“Cleveland County’s Community Newspaper”
Now more than ever, your agent matters!
Tracy Whisnant 704-477-7391 S Select tracywhisnant@remax.net www.shelbyinfo.com Our 43RD Year • Issue No. 21 • May 28, 2026
704-484-1047
Cleveland County Farm Bureau holds Safety Day at KMHS By Alan Hodge About 200 Career Development students at Kings Mountain High School recently got some first-class instruction on home and farm safety from members of the Cleveland County Farm Bureau and other community helpers. Farm Bureau members on the scene included board members Thad Allen, Kevin Parker, Myron Edwards, and president Craig Mayes. Representatives from Rutherford Electric, Cleveland County EMS, the NC Forest Service, and Cleveland County Emergency Management also took part. A spanking new tractor and combine from the local John Deere dealer James River Equipment served as a farm safety demonstration aid. The students formed up in small groups and rotated through the various demonstration stations where they learned what and what not to do when around agricultural and lawn machinery. They also learned first aid tips and home safety. The Farm Bureau guys ex-
plained tractor power take-off shaft precautions and what can happen if you put your fingers too close to the drive chain and sprockets on a hay baler. For that demo, Allen inserted a wiener into a rubber glove to simulate a finger, tied the glove to a stick, started the baler, and poked the “finger” into the works. The gnarly result definitely got the students’ attention. “We don’t want to scare you,” said Allen. “We just want you to be aware.” Student Kaydence Den said the information was interesting. “My grandfather has a tractor,” she said. Another demo at the Farm Bureau station used miniature lawn tractor models with a baby doll on one and a sock monkey on the other. The baby doll had a roll cage and seat belt. The sock monkey did not. After rolling the mowers down a table the monkey flipped and came out the worse for wear thus demonstrating lawn care safety. “Safety is the watchword,” said Parker. At another station, NC For-
These Cleveland County Farm Bureau representatives hosted the Safety Day at Kings Mtn. High School. From left Thad Allen, Kevin Parker, Craig Mayes and Myron Edwards.
FREE N A D M IS S IO
The straw stuffed mannikin was used to show what can happen when you get your arm caught in a bush hog. It was not pretty. (Photos by Alan Hodge) est Service county ranger Craig Oliver held a chain saw safety demo. He showed the students how to put on the full woodcutting regalia of helmet, chaps, earmuffs, and eye protection. He also explained how important it is to make sure you don’t accidentally surprise someone who is sawing. ‘Don’t come up and startle them,” he said. “They might not see you and swing around.” Student Carter Delling allowed as how he had operated a chainsaw before but learned something new from Oliver. “It was very helpful,” Delling said. In a mobile unit on the school campus, Cleveland County EMS instructor Shawn Elliot held a very insightful seminar on how to do CPR, apply a heart defibrillator, and how tight to tighten a tourniquet. Elliot’s talk had a rapt audience of about 25 kids who hung on his every word- knowing the facts could save someone’s life
Craig Mayes tells students to be careful around tractor power take off shafts. someday. Student KJ Bell even tried his hand on the CPR rubber torso. “It’s good to learn this,” he said. Other safety stations on the rotation included demonstrations of fire extinguisher use, fire suppression blankets, and
electrical safety. The session wrapped up with a bang- literally. Back at the Farm Bureau demo station, a bush hog, tractor, and several dummies stuffed with straw awaited. As the students watched, Allen and Mayes placed a dummy near the bush hog, started the tractor, See FARM BUREAU, See Page 2
Fly-In & Open House Sat., June 6 th • 2026 • 10 until 2 Tour the Airport Facilities
Compass Aviation is offering limited *$40 Airplane Ride JAARS offering limited Helicopter Flights $50* No Air Show Activities FAA Safety Event • Auto and Truck Display * Ride Prices Subject to Change Due to Fuel Cost
830 COLLEGE AVE • SHELBY • NC
Identifier: EHO
Unicom: 122.8 Phone: 704-487-1161
Vendor Food & Snowballs • Aircraft & Military Vehicles on Display • All Aircraft Fuel reduced 50¢ per Gallon