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Volume 137 • Issue 19
Wednesday, May 7, 2025
kmherald.com • 704-484-1047
Green Tree Apartments fire claims a fatality In the early morning of April 30, shortly after 4:00 a.m., the Kings Mountain Police Department received multiple emergency calls reporting a structural fire at the Green Tree Apartments, at 612 Charles Street. Upon arrival, the Kings Mountain Fire Department found one of the apartment buildings fully engulfed in flames. Immediate firefighting efforts were initiated; however, two (2) apartments were destroyed, and six (6) suffered extensive smoke and water damage, leaving several families displaced. In a statement, the Green Tree Apartments Fire on April 30. Police Department said, “Tragically, after the fire for their swift response Department Chaplain,” was brought under con- and mutual assistance the statement continued. trol and a thorough search during this difficult inA follow-up email was conducted, one fa- cident: Oak Grove Vol- from the department tality was confirmed at unteer Fire Department, shared, “The apartment the scene, identified as Crowders Mountain Fire building in question did Evelyn Blakeney, 45, Department, Bethlehem not have a sprinkler of Kings Mountain. Our thoughts and condolences Fire Department, Grover system installed. Due are with the family and Fire Department, Kings to the severity of the loved ones affected by Mountain Police Depart- fire, no smoke detectors this loss. We are thankful ment, Cleveland County were recovered from the that the American Red EMS, Cleveland County wreckage of the affected Fire Marshal’s Office, units. However, it is imCross arrived to assist.” “We extend our sin- Kings Mountain Energy portant to note that adjacere appreciation to Services, and the Cleve- cent apartments within the following agencies land County Sheriff’s the same building were
Photo by Jennifer Lynn
found to have smoke detectors installed.” The investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing and is being conducted jointly by the Cleveland County Fire Marshal’s Office and the Kings Mountain Police Department. Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact the Kings Mountain Police Department at 704-734-0444.
Major Joseph Maner makes his last flyover Loretta Cozart On April 28, Major Joseph Maner completed his final flight in a C-17 during a flyover at Shelby–Cleveland County Regional Airport, watched by his father, Bobby Maner, along with friends and family. “Joseph called on Sunday night to tell us that he would be making his last flight as a C-17 pilot for the Air Force,” Bobby said. “He chose the route and performed a flyover of Shelby Airport early Monday afternoon. He made two passes before continuing to Greensboro, Raleigh, Wilmington, and then back to his station in Charleston. C-17s are too large to land at Shelby Airport.” When he returned to
Charleston, his son, Shep, assisted the aircraft marshaller in guiding him as he parked the C-17 for the last time. Joseph has served 11 years in the United States Air Force. He reported to flight school in January 2014 and earned his wings in July 2015. After three years of flying C-17s in Charleston, he became an instructor pilot at Vance AFB in Oklahoma for another three years before returning to Charleston. He is expected to retire soon and plans to fly for American Airlines. “Very few people ever get a job they truly love,” Bobby shared. “He’s living his dream.” Joseph is the son of Bobby and Susan Maner. He is married to Stephanie, whose parents are Paul and Allison Houser of Kings Mountain. Joseph and Stephanie have two children, Shep and Stella.
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Major Joseph Maner flies over Shelby - Cleveland Regional Airport during his last flight in the Airforce. Photo by Bobby Maner
New “Be Like Bob” Award named for Bob Smith III Among many awards & scholarships to be given to Seniors at KMHS’s annual Awards Ceremony on May 19 will be a new one for a junior student to honor Bob Smith III, who died earlier this year from lifelong complications of Hodgkin’s lymphoma he endured as a teenager. The “Be Like Bob Smith” Award was established by dear friends of Kings Mountain civic leader Mary Wade Smith to honor her son’s legacy of kindness, wisdom, and faith. Bob graduated from KMHS and earned degrees in journalism at UNC-Chapel Hill and later in architecture at UNC-Charlotte. He served as president of Talley & Smith Architecture in Shelby, designing a host of schools, municipal buildings, businesses, and homes in Cleveland County and beyond. He was married to Lisa Toms Smith of Boiling Springs for twenty-five years. Donors to the Be Like Bob award seek to recognize a rising senior each year who exhibits civic spirit, humility, kindness, and the ability to persist with dignity and grace through adversity. Awardees must be good students academically and also show promise for a meaningful career and a lifetime of service to others. The award includes a $500 scholarship for higher education, which will be given annually for ten years. “We wanted a tangible and meaningful way to keep Bob’s unique
spirit alive in the hearts of students at KHMS, choosing to include a class officer in the selection committee each year. Students know how to choose who among their peers is deserving of this award,” said Laura Carpenter Bingham, who spoke for the five founding donors. “We hope others will make tax-deductible contributions so we can keep it going for years to come,” Shirley Brutko says. Gifts should be mailed to the “Be Like Bob Smith Award” c/o Cleveland County Schools Educational Foundation, 400 West Marion St., Suite 221A, Shelby, NC 28150. “Bob was calm and quiet and never wanted to be in the spotlight. He said he had had a good life and was ready to go if that was God’s will. He attended Boys State, Governors School, Presidential Classroom in DC, and was picked to study in Italy one summer with other architectural students,” his mother, Mary Wade, shared. “Becky Champion said all the teachers wanted Bob in their classes. He and Pam Hatch were #1 in their class of 372 students. They battled back and forth each week. He was elected student body president when he returned home from four months at Bowman Gray in Winston-Salem with Hodgkin’s Disease in 1980.” Mary Wade shared with the Herald her appreciation for her friend’s meaningful tribute to her son.
National Day of Prayer By Loretta Cozart
Shep Maner assisted the aircraft marshaller in guiding his father as he parked the C-17 for the last time. Photo by Bobby Maner
National Day of Prayer: On Thursday, May 1, at noon, a National Day of Prayer ceremony was held at The Gazebo in Patriots Park. The event included music and prayers from local pastors and community leaders. The community gathered under the Gazebo to protect them from the noontime sun, some seeking shelter beneath the
beautiful canopy of trees nearby. Kings Mountain Police Department’s color guard presented the colors. Mayor Wagman spoke, welcoming guests. Chief Childress addressed the crowd and led the pledge to the flag. Ministers, lay people, and community leaders participated in the ceremony. The National Day of Prayer is an annual day See National Day Prayer PAGE 3A
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