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DIAG
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THE THURSDAY EDITION
VOL. 88 NO. 78
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 1977
KIMG^ MOUMTNM
MIRROR-H£Rt\LD
15'
One-Day
UF Drive
Is Friday
First Phase
Work Approved
) ^
ULL
VRS
ITOWN
SS
ITAIN
♦ i
Klnga Mountain’s United Fund
Drive for 1878 for $48,000 wUl be
conducted Friday In a One-Day
all-out effort for 11 local agen-
clea.
Pat Cheahlre, campaign
chairman, aald the drive la up
$6,000 over last year and that
“one hour’s pay per month from
you will assure our cltlxens of the
help solicited.’’
Drive leaders will be calling
on area citizens all day
tomorrow for pledges and
contributions. '
Area leaders and their goals
are Nancy Ross, postoffice
employes, $360; Charles Mauney
and Carl DeVane, industrial,
$37,600; Polly Phifer, com
mercial, $6,360; Rev. Bob
Boggan, mtailsteiial, $760; Larry
Wood, advance gifts, $1600;
Becky Seism, correspondence,
$1000; Qrace Wolfe, dty em
ployes, $3,000; June Lee and
FranSlncox, professional, $1760;
Ronnie Nsuuiey, dty schools,
$8,360; and Jerry Ledford,
hospital, $760.
Chairman Cheshire said
leaders are asked to turn in
contributions to Becky Seism
and that Oct. 14 Is deadline for
final reporting.
“We are moving up the
deadline by •'ne lav fo
Industries a Uttle mure time,”
said Cheshire at a kickoff lun
cheon for chairmen Monday at
Kings Mountain Inn at noon.
One additional request for
funds has been approved for the
1878 budget, that of Orover
Rescue Squad for which $1,600 is
budgeted.
Other agents and approved
requests are Mtailsteiial Helping
Hand, $8,000; Boy Scouts of
Piedmont Council, $6,600;
American Red Cross, $7,760;
(’Turn To Page 6A)
CITIZENS MEETTNO — Mrs. Joel Marable
answers question about employment practices of
the city during ’Tuesday’s District Five “one-on-
one” local government meeting held at Mount
Zion Baptist Church. ’The third In a series of six
meetings, Tuesday’s boasted the largest citizen
turnout to date.
Commissioners approved a
continuing paving, curb and
gutter program for the city
Mcmday and awarded contracts
to low bidders on asphalt and
concrete.
’The program Is broken down
into three phases and the con-
' tracts awarded were for first
phase work only.
Neal Hawkins Construction of
Gastonia was low bidder on
asphalt with $21 per ton. Lee
Skidmore of Belmont was low
bidder on concrete at $8.76 per
lineal foot and $76 per cubic
yard.
Citizens Voice Their Concerns
By ELIZABETH STEWART
Staff Writer
More Blacks In supervisory
Jobs at City Hall, public housing
for young marrieds, a bowling
alley and skating rink for the
kids and completion of Davidson
Park.
’These were some of the con
cerns of 46 District Five citizens
at TViesday night’s “one on one”
meeting at Mount Zion Baptist
Church. TTie largest turnout of
thjsee meetings ’r«»esday's
the longest session between city
elected officials and private
citizens.
Commissioner BUI Grissom
adjourned the meeting at 10 p.
m. and some citizens remained
longer to chat with Mayor Moss,
KMRC Director Gene White, and
Commissioners Grissom, Humes
Houston and Fred Wright.
William Orr wanted to know
why the Blacks at City HaU
“don’t have supervisory
positions,” pointing speclflcaUy
to one 16-year employe who, he
declared, should have been in
line for a promotion. He also
wanted to know when Blacks
would be hired In the billing
offices. “Put them out front
where they belong instead of in
the backroom,” said Orr, who Is
active In KM Improvement
Associatton and Is a member of
the PubUc Housing Authority
Board.
Responding to Orr’s questions.
District Five Commissioner
Grissom pointed out that the
recently adopted new city
pe’'sonnel policy of 83 Job
cias. tflcatlons absolutely niles
out discrimination between
races while providing for
promoUons, grievance policies
and many fringe benefits not
enjoyed by many industries In
area. Grissom sedd that many
Blacks are on the city hall
payitdl and the board welcomes
applications for employment.
“You can be sure.” Grissom told
the 88 Blacks In the audience,
that “your application will be
screened by the board and you’U
find the Mayor’s office Is always
open.”
October 7 At Military Park
Celebration Is Planned
Plans have been made for the
187th anniversary of The BatUe
of Kings Mountain at KM
National MUltary Park.
A Joint celebration Is
scheduled at the park beginning
at 8 p. m. Fri., Oct. 7 according
to Supt. Mike Lovelace. ‘”17110 Is
the approximate time the
Overmountain Men will arrive
after their 180-mlle trek
renactlng the original march of
1780,” Lovelace said.
For the first time In history
DAR chapters from Kings
Mountain, Shelby, York, Gaffney
and Spartanburg, the Cherokee
County Historical and Preser
vation Society and York County
Historical Commission have
gotten together to plan a Joint
celebration.
Dr. J. N. (Cotton) Lipscomb of
Gaffney, S. C. and Mrs. Ruth
Young of Shelby are chairman
and vice chairman of the Kings
’TO PERFORM — These colorfully dreesed gentleman are
members of ths Second Regiment, South Carolina Line, Con-
tlnantal Army. The costumes are authentic Revolutionary War
types. ’The group will perform during Oct. 7 ceremonies at KM
National MUltary Park.
Mountain Battle celebration
committee.
Lovelace said a ceremony la
planned In the amphitheatre
after the Overmountain Men
arrive from Gaffney. “Several
hl$h government officials and
state officials have been Invited
to partlc4>ate In the program,”
he said. “We will announce the
guest speaker at a later date.”
Coinciding with the program
the park has scheduled a qieclal
“artlsts-ln-tiie-park” exhibit In
the visitors center. The park’s
living history demonstratlona
are also planned.
“The second Regiment, South
Carolina line from Columbia will
also be on hand for the
celebration,” Lovelace said.
"This Is a company dressed in
authentic Continental Army
costumes from The
Revolutionary War. TTie
regiment will camp In the S. C.
Park and will present
programs.”
Lovelace said this year’s
celebration Is on a “more modest
level than before, but we are
looking toward building en
thusiasm for this Important
phase In our natlan's history.”
Lovelace and Dr. Upseomb
aald, “In 1880 and 81 theie should
be a very large program both at
Kings Mountain and at Cowpens
for the 300th aimlvsraaries of
those famous battjas.”
TV} Orr’s question as to why
there Is no Black member on the
KM Lake Authority, Mayor Moss
rolled that the Mayor’s office
has shared employment with aU
citizens but that the Lake
Authority board Is the only board
without a minority member
simply because the board was
appointed early and has only two
replacements. “I am sure that in
the future all commissions will
have representatives from all
our citizens.”
Verlee Mask, recreation
department assistant, asked
Grissom, “I have been with the
city since 1861. If a supervisory
Job came open In recreation
would I be turned down because
of race?”
Grissom replied, “ab-
scdutely not.”
Mrs. Joel Marable setid she
was proud to serve as a director
In the city’s child care program
and pointed out the need for
meirygf^ ounds and other
children’s equipment at the two
parks.
Frank Mltchem’s charge that
the city continues to drag Its
feet on the Davidson Park
project while building more rest
rooms suid buying more land at
Deal Street Park drew a lot of
comment as virtually all In the
room spoke at one time or
another.
Mayor Moss replied that the
city planner had suggested the
improvements for Deal Street
Paric, which, he emphasized, did
not take away from plans un
derway at the Davidson Park.
“Tliat Park (Davidson) was
siqipoaed to be ready for us to
play ball In May,” said Mlt-
chem.
(Turn To Pago 8A)
Mayor Moss pointed out that
the scope of the park was
enlarged, dug outs Installed, etc.
“We want,” said the mayor, ” to
have a real facility there, not
Just do patch up work.”
“I don’t know why some of us
are only concerned about
Davidson,” said Mrs. Mask.
“You’ve got to quit looking at
color,” she charged, "our kids
use both parks and it would be a
good idea If Gardner-Gldley
(city parks planner) would
survey the Mda and see w'hat
they like.”
’Die Mayor promised he’d pass
her Idea along to the planner.
James Adams said he la
concerned because hla light bill
“keeps getting higher” and
suggested to the mayor that
taxpayers could save money If
the city cuts off some of the
lights on Cleveland Ave.,
Community Center and Depot
(Tenter at Night.
Mayor John Moss ssdd Monday
the city has budgeted $100,188.88
for 1877-78 for paving, curb and
gutter and another $100,000 for
street Improvements (resur
facing). TTie board plans to apply
for funds under the Community
Development Grant next year
for street work. TTio mayor aald,
“With good response on paving
aasessments and approval of the
(TD request, we can have a
continuing program on street
work until It la completed.”
TTie city crews, will prepare
the streets and drainage work
and driveway entrances for the .
program.
Phase One, which Is to begin
Immediately, Includes Princeton
Dr. from Fulton Rd. to dead end,
curb, gutter and paving
necessary for widening; Wilson
St. from Monte Vista to dead
end, paving; Downing St. from
Allison Crt. to Garrison Dr.,
curb, gutter and paving;
Garrison Dr. from Townsend
’Terr, to Suzanne St., curb,
gutter, paving necessary for
widening; Hillside Dr. from
Meadowbrook to Marion St.,
curb, gutter, paving for
widening; Ashbrook Park,
Sterling from Waco Rd. to Brice
St., Brice from Sterling to dead
end, Fulton St. from Sterilng to
dead er.d, curb, gutter, paving
Katherine St., Falrvlew to
Second St., curb, gutter, paving
for widening.
City Engineer A1 Moretz said
shorter streets may be com
pleted first In order to get the
work done before winter weather
causes a halt.
Phase n and ni are scheduled
to begin, respectively, June, 1,
1878, and March 1, 1878.
Gospel Groups To Help
Raise Amplifier Funds
Several weii-xnown area
gospel groups will appear
Saturday at the Kings Mountain
Depot Center to help raise funds
for an amplifier system.
Tbe program Is being spon
sored by the city’s aging
program to begin at 10 a. m.
(’Turn To Page 2A)
Veterans May Apply
For Seven City Jobs
The City of Kings Mountain
has seven positions available to
Members Wanted
REACT To Meet
Klnga Mountain React will
meet Sun., Oct. 3 at the com
munity center and cltlzena In
terested In Joining may pickup
membersh^ forms there.
React Chief Emmett Moee said
the loGSd organisation now has an
IRS number which meane all
donations are tax deductible.
“Donation checks may be
made out to Klnga Mountain
React and mailed to the KM
Klwanls Club, our sponsoring
agency,” Moee said.
The address Is Kings Mountain
Klwanls Club, P. O. Box 188,
Kings Mountain, N. C., 28086.
React Is charted under the
national organization and Is
endorsed by KM police and local
govemmant. ’The unit members
have already begun nightly
patrols In all local nelgh-
boiboods. React members are
not police officers. Moss said,
but “public spirited citizens
willing to assist police, rescue
and fire departments by
reporting trouble In ths com
munity.”
React operates a base station
In offices at the community
center. All Information Is called
there and relayed to ths proper
agency. The React number Is
788-9108.
Another service React
provides Is recurring patrols of
neighborhoods to check ths
homes of citizens away on
vacation or for wssksnda.
Cltisona may call either React or
KM PoUce to have this service.
veterans and applications will be
received beginning at 8 a. m.
Friday in the mayor’s office.
The positions are being made
available under a N. C.
Department of Labor program
for semi-skilled and skilled
persems.
The positions available are:
One wastewater operator (2
years);
One water treatment operator
(2 years);
TVo water k sewer con
struction workers (4 years);
Two heavy equipment
operators (4 years).
One electrical department
employe (4 years).
The seven who qualify will
receive the city’s base minimum
salary of $3.64 hourty, plus a
monthly supplement from the
state of $383 (no dependents),
$847 (one dep.) , $886, (3 dep.)
and $34 each additional
dependent.
The monthly state supplement
decreases as the apprentice
acquires more Job skill. When
the apprentice becomes skilled
he or she Is qualified to be placed
Into proper Job categories, with
salary to match, with the city.