Newspapers / The Kings Mountain Herald … / Sept. 2, 1980, edition 1 / Page 9
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TuMday. Sn»«mbM 2. 1980-KINGS MOUNTAIN HERALD-Pag* 9 ;m, A xxl ^ rge 5DA leef beef te in diit \ Dwight Frady Frady’s Views ♦ ♦ » » » »»»»»»»» < • When We Lost A Catcher In All Of That Kudzu The first time kudzu comes to my mind came when we used to play baseball as kids. We had a wire backstop, but down on the Sterling field we lost more baseballs and softballs in the kudzu on foul balls than we could ever find. Usually, the best time to find them was in the winter. Of course by then the baseballs and softballs weighed five pounds and were rotten. One day our catcher was looking for a foul ball in the kudzu and he disappeared. We thought the ground had swallowed him alive. It was just the kudzu. We found our catcher two days later in the kudzu vines. Even snakes hate kudzu. You won’t find any there because there's something in the leaves of the kudzu that gets in the scales of the snake and causes the snake to suffer pretty bad. We used to ask the question, "What grows a mile-a-minute, is able to leap up an tempty house in a single summer, and is nearly indestructible! Look! Up in the trees! It's kudzu! What’s kudzu? Kudzu is an exotic vine with a broad three- pointed leaf and woody stem which was imported to the United States from Asia, according to the current issue of Ranger Rick’s Nature Magazine. it -k It ii -k AND WHILE many Southerners call it the mile-a-minute vine, it doesn’t grow quite that fast. It only appears to. Actually, "at most, a stem can grow about one foot per day,” says the National Wildlife Federation’s monthly publication for children. Once kudzu starts to grow, it doesn’t want to stop. The vine has engulfed much of the South, where long growing seasons ' and abundant precipitation are to its liking. Now it’s spreading northward into Kentucky, Virginia, and Maryland, and westward into Texas and Oklahoma. The plant begins growing in the early spring with its green tendrils radiating from its tap roots. It produces great quantities of foliage and, by late summer, clusters of fragrant purple flowers. Its tendrils can grow 60 feet in a season, often climbing vertical obstacles as high as 40 feet. Americans first saw kudzu at the Japanese exhibit during the United States Centennial celebration in 1876. They liked the I way it looked, so they began to plant the vine to shade their porches. By the early 1900’s farmers found that kudzu was inexF>en- sive forage for livestock. During the Great Depression, it was discovered that the vine’s deep roots, dense foliage, and rapid-growth, along with its con- I tribution of nitrogen to the soil, provided ground cover tocon- ' trol erosion, stabilize road banks, and rejuvenate nitrogen- deficient soil. Some southerners called it the "miracle vine." Asians have always put kudzu to good use. In Japan the vines are used to make cloth, baskets, and paper, and hay is I made from the leaves. The Chinese grind up the vines to make a popular kind of flour. For most Americans however, and especially to me. kudzu has lost its charm. Farmers have found that as forage, it is easily overgrazed, and much of the vine is woody stem, useless as hay. It also provides pastures and crowds out crops. An estimated one million acres or more of southern farm, forest, and pasture land are now covered by kudzu. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ THE VINE isn’t popular with foresters, either, since it engulfs all vegetation in its path, killing both large trees and I saplings. Telephone companies don’t like the way it sometimes pulls down their poles with its heavy, grasping vines. So kudzu’s aggressive growing behavior outweighs the positive qualities which caused many southern communities to form ’’kudzu clubs ” and elect ’’kudzu queens ” back in the ’40’s. Now the United States Department of Agriculture lists the vine as a common weed. Since the vine has spread so widely in the South, only a massive eradication effort using chemical herbicides would be effective. Economic and environmental costs make such a campaign unlikely. Besides, kudzu is probably immune by now ^ to chemical herbicides. So landowners and others wage their own battles against the “mile-a-minute" vine. But just remember, when kudzu is on the loose, just don’t stand in one place for too long. As Fred Sanford might say concerning one of his favorite monster movies, "I think I’ll take in the movie tonight entitled, "The Kudzu That Ate Up The South.” I still sometimes have dreams of finding old soggy baseballs and softballs under kudzu vines, or finding my right ankle trap- ^ ped by a vine. I wake up in a cold sweat. Obituaries MRS. BESSIE McDaniel Funeral services for Mrs. Bessie Pearl McDaniel, 86, A formerly of Kings Mountain, were conducted Sunday after noon at 3 p.in. from Bethlehem Baptist Church of which she was a member, interment following in the church cemetery. Mrs. McDaniel, retired seamstress, died Thursday night in Shelby Convalescent Center after several year’s illness. She was a native of Cleveland Coun- ^ ty, daughter of the late John Thomas and Mary Williams McDaniel. Surviving are two sisters, Mrs. W.G. Camp of Mooresboro with whom she made her home, and Mrs. Irvin Jackson of Gaffney, S.C. Rev. Sam Murphy, Rev. ^ Russell Fitts and Rev. W.C. Hill officiated at the rites. Men To March Again (Baglna On Pag* 1) participants be willing to blend in with the theme of the event.” He explained that while not everyone will be required to wear buckskin shirts, ’coonskin caps and carry muzzle-loading rifles, neither will they be allow ed to wear costumes or uniforms or carry out any activities that would conflict with the ap pearance fo the majority of the group or detract from the pur pose of the march. “We are very serious about this,” Kline said of himself and other members of the Associa tion. “We consider this an authentic reenactment of an ex tremely significant historic event and we intend to make certain it retains that stature.” Because this is the 200th an niversary of the march, it ap pears there might be quite a bit more related activity than when men named William Campbell, John Sevier, Isaac Shelby, Joseph Winston, Charles McDowell and Benjamin Cleveland made the original trek in 1780. Residents of counties, cities and communities along the route have activities planned for each overnight stop. These range from bountiful country dinners to addresses by Virginia Gov. John Dalton and former U.S. Sen. Sam Ervin of North Carolina. Elizabethton and Carter County, Tenn., plan a three-day celebration Sept. 25-27, while the City of Kings Mountain, a few miles away from the ter minus of the march, is schedul ing five days of festivities CX:t. 3-7. President Carter has been in vited to address the Modern Overmountain Men and other celebrants after the marchers ar rive at Kings Mountain National Military Park - in which the bat tle site is preserved - at 3 p.m. on Oct. 7. City of Kings Mountain ★ in Y ★ SHLL ★ riUDH To plat r an at! in llin K l\(iS MIH M il\ UHK I /./> rlassijirds. ramn hvonroffirn al l.aninrhnry Koatlainl Hast KhifiSln-nl. Minimnm vinirfiv i.s *2""f'aru/» In lironly ivonis. illatls fniyahln in atit nnrr fxrrfn nsinhlishntl nfvonnIs. MRS. LAURA DOLSON Funeral services for Mrs. Laura Nevil Dolson, 85, of Paris, Tennessee, mother of Mrs. Humes Houston of Kings Moun tain, were conducted Sunday afternoon from McEvoy Funeral Home by Rev. Mike Tune and Rev. W.W. Heflin, in terment following in Hillcrest Cemetery. Mrs. Dolson, widow of George Dolson, died Friday night in Henry County General Hospital after declining health. She was a native of Ridgely, Tenn., and a member of Church of Christ. She was a member of Paris Garden Club. Surviving, in addition to Mrs. Houston, are a daughter, Mrs. Nevil McConnell of Paris, and two sisters, Mrs. Mary Louise Williamson of Jackson, Tenn. and Mrs. Bess Willis of Ridgely; four grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. FOR SAI^^ FOR SALE: Simplicity Riding Lawn Mower. 8 h.p., 36” cut. CaU after 6 p.m. 739-7658. 8:5tfn T&T FOR SALE OR TRADE - 1976 Celica ST, niw, $3,495. 1972 Chrysler Newport,'4ir. Sedan, 58,000 miles, reg. gas. 1969 Apache Mesa III Foldout Camper, mostly fiberglass. Needs minor canvas repair, $750. Call days, 739-4511, nights, 739-7562. 8:7tfn T&T FOR SALE: Small refrigerator. Perfect for college dorm. Call 739-2337. 9:2, 4 SAVINGS up to 70 percent and more on your family clothing needs. Bargain Basement in back of Hightowers, 313 York Road. Kings Mtn. Open Mon.-Sat., 9:3(W:30 p.m. Ph. 739-8211. 2:6tfn T&T BLUE DOBERMANS, sbi weeks old. $75.00 each. Ph. 739-8663. 8:5tfnT&T FOR SALE: AKC Registered long hair Dachshund puppies. 10 weeks old. $165 each. Call 739-9193 after 6 p.m. 9:2, 4 FOR SALE: Four 15” Crager SS Rims with four Dural tires mounted, $400. Two 1978 new ' Mazda seats, $75. Sofa and mat ching chair, $100. Recliner, $30. Two end tables and coffee table, $20. Panasonic FM Converter with 8-track stereo. Call 7394702 or 739-7109. 8:17tfn T&T JACKTS REFRIGERATION ft APPLIANCE SERVICE - Ser vice on all makes and models in refrigeration. Most all brands in appliances. 739-4618. 7:10tfn T&T FOR SALE: 1974 Ford Torino Elite. 2-dr., AC, PS. Also 71 Chevy Impala, 4-dr., PS, AC. Call 739-7496 during the day or 739-7548 after 6 p.m. 3a0tfn T&T FOR SALE: Wrecked 1971 Super Beetle and 1972 Datsun 1200. Both have good motors. Will sell parts or all. Call 739-9035.8:28; 9:2,4 SERVICES RON’S APPLIANCE. Repair washers, electric dryers, ranges and H20 heaters. Ph. 739-9431 after 4 p.m. T&Th tfn LOJWS - AL'S PAWN SHOP, 219 E. Marion Sti, Shelby. Money loaned on clean, workable merchandise. Quality merchandise always on sale at Bargain Prices. 2:12tfh T&T QUALITY PHOTOGRAPHY with prompt service. Weddings, anniversaries, sports, color slides, copy work, oil painting, etc. Call 482-6275 after 5 pjn. 9:2, 9 WILL KEEP CHILDREN in my home in the Bethlehem Com munity. Call 739-4681.9:2, 4 & 9 STOP WASTING YOUR ENERGY. Put your free time to good use. Sell Avon pan-time or full-time and earn good money. Call Mrs. Peggy Bingham col lect, 704-538-9749 or write Rt. 3 Box 160, Lawndale, N.C. 28090. 9:2,4 AftD AUTO REPAIR NOW' OPEN: 1501 Shelby Hwy. All automobile mechanical work done. Reasonable and guaranteed. No job too small. Open 8 a.m. -6 pjn., Mon.-Sat. 4:3tfh T&T MR STEAM CARPET CLEAN ING and Janitorial Service. Roger McDaniel, Owner. Ph. 739-7369 or 739-9665. 8:28; 9:2, 4, 9,11,16, 18, 23 V^DING INVITATIONS - Choose from our complete line of wedding invitations at the Hallmark Gift Shop, East King Street at Canberbury Road. For information call 739-7496. D ft D ELECTRIC: Commercial - Residential - Industrial. Elec trical repairs. Ph. 704-739-9395. 3:25tfti T&T CHARLES OWENS PAIN TING. Commercial-Residential- Industrial. Airless spraying, sandblasting. Ph. 739-9437. 8:14tfh T&T WE WILL MAKE your car look like new for only $10.00. Wash and professionally clean interior. 45 years experience. Bring it to Oates Super Shell Station, 601 East King Street, beside Hardee's. 8:21 tfn T&'T GO FISHING H*a*Uy woodad 6.5 ac. tract fronting on a larg* prlvcrt* lok*. Ormt 240 ft. of boach. Conr*nl*nt to K. Mtn. Must to b*ll*T*. Call today. MOBILE HOME APPROVED Nic* 1.24 ac. tract in Chap*l Grov* ar*a. Som* clooring already don*. Just moT* on in. Own*r will financ*. Clot* to all conv*- nionc**. Pttriormance Properties 864-8769 I REAL ESTATE Mayor John Henry Moss, who is General Chairman of the com mittee established to plan and implement the 200th anniver sary celebration of the campaign and battle, said he believes there is a good chance the president will accept. With North Carolina Gov. Jim Hunt and South Carolina Gov. Richard Riley highly pro bable participants, it appears that the celebration could have a star-studded finale. And it will all come about because two centuries ago a haughty British major made the mistake of trying to frighten some hardy American moun taineers. STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA CLEVELAND COUNTY In Th* G*B*ral Court of lustic* Sttp*.ior Court Division EXECUTROr NOTICE Having qualified as Executrix of the estate of Horace Colum bus Wright of Cleveland Coun ty, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons having claims against the estate of sid Horace Columbus Wright to present them to the undersigned within 6 months from date of the publication of this notice or same will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons in debted to said estate ^ease make immediate payment. This the 15th day of August, 1980. Bessie Foster Wright, Executrix, Rt. 4, Box 210, Kings Mtn., N.C. 28086 Aug. 19,26; Sept. 2,9 nirANTED REDUCED — 8.61 acres for sale by owner. Rugged wilderness with stream in complete seclu sion. Kings Mountain area off Dixon School Road. Call 739-1284. 8:28; 9:2, 4, 9 retirement DEUGHT: 4.0 acres for sale by owner with view of rolling countryside. Completely wooded tract at end of cul de sac. Two minutes to 1-85. Financing wi^Jl low down payment and low monthly payments. Mobile homes welcome. Call 739-1284. 8:28; 9:2, 4, 9 LARGE ACREAGE AVAILABLE: Country setting with easy access to Gastonia and Kings Mountain. Secluded tracts with creek and open grazing land. Design your own home site with many options. By owner. Call 739-1284. 8:28; 9il, 4,9 FOR SALE: New brick home, 3 bedrooms, large den, 1 Vz baths, firep and heat pump. loan. Call 739-5636 or 739-5500. 5:8tfn T&T ATTENTION APARTMENT DWELLERS — Family Housing Center, Hwy. 74W, Kings Mtn. now has 20 year financing on all double-wide mobile homes. Ex ample: home sells for $18,900 plus tax, $2000 down payment, monthly payments $204.87. Call 739-9031.6:24tfn T&T HOUSE FOR SALE - Three bedroom brick veneer with car port and separate heated 24x30 cement block garage. Call after 5 p.m., 739-3886. 8:28; 9:2, 4 WANTED: RNs and LPNs for shift positions currently available. Excellent fringe benefits. Call personnel office or director of nurses for appoint ment between 9-5 p.m., Mon.-Fri., 739-8132. 92,4 WILL BABYSIT in my home for first and second shifts. 819 Church Street. Call 739-7563. 92,4 WANTED: 7-3 RN Supervisor. Off every other weekend. Good salary and fringe benefits. Apply in person to Guardian Care of Gastonia, 416 N. Highland St., Gastonia, N.C. 8:26,28; 92,4,9 & 11 WANTED: Experienced Policeman, Certification re quired. Contact the Town of Grover, P.O. Box 188, Grover, N.C. 28073. 704/937-9986. E.O.E. 8:28; 9:2,4 FOR RENT FOR RENT: Two and three bedroom mobile homes for rent. Carpeted, air cond., 2 miles out side city limits on Waco Road. Suburban Mobile Home Park, 739-3919. 724tfn T&T MOBILE HOMES FOR RENT — Apply in person only, 1419 Shelby Road in Kings Mountain. 828; 92, 4, 9
The Kings Mountain Herald (Kings Mountain, N.C.)
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Sept. 2, 1980, edition 1
9
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