Why the excitement?   Ryan Pelton is coming to Shelby on Saturday, June 5th.   What is it about Ryan Pelton that draws sold out crowds to see him and his tribute to Elvis Presley?  Well, for one thing, you have to look very close to realize it’s not the real Elvis on stage.   Ryan Pelton is regarded as the world’s best Elvis Presley tribute artist.   Ryan has performed all over the world from casinos to fairs, theatres to festivals, production shows to professional sports arenas.   Tens of thousands have been entertained by Ryan Pelton.  His performance is unique.  He alone can perform all of the eras of Elvis Presley’s amazing career.   From the raw-edge fifties, the light hearted movie years, the electrifying 1968 comeback special and the powerful Las Vegas years of the seventies, Ryan Pelton performs them all.

Ryan has had the opportunity to work beside many of the original musicians and vocalists that performed with Elvis Presley including the Jordanaires, The Imperials, The Sweet Inspirations, D.J. Fontana, Charlie Hodge, Jerry Scheff and Millie Kirkham.   He also has had the pleasure of working with Memphis Mafia members Joe Esposito, Sonny West and Lamar Fike.   Recently, Ryan has appeared with Celine Dion on American Idol performing a duet  of “If I Can Dream”.   Ryan also plays the role of Elvis in the Dakota Fanning film, Hound Dog.

Today, Ryan can be seen all over the world, and on Saturday night, June 5th, he’ll be appearing at the Shelby City Park’s and Recreation Gymnasium.   In addition, former Cherryville native Sylvia Harrelson will be bringing Patsy Cline to the stage to open the show.   Sylvia now lives in Nashville and performs as Patsy Cline for various business functions around the country.

Tickets are still available.   All tickets are General Admission.   Floor chair seats are $25.00.   Bleacher seats are $18.00.  Only a handful of $75.00 V.I.P. tickets remain.   Tickets are on sale at the Shelby City Parks and Recreation; the WOHS Studios in Shelby; Medical Arts Pharmacy in Shelby; McNeely Sales in Cherryville; the Drug Store in Lincolnton and Vale; Medical Center Pharmacy in Gastonia; and at the office of the What’s Up Shopper in Cherryville.

For more information call the WOHS Studios at 704-482-1390.   It’s going to be  a night to remember!   Get your tickets in advance.   Doors will open at 5:30 pm with the show starting at 7:00 pm.

What’s Up in Local Sports

By Calvin Hastings

A North Carolina High School Athletic Association board subcommittee has recommended shortening the football regular season to eleven weeks.   That would eliminate byes for teams that play full eleven game schedules.   It would also mean the playoffs would start and end a week earlier.   The subcommittee also recommended starting the winter season a week later.   Another change would be to create a pod seeding system designed to reduce travel in the first round of the football playoffs.   The West would be subdivided into West and Midwest and the East into East and MidEast.   The proposals will be discussed this weekend and possibly be voted on this weekend.   The changes arose when the economy went into a recession.   If voted in the new changes would take effect in 2011.   There will be no change in the number of playoff teams.  That number will remain at 64 in each classification.  The changes could affect the Cleveland County Jamboree.  It would have to be moved into the pre-season or cancelled.   Cleveland County teams are also involved in the Border Showcase.

The Gardner Webb Bulldog men’s basketball program has a new head man!   The school announced last Thursday the hiring of 38 year old Chris Holtman.   Holtman is a native of Nicholasville, Kentucky and just recently served two years as an assistant coach for John Groce at Ohio University.  Ohio eliminated Georgetown from the NCAA Touranment this season.  More than 150 candidates applied for the position.  Holtmann served as an assistant for four years under previoius head coach Rick Scruggs from 2003-2008.   Holtmann was an All-American guard at Taylor University.

Hats off to former Crest Charger Brandon Spikes.  Spikes a graduate of Florida University was selected in the second round of the NFL draft by the New England Patriots.  Spikes was the 62nd pick overall and the first ever Crest Charger to be taken in the NFL Draft.   In 2008 Spikes was the Chevrolet National Defensive Player of the Year and a two time first team All-American.   Spikes was a finalist for both the Nagurski Award in 2008 and the Butkas Award in 2001 and the Bednarick award in 2009.   The Crest High Track team took first in the Shelby Invitational Track Meet last week.   Crest was followed by Kings Mountain, Shelby, South Point, Forestview, Hibriten, RS Central, Chase, Burns, East Rutherford and Hunter Huss.   Kwame Petty  of Crest was named the track MVP and Malcom Peeler of Crest was named the field MVP.

Congratulations to Hunter Huss senior Sterling Mack.  Mack has signed a national letter of intent to play basketball at Caldwell Community College in Hudson.   Mack averaged three points and three rebounds per game last season for the Huskies.

The Shelby Golden Lions captured the Cleveland County Golf Tournament last week at Pinegrove Golf Course.   Crest placed second followed by Burns and Kings Mountain.   Shelby’s Spencer Jones and Cody Dellinger shared the medalist honors with a two under par 68.

The Forestview Jaguars won the Big South golf championship on Monday at the Kings Mountain Country Club.   Forestview’s James Chapman led the Jaguars with a 3-under par 69.   Chapman won medalist honors and was named the Big South Player of the Year.   The Jaguars were followed by Ashbrook and Crest.  All three have qualified for the state 3A Western Regionals next week at the Riverbend Golf Course.

Hats off to the Shelby Middle School girls soccer team.  The Girls won the Tri-County Conference soccer middle school championship with a 1-0 win on Monday over Kings Mountain.

East Lincoln’s Parker Hills tossed a five inning no-hitter last week downing Lincolnton 17-0.   Hills struck out eight and allowed only three runners to reach base.

North Gaston graduate Jake Buchanan was honored last week as the Atlantic Coast Conference pitcher of the week.   Buchanan tossed a six hitter leading N.C. State to a 4-2 win over Maryland.  Buchanan is now 4-3 on the season with a 4.01 earned run average in 10 starts.

Gardner Webb golfer Scott Wheeler has been named the Big South Men’s Golf Scholar-Athlete of the Year.   Wheeler was named to the All-Academic team for the second straight year with a 3.96 cumulative grade point average.   Wheeler is seeking a degree in International Business.

Former Burns Bulldog Adam Izokovic has been named the Big South Conference/Crons Brand co-pitcher of the week.  Izokovic posted two saves last week.  He is now 5-2 on the season with a 1.43  earned run average.   He has posted five saves and leads the Bulldogs with 19 appearanaces.

What’s Up in Hollywood Sports

By Kevin Hastings

The good news is that the Charlotte Bobcats landed their first playoff spot in team history.  The bad news is they drew the hardest team in the NBA to match up with and didn’t win a single game in the series.

I was high on the Bobcats heading into the tournament until they were “rewarded” with playing the Orlando Magic in the first round.  The Magic have the leagues best big man in Dwight Howard and boast one of the deepest benches in the NBA.  Orlando got beat in the Finals last season against the Lakers and this season are poised to get back to the championship round.   The Bobcats main weaknesses reared their ugly heads as Charlotte had trouble scoring the basketball and stopping the opposing team’s point guard.  The front court defense stepped up though, virtually eliminated Howard from the series by double teaming him constantly and aggravating him enough to get him into foul trouble.  It didn’t matter because Jameer Nelson and Vince Carter just proved too much on offense for the Cats to keep up with.

Charlotte’s first playoff season in team history ends amidst questions and speculation on all things Bobcats.  Will Larry Brown return to coach the team next season?  How many trades will Jordan have to put together to get out of their salary cap hell?  Will team leader Gerald Wallace be back after another poor shooting season?  Will Jordan seriously look into and consider changing the name of the team now that Bob “I named an NBA team after myself” Johnson has sold majority ownership to Jordan?  For Bobcats fans all of this will be answered soon enough.  Remember this is the off-season of LeBron so stay tuned.

Until then I would highly recommend checking out the rest of the NBA playoffs.  For years I’ve heard grumblings from the area that “the NBA is stupid; they never play defense; it’s a one-on-one game; I don’t see no Tar Heel blue out there; I’m not watching these overpaid muscle bound ninnies play ball.”

Guys, I hear you.  Ever since Jordan retired from the Bulls the second time the league has suffered a bit in it’s watchability, but trust me when I say this… The NBA is back!

After years of growth the young guns have grown up and so has the league.  If you haven’t watched in a while this is the season for you.  There’s no real dominant team that you have to say is the favorite.  Every team can be beat, and every game is a battle.  Here’s a quick recap of who and what to watch for this post-season.

Watch LeBron and the Cavaliers run the break.  LeBron is a freak of an athlete with a mixture of Jordan’s leaping ability, Magic’s passing ability, and Scottie Pippen’s defensive prowess. The Cavs will put on a show for you down low too with Shaquille O’Neal and Antawn Jamison working the post.

Watch the Celtics, old age and all, play hard nosed playoff defense.  PG Rajon Rondo is fun to watch wiggle in and out of defenses looking for three future Hall of Famers to pass it to.

Watch the Orlando Magic shoot 3-pointer after 3-pointer and the best big man in a generation board, block and dunk all over his opponents.  This team goes ten deep and I mean deep.  So deep even fans have time to boo JJ Redick every time he touches the ball as the 10th man.

Watch the Atlanta Hawks run the floor and crash the boards.  This team is like a playground team that runs everyone else home with dunks, alley-oops and 3-point baskets.

Watch the Milwaukee Bucks pour their hearts and souls into each game as they play without their leading post player and former #1 overall pick C Andrew Bogut.  PG Brandon Jennings is a passing genius and if you’re not careful he may drop 55 points on your point guard.

Watch the Utah Jazz’s Deron Williams improve play after play, game after game.  In 20 years we’ll still be talking about the 2006 draft as the greatest point guard draft in a generation and maybe ever. Williams and Carlos Boozer will remind everyone of Stockton and Malone only this tandem is stronger and more physical.

Watch the 7-foot tall Dirk Nowitzki shoot threes like Larry Bird.  Trust me I’m not exaggerating.  7-footers don’t come around too often that play like Small Forwards.  If Dirk’s not in the right place you can be sure PG Jason Kidd will find him or another teammate in the right spot.

Watch the ageless Spurs and the shiftiness of PG Tony Parker and SG Manu Ginobili.  Ginobili is a gift from the basketball gods who shoots left handed but takes it to the rim with both hand with reckless abandon.  Don’t forget Manu was the best player on the Golf Medal Argentina team that waxed the floor with USA Basketball a few years back.

Watch the Phoenix Suns score 120 points per game.  Steve Nash and Amare Stoudemire are masters of the pick and roll.

Watch the Trailblazer’s SG Brandon Roy’s mid-range game.  He’ll toy with defenders until he can get his shot off even with a knee he just had surgery on before the playoffs.  Portland can’t win it all this season, but they’ll be a force in the future.

Watch the Denver Nuggets try to pull together and win one for their head coach, George Karl, as he missed games with his battle with throat cancer.  Big Shot Chauncey Billups runs an offense as well as anyone in the league and Carmelo Anthoney is one of the Top 5 players in the NBA.  Utah should beat this team, but I wouldn’t miss one of their games if I had a choice.

Watch the defending champion Lakers try to outsize, outsmart and out muscle opponents in defense of their title.  Kobe is pure basketball genius on the court and can match fadeaways with Jordan shot for shot.

Finally, I want you all to watch the Oklahoma City Thunder.  Check them out if you get a chance.  The Lakers may put them out of the first round, but they’ll be back with a vengeance next season.  OKC may have the game’s next best player.  Forget LeBron, Carmelo, Kobe and D-Wade.  The Thunder have a kid who’s the youngest ever NBA scoring champion at 21.  His name is Kevin Durant, and he’s 6’9” with a jumper like Reggie Miller’s and rebounds like James Worthy.  Watch Durant’s silky smooth shot, and you’ll think to yourself that people that age and that height should never be able to do things with the ball like Durant does.  TNT Analyst Kenny Smith said it best during All-Star Weekend, “How can you guard someone who never misses?”  That’s Kevin Durant, and now that’s the NBA.  A can’t miss watch.  You’ll thank me later.

Be The Champ of NASCAR Pick'em!

Rubbin’s Racing In NASCAR

By: Clint Spencer

Kevin Harvick rolled out of Talladega Sunday evening a little bit happier than when he arrived on Friday.  Richard Childress Racing had just announced two days earlier that Shell Pennzoil was leaving the #29 team of Harvick at the end of this season for Penske Racing.  Shell Pennzoil has been with Harvick since the beginning of the 2007 season when he scored his first Daytona 500 victory and last Cup win.  Rumors started surfacing last season that Harvick was no longer happy at RCR and wanted to move in a new direction.  However, this season RCR has been on the positive end of the spectrum.  All three RCR drivers, Burton, Bowyer, and Harvick are in the chase with a combined total of 12 top ten finishes.  Despite Harvick’s improvement since last year he apparently still wants to cut all ties with RCR.  It has been reported that Harvick wants to move to Stewart-Haas Racing in 2012.

Harvick’s win on Sunday was his first win in 115 races.  Jamie McMurray appeared to be on track to his third restrictor plate win in a row; however, the #29 would spoil those plans.  On the third green-white-checkered finish, Harvick was in a tight draft with McMurray on their way to the finish line.  As the two drivers neared the finish, Harvick timed it perfect as he snuck around McMurray edging the #1 by .011 seconds.  It was Harvick’s first win at the 2.5 mile SuperSpeedway and car owner Richard Childress’s first Talladega win since the late great Dale Sr. won his 76th and last race in 2000. When asked in victory lane about his sponsor, Harvick replied “They can leave while we’re winning.”

Jamie McMurray took home second place followed by his teammate Juan Montoya.  Fourth place belonged to Denny Hamlin who scored his third top five in the last four races.  The #5 of Martin finished fifth and the #6 of Ragan finished sixth, oddly enough.  Clint Bowyer finished in seventh followed by the #2 of Kurt Busch in eighth.   He was followed by his younger brother, Kyle, in ninth.  Mike Bliss rounded out the top ten.  Johnson wrecked and finished 31st, and teammate and former friend Jeff Gordon left with a 22nd place finish.

In other NASCAR news, as mentioned earlier, Shell Pennzoil will be leaving RCR at the end of this season for Penske Racing.  Shell will sponsor Kurt Busch, who will not be driving the familiar blue deuce next year.  Busch will instead pilot a new car, the #22.  Brad Keselowski, who currently drives the #12, will replace Busch in the #2 and take over responsibilities of marketing the Miller Lite image which has been with Penske Racing since the days of Rusty Wallace.  Sam Hornish, the third driver for Penske Racing will have to look for a new sponsor next year because his current sponsor, Mobil 1 will conflict with Shell Pennzoil.

Budweiser has been talking to many teams since Kasey Kahne made his announcement that he is leaving RPM for Hendrick Motorsports.  One of those teams is Hendrick Motorsports and while Budweiser would like to stay on board with Kasey Kahne, I am sure they would love to get Junior back.  It is still too early to tell, but they do call it silly season for a reason.

Prediction for the Crown Royal presents the Heath Calhoun 400:  Saturday night racing returns to Richmond International Racing.  This weekend’s winner has visited the winner’s circle twice this season already.  He won here last September, and this Saturday he does it again.  Look for Denny Hamlin in victory lane.

What’s Up-town Shelby

By Janet Workman Berry, CPF

Frame Masters Gallery & Gifts, Shelby, NC

www.framemastersgallery.com

We at Frame Masters Gallery have been inspired to give back to our community and have partnered with area churches to organize a food drive.  Referring to this drive as “Food for Sharing”, it began on Easter Sunday and continues for 50 days – ending on May 23rd, Pentecost Sunday. Non-perishable and canned food items will be collected here at Frame Masters Gallery to be distributed to churches in our area that provide a hot meal program.

The Hot Meal Food Ministry Program began about 25 years ago by Morris and Mabel Lacey.  The Lacey’s, who attend Shelby Presbyterian Church, recognized a need in Shelby to help those less fortunate.   Partnering with four other uptown churches Morris and Mabel organized a Soup Lunch program.  Today these original 5 churches, Shelby Presbyterian, Central United Methodist, John Knox Presbyterian, Hoppers Chapel and First Baptist Church are joined by Ascension Lutheran, Episcopal Church of the Redeemer, Hoyle Memorial UMC, Christ for the Nations, Mt. Calvary and Aldersgate Methodist.

Thanks to the many dedicated volunteers several of these churches now offer both breakfast and an evening meal.  Morris and Mabel are still very active in the feeding ministry.  Their original Soup Lunch program has blossomed into serving a complete well-balanced meal to roughly 500 people 7 days a week.  Some churches also provide sacks of groceries so folks can prepare meals at their home.

“An opportunity has been handed to us to help support this feeding ministry in our community while also building unity and friendship among the people serving and those being served,” said Rev. Valori Sherer, Rector, Episcopal Church of the Redeemer.

Rev. Tony Tench, First Baptist Church wrote, “Due to the generosity of our community, the Food Sharing Program initiated by Frame Masters Gallery is catching fire!  All food stuffs donated and placed in their window will be dispersed to the feeding programs here in Uptown Shelby as a celebration of Pentecost.   The involvement of our wonderful Shelby community in feeding the  hungry is spreading “the Spirit” to our businesses and their patrons.  Join the movement and drop off some canned goods at Frame Masters Gallery today.”

For more information on the Hot Lunch Program, contact any of the participating churches.  For more information on the “Food for Sharing” project, phone 704-481-8312.

Please help support “Food for Sharing.”  You are invited to bring your canned food items to Frame Masters Gallery, 105 W. Warren Street (across from the Historic Court House) Monday thru Friday 10 am – 5:30 pm and Saturday 10 am – 3 pm.

Be Inspired, Be Different, Be Uptown Shelby !!!

Shop Locally - Support Independent Merchants that Support Your Community.

Marilyn with children Eden & Hayden

In 2005 Marilyn Heston was diagnosed with breast cancer.  Marilyn was in remission until May of 2009 when the cancer returned and did not respond to chemotherapy treatments.   Prior to her diagnosis, Marilyn had promised her daughter, Eden, that they would go to Disneyworld for her 5th birthday.   Marilyn and her husband, Charlie, began saving for the trip, but everything was put on hold when her cancer returned and her medical bills began to pile up.   In early March, she was admitted to Hospice.   There, the Hospice team members were told about the family’s plans to visit Disneyworld.   After consulting with Marilyn’s physicians it was determined that Marilyn could physically make the trip if they went soon.   Hospice team member Stacy Price, Delyn Fitch and Pam Isaacs began calling their Watchman Church Representatives and asking for help.   A local pilot learned of the request and with the help of fellow pilots agreed to pay for the expense to fly the family to Florida.   News spread across the community and donations began pouring in.   A limo driver even volunteered to transport the family to the airport.  The Hestons stayed at the Nickelodeon Resort at Disneyworld.  The family visited the Magic Kingdom, had a wonderful time and arrived safely home.   The family would like to use this space to thank everyone that played a part in this significant trip.   Hospice was very happy to help make Marilyn and her family’s dream come true.   If you would like to learn more about Hospice of Cleveland County, please visit their website at www.hospicecares.cc or call 704-487-4677.

What’s Up with Being A ‘Lil Rusty

By Rusty Stroupe

www.rustystroupe.blogspot.com

I heard former President Bill Clinton say something recently that piqued my curiosity. He pointed out that when he first took office in 1992 there were only 50 websites on the Internet.

My, how times have changed! Now there are 200 million sites, and tons of people of all ages have their own Facebook account. You can learn most anything you want to know about people on the internet. Think I’m kidding? Google yourself sometime. But as one of my comedian buddies says, don’t do it in public.

Case in point: the dating lines are very blurry these days. Recall me telling you about one of the college girls on a recent mission trip telling me about her “almost boyfriend?” Another girl on the trip claimed she wasn’t sure where she stood with her significant other until he introduced her as his girlfriend at a function of some sort.

Facebook provides a remedy to all that. It is now plain for the world to see. If a friendship develops into something deeper, a person’s Facebook status will reflect this by claiming that they are now “in a relationship.” If the relationship is strained, the status will change to “It’s complicated.”

My mom entered the Facebook world a few months back. She recently upgraded her status to “In a relationship” with my dad, her husband of nearly 52 years. This has created quite a stir among her friends and has led to questions about the circumstances of my birth. She has been advised to change her status to “Married,” but I think she’s enjoying the hullabaloo too much to change it right away.

Obviously, my occupation is not that of a professional writer. As you may know, I am the coach of a college baseball team. And in the past few years, especially this season, I have noticed that opposing fans know more about my players than ever before.

Recently, a group of exuberant college students from an opposing school did their internet homework quite thoroughly before we showed up. One of my pitchers had made the mistake of calling his girlfriend “Baby Doll” on his Facebook page. And one of our outfielders had admitted to doing some male modeling along the way.

These college student hecklers were all over my guys. From the outside looking in, it may appear that these antics are a distraction, but to be honest, our players sorta enjoy the attention and, if you ask me. Maybe even play better when they’re being taunted.

As a coach, fortunately I have developed selective hearing when it comes to taunts and insults; hearing pretty much what I want to hear.

At the end of the weekend, I was poking a little fun at some of my guys for revealing too much online. Then our trainer reminded me that I had little room to talk. I had no clue what she was talking about.

“Didn’t you hear them when you went out on a mound visit (to talk to the pitcher) on Saturday? One of them kept hollering, “Hey Coach, are you Embracing the Chaos yet?’”

Darn that website (www.rustystroupe.blogspot.com) and that little book. At least they didn’t read anything about my mom and dad being “in a relationship.” That would have made things even more “complicated.”