Newspapers / The Kings Mountain Herald … / May 6, 1999, edition 1 / Page 1
Part of The Kings Mountain Herald (Kings Mountain, N.C.) / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
Thursday, May 6, 1999 Vol. 111 No. 17 _ Gunshot that injured bank employee Libby Blanton shattered glass door at First Charter Bank in Kings Mountain. Mountaineer golfers ‘win Western Regional Kings Mountain High's golf team won the Western Regional Championship in the North Carolina High School Athletic Association Championship next Monday and Tuesday at Tradition Golf Club in Charlotte. 4A Mounties eye playoffs in three spring sports Kings Mountain High's girls softball team won the ~ Southwestern 3A Conference championship, the soccer team is playing for the SWC champi- onship tonight, and the baseball team finished third in the. SWC, giving all three teams a berth in the upcoming state playoffs. 4A Grover residents protest modular home Residents of the Spring Acres subdivision in Grover protested to Grover Town Board Monday night about the placement of a modular home in their commu- nity. 8A KMHS students win Dover scholarships Kings Mountain High School seniors were among the win- ners of the Dover Foundation scholarships announced this week. 9A Volunteering enriching for KM Senior Director Monty Thornburg, Director of the Kings Mountain Aging Program, is also a volunteer for Hospice of Cleveland County. 1B osc gn ng el gp A A Uf ny EE i erald Since 1889 By GARY STEWART Editor of The Herald A Kings Mountain bank em- ployee was shot in an attempt- ed bank robbery Wednesda morning. : According to FBI spokesper- son Joanne Morley, Libby Blanton was apparently work- ing alone in First Charter Bank at 7:59 a.m. when a Black male approached the bank and banged on the door on the northeast corner of the build- ing. Mrs. Blanton went to the “door to inform him that the bank was not open, and he shot through the glass door, shatter- ing the glass and striking Mrs. Blanton. According to accounts pieced together from the FBI and Kings Mountain Police, the suspect 5 wn 50 Cents ran into a wooded area behind the bank and Mrs. Blanton ran to East Gold Street and flagged down a motorist, who took her to Kings Mountain Police Department a block and a half away. She was then transported to Kings Mountain Hospital. Although the hospital would not release any pfficial details of her injuries, spokesperson Regina Gregg said she would be released before noon. . “She is doing great but is very scared,” Gregg said. “She thanks everyone for their prayers. She was very, very lucky.” The Emergency Room area was full of concerned family members and friends. Mrs. Blanton's father, Tom Trott, said he wanted “to thank everyone who came to see about Libby,” and thanked everyone for their prayers. The suspect is described as a Black male, 6-feet tall and weighing around 200 pounds. He was wearing a black stock- ing mask, dark blue shirt and black jacket. According to Mobley, he made threatening remarks to Mrs. Blanton prior to shooting through the glass door. Mobley said the bank has double outside doors, a small walk-through area and another set of doors inside the building. From accounts she received, she said Mrs. Blanton was standing between the two sets of doors when she was shot. She said the bullet or bullets did not reach the inside glass doors. Mobley said it was not yet certain what type of weapon was used, or how many shots were fired. She said the incident lr el ng wp ll AAT RG QU) SG lo ro Bank employee shot in attempted robbery probably took a matter of sec- onds. “She (Mrs. Blanton) said she thought it was some type of se- mi-automatic weapon,” Mobley aid. “From what I know she was the only employee in the bank.” Canine units were called from the Shelby Police Department to search for the suspect. The bank was closed for the day, according to Kevin Toomb, Marketing Director for First Charter, Concord. The bank was secured for law enforcement personnel who were still seek- ing clues at The Herald's press | time. “We're very thankful that she wasn’t hurt badly,” Toomb said. “She was conscious the whole time. This was an unfortunate incident.” “and will compete ll 3 more students suspended Two were preparing hit list, dai OX another had gun in book bag = 3 A 1] ; i By GARY STEWART 0 Editor of The Herald Christine Morrison, left, has cared for her son, Butch, for 47 years é Morrison Herald’s Mother of Year Three more Kings Mountain students - all from 4 i the Middle School and all under the age of 16 - A { were suspended during the past week. : Two girls were suspended Friday after they were seen compiling a “hit list.” According to Supt. Dr. Robert McRae, all the names on the list were of students. 1% A third Middle School student was suspended 8 Monday after a knife was found in a book bag. ; : : i McRae said school administrators were tipped off ° : by other students. In addition to the suspension, the incident was reported to the Kings Mountain | Police Department. Meanwhile, the Kings Mountain High School freshman who was suspended for 10 days recent- ly after allegedly telling a teacher that he and oth- LY ALAN HODGE Living at 809 Oak Grove did't zive him a chance. Iitold ers were on his “hit list” has been suspended for Staff Writer Road her son Butch, them Loa to take him hothe. the remainder of the year. McRae said the three Morrison is anything but "just a Finally, a doctor from Hickory finden Speed x the Midis School cond : mom." Much of her daily rou- said if would be all right." fo a similar fate at the conclusion of their 10- The 1999 Kings Mountain tine is involved with caring for Morrison, whose husband ay suspension. Herald Mother of the Year is Christine Morrison. Presented with a dozen roses and a plaque naming her to that honor, she responded with what must be the understatement of the year- "I'm just a mom." Butch as she has for 47 years. Born with spina bifida, Butch requires constant medical care and attention. "As soon as he was'born, I knew something wasn't right," Morrison said. "The doctors passed away in 1975, looks at least a decade younger than her - 75 years. Keeper of an immacu- late house and yard, she was a textile designer during her working career with Neisler See Mother, 3A McRae said the students who were seen com- {| piling a list of names wrote “Hit List” at the top of their paper. “I don’t believe they had any in- tention of carrying it out, but we're treating it very seriously,” he said. See Students (| McDowell KM Teacher of Year By GARY STEWART Editor of the Herald Since he was in the fourth grade at Compact School, Danny Ray McDowell has known he wanted to be a school teacher and make a difference in chil- dren’s lives. The 27-year veteran fourth grade teacher at Bethware Elementary School was honored for his dedication and years of service by being named Kings Mountain Teacher of the Year at Monday night's Service Awards Banquet at Kings Mountain High School. He will be entered into competition for State Teacher of the Year for the 1999-2000 school ear. y ‘While winning State Teacher of the Year would be a great accomplishment (McDowell is a two-time State Math Teacher of the Year), he says his greatest FIRST NATIONAL BANK 2 i “University. He's always taught fourth grade. satisfaction is working with his students and parents and seeing the youngsters progress into the fifth grade. : “Being named Teacher of the Year is a great hon- or,” he said, “but I give it right back to my kids and my parents. They are just the best in the world.” McDowell began his teaching career at Bethware 27 years ago, fresh out of Appalachian State And, ironically, it was his fourth grade teacher that inspired him to teach. “When I was down at Compact I had a fourth grade teacher named Mrs. Fowler,” he recalled. “She showed me right then and there how a good teacher can make a difference. That started me. “Then, when I got to Kings Mountain High School See McDowell, 3A Danny McDowell, left, accepts Teacher of the yaar Award from last year’s recipient, Leslie artin Shelby AY RINE SITIES 106 S. Lafayette St. (EPP) 529 New Hope Rd. 865-1111 Kings Mountain 300 W. Mountain St. (REVS
The Kings Mountain Herald (Kings Mountain, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
May 6, 1999, edition 1
1
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75