North Carolina Newspapers

Page 4A-THE KINGS MOUNTAIN HERALD-Thursday, September 23, 1993 JIM HEFFNER Columnist Blowing smoke The city of New Bern has just passed an ordinance outlawing smoking in any public building. Many towns and cities in this country have passed, or are at- tempting to pass similar laws, even the world class city. South Park Mall, in the world class city, has passed a rule that there will be no smoking inside the mall. They don't intend to enforce the rule, but they passed it nevertheless, and they say they will have people at all cntrances asking people to put out their cigarettes, cigars, pipe, ete. upon entering the mall.” I was strolling around that mall one day a few ycars back, smoking my pipe, when a young lady came run- ning out of onc of the large department stores and screamed at me, "you can't come in here smoking that thing!" Now while it is true I was walking toward that par- ticular store, I had absolutely no intention of going in there. My reply, in part, was "lady, this is not a thing, it is called a pipe, and I wasn't coming into your store, nor do I ever intend to come into your store, bug off." Once I was covering the Kemper Open Golf Tournament for Charlotte Magazine and I was in the press tent working at a typewriter, again puffing my pipe, when a young lady came from clear across the room and asked me to put it out. I was sitting beside a grizzled newspaper veteran who worked for a large daily, and he was smoking a cigar. “Tell her to leave or learn to love it," he said. The young lady beat a hasty retreat. The point of all this is that smokers have a right to smoke, the same as non-smokers have a right to leave them alone. I don't know of a smoker who would de- liberately make anyone uncomfortable by blowing smoke in their face. If a smoker gets there first. to my way of thinking, he owns the space temporarily, if there are no rules against it. In most cases, if asked po- litely, the smoker will move to another location. The militant non-smoker doesn't know how to ask politely. All they want to do is harass people. One of them told me once, "kissing a smoker is like licking a dirty ash tray." I replied, "I'd rather lick a dirty ash tray than kiss you." I don't believe that smoking is good for you, but I'm not too sure the militant attitude of some non-smokers isn't related to the wave of political correctness that pervades our society. The Environmental Protection Agency is responsi- ble for some ‘of the argument surrounding smoking. Some of those people are obviously militant non- smokers. They've taken a stack of reports about sec- ondary smoke and massaged the statistics to suit their own agenda. I know for a fact that the Cancer Society has put out at least two reports that debunk the secondary smoke theory. One of them is called the Brownson Report. The EPA doesn't cite that report in any of their so- called studies. Here is a quote from a recent copy of the Farm Bureau News: "In order for the passive smoker to in- hale the equivalent amount of smoke that a smoker re- ceives from one average cigarette, he or she would have to do one of the following: Eat 330 one-hour meals in a smoking section of a restaurant. Spend 25 eight-hour days in an office with smokers. Have 2,900 one-hour shopping sessions in a super- market. : Fly 120 hours in a smoking section of a commercial aircraft or 310 hours in a non-smoking section.” Wouldn't it be nice if all those people who work so hard to make life difficult for people who smoke would get on the anti-drug bandwagon or go to work and try to solve the problems of the homeless or make life miserable for government officials who turn crimi- nals loose to commit more crimes? I think I'll fill my pipe and relax a bit. Update - A few weeks ago I penned a column about my good friend Harold Hearne, who was gunned down for no apparent reason while dropping off some papers at a recycling bin in Gastonia. I'm happy to report that a suspect has been taken in- to custody. He was caught in Greenville, S.C. I haven't been able to find out much about it because the police are keeping quict at this point. It seems they have a line on a second suspect. Here's hoping justice is done in this case. Established 1889 Published Thursday at East King Street at Canterbury Road, Kings Mountain, North Carolina 28086, USPS 931-040, by Republic Newspapers, Inc.-2nd Class postage paid in Kings Mountain Elizabeth Stewart... Shirley Austin ..... ...Advertising Representative Bill Fulton........ ...Advertising Representative Laura Hullette . ...Advertising Representative Nancy Miller... ...Advertising Representative Sarah Griffin. Seale iL nn Business Manager Cheryl Pullen: coir Lal Bookkeeper Deniece Talbert .. Circulation Manager Fran Black...... .Production Manager Julie Bogle i. Graphic’ Artist SUBSCRIPTION BATES: In Gaston & Cleveland Counties: 1 Year $16.00; 6 Months $9.00. Other NC Counties: 1 Year $18.00: 6 Months $10.00. Outside NC: 1 Year $21.00; 6 Months $11.50. REPUBLIC NEWSPAPERS. INC. = WED Mumbar Nexth Cardina Pras Associaton Postmaster: Send Address Changes To: Kings Mountain Herald: P.O. Box 769, Kings Mountain, NC 28086 Back issues, one month or older, when available, are 70¢ per copy. Wg ag ln Pictured in front of City Hall are officers of the Kings Mountain Police Department wearing the new sum- mer uniform for 1952. They are, left to right: Police Chief S.R. (Pop) Davidson, Officer Ed Martin, Lt. W.P. Shytle, Officer P.A. Hawkins, Desk Sergeant Rhea Barber, Officer Warren Ellison, W.E. Stroupe, Officer Paul Sanders, Officer Ben Sessoms and Desk Sergeant Clarence E. Carpenter. The summer uni- form consisted of light brown trousers, tan cotton shirts and wine ties. NAFTA possibly a good deal Many people are unhappy with the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), so many that presi- dent Clinton may not get this piece of legislation passed this year. Organized labor is telling anyone who will listen that the agreement would allow big business in the U.S. to exploit Mexico's cheap labor pool and take ad- vantage of that country's loose environmental laws. What's new? There are no insurmountable obstacles to moving a manufacturing or assembly operation to’ Mexico now. Many companies have been taking ad- vantage of that situation for twenty years or more. Zenith, General Electric, Ford and American Telephone and Telegraph to name a few. There are no more typewriters manufactured in this country because the last firm in that business moved to Mexico over a year ago.] How can removing trade barriers with Mexico cost U.S. citizens jobs? Illegal aliens from Mexico pour in- to this country every day, some to regular jobs in Southern California and Texas, then back home after work at night. Others stay here and take advantage of a generous welfare system. Maybe, if they had jobs in their own country, they'd stay home. Wouldn't that cre- ate more jobs in this country? It's just possible that NAFTA will be good for cv- eryonc, as was the Canada Free Trade Agreement that was begun in 1989. That accord Helped bring about a significant increase in U.S. exporst to Canada, and it helped create more than 264,000 jobs. Autumn in Kings Mountain Today marks the first day of autumn, and after a long, dry summer, most people are looking forward to the cooler weather. No more endless days of 90 degree plus tempera- tures, and constant rivalets of sweat coursing down the body, atileast untiimext year: rr reese Autumn is school kids bundled in layers of clothing and toboggans with cut-out eyes; it is steaming cups of hot chocolate and the pungent odor of fresh baked gin- gerbread; Autumn is waking up late on Saturday moming entangled in a patchwork quilt, picced togeth- er by Grandmother years ago; or sitting in front of the fireplace with someone you love. Autumn is many things, but to people in this neck of © the woods, it represents-a-rekindling of the-spirit;a-sort of washing of the soul. One of the best things about living around here is the changing of the seasons, and autumn might be the most exhilarating season of all. Strike while the iron is hot The 1994 United Fund campaign got off to a rous- ing start when $21,958.38 in early-bird donations was reported at the campaign kick-off luncheon. That is, indeed, an impressive start, but it should be noted that initial enthusiasm for any drive or campaign tends to taper off after a rapid beginning. United Fund officials have set, as their goal this year, $121,500. Chairman Jay Rhodes hopes to com- plete the campaign by November 30, and he is confi- dent the goal will be reached by that date. There are 16 deserving local agencies that receive funds from the United Fund, and they all spend their time energy and money in an effort to help others. Citizens of Kings Mountain arc noted for their gen- erosity and giving attitude toward charitable causes in the past, and we are sure this year will be no different. We know we're all going to do our part, so why not just pitch in now and fill the fund to overflowing, be- fore the spark diminishes. GUEST COLUMN THOMAS GOOLSBY Carolina‘*Syndicated Columns | Opinions | Putting people out of jobs If burcaucrats at thc U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development have their way, many North Carolinians stand to losc their jobs and many more will be unable to afford to purchase a new "home." The latest assault on our state comes by way of pend- ing federal construction standards for "mobile homes," also known as "manufactured housing” and, jokingly, as "tornado magnets." Whether you like or disdain these modern-day "castles of the common man," the Tarheel state ranks number one in the nation in mobile home sales and number two in their manufacture. The pending federal rules will require that newly built mobile homes withstand winds up to 110 mph. This new "safety" standard comes with a high cost. The average mobile home runs almost $20. The new rules will raise the price anywhere from 25 to 50 per- cent. Such a tremendous price increase for low-end housing promises to escalate costs out of the "afford- able” range for most potential buyers. This means a loss of thousands of North Carolina jobs in the manu- facturing of mobile homes and related industries. It al- so means that the hope of buying one's piece of the American dream will be dashed for many. The government's reasoning behind the new con- struction standards is a popular one: public safety. The question that we all should be asking ourselves is, "Do we need big brother to step in and save us, yet again, from ourselves?" Mobile homes, depending on loca- tion, must currently be able to withstand 60 to 90 mph winds. The people who purchase these types of resi- dences, know, unless they haven't watched the news in the last 20 years, that mobile homes are not safe places in tornadoes and that they should clear out in high winds. How much must we "baby-sit" society? Are we all so use to Uncle Sam telling us what we can watch on TV, when we can retire from our jobs and how much of our income we can keep that we will even ac- cept rules preventing thousands of people from being able to afford their own “castles,” albeit manufactured housing? If insurance companies will continue to insure mo- bile homes and people wish to buy them, why must the government second-guess the marketplace? The reason is a simple one. The government must show us that it's doing. something with our tax dollars so we will keep sending them in. It is attempting to alleviate poverty by doing more than giving out the equivalent of "bribe money" and "Band-Aids?" Is it attempting to reduce crime by doing anything other than passing additional laws which simply make more things illegal? The an- swer is a resounding "NO." It's the difference between “rhetoric” and reality.” The rhetoric sounds great-let's protect people. In the case of the pending mobile homes regulations, the re- alities are lost jobs, the inability of the "little guy" to afford his own home and another blow to our ability to make of our lives what we wish, without the all power- ful state stepping in at every juncture by telling us what we can and can't do. In the end maybe we will £0 back to caves-that is if they meet federal "radon" gas levels. Your Right To Say It To the Editor: The answer to "closing the gap" in our school fund- ing and runaway DSS spending is right under our nose. It's just a personnel problem. The right people are in the wrong jobs! Switching two people will do the trick. Hoyt Bailey and Joyce Cashion should switch places. Hoyt Bailey has seen Cleveland County school funding drop like a rock. He complained but he also cracked the whip of budgetary restraint. He used his business experience to stretch school dollars. He re- quired his administration and education team to get the "mostest from the lcastest.”" Relative spending levels dropped off a cliff but test scores pretty much stayed the same. With morc money this team should soar. Joyce Cashion has been able to pump cash into the DSS by the bushel basket full. Much more than could be spent wisely. With so much cash floating around DSS the main focus and goal became just to spend it all. i That's why we must switch Bailey and Cashion. Bailey will reduce DSS spending to an cfficient level and still get the job done. Cashion will be happy as a hen in mud spending all Bailey's DSS savings to buy computers, raisc teachers salarics and buying other stuff we mostly need for schools anyway. Taxes won't ‘go up! Everyone will be happy and Hoyt and Joyce will be heroes!!! ‘Danny Barkley Lawndale To The Editor: Readers may be confused by a series of misleading advertisements which have appeared in North Carolina newspapers in recent weeks, claiming to clear up con- fusion about the various kinds of cye care providers. Unfortunately, the advertisements incorrectly sug- gest that optometrists, who are not medical doctors, arc capable of doing cyce surgery. Optometrists are well trained to fit glasses, but they are not medical doctors, and are not qualified by either training or experience 10 perform surgery or many aspects of diagnosis and treatment of eye diseases. Ophthalmologists are the medical doctors who are licensed and trained to provide all aspects of compre- hensive eye care, including surgery. We hope that readers will not be confused by mis- leading advertising which plays on the names of cye care providers whose names sound similar. Simply re- member that the name with the "Hs," the ophthalmolo- gists, are the medical doctors. Sincerely, H. Dunbar Hoskins, Jr.,, MD Executive Vice President American Academy of Ophthalmology To the Editor: There scems to be some question about hiring coun- ty employces that arc related to County Commissioners or DSS Board members or a combina- tion of both. The State Personnel Act and she Cleveland County Code are almost identical with re- gard to hiring of family members. Once you read the rules it's clear. They go like this. EMPLOYMENT OF RELATIVES (a) The employment of immediate family is to be avoided unless significant recruitment difficultics ex- ist. If fewer than three other available eligibles and it is necessary for relatives to be considered the following will apply: Two members of an immediate family shall not be employed if such employment will result where one member occupies a position which has influence over the other's employment, promotion, salary administra- tion and other related management or personnel con- siderations. (b) "Immediate Family" shall be understood to refer to a degree of closeness which would suggest problems might be created or that the public's philosophy of fair play in providing cqual employment would be violat- ed. This would include wife, husband, mother, father, brother, sister, son, daughter, grandmother, grandfa- ther, grandson and granddaughter. Also included are the step, half and in-law relationships of above listing. I believe county jobs should go to the best qualified. not just the best connected! What does the Cleveland County taxpayer think? Should the law apply to EV- ERY BODY or just you and me? Robert A. Williams Fallston To the Editor: This is a letter of deep appreciation for our police- men of Kings Mountain. First of all, policemen lay down their lives for us every day. Recently, we brought my sister, Anne Merritt, to our home for a visit. She is wheelchair-bound with Lou Gehrig's Discase. We arrived at Harris-Teeter nearing 10 p.m. Two officers followed us home to helpsget Anne into our home. Then, on the day we departed Kings Mountain, two officers came and helped us get her and her equipment into the car. When we left home we closed our garage. Our home was under surveillance by police for two weeks while we were away. On the moming following our return our door bell rang at 8 a.m. The officer saw our garage door open and stopped to check to see that all was well. Kings Mountain is fortunate to have such willing and caring policemen who take time for citizens far and beyond the call of duty. We appreciate you. Ellen and Broadus Elam Kings Mountain HERALD LETTER POLICY The Kings gon Herald welcomes your letters to the editor fOr publication in cach week's paper. We ask that you follow these guidelines: Keep your letters brief and to the point. Type and doublc space them, if possible. If not, write legibly and sign the letter in ink and include your full name, ad- dress and telephone number for verification purposes. Unsigned letters will not be published. The Herald reserves the right to edit letters for length, spelling, libel, slander, good taste, or any other reason; and reserves the right to reject any letter for any reason. Mail your letters to The Editor, P.O. Box 769, Kings Mountain, N.C. 28086. Hand-delivered letters will not be accepted. wg