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"The Kings Mountain Herald
"july 17, 2008
a
1YOUR OPINION
Don’t be a quitter,
be a TRUE hitter
Letter to the editor:
Over the past year I have had the pleasure of watching some
very talented baseball players. I have seen Kings Mountain make
it to the third round of the state play-offs and even earn a home
"game in the second round. During this run several of the varsity
players gained well deserved notoriety in the local press.
This is indeed a very special year in local Baseball history -
American Legion Baseball that is. For the first time ever the North
Carolina American Legion Baseball State tournament (Gastonia),
and a national, regional and the American Legion World Series
(Shelby) will be held within 20 miles of Kings Mountain. And with
Kings Mountain's recent success it would seem that Kings
Mountain would be set to make a run at the American Legion
Baseball titles. However in today’s baseball it seems to all be about
the individuals and what kind of exposure they can get or should
I say buy.
I would like to state that I love the game of baseball, but I do not
like the business exposure, a.k.a. “showcase baseball.” Both of my |
sons have played travel baseball for many years, and I would not
trade any of those experiences for anything. But we have never left
Kings Mountain behind. One of my older son’s most prized
awards is a Dixie youth North Carolina State Championship under
Coach Ray Robinson that led to a World Series appearance in
Bedford, Va., for Kings Mountain.
If exposure is the real goal, what better exposure could you find
than in the national spotlight of the best talent collegiate and high
school in American Legion Baseball's biggest stage? And guess
what, it would not cost the parents or players a dime. In looking at
this season Kings Mountain post 155 should have had a super ros-
ter.
Instead we have scraped together ball players any way we could
just to have enough to play.
We're barely getting nine players to the field to play on a day-to-
day basis and I for one find this very sad. What happened to the
~ TEAM concept? I have hon it all this year, from “if I am not play-
ing I am not staying” 0 “me before team.” Times have changed so
much! Now it is, “if ta am not happy I will just quit” or “the coach
will not let me start so I am going to quit.” I look at the seniors that
quit this year, who will without a doubt regret their decision next
year when they are not allowed to play. These are the guys that
should have showed up and set the example for the younger play-
ers.
I had so many great younger ballplayers tell me they were not
coming out because they would (not) have a chance to play. Well
my answer to that is, you must make an investment in the game to
receive a benefit. Anyone off of last year’s junior team could have
been a starter on this year’s team, because I know how hard they
work to earn their spot on a daily basis, trying to build something
they could all be proud of and, in turn, invest in next year’s base-
ball team at Kings Mountain High School.
KM Baseball Fan
Tim D. Ross
Kings Mountain, N.C.
Cleveland Community College
recently announced the follow-
ing new and promoted faculty
and staff:
Laura Bowen has been pro-
moted to Coordinator, Financial
Aid. She was previously the
Accountant, Accounts Payable. A
native of Cleveland County, she
graduated from Blacksburg High
School. She earned an Associate
in Arts Degree from Cleveland
Community College and a
Bachelor of Science degree in
Business Administration from
GWU. She will begin work on a
Master's degree at Appalachian
State in August. Mrs. Bowen is a
member of the Association of
Community College Business
Officials and Carolina Scribes, a
local writer's group who recently
‘been = promoted to
published Hearts and Minds of
Cleveland County. She and her
husband, Jeff, reside in Grover.
Kimberly Johnson has joined
CCC as an Education Benefits
Data Technician. Mrs. Johnson is
a native of Grover and a graduate
of Crest High. She holds a
Bachelor of Science degree in
Child Development: Birth to
Kindergarten Education from
Appalachian State University.
She has a North Carolina Birth-
Kindergarten Teaching License.
Mrs. Johnson has been employed
at CCC part-time as an Education
Benefits Assistant. She resides in
Grover with her husband David
and daughter Makenzie.
Emily Arey, of Shelby, has
Career
Education Counselor. She was
formerly Secretary of Student
Springs, has
CCC announces promotions
Services.
Pam Boling, Cleveland
County native, has joined the
CCC staff as Accountant, General
Ledger.
La Costa Edwards, native of
Rutherford County, has joined
CCC as Secretary, Student
Services.
David Estridge is the Program
Coordinator, Industrial
Management Technology.
Estridge is a member of Elizabeth
Baptist Church where he is a dea-
con and the Disaster Relief
Chairman. He is also the Den
Leader of Cub Scout Pack 92. ° .
Estridge is married to Cindy and
they have two children, Andrew
and Kaleb.
Stacy M. Thomas, of Boiling
been named
Accountant, Accounts Payable.
Eaton honors Carl Fortenberry for
outstanding community service
Diversified industrial manu-
facturer Eaton Corporation
recently announced that Carl
Fortenberry has been chosen as
a recipient of the company’s
2008 Stover Volunteerism
Award for community service.
The annual award recognizes
Eaton employees who have
demonstrated leadership or
exemplary service in communi-
ty activities and have volun-
teered for at least one year in
health, human care, education-
al, arts, cultural or civic organi- -
zations. The award is named in
honor of James R. Stover, for-
mer Eaton chairman.
Fortenberry works at Eaton's
Kings Mountain manufacturing
plant, and has been an Eaton
employee for 31 years. He has
been involved with the Special
Olympics in Cleveland County
for 10 years, raising more than
$8,000. He has also played an
instrumental role in establish-
ing an annual trip for North
Shelby School, a special pur-
pose public school serving chil-
dren with developmental dis-
abilities. In addition, he coordi-
nates a motorcycle ride at
Christmas that benefits children
in foster-care and the Children’s
Home of Cleveland County,
raising more than $300,000
since 1991.
Each year, Eaton employees
are nominated for the award
and then evaluated by a diverse
selection committee. Honored
employees receive a commemo-
rative award and a $2,500 con-
tribution to a non-profit com-
munity organization of their
choice.
The Herald welcomes your
letters to the editor for publica- -
tion in each Thursday's paper.
All letters must be signed, and
for verification purposes
include the address and phone
number. Letters should be lim-
ited to 500 words.
Opinion Page Policy
Mail your letter to Editor, The
Herald, P.O. Box 769, Kings
Mountain, NC 28086; fax to
(704) 739-0611; or e-mail to
KMH Letters@kingsmountain-
herald.com. Letters sent by fax
and e-mail must also include
name, mailing address and
phone number for verification
purposes.
Letters may be edited.
Letters to the editor and
columnists who appear on the
editorial page do not necessari-
ly represent the views of the
Kings Mountain Herald.
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Bill Parsons - Publisher
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Emily Weaver - Editor
(eweaver@kingsmountainherald.com)
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