Page 4A-KINGS MOUNTAIN HERALD-Wednesday, July 30, 1986
Dear Editor:
I moved away from my hometown, Kannapolis, when I was
17, almost 20 years ago. There aren’t too many things that br-
ing me back there anymore. However, when I heard that the
Shriners were having a parade there on Saturday, June 7th, I
made plans to ‘‘go home’.
As my husband and I turned off Highway 29, crossed the
bridge to go down First Street, in front of the school, I kept
watching for some sort of banner...‘Welcome Shriners’. But,
there was none... i
“Well”, I thought to myself, “maybe the banner is on the
other side of town’’. As I found out later, there was no banner
on the other side of town either.
In addition to the lack of a proper welcome, I later found out
they had to pay to use the A.L. Brown High School to conduct
their programs and market their wares. Fact is, that the town
should have spread out the banner, collected donations and
given the Shriners the use of the facility for free.
“Ah!” you might say, ‘Why does this strange lady have
such a love for the Shriners?” I'll lovingly tell you.
In 1980, I went to work with the Carolina-Georgia Blood
Center, a regional-not-for-profit blood program in Greenville,
South Carolina. One of the 16 hospitals served by the Center is
the Shriners Hospital for Crippled Children.
I never really thought about the Shriners one way or the
other until then. Oh, I heard the same stories most people
hear; that they were a wild bunch of partying men. Well,
maybe they do party a little, and maybe their motorcycles
and dune buggies make sounds that aren’t much like music to
our ears. But, let me tell you about the other side of those
Shriners; the side you may not see or hear about, or a
preciate and understand until you visit one of the hospitals
they support.
They’re the guys who dig down into their pockets to brace a
child, or help provide plastic surgery for an infant; all free to
the family.
They're the guys who give up their Saturdays and Sundays
to stand on street corners in the freezing rain and sell candy
to help raise money to board a parent who otherwise couldn’t
afford to be with their child during surgery.
They’re the men with blisters on their feet and sunburned
faces who sell tickets in 105 degree weather at Freedom
Weekend Aloft to raise money for medical supplies and up-
dated equipment for the Shriners Hospitals. :
They’re the guys who stay up all night cooking barbeque
and baked beans to sell, in order to raise money for vans and
helicopters to transport needy children.
“Needy Children”’! If these words hold no meaning for you,
I welcome you to visit Greenville, South Carolina and make
arrangements to tour the Shriners Hospital.
I strongly urge you to visit these children and see how their
ain and suffering is lessened and often eliminated by the
ospital’s wonderful staff
The concept within the hospital is to create an atmosphere
of harmony, peace and love for all of the children.
There are programs for children of every age. Teachers
from the area, supply continuing education in classrooms
with modern and updated materials.
Even the clothes the children wear are provided,
laundered, and cared for by the hospital staff.
Each child finds sanctuary in his or her own bed. Nothing,
(not even the changing of a band-aid) is done to the child
while in bed. Love explodes from within the walls of these
hospitals. All this is accomplished through the dedication of
i the Shriners! . :
_ So, I beg you, the next time you hear the Shriners are com-
{ing to town, rell out the red carpet and spread the banner
across town.
Remember the children who are walking and playing now,
because of a Shriner’s hard work, and the sounds you always
thought of as noise coming from those Harleys’ and Dune
Buggies will become music to your ears.
And, if you ever see a Shriner standing on the street with
those funny little hats, buy his candy or his barbeque dinner.
Help a Shriner brace a child. It is important! IT’S AN ACT
OF LOVE!
CAROLINA-GEORGIA BLOOD CENTER
SHARON A. WARDAY
DIRECTOR, DONOR RESOURCES
Kings Mountain Hospital Inc.
. SYD Th Se
atl Vp RE Ty
do eT TI, ¥;
By DR. LAWRENCE LEAKE
Kings Mountain Hospital
Hypertension or high blood pressure is a common illness in this coun-
try affecting about 20% of all adults. Only a small percentage (about
10%) of these people have a recognizable, treatable cause such as
kidney disease or adrenal gland disorders for example. The rest have
what is called essential hypertension with no known cause.
Blood pressure is usually measured by inflating a cuff over a person’s
arm to the point of stopping blood flow in an artery in that arm. Then by
listening to wHen the flow starts and flows free the two readings can be
made, such as 120/70. The numbers stand for pressure exerted by the
heart, which is a pump, measured in millimeters of mercury (mmHg).
The first number is the systolic pressure or the maximum pressure the
heart exerts with each beat. The diastolic pressure is the second
number, which is when the heart muscle is relaxing, but the ‘head of
steam’ exerted by the pump continues. When blood pressure stays over
140/90 it is considered elevated and should probably be treated, or other
attempts made to lower pressure. It must be emphasized. that an
isolated reading of elevated blood pressure does not indicate the need to
treat and could be caused by many factors.
Elevated blood pressure, even mild, cannot be felt, but nonetheless
continually causes damage to the heart, brain, eyes, kidneys and other
organs over a period of years. High blood pressure is one of the leading
causes (along with cigarette smoking) of heart disease and strokes.
When blood pressure goes real high, for example, greater than 200/120,
immediate life-threatening problems may develop like strokes, heart
attacks, seizures, and heart failure. A person might feel this progress-
ing with headaches, shortness of breath, weakness or numbness in an
arm, leg or side or other neurological symptoms. These people need to
go to their doctor or the emergency room where medications might
" need to be given immediately by vein to get the pressure down.
Most consistently elevated blood pressures need to be treated with a
variety of oral medications and usually need to be continued indefinite-
ly. It is very important for a person to continue to take the medications
as directed or the pressure might shoot up. Mildly elevated blood
pressure often responds to a more healthful change in lifestyle alone. A
good exercise program, stopping smoking, weight loss, and avoidance
of salty foods is sometimes all that these people need.
The Emergency Room at Kings Mountain Hospital offers free blood
pressure checks Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. for
anyone who wants to see what their pressure is. We attempt to see a
person quickly to check their pressure with a minimum waiting time if
nothing critical is occurring in the Emergency Room when a person
stops by.
If you have any suggestions for future articles or questions or com-
ments regarding this article send them to Dr. Lawrence Leake, Kings
Mountain Hospital Emergency Room, P.O. Box 232, Kings Mountain.
Thanks Firemen
Dear Editor, \
I would like to say a big thank you to Fiire Chief Gene Tignor
and the volunteer firemen and all those who worked so hard
to acquire the old movies from the 30’s and 40’s of Kings
Mountain. It was great having the opportunity to see old
_ friends and people from the past.
Some of my family were here from out-of-town and enjoyed
them immensely.
It was just like a reunion. We hope that our citizens will be
generous with donations to have the films upgraded and
restored. If you missed the movies last week, the Museum is
goer every Sunday afternoon. Please drop by the Kings
ountain Fire Museum on Cleveland Avenue and see them
and give your support to firemen in this effort.
Thanks to all who had a part in the special 10th anniversary
celebration Sunday.
NELL COSTNER FALLS
KINGS MOUNTAIN
Vote For Roark
To The Editor: :
Les Roark is the only candidate for Congress in the Tenth
Congressional District who has had direct involvement in
delivering the quality of constituent services our people have
been accustomed to receiving.
Les Roark is no newcomer to handling constituent pro-
blems. For six years, Les was a Congressional Staff Director
with the United States Senate. He already has a vast reser-
Beer, Wine
Petitions
Circulating
~~ From Page 1:A
and no longer than 120 days
after the signatures have
been verified.
The action must be distanc-
ed 30 days from any other
election, said Mrs. Cook, and
must be approved by the U.S.
Justice Department.
Mrs. Cook said that the pro-
liquor group was shooting for
the special ABC election as
early as October or
December. _ Ls
However, Mrs. Cook feels it is
unlikely that this can be done
since N.C. statutes say an
alcohol referendum can’t be
held within 60 days of another
election. To fulfill all the
legal requirements to hold
referendums in September-60
days before the Nov. 4
eneral election-a council or
oard of elections must call
for the vote by early July, she
said.
Kings Mountain, surround-
ed by ABC stores in nearby
Shelby, Cherryville,
Bessemer City and Gastonia,
has voted ‘‘dry”’ in all
previous referendums.
Claude Suber, an outside ci-
ty resident who is an ex-
ecutive of KM Knit, said ‘I
look at this as purely an
economic issue and I really
think this will help our com-
RON
People Should Roll Out Red Carpet For Shriners
voir of contacts in many federal departments, agencies, ad-
ministrations and commissions necessary to solve any pro-
blem which may arise. He understands government and how
it works. He knows how to get things done.
While directing the U.S. Senate Staff, Les monitored a wide
variety of personal constituent needs and services in areas
such as social Security and Veterans benefits. He worked
directly with town, city and county governments and was in
frequent contact with the 17 Regional Councils of Govern-
ments across the State as well. This required Les to work
directly with the Department of Housing and Urban Develop-
ment in Washington, the Environmental Protection Agency,
the Economic Development Administration, the Federal
Aviation Administration, the Corps of Engineers, Farmers
Home Administration and many others.
If we in the Tenth Congressional District wish to continue
getting the high quality of constituent services we have en-
Joyed for many years, we should elect Les Roark, who has
already had six years of first-hand experience in dealing with
the complexities of our federal government.
Sincerely,
Jack Palmer,
LINWOOD PRODUCE
& RESTAURANT
805 Cleveland Ave. 739-7308
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$3.95 50 Lbs.
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DEPARTMENT STORE
KINGS MOUNTAIN. N.C
~~
DOWNTOWN KINGS MOUNTAIN
JEANS
For The
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ON SALE
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munity.” He said the pro-
liquor group began planning
the referendum a month ago.
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Call (803) 839-6703
ALL BREED
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Monday- he
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