Rutherford Weekly

March 16, 2023

Rutherford Weekly - Shelby NC

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Page 2 - Rutherford Weekly 828-248-1408 www.rutherfordweekly.com Thursday, March 16-March 22, 2023 Spring is one of the most popular seasons of the year. After several months of chilly temperatures in many regions, spring provides a welcome reprieve from the cold. M o d e r a t e t e m p e r a t u r e s makes it much more comfortable and inviting to venture outdoors, particularly for families with children who might not adapt to the cold as well as adults. The following are some family-friendly activities that make the most of spring renewal. Visit botanic gardens If there's a botanical garden nearby, a visit in spring is a great time to soak in the beauty of nature. That's because an abundance of fl owers bloom during the spring, meaning a garden will be in peak form. Visitors can meander through rows of rose bushes or tour the labyrinth of trimmed hedges. Beautiful, fl owering cherry trees, with their delicate pink or white petals, also are sights to behold in spring. Prepare a home garden Visiting a garden is one thing, creating one at home is another. In addition to planning a vegetable garden to enjoy tasty pickings throughout summer, you can devote some property to fl owers that will attract wildlife. Check with a garden center about which fl owers and plants attract butterfl ies and other benefi cial insects. Many garden centers sell butterfl y and hummingbird mixes to attract wildlife. Go animal watching Flowers are not the only thing on display come the spring. Many animals, including birds, are born this time of year. Baby animals are not only adorable, they can be entertaining to watch grow. Families can spend time viewing the animals that visit their yards or surrounding parks, being careful to keep their distance. Adults may be quite protective of their young, so it's better to watch from the lens of a camera or with binoculars. Always resist the urge to help a baby animal who seems like it was abandoned. The parent may be a short distance away gathering food or trying to avoid drawing attention to the young to deter predators. Get out on the water A bright, warm day is an ideal time to enjoy the open water. Spring is a season when many marinas reopen and avid boaters put their vessels back into the water. You also can venture into streams or lakes aboard kayaks or canoes, getting exercise and seeing the scenery in the process. Bring a fi shing pole along and cast it into the water for a few hours of recreation. Make wind chimes Enhance the garden or decor around the home by making wind chimes or other percussion items that can create beautiful music when spring breezes blow. Commercially available kits are sold, but wind chimes also can be made from items like bamboo or even strung shells. Mountain Village Mountain Village Chalets & Cabins Chalets & Cabins ~FOR RENT~ ~FOR RENT~ 1 to 5 Bedrooms All Have Hot Tubs & Fireplaces 950 Main St. Chimney Rock, NC 704-472-3100 704-482-4888 704-472-5219 Tickets: $20 in Advance - $30 Day of Event $ $ y Tickets can be purchased via phone at: 828-284-5834 or in person. Moonshiner Crazy Chuck, Marge & In Charge, and many more! The Rutherford County Sports Hall of Fame (RCSHOF), presented by Hardin's Drug, announces tickets to the 2023 RCSHOF Induction Ceremony are on sale. The event will take place Thursday, April 20 at the Foundation Performing Arts Center at Isothermal Community College in Spindale, beginning at 6 PM. Tickets can be purchased online or at The Foundation Box Offi ce for $25. A small service fee will be applied to online orders. Quantities are limited, so patrons are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance of the event. This year, the RCSHOF will honor an outstanding class of fi ve individuals. Below is a short summary of each individuals' accomplishments, which will be expounded on in greater detail at the ceremony. Keenan Lee Carpenter Carpenter was a proven scorer on the basketball court whether it was for the R-S Central Hilltoppers, Anderson (SC) Junior College or the Auburn Tigers of the SEC. Carpenter scored over 1,000 points in his Hilltopper career (1981-1984), leading the Southwestern Conference in scoring those fi nal two seasons. The points kept coming at Anderson. Carpenter was named Region X Player of The Year twice and scored over 1,000 points in just two seasons with the Anderson Trojans. The scoring did not slow down when Carpenter made the jump to high-major basketball with Auburn. He scored 30 points or more fi ve times during his Tiger career. His career high came in 1989 when he scored 44 points vs LSU and also led the SEC in three-pointers made that season. As a result, Carpenter was selected as an All-SEC 2nd Team performer in 1989 and to the Tigers All- Centennial Team a decade later. Pam K. Harmon Harmon excelled at every sport she played at East Rutherford High School. She lettered in three different sports during her Cavalier career from 1974-1977. While she earned numerous awards and honors as a member of the basketball and softball teams at East, she really shone on the tennis court. Harmon was a founding member of the women's tennis program at East Rutherford as a sophomore and was the top seed for the Lady Cavs for three seasons, earning MVP and All-Conference honors. She also won the prestigious "Women in Sports Award", which was presented to Harmon by tennis legend Billie Jean King. Following her career at East, Harmon was offered a scholarship to play basketball at Duke University. Billy Ray Haynes Jr. Haynes made a name for himself on the gridiron and baseball diamond at CHASE (1985-88) before becoming one of the most prolifi c tacklers in NC State football history. During his Trojan career, not only was Haynes a four-year starter for the baseball team, holding the record for the most home runs and RBIs in a single season, he also was named Rutherford County Football Player of The Year in 1987. After posting 169 tackles that year, Haynes was selected to the Shrine Bowl roster where he set a record for 16 tackles in the game. Haynes' success continued at NCSU. He garnered over 100 tackles in both his sophomore and senior seasons, helping the Wolfpack to a pair of Bowl victories. In all, Haynes made 364 tackles in his college career, which ranks eighth all-time in Wolfpack history. Charles Dean Huffstickler Huffstickler not only had an outstanding athletic career in the ring as a boxer, he also found success as a coach and professionally as a police offi cer. He has received numerous awards and honors as a coach and community leader. Huffstickler began boxing at the age of 15 while a student at R-S Central High School. During his senior year of 1958, Huffstickler won the Middleweight division of the Highpoint Golden Gloves AAU tournament, competing for the Rutherfordton Police Boxing Team. After graduation and a stint in the military, Huffstickler became a police offi cer in Gastonia. In 1971, he formed the Gastonia Police Youth Club, which later expanded to sponsor several sports. In 1972, Huffstickler was chosen to coach the Regional Jr. Olympic Boxing team, traveling around the country. Huffstickler also coached the Cuban National Boxing Team when they came to Charlotte in 1979 where he coached future Olympic Gold Medalist Teafi lo Stevenson. In 1983, Huffstickler was the corner coach for future heavyweight champion Evander Holyfi eld and he has also met other boxing greats throughout his career, including Joe Frazier, Mohammed Ali, and Sugar Ray Leonard, just to name a few. In 2022, Huffstickler was inducted into the Carolinas Boxing Hall of Fame. Chris Michael Michael was a star on the basketball court and the track for the R-S Central Hilltoppers from 1978-1981. He claimed the 1980 State Title in the Long Jump and was also a vital part of the Hilltoppers' unbeaten State Championship basketball team in 1980. As a senior in 1981, he led R-S to a 27-5 mark and was selected to play in the East-West All-Star game. After a year of postgraduate studies, Michael hit the hardwood for Clemson University where he averaged 7.5 points per game his fi rst two seasons with the Tigers. He remained consistent throughout the rest of his career, as he averaged 7.3 points and 3.3 rebounds per game while playing against premier competition in the ACC. For additional information, please visit the RCSHOF website rcshof.org or call the Foundation Box Offi ce at 828-286-9990. Five new inductees into Sports Hall of Fame Article Provided By: Jacob Conley Spring activities for families to enjoy together These are just a few family-friendly activities to enjoy this spring.

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