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OUR VIEW
Your Right To Say It
Consider
Lottery
Now that the election is over and all the state legis-
lators are firmly ensconced in their cushy jobs, it's
time to start relieving the taxpayer of some of his hard-
earned money. How best to do it? Well, let's see now,
we could create a state lottery and earmark the money
for highways, but no that's still immoral. Say here's an
idea, it's been two or three years since we've increased
the gasoline tax. Let's hit 'em there again. And so it
goes.
On February 21, a legislative study commission rec-
ommended a highway construction program that in-
cludes a five and one quarter cent hike in the price of
gasoline, an act that would raise the tax that citizens
pay to a little over 21 cents per gallon.
North Carolina lawmakers ought to sit back and
take another look at this oppressive proposal. To raise
the price of gasoline again is to raise the price of al-
most every consumable produce used by or produced
by North Carolinians. Certainly an increase in the cost
of gasoline would be reflected at the super market.
Consequently, the people most affected would be the
poor and those living on fixed incomes.
Governor Jim Martin and Lieutenant Governor Jim
Gardner are in favor of the tax increase. Martin has
spoken of the proposal in glowing terms, calling it "a
phenomenal piece of work." This is the same Jim
Martin that pushed a three cents per gallon gasoline
tax through during his first term in office. This is the
same Jim Martin who, claiming to be a conservative
Republican, has used as a cornerstone for two cam-
paigns, less taxes. Jim Gardner says "if you're going to
have economic development you're going to need
roads." This is the same Jim Gardner who has paraded
around the state for some twenty years telling every-
one he can collar that he is most assuredly against
heavy taxation of the populace.
We know the state highway system is in need of im-
provement and repair and we know the funds have to
come from somewhere. We suggest that our legislators
take another and harder look at alternative income
sources. There are two proposals before the legislature
to establish a state lottery. Millions of dollars each
week are being spent in neighboring states who al-
ready have lotteries. Why not keep that money at
home?
A further tax on gasoline is not the answer. It is a
temporary measure at best. They'll be back again in a
few years with the same proposal. The state of
Pennsylvania has earmarked all proceeds from their
state lottery for the use of senior citizens. The state of
North Carolina could do the same thing for the high-
way system and it would be an ongoing source of
funds.
We see this as an opportunity to gain revenue from a
source other than the taxpayer's pocketbook. We hope
our elected officials will take the long view in this
case. =
Letter Policy
4 The Herald welcomes your letters to the editor for
«=< publication in each Wednesday's paper. We ask that
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Keep the letters brief and to the point. Type and
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All letters must be mailed to Letter to the Editor,
P.O. Box 769, Kings Mountain, N.C. 28086. Under no
circumstances will hand-delivered letters be published.
Tha LATESTAIRKINE,
c 1989, PM Editorial Services
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2) SMOKING POLICY,
Dean Aims Both Barrels
At Governor Jim Martin
They say politicians are "fair game" and if that's the
case, area teachers had all guns pointed toward
Governor Jim Martin at Friday night's District 2
NCAE Legislative Rally at Kings Mountain's B.N.
Barnes Auditorium.
Keynote speaker, Dean Westmoreland, a former
Kings Mountain High teacher and former State NCAE
President, aimed the majority of his remarks at the
Republican Governor. Many in attendance remarked
that Westmoreland would make a great politician or, at
least, a great speech writer.
Westmoreland said Martin would fail miserably if
he had to undergo the same evaluation as the state's
public school teachers. "Whether you're a Democrat,
Republican, Independent, or whatever, you've had four
years to study his record, and all you had to do was ap-
ply the level of questions on the teacher evaluation
form, and his grade would be unsatisfactory."
Westmoreland said teachers are required to fill out a
PDP (Professional Development Plan) each year. "That
basically means that you have to do what you say
you're going to do," Westmoreland said for the benefit
of non-teachers in the audience. He said the governor
has failed to do that.
The teachers criticized the governor for his cam-
paign promises to bring North Carolina teacher
salaries up to the national average, and then his deci-
sion not to "unthaw" the teacher freeze which was put
into effect during Governor Jim Hunt's term in 1981.
"Then the governor said last week that he had
looked at the salary schedule and hadn't realized what
a mess it was in," Westmoreland said. "He should have
known because he's the state's top budget officer."
Westmoreland, to the excited approval of the more
than 600 educators from Cleveland, Gaston, Lincoln,
Rutherford and Polk Counties who attended the rally,
added a lot of comedy to his talk.
"This whole election reminded me of some Elvis
Pressley songs," he noted. "Before the election, the
governor was saying 'I want you, I need you, I love
Gary
Stewart
i
you' and love me tender’ but the day after the election
he was singing, 'see you later alligator.' And teachers
have been in Heartbreak Hotel ever since."
Westmoreland, reacting to rumors that Martin may
run for U.S. Senate against Terry Sanford in four
years, said teachers have long memories and remember
Sanford as an education governor. "Read my lips.
Make my day," Westmoreland said. "Run for U.S.
Senate against Terry Sanford. It's better to be 'terror-
ized' and 'Sanford-ized' any day than to be 'Martinized'
on pay day."
Westmoreland didn't leave all of his critical remarks
to Martin. He included some teachers as well.
"The governor campaigned across the state on an
education platform and the public and many teachers
believed him," Westmoreland said. "He wason TV ~
promising the national average and teachers saw dollar
signs and heard the cash register click. He was saying
T've been a teacher’ but I want you to know it's a long
way from being a chemistry professor at Davidson
College to a fourth grade teacher in a public school.”
Westmoreland urged teachers to be active in the
campaigns of candidates who stand for quality educa-
tion and higher teacher salaries, and to stay in touch
with area legislators and let them know of their needs.
"I have no quarrel with the General Assembly," he
said. "In fact, they're our last great hope. I'm especially
proud of our delegates from the area that covers
NCAE District 2. We have some potent legislators and
are very fortunate in that light."
Bill 288 Would Provide Funds To Help Stop AIDS
By HELEN RHYNE MARVIN
N.C. State Senator
I have introduced Senate Bill 282 because I consider
enactment of anti-discrimination legislation the most
important thing that your General Assembly can do to
stop the spread of AIDS. In conjunction with Senate
Bill 288, which would provide funds for local health
departments and other local agencies to develop and
implement education and prevention programs, the an-
ti-discrimination legislation will go a long way toward
fulfilling this stdte's obligation to protect its citizens
against the spread of AIDS.
With this disease, we have no cures and there is no
vaccine. Neither is expected to be available for years,
if ever! We must reach peo-
ple who are at risk and con-
vince them to be tested, to
become educated about
AIDS, and to avoid becom-
ing infected or spreading
the infection further.
But people are
afraid to be tested. They are
even afraid to ask for infor-
mation. They are afraid of
discrimination, and for
good reason. Many people
have lost jobs and housing,
HELEN MARVIN
or have been denied services, just because they were
infected or were thought to be. As long as this contin-
ues, the very people that we should be testing and
A Great 'Sound'
DEAR SIR:
Three cheers to the Kings Mountain Little Theater's
production of "The Sound Of Music!" This is one of
the best performances they have ever produced.
I was fortunate enough to see the original produc-
tion of "The Sound Of Music" on the Broadway stage,
and this show was every bit professional as the origi-
nal.
The staging was masterfully done, the costumes
were authentic, and the casting was perfect. Judy
Whisnant was masterful in her portrayal of "Maria,"
her voice and mannerisms remindful of the first
"Maria," Mary Martin. } Ar
The children were perfect "little Austrians," rosey
and vivacious. ;
The only regret I have is that more of our communi-
ty was unable to enjoy this magnificent show, because
of limited seating space.
Please accept my "Bouquet of Red Roses" to every
person who worked so hard on "Our Sound Of Music."
Sincerely,
Marilyn Neisler
Annex Spectrum
EDITOR:
I hope that you will print this letter. This letter is es-
pecially addressed to Mayor Smith and the council in-
vestigating the possibility of annexation for Spectrum
Dyed Yarns into the City of Kings Mountain.
I am one of the 275 employees of Spectrum, and I
firmly believe the annexation of Spectrum is impor-
tant. In last weeks Herald, Mayor Smith said, "We
need to determine what the financial picture will be."
I want to encourage the Mayor and the council to
think seriously and with great consideration what
could happen after April 1st if Spectrum is not an-
nexed into the city.
I along with several employees could end up job-
less. Spectrum may have to raise yarn prices to pay the
water bills, this could cause the company serious fi-
nancial problems.
So I plead with you and the council to make a very
justified and reasonable decision. Please consider
President Blanchard's request, and also keep in mind
the people of Spectrum are the people of Kings
Mountain, and the monies of the people are what
keeps the economy flowing.
Thank you,
Joy Queen Jenkins
Spectrum Employee
Great ‘Music’
_ Dear Editor:
I want to commend to your readers the efforts of
the students and adults who presented The Music Man
at our high school. It would be impossible for me to
thank each of those people directly, therefore I would
like to do that through this letter.
Such a production requires a tremendous output in
time and energy. The play was a real treat. Every facet
was handled with excellence, and the students were su-
perb. It reminds me of the high level of talent that our
young people possess, and obviously, as superinten-
dent, makes me very proud.
While naming names is always risky, I do want to
recognize the two teachers who took the lead in
putting on the musical, Betsy Wells and Gene
Bumgardner. Everyone who participated served a valu-
able role, but without the dedication of these two peo-
ple the play would not have become reality.
I look forward to continued productions such as this
in the year's ahead. For now it is sufficient to say a
very big thank you to all involved in this year's effort
and savor the moment.
Sincerely,
Bob McRae
counseling will want to avoid testing. People who do Th k S
have a positive test will be afraid to use the partner no- a Nn
tification system to contact others that they might have
infected for fear that they or their families will suffer
harassment and discrimination.
We should be working to attract people to come into
the health care system. Instead, we are scaring them
away. By doing so, we guarantee that this deadly dis-
ease will spread even further. The only way we have of
See Marvin, 8-A
To the editor:
Thank you to the teachers at Kings Mountain High
School for being dedicated to helping the cast have
beautiful moments to treasure, "The Music Man" was
fantastic.
Lynda and Mack Stewart
Kings Mountain
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Survey
Is it good to have a large amount of insurance?
RONNIE LONG
JAMES E. GARDNER. TOMMY KING DICK BOLES oor TAMMY CABLE
Trucker Magistrate Minister Drug Store Clerk
No. Instead of buyin : Yes. Nowadays, young Yes. I think it's important
NeHPanCe. fatiiliss ay Ine Yes. It's hard to pay on life couples have to have more for your family to have Yes. It's important,
put that money in savings insurance all those years for financial security. As that to fall back on when especially if you have a
accounts and after 10-15 knowing you are not going they grow older, however, you are no longer here. family to take care of.
years, they will be ahead of
the game.
to use it. On the other
hand, it is important if you
have a family to support.
sometimes folks become
"insurance poor." It's
important to begin
insurance programs at an
early age.