RISING STARS? - These area dance students performing as " Vogue" in a national dance competition
in Virginia Beach, Va. placed 7th overall among 101 talented groups performing and won a silver award
recently. From left, Lauren and Erin Folk of Boiling Springs, Micheal Wilson, Leigh Anne Jackson and
Anna Goforth, all of Kings Mountain. Wilson won the gold for his character tap routine in "Headliners"
Wild, colorful, and crazy. That's
the way some folks describe Doug
Kershaw. Shot full of encrgy, he
keeps the audience awake with his
speedy fiddle playing. Somctimes
he tears the horsehair from the fid-
dlc bow. Known as "The Ragin’
Cajun," Kershaw has been playing
music all his life. His whole family
was musical. Louisiana-born
Kershaw made his debut at age
nine. It was in one of those bayou-
rough honky tonks called "The
Bucket of Blood."
Doug and his brothers, Rusty
and Nelson, put together a band.
They soon became very popular in
Louisiana. At age 18, Doug began
to record for Crowley records in
his home state.
Doug moved to Nashville to
seek his fortune. He landed a con-
tract with Hickory Records and in-
troduced his wild cajun style to the
world. In 1961 Kershaw had the
big hit song he had been looking
for. It explained life on the bayou.
It was called "Louisiana Man" and
made him famous. The song was
also the first to take a space flight
and be sent back to Earth. The
Heo. -
SHA WwW &@
Apollo 12 crew chose their own
music and the commander request-
ed "Louisiana Man."
Kershaw laid off recording for
awhile. He still did his tours. He
spent more time with his wife and
and erazy guy
five songs at his ranch in Colorado.
Kershaw had spent his whole
life entertaining. He plays 28 dif-
ferent instruments. He's best
known for his cajun-style fiddle.
Kershaw has signed with BGM
Records in Texas. He did a duct
with Hank Jr. of "Cajun Baby." His
last release is "Cajun Stripper.” It
+ climbed to number nine on the
Major Canadian chart. His current
record is "Cajun Baby." It holds the
number three spot on the Major
Canadian chart.
The Ragin’ Cajun is back and as
wild as ever, playing his style of
music, and keeping his audience
happy.
LET A SWASHBUCKLING
HERO STEAL YOUR HEART!
Own Walt Disney's Classic Robin Hood Today!
"123330
competition.
It takes practice to win the gold in a national dance
competition.
Just ask Micheal Wilson, 11, rising 6th grader at
Kings Mountain Middle School,
whose ambition is to dance o
Broadway.
The son of Tonya and Jeep
Wilson has been dancing since h
was four years of age. When he won
a gold trophy for his recen
character tap routine in Virgini
Beach,Va., he came away feeling |
like he just batted the winning run in
the World Series. He also got the
judges eye for concept set design
and personality for the routine, "If
Only Had A Brain," which h
performed in a scarecrow costume
designed by his mother and
maternal grandmother, Helen Sisk.
Micheal's younger brother, Adam, i ¢
7, and his parents and grandparents, i -
Dick and Helen Sisk, were cheering
him on from the sidelines as he
scored 554 from a possible 600 to
take the top prize. They, along with
grandparents Margaret and Furman Wilson and great-
grandparents Charlie and Eula Mae Cobb and
Louzetta Wilson, have beamed with pride as the
youngster has piled up numerous awards in tap, jazz,
ballet and acrobatics.
Micheal was the only male dancer in a local dance
group called "Vogue," which placed seventh among
101 groups of talented performers in the
"Headliners" competition of the recent national dance
competition with groups from Louisiana, Arizona,
Florida, New Jersey, New York, Ohio and Michigan.
Other members of "Vogue," coached by Michelle
Wyatt of Shelby, are Leigh Anne Jackson, 12,
daughter of Pat and Larry Jackson of Kings
Mountain; Anna Goforth, 11, daughter of Paul and
Debbie Goforth of Kings Mountain; and Lauren and
Erin Folk, daughters of Jack and Julia Folk of Boiling
Springs. Anna has been dancing since age four and is
a 6th grader at KMMS. Leigh Anne, a 7th grader at
KMMS, has been dancing since age five. Erin Folk is
completing her first year in jazz classes and Lauren
is completing her second year in jazz classes but both
have been clogging for several years. This is the first
year "Vogue" has performed together.
Practicing four hours a day and doing his
homework takes up most of Micheal Wilson's time.
School's out this summer for the local dancer but he
still practices routines daily and has been busy in
MICHEAL WILSON
Dancing on the stars
dance competitions. He says it's important to build
muscles with good exercise, avoid stress, eat plenty of
healthy foods and drink water. Dancers have to be
careful about broken bones. Anna
| Goforth recently hurt her foot in a
. routine and for awhile feared she
would miss the national competition.
Wilson said that occasionally he has
sore muscles and cramps but when
he gets on stage even if he forgets a
routine he ad libs. That happened to
: him during a recent "Showstoppers"
~ performance and he was able to
substitute part of another routine he
had memorized and came away with
a second place award.
As a gold winner in Spartanburg,
S.C. competition he won top soloist
award and received the award for the
best costume and for showmanship.
He won first place in "Rising Star"
competition in Greensboro this
spring. His room at home is filled
with more than 100-trophies.
A tap dance student of Cathy
McLamb, Wilson prefers tap dancing
and would like to tap dance on "Star Search,” if an
opportunity comes. His mother, who is probably his
top booster, spends hours driving and accompanying
him to dance classes and competitions. Judges who
have scored Micheal for A-plus personality and
concept set design, say he is a winner. Micheal smiles
brightly at the judges and dances on stage just as he
does in his own room at home because he enjoys it.
"He brings such life to dancing and involves
everyone who watches him," says his mother, who
says Micheal and other young dancers enter the
contests as professionals judged by pros who count off
for such minute things as a string showing on an
elaborate costume.
Local sponsors Joe and Sophia Goforth, Plonk
Brothers, Kings Mountain Florist, Dellinger's, Joe
Ann Don Agency, Allen's Florist, Barrett's Floor
Covering and Conner's Amoco helped financially with
the local group's trip to the national competition.
Families of the local dancers say they appreciate the
encouragement local people have given to the talented
group.
With only 2 minutes, 35 seconds to do a solo act on
stage, Micheal Wilson gives 100% to his dance
routines but that brief time in the spotlight takes
hours of sweat.
When the lights go up and the dancing starts, he
says the long preparation is worth it.
Bird hike at Crowders Mountain "ENJOY MORE |
AFFORDABLE
INSURANCE!
Crowders Mountain State Park ha
scheduled a bird hike at 7:30 a.m.
Saturday.
A local expert will lead the hike in
search of colorful and active birds of = at 867-1181,
Fish Camp Jam hooks new logo
ed UNC-Charlotte.
Fish Camp Jam will be held Sat.,
Oct. 19 in downtown Gastonia. This
the park. Participants should wear hik-
ing boots and take binoculars. The hike
will last about one hour.
For more information, call the park
Ballenger to be
in KM August 14
Congressman Cass Ballenger
will be at Kings Mountain City
Hall August 14 from 9-9:45 a.m. to
meet with the citizens.
Ballenger will meet with citizens
on any problem they are having
with a federal agency or program.
No appointment is necessary.
"I will be glad to discuss prob-
lems and assist in any way I can,"
he said.
He also solicits comments on
any issues facing the country.
Mountaineer Days
vendors needed
Our Price;
119.95
24.99
Suggested Retail Price
The Kings Mountain Parks and
Recreation Department is accept-
ing applications for crafters and
food vendors for the annual
Mountaineer Days celebration.
Mountaineer Days will be held
October 12 in downtown Kings
Mountain. Anyone interested in a
booth should call (734-0449) or go
by the community center.
PLANNING BOARD-The
Kings Mountain Planning &
Zoning Board will meet August 22
at 7 p.m. at City Hall, according to
Walt Disney Home Video, Distributed by Buena Vista Home Video, Burbank, CA 91521
© The Walt Disney Company.
Locations thru-out North Carolina
510 E. King St - Kings Mountain 913 Gastonia Hwy. - Bessemer City
(in Silver Convenience Center) (In'Silver Convenience Center)
Planning Director Eugene White.
Wilson Griffin, chairman, will pre- 739- 811 6 629- 6060
side. 7705-6 York Road - Charlotte 527-6366
GOWEN GREEN
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*CHECK hx H US BEFORE YOU BUY*
1988 Pontiac 1988 Chevrolet 1990 Chevrolet
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YY ITT JI EY
1989 Ranger 1989 Ford 1991 Chevrolet
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year, all of the T-shirts and souvenirs
will be donned with a new logo de-
signed by Leigh Brinkley.
Leigh is a two-time logo winner.
She resides in Mount Holly and attend-
Her design is an exciting and fun
linear logo of fishes that has a multi-
color scheme. New merchandising
with the logo will appear in local shop-
ping sights and eateries on August 19.
school facilities.
HEALTH VIEWS,
RAGAN HARPER
Immunizations for school
(While juggling all the details of getting your kids back
to school, don't forget that state laws require a basic
series of shots for children attending public and private
These include three combination diptheria, tetanus,
and whooping cough shots; three polio vaccine doses;
measles vaccine on or after the child's 1st birthday; and
german measles (rubella) vaccine.
Have your Physician or Health Department
immunize your child now, as the new school year
begins. Our job is to help you safeguard the health of
your family, and immunizations are a good start.
Harper's
Prescription Pharmacy
% 709 W. Mountain St. 739-3687
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insurance policyholders who also
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739-3953
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Gastonia, N.C. 704/867-6347