Newspapers / The Kings Mountain herald. / April 20, 2000, edition 1 / Page 4
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Page 4A Silver lining in merger clouds As I write this column I have no way of knowing what will transpire at the public hearing April 18 to debate the Cleveland County Board of Commissioners’ draft merger plan. I think you already well know the position which our board of education has + taken in oppo- sition to the merger, a posi- tion I certainly support. This column is not intended to de- bate the issues of the merger discussion again. Rather, it is intended to point out some “silver linings” in the stormy clouds of this debate. I know the board would join me in expressing appreciation for the strong support our com- munity has given the Kings Mountain District Schools since late November when the com- missioners announced their in- tent to assess school system consolidation in our county. Over the past five months we have received many positive comments about our system. We have also seen many of you -stand up publicly to support our continued existence - indi- viduals and organizations such as our city council and the local business and professional group. Thank you so much. As I listened to the long line of commentaries at the commis- sioners’ meeting on April 4, I could not help but smile. I wasn’t smiling at the topic - I was smiling at the presenters. Many of them are young adults who understand the value of a small school system with a per- sonal touch. I noticed several approach the commissioners who came through our system as students, a high percentage of whom attended Kings Mountain High'Schiool when I... was principal: As gratifying as it is to see them speak personal- ly for the system, it is even more gratifying to see that they have grown to be responsible contributing members of the community. I was also very proud of the three current students from Kings Mountain High School who spoke that night. Tt is easy for teenagers to lose perspective within an issue about which they feel strongly. These two young men and one young lady spoke with maturity and showed obvious thought had gone in the words they offered. I have no reason to believe that any significant number of stu- dents assigned to KMHS would be reassigned to another high school in a merged system. However, it is reassuring to know that students at our high school feel deeply enough for it that they would not want to leave. We can build the kind of school we want there on the backs of this kind of Student leadership. I have also been proud of the dignity shown by our employ- ees during this stressful time. It is they who have the most rea- son to be unsettled. Their jobs - not so much if they have them, but what they will be - are at stake. They have supported.the system well, and I hope they have come to a better under- standing of the great opportuni- ty we have as KMDS personnel. I am sure some of them think merger would improve things. While I don’t personally see that, they have every right to feel that way if their study of the situation leads them to that point. The lion’s share of what I've heard, however, is very supportive of our system as it is. Finally, I must commend the work of our board of education in this matter. Unless you live or work with one of them, it would be difficult to imagine how much time they are giving to this issue. They are making weighty decisions on your be- half and trying their very best to make them within their un- derstanding of the community’s s wishes. I don’t know what the out- come will be. I do know that, regardless of it, there have been some bright spots in the last few months. I hope more await Bob McRae Superintendent KM Schools 8 8 i E ing out a cousin’s house recently, Kings Mountain's Jerry Bedsole came across the first edition of the Kings Mountain 1 News, a week- us! Herald/Times Herald/Times RRR April 20, 2000 oh Editor: Gary Stewart 739-7496 April 20, 2000 Section A, Page 4 Let’s vote ‘dictators’ To the editor: Citizens of Kings Mountain and Cleveland County: I thought that dictatorship was over in this world when Adolf Hitler died, but I was wrong. It exists right here in Cleveland County, and it goes -under’the name of “Cleveland County Commissioners.” Gary Stewart's editorial in last week's Herald was 100% The Silver Dollar on Grover Road was one of the most popular truck stops in the nation in the 1950s. With the construction of Interstate 85 truck traffic on Highway 29/216 decreased drastically and the restaurant later closed. Original 1952 Kings Mountain News jogs memory of KM people, places While clean- ly paper which began publica- tion on May 28; 1952 snd was the first paper in this area to use what was then a brand new off- set printing process. The paper featured a lot of crisp pictures by Carlisle Studio, and stories and histori- cal notes about businesses in the area. Some of them still ex- ist, and some have fallen by the wayside. (1O{I 300. 10 Longtime KM resident a remember some of these people and places: Jack White (now deceased) was named Judge of City Recorder’s Court, replacing the retiring E.A. Harrill. A new drama on the Battle Kings Mountain was entitled It’s spring and we can hide indoors, cry eyeballs out or break out hanky Though everyone looks for- ward to spring and its lovely blooms, one thing a lot of folks, includ- ing myself, dread is the pollen that comes with all those blossoms. Alan Hod There are lots of things that can go up your nostrils. Some of the good ones are the aroma Staff Writer “The Sword of Gideon.” Barnett & Tignor Garage on North Piedmont Avenue was operated by Guy Barnett and Gene Tignor. Piedmont Drug Store on North Piedmont was operated by Mrs. C.P. Barry. C.E. Warlick Insurance began in 1946 in the home of C.E. Warlick. East King Esso Service was owned by Vernon Crosby and W.E. McCarter. Dixie Theatre was owned by C.E. and D.E. Cash. Bridges Airport, located on what is now Bridges Drive and operated by Glee E. Bridges, of- fered charter service to any- where in the U.S. Piedmont Washerette, operat- ed by Mr. and Mrs. Charles in an hour. City Cab Co. was owned by Frank Roper and G.V. Petty. Drivers were Dutch Goins, G.V. Petty, Clifford Morgan, and Smiley Myers. Oates Shell, operated by of _ Blackie Oates at the corner of East King and Highway 161, of barbecue, the scent of the ocean on a lovely summer day, the smell of clouds of black powder smoke at a battle reen- actment, and last but not least, the wafting smell of bacon friz- zlin’ in a frying pan first thing in the morning. Then are there are bad things that enter the snout. Among these are phalanges, the smell of burned toast, the stench of roadkill, and pollen. Of all these things bad for the proboscis, pollen is the one thing that’s hardest of all to escape and no doubt causes the most misery. The next time you have ac- had a brand new greasing sys- stem. The local Eagle Dime Store downtown was the first in a line of 40 stores operating throughout the south. The Silver Dollar Grill, locat- ed on Grover Road, was one of _ the most popular truck stops in the nation. (it went by the way- side a few years later when ~~ Interstate 85 was built and trucks no longer traveled Highway 216). Fite Shoe Store on Mountain Street could make an old pair of shoes look brand new. Kings Mountain Building and Loan (now First National Bank), was organized in 1907 by Wiley McGinnis, a cashier at First National Bank who carried a “loan business or'thestdeii 1-1 i SF Ballard; could do a week's: wash thy McGill Service Station OI ii East King St., operated by NF. McGill, was in its 26th year. Imperial Life Insurance Company, managed by Ben FE. Beam, served 5,071 policy hold- ers. Neisler Mills made curtains for Radio City Music Hall. Clyde Whetstine and James cess to an electron microscope, ora picture taken of a pollen grain by such an appliance, no- tice what an evil looking thing pollen is. Remember those Middle Ages weapons made out of a stick with a chain at- tached and on the end there's an iron ball with spikes. poking out? Well, pollen looks like that iron ball. Does the thought of having countless microscopic Middle Ages weapons of de- struction passing through your beak: sound li fun?. Thee AE ToHS of Saye to deal with; hapring pollen and aller- ~ allergy sufferers, keep a hanky “right. Folks, if we don’t vote ‘these Forte out of office on May 2, we will be getting what We deserve. The only way that. we can get out from under their *cotifrol 1 is for them not to be there." ! Kings Mountain’s normal percentage at the polls is in the 20’s. That won't cut it. We need AlLof ypu at the polls on May 2 and then if they win their pri- Gibson purchased Center Service Station, which at that time was located at the corner urge you fo vote on May 2. of Battleground Road and pe other thing, Wiite the Motntaa St governor about this mess. just McGinnis Department Store finished writing my letter to- was established by Paul day. Others have already told McGinnis Son of WEL me that they have written him. A lot of letters would look mighty good in Raleigh. Folks, I don’t like living in a dictatorship. How about you? McGinnis, owner of McGinnis Furniture Store. Bennett Brick and Tile was the only brick-making firm in Cleveland County. Craftspun Mill was the only mill in the area that operated a cafeteria for its employees. Elmer Lumber Company em ployed 55 persons, including Vice-President B.S. “Sonny” Peeler Jr. G.L. McDaniel had been with the company since it was founded 32 Sars sarlich ; Kyle Smith Kings Mountain Letter Policy We appreciate your letters to the editor and encourage you to write. Because we receive so many letters, however, we must impose guidelines to ensure that as many readers as possible are able to share their views. We therefore limit the number of letters that any one person may have published to one a month. M wit Ho pital was sti St brand new, having opened March 31, 1951 at a cost of $241,000. Lottie Goforth, who died in 1942, pro- vided the impetus for the facili- ty by leaving her entire estate of $30,000 for the purpose of building or equipping a hospi- tal in Kings Mountain. letters short, no more than two pages double-spaced or one page single-spaced. Handavritten letters are accept- “ed, but must be legible. We will not publish letters ; from artonymous ‘writers; ‘Aamésjaddresses, and phone numbers must.be included. We reserve the right to edit letters -for grammar, punctuation, clari- ty; brevity and content.” ago must be received no later than 5 p.m. on Monday of the Week they are to be pub- lished “Mail Jetters to The Editor, P.O. Box 769, Kings + Mountain, NC.28086 or fax: them to (704) 739-0611." ~ gies. You can hide indoors for about a month or so, or take medicine to dry your flooding eyes and nose. The only trouble with the medicines is that after you take enough to stop the pouring, your throat feels like someone poured a pound of Corrections & sand straight from the Sahara Desert down your esophagus. oo . Either way is like the Puter boy Clarifications with his finger in a dyke. In a few weeks, most of the : - We. will correct any substan- ye pollen will be gone and folks tialer errors thatappearinthe will be able to breath again. ‘newspaper or clarify any; state- £3 Until that time arrives, fellow ents that are unclear, Torequest a cotrection or’ handy and dry those teary eyes. : : ve 708) WAY Ln SIDEWALK BURYEY By ALAN HODGE Herald/Times What is your favorite film of all time? My favorite is “Big Daddy” with Adam movies like about the ship is in the movie “The “Bats is my Sandler. “Scarface” with Al my favorite movie.. ~~ Color Purple” isthe favorite. Pacino. one | like best. William Lawrence Kings Mountain | like gangster Shannon Spencer Kings Mountain The movie “Titanic” Justin Braswell Kings Mountain Whoopi Goldberg THe new movie Cedric Smith Bryan Gunnings Grover Kings Mountain out of office maries, get them in November. I Also, we ask that you keep your clarification, call the e editor at = Ce Be rp immianiler 8 RET
April 20, 2000, edition 1
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