Winnin/( Newspaper
VOL. 8T NO. 41
KltiG^ MOUHTWh
MIRROR-HGRhLD
KINOS MOUNTAIN. NOBTH OABOLINA MMCTHUBSDAT. OOTOBBB U, IVM
15'
Downtown Merchants
Mi
Plan Beautification
BjrTOMMelNTTBK
About a
'nie mooting wm oponoorod by tho
Oiambor of Oommorco and Mor-
chanto Aoaoclatlon Downtown
Oommltteo with Charlea Blanton,
tain bualnoaamon mot with Sholby chairman, proaldlng.
archltocta Crawford Muiphy and Blanton tormod tho oowmown
Kennoth BoU Tuooday night at tho group aa "looao-knlt and without
country club to bogln planning a fUnda,” yot at tho ond of tho two-
boautlflcatlon program In tho hour planning aoaalon it waa
control bualnoaa dlatrlct.
genorally agroed that Murphy bo ro-
mon on an Individual baala.
Tho flrat atop to bo takon la tho
adoption of a color thomo and typoa
at matorlala to bo uaod to croato tho
unlflod boautlflcatlon concopt.
Socondly, boautlflcatlon of tho
buildings abutting tho now city
parking plam.
(Please Turn To Pago UA)
mi
Firm To Study Electric Rate
at purchaaod powor, systom
oporaUon, system construction and
malntonanco to establish guideline
Southeastern Consulting limits for any proposed rates or rate
Bnglnoors, Inc. will conduct a study revisions.
of the Kings Mountain electric retail Southeastern will also prepare a
rate schedules. comparative rate chart for all
'll Tho film will provide the city with existing and proposed rates. The
I a financial analysis. Including costs charts will show the average cost of
☆☆☆ ☆☆☆
' Ltozar bistnunent For W&S Work
I I ' . Locating and Installing water and sewer lines will be accomplished far
k more easily and In less time using a new piece of equipment purchased by
II the board of commissioners Monday night.
The Laser Instrument, purchased under a bid from Oyro Laser, Inc. lor
«6,400, removes aU guess worii In selecting proper location and In-
ii stallatlon for proper fall.
|l The advertisement for bids on the Instrument wan published twice
, if I because three bids were needed on first advertising. However, under the
^ law, the second time at least one bid Is legal. The board received two bids.
[ The second bid was for a lasar Instrument more adapted to survey work.
The Oyro Lasar Instrument carries an U-month guarantee and will be
i I— deUvered within a week.
[ ( Vibrating Roller Demonstration
if Oommlsaloner James ChUders moved to table a dpclalon on the pur-
r i chase of a vibrating roller for the street department until after bidders
I can give the city officials a practical demonstration.
, 1 This Item was also advertised twice, but only two bids were received.
I * The low bidder Is Western Carolina Tractor Co. with a bid of t3,lS6.S0.
' The equipment from WC Tractor meets all qMclflcatlons.
' I The demonstration Is expected this week and the board will meet In a
11 spbelal session following that to make a decision.
energy for each rate to show the
city's competitive position In the
various cost classes.
Charts will also be prepared for
the equivalent rates of Duke Power
and will include both the demand
and energy^nly rates.
Once the comparative schedules
of both the city and Its suppUer,
IXike Power, are charted, recom
mendations for city rates adjust
ments will be offered. The recom
mendations will be for rates that will
allow the city to keep from loelng
income on power and system
maintenance.
The study will also provide the
commissioners with calculations of
the effect of any proposed rate revi
sion on the Individual bills and on the
city’s total revenue. Southeastern
wlU tabulate by blocks on the In
dividual bills for a representative
month.
In a letter to the commissioners,
D. B. Lampke, president of
Southeastern consultant Engineers,
Inc., said “Proposed electric rates
will be deeigned to be comparable
with the equivalent rates of D&ki '
Power where such levels will not
result In the city's selling power and
energy below cost and will be
designed to meet the city’s budge
tary requirements. '
“The proposed rates will also
reflect the requirements at system
(Please Turn To Page UA)
CUTTINQ THE BIBBON - Uncle Sam (Sidney
Hodgln), Miss North Carolina -Susie Protfitt, Mayor
John H. Moos and Dick Ellis, director of the N. C.
Photo By Tom McIntyre
Bioentennlal Oommlselon, officiated at the dedication
of the new Kings Mountain Parking Plam last Friday
morning during the three-day Battle of KM celebration.
Surplus City Vehicles Are Sold Voting Equipment
Seven city-owned autoe and one motorcycle were sold to highest bid
ders at Monday night’s board meeting.
Six autoa and the Harley Davidson motorcycle were police department
vehicles and one car was used by the firs department.
The motorcycle, which brought the highest single bid, was sold to J.
Fred Withers for |600. Two 1978 Dodge model cars went to M. C. Pruette
Used Cars for a total of $838. Jim’s Used Cars of Bessemer City pur
chased one 1969 Ford, one 1970 Plymouth, two 1971 Plymouths and
one 1978 Dodge for a total price of $978.
Construction Materials Bought
The commissioners awarded a contract to OrlnneU Corp. of Charlotte
for all materials needed for the construction of water and sewer lines In
the Cansler St. urban renewal project.
The total contract bid was $83,440.74.
AU items needed were based on unit pricing and (Jommlssloner Jim
CSiUders’ motion Included the stipulation that any additional Items above
the R-oe Job estimate be sold the city at the same unit price. And further
that should the project require less than the estimate, the fee be reduced
according.
Part of the material Is expected to be deUvered late this week and the
complete contract In two to three weeks.
The R-06 project Is estimated to be completely entirely by early spring
of ion.
Police Radios Purchased
Motorola of Charlotte wlU receive an order for 16 personal portable
radios to be used by the Kings Mountain PoUce Department.
Four sealed bids on the units were received by Chief Earl Uoyd
Monday and he recommended the Motorola unltn as the best for the Job.
The 16 units wUl cost a total of $18,646.60. The city’s share of this cost Is
five percent. The other 96 percent of the cost wUl be paid from federal and
state funds under an LEAA grant program.
Chief Lloyd made appUcatlon through the Region C Criminal Juattce
, Division last month for 33 units. He told the board Monday that LEAA
. jraat money was not available for aU 33 unlU. The department has six
serlvcable units at present.
DeUvery of the newunlU wUl be within six weeks and parU and service
are avaUable through Orlnnell In Charlotte.
Parking Meters On Sale
FoUowlng an example from other munlclpallUes, the Kings Mountain
Commissioners voted Monday night to seU on a first come, first serve
basis the 60 - 60 surplus parking meters now In storage.
The meters were removed from city streets about three and a half
years ago and have been stored since.
The meters wlU seU for no leas than ^6 and are available through tho
city clerk’s office.
What can you do with a parking meter? According to the com
missioners some people use them to make lamps and other oddities. One
KMer even has an old meter InstaUed In his bathroom to limit patrons to
10 minutes pariclng.
Demonstration Set
bi Shelby Monday
The voting pubUc la urged to at
tend a demonatraUon at voting ballot
counting eqiUpment Mon., Oct. 18 at
11 a. m. at the Law Enforcement
Onter In Shelby.
Two manufacturing firms, Oyrex
Corp. and Computer Elections
Systems, Inc., wlU have equipment
and operators center to give prac
tical demonstrations.
If the county commissioners
decide to adopt such a system It
could mean a capital outlay of from
$80,IX» to $160,000. It would also
Involve training election workers
and educating the voting public In
use of the voting equipment.
The demonstration Is being
sponsored by the Cleveland County
Electlone Board In conjunction with
the county commissioners.
For further or more detailed In
formation cltlsens are asked to
contact Mrs. Oay Champion at the
elections office In Sholby, or phone
And then
came ram-
AU events for the 196th an
niversary celebration of The Battle
of Kings Mountain were all set . . .
and then the rains came.
Inclement weather knocked off the
Belks-Plonk-Fult(xis fashion show
set for 8:80 p. m. last Thursday ....
.. .Forced the rocking chair mara
thon oonteetante Into the community
center (after the rockers were
deluged no less than three times by
rain) ....
. . .Forced the Kings Mountain
National Military Park visitors
center to move from the park to the
«i;lty, Indocra at Barnes Auditorium .
... Forced Jack Ford to cancel his
visit to the paric . . .
. . .Forced cancellation of the
Kings Mountain Jaycee sponsored
Bicentennial parade on Friday . . .
. . .Forced street dances planned
for Thursday and Friday nights
Indoors at the conununlty center. .. .
.. .Forced the senior citizens band
program and auction Indoors at the
community center ....
. . . .Poetponed the Friday night
football game to Saturday night to
compete with the BlcentenidalBall
at the armory . . .
. . .And cancelled the sky diving
exhibition and the free baUoon rides
on Saturday.
At first glance It would appear the
three-day celebration met with total
disaster. And yet there was still a
great deal of activity going on and
more participation than would be
e:q>ected because of the weather.
(Please Turn To Page 6A)
KMHS Ranked
bi 10th Spot
Gaston Student Fees
Will Be Increased
Kings Mountain’s Mountaineers
are ranked aa the lOth best 8-A team
In the state in this week’s Greens
boro Dally News grid poll.
The Mountaineers, 6-0, are one of
eight unbeaten 8-A teams In the
state. Lexington, 7-0, Is the top-
ranked club.
KMHS will try to maintain Its lofty
parch among the state’s elite with a
.victory Friday at Shelby.
Doug Mayes To
Speak Saturday
Doug Mayes, the editorial voice of
Jefferaon-PUot Broadcasting, will
bo guest speaker at Saturday night’s
annual ladles night banquet of
', Falrvlew Lodge 889 AFAAM at
/Masonic Temple at 7 p. m.
f A veteran CaroUnas radio and TV
newsman, Mayes Is still seen con
ducting WBTV’s “On the Square”
people interviews.
Mayes Is a 88rd degree Mason and
Bhrlner and this year la serving as
Potentate of Oasis Shrine Temple of
Oiarlotte. In this capr .ty Mayes
travels all over the counU'y m behalf
of the shrine and the Siuiners
Hospital for Children.
George Melton Is Master of the
Lodge.
Kings Mountain District Schools
Board of Education Monday night
upped the atmual fee for Gaston
County tuition students to $100 effec
tive with the 1977-78 term.
The fee had been raised from $60
annually to $90 annually during the
board’s August meeting.
Motion by Trustee Marion (Mrs.
George) Thomaeon stipulated that
the fee be paid In two Instattmenta,
one for each achool semester. Mrs.
Thomasson said she didn’t want to
see any hardships placed on parents.
Supt. Donald Jones made the
recommendation that the tultlan be
raised because he said the system
would lose several thousands of
dollars In allocations as a result of
requirements of the new. fiscal
Control Act. Under the new act, the
State Department of Public Instruc
tion requested the number of
students living outside the county
and school district (36 last year).
That number was deducted from the
appropriation by the county, causing
a .76 percent loss In total location.
Mr. Jones said that he had met
with parents of out-of-dlstrict pupils
and felt the $100 fee would meet their
^>proval and Is In keeping with fees
charges by Gaston County and
Shelby city systems.
wray and Alma Plonk, whose
property sits on the county line, on
(herryvllle Rd., appeared before
the board and expressed the hope
that “the fee won’t be Increased any
more than $100.” "Once a child gets
established In a school here, it’s
heart breaking for her to move to
another,” Mrs. Plonk commented.
In other action;
Asst. Supt. Bill Batea gave an
evaluation of the Title 1 program
and noted that $188,000 was spent In
the program involving 687 children
last year. Five professional staff
members, 16 aides and one clerical
program were employed.
Test results In the Title I reading
programs In grades K-6 Indicated an
average gain In all grades although
some grades showed more definite
gains than others. Two kin
dergartens were operated last year,
at North and Grover plants. This
year the Title I program has added
one reading lab with Carole Parker
as teacher and one reading aide for a
total cost of $149,000. Bates ex
pressed the hope that reading labs
could be created at all levels tram
kindergarten through senior high.
The board voted to sponsor three
students tor the Presidential Class
rooms for Young Americans In
Washington, D. C. with participants
to be selected by a five-member
committee chosen by the high school
principal ar-d heard that the state
schools board association had
suggested a number of activities for
Its International Understanding
Project and were then Introduced to
Mile. Gteele Larlot, 33, of France,
teacher’s aide to Mrs. J. L. Raymer
In the high school French depart
ment under the Amity Aide
Program which enables foreign
teachera to observe the American
educational system first-hand. Mrs.
Raymer accompanied Mile. Laiiot
to the meeting.
The board also endorsed an an
ticipated move from the WNCHSAA
to the statewide N. C. High School
Athletic Association. The 10 teams in
the conference would compete for
state championships and would
Include four from Cleveland COunty,
three from Rutherford County and
three from Gaston County.
Bethware School
Dedication Is Set
Dedication of the handsome, new
addition to Bethware School has
been set for Oct. 81 from 3 until 4 p.
m.. It was announced at Monday
night’s board of education meeting.
Members of the Board will assist
In the formal dedication and the
community will be Invited to Inspect
the facilities, which Include class
rooms and a new lunchroom.
Refreshments will be served
during the open house.
In other actions Involving school
Improvements, the board authorised
additional lighting at John Gamble
Memorial Football Stadium
estimated to cost between $4,0IM and
$6,000. Supt. Don Jones, making the
recommendation, reported an hour-
long outage during Saturday night’s
football game and noted It «ms the
second outage since the opening of
the stadium. He praised the city -
lighted tennis court adjacent to the
stadium and portable generators
from the KM Rescue Squad for
providing auxiliary lighting. Jones
said that by adding another row of
quarts lights, five on each of eight
^es, that the additional Im
provements would be as much light
as Is presently obtained from Duke
Power Oo. and be adequate. The city
will be asked to furnish labor and
power.
The board authorised Supt. Jones
to proceed with bids for a new dish
washer for Grover School and
readvertlae If another expected bid,
the third, does not arrive.
Supt. Jones reported that bids for
alumlmim covers for seats at the
stadium will be opened at a later
date, noting that seats on the home
side of the stadium will be In gold.
Asst. Supt. Bill Bates reported
that 80 percent of materials for
covered walkways for Bethware and
Grover plants are “In hand” and
that construction on covered walk
ways at Grover plant are now un
derway. Bates reported that all
furniture has been received for the
new Bethware School addition.