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Winninff IS’eu'SfHiper
VOL. 87 NO. 41
KIMG? MOUnTWn
MIRROR-H€Rr\LD
K1WQ8 MOinUTAIN, NOKIH OABOUNA M888 THUBSDAY, OCTOBER n. 1#78
15'
Commissioners
To Consider
Vote Machines
Voting machines may not be too
far away In Cleveland County's
future.
Following demonstrations by rep
resentatives from two manufac
turing companies — Computer
Election Systems and Oyrex Cor
poration — Monday, Jack Palmer
Jr., commission chairman, com
mented that the elections board
officials should recommend to the
commissioners which system they
want.
Palmer said the board would then
study the situation further and make
some decision. The chairman also
stated that no matter what decision
the commissioner reached, neither
of the voting machines could be
consldererd for this year.
"Some precincts In the county
definitely need voting machines,”
Palmer said and added It was
"Inadvisable” to plsin for machines
at some of the smaller precincts.
Paul Vogel, elections board
chairman, said the board feels the
time has come for some voting
machines. The elections board
broached the subject of voting and
vote counting machines following an
all-night ballot count following the
close of polls tor the August IT
Primary elections.
County Manager Joe Hendrick
commented Monday that the possi
bility of voting machines In the
county Is not necessarily too far In
the future. Estimating the cost at
under $100,000, Hendrick com
mented that the capital could be
raised over a couple of years.
John W. Hurd, representative of
Computer Election Systems,
demonstrated jie tl'm's Votomatl')
system for the commissioners and
elections officials. The system
consists vW two-components; the
patented Votomatlc punch-card
voting recorder and the vote
countaTi .
To vote, a computer card with
punched holes slides Into the slot and
through holes beside a specially
prepared ballot, punches a hole In
the card.
To count the ballots the
Votomatlc, a lightweight table-top
computer, reads the computer cards
as they are manually fed through the
machine. The computer prints out
the residts on paper tape.
Hie Oyrex Vote Tally System,
demonstrated by Ed O’Day, permits
the voter to mark his ballot in a
conventional way using pen or pencil
using an X or check mark. The ballot
card Is fed Into the machine and
counted Immediately.
The machine, which takes one
card at a time, also separates
marred or Impropertly marked
ballots for the attention of the
precinct workers.
The two-component Votomatlc
costs between $110 and $800 tor the
voting compment and $1,700 for the
ballot counter. The Vote Tally
System costs $8,000.
County Commissioners Indicated
Monday that they must think, not so
much about whether voting and
counting machines are needed, but
to what extent should the county use
them.
Meanwhile, there will be no relief
for elections officials when the polls
cktse at 7:80 p. m. Tues., Nov. 8.
County voters will have seven
separate ballots to mark on election
day and elections officials suspect It
well! take an awfully long time to
complete the tally.
J
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Photo By TotB Melalyre
R-00 PROJECT OUTLINE Oene White, executive direetor of Xlags
Mountain Redevelopment Oommlsslon, checks over the Oaasier St.
Urban Renewal Project outline. The project Is expected to be completed
by Spring 1077 after four and a half years of work. The cost Is $4 mlUlon.
B&E Attempts
See 4 Arrested
Kings Mountain Police arrested
tour men — two on charges of break
ing and entering and larceny of
Plonk Brothers early Saturday
morning, and a few hours later
arrested two more on possession of
burglary tobla after an attempted
break-ln at Fulton's Department
Store Sunday night at 11: IB p. m.
Charged with BEAL are William
Stroud, Jr., 83, and Leroy Malker,
38, both of Oastonla. Charged with
possession of burglary tools are
Princeton Rubin, 31, and Robert
Woods, 30, both of Charlotte.
Ptl. Houston Com, on routine
patrol, said he began to chase a
vehicle near Plonk Brother’s early
Saturday morning after It ran a red
light. The front door of Plonk
lass Allocations
Annoimced By State
The state’s new seven-year High
way Improvement Program
allocates $7 million to begin grading
for the Kings Mountain By-Pass In
flscal IBTB.
The program, covering fiscal
yssuu 1376 to 1388, was announced
recently by the N. C. Board of
Transportation.
Another $6,600,000 la allocated for
74-By Pass grading in 1380 with
another $6 million earmarked for
paving the By-Psas In 1388.
The tour-lane By-Pass will be
located north of the present High
way 74 through Kings Mountain.
Locally, the projects call for
revision of signals and Installation of
railroad gates at Unwood St. and
Southern Railroad at coat of $10,000
plus Installation of flashers and
gates at Baker St., estimated cost of
$46,000, Installation of flashers and
gates at Hawthorne Rd., estimated
cost $46,000 and flashers and gates at
Oak St., estimated cost $48,000.
The town of Orover la allocated
$84,000 for revision of flashers and
Installation of gates at Highway 336.
Brothers had been broken In at
about 1:16 a. m. and reported stolen
were 38 men’s suits and 86 plalrs of
men’s trousers with estimated value
of $4,036.
According to Corn, the two
suspects, Stroud and Malker, fled on
toot. Com was joined by Ptl. Harry
Martin, Sgt. B. P. Cooke, Sgt.
Richard Reynolds, Ptl. Bill Benton
and Reserve Officer Raeford White
and bloodhounds wore called out.
Goods reported stolen were found In
the vehicle. One suspect was
arrested near the scene and another
was arrested In Gaston County, said
KMPD.
Ptl. Corn said ha started following
a vehicle Sunday night with Its lights
off on Battleground Ave., the car
turned on King and the officer at
tempted to pull him over. The ear
ran the light and pulled off King and
Into the Bus Station parking area
where It was stopped by the officer
who called In Ptl. Harry Martin, Sgt.
B. P. Cook, Chief Earl Uoyd and
Captain Jackie Barrett for
assistance. Rubin and Woods were
charged with possession of buriJary
tools believed to be responsible for
the attempted break-ln a few
minutes earlier at Fulton’s. Ptl.
Com searched the oar and found two
wrecking bars and gloves which
have been sent to SBI labs for
comparison with marks on the door
as well as fingerprints of thei
arresud pair to compare with prints
found on the door, according to
KMPD.
KMPD also charged Stroud with
simple possession of marijuana and
Malker with carrying a concealed
weapon.
Urban Renewal And Housing
Coming Together Jn Spring
By TOM MCINTYRE
Editor, Mirror-Herald
When Spring 1377 rolls around four
and a half years will have elapsed
since the Csnsler St. Urban Renewal
project was begun.
And next spring the project Is
expected to be completed. From
start to finish the Cansler St. or R-36
project will have cost approximately
$4-mlUlon.
Three factions are currently at
work to complete the project; the
redevelopment commission, the city
and the housing authority.
The housing authority Is ex
pending about $1.6 million on low
Income housing tor senior cltlsens
and eligible families. Last Friday
the redevelopment commission
received bids on street work for the
project and after consideration
expect to award those bids by
November 16. Approximately 80
days later the actual construction
will begin.
Currently the dty Is handling Its
portion of the work In the project,
and, according to Gene White,
executive director of the redevelop
ment commission, “It appears
everything will be complete about
the same time.”
"ITte project Is divided primarily
Into two areas ot responsibility,”
White said. "The rede vehement
commission Is responsible for all
street construction, plus engineering
costs.”
This Includes removing old
pavement, widening streets to 60
feet, curbing, guttering, paving and
sidewalk constructloa. White said
there Is ore street (Watterson off of
Parker) that will be widened only to
40 feet. That portion runs about 100
feet.
The city’s responsibility includes
water, sewer, gas and electrical line
construction. Also construction of
storm drainage, clearing, grubbing
and landscaping.
White said the city has already
begun Its Initial phase of operation,
the Installation of a 16 Inch sewer
line between Cansler and Watterson
Sts., just north of the designated
"green area.”
White said the green area will
"follow the natural flow of the
existing creek In the project area.
We will straighten a few curves, but
will not damage the natural lines of
the area.
"There will be some landscaping
and sloping along the creek” White
said. "The plans also suggest bike
and hiking trails, poaalbly tennis
courts and picnic areaa.”
Plana for the R-36 project call tor
leaving two north-aouth thorough
fares — Cansler and Watterson Sts.
Both of these roads will extend
toward the planned state by-pass on
the northern perimeter of the city.
Within the project, construction
has closed Mmrls St., which runs
east-west. Childers St. will b e closed
between Tracy and Watterson;
Ridge will be closed between Can
sler and Watterson; EUls between
Tracy and Watterson; and Tracy
between Bills and Parker Sts. only.
Rosewood,a short street bff King,
west of Tracy, and Davidson,
another short street off King, will be
closed. Both are dirt streets.
Three new streets will be con
structed In the project, all to end In
cul de sacs or widened circles. New
housing la planned on theas streets.
TTw three streets will be off Bills,
Pariier and the end of Childers Sts.
TTw latter will be adjacent to the
former Morris St.
White said a total of 68 new
building lots will be available In the
project. PYom within the project
area In the past four years a total of
176 families. Individuals and small
bualnesaes will have been relocated.
A large number of substandard
housss have been dsmoUahed In
order tor the property to be
redeveloped tor new realdantlal
construction.
’“nie largest areas of concern,”
White said, "as far as the city la
concerned at present Is sewer line
construction and water Una and
storm drainage construction.
Logically this should be done before
the street work begins.”
The city’s electrical work la being
handled by Southaastem Consultant
Engineering’s professional engineer
BUI UtUe. Whits said this work
consists of power line relocatlonlng
and upgrading the above ground
power system. White said the
redevelopment commission has
already secured the rights of way tor
this woih.
"We have kept the ecology of the
area In mind In our planning,” White
said. "No trees wUl be removed
from anywhere within the project
unless It Is absolutely necessary.”
White said the redevelopment
commission has adopted a method of
construction on one street at a time,
also. "This means the construction
crew wUl tear up one street, widen It
and place the base coat at a time,”
he said. “We do not want the entire
project area tom up at one time.
Wortclng one street at a time, the
(Please Turn TO Page 3A)
Gas Rates Going
Up October 27
By TOM McIntyre
Editor, Mirror-Herald
Natural gas wUl cost more here
after October 37.
Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Is
Increasing rates to the city and the
city Is considering passing along the
entire cost to Its customers.
Residential and small business
users wUl pay about 18 percent more
tor each 1,000 cubic feet (mcf) of gaa
used. The percentages wUl vary to
ciwtomers In the city’s other four
.rate categories, but the Increase will
mean that all customers wUl pay
approximately 86 cents per mcf
after October 37.
TMa was the recommendation of
William D. Bidwards, the elty’s gaa
consultant,, during a special city
commissioner meeting Tuesday
morning. Mayor John H. Moss said
Uie recommendation wUl be on next
Monday night’s regular board
meeting agenda.
currently, Edwards explained the
domestic (resldentlal-smaU busi
ness) users pay an average of $1.70
per mcf, but with an 18 percent In
crease after October 37, that
average will rise to $3.06 per mcf.
About 86 cents more. That same
^^roxlmately 86 cents Increase will
also aK>ly to large commercial.
Industrial, Interruptable and public
buUdlngs users.
Large commercial pays currently
an average of $1.62 per mcf. With the
Increase that average rises to $1.37
per mcf. Industrial user average
mcf cost Is $1.41; Interruptable —
$1.18; and public buildings — $1.40.
With the exception of residential
and small businesses, all city
customers use 60,000 mcf and more
natural gas.
EMwards said he was notified
about 6 p. m. Monday that another
Increase In gas is expected
December 1, but that the Increase
will be about three-tenths of one cent
per mcf.
Kings Mountain Is also going Into
Its fourth year of Federal Power
Oommlsslon enforced natural gaa
supply curtailment. TTils means,
according to Edwards, that the city
will again receive less than Its
contracted amount annually with
TYansco.
The contract amount tor the year
la 1,436,600 mcf or a dally amount of
4400 mcf.
Santa Oaiis Is
Coming To
Oty bi Parade
Santa Qaiis Is coming to town
Dec. 7 at 4 p. m. In a (Sirlstmas
parade to be sponsored by Kings
Mountain Fire Department and
Historical Museum.
Plans tor the parade were an
nounced Wednesday at a meeting o(
the Parade committee of which
Jerry White Is chairman and Fire
Oilef Gene Tignor Is co-chairman.
Other members of the steering
committee are Becky O’Dell and
Wanda Moore, co-secretary-
treasurer; and Frank Van Story,
BUI Grissom, Roy Pears<m, Elmer
Ross, Paul Falls, PoUce Chief Earl
Lloyd, A1 Morets, Rev. Frank
Shirley, Jonas Bridges, Rev. Floyd
Seay, Tommy Tindall and Tom
McIntyre.
%-■
W. D. Edwards
The curtailment to the city from
Nov. 16,1374, to Nov. 16,1376 set the
total amount of gas that could be
supplied the city at 1,178,636 mcf or
70.8 percent of the total contract
amount. During the same period
from 1376 to 1378 curtailment en-
duced by the Federal Power
Oommlsslon allotted Kings Moun
tain a total of 861,443 mcf or 67.6
percent of the total contract.
Edwards said "apparenUy Kings
Mountain’s allotment for the 1376 to
1377 period wUl be about the same aa
the past year.”
Edwards said the largest single
aimual amount of natural gas
purchased by the city, from October
1378 to October 1374, was 1,061,036
mcf.
"There is no way Kings Mountain
would ever use Its total original
contract amount of natural gas
(1,436,600),’’ Edwards said, "but, as
irou can see, the city did use more
natural gas during the 1378-74 period
than Is currently being aUotted
under the curtailment program.
We’ve had severe curtailments and I
suspect we will have more this
year.”
Kings Mountain can expect some
help through the gas peak shaving
plant constructed last year.
Presently, the plant Is capable of
manufacturing, through propane
air, about 60 mcf per hour to sup
plement the Transco gaa.
"If you (commissioners) decide to
pass along the entire Increase to
customers,” Edwards said, "You
are going to hear some fussing about
the price. But, If you don’t adjust
your rates you ars going to go
broke."
Edwards said natural gas, even
with the coming Increase ’ 'Is still the
cheapest fuel anyone can buy. Oil
coats 66 per cent more, propane
about 60 percent and electricity 86
percent more. And coal. If you could
find It, would be the most expensive
way to heat.”
Bidwards said he would recom
mend a complete study of the city’s
gats rate system and that some
method be considered that can be
applied each time gas rates are
increased to the city. He said there
were tour Increases In price to the
city during the past year.
He said that the Federal Power
Oommlsslon la also stressing the
Idea of municipalities establishing a
one-rate-for-all system.