Population
Greater Kings Mountain 10.320
City Limits 7,206
The figure tot Greater Tinge Mountain Is derived from
the IMS King* Mountain city directory census. The City
Unite figure ie lrom the United States census of 18S0.
VOL 68 No. 17
Established 1889
Kings Mountain, N. C., Thursday, April 25, 1957
Sixty-Eighth Year PRICE FIVE CENTS
County Board Ignores Local Group’s Bond Protest
-i
Local News
Bulletins
P-TA MEETING
“Park Grace P-T1A will 'hold its
regular meeting Monday night
at 7 o'clock ip.im. at the school
auditorium, according to an
nouncement by Mrs. 'George
Stroupe, publicity chairman.
MOOSE MEETING
Memlbers otf Kings Mountain
M-oose Lodge 1748 will hold
their regular Thursday night
meeting at 8:15 at the lodge on
(Bessemer City road, according
to an announcement.
IN HONOR GROUP
Douglas Wilson and Willard
" Upchurch, Iboth otf Kings Moun
tain, were recently inducted as
new members in Gardner W el bib
college’s honor society, the
Marshal Club. New members
were elected Iby the faculty
on a ibasis of scholarship, char
acter personality, and sedvice.
METER RECEIPTS
Parking meter receipts for
the week ending Wednesday at
noon totalled $192.80, City «6lerk
Gene Mitcham reported. In
cluded were $153.15 from on
street meters and $39.65 from,
Cherokee Street lot meters.
ON DEAN'S LIST
CUELOWHEE—Kenneth Sherr
ill Spears, of Kings Mountain,
has been named to the Dean’s
list at Western Carolina college.
Students selected for this hon
or rate high in scholarship,
character, (personality and ef
fective participation In campus
activities.
ON DEAN’S LIST
IRoibert ILittlejOhn has earned
a position on the Dean’s list
just released for the winter
quarter at King’s college in
Charlotte. (He has completed
the Ibusiness administration
course and has been placed in
an accounting position with
Nu-Way Business Service.
CENTRAL P-TA
Central school Parent-Teach
er association will meet next
Wednesday afternoon at 3:30
at the school auditorium, it was
announced by Bruce Thorlburn.
Officers will be elected for the
coming year and the program
will be presented by the eighth
grade glee club.
HOSPITAL AUXILIARY
'Annual meeting of the Wo
man’s Auxiliary of Kings
Mountain hospital will 'be held
at Oity Mall courtroom Thurs
day evening at 8 p.m., accord
ing to announcement 'by Mrs.
" Wanza Davis.
TWO FIRES
Kings Mountain Fire depart
ment answered two calls Mon
day, according to C. D. Ware,
city fireman. The first call was
answered around 1:56 ip.m., t6
a residence on Broad street,
where an oil stove had ignited.
The second call was answered
around 6:36 pjm. to extinguish
a blaze that had ignited in a
Joy Cream truck. N« damages
were reported.
School Census
To Be Launched
iFluture Teachers of America
wiM conduct a school census sur
vey (beginning this weekend,
Lawson (Brawn, high school prin
cipal announced (Wednesday.
Mr. Brawn said that 56 high
school students, all members of
the fTTA, will iwork in teams Of
two in compiling the information
on all Kings Mountain residents
up to 20 years of age. Ordinarily,
he noted, the census does not in
clude balbies and youths below
school age, (but the sdhool seeks
to determine potential numbers
otf students for future years.
Information to be asked iby the
high school census - takers in
clude name of person, date of
birth, (birthplace, race, sex and
marital status, along with final
grade completed and year school -
ing ended, either through gradu
ation or otherwise.
(Mr. Brown pointed out that
state law requires all persons to
provide information for school
census-taking.
He said the FTA anticipates
completing the census - taking in
approximately two weeks. Only
white persons will be interviewed.
Lee Roberts To Seek Mayor Post
Funeral Rites
Are Conducted
For Mrs. Ellerbe
Funeral services for (Mrs. Jose
phine MdCalt lElleitbe, 83, a Kings
Mountain citizen for the past 20
years, were held Tuesday morn
ing at 11 o’clock from IFirst Pres
byterian church, of Which she
was a member.
A native of 'Darlington, S„ 1C.,
Mrs. Ellerbe died Sunday after
noon at 4 o’clock at the home of
a son, Clarence (M. Ellerbe, at
Walteilboro, S- C. (Mrs. Ellerbe had
been in apparent good health and
was expecting to return home
the afternoon of her death. She
resided here with a daughter,
Mrs. W. T. Weir and Mr. Weir.
Mrs. Ellerbe iwas a daughter
of the late William Ellison and
Josephine Milling MCCall and the
widolw of Edlward Benjamin El
lerbe, who died in 1930. She was
a member of the Thursday After
noon IBook Club.
Surviving, in addition to iher
son in Walterboro and her daugh
ter here, are five Children, Ed
ward IB. Ellerbe, Jr., Huntington,
W. Va„ W. IB. Ellerbe, Sanford,
Fla., Mrs. W. IF. Shaw, Charlotte,
Mrs. Paul IB. iFry, Albemarle, and
Mr.s. J. H. IBryan, Palatka, IFla. Al
so surviving are nine grand-chil
dren and one great-grandchild.
The final rites were conducted
by IRev. IP. ID. Patrick, the pastor.
Burial was at Grove Kill ceme
tery, Darlington.
Pallbearers were iL. Arnold Ki
ser, Paul Mauney, Sam Weir, Eu
gene 'Roberts, Marriott Phifer and
Luther Cansler. (
Plonk Returned
Stolen $3,500
C. S. iPlon'k, Kings Mountain
business man who lost $12,700 in
cash in the robbery of 'his home
sevetal months ago, was returned
$3,500 otf this amount Iby action
of Judge J. 1C. Rudisill dn Cleve
land Superior Court April 17,.
Carried over from the January
term of court, the question of re
turn of the money ,was technical.
In January, a woman robbed otf
$70,000 Iby the same thieves had
contended the $3,500 found in the
possession of the thieves had be
longed to her.
In the action, Attorney J. iR. Da
vis explained, the money would
have been awarded to Mr. (Plonk
in January, but the Haw required
a ten - day waiting period for
appeal by the Smithtfield woman.
No appeal was filed and last
Wednesday’s action was techni
cal and routine.
The two men drew prison terms
for both robberies.
Mrs. C. S. Plonk had identified
the money stolen in testimony at
the trial.
(Also returned were diamond
wedding rings owned by Mrs. J.
B. Plonk, a daughter-in-law otf
Mr. and Mrs. fC. S. Plonk.
CANDIDATE—J. Lee Roberts an
nounced this week he will be a
candidate for mayor at the May
14 city election. He will oppose
Glee A. Bridges, the incumbent,
and Garland E. Still, former
mayor.
Kiwanis To Hear
nuoridation
Discussion
IFluoridation of the city drink
ing water will] be the sulbject of
Ibrieif talks and a subsequent
open forum session at the Thurs
day night meeting of the Kiiwanis
clulb, it was announced toy Dr. R.
N. Baker, Rings Mountain den
tist.
Dr. Ralph D. Cotfifey, president
elect off the North Carolina Den
tal society, and Dr. C. C. Diercks,
memiber of the society’s house of
delegates, will discuss fluoridat
ing public water supplies and
will! answer questions from the
floor concerning the sulbject.
The talks and open forum wall
begin at 7:15 and Dr,. Baker is
sued an invitation to the public
to attend tlhe meeting.
Kings Mountain will vote on
the question of fluoridating the
city’s water supply on May 14.
Proponents contend the city
could thereby assure better teeth
for its children. Opponents con
tend fluorine in over - dose causes
undesired changes in the bone
structure.
The club will convene for din
ner at the Woman’s clulb at 6:45.
Spelling Bee
Friday Night'
IStqve Carpenter, of East
school and Judy Watterson, of
Patterson Grove school, will car
ry Rings Mountain area’s colors
in Charlotte Friday night as 23
of North Carolina’s young spell
ers meet in Charlotte for the reg
ional finals in the Charlotte Ob
server’s third annual Spelling
Bee.
Winner off the contest will rep
resent this area in the National
(Continued On Page Ten)
City Board Swaps Off Dump Site,
Dps City Election Officials' Pay
The city board otf commission
ers, in special session Thursday
night, accepted a deed from IFtoote
'Mineral camipany for a now dump
site and received bids on cuJj
and gutter installations on North
Goforth street.
Commissioners unanimously a
greed to accept the Foote offer
otf an 8.8-acre site in exchange
for the site the city noiw uses to
dump the city’s refuse on High
way 26 on motion of Commission
er Paul Ledford, seconded toy
Commissioner Sam Collins. The
city’s old site totaied 3.83 acres.
CSpangler Concrete Company’s
bid otf $1.80 per lineal foot, or
$1,800, was the lowest of three
bids for ohe job of installing 1,000
feet at cutlb and gutter on North
Goforth street.
'A. P. Warwick's bid on the jdb
was $1.86 per lineal foot and Ded
mon Concrete Works’ bid was
$2.20 per lineal foot. Commission,
er W. G. Grantham made the mo
tion to accept the Spangler bid,
seconded by Commissioner Elli
son.
The board also voted to raise
the pay otf election judges from
$7 to $10 on motion otf Commis
sioner Collins, seconded by Com
missioner Ledford, and voted to
oil the city streets as soon as pub
lic works superintendent G. C.
Yelton advises.
In other actions, the board:
d) Voted to make cuiib, gutter,
and sidawallk installations on
Spruce street from Lake to Car
penter streets, on tjwo blocks of
Maple street, on Gaston street
from Cast Gold to Kemp streets,
and on Mountain View street
south from Kemp street, when
funds are available and in line
with previous petitioners. Com
missioner T. J. Ellison’s motion
was seconded by Commissioner
Collins.
2) Accepted request of Crescent
Hill Development Company 'for a
slight change in location of
street right . of - way previously
deeded to the city.
3) Tabled request at B. D. Rat
terree for acceptance of a 40-tfoot
street on Goforth street extension
instead oif a 50-fbot street.
Present for the meeting were
'Mayor G. A. Bridges, Commission
ers Collins, Ellllson, Ledford, and
W. G. Grantham, and Assistant
City Clerk Joe McDaniel.
Magistrate
Will Contest
Bridges, Still
J. Lee iRoberts, Kings Mountain
barber and Numlber 4 township
magistrate, announced this week
he will be a candidate lor mayor
at the May 14 election.
He will oppose Mayor Glee iA.
Bridges, who seeks a third flwo
year term, and former Mayor
Gafland E. Still, who served one
term from 1951-53.
Mr. Roberts had not yej: posted
his filing fee at City Hall early
Wednesday afternoon. However
he had purchased advertising
space in the Herald to set forth
an eight - point platform and had
FILING DEADLINE
Monday is the last day to file
for city or school district elec
tive Office in the May 14 elec-’
tion. Assistant City Clerk Joe
McDaniel said ail citizens who
expect to seek pulblic office
next month should pay tihe $5
filing fee in person at city half
not later than 4:30 p.m. Mon
day. That is the hour the city
office closes.
given the Herald a formal state
ment announcin'g his candidacy..
Mr. Roberts’ was the only indi
cated new entry in the May 14
election which finds contests for
all city elective positions, though
none for the two elective school
trustee positions.
(Mr. 'Roberts bas 'been a Kings
Mountain citizen since 1939. A
Master Barber, he is manager otf
Phenix Barber Shop and for many
years has been a township mag
istrate. He is a member of First
Baptist church, is a trustee of the
church and an assistant teacher
in its Sunday school. He and his
family reside at 101 6. Watterson
street. Mrs. Roberts is the former
Elizabeth Saipoek, off Grover. They
have two children, Joe Donald
Roberts, a senior at The Citadel,
and Beth 'Roberts, a high school
senior.
Mr. iRoiberts’ .statement follows:
“At the request 'of friends and
supporters in our city, I have
made a decision wmcn has not
been an easy one. 'inat is to offer
myselif as a candidiate for mayor.
This decision was made after
careful deliberation and prayer
ful consideration. I have no funds
with which to buy votes or wage
a campaign. Friends and sup
porters haive stared they would
contribute .some tor cards and ad.
vertising, df which I am deeply
grateful for. I also wish to say
that I haive no feeling except that
which is good toward the other
two candidates, Doth of whom I
consider to be personal friends.
I also want to say that I am not
aligned with any other candidate
or group df candidates and I will
not mane any remarks df a per
sonal nature against any candi
date. Further, no city employee
who is performing his or her du
ties efficiently and if there is no
disunity nor discord prevailing in
that particular case need have
no fear df losing their jdbs if I
am elected mayor. The only
promise I make if elected mayor
is to serve everyone regardless of
his race, creed, or color or his or
her position or station in life to
the best df my ability.”
Bids Received '
On 74 Addition
(Law ibids were received by the
state highway commission Tues
day on 11-pi us miles of grading
and structures on a double-lane
addition to the Kings Mountain
Shelby highway (U. S. 74),.
'Low bids reported by the com
mission were:
.Roadiway, Burns & Spangler, of
SheDby, $244,928.
Structures, Dickerson, Inc., otf
Monroe, $118,071.82.
(Building removal, Sheets &
Hardin, otf West Jefferson, $24,
900.
The addition otf the double
lane will make U. S. 74 between
here and Shel'by a four-lane boul -
evard.
It is anticipated the low bids
will be accepted and that worn
on the addition iwfll begin soon,
highway officials have indicated
GROUND BREAKING CEREMONY — Gaston Center for Handicapped
Children broke ground Thursday for its new building on Dallas
Cherryville highway, and present were many of the children who
have been attending the school, the school officials and directors,
and representatives of the Gaston county commissioners. Pictured,
left to right are Mrs. Bruce Thorbum, Becky Hill and Douglas Thor
burn, students at the school, Mr. Thorbum, and Brown Baird, admin
istrator. Mr. Thorbum, of Kings Mountain, a director of the center,
said yesterday that workers are being invited to volunteer their
services in beginning construction of the walls. Volunteer workers
are being asked to meet Saturday at the site to begin the work.
Registration Total
Low Last Saturday
30 Negroes
Registered
In Ward 5
Registration books for the May
14 city election were open Satur
day for the first time, hut none
of the registrars reported a busy
day.
In Ward 5, Mrs. J. T. McGinnis,
Jr., reported that 42 names were
added to the books, including
names of 30 Negro citizens and
12 white citizens. She also report,
ed eight transfers. In Ward 5,
Rev,. S. T. Cooke, a Negro, seeks
election as commissioner. He is
the first Negro to seek public of
fice here.
In Ward 1, Clarence Black, reg
istrar, reported three transfers
from other wards and no new
names added to the registration
'books. The Herald was unalble to
contact the other registrars, Mrs.
H. iR. Parton, ward 2 registrar,
Mrs. Ruth Bowers, registrar in
ward 3, and E. O. White, regis
trar in ward 4.
Pollbooks wiil be open Satur
day and the following Saturday
for inscription of nerw names of
voters and for the handling of
transfers from one ward residence
to another. Registration 'books are
open from 7 o’clock aJm. to 7 p.m.
The election organization has
been completed, with the filling
of a Ward 4 vacancy. E. G. White
has replaced Mrs. Ralph Hullen
der as Ward 4 registrar.
The five ward voting places
are:
Ward 1 — City Hall.
Ward 2 — City Hall.
Ward 3 — Frank Ballard’s Gro
cery (Phenix Store).
Ward 4 — Kings Mountain
Manufacturing Company cluh
room.
Ward 5 — Victory Chevrolet
Company lobby.
TO ILLINOIS
Rev. James >B. MoLarty, pas
tor Of Central Methodist
church, left Tuesday for Great
Lakes, III., for two - weeks
training duty with the navy
assigned to a supervisory chap
lain's seminar at ninth naval
district headquarters. Before
returning here on May 10, he
will attend a meeting of the
National (Military Chaplain’s
association in Chicago.
Handicapped Child?
Notify B. N. Barnes
City school officials are seek
ing information on any chil
dren, either presently of school
age or pre-school age, who are
either mentally or physically
handicapped.
IB. N. Barnes, superintendent,
announced he has an appoint
ment with Felix Barker, of the
State Department oif Public In
struction, on May 9, to discuss
the matter oif special remedial
teaching aid for handicapped
children.
The state department furn
ishes .special teachers for re
medial work where the num
ber otf children needing special
work justifies it, Mr. Barnes
said. Parents of handicapped
Children Should contact Mr.
Barnes’ office.
Red Cross Drive
Quota Is Short
Kings Mountain citizens have
contributed $3,667.41 of a $5,864
quota in the annual fund drive
appeal for the Red Cross.
J. C. Bridges, Kings (Mountain
chairman of the drive, said the
chapter is over $2,000 short of
its 1957 goal and urged area per
sons who had not contributed to
the drive to forward their contri
butions to the chapter or to work,
ers in the campaign.
Workers in the drive are being
asked to make reports as soon
as possible to the drive chairman.
Kings Mountain,'
Grover Citizens
Oppose Utilities
Aid To Industry
The county Iboard of commis
sioners Tuesday adapted a resolu
tion calling a $4.15,000 water and
sewer I bond election Ifor June 8
in spite of strong protest against
the action iby a delegation of
Kings Mountain and Grover citi
zens.
The comments during the hear
ing were sometimes tart and in
dicated an open break between
the thinking of some imemibers
of the delegation and County
Commissioner (Hazel !B. IBumgard
ner, of Kings Mountain.
W. K. Mauney, Kings (Mountain
industrial]ist, organized the dele- ]
gation for which Attorney J. K.:
Davis was the chief spokesman.
Mr. Davis voiced Objections to the
proposal “on general principle",
The Kings Mountain attorney
contended that the county, if it
furnishes water and sewer line
funds for an industry, must toy
rights also furnish septic tanks
and water systems for farmers.
The proposed Ibond issue, which
will Ibe put to county - Wide vote
for decision, is earmarked to sup
ply water and sewer lines to the
proposed multi - million dollar
plant Of (Pittsburgh Plate Glass
Company.-me glass iirtnrrna.s taip- j
peel, a site near Shelby for a fibre
glass plant iwhich would employ
800 to 1,000 persons. Decision on
whether to Ibuild the plant is ex
pected next If all.
Also present at the session
were rap resent atives of the Shel
by Chamlber of Commerce which
is urging passage of the Ibond is
sue and, in fact, is responsible
for the recently enacted legisla
tion empowering counties to
build water and sewer lines.
The commission also designat
ed A. W. (Buck) Archer and
Charles Heath, two Shelby citi
zens, to bring a friendly test case
before the state Supreme Court to
determine validity of the new
legislation,.
IvVoruh LVlorris, one of the
Chamber of Commerce represen
tatives, rebutted Mr. Davis with
the statement that, “It’s not the
farmer who is complaining.”
Commissioner Bumgardner told
the delegation he had been “for
the Pittsburgh development all
the time and am in no position
to Iback up now.”
iMr. Bumgardner told the dele
gation, “1 have a double obliga
tion, to the county as a Iwhole, as
well as to my constituents from
Number 4 and 'Number 5 town
ships. If we disagree, it’s noth
ing personal. I still like you and
hope you like me.”
Chamber of Commerce and
county officials told the delega
tion that the location Of the Pitts
burgh plant in the county would,
in the end, cost the county noth
ing, and would eventually pare
tax rates rather than raise them.
It was noted that iPittsburgh
would pay an estimated $65,000
county tax bill in its second year
in the county.
Mai Spangler, Shelby realtor,
commented, “It’s just a good in
vestment for the county.”
Kings (Mountain and Grover
textile men complained that the
county had not aided them in ob
taining water and sewer facili
ties, and they felt it unfair, as Old
citizens, to pay taxes to bring in
a now industrial citizen.
Other contentions in the dis
cussion included statements that
600 autos are transporting Shelby ;
citizens daily to other places Of I
employment and that many cifi- j
zens in the Casar area are am- j
ployed in ILincolnton and Hick- i
ory.
Mr.. Spangler told the grouip the !
Shelby Chamber of Commerce
would aid Kings Mountain and
any other community in Obtain
ing now payrolls and Zab °V.
(Continued On Page Ten)
Chamber Of Commerce Delegation
Confers With Industrial Prospect
A Chamber of Commerce dele
gation visited Salisbury Tuesday
and conferred with a textile firm
which has indicated interest in
establishing a new plant in Kings
Mountain.
Representing the Chamber of
Commerce were (Fred W. Plonk,
W. K. Mauney, Dan Weiss, and
F. (R. McCurdy,.
Mr. Plonk reported that the
management of the firm, which
makes apparel, reiterated its in
tention to expand and to locate
in Kings Mountain if local citi
zens would construct an air-con
ditioned 'building of 18,000 square
fee; of iflioor space. He added that
the president expects to visit
Kings Mountain soon to inspect
the community.
"Our information from other
sources is that the firm is quite
financially reliaibUe,’’ Mr. Plonk
said.
The operation would toe the
making of apparel and would
employ mostly women, probably
with a (beginning figure of 80,
the firm had previously told
Chamber of Commerce officials.
SPOKE TO LIONS — Col. James
E.. Reilly, commander of the
Charlotte air force reserve center,
addressed members of the Kings
Mountain Lions club Tuesday
night. He discussed the Middle
East situation.
Mid-East Policy
Is Supported
An Air Force coloned, comman
der of the Charlotte Air Reserve
center, thinks the nation “is mov
ing to the black side of the ledger
on its Middle East policy’’.
Col. James E. Reilly addressed
members of the Kings Mountain
Lions cluib Tuesday night, out
lined 'background information on
the importance o/f the IMiddle
East to the United States and al
so listed some of the problems
facing this nation in kee/ping
peace in the Middle East.
Col. Reifly spoke on a program
arranged by Hal S. Plonk, Air
Force reserve major, attached to
the 9940th air reserve squadron.
The colonel spoke against a
long 'background of service both
in the Air Force and the Army.
Prior to his assignment in Char
lotte, he was stationed in Paris,
Frankfurt, and Casatblanca.
Col. Reillly outlined the albjeet
poverty and concurrent royal rule
of most countries oif the Middle
PJast and listed the area’s impor
tance as hinging on the fact it
has 75 percent of the world's oil
reserves. He noted too that re
ligious impacts are heavy, citing
the historic hatred between Aratb
and Jew and the fact that the
Middle East is the spiritual home
of majority Of the world’s popu
lation.
He defended the Eisenhower
doctrine for the Middle East and
noted that iRusisia will continue
to make trouble in the area if
the United States relaxes its vigil.
"We must continue to work for
peace through negotiation,’’ the
colonel declared.
Whitener Flays
Administration
Congressman Basil L. Whitener,
of Gastonia, was in Kings Moun.
tain Tuesday chatting with,
friends on their ideas of Congres.
sional action and otherwise ren
dering service to constituents.
Mr. Whitener jested at the ad.
ministration for its record peace
time budget proposal. “Looks like
we should at least make ’em cut it
down to less than a wartime bud.
get,’’ he commented.
Mr. Whitener also expounded
on the administration’s efforts to
raise interest rates on GI loans,
which Mr. Whitener opposes.
“If we want to abrogate the
whole Serviceman’s Readjust,
ment Act,” then we can let vet
erans pay the same interest rates
as are allowed under the FHA fi.
naneing of houses,” the Congress,
man commented. He added that
he had no interest in abrogating
the act.
Mr. Whitener also commented
on the postal deficit. He remark
ed to City Carrier Wiley Blan
ton, "We’re wanting you to have
a new boss.” Mr. Whitener noted
that Postmaster General Sum
merfield has made great protests
about getting the postal service
on a break even basis, then pro
ceeded to over-spend his budget
and demand a deficiency appro
priation.
SPEAKER
Rev. C. IE. Murray, associate
ipastor of First Methodist
Church in Gastonia, will deliver
the Sunday morning message
here at Central Methodist
church at 11 o'clock. Mr. Mur
ray is the ibrother of Mrs. Y. F.
Throneburg and Boyer Murray,
both of Kings Mountain. No
evening service will foe held
while the .pastor, Rev. J. IB. Mc
Larty, is in Illinois.