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THE TUESDAY EDITION
VOL. 88 NO. 1»
TUESDAY, BIARCH 8,1*77
klMGS MOUMTI^IM
MIRROR-H€Rf\LD
15*
Cecil Owens Raises Flag Final Time
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So Long^ Stars ‘w Stripes,
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UNFURLS OLD QLORY — Cecil Owens nntiirled Old Glory tor the
Iknal ttme nt 8:10 this morning, his last day on Ihe Job at Bnrllngton’s
Fhenlx Plant. Oedl la 66-yeara old today and plans to retire to hli hobbles,
flower gardsnhtg and fishlag.
Photos By Tom McIntyre
. »Js> ^ ' If
Building Planned
By TOM MCINTYRE
Editor, Mirror-Herald
Ctty commissioners are shooting
tor May 2 as the beginning date tor
construction on a new 18,864 square
toot public works building.
In a special called meeting last
Friday, the board approved and
accepted architectural plans tor the
two level building frcnn HoUand-
McOlnnls Associates, professional
architects of Shelby.
ITie construction bids are ex
pected to be advertised beginning
March 24, received and opened on
April 14, awarded by April 16 with
ccnstructlon to begin by May 2.
TTiree months is the projected time
tor the completion of the building.
The original bid contract will be
tor the footings amd enclosure of
walla and celling. The city plana to
handle the Inside construction,
wiring, plumbing and heating
construction.
Marvin Baugham of Holland-
McOInnls said the projected cost tor
the structure prior to the city’s work
la $8.78 per square foot or an esti
mated $128,280. This price does not
Include the proposed garage area to
be on the public works building site.
Commissioners said Friday they
expect plans tor the garage to be
approved during the construction
phase of the building and work
started on the garage during the
summer months.
The garage will be a large working
area, an office and toilet facilities
ccntalned in 2,240 square feet.
The Public Works Building will
contain 18,844 sq. ft. on the first level
and 8,040 sq. ft on the second level.
The iqiper floor will not run the
entire length of the building.
Maughsun said plans call tor of
fices downstairs tor the building
Inspector, water-sewer supt., street -
sanitation supt., electrical dept.,
gas dept, and cemetery dept. Plus a
woodworking area, supply storage
and reception areas.
On the second level will be offices
tor the city engineer, public worics
secretary and a conference room.
The building will have a 112 foot
front and 188.8 feet of length. In
cluding an eight-foot wide loading
dock on the rear of the building.
The push Is on to construct the new
public works building because the
present PW site Is In the Cansler St.
Urbstn Renewal area and the site
must be cleared In order for the
(Please Thm To Page 8)
On Drug Charges
Six Are Arrested
six persons have been eurested
on drug charges stemming from a
lengthy undercover operation here
Involving four area law enforcement
agencies.
Five persons were arrested last
Thursday and a sixth on Friday. A
total of 16 warrants were drawn for
selling a controlled substance and
Morehead Winner
K
Christopher Michael Holmes, son
of Mr. and Mrs. Ray Holmes of
Kings Mountain stnd senior student
at Kings Mountain Senior High
School, has been awarded a tour-
year Morehead Scholarship to the
University of North Carolina at
Oiapel HIU valued at tU.OOO.
He Is among 68 high school eenlora
who are recipients of the coveted
awards following an extensive
screening procese that began last
Fall and culminated In Chapel HIU
last week In competition With
finalists from North Carolina and 18
other states plus two foreign
countries.
A Rutherford County High School
aanlor, James Edward Grogan, Jr.,
was only other recipient In this area.
Holmes was cited tor hla high
academic standing, leadership
qualities, service to school, church
smd community. In addition to other
achievements. At KMSHS, he la
aecretary of Student Council, active
In National Honor Society and
psutlclpated in All-State Band.
CHRIS HOLMES
By TOM McIntyre
Editor, Mirror-Herald
At 8:16 this morning Cecil Owens
celebrated three things; hla 88th
birthday, unfurling Old Glory for the
last time and saying so long to his
place of employment tor 80 years.
Cecil Owens will awaken
tomorrow a retired man.
What does a machinist, who
lesuned his trade as a man of 28 at
demson University and spent 80 of
his 87 years as a resident of Kings
Mountain employed at Burlington
Industries’ Phenlx Plant, do when he
retires?
”He goes back Into the nursery
buslnesa,” Owens said. ”I had got
ten out of the flower gardening
business, but a friend of mine, Fred
Bridges, a postman, talked me Into
getting back Into buriness with
htan.”
Owens and Bridges are neighbors
on W. Gold St. and Bridges had long
admired Owens’ phenomenal six-
cess with growing azaleas, camellias
and boxwoods. When Owens said he
was going to retire Bridges went to
work on him to create another
business, the business of operating a
nursery.
Tills will take psut of Owens’ time,
but the rest of the time he plana to sit
on theibanks of his private Isdre
"drownin’ worms and tryln* to catch
fish.’’
Thirty-seven years ago If Cecil
Owens had been able to find a room
to rent In Gastonia this story would
have been about someone else.
"I had a Job there at Gossett
, M>*f4>tfie Oomnany,’’ he said, ‘-lAnd 1
wouldhave stayed there If 1 moid’ve
found a room. Instead, iiy wife
suggested we come to Kings
Mountain where die had an aunt and
see If she couldn’t help us find, a
place to live.’’
Idrs. Owens is the former Gertie
Anderson of Pickens, 8. C. and her
aunt in Kings Mountain was Lucy
Davis.
"When we got here Mrs. Davis
said she didn’t know of any rental
homes, but of several homes for
sale,’’ Owens said. "She reasoned
that if I could afford to rent a hmne I
could afford to buy one. Our first
home was on Shelby Highway west
of town. Next we lived In the
Bbenezer Community and for the
psMt two years we have lived at 800
W. Gold St.;
When Owens lived on the Shelby
Highway he built himself a
greenhouse to house Ids flowers.
When he moved to Bbenezer the
greenhouse was tom down and he
"Just never got around to building
another.’’
"I’ve been planting my azaleas,
camellias and boxwoods In the trees
since that time," Owens said. "And
I’ve managed to sell quite a few
flowers over the yeais."
Cecil Owens Is a native of Jackson
County. His family moved to
Pickens, S. C. when he was 18 years
old. "I stayed there long enough to
get Into trouble,’’ he laughed. "I met
Mias Gertie and we got married."
In the late 1880-8 Owens enrolled In
Caemson University to become a
machinist. When World War TVo
was declared he had Just gone to
work at Gosset Machine in Gastonia.
"Because I was a machinist, each
place I was employed during the war
got me deferred tor defense work."
Owens said. "I worked In Gastonia,
CherryvlUe and Bessemer City
before I finally found a ’home’ here
at the Phenlx plant."
Several years ago there were
three men working on the first shift
In the machine department. One of
those three, Cecil Champion, had the
Job of raising the North Carolina and
American flaga each minnlng. When
Champion was transferred to
another department, Cecil Ovens
took over the JOb of raising the flw*,
and hs has done this tor the past
several years.
“R Just became something I did
eaush morning right after I came to
work," Owens said. "I never thought
about It. I Just did It."
He didn’t say, but he gives the
Impression he will miss that
pleasant little duty.
“V.'-;i-
w .v- ... ^
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SO LONG, STABS’N STRIPES - Oassas wnllB MVny Dw
and the bUlowlng colors for the last ttane. When Ms first i
shop Jobs ends at2 p. m. today he- roes Into retireinent
tflBSpaio
Rabies Vaccine Urged In March
develatnd County Health Depart
ment will sponsor a rabies clinic at
City Hall Sat., Mar. 28, from 4:80
until 6 p. m.
After this date the area will be
checked tor non-vacclnated dogs
and those animals found not wearing
proper tags, rabies, tax and Iden
tification, will be picked up by the
city animal warden.
By ThecUre Friday
Warden Stretch Bollinger Is
already making rounds within the
city notifying dog owners of the
rabies clinic and the Importance of
having their dogs vaccinated.
possession of a controlled substance
tor sale.
The undercover officers were
from the Kings Mountain, Shelby
and Forest Qty police departments
and the Cleveland County Sheriff’s
Department.
Arrested were;
Richard Steven W(hltley, 21, at his
home, 802 Meadowbrook Rd. on two
counts of possession of a controlled
substsince fos sale with Intent to sell
or deliver.
Lucy Mae Young, 40, at her home,
Apt. 26, Chesterfield (hurt, on one
count of selling a controlled sub
stance.
Debra Lynn Holland Ross, 21, of
861 W. Warren St., Shelby, on tour
warrants, two counts each of selling
a controlled substance and
possession of a controlled substance.
Michael Anthony Stowe, 18,
arrested at home. Apt. 28, Chester
field Oourt, on one count each of
selling a controlled substance and
poesesslon of a controlled substance.
Stsuiley (Fred) Bridges, 17, at Rt
8, Kings Mountain, arrested at his
place of employment. Falls Exxon,
on one count each of selling a con
trolled substance and possession of a
controlled substance.
Henry Clayton Means Jr., 21,
formerly of Kings Mountain, now
residing In Gaston County, arrested
by KMPD Officer ’Tommy Gladden
and charged with two counts each of
selling a controlled substance and
possession of a controlled substance.
All six were placed In the
Cleveland County Jail and placed
under $1,000 bond on each warrant
against them. All have been freed
under bond.
Don Jones Honored
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XX
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Photo Ity Ub Stewart
LITTLE THEATRE HONORS JONES - Kings Mountain Dlafrlet
Schools Superintendent Donald Jenss sad his wife, Gladys, are pletared
accepting a plaque of appreciation and a lifetime membership fer thsir
family In the Klngn Mountain Little Thoatie from LT President Jim
Champion Friday night during "Don Jonee Night" sponsored by the Little
Theatre on opening night of "Harvey."
Friday night was "Don Jones
Night" at Inning of the Kings
Mountain Little Theatre comedy,
"Harvey,” and was a surprise to the
popular KlngiT Mountain schools
superintendent and his family.
LT President Jim Chsunplon took
the occasion to present the Jonas
ftunlly with a lifetime membership
and to give them a handsome plaque
In appreciation of their service to the
community. The Jones family Is
moving to Asheville this summer
where Mr. Jones will besoms super
intendent of the Ashevlllo schoots,
his alma mater.
Ctting examples of Bupt. Jones
contributions to the theatre.
Champion thanked Mr. Jones, along
with the board of education, tor their
help In obtaining thsir present LT
"home,” the former Park Grace
Blementaiy School, In 1971 and
being Instrumental In renovatlans to
the building. He said several
members of the Jonas family had
taken part In various shows and
assisted in backstage work. Mrs.
Jones was presented a corsage.
A large crowd. Including school
paraonnsl and members of the board*
of edueatlan, vmre on hand for the
first show of the L-T season, the
hllarioue comedy, "Haivey," which
continues this weekend on Friday
and Saturxay, Mar. 11-19, at 8 p. m.
In Park Grace Auditorium, under
direction of Joe Ann McDaniel.