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OPINION
Page 4 Section A
Kings Mountain Herald
June 18, 1998
Andy Dedmon
NC House
of Representatives
General Assembly’s
‘unofficial’rules can
trip up lawmakers
Two of the most important rules in passing legis-
lation are unofficial ones. They are not written down
anywhere. But they can trip an unsuspecting law-
maker just as easily as the official rules that govern
the General Assembly.
The first rule: the devil is, indeed, in the details.
The second is the Law of Unlimited Conse-
quences. In plain terms, even the best-intentioned
law can have unforeseeable effects.
Governor Jim Hunt's proposed overhaul of the
juvenile justice system is a prime example of how
the devil is in the details. Almost everyone agrees
that juvenile courts and training schools are strain-
ing to handle today’s problems. There is no agree-
ment, yet, on what exactly should be done.
, Basically, Hunt's plan would hold parents ac-
countable when their children break the law. They
could be required to attend court hearings with their
child, pay court costs and make sure their child com-
plies with court orders or probably requirements.
Parents also could be required to attend fomily
counseling or parenting classes.
Other goals of the governor's package are hold-
ing violent juvenile criminals accountable with
- swift, sure punishment and making sure all offend-
' ers who break the law face consequences.
Finally, Hunt proposed overhauling the juvenile
justice system to give courts and law enforcement
officials the tools they need.
Those are reasonable - and even worthy - goals.
To accomplish them, Hunt recommended statewide
guidelines and standards to make punishment of
juvenile offenders more consistent. The governor
also called for additional space in training schools
and detention centers and grants to community
groups.
Translating those broad ideas into workable leg-
islation is difficult.
Committees in both the House and Senate have
been grinding away for several weeks, through sev-
eral meetings a day, on the juvenile justice bill.
Working line-by-line and section-by-section, the:
committees have combed through the 206-page bill
looking for problems.
They uncovered several sticky details.
For example, the bill contained no clear conse-
quences for juveniles who broke probation. The
measure called for a minimum six-month stay for
juveniles sent to training schools and three months’
probation when they were released. But it did not
spell out what would happen if they broke proba-
tion. Several lawmakers said the law should include
a minimum punishment.
Another detail that must be worked out is the
amount that lawmakers will allocate for juvenile
justice reform. Hunt proposed $40 million.
While the House and SEnate committees were
being reminded the details can bedevil the best in-
tentions, the full House got a lesson in the Law of
Unintended Consequences. On a 92-15 vote, the
House narrowed a law passed last year that was
designed to make it easier to collect taxes on money
earned by out-of-state sports stars and entertainers
in North Carolina. The measure required all com-
panies that contracted with out-of-state workers
making $600 or more to withhold 4 percent of their
income,
The problem was that large, multi-state building
contractors found the law burdensome. In short, a
law that was supposed to make it easier to collect
taxes was more trouble than it was worth.
So the House limited the withholding require-
ment to athletes and entertainers who made more
than $5,000. With that, lawmakers hoped they had
taken care of the Law of Unintended Consequences
- at least this time.
Wes Grooms -—----—- Publisher
Gary Stewart -——- Editor
Elizabeth Stewart - News Editor
Aron R. Goss -——- Marketing Director
Stacy Cobb ——-- Ad Manager
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JUDGING HOGS - Chris Johnson is an expert at barbecuing but also as a judge for whole hog
contests. His team, the All Niters, is a consistent winner in barbecuing events.
Churches, schools, leaders and friends
make Kings Mountain great community
The greatest treasures we have in life are not the
things that we accumulate around us, but rather the
relationships we enjoy. I have thought a lot about
that truth as I near the end of my ministry in Kings
Mountain on June 30. My family and I have spent
five wonderful years of our lives sharing, not only
with a great church family, but with a great com-
munity family as well. Were you to look at our
checking and savings account balances right now,
you might conclude we didn’t get much being in
Kings Mountain. But when we measure by the
friends we have and the experiences we have shared
together, my family is leaving with immeasurable
riches. Would you indulge me and allow me to share
a few?
Kings Mountain is blessed with an unusual spirit
of ecumenism among its churches. Never have I
served a.community where the pastors of all de-
nominations support one another and cooperate
with each other as I have seen in Kings Mountain.
And because of that respect and trust, this commu-
nity is able to have a strong crisis assistance minis-
try, an excellent community wide evangelistic cru-
sade, Lenten and Thanksgiving worship experi-
ences together, and more. I pray these relationships
will not only be maintained, but will grow and be-
come more and more inclusive as pastors and
churches recognize the power of a united witness
for Christ.
Kings Mountain is also blessed with an excellent
public school system. Of all the school systems I
have been associated with in my 26 years of minis-
try, Kings Mountain is the best by far. Not only is
there a genuine pursuit of excellence in education
by the administration, faculty, and staff, but there
is a real effort to build character and include the
church and other institutions in the process of build-
ing well-rounded lives among our youth. I am per-
sonally thankful for the opportunities the schools
have offered my son and for the preparation they
have helped provide for his future. This commu-
nity takes pride in its schools, and I think that comes
partly because it is a community, not county, sys-
tem. It is something worth affording as long as you
are allowed.
Kings Mountain has a good resource of commu-
nity leaders. Through civic club experiences and
Hal Schwantes
Pastor, Central United
Methodist Church
other opportunities, I have come to know a lot of
these leaders personally. Some are truly unsung
heroes as they labor tirelessly for the well-being of
our current and future citizens. There will always
be politics, and there will always be more than one |
opinion on some subjects, but the overwhelming
experience I have had is that community leaders
are giving their best effort for what they hope is best
for Kings Mountain. That is not a political endorse-
ment, but I would encourage you to pray for these
servants of your community as they work on your
behalf.
Out of all these church, school, and community
relationships comes the greatest blessing of this
community: friends and neighbors. I dare not try to
name all the persons in this community who have
been friends and mentors over these five years. They
have been there with their help and their resources
when I needed them. Perhaps most meaningful of
all is the encouragement and trust [ have been given
that have allowed me to contribute, not only as a
pastor, but as a citizen of the community. Being al-
lowed this forum once a month over the past four
years is but one example of such a trust.
In all these things I recognize that the touch of
our Heavenly Father’s hand has had a big part in it
all. It was His leading that led to my coming here in
the first place and His presence in the hearts of so
many here that have touched my life while I have
been here. And I leave with the assurance that God
will lead and bless in my new assignment as well. I
just wanted you all to know that you have inade a
difference in my life, and I am a better person for
having dwelt among you.
From the bottom of my heart, thanks...
Elizabeth Stewart
Kings Mountain Herald
Like Hog Heaven
for Chris Johnson
Ask Kings Mountain's Chris Johnson how it feels
to be a winner in barbecuing, judging whole hogs
or whipping up barbecue fixings and he'll tell you
its like being in hog heaven.
Last weekend Johnson and his All Niters de-
fended their 1996-97 state barbecuing showmanship
championship in Tryon, goodnaturedly lost to an-
other Kings Mountain team, King’s Cooking, but
finished in second place in showmanship and sauce,
fourth in barbecue and third in the pretty pig N. C.
queen hog contest.
He can also tell you the judges’ criteria for the
North Carolina Queen Hog Contest. He was one of
the judges and he said it was tough picking the win-
ner but it was fun.
Other Kings Mountain teams also came home
with prizes from the state championships at Tryon
where 20,000 people looked on and 67 teams of chefs
from all over the United States were on hand to com-
pete in various categories
Johnson didn’t always like to cook but he got the
barbecuing fever about five years ago when he vol-
unteered to cook for a Chamber of Commerce char-
ity fundraiser for Hospice.
He and his team, including two brothers and their
families, took the championship with their show-
manship house designed of scrapwood complete
with a white picket fence and colorful neon signs.
Johnson has worked in the purchasing depart-
ment at Eaton Corporation for 15 years. After work
he practices his winning recipes in the kitchen, pre-
paring delectable sauces to try out at the next cook-
ing events is coming up July 4th in Greenville, S,.
C., at the Red, White and Que celebration, in
Jonesboro, Ga. at the Beaux Arts Beach Festival and
in September at the 1998 Bubblefest in Woodruff,
SC where AllNiters won the whole hog event and
placed fourth among 30 teams in barbecue contests.
It’s family fun for the All Niters. Johnson's two
brothers, Mike and Isabel and daughter, Lindy, and
John Johnson are his team mates and it isn’t unusual
to watch them at some events performing with line
dancers and the Gastonia Hog Chapter of Harley
Davidson bikers.
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SIDEWALK SURVEY
By Elizabeth Stewart
What do you like best about Bible School?
churches.
Boone McDaniel Jacob Bridges Alex Edwards
age 7 age 6 age 7
I like to sing and 1 like to Art is my favorite thing Music and art are my fa-
play outside with new about Bible School. vorite things to do this
friends from four week.
Hope Phongsa
I like everything about
Bible School this week.
Rai Robinson
age 7
We work, read Bible sto-
ries, have snacks and
fun.
age 7
8
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