Hustle For The Muscle: Helping A Good Person, Friend, and Native Son

Blacksburg, SC is my hometown, and I have found myself writing and talking about it more over the years. The best thing I can say about my small town is its sense of community, especially when someone is in need.

This was in display in full force on Saturday, July 30th as my service organization, Smokin Rita and Friends, helped organize a benefit at the First Baptist Church for Shon Dawkins, who is fighting ALS. The event was a complete success with a hot dog meal, several desserts and sports memorabilia were raffled, and there was even face painting and bouncy houses for the children.

I love seeing when a community can come together and put aside their differences. These are the stories that should be reported first nightly on the news.

Some of you probably want to know more about Shon Dawkins and why anyone would make a big deal out of one person, albeit one deeply affected by ALS.

Well first and foremost, this is how Blacksburg does for its own, when one of its own is sick and in need. The community spirit is strong and they have your back in your hour of need. Even folks from nearby Gaffney and classmates of his from Gardner-Webb University came and showed love.

Second, Shon was not only an awesome athlete during his years at Blacksburg High, he was (and still is) and awesome person that could get along with anyone and make anybody smile and laugh. Shon and his family grew up near me in rural Kings Creek. His family is well known for being good people, good athletes, and hard workers.

Also, it is a tragedy to see ALS take down anyone, especially someone physically and mentally strong as Shon. It has affected his body, but it cannot touch his mind and heart. He is very inspirational despite his pain, and will have you laughing and crying. I always loved being around him, and there was no way I was missing this benefit.

#thehustleforthemuscle movement continues as Shon's condition does worsen and the bills don't stop. There is a 5K run planned soon in Blacksburg, plus other benefits. There is already a GoFundMe in place. Shon is one of the last folks I know that would ask for any help. Therefore, help him since he would help you, and help in this fight against ALS! Continue to check my blogs, vlogs, and social media accounts for more info!

25 of Blacksburg High School's best football players

Last week at halftime of the Blacksburg High School's game versus Woodruff, the 2015 Hall Of Fame class was announced. This included all BHS sports of course. The most notable to many in this area is football though. Four of the six nominees did play football in Blacksburg, SC at some point. Cherokee County is a football county, as Gaffney, SC takes football as seriously as a small town high school can.

That being said, I believe the inductees (current and past) are deserving. Two are former teammates of mine. However, the big debate is why certain players haven't gotten in yet. It does mirror the NFL Hall of Fame, as some players get in early, while others seemingly wait decades, and may not live to see their enshrinement.

Finally, I have compiled my own top 25, which was difficult. I may later expand this to a top 50.

1. Doug Bolin

2. Mike Smith

3-25 (in no particular order)

Danny Fulton

Chris Dawkins

Shon Dawkins

Marcus Davis

 Mickey Moss

 Tony West

 Fred Parker

Randy Patterson

Randy Huskey

 Marcus King

Terrence "TO" Camp

Timmy Camp

Darrell Burris

Kenneth Blackstone

 Blake Hope

 Mark Striewing

Stanley "Dunnie" Watts II

Lamont Sutton

Anthony Garrison

 Joe Patterson

 Nesbitt "Banky" Black

Joey Moore

Daniel Farris

Other notables: JR Martin, JP Martin, Billy Costner, Butch McAbee, Roland "Shine" Camp, Mark Dawkins

There have been many greats come through Blacksburg High School.  Imagine them being on one team.

OK, who else should be on this list? Who honestly has no business being mentioned?

No Man's Land Is Very Appropriately Named

I have visited and tried virtually every haunted house and trail in my hometown of Blacksburg, SC. Last night, I tried another one, No Man's Land.

And that it truely is. It is located off of US Highway 29 North, near Clingman Memorial Gardens and Eastside Baptist Church, on Craton Road. It is way out in the sticks, and the overall experience is one that will leave you scared and perplexed.

It is set up in a mobile home, with an accompanying trail. The trail is dimly lit for added effect. Your usual zombies, clowns, and other horror movie icons are featured. However the highlight of the trail is the multi-dimensional maze (the brainchild of JR and Patrick Johnson), which can be difficult to solve.

No Man's Land is a mom and pop operation, ran by Tommy and Migie Blackwell. They are open on Fridays and Saturdays 8pm-11pm leading up to Halloween. Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for children. There are motified versions of the trail for the children.

The best part about the whole deal is that 100% of the proceeds after taxes are going to Jeremy Gee, a local young man currently fighting cancer. So far many residents are seeing the benefits of going for a haunted adventure and funding a good cause.

So after you've visited the rest, give No Man's Land a shot. You will not be disappointed, unless you fail to solve the maze,...

Blacksburg, SC: The City Of Iron

Blacksburg, SC is a small town with a tight knit community, located in the upstate portion of South Carolina, east of Gaffney and Spartanburg, off of I-85.

It was founded in 1888 by a man named Black when the city was very rich in iron, giving it the nickname "The Iron City".

There is a lot of history here, as the first traffic light in South Carolina was installed in Blacksburg, and many celebrities have stayed in and passed through Blacksburg.

Some of the staples that define Blacksburg are the Iron City Festival, Kelly's Steak House, the Ed Brown Rodeo (always held the first weekend in August), Bailey's Fish Camp, and the rivers leading into Broad River intersecting Gaffney and Blacksburg, the two major cities in Cherokee County, SC.

Blacksburg was once a bustling city, with many businesses uptown, including a movie theater, two pharmacies, and the infamous Greyhound bus station. The municipality now doesn't have as many local businesses. Chains such as Waffle House, McDonald's, Food Lion and Dollar General dominate the town.

It is generally a good place to raise your children as everyone knows each other and the crime rates are low. You are pretty much in the middle of the excitement of the Carolinas. A few hours from Myrtle Beach, and about two hours or less from Greenville, Charlotte, Columbia and the mountains. Blacksburg is the gateway to many other well known places.

The schools have been top notch and improving for years. There are two elementary schools once again, and the high school received a ninth grade wing a few years back.

Residents here enjoy the simple things, such as a fireworks show, a brisk walk through town or simply sitting on the porch with family and friends and waving hi to be everyone that passes through.

Towns like Blacksburg, South Carolina embrace their smaller sizes, as they feel closer and connected to one another. It really is like a big family who will go to battle for you when outsiders try to intrude.

Take a look for yourself and see that Blacksburg has much to offer.

29719: Kings Creek Pride

29719 was more than five numbers to a small group of people. It was our lifestyle, our family,  our roots, our former zip code.

That is linked to a place called Kings Creek,  just between Blacksburg and Smyrna,  SC, named by some "God's Country. " 

The widening of Highway 5 heading into York County,  plus the closing of our post office in 1998, along with other businesses,  have virtually taken us off the grid. Google doesn't even recognize us on Google Earth or Google Maps anymore. It's like they have merged communities like ours and Cherokee Falls with Blacksburg. 

I tell folks that don't understand or to whom I don't care to explain that I'm from Blacksburg.  However,  I have always claimed Kings Creek (the KC) as my home.

Kings Creek was a small mining community for years, home of the Industrial Mills plant. This plant employed virtually the entire hamlet,  and was a landmark. We also had Boheler's Store, where you stopped to catch up on gossip, get snacks, and play video games and pool in the adjoining arcade. Love's Grocery was our gas station, just a few feet up.  We also had plenty of swimming holes: Kings Creek (or The Curb) and the infamous Burnt Mills. Burnt Mills is still going strong and has a bar right in front of the bank of the creek. Lots of good hunting, fishing and four wheeling lands and trails surround our area also. It's our own slice of Heaven. 

Growing up, everyone literally knew everyone.  We rode the school bus together,  gathered at Boheler's or the post office,  and simply had a mutual trust and respect towards each other. On Halloweens, we knew we could safely trick or treat at almost any home in the area.

Smyrna and even the eastern part of Blacksburg just outside of city limits share a lot in common with us. But there's something special about being from Kings Creek that only the residents can grasp.

We have the rich, dirt poor, middle class, simpletons, and all in between.  However, we have always came together in the name of the KC.

It will take more than the closing of a post office and a road widening to erase our identity. 29719 will forever live in our hearts.  We may have to write Blacksburg on bills, job applications,  letters and such.  Nevertheless, we all know that this is Kings Creek, the one and only. 

Judgement House: Uplifting, Touching, and Informative

Christian Churches nationwide are always looking for creative and Informative ways to reach people and bring more people to Jesus Christ. One of the more popular programs over the last few years has been Judgement House.

Judgment House is a series of skits that a church can utilize to portray a person or family's choices about serving the Lord, and showing the results, positive and negative, of these decisions.

Hopewell Baptist Church in Blacksburg, SC has been doing Judgment House for about four years now, returning in 2014 after a year off. Hundreds have come through to view the rooms of skits the church members have put together.  Many souls have been saved and rededicated to Christ as a result.

I attended one of their final showings during this period and will have to say I thoroughly enjoyed it. The message is simple and one I have heard all my life: accept Jesus into your heart completely and you can achieve the gift of eternal life in Heaven. If one fails to acknowledge Him or has doubts, an eternity in Hell could be waiting.

The delivery of this message is what stole the show. The actors and actresses were very dramatic and passionate.  Skits included one with God at the gates of Heaven, Hell itself and Satan, and finally the kingdom of Heaven with Jesus and many angels. It was very obvious the work Hopewell had put in to learn the various skits, coordinate the rooms, design the sets, and make the experience touching and memorable.

Often when churches put on productions such as Judgement House, they are critiqued for asking for monetary offerings, pressuring people to accept Christ, and even soliciting membership into their congregation. I cannot speak for other churches regarding their JH performances. However I can say that Hopewell Baptist Church does none of this.  The pastor,  however,  does pray with each group at the end of the show and allow them to dedicate or rededicate themselves to Christ, pressure free. This is something I can very much respect. 

I enjoy it when groups of people find innovative and groundbreaking methods to bring people closer to God and His son, Jesus Christ.  We are in an era where it often takes more than witnessing and traditional church services to reach the masses. Hopewell gets this and has been using Judgement House as a positive vehicle this past few years. 

Visit www.judgementhouse.org to find a Judgement House near you. Or if you are interested in learning more about the one I attended,  visit Hopewell Baptist Church on Facebook,  or call the church office at (864) 839-6653. I know many of the members well, and recognized them in the skits.  They, and the ones at other churches performing Judgement House, definitely want to assist you in your spiritual journey. 

Dedicating yourself to anything important,  including worshipping the Lord, is both a commitment and a choice.  Thanks to Judgement House, the decision is now more visual and graphic, aligning with the Holy Bible and the teachings of Christ.

Have you attended a Judgement House either at Hopewell or another church? What type of impact did it have on you and others?

Two Great Haunted Adventures Right in Blacksburg, SC

Blacksburg, SC doesn't have much to call their own except for its collective pride and sense of community.  However, every Halloween, there is always a good haunted house or trail right in Blacksburg that can scare and keep visitors entertained.

Two such places are The Fear Farm and Booger Jim's Hollow.

1. The Fear Farm

The owner behind this 8,000 square foot haunted house, along with a zombie room, additional scare houses and side shows;  and even vendors, has really brought attention to the Iron City. Most people within an hour radius notice the promotions, from the professionally printed signs, to the old cars placed around Cherokee County with spooks and goblins coming out of them, covered in blood and having the "Fear Farm" emblem emblazed on the hood.

This haunted house is very well lit and easy to find, off of 99 Island Road. Inside, the place is well constructed, with mazes, monsters, clowns, a cemetery, and many other horror movie images and icons guaranteed to scare you. General admission is $13, $18 for VIP line skip, and up to $20 for access into the additional rooms and houses.  Fear Farm was featured in a magazine as one of the best haunted houses in the Upstate. To get further information, visit www.scfearfarm.com. Bring friends and be ready to be entertained.

2. Booger Jim's Hollow

This trail based on the urban legend of Cherokee Falls resident Booger Jim is more generic than the Fear Farm, but is equally, if not scarier than The Fear Farm.  This is located in the woods of Cherokee Falls, behind Cherokee Falls Missionary Church. They have a waiver you must sign due to the scary and number of hills on the trail. They also have a guide/narrator. The price of admission is $10 for adults, $5 for children.  I will say Booger Jim's is worth that price. The trail delivers in all facets: monsters, clowns, narrow traps and paths, and an appearance by Booger Jim himself.  The creators, however, are more low budget. They employ flyers and social media to get the word out. However, their signs are homemade and dark. The trail is difficult to find as their is no lighting leading up to Booger Jim's.  Nonetheless, people love the legend and the trail. Visit www.boogerjimshollow.com for more information.

So if you live in Blacksburg and don't want to travel to Scarewinds or to a larger city to get scared, no worries. These two will provide that portion of Halloween that you sorely desire. Heck the locations are less than five miles apart. You and your group could hit them both on the same night for under $30/head. Now that's a good price for quality, family entertainment. 

So when you come down Hwy 5 and on to Hwy 29 in Blacksburg, look for the signs, visit the websites and ask around. The Iron City has thrills and horrors, but hasn't become a dead ghost town.  Fun is guaranteed for all.

Fish-Tales Fish Camp Review

Blacksburg, SC, my hometown, doesn't have many restaurants or businesses.  However, the ones we do have tend to hang around for years.  I believe Fish-Tales Fish Camp has this potential.

Fish-Tales is owned and operated by Scott Willis and his family. They provide the good Southern flavor and hospitality that will keep you coming back. They are located off of Hwy 29 across from the infamous Kelly's Steakhouse. Scott took over the restaurant in January from the previous owner, Roy Hale, who called it Crystal Sea Fish Camp. They have not missed a beat since.

Thursdays-Saturdays, they offer a delicious seafood buffet complete with salad bar and desserts. Catfish, flounder, calabash chicken, home fries, and onion rings can regularly be found on this bar. I'm a bit of a seafood connoseuir and the fish and chicken there are quite tasty. There are also tasty menu items such as various fish, hamburger steaks, ribeyes, and blooming onions.

Perhaps the biggest change Scott made when he took over was the addition of a Sunday country buffet.  This buffet is always delicious and filling if you're looking for a good home cooked meal after church and before the various Sunday sports comes on. Salad and desserts are also included. The main items on this buffet are fried chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, home fries, fried okra, mac n cheese, bread (varies from week to week), green beans, cabbage and collard greens. Scott will occassionally sub out and in items such as meatloaf, pork chops and blackeyed peas. If it's country cooking and soul food, it's bound to be found on the Fish-Tales buffet.
The prices cannot be beaten either. $11 for dine-in, $8 for carry out, and discounts for children and seniors.

Therefore, if you're in the Upstate area on a weekend evening, or particularly early Sunday, come by Fish-Tales and let Scott and his family do the cooking. They can be found on Facebook, and reached at (864)839-3100.  Type 1639 West Cherokee Street, Blacksburg, SC 29702 into your GPS to locate them.
Do yourself a favor and give them a try. You are sure not to regret it. 

You May Be From Blacksburg, SC if,...

- you know Jackie Wayne Cashion
- there are four main churches: First Baptist, Hopewell, Trinity, and Youngs Grove
- you know all about the Quik Quack
- you attend Ed Brown's Rodeo, the Iron City Festival, and fireworks at Hopewell on 4th of July
- you remember when the only grocery store was the Community Cash
- the only dollar store was the Super Dollar
- you know where Sidney Rice is originally from, and has several family members still living here.
- Shine Camp ever washed your car or shined your shoes.
- you're black and afraid to go to the tree.
- you suffered withdrawals when Bailey's Fish Camp burned down
- the old NAPA store was where Joy Wok is now
- Doug Bolin needs no introduction
- Ozzies was Waffle House to us
- you didn't mess in Nellie V's yard
- you did nothing in Coach Touchberry's class in March but watch basketball
- you were so hype about getting a Food Lion
- you remember when the track was dirt
- the local whorehouse is the Flying J's parking lot
- Mrs. Hughes had a different sweater for every holiday
- Daniel Walker and Timmy Camp fought every day
- you think Burnt Mills is the beach
- you remember Spook's Lounge on the hill
- you gave Barney Phife (Leonard) Hell
- your mayor was caught stealing chicken out of the grocery store (Jere Dixon)
- you ever got behind Poopie Earls driving 20 mph on Hwy 29
- the main families are Wilson, Ross, Martin, Earls, McDaniel, Thompson, and Upchurch
- you remember Papa G's was the old elementary school
- you had Ms. Kitty Bridges as a substitute
- you remember Mr. Edwards, one of the greatest music teachers ever.
- you thought it was cool that one of your classmates could memorize the schedules of every student year in and year out
- we all never assume thanks to Coach Cabaniss
- Tucker Town and Humps Hill were the party spots.
- you remember the group Hi-Lo

More coming later,...

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