Kings Mountain National Military Park

Cleveland County Courtsquare, Shelby

Don Gibson Theatre

Related EventsAugust 5th-7th & 12th-14th“Harvey”

Kings Mountain Little Theater. The classic comedy about Elwood P. Dowd and his invisible best friend – who just happens to resemble a six-foot rabbit! 7:30 p.m. Aug. 5th, 6th, 12th and 14th, and 3 p.m. Aug. 7th.

August 7th-17thBaseball Display

Legion memorabilia. Don Gibson Theatre. Exhibit closed during other theatre events.

August 8th-Sept. 8th“Baseball as Art” Display

Sponsored by the Cleveland County Arts Council. This exhibit will feature artwork pertaining to or depicting baseball, America’s favorite pastime. The Arts Center, 111 S. Washington St., Shelby. Free.

August 8thALWS Golf Tournament

Cleveland Country Club. 1 p.m. The tournament will be played in a captain’s choice style. The cost is $75 per player or $300 for a team of four golfers. Lunch will be provided.

August 9thVolunteer Appreciation Night

Local volunteers and antional representatives gather for food, fellowship and musical concert at The Don Gibson Theatre.

August 10thTeams Reception

Don Gibson Theatre. 7 p.m.

August 11thTeam Workouts/Team Pictures

Keeter Stadium.

Banquet Shelby City Park, 5 p.m. Tickets must be

purchased in advance and may be ordered by visiting AmericanLegionWorldSeries.com or by calling 704-466-3103 or 1-888-222-ALWS. The cost is $20.

Ronnie Dunn ConcertCleveland County Fairgrounds. 7:30 p.m. Tickets

range from $30-$55. Other musical festivities begin at 4:30 p.m. at the fairgrounds.

August 12thGames Begin

Games begin with ceremonial festivities honoring veterans and the military with “static display” provided by the NC National Guard. Other activities include skydivers and flyers.

August 18thAlive After Five

Featuring the Fantastic Shakers. Downtown Shelby, 5:30 p.m.

he American Leagion World Series (ALWS)

held in Shelby in 2008 drew nearly 38,000 fans, the second highest attendance in ALWS history. Cleveland County’s tourism director says the goal for the 2011 ALWS – the inaugural event for the tournament for its permanent home in Shelby – is to set a record for attendance and economic impact. The Travel Industry Division wants to see at least 40,000 fans for the event, scheduled for August 12-16.

“That’s based on figures from before and also taking into consideration that this is the inaugural event of the World Series in its permanent home,” says Jackie Sibley, director of the County’s Travel Industry Division.

In 2008, Shelby hosted both the American Legion Southern Regionals and the ALWS for an approximate $4 million boost to the county’s economy. Local organizers believe they can repeat that $4 million augmentation in 2011, even without any regional playoffs.

Jim Quinlan, national program coordinator for American Legion Baseball, says both the attendance and the economic impact projections are on target, or maybe a little on the low side. He cites

the 1999 ALWS in Middletown, Conn., and the results of a study by the Middlesex County Convention Bureau. With fewer than 2,000 people per game, the city realized a $4.5 million economic impact during the week to 10 days of ALWS activity. “I’m anticipating 4,000 to 5,000 people per game in Shelby, so we expect Shelby to even have a greater economic impact. I’m almost positive about every hotel in town is going to be sold out. And then the outlying communities are going to benefit – rental cars, the restaurant people. When you have 5,000 hungry fans in town, they can only eat so many hot dogs (at the stadium). Even though they’re outstanding hot dogs, you want to get away and have a little steak or ice cream from time to time.”

“Our primary goal is to make this into a World Series festival where it’s much more than ‘just a baseball tournament,’” says Eddie Holbrook, co-chair with Jim Horn of Shelby’s ALWS Committee. “Another major item we’re trying to do is make it

into a regional event so people outside Cleveland County will be attending. We want to do a good job of marketing from Asheville to Charlotte and from Hickory-Lenoir to Spartanburg-

Greenville so it becomes regionalized. Another thing we’re doing is providing World Series tickets to Legion players in the region, hoping they will come and it will become a tradition for them to come and quite naturally, bring someone with them. By doing all that we greatly enhance economic development because there are more opportunities to spend money and more entertainment opportunities.”

“We’re just hoping if we do the job that we’re capable of doing, we’ll make it not just a tournament but also a vacation for the people coming,” says Jim Horn. “Hopefully, this will put Shelby more on the map. We would like Shelby to get the same recognition as Omaha (home of the College World Series) one of these days in the future.”

Because this year marks the debut of the ALWS in its permanent home, there are six past National Commanders of the Legion and at least one member of the organization’s National

WORTHVYING FOR

AN EVENTTExecutive Committee attending says Jim Quinlan, plus more volunteers than in years past. “The number of people is going to be outstanding,” he says. “I’ve made room reservations for people from Washington, Connecticut, California and Vermont.” Jim Horn says requests for game tickets are already coming in.

Improvements at Keeter Stadium, the site of the ALWS, are now underway, with a new scoreboard, new dugouts, additional seating and the The Lowe’s Center – Headquarters for American Legion officials on site – leading the list. By the time the eight teams vying for the championship arrive, there will also be additional lighting, improved sewer and water lines, new handrails in the seating area and improved grass and warning track. Also of great importance, fans will again find high-quality concessions at reasonable prices, says Jim Horn.

Here’s a brief schedule of planned events, starting with Monday, Aug. 8: Monday, Golf Tournament; Tuesday, Volunteer Appreciation Day; Wednesday, welcome reception for the teams and players’ parents; Thursday, ALWS banquet followed by an outdoor concert by Ronnie Dunn and special guest Colt Ford; Friday, the games begin.

Jim Horn captures the attitude of all those who worked tirelessly to win the ALWS for Shelby, the region and the state of North Carolina: “By us having the World Series on a permanent basis, the sky’s the limit.”

Published with permission from Foothills Spotlight Magazine.

Timeline of bid historyTimeline of bid history

Lt. Gov. Walter Dalton showing his support for Cleveland County winning the bid!A group of more than 100 from the Cleveland County area traveled to Indianapolis to support the county’s bid for the American Legion World Series.

2008 2009 2010 2011Bid book developed for the initial selection rounds.2008 American Legion World Series

The 1951 American Legion North Carolina State Champions – from Shelby.

The first American Legion

baseball team to represent

Warren F. Hoyle Post 82 in Shelby

was in 1931.

Local trucking companies have the American Legion World Series logo and website address applied to their trucks that make cross country trips.

The local Steering Committee seen with signage celebrating the 2011 American Legion World Series tournament and Ronnie Dunn concert.

American Legion site commitee visits the Don Gibson Theatre.

The 2001 American Legion North Carolina-State Champions – again , from Shelby.

Rick Howell

Emily Sisk

I have thoroughly enjoyed my volunteer association with American

Legion Baseball  over the last four years.  As a former high school

baseball player and avid baseball fan, I am truly humbled at the

opportunity offered to Shelby and Cleveland County to be the home

of American Legion Baseball.  To be associated with our country’s

national sport and the American Legion is truly an honor for our

community.

Sincerely,

David Dear

Cleveland County Manager

David Dear

Severne L. Budd I am very grateful for the opportunity to see Shelby, NC, host the

American Legion World Series. I grew up hearing some of the stories from my father, the late Theodore

Black, Sr., about his experiences in the U.S. Army and his respect of the

American Legion. These stories did not really hit home with me, and I sort

of brushed them off. However, one of the highlights of my life was when

my son, Vernando Budd, came in from school one day and announced that

he pre-enlisted in the Air Force. Hearing this news made me listen more

intently to the stories of my father and try to prepare myself for what

was to come. I was told that the American Legion would be there for my

son after his time in the military. While at Zebulon Vance High School in Charlotte, my oldest grandson,

Aaron, joined the Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps, or JROTC. Now

my middle grandson, Michael, is a member of the JROTC at Zebulon Vance

High School, where he is very active in all of the activities. During the

2011-2012 school year, Michael will serve as Core Commander. Marcus,

the youngest grandson, is constantly reminding the family that he, too,

will be joining the JROTC at Zebulon Vance High School next year. These facets of my life, along with my involvement with the 2008

American World Legion World Series have truly enlightened my understanding of the American Legion and what it stands for. Sincerely,

Severne L. Budd

As the wife of a disabled Veteran of the US Army, I am thankful for the efforts

of the local committee to bring the American Legion World Series to Shelby, North

Carolina. Each day my husband relives his military experiences and yearns for another

opportunity to put back on his uniform. He can’t put the uniform on but he can

help as a volunteer with the local committee. We both serve the committee. I serve

as an administrative liaison on the executive committee and my husband, MSG

(R) Donald Sisk, serves as a volunteer and helps out as he can.

The American Legion means so much to us because we know they fight for

Veterans needs. The baseball program for American Legion is one of many outlets

for youth to be involved learning about our military, our history, and about the role

of Veterans in society. We have enjoyed seeing Keeter Stadium be transformed

into the facility it is today…and Veterans Field…what a beautiful diamond for

Legion players to enjoy! It is a special time in the history of Shelby, North Carolina

and the American Legion!

Sincerely,

Emily Sisk

The American Legion World Series represents many of the values my Dad taught me. Courage, honor, respect, sportsmanship and duty to serve others. My Dad retired as a Chief Master Seargent in the United States Air Force and I grew up with strong sense of patriotism, respect for freedom and those that defend it on our behalf. He also left me with a love for baseball — still my favorite today. There is no other game that epitomizes America and none that inspires quite the same way. Hearing the “Star Spangled Banner,” the ever familiar “play ball!” and the crack of the bat for the homerun hit deep to straightaway center is beyond compare. Combine baseball and the American Legion and you just can’t get any better than that.

I’ve been honored to work with the local organizing committee, the national American Legion officials and many volunteers, and I look forward to being at Keeter stadium this summer. Sincerely, Rick Howell City of Shelby Manager

Above, from left to right, Emily Sisk and her husband, MSG (R) Donald Sisk, and son, 2LT Brandon Sisk seen here at the ROTC house at Gardner-Webb University in December 2010.

From left to right: Severn Budd’s father, Theodore Black, Sr., (U.S. Army Veteran) circa 1941; Theodore Black, Sr., in 2005; Severn Budd and her son, Vernando “Randy” Budd - (U.S. Air Force); Vernando “Randy” Budd in 1986.

Right and below: Emily Sisk with her husband, MSG (R)

Donald Sisk.

Right photo, from left to right: Rick Howell, Joel Shores, Jim Horn, Eddie Holbrook, Roy Waters, and Jim Quinlan hang the American Legion World Series sign at the Shelby city limilts..

Above: David Dear, center, speaks to area supporters and Legion officials during the American Legion Bid Committee site visit in 2010.

Culture & Entertainment�Shelby City Park is home to one of five historic restored all-wood carrousels in North Carolina and a Miniature Train Company’s G-16 Diesel Streamliner. The park also features a swimming pool, a gym, athletic fields and a golf course.

�The Don Gibson Theatre on Washington Street in Shelby, named in tribute to the Shelby native singer-songwriter, is a venue for concerts and plays; its schedule includes nationally known performers. The renovated art-deco theater opened in the fall of 2009.

�The Earl Scruggs Center in Shelby, named for the Shelby native banjo player, will include exhibits portraying the area’s history and showcasing the life of Scruggs. The center will be housed in the old county courthouse; facilities will include a refurbished courtroom as a community gathering place, front porches for music, storytelling, etc.; food services and a gift shop. The center is scheduled to open in 2011.

�The Buffalo Creek Gallery, 104 East Warren Street in Shelby, displays the creations of local artists, including paintings, photography, jewelry, pottery, stained glass, woodturnings, woodcarvings, quilting and weaving.

�The LeGrand Center, a two-story structure scheduled to open in 2012, will house a conference center, the Cleveland Early College High School and Cleveland Community College’s continuing education program. A

large conference room of more than 13,000 square feet will seat up to 1,800 people and can be divided into several smaller rooms. The seating capacity for a banquet is 1,000.

�The Cleveland Country Club, established in 1927, offers swimming, tennis, golf and dining.

�The historic Joy Theatre in Kings Mountain offers plays by the Kings

Mountain Little Theater and movies.

�The Schiele Museum of Natural History and Planetarium, the premiere museum of natural history in the region, is at 1500 East Garrison Boulevard in Gastonia. It offers interactive galleries, hands-on exhibits and a living nature trail. The museum is operated by the City of Gastonia and is in association with the Smithsonian Institute.

�The Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden, 6500 New Hope Road in Belmont, boasts classic gardens, water features and a collection of plants from around the world Situated on the banks of Lake Wylie, the garden is being developed over a 40-year period.

�Gardner-Webb University in nearby Boiling Springs is lauded for its excellence in the arts; a current schedule of events is available at local hotels and the public library.

RecreationWhen the boys aren’t playing at Keeter Stadium, visitors can play elsewhere.

�Cleveland County is home to seven golf courses.

�Cleveland County has four YMCA family recreation facilities, which will be available to World Series guests.

�Challenger III Golf & Amusement Park offers bumper cars, batting cages, golf and more.

�Shelby City Park includes a nine-hole golf course, an Olympic-size pool and child-friendly playground space.

�Hiking and horseback riding trails are available in Kings Mountain State Park, operated by the State of South Carolina. The park also offers camping and picnicking.

�The Kings Mountain National Battleground Park, operated by the National Parks Service, commemorates the Revolutionary War battle in 1780 that changed the outcome of the war. The visitor center at the park — adjacent to the Kings Mountain State Park — includes a 26-minute film, an exhibit area and a 1.5-mile battlefield trail.

�The Kings Mountain Gateway Trail (See detailed story about the Gateway Trail later in this book.)

�Crowders Mountain State Park features Crowders Mountain, at an elevation of 1,625 feet, and Kings Pinnacle, at an elevation of 1,705 feet. These peaks are part of the Appalachian chain that formed in the region 450 to 500 million years ago. The park’s many miles of trail traverse a gently rolling landscape with woods, streams and sheer vertical cliffs.

�The Broad River Greenway (See detailed story about the Broad River Greenway later in this book.)

�South Mountains State Park, one of the state’s most rugged parks, includes elevations up to 3,000 feet, a waterfall dropping 80 feet, more than 40 miles of trails and a 17-mile mountain bike loop. Equestrian camping and trout fishing are also available.

ShoppingIn addition to shops and galleries in

downtown Shelby, there are 30 shops and a 10-screen Carmike Cinema at Cleveland Mall on U.S. 74 Bypass. Eastridge Mall in Gastonia is a 20-minute drive from Series headquarters. Premium Outlets at Gaffney is located at Exit 90 off of I-85 in Gaffney, SC. This outlet mall is home to more than 75 discount stores, including Adidas, Banana Republic, Ann Taylor Factory Store, Coach, Eddie Bauer, Gap, Guess, Jones NY, Mikasa, Nike, Polo Ralph Lauren, Pottery Barn and Tommy Hilfiger.

Things to Do

Crowders Mountain State Park

Don Gibson Theatre

Carmike 10 Cinemas at Cleveland Mall

Shelby City Park Carousel

Premium Outlets at Gaffney

Things To Do (cont.)

Day TripsThere are a number of nearby attractions that can be visited in a single day.

�Lowe’s Motor Speedway, which features a 1.5-mile quad-oval track, is considered the home base of NASCAR because 90 percent of NASCAR teams are headquartered within 50 miles. The speedway, originally Charlotte Motor Speedway, opened in 1960 and in 1992 became the first speedway to host nighttime superspeedway racing. Nicknamed “The Beast of the Southeast,” the speedway is host to the Coca-Cola 600, the longest race of NASCAR’s Sprint Cup Series. The facility, which also includes other tracks, is considered one of the busiest sports venues in the nation and usually hosts more than 380 events annually.

�The NASCAR Hall of Fame in uptown Charlotte, NC, honors exceptional drivers, crew chiefs, team owners and other major contributors to the sport of stock car racing.

The 130,000-square-foot facility opened in 2010. The first artifact chosen for the Hall of Fame was the Plymouth Belvedere Richard Petty drove to 27 wins in 1967.

�The U.S. National Whitewater Center, 30 minutes from Shelby, is home to the world’s largest recirculating river, 14 miles of biking, hiking and running trails

and one of the world’s largest outdoor climbing facilities. The center is an official Olympic training site.

�Carowinds is a 112-acre theme park adjacent to I-77 on the state line between North and South Carolina. The park, which opened in 1973, offers 50 rides, including 13 roller

coasters and 12 water rides. The Intimidator, a 232-foot tall and 5,316-foot long hyper coaster, debuted in 2010.

�Chimney Rock is a 315-foot granite monolith in the 996-acre Chimney Rock State Park. Director Michael Mann filmed a

portion of his film, The Last of the Mohicans (1992), based on James Fenimore Cooper’s 1826 novel, along one of the pathways across from Chimney Rock State Park. The Rock overlooks picturesque Lake Luke, which is just 45 minutes from Shelby. Lake Lure in the western North Carolina mountains has been described by National Geo-graphic magazine as one of the most beautiful man-made lakes in the world. The 720-acre lake was created in 1926 by the damming of the Rocky Broad River, a project conceived by Dr. Lucius B. Morse and financed by Morse and his brothers. The

Chimney Rock

Lowe’s Motor Speedway

Within10 Miles

~ of ~Keeter Stadium

Within25 Miles

~ of ~Keeter Stadium

Within50 Miles

~ of ~Keeter Stadium

over~100~

Restaurants

over~400~

Restaurants

over~800~

Restaurants

over~100~

Hotels/Inns

over~50~

Hotels/Inns

over~150~

Hotels/Inns

over~10~Theaters

over~25~Theaters

over~50~Theaters

Apopulationofover~ 2,000,000 ~within 50 miles of Keeter Stadium

AmericanLegionPosts~ 518 ~

in North & South Carolina

Town of Lake Lure was incorporated in 1927 and has become a destination for thousands each year who enjoy swimming, golfing, hiking and serious rock climbing. Parts of the blockbuster movie Dirty Dancing were filmed in Lake Lure.

�The Biltmore Estate in scenic Asheville, NC, is America’s largest home. The 250-room mansion took an entire community of craftsmen six years to build. Architect Richard Morris Hunt modeled the house on three chateaux built in 16th-century France. The grounds were designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, the creator of New York’s Central Park and the father of American landscape architecture. Biltmore Estate owner George Vanderbilt officially opened his home to family and friends on Christmas Eve in 1895; the estate is still family-owned. The Biltmore Company has extended its interests to an inn, a winery, a line of home furnishings, decorative accessories, home building products and live plants.

Biltmore Estate

Joel R. Rountree

I had retired from education in 2002, and because I was in the North Carolina

National Guard, I was mobilized to the Pentagon in December 2002 as a Crisis

Action Team Chief in the Army Operations Center, a part of Headquarters

Department of the Army. I worked for then-Major General Pete Chiarelli, who is

now the Vice Chief of Staff of the Army.

I came home to Grover in June 2004, only to be mobilized again in September

2005 as the Fires/Targeting Officer for Standing Joint Force Headquarters,

a part of Joint Forces Command (JFCOM), one of the major combatant

commands. I did this until December 2007 and came home once again to Grover

and Cleveland County, which I had dearly missed. I had to retire in May of 2008

because I had 30 years of commissioned service. I retired as the Senior O-6

(Full Colonel) for the North Carolina National Guard, and I was also the Senior

Field Artilleryman in the state.

While away I had read that Cleveland County and Shelby would host the 2008

American Legion World Series, which I thought was a great idea. I had never

been formerly introduced to Eddie Holbrook, but when I bumped into him one

day at Cleveland Community College, I introduced myself and mentioned that I

would retire from Military Service at the end of May. He promptly asked me to

be his Military Liaison for the American Legion World Series. I really liked the

volunteerism that was evident in many areas of the county, so I agreed to his

request, but I told him that I had no idea of what I was supposed to do.

I think that the 2008 American Legion World Series was a great success,

and I was happy to provide some military input with help from the North Carolina

National Guard Recruiting staff. One event that particularly stands out was

when we presented a N.C. National Guard soldier a Purple Heart for wounds that

he had received in Iraq. He was able to be recognized in front of his fellow soldiers

and his family for his sacrifice to our state and nation.

I also think that one reason that Shelby and Cleveland County received the

bid to permanently host the American Legion World Series is because of the

willingness to help from volunteers from all parts of the county. And I am happy

to be a volunteer as well.

Joel R. Rountree

Colonel (Retired), Field Artillery,

North Carolina Army National Guard

Clockwise, from top: Col. Rountree receiving the Order of the Long Leaf Pine in May 2008; firing an M109A6 155 mm self-propelled Paladin howitzer; and changing command at the North Carolina Military Academy in 2003.

2008 ALWS s more than 400 people watched on a beautiful fall morning in November 2009, a ribbon was cut. In some

respects, it marked the culmination of almost ten years of work. In others, it signified work yet to be done.

Both represented reasons to celebrate. Amid congratulatory messages from public

officials and words of gratitude from those who shepherded the long process, Phase I of the Kings Mountain Gateway Trail was opened to an enthusiastic crowd ready to enjoy just over 2 ½ miles of trail meandering over more than 60 acres just one half mile south of Downtown Kings Mountain on Battlefield Avenue. The event also served as a dedication to the

citizens of Cleveland County for their support of the project to date.

The smiles and joy evidenced were earned through a remarkable collaboration of volunteers, local businesses and governmental entitles at the local, state and national levels that made the idea of not simply a trail, but a trail that would link two local state parks, one national park, as well as other trails, one step closer to reality.

One result of all this collaboration has been that the City of Kings Mountain was designated by the National Park Service as the “gateway community” for three area parks: Crowders Mountain State Park in North Carolina and Kings Mountain State

Park and Kings Mountain National Military Park in South Carolina. The portion of the trail complete at this point is part of a larger trail system, some of which is also complete, that will actually join the three parks. When finished, the Gateway Trail will be part of almost 40 miles of trail system accessible from four different locations. It will also be part of the Overmountain Victory Trail and eventually, part of the Carolinas Thread Trail, which will link 15 counties in the Carolinas.

The trail opened with a parking area, restroom facilities as well as several picnic tables, a picnic shelter and grills. The trail itself, mostly with a paved surface making it highly accessible to all visitors, is open for walkers and cyclists.

Phase II has begun; it will add four miles of trail and bring the ultimate goal even closer to completion, expected to occur in 2015. Since its first official day of opening, more than 10,000 people have enjoyed the trail and its views.

Details: The web address for the trail is www.kmgatewaytrails.org. (GPS Coordinates N35° 13.802’ W081° 21.030’).

A

GATEWAYto the FUTUREKings Mountain’s Gateway Trail

By Mark Alan Hudson

Published with permission from Foothills Spotlight Magazine.

Stadium upgrades timeline

2010 2011

2008 American Legion World Series stands

Winter 2010-2011:Upgrades Begin.

Field and press box prior to renovations.

May 2010 - Site visit by American Legion Baseball Sub-committee for consideration of bid.

Spring 2011:Field Level Upgrades

Summer 2011:Additions to canopy and seats

Summer 2011:Almost Home!

The “Yin and Yang” of Shelby Legion Baseball

ay Robinson pitches for the Shelby American Legion Post 82 team. By all accounts, he is a fine young man in many ways both on and off the baseball field. But his baseball career and perhaps even his life were threatened by cancer when he was only 11 years old.

Jay’s mom, Pam, said that he suddenly noticed a severe “eye jerking” during a youth baseball game. Jay said that he suddenly seemed to lose his vision. The doctors diagnosed the cause as a brain tumor. An operation quickly followed.

Jay couldn’t stand the time away from the baseball field and even got back on the field that summer. He wanted to finish the season so he could make the All-Star team, and he did. But a second operation was needed soon afterward and put an end to his season.

Jay’s surgeries proved to be successful and so was his recovery. In fact, Jay has gone on to star for his Crest High School baseball team as well as for the Shelby Legion team. Case in point: he recently pitched Post 82 to a 3-2 win over rival Cherryville Post 100.

In 2010, Jay graduated high school and won a $1000 Kiwanis Club Cancer Survivor Scholarship.

He also led Legion Area IV with six victories and 53 innings pitched last season while finishing with a 2.04 ERA. This past spring Jay pitched for Lander University in Greenwood, SC.

As a cancer survivor, Jay said that the “tumor made me stronger and appreciate life more.” Post 82 coach Mike Grayson had only praise for Jay, giving him the ultimate American Legion compliment when he said that “Jay is a great teammate and a good American.”

Jay Robinson

ike and Suzanne, or is it Suzanne and Mike Grayson? Whatever the order, they constitute

the “yin and yang” of Shelby Post 82 baseball. Wikipedia defines “yin and yang” as “complementary opposites that interact within a greater whole, as part of a dynamic system.”

Three terms from that definition definitely fit the relationship between the husband and wife who have kept Shelby Legion alive and active over the 21 years that Mike has served as head coach for Post 82. The couple have been the “complementary” dynamic that “interacted” to forge the renewal of baseball fever in Cleveland County and have “made Shelby the Mecca of American Legion baseball,” in Coach Grayson’s words. The next four years will showcase Shelby and Cleveland County as the home of the American Legion World Series.

This couple shares many traits that have helped make Shelby Legion baseball a perennial winner, area and state championship contender and host site for the 2008 Southeastern Regional and The American Legion World Series. Mike and Suzanne support each other so well because they both coach and understand the sacrifices a coach must make.

Suzanne won state championships in softball and volleyball while coaching at Kings Mountain High School, and Mike won a NC state championship with Shelby Post 82 in 2001. The twosome also shares inclusion in the Cleveland County Sports Hall of Fame with Suzanne inducted in 2006 and Mike in 2010.

In leading Shelby American Legion back to a position of strength, Mike has been

the man in charge of on-field activities while Suzanne leads things off-field. Mike focuses on fall baseball where he can really teach the sport through weekly practices and weekend games. He says that it takes a dedicated young man to commit to the time it takes to reach a spot on his legion team Mike even has tee-shirts with the word “Commitment” printed on them.

Suzanne can be seen at every home game moving as a blur from the concession stands to the press box to selling “half and half” tickets. She has recruited her mom, brothers and cousins as well as Mike’s family for concession stand and gate duties.

Both Mike and Suzanne are quick to thank

others for the successful renaissance in Post 82 baseball — especially the work done by Eddie Holbrook and Jim Horn. More than 100 people made the long bus ride from Shelby to Indianapolis to make the presentation to the American Legion officials to win the Shelby bid to host The American Legion World Series. But the true force behind Shelby Post 82 baseball has been the “yin and yang” force of the Mike and Suzanne Grayson.

Mike and Suzanne Grayson

He’s A SurvivorJ

Jay (on right) with his brother, Jordon, who plays for Limestone College before their two teams faced each other in competition this spring.

Pitching for American Legion Post 82.

Pitching at Crest High.Pitching at Lander.

By: Bill Cameron

By: Bill Cameron

Mike Grayson and his 2001 championship team.

Suzanne Grayson and her 2005 softball championship team.

M

Baker Buffalo CreekLocated in Fallston, NC, Baker Buffalo Creek Vineyard takes its name from

the Buffalo Creek that slowly winds through the property and the Baker family name that represents over 100 years of family ownership of this beautiful farmland. The first grapes were planted in 2003, and the success of that initial harvest combined with the optimal North Carolina growing conditions led to the planting of nine additional acres. The vineyard supplies eight different grape varietals including red muscadine, chardonnay, scuppernong, cabernet sauvignon, merlot, cabernet franc, riesling, and traminette. Baker Buffalo Creek Vineyard is a beautiful setting for wine tastings, special occasions and outdoor events. The grounds include an historic century old farm house, a fully restored mule barn, and the original milk house that now supports the wine making operations and wine tasting facility. More information is available by visiting BakerBuffaloCreek.com.

Owl’s EyeOwl’s Eye is an exciting new vineyard located in the beautiful piedmont of

North Carolina, bringing loads of experience and a wonderful new dimension of wine making to an upcoming and exciting part of the country! Whether you are a wine connoisseur or are just beginning to explore wine, the proprietors are happy to give you a memorable and enjoyable experience. Owl’s Eye is located 2.5 miles from the historic downtown Shelby courtsquare, and offers tours,

tastings and private events. The winery tasting room is an open and welcoming venue for private parties,

fun gatherings, work-related events, wedding receptions and rehearsal dinners.Come relax on the patio, and enjoy tasting the wines while you savor the beauty of the South Mountains in the background. More information is available by visiting OwlsEyeVineyard.com.

Woodmill WineryNestled in the shadows of the Southern Appalachian Mountains, WoodMill

Vineyard is located in the rolling foothills of Vale, NC. Each spring, the hills are brought to life as an emerald green canopy of vines reach for the heavens and gather sunlight to flavor the sweet southern grape known as the Muscadine. Recognized for their extraordinary flavors, Muscadines are notorious for producing exceptional jellies, desserts, and the popular southern indulgence known as Muscadine Wine.

WoodMill Vineyard started as a ½ acre planting of about 100 vines in the spring of 2001 and has grown to now consist of five-acres and approximately 1100 vines. Primary Muscadine varieties include Ison, Tara, Dixie Red, Nesbit, and Carlos.

The winery is currently receiving guests, conducting wine tastings, and providing winery tours. The facility features a banquet hall that is available for Christmas parties, class reunions, weddings and receptions. More information is available by visiting WoodmillWinery.com.

Eswau Huppeday-the “land between the rivers”

ccording to legend, “This area of land that lay between the Catawba River and the Broad River was referred to by the Catawba and Cherokee Native

American tribes as the Eswau Huppeday – the land between the rivers. These two tribes fought many times over this land, with neither side achieving any clear victory, until they agreed to a permanent peace and treaty to leave this land open for both tribes to hunt and travel.”

Residents and visitors are invited to enjoy the exceptional taste of North Carolina wines and to experience the beauty of the wine growing on the vines in this area.

A

Area wineries offer unique varieties

he Broad River Greenway, located just a few miles south of Boiling Springs, NC, off

Highway 150 on the Broad River, has an interesting history that spans less than a decade and a half. Starting as an idea for a 1994 Cleveland County focus group called “Cleveland Tomorrow,” Shelby civic leaders Brownie Paster and Kay Archer Price chose a “greenway” aspect of new development as their project, hoping to answer the need for creating recreational opportunities along the Broad River. Part of their rationale was to ultimately offer a recreational area for public use close to a well-traveled roadway (Highway 150) in one of the few undeveloped areas on the river, reclaiming the site for a better use.

Overseeing total development of the project, the team broke ground in 1996 and was up and running with a kickoff event in 1997 first known as River Fest, now called the Greenway Birthday Party, held annually every third Sunday afternoon in September. This first phase of development also saw other notable attractions added through the years including the Fishing Pier and Linear Trail, both built in 1997; the Picnic Shelter (1997); the Horse Trailer Parking Lot (1997); the Timber Playground (1998); the 1850s-era Phifer Cabin, brought from Kings Mountain in 1999 and re-assembled; and the Ranger Station and restrooms, constructed in 2001.

Today, the Greenway comprises 1,500 acres, 1,000 of which belong to the NCDOT in name, but which are usable and accessible to the public. With the shorelines came a mile and a half of river. Along both sides of the river, the greenway connects more than 12 miles of rough trails, 1,900 feet of which are

handicap accessible. The property, jointly owned by both Cleveland County (90%) and the town of Boiling Springs (10%), is public-owned but privately managed by a 17-member, all-volunteer board from across Cleveland County called the Broad River Council.

Crucial to maintaining and expanding the greenway are the day-to-day efforts of dedicated employees Kim Duren, executive director, and park ranger, Reid Jolly. Duren estimates that around 800 students, mostly elementary age, visit the park each year. Duren also calculates that 50 percent of the greenway’s visitors are from Cleveland County, with the rest from Gaston and Rutherford counties and South Carolina., with some Charlotte and Raleigh folks in the mix.

“We advertise as far away as Asheville and Raleigh in addition to Greenville, SC,” Duren says. “We were not widely known in the local community for some time, but it’s becoming a different story now!”

Jolly, with a degree in parks and recreation from Appalachian State, has been with the greenway for more than nine years and lives just down the

road in Boiling Springs. His responsibilities include maintenance, enforcing regulations and public relations. Jolly talks to civic groups two or three times each year and hosts the greenway booth at Gardner- Webb University’s annual Career Fair.

“When I see little ones out in the community come up to me and remember me from the park, that’s very special,” he reveals.

For more information, visit www.broadrivergreenway.com.

Destination Greenway! By Bob Mori

~A Place for all Seasons~T

Published with permission from Foothills Spotlight Magazine.

Entrance toKeeter Stadium

New dugout and stands Stadium

Lowe’s Center for ALWS

Legion Field

Keeter Stadium(You will be here!)