March 5, 1998
featuring barbecue, chicken, fish,
. etc. Today, though, the restaurant
has become more of a fast-food
. snack shop offering French fries,
' hot dogs, popcorn and soft
drinks.
The local drive-in was one of
the first anywhere to offer admis-
sion by the carload, and that may
be one of the secrets of its success.
UN
i
1
Ey
“When we first opened we had
"an admission - I think it was 40
cents a person for a few yeas,”
Stinnett noted. “Then after a
couple of years we went to a dol-
"lar a carload.”
The admission price now is $6
a carload - still a bargain consid-
~ ering that’s the same price one
person would pay for admission
to an indoor theater.
Stinnett said drive-in atten-
dance fluctuates, depending
\ mostly on the movies that are
available and the weather. The
local complex can accommodate
450 cars.
“I think one thing that hurt the
drive-ins was when they had the
daylight savings time change,”
Stinnett said. “It made the mov-
ies in the middle of the summer
not get started until after 9
o'clock.”
Stinnett said the drive-ins still
attract a large span of age groups.
Needless to say, the outdoor mov-
ies are still popular to young
people in love whether they're
interested in watching the movie
or not. But because of the afford-
able rates, it is also popular for
large families who can save
money versus the indoor theaters.
Right now, Stinnett said, the
movies begin at 7:30 p.m. but as
the days grow longer and when
daylight savings time begins in
April the starting times will be
later.
GHANTT
From page 1
Campbell, demonstrated a sig-
nificant increase in his spending
habits and cash deposits which
began on October 6, 1997,” the
affidavit stated. Chambers is a
former FBI informant who, in the
past, provided information on a
then future Loomis armored car
robbery which never material-
ized. There is documented tele-
phone relationship between his
residence and the residence of
Payne and Campbell, according
to the court affidavit.
“Within 24 days Chambers went
from owning a mobile home to
purchasing a $635,000 home in
Cramer Mountain Country Club
area of Gaston County,” accord-
ing to the court papers. His crimi-
nal record includes a 1997 state
conviction for felonious larceny
and for multiple counts of feloni-
ously obtaining property by false
pretenses.
“Wire taps implicate him in the
overall Loomis theft, countless
money laundering transactions
and allegations that he attempted
to have Ghantt killed,” the FBI
alleged in court documents.
Court documents also state
that Michelle Chambers demon-
strated a significant increase in
spending habits and cash depos-
its with three known bank ac-
counts. She drove a 1998 BMW
purchased on November 11 and
there is no recorded lien for this
vehicle on record with the N. C.
Department of Motor Vehicles,
indicative that she purchased the
car with cash. Since the time of the
theft she has obtained breast im-
plants,
according to court documents.
Until Feb. 21, 1998 Payne was
employed at a printing business
located adjacent to the location
where the Loomis van was found.
He worked for one shift follow-
ing the theft for four hours and
then took a three week vacation.
Court records say he demon-
strated notable increase in spend-
The Kings Mountain Herald
ing habits since the theft and has
a documented ongoing telephone
relationship with Chambers. He
was convicted in 1996 for DWI.
Campbell was employed at
Loomis from December 1995
through November 1996. She is
currently the only known person
who had contact with Ghantt in
Mexico. She denied any involve-
ment in the crime and purports
to have no past romantic relation-
ship with Gantt, although ex-
pressed her love to him during
their last intercepted conversation
on Feb. 23, 1998, according to
court records.
The FBI alleges that McKinney,
hired by Chambers to be his per-
sonal bodyguard, is the alleged
individual with whom Chambers
discussed the attempted murder
of Ghantt. McKinney had made a
reservation to travel to Mexico on
Feb. 24 but was allegedly told to
wait until Feb. 26 to go down
there by Chambers.
Grant, also known as Spike,
booked an airline reservation for
Feb. 27,1998 to fly to Mexico with
McKinney to deliver money to or
presumably kill Ghantt, the FBI
said in the affidavits.
Relatives have told the daily
newspapers they are relieved to
know that Ghantt has been
found. “Thank God he’s alive,”
his father Scott W. Ghantt of
Hendersonville told The Char-
lotte Observer. The senior Ghantt,
a retired Carolina Freight truck
driver, said none of he family has
had any contact with David
Ghantt since he disappeared in
October.
David Ghantt and his wife,
Tammy, lived in a double-wide
mobile home in a mobile home
park located between Bessemer
City and Cherryville in Gaston
‘County. Their mailing address
was Maggie Lane, Kings Moun-
tain.
A woman answered the tele-
phone at the Ghantt residence
Tuesday afternoon and hung up
when a Herald reporter gave her
name.
Hl RIDIN’ THE RAILS
Wicctt S
It’s not every day that you see a truck being
driven on a railroad track, but this one owned by
Norfolk Southern Railway has a right-of-way that
other motorists don’t have. This truck came
through Kings Mountain last week checking the
rails and cross ties. Mike Webster of Inman, SC
said.
said he makes the 75-mile trip from Gastonia to
Greenville (and vice versa) twice a week. The truck
includes all the tools for minor repairs, and major
problems are referred to a rail crew. Webster said
he doesn’t advise other motorists to try traveling
the tracks. “That works only in the movies,
” he
WISH
i From page 1
reservations for them at the
Gastonia steak house. Mrs. Shirer,
other employees of Interim
Health Care of Gastonia, Celeb-
rity Limo Service of Belmont, and
Chase Tire of Gastonia, along
with Outback Steak House, pro-
vided the meal and evening en-
tertainment.
Mrs. Putnam said she and her
husband married after a short
- courtship and for both of them it
was probably “love at first sight.”
She had formerly worked at
Doran Yarns in Shelby and at
Mauney Hosiery Mill.
Mrs. Putnam leaves the cook-
ingand “most of the housework”
i
to her husband. They attend
Primitive Baptist Church.
{
“We're really looking for a
A ; miracle from God but right now
we just enjoy each other and are
grateful for every day we share
together,” said Mrs. Putnam.
Says Ricky, “Ruth is a special
lady and I'm glad to dress up to-
night to go out to dinner with
her,” as they waited for their
driver.
Friday was a happy time for
the Putnams. They took turns
going to the window at their
home on Beech Lane to look for
their driver as the sun set and it
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grew dark outside. Excited, they
hurried out their front door to
seat themselves in the limo and
listen to music as they were
driven to Gastonia.
“Where's the champagne?”
asked their excited nurse who
had planned the event and left
nothing out.
Several hours later the
Putnams returned home with
memories of a never to be forgot-
ten first anniversary.
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CITY NEWS
From page 1
strength.
“We pay more for gas than our
neighbors in South Carolina and
our roads are falling apart,” said
Councilman Clavon Kelly.
Spangler said there are more
needs than the state highway de-
partment budget can address.
“We push for more money for
maintenance,” he said.
He said the Shelby bypass is
coming but DOT is over its bud-
get and funding could be cut back
because of a $421 million overrun
in the state Department of Trans-
portation. Agency officials are in
the early stages of drafting a new
transportation Improvement Pro-
gram, a schedule of road con-
struction priorities for the years
1999 through 2005. The Shelby
bypass is included in the state's
TIP but Spangler estimated that
“we won't have over 75 percent
funded and I don’t think we'll be
able to complete the whole thing
as soon as we thought.” Design
phase for the bypass is expected
early next year. He said the in-
creased cost of right-of- ways
statewide has impacted the in-
creased costs.
Nye said technology will be the
key for future business success in
the county. He said a fiberoptic
line along the railroad may pro-
vide business opportunities for
electronic commerce, saying that
a person in Kings Mountain could
operate a business around the
world from his location here us-
ing the sophistication of high
tech. “It’s exciting,” he said.
Both Nye and Spangler said
Kings Mountain location puts the
city in a good position to move
forward in the new century.
Other major concerns shared
during the session attended by a
few residents with City Council,
department heads, city staffers
and Mayor Scott Neisler in-
cluded:
Education
Board of Education Chairman
Ronnie Hawkins said school offi-
cials are looking at property to
build either a K-5 school or a 5-6
school to take care of the expected
population growth. He said local
legislators have been asked to in-
troduce a one cent sales tax in-
crease to fund education in the
upcoming short session of the N.
C. General Assembly.
Kelly noted that Kings Moun-
tain citizens pay a supplemental
tax that is almost half the rate of
Kings Mountain's property tax
rate of 40 cents. “We passed a $6.1
million bond issue for schools and
we hear there’s a $600,000 short-
fall, ”’ he said.
“Our bond money in the late
1980's put us in the driver’s seat
for our school construction
projects which we're enjoying to-
day but it went to pay for needs,
not wants,” said Hawkins.
Senior Center
A new Senior Recreational
Center would be shared by the
city’s aging and recreation de-
partments and the city would
probably have to mount a public
drive for funds to help pay for it,
Aging Director Monty Thornburg
said.
‘Thornburg has completed an
application for a $250,000 match-
ing grant but has estimated the
facility could cost up to $1 mil-
lion.
The proposed 13,240 square
feet facility would include a jun-
ior gym/dining room and admin-
istrative offices in a five acre set-
ting at the corner of King and
Watterson Streets.
Thornburg said the new facil-
ity would create a level of service
necessary for an increasing num-
ber of senior citizens.
Thornburg said if the grant
isn’t approved that he will apply
again next year.
Fire Department
Several projects that could be
serious needs in the future due to
annexation could be the building
of a satellite station on both the
West and East side of town, Chief
Frank Burns said. The 3,600
square feet buildings would re-
quire one acre lots and would free
up space at the present facility at
City Hall. The city recently pur-
chased a new fire truck at cost of
$236,000 with the second of five
equal payments to be paid in the
next budget year.
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CHERRYVILLE, NC 28021
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Water/Sewer
Water/Sewer Department
Supt. Walt Ollis said a major need
of the city will be the running of
an additional larger water line
from the Ellison Water Plant to the
city but the No. 1 priority in the
upcoming budget year will be in-
stalling lines, aerators, and mix-
ers in Basin 3 at Pilot Creek Waste
Treatment plant, a state mandate.
Engineer Al Moretz said the city
is currently dechlorinating at the
plant to improve capacity. He said
the current main water line from
the lake to town is 32 years old.
City manager Jimmy Maney sug-
gested that the city could phase
in the water line construction over
a five year period.
“We have to fix the No. 3 basin
or our pumping capacity permit
will drop from 6 million gallons
per day to four million,” said
Ollis. Both Ollis and Moretz said
the new water line into town from
the lake would not follow the old
route.
Maney suggested that Council
tour the city facilities to assess the
needs before they starting pencil-
ing in costs and nailing down pri-
orities for the budget.
Davidson Lake
Maney encouraged Council to
make a decision on what to do
with Davidson Lake, which he
said was no longer the asset it
once was. “Market it or lease it for
a campground facility,” he said.
Maney suggested that the mayor
appoint a committee to look seri-
ously at the lake property which
could generate revenue for the
city and more tourism to the area.
Downtown revitalization
Kathy Neely of the Kings
Mountain Business and Profes-
sional Association suggested a
task force to actively pursue the
creation of more business down-
town. “There isn’t a store in town
who offers souvenirs from the
Kings Mountain Battleground,”
she said, noting that businesses
could capitalize on the historical
emphasis of Kings Mountain.
Electric Department
Savings from the new Peak
Generation Plant on Gaston Street
totaled $350,147 through January
1998, Maney said. He said the city
will pay off the $1.75 million gen-
erators on time and then will start
realizing savings which can be
used for other projects. Ken Rada,
of Duke Power Company, illus-
trated how a power pool is pro-
viding a market for all customers
The mayor used a stoplight to
time the presenters. A green light
meant the speaker was on go, the
yellow light meant he needed to
speed up his or her remarks and
the red light meant time was out.
Library
The new children’s wing at
Mauney Memorial Library will
add 1,953 square feet to the exist-
ing facility. City Council pledged
$100,000 and the Ollie Harris Sr.
family pledged $100,000 to lead
the campaign effort which has al-
ready attained 2/3 of the goal.
Cemetery
A Redi-built Colirinboritnn of
Georgia Marble is proposed at
Veterans Garden at Mountain
Rest Cemetery. A memorial wall
would honor those who died in
World War 1, World War II, Ko-
rean War and Vietnam War. A
new entrance gate would dupli-
cate the Suber Gate and would be
called H. C. Dwelle Gate. The
$57,000 costs of the improve-
ments would also include resur-
facing of streets.
Capital improvements
Maney said that the need for
capital improvements over the
next five years totals $15.7 million
but Council would have to priori-
tize because the capital needs far
outweigh the money. He said the
new police department is a big
priority for 1998-99 and the new
senior center, to be built by city
and private funds, would be a
five year project, at least. He said
he is currently reviewing a first
draft of a contract with
Cablevision for a new franchise
agreement and called the Com-
munity Improvements Program
list supplied by department
heads not “a wish list.”
“The challenge before you is to
address the mandates and then
prioritize the rest,” he told Coun-
Page 9A
cil. Maney said a big ticket item
in the new budget will be $50,000
for adam inspection at Moss Lake
and he acknowledged that the
city may have to look at more
lease purchase agreements to
fund projects.
“We don’t want to raise taxes
and we don’t want to raise utility
costs,” he said.
Maney estimated the cost of
bringing a new water line from
the lake to town would run $4
million. He said Kings Mountain
water rates are low. “We're say-
ing we're in the money now but
it may dry up in a few years and
it may not hurt to go up a little on
water rates and set that money
aside for the new line,” he told the
board.
Maney also talked about ac-
countability in billing and said
customers continue to call City
Hall to “check on my power bill”
since a software error was discov-
ered last week. “We will restore
confidence that billing is done
properly,” he said.
Another big ticket item for the
next budget year could be a hefty
increase to Kings Mountain for
treatment of sewage at the
Gastonia Crowders Creek Waste
Treatment plant.
Monday closing date
on Ingle's property
The owner of property on
Oak Grove Road that Ingles
Super Markets holds an option
to buy said Monday is the ex-
pected closing date for sale of
the property.
"No news is supposed to be
good news," said Judy Scism,
who said she hoped to hear
from realtors handling the sale
on Monday.
Planning Director Steve
Killian said the city has had no
contact recently with Ingles but
that the city had authorized the
submittal of a community block
grant to help the firm to pay for
the cost of running sewer to the
property. Killian said the city
asked Glenn Rhodes of
Isothermal Council of
Governments to write the grant.
The city also rezoned the prop-
erty and annexed it as part of
the city of Kings Mountain.
"They are probably waiting
on the grant because the cost of
sewer installation, right-of-
ways and easements could run
upwards of $750,000," Killian
estimated.
KM's Schwantes third
in state 3A diving meet
Kings Mountain's Tim
Schwantes finished third in the
state 3A diving meet Friday and
Saturday at Chapel Hill.
Derek Wilson finished fifth
and Chris Wilson seventh. In
the girls division, Tiffany Ely
was seventh and Abby Haynes
eighth.
In swimming action, Naoki
Nishyama placed 14th in the
100 yard butterfly. Drew
Thomas and the 400 yard
freestyle relay team (Thomas,
Marty Goforth, David Angeles
and Nishyama) also participat-
ed.
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