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VOL. 88 NO. 7
TUESDAY, JANUARY 88,197T
klMG^ MOUhTf\ll1
MIRROR-H€RIMD
15
Dr. Poston: ^Rearing To Go’
By SHARON CARTER
Speidal To The Mirror-Henid
If you think the twinkle at the eye
wid the determination of the spirit
has left Dr. Ekigene Poston, think
again.
I saw Dr. and Mrs. Poston the
other day and they both appear
rested, revitalized and ‘rearing to
go.’
I had called to ask If I might visit
and talk with them for a while. Ihelr
response was warm. When I arrived
at their home on Tina Drive In
Shelby, I felt as if I were greeting old
fMends.
I explained to them that I felt
people would like to know what they
are doing, and In what direction
their lives are going since the loss in
the Democratic Primary. They
talked readily. Of Goodwill Pub
lishers, where Dr. Poston Is working
temporarily with their Master
Library Plan. Of Liberia, where the
Foreign Mission Board of the
Southern Bi4>tlst Convention has
requested they travel to for a year ,
to replace the president of the
Southern Baptist Seminary there In
order that he and his fsunlly might
crane to the states for their furlough.
We talked, too, of politics. Of loss.
Of learning. I asked Dr. Poston what
he felt caused him to close the
primary. He Indicated that he felt
the name factor was the biggest
problem. Dr. Hunt had been In the
legislature for several terms and
was better known. Also, the associa
tion he felt the average voter
mistakenly made between Dr. Jack
Hunt and then candidate for Gover
nor, Jim Hunt. He stated that if he
ever again runs for public office, he
will spend his money differently. He
would have less handouts as the
public neither wants them nor keeps
them, he said. Also, he would spend
more on newspaper advertising as
he believes this to be the most effec
tive manner of reaching the public.
In answer to a query. Dr. Poston
replied that God did not lose the
election for him, he lost it fra' himself
not campaigning more effec
tively. Then, too, he noted that there
were the usual dirty campaign
rumors, such as the one about his
being fired from Gardner-Webb
College. (Actually, this rumor was
looked on as more or less 'ridiculous'
since the officials of the college con
sidered Dr. Poston's resignation as a
great loss).
E^igene Poston Is a dynamic,
moving force. He does not waste
time brooding over past mistakes,
but rather gleans from them all the
usefullness there was In the ex
perience and uses It for the present.
The bad psu'ts of e3q>eriences are
acknowledged, accepted and
avoided from that point on.
In talking further about the
proposition In Liberia, a small
Republic in Africa which Is bordered
on the Northern side by the Ivory
Coast, and on the Southern Side by
the great Atlantic, Dr. Poston
remarked that he Is seriously
considering the offer. Liberia has a
population of about two million
people, some native to the country,
and some of Afro-American descent,
moat of whom speak some Elngllsh.
There, Dr. Poston would be
President of the Southern Baptist’s
Seminary and Mrs. Poston would
have an opportunity to work as an
educator, for only about IB percent
of Liberia's population can read or
write. In Shelby, Mrs. Poston
teaches elementary school.
Rubber Is one of Liberia's most
Important exports, with the Fire
stone Company being the major
rubber producer, employing
thousands of Liberians. Dr. Poston
noted that he would like to Introduce
textiles to Liberia. At first, of
course, the venture would be very
limited, but he la certain that
weaving would be very beneficial to
them In several ways: (1) At the
present time, a pair of men’s socks
sells In Liberia for t8 — If the people
learned to weave, these items and
many more could be produced en
masse resulting in a great reduction
In the retail cost. (2) Learning such
a skill as weaving would give
another market to the country-
resulting In more Individual
salaries.
He recalled the Great Depression
of the 'SO's when flour sacks were
used (or cloth (or clothes. The same
process could be Implemented there.
Dorothy and Ehigene Poston are
people with varied tsUents. It Is with
pride that he relates that he learned
a lot about texUles from having
worked In the mills when he was
younger.
The only qualm Dot Poston would
have regarding such a move come
from thoughts of the extreme heat,
since Liberia Is so close to the equa
tor, (It Is hot and rainy there from
May to October and hot dry from
November to April), and the con
stant and very real threat of
diseases such as malaria and
leprosy.
(Please Ttim To Page 2)
Extension
Luncheon
k Noon Today
The Clevelsmd County
Agricultural Extension Office will
hold a luncheon meeting on Tues.,
Jan. 26, at 12 noon at the County
Office BuUdlng, ISO South Post Rd.
‘nShe!’'y klcV off P'^e’sslor’sren’ •
six year educational program, 1877-
1982.
The county kick-off meeting Is
designed to coincide with the state
kick-off meeting on this same day,
according to Henry W. Dameron,
county extension chairman.
Get Tag Stickers
Eariy, Avcnd Rush
Kings Mountain motorists are
reminded to purchase their 1977
renewal license plate stickers or
license plates as early as possible to
avoid the last minute rush.
The renewal period ends by law
Feb. 16, at midnight.
A spokesman (or the branch office
in Shelby said that "If everyone will
crane In early long lines can be
eliminated and the crowded con
ditions of past yean can be
avoided.” There are 102 branch
offices across North Carolina, In
cluding nearby Shelby and Gastonia,
In which license plates and stickers
may be obtained
K*'
J' -Tjnf
•a*,“
JAYCEE8 DONATE SION — Kemp Mauney (left),
president of the Kings Mountain Jaycees, presents the
keys to the marque door of this sign to Roy Pearson,
Photo By Tom Bfebtyre
city recreation director. Alex McOallnm of the Jaycees
is at right The sign was donated to the community
center by the local jsycee chapter.
Grover JCs ^To Meet Again
A second organizational meeting
of the proposed Grover Jaycee
chapter will be held tonight at 7 In
the Grover School Library.
Sweetree Employes Qualified
Approximately 860 workers em
ployed by Sweetree Mills, Inc.,
facilities at CherryvlUe and Kings
Mountain have been certified by the
U. S. Labor Department as eligible
to apply for trade adjustment
assistance. The department found
that the workers, engaged In the
manufacture of women's knit
sportswear and women's knit
sweaters, have been or may become
unemployed as a result of Increased
Imports.
The Trade Act of 1974 provides
that workers who believe they have
been or will become unemployed due
to Increased Imports may petition
the secretary of labor (or cer
tification of eligibility to apply (or
adjustment assistance.
On Oct. 12, 1976 three petitions
requesting a determination of eligi
bility to apply (or adjustment
assistance were filed with the Labor
Department on behalf of workers
formerly producing women's knit
sweaters and knit q>ortswear at the
CherryvlUe sewing plant, the
Cherrj^le Oye house, and the Kings
Mountain sewing plant of Sweetree
Mills, Inc., CherryvUle, N. C. A i
fourth petition — received on Nov.
24, 1976 — was fUed on behalf of
workers formerly producing
women’s knit sweaters and knit
sportswear at the firm’s CherryvUle
knitting plant.
A subsequent Investigation by the
Labor Department Indicated that In
creased Imports contributed Im
portantly to the unemployment of a
significant number of workers at the
four Sweetree MUl’s (acuities. The
Kings Mountain plant was closed In
June 1976. In September 1676
production cesraed at the other three
Sweetree (aclUUes, and aU em
ployment was terminated.
The Labor Department’s cer-
tlflcaUon provides that aU workers
engaged in employment related to
the production of women’s knit
sweaters and knit q>ort8wear at the
CherryvUle sewing plant, dye house,
knitting plant, and Kings Mountain
sewing plant who became totaUy or
partially separated from em
ployment on or after Sept. SO, 1976,
axe eUglble to apply (or adjustment
assistance under the Trade Act of
1974.
Assistance to workers under the
Trade Act may Include cash trade
readjustment allowances, training,
testing, counseling. Job placement,
(Please Ttim To Page 2)
'Tell-A-Lie Contest’
Last Thursday you read about “Ivon The Terrible,” a creative
writing aeslgnment handled by West School third graders In Ms. Ann
RudlsUl’s class.
Today the stk. Jents write about "The TeU-A-Lie Contest,” another
assignment created by Ms. RudlsUl to give students a chance to think
rather than Just memorize (acts.
"Elmer Tall-Tale enjoys teUlng exaggerated stories. So do you.
Elmer and you are going to compete In the TeU-A-Lle Contest.”
That Is the premise and Inside you wUl find how (our West School
third graders handled It.
Editor
Mirror-Herald
The first meeting was held last
Thursday and six young men, bet
ween 18 and SB attended expressing
Interest In a Jaycee chapter.
Kings Mountain Jaycees are
chartering the sister community
chapter as a project for 1977. Local
chapter president, Kemp Mauney,
said the six young men who came
last Thursday were asked to bring
several friends with them tonight’s
meeting.
For additional Information young
men from the Grover community
are asked to call Mauney at 780-8621
or 789-6976.
In local projects the Jaycees have
donated a brick structured marque
sign to the Kings Mountain Com
munity Center.
Alex McCollum, a Jaycee, said the
club worked on the project for
several months before the sign
became a reality. The club paid out
over 8700 for materials and labor
and had about $280 worth of bricks
donated by Bennett Brick and TTle.
"We felt the sign would be a nice
addition to the community center”
McOallum said.
The marque Is lighted and Is
designed to hold public an
nouncements of coming events at
the community center.
The brick masonry was done by
Melvin Sizemore of Blacksburg, S.
C. and Is employed at Spectrum
Textured Fibers In Kings Mountain.
The carpentry work was done by
Jim Connor of Kings Mountain and
the electrlcsd work by John McClain,
also a Spectrum employe.
Pace Grinds
To Halt With
Fourth Snow
long Winter dumped snow on the
IQngs Mountain area for the fourth
'':ne this month Monday’morning
and weather forecasters were
predicting an accumulation of from
four to six Inches In Cleveland
County.
The white stuff started falling
about 9 a. m. and rapidly covered
the ground, closing schools about
8:80 a. m. and slowing traffic and
business In town to a halt while
creating hazardous driving con
ditions. At 11 a. m. yesterday city
police had answered eight wreck
calls. No Injuries were reported,
according to a spokesman (or Kings
Mountain Police Depiulment.
Major J. H. Moss dispatched
city street crews^ out on the
roads esu'ly in the morning to
distribute sand on streets. The
mayor said that city utility depart
ments would continue to maintain
all services and he urged citizen
conservation of energy as well as
safety precautions on the roads and
In the homes to reduce hazards of
fire and home accidents.
A meeting of the city board of
commissioners was scheduled
Monday for 7:80 p. m. In Council
Chambers. City Clerk Joe McDaniel
said a board meeting had never been
"called off due to bad weather” and
the mayor said the meeting was
"still on” at presstime Monday.
At presstime there was no an
nouncement from school offlclsds
about opening of school today but a
spokesman said decision would be
made later in the day.
Qty Board Elections
Slated For This Year
Tliere’s snow on the ground and
almost nine months before the polls
open, but Luther Bennett, chairman
of the Kings Mountain Elections
Board, said It Isn’t too early to
remind citizens of a city election
coming this year.
Three commissioners will seek
office on Tues., Oct. 11, 1977. Two
members of the Kings Mountain
District Schools Board of Education
will also seek office this year, but the
exact date of this election Is known
at this point.
Bennett said the commissioner
election Is handled by the city
elections board and the board of
education election by the county
elections board.
Oommlssloner seats In Districts
(Please Turn To Page 2)
Roy Pearson Named
To Arts Ed Council
aty Recreation Director Roy
Pearson Is among 86 local citizens
tapped to serve on the Southwest
Regional Alliance for Arts
Education Council.
Mr. Pearson will serve on the
Council, which Is sponsored by the
Kennedy Center for the Arts through
the North Carolina Alliance (or Arts
Educatlrai (NCAAE) Council. The
regional Council Is chsdred and
coordinated by Ms. Edith Perry of
Wingate. She and the Council are
being assisted by the State
Depsu^ent of Public Instruction’s
Southwest Regional Education
Center In Albemarle, and the
Division of Cultural Arts.
Overall goal, according to Mr.
Pearson, Is to achieve a deeper
citizen understanding of the im
portance of arts education to thd
children of our nation and thus to the
quality of life In future years.
First meeting of the Regional Arts
Council will be held at Downtowner
East In Charlotte on Tuesday, Jm.
26, begliAlng at 6 p. m. The Council
will discuss the status of the arts by
counties, what Is needed In the arts,
as well as ’’ dreams for the arts In the
region.”
ROY PEARSON