* Your Hometown Newspaper
IN OR OUT?-Councilman Al Moretz, left, and Will Sanders
agree that mobile home park owners should comply with city ordi-
nances or move out but Sanders thinks the city has given them ade-
quate time to clean up their properties. Council voted unanimously
to extend the grace period to five years and establish a new R-6
zoning, which will keep mobile parks in, if they comply.
Mobile home park owners got a
break from city council Tuesday.
The board unanimously extend-
ed from three to five years the
amortization period for parks to
come in compliance with codes
and directed city staff to draw up
within nine months a new R-6 MH
code which mobile h ome parks
will have to comply with to remain
in the city.
. The local parks opposing the
proposed ordinance feared they
would have to move in three to
four years.
Will Sanders, of 806 Landing
Street, was the only citizen to
speak in opposition to mobile
home parks remaining in the city.
"I live near a trailer park and
they're an eyesore. If these owners
are so interested in cleaning up
their properties now, why haven't
they done it before?" -
Sanders presented council with
police records logging a total of 34
calls answered by police to the
three trailer parks between Aug. 1,
1990 and Jan. 29, 1991, 20 at West
Gate, nine to Gold Street and five
to Deal Street Park and copies
from the city treasurer's office of
21 utility accounts owed the city
over two years old and totaling
$3,965.38 by former West Gate
tenants.
Crawford Mobile Homes on
Deal Street complied with all but
four of the 28 requirements for
conditional use Don Crawford re-
quested for “rezoning from R-8 to
R-20 but his request was denied
during a public hearing in which
Crawford, Jim Amos, owner of a
10-home park on East Gold Street
and Bill Farthing, attorney for 38-
home West Gate Mobile Homes on
W. Gold Street, opposed the new
ordinance which would, in effect,
See Trailers, 3-A
Memories of Vietnam are still
fresh to Don Fite, although he has
been out of uniform since
December 1984.
The 53-year-old custodian at
Kings Mountain Middle School
thinks the War in the Gulf is justi-
fied. He doesn't feel it will be an-
other Vietnam because the U. S.
stands strongly behind the troops
there.
"I can still remember the day I
came home from Vietnam and flew
out of Washington State and people
were spitting on us and making ug-
ly remarks about us when some of
j our brave ‘men died there,” said
{tary there have an advantage over
will not pend: quickly but the mile Schoo He served Tour tours sof d
those who fought in Vietnam. "We
didn't have missiles and rockets,"
said Fite.
Like most Kings Mountain resi-
dents, Fite sat glued to the televi-
sion screens since war began Jan.
16. When he saw the POW's on in-
ternational TV. he found it degrad-
ing for them and said they looked
mistreated and beaten. "They were
being told what to say by the ene-
my," he said.
Soldiers returning from the Gulf
will be treated like heroes, said
Fite, who was honorably dis-
charged as an Army M/Sgt. in
‘December 1984 after 28 years of:
pservice. He s :
ty in Germany, one in Vietnam and
Proud To Be An American
one in France. He taught his
German bride, Johanna Buchel, the
English language. The two met at'a
service club dance on the post and
now have two children, Klaus
Dieter Fite, who is married to Jane
Dieter and they have a son, Ryan
Arthur, and live in Olatha, Kansas
and a daughter, Jennifer, who is
married to Raymond Owens and
they and their two daughters,
Ashlie and Kristina, live in Kings
Mountain,
Fite and his wife are buying a
house on Marigold Avenue and at-
tend Shoat Ridge Baptist
the Persian Gulf led the service.
DON FITE
Standing on the roof overlooking
the campus as the Students circled :
OSE land womery
Mideast but I've had my war, he
said.
KINGS MOUNTAIN PEOPLE
School Librarian Pruette Is A ‘People Person’
A librarian's job is never dull if
you're a ‘people person’ like
Joanne Pruette who finds research
challenging and books exciting.
Media Specialist at Grier Junior
High School, the Kings Mountain
woman went back to college after
she and her husband, M.C., reared
and educated three daughters.
It was tough working days and
going to school four nights a week
for the past four years but the re-
ward was worth the effort. Joanne
attended Cleveland Community
College for two years and Gardner
Webb College for two years. She is
a 1990 graduate of G-W with a
B.S. in Middle School Education
with concentration in language
arts.
Why did the busy homemaker
and library assistant at Kings
Mountain High School decide to
JOANNE PRUETTE
go back to books after graduating
from KMHS in 1950?
"I was encouraged by my family
and by KMHS' Librarian Sara
Griffin and I said, why not?", said
Joanne, as she relaxed in the com-
fort of her home on Maner Road
and talked about her new job as
Media Specialist, her life-long
dream.
"I see as many as five classes a
day of Junior High students in the
library and you wouldn't believe
some of the research problems and
questions they ask my help about,"
smiled Joanne, noting that a librari-
an's job is more than cataloging
books and helping students select
the right books. There are basic ac-
tivities in the library and English
classes come in regularly. "We
have over 800 kids at Grier Junior
High and I'm getting to know many
of them on a first-name basis."
Although burning the midnight
oil and discipline was a necessity
the past four years she went to
school and worked too, Joanne said
she was glad of the opportunity
and won't quit. She's working now
on her master's degree in a pro-
gram with Winthrop College but
she has cut her night classes from
four to one, which she says her
husband appreciates. Her youngest
daughter was finishing high school
when Joanne enrolled in night
classes at Cleveland Community
College and having the whole
family behind her helped her to
make good grades and to graduate.
"When I went into the classroom
I found people of all ages and soon
became great friends with the
young students - and mothers and
grandmothers my age. Getting a
grade no lower than a "B" was a
tough assignment for me but I feel
good that I worked toward and
See Pruette, 3-A
*Since 1889 ~ =
23
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VOL. 103 NO. 5 Thursday, January 31, 1991 Kings Mountain, N.C. 280 5
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Mobile Homes Get A Brea -
City Council is expected ‘to de-
lay the 1991 city election to May 5,
1992 to redraw the six voter dis-
tricts. because of new state and fed-
eral redistricting requirements.
The board Tuesday night set
‘public hearing on adoption ‘of a
‘municipal election resolution for
Feb. 26 at 7:30 p.m. at City Hall.
: Redistricting would have to be
: approved prior to July 19, 1991 for
the election to be held on sched-
ule, said City Manager George
Wood and the city can't begin do-
ing that until they get detailed fig-
ures from the 1990 census and the
census data isn't expected until
April 1.
Wood says state law requires
‘cities to prepare a plan which
changes the residency districts so
City To Delay Elect
“be confirmed to be by the 1990
cilmen are elected at- large but:
that they are substantial 4
population and receive U. 8S.
Justice Department pre-clearance
of the plan, all before July 19,
1991, in order to hold the election
as scheduled. Wood estimates the
U.S. Justice Department could
take 60 days to review the matter
and another 60-days extension ,
which would be more than the
number of days the city has to"
complete the redistricting.
Wood said the existing six wards -
1-6 are believed to be considerably
unequal in population size and will
census data.
Kings Mountain's six city couti-
must reside in one of six residency
See Election, 3-A
AUVEGIT TVINOWIN AENAVRK
KM Board
Approves
Roll Out Dumpsters
New 90-gallon "roll out"
garbage containers will soon re-
place the big dumpsters at down:
town businesses.
City Council, with unanimous
approval of downtown merchants,
voted Tuesday night to purchase
the new roll-out containers and sell
them at city cost to downtown mer-
chants to replace the open green-
boxes which have been a target for
illegal dumping in recent weeks.
The new containers will be stan-
dardized. | Removal of the two big
+Adopted an ordinance setting
the speed limit at 25 m. p. h. dur-
ing school hours on Phifer Road.
New signs will be posted by the
Department of Transportation for
the heavily traveled state-main-
tained road that leads to the KM
High School and KM Middle
School. A concurring ordinance
must be approved by DOT before
the signs go up.
+Reappointed Mary Tillman to
the Kings Mountain ABC Board on"
recommendation of Chairman
Andy Neisler.
+Approved resolution and ease-
ments and accepted dedication of
the water and sewer lines in
Colonial Wood Subdivision, Phase
I, and authorized the 50% reim-
bursement of $54,123.50 to the
developer.
+Set March 2-3 as the date for a
long-term planning session by city
council for the 1991-92 budget.
Department heads will present
budget requests.
+Approved annexation of prop-
erty of Clarence F. Denton III on
Suzanne Street.
+Approved contract with
Cleveland Memorial Library Board
of Trustees for a "loose" affiliation
as requirement for state funding.
+Set public hearing for March
26 at 7:30 p.m. on request by Jack
W. Barrett for rezoning of his prop-
erty on Dixon School Road.
+Approved more beautification
at the western exit to the city by
"Pride in Kings Mountain"
Committee which includes minor
landscaping, white gravel and a
‘will be required for the project.
10 ¢ g
a Community Development Block
Grant application for $567,000. for
rehabilitation of 19 houses on
Second Street, including water,
streets and sewer improvements
with the city committing $94,000
in local funds to the project.
+Approved a SCADA system at
cost of $323,323.00 to generate
savings on peak demands for elec-
trical usage, the costs to be paid off
in semi-annual payments over a
five year period at 6.6% interest to
First Citizens Bank, the low bidder
among six financial institutions.
+Heard report on a revised KM
thoroughfare plan-study schedule
which reflects a four months delay
in completion of the study because
of changes in project workers and
state. budget shortfall. Officials
have completed a traffic study and
socioeconomic projections but the
plan is now scheduled for comple-
tion in June 1992. The thorough-
fare plan calls for an extension of
secondary road 2283 between N.C.
216 and Waco Road and extension
of Cansler and Gaston Streets to
N.C. 216. The new thoroughfare is
projected from I-85 northwest
around the city.
Board To Look At More Reassignment Ideas
Kings Mountain School Board members developed
several more scenarios during a second work session
on elementary reassignment Thursday night at West
School.
The board asked YSAC, Inc., which provided 1 a
computerized plan to reassign students to achieve
racial balance, to provide four more maps with the fol-
lowing changes:
*Moving nodes 4060, 4070 and 4160 (Fulton Road,
brick yard and West Mountain Street areas) from
North to West; moving nodes 5140, 5160 and 5170
(North Piedmont, First and Second Street areas to the
Gaston County line) from East to North; moving node
2040 (Bethlehem) from Grover to Bethware; and mov-
- ing nodes 4010, 4020 and 4100 (Timms Circle to
Wells Street areas) from West to North.
*Moving node 2040 (Bethlehem) from Grover to
Bethware; moving node 2160 (Highway 74 from the
KM Animal Clinic to Bethware School) from North to
Bethware; moving part of node 2205 (area north of the
Ebenezer community) from Bethware to North; mov-
ing nodes 4060 and 4160 (Fulton Road, brick yard and
West Mountain Street areas) from North to West; mov-
ing part of nodes 5140, 5160 and 5170 (North
Piedmont area only) from East to North.
*Moving nodes 2220 and 2205 (area north of
Ebenezer) from Bethware to North; moving nodes
2160, 2170 and 2180 (Countryside toward Patterson
Grove area) from North to Bethware; moving 5060,
5070 and 5130 (area north of King Street from
Edgemont to Cansler Street) from North to Bethware;
moving 3060 (Pine Manor area) from Bethware to
East; moving 3170 (Northwoods) from East to North;
moving 4060, 4070 and 4160 (Fulton Drive, brick
yard, West Mountain area) from North to West; mov-
ing 4010, 4020 and 4100 (Timms Circle to Wells
Street area) from West to East; and moving 2040
(Bethlehem) from Grover to Bethware.
*Moving node 2040 (Bethlehem) from Grover to
Bethware; moving part of 2160 (Highway 74 students
only) from North to Bethware; moving 2205 (north of
Ebenezer) from Bethware to North; moving 4060 and
4160 (Fulton Road, brick yard, West Mountain) from
North to West; moving 3060 (Pine Manor) from
Bethware to East; moving 3170 (Northwoods) from
East to North; moving 5140, 5160 and 5170 (North
Piedmont and First and Second Strect areas) from East
to North.
Board member Ronnie Hawkins, who requested the
maps, said he wants two different sets of maps, one
showing the above changes without regard to racial
percentages and the other showing the changes but
keeping within the board's hopes of staying within plus
or minus five percent of the system-wide racial minor-
ity percentage of 25.7 percent.
The board spent almost four hours discussing possi-
ble changes to the YSAC map. The new maps will be
studied at the next regularly scheduled board meeting
on Mon., Feb. 11. Board member Doyle Campbell
urged the board to "do whatever we need to do in
February" in order to make a final decision at the
March board meeting.
During a break in the meeting, several parents told
the press they feel like the board should adopt the orig-
inal YSAC map.
"The system has paid YSAC $5,000 to develop the
plan and we should go with it," said one parent. "It is
the fairest way and no one can say that the school
board made special changes for certain people."
Supt. Bob McRae said the board has not ruled out
the original YSAC proposal and that any parents sup-
porting it should recommend it to board members.
Only about 20 parents attended the meeting and on-
ly three spoke.
Kathy Livesy thanked the board for allowing par-
ents to speak prior to each meeting but also asked for a
period of time midway of the meetings for public in-
put. She said parents often think of more concerns as
the board meetings go on but, under current guide-
lines, cannot speak publicly until the next meeting.
She also said she felt! like some of the possible
changes to YSAC's original reassignment plan would
increase the minority percentage at North School past
five percent of the system-wide average. During later
discussion by board members, Supt. McRae and Asst.
Supt. Larry Allen said every scenario discussed since
the original YSAC proposal had significantly in-
creased the percentage at North.
Alan Propst agreed with Mrs. Livesy that parents
should be given opportunity to be heard later in the
meetings, pointing out that under current gaidelines
most. parent comments have to deal with things said or
done at a previous meeting.
He also said the board's main concern should be
quality education and asked if the reassignment plan
would create additional combination classes. He ques-
tioned the board's decision to go with three inside-city
elementary K-5 schools rather than one K-2 and 3-5
inside city schools as suggested by a special comimit-
tee appointed by the board a year ago to study reorga-
nization. "I understand the decisions that have been
made," he said, "and am willing to live with them if
they provide equal education."
He also suggested the board schedule more public
hearings before a final decision is made.
Linda Hardin urged the board to leave three students
living on Chestnut Ridge Road at North School (her
request was included in two of the above proposals).
She also urged the board to study the "socio-econom-
ic" issue at East. "I think the boards going to have to
hand pick some neighborhoods to improve the socio-
economics at East School,” she said. "If you do not
have parent involvement you will not have some bene-
fits that other students have. Allocated funds cannot
take the place of parental support.”
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park style bench. Some city labor ir
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