"Mountaineers beat East
42- 0 to win Southwesterp
Conference
Member
North Carolina Press Association
KM library
to celebrate
its 50th year
Next year marks the 50th an-
niversary of Mauney Memorial
Library.
In anticipation of the anniver-
sary year, the Library Board has
appointed a committee to for-
mulate plans and activities for
the anniversary year to cele-
brate the growth and develop-
ment of the library in the com-
munity. The cortimittee includes
"both present and former board
members, and people who were
active in the establishment of
the library: Dr. Jeff Mauney,
Laura Houser, Charles Blanton,
Annie Corry, Rev. Doug
Peterson, Willie Marable,
:Patricia Plonk, Grady Howard
‘and Jennie Maner.
"Much has happened in the
‘last 50 years and perhaps now
is a good time to reflect on the
history of the library, where we
‘have been and what we have
accomplished," said Librarian
Rose. Turner. "It is also a good
time to plan for the future, as-
sess the needs of the library,
and the services that will be re-
quired in the 21st century.
Turner said the anniversary
committee met Monday and be-
gan planning for the coming
year. "Several ideas were pro-
posed which would highlight
the past and promote develop-
ment and growth in the future."
Turner said the committee is
developing plans to put togeth-
er an exhibit portraying the ear-
ly years of the library and its
growth. Artifacts and pho-
tographs will be needed. The
committee also plans to put to-
gether an oral history of the ear-
ly days of the library. Anyone
who remembers the founding
of the library and its first years
is urged to contact the library
with the information.
The committee also discussed
the needs of the library and the
possibility of conducting the an-
niversary celebration with a
See Library, 10-A
Photo oby Dee Stewart
MOUNTAINEERS #1 - Kings Mountain High football players cel-
ebrate their unbeaten season and Southwestern Conference
championship after last week's 42-0 win over East Rutherford.
Since 1889
MOUNTIES ON BEAR HUNT
Western power Pisgah here Friday for first round state 3-A playoff game
Kings Mountain's Mountaineers will face
one of North Carolina's most successful
football programs when Canton Pisgah
comes to John Gamble Stadium Friday
night at 7:30 for a first round state 3-A play-
off game.
The Black Bears, #2 seed from the
Western Athletic Conference, aren't
strangers to the state playoffs. They won
state championships in 1961, 1966, 1971,
1975 and 1976, and they have been in the
playoffs consistently since winning their
last state crown.
In fact, this year's Pisgah team which is 7-
3 overall is in the playoffs for the third
straight year under coach Eddie Reneau.
The Bears went 9-4 and three rounds in the
playoffs in 1994 before losing to eventual
state champion Burns, and they were 6-5
and lost 19-15 in the first round to a power-
ful Hickory team last year.
Kings Mountain, 9-0-1 and champions of
the Southwestern Conference, is in the play-
offs for the second straight year under
Coach Ron Massey. The Mountaineers fell
to Mountain Athletic Conference champion
Enka in the first round last year.
The Mountaineers and Bears have met
just once in the state playoffs. In 1985, Kings
Mountain edged the Bears 14-13 in the first
round at Canton when Calvin Stephens,
who later starred at South Carolina, broke
through the line to block the Bears' extra
point attempt following a late fourth quar-
ter score.
The two teams met during the regular
season in 1989 and '90 in Canton. Pisgah
won 35-7 and 13-8.
Both coaches expect a tough game Friday
night. The teams are similar in some ways.
Kings Mountain uses a one-back set most of
the time and likes to throw the ball and run
their quick backs to the outside. Pisgah still
relies heavily on a power running game, but
the Bears also break out of their wishbone
into a one-back set on occasion to put the |
ball in the air.
See Pisgah, 6-A
Mt. Zion anniversary - Front Row, John Currence. Second Row, from left to right, Johnsell
Pressley, Louise Kisler, Alice Mitchem and Plato Pressley. Top Row, Fred Smith, Jr.,
Frances
Clinton, Margaret Smith, Geraldine Dye, Katherine hardy, Lamont Littlejohn, and Clinton Feemster.
Mt. Zion Church celebrates 116 years
For 116 years Mt. Zion Baptist
Church has filled the lives of its
Kings Mountain congregation.
This past Sunday, November 10,
members of that same congre-
gation filled its doors to sing,
praise, and celebrate its an-
niversary.
The day was one of spiritual
music, heartfelt messages and
the fellowship of friendships as
the church gathered for its 116
year anniversary.
"It was truly a joyful time for
all," the Rev. Clinton Feemster
said as he welcomed all ages to
the Watterson Street church.
This day was also a day for
honoring and recognizing
church elders for their years of
service and devotion to the
church.
Johnsell Pressley, 72, one of
the oldest members, said she at-
tended the church their since
she was 27 years old. She is
married to Plato Pressley, 74, a
church deacon. The couple
raised three children there in
Board of Education hires firm
to study non-certified salaries
By DAWN M SWIFT
In an audienceless board-
room, the Kings Mountain
District Board of Education
held its monthly meeting
Monday night at Central
School. All items on the agenda
were unanimously passed.
During the meeting, the
Board voted to raise the cost of
tuition for out-of-district and
out-of-county students. Both
groups will pay $150 per stu-
dent, amounting to an $80 in-
crease for out-of-district, and
$35 for out-of-county students.
Those students whose parent/
guardian works for the Kings
Mountain District will not be
charged tuition.
Also discussed, was a non-
certified employee compensa-
tion study, presented by Ronnie
Wilson, assistant superinten-
dent.
Wilson says, "Causby/Boyd
Associates would conduct a
survey of non-certified em-
ployees and create an employ-
ment hierarchy and salary
schedule. . . for the 1997 fiscal
year. Causby /Boyd will hold
group meetings, asking em-
ployees to describe his/her du-
ties.
Supervisors will then review
descriptions," says Wilson, "and
sign -off to Causby/Boyd
See Board, 11-A
the church.
Pressley, a deaconess, said she
looks forward to each
Wednesday morning when re-
tirees meet at the church around
10 a.m. for Bible study.
Alice Mitchem, another elder,
said the church means every-
thing to her life.
Deacon Fred Smith, Jr., who
drives from Gaston to the
church where he has been a
member for 26 years, said, "We
are looking towards a bright fu-
ture of many more years at Mt.
Zion."
Smith said a primary focus
will be building and completing
the Family Life Center, expected
to be here by 1998.
. The two-story gymnasium
and classroom building will be
built on property adjunct to the
main church building.
"The new complex will be a
gift to our congregation and a
unit for teaching and counsel-
ing members and serving the
Lord," said Deacon Smith.
"Our current classroom space
has been overextended for a
long while."
Mt. Zion Baptist Church was
first located on Piedmont Street
across from the old Kings
Mountain Herald Building.
R.L. Veal was the church's first
pastor.
Since that time, the church has
relocated to Kings Steet, where
it was renovated three times,
and then to its present day loca-
tion on Watterson Street. This
was in 1973, right after
Davidson School had been de-
molished. Groundbreaking for
the present church was held
October 7, 1973, with Rev. J.S.
Norris as pastor.
Feemster, the present day
minister, came to the church in
January of 1987 as an Interim
Pastor. He was installed in May
of the same year. In 1990,
Feemster became the church's
first full-time minister.
Sunday's services began at 3
See Mt. Zion, 10-A
Kings Mountain People
City preparing
for Christmas
By DAWN M SWIFT
The Christmas is just around
the corner and Kings Mountain
folks are getting ready to pro-
vide many exciting programs
this Christmas season.
Just in time for the holidays,
The City of Kings Mountain is
closer to completing down-
town's facelift. Underground
. lighting is being installed in
plage «of the old overhead
‘wiring. City Manager, Jimmy
Maney, says "We hope to flood
downtown with old style street
lights, and bring back pride to
the community."
Maney says, "The street
lights were inspired by the peo--
ple [of Kings Mountain]. The
old style street lights are similar
to ones used in the past. Money
for the renovations was ap-
proved during a city council
meeting under the category of
‘system maintenance improve-
ments. The city hopes the new
lighting will bring an ascetically
pleasing look to the downtown
area."
The 9th annual Mauney
Memorial Library (MML) tree
lighting is scheduled for
Monday, December 2, at 7pm in
the Library auditorium. The
Trinity Preschool is providing
the music for the ceremony, and
Mayor Scott Neisler is the
Master of Ceremony. Santa is
scheduled to visit the tree light-
ing. Refreshments will be
served, and there is no charge
for attendance.
The tree lighting will kick off
a book give-away that will con-
tinue through the month of
December. Discarded books
will be given away on a first
come, first serve basis while
supplies last. The MML is tak-
ing donations for tree orna-
ments, if you would like to do-
nate, drop by or call the library
for more information at 739-
2371. If you would like to help
decorate the exterior of the
pate in an open
Library, please call Doug
Petersen at 739-4917.
On Friday, December 13, The
Kings Mountain Business and
Professional Association (KMB-
PA)’ is! sponsoring . "A
Mountaineer Christmas."
Refreshments will be served,
and there is no charge for the
event. KMBPA encourages all
retail establishments to pagel
5pm ;
Commemorative mugs, $4 each,
will be for sale leading up to
and during the event. The
KMBPA will take orders for the
commemorative mugs. To or-
der call Kathy at 730-9400 or
Linda at 734-0044. "A
Mountaineer Christmas" will.
close the area starting at 214
Railroad Avenue to the corner
of Mountain Street.
Linda Allen, owner/operator
of Ashely's Antiques and
Accessories, says she hopes "to
involve the whole community,
and make this [event] an annual
thing. I think it will be fun for
children, families, anyone."
Santa will be present, and lo-
cal groups and organizations
are encouraged to provide car-
olers, etc. "Any group that
wants to sing or set up a booth
should join us," says Kathy
Neely, president of the KMBPA.
"We want to bring back old
fashion Christmas’ to Kings
Mountain."
The KMBPA will also sponsor
a Store front decorating contest.
The Woman's Club will judge
the morning of the event, and
announce the winner during
the event (7pm). Other events
are under works and will be an-
nounced in the future. For more
information call Tim at 739-
6266.
The Kings Mountain
Recreation Department will
See City, 10-A
MARK AND SERITA MULL
Mark and Serita Mull joined
the Kings Mountain Rescue
Squad six months ago for their
kid's sake.
"We wanted to get some
training because we thought
our four children might need
our life-saving knowledge,"
said Mrs. Mull who is a full-
time student at Gaston College
and plans to pursue a registered
nursing degree.
Mark Mull actually got his
wife interested in the Squad. He
asked her to enroll in an EMT
class with him. They enrolled in
a class, passed the courses of in-
struction and decided they
wanted to volunteer full time.
The husband and wife are
Volunteering a team effort for Mulls
among the newest members of
the all-volunteer squad. They
joined six months ago and find
the squad a great group of peo-
ple and an important part of
their lives.
Carrie Mull, 12, Mark Mull
Jr, 11, Jonathan Humphries, 10,
and Kevin Mull, 7, share their
parents' love for rescue work
and Carrie helps her mother at
home when Mom is in school.
Mrs. Mull formerly worked as a
certified nursing assistant at
Kings Mountain Hospital and
she has found that her training
has helped her cope with trau-
ma situations that occur on al-
most any given call that a res-
cuer makes.
with my first fatality,"
"I had a hard time coping
said
Serita, who said she responded
to a wreck call recently . A
Gaffney, SC woman was killed
when her car left the road and
hit a ravine and trees on I-85
near the Dixon School exit.
Serita said her husband has
been her support system.
Mull said the recent Prom
Day exercise that rescue person-
nel and law enforcement staged
at Kings Mountain High School
should have left a lasting im-
pression with teenage drivers.
He said that many accidents
are alcohol related and the mes-
See Mulls, 11-A