VOL. 104 NO. 35
Video promotes
Kings Mountain
Ruby Alexander's main goal
during her year as president of
the Kings Mountain Chamber
of Commerce has been to sell
Kings Mountain as a great
place "to live, work and play."
The results of the Chamber's
hard work may not be seen im-
mediately, but Alexander feels
that two commercials now air-
ing on cable TV will someday
pay off for the city.
One 30-second video airing
in the metrolina area promotes
Kings Mountain as a good
place to live. It features the
city's recreation possibilities, a
good educational system and
good, affordable housing as
drawing cards. Already the
Chamber has received in-
quiries.
A new 60-second video
which began airing this week
in large metrolina cities pro-
motes Kings Mountain as an
excellent choice for new busi-
ness and industry. It's easy ac-
cess to Interstate 85 and a spirit
of cooperation between the
city, industry and Cleveland
Community College, and an
excellent utility system make
Kings Mountain a perfect
choice. >.
"The video presents an im-
age that Kings Mountain wel-
comes high-tech industry, and
that Cleveland Community
College will work with indus-
11 try in training employees,"
Mrs. Alexander says. "It tells
industry that location, with
easy access to 85, and with a
trainable work force and coop-
eration between the county and
city will make their move more
pleasant and efficient.”
Alexander said the video,
produced by Video Concepts,
will air for the remainder of the
year.
"We may not hear from this
for a long time," she said. "We
don't expect immediate results.
But someone might be in a mo-
tel and see the commercial and
ake notes, and maybe in six
months to a year decide that
Kings Mountain is the Hoes it to
locate his industry.
"This has been one of our
big projects for the year,” she
added. "We started ‘out with a
goal of promoting Kings
Mountain, to raise its image.
Everything we've done has led
to making Kings Mountain a
beuer place to work, live and
play.”
idan,
Thursday, August 27, 1992
Grant to pay for water and sewer lines
Kings Mountain, N.C. 28086 +30¢
Gaston gives KM *1 million
The City of Kings Mountain will
receive a grant not to exceed
$1,025,680 from Gaston County to
construct water and sewer lines for
the new Bridgestone/Firestone
plant in Kings Mountain Business
Park.
The line will connect with Kings
Mountain's existing line on
Canterbury Road and will open the
Business Park for industrial devel-
opment.
City Manager George Wood said
he plans to go before the Cleveland
County Economic Development
Commission Thursday to present a
proposal for Cleveland County to
fund lines to the park on the
Cleveland County side. If that idea
is approved by Cleveland County
Commissioners, the city will be
able to construct a complete loop
of water and sewer lines around the
park and open a significant area of
Cleveland County for industrial de-
velopment.
Wood said the city hopes to have
the water and sewer lines in place
‘and operable by next May.
Firestone is shooting for a June or
Joni Smith takes oath
as first woman lawyer
Joni Smith remembers watching
a television program about juvenile
delinquency when she was 12
years old and making the decision
right then to become a lawyer.
It took her ten years after gradu-
ating college to get to law school,
but she never lost her dream. A lot
of things in her life came first, she
said. However, Wednesday morn-
ing, she was sworn in as the first
("As far as I know," she says.)
woman lawyer in Kings Mountain.
"It's certainly a milestone for
me," said Smith Tuesday, in be-
tween talking with clients where
she works at Corry and Cerwin
Law Offices in downtown Kings
Mountain.
Smith clerked at the law firm
during summers between semesters
at Campbell University Law
School. She said she gained invalu-
able experience in the courtroom as
well as behind the desk, experience
most clerks don't get.
Smith said she will be doing a
lot of courtroom work.
"It's a major thrill," she said.
"You just feel good about it. It's not
like you see on television. You're
there doing the very best you can
do for that person.’
Corry and Cerwin is a general
practice law firm, so Smith will al-
. so fill her time doing just about ev-
ery kind of law there is from es-
tates to drafting wills:
The law is in the family. as
Chuck Wilson, hier husband, is an
See Joni, 3-A
July opening.
"This will be a major improve-
ment," Wood told the Kings
Mountain Council at its Tuesday
night meeting at City Hall. "It
should open a very large area to in-
dustrial growth. For us to get over
$1 million was very generous on
Gaston County's part."
Wood said he anticipates the
frontage road along I-85 will even-
tually be extended all the way from
Highway 161 to Canterbury Road.
Firestone will be located entirely in
Gaston County.
Wood said he foresees the city
having no problems in construction
of a utility loop around the area.
"Both counties have policies that
when we get an industrial prospect
that they will run water and sewer
lines," Wood said. "They look at
the tax revenue they're going to get
off it as paying them back for that
investment. They not only get the
tax revenue, but jobs and sales tax
from people being employed."
Although tax revenues from the
park will go to Cleveland and
Gaston counties, all industries that
tude Vines We IOAN, behind, administers oath to jon Smith,
| left has her kusband Chuck Wilson looks on.
KM approves communicable disease policy
City Council Tuesday night ap-
proved a communicable disease
policy for the city, the police de-
partment and the fire department.
The detailed plan submitted by
Personnel Director Charles Webber
is in compliance with Occupational
Safety and Health Administration
(OSHA) standards and is designed
to protect employees who may be
exposed to bloodborne pathogens
such as hepatitis B and the human
immunodeficiency (HIV) virus.
Webber consulted with a Safety
Committee comprised of personnel
from the police department, fire
department, sanitation department
and water and sewer department.
City Manager George Wood said
many departments, including the
police, have already been taking
safety precautions such as using
gloves, but now it will be a
requirement.
Wood said all police, fire and
sanitation vehicles will be
equipped with safety kits, which
cost about $9 apiece. "We plan to
talk with Shelby and Cleveland
County, because they will have to
pass policies too. Maybe we can go
in together and buy in bulk and
save some money." :
Councilman Fred Finger praised
Webber and others who worked on
the detailed policy.
"Somebody's done a terrific
job," he said. "This puts the re-
sponsibility on the emplg sees and §
department heads to see that it's
carried out. It gives the every op-
portunity to protect themselves."
In other matters Tuesday night,
the council:
Amended its manufactured
home parks zoning ordinance to
comply with state amortization
guidelines.
Approved trade-in and pay-
ment for a police vehicle.
See Policy, 3-A
Public taking advantage of low interest rates
With interest rates on mortgages
| hitting the lowest points in years in
.- Kings Mountain, banks report
steady to heavy applications for
loans, especially in refinancing
lending.
Head of mortgage lending for
BB&T Allison Gilbert said their 15
year fixed rate hit the lowest in 15
years last week at 7.5 percent.
Rates were up the last two days at
the bank with 7.75 for 15 year
fixed, 8.25 for 30 year fixed and
5.625 for one year adjustable loans.
"It's hard to predict," said
Gilbert. "It's been up an down for
almost two months. There's not a
lot of home buying -- no more than
normal. But there's tremendous re-
financing. About four to six appli-
cations a day."
Gilbert said that keeps her busy
with applications taking one to one
and a half hours each to process.
City Executive and Assistant
Vice President for First Citizens
Eric Dixon said refinancing loans
had increased 90 percent within the
last month. He was seeing switches
from adjustables to fixed and 30
year to 15 year refinancing.
First Citizen's 15 year fixed de-
creased to 7.5 percent on the 21st
of August, said Dixon. It was up
Tuesday at 7.625. Thirty year fixed
sat at 8.125 and one year adjustable
rate was at 6.0 percent.
"I don't think it's a permanent
move upward," said Dixon. "But
they may increase tomorrow and
stay there. We don't know for sure.
1 don't think they've hit a bottom."
Jay Rhodes, senior vice presi-
dent at Carolina State Bank, said
he had a steady flow of loan appli-
cations.
"We did a greater volume in
February of last year," he said.
"We're getting about three or four
each week. To us, that's good."
See Rates, 3-A
locate there will be utility cus-
tomers of the city of Kings
Mountain, Wood said.
Councilman Fred Finger praised
Wood and his staff for landing the
grants from Gaston County.
"Somebody's done a terrific
job," he told Wood. "Gaston
County really gave us a push with
a million dollars. I'd like to have
you for a fund raiser."
Wood appreciated the compli-
ment, but praised Gaston County
See Grant, 3-A
Mountaineer
Day date
changed
Obviously, the City Recreation
Committee struck a nerve with
some members of City Council
when they planned the date of the
upcoming Mountaineer Day cele-
bration without first getting
Council's approval.
The Recreation Department an-
nounced last week that the celebra-
tion would be held September 26,
but at Tuesday night's council
meeting the board voted 5-2 to
hold it on October 3.
Councilman Jim Guyton said the
celebration is a tradition and has
always been held the Saturday
closest to October 7, the date of the
Battle of Kings Mountain. Guyton
was especially upset that recreation
officials stated that the reason for
the change of date was because of
a conflict with the Cleveland
County Fair.
“I don't think it's a conflict with
the fair," he said, "and if they're go-
ing to change the date they should
come to Council first rather than
putting it in the paper and then
coming to us."
Guyton also objected to the an-
nual July 4 celebration this year
being held on July 3.
Al Moretz, who made the mo-
tion to hold the celebration on
October 3, said both the fair and
the celebration had been going on
for years, and that the fair was not
a good enough reason to change
the date of Mountaineer Day.
"They know when the fair is going
to be seven years in advance,” he
said.
Phil Hager said Mountaineer
Day is "a historical event, and a lot
of people look forward to it. This
was done without Council's input. 1
don't want people to think that a
committee can do these things and
See Date, 2-A
A a ————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Kings Mountain People
When fire alarm sounds
Farris hits floor running
By ELIZABETH STEWART
of The Herald Staff
When the fire alarm sounds
Bethlehem fireman Harold Dean
Farris is usually first on the scene.
Chaplain and treasurer and near-
ly 20-year veteran of the all-volun-
teer squad, he also drives the
pumper and has responded to over
1400 calls during his career. He
clocks the response time at onc
minute. Living across from the fire
station has contributed to this cnvi-
able record.
"Daddy puts on his gear in scc-
onds and he's off and running with
the other firemen behind him,"
says son, Timothy, 14, who wants
to be a fireman when he is older.
Dcbbic Farris said she uscd to
pace the floor until her husband re-
turncd home from a call. Her
biggest scarce was when she an-
swered the door bell in June 1986
and then-Chicl Larry McDanicl
told her that Harold had been hurt.
Farris was struck in the stomach by
300 pounds of water pressure when
a 2 1/2 inch line blew, knocking
him through a drop tank and onto
the ground. "I felt like my insides
had been blown out," said Farris,
who was hospitalized for two days
with bruised kidneys. The accident
earned him the nickname from his
co-fircfighters as "2 1/2."
The fircmen at Bethlehem share
a special comradeship. They work
hard, said Farris, but rib cach other
about nicknames they have re-
ceived while doing a job where
their lives arc on the linc. Chief
Jeff Dixon is Bo Decan. Kim
Stinchcomb is Mango. Jeff
Cloninger is Fat Baby. Larry
McDanicl is Stub. John Boy
Caldwell is Shamoo, Greg
Carpenter is Orka and Trent
Hullender is Touchdown, to name a
few.
Firemen carry clip-on pagers.
Farris' home is equipped with acti-
vator receivers, one at his bedside
table and one in the den, where he
can readily get the calls transmitted
from emergency 911.
When the Farris family moved
to the Bethlehem Community in
September 1972 it was only natural
that Farris, a Kings Mountain na-
tive, join the fire department which
had been organized in 1964 by a
half dozen men who saw the need
for a fire department in the rural
community. Charlie Blalock was
the first chicf of the department
which started off with a Kings
Mountain firc truck.
The most tragic fire Farris re-
calls was in an old barn on Phifer
Road. When fireman got to the
scene the barn had burned 10 the
ground. Cleaning up, Farris and
Tim Echols found the bodies of
three teenagers who had apparently
spent the night in the abandoned
See Farris, 2-A
mg
En
a ———————————
BE a