Newspapers / The Kings Mountain Herald … / April 18, 1978, edition 1 / Page 2
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J Page 2—MIRROR-HERALiD—Tuesday, April 18, 1978 Highways made of wood Few people are aware today that North CaroUna was once crossed by highways made of wood. For a ten-year period before the Civil War — before the widespread growth of railroads — these plank roads provided a measure of dependable transportation in a state notorious for Its muddy, Impassable roads. Significantly, these toll roads were developed by private capital, and not paid for by the state Itself. The roads were ten feet wide with passing lanes or pull-overs located at frequent Intervals, and covered with a thin layer of dirt to hold down the noise of heroes’ hooves. On April 17,1864, the most ambitious plank road of all was completed, reaching from Fayetteville to Salem (now Winston-Salem), It was, at 129 miles the longest plank road In the world, and Included among its engineering achievements the first bridges over rivers such as the Catawba, €D 9MITH men to serve as Vice President of the United States, (The other was Andrew Johnson) King died on April 18, 1868. Both men left this state before achieving prominence, King serving as a U. S. Senator from Alabama for years. Ironically, King’s opponent for Vice President In the election of 1862 was William A. Graham, the only citizen of this sUte ever to run for the office of either President or Vice-President on a major party ticket while actually still a resident of North CaroUna. King took the Oath of office at the U. S. Embassy In Havana; Cuba, where he had gone hoping to recover from tuberculosis. He died a month later, without ever reaching Washington. =0 ■a: -oOo- Colonel Richard CasweU, hero of the RevoluUonarv War BatUe of Moore’s Creek Bridge, became the stated On April 17, 1864, Confederate General Robert Hoke began a three-day battle to recapture Plymouth from Northern forces. As a part of the attack, the steam- powered ram "Albemarle” ran the Union blockade, sank two gunboats and bombarded Northern for tifications. -oOo- A number of Important Tar Heels are associated with this week In history. Space permits the Inclusion of only four of them, however. e.ot j — •''B'l me siaie s first elected (Jovemor on April 18, 1778. He was elected General Assembly (sis Its brand-new Constitution specified) for a one-year term As a *venteen-year veteran of the colonial assembly, Caswell had already served four months as Interim estayushed***'* **** permanent government was being Between 1778 and 1787, Caswell served a total of six one-ye^ terms, giving him a share of the honor (with Luther Hodges) of having served the longest In office of any North Carolina governors. -oOo- WllUam R. King was one of two North CaroUna-born -oOo- W. Kerr Scott, one of the state’s most famous governors during this century, was born In Alamance County on AprU 17, 1896. He died on April 16, 1968, while serving as U. S. Senator. His term as governor (1949-63) Is best remembered for Its achievements In paving the state’s secondary roads. -oOo- Bom April 19, 1813, David S. Reid, whose election as Governor In 1860 first brought the Democrat Party to power In this state, ending Its domination by the Whigs, He ran for governor on a platform, advocating the election of judges, and removal of property ownership as a qualification for voting in some state elections. Reid, a native of Rockingham County, also served In the S. Congress. Poet’s Corner Ugliest ‘broads’ ever seen As a rule I never cast negatives at the ladles, 'cause my ’ol daddy taught me to be polite. But there comes a time when a body Just has to draw the line. ’That time came for me Saturday night at Barnes Auditorium. Never have I ever seen such a collection of ugly broads In all my life. Ugly and shameless. Shameless because they had the audacity to call what they were doing a beauty pageant. They were 16 of them, aU dolled up and painted. €DITORII^L OPIMlOh And the former 1936 winner was something else. Of course she might have been a beauty back In her salad days, but It has been a long time and her salad dressing has congealed. ’Ihey dug her up from somewhere to crown tile 1978 winner. And since Saturday I have lost all ad miration for Minnie Pearl, Lyn Anderson and Glen Campbell. Yes, those greats from the country music field served as Judges — and actually picked a winner. I saw Dee Payseur, a pitiful specimen, do a hula to entertain the crowd and Mikey Brown played the organ. Scottina Ellis played the organ, too, but It came out sounding like a piano. Hazel Allen sang ’’Paper Doll” and Dicey Dixon also warbled (and badly) a tune. It was so bad I can’t even remember the name of It. ., A HIGHWAY PRAYER Please come and sit beside me God I would thy counsel feel. Help me obey thy law ol love While I am at the wheel. Bsmlsh the thought of greater speed And keep my vision clear; Help me drive with confidence (}ulte undisturbed by fear. In every way help me respect Those laws devised by man For thy embrace the golden rule. There Is no better plan. ilacklg Brstwn sang Dolly Parton’s new hit, ’’Two DodrsDown ...” and Gay Canlpe told of her transsexual operation and what It has meant to his, er, her, er It’s life Stephsmle Baker thrilled the audience with a ballet number and Danellon Bagwell hwd the audience screaming for more with a strip-tease. TOM MclMTVRe Help me to realize I owe As much as I might claim; I seek no privilege unless — I could return the same. Jerry King a good choice for directorship Tlie Kings Mountain Business Development office Is active once again foUowlng a layoff of almost one year since the resignation of Larry Billings. It became active last Tuesday when Jerry L. King assumed his duties as director of that office. The Job description reads; "The business development office is geared to assist general business, small and minority businesses in developing operations In Kings Mountain." What that means is the director has the Job of helping the local business community grow and diversify, to help pump new life Into the business com munity and Into the local economy. A Kings Mountain native, Jerry King Is a suitable choice to take over where Billings left off. King knows the problems here and, as a native son, has the built- in hometown pride to bolster him In his search for new business blood. Congratulations, Jerry, now let’s see you get crackin’. Paula Fulton hamboned and Bennett Masters, Denise Bolin, Joanle Pettus, Barbara Home, Oelane Clark, and Roberta Harmon all did their numbers for the Judges. WTien It was all over the winner was an nounced. It was Stephanie Baker, who wept properly upon receiving the flowers and crowm, then took her rightful place on the throne. Of course, the "beauty” pageant was all in fun and to raise funds for the Kings Mountain Babe Ruth League. And the ugly broads were really men In drag. ’The contestants were really D. C. Payseur, Mike Brown, Gaylon Canlpe, Jack Brown! Bennett Masters, Dennis Bolin, Sheriff Haywood Allen, John Pettus, Paul Fulton, Bobby Home, Dewayne Clark, Steve Baker, Jack Dixon, Robert Harmon, Scott Ellis and Danny Bagwell. Gerald Valentine was Miss Babe Ruth of 1936. I was invited to be a contestant, but declined. I was afraid Anita Bryant might show up right In the middle of my big number. I guess Steve Baker really deserved to win. I never saw anyone go through so much rigorous torture. He did a ballet, complete with a ballerina costume. He wound up his act by tossing his wig at the audience. ’The place really broke up when Sheriff Allen arrived. He had dressed at home and his wife drove him to the auditorium. "I really got some stares from other drivers coming down here,” the sheriff said. “I’m Just glad there wasn’t an accident. It would have been my luck for my competition for sheriff to have been on hand then.” Bennett Masters, who never looked lovelier In his blond wig, eye makeup and beauty mark, kept walking around flipping his hair like Farrah Fawcett and saying, ’’Hurry up. Let's get this over with. I have a heavy date at the Holiday Inn.” It was strange to hear Olivia Newton-John’s voice coming out of his mouth during the talent show. Mike Brown was really something to see with his inflated balloons fore and aft. Just before the show Miked opted to remove the aft balloons. “I can’t sit down for fear of being blown up.” After the pageant someone exploded one of his fore balloons and sent him racing around backstage. ’"That’s smarts! ” Everybody had a good time, but I got the Impression the fellas are happy they weren’t born females. (Jetting Into all of those clothes, doing their hair and putting on makeup was Just too much to want to do it regularly. - I ask no guarantee of life; ' For death there's no defense But (3od, sit near and help me drive With Just plain common sense. FROM SELECmONS OF MYRTLE GOFORTH THE LIGHT REFLECTOR Put a little sunshine In the voice It Is sweet music to the ear. Let others see a little sunshine Feel a little sunshine For happiness be a volunteer. Light up the face with gladness In the field of the world a bouquet. Be happy that God loves you and me And put His love on display. Share true love and let It warm The frigid air all around. Especially If the birds have ceased to sing Or the sun Is about to go down. Whatever the season let the sunshine beam Be (Jod’s messenger In your abode. Let brightness fall wherever you walk And the weary gain strength from your code. VIVIAN S. BILTCLIFFE Patrol after speeders, drunk drivers A new effort by the SUte Highway Patrol to cut down on speeding and drunk drivers on North Cvollna highways was announced today by SUte Secretary of Crtme Control and Public Safety J. Phil Carlton. In the announcement, made In Raleigh, CArlton pointed out that more people have been killed on sUU hlghwaya since January of this year as compared to the same period In 1977. "Since approximately forty percent of all traffic faUlltles are related to speeding and twenty-five percent are related to drivers known to be under the Influence of alcohol, it la obvious that we must sUp up our traffic law anforcamant in these areas,” (Jarlton said. Carlton described a seven-point program to reduce speed and drunk driving. The program Includes the following enforcement activities which! will affect every North Uirollnlan: UNMARKED PATROL CARS Troopers will be patrolling In unmarked Pontlaca, ChevroleU, Fords, Dodges and Bulcks. The old days of motorists Just looking for that too familiar pUln-colored Plymouth with solid black tires are over. IN CREASED WORKING HOURS FOR PATROLMEN An $818,000 grant from the Governor’s Highway Safety Program has been granted to the Highway Patrol as an Incentive to work on their days off. ’This will put an ad ditional 376 patrolmen each week patrolling the state’s highways looking specifically for speeders and drinking drivers. IMPROVED OOMMUNICA’nONS Because patrol communications stations operate on different frequencies throughout the state, the Patrol has purchased five hundred new 12-channel radios. This will enable patrol officers to betUr com municate with the men under their supervision. ACTION AGAINST ALL VIOLATORS Members of the Highway Patrol have been Instructed to stop every vehicle on the high way which Is exceeding the speed limit by any amount and to take appropriate action based on the offense. Drivers giving the slightest appearance of driving under the Influence of alcohol will be stopped every time STRICT ACTION AGAINST DRIVERS OK STATE OWNED CARS Secretary Carlton Is recommending to the State Personnel Commission that any state employe found guUty of violating a motor vehicle law on a state vehicle be given an oral warning for the first offense, a written warning for the second and that he be dismissed for any subsequent violations. He Is also recommending that any state em ploye committing a serious motor vehicle offense while operating a state vehicle, such as speeding In excess of 76mph, careless and reckless driving or driving under the In fluence, be dismissed for a first conviction. MULTI-S’^TE COOPERATIVE PROGRAM North Carolina Is presently working with 14 other states through which Interstate 96 passes In planning a cooperative en forcement effort which will be called Operation C. A. R. E. (Combined Accident Reduction Effort). This program, endorsed by President Carter, will emphasize voluntary compliance with the national speed Umlt, high visibility of Patrol during holiday weekends, stricter enforcement of traffic laws In all states, more efficient movement of traffic, and more harmonious Interstate cooperation In traffic enforcement efforts betwsen states. INCREASED EMPHASIS ON VOLUNTARY fXlMPLIANCE Voluntary compliance on the part of citizens Is the most effective way to save lives as well as the least expensive and least Inconvenient for motorists. Traffic In formation services and frequent reminders of the Patrol’s commitment to strict law enforcement will be Increased. Carlton called on motorists. North Carolinians and visitors, to comply with the speed limit and to cease driving after con suming alcohol. “Let there be no mistake about It," CMrIton said. “This la a serious program, not a cosmetic attempt to satisfy bureaucratic requirements. When 66 percent of the l,floo highway deaths occur as a result of speeding and driving under the Influence, we can no longer afford to think that violation of a motor vehicle law la any less serious than violation of any other criminal law. Carlton added, "It la a crime to speed. It Is a crime to drive under the Influence, and this must be part of our total crime control program. No other crimes cost so many lives." MlKlf^HEilaD fUtLISHIOlACH TUISOAY AND THUII SO AY oarlanoatkini Rw*ltth«r TOM MCMTYRC ItfItRr ■LiZAtITH STtWAfIT WtfRAn'i itfitw OARRILL AUlflN •tntrAlMARAiRf CLYODNILL Aivtrliilnf Olr«ctv MtMtIII OR NONTNCAROLINA RRIIt AttOClATiON Th» Mirror Hortld it puollthod 0, Oonortl eueiiinino com»d(ir, p o ort«tr 7H, xuet MdunttIn.N C.ltwt Sullntll one tdllorldl otfleoo •ro Idcdioe dl >04 loulh eioomont Av, Pnono 7JI Stcend Clou poiloto ptid ti Kingt Mounipin. N e tins It copy IS Ctntt luMcrlptlon rtitt M SO yttrly If! titft. 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The Kings Mountain Herald (Kings Mountain, N.C.)
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April 18, 1978, edition 1
2
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