Thursday, April 1, 1999
Kings Mountain Hall of
Fame member Grace Page
threw out the first pitch at
Monday night's Kings
Mountain-Burns baseball game
at Lancaster Field. co
Jones to be inducted
into KM Hall of Fame
Former Kings
Mountain
High and
University of
North
Carolina ten-
nis All-
v | American
E 4 Bryan Jones
will be inducted into the Kings
Mountain Sports Hall of Fame
April 26 at KMHS. 1B
“First Charter to host
county grid jamboree
Sr First Charter:Bank-has an-...:.....
nounced plans to host an an-
- nual football jamboree featur-
ing the four Cleveland County
high schools against some of
the top football powers in the
state. 1B
poy
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KMMS students get
look at world of work
Kings Mountain Middle
School students got a first-
hand look at the world of work
Tuesday during BellSouth's
Work Shadow program at
Neisler Work Center in Shelby
and Shannon-Bradley NPA
Center in Bessemer City. 7A
Kings Mountain churches
plan Easter celebrations
Numerous
churches in the
area are plan-
ning special
Maundy
Thursday, Good
Friday and
Easter Sunday
services. 11A.
Jessie Grier, 47
Harold Herndon, 81
Sara Black, 58
Eloise Clary, 80
Mary Butler, 67
Edna Dobblins, 89
Marshall Mullinax, 65
Minnie Wright, 82
Louise Harry, 82
Kimberly Smart, 35
2-3A
vesesnssssessase
Vol. 111 No. 13
KINGS MOUNTAIN :
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Since 1889
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STL xk 1805, Yad 1 hour:
20 piace battery in
smoke detector.
50 Cents
KM looking at sewer rate hike
A layout on expected water and sew-
er rate increases to pay for capital ex-
penditures is on the agenda for a spe-
cial meeting April 12 of City Council.
City Manager Jimmy Maney, work-
ing on options to present to Council,
said the City of Gastonia has indicated
there will be no increase in the new
fiscal year to Kings Mountain for treat-
ment of sewage at the Crowders Creek
Wastewater Treatment Plant.
Mayor Scott Neisler, reporting on a
meeting with Gastonia officials to at-
tempt to negotiate a lower rate, said
Kings Mountain pays the inside indus-
trial rate which Gastonia upped by 18
percent in the 1998-99 budget. Kings
Mountain did not pass the increase on
to citizens.
Maney told City Council Tuesday
night that he is is looking at a rate that
would address capital needs but not
“overburden citizens.” Council then
okayed at Maney’s recommendation
the hiring of a professional firm to
evaluate the 1974 water line that runs
to town from Moss Lake.. Maney said
the evaluation is a “must” to deter-
mine the life expectancy of the line.
“I can do the rate study inhouse but
we need to know if we can establish a
fund for a second line each budget
year or if we need to do it now,” he
said.
Maney said engineers can run sam-
ples and take a look at pipe deteriora-
tion and other concerns.
Maney estimated the evaluation cost
could run $10,000 and suggested that
the board let bids for the job at the
next meeting. Maney estimated the
evaluation of the line could take about
60 days.
“We have to start somewhere,” he
said.
In a related report, Maney said the
city is not eligible for sewer and water
grant funds because of its monthly
average residential rate of $17.63 to
customers using 3,000 gallons of wa-
ter. Minimum combined rate required
See Hike, 2A
ALAN HODGE/THE HERALD
_Getting ready to kick off the Foreign. Language Festival held “Fhureday night in Barnes Auditorium...
at Kings Mountain High School, flag bearers (left to right) Tyler Scruggs, Ashley Bell, and Zach
Putnam were representing Guatemala, Bolivia, and’Mexico, respectively.
INTERNATIONAL FEST
Students show what they've learned about other cultures
BY ALAN HODGE
Staff writer
The stage at Kings Mountain High School's
Barnes Auditorium was awash with international
color Thursday evening as students from local
schools presented a musical tribute to interna-
tional understanding. The first ever Foreign
Language Festival saw over 100 students from
third grade up to high school perform their rou-
tines before a packed house of nearly 1,000 spec-
tators.
Organized by Spanish teacher Adriana
Machiavello, the festival was the outstanding re-
sult of a lot of hard work and planning.
"We began organizing the festival soon after
Christmas," said Machiavello. "We feel that the
festival is not only good for the student's self-es-
Potential Senior Center sites
to be presented to Council
Potential sites for a new Kings Mountain Senior
Center are expected to be presented by City
Manager Jimmy Maney April 12 to Kings
Mountain City Council.
Maney and Architect Glen Stephens showed
conceptual drawings for the proposed $1 million
multi-purpose facility to City Council Tuesday
night.
ey said he is looking for at least four acres of
; ~ property.
Director of Aging Monty Thornburg said plans
are also shaping up for housing on an adjoining
acre at the same site for at least eight residents. On
large dwelling would include eight private bed-
rooms and baths and shared living room and
kitchen space. The project would be administered
by Isothermal Planning Commission.
Stephens described the new senior center as “cost &
wo
effective.”
Included in the spacious layout are five offices, a
break room, nurse’s office, 9x12 reception area,
14x30 lobby, gift shop, 18x30 kitchen, two 30x30
classrooms, a 86x42 multi purpose room/auditori-
um, gym, craft room, pool room, card room and
many features attractive to senior citizens.
Sliding doors, handicapped equipped bathrooms
including toilet seats to accommodate wheelchairs
See Center 2A
teem and social skills, but helps them understand
other cultures."
A native of Cuba, Machiavello grew up in
Spain before coming to the Kings Mountain area
to teach at Grover and Bethware Schools.
The festival got under way with a flag proces-
sion of 21 children dressed in Latin American cos-
tume. Representing nations like El Salvador and
Guatemala, the kids took the stage and per-
formed a song and dance routine.
"The festival helps me understand Spanish bet-
ter and how other people live," said Bethware 5th
grader Jessica Rabb. "I want to go to El Salvador
someday."
Though she was excited and nervous about
taking the stage for the first time, Rabb and her
classmates looked like professional perfoymers in
See Fest, 2A
Andrew Mauney House
designated as a landmark
- The designation of the Andrew Mauney House as
an historic landmark by City Council Tuesday is a
first for the city and for Cleveland County.
The Historic Landmarks Commission, formed last
April, asked for the landmark status of the 1 1/2 sto-
ry frame bungalow built by the town’s first mayor in
1872 at 114 N. Battleground Avenue.
The city’s oldest unchanged structure, an artifact
representing early construction methods, was the
first mercantile operation built by two of the city’s
founders.
Current owner Mary Neisler plans to undo any al-
terations and prepare the building as a museum.
With the landmark designation, Neisler can begin
the work which will be eligible for local property tax
deferalls and state income tax credits for eligible
property improvements under the N. C. building
codes.
Councilman Clavon Kelly asked if the house
would be moved from its present site to the old post
office site on East Mountain Street. Mayor Scott
Neisler said there were no plans to move the house
from the Central School Historic District
The circa 1872 dwelling is associated with the set-
tlement and entrepreneurship of William A.
Mauney. William and his brother, Jacob, moved to
Kings Mountain after purchasing several acres to
See Huuse, 2A
Council delays
placing limits
on ABC Board
The appointment of a fifth member on the Kings
Mountain ABC board is still up in the air.
After a lengthy debate Tuesday,City Council
Tuesday night postponed action until April 27.
The discussion was led off by Ward 4
Councilman Gene White, opposed to the reappoint-
ment of 12-year chairman Andy ;
Neisler and a champion of term
limits which the board approved
last April when it expanded the
ABC board from three to five
members.
Mayor Scott Neisler and sev-
eral council members again
Tuesday indicated they want to bE asl
drop term limits. White asked for ~~ A. NEISLER
the delay on the vote since Councilman Rick
Murphrey was absent and City Attorney Mickey
Corry concurred, noting that an ordinance would
have to be prepared. :
“We don’t have limit terms on any other board,”
‘said the mayor, Norma Bridges, Phil Hager and
Jerry Mullinax.
But Councilmen Bob Hayes and Clavon Kelly
joined White, objecting to a reversal of a prior deci-
sion. “Ten years is too long for anyone to stay in
one position even if they are doing a good job,”
said Hayes.
“This is a matter of integrity for the Kings
Mountain City Council,” said White who was chal-
lenged by Bridges and Mullinax, who questioned
White’s “blunt approach.” White apologized.
“I won't argue some of the figures you are pre-
senting but I don’t like this intimidation approach,
back off,” said Mullinax to White.
White charged “blatant political favoritism” in
the appointment of the ABC chairman.
“They’re now saying they want to reverse their
vote and I think it’s so Andy Neisler, the mayor’s
brother, can be appointed,” said White.
The mayor said his brother, a Kings Mountain
lawyer, is the only chairman the ABC board has had
since it began in 1987 and says it’s nothing person-
al. “Andy has done a good job and there aren’t a lot
of qualified people who want to serve.”
“1 hate to see other councils handcuffed by term
limits,” said the mayor.
See Council, 2A
GARY STEWART / THE HERALD
One and a half year-old Faithe Brown
doesn’t quite know what to think about the
Easter bunny, who paid a visit to Faithe’s
class at Bolin Day Care Tuesday afternoon.
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