Newspapers / The Kings Mountain Herald … / Oct. 17, 1996, edition 1 / Page 1
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lois et Suh Poi, febighsta Bums ity North Carolina Press Association Vol. 108 No. 41 N.C. House candidates discus § the issues Gndidates | discuss the issues | Wy, Sy, NY ht - S23 _— S Vo. [ Thursday, October 17, 1996 in the First Carolina Feder Savings Bank Football Contest Kings Mountain, N.C. » 28086 « 50¢ Commissioners take option on three parcels of property Cleveland County Commissioners, meeting at a public hearing set for last night and involving the future industrial park, voted 4-2 in favor of a $1 a month option for purchase for three pieces of property for the next 120 days. The first site is lo- cated west of NC 226 on Polkville Rd., the second located near Kings Mountain and owned by Plonk family heirs just off of the US 74 bypass and west of US 74, and the third being located south of the US 74 bypass and west of US 74 and owned by the McSwain family heirs. Costs for obtaining the options is estimated at $1 per property. Also, engineering and environ- mental costs are to be incurred at an estimated cost of $18,440 for property 1, $14,615 for proper- ty 2, and $2,000 for property 3. Commissioners fielded comments from the standing room only audience for almost two hours before coming to a final decision. Chairman Cecil Dickson made clear at the be- ginning of the hearing that the commissioners would not hear any comments about a site for the park, stating, "We are not here to discuss one site over another, rather a $1 a month option for prop- erty over the next 120 days." Dickson said that future meetings would be a possibility. Most of those addressing the commissioners were well in favor of having new industry com- ing to Cleveland County, however, the audience seemed to be split on ways to finance the new park. : Ed Hamrick, owner of Hamrick Properties, was one of those in favor, saying, "I'm in favor 100 percent for the industrial park for the benefit of Cleveland County." However, Hamrick was also in favor of financ- ing the sites without having to collect extra tax dollars from the citizens of Cleveland County. He offered ideas such as seeking not-for-profit orga- nizations to sell the properties to or the issuing of shares of stock. "I wish we would look at all the methods of finance," he said. ~ Danny Hawkins, a Cleveland County resident for 24 years now, was also in favor and stated that he would do his fair share in bringing industry to the County. "I have paid my taxes and will con- tinue to pay my taxes. I encourage you to pro- ceed in finding ways to bring the park here. Ien- courage the studies and the expanding and I encourage having the systems here. Someone has to pay the bill, and I plan to be one of those and pay my part." Hawkins was equally supported by Brownie Plaster, a resident of 26 years, who stated, "Competition makes the rules. You cannot play ball without the equipment. And we do not have a ballpark." Plaster said the park was a "bold step for the future." One other in favor of the park, Bobby Maner, said, "There's industrial development going on Hinson Ledford's secrets of longevity. Mrs. Ledford celebrated her 90th birthday October 5. Sunday she worshiped with over 25 members of her family in her regular pew at Oak View Baptist Church at a special birthday tribute by her church family. The Kings Mountain woman never misses a Sunday morning church service if she can help it. "Church has always been important to me and it was important to my late husband I. W. Ledford," said Mrs. Ledford who relaxed with her daughter, Inez Worthan, on a recent afternoon at her home on York Road and enjoyed birthday cards from friends and received red roses from Ruth Ledford is 90 and still on the go Loving the Lord and working hard are Ruth the spooling room. That's where she met her hus- band, a mechanic, when he'came by to do some work on a spooler. She was 14 and at 15 she be- came the bride of 25-year-old Ledford and they started raising a family., : Mrs. Ledford recalled that mill wages were $8.75 for a 40-hour week but the money seemed to go further in those days. Her main goal in life was to raise nine fine chil- dren. She lost two children to death as babies and later death claimed two grown children. The fam- ily includes Worthan of Douglasville, Ga., Jack Ledford of Charlotte, Betty Henderson of Morganton, Edward Ledford of Charleston, SC and Jerry Ledford of Rome, Ga. There are 18 everywhere except Cleveland County." He re- layed to the audience a story concerning Mooresville and how they built a 450 acre park that increased the town's tax base by $30 million dollars. Those in favor of the park, but not in favor of tax dollars being used to build the park were adamant in their pleas, though. Lem Cochran of Boiling Springs said that he was all for industry, “but said, "If you were thinking about using tax dollars, I'd be the first one to vote you down." He also called the possibility of placing the new park in the Bethware Community "political suicide." "I'm not opposed to an industrial park, except in one instance, my tax dollars," said J.B. Brackett of Lawndale. Brackett said that he felt if they re- ally wanted to, the people of Cleveland County could make it on their own, like he did as young man. "They just need to get out there and do it. Why take my hard earned tax dollars," he asked. KM Schools to allow neighbors. ids The City of Kings Mountain will save $367,000 as the result of a refunding transaction with the state following the sale of $7.075 million in bonds. State Treasurer Harlan E. Boyles this week awarded the bonds to First Union Capital Markets Corporation and First National Bank of Cleveland County who submitted the most favorable bid, resulting in a true interest cost to the city of 4.9627 percent. Ground broken ~ for Alexander Business Park Mayor Scott Neisler, City Manager Jimmy Maney and Cleveland Chamber official Franklin Mabry welcomed Alexander Business Park to Kings Mountain Friday at groundbreaking ceremonies at- tended by a large crowd of local business people and neighbors of the proposed facility. "Businesses like Alexander Park will open up this business corridor even more and revital- ize downtown Kings Mountain," the mayor said. Ruby and Charles Alexander plan to build a $600,000 two- story facility that will house four large office suites facing East Gold Street and six small offices with a reception area fac- ing City Hall on Regal Drive. Alexander Realty, Alexander- Pace Tax and Accounting, Creative Dimensions and Regal Ventures Creative Ministries will occupy the suites of offices on the second floor. Estimated completion date is Spring 1997. J. W. McGinnis is architect and T. G. Strickland is general contractor. Both are of Shelby. Participating in the ground- breaking were the Alexanders two children: Rev. Reg Alexander and his wife, Deco; and Cindy Alexander Wood. Reg Alexander gave the prayer of dedication in which he thanked God for the vision of his parents in undertaking the ~project and for the people of Kings Mountain who encour- aged their vision for progress. 4 A homemaker, Mrs. Ledford relishes that role. 77 /| She said she worked briefly at the Cora Mill in bonds will City Manager Jimmy Maney said the bonds will be general obligations of the city, unlimit- ed taxing power pledged, and are being issued to achieve debt service savings on two issues of Kings Mountain outstanding public utility bonds issued September 1, 1989 and March 1, 1991 at net interest costs of 6.7149 percent and 6.5276 per- cent, respectively. The proceeds to be received from the sale of the bonds will be applied to the purchase of certain obligations grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren. See Ledford, 10- is “save Kings Mountain $367,000 unconditionally guaranteed by the United States of America. Maney said interim finance director Dan Stone will struc- ture the obligations to be pur- chased in order that such obli- gations will bear interest and mature at such times and in such amounts so that sufficient monies will be available to pay when due all principal of and interest and premium of the bonds to be refunded. He said the obligations will be held in EDEORD trust by an escrow agent bank for the benefit of the owners of the outstanding bonds. Treasurer Boyles extended congratulations to city officials on the successful results of the sale in a letter to Mayor Scott Neisler and Maney. Other bidders were Wachovia Bank of North Carolina, 5.0352 percent, Interstate/ Johnson Lane Corp 5.0699 percent; and Legg Mason Wood Walker Inc., 5.0850 percent. student drug survey Student View, a drug preven- tion effectiveness survey, will be offered to students in grades 6- 12 in November following ap- proval by the Kings Mountain Health Council and on Monday night by the Kings Mountain Board of Education. Patsy Rountree, the system's food service and health coordi- nator, said several questions sensi- GROUNDBREAKING - Alexander Business Park held groundbreaking for a $600,000 facility Friday. From left, Cindy Alexander Wood, Deco and Reg Alexander, Mayor Scott Neisler, Charles and Ruby Alexander, City Manager Jimmy Maney and Cleveland Chamber official Franklin Mabry. Kings Mountain People Substance Abuse Task had recommended to Kings Mountain, Shelby and Cleveland County Schools. Rountree said parents can re- view the survey at the middle and high schools and that stu- dents can be opted out of the program by their parents. "Answering questions on the survey is voluntary and stu- dents may choose not to answer or skip any question that makes them uncomfortable," Rountree said. "This is not a test and no stu- dent's name will be on the sur- vey and no one will know the individual student's answers. The answers will be counted along with the answers of other students to help us understand more about the experience and feelings of students in this age group and we will appreciate their honesty and helpfulness," she said. Based on the results, drug prevention programs in the schools and community may be restructured. The survey will take about 20 minutes to complete and is pro- duced by the Minnesota-based Johnson Institute. The $13,000 cost for adminis- tration and data compilation has been secured with a grant from Carolinas Medical Center. Confidentiality is assured and letters gong out to parents will say that the student's name will not be on the survey and no one will know a particular student's answers. The school Force will only receive a report on group results. "The kind of data will help determine if what we are doing now is effective or should be approached from a different di- rection," Rountree said at last month's board of education meeting when the board tabled the vote until after a review by the Health Council. The Cleveland: County Here are some sample ques- tions: Do you like yourself: not at all, hardly ever, sometimes, most of the time, always. Do you fit in well with most other people your age? not at all, hardly ever, sometimes, most of the time, always. Do you have trouble doing things right? not at all, hardly ever, sometimes, most of the time, always On how many occasions have you had alcoholic beverages to drink, beer, wine, wine cooler or liquor? zero occasions, 1-2 occasions, 3-5 occasions, 6 to 9 occasions, 10 to 10 occasions; 20 or more occasions and during the past 30 days? Have you ever received med- ical care from a doctor, clinic or hospital after drinking alcohol or using other drugs? no, once, more than once During the past 12 months how many times have you driv- en a car, truck, motorcycle or other motor vehicle after drink- °° ing alcohol or using other drugs? never, once or twice, 3 to 5 times, 6 to 9 times, 10 times ore more. Have you had any of ‘the fol- lowing drugs during the past 30 days? Do not count the drug if it was prescribed by a doctor and you took it according to the - directions? barbiturates, tran- quilizers, heroin or other nar- cotics, steroids or anabolic steroids, answer no or yes Farming and carrying the mail kept Edwin Moore busy J. Edwin Moore's mailman job was almost letter-perfect. For 47 years he was a tempo- rary and/or substitute rural mail carrier for the U. S. Postal Service in Kings Mountain and juggled that job with running a dairy farm for 40 years and farming cotton crops in the Oak Grove Community. Moore, 82, reminisced this week about his postal service which coincidentally is during the 100-year anniversary of Rural Free Delivery. He has carried the mail over muddy roads and snow long before the roads were ever paved in the rural section of the community. His car had flat tires, he ran out of gas one time and in winter time the ruts on the roads were so deep that it was trouble with a capital T if he met a car. "Cars were hard to come by back in 1943 and sometimes when another postman broke down on his route I had to go get him," said Moore, who bought his new '43 model from W. Gurney Grantham at the old Chevrolet Place with the down payment of a country ham from the Moore farm. Moore covered 75 miles on his route and usually for a buck's worth of gasoline. Gas in 1943-44 went for 18-24 cents a gallon. He delivered just about everything from letters to mag- azines to packages. Normally Moore would be singing along with the music on his radio which he kept going all the time. He dodged dogs and once in a while there were some perks though. He pulled up to mailboxes on Route 1 and Route 4 to find people wanting to buy stamps who also offered him cake and coffee. Moore was hired by the late W. E. Blakely in 1942 and in lat- er years also worked for Postmasters Charles Alexander, Fred Weaver and Mike Howard. A first class postage stamp sold for 3 cents and postcards were one cent each in 1942. Moore reported to work at 7 a.m. and started putting up the mail at the post office boxes about 1 p.m. In 1971 his cotton crop made 65 bales of cotton and he was working at the post office every day and working until midnight on the farm at home. ; During 47 years on the road he never had an accident and he See Moore, 10-A ud has pledged 3 Lg _
The Kings Mountain Herald (Kings Mountain, N.C.)
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