Newspapers / The Kings Mountain Herald … / April 4, 1978, edition 1 / Page 2
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t •* k Page 2-MIRROR-HERALD—Tuesday, AprU 4, 1978 GDIIORIM OPIMIOM This week in history Famous Tar Heels died Read good book lately? Have you read a good book lately? It Is amazing even in this day and time that there exists people vdio are deathly afraid to open a book and begin reading. Ibere Is really nothing to It because It doesn’t matter how poorly or how slowly you may read because no one Is going to put a stopwatch on you. The main thing Is to read, drink In new Ideas, expand your interests In life. If the weekly budget doesn’t allow for regular purchases at the book store that’s okay, too, because we have an excellent facility on the comer of W. King and S. Piedmont ready, willing and able to supply your reading requirements. ’Ihe facility Is called Mauney Memorial library and on the shelves are an extraordinary range of reading matter; fiction, non-fiction, biographies, autobiographies, history, self-help, how-to and how-not-to books. ’There are books tor every age. ’Ihls is National Library Week and you cue cordially Invited to come and spend one hour at the library. It will be a new experience tor some and another op portunity to visit fcunlllar ground for others. See you there. Okay? Two famous ’Tar Heels died during this week In history. Charles Brantley Aycock was one of the state’s most famous governors, serving from 1901-06. Known as the "education governor,’’ he died on AprU 4,1913, In Birmingham, Ala., where he had gone to deUver a speech at the annual meeting of the Alabama Educational Association. At the time he was candidate for U. S. Senate. Aycock, a Democrat, campaigned for governor on a platform of improving pubUc education. He spent much of his term (before the days of Instantaneous state-wide news coverage) traveling through North Carolina, making speeches and forming committees, etc., to seU his program to a citizenry far from united In Its desire to q>end more money on education. Aycock was successful, however, in en couraging both local reforms and in prying greater appropriations from a parsimonious leglslattire. During his term the salaries of teachers were doubled, school terms ex tended, nearly 18,600 new schools buUt and three teachers coUeges established (Ap- GD 9MITH A very good point Kings Mountain’s chief executive made a very good point last week In com ments on federal and state funding programs. It’s no secret that Mayor Moes has his critics In this community and that the most severe criticisms are over his romance with the federal and state agencies that supply mcxiey for community Improvements. ’Ihe criticism Is that the mayor Is running Kings Mountain so far Into debt that our great-grandchildren will still be paying the bill. Bull chips! ’The funding programs the mayor has been able to swing have benefltted and are benefltting this community tremendously. And as long as the projects for wiilch federal and state grease Is supplied are completed there wlU be no bill forthcoming from the funding agencies. 'Ihlnk about what has been done and la being done qslng grant money and compare that to the amount of tax paid lockUy. We think you’ll And this com munity would still be at square one If It had to depend solely on the taxes from Its citizens. We agree that “being kept” by a sugar daddy agency goes against the grain of many citizens, but there Is another way of viewing the situation. Clitlzens pay more taxes each year to state and federal governments and the funding programs are methods for getting back dividends we pay for a free society. Hlzzoner commented last week that the Small Cities program for fiscal year 1979 has ISO-bllllon dollars to dole out. He said that budget Is going to be spent somewhere In these United States and that he and the city fathers would be shirking their duty to the citizens If they didn’t at least try to get Kings Mountain Its fair share of the pie. We agree. palachlan State, Western Carolina and East Carolina shortly after he left office). Thomas Dixon Jr., was probably the moat versatile, famous and controversial In dividual ever produced by this state. Yet he died on April 8, 1946, In Raleigh an almost fbrgotten man, described as the "spokesman for an era that has long since passed.” He was 81. Ibe son of a Cleveland County Baptist minister, Dixon was talented, restless and driven by ambition. (The same holds true for two brothers and two slaters; all five of the Dixon children were listed In Who's Who, an Incredible feat never agsiln accomplished by any other American family.) After early spectacular successes as both lawyer and minister, Tom Dixon, Jr., turned to writing, acting and lecturing. Millions of Americans paid to read his books and hear him perform. Dixon made and lost several fortunes and died nearly penniless. lOa most famous works was ‘“nie Clan sman,’’ now regarded a highly controversial defense of the KKK In the Reconstruction Period. After Its huge success as both a novel and play, Dixon considered making It Into a movie, although neither feature-length films or films with a plot had ever been attempted. He Interested a director and cameraman, D. W. Griffith, and In 1914 the traU-blazlng movie, "Ibe Birth of a Nation,” was I»X)duced. Dixon had sui Immense effect ig>on the history of motion pictures (the only major art form developed In the past 100 years) yet todsiy he Is described In con tradictory terms as "a genius of un paralleled brilliance’’ and "a racist whose work should never have been produced." -oOo- On April 8, 1866, 1100 Union troops under Ool. Isaac M. Kirby entered the state from Tennessee for an attack on Asheville. On April 6 they were defeated In the Battle of Asheville by local Confederate militia under Col. O. W. CSayton. Ibe battle oc curred on ground now occupied by Ashevllle- Blltmore College. Earthworks used by the defenders are still In existence. During the same period Union General Stoneman came In from the West and destroyed war supplies and military In stallations from Salisbury to Asheville, which he occupied three weeks after Kirby’s defeat. Poet’s Corner RehD€R DIMOGUG Write for your Record I >J OWJ SVBT, . ..i.T-irtH hna To the editor, Elveryone should be aware of the May 3, 1978 Democratic Primary Election. And between now and then It would be to the voters’ advantage to write for the Congressional Record. Upon receiving such Information you will be more enlightened as to how your vote will carry weight. Examine the contents of the LETS SMILE ‘ ‘There is nothing whatever the ma tier with me I’m just as healthy u I can be I have arthritis in both my knees. And when I talk, I talk with a wheeze. My pulse is weak, and my bloodis thin But I’m awfully well for the shape I’m in! ’’ "Arch supports I havefor my feet. Or I wouldn’t be a hie to be on the street. Sleep is denied me, ni^t after night. My memory’s failing and my head’sin a spin; I'm practically living on aspirin. But I’m awfully well for the shape I’m in! ’’ "Themorai is, as this tale we unfold, Thatfor youand me, who are growing dd. It’s better to say, “I’m fine," with a grin, -<sr>mO notHTOiBtt Kt'fhMi know the shape Tm lb!” By MARY HUX From my selections Myrtle (ioforth Record carefully as to wliat your Senator or Cbngressman has done for or against your best Interests In legislative action. That Is If you are Interested In clean, honest govern ment. EVERETTE PEARSON Kings Mountain The magic was gone Last Tuesday was a very different day for me. It was my first trip to Memphis. I met the young lady who wm engaged to Elvis Presley at the time of hla death. 1 met her family, too. Nice people and gracious hosts. And I got my first closeup look at Graceland. The magic was gone. -oOo- Last Monday Earl Owensby csdled to ask If I could make the trip with him. I jumped at the chance even though It meant doing the lion’s share of Tuesday’s work on Monday afternoon. Tuesday morning Earl, Mike Allen, EO’s corporate pilot, Roger Painter, a free-lance photographer, and I climbed aboard EO’s twin-engine Aeroatar and roared off from the Shelby Airport headed west. The Aerostar climbed high and the Auto Pilot took over for a smooth hour and forty minute flight across the Smokeys and Into Tennessee. We took advantage of the time to discuss ‘"nie Living Legend," the new feature movie the EG Corporation begins filming In May. We talked about characters, scenes and a hundred other details to be nailed down before the cameras roll .... .... Which hotels would be used, the possi bility of obtaining uss of a Urge commsrclal jot to ssrvs as ths Ell Canllsld company vehlcls, which airports to uss, ths possibility of filming sesnss during a show at Now York’s Madison Square Garden, locating a mansion and grounds to ssrvs as Canflsld Houss and on and on. -oOo- Ws touchod down at Msmphls and wore mst by Jo Aldsn and hsr daughtsrs, Glngor, Tarry and Rosomary. Also by a photographor - reportsr from ths Msmphls Pross-Slmltar and a eamoraman and reportsr from Msmphls’ Channsl flvs. In "Ths Living Lsgend" Glngor will portray Jennie Lorlng, the young lady who becomes the love Interest tor our country- rock supsrstar horo. Ell Canflsld. Glngor, Rosomary and Terry will all portray fashion modsls In the film. All of this was stated for the TV news camera and the press during ths airport mtervlow and again In front of ths Aldsn horns on Royalcrost It. and again In ths Alden’s Uvlngroom. Memphis’ channel three did the sidewalk Interview and channel 18 the one In the Uvlngroom. And sifter 30 yesus of asking the questions. It was a strange feeling being the one asked the questions. It was also a great ego booster. After the Memphis media moved out we settled down for a "nice visit" with the Aldens. It gave me a chance to get to know the young ladles who wlU portray three of the characters I have created for the film. That’s a bonus for the writer. I found out Ginger, Rosemary and Terry aU have great senses of humor tmd Immediately an Idea for their scenes together geUed. I sotto-voced the Idea with Earl, who flashed a smUe and nodded producer approval. Then I discussed the Idea with the ladies. Ginger’s character was already established. Her "Jeannle" la a level-headed lady, a person who knows who she Is. The character "Frelda," her best friend, was already established, too, and Rosemary’s personality fit that character to a T. Frelda la bright, bubbly and Incurably romantic. Mrs. Alden commented, "We’ve already started calling Rosemary by the name of Frelda.” Terry (and she wlU teU you Immediately that the name Is speUed with a "Y" and not an "I") WlU portray a young lady named Lsnora KaUy. Charactsr-wlss, Lsnora la described as having ths polss of a duchess and ths grace of a Don Rlcklss. The Idea for ths Aldsn slstsr’s scenes together la to have Lsnora making catty remarks but always with a snUle. Frelda, being ths romantic, la not able to top Lsnora’s cutting rsmarks, but Lord knows Mis tries. Jsannls could whittle Lsnora down to alas, but she’s too much of a lady to dignify Lsnora by making comment. And ths whole thing la to be played light and for humor. "Think you can have fun with scanos llks that?" I asked ths girls. They sn- thuslastleaUy agreed they could. Mrs. Aldsn again commented, "It shouldn’t bs too hard tor them to poke fun at each other. Thsy’ve been doing It aU thslr Uvss. You should hoar thsm In the mornings around hare." -oOo- Aftsr ws said our farswoUs to ths Aldons wo found Blvla Prsoloy Blvd. and Graceland. 10M MclUTYRC There were herds of tourists hanging on the waU snaking pictures of the two story mansion sitting back on a noU. The daUy visiting hours were over at four and as ths people came streaming out, Earl spoke to the guard on the gats. He asked to sss Vemon Presley. Vernon was away, but Earl was told that Dick Groff, sectirity chief tor the grounds, and Charlls Hodges, a long time employs of ths Prsslsy group, were there. Earl, Mike, Roger and I strolled up the curving drive past ths closed-circuit TV camera watching us and toward the mansion with Its whits stone lions guarding the en trance. Roger began clicking oft shots of ths rsstof us moving across ths grounds. Then a kid on a golf cart directed us to ths left side of the mansion toward the pool and the memorial sits where Elvis and hla mother rest aide by side. After twenty minutes of amiable Small talk with Groff and Hodges ws left. It struck all of us how unnaturally qulst Grassland was. As I said, ths magic was gens and that Is sad. -oOo- Aa the EG Aerostar climbed to 9,800 feet the sun was setting behind us spUllng a golden hue over ths patchwork quilt below. By ths Urns ws flew over Chattanooga ths gold had turned to black velvet and civilization's night lights sparkled like diamonds on that velvet cloak. Truly an inspiring view. And a peaceful one. After passing over the Smokeys once again we could see the ^ow of Asheville off the port side, Greenville, Spartanburg, Gaffney off the starboard side. And over nose, Shelby, Kings Mountain, Gastonia and C3iarlotte. Theh came the bad news. The panel light Indicating the nosegear was down and locked failed to come on. Ezu-l and Mike calmly discussed the situation and agreed to fly on to Charlotte Airport and request a fly-by the tower so the air traffic controllers could take a visual sighting on the Aerostar Izuidlng gear. ".. . . You appear to have three Uutdlng gear down," came the voice on the radio. Mike, who spent 10 years In the air force, suggested Roger and I climb Into the back seats, buckle In tightly and keep a stiff upper Up. Earl expUtined that should the nosegear not be locked It would collapse on touchdown and the Aerostar would skid on Its beUy. On the landlngapproach Earl hit full flaps and the Aerostar seemed to stop In mid-air. "We’ve slowed to a hundred miles an hour,” Blari said. "Normally touchdown Is aboi^ 136 miles per hour." • ' - Off the port side I could see the tire truckk waiting to foUow us down the runway. Mike dropped the Aeroatar as Ughtiy as a feather onto the runway, the wing gear slapping the macadam simultaneously, the Aerostar’s tall Inches above the runway. Then ever so Ughtiy he eased the wheel forward until the nosegear touched down. The noeegear was down and locked. , . Glad to see you,” came the radio voice as we taxied off the runway. AU hands were on deck as we stepped off the plane and the fire engines came wheeling In behind us. "I heard what you said on that airplane, my good man, and I know you’re gonna keep your promise to the Lord," I said, reciting the old joke. "No. I made a better deal," Earl came back with a laugh. "Were you scared?" I thought for a moment and answered, truthfuUy, "Not reaUy. It was aU too melodramatic to be real." But there was a moment up there when a life flashed before my eyes. It was Earl Gwensby’i life. Mtoe has not been that exciting. A COOL 8PRINO SCENE (0) 1978 Red robin took a splash The day was gray and cold. To feel the chUl In the blrdbath That robin must oe bold He splashed and washed and ducked hla bUl He fluttered back and forth. Ducked his blU and splashed again He washed for aU hla worth. Until his red breast fairly biased His feathers took on a sheen, TTiat robin reaUy took a scrub I saw that robin clean. He changed from travel-worn feather-wear Into a ahlny suit. Then looked about for nourishment Among the tender root. He hopped and looked and pecked and hopped Until he had hla tUl, Then used the green, green pads of grass A niq>kln tor hla blU. Ah, he was making preparations Before calling to his mate so fair. For, suddenly on the budding branch There sat a pretty pair. VIVIAN S. BILTCLIFFE MIBROflMlD TMItOAV ANOTNUAIOAV TOM MflMITYKI ■OH«r IXAAITNITIWAAT WMiAii't liltar •AKV STB WART BAN*r CLVORHtkk AAvtftItliif DkMfV MIMRBROR NORTH CAROLINA RRRII ABtOCIATION TAt Mirror HtralA It auRMihta ky 0«ntrtl Rukilthinf Comkany, P. o. Orawar fn. KinRt Mauntain.N. C.. NMa. Butintaa an^ tkilkrial aNicat art ikcataa at t04 lavHi Riatmant Ava. Pkafw 7m- 74H. kacana Clatt aaaiata aaii at Kinta Mkitniam, N. C. Sinkif ckRy II ctfiH. Iwkacriatlan raiaai «.!• yaariy In itata, U.U tin mantht; M.N yaarly avt<kf- ttfttff. u tiH mantnt/ ttwaant rata far nina Oiantkt 1414
The Kings Mountain Herald (Kings Mountain, N.C.)
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April 4, 1978, edition 1
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