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January 11, 2001
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GARY STEWART / THE HERALD
Charlotte attorney Kenneth Davies, left, questions his client Don Johnson about his video
Same businesses during Tuesday morning's Board of Adjustment meeting at Kings Mountain
ity Hall. :
ARCADE
From 1A
Myers said this is the first
time the Board has heard re-
quests on conditional use per-
mits. It usually deals with set-
back ordinances for mobile
homes and outbuildings.
Monday's hearing was
cial board the Board of
Adjustments must swear in ev-
ery person who wishes to _
speak, or give testimony, and
that testimony is recorded and
can be used in a court of law if
the matter goes that far.
By law, the Board had to give
Attorney Davies the opportuni-
ty to not only ask questions of
his clients, but also to cross-ex-
amine any citizen who spoke
against the issue.
Johnson, owner of Bessemer
City Express, has requested
conditional use permits for
property at 200 Waco Road, 411
and 413 North Piedmont, 301
Hast King Street, 113 East King,
501 East King and 314 North
Piedmont. Heath , owner of
Lynn's Game Room and Mike's
Food Store, has asked for condi-
tional use permits for property
at 910 A and 910'B Battleground
Avenue. :
Codes Director Holly
Galloway pointed out that she
discovered code violations dur-
ing recent inspections of
Johnson's property at 411 and
413 North Piedmont, and
Planning Director Steve Killian
pointed out that Johnson's re-
quest for a conditional use per-
mit for property at 112 E. King
St. did not include the signature
of the property owner. He said
it may not be legal for the Board
of Adjustment to consider a re-
quest if it is not signed by the
property owner. Galloway also
noted that Johnson had not
paid fees for the rezoning re-
quests, but Johnson said he had
not received a bill for them until
last Saturday. Galloway also
said she could find no record of
Johnson ever having a city priv-
ilege license to operate video
game establishments at 411 and
413 N. Piedmont.
Killian pointed out that the
establishments did not meet the
city’s criteria for the required
distance from residences,
churches and other video gam-
ing establishments.
It wasn’t the distance, but the
moral side of the issue that con-
cerned citizens.
Oliver Tate, who lives at 200
Waco Road which is two blocks
from one of Johnson's business-
es, said parking is also an issue
and that there are “at least six
widows” and teenagers who
live in close proximity.
“We don’t know what impact
this would have on our neigh-
bors,” he said. “No matter what
you call it, this is gambling. I
know a fellow who has lost ev-
erything he has to gambling.
There are two types of people
who gamble. One who is
wealthy and is gullible and
wants more money, or one who
has nothing and wants some. I
can see no moral value to gam-
bling. It’s our obligation to not
only look at the legal aspect of
these things, but also the moral
consequences.”
Johnson said he had been in
business at that location for
“nine or ten” years and had
never had any problems. He
said he does not allow anyone
under age 18 in the area of the
buildings where the gaming
machines are located.
However, several persons, in-
"| cluding Chairman Myers point-
ed out that there has been trou-
ble there in the past. Myers said
he-was a part of the police team
that investigated a murder there
several years ago. Johnson said
he was not the owner of the
business at that time, and that
_ the murder took place across
lengthy, because as a quasi-judi- : the street from the business.
“The confrontation began in-
side and escalated to the out-
side,” Myers claimed.
Johnson said he was told
“someone came to the door and
asked to use the phone. They
were told no, words were ex-
changed and they went outside
i tothe other side of the road,
where the shooting occurred.”
,Dr. Robert Eng, pastor of
New: Life Family Worship
Center and owner of Eng’s
School of Self Defense which is
just down the street from Pete’s
Game Room, said he is con-
cerned about the moral aspect
of allowing game rooms inside
the city. He said he has coun-
seled numerous persons who
have become addicted to gam-
bling and many have been cus-
tomers of the nearby game
rooms.
Rebecca Lineberger, director
+ of the Kings Mountain Crisis
Ministry, made similar state-
‘ments.
Libby Blanton of Oak Grove
objected to game rooms on
King Street near her late par-
ents’ home.
“We need to put a stop to
this,” she said. “Gambling ad-
diction creates other crimes
such as drugs and alcohol.
Being a victim of a violent
crime, I think it’s time to put a
stop to it.”
-Mrs. Blanton was shot in May
1999 during an attempted bank
robbery at First Charter Bank.
Mary Neisler, chairman of the
Kings Mountain Historical
Landmark Committee, ad-
dressed the issue of the gaming
operation at the former Pete’s
Gulf Station across the street
from First Presbyterian Church.
She said her committee ex-
pects a decision on whether or
not the Central School
Historical District will be ap-
proved in February, and they
have amended their request to
include the south side of King
Street, where Pete’s Gulf is lo-
cated. : :
“~~ “If this permit is allowed it
will definitely jeopardize our
chances of having this area in-
cluded in this historical dis-
trict,” she said. “We're trying
very hard to do some positive
things in regard to our histori-
cal background.”
She also spoke on behalf of
the Session of First
. Presbyterian, which Sunday
passed a resolution opposing
. the conditional use permit.
While the locations of their
businesses are not in compli-
ance with the city’s new zoning
ordinances, both Johnson and
Heath contend that they have
been in business at the same lo-
cations for several years and
should receive “grandfather”
exemptions.
Although his requests were
not discussed Tuesday because
of the time constraints, Heath
pointed out during a brief re-
cess that no one came to speak
against his requests.
“I bought the building
(Mike’s Food Store and Lynn's
Game vom across from Timms
Furniture) in 1994,” he noted.
“The city rezoned me General
Business, sold me a privilege li-
cense and put me irr the city
limits. Now they're trying to
take my business away.” = ©
Heath said his machines have
been listed for tax purposes
since 1993 and he has held up-
to-date privilege licenses since
that time. ORL
Heath was previous owner of :
Pete’s Game Room; which he"
sold to Johnson in 1992,'and
said he operated it 4s'a game
room and had privilege licenses s
there since 1985.
%
“They changed the zoning in
1995,” he said of that.property.
“The machines were already
there. I sold him everything.”
Heath said his property on
Battleground is zoned properly
for arcades; the only thing
standing in his way of being in
full compliance is one residence
within 200 feet of the former
Welch TV building.
“The other side of the road is
zoned GB,” he noted. “One
trailer beside me may cause me
to go out of business. I bought
the Welch property for this pur-
pose and a game room is the
only thing that’s ever been in
it.”
The new city ordinance pro-
- hibits;gaming establishments
. from having more than three.
machines. The business must al-
so be at least 200 feet from resi-
dences, churches or any other
gaming establishment, and 300
feet from a school.
“There's never been a neigh-
bor complain about us,” Heath
said. “If these complaints had
been by neighbors they would
have called long before now.
Most people don’t even know
we're there.” ;
® X-rays
Fax:
Hours:
~The Kings Mountain Herald
Page 5A
Don’t drive an ugly truck
Before the month is out President Fuzzy, Al
Bore and all the Arkansas Bandits, save one, will § ;
be giving up the power of the White House.
Hillary Clinton, of course, will begin a four
year term in the U.S. Senate, courtesy of the ma- §
jority of bumblers from the state of New York :
who voted for her. I say a four year term, because
everybody knows she really wants to become the
first American woman president, and is sure to
run for that office in 2004.
On January 20, the almost laughable Bush ad-
ministration takes over. I say laughable not just to
lend balance to this column, but to point out that
he appears to be more interested in catering to
different segments of society as opposed to the
American people as a whole.
Bush has completed his cabinet selections now.
The only thing he hasn't done is name a Secretary
of Hanging Chads.
It appears to me that he followed a Bill Clinton
outline in assembling his group. I sincerely hope
they don't fall flat on their faces. As far as I can
tell, people from all walks of life will be repre-
sented except Southern rednecks. :
I suggest Richard Petty as Secretary of Chads to
correct that situation.
The Shrub selected more women and people of
foreign extraction than any five past presidents
.- combined ever did. I guess that's all right. I cer-
tainly like women and I don't have anything
against Latinos, but I wonder if he chose them on
their ability or because they "look like America," a
Clinton phrase? We'll find out as time passes.
It will certainly be better than the last cabinet,
but a senior citizen track team would also be bet-
ter. ?
At least we won't have to listen to stories about
* stained dresses, no controlling legal authority,
" Buddhist temples, recounts, James Carville, Ken
Starr or tax increases (hopefully). ;
Jesse Jackson is having a fit about John
Ashcroft as Attorney General. Personally, I don't
see how he can keep a straight face considering
“the antics of Janet Reno.
Reno has made it known that she will tour the
country in her newly purchased pickup truck. So
as not to give the appearance of elitism, she
bought a used, red truck.
After Reno leaves office, everybody in the
country needs to be on the lookout for an old
woman tooling along the backroads in a dusty, :
red pickup. She'll probably be mumbling a lot.
Over in the world class city, the daily newspa-
per is also unhappy with Ashcroft, but the fact is
that all liberals would be unhappy with the
choice of any conservative as Attorney General.
As far as I'm concerned that particular post has
been vacant for the last eight years.
Alec Baldwin, Kim Basinger, Tom Hanks,
Barbara Streisand, Martin Sheen, Susan
Sarandon, Whoopie Goldberg, Ron "Opie"
Howard, Rosie O'Donnell and Geraldo Rivera, of |
course, are not happy about the turn of events.
Although he now denies he said it, Baldwin
swore he would leave the country if Bush was
elected. Maybe he simply meant he'd spend a
drunken weekend in Tijuana. I don't see how the
country can possibly survive the loss of these na-
tional treasures.
Celebrities! wow! you just can't get enough of
them.
What will we do if they all just go back to
Hollywood and give up trying to run the coun-
try? Who will tell us what to wear, or monitor
gun owners? How will we know who the presi-
dent should appoint to the U.S. Supreme Court?
I'sincerely hope that when President Fuzzy gets
out of jail he will buy him a good pair of overalls
and a straw hat, and go back to Hope Arkansas to
sit in the sun and dip snuff. :
I, for one, could then begin to develop some re-
spect for our latest ex-president.
FLU
From 1A
of lesser severity. Flu can often
be accompanied by abdominal
symptoms such as stomach
ache, nausea and vomiting.
Muscle aches can be so severe
that even walking is difficult.
When it comes to flu and
colds, the best way to help pro-
tect yourself is by keeping your
hands washed and avoid touch-
ing your face, eyes, nose or
Occupational
Health
» Work-related injury & illness treatment
Drug screenings ® Wellness programs
® Pre-employment physicals
» “Return to work” programs
~~ Opening the week of January 15th!
Mountain View Urgent Care
Cuts, fractures, burns, acute illnesses and other emergencies receive immediate attention.
Prevenntioe
Medicine
* Yearly physicals ® Wellness education
® Stress reduction techniques
~ ® Weight loss programs
~~ ® Gynecological exams
Mountain View
Phone: 704 730 8461
704 730.8349
8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Monday — Friday
From1A Si
ation rather than commercial
development. I'm not anti-de-
velopment, but I am pro-
environment.” y
The Friends of the Lakes are
scheduled to meet at noon
Tuesday with Lou Ann Bryan, a
consultant from the North
Carolina Department of Parks
and Recreation. After gathering
at City Hall, Bryan and the oth-
ers will tour the lake area.
Interested persons should call
Brutko at 739-9663.
#
Diagnostics
e In-house bone density testing
® On-site ultrasound
~ ® EKG holter monitor
* Blood tests © Strep test
mouth. The viruses that cause
flus and colds are not only air-
borne, but can also be found on
places such as telephones, door-
knobs, and computer key-
boards.
If you get the flu or a cold,
face the fact that it has to run its
course. This time can vary from
a few days to over one week. To
help your body, drink plenty of
fluids and rest. Take ac-
etaminophen for body aches
and headache. To control runny
noses and congestion, try an an-
tihistamine or decongestant.
If your symptoms persist for
more than a week, and include
nasal congestion accompanied
by discharge of thick, yellow
mucus, cough, sore throat, fever
or facial pain, see your physi-
cian. ;
According to the U.S. Centers
for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC), current
strains of the flu for 2000-2001
season are A/Moscow /1099,
A /New Caledonia/20/99, and
B/Beijing/184/93. The prefix
“A” or “B” refers to the virus,
the geographical name for the
place it was first isolated, the
® Routine checkups
* Sport, school and daycare physicals
eo Allergy management
O As a primary care provider we provide services for acute and
chronic medical problems.
O Our physicians work closely with all specialists in Kings
Mountain, Gastonia and Shelby.
O Preventive medical exams are provided on a walk in basis for
patients six years of age and older.
O We participate in most group health plans.
502 West King St., LL #20
Kings Mountain
704-730-8461
Hours: 8:00am — 5:00 pm Monday — Friday
L.ocated in the New E & E Medical Plaza
Care
e Infant Child and Adolescent Care
year of isolation and the strain
number.
Proving that the flu virus is
no respecter of persons, it can
even hit animals such as chick-
ens or hogs. Such was the case
in the mid-1970s when the
“swine flu” was first seen in
pigs and in 1998 when millions
of Chinese chickens had to be
destroyed to control the “Hong
Kong” flu.
Supply of flu vaccine has
been an issue this winter. This
past summer, the CDC said that
production of the 2000-2001 sea-
son flu vaccine would be trou-
bled because of problems grow
ing the'necessary viruses in
culture. The vaccine itself is
made of killed virus. ;
Another factor in the supply
equation is the fact that there
are just three firms in the U.S.
market that make the medicine.
All in all, however, there will
eventually be enough to go
around, though some places
may get their’s a little late.
On the health map, outbreaks
of flu have been hitting differ-
ent areas of the nation with
varying degrees of severity.