This document is a newspaper with local and national news stories. The main stories include: 1) A couple in Rutherford County celebrating their 75th wedding anniversary on Christmas Eve. 2) A shooting in Shelby where four people were injured but not life-threatening. Police are seeking suspects who may have fled in a silver Honda Accord. 3) A Cleveland County commissioner has been performing random acts of kindness throughout the community during the holiday season to spread happiness.

1. INSIDE TODAY
LOCAL: Rutherford County couple
celebrates 75 years of marriage Page 3A
DEATHS
LesConner,67,TegaCay,S.C.
DougChapman,72,Shelby
DorothyDerr,71,Raleigh
IvaJones,82,Blacksburg,S.C.
VerdellMartin,78,Shelby
AmySmithNorris,44,Grover
n See Obituaries, Page 4A
Read obituaries online at
www.shelbystar.com
The gift: Spending
every day together
Published for Waco’s Judy Thompson and all our devoted Cleveland County area readers for 120 years.75¢
TODAY’S WEATHER 2 Sections
16 Pages
Volume 120
No. 358
44°
HIGH LOW
23°
Dear Abby 8A
Puzzles 4B, 7B
Comics 4B
Television 4B
Debate 5A
Classifieds 5-8B
DAY
OF
YEAR
358
NUMBER
OF DAYS
LEFT
7
The Star is a
recyclable
product.
TUESDAY, December 24, 2013 SHELBY, N.C.
Your all-county football teamSPORTS | PAGE 1B
TIPS FOR
TAKING
PICTURE-
PERFECT
HOLIDAY
PHOTOS
7A
Police: 4 shot, suspects soughtPage 3A
Yearslater,thephotohangsinablackwoodenframeonthecou-
ple’s living room wall in Shelby. The woman’s now snowy white
hairisastrikingcontrasttotheredChristmassweatershewearson
hersmallframe.Herhusband,whokeepshisgrayhairhiddenun-
der a green baseball cap, stands beside her, as he has every day of
their almost 48 years of marriage. After everything they have been
through,thecouplestillsmiles,knowingtheirlovecansurviveand
surpassanychallengeortest.
The beginning
GlennAllenmethisfuturewife,Annice,attheservicestationher
older brother, Bobby, owned. After pulling up to the station one
day,BobbyteasedandcoaxedAnniceintogivingGlennherphone
number.
“We dated for two years, and we were married April 9, 1966,”
Glennsaid.
Fourmonthslater,onAug.8,1966,aneventoccurredthatwould
changethelivesoftheAllenfamilyforever.
Annicehadastroke.
‘It could have happened to me’
Glenn said Annice’s doctor thought the stroke could have been
aresultoforalcontraceptives,whichwerestillintheearlystagesof
developmentatthetime.
“Shewasperfectlyhealthy,”hesaid.
The stroke paralyzed Annice, who lost her ability to do anything
on her own. Her mind and sense of humor remained intact, but
physicallyshewouldneedassistancefortheremainderofherlife.
Glenn said right after the stroke, a woman approached him and
told him the best thing he could do would be to put Annice in a
nursinghomeandleavetoleadhisownlife.
“ThewayIlookatit,whathappenedtohercouldhavehappened
tome,”hesaid.“Whenyougetmarried,youtakeanoath.Whatyou
puttogetherbytheBibleyou’renotsupposedtotearapartbylaw.”
Through challenges, miracles, couple has celebrated 5 decades of Christmases together
A couple poses for a Christmas photo in 1965. The young man, dressed in a white button-up shirt and tie, sits
witharecentlyopenedgiftinhislap.Thedark-hairedwomanwearsredlipsticktomatchherredskirtandcardi-
gan.Sheleansagainsttheyoungman,herhandplacedtenderlyonhisshoulder.Theysmileknowingthatbythis
timenextyear,theywillbecelebratingChristmasashusbandandwife.
>> See GIFT/Page 3A
The Star and Mockaitis Orthodontics recently sponsored a Christmas card
contest for children in Cleveland County. The contest invited artists from
different age groups to create a card in any medium and enter them to win a
prize pack provided by Mockaitis Orthodontics and Christmas cards with their
personal designs.
Today’s winning card is by Kyleigh Reynolds,
6, of Cherryville. Her mom is Cindy Reynolds.
Pick up The Star on Christmas Day for the
other winning card in the contest.
To see more cards, “like” The Shelby Star on
Facebook and visit the Christmas card contest
photo album.
CHRISTMAS CARD CONTEST
Unexpected
presents
County leader spreads
happiness to others
through random acts
of kindness
JessicaPickens
jpickens@shelbystar.com
A county leader has been spreading happiness this
holidayseasontounsuspectingpeople.
Susan Allen, a Cleveland County commissioner,
said she started performing random
acts of kindness throughout the
countyinDecember.
“The idea came from a friend of
mine who lost her son two years
ago,”Allensaid.“Inhismemory,they
askedeveryonetoperformarandom
actofkindness.”
Allen liked the idea and wanted to
pass something good
ontosomeoneelse.
The idea is if some-
one performs an act
of kindness for some-
one,thatpersonturns
around and pays it
forward to someone
else,Allensaid.
“An example is,
I made a cake in
memory of Jake, my
friend’s son and gave
it to the Boys and
Girls Club,” Allen
said. “They used that
cake to help celebrate
the AB Honor Roll
students.”
She also paid for
someone’s meal in a
restaurant drive-thru,
and she made cards
to distribute when
others performed
a random act of
kindness.
“One man said it
was the nicest thing
anyone had ever done for him,” Allen said. “And all
my friend did was buy him breakfast. Cashiers have
thought it was really cool when I tell them I’m paying
forthepersonbehindme.”
Allensaidshemayextendherrandomactsofkind-
nessthroughJanuary.
“I like to give back to people, and thought this was
a good thing to do during the holidays,” Allen said. “If
somethinggoodhappenstoyou,passiton.”
Reach Jessica Pickens at 704-669-3332 or jpickens@
shelbystar.com.FollowonTwitter@StarJPickens.
Allen
WANT TO JOIN OR
LEARN MORE?
“Like” Random Act
of Kindness 2013
/ Susan Allen on
Facebook.
A movement of
“random acts of
kindness” has been
popular locally and
nationwide this
holiday season. Know
someone else who’s
spreading cheer
through random
kind acts? “Like”
The Shelby Star on
Facebook and share.
Brittany Randolph/The Star
Glenn and Annice Allen have been married for almost 50 years. Annice suffered a stroke that resulted in paralysis just four months after she married Glenn.
KatieGilbert|kgilbert@shelbystar.com
Special to The Star
Christmas card winner Kyleigh Reynolds is shown
with Reed P. Mockaitis, DDS, MS, PA, of Mock-
aitis Orthodontics.

2. www.shelbystar.com The Star Tuesday, December 24, 2013 | 3A
Local
Thanks
ForaGreat
Year.Wewishyou
HappyHolidaysand
BestWishesfor2014
42896
44722
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limits measured on a monthly basis. For complete details and the Data Allowance Policy, visit
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CALL 855-627-2459
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BINGO NUMBER
TODAY!
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44728
MatthewTessnear
mtessnear@shelbystar.com
Four people were hit by gunfire but none face life-threat-
ening injuries after a Sunday night shooting, according to
ShelbyPolice.
Police believe at least two people were in a vehicle from
which the shots were fired at a house on Jose Street, south-
westofUptownShelby,saidShelbyPoliceCapt.RickStafford.
“Those in the house aren’t being cooperative enough to
steerusinadirectionofwhowasinvolved,”StaffordtoldThe
Star on Monday. “There’s some information being looked at
thattheymayknowtheshooterorshooters.”
One woman was shot behind the ear and was transported
toaCharlottehospitalforobservation,Staffordsaid.
The other victims were hit in the leg, the back and the face
inthecheek,respectively,Staffordsaid,andtheyweretreated
andreleasedfromthehospital.
“One was a juvenile,” Stafford said. “None of (the injuries)
appearlife-threatening.”
The shooting was reported to police at about 8:13 p.m.
Sundaynight.
Stafford said police believe the vehicle that carried the sus-
pectsmaybeanearly2000smodelsilverHondaAccord.
A
syoupreparetocel-
ebrateChristmaswith
yourfamilyandcount
yourblessings,Iwant
toaddsomethingtoyourlist.
Becauseyoudidmorethan
readthestories—becauseyou
gavefromyourheart—youcan
bethankfulthattogetherwe
helpedfamiliestohaveaMerry
Christmasin
spiteoftheir
circumstances.
Themoney
yougaveto
theEmpty
StockingFund
willallowa
couplewith
fourchildren
tocelebrate
Christmasin
theirhome
Wednesday.
TheywalkedtoCharlesReed’s
officelastweekseekinghelp.
“HeisaveteranoftheArmed
Forcesandhasnotfound
employmentsincetheymoved
toClevelandCountyinAugust,”
Reedsaid.“Althoughtheyreceive
foodassistanceandacheckfor
oneofthechildrenwhohas
specialneeds,theyhavenotbeen
abletopayrenttotheirlandlord.
Thisdaddoesanykindofworkhe
canfindtodo,butonlyverytem-
poraryjobshavecomehisway.
Theyalsolacktransportation.”
Thecouplewassofarbehind
ontheirrentthatthelandlord
hadnochoicebuttofilefor
evictionwiththecourthearing
setfortoday,ChristmasEve.
“Aftertalkingwiththelandlord,
theyarestillgoingtocourt,
butthelandlordisgoingtotell
thejudgethatacommunity
faith-basedagencyiscommit-
tedtopayanamountthatwill
satisfythebackrentandgetthem
throughJanuary,”Reedsaid.
Thefamilywillbeableto
celebrateChristmasintheirhome
andthemother,whoisscheduled
tohavesurgeryinJanuary,will
nothavetoworryabouthaving
aplacetostaywhenshecomes
homefromthehospital.
Inaddition,alocalchurchis
helpingthecouplefindemploy-
ment,andthechildrenreceived
toysfromtheGreaterCleveland
CountyBaptistAssociationToy
Storeheldearlierthismonth.
“Theyaremostgratefulfor
peoplehelpingthemthrougha
mostdifficulttime,”Reedsaid.
Today’stotal:$680
Totaltodate:$24,126.46
InhonorofBurelandPam
HarrisbyMarySueOlsen,$100
PersonnelServices
UnlimitedInc.,$100
InmemoryofMr.and
Mrs.E.H.MeltonandMr.
andMrs.E.M.Hicks,$100
TommyandBeckyNeal,$200
Anonymous,$30
J.KeatonFonvielle,$100
CharlesandJanice
A.Lowder,$50
Police: Four hit in shooting, suspects sought
HAVE INFORMATION FOR POLICE?
If you have information on the shooting, call
Shelby Police at 704-484-6845 or Crimestoppers at
704-481-8477.
Matthew Tessnear/The Star
A shooting left four people injured on Jose Street in Shelby, according to
Police Captain Rick Stafford.
Gifts from
the heart
Jackie
Bridges
To help a family, bring your contributions to
The Star at 315 E. Graham St., Shelby.
From 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Friday
Contributions also may be mailed to: The Star
Empty Stocking Fund
315 E. Graham St.
Shelby, NC 28150
*Please make checks payable to:
The Star Empty Stocking Fund
shelbystar.com
Contributions to date:
Want to help? A contribution
form appears on Page
2013 Goal
$
24,126.46
3A
HOW TO GIVE TO THE EMPTY
STOCKING FUND
Fill out the form below and
submit it with a check pay-
able to the Empty Stocking
Fund. Donations may be
dropped off from 8:30 a.m.
to 4 p.m. at The Star, 315
E. Graham St., Shelby. Mail
donations to The Star, P.O.
Box 48, Shelby, NC 28151.
Donations will be accepted
until Dec. 31.
Couple celebrates 75 years of marriageStaffreports
Edley Canipe, 94, and Da-
phine Canipe, 92, of Willow
CreekRehabilitationinRuth-
erfordton, will celebrate their
75th wedding anniversary
ChristmasEve.
TheyweremarriedDec.24,
1938,inGaffney,S.C.
They are originally from
Lawndale and worked at
Cleveland Mills. Before
moving to the rehabilita-
tion center, they lived beside
their daughter in Lattimore
and attended Lattimore
BaptistChurch.
Their children are the late
Wendell Canipe and his wife,
Vickie; Mitchell and Gail
Canipe, Charles and Gail
Canipe; and Helen Canipe
Mauney and her husband,
the late Joe. They have
numerous grandchildren,
great-grandchildren and
great-great-grandchildren.
Special to The Star
Edley and Daphine Canipe.
Caring for Annice
With Annice needing
round-the-clock care,
Glenn would take her to
stay at her mother’s while
heworkedduringtheday.
“Ifithadn’tbeenforthat,
Icouldn’thavedoneit,”he
said.
Annice’s sister, Betty,
saidsheremembersGlenn
walking into her mother’s
home with Annice in his
arms. She said he carried
herinandouteveryday.
“When it got to where he
couldn’t carry her anymore,
he rigged a motor on her
wheelchair,”Bettysaid.
When Glenn started stay-
ing home with Annice after
her mother’s death, he real-
ized how difficult it was to
get things done around the
houseandoutside.
“Ihatetoleaveherbyher-
self; I’m scared she might
getchoked,”hesaid.
Glenn got in touch with
CareSolutions,whichsends
someone out three times a
weektogiveGlennachance
to get things done, like cut-
tingthegrass.
Annice also received a
hospital bed from Care
Solutions, which relieved
Glenn of picking her up an
average of 12 times a day —
ataskprovingmoredifficult
ashegotolder.
“You’re not going to get
any help unless you ask for
it,”hesaid.
Their pride and joy
In1975,Annicewastaken
to the doctor for what was
thoughttobekidneystones.
“Then they saw those
kidney stones had legs and
arms,”Glennsaid.
After receiving the excit-
ing news, the doctor took
Glenn into a separate room
and advised him to termi-
nate the pregnancy due to
Annice’sphysicalcondition.
“I told him, ‘you’re talk-
ing to the wrong man,’”
Glennsaid.
Doctorsdidn’tknowhow
Annice would handle the
pregnancy, but Glenn said
everythingwasasnormalas
itcouldhavebeen.
“She did pretty good,” he
said.
Ray Allen was born, with-
outcomplication,toaloving
andwelcomingfamily.
“He was a miracle baby,”
Annice’ssisterBettysaid.
Betty said despite An-
nice’s condition, she was a
part of everything when it
cametoraisingherson,and
whenGlennneededtolearn
how to help with things like
bottles and feeding, he
wouldcallAnnice’smom.
“You just come show me
how,”hewouldsay.
What love is
As Ray got older, Glenn
andAnnicesaidhewasabig
helparoundthehouse.
Betty said Ray never got
into any trouble and never
missed curfew, or if he was
going to he always called
home.
“Ray is a lot like Glenn
— good-hearted, depend-
able,”Bettysaid.
Glenn and Annice speak
proudlyandlovinglyoftheir
son, who lives in Los Ange-
lesandworksforCBS.
“When you have your
own child, you really find
out what love is,” Glenn
said.
Ray comes home every
Mother’s Day, and was
recently in town to visit his
parentsforThanksgiving.
“I love that,” Annice said,
“I love having him home
withme.”
Always together
Annice currently has
enough use of her right arm
todothingslikefeedherself,
brush her teeth, dial the
phone, control her electric
wheelchair,andaddressher
own cards and postcards.
She does not let her condi-
tion stop her from enjoying
life.
Glenn and Annice are
both ham radio operators,
and they are racing fans,
whichsometimesgetsheat-
ed since they each root for a
different driver. Annice is a
Jeff Gordon fan, and Glenn
isaJimmieJohnsonfan.
“Sometimes we throw
things when the race is on,”
hesaid.
Thecouplealsotriestogo
to the beach at least once a
year, and Glenn said they
usedtogocamping,aswell.
“But she got scared of
lions, tigers and bears,” he
saidasAnnicelaughed.
Betty said they are always
together — Glenn takes her
withhimnomatterwhat.
“It’s the little things,”
Betty said, “whatever she
says she wants, he tries to
get it for her – wherever she
wantstogo,hetakesher”
One of Annice’s favorite
places to go is shopping at
Wal-Mart.
“She shops ‘til I drop,”
Glennsaid.
Annice laughed as Glenn
told a story about one of
theirtripstoWal-Mart.
Glenn was walking to-
ward the grocery section of
the store when he realized
Annicewasnolongerbeside
him. He looked back to see
that her electric wheelchair
hadgottenhookedonarack
of clothing, and she was
draggingitalongwithher.
“I told her she had
enough clothes, and we
weren’t buying all of those,
too,” Glenn smiled as he
remembered.
Every day is
Christmas
Betty said Glenn and
Annice are always laugh-
ing, and she has never
heard either of them ask,
‘why did this happen to
me?’
“You can see how much
they love each other when
they’retogether,”shesaid.
Almost50yearsseparate
the couple who sit across
from each other, one in
a black leather recliner
and one in a hospital bed,
and the young couple in
the Christmas photo that
hangs on the wall above
them.
“It don’t seem like it’s
been that long, either,”
Glennsaid.
Glenn and Annice Al-
len have had their share
of challenges throughout
their years together, but
theymetthemwithlaugh-
terandunconditionallove.
Every day they spend
together is a gift. Every day
isChristmas.
Reach Katie Gilbert at
704-669-3333 or kgilbert@
shelbystar.com.
Continued from Page 1A
<< Gift
Brittany Randolph/The Star
A photograph of Glenn and Annice Allen from the Christmas before
they were married hangs on the wall of their Shoal Creek Church
Road home.