Pag* 2-UNGS MOUNTAIN HERALD-TuMdoy. S«ptemb«r 30. 1980
PUBUSHED EACH TUESDAY AND THURSDAY
GARLAND ATKINS GARY STEWART LIB STEWART
Publisher Co-Editor Co-Editor
MEMBER OF NORTH CAROLINA PRESS ASSOCIATION
Tho Herald is published by Herald Publishing House, P.O. Box 752. Kings Moun
tain, N.C. 28086. Business and editorial oiiices ore located at Canterbury Road-
East King Street. Phone 739-7496. Second class postage paid at Kings Mountain.
N.C. Single copy 20 cents. Subscription rates: $12.48 yearly in-state. $6.24 six mon
ths. $13.52 yearly out of state. $6.76 six months. Student rates for nine months.
$8.50. USPS 931-040.
€DITORI^L9&OPiniOh9
Come and see us
To the British commander who was spoiling for a
fight with them, they were nothing more than a
“pack of backwater mongrels.”
However, at the decisive Battle of Kings Moun
tain Oct. 7, 1780, the irregulars which British Maj.
Patrick Ferguson was so quick to scorn shot or cap
tured about 80 percent of his entire command in a
little over an hour.
Every participant in the battle but one was an
American. The only British soldier present-Maj.
Ferguson commanded a band of over 1,000 Tories
recruited in New York and New Jersey.
His goal was to penetrate western North Carolina
and become a vanguard in Lord Comwalli cam
paign to gain control of the southern colonies.
Opposing Ferguson’s Tories were an equal
number of “overmountain” men. These rugged
patriots from Virginia and the Carolinas were also
anxious for a fight. What they got, however, proved
to be somewhat onesided.
During the brief encounter, Ferguson and 225 of
his band were killed, Tory wounded numbered 155
and what remained of the group quickly chose to
surrender.
Before it was over, patriot commanders were
frantically trying to stop the overmountain men
from firing on what was left of the Tory force.
Patriot casualties were light-25 frontiersmen were
killed and 62 were wounded.
The engagement at Kings Mountain broke any
hold the Tones had on the southern backwoods and
also British hopes of taking control of Nonh
Carolina in 1780.
Kings Mountain is rolling out the red carpet to
visitors to attend what is billed as its biggest celebra
tion during the week Oct. 3-7. Celebration events
are varied and many people have worked to make
the Bicentennial of the Battle of Kings Mountain a
great success.
There’s a lot happening, beginning on Friday
with opening ceremonies at Bicentennial Head
quarters and culminating on Tuesday with a big
parade. Dancing in the streets, rock-a-thons,
ptatriotic ceremonies, the outdoor drama at KM Na
tional Military Park, and many more festivities are
planned.
Y’all come to see us.
THIS DAY 200 YEARS AGO
This day 200 years ago
men were confronted by the foe
The British were in full anay
Their freedom tried to take away;
They were met by mountain men
To say they feared not would be to sin
The British had their homes been burning
To get this over they were yearning.
On overcoming they were counting
But they met them at Kings Mountain
There upon this mountain high
where tree tops seem to touch the sky
It must have been a horrible sound
and men were all dying around
As the battle was completed
the mountain men were not defeated
This was the turning point they say
Tho the victory was some months away
Tho surely we realize it then
God was with these mountain men.
So let’s not take this all for granted
That we may not be self enchanted
Let us not forget this when
Reminded of these Mountain Men.
CALVIN WRIGHT
KINGS MOUNTAIN
Poets
Corner
Friendly little raindrops
that love to hold me in,
I see them from my window
like a visit from a friend.
Vivian S. Biltcliiia
Raindrops In The Fall
Friendly little raindrops
are falling once again,
1 see them from my window
like a visit from a friend,
those friendly little raindrops
come down to hold me in,
bounce up and down
when they think how high they’ve been.
Pretty little raindrops
they love to fall on me,
to leave droplets on the hair
as on the leaves of trees.
I reach out to catch them
they trickle down the arm,
pleasing little raindrops
they bring me no alarm.
Refreshing little raindrops
1 never say go away.
For they usually come to visit
on a cloudy day.
Whafs your opinion
Somsthlng bothsri&g you? Got it oil your
chost. Fool good about somothing? Shoro it.
Wo wont to hoar from you. Addross your lot-
tors to tho oditors to Roador Dialoguo, P.O.
Box 752. Kings Mountain. N.C. 28086. Unsign-
od lottors will not bo publishod.
"li God Should Go On Striko"
How good it is that God above
has never gone on strike.
Because He was not treated fair
in things He didn’t like.
If only once He’d given up and said,
‘That’s it; I’m through!
“I’ve had enough of those on earth,
so this is what III do.
“I’ll give my orders to the sun -
cut off the heat supply!
“And to the moon - give no more light,
and run the oceans dry.
Then just to make things really tough
and put the pressure on,
‘Turn off the vital oxygen
till every breath is gone!”
You know He would be justified,
if fairness was the game.
For no one has been more abused
or met with more disdain
Than God, and yet He carries on,
supplying you and me
With all the favors of His grace,
and everything is free.
Men say they want a better deal,
and so on strike they go.
But what a deal we’ve given God
to whom all things we owe.
We don’t care whom we hurt
to gain the things we like;
But what a mess we’d all be in,
if God should go on strike.
Second Baptist Church Bulletin
0
Stamp collectors interested
in KM postal card ^
Kings Mountain postal officials tell lis there is a
lot of interest from stamp collectors from far and
near in the commemorative postal card of the Battle
of Kings Mountain which the U. S. Postal Service
will issue Oct. 7.
The card is the fifth in a series dedicated to heroes
and historic events of the American Revolution.
First day of issue ceremonies will be held at 11
ajn. Oct. 7th at Barnes Auditorium. Gerald F. Mer-
na, executive assistant to the postmaster general,
will deliver the keynote address.
Dominating the new card’s vignette is a view of
an overmountain man preparing to fire his
musket. Other members of the frontier group also
appear in perspective in position behind the central
figure.
Lib
Stewart
» •
Appearing at the upper right comer of the design
in a single line of black type is “USA 10 cents”
Across the bottom of the vignette in another line of
black type is “Battle of Kings Motlhtain 1780”.
The designer of the Kings Mountain postal card,
David Blossom, also prepared the art for the earlier
postal cards issued in honor of American Revolu
tion heroes and events. The Weston, Conn, designer
also prepared the tributes to Molly Pitcher, heroine
of the Eiattle of Mcximouth Qssued in 1978k George
Rogers Clark, hontier military leader C>$sued in
1979), Casimir Pulaski, foreign volunteer and ctxn-
mander who was fatally wounded at the Battle of
Savannah, Ga. (also issued last year) and an earlier
1980 postal card marking the 200th anniversary of
the arrival of the French fleet in Newport,R. I. (July
11 this year).
The multicolor Kings Mountain postal card,
which measures three and one half by five and one
half inches, is being offset printed at the Govern
ment Printing Office
Collectors wishing to obtain first day cancella
tions should address requests to; Kings Mountain
Postal Card, Postmaster, Kings Mountain, N.C.
28086. Orders, along with a check or money order ^
to cover the cost of the cards requested (W cents ^
each) must be submitted and postmarked no later
than Oct. 7. So that postal personnel do not have to
apply return addresses to individual cards, collectors
are asked to send a self-addressed envelope of an ap
propriate size or peeiabic return address labels with
their orders.
Local folk will recall the efforts of the late Dr. D.
F. Hord, an ardent stamp collector and patriot, who
wrote numerous letters to local legislators and
government officials, an in addition to encouraging ^
local citizens to write letters. Mayor John Moss call
ed Eoline Hord the day of the late dentist’s funeral
to tell the family that Dr. Hord’s persistence had
paid off.
GI^RY 9TeWt\RT
Of streets^ sports
and other stuff
Notes and noted;
If President Carter...or Mondale...or Rosalyn...
comes to Kings Mountain next Tuesday to speak at
the Bicentennial Celebration, he or she will see a
spruced up Kings Mountain.
City crews have been busy for weeks repairing
streets, cutting grass, and doing a million other
things to make the city look nice.
The detours around streets being repaired are in
convenient, but will be well worth it if a member of
the First families attends.
be much-welcomed.
If you ever want to know something, consult an
expert. — “-i '•
Jimmy the Greek is known all over the world by
sports fans for his ability to pick the winners.
A couple months ago on the first NFL Today of
this season, the Greek predicted the New York Jets
would win the Super ^wl.
The Jets lost their fourth game in a row Sunday
and are in last place in their division.
Hub Adams of Kings Mountain is doing his part
in trying to lure the President to Kings Mountain.
Adams, 62, is deaf and legally blind (he is totally
blind in one eye and has 20/200 vision in the other),
but is a super-talented woodcrafitstnan.
He recently made President Carter a goblet and
liberty bell and sent it to the White House. He did
the same for President Ford when he almost came
to Kings Mountain in 1975.
“He can use the bell to ring for Rosalyn, and eat
peanuts out of the goblet,” quipped Adams.
Kings Mountain High tennis coach Ed Guy and
several of his players are due congratulations for
work they’ve done recently on the KMHS and KM
Junior High courts.
They have spent several weeks painting both
courts, and aske(( no Compensation for their time
and talents. ' • - '
Needless to say, both courts look great and their
neat appearance adds much to some of the finest
high school and junior high atletic facilities in the
state.
Kings Mountain will soon have another much-
needed restaurant in downtown.
Fred Kiser, who for years operated the old Silver
Villa and Minit Grill, is opening soon on the comer
of Battleground and East Gold Street.
The spot was a favorite of local diners for years
when it housed the old B&B. More recently, it has
been used by Kings Mountain Farm Center as a
Stove Center.
Fred’s good food and friendly conversation will
A couple of weeks ago we gave you a report on
five former Kings Mountain High football stan
douts who are now members of college elevens.
Henry Hager, who played tackle for the Moun-
ties last fall and signed a grant-in-aid with North
Carolina Central, was moved to tight end in pre
season drills and later red-shirted.
That means he will be eligible for another year of
football after his class graduates. With the progress
he’s making, that could be a big plus for the school
and Hager.
City Is Sprucing Up
Kings Mountain is sprucing
up for a 200th anniversary
celebration that promises to riv^
- in spirit at least - some of the
Bicentennial festivities staged by
the nation’s major cities.
Beginning Oct. 3, the City of
Kings Mountain kicks off five
days of nearly non-stop activities
cotnmemorating the 200th an
niversary of the Campaign and
Battle of Kings Mountain, site of
a major Patriot victory over
British troops in the Revolu
tionary War.
Scheduled events include a
parade, outdoor dramas, dances,
exhibits, special ceremonies and
a reenactment of the march of
the Overmountain Men who
converged on a nearby hill on
Oct. 7, 1780, to hand the British
a disastrous defeat that may
have been a turning point in the
American Revolution.
President Jimmy Carter and
Republican presidential can
didate Ronald Reagan have been
invited to participate in the
celebration along with U.S.
Senators, Congressmen and
other public officials from the
Turn To Page 8
Down Home Fun
Small towns in this area, do not have “big city” entertainment but we do
have our own forms of “down home fun” that are hard to beat.
You can drive to Charlotte and see a big league entertainer or enjoy culture,
but for us who like to stay at home, the leisure activities are limited, but
refreshing.
If you eliminate television, and the movies, our entertainment list would be
almost nil.
But what’s left is “choice.”
The church social, the high school football game, the Sunday afternoon golf
or tennis game, the picnic, the visit with a beighbor, are forms of entertain
ment that are still cherished in rural America.
One of the greatest forms of entertainment in our country is the Friday
night high school football game.
There is nothing to match its excitement for pure old hometown fun.
If you have ever played high school football, then you know the thrill of
running out on that field to represent your alma mater.
That is a feeling that is hard to describe. Besides the players, however, the
marching bands, the cheerleaders, and even the trainers and water boys, have
their moments of importance.
The coahces. I’m sure are also so excited they can’t stand it.
The parents in the stands who have some one down on the field, are also
filled with pride and excitement. There is their own kid down there doing his
or her thing.
Then there are just the fans, who come down in all kinds of weather to urge
on their team.
And when the lights come on, the bands play, the cheerleaders cheer and
the game gets underway, it is pretty hard not to get caught up in the excite
ment, even if you don’t understand the game.
The high school football game is definitely one of the great American past-
times. It is built around good clean, wholesome fun and sportsmanship. That
is why it has survived. If you haven’t seen a good high school football game
lately, go on out to the stadium.—It’s hometown fun at its best.
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