caffeine withdrawal? Why is his son Ty’s (Mark Griffin) marriage to Jenna (Madeline Spurling) falling apart so fast? How on earth would D. Gene’s feisty sister, Maxie (Mary Grace Keller), allow herself to get caught up in such a bizarre undercover police assignment? And that’s just his family. If this isn’t enough to thwart D. Gene’s weekend plans, he’s got a gaggle of nuns who’ve converged on the Inn, hell-bent on experiencing a nature retreat—
which might be tolerable if D. Gene didn’t have a chronic fear of anything in a habit. Add to this the presence of Jock McNair (David M Baez), a nationally known relationship guru whose colossal ego threatens everyone’s sanity; a shy retiree (Tim Evans) anxious to cut loose and embrace his “inner caveman” and a couple of wild women (played by Caswell Martin and Estelle Grabert) who may or may not be who they claim to be. Throw in the storm of the century that’s fast bearing down on Mayhew, Arkansas, and D. Gene has no prayer of baiting a hook any time soon. Oh, and did we mention there’s an axe murderer on the loose? If you enjoy gloriously preposterous hilarity, then laughing your way through the take-no-prisoners lunacy of a Jones Hope Wooten comedy is one habit you’ll never want to break! “Farce of Habit” is presented by special arrangement with Dramatists Play Service, Inc., New See KMLT, Page 10A
Photo by TPS PHOTOGRAPHY
KINGS MOUNTAIN HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF 2024 SEE KEEPSAKE 2024 GRADUATION SECTION INSIDE!
Edmonson awarded the Sally Southall Scholarship Bela Grae Edmonson is an accomplished student set to graduate from Kings Mountain High School in June. In addition to her high school diploma, she has earned an associate in science degree and a Biotechnology Basic Healthcare Certificate through Cleveland Community College’s Career and College Promise program. This fall, Bela Grae will begin her undergraduate studies in Biological Sciences at North Carolina State University. Throughout her high school years, Bela Grae has shown a strong commitment to her community. She has volunteered extensively at local elementary schools and has served as a tutor in the special-needs classroom at Kings Mountain High School. In addition to her academic and volunteer commitments, she works over twenty hours each week as a Golf Pro Shop Attendant at Kings Mountain Country Club. In her free time, Bela
Pictured L-R: Bela Grae Edmonson receives the Sally Southall Scholarship from GFWC NC Kings Mountain Woman’s Clubwoman Anne Gamble. (Photo by Anne Gamble) Grae enjoys various activities, including recreational reading, journaling, thrifting, attending music festivals, and spending quality time with her family and friends. Her
dedication to her studies and community highlights her as a well-rounded and driven individual, ready to embark on the next chapter of her academic journey.
Governor signs Disaster Declaration for Gaston and surrounding counties In response to the devastating EF-1 tornadoes that struck Gaston and neighboring counties on May 8, Governor Roy Cooper signed a state disaster declaration last Thursday. This declaration enables residents in Gaston, Cleveland, Lincoln, and Mecklenburg counties to access grants for recovery and rebuilding efforts. Governor Cooper emphasized the declaration's importance in aiding the recovery process. "This state disaster declaration will help the people of Gaston
County and their neighbors as they recover and rebuild after tornadoes and severe weather that brought destruction to homes and businesses," he said. The declaration authorizes state-funded disaster assistance, offering grants to eligible individuals and families in the affected areas. This assistance will be available for 60 days from the date of issuance. A preliminary damage assessment by local, state, and federal emergency management officials revealed
significant destruction, with 36 buildings damaged, including 26 homes and 10 businesses. The extent of the damage meets the criteria for the Small Business Administration (SBA) Disaster Loan Program, which requires at least 25 homes and/or businesses to have 40 percent uninsured loss. Governor Cooper has also requested an SBA disaster declaration for Gaston and the contiguous counties. Next week, the decision on available programs and the See DISASTER, Page 7A
For Dental Implants Locally Here In Kings Mountain Just a few benefits of Dental Implants: • Improved appearance. Dental implants look and feel like your own teeth. • Improved speech. Dental implants allow you to speak without the worry that your dentures might slip.
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call us at 704-739-4461
703 E. Kings St., Suite 9, Kings Mountain • www.BakerDentalCare.com
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Dr. Stephen Baker