HEALTH

The Gaston County Health Department has temporarily suspended smallpox vaccinations for staff due to recent deaths of health care workers who were vaccinated. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is investigating and is recommending that people with heart problems not be vaccinated.Gaston County joins health departments in 10 other states in suspending smallpox vaccinations. -- ALICE GREGORY

Sotheby's consultant to lecture, appraise

ANTIQUES

GASTONIA -- Bob Ruggiero, a regional consultant for Sotheby's Auction House, will lecture and provide appraisals of local antiques at a Tuesday fund-raiser for the Gaston County Museum. The event will be 6 p.m. at Gaston Day School's Pamela Kimbrell Warlick Center. Ruggiero's will take the audience behind the scenes of well-known auction houses such as Sotheby's and reveal trade secrets of televised auction appraisals such as those offered on "The Antiques Road Show."Audience members are invited to bring small antiques, treasures and objects d'art for verbal appraisals.

The presentation is sponsored by the museum's fund-raising committee to support museum programs, exhibits and artifact preservation. Cost is $10 for museum members and $35 for non-members - that includes admission and a year's individual museum membership.

Tickets are available at the museum, 131 W. Main St., Dallas, or at the door. Details: (704) 922-7681, Ext. 2. -- DAVE BAITY

Kings Mountain High grad wins liberty award

RECOGNITION

Carole Haas Gravagno, daughter of Margaret and Dr. George Plonk of Kings Mountain, recently received a "Heroes of Liberty" award from the National Liberty Museum in Philadelphia, Pa.

Gravagno, a graduate of Kings Mountain High School and Lenoir Rhyne College, lives in Philadelphia with her husband Emilio. -- DAVE BAITY