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Sheppard killed in
welding explosion
An explosion at Sheppard
Welding in the Love Valley
community on Bethlehem
Road Monday morning
claimed the life of 69-year-
old Gerald Randall (Randy)
Sheppard.
Sheppard was repairing a
diesel tank inside his weld-
ing plant, according to
Cleveland County Coroner
Dwight Tessneer. The coro-
ner has ruled the death acci-
dental.
Cleveland County, Fire
Marshal Perry Davis said a
cap on the tank, which alle-
viates pressure built inside,
wasn’t taken off as Sheppard
worked to fix the tank.
“Randy was a good man,
he will be missed,” said
Tessneer.
The client, who waited
outside the building while
Sheppard * worked on the
tank, heard the explosion
that rocked the plant and
Randy Sheppard
called for help. Firefighters
from Bethlehem and Oak
Grove Fire Departments put
out the small fire quickly.
Sheppard died at 10:43
a.m.
He was the son of Edith
Randall and J.D. Sheppard
and attended Freewill Bap-
tist Church of Shelby. He
had owned and operated
Sheppard Welding over 40
See SHEPPARD, 6A
County asked
for S300K
County commissioners postponed
action Tuesday night on a request to
help fund a major expansion project
by Kings Mountain’s H. Lawrence
Patrick Senior Life & Conference
Center.
A request is being made for a
$300,000 contribution from:
county for the project. Carl Elliott and
Senior Center Director Monty Thorn-
burg said the expected cost could total
up to $1.2 million.
Mayor Rick Murphrey said that
residents from all over the county are
active in programs at the Kings
Mountain Senior Center.
“We have seen a 25% increase in
participation at our Patrick Center and
we need to expand to take care of
people and programs,” he added.
Although council did not take of-
ficial action they indicated the ball is
in Kings Mountain’s court at this
ELIZABETH STEWART
lib.kmherald@gmail.com
GROVER - The inauguration Tues-
day of President Barack Obama as the
44th President of the United States was
exciting for Brenda Lipscomb.
A staunch Democrat, it was her first
inauguration and she was excited to be
in the crowds. Lipscomb has been chief
judge of the Grover precinct seven
years and is on the state Democratic
committee. She is active in Cleveland
County Democratic Women.
Lipscomb moved back to Cleveland
County 10 years ago, retiring after 30
years as a research specialist with the
‘Security and Exchange Commission for
the federal government in Washington,
DC.
Lipscomb flew to Washington
Thursday night and is visiting her son
and daughter-in-law, Dwayne and Shirl
Ross, in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. In
Washington, DC, she worked with the
treasury department and several other
agencies over the years.
I always like to go back to D. C.
and sometimes I visit old friends in the
treasury department,” she said. She
doubted she would have the opportu-
nity to visit them on this trip. “Wash-
ington will be a beehive of activity,”
she added.
Lipscomb’s grandparents, the late
Boyd and Mary Beasley, raised her in
Grover. She returned to her native
Cleveland County to help her uncle, Joe
Easley, 86, now a resident of White
Oak Manor in Kings Mountain. Long-
time friends with Democratic leaders in
the county, she quickly became active
in the Grover precinct.
A number of other Clevelanders are
See LIPSCOMB, 6A
tH
Dilling Heating Ty
all the
SPORTS,
1-2B
Photo by LIB STEWART
Brenda Lipscomb stands in
2! the law library of Yelton,
Farfour and Fite in Shelby
where she is receptionist.
The Grover woman is in the
nation’s capital until
Wednesday. She attended
Presidential inauguration
festivities and is visiting
relatives.
President Barack Obama takes the oath
of office during the 57th Presidential In-
auguration on Jan. 21, 2013. The Pres-
ident touched -on climate change,
partisan bickering, and the protection
of rights in his second inaugural ad-
dress delivered before 800,000 stand-
ing on the National Mall in Washington,
D.C. Photo/AP,
Devenny sweeps MLK Day photo contest
the
point, saying that they needed further
information.
“Kings Mountain City Council has
not voted on the fundraising project.”
Elliott said.
Astronomers
to meet at
GWU Jan. 26
The Cleveland County Astronom-
ical Society (CCAS) will host the 21st
annual Regional Meeting of Amateur
Astronomers on Saturday, Jan. 26, at
the Tucker Student Center at Gardner-
Webb university. This free event
opens at 8 a.m. with the program be-
ginning at 9 a.m. and ending at 5 p.m.
The event will feature speakers,
See CCAS, 6A
8 Ill | 1
tion on Martin Luther King Day by members
of Bynum Chapel AME Zion Church.
Singing “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” and
“Reach Out and Touch,” the large crowd
clapped their hands as speakers remembered
the slain Civil Rights leader who died at age
39 on April 4, 1968 and who likely prevented
much bloodshed during the 1960s when he
told his followers not to pick up guns to pro-
tect him.
principal speaker.
the Lord.”
“We may not have a story like Dr.King but
each of us has a story,” he said, pointing out
“we take for granted what we have
that,
Kings Mountain artist Ellen
Devenny won three of the top prizes
in the photography contest on
Dr. Martin Luther King Day,
Monday, in Kings Mountain.
Devenny won first place for “In the Hands
of Children” and second place for “Faith and
Hope in the Future.” She also took the mayor’s
special award for “Faith to Finish the Race.”
Third place award in the adult competition
went to Starr Dove’s “To sit down together at
the table of brotherhood.” In the youth award
classification, Kendra Thompson won the first
place award for “School Bus” and Xavier John-
son won the second place award for “Free at
Last.” Cash prizes, $150 for first place, $100
for second place, and $50 for third place will
be presented at the Jan. 29 city council meeting
at 6 p.m. at city hall.
Ben Earp’s “Hands of Strength” and
See PHOTO CONTEST, 6A
“He inspired us all by his example, keep
alive his dream,” said Rev. Dr. George H. Mc-
Neely, Presiding Elder of the Lincolnton Dis-
trict of Western North Carolina, and the
McNeely said that many sacrifices had
been made by people “all around us, black and
white, present and past” and read scripture
from Deuteronomy 6: 10-20 in which God
said, “do what is right and good in the sight of
today.” He added, “Love God, love your neigh-
bor and love yourself.” McNeely called King
“one of God’s true prophets sent to unify his
Ellen Devenny is pictured with he
place photo entitled ‘Faith and hd or
the Future’. :
See more winning pos on nage 6
Photo by LIBS
Breakfast attendees inspired by King’s example
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr:, a man whose
life and death broke down centuries-old bar-
riers for African-Americans, was honored
Monday at the 16th annual breakfast celebra-
people and lead them to God’s promise of love
and equality.” He called it appropriate that “the
See BREAKFAST, 6A
CONNECT OUR FUTURE — Connie Savell, Ie
ing and growth meeting at the Patrick Seni
enter. Nadine Bennett of Centralina Counci
f Governments looks. on. ;
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