Rutherford Weekly - Shelby NC
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Page 20 - Rutherford Weekly 828-248-1408 www.rutherfordweekly.com Thursday, June 22-June 28, 2023 FIRST MEDIA, INC FIRST MEDIA, INC "Creating Business For People" ® www.cfmedia.info 704-484-1047 Fax: 704-484-1067 Email: ads@cfmedia.info 828-248-1408 157 West Main St. Forest City, NC 28043 www.rutherfordweekly.com **Greenville/Asheville DMA Email: ads@cfmedia.info 704-484-1047 503 North Lafayette St. Shelby, NC 28150 www.cherryvilleeagle.com *Charlotte DMA 3DAH>U ODKLLAN EJBK Email: ads@cfmedia.info 704-484-1047 503 North Lafayette St. Shelby, NC 28150 www.shelbyinfo.com *Charlotte DMA Email: ads@cfmedia.info 704-484-1047 503 North Lafayette St. Shelby, NC 28150 www.kmherald.com *Charlotte DMA GOOD NEWS for GREAT PEOPLE Equals HUGE RESULTS! *Charlotte DMA **Greenville/Asheville DMA WEEKLY RUTHERFORD RUTHERFORD 720 S CHURCH ST FOREST CITY, NC (828)-245-7274 ISSUE NO. 13 • April 1, ISSUE NO. 13 • April 1, 2021 • 2021 • RutherfordWeekly.com • 828-248-1408 RutherfordWeekly.com • 828-248-1408 Our 29 th Year • Over 25,000 Weekly Readers IN GOD WE TRUST! IN GOD WE TRUST! ©Community First Media Community First Media 719 S. Broadway, Forest City Right off Exit 182 from US74 SOCIAL DISTANCING AND SOCIAL DISTANCING AND FACE MASK REQUIRED FACE MASK REQUIRED 828-229-3123 828-229-3123 MON.-FRI. 9:30-5; SAT. 9:30-3 MON.-FRI. 9:30-5; SAT. 9:30-3 COME SEE THE COME SEE THE NEW ALUMINUM NEW ALUMINUM SKATEBOARDS SKATEBOARDS DELTA 8 PRODUCTS • DETOX SUPPLIES DELTA 8 PRODUCTS • DETOX SUPPLIES IT'S IT'S FREE! FREE! Three members of the Piedmont- Pleasant Hill Community Club sat at long white-clothed tables inside an unlighted clubhouse recently reminiscing about the days of the award-winning community club and how the clubhouse was the center of the community. They discussed the efforts in saving the more than 60-year-old building and community club. As the ladies quietly talked inside, there were rumblings up on the roof of the 1957 building. The Women Roofers were busy taking off shingles and preparing to recover the fl at roof. The project was begun in the fall of 2019 with a commitment to complete fl at part of the roof in 2020. But COVID-19 changed everything and roofi ng came to a halt for the nationally known Women Roofers. Finally during the weekend of March 11-13, led by Bossman Billy Honeycutt, the roofi ng project was completed, the yard cleaned up and members are now ready for the next improvement projects and hopefully a covered dish dinner in the future. Although three days were scheduled to complete the job, the roofers were fi nished Friday afternoon. Saturday morning was used for a few minor fi nishing tasks and fi nal clean-up. Club members Nancy Koone, 70, Doris Keever, 90, and Mae McMahan, 76, met the roofers at the clubhouse each morning. They helped prepare delicious lunch meals for the roofers and around noon Thursday and Friday everyone gathered inside the clubhouse for potato soup, vegetable beef soup, cornbread and homemade desserts. McMahan made vanilla pound cake with icing, Coca Cola cake and apple cake. Club members Steve and Lois Dimsdale brought hot dogs and chili on Friday. On Saturday morning, Doris was joined on site by Cheryl Austin, club president. Social distancing and mask wearing were observed at all times. Doris is a chapter member of the community club that was formed in the mid-1950s. She looks forward to the day members can come back together. Prior to building the clubhouse, members met at another location for a couple of years, she said. Nancy joined the club with her parents when she was about fi ve years old and remembers the fun times meeting there with other children of the community and nearby rural communities. "Up until COVID we had quarterly meetings and pot luck or covered dish dinners about once a quarter,' Nancy said. As the age or the roof caught up with the club, leaking became a problem in several areas of the clubhouse. Club members began hosting spaghetti dinners and having yard sales to raise money to repair the roof. Even during that time buckets were placed strategically throughout the building to catch the water. "I raised about $600 one time by myself," a proud Doris spoke up. "We used the money we raised to get the roof done," she said. As the money was being raised, Doris said she contacted Laura Hodge, a member of Women Roofers and a pharmacist at the Medicine Box in nearby Rutherfordton, inquiring about possible help from the group. "We had heard about the good work of the Women Roofers," Doris explained. Hodge said she immediately contacted Billy Honeycutt and he and fellow roofer Nell Bovender began the discussions. "They (club) raised the funds and we agreed to do the work," Honeycutt said. Years ago when the Women Roofers were organized, the women and Honeycutt roofed the Mt. Vernon Community Clubhouse after the community raised the money for supplies. "At that time we had just begun and a group came to help us," Nell said. "They probably knew more about roofi ng at that time than we did" Bovender said If there is a request for a community roofi ng project and the money can be raised, the group will consider the job, Bovender said. There have been times when community groups will not only raise money for materials but have also paid the roofers for the work. The money went back into the Women Roofers coffers to roof other homes. Honeycutt said the group never gets caught up with its long list of roofi ng projects. "There is always a need," he said. The Piedmont-Pleasant Hill Clubhouse features a fl at roof on the back side of the building and that was new to the group. Honeycutt taught the roofers what to do and the job was done in two days. "At some time they will have to add something to the fl at roof...We stopped the leak," he said. As the roofers worked, there was talk from members of hopefully getting together for the annual Christmas dinner in 2021. The 2020 event was canceled because of COVID. The gatherings will all depend on the health of the County, State and Nation. "Doris always brought gifts for all the children," Mae said of past Christmas parties. Mae McMahan remembers being a part of the community club also as a teenager and it was a "hang-out" spot for teens on Friday nights. There was a shuffl e board almost the length of the clubhouse and there were other games. "It was a fun time," Mae said. There was music, but dancing was never allowed. Nancy remembers children from all across the area gathering at the clubhouse to play the Piedmont-Pleasant Hill children. "The clubhouse was the heart of the community," Nancy said. It was the setting for community parties, wedding and anniversary receptions. But when the two community churches - Piedmont and Pleasant Hill - both built fellowship halls, more events were held there. Continued on page 3. Continued on page 3. Members committed to "saving" the Piedmont-Pleasant Hill Community Club Article Provided By: Jean Gordon Women Roofers lend hand up top Following the leadership of Bossman Billy (Honeycutt), far left, Women Roofers on the job. Club members (left to right) Nancy Koone, Doris Keever and Mae McMahan. Reach over 65,000 readers weekly when you promote your business in our 4 community newspapers! 704-484-1047 www.shelbyinfo.com Our 38th Year • Issue No. 13 • April 1, 2021 Happy Easter! ¡ဟဠဘ £ £ ¦¡£ထ¡ ¦¡£ထ¡ၹ £¤ £¤ £¦¤¤£ª¡ª¤£ £¦¤¤£ª¡ª¤£ ျ¦¡£¤£ª¤¦£¦¤£ျ ျ¦¡£¤£ª¤¦£¦¤£ျ ျ£¤¦¤£ျဖဖဖျ¡¤£ ျ£¤¦¤£ျဖဖဖျ¡¤£ ျ¤¢¦££ ျ¤¢¦££ ှ§¡¤§¡ª¤£££¡¤£ဿ ှ§¡¤§¡ª¤£££¡¤£ဿ Shop with Us! Shop with Us! Mon 9:00-5:00 Mon 9:00-5:00 Tues-Fri 9:00-5:30 Tues-Fri 9:00-5:30 Sat 9:00-3:00 Sat 9:00-3:00 1334 N Post Rd • Shelby 704-480-5530 1334 N Post Rd • Shelby N Po Post P Rd • S • 704-480-5530 Classic Lamp Outlet Classic Lamp Outlet ©CommunityFirstMedia ££ ££ ¦¡ ¦¡ Don Gibson concerts to go 'on the road' dŚĞŽŶ'ŝďƐŽŶdŚĞĂƚƌĞ;'dͿŝƐŽŶĐĞĂŐĂŝŶƚĂŬͲ ŝŶŐŝƚƐƐŚŽǁƐŽŶƚŚĞƌŽĂĚ͘dŚƌĞĞƵƉĐŽŵŝŶŐĐŽŶͲ ĐĞƌƚƐĂƌĞŐŽŝŶŐƚŽďĞŚĞůĚĂƚƚŚĞůĞǀĞůĂŶĚŽƵŶƚLJ &ĂŝƌŐƌŽƵŶĚƐ;ϭϳϱϭ͘DĂƌŝŽŶ^ƚ͕͘^ŚĞůďLJͿŝŶƐƚĞĂĚŽĨ ĂƚƚŚĞŝĐŽŶŝĐϰϬϬͲƐĞĂƚǀĞŶƵĞ͘ ͞ƐŽĨŶŽǁǁĞĐĂŶ͛ƚŚŽƐƚĨƵůůƐĞĂƚŝŶŐĂƚƚŚĞŽŶ 'ŝďƐŽŶdŚĞĂƚƌĞ͕ƐŽǁĞĂƌĞŐŽŝŶŐƚŽŚŽƐƚƐĞǀĞƌĂů ĚƌŝǀĞͲŝŶƐƚLJůĞĐŽŶĐĞƌƚƐĂƚƚŚĞůĞǀĞůĂŶĚŽƵŶƚLJ &ĂŝƌŐƌŽƵŶĚƐ͕͟ƐĂLJƐ'ddžĞĐƵƚŝǀĞŝƌĞĐƚŽƌ^ƚĂŶ >ŽǁĞƌLJ͘͞tĞĂƌĞĐĂůůŝŶŐƚŚĞƐĞƌŝĞƐ͚KŶdŚĞZŽĂĚ tŝƚŚŽŶ'ŝďƐŽŶ͛͘͟ dŚĞĨŝƌƐƚƐŚŽǁǁŝůůƐƚĂƌĐŽŵĞĚŝĂŶ,ĞŶƌLJŚŽ ŽŶƉƌŝůϵ͕ϮϬϮϭ͘dŚŝƐĞǀĞŶƚǁŝůůďĞĨŽůůŽǁĞĚďLJ ƚŚĞŽŶ'ŝďƐŽŶ^ŝŶŐĞƌ^ŽŶŐǁƌŝƚĞƌƐ^LJŵƉŽƐŝƵŵ ŽŶƉƌŝůϭϲͲϭϳ͕ϮϬϮϭ͕ĨĞĂƚƵƌŝŶŐŐƵĞƐƚ tŝůƐŽŶ&ĂŝƌĐŚŝůĚŽŶ&ƌŝĚĂLJŶŝŐŚƚĂŶĚ ƚŚĞĂŶŶƵĂů^ŽŶŐǁƌŝƚĞƌƐŽŵƉĞƚŝƚŝŽŶ ŽŶ^ĂƚƵƌĚĂLJĂĨƚĞƌŶŽŽŶĂŶĚĞǀĞŶŝŶŐ͘ tŝůƐŽŶ&ĂŝƌĐŚŝůĚǁŝůůďĞƐŚŽǁĐĂƐŝŶŐ ƐŽŵĞŽĨƚŚĞŝƌŚŝƚƐĂŶĚƐŽŵĞŽĨƚŚŽƐĞ ŽĨƚŚĞŝƌĨĂŵŽƵƐĨĂƚŚĞƌƐ;dŚĞ^ƚĂƚůĞƌƌŽƚŚĞƌƐͿ͘ KŶƉƌŝůϮϰ͕ϮϬϮϭ͕ƚŚĞKŶƚŚĞZŽĂĚƐĞƌŝĞƐǁŝůů ŚŽƐƚtLJŶŽŶŶĂ:ƵĚĚΘdŚĞŝŐEŽŝƐĞ͕ĨŽůůŽǁĞĚďLJ ƚŚĞďůƵĞŐƌĂƐƐĚƵŽĂŝůĞLJΘsŝŶĐĞŶƚŽŶƉƌŝůϯϬ͕ ϮϬϮϭ͘ ͞tŚŝůĞǁĞĂƌĞƐŽƌƌLJŶŽƚƚŽďĞĂďůĞƚŽŚŽƐƚ ƚŚĞƐĞĐŽŶĐĞƌƚƐŝŶŽƵƌŽǁŶĨĂĐŝůŝƚLJ͕ǁĞĂƌĞŐƌĂƚĞĨƵů ƚŚĂƚǁĞǁŝůůƐƚŝůůďĞĂďůĞƚŽƉƌĞƐĞŶƚƚŚĞƐĞĨŝŶĞƉĞƌ Ͳ ĨŽƌŵĞƌƐƚŽŽƵƌĚĞĚŝĐĂƚĞĚĂƵĚŝĞŶĐĞƐ͕͟ƐĂLJƐ>ŽǁĞƌLJ͘ ůůƐŚŽǁƐĂƌĞĚƌŝǀĞͲŝŶƐƚLJůĞ͕ĂĐĐŽƌĚŝŶŐƚŽ >ŽǁĞƌLJ͘ŽŶĐĞƌƚŐŽĞƌƐǁŝůůďĞĂďůĞƚŽƐŝƚŽƵƚƐŝĚĞŽĨ ƚŚĞŝƌǀĞŚŝĐůĞŝŶůĂǁŶĐŚĂŝƌƐŽƌŽŶďůĂŶŬĞƚƐ͘ ͞WĂƌƚŝĐŝƉĂŶƚƐƐŚŽƵůĚďƌŝŶŐƚŚĞŝƌŽǁŶĐŚĂŝƌƐŝĨ ƚŚĞLJǁĂŶƚƚŽƐŝƚŽƵƚƐŝĚĞƚŚĞŝƌĐĂƌ͕͟ƐĂLJƐ>ŽǁĞƌLJ͘ ͞tĞĂůƐŽĂƐŬƚŚĂƚƚŚĞƌĞďĞŶŽďŝŐŐƌŽƵƉƐƐŝƚƚŝŶŐ ƚŽŐĞƚŚĞƌƵŶůĞƐƐƚŚĞLJĂƌĞŝŶƚŚĞƐĂŵĞĨĂŵŝůLJŐƌŽƵƉ͘͟ ƌƚŝƐƚƐǁŝůůďĞůŝǀĞĂŶĚŝŶƉĞƌƐŽŶ͕ďƵƚƚŚĞƐŽƵŶĚ ǁŝůůĂůƐŽďĞƐŝŵƵůĐĂƐƚŽŶƚŚĞĐĂƌƌĂĚŝŽŝĨĂƚƚĞŶĚĞĞƐ ĐŚŽŽƐĞƚŽƐŝƚŝŶƚŚĞŝƌǀĞŚŝĐůĞ͘ ůůƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞƐǁŝůůďĞŐŝŶĂƚϴƉ͘ŵ͘&ŽƌŵŽƌĞ ŝŶĨŽƌŵĂƚŝŽŶ͕ǀŝƐŝƚƚŚĞ'dǁĞďƐŝƚĞĂƚ ǁǁǁ͘ĚŽŶŐŝďƐŽŶƚŚĞĂƚĞƌ͘ĐŽŵ͕ŽƌĐĂůůƚŚĞďŽdžŽĨĨŝĐĞ ĂƚϳϬϰͲϰϴϳͲϴϭϭϰ͘ +HQU\&KR :LOVRQ)DLUFKLOG 'DLOH\ 9LQFHQW Our Of¿ ce Will Be Closed On Friday, April 2 aserviceinc.com Volume 115 • Issue 13 Wednesday, March 31, 2021 75¢ 160-plus girls help field 12 teams for popular Cherryville organization by MICHAEL E. POWELL Editor michael@cfmedia.info A little cold weather didn't dampen the excite- ment on the faces of 160- plus girls of all ages who came out on Saturday, March 20, for the opening day of the 2021 Dixie Girls Softball season. A media release from Jamie McSwain, from Rockin' Realty, one of the team sponsors (Sweetees) noted, "It is the largest turn- out we have had in three or four years." She continued, "Over 160 (young ladies) registered to play this year." McSwain said there were 12 teams on the field that day, along with their entire board, Mayor H.L. Beam, III, and City Manager Jeff Cash. Dixie Girls Softball President Cheryl Word and Vice-President Daniel Mc- Bride, VP, said the girls ranged in age from 3 years old up the age of 19. President Word said, "We had a great turnout! Our numbers were some of the best they have been in several years. I think overall it was a great day! Everyone seemed to be very happy to be out and back on the ball- field." McBride thanked the group many sponsors for making it all possible and announced the top winners for the organization's candy fundraiser. First place winner, Skyla Arnold received a $300 Great Wolf Lodge gift card; second place winner, Emily Lowrance received a Le- novo Smart tablet; third place was a tie between winners, Desiree Smith and Hazel Workman, who each See DIXIE, Page 3 2021 Dixie Girls Softball Opening Day draws large crowd These excited young ladies are all lined up at the fence at Ballard Park's C.V. Thornburg Field as the 2021 Dixie Girls Softball opening day gets under way. They're ready for some softball! (photo provided) Event held virtually on The Chamber's Facebook page by MICHAEL E. POWELL Editor michael@cfmedia.info The 2021 Cherryville Chamber of Commerce An- nual Meeting, held March 11, looked quite a bit differ- ent, as has everything else done lately in America, as the COVID-19 pandemic contin- ues to keeps us all apart. Chamber Vice-President Mary Beth Tackett said the Annual meeting, normally held as a get together in one of the City's venues or another, was presented at 6 p.m., that day, on the Chamber's Face- book page, due to social dis- tancing requirements. The vastly time-shortened event focused on awarding the 2020 Chamber Business, Citizen, and Member of the Year awards and Chamber Board Chairman Pete Craft's annual Chamber message. Mrs. Tackett said the 2020 Business of the Year Award went to Vickie Spurling Re- alty, while the Citizen of the Year Award went to Mr. Pat- rick O'Leary, and the Mem- ber of the Year Award went to Mr. Calvin Hastings. Said Tackett, "The Busi- ness of the Year award was established to honor either a business or businessperson whose investment in, and See AWARDS, Page 4 Cherryville Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year Award winner Vickie Spurling, of Vickie Spurling Realty. Mr. Patrick O'Leary was presented with the 2020 Cherryville Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year Award. Mr. Calvin Hastings was presented with the Cham- ber's 2020 Member of the Year Award. Three 2020 awards given at COC's 2021 Annual meeting Businessman Jody Fowler creates unique way to give back to community by MICHAEL E. POWELL Editor michael@cfmedia.info Cherryville native, busi- nessman and builder Jody Fowler has recently come up with a unique way to honor the memory of his beloved great uncle, Miles Gantt, who he said "sparked (his) passion for construction." Fowler had originally ap- proached the Cherryville City Council a while back with the idea to honor the late Mr. Gantt's memory by the con- struction and placement of a community food pantry box, an idea which Mr. Fowler said he had seen in a few other towns and communities as he went about his business as a builder. City Manager Jeff Cash said they were unable to allow the pantry to be placed in the Heritage Park, as originally requested by Mr. Fowler, be- cause of issues with the City's insurance carriers. "We asked them and they explained to us it was an ex- tremely high liability issue for us," he said recently by phone. At a Saturday, March 26, dedication of the new "Miles Gantt Community Food Pan- try", Jody addressed a crowd of family, friends, and church members at Cherryville's First United Methodist Church, and said, "The Lord laid this idea on my heart, and though I had to put it off for one reason or another, I still kept coming back to it." Fowler said his beloved See PANTRY, Page 6 Community Food Pantry honors memory of late Miles Gantt Last Saturday, March 26, a group of family members, friends, and church members met at Cherryville's First United Meth- odist Church to honor the memory of the late Miles Gantt as a food pantry was dedicated and blessed in his memory. The pantry's idea was the brainchild of Cherryville businessman and builder, Jody Fowler, to honor his great uncle, Miles. Present, in addition to Mr. Fowler, his wife, Sarah, and children, Will and Keenan, were the following: Louie and Joan Fowler; Jerry Gantt, Lisa Gantt, Ansley Julian, Addi Julian, and Avery Julian; Brenda Gantt; Heath and Allison Fowler and Drew and Jackson Fowler; Brent and Teresa Gardo; Billy and Barbara Crews; Richard and Kay Beam; Gail Jenkins; the Rev. Zack Christie; and Pete Craft. (photo by MEP/The Eagle/CF Media) Faster opening of Catawba Two Kings Casino Resort will accelerate job creation for region KINGS MOUNTAIN, N.C. – The Catawba Nation announced last week it will fast-track the opening of the Catawba Two Kings Ca- sino Resort project in Kings Mountain by opening a "pre- launch" facility this summer with 500 slot machines. The pre-launch facility, which will be constructed using prefabricated modular structures, will provide an initial opportunity for patrons to game with limited food & beverage and other guest amenities. "With the completion of our compact with the State of North Carolina, the Catawba Nation is eager to open the casino as quickly as possible to begin bringing economic benefits and jobs to the state and region," Catawba Chief Bill Harris said. "We're working with Delaware North, our consultant on the Catawba Two Kings Casino Resort project, as well as our developer, Skyboat Gam- ing, to make that happen by opening what we are calling a 'pre-launch' facility this summer." An introductory phase of the full casino is still planned and will feature an additional 1,300 slot machines. It will See CASINO, Page 4 Catawba Nation to fast-track casino summer opening with 500-slot 'pre-launch' facility at KM site N.C. 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Gold St. • Kings Mountain, NC hordinsurancecom 704-734-9422 HORD INSURANCE kmherald.com • 704-484-1047 75¢ Volume 133 • Issue 13 Wednesday, March 31, 2021 For Dental Implants Locally Here In Kings Mountain Kings Mountain 703 East King Street, Suite 9 Kings Mountain, NC www.BakerDentalCare.com call us at 704-739-4461 • 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. • Improved self-esteem. Smile again and feel better about yourself. • Durable. Implants are very durable and with proper care, can last a lifetime. Just a few benefits of Dental Implants: To find out more about Dental Implants and schedule your next appointment Baker Dental Care Preventative, Restorative & Cosmetic Dentistry The Kings Mountain Min- isterial Association will be leading in an Easter Sunrise Service on Easter Sunday, April 4 at 7:00 a.m. at Moun- tain Rest Cemetery. The service will be held around the large white cross in the cemetery. In the event of inclem- ent weather, the service will be moved to Eastside Bap- tist Church, 308 York Road, Kings Mountain. If the event is held inside, everyone is re- quested to wear a mask. The Easter Sunrise mes- sage will be delivered by Pastor Ron Caulder from Eastside Baptist Church. Special music will be pro- vided by East Gold Wesleyan Church. Everyone is invited to at- tend. The service will be ap- proximately 30 minutes. Come and celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus! The City of Kings Moun- tain will be offering a free pick-up service for trash, junk, and litter the week of April 5-9. Items to be picked up must be placed in the front yard next to the curb during this week. The intent of this project is to remove litter and junk that has accumulated on the exterior of properties. The normal $20 fee per truck load for collecting these items will be waived during this week. This does not include items such as furniture, mat- tresses, batteries, electronic equipment, or paint cans con- taining any amount of liqui- fied paint. Please do not bring these items from inside the home or other buildings to be collected. Please note that if you do place unapproved items on the curb, a $20 fee per truck load will be required to be paid prior to the City removing these items. The encourages everyone to take advantage of this free service and do you part in cleaning up the city. For more information please contact the Sanitation Department at 704-734-0735 or Codes Enforcement De- partment at 704-734-4561. Easter Sunrise service planned KM Mountaineers beat Shelby Lions Forestview Here Thursday, See page 1B The Catawba Nation announced Friday it will fast-track the opening of the Catawba Two Kings Ca- sino Resort project in Kings Mountain by opening a "pre- launch" facility this summer with 500 slot machines. The pre-launch facility, which will be constructed using prefabricated modular structures, will provide an initial opportunity for pa- trons to game with limited food & beverage and other guest amenities. "With the completion of our compact with the State of North Carolina, the Catawba Nation is eager to open the casino as quickly as possible to begin bringing economic benefits and jobs to the state and region," Ca- tawba Chief Bill Harris said. "We're working with Dela- ware North, our consultant on the Catawba Two Kings Casino Resort project, as well as our developer, Sky- boat Gaming, to make that happen by opening what we are calling a 'pre-launch' fa- cility this summer." An introductory phase of the full casino is still planned and will feature an additional 1,300 slot machines. It will be a permanent structure that will become part of the full casino. Its construction is ex- pected to take about a year. "It makes sense to have the temporary pre-launch facility to start, and it will continue to operate during the construction of the intro- ductory phase and possibly subsequent phases," said Brian Hansberry, president of Delaware North's gaming business. "It gives us a place to teach incoming staff and accommodates people in the region who are anxious to start gaming this summer." The 17-acre casino site off Dixon School Road in Kings Mountain, Cleveland County, is near Interstate 85 and about 35 miles west of Charlotte. The total $273 million casino resort project is expected to create 2,600 permanent jobs at full build- out and thousands of con- struction jobs in the region. "This project will prove to be a long-lasting and sus- tainable economic engine for the residents of Cleveland County, we are excited about the expedited timeline" said Cleveland County Commis- sioner Johnny Hutchins. See CASINO, Page 5A BIA approves Class III gaming Pre-launch Casino opening this summer Artist rendering of the pre-launch facility. Photo provided By Loretta Cozart Bin Raiders is open for business. Srimaha Rithip- hong, who goes by Hale, along with his wife Jee and his sister Aricka, op- erate Bin Raiders, a fam- ily-owned business that opened on January 23. The shop is so popular that cus- tomers wait in line for the store to open each day. Bin Raiders purchases inventory in lots and passes the savings on to their cus- tomers. Much of the in- ventory items are Amazon returns or overstock. Most items are in the original packaging. "Sometimes we get an item wrapped in bub- ble wrap and we don't know what is inside. I've had cus- tomers find cell phones and Fitbit watches that way," Hale said. When asked why he de- cided to open a store, Hale answered without hesitation as he pointed to his son, Lee. "I started the store for him. If I worked in a plant on the second-shift, I would get home after he goes to bed. In the morning, I would only have time with him until I dropped him off at school. That is not what I want.," Hale said. Hale got the idea of open- ing a discount store in Kings Mountain while shopping in similar stores in other com- munities. However, Kings Mountain did not have this type of store. 'I just ob- served how they did things, how they priced items and when they brought out more inventory. Then, I went on- line and found other people who were doing the same thing and they shared how they were doing it. Later, I learned how to buy lots on- line and it all came together from there." Once he got his plan for- malized, Hale reached out to Dan Potter, his soccer coach and friend from high school, asking him to help getting See BIN RAIDERS, Page 5A Bin Raiders opens on Walker Street Hale, Lee, Jess, and Arika in front of Bin Raiders. Photo by Loretta Cozart Neighborhood Spring Clean Up By Tabitha Thomas The Patrick Senior Center is hosting an Eas- ter Drive-Thru Thursday, April 1 from 10 am to 12 pm. Seniors are asked to please call ahead to sign up so, the senior center knows how many goodie bags to prepare. 909 E. King Street Kings Mountain, NC 28086 (704) 734-0447. Patrick Senior Center Easter Drive-thru Thursday By Loretta Cozart American Legion Post 155 has its Vet- eran's Break- fast Saturday morning, April 3, at the Otis D. Green Post home on East Gold Street. All veterans are invited to this free breakfast the first Saturday of every month. Others are welcome to attend for a small donation which helps fund future breakfasts. The next breakfast will be on May 1 from 9 am to 11 am. American Legion Veteran's breakfast Saturday /HDUQPRUHWRGD\ 7KHVW XSWRIRU\RX 6WXG\/RFDWLRQ9LWD( \1& akerDentalCare.c .c e.c .c . om om om om call us all us at l u 704-739-4 39-44 ok and feel like . 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Items will be used at the County-wide Back 2 School Bash & Kids Health Fair held August 5 from 10am-3pm at POPS in Forest City Please drop off your donations Monday-Tuesday 8am-5pm, Wednesday 8am-3:30pm, Thursday 8am-2:30pm through July 3. Thank you for your generosity! WEEKLY RUTHERFORD 157 West Main Street, Forest City Randy Whitener of Rutherfordton is set to perform for his hometown crowd at the PBR Ironpeddlers Chute Out at Tryon International Equestrian Center & Resort (Tryon International) June 23-24, as part of his debut season on the PBR Challenger Series Tour. A member of "Team Tryon," - employees of Tryon International and its sister companies in the region - Whitener has been employed at Touchstone Fine Cabinetry for a decade and, after the company was acquired by CEO Mark Bellissimo in early 2018, also contributed his skills to the building of the jumps utilized at the FEI World Equestrian Games™ Tryon 2018. In the same arena where the world's best soared over obstacles that he helped craft for a world championship event, Whitener will be battling to the eight second buzzer on some of the best bulls around. "I've been bull riding for a while, but this is my fi rst rookie year on the PBR tour. It's not been the best, but it's been good! It's a totally different level from rodeoing, or the bulls that you face at weekend rodeos. This is the best of the best. [With] professional bull riding, you get the top bulls in the world, you get the top guys in the world, bring them together, and it makes a show." The honor of performing for a hometown crowd is "a dream come true," Whitener emphasized. "I was telling my wife today that I don't know how I'm going to react when I walk out to be introduced. I'll know 90 percent of the people in the stands. From my house, you can see the lights from this place. It's going to be awesome. I hope I can perform and ride well for the people. No matter what, it's just an honor and a dream to ride here in front of my hometown." The bull riding action for the 2023 PBR Ironpeddlers Chute Out at Tryon International begins at 8pm June 23, and 7pm June 24. All 35 competing bull riders will get on one bull each in Round 1 on Friday night and Round 2 on Saturday evening. The riders' individual two-round scores will be totaled with the Top 10 advancing to the championship round for one more out and a chance at the event title. Tickets start at $20 (excluding taxes and fees) and the event is expected to sell out. Guests are encouraged to purchase tickets online in advance to guarantee availability. Box offi ce: 828-278-8088 or tickets@tryon.com Article Provided By: Jean Gordon Rutherfordton rookie bull rider will compete at TIEC this weekend; PBR Ironpeddlers Chute Out