November 25, 1999 ~ Herald/Times Larry Rountree of Kings Mountain recently won a new home computer and a trip for two to the Bahamas in a promotion sponsored by Winn-Dixie. Since 1995 Rountree has won $72,000 in cash and prizes in local contests. Rountree rides again... this time to the Bahamas By GARY STEWART Editor of The Herald Larry Rountree says he has no secrets to winning contests. He just feels “blessed by God.” Whatever the reason, the 37- year-old Kings Mountain man has racked up over $72,000 in cash and prizes in drawings since 1995. His most recent success came in a “Gateway to the Bahamas!” promotion by Winn-Dixie in which he was one of four per- sons from North and South Carolina to win a $2,500 Gateway home computer and a trip for two to The Bahamas worth $1,500. His name was drawn last week in Charlotte, and he and the other three winners were feted to a party and awards cer- emony at Winn-Dixie’s Corporate Center in Charlotte. ' Other winners were Larry Hamilton of Gastonia, Jean Turner of Columbia, SC, and Fey Grayson of Charlotte. The contest was part of Winn- Dixie's “Cctober Frozen Food Month” promotion. On each visit to a Winn-Dixie in the Carolinas Region, customers were offered an entry form. Kathy Threatt of Advance Marketing, which handled the promotion for Winn-Dixie through store displays and ra- dio spots, said there were over 4,000 entries. Winning is Fothirig ne new for Rountree, who says entering contests is his “hobby.” Since The Kings Mountain Board of Education was meeting in a special session last night to pick a site for a new 5-6 grade school. The Board is considering two ’95 he has won two vehicles - one from Harris Teeter and the other from the Carolina Panthers - $15,000 from Channel 9 and a big screen TV and entertainment system from Time Warner worth over $9,000. Oh yeah! Don’t forget the $1,000, his very first prize in 1987, from the Family Channel. The Spectrum employee says he doesn’t have a knack for winning. “It’s a blessing from the Lord,” he says. Rountree has his computer on hand but hasn't set it up yet, and said he plans to take his trip to the Bahamas in May or June. Although he’s not a computer whiz, he says he looks forward to getting on the Internet and sending e-mail to his sister in Hawaii. She had been encour- aging him for some time to buy a computer. “It costs a lot of money to call ..... long distance, so,1 told her I .. ..couldn’t afford to call her,” he said. “She said, ‘you know, you could probably win a comput- er, “ he said. Rountree said his only strate- gy for winning is to enter local contests rather than the national : ones. “] used to enter the Publishers Clearing House con- test,” he noted, “but one reason I stopped doing it was because just one person’s going to win it and it’s you against the whole nation and the odds are really against you. But when you en- pieces of property near the pre- sent site of Kings Mountain Middle School. One site, called the Beam property, adjoins part of the - to be informed. Board to choose site for new school ter a local contest just dealing with the Charlotte, Kings Mountain, Lincolnton and Gastonia area your chances are better. “ Rountree says he enters about 30 contests a year. “It’s basically a hobby,” he said. “I've been doing it ever since I've been out of high school. I just thank God it’s paying off for me.” Rountree said he would someday like to win a large sum of money so he could get out of an apartment and buy his dream home. “That's something I would like to see happen by the year 2000,” he said. “That's really the next thing I'd like to have. The Good Lord has blessed me with vehicles, with a TV system, a home computer and a trip, and I think the next thing I would like to win is enough money to buy my dream home.” Rountree said people want- Christmas tree lighting is Monday The annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony at Mauney Memorial Library will be held Monday from 7-8 p.m. All members of the commu- nity are invited. Children from St. Matthew's Preschool will sing. Mayor Scott Neisler will speak, and after the tree lighting ceremony Santa Claus will visit and refresh- ments will be served. All discarded books are free during the month of December. For more information, call Christy Key, Children’s Librarian, at 734-4486. Thanksgiving service at Grace Methodist The Kings Mountain Community Thanksgiving Service will be hosted by Grace United Methodist Church Wednesday, Nov. 24 at 7 p.m. Speakers will be the Rev Roger Woodard from Family Worship Center, and the Rev. Dale Swofford from Grace United Methodist. A community choir will also be featured, as well as others participating in the service. Practice for the choir will be- gin at 6:15 p.m. The service will last about one hour. The public is invited. For more information call Grace United Methodist Church at 739-6000. Thanksgiving service at Victory Baptist Victory Baptist Church and Dixon Presbyterian Church will hold a joint Thanksgiving ser- vice Wednesday, Nov. 24 at 7 p.m. at Victory Baptist Church near Grover. Rev. Allan Sinclair, pastor of Dixon Presbyterian, will deliver the message. Rev. Dennis Wells, pastor of Victory Baptist, will be the worship leader. A special offering will be re- ceived for the flood victims in eastern North Carolina. ing to win contests should keep: | Jf their eyes open when they enter business establishments such as Winn-Dixie, and to seek contest opportunities in newspapers, radio and TV. “When I won the truck I learned about the contest on TV,” he said. “When I won the $15,000 I learned that on TV. There are so many ways a per- son can be informed.” And as many people say - and Rountree affirms - it pays current middle school property. The other tract of land, known as the Elam property, is located on Crocker and Phifer roads. Carol Haas named Distinguished Daughter Carole F. Haas of Ambler, PA was recently recognized as one of Pennsylvania's six ., Distinguished Pennsylvania women at a | luncheon spon- | sored by the | Pennsylvania 21 Commission for Women. Haas, philanthropist, has given both financial re- sources and personal time to enhance the cultural life of the people of Philadelphia and throughout the state of Pennsylvania. Her tireless ef- HAAS forts, service, and commitment have resulted in the creation of new models for educating chil- dren, young adults, and the el- derly in the arts. She helped establish the Barrymore Awards, the F. Otto Haas Award, and community outreach in the public schools for the Philadelphia Orchestra. She serves on many cultural boards, such as the Morris Arboretum, People’s Light and Theatre Company, Philadelphia Orchestra, Arden Theatre Company, and Educating Children for Parenting. She has dedicated her life to innovative cultural projects that have enhanced the quality of life for everyone in the Commonwealth. Kathy Schweiker, wife of Lt. Gov. Mark Schweiker, present- ed the awards. Previous hon- orees included Pearl Buck, Grace Kelly, and Julia Nixon Eisenhower. Chandler in concert at Macedonia Baptist Vernon Chandler will be in concert Sunday, Nov. 28 at 6 p.m. at Macedonia Baptist Church, 1101 S. Battleground Avenue, Kings Mountain. The public is invited. Fiddlers Convention g. set at Lake Norman el The Lake Norman av | Thanksgiving Fiddlers i! Convention and Buck Dance pole Contest will be held at 7:15 p.m. {153 Thursday. 100 The contest is the biggest in gait North Carolina and attracts tal- aid ent from all over the U.S. TUG Awards will go to the best child dancer, best teenage dancer, best adult dancer, best overall clogger, best buck dancer, oldest dancer and youngest dancer. The convention is held at : Cross Country Campground a auditorium, Highway 150, Denver. For tickets and infor- mation call 483-5897. Evans bowls 427 in Thursday league Greg Evans continued to roll the high numbers for Deuces Eid Wild in mixed duckpin bowling ~~ *° league action Thursday night at Dilling Heating. Evans bowled single games of 159 and 168, and also had a season’s high 427 set to lead Deuces Wild (14-10) to a 4-4 split with Thursday’s Heroes (13-11). John Dilling added a 112-310, and Sue Abernathy had a 109-303 for the Wild ones. _ Allen Myers had a 134-375, Ed Philbeck 123-333, and Mark Abernathy 153-322 for the Heroes. Tommy Barrett rolled a 143 line and 373 set, Chuck Ruley had a 120-341, and Colleen Philbeck added a 120-312 to lead Barrett's Bombers (14-10) to a 6-2 win over Zeke’s Zingers (7-17). Zeke Rybczyk had a 126 line and 357 set, and Bonnie Warren added a 124 line and 313 set for the Zingers. {iw gibo 2000 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE PREMIERE +Electronic Full-Range Traction System -