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ol. 109 No. 45 aE Thursday, November 6, 1997 a Since 1889 * Kings Mountain, NC « 28086 « 50¢
Neisler, Hawkins reelected in KM
Melony Bolin, Larry Allen
White, Hayes and Kelly are
new to KM School Board
newcomers on KM Council
School District voters gave a
heavy mandate of support to
mortician Ronnie Hawkins and
also elected Melony Bolin and
Larry Allen to the board of edu-
cation Tuesday.
A large turnout of voters
gave board chairman Hawkins
2,007 votes; Allen 1274; and
Bolin 1194 in a field of seven
by ELIZABETH STEWART
of The Herald Staff
Kings Mountain voters reelected Scott Neisler
to a third term as mayor and three new commis-
sioners, ousting two incumbents while reelecting
four Tuesday as more than 2,000 people went to
the polls.
Two former city employees,
retired police chief Bob Hayes
and retired planning director
Gene White, join political new-
comer Clavon Kelly as the new
faces on the seven-member City
Council.
In the Ward 2 race it's a
tossup for the second time be-
tween incumbent Jerry
Mullinax and the man he beat
by one vote two years ago. The NEISLER
vote was 164-163. Former com-
missioner Jim Guyton has until
Tuesday at noon to file for a re-
count in writing with the
Cleveland County Board of
Elections.
Norma Bridges, 10 year vet-
eran councilwoman, led the
ticket with 1,150 votes followed
by the other at-large winner
Hayes, with 1,142. Incumbent
councilman Dean Spears placed
third with 907 votes and new-
comer James Self fourth with
246.
Kelly defeated incumbent
Ward III Councilman Ralph
Grindstaff 188-134 with Gilbert
Hamrick receiving 34 votes.
candidates.
Vice-Chairman Billy Houze's
strong write-in campaign for re-
election failed. He received 639
votes.
Bolin, a Kings Mountain
homemaker and mother of
three children, and Dr. Larry
Allen, retired 30-year educator
and former Associate
Superintendent of Schools, are
newcomers to the board.
"I am so. excited," said Allen
as voting totals were being
posted after 11 p.m. at the
Board of Elections office in
Shelby.
Allen said he would like to
see a reduction in the student-
teacher ratio in the schools be-
cause that is a continuing factor
in a student's success in school.
He said he is also looking for-
ward to working in the grade
arrangement for a new school
HAWKINS to be built in future years and in
helping with plans for its construction.
"I am just very excited and grateful for the sup-
port of voters," he said. In Ward 1, i 3
Bolin said she is very thankful for the support : Eb EE
she received from Kings Moun Soe 1 he BACKING WINNERS - Ricky Grier of Grover casts his ballots for his favorite candidates in his seat by eight votes, defeat-
always make the decisions that I feel are in the Tuesday's election at Grover, and he'll be Sipporting the North Carolina Tar Heels in Satuders, ing former law enforcement of-
best interest of ali students,” she said. Bolin said pig goliege football game in Ghapel Hill. ficer Joe King, who waged a
she is especially appreciative of her husband, g 9 9 p = strong a ag Rev:
ea
Danny, and their family's support during an "ex- Howard Shipp. The vote totals
hausting three months of campaigning.” ewC O m e Is wi h i n iro ve I were: Hager, 138; King, 130; and
Shipp, 118.
In Ward 4, White beat new-
comer Pat Childers, wife of for-
mer commissioner Jim Childers,
by 258-166.
In Ward 5, incumbent Rick
Murphrey won reelection over
two opponents. Murphrey re-
ceived 315 votes, Lou Ballew
130 and Jim Norris 77. KELLY
Neisler said he welcomes the
"] am appreciative of the fact that people still GROVER - Three new faces will join the five-
have confidence that I am doing a good job on member Town Board next month.
the board of education,” said Hawkins. "I think All political newcomers, Bill Favell, John
that the people of Kings Mountain recognize that Higginbotham and Max D. Rollins, were elected
we are doing the best we can for the children and Tuesday to four year terms as a light turnout of
right now the schools are in good condition as far voters went to the polls.
as our academic growth." Rollins is also chairman of the city planning
Hawkins said one of the the board goals is commission.
character education working with parents to get Higginbotham led the ticket with 55 votes fol-
values back in the schools and working with Jowed by Favell with 54 and Rollins with 52.
teachers to maintain growth in the school system. Martha Allen received 39 votes, Green received
"I think voters recognize that we have a good 35 votes and Robert Roper, who withdrew from HIGGINBOTHAM FAVELL ROLLINS a my BD
working relationship with each other and by the race several weeks ago, received 20. not up. Council members Tim Rowland, Robbie things I've oe in the past,”
working together we have been able to accom- Terms of Mayor Ronald Queen and board Sides and Noel Spivey did not seek reelection. said Neisler, 41. "The city is fi-
plish goals," he said. members Elizabeth Throop and Jack Herndon are 5
nancially in the best shape it's
been in a long time."
Joy, 57, said he challenged
Neisler because it was time for
a change in leadership. But he
spoke highly of his opponent.
"You can't help but like Scott,"
he said.
Neisler congratulated Joy "for
running a good campaign.”
Growth, downtown revital-
ization and upgrading recre-
ational facilities were some key
issues in the City Council race
where 17 candidates sought
seven seats at City Hall. The is-
School Board meets Thursday
A Task Force on Minority also recommend that the school videos, brochures, software
Hiring in the Schools will rec- system produce a quality video computer programs, attending
ommend the hiring of a full- and portfolio to showcase the job fairs at both school and col-
time human resources System and community, imple- lege levels, and meeting with
person/recruiter and to imple- ment a Career Day for prospec- college personnel in both
ment Project/ Teach and career tive employees, provide re- Carolinas with an eye to recruit-
planning programs at sources for lateral entry ment of qualified minority ap-
Thursday's 7 p.m. meeting of employees to assist them with plicants.
the Board of Education. strategies for taking the Project Teach would focus
Valerie Boyd, chairman of the National Teacher Exam, and im- primarily on the middle school
committee, and the other 12 plement a Career Day with level geared to helping parents
members of the committee will members of Future Teachers of develop skills to support their
make the presentation in the America. children toward pursuing a col- sue of whether to tear down the
Board Room of the School's Boyd said if the board ap- lege education. An orientation, current police department to
Administration Building on proves the hiring of a resource workshops, and meeting with build a new one emerged as an
Ridge Street. person that individual would See Board, 5-A issue in the closing days of the
campaign but Pat Childer's con-
cerns for retaining the building
as a piece of history got no com-
ments from Council at the re-
cent meeting. Gene White, who
beat Childers for the seat being
vacated by Jerry White, said
the decision to build a new po-
lice department on the site of
Boyd said the committee will be charged with working up the
Bullock lobbying KM for tower
Local property owner John Mayor Scott Neisler said he Sprint Communications had
Bullock is lobbying city officials would appoint an ad hoc com- submitted plans for a multi-use
to change their minds on a 120- mittee to work with Corry and 175 foot mono pole designed
day ban instituted September City Planning Director Steve tower on Bullock property at
30 on cellular phone towers. Killian to make recommenda- the Margrace but no permit had the present building was al-
His concerns could surface tions. been issued. ready made.
again at the December 16 Bullock contends that since A new somewhat ambiguous Murphrey said "I would like
Council meeting. he approached city officials pri- federal law restricts local gov- to thank the citizens of Ward 5
Councilman Jerry Mullinax's or to the ban vote that he ernment from using zoning for their vote and support, I will
motion to cut the moratorium should be able to secure a per- codes to restrict placement of do all I can to help the city and
time in half failed for lack of a mit and start construction. cell phone towers when it | : > : its residents to grow and pros-
second at the October Council The city's present zoning or- would deny local cell phone ™ per."
meeting. dinance only governs how fara service. POLITICKING - Lou Ballew and Jim Norris, top "I am elated,” said Kelly
City Attorney Mickey Corry tower sits from a residential ~~ "No one in the city has been hae, Spin the names of their favorite can- while thanking supporters for
said the city needed the time to zoning district but makes it pos- denied cell phone service," says Noa Li in ¥ vad, 2 Siig Dew B Teainel 2d his victory Tuesday. "I am hop-
take a look at present codes and sible to have a 500 feet tower hoto, greets voter Pressley Anderson at the ing that the lake issue will be
develop the new ordinance and 100 feet from a residential zone. See Tower, 5A hey Precinct during Tuesday's election. See City, 5A MULLINAX
Mountaineer back goes
over 1 ,000 yards
| J riening See page 1B
| See page 7.8A