carve the trails. During that pe-
riod, rangers will be taking peo-
le on tours of the area.
“This will be one of the best
hiking systems in the state,”
Sox said. “There are outstand-
ing views as well as a wide va-
riety of wildlife to see.”
When completed, the joined
trail systems will stretch for
over 40 miles in length.
Gazebo will be busy place
the street is blocked off and they're allowed to
use chalk to draw on the streets.
“The wall seems to be the focal point of down-
town,” Hord said, “so we're going to let the chil-
Recreation Director Tripp Hord outlined some
“exciting” upcoming events at the new down-
town gazebo at Tuesday night's meeting of City
Council.
“As we move into warm weather, we're mak-
ing a commitment to merchants that the city is se-
rious about attracting tourism to the city,” he
said.
Among the activities slated in the next several
months include a trip with the Easter bunny to
area day-cares on April 21, and the city’s first
“big” egg hunt on Saturday, April 22 at the gaze-
bo
Hord said over 1,200 eggs with toys and treats
inside will be hidden, and several eggs will have
bigger prizes inside. Four eggs will include $25
savings bonds courtesy of Fidelity Bank.
grow up since.
He said city workers will immediately begin
clearing the creek banks and adding more riff-
raff.
dinances allow for “passive” recreation such as
walking tracks, picnic tables and picnic shelters.
Development is not allowed.
Commissioner Gene White, who was director
of the Redevelopment Commission, said most of
the land is located between Mt. Zion, St. Paul,
dren do some drawing too.”
“just spread out on the lawn.”
good condition.
City Attorney Mickey Corry said greenway or-
A gigantic family event will take place on May
7 at 2 p.m. when the popular 15-piece Frank Love
Orchestra performs at the gazebo. Hord invites
the public to bring lawn chairs or blankets and
In response to a recent city policy to “rent out”
the gazebo, Hord said two weddingsanda
gospel sing have been scheduled in May. The
gazebo is available for $20 plus a $20 clean-up de-
posit which will be refunded if the area is left in
A big Fourth of July celebration, a Tourism
which would allow them to construct walking
and hiking trails to tie-in all three parks.
Sox said Crowders Mountain is in the process
of surveying and searching titles of the Plonk
property, and he hopes the park can exercise an
option to purchase the land by early fall.
Shirley Brutko of the Kings Mountain Branch
of the Cleveland County Chamber, said the city
and parks have tremendous possibilities to
See Parks, 3A
speak, each candidate was in-
troduced with a biographical
sketch by Sloan. He also in-
formed each speaker when their
allotted three minutes was up.
Mary Accor, Bethware School
principal, went to the podium
first. Accor declared herself “an
advocate for all children” and
said that merger was a harsh
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Thursday, March 30, 2000 i
i rs is Sei Scans (
9 o : BY ALAN HODGE i
° : Kings M in Distri
Hawkins: We'll sue if we have to | swe Coty School, and Shelby City Schools. Thee.
: : i rs ters outlined i 5 he ding
4 a Ban HODGE last Tuesdays meeting at One factor that could work in The Cleveland County Board of their fh 3 fo Rs had resending :
aff Writer Cleveland Community College the f. i q issioner’ il Mi OU Input iio a merged system, :
j g e favor of the Kings ommissioner’s attorney Gil Middlebrooks gave We received the letters but haven't had ti j
Circle th where the Cleveland County Mountain, Shelby City, and another slide show on school merger Tuesday af- study their contents” C 1 vent naqime 0
ircle the wagons and keep Board of Commissioners voted Cleveland C ternoon, and once again commissi Y The nis, Crawley said
Th : ounty school ’ g nmissioners declared The Kings Mountain 1 :
on igh ing, or just throw up 4-1 to move forward with plans boards- which are unified in they haven't made up their minds to merge the gestions Thes el —. yas
yo ans a surrender. for merger. The vote came after their opposition to merger- is three school systems in the county. tem “Cleveland Cou : hein Ae |
at’s the choice facing the attorney Gil Middlebrooks’ pre- the fact that there is still a little “This meeting is strictly for input,” chairman fect] ny Schools, making the ef- |
three separate school systems in sentation where he recommend- time for them to work on a last Jim Crawley said ee a run AGL IH SU
7 p 2 . 0 . . .
Cleveland County in the face of ed merger take place. See Merger, 3A Prior to Middlebrooks’ presentation, letters hii] uy ™ 2 eam board of entioht
were presented to the commissioners from the Sleciad irom all shies Systems,
- See Lawyer, 3A i
fad =
KM parks Count didate
h pital] unity candiadaies
opeto
: i
|
pope a speak on merger
J rails
Jn at forum in KM
BY AL DGE ;
Staff Wri
aff Writer BY ALAN HODGE punishment for previous over-
There's a wilderness wonder- i gs dln) Suns re ne
: achievemen
land coming around the moun- The Kings Mountain scale. She went on to term
tains- Crowders and Kings W ! ur i i i
Mountain that is y oman ri hosted a “Public merger a “thing” and said the
: orum with County “things cannot touch youn
| - Commissioner Candidates Hes Tn
According to Crowders 2000” Monday night that “My thoughts are for the
Mountain State Park superin- packed their clubhouse. hopes and cares of working
tendent Joe Sox, the final steps Candidates who spoke at the families,” Accor said.
are underway to add as many event included Joe Hendrick, Current county commission
as 1,500 acres to-a 15,000 acre Joe Cabaniss, Ronnie Hawkins, chairman and past dean of the
wilderness link that will join Jim Crawley, Mary Accor, Tom Gardner-Webb University
Crowders with Kings Mountain Bridges, Ken Jones, Ralph School of Business Jim Crawley
State Park in South Carolina. Gilbert, Jr., Kenneth Ledford, took his three minutes to stress
Toe bridge on provide i) Morrow, and William his philosophy of planning for
hiking, camping and other alker. the fut d continued
titers activity to the area a a 4 The session was moderated dn wi on ievelant |
which already sees several hun- GARY STEWART / TH ~ by Dr. John “Chip” Sloan and Count :
es E HERALD PY ouniy, i
dred thowsand visiorsannial SPRUCING UP KM - CIiff Laurich, left, and Donald Dorsett of Ceelay Landscapes 4 out mulch afforded each candidate three “I've worked on plans for
ik AR and weed control in the flower hed at the Kings Mountain city limits sign on Highway 216 minutes to address a list of top- land use, water, and strategic ul
“Basically we have an option south. They are working with the city to beautify all entrances to the city as part of Operation os Which ihcluded what they planning for the entire county,”
‘on property once owsied by the Spring Cleanup. ; k considered to be the most im- Crawley said. oe
Plonk frmitly along the Kirke ie & : : : portant function of the office of Regarding merger, Crawley
Mountain ridge line,” Sox said. ® / » SS on g 5 commissioner, what goals they said he felt he didn’t have time To
mran™ City designates first Sreenway | Sottaialse Sinieecens
checking the aren for any ort : ey supported district repre- all the details of it.
role ait to finalize ite sentation, should school merger Joe Cabaniss took his three 0
oxect shapeand size” By G ARY STEWART Bynum Chapel and Good Hope churches. occur, what is the future of minutes to address the econom- |
Editor of The Herald City Commissioner Howard Shipp, who served health care in Cleveland ic condition of the county. The y
The Visginia-based : : : : with White on the greenway committee and County, and what is the state of eight-year veteran of the county fh
Conservation Fund came on City Council made history again Tuesday night made the motion to designate the area as perpet- the infrastructure in Cleveland commission, president and h
board the project around 1997 when it designated three parcels of land between ya] greenway, said he was “so excited” about the County. Not all candidates ad- ~~ CEO of First Federal Bank, said
when they negotiated an option ~~ King, Watterson and Cansler Streets as the city’s project “that I could just shout.” : dressed all issues in their allot- | that the most important func- | !
with the Plonks. Two state first perpetual greenway. ) While Council and citizens in attendance ex- ay ne. ; tion of his office was to contin- )
trusts have approved grants for Council authorized City Manager Jimmy pressed excitement about the greenway, others e event was organized by ue promoting the cultural and 4
RE Maney to obtain a preliminary “concept draw- present also were impressed with a presentation the public affairs committee of economic development and !
an eight-month option on the ing” for the greenway, which Maney said could made by three area parks which could make the Kinss Mormntain Woman's growth of Cleyeland County, j
Property eich it catsently be: be ready by the next Council meeting, He sug- Kings Mountain the “gateway” to some of the Club, which is headed by Cabaniss cited growth statistics
ing title checked as well as sur- gested the plan then be taken to a “community best parks in the two Carolinas. Noma Brides : for Cleveland (founty and said
aed ; meeting,” perhaps at a church in the area, to re- Superintendents Joe Sox of Crowders There are several strong is- he was “very concerned “ about
ceive citizen input. : Mountain State Park, Frank Couch of Kings Suesth Cleyeond County and Jobs for young people.
Ora the onlin oimplots The area became city property several years Mountain State Park. and Erin Broadbent of we wanted the people to be able Cabaniss also felt that per capi- ;
Le Lo ago through the old Redevelopment Commission. Kings Mountain National Military Park gave re- to hear what the candidates had ta income in the county was i
opefully in early fall, Maroveat] some nitrati was placed along the © : Se Hoe to say,” Bridges said. “less than it should be.” i
tional year will be needed to y P 8g ports on their activities and their joint effort to Alor dence IH 4
creek banks but admitted it has been allowed to obtain property along the Kings Mountair ige ter drawing lots to select Veteran municipal officer and
the order in which they would current county commissioner i
Joe Hendrick said he felt that
education and reeducation of
the people of Cleveland County
was the most important issue
currently facing commissioners.
“We need fully utilized facili-
ties and planning for new
schools,” Hendrick said.
See Forum, 3A
w— rrmr———
#00 Loh
Two giant pinatas will be available for break-
ing, and Hord since the city is being creative with
Appreciation Day, shag lessons, Back to the Beach
celebration, and a Back To School party are other
events that will be scheduled this summer.
ALAN HODGE/THE HERALD
the painting of a giant mural on the side of the
Plonk Brothers building across the street from the
gazebo, the children will also get creative when
: Attorney Gil Middiebrooks (standing) explains some points during his school merger input ses- i
sion Tuesday with the Cleveland County commissioners. The commission chambers were filled to : ;
See Gazebo, 3A capacity with concerned citizens.
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