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From Lincolnton High School

What’s Up in Local Sports

By Calvin Hastings

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Even with the start of high school football, golf  took center stage last weekend in Cleveland County with the 47th Annual Cleveland County Amateur Golf Championship Tournament.   This is an event I’d love to play in if only I had time.   Seems I keep saying I’m going to get around to it…but you know about those round tu-its!   Sure, I know I wouldn’t have a chance to win or maybe even make the cut, but I believe it would be fun playing under tournament conditions.   I guess they wouldn’t let me move the ball for a better lie or use my “arm-iron” out of the traps or a  little kick out of the rough.   Don’t  know how long I’d last,  but the event was held last week and Jerry Austin took home this year’s Richard Shelton Memorial Championship Trophy.  It was his first County Championship holding off Ben Wright.   Wright and Austin were tied going into hold number 18 at Deerbrook Sunday afternoon.   Austin tapped in for a par while Wright’s five foot par putt missed to the right giving Austin the championship.   Hats off to Trip Boinest who won the Lefty Blanton Memorial Seniors Championship followed by Terry Abercrombie, Sr.   The Deerbrook Golf Club won the Dan Allen Cup followed by Kings Mountain.

Meanwhile, the Gaston County Amateur Golf Tournament is scheduled for September 18th-20th at Gastonia Municipal and the Gaston Country Club.   The field will be limited to the first 96 golfers who sign up.  Entry forms are available at area golf courses.  Entry fee is $95.00 and applications must be in by September 16th.   All proceeds from this year’s event will go to the Cancer Services of Gaston County.   Tournament director Pat Morrow urges golfers to apply soon if they want to play.   Spots will be filling up fast.   For more information you can call 704-864-9678.   There will also be an amateur division and a Super Senior Division for golfers age 65 and older.

In the Cleveland County Football Jamboree last week at Gamble Stadium in Kings Mountain,  Newton Conover downed Crest 28-21.   East Lincoln over Burns 21-7.  Shelby over Hickory 28-21 and Kings Mountain and East Burke fought to a 13-13 tie.

The Star just released a pre-season coaches poll on who they think will win the new South Mountain Athletic Conference this season.  Shelby was picked to finish first followed by RS Central, Burns, East Rutherford, Freedom, Patton and Chase.

Hats off to Hunter Huss quarterback Marshall Williams.  Williams was named the Gaston Gazette’s Player of the Week.   Williams accounted for 280 yards of offense and four touchdowns in the Huskies win over East Gaston.   Williams rushed for 90 yards and two touchdowns and passed for 190 yards and threw for two more touchdowns.   He also added a 59 yard punt return.

Hats off to Dick Thompson.  Thompson was inducted into the Mt. Holly Sports Hall of Fame last Saturday night.  Thompson was a multi sport standout who led the Hawks to a unbeaten football season in 1929.   He was a member of N.C. State’s football and wrestling teams.   He coached at Charlotte Tech High School and was Mt. Holly High’s coach from 1942 to 1947.   After leaving Mt. Holly, Thompson served 23 years at Stanley where he coached football, basketball and baseball.   Stanley and Mt. Holly both competed in the old Little Seven Conference.   Other inductees included Vivian Laye Broome, Ray Campbell, Don Killian and Tommy Wilson along with the 1963 Mt. Holly High School Football team.

The Lincoln Country Club held their Match Play Championship Tournament last week.   Jason Gabrial won the Championship.  First Flight winner was Trent Little.   Second flight winner was Morty Wadsworth and the Third Flight winner was Danny Hardin.

Lincolnton’s Ryan Heavner picked up his second victory in the Pro Challenge at Myrtle Beach Speedway on August 15th.   It was his second win of the season.  In 16 starts Heavner has 11 top five finishes and five Top 10 finishes.

Belmont Abbey has a new Athletic Director.   Dr. Travis Feezell was hired on Monday to replace Richard “Dick” Dull who resigned two weeks ago.   Dr. Feezell is currently an assistant professor in the sports management department at the school.   Feezell will supervise the 21 sport athletic department and serve as a consultant until becoming the full time athletic director in January.

This is the first week of the What’s Up Shopper Power Football Poll.   The poll is based on performance on the field with team scoring and team defense along with wins and losses.    In the first few weeks you’ll probably see many changes depending on the strength of schedule.

What’s Up with Hollywood Sports

By Kevin Hastings

Predictions, Comments, Suggestions and Other Valid NFL Points Sure To Be Wrong

I’m so excited I just can’t stand it anymore.  Football season is kicking off and it’s almost time for the NFL.  High School football started last week and college will start this weekend as we head into the Labor Day Weekend.  Remember girls, no white after Labor Day.  We’ve had a pretty exciting off-season thanks to T.O., Plaxico, Michael Vick, Free Agency, The Draft, Fantasy Football, the retirement of John Madden, and the well, you know, whatever it is the lying me-first Brett Favre does every off-season.  Just like last season we’ll power rank the teams in order of chances to win the Super Bowl and eliminate one team per week from Super Bowl contention until playoff time.  Remember to check out our football contest where we give away $100 cash each week to the reader who can predict the games the best between college and pro football.  This week I’ll go over my predictions for every NFL team  so strap on your shoulder pads and helmets, this could be a bumpy ride.

AFC NORTH

1.  Pittsburgh Steelers  (12-4, #2 Seed) - The defending champs are still strong and will dominate an easy schedule to a first round bye.

2.  Baltimore Ravens  (10-6, #6 Seed) -  The Ravens will be the team no one wants to play come playoff time.  QB Joe Flacco plays with a chip on his shoulder and the Ravens always have a good D with Ray Lewis around.

3.  Cincinnatti Bengals (6-10) - The Bengals are the Bengals.  I think this is a make or break season for the Marvin Lewis regime in the Queen City.  Carson Palmer will miss Houshmanzadeh and the Bengals offense will struggle.

4. Cleveland Browns  (4-12) - Whenever there’s a QB controversy the team usually doesn’t have a good season.  I don’t think the Browns will want to remember 2009 no matter if they go with Andersen or Quinn.

AFC EAST

1.  New England Patriots  (13-3, #1 Seed) - The return of Tom Brady will mean the return of the Patriots.  The team went 11-5 last season with a QB who hadn’t started a game since high school.  Adding Tom Brady will definitely improve this team to instant Super Bowl favorite as long as he isn’t skittish to let loose on that repaired knee.

2. Miami Dolphins  (9-7) - The Dolphins will be a solid team again but miss out on the playoffs by just a game or two.  They are good enough to beat you, but not good enough to scare you although they have almost perfected the Wildcat formation.

3. Buffalo Bills  (7-9) - I have no idea what to do with the Bills.  If T.O. works out on offense, remember he may behave being that he’s working on a 1-year deal, the Bills could be very scary after RB Marshawn Lynch returns from a 5-game suspension.  Although the chance of everything blowing up in T.O.’s face is pretty good and you can bet the media will try to do their best to start up some T.O. drama if they can.

New York Jets (5-11) - The Jets will start with a rookie and usually doesn’t bode well for that team’s win loss record.  But if rookie Mark Sanchez can match what Brett Favre did last season then the Jets will be playoff contenders.  But that’s a huge “if” for a rookie quarterback in a good division.

AFC WEST

1. San Diego Chargers  (10-6, #4 Seed) -  I don’t like anyone in the AFC West but the Chargers are the best of the bunch and will feast on a weak division.  The Raiders will be the only team to challenge the Bolts.

2.  Oakland Raiders (7-9) - The Raiders may be the suprise team if they can get a full season out of Darren McFadden.  I believe they’ll be better if Jeff Garcia can beat out JeMarcus Russell for the starting QB job.

3.  Denver Broncos  (5-11) - Rookie coach Josh McDaniels has lost respect from a lot of his players after the team’s mishandling of the Jay Cutler and Brandon Marshall situations.  I don’t think McDaniels first season in the Mile High City will be too memorable.

4.  Kansas City Chiefs  (6-10) - The Chiefs are still rebuilding and Matt Cassell won’t have the weapons he had last year in New England.  The Chiefs will be a little better but many people in KC are already doubting the Josh McDaniels era.

AFC SOUTH

1.  Indianapolis  (12-4, #3 Seed) - A full healthy season from Peyton Manning and a fairly easy schedule will give the Colts a good chance at a first round bye in the playoffs.  Don’t worry about the loss of Marvin Harrison.  He was hardly on the field last season and the Colts did just fine.

2.  Tennessee Titans  (10-6, #5 Seed) - Everyone’s high on the Titans but I’m a little worried about the team’s loss of Albert Haynesworth to the Redskins, the ever aging Kerry Collins, and the unsteadiness of the psyche of backup QB Vince Young.

3.  Houston Texans (7-9) - Matt Schaub’s job may be on the line in Houston as the Texans still try to gain their first playoff berth.  Watch out for RB Steve Slaton.  He’s nasty and if you got a fantasy team you may want to pick him up.

4.  Jacksonville Jaguars  (6-10) - I just don’t see the Jags having a good season this year but we could have thought that about them the last few seasons but they keep winning games.

NFC EAST

1.  Dallas  Cowboys  (11-5, #1 Seed) - Addition by subtraction by the release of T.O.  I never felt that Phillips or Garrett really wanted Owens in their locker room and the team by all accounts is a closer unit this season.  With Romo slinging it around, Witten catching everything, the three headed running attack wearing down defenses, and DeMarcus Ware stalking quarterbacks the Cowboys look in good shape to concentrate on winning.  Before you start bashing Romo about his playoff letdowns, let’s remember that Peyton Manning lost his first six playoff games and Romo is 27-12 as a starter.  Romo also owns almost EVERY single season passing record in Cowboys history.  How you like them apples?

2.  Philadelphia Eagles (10-6, #5 Seed) - The Eagles will be good again and the team nobody in the NFC will want in the playoffs.  Philadelphia will have one of the top offenses in the league if everyone stays healthy.  Coach Andy Reid will find some creative ways to use Michael Vick so get your popcorn ready.

3.  New York Giants  (9-7) - The defense is good enough and Eli is smart enough to get this team to 9-7 but with no playmakers at wide receiver the Giants may struggle to score points.

4.  Washington Redskins (7-9) - There’s a reason Dan Snyder has been shopping QB Jason Campbell all Summer. He’s not working out in Dan’s eyes and  Campbell won’t be the quarterback long and he can’t be happy about Philadelphia getting Virginia native Vick to backup McNabb instead of challenging Campbell.  I think Vick chose wisely because there would have been pressure for him to start in Washington and not so much in Philly.

NFC NORTH

1.  Minnesota Vikings (10-6, #3 Seed) - Oh what fun Head Coach Brad Childress and Brett Favre brought us this off-season with the “will he-won’t he” of Favre coming out of retirement.  Favre is now in Minnesota where he asked to be traded last season and he’s ready to continue his storied career.  With that said I’m glad I’m not a Vikings fan and have to defend their behavior this off-season with their courtship and finally signing of Favre.  His behavior and “me-first, I don’t wanna go to training camp” attitude are really getting old for the 4th straight season.  I myself have written two Favre retirement articles.  I now wash my hands of Favre.

2.  Green Bay Packers (9-7) - The Packers will be better than they were last season and QB Aaron Rogers is a bona fide NFL quarterback.  Questions remain with the running game and they’ve revamped their defense.  I think they’ll fight for a playoff spot but come up short.  Next year is their season.

3.  Chicago Bears  (8-8) - Jay Cutler will be a huge upgrade over the Bears past…well any quarterback in Bear history right?  I guess Jim McMahon was the greatest QB in Chicago’s history and he was a game manager.  Football fans in Chicago are about to see a QB who can throw it harder and further than any they’ve ever seen in the Windy City.  Too bad they’ll come up just short of the playoffs.

4.  Detroit Lions (4-12) - The team lost every single game last season and by most accounts have vastly improved their team.  But seriously, how many wins can you expect from a franchise with only 1 career playoff victory and went 0-16 last year?

NFC SOUTH

1.  Atlanta Falcons  (10-6, #2 Seed) - Atlanta added future Hall of Famer TE Tony Gonzalez to a team who already ranked at the top of the list in total offense last season.  With a year under his belt 2nd year QB Matt Ryan looks poised to lead the A-T-L to a division title and first round bye.

2.  New Orleans Saints  (10-6, #6 Seed) - The Saints are coming!  Sort of.  This team has no defense whatsoever but their offense may be tops in the league.  They’ll be fun to watch and may make the playoffs.

3.  Carolina Panthers (7-9) -  Everyone wants to know “Hollywood, how’s the Panthers gonna do this season?”  My answer is “Who Knows?”  It’s hard to predict these things but I got down and studied Carolina really hard.  It seems they rotate good and bad seasons and last season they went 12-4 with home field and lost their first game in the playoffs.  They’ve already lost their starting DT, and MLB Jon Beason’s out 4-6 weeks, and of course they still got Old Jake tossing up no lookers down the sideline to Smith.  Peppers isn’t happy about life in general and fans are steaming after the disapointing showing the playoffs and making no additions via free agency that could impact the team.  This team’s going backwards for now.

4.  Tampa Bay Buccaneers  (4-12) - Tampa’s in rebuilding mode after firing Super Bowl Champion Head Coach Jon Gruden.  Don’t look for much out of the Bay this season.

NFC WEST

1.  Seattle Seahawks  (10-6, #4 Seed) - Seattle’s back, mark my words.  When QB Matt Hasselbeck is ready he’s one of the most productive QB’s in the league and has never had a bona fide go-to wide receiver.  Well now he’s got Houshmanzadeh and he’s healthy.  There’s a reason Seattle has dominated this division until last season.  The Hawks will regain supremacy in the West.

2.  Arizona Cardinals  (9-7) - I have the defending NFC Champs missing the playoffs this season.  How long can Kurt Warner keep this up?  If he gets hurt can Matt Leinart hold this team together? I don’t think so and it should be an up and down season in the desert.

3.  San Francisco  (7-9) - I love Head Coach Mike Singletary.  I wish he were in Dallas.  I don’t love his roster full of no names. The 49ers may win 7 games just because of Singletary.

4.  St. Louis Rams  (4-12) - With Bulgar and Steven Jackson the Rams should always have a good team right?  I guess not because they’ve drafted in the Top 10 each of the past two seasons.

AFC Playoffs - 1st Round:

#5 Tennessee over #4 San Diego

#3 Indianapolis over #6 Baltimore

AFC Playoffs - 2nd Round

#1 New England over #5 Tennessee

#3 Indianapolis over Pittsburgh

AFC Championship Game

#1 New England over #3 Indianapolis

NFC Playoffs - 1st Round

#3 Minnesota over #6 New Orleans

#5 Philadelphia over #4 Seattle

NFC PLAYOFFS - 2nd Round

#1 Dallas over #5 Philadelphia

#3 Minnesota over #2 Atlanta

NFC Championship Game

#1 Dallas over #3 Minnesota

Super Bowl

Dallas 31 over New England 27

There you have it folks.  The upcoming NFL season sure to be predicted and analyzed wrong by Kevin “Hollywood” Hastings.  Remember all predictions guaranteed to be wrong or your money back.  Til next week, football is here!

What’s Up with Howard Black

By The Grace Of God And Constitutionally Guaranteed,

Howard Black Pokes Fun At Life, Politics, And Human Insanity.

The night was October 25, 1994.  The place was Union, South Carolina.  She had been driving around for the last hour trying to calm herself.   While she drove along Highway 49 in her 1990 burgundy Mazda Protégé, her two sons slept in the back seat, securely fastened in their car seats.

She arrived at John D. Long Lake, and stopped in the middle of the 75-foot gravel boat ramp.  She was only twenty-three years old, with long, sandy blond hair that she tied in a ponytail. She wore wire-rimmed glasses and was in the best physical shape she had been in since before having her two sons.

She sat quietly behind the wheel listening to the sounds of her two young sons sleeping. The oldest son had recently celebrated his third birthday, and the youngest was only fourteen months old.

She was in the middle of a divorce, and was recently rejected by her boyfriend.  She feared committing suicide because what it would do to her sons.  She felt that her life was filled with loss and rejection and that the responsibilities of being a single mother were overwhelming.  What she sought was relief from the stresses of being a mother.

She shifted the Mazda and let the car roll a few yards before she stepped on the brake.  She then pulled the emergency brake, and opened her door and stepped out of the car.  She stood outside the car, on the boat ramp looking into the darkness. At that moment in her life she made a decision that will never be forgotten.  Her actions can never be justified.

She released the emergency brake and closed the driver’s side door.  Her two sons remained asleep in the back of the car, strapped securely into their car seats.  The car slowly entered the water and bobbed slowly while filling with water.

The woman’s name was Susan Leigh Vaughan Smith.  She was charged with the murder of her two sons, 3-year old Michael Daniel Smith, and 14-month old Alexander Tyler Smith.  She was convicted on July 22, 1995 and sentenced to a minimum of 30 years.  She will be eligible for parole on November 4th, 2024.

Oddly this past week, the Scottish National Party announced it’s decision to free Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi, the only person convicted of the 1988 bombing of the Pan Am Flight 103 that killed 270 people.  The Scottish National Party said the release was for humanitarian reasons.  Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi, age 57, was suffering from terminal prostrate cancer.

I find it disheartening that anyone could ever be released that murdered 270 people, or two small children.  I believe that compassion doesn’t mean that murderers should be set free, even if they have a terminal illness.  General Normal Schwarzkopf was asked once if he could ever forgive Osama bin Laden, he said, “Forgiveness is up to God.  I just hope we hurry up the meeting!”

What’s Up in NASCAR

By Clint Spencer

Kyle Busch went into Saturday’s Sharpie 500 at Thunder Valley determined to improve his position in the standings.   Busch found himself 15th in points when just a year ago he was leading all other drivers in the chase.  The driver of the #18 has not had the same dominance as last year but he proved on Saturday that he is still a contender by picking up his fourth win of the season.  He became the first driver to pick up the Bristol sweep since his older brother Kurt accomplished the feat in 2003.  Kyle’s previous wins before Saturday were at Las Vegas and Bristol, both in March and Richmond in May.  You could say that Busch had a summer slump, but with fall upon us and the chase in sight, Busch will continue to improve on his performance for the remainder of the season.  The rest of Saturday’s top ten were as follows.  Mark Martin finished second, after giving the #18 a run for his money.   Marcos Ambrose finished third posting his best overall finish at an oval track.  Greg Biffle finished fourth followed by the #11 of Denny Hamlin.    Ryan Newman, Kurt Busch, Jimmie Johnson, Dale Earnhardt Jr.  and Matt Kenseth rounded out the top ten.

Spencer’s Power Poll

#1 Tony Stewart - Radio and electrical problems caused the driver of the #14 to have a horrible race.  A 33rd place finish reduces his lead to 220 points over second place.

#2 Jimmie Johnson - A lug nut problem late in the race may have kept Johnson from picking up the win.  Rebounded enough to pick up an 8th place finish.  Recovers second place after losing it to Gordon after Michigan.

#3 Jeff Gordon - A 23rd place finish puts the driver of the #24 back into third place.

#4 Denny Hamlin - Consistency is paying off for the #11 team.  Increases his lead in the chase one more spot.

#5 Carl Edwards - The defending race winner was only able to post a 16th place finish.  Needs to turn up the heat if he wants to secure some bonus points before the chase officially stars.

#6 Kurt Busch - A top ten finish by the elder Busch keeps him seated in the sixth position for another week.

#7 Ryan Newman - Had a great run on Saturday and posted a sixth place finish.  Climbs two big spots in the standings.

#8 Greg Biffle - Increases his lead two spots after finishing fourth in the race.  He can rest easier knowing he is inside the top ten with only two races left.

#9 Juan Pablo Montoya - Another week of finishing outside the top 20 could result in the #42 finding himself on the bubble looking in.  Needs to run well at Atlanta and Richmond if he wants to make the chase for the first time.

#10 Mark Martin - “Rises to the occasion” would have been a great tag line if he was still sponsored by Viagra.  The polesitter could have picked up his fifth win of the season, but he has too much class.  I respect Martin for not wrecking Busch, but I know myself and thousands of other NASCAR fans would have loved to seen it.  Moves up two spots in the points after finishing second.

#11 Kasey Kahne - Fell three positions with only two races left in the chase.  The driver of the #9 needs to find the power he had back at Sonoma if he wants to keep his place inside the top 12.

#12 Matt Kenseth - Matt’s top ten performance was not good enough to move him up in the points or even keep him in 11th.  He drops one spot.  Has managed to do one heck of a job of keeping himself in the chase all season long.  However, a streak of poor finishes may just find the driver of the #17 out of the chase for the first time in his career.

No prediction for this week.  The Sprint Cup Series has the week off and will return Labor Day weekend for the running of the Pep Boys 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Sunday, September 6th.  Itching for racing?   You can catch the Nationwide Series on ESPN2 Sunday at 2 p.m. as they return to the road course in Montreal.

What’s Up with Being Rusty

By Rusty Stroupe

www.rustystroupe.blogspot.com

I’ve been on it for over a year now. At some point I knew I’d have to write a column about it, acknowledging its presence in my life. I assumed it wouldn’t be a proud moment, but it turns out I’m no longer ashamed to admit it. I’m on Facebook. Me and 34 million other people worldwide.

It all started when I went on a mission trip with a youth group last summer. Our local group met and worked and bonded with youth from other churches. Upon returning home, my high school son informed me that several of the youth we met were asking for me on a thing called Facebook. “I’ll set up the account for you, Dad. It’s easy.”

And so my journey began, despite some misgivings. I had heard all the horror stories. People who get on that Facebook stuff become addicted, they say. Predators hang out in Facebook chat rooms and have access to personal info. People talk dirty and send inappropriate stuff to each other in such venues. People who don’t have lives (as in “Get a Life”) spend hours a day on Facebook because they’re insecure and need attention.

Add to this list the possibility of identity theft and the fact that many consider the whole Facebook thing a serious waste of time. And some research suggests, though disputed, that students who have Facebook make lower grades in school. Which hasn’t been a problem for me since my degrees are all complete and up to date at this point.

Even so, the more I’ve researched about Facebook, the more potential issues I have discovered. Some minor, some serious. And I didn’t write this column to recommend it to others and extol its virtues. Anyone considering signing up should check out all the facts.

And MySpace is a whole other story. I’ll tell you straight up that I don’t have an account there. And it’s highly unlikely I ever will. Do the research, count the costs, and decide for yourself.

Twitter. Quite simply, I don’t have time for it. And I don’t know much about it except that the NFL has banned its players from twittering on the sidelines during regular season games. What? Are you kidding me? A linebacker wants to Twitter from his cellphone beside the water cooler while the offense is chewing up the clock and giving him a breather? Apparently so.

Back to Facebook. Of course it is abused by folks at times. And some inappropriate stuff rears its ugly head on there, I suspect. Does that mean the medium itself is bad? Some claim that by being involved in such a venture, those who participate are contributing to and, in effect, are condoning the abuses which occur and could potentially occur on Facebook.

This column started out as one I wanted to have a little fun with, but as I did the research, I realized it would be improper to minimize the necessary caution that should be taken when jumping on the bandwagon of a seemingly innocent technological phenom.

Thus I have provided quite a laundry list of reasons to never sign up for Facebook. But sign up I did. And I’m staying on. And I’ll need another column next week to tell you all the reasons why.

Larry Cagle Sr. & Jr.

What’s Up at The Woodmill Winery

It’s North Carolina’s state fruit, it tastes delicious and it’s an emerging nutritional superstar.  What is the best kept secret in Heart Health?  It’s North Carolina’s native Muscadine grape.  Muscadines are among the richest sources of antioxidants found in nature and are a leading food source for a potent heart healthy substance called Resveratrol.

Resveratrol is an antioxidant that is reported to lower cholesterol levels and the risk of coronary heart disease. Most everyone is aware that blueberries, blackberries and pomegranates are great sources of antioxidants.  However, what is not commonly known is that Muscadine grapes have more antioxidants per gram than most any other fruit with three times more antioxidants than blueberries, four times more than blackberries and six times more than pomegranates.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend a healthy diet that includes five servings of fruit and vegetables a day.  Typical Americans consume only two or three servings of fruit and vegetables a day.  A single 1-cup serving of Muscadine grapes are fat free, high in fiber and they are high in antioxidants, especially Ellagic Acid and Resveratrol. Ellagic Acid has demonstrated anti-carcinogenic properties in the colon, lungs and liver of mice.

Evidence continues to mount that drinking wine goes hand in hand with a healthy lifestyle and is a powerful means of preventing heart disease.  In 2005, a Harvard team found that the consumption of Resveratrol, an antioxidant found in red wine, by overweight lab mice increased energy levels, lowered cholesterol and reduced overall blood sugar.  In 2007, a Harvard team found that men with hypertension can lower their risk of heart attack by 30 percent by drinking a glass or two of wine a day.  Scientific journals have recently been filled with studies suggesting that Resveratrol could be a treatment for Alzheimer’s , cancer, heart disease, diabetes and other ailments.

Resveratrol in Wine:

Researchers have wondered for years how the French could eat a diet rich in cream, butter and cheese, resulting in a high-fat diet equivalent to the American diet, yet the French have a much lower incidence of heart disease than Americans.  France’s heart attack rate is 60 percent lower than that of the United States.  The answer is the French custom of drinking red wine with meals.  The Copenhagen City Heart Study, published in the British Medical Journal, showed that among more that 13,000 men and women aged 30- 70 who were tracked for 12 years and consumed wine daily,  were 50% less likely to die during the study than consumers of other alcoholic beverages or nondrinkers.  It’s important to note that health benefits were greatest with only two or three glasses of wine per day ( one for women).  Drinking more than a few glasses of wine a day can result in increased health risks.

Mississippi State University recently released a Resveratrol concentrtion chart documenting that the Muscadine grape is the healthiest grape ever tested with forty times more Resveratrol than any other grape.  Bases on this study, drinking a single glass of Muscadine wine a day is equivalent in Resveratrol concentrations to drinking 40 glasses of European red wine.

Over the next few months we will discuss the health benefits of Muscadines and Muscadine wine and how the consumption of antioxidants in the form of fruit and wine can help prevent heart disease, strokes, certain types of cancers, macular degeneration of the eye, and other signs of aging.  We will also discuss how antioxidants protect mental function, lower cholesterol and promote overall good health.

Story & Photos Courtesy Larry Cagle

What’s Up with Thinkin’ Bout It

By Dr. Vince Hefner

Pastor, First Baptist Church, Cherryville

I guess you could say that I am “Navigationally Impaired.” This means that I have no sense of direction, which is a real challenge when I have to travel outside of my regular domain. I feel that I am always going east or west, but never north or south. This isn’t a problem when I do travel east or west, other than the fact I feel I am always driving into the sun, and if the sun is not shining directly into my eyes it is because I am driving into a monsoon. I thought this would just be a burden I would have to live with until the invention of the GPS, or Global Positioning System. You can buy one of these devices and place it on the dash of your automobile to tell you which way you are going, how long it will take you to get to your destination, and it will also tell you where restaurants, hospitals, etc… are located along the way. This sounds like the sure cure for the navigationally impaired, or so it would seem.

Recently, I had to travel to the eastern part of the state for a revival service I was preaching. People used to say they were going to “hold” a revival,” but it is my intention to “turn” a revival lose! It was going to be a six hour trip on the other side of Rocky Mount, NC. I asked my secretary to print off directions from the internet to make sure I would wind up at the correct church. Just to be sure I wouldn’t get lost I, borrowed a GPS from a friend. I felt I had all my bases covered, I had the directions in writing and also on the computer. What could go wrong? To be honest, several things went wrong. First, even though the destination was the same for the map and the GPS, both had different ways to get there. When I would follow the directions on the map the GPS would start talking to me and telling me to make a U-turn as soon as possible. When I wouldn’t do what the GPS said, it would get quiet for a few seconds and would say, “Recalculating, Recalculating,” and then would agree with my direction. This wasn’t too bad for the first 50 miles, but the more the GPS talked, the more aggravated it seemed to become. I didn’t believe a computer could “catch” an attitude, but this one seemed to quickly develop a dislike for me. It didn’t take long for me to argue with the small, smart-aleck black box. My wife liked the machine, because she said I argued with it instead of arguing with her about which was the right way to go.

Second, at times I would be on a road and the GPS would show on the computer screen that I was in a grassy field and not on any road known to man. I realize that the satellite is way up in space, but it should be able to tell the difference between asphalt and grass. This made me mistrust the GPS even more, and even though I told the machine I was on the road, it would just say, “Recalculating, Recalculating.”  I told the machine just because it could tell me where a restaurant was didn’t mean it knew everything. The machine never responded, I guess it was thinking over my words of wisdom.

Third, since I didn’t trust in the GPS I was uneasy about where I was going to end up, which made the long trip just a little longer. The GPS can talk all day long and tell you where you need to go, but if you don’t trust it, it takes the fun out of the trip and the peace of mind that the machine was supposed to bring. In spite of the GPS, I found my way to the church and I did my best to “turn” a revival lose on the small town. Let me ask you, what directions do you follow for your life? Can you trust in them when you are in unfamiliar territory? Be sure that you are following the Bible for your daily paths as well as your eternal destination. Proverbs 30:5 says, “Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him. Remember, don’t give in to sin. Think about it!

Let’s Talk Bible - Since 1975

Evangelist  W.C. “Dub” Dellinger

Patience is a word used very little in the Bible.  As I look back, I can only remember it in twelve books of a good Bible.  No way to tell or explain why our good Lord is teaching us this.  There is a time when patience should be used, and a time when your soul is caught up in something.  We should stop and thank our Savior for the times we missed death when not a reborn saint of His.  Keep in mind as God speaks of death, He is thinking in the line of hell where the fire is.  Jesus’ reason for choosing to go to the cross that day was to make an escape way for the souls that He had breathed life into.  And, when we have knowledge of what is good and what is evil, we are in the way of a caring life.  James 5-8 says “Be ye also patient; establish your hearts; for the coming of the Lord dweleth nigh.”  We can be thankful that a born again Christian has already been before the judge.  You must get this understanding right.  Not just because you went to church the past Sunday.  What kind of sermon did you consume?  Did you at times feel the Lord’s spirit, and at some time in the past have you told the congregation how close you and the Lord are?  One thing that is not stressed enough about a reborn soul is that you need to work for the Lord as an accommodation for not letting your soul go into torment.  Have the truth hit you that His suffering on the cross that day was for you.  You really need to give that a deep thought often.   And, something else not stressed enough is your rebirth, and I must say quickly that is something that Jesus has put a pay day on.  James 5-7 says “Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord.”  We should put this into practice and live as though tomorrow is the great day!  To many it will be when you hear the night time news in the evening;  You hear of a plane crashing with over a hundred people on it, or some cars piled up on a crooked drive way.  Then, to top it off, you hear of a friend dying.  What a day, and they do happen.  It’s time to search out your soul.