. won-
Lild be.
in say
things
Would
ive the
In the
SON
f
r
TU€W9
klMGS MOUriThin MIRROR
VOL. 88 NO. 87
KINOS MOUNTAIN, NORTH CAROLINA 28088 TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 1977
15«
H€Rt\LD
Fair weather prevaUs today with
temperatures In the low 608, drop
ping Into the 408 tonight. Wednesday
and Thursday partly cloudy with a
chance of showers both days.
Temperatures are expected to be In
the 608 during the day, dropping Into
the 40s during the evening. Light
Jackets and sweaters are the order
of the day as ta’l slips toward winter.
At KM Community Center
Local Candidate Forum Is Held
.1
SI V
in
w-
WA'
It
I#
tM'
•41
\1 W 1
1.'
V
\
Photo By Gary Stewart
Crowned At Half-Time.
HOMECOMINa QUEEN — Regina Patterson was elected
homecoming queen by the Kings Mountain High student body and was
crowned during halftime festivities at the KMHS-East Gaston game
Friday night at Gamble Stadium. Regina is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs.
Gene Patterson.
By BUZABETH STEWART
Staff Writer
An expanded, stronger program of
vocational education Is needed in the
Kings Mountain District Schools . . .
This belief Is shared by all five
Kings Mountain School Board candi
dates and one city commissioner
candidate In the Nov. 8 election.
The comment was solicited from
the candidates last Wednesday night
during a political forum spimsored
by Cleveland County Voters
Registration Association,
moderated by William Hager.
The forum, the first of Its kind
sponsored by the year old associa
tion, was conducted at the KM Com
munity Center to give local voters a
chance to hear the philosophies of
the candidates and to ask questions
of them. About 60 persons were on
hand In the Mountaineer Room for
the forum.
Taking part In the forum were
i^ool board candidates Dr. Joseph
Roberts, Bill McDaniel, Fain Ham-
bright, Charles Msuiney and Kyle
Smith. District Six Commissioner
Fred Wrl^t was absent from the
meeting, but his Nov. 8 challenger
James Dickey was on hand.
Dr. Roberts of Ebenezer Com
munity, a professor at UNC-
Charlotte, went a step further In his
comments on needed school
programs by calling for more
correlation between the school
system and local Industry. He said
vocational education now does not
relate to what Industry Is doing.
“Students should be able to go Into
jobs here when they finish their
education," he said. "But our kids
sue taking and falling exsunlnatlon
to service and trading schools sind
industry Is having to bring In hlgh-
psdd employes from the outside."
The candidate said he would also
like to see the establishment of a
council on quality education repre
senting the entire business com
munity.
Cimrles Mauney, one of the Inslde-
the-clty school bosu-d candidates and
official with Mauney Hosiery Mills,
said he wants to see more attention
given students who cannot attend
college by preparing them In locsU
schools through vocational training
fbr entering the local job market.
"I am proud of the Kings Moun-
tsdn school system," he said. "It’s a
progressive and aggressive system,
but I feel more emphasis should be
placed by the schools on prepsuing
young people for life careers. I also
favor an expanded reading
program. It's a must for a person to
"j
Cash
r
.lx
Karen Ledford of Kings Mountain
con>ed the 160 first prise in last
week's Mirror-Herald football con
test by picking all 10 wdnners and
'coming within two points of the Ue-
brsaker.
Miss Ledford predicted 91 points
to be scored In the North CaroUna-
Maryland game, which was won by
the Tar HeeU 16-0.
The $28 second prise went to Major
Loftln of Kings Mountain, who also
ptcked all of the winners and
predicted 18 points on the tie
breaker.
Others turning In perfect entries
Included G. C. Boone, Pat Page,
Robert Lutz, Tom Stallings, Larry
Wyatt and Buddy Lee.
Another contest Is In today's
Mirror-Herald. It Includes 10 of the
area's top high school and college
games to be played this weekend.
Try your luck In pickin' the
winners. You may be the next $80
winner!
MEET THE CANDIDATES — Cleveland County
Vs-er Re?!»*'-at!ors Committee sponsored "Meet The
Candidates Night" last week and citizens quizzed the
candidates for bosird of education and District Six
Photo By Lib Stewu-t
Commissioner. From left, BUI Hager, moderator for
th® forum, Kyle Smith, Tm Dickey, Charles F.
Mauney, Dr. Joe Roberts and Fain HambrigM.
live an enriched life. The philosophy
of kids In school is changing and we
have to change with them."
Kyle Smith, personnel manager In
local textUe mill for a number of
years, and vocaUonal committee
chairman at KMSHS, said It Is the
duty of the group of 18 businessmen
and school officials to go out Into
area industry and "see what we can
do for them."
Smith recognized Audrey (Mrs.
Jim) Dickey, member of the com
mittee, who pointed with pride to the
fact that through their efforts an
applied math course was added plus
a vocational counselor to give advice
to job-seeking students. Mrs. Dickey
said the committee also Insisted that
a mechanic to serve as Instructor for
that course on campus be added.
"Previously," said Smith "any
teacher could instruct mechanics."
“I promise you I won't be a yes
man on the board," said Smith, who
told the group, In answer to question
by Verlee Mask, that "I wlU vote my
convictions.
"If you ask me to check on some
thing," retrying to question of M. L.
Campbell." I promise you will get an
answer. I am disappointed In par
ticipation of parents and In com
munity participation at bosu'd of
education meetings."
Mrs. BUI Hager said she would
like to have a survey made at the
Junior High to determine If kids are
reaUy learning In an open class
room situation and asked Smith his
opinion. The candidate said he had
always been an opponent of the open
classroom because he did not feel
"Kings Mountain was ready for It."
However, he said he felt It would
become an Improbable physical
problem to change It now (at Junior
High) but, as a school board
member, would let the other
members know the feelings of the
community.
Responding also to the question.
Dr. Roberts said the word survey
bothered him. "We don't need to
base programs on surveys nor
serious actions on speculation."
Fain Hambiight said he, too, felt
the Kings Mountain school system Is
"progressive and wants to see the
best for all our chUdren." He ssdd
he, too, feels the greatest need In the
KM system is for vocational training
and told how the biggest complaint
he had whUe serving as a member of
the county human relations com
mittee In the 60'8 was from kids who
couldn't find jobs in downtown
stores because they couldn't pass
the tests. "SkUled training la badly
needed for our youth," said Hsun-
brlght.
BUI McDaniel called the Kings
Mountain system "second to none"
and said he was no agitator or
trouble maker. “I want aU our kids
to have a better education," he said,
"and wUl work toward a workable
solution to aU problems as they
arise."
Cjharles Mauney said, "I am not
an Issue-oriented person, have no
grips or complaints. I have strong
convictions and will work within the
system to upgrade any situation. I
can remember 28 or 30 years when
our school system was not adequate.
We have provided better fiusUltles,
individualized and more specialized
Instruction and better performance
and efficiency by tesushers."
Dickey, general mamger of
Nelsco MUls, said he Is a firm
believer “In diversified Industry"
and has heard two msmy kids say
they can't come back to work In
Kings Mountain after college
training because “there's nothing
here for them."
"This is a textile town," Dickey
said, "but we need to make posltlans
so attractive here to employ our
youth and trsiln them to stay here In
business and Industry."
Replying to Verlee Mask, Dickey
said he Is not a "yes man" and feels
his business experience wlU be
helpful on the board of com
missioners.
"Why can't Kings Mountain retain
a police chief," asked Kyle Smith.
Dickey replied, "Politics get In
volved. Department heads should be
allowed to run their own depsul-
ments. We don't second guess our
supervisors In the plants."
Cjharles Mauney asked, "would
you support the establishment of a
police commission of citizens (not
commissioners) to run the police
department?" Dickey replied, "that
would probably take politics out of
It"
Dr. Roberts wanted to know U
Dickey would support co-wdlnatlon
of schools mid council programs and
spread out the program tor the aging
to other communities like a Peace
Corps venture he has organised at
Gethsemane Oiurch bi Charlotte
area.
"I would recommend 100 percent
support in the schools," said Dickey.
Yule Parade Nov. 29
The annual Kings Mountain
Ouistmas Parade Is scheduled for
Tues., Nov. 2B at 4 p. m.
This year the parade will have a
little more financial support than
during the past three years because
the city has kicked In $1,280 and will
help co-sponsor the events along
with the KM Chamber of Commerce-
Merchants Association and the KM
Fire Department.
Four years ago the CSirtstmas
Psu-ade was dropped as a project by
the chamber due to the heavy
schedule of events planned for the
city's centennial celebration In
October. Members of the fire
department put together a rather
large parade In a matter of weeks
and have kept the event going since
then.
Johnnie OaldweU, one of the
parade planners, said several floats
have alreiuly been signed for the
parade, but more are needed.
"Anyone interested In entering a
float or unit In the parade may do so
by contacting Ms. Wanda Mooiw,
732-4736," Caldwell said. "But hurry
because time for planning la short."