Black teenager fought in
Battle of Kings Mountain
Member
North Carolina Press Association
Vol. 108 No. 9
Council
begins gas
expansion
City Council awarded the first
contract for labor in Phase I of a
major gas expansion project to
M&R Utilities at $175,425
Tuesday night.
Prior to letting the bid Council
heard a progress report by Utilities
Supt. Jimmy Maney who reported
that a survey of the expansion area
revealed that 155 people want to
sign up as quickly as possible for
natural gas. However, Maney said
that only eight potential customers
responded to the door-to-door sur-
vey in the Midpines Community
and this may mean that this area
may be excluded until a later ex-
pansion.
Maney said that the bids for the
initial work were competitive.
Other bidders were Appling
Boring, $179,760; A&L
Underground, $188,335; Hall
Contracting, $215,560; and
Edwards Pipeline, $230,281.
"We will go as far as we can
with the money available for ex-
pansion," said Maney.
Councilman Ralph Grindstaff,
who had requested the survey of
the expansion area, asked if the
city could break-even on the costs
with 155 positive customers.
Maney said the payback for 155
customers would be in about six
years but he said he anticipated
that. more people would sign on.
He said city workers called at 386
homes and of this group 61 were
not interested in buying city gas,
78 were uncertain and 92 others
were not at home.
"We have about 40 percent of
the area committed which runs
from the White Plains area almost
to Bethlehem Estates," said Maney.
The board okayed the spending
$302,000 including operating
needs which would bring the gas
department into state compliance.
This would include additional per-
sonnel for the remainder of the
1995-96 year; contract labor to re-
pair leaks and valves before road
paving gets underway; $45,000 for
a trencher and boring unit and
$9,000 for a computer and plotter
for mapping.
In other actions, Council:
Authorized Public Works Supt. ,
Karl Moss to proceed with paving
of 30 streets with Powell Bill
monies using a prioritized list and
$72,000 additionally for sidewalks
on Cansler Street. Moss said wa-
ter/sewer and gas department
crews will need to do some work
on leak repairs, valves, etc. before
the paving gets underway. Council
authorized the purchase of a truck
with dump bed at cost of $45,000
and a 3/4 ton pickup truck at cost
of $15,000 from Powell Bill funds.
See Contract, 2-A
UP A TREE - Larry Watts of Denton's Tree Service trims huge oak
trees in the lawn of First Presbyterian Church. The trees, estimated at
between 75 and 100 years old, were damaged during the recent ice
storm.
A six-member committee was
formed Thursday by a newly-orga-
nized Kings Mountain Business
Association to formalize a mission
statement and serve as the nomi-
nating committee for new officers
to be elected March 19.
Joe Smith, Darrell Austin, Gary
Cook, Kathy Neilly, Linda Allen
and Amy Smith were chosen by
the 15 people who attended the
first meeting at Ashley's on
Railroad Avenue.
"I'm tickled to death that some-
one's doing this," said Joe Smith,
who is associated with Foust
Textiles.
Two new business owners,
McNeilly of Hope Chest Interiors
and Allen of Ashley's, sponsored
the meeting and sent out 68 letters
last week to local merchants and
businessmen and women inviting
them to attend. Both Allen and
McNeilly said they were pleased
with the response.
During ‘the meeting the group
agreed that the promotion of Kings
Mountain businesses and increased
shopping at home will be goals.
Thursday, February 29, 1996
| the recent loss of revenue by the closing of Clevemont
3
Mountaineers getting
ready for baseball season
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Since 1889
Kings Mountain, N.C. 28086 * 50¢
City takes first step
toward major annexation
A major annexation plan which will take in 758
acres, 150 people and Firestone and major industries
got the go-ahead by City Council Tuesday night which
set public hearing for May 14.
The effective date to begin rolling services is 13
months away after the city passes an ordinance, June
30, 1997, with June 30, 1999 targeted as the comple-
tion of Phase I of the utilities construction.
Richard Flowe of Benchmark Inc. said the step by
the board initiates the formal procedure and opens "the
window of opportunity for Kings Mountain."
In addition to the Firestone Fibers and Textile Plant
and other industries along the Kings Mountain
Highway interchange, the annexation would include
the Sara Lee plant off N. C. 161 and Bali, Commercial
Intertech and South textile plants on Canterbury Road.
A total of 17 businesses, including nine on the
Canterbury Road area and eight on Second Street and
Kings Mountain Industrial Park, are included.
The annexation would bring in more than $29 mil-
lion in property worth more than $100,000 per year in
property taxes to the city.
Council was enthusiastic about the proposals.
Councilman Rick Murphrey asked if there was a way
to expedite the schedule to move faster.
"We have always felt that these areas were a part of
Kings Mountain," said Mayor Scott Neisler.
a happy man.
wa
Fired city employee
to get his job back
Former fired city employee Franklin Brackett, 60, is
He sued the city to get his job back and an out-of-
court settlement
reached between the city and
| Brackett will return
| him to work and give
| him a cash settlement.
City Personnel
Director Bud Rhea
confirmed Wednesday
that Brackett will be
offered a job with the
city as soon as one be-
comes available for
which he is qualified.
Brackett filed a
suit against the city al-
leging that his freedom
of speech was violated
after he was fired from
the Public Works
The city is moving to overcome money shortfalls,
Mills and the forthcoming loss of revenue by new wa-
ter recycling procedures underway at the Spectrum
Industries, the city's largest user of water and natural
gas.
The city will probably vote to annex the two areas
as soon as 10 days after the public hearing.
BRACKETT
was offered a job by the city this week as a garbage
puller but he turned it down.
"I have been told that as soon as another job comes
open that I will given the first choice and will be paid:
my former salary," he said.
City Council went into closed session at 9:15 p.m.
The annexation study prepared by Benchmark Inc.
had indicated earlier that the annexation would be a
geod move for the city.
See Annexation; 3-A
"We've got to get that small
town pride back," said Stella
Putnam of Neisler Brothers. "It's
hard to get people in this town to,
realize what's here."
Putnam suggested that all mem-
bers of the new group make a com-
mitment to visit each other and
send customers to the various
stores.
Amy Smith, who just opened
Secret Garden on East King Street,
said she was impressed with the
friendliness of this town. Smith
and her husband will host the
Tuesday to discuss a personnel matter, reportedly in-
volving Brackett, but Mayor Scott Neisler announced
that no action was taken.
See Brackett. 3-A
Department in 1991.
Brackett said he
March 19 meeting of the group at 7
p.m.
But Shirley Allen, a longtime
resident and owner of Christmas
Emporium, warned that it took her
new business at least six years to
get up and going.
"Just don't give up. You are right
on track and I support you," she
said.
Jeannie Moore, executive direc-
tor of the Kings Mountain
Chamber, was enthusiastic about
the new venture to attract business
to the community.
Moss Lake Commission to study fee
Roof repair bids too high
The old post office roof may not
be replaced by City Council in the
near future.
Bids came back higher than the
$14,000 figure Council budgeted in
November to make the repairs and
now Council, by vote of 4-3
Tuesday night, is authorizing the
city manager to talk with members
of the Kings Mountain Historical
Association in the hopes that grant
money can be used to help fix it.
Both interim city manager Gary
Hicks and Councilman Ralph
Grindstaff said the city had more
critical priorities.
"We have a leaking roof at Moss
Lake and we had to borrow money
to repair the Police Department
and we have just inherited a bunch
of problems since the city gave the
See Post Office, 2-A
New Kings Mountain police otficers were administered the oath of office during a ceremony Thursday
afternoon at City Hall. Pictured, front row; left to right, are Police Chief Bob Hayes, Mayor Scott Neisler,
and new officers Penny Fulton and Scott Daves. Back row, new officers Tony Reeves, Mike Kahn, Brent
Harp and Jimmy Buff.
A proposal by the city staff to
increase fees at Moss Lake for the
1996-97 year was referred to Moss
Lake Commission for further study
Tuesday after Mayor Scott Neisler
was joined by several Council
members in questioning the in-
crease particularly for fishermen
and boaters which the mayor
termed "excessive."
Finance Director Maxine
Parsons proposed that the family
plan, which covers land lease,
boating, and fishing permits, pier
and ramp, be increased from $200
to $300; the land lease fee from
$150 to $250; pier dock fees from
$25 to $50, ramp and pump permit
renewal, all from $25 to $50, boat
permit for outside residents from
$25 to $50, fishing permits for
outside residents from $30 to $50,
fishing permits from $10 to $25
and guest fishing permits from $10
to $25. Inside city residents would
pay half the permit costs.
The Moss Lake Commission
heard a proposal from Parsons at
the recent meeting and voted unan-
imously to look at it further before
Business association is off and running
"There is no limit to what can be
accomplished if we all work to-
gether and don't care who gets the=
credit,” she said.
Neely, of Grover, said shez
moved her business to Kings=
Mountain because of the town's=
charm and character and its poten-=
tial to attract a thriving business.=
She called for business owners to=
work at getting "that small town=
feeling back." :
Amy Smith suggested that the=
See‘Business 2-A
increase
making a recommendation to
Council.
The city last raised the annual
lease fee $25 on March 7, 1994 for
the 1994-95 fiscal year.
In a related action, Council ap-
proved the fiscal year change for
Moss Lake to make the 1996-97
fiscal year run 14 months from
May 1, 1996 to June 30, 1997 to
coincide with the City's fiscal year.
Parsons said that the invoices need
to go out April 1 and statements
printed if the new changes are to
go into effect in May.
Bithdays...................-.
Church News..............
Classifieds...............
sesnsssssesssanases
sessesessssassenaasasns
sessssesnsssnssesnensnns
Schools...........ione
Senior Citizens............
1 Cooler today with highs
near 50. Turning colder
tonight. Chance of freezing
rain Friday and Saturday.
Kings Mountain High students fill the stage for a rehearsal of
"You Ain't Nothing But a Hound Dog," one of the nine dance num-
bers from the hit musical ''Grease' which will be presented this
weekend at B.N. Barnes Auditorium. See story and another picture
on page 6-B