We are halfway through the NASCAR season as 18 of 36 races are now complete. So, why not share a Dale Earnhardt Jr. memory since this is his last year of racing. I have six monumental moments of his career. This series will continue as the season progresses.

When an allergic reaction sent young Gill's mother, Sherry, to the emergency room one evening, the waiting room TV was airing a show that sparked his imagination. "There I stood, feeling frozen and a little bit worried for my mom, when my eyes wandered up to the television. A cooking show called CHOPPED KIDS was on and kids were cooking! I watched with excitement and that is when my dream of being a chef on a kid's competitive cooking show was born"

The Forest City Owls will be in Coastal Plain League playoffs this season. Although, Gastonia and Florence were chasing, it was the Owls who clinched that first half Western Division in the CPL this past week.

After a year of fundraising activities, the Mt. Vernon Community Club is giving back to the community that supported them. Four country ham and chicken pie suppers, along with rental proceeds from events held at the clubhouse, have netted the club $5,000.00 which were distributed to Mount Vernon-Ruth Elementary School, Hudlow Fire Department, Mt. Hebron United Methodist Church, Mt. Vernon Baptist Church, and Rutherford County Sheriff's Department.

So, it is summer and things are a little slow. Everybody seems to be on vacation. Which reminds me, who wants to take a vacation? I do!! Enough about me. Well, baseball is still going on between Legion, the Owls and Little League All-Stars. I hope all will support those efforts during the summer months.

Here is a quick update from the Owls and a couple other notes.

On Friday, June 23, 2017, the Forest City Police Department will be hosting the 20th annual Kids & Cops event at Summey Park on Learning Parkway from 9am-12pm. The event is geared toward kids ages 12 and under, but the entire family is welcome to come out and join us. This is a great opportunity to meet various first responders from all over western North Carolina and learn about the different departments that protect and serve our neighborhoods and communities.

Time sure is flying, with the Forest City Owls back in swing. As a matter of fact, one-fourth of the season is now history.

"We struggled with infertility for over 12 years and had discussed fostering and the possibility of adoption, but were never on the same page. We really got the idea to adopt after our first mission trip to Lima, Peru. We worked in an orphanage (New Life Children's Home) there and began to see the need for forever families," says Vanessa Capps on the recent adoptions of McKenna and Teagan.

With the school year now closed, I thought it would be a good to review what took place this High School Sports year from August until now amongst Rutherford County Schools.

ZEBULON, N.C.--R-S Central had a chance to make school history by winning their first-ever baseball state title. Unfortunately, it was Holmes who swept in two games to take the 2A crown for 2017. Zebulon hosted the 2A State Baseball Title this past Friday night and Saturday and both games were competitive.

Chapter One

He couldn't look away. Her curves held his gaze and he yearned to touch her, to own her. He wasn't the only one. She was fast. A genuine beauty, designed to capture his wildest imagination. He secretly made a vow to bring her home, and eventually, he did.

In the East Rutherford game during the third round of the baseball playoffs, it was a call by Todd Beheler, the first base coach to send Cam Snethen on a bloop hit to stretch a single into a double in the seventh. Ever since that set up, the game winning run to beat the defending 2A state champs and neighboring rival East Rutherford, R-S Central hasn't looked back.

The 30th day of May 1868 is designate for the purpose of strewing with flowers or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades, who died in defense, of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every City, Village, and hamlet, church yard in the land. In this observance no form of ceremony is prescribed, but Posts and comrades will in their own way arrange such fitting services and testimonials of respect as circumstances may permit.

It's been over a decade since R-S Central's baseball team has reached a Western Regional Final, but they accomplished the feat last week.

East Rutherford and R-S Central played in the third round of playoffs. Unfortunately one had to lose, but it was a heck of a game, with the R-S Hilltoppers winning the playoff game!

Never before, in the history of wrestling in Rutherford County Schools, has any student captured three titles.

High School Playoffs

Six Rutherford County teams won first round games.

Now, we are down to three teams left out of seven that made the postseason this Spring by this week's deadline time. R-S Central's softball team had won in the first two rounds, while East Rutherford and R-S Central baseball have made it two rounds as well.

Anyone who loves cars - and particularly Corvettes - will want to mark Saturday, May 13, 2017 on their calendar. On that day from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. at McNair Field in Forest City, the Rutherford County Corvettes (RCC) group will sponsor the fifth annual "Corvettes For Vets."

Spring Playoffs are here for High School Sports and we have some pretty solid teams that are vying for a state title.

Wednesday was the first round, but these teams could host second round games on Saturday (5.13.17).

Enthusiasm and excitement abound as the 2017 season opener draws near. Designated as the 4th Best Collegiate Summer Stadium in America in 2016, McNair field is primed and ready for an action packed summer of baseball sure to fulfill every baseball lover's dreams. New decks, ticket packages, souvenirs, and promotional events are in keeping with the tradition of providing excellent entertainment and quality ballgames for Forest City and Rutherford County.

It was big week and in more ways than one.

It's that time of the year again. The long awaited MayFest on Main Street is just a few days ahead. Downtown Rutherfordton will once again be filled with visitors from all around our region as the streets transform into a mass of arts and crafts and activities that will entertain young and old alike.

For the first time in it's 43 year history, Trinity Christian School is fielding a baseball team. Comprised of 4th - 8th graders, these young men are playing their hearts out in their inaugural season.

Just two weeks of SMAC play is left and a regular season baseball title is up for grabs.

Now that Crest has lost three of their last five games...the SMAC title may just go to R-S Central or East Rutherford. Both teams are tied atop the standings, but East Rutherford has the head-to-head advantage at this moment. Both teams also have a two-game lead over everyone else.

Rutherford Housing Partnership is hosting its 9th annual Gears & Gables cycling ride May 6 in conjunction with downtown Rutherfordton's MayFest celebration. The nonprofit organization provides urgent home repairs for families in need. RHP provides materials; volunteers provide labor.