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Vol. 109 No. 21 Rad? So Si 1997 aE Sonia N.C. « 28086 * 50¢
City Council considering
request for 4-year terms
Kings Mountain City Council will consider a resolution of intent
Tuesday night to change their terms of office to four years.
Mayor Scott Neisler said it appears to be the consensus of the sev-
en members of Council that they would like to amend the city char-
Task Force
meeting Monday
The welcome mat is out from
the Kings Mountain Board of
Education to citizens to attend a
public information session by
the Character Education Task
Force Tuesday at 7 p.m. in
Barnes Auditorium.
Character Education, a new
subject in the fall curriculum of
the Kings Mountain District
Schools, will be explored by
various members of the group
including Kings Mountain High
students Maria Boone and
Brandy Brown and Middle
School student Charmaine
Johnson.
Board Chairman Ronnie
Hawkins will make introducto-
ry remarks and Dr. Jane King
will present members of the
special task force charged with
development of Board Goal
Two regarding traits of good
citizenship.
"This has been long in com-
ing and is the potential to influ-
ence children and the commu-
nity as a whole," said Hawkins
who encourages a large atten-
dance by parents as well as ed-
ucators.
He said the clear message
from the board in establishing
the task force is that good citi-
zenship and character develop-
ment are important in Kings
Mountain schools.
Parent Stella Putnam will talk
See MEETING, 5A
‘talking about trees
"We're still a few trees shy in
the parking lot," said Mayor
Scott Neisler of negotiations be-
tween the city and Ingles
Markets Inc. in development of
the firm's site plan for a pro-
posed store on Oak
Grove/Scism Road.
Planning Director Steve
Killian said the city and Ingles
had exchanged drawings this
week for an alternative plan
that Ingles turned down be-
cause of a minimum of trees re-
. quired by the new ordinance in
parking lots.
“There are a couple of rows of
parking with no trees but we'll
get there," said the mayor.
Killian told the Planning &
Zoning Board Tuesday that ne-
gotiations are ongoing. The
Board took his recommendation
to delay action on Ingles re-
quest for an amendment to the
zoning ordinance. Ingles con-
tended that Ingles should be ex-
empt from the new part of the
ordinance that requires trees in
parking lots because Ingles had
taken an option on the property
of Paul and Judy Scism while
the old ordinance was in place
and had the property rezoned
and annexed bv the citv.
said Mayor Scott Neisler. He
said he anticipates that in 1998
that funds can be provided to
run water service to Lake
City Stands firm on lake users fees
Mayor Scott Neisler said this
fees at city-owned Moss Lake.
City Manager Jimmy Maney
said the new rates were ap-
proved by the full Council dur-
ing a budget workshop and will
appear in the 1997-98 budget
which is almost ready for distri-
bution to City Council mem-
bers.
~ Planning Director Steve
Killian said lake property own-
ers have already received notifi-
cation of the new fee schedule.
But Rep. Debbie Clary, who
pulled legislation affecting
Kings Mountain from a House
vote last week, says that lake
residents plan to continue to
pay their old fees and protest
the increases. ;
"I am really tired of taking all
the flak from people about
these two bills that Kings
Mountain asked our delegation
to introduce in the General
Assembly," said the Republican
who lives on Moss Lake.
"Our entire delegation is tak-.
ing a second look at Kings
Mountain's proposal to satellite
annex its city-owned property
at Moss Lake," she said.
Both Clary and Rep. Andy
Dedmon have supported lake-
front property owners in their
protest and controversy over in-
creased fees.
week City Council will stand
pat on its decision to raise user Ms. Clay, "says Neisle
mayor has called the tactic po-,
"I think it is very much a po-
litical special interest thing to.
litical blackmail and Ms. Chey
has called it gouging lake fesi-
dents who are not Kings
Mountain residents.
After committing to the legis-
lation earlier this year, Rep.
JOhn Weatherly, also of Moss
Lake, and Dedmon would like-
ly have to endorse any change
offered by Ms. Clary.
Agreement from a county's rep-
resentatives is an unofficial pre-
requisite for passage of legisla-
tion that affects one city or
“the lake to save on state fran-
gi
ATHLETES HONORED - Jackie Houston, left, accepts the Female Athlete of the Year Award
from Coach Diane Dooley and Jordan Angeles, at right, accepts the Male Athlete of the Year
Award from Kings Mountain High School Principal Phil Weathers. More pictures and a story are in
the sports section in today's Herald.
City officials want annexatio.
of their city-o a
chise taxes. They say higher
fees would support lake patrol
and pay for costly dam repairs
but lake residents aren't con-
vinced.
The bottom line is that I tried
to handle this without taking
up the time of city officials and
relay to them that a rebellion
was coming from home owners
getting no service and double
fees and now it looks like it will
develop into a law suit," said
Clary.
Rep. Debbie Clary is propos-
ing the reestablishment of the
Moss Lake Authority to oversee
the operation of the city-own=d
lake.
The Republican from
Cleveland County, a Moss Lake
resident, says the city broke its
own rules when it abandoned
the Moss Lake Authority which
it advocates in a "blue book" it
gives to Moss Lake residents.
'Their goal out there is to
eliminate the use of a jet ski,"
said Ms. Clary who owns two
and will be paying more to use
them under the city's new fees
Clary pushing for Lake Authority
which go into effect July 1.
"We have very little security
at the lake, fishermen are there
all the time and alcohol on the
lake has become a problem,"
she said. Clary said that zero
tolerance on the water should
be strictly enforced and no un-
der-age drivers should be per-
mitted on a Sea Doo.
"We've had very little prob-
lem with adults on a jet ski but
there have been some problems
with teenagers,” she said. But
Clary said Kings Mountain was
offered free use of a $7,000 jet
See CLARY, 8A
Kings Mountain People
ter again.
Kings Mountain voters on June 27, 1995 changed the terms of of-
fice of city council to two years and the U.S.Justice Department ap-
proved the change.
Ward 2 City Councilman Jerry Mullinax said he will pro bably
vote against the measure. "It needs to be a vote of the people,” he
said.
Mullinax said he will ask opinion of his constituents at a public
meeting Thursday night at 7 p.m. at Grace United Methodist
Church. He invites the public.
Two-year terms of all city council members and the mayor are up
in November.
City Manager Jimmy Maney said City Attorney Mickey Corry is
preparing a resolution of intent, which , if the board passes Tuesday,
would be on the table for 30 days for citizens to give input or to
protest. If protests are made to the plan, a referendum could be or-
dered by the City Council.
In 1995 a group of citizens led by retired city planner Gene White
circulated petitions calling for an election on the question of two
year terms for elected officials. Citizens voted to amend the charter
and the U.S. Justice Department approved.,
Maney said the timetable for the proposed amendment of the
charter would be presented by the attorney Tuesday. He said there's
a possibility that the mechanics of the change could be accom-
plished in time for the November election but that the attorney
would provide all the details Tuesday.
"I guess the U. S. Justice Department is going to remember Kings
Mountain," said the mayor.
The proposed charter change is the major items of business on the
agenda for Tuesday night's 7:30 p.m. meeting at City Hall.
The board is expected Tuesday to set the date for public hearing
on the 1997-98 city budget.
be
~ bE FN ©.
The Planning & Zoning
Board sided with East Kings
Mountain residents Tuesday
night who presented a petition
signed by 65 citizens opposing
the rezoning of property on
Stone Street which would add
60-70 houses in the area.
In another zoning matter, the
board sided with Bob Neill and
Associates who said they want
to put up 76 units of apartments
for the elderly on Oriental
Street. The 5.9 acres is owned
by Johnny Kiser and will be de-
veloped by First Century
Corporation. The "new commu-
nity" would feature one and
two bedroom apartments and
would be available to moderate
income couples or singles 62
years or older.
"There's only one way to get
into Stone Street and one way
to get out," said Clayvon Kelly,
of Woodside Drive, who pre-
sented the petition from his
neighbors. He questioned in-
creased traffic and how emer-
gency vehicles would get to the
area and said the possible influx
of students to nearby East
School could cause an even
more crowded situation.
Gary Joy, of 501 Monroe
Avenue, said the East Kings
anning Board sides with
Mountain neighborhood is a
quiet neighborhood of longtime
residents and asked why the
applicant for the zoning was
not present to respond to ques-
tions. Lou Ballew, a member of
the planning board, is agent for
the Lillian R. Mauney Estate
which owns 19 acres on Stone
Street.
Ward 3 Councilman Ralph
Grindstaff, of Henry Street, said
too many rumors about what.
would be going up on the prop-
erty has residents alarmed. He
cited increased traffic, concern
for public safety of children and
senior citizens who walk in the
area, and increased noise.
"There's been too much secre-
tive stuff that we don't know
about this deal," he said.
Rev. Harold Bumby, pastor of
East Gold Street Wesleyan
Church, said he favored the
building of the apartment com-
and =
plex near the church
thought that group would be a
good neighbor. He said he is
concerned about the proposed
rezoning on Stone Street ncar
the church parsonage at 906
Henry Street.
"I am not opposed to people
developing their properties but
See ZONING, 2A
i
Vr
Libby Spires steps out in faith with her music
and his wife, Tracy, encouraged me, so I stayed
awhile and kept writing songs," she said.
Now Spires has a first single which is going
out to 800 radio stations in_the next month and
she hopes Kings Mountain people will tune in to
Radio Station WKMT to hear. It's recorded by
Mark 5 and produced by Rick Sandidge and fea-
tures the New Hope Quartet, who have billed
themselves as an old-fashioned singing group
since 1992. Libby Spires Music is the name of her
new publishing company she operates from her
home and she's started to receive royalties as a
publisher and songwriter.
But the story of her success as a songwriter is
Montonia Road and to rehabili-
tate numerous homes in the
Second Street area. Neisler said
the city's application for
$600,000 in funds for the
Second Street project were
turned down this year but that
he has been told that project
will be on the drawing board in
1998.
Ask local Southern gospel songwriter Libby
Spires about talking with God and she's likely to
give you this advice:
Step out in faith.
Spires, 49, who has written 11 songs with lyrics,
is aiming for The Dove award and admits she'd
rather write than eat. She gives The Lord the
credit for her success.
"T was in church March 1995 and God told me
to go to Nashville," said Spires.
Libby said she wrestled with the decision and
after about six months packed her car. Listening
to a radio broadcast she heard the minister say
Inside:
Obituaries ............2A
itori - "the Lord will give you new hope." She found a
Editorials susanas ...4-5A job through the newspaper want ads and became not her only story.
Sports...... oeseens 6-TA friends with another employee who learned that Libby has been diagnosed with cancer and will
Education......... 8-9A she wrote songs and could play piano. The new be taking chemotherapy treatments for about four
friend took her to New Hope Church and within months.
Cooking Corner 10A | 54} rs she had written her first gospel song. "The Lord gave me a new song last week called
Weddings............ 1B "The Battle Has Been Won" was a big hit and "Sweet Victory," said the vivacious Spires. The
Police Report 3B soon the church quartet was singing Libby's mu- song goes like this: "I'm gonna walk right through
hhh: sic. Soon that group started using her song "Are this valley, the great physician is all I need.”
Church .......... «.ee:4B | You Ready" on their tapes. Setting the melody to the words is easy for SP
Classified............ 8B "My husband Millage flew back and forth from Spires who says she does her best writing at LIBBY SPIRES
Kings Mountain to Nashville and our son, Stuart See SPIRES, 2A
nh A ios an mh Sr Sc ee LR SS i