By  Dr. Rich Berkowitz, DC

Do you remember the last football game in college where in the final seconds you scored that game winning touchdown, or that one spike you slammed that won the division title?   However, many of us athletes remember the devastating torn ACL that ended our track career, or the pulled hamstring that put you on the bench for the remainder of the season.

Injuries like these are often overlooked as common and temporary, but that is not always the case.   It is important to treat these injuries properly.  Your career as an athlete may depend on it.   Sports injuries are common in today’s society.  Due to increases in athletes’ size, speed, power and strength, greater stress is placed upon athletes’ muscles, tendons and ligaments.  The fact is that sports are hard on our bodies.  The training and repetitive motion sometimes leaves athletes more susceptible to injury, resulting in unnecessary pulled muscles, tendonitis, stress fractures and unfortunately more than often, a lifetime chronic pain.

You may want to utilize the state-of-the-art technology, the ProAdjuster to identify the source of your pain.  In fact, the ProAdjuster’s revolutionary technology has received a patient satisfaction of over 92 percent.   If you or someone you know is suffering from a sports injury, you may want to consider being evaluated with the ProAdjuster.   Our office has experienced considerable success in relieving chronic pain associated with sports injuries.

International Demolition Derby Checks Senses

The smell of an overflowing radiator, the sound of flat spinning tires throwing mud, feeling the crash of a car wreck, the smell and sound of burning clutches and transmissions the sound of metal crashing against metal, the roar of a crowd and the taste of great food. You are now prepared for the International Demolition Derby at the Bar H Arena in Boling Springs, NC. The 2010 dates are Saturday, September 11 and Saturday, September 18. The event begins at 7:30 pm each date. Two big performances are planned for the 2010 season. Each performance is a separate event. Top professional drivers will be participating each day. After many years experience many locals are included in the top professional list. The International Demolition Derby has a reputation of being the toughest demolition derby in the entire south east. The event was held over twenty-five years at the Cleveland County Fair but moved to the Bar H Arena in 2009.  The admission price has remained low. Adult tickets are $ 8.00 and a child’s (6-12) ticket is $5.00. Children under 6 of age are free. Our sponsor, the Boiling Springs Fire & Rescue will handle our parking and concessions. There is no charge for parking but donations will be accepted. There will be great food to test your sense of taste. A fast paced, action filled, demolition derby is what is expected and 2010 will be no exception to that expectation being met.

The International Demolition Derby has something for the entire family. This is a family event. Hope to see you at the Bar H Arena for the derby. For more information call (704)434-2866 or visit our web site at www.barhevents.com.

International Demolition Derby Returns to Bar H Arena

The 2010 edition of the International Demolition Derby will be returning to the Bar H Arena in Boiling Springs, NC. The dates are Saturday, September 11 and Saturday, September 18. The competitions will begin each day at 7:30 pm. The event was moved from the Cleveland County Fair after over 25 years.  The new location brought in the Boiling Springs Fire & Rescue as the main sponsor.  They will be taking care of parking and preparing bar-b-que, hotdogs, curly fries, etc. for the consumption of the derby fans. There is no charge for parking but donations will be accepted. This is a major fund raiser for the fire department.  Each day will have lots of crashes and thrills presented in a fast paced action filled show.  2009 saw a full house of spectators and 2010 is expected to follow suit. Spectators are  encouraged to come early and avoid any last minute rush to get in. Food and other  vendors will be available.  For more information call (704) 434-2866 or visit our website at www.barhevents.com.

On Saturday, September 18, the Twin Pinks Enduro will take place at the Gateway Trail in Kings Mountain.  Benefiting the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, the Enduro will start with a one lap Sprint, followed by a four lap Enduro and a one lap fun run & walk.  “This is a tough, off-road endurance race and designed to be physically demanding”, stated Kings Mountain Mayor Rick Murphrey, one of the organizers.  Murphrey added, ”The Twin Pinks Enduro’s race is designed to reflect the tough battle for women and men diagnosed with breast cancer who are running their own endurance race to survive every day.”  Also helping organize the Enduro, along with the Mayor, is his wife Sandra and Sgt. Detective Lisa Proctor, both breast cancer survivors, and Police Chief Melvin Proctor.

The races will be criterium style, on a closed course, utilizing the recently opened Gateway Trail in Kings Mountain.  The run course designed will utilize the wide trail, through a wooded terrain, with a surface mix of both smooth gravel and asphalt with the first “peak” rising 80 feet with a grade of 10% and the second “peak” with a 140’ change in elevation with a 7% grade.  The one lap length is 2.45 miles.  The Gateway Trail is the only trail in Cleveland County that has been dedicated as part of the Carolina Thread Trail, a trail system that will interconnect the Carolinas.

“This is going to be an awesome race, with an extremely challenging venue.  The Twin Pinks Enduro is almost a half marathon and on a trail, not city streets,” said Ellis Noell, the race director.  Noell, who also produces the Over the Mountain Triathlon, continued, “Some competitor is going to blaze the one lap Sprint and I’m looking forward to seeing the winning time on the four lap Enduro.”  Registration is available online at the City’s website (www.cityofkm.com) with information and updates provided.  With limited parking at the Gateway Trail, a free shuttle will bring athletes and supporters from the parking area at Patriots Park to the trailhead.

The Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF) is the beneficiary charity and supports the projects of 173 pioneering researchers worldwide.  Myra Biblowit, President of BCRF commented, “With funding from BCRF, these scientists are developing better screening methods, designing more sophisticated therapies with fewer side effects, and, most importantly, figuring out ways to eliminate this terrible disease once and for all.”

For additional information, contact City Hall 704-734-0333.

Students in the Cleveland Community College EMT-Paramedic class were honored August 17, with a pinning ceremony at the Cleveland Country Club. All students are now eligible to sit for the state and national certifying exams. According to CCC EMS Coordinator, Tommy McNeilly, all students currently have a job at the EMT-Intermediate/Basic level and will move into their role as Paramedics upon successful completion of state certifying exams. “I believe that their ability to find employment is not only attributed to their hard work, but also due to the fact there is a shortage of Paramedics across the region, leaving slots to be filled,” says McNeilly.

The pinning ceremony included dinner and remarks by Class representative, Harlan Cochran, and the reciting of the EMT Code of Ethics.

Front row l-r: Tommy McNeilly, EMS Coordinator; Crystal Buff; Ashley Davis; Doug Goodwin, Assistant EMS Coordinator.   Second Row l-r: Levi Bolt, Kyle Herndon, Matthew Childers, Chuck Harrelson.   Third row l-r: Billy Stamey, Blake Cochran.  Not Pictured: Michelle Massie, Sean Garity

www.clevelandcommunitycollege.edu

What’s Up with Being A Lil Rusty

Articles

By Rusty Stroupe

www.rustystroupe.blogspot.com

I wish I had a fifty-cent piece for every time in my life when someone told me I reminded them of someone else. Sometimes they say it’s the way I act. Sometimes, it’s the way I talk. But mostly, they say it’s the way I look.

I guess that means I am fairly generic when it comes to my personal appearance, and I’m okay with that. My best friend growing up was the one all the girls looked at and gawked over. Nobody ever accused him of looking like somebody else. He was his own man and was proud of it.

Meanwhile, I was his tag along companion who reminded everybody of their third cousin. So quite often, I became the token “thrown-in friend” when a male was needed to complete the foursome necessary to constitute a double date. It beat staying at home!

In 1980, the movie “Popeye” starring Robin Williams became popular during my sophomore year of high school and people told me I looked like him (minus the muscles).

During my early college years, the television show “Cheers” arrived on the scene. People told me I looked like Woody Harrelson. At first I was okay with that, but when he later starred in “Natural Born Killers” (a truly disgusting movie), I decided I didn’t like being associated with Woody, and he has done little since then to change that perspective.

Whatever the case, I still hear people often tell me that I remind them of such and such or so and so. Not that it should matter, but I usually ask whether or not they like that person.  It’s a fair question. I think sometimes I see people that remind me of somebody else and almost immediately I make my first judgment about them based on the person they remind me of. Of course that’s not fair, but I must admit I have been guilty of that before. I think that is why nobody wears a Hitler moustache this day and age.

Yet, people do make inaccurate judgments about our personalities based on who we look like. Which is why I’m glad no one has ever mentioned me resembling Richard Nixon, Ozzy Osbourne, that Blagojevich guy, the Unabomber, O.J. Simpson, or Rosie O’Donnell.

Recently, I attended a town hall meeting where a member of the U.S. House of Representatives spoke. I waited to meet him afterwards and upon shaking his hand he remarked that he seemed to remember us meeting before. I was pretty sure we hadn’t, but I didn’t want to embarrass him so I kind of nodded and speculated that maybe we had.  Then I mentioned that maybe he had seen my picture in the paper due to the little columns I write each week that appear in a few local newspapers. The look on his face told me that this was not the case.  Embarrassed by my own presumptuousness, I then decided it was probably déjà vu all over again, and I mumbled something about people saying quite often that I remind them of someone else.   I should have known the vast majority of the local citizenry is oblivious to my columns- especially a Congressman. And even if he did stumble upon my column, he certainly wouldn’t bother looking at the picture.

Oh, well, at least he didn’t think I was Woody Harrelson.

YORK, SC — Summerfest celebrating 27 years, will once again expect to draw over 45,000 visitors on August 28, 2010! The festival, which showcases the White Rose City’s rich heritage and unmistakable charm, has evolved from two previous attractions.

The President of the Greater York Chamber of Commerce and City of York and York County dignitaries will open Summerfest on the York County Court House steps. Summerfest has many activities and events on its schedule that are guaranteed to satisfy a wide range of interests. The main attraction for Summerfest has been its craft and art show, which brings artisans and craft designers from various parts of the Southeast. The craft and food fairs includes over 100 vendors open for business from 9:00am until5:00pm. The fair features an array of hand-made crafts, a variety of foods and several featured attractions located in the downtown area within easy walking distance of the craft and food fair. The Summerfest Classic Car Show, one of the largest in the Southeast begins at 8:00am with over 200 vehicles.

Children’s Activities are held from 10am until 3pm and will include a drawing contest sponsored by Family Trust Federal Credit Union, and local 4-H group petting zoo. Robotics demonstrations by The Floyd D. Johnson Technology Center will feature high school level and middle school First Lego League. The York County Flyers will help young people make gliders and hold their annual exhibition of giant scale model airplanes and the Giant Scale Fly-in at their field on Langrum Road. This year children and parents will be treated to rides on the Little Blue Choo and exhibits of the Zhu Zhu Pets.

Summerfest kicks off Friday evening, 5:30 PM until 9:30 PM with The Downtown live concert located Whitesides’ Cleaners parking lot at the corner of N. Congress and Madison Streets. The concert features the Beach and Motown music of Flash Back, back this year by popular demand.

Musical entertainment is available for the entire day from 9am to 5pm at the Main Street Stage, located in Whitesides Cleaners parking lot. Featured bands will play an array of music for everyone’s taste including swing, Latin jazz, blues, rock, bluegrass, county rock and old-time string.

Our second stage, located at the Classic Car Show, will feature a wide range of Classic Rock from 10:30am until 2:30pm and will feature The Oneppo Brothers.

The third stage, located in the Sylvia Theater on Congress Street, will feature the Interstate 107 Colgate Country Showdown, sponsored by Interstate 107, the Colgate Company and the Greater York Chamber of Commerce. For more information log onto www.wrhi.com.

Piedmont Medical Center sponsors Healthy Home Town from 9am to 5pm. Healthy Home Town features five neighborhoods of specific health information; Heart, Women, Seniors, The Inside Story, and Safe & Healthy Kids & Teens.  Special entertainment will be provided to stimulate interest in healthy living. A bike safety program will be presented.

Sport fans will enjoy the annual Two-Man Captain’s Choice Golf Tournament; Summerfest USTA sanctioned Tennis Tournament, the moonlight bike ride, 5K and Fun Run, Summerfest Softball Tournament and much more. For more information on Summerfest call (800) 866-5200 or visit www.greateryorkchamber.com.

What’s Up with The Pet Guardian

Dear Readers,

Father’s Day, June 20th, 2010 was a very sad day for my husband and me.  Our dog, Casey (Cassandra Mae), passed away.  As you may recall, she was 13 years old.  She was a Rotti, Small Doberman, Chow mix.  Her battle with stomach cancer and arthritis came to an end.  Her cancer ruptured and she was bleeding internally.  She could no longer eat, drink or wanted to walk or stand. She weighted approx 30-40lbs and was black, brown, and white.  She was quite a photogenic member of our family.

Casey will be remembered as a loving, devoted, very protective companion.  She taught me how to manage her “good dog, mean dog” trick.  I would rub her hind leg and say “mean dog” and she would show her teeth and growl.  Then I would say “good dog” and she’d stop.  SHE WILL BE SURELY MISSED!!!

My husband and I have the memories and the comfort knowing we made her life a happy one.  We always showed her love, respect and kindness.  People who love, respect and give their pets a good life are WINNERS!!  Those who choose to neglect, abuse, and mistreat their pets are LOSERS!  People who do those things are not good adults.  They grow up with violent, inappropriate characteristics and it carries over into adulthood.  Low self esteem plays a big part in this equation as well.  They do not make good husbands, fathers, or sons, and lots of times friends.  In a woman’s case, bad mothers, wives, daughters and friends.  And we all know people like this firsthand.  They think abusing a pet makes them appear “BIG and BAD” when in actuality, it’s quite the opposite.  I see them as SMALL and SCARED.  And, as much as there is “Unnecessary abusive Owners”, there are as many really “loving Pet Owners.”

I say unnecessary, because it really is.  There is no sane reason to abuse your pet.  No reason, no situation, acceptable, only for a cowardly bulling, controlling attitude.  Two things I highly disrespect — child abuse and animal abuse, and they are connected.  It is never too late to change your attitude towards your pet and others. Believe me your friends and family will approve of the new you and respond with love. In this world we cannot go back, only go forward.  Pets are loving, giving, respectful animals and should be treated as such.  I am PRAYING for a no tie law to pass in North Carolina where every pet will live inside their homes with its family.

Just as we need to examine ourselves as to where we are in our lives and walk with GOD, we need to examine ourselves in regards to our relationship with our pet.  Are we treating them properly?  Isn’t it time we put our pets where they belong?  Television tells us every day, why is it we don’t get it?  Why does it take us so long to see the light?  Are we not looking? Or are we just avoiding the concept?  Your TV is putting all dogs on a higher level, with intelligence.  When will you see your dogs worth too?  Gone are the days when they were just tied outside alone.  If I am describing you, you are living in the past!

It is time to step up to the plate and acknowledge your pet’s worth.  Get with the program!  Just like dead beat dads and moms, there are dead beat pet owners.  There is no reason for you to wear that label.  Live in your home with your pet, love and respect each other and help each other enrich and bond your lives.  If you have a computer I welcome you to go to www.petheaven.com and click on memorials.  Go to May 20th 2010 and view Casey’s name.  It’s such a nice way to honor her, for her years of faithful service in our family.

C– COURAGEOUS (protector)

A –ALERT (willing to learn)

S– SPONTANEOUS( motivated)

E– ENERGETIC(loved tricks)

Y– YARD( her favorite place to play ball)

Your Pet Guardian…

What’s Up with Thinkin Bout It

By Vince Hefner, Pastor of First Baptist Church, Cherryville

School is starting all across our land and parents are getting their children supplies for the new academic year. Whether it is crayons, pencils, paper, computers, books or backpacks… parents want their children equipped and ready to learn. I attended school for over 20 years, but it was the first year that holds the fondest memories. It seemed that everything was almost perfect for my first grade experience. My mother chose not to send me to kindergarten, it was optional back then and I thought she just liked my company. Maybe she was sparing the public school system my hard-charging, uncompromising and “sensitive” approach to learning. One of the most exciting decisions that I was allowed to make was to pick my own lunchbox to take to school. Back then lunch boxes were metal and had had different pictures on them. The lunch box I selected was from my favorite television show, “Laugh-In.” Laugh-In was an hour long comedy television show that was hosted by two men who told jokes and only had people on their show who had a good disposition and whatever they said, whether I understood it or not, made me laugh. I have always held laughter in high regard, and believed no matter how bad things became, you could find something to make you smile. I was very proud of my Laugh-In lunch box because it told my classmates what I liked. I was somewhat disappointed when I saw other students carrying a lunchbox like mine. For some odd reason I thought I should be the only one with that particular lunchbox, but a person cannot keep laughter and good times just for himself, so I didn’t say anything to anybody else who had the same lunchbox as me (but I wanted to!).

My first week of formal education was going well until someone found my lunchbox and destroyed it, well, they stomped on it and crushed it. I would like to tell you that when I saw my lunchbox bent up on the ground that I laughed and had a stiff upper lip. But I didn’t, I cried. Now I have another set of problems that I was going to have to deal with concerning my classmates. I cried in public, something that no first grader wants to do. Even at an early age, boys want to be tough and show that nothing bothers them, especially a bent up lunch box that they had personally selected to show their good nature. To make matters worse, yes, things can always get worse, there was an issue concerning my first-grade teacher, I had a crush on her. I knew there was an age difference, but when she saw me crying I knew all chances of a possible courtship were over. She was a young lady with blond hair that was shaped like a bee hive. The other boys were intimidated by her hair due to the fact that it looked like a wasp’s nest, but not me, I have always liked bees!

Well, I was able to get through my first hardship at school, not realizing that many other challenges would await me before I finished my formal education. If you give it some thought, challenges face us every day, some big and daunting, others small and seemingly insignificant. How do we handle these unexpected hardships that come our way when we least expect them? If you are a Christian you have the Holy Spirit to guide you and bring you comfort when you feel cast away or forgotten. You also have the Bible to teach you how to act and to tell you how you should feel when your lunchbox or your dreams get stomped right in front of you. Do we quit when things don’t go our way, or when others disappoint us? Do we strike back in anger and tell others that we repay evil with evil? No!

1 John 4:4 says, “You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” No matter where you are in life, just starting life or just about to end it, if you belong to Jesus, He will guide you and will always love you, even when you cry over crushed lunch boxes!

Remember, don’t give in to sin. Think about it!