fellow men as evidenced by untir-
anager;
officer, ond: Sheila Camp as clerk;
Christmas Parades
Held in Grover, Kings Mountain
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VOL. 108 NO. 49 Thursday, December 12, 1991 Kings Mountain, N Z
FE—
Grover
board
seated
GROVER - A new era in town
politics was inaugurated Tuesday
night with the swearing-in of new
Mayor Ronald Queen.
Town Clerk Sheila R. Camp ad-
ministered the oath to Queen and
to Commissioners Sandra Ellis,
who was elected Mayor pro tem by
unanimous action of the board, and
new members Jack Herndon and
Don Rich.
Outgoing veteran Mayor Bill
McCarter opened the meeting
which was moved from the council
chambers to the Community
Building due to the crowds, which
included families of the elected of-
ficials.
An executive session with the
two city police officers and clerk
was held for an hour after the
swearing-in ceremony and Queen
rapped the gavel for the first time
as mayor at 8 p.m. The five board
members and Queen signed a
framed resolution honoring the
‘services of McCarter, who had
served the town for a total of 34
years, first as council member and
then as mayor. They cited
McCarter's leadership in the imple-
mentation of the long-awaited sew-
er system and in other improve-
ments, including the building of
the addition to town hall, and
praised him for his professional-
ism, character and concern for his
turned over operation of the Grover
Cemetery to the town maintenance
department, which includes
Commissioner Jim Howell, certify-
ing a letter to the former superin-
See Grover, 14-A
Help fill the stocking
Daughters of Wesley Class,
Central United Methodist Church,
Contributions are beginning to
come in for the Kings Mountain
Empty Stocking Fund but many
more are needed.
To date, $525 has been given.
Chairman Margaret Dilling
urges businesses, civic clubs,
churches, individuals and others to
give generously. Donations should
be given as soon as possible be-
cause Mrs. Dilling and her com-
mittee must purchase supplies by
the end of next week in order to
deliver them the weekend before
Christmas.
All donations to the fund are
used to purchase food, clothing,
and other necessities for needy
families in the Greater Kings
bers B.S. Peeler, Shearra Mi
Mayor Kyle Smith, left, administers the oath of office to new Board 1 of Education members Shearra
Miller and B. S. Peeler.
Board make-up could change
Reorganization of the Board of Education could be
on the agenda as early as January, new Chairman
Ronnie Hawkins said this week after the subject was
raised again by outside-district representative Billy
Howze Monday night.
Howze said he is concerned that the present make-
up of the board doesn't accurately reflect the com-
munities it serves.
Currently, Howze, of Grover, and Hawkins, of
Countryside Road, represent the outside district, or
54% of the school total population, and new mem-
tion comes up in two years when terms of Mauney,
Houze and Hawkins will be up. McRae said it used
to be that three seats were allowed for 60% of the
population and at the time of school consolidation
there were more people living inside the city limits
than outside. Now, he said, more and more people are
locating in the rural areas.
McRae said he has talked with county planner Bill
McCarter to obtain the population figures based on
the way the county designates 911 area.
Hawkins said after the swearing-in ceremony
Monday it could be as long as four years or as short
as two before the board would implement a new
change. "We've batted this shift in population theory
about from time to time. The board has the authority
to adjust seat numbers and the way we are elected. "
Hawkins Siggenss the board could change the
two years, Hawkins said it may be ideal to designate
her seat as At-Large, since two new members just
went on the board representing inside-city residents.
Although everyone can vote in the school board elec-
tions, the change would allow more people to run for
school board
With Mrs. Maunes y ‘s term coming up for reelection in 3
Mountain area. No money is used
for overhead because members of
the committee donate their time
and gasoline expenses to purchase
and deliver the items.
Mail your donation to the Empty
Stocking Fund, P.O. Box 1461,
Kings Mountain, N.C. 28086, or
deposit it into the Empty Stocking
Fund account at Home Federal
Savings Bank. You may make do-
nations in honor or in memory of
someone, or may make anonymous
donations.
Contributions:
Gary and Mary Jo Stewart, in
honor of Harold Wells, $50.
$50.
Helen C. Hendricks, $100.
Geraldine D. Werner, $50.
John and Eunice Schanewolf,
$25.
Anonymous, $50.
Demetri and Anne Pouchak,
$10.
Katharine S. Mauney, $50.
Arthur and Joan Little, $25.
Sagesport, $25.
Timms Furniture, $100.
Mary C. Wilson, $15.
Total $525.
Kings Mountain People
Kyle Smith has interjected his
own style and personality in the
mayor's office.
As the first chief executive in
the new city manager/council form
of government, Smith's job was a
Public Relations role that he rel-
ished the past four years.
December 17, "His honor" will
give up the gavel to Scott Neisler,
who has served as councilman
from the old Ward 6 for two years.
"I can't see Kings Mountain go-
ing anywhere but up and you can
bet I'll be in there working but in a
different role,” said the versatile
Smith, who was among the first
volunteers when the literacy pro-
gram began at Mauney Library
and loves it. When his 55-year-old
student started reciting his ABC's
Kyle felt like he was seven feet
Smith led successful
government transition
tall. "It made me feel good," he
said.
What are some of the goals he
would like to see happen in Kings
Mountain in the near future?
Annexation, which isn't simple,
and more people involvement in
city affairs.
During the Smith administration
there were several "firsts." The first
minority member of council; who
was also the first minority member
on the board of elections, will be
sworn December 17 along with
other new members who will com-
pose a seven-member board, up
from six. Redistricting, not a sim-
ple task, was accomplished during
the waning months of his tenure.
Smith's co-workers and con-
stituents will tell you that "his hon-
or' 'goes by the books and is an as-
See Smith, 2-A
KYLE SMITH
Takes last ride as mayor in parade
a aia ii
ji A
Hawkins heaas
School Board
Kings Mountain Board of
Education unanimously elected
Ronnie Hawkins as chairman and
reelected Priscilla Mauney as vice-
chairman Monday night, first item
of business of the new board.
Mrs. Mauney's motion to elect
Hawkins was seconded by Shearra
Miller. Howze's motion to reelect
Mauney was seconded by B. S.
Peeler. Both motions carried unani-
mously. Hawkins has served two
years on the board representing the
outside-city district. Mauney has
served four years on the board, rep-
resenting the inside-city district.
Mayor Kyle Smith, a former
board member who resigned four
years ago to run for mayor, admin-
istered the oath of office to new
board members B. S. Peeler and
Shearra Miller on Peeler's 1860
family Bible.
Present with Mrs. Shearra were
her husband, Tim Miller; their
daughters, Rebecca and Kathleen;
her parents, Wayne and Geneva
Beacham; her grandmother, Estelle
Beacham and brother, Charles
Beacham.
Present with Peeler were chil-
dren of some of his first students
when he joined the faculty of
Kings Mountain High School 17
years ago as a teacher in the night
school. They were Stephen
Huffstetler, Katie, Emily and Josh
members and
retiring members Billy King and
Doyle Campbell at a reception.
Prior to the swearing-in cere-
monies, Supt. Dr. Bob McRae took
the occasion to thank King and
Campbell for their leadership and
to present them with engraved ap-
preciation plaques, lifetime school
athletic passes and gifts.
"I'm leaving with a positive feel-
ing," said Campbell, who had
served on the board since
December 7,1983 and was both
vice-chairman and chairman.
During his tenure he saw terms of
board members reduced from six to
four years, the culmination of ma-
jor building improvements and the
system turn the corner on achieve-
ment and test scores.
King, who served four years and
the last year as chairman, said he
was proud to serve on a board in a
town where he grew up and in the
school where he graduated. "The
years have been full of sensitive
and tough issues,” said King. "This
board could have taken the easy
way out and swept some things un-
der the rug but I'm proud that we
took a stand on controversial issues
and served the educational needs of
the kids."
McRae said that the passage of
school bonds for major improve-
ments and elementary redistricting
were arduous tasks for the board
and commended both men for out-
standing leadership in both areas.
"It's with a tinge of sadness to
lose good board members but we
are confident we will always have
their support, " said McRae.
H
the most talented and efficient su-
perintendents in the school sys
tems.
"There's always been a spirit of
good harmony on the board and I
See Board, 14-A
New KM council members
to take office Tuesday
A history-making swearing-in
ceremony will be held by Kings
Mountain city council Tuesday
night at 7:30 p.m.
For the first time ever, the city
will seat its first black councilman
in the person of Phil Hager in Ward
One, the new minority ward creat-
ed recently by redistricting which
added one councilman and makes
the board membership seven coun-
cil members and the mayor.
Scott Neisler, 36, will take the
oath from Superior Court Clerk -
Linda thrift as mayor. A salesman
for Dicey Fabrics, he is the great-
grandson of two former mayors
Hugh Parks Allison and William
Andrew Mauney.
Jim Guyton is the second new
commissioner to be seated and rep-
resents Ward Two in the new redis-
tricting line up.
Incumbents Al Moretz and
Norma Bridges, elected At-Large,
will also be sworn.
All terms will be four year terms
with the exception of Moretz who
will serve a two year term.
Mayor Kyle Smith will preside
at a short meeting prior to the
. swearing-in ceremony which will
be followed by the reorganization
of the board, including the election
of a mayor pro tem, an honor voted
by the board and usually accorded
to the highest vote getter.
A reception will be held after the
meeting and refreshments will be
served. The public is invited.’
Ministers ring
bells for needy
Kings Mountain ministers will
be ringing bells to get your atten-
tion on the Helping Hand Fund,
which “desperately” needs your
contributions, according to Rev.
Harwood Smith of St. Matthews
Lutheran Church.
Thursdays and Fridays until
Christmas each member of the
Ministerial Association will take a
two-hour shift ringing bells for do--
nations at the Harris Teeter Super
Market on Canterberry Road.
All monics go to the Crisis
Assistance Ministry, which is down
to $560 of this week, said Smith.
"Right now is the time when we
have the greatest need,” Smith said,
The Crisis Assistance Ministry
was begun in 1971 by the
Ministerial Association. It was or-
ganized to help the needy families
in Kings Mountain.
Financial support comes from
the Kings Mountain United Way,
local churches, individuals and
businesses, the December Bell-
Ringing Campaign and canned
food drives by Boy Scouts and arca
schools.
The Food Bank provides non-
perishable foods for families in
need for about onc week's supply.
Qualifying familics may usc the
food bank twice in one year.
Emergency needs are assisted as
the ministry has funds. Qualifying
families may receive assistance
with medicine, fuel, rent or utili-
tics. The maximum amount of help
is $50 twice a year.
‘In 1991, out of the 841 families
who have applied for help, 36 fam-
ilics have received help with rent
See Bell, 5-A
Voit ah al anid
Rt tn A Nan i AE rig lar ks #8, v0 CR. =
also praised Sup . McRae as one oF