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Thursday, October 19, 1995 - THE KINGS MOUNTAIN HERALD - Page 1B
Opinions
JIM
HEFFNER
Guest Columnist
Spreading a little sunshine
It is truly written, you're never too old to learn.
I just found out that radio and television stations must
carry political advertising for people who are running for
national office. It’s the law. They do not, however have
to run advertising for local and state elections, and some
of them have chosen not to do so.
I was listening to a moming cultural radio program,
“John Boy and Billy,” on WRFX over in the world class
city, and their commentator, Robert D. Raiford, talked
- about political advertising.
Raiford, who calls himself a curmudgeon at large, at
least I think he still does, brought up several good points.
One of them is that you can’t really get much of a mes-
sage across in 30 seconds.
But back to the federal law. Not only must stations ac-
cept political ads, but they must run them at the lowest
rate. That's why some radio stations are refusing to carry
advertising for local elections. It seems the lowest rate
rule also applies to local ads.
Mr. Raiford came out against political advertising, but
- we part company on that score. I think we ought to en-
courage as many political ads as possible. That’s the only
way we can tell how ignorant the candidates are. Besides
that, maybe they’ll run out of money and quit.’
I don’t know about you but I can hardly wait until next
year when the national elections get cranked up.
All the presidential candidates will be telling us how
wonderful they are, and how, if elected, they will make
our lives better, reduce the deficit, stop the spread of crime
(except among themselves), do away with broccoli, pro-
vide a middle-income tax cut, eliminate burnt toast, fix
our plumbing, groom our pets, patch our overalls, wash
our windows, etc. Senatorial candidates will promise that
and more. I guess you're beginning to see what fun we’re
all in for.
It really is amazing that a political candidate will spend
- millions on TV advertising to acquire a job that pays
$130,000. Somehow, all of that doesn’t add up.
Stop and think about it. The only thing that can happen
in a 30-second TV spot is the candidate can show his
: picture, usually standing in a field with his sleeves rolled
- up and his coat thrown across his back, talking to an ac-
tor posing as a farmer, or he can give you 30 seconds of
swill about his opponent’s deviant sexual habits, how he
~ evades taxes or how he will surely do everything within
his power to eliminate social security.
I guess about the dumbest political ad I ever saw was
the one with Michael Dukakis riding in a tank wearing a
helmet that appeared to be three sizes too large. That ad
probably killed any chance Dukakis had of winning the
presidency.
Another good advertising gimmick was the bottles of
gold-colored water (called, What else? Goldwater) Barry
Goldwater’s people gave out when he ran against Lyndon
Johnson in 1964. Goldwater ’s campaign slogan was, “In
your heart, you know he’s right.”
The Democrats made hay with that one. They published
ads about the gold-colored water with something like,
“In your heart, you know it’s ginger ale.”
By the way, what is a middle-income taxpayer? When
I'was making very little money, the term applied to me,
and when I finally began to make pretty good money,
during the early ‘80s, I was still considered middle-in-
come. I make less today than I made in the 80’s, but some-
how I'm still numbered among the middle income group.
I'want to get past that stumbling block. What is the next
step?
Oh well, it’s coming again in about a year, another na-
tional election. We'll all be tearing our hair out. The only
people who are going to make out are the radio station
owners who plan to turn down local ads, for the more
profitable business ads.
Who can blame them?
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Mary Ann will always
be special little girl
Grieving, shocked Kings Mountain parents are ask-
ing for prayer to help them strengthen their faith in the
tragic death of their only child and second daughter to
die in an automobile accident in the last five years.
Everette and Doris Hope Grigg said the sunshine
went out of their lives Saturday morning when Mary
Ann Grigg Long, 34, died of injuries sustained in an
accident on I-77 near Paramount Carowinds.
The tragedy is the fourth death in the Grigg family
from automobile accidents. Grigg's mother died in a
tragic wreck some years ago that took four lives. The
older daughter, Cindy Berry, died in 1990 in a head-on
crash near her home in the Long Creek Community;
and Doris Grigg's brother, Jerry Hope, also lost his
life in a fatality.
"Mary Ann called me Wednesday and was sharing
the good news that she would soon be helping open up
a deli restaurant at Myrtle Beach, SC for River Rat
Restaurant and was happy that she would be able to
take her children on some of the trips," said Mrs.
Grigg. EL
Long was already working two jobs at the South * *
Carolina restaurant and had been working since July at”
a new deli opened by Ron Cauble; 28, of 3621 Union
Road in Gastonia, on South Tryon Street in Charlotte.
"She was excited," said Mrs. Grigg.
Mrs. Long moved to Lake Wylie over a year ago
and was renting a mobile home a short distance from
her job. Her family said she looked forward to week-
ends with her three boys on the lake.
But Mrs. Long and her employer Ron Cauble's
dreams for the restaurant business ended Saturday
when Cauble's Honda was apparently struck head-on
by a driver going the wrong way on the interstate near
Paramount Carowinds.
According to police, a car driven by Ronald
Shannon Hough, 27, of Rock Hill, SC, struck Cauble's
southbound Honda and sent it crashing into a delivery
truck. Cauble died at the scene. Grigg died at
Carolinas Medical Center. Hough is in intensive care
unit at Carolinas Medical Center.
Everette Grigg, a longtime maintenance employee at
Kings Mountain High School, recalled fond memories
of his pretty daughter, a devoted mother to three small
boys ages 4-8.
Lib Stewart
News Editor
"Mary Ann was the independent member of the
family and she and her olde sister, Cindy, were very
close and Mary Ann loved Cindy's two boys and was
so devoted to her own children," said Doris, who re-
called many happy family times with both young fami-
lies.
- "It was such a shock and seems so unreal to us,"
said Mrs. Grigg.
Mary Ann's love for life and her outgoing personali-
tyumade her popular with the customers at the South
¢
“Carolina restaurant, said her family.
"She will always be our special little girl," said
Grigg.
Mrs. Grigg says they don't question God but the
continued support of the many friends means "the
world to us."
2
EVERETTE, MARY ANN AND DORIS GRIGG
Your Right To Say It
Bob McRae
Superintendent
Kings Mountain Schools
Communicate with schools
Today marks the end of the first nine weeks of the
school year. Report cards will be issued soon. Parents
are soon encouraged to check grades carefully and re-
inforce the need for a solid effort with their children.
Elementary schools are conducting special conference
days for parents. Our goal is to have face-to-face con-
ferences with the parents of all elementary grades chil-
dren during this time. There is no substitute for good
home-school communications concerning the progress
of our students. If you are not already aware of the
schedule for parent conferences, call your school im-
mediately to inquire.
A special reminder is needed for parents of high
school students. We are now one-half way through the
first semester. This means that your children are one-
half way through the first four courses they will take
this year under the new block scheduling concept.
Please review your student's grades very carefully and
contact appropriate teaches for a conference if you
have concerns. This date is equivalent to what has
usually taken place in mid-January. Don't neglect to
remind your students of that fact.
Do not forget the emphasis on regular attendance for
this year at all grades. Our teachers cannot be expect-
ed to successfully teach children who are irregular in
attendance. Unless your child has had a serious ill-
ness, e or she should not have missed more than a
handful of days thus far. If this is becoming a prob-
lem, put an end to it now.
And by the way, high school parents, there is no
such thing as a school approved senior skip day - nev-
er has been. This is a very juvenile practice that
should never be condoned by a parent. If you support
your child n such an activity, you are not only being
unfair to the school, you are also making a clear state-
ment to your child about the way you view the impor-
tance of his or her education. What kind of statement
do you want your child to see from you?
Next week we will host our annual appreciation
meal for PTO officers and Parent Advisory Council
members. Each school has two representatives on our
Parent Advisory Council. The group meets wit me 2-3
times per year to help me gain parent's perspective on
school system matters. If you do not know who repre-
sents your school(s) on the Council, the school office
should be able to let you know. Iam sure they would
be glad to talk with you if you have matters you would
like for them to place on our meeting agenda
As winter approaches let me remind you of the need
to be attentive to school schedules on days when we
have inclement weather. While we are not usually
bothered by snow and ice until after Christmas vaca-
tion, it is not too-early to call your attention to our pro-
cess of altering school schedules. We try to make a
decision for delaying or canceling school no late than
6 a.m. on the day in questidn. While we put the an-
nouncements on a variety of radio and television sta-
tions, I always encourage our citizens to listen to
WKMT, AM 1220, for accurate information. I usually
talk directly with the radio station and find them to be
the most accurate source of information to you.
Our current school calendar has already established
make-up days for days missed due to bad weather.
They are set in such a way that the last day of school,
| May 31, will not be changed. However, you should
take note of the make-up days. Plans for trips and the
like for those days should not be irreversible as we
will have school should other days be canceled due to
weather problems. Make-up days, in order of use, are
scheduled for February 26, March 22, April 12, April
11, and April 10.
I am really pleased with the job our schools are do-
ing this year. Our people can do incredible things if
they have your support. Keep attuned to what is going
on in the school(s), call your school(s) whenever you
have a need, and help us keep moving forward.
Excellence is no accident!
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To The Editor:
We at the First Church of the Nazarene in Kings
Mountain feel that our wonderful Lord really blessed
us when we got our pastor Rev. Robert pulkkinen and
his family. We got a pastor and his wife Marge who
plays the organ, and when needed the piano. She di-
rects our choir. Marge has a beautiful singing voice
and she blesses us with special songs. She also sings
with the Ladies Trio.
They have a daughter Bethany, and she is also gifted
with a beautiful voice. She attends Olivat Nazarene
College. When she is at home for summer visits and
holidays we have the pleasure of hearing her, too.
Pastor Bob, as he is affectionately called, is one of
the most compassionate persons I have ever had the
pleasure of knowing.
Not only is he a wonderful shepherd to our flock,
but when a special need arises, such as sickness or
death, or problems, you can always know he will be
there.
I have known of him visiting and spending hours in
the hospital and homes with families who are not
members of the Nazarene Church, but if he is aware of
the need, he is always there. Now if that isn't love, and
doing the will of God, then I do not know what is.
First Church of Nazarene appreciates Pastor Bob
He prays for our needs and the needs of others. He
also puts legs on his prayers.
Pastor Bob, we thank God for you and your wonder-
ful family. May God continue to bless you and give
you the strength to do the many things you do for our
church and the community.
We love and appreciate you.
If anyone reads this, who does not have a church
home, we would love for you to come and visit us at
the First Church of the Nazarene, 405 South Cherokee
St., Kings Mountain.
Dot Fletcher
Let God be captain of your soul
The captain of the ship looked into the dark night
and saw faint lights in the distance. Immediately he
told his signalman to send a message: "Alter your
course to 10 degrees south." "
Promptly a return message was received: "Alter
your course 10 degrees north."
The captain was angered; his command had been ig-
nored. So he sent a second message: "Alter your
course 10 degrees south = I am the captain!"
Soon another message was received: "Alter your
course 10 degrees north - I am a seaman third class!"
Immediately the captain sent a third message, know-
ing the fear it would evoke: "Alter your course 10 de-
grees south - this is a battleship."
Then the reply came: "Alter your course 10 degrees
north - this is a lighthouse."
I have both read this story and heard it sung to mu-
sic, and its message is important for all of us: every-
one needs a point of reference, and everyone needs to
pay attention to those reference points.
Every human being desires to be captain of their
REFLECTIONS ON
RELIGION AND LIFE
Rev. Harold Schwantes
Pastor
Central United Methodist Church
L KINGS MOUNTAIN , NC
own soul. "I want to do what I want to do when I want
to do it" is a human quality as any I know.
Unfortunately, living with this attitude can put us on
the rocks of the shore as quickly as anything I know.
So much of the trouble in our society today revolves
around this single issue.
Every human being needs to be brought to submis-
sion to basic reference points in life, lest they smash
their lives (and others as well) on the rocky shores.
And those reference points need to be established and
firm. Years ago, I had a farmer friend in Iowa who
would plow fields all night long when the weather was
right. I asked how he could keep his furrows straight
in the dark. He said he would find a light on the hori-
zon and use it to guide his tractor. That worked fine.
except for the night he realized too late that the refer-
ence light he had chosen was a moving vehicle.
One of the teachings about the God of the Judeo-
Christian faith is that God is a fixed point for life.
There is o turning or change in who God is. Further.
the word of our God stands forever. That is good news
when we are looking for something in life that we can
truly count on. It is unly bad news when we want to
be captain of our own souls and sail contrary (0 the
reference points. E. Stanley Jones once said. "You
cannot break the Ten Commandments. You can only
break your life on them."
With dependable reference points and with hearts
willing to follow their guidance, together we can steer
a course to fulfillment in our own lives, in our fami-
lies, and in our community.
Ef WE SRR