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Life Enrichm
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VOL. 106 NO. 31
horse, assisted by her Mom, Patricia.
Brother and sister
battle rare disease
By ELIZABETH STEWART
of The Herald Staff ;
Theirs is a love story that warms the heart.
Billy Dean Byers Jr., 9, and his sister, Tabitha Rashae Byers, 5, are bat-
tling Battens disease, a rare genetic illness that struck the boy when he was
three and his sister when she was four.
Before that the only children
of Patricia and Billy Byers Sr. were
normal, happy, active kids. There
were no worries.
In August 1989, a month be-
| fore Tabitha was born, Billy Jr. was
| diagnosed at Duke Medical Center
with late infantile disease, a genetic
illness that at first resembled epilepsy
1 and began with seizures.
In 1993 Battens disease struck
Tabitha.
"Moms and Dads are expect-
ed to be able to fix any hurt but it
§ breaks our heart that we can't and we
‘| must keep our faith strong, although
{ it's hard not to question, why us?"
me es said the 32-year-old mother who
; . quickly learned that she could qualify
BILLY BYERS JR. J it an id cr Ay play-
mate, teacher, and homemaker all at the same time.
"We are so thankful to have our children and I am so thankful for my
wonderful, supportive husband," said Patricia of 37-year-old Bill Sr. "He
always knows what to do and say."
For sometime now the children have been homebound with a nurse visit-
ing monthly from Cleveland Home Health, regular, quarterly checkups at
Duke Hospital, and a homebound teacher. : .
Before Billy Jr.'s illness worsened, he attended a special school in
Shelby. In September Tabitha, who will be five August 27, will be tested
for school at Bethware but her mother may keep Tabitha at home. The
spunky little girl requires help to walk and often must be carried. Billy Jr.
is in a wheelchair and is fed through a tube.
Wanda Albea, the Byers’ next door neighbor, is a respite worker who
helps with "Beaker," the family's pet nickname for Billy, and "Peanut," the
family's pet name for Tabitha. She adores the children.
Peanut weighs 34 pounds and is a beautiful little girl with long auburn
hair in a pony tail who likes to wear red, carry big pocketbooks, eat maca-
roni and cheese and watch Barney and other cartoons.
If Minnie Mouse is nearly as nice in person as she is on TV, Peanut may
want to stay in Disney World next week when she makes the trip, compli-
ments of the Make A Wish Foundation.
Tabitha's room is filled with Minnie Mouse memorabilia, dolls, a rock-
ing horse and stuffed animals but her favorite spot in their comfortable
house on Plantation Drive is the family room in front of the television set
with her family. She is a Daddy's girl.
Beaker weighs 52 pounds and smiles and laughs at his sister. His bed-
wheelchair can be taken all over the house wherever the family is together.
In 1992 the Byers family went to Disney World for Sesame Street Live
and that was a happy time for them. Next week the whole family is going,
along with Mrs. Albea, to see Mickey and Minnie Mouse at Disney World.
They will be picked up by limousine and fly from Douglas Airport to
Orlando, Fla. on Monday for a week's vacation.
"This time we won't leave Peanut's security blanket behind,” said
Patricia about the first time they all went to Disney World. It took
three days to get that blanket mailed back to us and that was the longest
days of our lives. The baby cried and cried.”
See Disease, 10-A
Play time is happy time for Tabitha Byers, 5, on her favorite rocking
Thursday, August 4, 1994
Former officer to file lawsuit
GROVER - Fired Grover police
officer Robbie Sides said he will
file a lawsuit this week against the
Town of [Gara :
Grover, Police
Chief Paul
Cash, Mayor
Ronald Queen
and four mem-
bers of Town
Couneil.
Sides
said the papers
will be filed in
U.S. District
Court by his
attorney Rob Deaton by the end of
the week.
Sides claims his constitutional
rights were violated when Council
refused to give him a public name
clearing hearing and that he was
wrongfully discharged from his
job. He is also asking for relief
from "slanderous communications,
intentional and negligent infliction
of mental and emotional distress
and discrimination.”
Each of the five claims for relief
seeks in excess of $10,000 plus
Sides is seeking back wages, reim-
bursement of medical and dental
bills not covered in insurance and
payment of all attorney fees.
Sides is asking for a jury trial.
Sides was fired by Cash on
March 18 after what Cash called an
internal investigation into Sides’
role in a March high speed chase of
a man suspected of robbing and as-
saulting a cab driver at Cleveland
Mall parking lot. The chase ended
in a wreck that sent both men to
the hospital and totaled Grover's
police car.
A closed hearing into the firing
was conducted by Town Board
July 11. Council sided with the
Chief and voted unanimously not
to overturn the termination of
Sides.
The former officer is serving his
first term on Town Council.
Kings Mountain, NC 28086 « 50¢
Grover without a cop
Town Board terminates chief
GROVER - The Town Board
fired Police Chief Paul Cash
Monday after going behind closed
doors for 2 1/2
hours.
Mayor
Ronald Queen
said the board
voted 5-0 in
open session to
give Cash the
| option of sub-
I mitting a letter
me = of resignation to -
Queen but said
+ CASH Council wanted
him off the job Tuesday.
Reporters had already left the
meeting when Council reconvened
at 10:30 p.m. Council member and
former policeman Robbie Sides,
who was fired by Cash March 18,
said the Council had agreed to
keep the personnel matter among
themselves until Queen spoke with
Cash and informed him of the
board's decision.
City Councilman Jim Guyton, left, welcomes new City Manager Charles Nance and Mrs. Nance after
the City Council officially hired Nance Friday.
Da RE. a ae as
City Manager officially hired
PP
By ELIZABETH STEWART
of The Herald Staff
ing of City Council.
May," said Guyton.
Parsons.
visitors after the meeting.
| See Nance, 11-A
| Charles "Chuck" Nance, 34, was officially hired
Friday night as Kings Mountain's new City Manager at
annual salary of $46,000 at a special 6:30 p.m. meet-
The vote was 6-1. Councilman Jim Guyton cast the
lone dissenting vote because he objected to the
-Council's agreement with Nance that allowed him to
delay moving to Kings Mountain until May 1.
"We need him to be active in the community before
Council members Phil Hager and Norma Bridges
were absent but the minutes will record both voting af-
firmatively, according to Interim Manager Maxine
Mayor Scott Neisler called the meeting a momen-
tous occasion for the city and welcomed Nance and his
wife, Sheila, who greeted City Hall staffers and other
into.
In our own back yard
By ELIZABETH STEWART
of The Herald Staff
Apparently the best man for the job of Kings
Mountain City Manager in the eyes of City Council
was right here in the back yard of the city.
Charles "Chuck" Nance, 34, lives in neighboring
Spindale, a short drive from Kings Mountain.
"I appreciate the opportunity and I believe that we
can move positively and make our town work," said
Nance, after the special meeting at which Council
hired him Friday night,
Fielding questions from reporters, Nance declined
specific comment on Kings Mountain's recent political
and financial woes. He acknowledged that the city's fi-
nances were one of the first things he intended to look
See Back Yard, 11-A
Rescue boat docks after search for missing man at Moss Lake called
off Tuesday.
Queen, however, apprised
Tuesday of Open Meeting Laws by
reporters covering the meeting,
made the announcement of the ac-
tion taken by the board.
Queen said he talked with Cash
at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday and informed
him of the board's decision and
Cash offered but was denied to
work a 30-day notice.
Queen would give no reason for
the termination.
Cash was unavailable for com-
ment.
~ Cash has worked with the Town
of Grover for five years, after 20-
plus years in Mecklenburg County
law enforcement. He and his wife
have operated a karate and exercise
business in Grover for several
years.
Queen said that the town has
asked the county to provide law
enforcement until a new policeman
is hired.
School
Board
fo meet
Kings Mountain District Schools
will hoid a public hearing on its
proposed Policy JCD, Code of
Student Conduct, during Thursday
night's meeting of the Board of
Education at the Superintendent's
office.
The meeting begins at 7 p.m.
The policy deals with possession
of weapons on school campuses,
and the consequences of such ac-
tions. The Board heard first read-
ing of the proposed policy at last
month's meeting and will vote on
the policy following the public
hearing.
"We haven't heard much from
the community at all," said Supt.
Bob McRae. "But we want the
public to know that if they have
opinions about weapons on campus
and the consequences that this is
the last opportunity to speak before
the Board takes action.”
In a related matter, the Health
Council will recommend that the
Board approve an at-large repre-
sentative as well as two non-voting
students members to the council.
Other agenda matters Thursday
include:
MW A report from Barbara Long,
representing the Substance Abuse
Task Force of the United Way of
Cleveland County, including rec-
ommendations for addressing sub-
stance abuse problems in the coun-
ty.
Mm A presentation by Tom Sees
regarding the Family Life curricu-
lum.
HM An update on the renovation
of Central School and a recommen-
dation that it be declared a smoke-
free facility.
BM Numerous student transfer re-
quests and personnel items,
Missing man a wanted man
Kings Mountain Police have
ruled out foul play in the disap-
pearance of Waco contractor
Edward Warlick White. 45. but
would not confirm rumors that his
suspected drowning in Moss Lake
Monday could be a hoax.
Goforth said White was wanted
on federal warrants for failure to
surrender to authorities and was (0
report to Butner Correctional
Institute at noon Monday to begin
an active 20-year sentence for con
tinuing criminal enterprise, illicit
drug sale and money laundering
Goforth called off the official
search Tuesday at 8:30 p.m
Wednesday morning Gotorth
and a US. Marshal flew over the
lake to spot-check the area tor the
missing man.
White's fishing boat was found
Monday at 6:45 a.m. by a caller
who saw a boat with its lights on
floating unattended in the middle
of the lake pear the main boat
launch on Camp Creek Church
Road.
White's truck was found in the
parking lot at the lake with the
Kevs on the dashboard. officers
sad
More than 75 volunteers joined
focal officers to search the lake
Monday and Tuesday
Goforth said that when police ar
rived on the scene they found a
boat unoccupied with the ignition
See Search, 12-4