Population
Greater Kings Mountain 10.320
City Limits 7.206
fhe figure for Greater Ting* Mountain U derieed from
the IMS King. Mountain city directory «nnn. Tbo City
Limits figure U from the United States census oi 19S0.
Pages
ZU Today
VOL 68 No. 21
Established 1889
Kings Mountain, N. C., Thursday, May 23, 1957
Sixty-Eighth Year
PRICE FIVE CENTS
C, Of C. Defers
Bond Issue Action
Local News
Bulletins
LIONS MEETING
Kings Mountain Lions cluib
will hold its regular monthly
meeting Tuesday night at 7 o’
clock at the Woman’s cluib. Pro
gram Chairman Jonas Bridges
said new officers will 'be elect
ed at this meeting.
ATTEND MEETING
Kings 'Mountain iPresbytery
met Tuesday at IGoshen IPresIby
terian church, Belmont. Rev. P.
P. Patrick attended, along with
iDewitt 'Hambright, of iDixon
Presibyterian church, and ®. G.
Plonk, oif .First Presbyterian
church.
ONE FIRE
Kings Mountain Fire Depart
ment was called to Margrace
Mill Friday night around 2:15
(where a fire was extinguished
in a dryer located in the finish
ing plant, N. M. Farr, city fire
man, reported. No damages
were reported. »
ATTEND CONVENTION
Mr. and Mrs. W. G. Gran
tham, Mr. and Mrs. Charles
Dixon, and Mrs. Ruth Thomas
son, returned Wednesday morn
ing from Asheville where they
attended a four - day conven
tion oif the North Carolina Au'to
Dealers Association.
MOOSE MEETING
Kings Mountain Moose Lodge
1748 will hold their regular
weekly meeting at the lodge on
[Bessemer City road at 8:15,
Thursday night, according to
an announcement.
Jaycees Support
County Bond Vote
Kings Mountain Jaycees Tues
day night voted to support the
June 8 county bond issue to sup
ply water and sewer lines to a
proposed Pittsburgh Plate Glass
Company plant.
Charles Heath, president of the
Shelby Junior Chamber of Com
merce, had outlined the proposal,
and the Jaycees held a long dis
cussion before motion to support
the [bond issue was made.
(President Delbert Dixon said
there were sdme “nay” votes but
that the motion carried [by a clear
majority.
T. W. Dana, personnel manager
of General Electric plant, Hick
ory, was guest speaker at the
Jaycee meeting held Tuesday
night at 7 o’clock at the Woman’s
club, Delbert Dixon, president, re
ported.
(Mr. Dana showed slides on the
Hickory General Electric plant
and explained the plant’s opera
tion system.
Mr. Dixon also reported that
there would be a director’s meet
ing to be held next Tuesday at 7
o’clock at B. F. Maner Insurance
Agency.
Summer School
Plans Are Set
The city schools will operate
a summer .session this year be
ginning on June 12 for science
students and on June 18 for stu
dents in other suibjects.
The board of education ap
proved plans outlined toy Supt.
B. N. Barnes Monday night.
The plans call for a tuition of
$24 for science suibjects, $22 for
other subjects. Classes would
end on July 31.
Mr. Barnes also reported 18
persons are interested in enroll
ing In a summer night class in
typing. The class would total 32
hours and would provide no cre
dit. He said it was estimated the
fee tor this class would be $15.
inrectois await
Supreme Court
Legality Result
Kings Mountain Chamber of
Commerce’s board Of directors
voted unanimously last Thurs
day night to postpone action on
support or opposition to the forth
coming county bond issue until
the State Supreme Court rules on
the legality of county’s building
water and sewer facilities.
The action caime aifter long
discussion and was on motion ot
Warren (Reynolds and (Bruce
Thoiiburn’s second. The action
preceded the board’s hearing of
an outline of the proposal pre
sented by a' group of Shelby
Chamber oif Commerce members,
including A. W. (Buck) Archer,
spokesman for the group, A. A.
Powell, attorney, and Paul Lime
rick, secretary of the ShelJby
Chamber of Commerce. County
Commissioner Hazel B. Bumgard
ner was also present.
The meeting opened with an
outline olf objections to the $415, -
000 county [bond issue by J. R.
Davis, Kings Mountain attorney,
who was spokesman for a Num
ber 4 Township delegation which
opposed the original bond resolu
tion before the county board of
commissioners. Mr. Davis said he
opposed the issue on “general
principle”, hoped Pitt sjb u r g h
would locate in the county.
!Mr. Davis predicted the recent,
ly - passed state law empowering
counties to build water and sew
er lines would be declared illegal
Iby the Supreme Court. Hearing on
this lalw, in a friendly test case
brought by Mr. Archer, was be
ing held Wednesday in Raleigh
before the court. Ruling is antici
pated on or about June 1.
Later, Attorney Powelll estimat
ed the law had a 50 - 50 chance
of being declared illegal. He
pointed out that the Supreme
Court, in the past, has held il
legal the public building of air
ports, recreation facilities and
schools. “Thinking of the people
change and so does thinking of
the Court,” he commented.
The discussion by the Chamber
of Commerce revealed objection
to the bond issue by W. K. Mau
ney and President Carl Siwan,
while Warren E. Reynolds and
Fred W. Plonk said they favored
the organization’s endorsement of
the issue.
•Mr. Mauney said, “IVe got
credit for opposing the bringing
of neiw industry into the county.
That’s not true. However, I feel
Number 6 Township should pay
the bill, since this is the town
ship that will 'benefit most from
the plant’s coming here. I’M be
glad for Pittsburgh to come to
Cleveland County.”
President Swan questioned the
lack Of guarantees that future
county commissions would listen
(Continued on Page Eight J
Kiwanians Will Entertain Ladies;
Dode Phillips Banquet Speaker
, Dode Phillips, Due West, S. C.,
drug .salesman and former Er
Skine college football luminary,
will be the principal speaker
Thursday night at the annual
ladles night 'banquet of the Kings
Mountain Kilwanis clu/b.
The event will begin at 7 o’
clock.
Other highlights of the annual
party will be entertainment by
the Rebels Quartet, of Charlotte,
and dinner music on the organ
by Mrs.C F. R. MdCurdy.
iRev. J. B. MdLarty will serv?
as master of ceremonies.
;Dr. W. L. Pressly will say the
Invocation and Dr. IX F. Hbrd
will welcome the ladies. Mrs.
I Paul Nolan will respond. Special
: guests will 'be recognized by "B.
I S. Peeler, Jr., and Harold Coggins
will present Mr. Phillips.
Members Of the ladies night
committee are John Cheshire,
; chairman, B. S. Peeler, Jr., F. R.
j McCurdy, J. C. Bridges. J.. C.
i Smathers, Dr. D. F. Hord, and J.
! A. Neialer, Jr.
SPEAKER — Dode Phillips. Due
West S. C., drug salesman, will
be tiie principal speaker at
Thursday night's annual ladies
night banquet of the Kings
Mountain Kiwants dub.
SCHOOL MEN TAKES OATHS — Mayor Glee A. Bridges, left, ad- i
ministers the oath of office to Dr. P. G. 'Padgett, centfer, and Fred W.
Plonk, in formal oath . taking ceremonies at City Hall last Thursday.
Both Dr. Padgett and Mr. Plonk were re-elected to six - year terms
as members of the city board of education. Mr. Plonk has since been 1
named chairman of the board. (Photo by Pennington Studio.)
<s*>-—
Plonk Chairman
Of School Body;
Insurance Bought
IFred W. Plonk and A. W. Kin
caid swapped school jobs (Monday
night, as Mr. Plonk was named
chairman of the city iboard of ed
ucation, and Mr. Kincaid was
named vice - chairman.
The board of education also
accepted an insurance proposal
from C. E. Warlick Insurance A
gency, purchasing a blanket pol
icy on its properties covering fire
and lightning hazards at an aver
age cost of $1,073.57 per year,. A
mount of the coverage was $978,
842, with net premium based on
90 percent df 100 percent insur
able value df $1,087,380. The poli
cy provides coverage on all city
school buildings and contents.
Mrs. C. E. Warlick and John War
lick appeared before the boStrd
to outline details of the proposal.
The board declined to accept a
proposal for extended coverage,
but inivited Mrs. Warlick to pro
vide figures on cost of extended
coverage at various deductible a
mounts. *“
iDean Payne, chairman of the
city recreation commission, ap
peared before the board to renew
request for use of certain play
ground equipment at the Deal
street pool. The board voted to
lend the commission the equip
ment, including a set df swings
and sliding board, which had
originally been given the schools
by the commission.
The board declined to share
with the city and commission in
purchasing 72 bulllbs for city sta
dium lights, as Mr. Payne asked.
In other actions the board:
1) Voted to erect a steel wire
fence on the west boundary line
of Central school.
2) Was informed by J. R. 'Davis
that deeds to properties being
(Continued on Page Eight)
APPOINTED — Donu;j E. McCar
ter, of Kings Mountain, has re
ceived principc.i appointment to
the United States Air Force Acad
emy, following competitive
examinations.
McCarter Named
To AF Academy
iDonald 'E. McCarter, son otf Mr.
and Mrs. Oscar McCarter of Kings
'Mountain, has completed .suc
cesstfu'lly competitive examina
tions to enter the United States
Air Force Academy at Denver,
Colo.
, fiesults of the examinations
were released last week and iwere
announced for this congressional
district :by Congressman 'Basil
L. Whitener,.
Mr. MdCarter, a graduate of
Lees - MdfSae college at Banner
Elk, is currently a student at
Georgia Tech. He is a former high
school athlete and Legion Junior
basefballl player.
(Congressman iWhitener tele
graphed newspapers of the 11th
Congressional district:
'^Arn pleased that 3 of 8 con
testants from the 11th District
were found to Ibe mentally anc.
physically qualified. Donald E.
McCarter of Kings LMountain,
North Carolina, is a principal and
will entef the Air Force Academy
in July. James IH. Arthur, Jr., ol
Mount Holly, and Emory D. Chris
aiwn otf Celo, North Carolina, have
been selected as qualified alter
nates. Air Force advises me that
of 6,000 candidates nominated
only 1,200 were found to be phy
sically qualified. Two of the
eight from our district were dis
qualified for medical reasons. Am
delighted with the splendid
showing made by my nominees
in this rigid competition (by 119
young North Carolinians for sev
en vacancies alloted by the Air
Force Academy to the State of
North Carolina.”
ELECTED
Bill Mitcham, Kings Moun
tain student at Lenoir . Rhyne
college, Hickory, has been e
lected (president c*f the sopho
more Class tor the coming year.
1 'A member of Theta Ohl frater
nity, he is active in other cam
pus activities. <He resides here
| with an aunt and uncle, IMr.
and Mrs. John Mitcham.
Doctors Oppose
Mass Polio Shots,
Say Serum Short
The Cleveland County medical
society is opposing an effort of
some Cleveland County (Lions
clubs for mass innoculation otf
county citizens against polio.
The doctors oppose the Lions
clubs' plan on grounds there is
insufficient polio serum, Dr.
Avery MdMurry, secretary, said
Wednesday. (Ed. Note: Kings
Mountain Lions club has not yet
acted on the project.)
Text of the society’s resolution
adopted Monday night:
“The Cleveland County Medi
cal society enthusiastically reaf
firmed its stand of 1936 to pro
vide free polio vaccinations in
doctor’s offices for any patients
unalble to pay for them, in addi
tion to taking care of private pa
tients, as in the past.
“The society agreed unani
mously with the Lions cluibs ol
Cleveland County that every
man, woman and child should be
vaccinated against polioi. How
ever, in view of the present scar
city of the vaccine, the society
recommends that the vaccine 'be
used only for those under 20 years
of age and for pregnant women,
rather than widespread innocula
tions of other groups as proposed
by the Lions clubs.
“It was also felt that vaccina
tions for the former group could
be accomplished in physicians’
offices and in existing county
health department facilities with
out establishing other clinics or
vaccination centers.”
Dr. Fred Falls, public relations
chairman otf the society, explain
ed that, whereas the Lions clu'bs
purpose is exemplary, it would be
a poor decision and unwise use
otf polio vaccine to vaccinate the
20-40 ago group when such a
shortage of vaccine exists, public
health authorities have recently
commented on the .shortage, Dr.
Falls added.
Some Lions clubs, the Herald
understands, have suggested a
program of mass innocuiations.
Seamstresses
To Be Questioned
LA sewing supervisor of a 'North
Carolina firm interested in ex
panding in Kings (Mountain will
be here Thursday to interview
women interested in working as
seamstresses in the proposed new
industry.
Announcement was made by
Dan iWeiss and F. R. McCurdy,
Chamlber of Commerce officials.
The interviewing will be con
ducted at the Kings Mountain of
fice oil the State Employment Se
curity Commission, which aided
the Chamlber of Commerce in con
ducting a seamstress labor sur
vey Bwo weeks ago.
Women Avho reported commer
cial experience as seamstresses
will be interviewed Thursday
morning, 'beginning at 9 o'clock.
These are being notified by card.
l\Vamen with only home - sew
ing experience and apprentices
will be interviewed Thursday aft
ernoon beginning at 1 o’clock.
“All women who registered at
the labor survey and any others
with sewing experience should
visit the ESC office for the inter
view,’’ Mr. Weiss commented. “A
vail ability olf experienced seam
stresses is one of the key factors
in obtaining this needed new in
dustry for Kings Mountain ”
Rites Conducted
For Mrs. Black
iFuneral rites for Mrs. Mary j
Lou Perry 'Brack, 20, resident of
Lir>wood Drive, were conducted j
Wednesday morning at 11 o’clock
from Mid view Baptist Church, in
terment following in Mountain
Rest Cemetery.
Mrs. Black, .wife of Lawrence
Black, ’Jr., succumlbed Monday
morning at 8:15 in (Charlotte's
Mercy Hospital following an ill
ness of four weeks.
Surviving, in addition to her
husband, are her father and step
mother, (Mr,, and Mrs. Jesse Lee
Perry, two daughters, Barbara
Ann and 'Debra Roxann, and a
sister, Mrs. Shirley Short, all ol
Kings Mountain.
'Final rites were conducted toy
iRev. John T>. Owens, IRev. Odus
tfayes, and Rev. (Buddy Williams.
Political Temperatures Hot
As Candidates Vie For Votes
Garland E. Still
Glee A. Bridges
CANDIDATES FOR MAYOR
■S' ii: m \
Boyce H. Gault
A. Dewitte Cornwell
IT UK WAtiU Z
W. Gurney Grantham
R. Coleman Stroupe
FOR WARD 5 COMMISSIONER
Gault Denies Handbill Knowledge;
Comwell Says He Joined Navy
-<s
Did Ellison Make
Announcement?
T. J. (Tommy) Ellison, defeated
May 14 In his re-election bid for
Ward 3 commissioner, probably
made one of the earliest political
announcements in city history
last Thursday morning as he at
tended the final meeting of Brid
ges Administration II.
Mayor Bridges ihad asked the
defeated commissioners ilf there
were anything they fished to
say.
'Mr. Ellison ijpoke first, said he
had enjoyed working on the
board. "I have only one Objection
and that’s to the chief of police,
and I’ll see you in two years,”
Mr. Ellison concluded.
Both Sam Collins and Paul W. j
Ledford said they’d enjoyed their
association with other members
of the 'board, and Mr. Ledford
said, “I’m proud we had no fuss
ing: atl our arguments iwere
friendly.”
Mayor Bridges said he had en
joyed the ^peaceful” administra
tion.
(Last official act of Bridges Ad
ministration II was formal call
ing off the May 28 run-off elec
tion. The motion specified the
same Officials and the same vot
ing places as in the 'May 14 vot
ing.
Boyce H. Gault, candidate tor
Ward 2 commissioner, says he
has no knowledge otf the circular
distributed Thursday morning
which interred his opponent, A.
Dewitte Cornwell, left Kings
Mountain some years ago under
questiona'ble circumstances.
The circular also brought a
statement from Mr. Cornwell in
which he said he left Kings
Mountain at the age of 17 to join
the navy, his father, A. H. Corn
well, longtime Kings Mountain
citizen, having signed the enlist
ment papers because his son was
under the enlistment age.
The circular, printed out-of
town, read: ????? WONDER
WHY A. DEWITTE OOtRlNWELL
left Kings Mountain in such a
HUIRRY about 30 years ago and
Just Recently 'Returned?? ^SK
THE POLKS AT CORA MILL!!!
Signed Raymond Short,."
As oif Wednesday afternoon,
none seemed to be able to locate
the purported signer of the cir
cular.
(Mr. Gault, after hearing otf the
circular’s distribution, visited Mr.
Cornwell to tell him he had no
knowledge of the circular in ad
vance of its distribution, later
called the Herald to ask that a
statement be printed.
"I have no knowledge of the
circular in question,” (Mr. Gault
said, “nor will I have any know
ledge of any future printed ma
terial, other than a newapape.
(Continued on Page Eight)
Mayoial Race
Is Attracting
Top Interest
Kings 'Mountain is completing
its biennial city political season
in a welter of campaign litera
ture featuring question marks
and rumors.
The voters will go to the polls
again Tuesday to determine these
run-off races:
,For Mayor — Glee A. Bridges,
the incumbent and leader in the
first, election, versus former May
or Garland E. Still.
iFor Ward 2 Commissioner —
Boyce H. Gault, grocer, leader in
the May 14 voting, versus A. De
witte Cornwell, grocer and real
tor.
'For Ward 5 Commissioner —
W. Gurney Grantham, the incum
bent, an auto dealer, versus R.
Coleman Stroupe, ibanber. Mr,
Grantham led the first-race bal
loting.
Chief interest has centered in
the mayoral contest, which has
developed into a propaganda bat
tle between Mayor Bridges and
former Mayor Still. Both have us
ed political handbills in almost
daily regularity to advance theii
candidacies and to attack theii
opponent. Mr. Bridges has charg
ed Mr. Still with failure to pay
city tax bills and other defalca
tions, while Mr. Still has accused
Mayor Bridges of seeking to
“Ibuy” the election and has chal
lenged his figures on the city’s
current cash balances.
The commissioner races have
been less fraught with publica
tions, but the in fighting has
been hard and close.
In the first race balloting May
or Bridges led Mr. Still by 183
votes, but Mr. Bridges failed to
obtain a majority by 156 votes.
The count was: Bridges 834, Still
651, J. Lee Rolberts 493.
Mr. Gault led Mr. Cornwell by
348 votes, Mr,. Gault failing to
attain a majority by 98 votes. The
count iwas: Gaullt 850, Cornwell
502, Tillman Pearson 377 and J.
C. Clary 165.
In Ward 5, Mr. Grantham fail
ed to obtain a May 14 majority
by 103 votes. The count iwas:
Grantham 868, Stroupe 789, Rev.
S. T. Cooke 283.
The run-off election will be
conducted by the same election
officials who conducted the May
14 voting. Theipolling places will
be the same and the voting lists
will ,be the same. Polls open
Tuesday morning at 6:30 and will
close Tuesday afternoon at 6:30.
Political Observers have been
speculating on the size of the run
off election vote. Some think the
voting will be light, with only
six candidates on the ballot com
pared to 17 May 14. Others think
the voters will return in near
record numbers, due to the heavy
and articulate campaigning.
The vote total of May 14 set
a record for'city elections, (when
1998 persons went to the polls. It
topped the previous record, set in
1951, of 1887.
Run-Off Election
Facts Are Listed
Following are facts on Tues
day's city election:
Polls open at 6:30 a. m.
Polls close at 6:30 p.m.
Voting places are: Ward 1 at
City Hall; Ward 2 at City Hall;
Ward 3 at Frank Ballard’s
Store; Ward 4 at Kings Moun
tain Manufacturing Company
clubroom; Ward 5 at Victory
Chevrolet Company.
Offices to be filled by all
voters: Mayor, Ward 2 commis
sionership, and Ward 5 com
mlssionership.
Humber of ballots: one.
Basis of decision: majority of
the votes cast.
The board of commissioners
serves, ex officio, as the city
election board. The present
.board will meet on Wednesday
morning at 10 a. m. to official
ly canvas the Tuesday results.
Candidates elected on Tuesday
iwill take their oath£ of Office
on Thursday.