The tickets are now at advance locations for this year’s 86th annual Cleveland County Fair.

Tickets are $7.00 at the gate for adults but are only $5.00 with advance tickets. $15.00 value of ride tickets are only $10.00 in advance and are good for any day. The $16.00 armband tickets are only $12.00 in advance and the children 6-12 age $2.00 tickets are only $1.00 in advance. Armband days this year will be Saturday and Sunday, October 2 and 3 and Saturday, October 9. There will be a special Ten Buck Tuesday on October 5. All armbands on that day will be just $10.00. Also all parents will be allowed to ride the merry-go-round free of charge during the entire fair. It’s a brand new day at the Cleveland County Fair!

Advance Ticket Locations

Cherryville:  BB&T, McNeely Sales

Kings Mountain:  Dennis #3 and First National Bank

Belmont:  First National Bank

Bessemer City: First National Bank

Boiling Springs:  First National Bank

Lawndale:  First National Bank

Casar:  Mountain View Grocery & White’s General Store

Forest City:  First National Bank

Gastonia:  First National Bank

Lincolnton:  First National Bank

Fallston:  Wright’s Jewelry

Shelby:  Cleveland Home Health, Cleveland Pines Nursing Home, Cleveland Regional Medical Center, First National Bank (Marion, Dixon & Main), Woodbridge Handy Mart, Hwy18S Mini Mart, Kelly’s Seafood, Super Dave’s Quick Stop, Village Pantry, Harvest Fresh Produce, Cleveland County Fair Office.

SHELBY – Continuing their strong tradition of supporting the community, Cleveland County HealthCare System (CCHS) once again leads the nation’s healthcare organizations in per capita giving to the Relay for Life and United Way.

For the last five years, CCHS has held the top spot among Relay for Life healthcare teams nationwide, consistently raising more than $50,000 a year since 2002.

The United Way recently released its top 20 hospitals in per capita giving for the 2009 campaign. Despite being one of the smaller organizations in number of employees, CCHS topped that list as well. CCHS’ employees raised $250,243 to support United Way agencies within Cleveland County. This is the sixth year that CCHS has maintained their top ranking.

“One of the hallmarks of Cleveland County Healthcare System is the compassion of our healthcare professionals,” stated Brian Gwyn, CEO, “They understand that taking care of our community means more than just caring for patients. It involves reaching beyond the hospital’s walls.”

CCHS Relay for Life team, which includes Cleveland Regional Medical Center and Kings Mountain Hospital, raised more than $112,000 this year for the fight against cancer.

“Our team captains are phenomenal. To come close to the total we had last year was a feat, but to almost double that amount is absolutely amazing, especially in this economy,” said Jeff Ross, Outreach Representative for CCHS. “CCHS is fortunate to have employees who care.”

The hard work, creativity and efforts of CCHS employees are well known in Relay for Life communities around the country. Over the last five years, the American Cancer Society has repeatedly asked Ross to represent CCHS in meetings and conferences, teaching Relay for Life organizers throughout the country, and more recently around the world, the tactics and ideas CCHS finds successful.

The employees, physicians and volunteers used a variety of grass roots efforts to raise funds including bake sales, dinners and their highly successful womanless beauty pageant. For the last seven years local physicians and business leaders have walked the runway to raise funds for Relay for Life. This year’s pageant raised more than $21,000.

In 2009, the American Cancer Society presented CCHS with a lifetime commitment award for the dedication and hard work of their staff, and honored Ross by inducting him into the Relay for Life Hall of Fame. He is one of only six people to receive this honor during Relay for Life’s 25-year history. CCHS also ranks high among industries of all size and scope. Among the 27,800 teams in Relay’s South Atlantic Division, which consists of eight states, CCHS ranks 57th.

The hospital’s fundraising efforts are a strong part of the system’s efforts to fight cancer. CCHS’s cancer center offers the community a wide range of cancer treatment options close to home. Services offered at the cancer center include a variety of advance treatments including Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT), medical oncology (chemotherapy), XOFT (partial breast radiation), numerous support groups and more. A breast health navigator and an on-staff social worker also assist patients and families.

“Providing care in a personalized, compassionate manner.” For more than 85 years, Cleveland County HealthCare System has served the healthcare needs of Cleveland County and the surrounding region. The system includes Cleveland Regional Medical Center, a  241-bed Joint Commission accredited medical center that consistently places an emphasis on quality, state-of the-art medical technology and an abiding concern for providing care in a personalized, compassionate fashion. Backed by Carolinas HealthCare System, CCHS also consists of the 102-bed Kings Mountain Hospital, the 120-bed Cleveland Pines Nursing Center and the 50-bed Long Term Acute Care Hospital, Crawley Memorial in Boiling Springs.  To learn more, please visit www.ClevelandCountyHealthCareSystem.org

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

By:  Dr. Rich Berkowitz, DC

What is your level of stress?   A recent APA Survey conducted in 2004 stated that 54 percent of Americans are concerned about the level of stress in their everyday life.   These concerns are extremely valid.   Stress can make you anxious, tired, tense and can cause headaches and muscle pain.  Chances are you deal with stress more often than you’d like.   Certain stresses are inevitable.   Like moving to a new home, beginning a new job, balancing family and work.

In today’s fast paced society, few of us are free from the effects of stress on our bodies and lives.  The key to winning the war against stress is understanding how to manage is properly.   Research shows that the inability to handle stress is a major cause of headaches, neck pain, and lower back pain.   When you’re stressed your body doesn’t want to cooperate as well as you ache, feel fatigued, or have mood swings.  You may not feel the effects of stress immediately, but over time, it takes a powerful toll on our bodies, slowing breaking them down

How do you manage this stress monster?   There are several ways to decrease the amount of stress.  It means taking steps to become more organized, planning out your week in advance, finding quiet time for yourself, and most importantly, taking care of your body and health.   One was to relieve stress is the state of the art technology, the ProAdjuster.  It will help identify the source of your ailments.  In fact, the ProAdjuster’s revolutionary technology has received a patient satisfaction rating of over 92 percent.   Consider being evaluated with the ProAdjuster.  Contact our office and we’ll send your more information about this advanced technology or you can call our office at 704-482-0135 to schedule your evaluation.  You have nothing to lose but your stress!

By Calvin Hastings

There is a very special event coming to the Cleveland County Fairgrounds this weekend.   It’s called Connect, Commit to Change!   Connect, Commit to Change is a partnership between The Star and the community.  The event evolved from the tragic and painful stories of abused and neglected children in our communities.  It is a step to bring people together who want to reach out and help improve the quality of life for children.  Children who are often the victims of violence and neglect.   The organizers are made up of a group of community volunteers from all walks of life  who have an interest in helping improve the  lives of children.

The event brings together agencies and organizations that already help young people in virtually any way and that are in need of more resources to carry out their mission with people in the community who have the time, talent or resources to help these organizations.  The third group consists of parents and children who seek help, resources and assistance from the agencies represented at the Community Help Fair.  The event will be held a the Cleveland County Fairgrounds this Saturday, August 21st from 10 am till 2 pm.   The event is free to the public.