What’s Up Ribbon Cuttings
UPTOWN GIRLS SALON
Andrea Brown & Ashly Jones • 704-406-9092
125 North Morgan Street • Shelby, NC
JOLLY ELECTRIC
Rick Jolly • 704-481-1144
1014-1 Industrial Dr • Shelby, NC
What’s Up With Decompression?
By Calvin Hastings
What’s Up with decompression? First, we must know what it is. Decompression of the spine is accomplished through traction therapy. Decompression gently reduces pressure on joint surfaces and discs allowing the body to regain all of its proper alignment. Traction therapy is a light, gentle stretch for soft tissue muscles and helps joints regain proper function. Decompression can bring much relief to many painful conditions by creating a vacuum effect on the disc, pulling the disc back into its normal position bringing in a fresh blood supply to promote healing. It’s an easy procedure with the patient lying on their stomach or back. A specialized belt is gently put around the waist and the machine is set to focus on the problem area and then the advanced decompression computer system will do the work. Most patients feel better with just a few treatments and there are no dangerous drugs, no invasive procedures and no painful exercise. One area resident that has found relief with decompression is Arlene Allison. For 10 years Arlene had to sit in her walker to cook, wash dishes and clean the house. But after just five treatments with the pro-adjuster and decompression therapy at Carolina Chiropractic Plus, she could tell the difference. Arlene now has completed 14 treatments and is able to do housework without the aid of her walker. Just recently, she was able to sweep her kitchen floor without having to sit down. Arlene said “After five treatments, I was already feeling some improvement. I even walked to see our neighbor’s garden. Before I had to use my walker or electric chair.”
Another patient, Revonda Humphries of Boiling Springs, also has a success story. Barbara is on this week’s front cover and is receiving a Spinal Decompression Treatment from Dr. Berkowitz. Before the treatments Revonda told me that she was suffering shooting pains from her back down her leg. The treatments have helped ease the pain, and because of this she has become more mobile. Before treatment she could not have taken two steps without experiencing extreme pain and now she can work normally and do daily activities around the house. Revonda said that “Even without any pain, I would still come to Dr. Berkowitz for adjustments and maintenance”.
This treatment can alleviate shoulder pain, neck problems, sciatica, knee pain and carpel tunnel. Anyone with protruding, bulging or herniated discs, degenerative disc disease or degenerative joint disease will benefit. Dr. Rich Berkowitz of Carolina Chiropractic Plus points out that the treatment is clinically proven to prevent the need for surgery in eight out of ten patients. To find out more about decompression therapy, contact Carolina Chiropractic Plus at 704-482-0135 in Shelby or 828-245-0202 in Forest City.
My Big Flat Tire
What’s Up with Thinkin Bout It
By Dr. Vince Hefner - First Baptist of Cherryville
It was my day off, and I wanted to take my wife out of town for some lunch and some sightseeing. Everything was going as planned until we started our trip back home. The truck began to make a funny sound and my wife reported to me that I had a flat tire. It wasn’t “our” flat tire; it was “my” flat tire. I knew what I had to do, change it and get on my way. My wife told me to call AAA, and they would come out fix it for me. Are you kidding? There is an unspoken rule among men that we can change a flat tire, anytime, anywhere. I pulled the truck into a driveway and got out to “quickly and efficiently” change the flat tire with the spare tire.
Since I had never had a flat tire in the truck, I had to think for a moment exactly where the spare was located. It was under the truck. No problem, I would unloosen it from the truck and take the flat tire off and replace it with the spare. The next part would be to find the jack and wheel wrench. They were under the backseat. Folks, I couldn’t get the back seat to unfold. My wife kept telling me to call AAA, but I ignored her until I found the right combination to unfold the seat and retrieved the tools. Now I was ready for action.
I climbed under the truck and found the spare tire, but I couldn’t get it loose. By this time I was getting agitated. My wife calmly opened the glove compartment and pulled out the owner’s manual. There is another unspoken rule for men that we do not read directions from any manual, which goes along with another unspoken rule that we do not ask for directions if we are lost. Since I would not read the manual on how to fix a flat tire, my wife read them to me. I figured this wasn’t breaking any “Unspoken rules” since I was not actually doing the reading.
I will be the first to admit that I am not the most mechanical man who has ever lived. But Mr. Goodwrench himself would have had a difficult time getting that spare tire off the underside of that truck and cranking that jack lift with the tools they provided. I had to use a key to unlock the opening on the back bumper and use some extension pieces to lower the spare. I felt I was in a Mission Impossible movie where I was asked to do something impossible. What should have taken a minimum of ten minutes, took me almost one hour. After the flat tire had been replaced, I was covered in dirt and grime. My wife told me I had done a great job but that I should have called AAA. I hate it when she is right.
I’m not sure where all these “unspoken rules” for men originated. Maybe it was from women who were angry with their husbands. Regardless of the source, I’m going to do some serious thinking on what I will and will not do when it come to the “Unspoken Rules for Men.” However, I hope I never have a problem when it comes to following God’s Word for my daily actions. It is good to know that God’s rules are not “unspoken,” but well recorded for all to read. Make sure that you take time to read His Word on a daily basis to help you when troubles arise in your life. The Bible may not tell you how to change a flat tire on a truck, but it will tell you how to act while you’re doing it! Before I forget it, if you see me on the side of the road with a disabled vehicle, it is OK to stop and help me!
Remember, don’t give in to sin. Think about it!
Perfection Is Rarely Attainable
What’s Up with Being A Lil Rusty
Articles
By Rusty Stroupe
Recently, a baseball scout relative of mine and I were discussing what the perfectly pitched baseball game would be. A pitcher gets credit for pitching a perfect game if nobody on the opposing team reaches base. But we took it a step further.
We agreed that it would be 27 pitches where every batter hit the first pitch, and as a result, an out was recorded. He wanted 27 fly balls, but as a former infielder, I preferred 27 groundballs. Either way, the goal of a perfect 27 pitch game is unattainable. At some point, batters will begin to let pitches go by and not swing. Yet, twenty pitchers in Major League history have been credited with hurling perfect games. The word “perfect” in this case is a statistic, not an adjective. An absolute perfect game is unattainable, and a perfect pitcher or person does not exist on this planet.
I am curious to know how many people remember the name Armando Gallaraga. He is the young big league pitcher who, on June 2, barely missed becoming the twenty-first pitcher in history to toss a perfect game. And, it would have been a “perfect” game if veteran umpire, Jim Joyce, had made the proper out call at first base on what would have been the last out of the game. But, Joyce blew it, and after watching the replay after the game, he knew it.
Instead of running for cover by claiming he’s human or saying something about how he did the best he could, the man admitted his mistake. He was devastated and apologetic. He didn’t blame his seventh grade gym teacher. He didn’t blame the liberal media or the military industrial complex. He didn’t blame sugar-sweetened cereals or fast food. He took it like a man; an imperfect man, and Gallaraga was just as impressive. He grinned when the call was made. He brought the pre-game lineup card out to Joyce at home plate the next day to demonstrate his respect.
Umpires and referees- imperfect human beings- miss calls and make mistakes. And I gotta believe most of the time they don’t blow calls on purpose. Yet people throw stuff at them, call their mothers bad names, and make jokes about how there won’t be any baseball games in Heaven because no umpires will be there to officiate. But alas, there is hope. The aforementioned near-perfect game incident occurred in Detroit, the same city that inexplicably nearly burned itself to the ground while “celebrating” after its baseball team won the World Series in 1984.
Perhaps these thoughts were going through Jim Joyce’s mind as he walked out to home plate to umpire the day after his infamous blown call. With trembling hands and tears in his eyes, Joyce accepted the lineup card from Gallaraga. And when Joyce’s name was announced, the crowd cheered. Yes, cheered, not jeered. They cheered because a man was humble enough to admit his mistake. They cheered because they respected his heartfelt apology. And they cheered because their young pitching star provided them a positive example of how people should treat others who confess their mistakes and sincerely ask for forgiveness.
Two men shaking hands and making their peace with each other. An entire city willing to forgive. A sport rooted in tradition and respect. For those few moments at least, perfection.
What You Do Now; Is It By Grace or Is It By Law?
Let’s Talk Bible
Click for other Let's Talk Bible Articles
By Evangelist W.C. Dub Dellinger - Since 1975
Grace means volunteer love and this is what pleases your Savior! Search your Bible and you will find that to be true. If you are on your way home and come past a friend in need, you don’t stop and ask yourself if there is a law that says for me to help this person. No, you are showing back to Jesus what kind of a person you are. You help out whenever you can and on down the road of life you can travel with the smile of satisfaction of helping your fellow man. This brings out a smile from your Savior’s face, too. Don’t worry about the things that pop up in life. Who is to say that those things don’t happen for a reason. Cycled in by your Savior. You can find out just what kind of a servant you are living under the trusted love of a Savior who set the way for all of His family that day on Mount Calvary. Look at it as a Debt set for us to follow and to come together in Heaven.
Kings Mountain Beach Blast
Kings Mountain, NC: The water, the sand, the sun, the music and the fun – that’s life along the Grand Strand! On Saturday, July 24th, Kings Mountain, NC will feel more like Ocean Drive as the City celebrates, for the 11th year, BeachBlast. This event brings the beach experience downtown to Patriots Park. BeachBlast will begin at 10 am and beach music fans can shag into the summer night with music at the Gazebo by The Extraordinaires, Jim Quick & the Coastline Band and The Band of Oz. The water features include the Rotary Splash Pad, the 30’ spray fountain and rounds of Water Wars. This free event will start with competition in the Teenie Weenie Bikini Contest (from newborn to six years old), along with a watermelon eatin’ contest, a high heel road race and the Big Beach Ball Drop scheduled throughout the day. Show off your skills during a beach volleyball open competition. We provide the sand, the net, the ball and you provide the talent! Join in or bring a team. A variety of amusement rides and games will be open all day until 10 pm when the event ends.
For the adults, a beer garden will be close by as well as the many downtown retail shops and restaurants that will be open throughout the day. A variety of food vendors, from Philly cheese steak sandwiches to barbecue and from Italian ice to ice cream, will be available for every palate. Also, over 50 art and craft vendors will line Gold Street downtown Kings Mountain with their unique art, crafts and collectibles for sale. For more information, call 704-734-0333.
Crest Senior High Art Students Paint Mural for Hospice
The Art Class at Crest Senior High School recently painted a mural for Hospice Cleveland County which is on display the month of July in Uptown Shelby on the side of Pleasant City Wood Fire Grill located at 233 South Lafayette Street. Maria Padgett, Crest Art Teacher, said “The students were excited and really did a great job on this project. Many had been touched by Hospice and wanted to help them by doing the mural.”
Mikayla Owle, Crest senior, said “It is nice to do something for Hospice because they help so many people out.” Tonya Rocha, also a senior at Crest, said “I found working on the mural fulfilling because it is a good cause.”
Students working on this project included: Josh Clark, Brittany Dority, James Hudson, Malcolm Peeler, Casey Potter, Penny Rix, Jenny Schaeffer, Nelson Stevens, Joshua Viera, Nathan Moore, Mikayla Owle, Christen Quattlebaum, Tonya Rocha, and Ashely Strickland.
“The mural is beautiful and a great way for us to let the public know that we are here to help.” said Pam Isaacs, Director of Marketing & Public Relations. “We really appreciate all their hard work on this special project for us.”
Hospice Cleveland County exists to provide high quality skilled compassionate care and support for patients with life-limiting illness, their families, and the community, regardless of ability to pay. For more information on Hospice Cleveland County, including ways you can help, please call 704-487-4677 or visit our website at www.hospicecares.cc.
The Music Box Studio
Grand opening and ribbon cutting held on July 15, 2010, 10am, at The Music Box Studio, located at 4732 North Highway 16, Denver, NC. The Music Box Studio is owned by Mr. Randy Cooke.
Leave The Town Intact When You Win A Championship
What’s Up with Being A Lil Rusty
By Rusty Stroupe
www.rustystroupe.blogspot.com
“I don’t have to go looking for stuff to write about,” I told my neighbors one recent afternoon while standing in my driveway. “All I have to do is keep my eyes open.” Having just witnessed what happened a few moments earlier, they laughed and agreed.
It all started with a phone call from my ten-year-old son. “Dad,” he calmly said, “Mom wants you to come home as soon as possible because Flash (our dog) has a fish hook stuck in his nose.”
Upon arriving home, I noticed the dog was in good spirits, but she did indeed have a large fish hook stuck through one of her nostrils. The tip of the hook was visible on the outside of her nose, thus letting me know the thing was stuck good (or bad depending on your perspective).
When I tell you that we decided to take some pictures of Flash, please understand that my family meant no disrespect or harm to the creature and that she was not in pain at the time. I texted a few pics to my oldest two sons who were out of town and some other folks who I thought would be interested.
But the scene became less than humorous when my neighbor and I attempted surgery to remove the offensive hook. Let me next say that we have no idea how the fish hook worked its way into the dog’s snout, though my neighbor’s wife did discover a fishing bobber in the yard that looked like it had been chewed up by dog teeth.
My wife’s job was to help my neighbor and I contain the poor canine while I performed surgery with wire cutters and needle nose pliers. My neighbor tried to cover Flash’s eyes with a bandana but this proved unsuccessful.
At one point during the operation, a subdued Flash did what any red-blooded American dog would do. She relieved herself. At first it was number one. But it soon evolved into number two. And we were too far into the surgery to bail out due to the smell. We forged onward despite my neighbors’ wife and my youngest son bailing out and relocating to parts unknown.
I’ll spare you further details of the “relieving” incident but I will tell you there was clear evidence to indicate that Flash had recently eaten a screw.
Anyway, I was able to slice the hook into two pieces but I wasn’t able to push it all the way out. Of course we knew better than to try to pull it out, knowing that the hook’s barb would do even more damage on the way out. Eventually my neighbor, who had an angle better than me, pushed the hook the rest of the way out of the poor dog’s nose via the pliers.
Hooray! After thirty seconds of subdued pouting, Flash jumped up and ran into the neighbor’s yard to play with her doggy friend.
I gained a whole new respect for Flash that day. She’s tougher than I thought. And in her defense, I think under the circumstances I probably would have soiled the driveway, too.
Of course, I am appreciative to Flash for providing material for yet another semi-entertaining column. And I will continue to keep my eyes open and my driveway hosed off.
To see a picture of Flash sporting her fish hook nose ring and to read a special message from her, visit www.rustystroupe.blogspot.com
What’s Up with Two Doors Down
What’s Up-town Shelby
Janet Workman Berry, CPF
Frame Masters Gallery & Gifts, Shelby, NC
www.framemastersgallery.com
“Clothes are basic to our lives.” At Two Doors Down, fine friends & fashion, owner, Debbie Turner, who has over 30 years in the clothing arena, shows women how they can dress effortlessly and effective while recognizing value and spending less. Debbie Says, “The mission at Two Doors Down is to dress a woman to look her very best while keeping her clothing budget in mind.”
Two Doors Down, offers traditional fashion as well as the latest in practical and affordable fashion for women with discriminating taste. Whether a woman wants to wear trousers, suits, dressy fashion or casuals, Debbie and her knowledgeable staff help women showcase their best body features. Debbie offers top designers like Nick & Zoe, Frank Lyman, TRIBAL, Christopher Blue and Brighton. Pants in many fabrics and styles are a staple in today’s woman’s wardrobe.
Today, women flock to Two Doors Down to purchase pants by designer Christopher Blue. There are a multitude of style choices from the original wide-leg to straight-cut with a hint of Lycra in the fabric for ease of comfort.
Pants for women became fashion in the 1930’s. Clothing designer Coco Chanel brought them on the fashion scene. She paired wide-leg pants with mannish cardigan sweaters, which were popularized by actresses such as Lana Turner and Greta Garbo.
Crop pants are another choice for women with discriminating taste. This was introduced on the fashion scene in the 1950’s as “pedal pushers.” I remember my Mother looked pretty cute wearing “pedal pushers.” These stylish pants were paired with flat shoes, just like today’s fine fashion. Marilyn Monroe made us aware of this style. Two Doors Down also carries crop pants, which has now gone full circle in the fashion industry.
Lingerie is the foundation for great fitting clothes. Oprah made us aware of a brand, SPANX, which she declared to be her favorite line of lingerie. Two Doors Down has a full line of SPANX for all body types.
