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KlhG9 MOUhTWri
MIRROR-HGRMD
15*
VOL. 87 NO. fiS
KINGS MOUNTAIN, NOBTH CAROLINA 88088
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 80,1*78
AU Others Vp 22 Cents MCF
Residence Gas Rate Unchanged
In a special commissioners
meeting Tuesday the board adopted
a recommended 32 cents per
thousand cubic feet (mcf) of natural
gas to commercial and Industrial
users.
W. D. Edwards, the city's gas
consultant, also recommended the
residential gas rate not be Increased
and commissioners approved no-
Increase.
1976:
Looking
Back..........
CXd Year 1076 Is fast running out of
days, and the babe 1077 Is Just
1 around the comer,
j* Ktaigs Mountain will close out the
I books Friday at midnight on a news-
' k filled year, a Bicentennial year
which will be remembered by local
citizens as one of the most pros
perous In the city’s history.
Peace, prosperity and health will
be the wishes of the day as Kings
Mountain area citizens celebrate the
demise of one year and the begln-
i nlng of another Friday, as 1076
eicplras at midnight.
As the strains of "Auld Lang
Syne," traditional harbinger of a
bright new year are played Friday
night. Kings Mountain citizens can
look back on 1076 and see their share
of fun, happiness suid sadness.
Some of the major events of the
« year were one-time h^penlngs,
Willie others wem continuing altua-
iTu.C’iiSeii «
'The ye4r was *upmed wl. .
projcvie, ir-sny if tt'hfeh came to
fruitier '-lefore the yc« end. A 4-
spacr municipal par>mg lot of,
Chtrukee St. was formf lly dedicaisd
In jplte of a torreni.pt ralr whlih
'..tncelled a mammotl Oct. 7 parade
celebrating the i06thluml .ersary of
the Battle of Kings Mountain and
. prevenb'-d Jack Ford, son of the
President, from keeping a speaking
engagement at dedication of the
Park Visitor Center.
The city’s historical fire museum,
the local firefighters’ "pride and
Joy’’ held open house In January and
the city began public hearings with
citizen Input on how Kings Mountain
could wisely spend 81,040,000 In
1076, earmarked for the city’s
housing and community develc^
ment under the Federal Housing and
Community Development Act of 1074
and which will give the city
$4,160,000 over a five year period.
The Clean Water Act contributed
$816,380 In state funds for water
system expansion.
William Roper Jr. resigned as
Chief of the Kings Mountain Police
, Department In January and In April
' the city commission employad Earl
B. Lloyd, 43, of the N. C. Justice
Acstdemy at Salemburg. KMPD con
tinued to make headlines throughout
the spring. Ptl. Julius Burton and
Former Chief Roper, were cleared
by a federal grand Juiy In a lawsuit
filed by Beaunlt Trucking Co.
striking employes which alleged
that Burton, as a security guard
while on off-duty policeman, refused
to permit truck drivers to leave and
enter the Beaunlt premises. Stream
lining of the department began
under the new chief. Sgt. Lemuel
(Lum) Beattie was suspended, a Su
perior Court Judge ordered his re
instatement during an all-day
hearing In Shelby, the Chief resigned
I under fire from the city bosuTl,
AsslsUnt Chief Jackie Barrett
began Acting Chief for the second
time during a period of leas than six
months and citizens were up In
arms, the Lloyd controversy getting
state-wide attention by the news and
television media. After lengthy
meeting following executive session,
the board June 14, split 8-8, the
mayor broke the tie and Chief IJoyd
was reinstated. The city board voted
new, more stringent dog laws and
the leash law went Into effect,
drawing some opposition at first
from cltlsens. Stretch Bollinger,
former police dispatcher who was
relieved of duties April 3 In a cut
back of excessive manpower, or
dered by the board, became the
) city's first dog warden, on May 34.
(Ploase Turn Tb Page tA)
Edwards ssdd the city hM also
received word Tuesday that Kings
Mountain’s natural gas allotment
would be trimmed another 30 per
cent this winter.
"With the Increase In rates,’’
Edwards said, "the city can realize
a profitable year. But with the
reduction In the allowance. It can
also be a dlsasterous year with no
gas to sell.’’
ITie 22 cents per mcf Increase,
according to Edwards, will bring In
Just under $160,000.
"TTie purchase cost of gas bought
under Transco’s 0-2 rate was 08
cents per mcf at the time of the
city’s last rate Increase (Mar. 1,
1076),’’ Edwards said. "Since that
time there have been five rate In
creases and two rate reductions. The
city’s purchase cost In October was
.986 cents per mcf. On January 1,
1077, the cost of Transco’s 0-2 gas
Increases to $1,087 per mcf, an In
crease of 16.7 cents per mcf or 17.0
cents.”
Edwards pointed out that on
Decembers, 1076 the North Carolina
UtlUtleB Commission made a ruling
that residential customers be
excluded from paying additional cost
of emergency gas.
’”1 think this Is Just a taste of a
coming nationwide policy of passing
utility Increases on to those who can
pass on their Increases In the
marketplace. This policy Is rapidly
spreading over the country and
Kings Mountain should prepare for a
future one-price resale ^s price by
revamping their rate schedule In
such a way as to accomplldi this by
a series of stages.”
The commissioners also approved
Edwards’ recommendations on a
procedure for payment In the use of
the city’s peak shaving plant.
Edwards recommended that “all
commercial and Industrial
customers, subject to curtailment
under normal conditions, be given
the option of accepting or rejecting
the following procedure: This
decision must be made at the begin
ning of the season tor the entire
winter seson; all Industrial and-
cmnmerclal gas meters subject to
this procedure be read either on the
first or last day of each month to
determine the amount of gas used
during the month. This quantity to
be totaled and the percentage used
by each customer determined; and
the total cost of producing propane
air gas, propane, electrical power,
manpower and all other costs shall
be determined and the same per
centage of these costs shall be billed
to each of the participating con
sumers. The percentage. In dollars,
to be added to the regular gas bill of
each customer.
TTie peak shaving plant Is capable
of producing about 26 percent of the
city’s dally gas allocation. The 1,(X)0
mcf dally output can be used to
augment the Transco supply of gas
to the city.
.<1 /. «
“^9
MARIJUANA ARRE8TB - (above) Kings Mountain PoUoe Pd.
Houston Ckim places Mike Holland In the patrol car following Holland’s
arrest Wednesday at 137 McGinnis St. tor simple possession of
marljoana. (Below) Ptl. Ralph Giindstaff places Henry Clayton Means
Into a patrol car following Means arrest at Kings Mountain Inn Wed
nesday. He was charged with two counts of possession of marijuana for
sal e and-or distribution and one count of possession.
Photos By Tom Mcln^rre
Jones Resigns
DONAUID. JONES
... going to AahevUle
By BUZABBTHSTKWART
Staff Writer
Donald D. Jones, 43, superin
tendent of Kings Mountain District
Schools for 10 years, is resigning,
effective July 1,1077, to return to his
native city of Asheville as super
intendent of Asheville City Schools.
Janes’ resignation was accepted
“with regret” by the Kings Moun
tain Board of Education meeting In a
special called session Wednesday at
2 p. m. The board Is expected to
name his successor within the next
two to three months.
The Asheville system of 12 plants
has a student population of 6,400
compared to Kings MountsLln’s eight
plant system and student population
of 4,300.
(Please 'Dim To Page 8A)
School
Is In For
Officials
A series of four meetings Is sched
uled tor the mayor, oommlssloners
and city management and lupervl-
sory personnel beginning TUes., Jan.
4.
The subject Is management and
supervlsoiy training courM, which
Includes study of textbooks on how to
control your time and your life,
managing organizational conflict
and reader for governmental
management development
Mayor John H. Moss told com
missioners Tuesday that certificates
of completion will be awarded by
Cleveland County Technical In
stitute.
The January 4 meeting Is
scheduled at city hall from 6:80 to 7
p. m. The other three classes,
January 11, 18 and 26, will be held
from 6:46 to 7 p. m. at city ludl.
-oOo-
Meetlngs tor the city’s personnel,
recreation, public works building
and water and sewer committees
lave also been scheduled next week.
At noon Mon., Jan. 8 Com
missioners Humes Houston,
chairman, and Commissioners
Norman King and JEunes Childers
will hold a personnel committee
meeting at city hall.
Mon., Jan. 3 at 7:80 p. m. the
recreation committee, chaired by
Commissioner Bill Orlssom, will
meet with King and Childers.
Tues., Jan. 4 at noon the water and
sewer committee. Commissioner
King chairman, meets at city hell
and at 7:80 p. m. the public woiks
building committee meets. Com
missioner Childers Is chairman and
Commissioners Klag and ^Fred
Wright Jr. art tneinbers. . ■ ''
The njestlr.;,' v,
-tea- th« j;
KMLT Plans
^Harvey’ As
Next Play
Kings Mountain Little Theatre will
conduct try-outs for “Harvey”, a
three-act comedy, Jan. 8-4 from 7:80
until 0 p. m. at Park Grace Audi
torium.
There are six roles available for
men, six for women and numerous
Jobs open for back-stage asslstsince,
according to Joe Ann McDaniel, who
will direct the upcoming production
by Mary Chase.
“Everyone Is invited to par
ticipate,” said Ms. McDaniel.
To Modernize The Local Department
Police Seeking LEAA Program Grants
By TOM McIntyre
Editor, Mirror-Herald
The Kings Mountain Police De
partment Is submitting grant ap
plications totaling $137,088 for Law
Enforcement Assistance Ad
ministration programs.
Oommlssloners authorised the ap
plications In a special meeting Tues
day.
The applications were prepared
by Police Chief Eari Lloyd and are
for five separate programs to aug
ment and support police activities.
The programs Include a research
and evaluation bureau, evidence
technician and crime scene search
equipment, crime prevention
bureau, police legal advisor and
local records system and crime -
reporting.
Recently the department was
granted LEAA funds of $18,000 for
communications equipment and
$14,448 tor a Youth Bureau within
the department.
Chief Lloyd said the research and
evaluation bureau would put the
police department on a solid opera
tional basis uring the talents of a
four-year college business ad
ministration degree holder.
”We have such a man within the
department," Lloyd said. “The
guidelines call for such a man, who
can be either a sworn officer or a
Chilian. We feel that using a man
within the departmmt would be
more beneficial. He would already
have an understanding of the needs
In planning.” ,
Duties would Include compiling
monthly, quarterly and annual
reports for the chief, mayor and
board and these reports, according
to Lloyd, are absolutely necessary In
budgetary planning, manpower
allocation, crime analysis, depart
mental needs, community needs In
law enforcement. The bureau man
would be Involved In the short and
long-range departmental planning
tor the future.
TTUs grant application Is for
$16,846; federal share Is $16,160,
state and city, $848, each.
Application two, evidence
technician and crime scene search
equipment, would also give one of
several qualified men on the local
force an advancement.
“TTils Individual, If the grant Is ap
proved, would acquire necessary
skills and abilities to etfecllv.ely
search tor. Identify, record, collect,
preserve and otherwise process evl-
dMice of serious crimes,” CSilef
Lloyd said.
In North Carolina today small
pcdlce departments do not have In-
house capabilities such as the ones
described above. Physical evidence
must be submitted to the SBI and
F^BI labs. The time It takes to
process and Identify something like
fingerprints can take as high as two
months. The average turnaround
time, according to Lloyd, is 38 days.
“If this grant Is apivoved,” Uoyd
continued,” we would have a mobile
crime lab completely equipped to
take the technician to the scene of
the Clime. It would mesui complete
darkroom equipment. Including
color processing. Many times color
photos can make the difference in
court when Involved In assaults and
crimes of violence.”
Tills application Is for $40,740;
federal, $36,678, state and city, $2,080
each.
The crime prevention bureau
grant. If iqiproved, would allow for
an extension of a present on-golng
program and would allow tor a full
time officer. According to Chief
Uoyd, this officer would be a public
relations man, a tlalscn between the
department and the public.
“The CPB officer would urge
citizens to participate In crime pre
vention by educational means,”
Uoyd said. "He would provide
demonstraUans of security devices
for homes and businesses, conduct
security surveys of both. Such an
officer would also be Important In
developing crime analysis data tor
the patrol and Investigative
divisions.
”In effect,” Uoyd continued,” he
could predict trends In criminal ac
tivity. This officer would also work
very closely with the youth bureau
and the narcotics and drug abuse
programs by educating the cltlsens,
from elementary through high
school and In the commimlty.”
Hkiulpment would Include a van-
type vehicle which could be used to
set up displays and provide crime
prevention educational materials
through the community.
Chief Uoyd said this program
would be an extension of the Com
munity Watch project, now being co
sponsored by Citizens On Patrol and
Emergencies (COPE). He said the
CW program would have fallen on Its
face were It not for the volunteer CB
group.
Again, a man within the de
partment would be considered for
this Job.
The grant application Is for
$81,070; federal, $28,772, state and
city, $1,860 each.
Chief Lloyd said the fourth ap
plication, a police legal advisor. Is
being submitted under a 1076 LEAA
program which has been dropped for
1077. "I discovered there were funds
left In this program,” Lloyd said,
”so It Is poMlble the department can
obtain them.”
The chief said a fulltime legal
advisor would greatly assist officers
In performing their duties. The advi
sor would aid officers on legal points
Involving such things as laws of
arrest, search and seizure and
presentation of evidence In court. He
would be available for training and
consultation on any matter concern
ing police activity.
The qualified man does not have to
be a member of the bar association,
but a law school graduate.
This grant application totals
$16,734; federal, $14,148, state and
city, $788 each.
The final application la tor a local
records system and crime reporting.
Chief Uoyd said "One of the major
products of effective law en
forcement Is the accumulation of a
mountain of paper woik and the
effective use of this Is only as good
as our ability to flr.d It when we need
It”
The grant would provide a modem
record keeping system which would
provide data to officers In minutes;
records of police activity, docu
ments needed In court, the ac
countability of propertry and
valuables.
"This position would be filled by a
Chilian,” Chief Lioyd said, “sorm-
ons hired from outside the depart
ment.
The application Is tor $11,760;
federal, $lO,irro, state and city, $880
each.
Chief Lloyd said should all five of
these applications be approved and
added to the $83,448 In grants
already received, the police depart
ment will have amassed a total of
$160,486 In grants with the city’s par
ticipation totaling only $7,481.
“And with the programs Im
plemented,” he said, “Kings Moun
tain would have one of the most effi
cient law enforcement agencies In
the state."