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Your Homewom Newspaper a 2 Maribor “ ORF
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VOL. 108 NO. 8 ee : E3L
v oC 4
Thursday, January 17, 1991 Kings Mountain, N.C. 9) ti
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Mountain Street) from North to West.
Bethware.
at East,
® Move node 1260 (Compact from Grover to Eat
node to West. ;
B Move node 3060 (Pine Manor) from Bethware to
to Bethware.
Bethware.
' REASSIGNMENT POSSIBILITIE
BW Move nodes 4060 4070 and 4160 (Fulton Road, brick yar
--As part of the above move, move nodes 4010, 4020 and 4100
Circle, Parkgrace Road and Wells Street) from West to East.
B Move node 2040 (13 students in Bethlehem) from Grovg io
B Move students who live in 5140, 5160 and 5170 (North Pied:
Avenue north of bypass) to North, leaving rest of students i in hoses nog:
3170 (Northwoods) from East to North; Move nodes 5060 and 5070
(areas adjacent to King Street between Watterson aid Caen fom North
B Take node 2160 (which runs s slong Highway 74 ont KM imal
Hospital to Bethware School). Take the students who live on Highway. 74
to Bethware and leave others in the North zone; and then Highway 74 i in
the other direction, take all Students in that node and move from North :
pa and
pms Kings Mountain School Board
members heard from more parents
who are upset with possible redis-
tricting of elementary attendance
lines at Thursday night's board
meeting at the KMHS library.
The board discussed many of the
same neighborhoods it had dis-
cussed in a public work session the
week before, and how moving
those nodes from one school zone
to another would affect racial bal-
} ance and school population.
y East. Move node] The board also discussed some
other reassignment possibilities
Wand will take another look at them
®t a second public work session
Mhurs., Jan. 24 at 7 p.m. (The site
i the work session has not been
ainounced).
¥en parents spoke out on redis-
ing prior to the board's discus-
sioh of the issue. Most parents dis-
Ao, move a 1
agreed with reassigning students
but the final parent to speak--Kathy
Livesy--praised the board for the
work it has been doing and urged
the public to support whatever de-
cision the board makes.
"I moved here a year and a half
ago, and part of the reason was so
my children could attend Bethware
School," she said. "In the present
plan I've been changed to North. I
feel we have failed the board be-
cause we didn't let you know how
we felt soon enough. We thought it
didn't affect us. But you've done a
good job and we should support
you."
Others questioned why any kind
of reassignment is necessary at this
time, and others said they realized
why redistricting was necessary
but questioned the options being
Parents Speak Out Ag:
A state hiring freeze ordered last
week by Governor Jim Martin be-
cause of the projected state budget
"shortfall" could put local school
systems in a bind before the end of
the fiscal year.
Any teachers, bus drivers, ad-
ministrators or any other school
employees who are paid with state
funds and who resign or retire can-
not be replaced under Martin's or-
der unless local systems are willing
to pay them out of local funds.
‘Supt. Bob McRae, addressing
the board of education at its meet-
ing Thursday night at Kings
Mountain High School, said some
Governor's Hiring Freeze'
Affects Teachers, Drivers
En principals, guidance coun-
selors and other "non-teachers”
could be put in the classroom if
necessary.
"But, it's not that simple,” he
said. "Although most assistant
principals and counselors have
been teachers before, they may not
be certified in a certain area, such
as math."
If teachers are on medical or
military leave, they can return 19
their job.
Martin's order is in effect until
further notice" but it does include
an appeal process "as a last resort.”
"State Superintendent Bob
See Freeze, 10-A
_Q-wh
| fing; star
‘Codes Director? Are local people considered i in w
TE 0 Sh : i
be qualified in N.C.: general wee pen electrical,
plumbing : and mechanical. "The NC Dept. Of Insurance
[issues certificates in all four areas at three levels--
individual hired has Level 111 in all four areas. Three
‘one from Kings Mountain had those qualifications.
vision?
sion provided free as part of the cit
funds.
@ miles a day and what wor d the cost be?
ol would increase mileage for buses if you assume every
| what the change in mileage and cost would be,” Dr.
| ly stated that Billy King lives in the North School dis-
Jo0 W WANT TO KNOW a
: iy . ey bar city sold oe million of Bonds in
Septoniey 1989. Tt will sell $1,765 million of bonds
bruary 5, 1991. All bond work should be compleied
‘by December 199, ‘This. does not include ork on is
Mos im, as d further stud
The a, will not not be
work is know
cold. eater Teo use a a "oold
‘hole, call Public
“A - The next election would vei in fovaiier th
the. primary in October and filing in July. However, the
decennial census takes effect April 1, 1991, and the
city will have to make its wards numerically equal.
This is called redistricting and may require a delay in
the election to May and June of 1992. That is due to
the fact that the U.S. Justice Department can take up to
120 days | to’ preclenr, or ogre with ‘how, the City
5 ‘Qo Wat» no » one from KM { qualified f for the Cit;
Level being the lowest and Level HI the highest. The
others with those certificates were interviewed but no
The city attempts'to hire the most qualified people for
all positions. If two applicants are equally qualified,
the city’ s policy is to hire: the local Spplieant, ;
Q- Does any department. of the city have cave:
A - The Fire Department oe the Basic. tier cablevi-
franchise a agree- :
ment. The firefighters must collectively pay for any
‘additional services. ‘None of the service is paid by city.
- Q - Would increased busing because of the Kings
'Moantain Schools reassignment plan add 1, 000
A - Supt. Bob McRae says it's impossible at th
time to determine how ‘many additional miles buses
would run and what the cost would be. When YSAC
did its original work it noted that the proposed plan
child rides the bus. "At this point, we really don't know
‘McRae said. “If we move children from Pine Manor to
Bethware it could result in additional mileage. I can't
say that (the statement that it would add 1,000 miles a
day) it's not true, but my suspicion is it would not Loe
accurate. Nobody knows at this point.”
Q- If the 13 children in the Bothizhdm area who
were reassigned to Grover in the first plan are re-
turned to Bethware, and no other changes are made
at Bethware from the original plan, how much
“would Bethware's minority percentage change?
A - The minority percentage would go from 232 0
22 6 percent.
- CORRECTION - In the question and answer col
umn, "You Want To Know," last week it was incorrect-
trict and his children attended East. It should have said
his children attended West; however, they are no
longer i in elementary school. ; :
See Schools, 12-A
state officials have suggested that
CHAMBER TAPS HARRIS 'MAN OF YEAR'-J. Ollie Harris, Sr., left, is congratulated by incoming
KM Chamber of Commerce President Lyn Cheshire, NBA Charlotte Hornets owner George Shinn, ban-
quet speaker, and outgoing President Grady Howard Jr. after Harris was presented a plaque Monday
recognizing his long service to the community. Howard was honored with a leadership award.
Harris Is KM's Man Of The Year
J. Ollie Harris Sr., a public fig-
ure for 42 years who holds that
record in Cleveland County, is
Kings Mountain's ‘Man of the Year'
selected by the Chamber of
Commerce.
Harris was presented a plaque
and praise from the Chamber for
his long service in community and
business affairs, as well as for his
long service in the North Carolina
Senate, where he served 10 of his
20 year tenure as chairman of the
important Human Relations
Committee.
Illegal Dumping Eyesore For City, Area
"I think folks like me more
since I got beat at the polls,” said
Harris, accepting the award. Not
so, said Claude Suber, making the
presentation. Suber said the com-
munity has always been proud of
Harris, owner and operator of
Harris Funeral Home, decorated
World War II veteran in the Battle
of the Bulge, and long active in
civic and church work as well as
veteran's organizations, including
the VFW, which he organized in
Shelby, and served as commanders
of both the VFW and American
Legion in Kings Mountain. He was
also president of KM Lions Club,
was active in the Red Cross
Chapter, and was Cleveland
County Coroner. He married Abby
Wall in 1934. The family includes
two children, four grandchildren
and two great-grandchildren.
The award to Harris was high-
light of the annual banquet which
attracted 100 businessmen and
businesswomen to the Holiday Inn
Monday night. Dr. Grady Howard
: See Chamber, 12-A
© November ¢mployment rate of 6.5 perce!
A rash of illegal dumping of hundreds of
automobile tires in garbage dumpsters
downtown may lead to some alternative
measures by the city in the handling of trash,
says Public Works Supt. Karl Moss.
A city ordinance prohibits the dumping of
tires which should be deposited at the county
landfill, says Moss. The only problem is
catching the vandals and that's where the
public comes in. Moss wants anyone with
| knowledge of the recent dumping of 300 tires
downtown in the past two weeks to contact
his office at the Public Works building.
» "We believe that out-of-town tire dealers
are paying someone to get rid of their old
tires and dumping them at downtown
business dumpsters rather than haul them to
the landfill. We also believe that out-of-town
people are dumping household garbage in the
dumpsters used by local businessmen," said
Moss.
In recent weeks Moss said hundreds of
tires were dumped at KM National Military
Park and 1,218 were dumped on Dixon
School Road.
See Garbage, S-A
TIRE-DUMPING AN EYESORE-Tire-dumping is not only illegal
but an eyesore in the business community and city officials are ask-
ing the public's help for solutions to the problems.
More Layoffs Announced
At KM Area Businesses
Local industry hurting with recent shutdowns and
long unemployment lines are feeling the sting of a
sluggish economy and plant managers can't predict
what the future will bring. They're taking a 'wait and
see’ attitude.
"We're running good today but depending on orders
the story may be different tomorrow," said one plant
personnel manager.
In the Kings Mountain area, temporary claims for
unemployment rose sharply as Clevelan®* i gh
the 3.2% figures a year ago.
Sherwood Sutherland, manager of oD
" County Employment Security Commissic/ i
lysts consider five percent close to a full ¢¥.%
situation but temporary claims for unemployh. i Save
shot up and permanent claims for unemployment es-
calated with closing of Sadie Cotton Mills, where 250
lost their jobs; 140 at Kinmont Industries; 130 at Glen
Raven and 290 at PPG's Shelby plant for a total of
810. A worker in the Kings Mountain ESC office at
the Community Center said unemployment lines had
been long since before Christmas.
In addition, some plants have been experiencing
temporary seasonal adjustments because of a slow
down in the economy but there were some bright spots
in the industry report.
Anvil Knitwear laid off 60 employees in the
Knitting Department in December but all but 10 were
back on the job this week.
Thermacote Welco laid off 19 workers at its York
Road plant.
Motor Panels, which supplies cab bodies to Mack
Trucks, will shut down for four weeks in January and
February. The closings are tied to scheduled work
stoppages at Mack's truck manufacturing company in
Winnsboro, S.C.
See Layoffs, 3-A
. We are a KEY Business!
Schools, Businesses Join Dropout Fight
If you're a student in Kings Mountain
Schools and thinking about quitting school to
find a job, think again.
Kings Mountain District Schools and some
local businesses hope to persuade every
business in the city to join the new "The Key
Is Education" program announced at last
Thursday's school board meeting at the
KMHS library.
The program is a joint effort by schools
and businesses to require part time student-
employees to stay in school, make progress
toward graduation and meet attendance
guidelines in order to keep their jobs.
Supt. Bob McRae and Dropout Prevention
Coordinator Ann Brant said a recent survey
of dropouts revealed that one of the main
reasons students leave school before
graduation is the desire to work full-time.
Thus far, three businesses--Clevemont
Mills, Harris-Teeter and McDonald's--have
joined the program. They were approached,
McRae said, because a high number of
students who work are employed in the
textile, grocery and fast food businesses.
Mrs. Brant said Kings Mountain's program
is patterned after a program in Dalton, Ga.,
and a similar program in McDowell County,
N.C., which have been successful.
Prior to being employed, students are
required to sign a contract stating that they
will stay in school and work toward
graduation and abide by attendance laws. The
businesses agree to give hiring priority to
high school graduates, hire students only on
the condition that they stay in school,
establish work hours that do not interfere
See Dropouts, 12-A
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