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VOL. 87 NO. 88
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KINGS MOUNTAIN, NORTH CAROLINA 88088 THURSDAY, SBPTBIIBER 88,1878
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Businessmen^ Merchants Asked For Ideas
CBD Traffic Control Is Talked
By TOM MCINTYRE
Editor, Mlrror'HetmUl
TTie tint of a Mrlei of meotlnga of
the King! Mountain Traffic Flow
Committee was held Monday night
and the majority of the W-mlnutes ■
was spent by merchants airing
parking complaints.
Commissioner Fred Wright,
committee chairman, said the
meeting would be Informal and
before he could ask those attending
for their comments on how better to
pattern the traffic flow In the central
business district he was deluged by
complaints on parking.
Horace Hord, who operates BAB
Food Store on S. Battleground Ave.,
complained that “there has been no
paiiclng for customers downtown In
two years and from the looks of this
periling lot being built, there wlU not
be a lot of parking available In the
future either.”
Hord, along with Mrs. Woodrow
Grayson of Grayson's Jewelry, said
that employes from other businesses
In town are using the limited on
street parking on W. Mountain and
Battleground. Hord said, “There are
a number of retired people who
cone early In the morning to park
and stay there all day.”
Mrs. Grayson said that people who
do business with the billiard psirlor
on W. Mountain St. take up parking
spaces for long periods of time,
which cuts out other business
customer parking.
Willie Webb, planner with
Isothermal Region C Planning told
the gathering at city hall that
"businessmen have some hard facts
to face. If there Is no parking
available near your place of
business, then you might consider
buying a piece of property nearby
tor your customers.”
Webb said that in his own
hometown businessmen were faced
with this situation and they were
advised to consider this suggestion.
“Half of the businesses closed their
doors rather than consider providing
parking at their own expense for
customers,” he said. “There la no
easy way to put It, but It appears
that business people. In general,
wait for the dty to provide such
facUltlea so they can take advantage
of the taxpayer’s money rather than
their own.”
Odus Smith, owner-operator of the
Western Auto Store on S. Cherokee
St., ssdd, “I have spaces for 80 cars I
have provided myself. Now I need
someway to get traffic in the
downtown area to fill those spaces.”
He said the streets In the down
town business district have been
tom up for so long that “there Is no
traffic flow to speak of.”
In this William Fulton of Fulton’s
Department Store agreed. He said
the property behind his own store,
which runs from S. Cherokee to S.
Piedmont, will soon become another
municipal periling lot. He also
agreed that employes In downtown
businesses are creating a problem
with the limited on atreet spaces by
parking there all day long. Fulton
suggested that downtown merchants
get together to set some policies on
employe parking to tsike care of thla
problem.
A1 Morets, the city codes director,
who la also doubling in brass as a
city planner and public works
director presently, suggested that
front door customer parking is not
necessary.
“You see this fact In the shopping
centers,” Morets said. “Take
TGAY. There Is amide parking at
West Gate and the majority of It Is
not at the front door. People who
have to park closer to the street In
City Is Expecting
Word From Ford
At prbsatlmo t]#.» week ihex r.as
still no word fror The White ’ louse
on President Ford's plans to accept
or decline an Invitation to join In the
October 7, 8 and 0 celebration In
Kings Mountain.
Mayor John H. Moss, general
chairman of the joint North and
South Carolina and Kings Mountain
celebration of the Battle of Kings
Mountain, said, “Possibly there will
be some word on The President’s
decision today, according to my
Informatlan.”
WESTMORELAND
Named
To Post
In Grover
GROVER - Dean West
moreland has been appointed to
the Grover Town Council to fill
the unexplred term of R. E.
Hambrlght.
Hambrlght resigned recently
to serve on the Cleveland County
Industrial Facilities and
Pollution Control Financing
Authority.
Westmoreland, appointed last
ITiursday night, will be sworn In
at the next regular meeting. The
term runs for approximately
one year.
The Grover resident Is a
teacher at Kings Mountain
Senior High, Immediate past
president of the N. C.
Association of Educators and
was an unsuccessful candidate
for the N. C. Senate In the
August 17 Democratic Primary.
Me ’nwhl* , p'an. Jug ft i the local
three-day c>ilebratlbn are continuing
with several e\'ent> firmed and
others In various planning stages.
The rocking chair marathon,
announced last week, will begin at 10
a. m. Thurs., Oct. 7 on the paved lot
beside Nelsler Brothers. At 3:30 p.
m. a fashion show Is scheduled. At
7:30 p. m. two events will take place
— In the new municipal parking lot
off S. Cherokee St. there will be a
senior high pep rally and street
dance and at the community center
a square dance Is planned for the
senior citizens.
The Kings Mountain Chamber of
Commerce and Merchants
Association also announces a
Mountaineer Days Sale which will
continue from Oct. 7-0 with a
drawing for two grand prizes
scheduled at 4 p. m.. Sat., Oct. 9 In
the new downtown parking lot. (See
Mountaineer Days ad In today’s
Mirror-Herald).
At 3 p. m. October 7 there will be
the culmination of the Over
mountain Men march In the Kings
Mountain National Military Park
with an address by Gen. West
moreland In the amphitheatre.
On Fri., Oct. 8 at 8:80 a. m. Mayor
Moss will officiate at dedication
ceremonies of the municipal parking
lot. In attendance will be Miss North
Carolina — Susie Proffitt, and Miss
South Carolina — Lavlnla Cox.
Crime Preventitm Meeting Tonigiu
citizens are Invited to attend a
Community Crime Prevention
meeting tonight at 7 p. m. at the
Kings Mountsdn Community Center.
Sponsored by the KM Police
Department and Citizens On Patrol
and Emergencies (COPE), this
month’s meeting will cover
Operation Identification sind how It
helps reduce the loss by theft of
personal property.
A 27-mlnute color film — “Brink
Of Disaster” — will also be shown
during the meeting.
Elections Office Open Saturdays
The Cleveland County Board of
Elections office, 311 E. Warren St.,
Shelby, will be open Sat., Sept. 36
and Sat., Oct. 1 from 9a.m. until 5p.
m. to register voters who are unable
to come during the week.
Persons may also register at the
home of the registrars and qualified
judges In their precincts by ap
pointment.
Hazel McNellly Is the Beth ware
registrar (789-4830); Geraldine
Myers Is the West KM registrar (780-
that parking lot have further to walk
to shop than anywhere In the
downtown area.
“TTie reason people don’t mind
parking aitd walking some distance
to 8h<g> Is because they have easy
access to parking and to the shopping
places.” he continued. “That Is what
will have to be done in the downtown
area.”
Moretz said the downtown area
has already taken the first steps
toward thla with mall-type planning.
He also suggested that within 10
years the downtown businesses will
have turned their tracks completely
toward the railroad tracks and that
front entrances will be facing onto
the parking lot.
’"nie downtown businessmen and
merchants are going to have to
capltlUze on the mall-type effect,”
he said. “The key to success la
providing parking, but more Im
portantly, providing easy access to
the parking."
Moretz suggested the merchants
get together and come up with
suggestions on traffic patterns. He
ssdd traffic can be controlled, It can
be dictated.
Webb told the gathering that
..’’when the by-pass opens the
downtown area Is going to be helped
ccnslderably because people who do
not want to bypass the city are going
to have to come Into the downtown
area. By plaimlng now on traffic
control you will be ahead of the
game and will be able to help dictate
which way the traffic flows.”
Webb will assist the city pUnners
and the CBD businessmen and
merchants In planning traffic flow In
the coming weeks.
i
At 10:30 a. m. N. C. Gov. Jim
Holshouser and S. C. Gov. James
Edwards will meet at the state
borders Inside the military park to
shake hands and drink a toast of
mountain spring water.
Following the “Hsuids Across The
Mountain” meeting the governors
will officiate at dedication
ceremonies of the new Kings
Mountain National Military Park
visitor center dedication.
At 1 p. m. the City of Kings
Mountain will host a dinner for
special invited guests at the Kings
Mountain Country Club.
A parade Is planned for 3:30 p. m.
In the downtown area featuring
bands, floats, the two governors and
other attractions.
From6:30to7:30p. m. asupperls
planned In the senior high cafeteria
and at 8 p. m. the Mountaineers host
the Burns Bulldogs at John Gamble
Stadium. At 8:16 p. m. wrestling
matches are idanned at the com
munity center and at 9 p. m. a street
dance.
Sat., Oct. 9 a sidewalk arts and
crafts show Is slated downtown from
10 a. m.-4 p. m. A pet show Is set for 1
p. m. and at 8 p. m., a battle
celebration dance Is set at the
National Guard Armory.
Other events are being planned to
make this three full days of ac
tivities, Mayor Moss said.
m
FIRST CHECK FOR KMUF - Larry Wood, chair
man of the Kings Mountain United Fund, accepts a
check for 8900 from Ron Osborne, Industrial division
gifts chairman. The check represents a corporate gift
Photos By Tom McIntyre
from Wise Industries, which has been In business about
three months here. Another $208 has been pledged by
Wise employes.
New Standards Approved
Engravers for marking personal
property will be made available to
citizens at tonight’s meeting.
At the October meeting at the
community center. Chief Earl Lloyd
will present a film entitled “How To
Say No To A Rapist.” The criminal
act of rape Is Increasing and steps
are being devised by police to assist
women In warding oft criminal
sexual attacks. Oilef Lloyd will
discuss the subject along with the
film.
0188); and Margaret White la Bast
KM registrar (789-4010). CaU for an
appointment.
The deadline for registering for
^e November 3 general election la 6
p. m. Mon., Oct. 4.
Applications for absentee ballots
will be Issued from October 4
through 6 p. m.. Wed., Oct. 37. All
applications must be returned to the
elections board office by 0 p. m. on
October 37.
ByTOMMcINTYRE
Editor, Mirror-Herald
The city has approved new
minimum standards for fire depart
ment, water and waste treatment
plant applicants.
Under the fire department
mlnlmums new iq>pllcanta will take
a written examination scheduled
by the State Employment Security
Commission, submit to a thorough
background check, a physical
examination, an agility teat and. If
accepted, work a six month
probation period.
Water and waste treatment plant
applicants must be high school
graduate or obtain the equivalent
within one year of date of employ
ment, serve a one year probationary
period, obtain a Grade C certificate
for water and Grade 3 In waste
water within two years of em
ployment and take the ESC general
aptitude test and score In the
medium range.
MlkeCSturch, foreman uf the city’s
water and waste treatment plants,
said, “At present all of our operators
have the required educational and
certified backgrounda to operate the
water and waste plants. These new
minimum standards, some of which
are suggested by the State Board of
Health, are for new employes who
will someday be In positions of
responsibility.”
Church said the state places a
water plant Into either an A, B or C
classification according to the
number of gallons processed per day
and the amount of chemicals added.
The city’s water plant Is Class A and
has a Class A operator - <3iurch.
Waste treatment plants are
graded as 1, 3, 8 and 4. Ihe city has
two plants for waste treatment —
the McGill Plant, which Is a aass 3,
and the Pilot Creek Plant, Class 8.
The plant operators have the
required certlflcatea. Church said
the Grade 3 certificate employe will
have to become a Grade 8 within the
next two years, however.
Church said that all present
employes will be required to obtain
Grade C certification for the water
plant and a Grade 3 for the waste
treatment plant within two years.
While water and waste plant
Firefighters
Open Toys For
Tots Campeugn
The Kings Mountain Fire
Department has begun Its annual
Toys For Tots campaign.
ITils project, which began with the
city’s fire department, Is aimed at
providing toys for youngsters who
otherwise would be deprived on
Christmas Day.
The firefighters are looking for
repairable toys (and even new toys)
to be donated by area citizens. The
repairable toys and bikes will be
collected If citizens will call 780-3663.
Fire Chief Gene Hgnor said, “We
would like to request toys and bikes
only. Any clothing Items citizens
may wish to donate should be given
to the Salvation Army.”
However, If citizens wish It the
firefighters will collect clothing
Items along with toys and make
arrangements to get the clothing to
the Salvation Army for their
distribution to the needy program.
As In the past, the Kings Mountain
MlnUterial Association will assist
the fire department In distributing
the toys at CTu-lstmas. The KMMA
will provide a list of the needy and
make appointments for them to
collect toys from a central
distribution point.
applicants may fall between the
ages of 18 and 60, new applicants for
the fire department must be 19 to 86,
according to Fire Chief Gene llgnor.
TTie fire department minimum
standards follow closely the
mlnlmums adopted for the police
(Please Tun To Page 8A)
DSA WINNER - Roy Pearson,
Kings Mountain Recreation
Department director, holds bis
Distinguished Service Aweard
presented by the KM Jaycees. The
plaque Is for Pearson’s “years of
dedicated service to the com-
nsinlty.” Pearson has served the
city’s youth In recreation planning
for 20 years, the last seven as a city
employe.