¥
Member
North Carolina Press Association
Reynolds
appointed
as interim
by ELIZABETH STEWART
of The Herald Staff
Kings Mountain Chief of
Police Bob Hayes is retiring, ef-
fective Friday, to run for an at-
large seat on Kings Mountain
City Council and Captain
Moss Lake
Commission
reestablished
by Council
City Council unanimously
reestablished by city ordinance
the John H. Moss Reservoir
Commission Tuesday night.
The Commission will consist
of seven members, five to be in-
side-city residents who will be
appointed by the Council and
two to be appointed by Moss
Lake Property Owners
Association. a -
Ward 3 Councilman Ralph
Grindstaff's motion that. the
chairman, vice-chairman and
secretary of the commission be
appointed by City Council died
for lack of a second.
The ordinance states that the
chairman and the vice chairman
shall be members and elected
by the Commission but the sec-
During the citizen comment
portion of the lengthy meeting,
Water Supt. Walt Ollis recom-
mended that City Planning
Director Steve Killian serve as
secretary of the Commission.
City Attorney Mickey Corry
said that before the Moss: Lake
"Authority was changed to
Commission and then disband-
ed last year that the Planning
Director had always served as
secretary to the advisory board.
Mayor Scott Neisler asked
Council to nominate one person
from each of the five wards of
the city so that the five mem-
bers on the board could be ap-
pointed in 30-60 days.
The ordinance also stipulates
that the Moss Lake Property
Owners Association submit the
See Moss Lake, 10-A
‘Gene Bumgardner to lead |
Jay Strack Crusade choir
(Ed. note - This is the seventh in a series of
weekly articles on local leaders in the Jay Strack
Crusade to be held August 24-28 at John
Gamble Stadium.) :
.
Because Gene Bumgardner loves music, he is a
natural to direct the 300-plus all-volunteer choir,
his first in an evangelistic crusade, for the upcom-
ing Jay Strack Crusade.
Bumgardner is at home before any size choir.
The versatile, talented musician directs the
Richard Reynolds has been
named interim Chief.
Hayes, a veteran of 36 years
in law enforcement, has served
as Chief of the 33-member po-
lice department for two years
and previously during his long
tenure was acting chief three
times.
Reynolds is a 30-year veteran
of the Kings Mountain Police
Department. His salary is
$40,622 a year.
"It has always been my ambi-
tion to run for city office and
now I think it's time-for me to
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Chief Hayes retires to run fo
HAYES
REYNOLDS
pass the torch," said Hayes,
who announced his retirement
Tuesday in a letter to city offi-
his home on Dilling Street.
: ON A HOT DAY - Althoug peratul
topped the 90-degree mark Tuesday afternoon, Henry Hodges
didn't let it keep him from giving his pickup a good
wash job at
cials. :
Mayor Scott Neisler an-
nounced Hayes' retirement after,
a closed session Tuesday night
following the City Council
meeting at City Hall. "We want
to congratulate Bob Hayes for
his 36 years of dedicated ser-
vice," he said. "We appreciate all
that the Chief has done for us."
"Bob Hayes has done a good
job," said City Manager Jimmy
Maney.
Hayes, first hired at KMPD in
1961 by*Chief Martin Ware, was
one of 11 officers, including the
More file for local political races
3
Chief, with three police cars. He
bought his own weapon.
"Back then you had to learn
police work by on-the-job train-
ing and Sgt. B. P. Cook was my
mentor and role model," he
said. "He was a good training
officer and an extraordinary
man."
Throughout his career Hayes
says he has approached police
work with a simple philosophy.
"Treat people the way you
would like to be treated if you
were in their shoes," he said.
And Hayes affirms that is not
- Vol. 109 No. 31 : Thursday, July 31, 1997 : Ql ANY HHL
AQ DENN oe Vo
AN
easy.
He said what made his work
interesting: and rewarding was
meeting all kinds of people and
knowing "that you have helped
them in some way." :
Hayes' devotion to his job
was put to the test on December
19, 1977. The 6-foot-6 Hayes,
then a Sergeant, was shot four
times in the back during an ar-
rest attempt.
"Only by the grace of God am
I here today to tell about it," he
said. fe
See Hayes, 3-A
The filing of six more candidates brings to 17
-the number of people seeking elective office in
Kings Mountain and Grover in the November
elections.
Wednesday Lou Ballew of Edgemont Drive
filed for a Ward 5 seat on the Kings Mountain
City Council and incumbent At-Large council-
woman Norma Bridges filed for reelection.
Dr. Larry Allen, 247 Yarbrough Road, retired
Assistant Superintendent of Schools, filed for an
outside seat on the Kings Mountain Board of
Education.
In Grover James Adam Greene, Max D. Rollins
ALLEN
RET
BALLEW BRIDGES |
and Robert Roper filed for the three seats up for
grabs on the Town Council. :
Ballew joins Jim Norris in challenging
Incumbent Ward 5 Commissioner Rick Murphrey.
Bridges and incumbent councilman Dean
Spears have filed for the two At -Large seats open
on Kings Mountain City Council.
Incumbent Mayor Scott Neisler has not an-
nounced. :
Allen and incumbent Board of Education
Chairman Ronnie Hawkins have filed for the two
outside-city seats up on the Board of Education.
Neither At-Large member Billy Houze nor out-
side dist ie A
Cleveland County Board of Elections. =
Bridges, wife of Bobby Bridges of Cleveland
Avenue, is running for her fourth term at City
: : intai and regularly attends Council meetings.
Filing deadline is Friday at noon with the pean ge
Hall. Co-owner and operator of Bridges Textiles
since 1975, she chairs the city recreation commis-
sion.
A Kings Mountain native, Bridges is the
daughter of the late M. C. and Ruth Falls. She and
her husband have three children and eight grand-
children and are active in Second Baptist Church.
"I think the city is starting to move forward and
I want to be part of its future,” she said.
Bridges says she will push for better recreation,
including a new swimming pool for children, and
for growth. "I am for industry and more jobs and
for anything that w [ r
Mountain people
She is
wife of Chuck Ballew, retired owner of Ballew
Yarns, and they are active in First Presbyterian
See Filing, 6-A
board
City's Chief Codes Inspector faces charges
by ELIZABETH STEWART
of The Herald Staff
Jeff Putnam, 37, the city's
chief codes inspector, was sus-
pended from his job without
pay Monday, two days after po-
lice arreste
. allegedly trying to extort money
from two Kings Mountain busi-
ness Owners.
Putnam also is charged with
second degree kidnaping, car-
rying a concealed weapon, car-
rying a gun into an alcoholic
beverage establishment, com-
him on charges of
municating threats and misde-
meanor larceny. He was re-
leased from Cleveland County
detention center Monday after-
noon on $20,000 secured bond.
‘Preliminary hearing is set
August 18 in Cleveland County
District Court.
City Manager Jimmy Maney
expressed shock at the allega-
tions against Putnam, a seven-
year employee of the City of
Kings Mountain.
Maney called Putnam "a
good employee.” Maney said
New Hope Baptist Church Choir, his 145 choral
students at Kings Mountain High School and has
directed as many as 300 students in an All-State
Chorus. Last year he directed his school choirs
and the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra during a
concert at Barnes Auditorium.
Sitting at the piano and singing with his stu-
dent, alto singer Joy Sloan, he talked about the
upcoming crusade and how local people can join
the choir.
"You don't have to be able to read music and
you don't have to sing in your local church choir,
just enjoy music," said Bumgardner. x
See Crusade, 11-A
Putnam has earned his fourth
level three certificate in inspec-
tions, mechanical, plumbing
and building and has passed 24
state examinations in building
codes which included class-
room and field work. :
"He has Optimist football tro-
phies on display here in the lob-
by of City Hall which shows his
leadership in youth sports and
interest in the community,” said
Maney. "His personnel file is
clean.” Maney said there had
been no complaints about
Story and photo by Lib Stewart
A JOYFUL NOISE - Kings Mountain High: School choral director Gene Bumgardner
~ and student Joy Sloan practice a song in the chorus room at KMHS. Bumgardner
will direct the choir for the Jay Strack Crusade August 24-28 at John Gamble
Stadinm
&
Putnam's job performance.
“I feel that anyone is innocent
until proven guilty and that's
the policy we support with all
department heads and city em-
ployees," Maney said.
The lake administrative du-
ties, formerly supervised by
Putnam, are now under the di-
rection of Planning Director
Steve Killian. Andy Scoggins,
Putnam's co-worker, will serve
as the acting codes enforcement
officer.
Putnam's salary was $34,299
annually. He was hired by
Kings Mountain April 1, 1991.
He became chief inspector three
years ago.
Sharon Putnam, Jeff's wife,
said her husband had been ad-
vised by his lawyer not to com-
ment on the allegations.
According to police reports
Putnam is accused of threaten-
ing to use his powers as inspec-
tor against Roger Philbeck of
Breakers Billiards on S.
Battleground Avenue and Mike
See Putnam, 10-A
»
Y FACTS
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BY oN SR CEE ee
EDITION CALL 739-7496
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