North Carolina Newspapers

Population City Limits.7.208 the population It from tho D. S. Government census rep yt lor 1*50. The Census Bureau estimates the nation's papulation pain since 1950 at 1.7 percent per rear, which ess as. Kings Mountain's 1954 population should approxi mate 7000. The trading area population In 1945, based on ration board registrations at the Kings Mountain 15.000. VOL 65 NO. 20 Established 1889 Kings Mountain, N. C., Thursday, May 19, 1955 Sixty-Fifth Year PRICE FIVE CENTS Shop In Kings Mountain During Dollar Days - ■ Thursday, Friday, Saturday Local News Bulletins METER RECEIPTS Meter receipts for the week ending Wednesday at noon to taled $178.70, Miss Grace Car penter, of city clerk’s office, reported. MOOSE MEETING Regular meeting of Moose Lodge 1748 will be held Thurs day night at 8:15 at the lodge on Bessemer City road, it was announced. TWO ALARMS Firemen answered two alarms this week, according to1 C. D. Ware, fireman. Wednesday, a round 1:20 p. m. firemen were Called to extinguish a iblaze at Craftspun Yarns, Inc. A false alarm on York road was ans wered Friday. LIONS MEETING Regular Lions meeting will be held Tuesday night at 7 o’clock at Masonic hall. Drama Tryouts Start Saturday Tryouts for all speaking parts in “The Sword of Gideon” will begin this Saturday night at 7:30 In the Little Theatre office, it was announced by Meek Carpen ter, president of the Kings Moun xain Little Theatre and general manager of the drama this year. Assignments of speaking roles will be made on the basis of trial readings from the drama script which will be held on two succes sive Saturday evenings, May 21 and 28, at the drama organiza tion’s new headquarters in the Woman’s Club building. Arnold Colbath, head of the Dramatics Department at Catawba college and director of the play this sea son, will make the final decisions on assigning parts. All persons interested in tak ing part are urged by Mr. Car penter to attend one of the try outs. “Even if they have had no previous experience we will be glad to have them come by,” he said. "We can always use danc ers, singers or those interested in non-speaking roles as well as ex perienced actors.” j Production officials stress the point that all efforts this year will be extended to eliminate wasted time and unnecessary re hearsals or trips to the park for those appearing in the drama. A real effort will be made to make it convenient for those who take part in the non-profit venture with no thought of financial re ward. “If people can give gener ously and freely of their time and trouble,” Mr. Carpenter said, “the least we can do is try in every way possible to shqw that it is Appreciated, and that it is not in vain. This drama is becoming more famous every summer, and is doing a great deal for this area.” All persons who have partici pated in the drama in the past, In any capacity, are urged and in vited to take part again and help celebrate the 175th anniversary year of the Battle of Kiags Moun tain. Present plaps of the Little Theatre are to seek a new spon sor for the production, probably a college dramatic department. No News Locally On* Polio Vaccine Plans for administering se cond shots 6t Salk polio vac cine te first and second graders here are still indefinite, Mrs. Elizabeth Scruggs, of the Cleve land County Health office, said Wednesday. The second treatment, origi nally scheduled for May 13, was cancelled at the request of the U. S. Public Health Service in order to make a further stu dy of the vaccine. Although the Eli Lilly Com pany vaccine used in the first shots by Cleveland County Health department was cleared Sunday by the U. S. Public Health Service, the department has yet had no word on second shipment of the vaccine. Mrs. Scruggs said the health depart ment hopes for a shipment of the drug by the first part of next week in order that the shots may be completed before the present school term ends. Whether the county will receive Lilly vaccine is not known. Voters To Decide Ward 4 Run-Off Tuesday Merchants Ready For Dollar Days GRADUATED — Jacob George Hord, Jr., of Kings Mountain, was awarded the degree of Bach elor of Science in education at commencement exercises at Ap palachian State Teachers col lege last Friday. Blalock. Hord Awaided Degrees D. B. Blalock, Jr., and J. G. Hord, Jr., received degrees in commencement exercises at Ap palachian State Teacher’s college, Boone, Friday morning. Mr. Blalock, .son of Mr. and Mrs. D. B. Blalock, received the Master of Arts degree while Mr. Hord, son of Mr. and Mrs. Jake G. Hord, was awarded the bache lor af science degree in educa tion. Blalock received a bachelor of science degree in 1950 and prior to resuming his studies, was a member of the faculty of the Ran lo Elementary schools in Gas tonia. Mr. Hord has been practice teaching for the past three mon ths at Morgan elementary school, Shelby. School Voting Bill Ratified The bill to change the method of electing members of the city district school trustees was ratifi ed by the General Assembly last Thursday. School officials had not yet re ceived a copy of the bill finally enacted, but J. R. Davis, .attor ney and school trustee who drew it, said he was sure any changes made from the original would have been called to his attention by the county’s representatives. The bill, as drawn, provided for election of school trustees on an at-large basis, abandoning the strict ward system in vogue since 1939. Citizens of the district will be able to seek a trusteeship* re gardless of ward residency and all citizens will have the oppor tunity to vote for all the candi dates. The six-year term is re tained. The vew system will become operative in 1957. May Sales Event To Get Undeiway Here Thursday Kings Mountain retail mer chants will hold their annual spring Dollar Days sales promo tion event on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Richard Barnett, chairman of the Merchant Association’s trade promotion committee, announced yesterday that 25 firms are par ticipating in the event. Included are almost all types of retail business here, including grocery stores, department and variety stores, hardwares, jewel ries, and drug, appliance and fur niture establishments. In addition to the offering of Dollar Days values by the mer chants, the cooperating firms have scheduled a prize drawing, to be conducted Saturday after noon at 6 p. m., at which the win ner of first prize will receive a $100 U. S. Bond, with a $50 U. S. bond going to the holder of the second number drawn. Tickets for the drawing are available free from participating firms. A per son may obtain a ticket each time he visits a participating firm during Dollar Days, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The draw ing on Saturday will be conduct ed in the Railroad avenue park ing area near Cooper’s, Inc., and the Dixie Theatre. Another feature of the promo tion will be a bargain movie, of particular interest to children, on Saturday morning at the Joy Theatre. The showing will begin at 9:30, with a full-length feature, cartoons and a comedy. Admis sion will be five cents to all, child or adult. Mr. Barnett suggested that parents might like to shop, while their children enjoy the film. “Work on May Dollar Days has been underway for two months,” Mr. Barnett said, “and many firms have already reported that they have had considerable suc cess in the markets in their search of real bargains, at less than-market prices. They are passing these savings on to their customers. I am confident that Kings Mountain area shoppers will find it to their advantage to shop the firms participating in this event during the weekend.” Webster Issues Three Permits Building permits estimated to total $11,000 were issued this week by Building Inspector J. W. Webster. Wednesday, a permit was issu ed to James Ramsey to build a one story house on Alevander street, at an estimated cost of $5,000. Dr. P. G. Padgett was issued a permit Friday to alter a house on N. Cansler street, at an esti mated cost of $2,000. Friday, Zeb Grigg was issued a permit to erect a one story house on Second street, at an es timated cost of $4,000. Graduation Exercises To Begin For 16 Grover Seniors On Sunday Commencement exercises at Grover high school begin on Sun day night with the baccalaureate service to be held at Grover’s Shiloh Presbyterian church. Diplomas will be awarded to 16 seniors next Thursday night at the school gymnasium. Both pro grams are at 8 o’clock. Rev. Park Moore, Shiloh pas tor, will be the baccalaureate speaker, and Worth W. Morris, of Shelby, will make the address to the graduating class. Rev. W. J. McKinney will give the invoca tion, Rev. K. L. Hollifield will read the scripture, and Rev. Paul Allen will say the benediction. Principal W. F. Powell will a ward diplomas to Sue Keeter, Peggy McGinnis, Faye Houser, Anne .Davis, Mary Ross Evans, Aileene Caveny, Sarah Ann Van Dyke, Jean Allen, Peggy McMur ray, Julia Huffstetler, Parbara Greene, Annie Mae Berry, Scott Wright, Joe Mullinax, Gene O dum, and Jimmy Owens. P. R. Hambright will award the medals, and Ed Hamrick will present several musical selec tions. Sue Keeter is valedictorian and Scott Wright is salutatorian. Marshalls are Larry White, chief, Peggy Watterson, Joyce Ross, Mitchell Robinson, and Jerry Cooke. Mascots are Lynn McCraw daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Dean McCraw, and Bee Strain, son of Mr. and Mrs. Sam Strain. ELECTED OFFICIALS TAKE OATHS OF OFFICE — Kings Moun tain's city officials elected on May 10 took their oaths of office last Thursday morning. At left. City Judge Jack White (left) adminis ters the oath to Mayor Glee A. Bridges. In the center panel. Mayor Bridges is giving the oaths to Commissioners (left to right) J. H. Patterson. W. G. Grantham. Sam D. Collins, and T. J. Ellison. At right, the Mayor swears in J. W. Webster, left, and Arnold W. Kin caid, school trustees. In the several oaths of office the officials pledge to support the federal and state constitution and faithfully to carry out the duties of their respective offices. Kincaid Renamed Chairman; School Faculty Elected A. W. Kincaid was re-elected chairman and F. W. Plonk was named vice-chairman as the school board elected teachers for 1955-56 at the regular monthly meeting held at Central school Tuesday night. It was the first, meeting for J. W. Webster, new member of the board from Ward 2. All members were present. Supt. B. N. Barnes announced that under a new state law no continuing contracts could be given teachers as in the past and that they must apply annually for jobs in the system. The board elected 71 teachers, a supervisor, and three special piano teachers. Mrs. Virginia F. Jonas is the only member of the group not on the present faculty. The board also elected Miss June Rogers to teach Bible upon rec ommendation of the city Bible committee. The board authorized payment of $90 to Mrs. C. F. Stowe for a difference of .18 acres between two separate surveys of land for the new Nprth Elementary school and voted to ask another 90-day option, or execute one now held on another tract of 1.16 acres for the new school. Mr. Plonk and Mr. Webster were appointed to obtain esti mates on cost of preparing play ground space for East school on two plots of land the board is considering purchasing. Brother-In-Law O! Blanton Dies Thomas O. Vernon, 60, of For est City, brother-in-law of C. D. Blanton, died early Saturday mor ning in Rutherford hospital after several years declining health. Mr. Vernon had suffered a heart attack several years ago and another attack about two weeks ago. He was superintendent of the Coca-Cola Bottling Co., in Forest City until his health failed, and since then he had been assistant bookkeeper. He had been employ ed at that company for about 25 years. He was a son of the late Paul Bomar and Martha Deane Ver non of Forest City. Surviving are his wife, Mrs. Linda Blanton Ver non; three sisters, Mrs. Thurman Roberson of Wadesboro, Mrs. A. V. Nolan of Shelby, Mrs. R. G. Burrus of Mooresboro; one bro ther, William E. Vernon of Black Mountain; and a number of nie ces and nephews. Funeral services were held Sun day afternoon at 4 o'clock at First Presbyterian church, Forest City, and burial was in Cool Springs cemetery. Rev. Holmes Smith, pastor of the church, of ficiated and was assisted by Dr. H. Hansel Stembridge, Jr., pas tor of the First Baptist church, Forest City. HOMECOMING The Chuich of God on Par ker street will hold Homecom ing services on Sunday, it has been announced. A picnic lu» ch will ibe served following the morning service. * City Board Holds Its First Meeting NAMED TO OFFICE — Jerry King, of Kings Mountain, has been elected vice-president of the student body at Western Caroli qp college at Cullowhee, in re cent annual elections. King Elected To Campus Post Jerry King, son of Mr. and Mrs. Denver King of Kings Mountain, was recently elected vice - president of the student body of Western Carolina Col lege at Cullowhee. Mr. King was also named to serve as chairman of the stan dards committee. Mr. King is a rising junior at Western Carolina and majoring in physio-therapy. He expects to enter the medical college of Vir ginia in Richmond in 1956 to complete his training. Pethel Elected Class President Franklin Pethel, of Kings Mountain, has been elected presi dent of the rising senior class of Columbia Theological Seminary School of Sacred Music, New York. Mr. Pethel will receive his mas ter of arts degree in sacred mu sic with majors in organ and choral directing in the spring of 1956. He is the husband of the form er Miss Emelyn Gillespie and for mer minister of music at First Presbyterian church. Imperial Theatre Closes Temporarily The Imperial Theatre, the city’s oldest movie house, closed tem porarily Saturday night in order to remodel the building, Claude Webb, manager of the theatre, said Tuesday. Re-opening date has not been set, Mr. Webb said, pending re modeling of the building. > The second Bridges Adminis tration — with one new member and one temporary member—be gan its work last Thursday night, conducting a mass of routine bus iness, including re-appointment of all department heads for 30 days. The new member present for the first time was Sam Collins, Ward 1' commissioner, while Ha rold Phillips, Ward 4 commission er, continued to serve, pending election of a new Ward 4 com missioner. The board received a report from Bill Gilmore, representative of the city’s gas engineering firm, stating the final construction cost of the natural gas system would be between $255,000 to $257,000. It also appointed Leland Kindred, Burlington Mills person nel manager,' to the city recrea tion commission, succeeding John Lathem, Burlington superinten dent, who had resigned on mov ing outside the city limits. The board also approved con tract with Duke Power Company, in which the city is releasing to Duke 11 Phifer Road power cus tomers, including Bennett Brick & Tile Company, Lambeth Rope Corporation, and nine residen ces. Electrical Superintendent Hunter Allen said the release would improve power service to other city customers in the area, wheije facilities have been over loaded. In a related action, the board approved expenditure of $1443 for doubling the transfor mer capacity to serve Kings Mountain hospital. In other actions the board: 1) Approved a $50 expenditure to provide water service in the home of Willie Adams, crippled Negro. Adams is to repay the bill at $5 monthly. 2) Approved attendance of the city clerk, assistant clerk, and other officials at a League of Municipalities budget study in Chapel Hill on May 20, 21. 3) Approved expense of $100 to send three firemen to the an nual Charlotte fire school. 4) Named the Mayor, Mr. Col Continued On Page Bight Parade To Mark Monday Opening Of Test Lane Kings Mountain will observe Safety Week beginning Monday, and continuing through. May 28. The observance will 'begin Mon day afternoon with a 40-unit pa rade, with a motor vehicle in spection lane to be formally o pened following the parade. The safety lane — for the vol untary inspection of vehicles at no cost — is the end point activ ity of the observance, which will also include other entertain ment features. On Saturday ev ening, May 28, a square dance will be held at the high school gym, with admission free. Chief of Police Hugh A. Logan said Kay Kyser, the former band leader, had informed him he would be in Kings Mountain Monday to make television pic tures of the Kings Mountain ac tivities to he used by the Uni versity of North Carolina tele casting station. The safety lane, at which mo torists are invited to obtain a 10-point auto safety check-up, will be located in front of City Hall. Voluntary workers from Kings Mountain garages will check the autos for proper me chanical operation of brakes, headlights, rear and stop lights, tires, steering and wheel align ment, muffler and exhaust sys tem, windshield wipers, condi tion of windows, horn, and rear view mirrors. When an auto rates an "in good-order” sticker, it will qual ify the motorist for participation in a prize drawing. Drace Peeler, chairman of a five-man committee in charge of arrangements for Monday’s pa rade, said the 40-unit parade would form on W,. Gold street at 4 o’clock, progress north on Rail road avenue, cross the overhead bridge to King street, then move south on Battleground to Moun tain street, and thence to the City Hall, where Mayor Glee A. Bridges will cut a ribbon formal ly opening the inspection lane. Other members of the committee are J. W. Webster, Douglas Sal ley, J. T. McGinnis, Jr., and Jack White. The inspection lane is one of ten being operated in North Car olina, Chief Logan said, and the Continued On Page Eight Patton Address Will Be Feature Of Kiwanis Ladies Night Banquet The Kings Mountain Kiwanis club will hold its annual ladies night banquet Thursday evening at 7 o’clock, at Masonic dining hall, with R. L. Patton, superin tendent of Burke County schools scheduled to make the feature address. Mr. Patton is a veteran school man and after-dinner speaker. He is well-known in Kings Mountain where he has previously enter tained civic groups. He majors in humor and intermingles into his anecdotes a wholesome philoso phy for everyday living. Mr. Patton was honored sev eral years ago by the Interna tional Platform association by be ing selected for "Who’s Who on the American Platform”. B. S. Peeler, Jr., will serve as master of ceremonies, and L. L. Benson will say an invocation. President J. C. Bridges, will wel come guests and Arnold W. Kin caid will welcome the ladies. Mrs. W. L. Pressly will respond. Dr. Blake McWhirter and Miss Melba Tindall will render vocal music, and B. N. Barnes will present Mr. Patton. Honor guests will be widows of former club members, past pre sidents of the club now living elsewhere, officials of nearby Ki wanis clubs, Carolinas Kiwanis district officials, and presidents of other Kings Mountain civic clubs. Hayes, Ledfoid Vie For Votes In Board Race Kings, Mountain citizens will re turn to the voting booths again next Tuesday to elect a Ward 4 commissioner in the second run off election in city political his tory. Paul W. Ledford, who ran se cond to O. T. Hayes, Sr., in the May 10 balloting, formally called for the run-off election last Satur day morning, City Clerk Gene Mitcham reported. In the first election, Mr. Hayes led the four-man race with 591 votes, followed by Mr. Ledford who received 402 votes. Charles (Rocky) Ford placed third with 395, followed by George W. White with 327. Considerable interest is being evidenced in the run-off, though majority of political observers doubt that the total vote will ap proximate the 1817 recorded on May 10. Predictions on vote totals have varied from 600 to 1200. Meantime, both candidates are reported working diligently to contact their May 10 constitu tents and to attract the support of those citizens who gave alle giance to Mr. Ford and Mr. White. The 1951 run-off, involing the mayoral and Ward 2 commission er positions, attracted more vot ers than did the May 10 election. In that run-off Garland Still de feated George W, Allen for may or, and Lloyd E. Davis edged C. C. Edens for commissioner. The commissioner vote was 920 to 913, a margin of seven. Mr. Hayes, who led the field on May 10, is a bookkeeper and former state revenue department representative. He is a Mason and member of Central Methodist church. Mr. Ledford is an employee of Pauline Mill and a member of Temple Baptist church. Both have sought election to the city administration several times in the past, but without success. It is the first time the two have sought the same posi tion at the same election. The election will be conducted at all five ward voting places, with the same officials who con ducted the May 10 voting. The polls will open at 6:30 a. m. and close at 6:30 p. m. Open House Set For Guard Unit The Kings Mountain National Guard company will hold open house Sunday afternoon from 1 to 5 o’clock in observance of Arm ed Forces day, it was announced by Capt. Humes Houston, who commands the company. Capt. Houston invited the pub lic to attend and to see the type of traning provided members of the company, known officially as Headquarters & Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion, 120th In fantry Regiment, 30th division Capt. Houston noted that the Kings Mountain unit is one of the few in the state to approach full srength since the full 30th divi sion was assigned to North Caro lina. The company has seven op enings for recruits in the 17-35 Continued On Page Eight Run-Off Election Facts Are Listed Here are facts concerning next Tuesday’s run-off election for Ward 4 commissioner be tween O. T. Hayes, Sr., and Paul W. Ledford: Polls open at 6:30 a. m. Polls close at 6:30 p. m. Ward voting places are: Ward 1, City Hall fire station; Ward 2, City Hall courtroom; Ward 3 Phenix Store; Ward 4, Kings Mountain Manufacturing Company Clubroom; Ward 5, Victory Chevrolet Company, Inc. Election officials: The same officials who conducted the May 10 voting will serve in each of the five wards. Office to be filled by ballots of all voters: Ward 4 commis sioner. The board of commissioners, which serves ex officio as the city election board, will meet Wednesday at 10 a. m. to can vas the vote and to certify the returns. The successful candi date will take the oath of of fice on Thursday, May 26.