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VOL. 98 NUMBER 4
night and cou
the year j
Files of
tivities, $0 l
ty’s first Woman commis-
sioner. Combustion Engineering Company announced plans for
building a boiler manufacturing plant in Kings Mountain; and the
city’s 1984-85 budget topped $13 million but reflected the same 50
cea tax rate which has applied for nearly 20 years; TG&Y announced
plans for and closed its popular business at West Gate Plaza, then after
talks with Mayor Moss, city officials, and much correspondence from
local citizens announced that the firm is seriously considering return-
ing to Kings Mountain in February 1985 to reopen in its old location;
county commissioners in a split vote increased the county property tax
rate four cents; and the Kings Mountain Board of Education approved
J.B. Falls, operator of J.B.
Falls Exxon at I-85 and York
Road, surprised a burglar in the
bay area of his service station
early Wednesday morning,
struggled with the man, and was
slightly injured.
The suspect, a black male, fled
on foot, according to Sgt. Joe
King and Sgt. V.D. Fortenberry
with the Cleveland County
Sheriff's Department, who are
investigating the break-in.
Officers said the suspect
entered the service station by
breaking a window on the south’
side of the building. Surprised by
Mr. Falls who came by to make
a check of the building at 4 a.m.,
the suspect struggled with Falls
as he attempted to flee the scene
and Falls suffered abraisions of
the right hand and neck.
BILL AND JANE MITCHAM
KM Native
To Direct
Ministries
Vandals and thieves kept
Kings Mountain police busy dur-
ing the Christmas and New
Year’s holiday period.
Incidents included break-ins,
attempted larcenies of
automobiles and the larceny of
some children’s Christmas toys.
Ed. Note-The following
feature story appeared in the
recent “Family
Connections”, a quarterly
“the nd” to 1984 s Monty at mid
; ge | umber of news events Tone en
ASTER fay rr
GOVERNOR.JIM HUNT
...Opens New 74 Bypass
by 4-1 vote construction of a half million dollar wing at KM Junior
High School; Scissors-Smith, among five urban renewal projects
underway in downtown Kings Mountain, became the first UR project
completed when it opened beside of Griffin Drug Company; and
building construction got a boost with several apartment complexes
completed by Alexander Realty and construction beginning for Cres-
someone moved it to another
area of Dilling Street, but also
failed to get the car started.
Margaret Underwood of 400
Hill Street reported to police that
the Kings Mountain Fire
Department had delivered toys
to her residence for her children
and someone stole them off the
front porch.
Siar
Station Owner Surprises Burlg
A break-in New Year’s morn-
ing ‘at the Kings Mountain
Herald resulted in the theft of
electric typewriters, a stereo
and a portable black and white
television set.
Denise’s Cafe on Carpenter
Street reported that someone
broke into the building and stole
End’ To 1984
i truck as she crossed the street to the KM Aging Program at Depot
Center. Former Mayor Kelly Dixon died suddenly of an apparent
~ heart attack at age 82; Former Park Yarn General Manager John
George Hord, veteran Plonk’s sales clerk. Mary McGill, Bob Suber,
downward trent in industry as plant layoffs were affecting the in-
) family welcomed a new addition, a second Korean child they named
- Ann Louise Hye Shin Faust who arrived just in time for Thanksgiv-
KINGS MOUNTAIN, NORTH CAROLINA
cent Condominiums by Hal Plonk. Fourteen-year old Chris Miller was
lucky to be alive after his fall from the top of Kings Mountain and
America’s birthday celebration July 4th was a big day for Kamphone
Sonvichit, 37, who became an American citizen; Planters and Mer-
chants Warehouse bought the old Phenix Mill and Kings Mountain’s
first resident surgeon, Dr. George Webb Plonk, announced plans he
would retire.
The community had its share of bad n news too as many well-known
people died during the year. Millie Mauney Gladden, 80, was killed by
Smathers died in Charlotte. Death also claimed the lives of Mrs. Paul
M. Neisler, Sr., veteran grocer Boyce H. Gault, Sr., former postman
Charles Carpenter, Sr. and Robert Guthrie in a tractor accident,
‘among others.
Prolock announced plans to open a plant in Kings ‘Mountain in
1985 and Kings Mountain United ‘Way was feeling the pinch of a
dustrial division of the campaign which seeks $80,000 for 14 causes.
First Presbyterian Church celebrated its 100th birthday with a special
celebration and First Presbyterian Pastor Eric Faust and his wife and
ing. The Fausts are looking forward in early 1985 to their first adopted
Korean, child, , James Foust, becoming an sAmerioon citizen.
churches i in any car S Memory; il thee ly of Kitigs RAGuIi nian
Hank Plonk were sued ini the waning months of Old Year 1964 for a
total of $21 million over a house fire on Dec. 20, 1982 which claimed
the lives of two small children and seriously burned their mother. The /
city was served papers in the litigation last Friday. Nancy Sue Martin /
of Kings Mountain, through Attorney Robert Forbes of Gastonia, fil-
ed the suits in Gaston Superior Court last ‘Thursday-two years to the J
day after the fatal fire. The suits ask for jury trials. f
A review of the major Herald headlines of 1984 follows:
uo oh
Turn To Page| 4-A
change from the cash register.
The cafe also reported an earlier ©
break-in in which $1,480 worth
of items were stolen, including
$500 in change, stereo speakers
and turntable, large amount of
steaks and a .22 calibre rifle.
Linda Moss of 606 Jackson = ge her purse and $300
Street reported the theft of a Food Lion, 1320 Shelby
tiller valued at $350. |
Ray Ball of 113 ‘North City Turn To Page 6-A :
J)
a
Street reported that soréone
broke into his automobil, and lf
stole a radio. ;
Mary Hager of 412 Befedere
Circle reported that smeone |
broke into her car whileit was
parked at the Winn-Diie and
publication of N.C. Lutheran
Family Services. Mr. Mit-
cham grew up in Kings
Mountain and was reared by
an cunt and uncle, Mrs.
Lillian Mitcham and the late
John Mitcham.
L. William Mitcham and Jane
Pope Mitcham have been hired
by Lutheran Family Services to
direct family ministry in North
Carolina. The Reverend L.
William Mitcham, a native of
Kings Mountain, is head of the
new Division - of Family
Ministries for Lutheran Family
Services. Dr. Jane Pope Mit-
cham, a native of Statesville, is
the new Director of the Family
Turn To Page S-A
On December 28, someone ap-
parently tried to steal three cars
in Kings Mountain, but failed.
Police reported that Carrie
Hord of 116 North City Street
parked her car at her residence
and locked it. Someone broke in-
to the car and pushed it to the
center of the street, but failed to
get it to start.
Pete’s Gulf Station, 112 East
King, reported that someone
moved a car out of the station’s
parking lot to South Gaston
Street but also failed to start the
car.
Kandy Mitchem of 202 East
Georgia Avenue, Bessemer City,
reported that her car was parked
at 315 North Dilling Street and
George McClain, 65, spent his
first day of semi-retirement on
New Year’s Day but was back
' on the job Wednesday morning
at Cooper Furniture.
McClain received a watch
from company president
Richard Barnette on New Year's
Eve for a service record of 38
years.
He plans to continue his
warehouse. and delivery duties
with: Coopers but to take some
extra time to go fishing and to
enjoy his two grandchildren. He
also plans to continue his
janitorial service at McGill
Clinic where he has worked
since Dr. John McGill opened a
Kings Mountain Practice many
© years ago.
A Kings Mountain native,
McClain belies his age with his
quick wit and good health. He
went to work at an early age
for the late J. Harold Coggins at
Cooper’s after graduation from
Davidson High School and a
hitch in Uncle Sam’s Army with
service in France and the Euro-
Cooper’s George McClain Joins,’
The Ranks Of Semi-Retired
pean theatre during World War
Ii.
Barnette, who became
Cooper’s president and general
manager eight years ago and Mc-
Clain’s “boss”, said that the local
furniture company has always
been a family oriented business
and prides itself on a total of 103
years of service by four veteran
employees. Barnette has been a
Cooper Furniture employee for
45 years, Dean Payne has been
with the firm for 39 years,
George McClain for 38 years
and Jenny Owens for 18 years.
Newest employee is Dougal
Davis who joined the firm a little
over a year ago.
“George”, as McClain is affec-
tionately called by his many
friends in town, enjoys working
and said that the best part of his
job is meeting new friends. He is.
married to Luerainey McClain
and they are parents of two
children, Gail McClain Hunter
of Kings Mountain and Alice
McClain of Kings Mountain.
HONORED FOR SERVICE—Richard Barnette, left, presidint
of Cooper Furniture, presents a 38-year service award/ to
George McClain who is joining the ranks of the semi-retired.
son