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VOL. 104 NO. 49
LOST AND FOUND
Thursday, December 3, 1992
Father and son rescued after getting
lost on hunting trip in N.C. mountains
Tyler Falls, 9, and his father,
Kenny Falls, 35, will probably re-
turn to Rip Shin Ridge in search of
a deer next Thanksgiving but for
the moment they and their families
are thankful the most horrible night
of their lives is over.
The father and son, lost on
Steeles Creek and Rip Shin Ridge
for nearly 15 hours, started up the
mountain near Morganton Friday
about 3 p.m. to Wet Place, a spot
on top where four generations of
Fallses had hunted for 40 years. It
was Tyler's first adventure and he
had been begging his father since
CHARLIE. BAKER
City's new Christmas tree |
all decked out for season
The Christmas season was ush-
ered in by an estimated 300 people
Tuesday who stood on the lawn of
Mauney Memorial Library in the
cold December night to light the
new Christmas tree.
"This is a beautiful night to dec-
orate a beautiful, new tree," said
Mayor Scott Neisler, who said he
hoped the tradition will continue
and bring as much joy as tne old
tree which died last year.
“We're opening up a new page in
the history of Kings Mountain,"
Neisler said, as he read a brief ori-
gin of Christmas trees which date
to the first tree in the 14th Century
in Latvia on December 24 on
Adam and Eve Day when an ever-
green was decorated with apples.
With the discovery of electricity,
the American tree was soon lighted
with modern day lights which used
to be wrapped in foil for the first
trees. As he told how the Star at the
top of the tree had its origin in the
Gospel of Matthew, fireworks
went off and the sky was illuminat-
ed with brightly colored lights.
Special music was presented by
Library Youth Volunteers Christy
Hughes, Heather Hughes, John
The Kings Mountain Empty Stocking Fund officially kicked off
its 1992 fund drive last week, but donations are only trickling in.
If needy children in the Kings Mountain are are to have a happy
Christmas this year, the generous people of the community will have
to dig a little deeper into their pockets. :
The Adult Fellowship Class of Central United Methodist Church
contributed $100 and one anonymous donor contributed $50 to get
the drive started.
Funds will be collected through Christmas, but leaders of the
Empty Stocking Fund drive urge the public to give as soon as possi-
ble because toys, clothes and other needed items must be purchased
at least a week before Christmas in order to assure delivery by
* Christmas Eve.
This is the fourth year of the fund
been contributed.
The Empty Stocking Fund is entirely committed to serving the
needs of needy children during the Christmas season. Other organi-
zations serve the needy throughout the year.
Donations may be made anonymously, and can be made in memo-
ry or in honor of a loved one.
Mail your donation to Empty Stocking Fund, P.O. Box
1461, Kings Mountain, N.C. 28086; or deposit it in the
special Empty Stocking Fund account at Home Federal
Savings Bank.
Adult Fellowship Class, Central United
Methodist Church
Anonymous
Total to date
noon to join other members of the
family on the traditional hunt.
Kenny, who had been sick, final-
ly agreed and planned to take the
boy only a short distance. They
didn't carry- the usual supply of
clothing, flashlight, food, water,
etc. Kenny wore only a t-shirt and
a sweat shirt but carried an insulat-
ed hunting suit for Tyler to put on
over his jogging suit once the
climbing was done.
territory since early morning,
Friday's hunt proved that even
the most experienced hunters can
run into trouble.
The two hunters found familiar :
trails gone. Kenny had no light and
when he realized he was on the
wrong trail it was too late to climb
back. Finally the darkness was so
black they couldn't see each other.
Kenny loosened his belt and Tyler
held on so they would not be sepa-
They left waiting for them son
Cameron, 14, who had been hunt-
ing with his grandfather Otis Falls
hanging on,
and uncle Rick Falls in the familiar
rated. A rifle in each hand with no oo
vision and his nine year old son |
Falls maneuvered
See Hunters, 8-A
TYLER FALLS
Glad to be alive
Barbecue benefits transplant patient Charlie Baker
By Elizabeth Stewart
of The Herald Staff
Charlie Baker, 31, got a second chance at a normal
life with a successful liver transplant 14 months ago.
"I count my blessings every day," says the hand-
some young man, who said the tremendous backing
of family and friends at Commercial Intertech and at
Love Valley Baptist Church carried him through the
bad times.
His church family will sponsor a benefit BBQ
Saturday from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. at the church at 2032
Bethlehem Road. Plates are $3 for adults and $3 for
children.
The proceeds will be given to the Baker family as
an early Christmas present to help pay the costs of
lodging, meals, and transportation to UNC Hospital
at Chapel Hill, where Baker returns every firs
months for treatment.
"a new page in the history
of Kings Mountain."
-Mayor Scott Neisler
Leonard, Ben Sanders, Curtis
Sanders, Felicia Nieves, Pam
Ruppe and Erica Davis, under the
direction of Louise Sanders; by the
children of Dot's Day Care and by
the Choir of First Presbyterian
Church.
Boy Scouts of Troops 91, 92 and
95 assisted in the lighting of the
Japonica Cryptomeria.
After the program, a large crowd
filled Weir Auditorium and chil-
dren sat on Santa's lap and gave
him their wish list. Friends of the
Library served cranberry punch
and refreshments.
Because of the large crowd dis-
appointed parents said their chil-
dren didn't get a chance to sit on
Santa's lap because busy elves gave
first choice to those families with
video cameras wanting to use the
photo opportunity. "I hope that
will be changed next year," said
one mother who said she would
voice her suggestions to the mayor.
LIGHTS GO ON - Lights on the city's new Christmas tree went
on Tuesday night during a dedication ceremony on the lawn of
Mauney Memorial Library.
Stocking Fund needs your help
The miracle of life is precious to Baker, his wife,
Tammy Whitworth Baker, and their 10-year-old son,
Christopher.
"Some people have misconceptions about organ
donations but I'm living proof that transplants save
lives," said Baker, the first liver transplant patient at
UNC Hospital, among eight of the 11 surviving liver
transplant patients.
When the call from the hospital came at 7 a.m.
September 30, 1991 Tammy Baker cried so hard that
- her husband couldn't understand the good news over
the wire. Charlie's name had been put on the organ
donor list 11 days before and he had just been sent
home from the hospital to wait the day before the call
came.
see Baker, 4-4
Kings Mountain, N.C. 28086 «35¢
A 113-unit Kings Mountain
Christmas parade will step off at 4
p.m. Saturday and wind through
the business district to officially
open the holiday season.
Parade Chairman Denise Falls of
the sponsoring Parks & Recreation
Department said the parade will
feature pretty girls, the high step-
ping Kings Mountain High School
Band and Livingstone College
Band and the Oasis Steel Drum
Band sponsored by Grover
Industries, and a number of floats.
The star of the show, of course,
will be Santa Claus.
Parade grand marshals will be
popular radio personalities Bob
Lacey and Sherry Lynch of Sunny
107.9.
The parade will form at King
and Deal Streets at Kentucky Fried
Chicken, proceed up West King.
Street to the overhead bridge, turn
left on Battleground Avenue and
proceed through the middle of
town, turning left at Fred Kiser's
Restaurant and disbanding at the
Post Office on East Gold Street.
Captain Bob Hayes of Kings
Mountain Police Department said
that barricades will be set up in
mid-afternoon and that police will
be at each intersection and along
the route.
Leading off the holiday specta-
cle will be Kings Mountain Police
Department, Kings Mountain Chief
: of Police Warren Goforth, KM Fire
Nater and sewer contract
approved for Business Park
Kings Mountain City Council
gave Bridgestone/Firestone an in-
formal notice to proceed with con-
struction of its 400,000 square feet
| $20 million plant Tuesday when it
awarded a contract for $917,941.50
to McClam & Associates of Little
Mountain, SC for a water and
‘sewer expansion that will take
those city services to the new plant
in Kings Mountain Business Park. .
Councilman Al Moretz made the
motion, seconded by Councilman
Jerry White, that the board accept
the bid and award contract to
McClam under Schedule D of a bid
tabulation at $169,469.50 and un-
der a Alternate A proposal for
$748,472.00, contingent upon three
property owners granting ease-
ments without going to condemna-
tion or other legal action.
The board also authorized
$10,500 for a gas bore which City
Manager George Wood said was
not part of the original project but
was done while workers were on
the site and at an excellent price.
He praised City Engineer Tom
Howard, saying that earlier esti-
mates for the work were $30,400.
"We're tight in the gas fund but
with that kind of savings it was a
KM parade
is Saturday
Chief Frank Burns, the
N.C.Highway Patrol, a color guard,
the grand marshals and Mayor
Scott Neisler and members of
Kings Mountain City Council.
Other parade participants in or-
der of their appearance are:
Kings Mountain Junior varsity
cheerleaders, Kings Mountain var-
sity cheerleaders, KMHS marching
band, Miss Bethware Fair Laura
Bridges, Homecoming float,
Carrqusel Princess Jill Jimison,
United Methodist Women of
Galilee Methodist Church, FHA
Homecoming nominee Leslie Lail,
Dance Reflections, Simply Teen
Pageant Queen Brandy Brown,
Baby Miss Kings Mountain
Stephanie Alexander, Kings
Mountain Rescue Squad; and New
Camp Creek Church.
Also Robert Greene and antique
truck, Miss Cleveland County Kim
Scism, Southern Bell Pioneer
Clowns Clowns on unicycles,
Darice Magic, Grover Volunteer
Fire Department, Brownie Girl
Scout Troop 32, Alpha Kappa
Alpha Queen Crueceta Jefferies,
Century 21 float, Cleveland
County Young Woman of the Year
Becky Senter, Kings Mountain
Optimist Club, WKMT Radio van,
and Upper Cleveland County Miss
Kristin Wood.
Also Letterman's Club home-
coming nominee Jessie Carroll,
See Parade, 5-A
smart move,” he said. Ty
Other bidders were John E.
Jenkins of Gastonia, Dellinger
Inc.of Monroe, Don Moorhead
Construction of Anderson, SC,
Morgan Corporation of
Spartanburg, SC, State Utility
Contractors of Monroe, TranState
of Denver, Ronnie Turner
Construction of Conover, Wright &
Lopez of Greensboro and Steppe
Construction of Spring Mill.
In July, Bridgestone/Firestone
announced the company would
build a new plant in Kings
Mountain to replace its 57-year-old
plant in Gastonia. As part of the
move, Kings Mountain agreed to
sell water, wastewater treatment
and natural gas to Firestone.
Eventually the city will supply the
plant with approximately 200,000
gallons of water each day, along
with treating approximately 20,000
gallons of wastewater a day.
The construction timetable calls
for completion of the plant in May.
"Ride down the interstate and
you can see some of the progress
underway," said Howard, who also
suggested Council take a "dry day"
and ride down Canterbury Road to
get to the site.
City employees to receive Christmas bonus
, and over $3,000 annually has
$100.00
50.00
$150.00
Santa Claus will come early for 160-plus City of
Kings Mountain employees who will receive
Christmas holiday bonus checks Thursday.
‘Tuesday night, City Council unanimously ap-
proved a suggested list of Christmas bonuses for city
employees and also voted themselves a month's pay,
a customary procedure and a policy which has been
extended over many years.
Personnel Director Charles Webber made the rec-
ommendations and asked that bonus checks and cer-
tificates be included in the December 3 payroll.
City Manager George Wood said amounts have
been standardized in the last few years but bonuses
remain largely unchanged. He said the money is bud-
geted.
Employees will Togsive bonus checks based on the
following:
All permanent full time and part time personnel
with one year or more service, one week's pay.,
All permanent full time and part time personnel
with less than one year service, a prorated amount of
weekly pay based on the total months of service. For
instance, 11 months equals 11/12 of one week's pay;
two months equals 2/12 of one week's pay.
Volunteer firefighters, aerobic instructors, and con-
cession workers in the Recreation Department, etc,
$25.
See Bonuses, 2-A
Another Habitat for Humanity house to be built
A second Habitat for Humanity home will be built
on North Tracy Street in the near future.
Kings Mountain City Council Tuesday night unan-
imously voted fo give a lot across the street from the
first Habitat home dedicated in July and occupied by
a family of four.
The Kings Mountain lot, which will cost the
Cleveland County Habitat for Humanity $1, has
-~about 12,800 square feet an is valued at $4,800.
"You make Habitat for Humanity and Kings
Mountain Baptist Association very happy with your
decision,” said Mayor Scott Neisler, who said
Habitat, which he serves on the board of directors, al-
ready has a candidate for the second home.
Habitat for Humanity is a growing nationwide
charitable organization that provides low cost hous-
.ing but potential homeowners are required to work
on their own homes.
City Council last Tuesday tabled the proposal.
Because of the unusual nature of the transaction,
state law requires that the action be a unanimous de-
cision. Six of the seven members of the board were
present to vote but Councilman Al Morctz was ab-
sence due to illness.