direction.
Kings Mountain Police have re
ported an unidentified flying object heading for the city from the northerly
_ The UFO is traveling at such a rapid rate of speed police say it's difficult to track it. It appears on the screen for
just a fraction of a second and then is gone again. 2 :
‘Wait! Wait!
It's back on the screen again. a compute
seven..no, what's that, eight reindeer. The
In the sleigh, there appears to be a big, f
black boots. Several red bags appear to be filled
with oranges, apples, candy, baby dolls, :
Nintendo games, teddy bears, cowboy suits, BB \/
guns, and thousands of other toys. {
A radar expert says the rate of speed indicates
the sleigh will arrive in the Kings Mountain area
sometime between 12 midnight Tuesday and 5
a.m. Wednesday.
~ Don’t waste any sleep trying to get a glimpse of
this UFO, though. It's too fast for Ee
the human eye.
Merry Christmas!
{
HAC
ER —
Do
r expert says the object appears to be a sleigh being pulled by
one in front has such a bright, red nose that it's almost blinding.
at man wearing a red and white suit and big,
IAS
Ro
1=y ;
MIN IN
\ { UB im
i
1
ON NELW SONIA
*S 001
MAIT TVIYOWIN AINAVI
93808¢
* HAV LNOWAH Td
5
&
VOL. 103 NO. 51
By RENEE WALSER
Of The Herald Staff
some special people.
his friend Hallie Blanton.
5 =
"T was
sit on my lap."
Opera Kid."
‘Michael
gets wish
Some wonderful things happen around this time of year. . .
There's a reason why we've had such mild weather the first two weeks of
December, and it has to do with a special gift for a special young man from
Michael Styers is 23 years old and stricken with cerebral palsy. He does-
n't let it get him down, though, or maybe he is just so stubborn he won't let
you see the frustration that must go with that disease. He has a quick sense
of humor and a love for fife that is infectious. 36
Michael wanted a handicap ramp for Christmas, and because of some
good friends, Santa came through. Now he can go outside of his trailer in
Love Valley and watch the birds and squirrels play in the unusually good
weather we've been having, That was the other special gift from Santa,
good weather so Michael can make full use of hisnewramp. =
Michael said he wanted to thank Jake Greene of David Baptist Church,
who supervised the building of the ramp. Dennis Stroupe also played the
role of overseer. And the three boys who did the handy work: Clif Greene,
Jonathan Lovelace and Tim Stroupe. But most of all, he wanted to thank |
"If it wasn't for her, it wouldn't be out there at all,” Michael said, with a
lipstick mark on his forehead from where Blanton kissed him. =
Blanton heads social services for the Kings Mountain school system and
Tg: Miictigel when'he wasin school, 1 Tn
"He graduated from my school but not from my heart,” she said.
Blanton explained that Michael doesn't get out of the house that much.
His mother fries to take him to the mall every Sunday. Last Sunday he
ran into Santa at the mall. Instead of Michael sitting on Santa's lap
(Micheal is confined to a wheel chair), Santa sat on Michael's and told him,
"Now you've got to tell me what you're going to bring me for Christmas."
barassed,” Michael said. "I wanted one of those lady elves to break.”
Michael Styers and his friend Hallie Biantoa enjoy the new Ii. J ‘icap.
ramp built for Michael's Christmas by members of David Baptist
Church.
"It's because of those pretty women in there,” he said. "When you grow
up in a house with three women . .. . I guess it's a habit that's hard to
When Michael was in school, he enjoyed computers. Now he wants one.
Michael likes the ladies. He is fond of telling the story about being at of his own. The one he wants is $699, but his mother said the merchant
camp a few summers ago and watching all the girls in their bathing suits. wouldn't extend her enough credit to buy it.
Needless to say, swimming was his favorite activity.
And he loyes soap operas. In high school, he was known as the "Soap
“"We may get it or we may never get it," said Joyce, his mother.
Some wonderful things happen around this time of year. Who knows
what other gifts, like good weather, Santa has in store for us and Michael?
[1 put
Family celebrates
Christmas together
By ELIZABETH STEWART
Of The Herald Staff
All John and Susan Peppard
wanted for Christmas was to have
Susan's mother home for
Christmas.
The 82-year-old Englishwoman
made their wishes come true by
flying from New Haven, England
to spent her first Christmas with
her daughter in 27 years.
Not only is Ollie Penford's visit
a reunion with the Kings Mountain
family but a reunion with her sister,
Joan Lloyd, 86, who will be flying
from Florida for a New Year's visit
in Kings Mountain.
"We're so excited," said Susan,
who became a U. 8S. citizen in 1965
when she left her native England at
age 19 to work in New York City
and there met her husband, a sailor.
The Peppards were married in
John's. hometown in Pennsylvania.
His job as a truck driver took them
to various other places but eight
years ago they moved to Kings
Mountain from West Virginia, re-
See Reunion, 4-A
Olive Penfold of England and her daughter, Susan Peppard of
Kings Mountain are spending Christmas together for the first time
in 27 years. ’
Kings Moun n, N.C. 28086 «35¢
It's Christmas
|time in the city
Three Christmas Eve 11 p.m.
candlelight services and early wor-
ship services at six churches will
highlight the Christian celebration
of Christmas Tuesday.
St. Matthew's, Resurrection and
First Presbyterian Churches have
arranged the traditional 11 p.m.
“candlelight communion services
with special music by the choirs.
Grace United Methodist Church
and Central United Methodist
Church will have 7 p.m. candle-
light communion services and
Boyce Memorial ARP Church will
hold a 7:30 p.m. candlelight ser-
vice. Christ the King Catholic
Church will hold the traditional
caroling service at 6:30 p.m.
At St. Matthew's Church a chil-
dren's service at 4 p.m. Tuesday
will feature the "arrival of the
Christ Child" and parents and
grandparents are invited, along
~jwith visitors. The 11 p.m. service
J will feature carol singing under the
iol Hinnant
direction of Mrs. Virgini
ts. Miacgardt MoGH
fis. Red
poinsettias will bank the Chancel
area of the sanctuary and a
Chrismon tree will be decorated
and lighted.
Donald Deal will direct three
Christmas anthems by the choirs at
Resurrection Lutheran Church for
which Dina Jo Hannah of Dallas
will be guest organist. Rev. John
Futterer will lead a homily prior to
the Sacrament of Holy
Communion. White pine garlands
and two ceiling-high Chrismon
trees decorate the sanctuary which
KM United Fund
plans celebration
A victory celebration will be
held in late January by Kings
Mountain United Fund.
"It's truly fabulous," said UF
President Glenn Anderson, com-
menting on the efforts of Kings
Mountain people who surpassed
the goal of $120,750.00 for 16
agencies.
"I want to salute everyone in-
volved in making the campaign a
success," said Anderson.
Three divisions topped 1991
quotas, including the big industrial
division which led the campaign;
Tis the season of sharing
will be filled with red and white
poinsettias and arranged with
wreaths and hurricane lamps in the
windows.
Mrs. Linda Dixon will direct the
Central United Methodist Church
Choir in special music at 7 p.m.
Red and white poinsettias and
Chrismon trees decorate the sanc-
tuary.
Rev. Patricia Stone will lead the
7 p.m. worship service at Grace
United Methodist Church which
will include candlelight commu-
nion and special music by the
choir. The sanctuary is beautifully
decorated for Christmas,
Mrs. Shirley Austin will direct
the choir of First Presbyterian
Church in special music at the 11
p.m. service which will include
candlelight communion The church
is decorated with Chrismon trees,
candles, greenery and poinsettias.
~~ Trip McGill will direct carol
singing a Boyes Memon a oA |
Church at 7:30. p.m. and Rev. ,. 4
Villian BeToT WEEE ews
ship service. The sanctuary is dec- i
orated in green and red. ; i
Bethlehem Baptist Church will !
hold 5:15 p.m. candlelight services
on Christmas Eve.
Trinity Episcopal Church will
hold "A Festival of Carols"
Tuesday night at 7:30 p.m. and
young people of the church will
sing anthems. After the worship
service, Dr. and Mrs. Larry
Muench will host a Christmas par-
ty at their home on Downing
Drive.
advance gifts and commercial, ac-
cording to campaign chairman Pat
Carter, who said funds are still
coming in. Carter said the drive
will probably end with total contri-
butions of $121,688.67.
"It's been a tough year in a tough
economy but Kings Mountain citi-
zens came through again and we
are so pleased and grateful," said
Carter, noting that two weeks ago a
shortfall of over $6,000 would
have resulted in. cuts to agency re-
quests.
Pat Thompson, left, Johnanna Cole, Avis Morrow and Pat Schronce prepare to deliver 85 packages to
the needy which decorated an Angel Tree at the Kings Mountain Hospital Outpatient Department.
Kings Mountain's tradition of giving to the needy
reaches its peak in the Christmas season as churches,
organizations and other groups band together to help
the less fortunate.
No one wants to be in the hospital at Christmas
time but the staff of Kings Mountain Hospital have
said merry Christmas with bright decorations and
Christmas trees throughout the facility.
An Angel Tree was decorated by the Outpatient
Department staff. Names of ncedy children were ob-
tained from the Kings Mountain Empty Stocking
Fund and Cleveland County Department of Social
Services. Eighty-five angels were selected from the
tree during a 24-hour period and now the tree is laden
with presents for ncedy children. Social worker
Freida Hardin says the response was overwhelming.
A tree in the hospital lobby has been decorated by
the Kings Mountain Hospital Auxiliary.
An original tree by the nursing staff fcaturcs tiny
nurses’ caps with individual cmployccs names on
them. The tiny caps arc replicas of those from the
various nursing schools.
A special tree on North Nursing Station has unusu-
al gifts under it. Employccs have brought canncd
food items and filled three big boxes with staple
items. This food is being donated to the Kings
Mountain Crisis Ministry. :
Employees dressed in Christmas sweat shirts car-
oled for the patients in the hospital and Skilled
Nursing Care Unit Wednesday. Junior Auxiliary
members have been busy making tray favors and
door decorations. A group of candy stripers hung pa-
per wreaths on each patient door.
At Cornwell Drug Store an Angel Tree provided
names of needy school children and visitors to the
store have wrapped presents to be delivered this
week.
White Plains Shrine Club hosted a party Thursday /
night for crippled children and bumed children and
their familics at Masonic Temple and presented treats
and gifts.
EN
Fairview Lodge 339 AF&AM is giving 50 fruit 3
baskets to widows of Masons. y
The Empty Stocking Fund, Crisis Ministry, and the
Ministerial Association-sponsorcd bell ringing bene- J
fit ncedy families and the Crisis Ministry with its J]
Food Bank at the Community Center is a year round’
project to help the area less fortunate.
Kings Mountain Lions Club members distributed
18 fruit baskets to the blind this week. Lion Richard
Barnette said the club discontinued its fruit cake/pro-
ject but has available socks and commercial and
houschold brooms. ; /