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Pace S-MtBROB HBKALD-TnMtey. June IB, 1B7B
Letters to the editor
Teenagers need examples
CAB I read of the controverey In the echool personal weakness, wrhlch wre should try to
■ystem between concerned parents, and the strenghten,and In so-doing, buUd character
dty schools, and-or the Health Department and self-worth,
about the teaching of sex In the schools; I
Last giant
wondered what the reaction of the average
reader would be. Would we feel outrage, pity
or concern? Would some of us feel
milpabiUty for the pli^t of these young
people who are caught in the nuaoie f
I am grateful to find that there are parents
concerned enough to do something about the
education of their young people. Ooncemed,
It Is not surprising that many of our
teenagers (adults as well) appease the erotic
i4>petlte as carelessly as they abuse the
phvalcal appetite. And. why not? Society has
made aeif-Uratincauon the uou or une
Times. To deny one's self of anything Is
unheard of. Self discipline Is square, and
guilt feelings about our actions send us flying
not only, with their satisfaction today, but to the nearest psychiatrist,
with the development of character, and their
future happiness.
I can remember when parents, concerned
that their children have strong, healthy
bodies, taught them that they must eat their
vegetables, meat and potatoes If they hoped
tor any dessert. I disliked okra, but I ate so
many portions In anticipation of the
chocolate cake, pie and Ice cream, that I
have growm to love It.
In like manner, children were taught that
the erotic appetite must be controlled by self
discipline until a person Is mature enough to
accept the responsibility, and the con
sequences of hls-her actions. Responsible,
not only, to themselves, but to the person
with whom they choose to share a sexual
relationship, and to society, as well.
At that time, schools respected the
teachings of the home, and were grateful to
those psirents who Instilled these moral
concepts In their children.
While It Is, well, known that all of us did not
attain the Ideal, we did at least, strive for It,
and recognise our lack of self control as a
The nation was shocked at Watergate, and
even more shocked at the cover-up, and yet,
every day we teach or children, and each
other, the art of cover-up
We do not give a loaded gun to an enraged
Individual, and advise him, politely,” Now.
Here Is a gun. It would be best for you to
calm down and control your anger, but If you
can’t, and feel you must murder someone,
please do It In a discreet manner. It would be
terrible for you, and for society If you should
get caught, and have to pay a price for In
dulging your feelings. However, should you
get caught, do not worry. We will have a
lawyer standing by to get you out of your
trouble.” Not yet we don’t, anyway.
And yet, this Is the same principle we offer
the teenager. Just at the age when their
sexual needs, and curiosity demand
fulfillment, we say,” Now. It Isn’t right to
have sexual relationships In a careless
manner. You should learn to control these
natural urges and desires until you find
someone with vritom to share the respon
sibility of a home and family, but If you
can’t, and feel you must have sexual
relations, please take the pill so that neither
you or society will be stuck with your self-
indulgence. However, If you do not take the
pill, and find you are In trouble do not worry.
We wUi gei ywii
It Is unrealistic to say that we have no
problem with teenage pregnancy. It Is, even,
more unrealistic to blame the teenager,
living In a culture which offers pre
pregnancy pills, and post-pregnancy
abortion, many of todays teenagers have no
concept of a need for self discipline of sexual
or any other desire.
And It Is hardest of all on the parents who
teach their children moral suid spiritual
principles. It Is confusing to their children.
Many times the difference between the
teachings of the home, the teachings of
soclety,and the conduct of their peers make
their lives unbearable. Never-the-less, my
hat’s off to these parents, and the teenagers
vdio consider the cost, and find self worth of
value.
To seek a cure for the problem of teenage
pregnancy la to be expected, but a cure for
the cause is needed. And, this must begin,
not with teenager, but with those whose
example he-she follows.
<X)NNIE PUTNAM
Kings Mountain
IS gone
The last of the giants Is gone.
Cancer killed him at B:80 p.m. Monday,
June 11.
It would take some creepy, silent enemy to
do It because mere mortals don’t slay giants.
Bob Wlsehart wrote In The Charlotte News
Tues., June 13 that he saw John Wayne In
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iis Hi. *»».** ^
Depot Center for everyone
To The Editor;
I would like to let the cltlsens of Kings
Mountain know the hassle they would have to
go through to rent the K.M. Depot Center
from Kenneth George. I talked with Mr.
George around the first of May about renting
the Depot Center for a birthday party for my
daughter. He was hesitant about even
talking to me, explaining that the depot was
tor the senior cltlsens, not for children’s
parties. When I told him It would be a 16th
birthday party and around 80 teenagers
would be there, he was even more hesitant.
He gave me all kinds of excuses about how
they would tear up the place and that he
would have to get someone to come back that
night and clean up after us. He even told me
we could rent a room at the Community
Center (which I did check In to and the room
rents for $70.00 - the depot for $10.00). I In
formed him we would have competent
chaperones and we would clean up after
ourselves. I told him I was for the senior
citizens 100 percent and I was proud the C9ty
of Kings Mountain could have such a won
derful program for them, but the teenagers,
also, needed a place to go where they could
enjoy themselves.
Mr. George went on to explain to me that
the Federal Government had given several
thousand dollars worth of grants to the city
for the senior citizens programs and those
programs had to be carried out. I explained
to him that several thousand dollars worth of
taxpayers money also went In to the
renovation of the depot.
On May 11,1 offered Mr. George my check
for $10.00 for the rent on the building. He
would not accept It saying he would have to
clesu* it with the Mayor becaiue we would be
dancing at the party and he was not going to
be responsible for the floors if we tore them
up. I took my check directly to Com
missioner Corbet Nicholson and told him the
situation. He said he knew of more people
who had tried to rent the depot from Mr.
George but would not pursue the matter.
Commissioner Nicholson, In turn, talked
with Mayor Moss.
Needless to say, we rented the Depot
Center and had a wonderful time. After we
cleaned up, I sun sure Mr. George could not
even tell we had. been there.
The K.M. Depot Center U a beautiful
building that smy citizen can be proud of. A
lot of hard work and money was put Into It.
The Depot Center U too pretty a buUdlng just
to look at. It U a buUdlng that U to be used by
the citizens of Kings Mountain.
To you, Mr. George, I would like to say
Uiat when you told me the buUdlng did not
belong to you, I could not agree with you
more. It belongs to the citizens of Kings
Mountain, from the senior citizens on down
to, yes, Mr. George, the teenagers of Kings
Mountain.
I would like to express my sincere
gratitude to Commissioner Corbet Nicholson
and to Mayor John Henry Moss for their help
on this matter. I am sure the teenagers, who
were at the party, thank you also.
Mrs. Jerry White
Kings Mountain
Commissioners list support
surance ($2,000), vehicle depreciation
($7,200), ssUarles for director of 3H yesu’s,
secretary for 2 years, two services aides, 1 A
2 yesLTs ($110,000). AU these figures total an
approximate $148,000 through the Com
munity Block Grant stnd the Kin gs Mountain
general fund.
Other monies contributed to the support of
the aging program by federal grants under
the city’s sponsorship Include Title 8 -
$40,076; and Title 0 - $39,280, for a total of
$84,861. The grand total to date is $234,811 for
the aging program.
The above totals do not Include the local
match of funds contributed by the City of
Kings Mountain In support of the Cleveland
Food and Nutrition Program operating at
the Depot Center, which Is supervised by
To the editor.
We, as members of the Kings Mountain
Board of Commissioners, would like to
respond to the letter published by Rev.
Kenneth George In last week’s Mirror-
Herald.
The following statistics show tl;a ap
proximate financial support rendered the
lOngs Mountain Aging Program since Its
inception In 1B78.
The city has contributed two used cars
($1,800), two new vans ($18,000), office space
(rent $7,200), utUlUes ($8,300), vehicle In-
Clear up
few points
To the Editor:
This letter la In response to the comments
by Rev. Kenneth George which anpeared In
the June 13th edition of the Kings Mountain ipg Kenneth George:
Mirror-Herald. I would like to take this
opportunity to clear up a few points that ho
brought out because I feel that the letter was indeed It Is a sad commentary when one
very misleading. cannot communicate with the Elected
First, I feel that 1 must disagree with Rev. xlayor and Commissioners. However this Is
George on his statement that the open forum uq^ case.
Is the only method of communication with have not called me at home or at my
the mayor and commissioners. In the past I work. I am available before and after each
have always been available to Rev. George, scheduled and advertised meeting of the
whether by phone, or In person, and will BosLrd of Commissioners, every second and
continue to be In the future. fourth Monday night, which you should at-
Secondly, I foel that It should be pointed tend. i have never refu/sed to talk with
out that there la no Intention on behalf of the anyone personally or on the telephone. All
City of Kings Mountain to discontinue the
Aging Program for the Senior ClUsena of our
community, and I for one have always
supported this program. At no time, to my
knowledge, has the Kings Mountain Aging
program been Included In the City budget,
other than through the Community
Development Block Grant, which no longer
their project due to Ineligibility. As noted In
the statistical report, the city of Kings
Mountain has been most generous to the
Senior Cltlsens.
In closing I would like to again point out
the fact that It Is our intention to continue the
Aging Program for our Senior Cltlsens.
Oorbet H. NioholsoB
rv,mmlaa<nnMr • District 8
Communication not lacking
Appreciates improvements
up and cheered when his Rooster Cogbum
herolcly cut down bad guy Robert Duvall’s
gang In a stunning shootout.
The movie audience I saw "True Grit”
with didn’t exactly stand and cheer, but we
did voice aloud our ’’Alright, big John!”
And the night Wayne was awarded the
Oscar tor his Cogbum role I did let out a
warwhoop that had my family looking at me
strangely.
And the night the news bulletin came on
that Wayne had died I unashamedly shed a
tear.
Like Wayne held that ”My country, right
or wrong,” I held ”My main man, right or
wrong.”
Like Wayne, I too felt as long as America
was Involved In that mess In Vietnam, we
should have stomped the Vletcong Into the
ground. Did that make me a hawk? Or did It
mean the same basic beliefs that Wayne, a
mldwestemer, grew up In were the same
beliefs we. In the south, grew up In? The
latter I think.
Personally, though, I was never really
Interested In 'The Duke’s politics (rw anyone
else’s). I went to his movies (aiid re-watch
them on TV) tor the same reason he made
them. For entertainment.
The grunt and scratch actors bore me to
tears. They did when they became the rage
and they do now. With John Wayne you
knew where he stood. He (on screen) never
had to sell out like the rest of us in everyday
life.
When someone shot him the bull he an
swered by saying ’’You’re a liar!” We have
to smile and politely say, I disagree with
that. Wayne solved problems. We just
prolong them.
How did Wayne become a giant In the film
Industry?
If we knew the answer to such questions In
advance wouldn’t we be the fortunate ones.
In looking back over Wayne’s film career
TOM
MclhTYRt;
It Is amazing that he ever did. He started off
In sUent films In 1838 and when sound came
In he made one cheaple western after
another; fUms which probably never played
any of the large American clUes.
As a youngster, back In the 1940’s, I used to
hunker down with my bag of popcorn In the
old Gem Theatre In Belmont and watch The
Duke In those cheaple westerns. Of course,
the theatre owner must have really been a
cheapo himself, because those films were 10-
18 years old when I saw them. I also saw Bob
Steele, Hoot Gibson, Ken Maynard and Tim
McCby films on succeeding Saturdays-all
from the I980e. But somehow, those heroes
did not have the sustaining appeal that
Wayne possessed. It wasn’t until the late
18408 the Gem began showing Gene Autry
and Roy Rogers, although both had been
around for several years by then. I have
never figured that one out. And the Gem
never did run the Three Mesqulteer films
that Wayne made for Republic during the
19408. I saw thsoe on TV later.
It U said and written that ’’Stogecoach”
made Wayne a star. That In 1888. But It
wasn’t until about 10 years later that ha
really began to shine on the screen as far as
stories and production were concerned. But
It took Wayne and Bob FeUows, a part
nership, In the early IBBOs to reaUy put
Wayne squarely In the eye of the movle-
golng public. PYom that point on he really
began growing Into a giant In the en
tertainment field.
It Is also strange that Into the 1870a, when
the moviegoers showed a decided preference
for film heroes with hangups and
monumental flaws, that Wayne as the
unlntlmldated hero, was still packing them
In.
No typical abuser
Cleveland County Department of Social
Services, and Is a totally separate project
from the Kings Mountain Aging Program,
which Is responsible only for transportation
of senior citizens of our area to needed
services.
In the four years the services to the
elderly, the Kings Mountain Aging Program
has reached approximately 200 elderly
persons (out of a possible 3,000 within the
city, and 11,(KX) In the county) with services.
JAMES CHILDERS
JAMES HOUSTON
CORBET NICHOLSON
NORMAN KINO
WILLIAM GRISSOM
JAMES DICKEY
City Commissioners
messages are delivered and answered. I
would have been glad to talk with you at any
time If you had tried to talk with me.
I am definitely In favor of the Senior
Citizen Program and will do all In my power
to keep It going—under any circumstances.
I suggest all citizens read the report
concerning the Aging Program that Is ap
pearing on this page.
JAMES J. DICKEY
Dlst. 6 Commissioner
Kings Moimtaln
To the Citizens of Kings Mountain:
I, Verlee Mask, employed by the City as
Director of Davidson Pool, wish to thank the
Public Works Dept, and City Officials for
the Improvement and beautification at
Davidson Pool.
I can truly say that the City of Kings
Mountsdn has really done a fine job with the
Improvements.
I am Inviting all cltlsens of Kings Moun
tain to come and enjoy themselves this
summer at beautiful Davidson Pool.
All of us with the Parks and Recreation
Department are striving to make your
recreational facilities the finest In the area.
The parks and facilities are yours to use,
enjoy and be proud of. In return, your help In
protecting these areas Is needed and ap
preciated. Let’s all work hard to keep the
facilities In good shape.
VERLEE MASK
Director of Davidson Pool
By LINDA MILLER
Special to Mirror Herald
The female drug abuser? You may know
her. She could be a co-worker, a neighbor, a
friend. She could be your wife, your mother,
your sister. She could be you.
Who U the typical female drug abuser?
Drug treament program staff members
Christine Massey and Ajuba Joy can give
you a variety of descriptions. They see all
types at ’’Transition,” a drug treatment
program for women located In Wake County.
Actually, there Is no ’’typical” female
abuser, although many people think of the
skid row junkie as Apical-just like the
Image of the ’’typical” alcoholic.
What la becoming more prevalent today Is
the middle class female who abuses
prescription drugs—tranquallzers such as
Vallum and Librium. She may get them
from her doctor, a well meaning family
member or a friend.
In a drug oriented society which en
courages the use of tranquilizers, sedatives
and pain klUers to cope with life. Transition
Is a unique program. It meets the many
needs of female drug abusers so they may
live drug free lives.
Christine, coordinator of the program,
explains, ’’drug abuse Is one way of
escaping, making It easier on yourself. We
teach coping skills, ways to deal with life,
instead of reinforcing escape.”
Transition Is located at 610 Peace Street In
Raleigh. It provides many services and
learning situations tor women Including
counseling, graduate education degrees
(G.E.D.) programs, and group classes In
assertiveness training, values clarification
and goal setting techniques.
Funded through the National Institute of
Drug Abuse (NIDA) and a matching grant
from the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation In
Winston-Salem, this free community service
Is offered through Drug Action of Wake
county. Drug Action Is a private, non-profit
agency which provides treatment,
education-prevention and outreach
progrtuns. ^
Programi such as Transition are funded
by NIDA through the N.C. Department of
Human Resources, Division of Mental
Health, MenUl ReUrdatlon and Substance
Abuse. (Competitive grants tor local treab
ment, education and outreach programs are
awarded to accredited public and private
non-profit alcohol and drug agencies
throughot North Carolina.
For further Information on grants ap
plications, contact: Joseph Tallent, Chief,
Planning Branch, DHR, Division of Mental
Health, Mental Retardation and Substance
Abuse. (Competitive grants tor local treat
ment, education and outreach programs are
awarded to accredited public and private
non-profit alcohol and drug agencies
throughout North (Carolina.
For further Information on grants ap
plications, contact: Joseph Tallent, Chief,
Planning Branch, DHR, Division of Mental
Health, Mental Retardation and Substance
Abuse, (818) 783-4006, 830 North SaUsbury
Street, Raleigh, N.C. 37611.
What’S your opinhrn?
Wo want to hear your opinlan on ttUnga of
Interest to you. A40i’*66 **1 correapondenoe
tar this page to Reader Dlalo|ue, MIrrar-
Herald, P. 0. Drawer 768, Kings Mbuntatn,
N. C., 88086. Be sure and sign proper name
end inolude your address. Unsigned letters
wUlnotbepubUehed.
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MIRMBliMLD |
PUBLISHED EACH
TUESDAY AND THURSDAY
GARLAND ATKINS
Publisher
TOM MCINTYRE
Editor
ELIZABETH STEWART
Woman’s Editor
GARY STEWART
Sporta Editor
DARRELL AUSTIN
General Manager
CLYDE mix
Advertising Director
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NORTH CAROLINA
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