Newspapers / The Kings Mountain Herald … / Feb. 8, 2001, edition 1 / Page 3
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a ATI ANG SI Sr | | 4 Cm February 8, 2 : ALLEN From 1A ployee,” she said. “Kings Mountain is still a viable system and it is our responsibility to have a superintendent in place to oversee the daily operation of our schools. Our-children de- serve no less.” Kings Mountain has come under fire from some county leaders and the Shelby media for hiring a permanent superin- tendent while the proposed merger of the county’s three school systems is still in limbo. However, Board members have been assured by their attorneys that until the merger issue is settled all three systems are still separate and may function as they always have. Bolin said the Board strug- gled with offering Allen a two- year contract, but the handbook for retired state public school officials requires no less than a three-year contract for someone coming out of retirement. Allen retired in 1995 as Associate Supt. of KMDS. “The bottom line is that our job is educating children,” Bolin +. said. “So whether or not others ! across Cleveland County ques- tion what we did, I know that what we did, after careful con- sideration, was to put our chil- dren first. They deserve, and we are obligated to provide them, a superintendent.” 5 Bolin said she is confident Dr. Allen “will keep us moving for- ward in fighting merger, and in keeping high expectations for . all students while we focus on closing the gap and bringing all students to their highest possi- . ™ ble achievement level.” : Board member Stella Putnam echoed Bolin’s feelings. - “This wasn’t a decision that was made lightly,” she said. “I lost sleep over it. I wanted to do. the right thing. We needed sta- bility and we needed someone * who knew the people here, and our climate in Kings Mountain and what our vision is. It was a good decision.” wT 3 es FEE thanking those county commis- : i The Kings Mountain Herald / age 3A Putnam said the Board was they had come to the school 2 PE only trying to “preserve and boards and talked about it, protect” the quality of educa- tion in KM Schools. “We didn’t create this mess,” she said of the merger issue. “We didn’t ask for it and we're doing the best we can do with the cards we've been dealt. We saved the county money. Dr. McRae has a buyout clause, and if he’d stayed he could have gotten into his new position (Deputy Supt.) and in six months decided he wasn’t hap- py and requested a buyout. I'm not saying he would have done that. But we didn’t give Dr. Allen that option. I haven't had a call from anyone about this. I don’t think our people are as concerned as they seem to be across the creek.” Putnam said it could be “six months to a year” before the merger issue is even heard in the Court of Appeals, and if the merger is upheld there it would still have to be pre-cleared by the U.S. Justice Department. “What are we supposed to do, stop everything?” she said. “We're still Kings Mountain Schools. We're a viable system and the people put us in office to look after the situation. We have some other situations we have to address. I don’t think "people realize that we've lost a lot of people in the district of- fice. It all can’t be blamed on ‘merger, but some of it can. We're the ones that are suffer- ing.” Putnam said she is confident ! merger will eventually be de- ‘feated, and she won't give up the fight until the people in * Hing, Mountain tell her to. ~ “The fat lady hasn't sung “yet,” she said. ~ “But this is frustrating. We're “so busy putting out fires that we haven't focused on the most important thing - the children - . and that’s a real shame. “They (the critics) need to be sioners,” she added “I don’t know why people in Shelby don’t remind them that they're the ones that created this. If things could have been worked out.” Putnam said it would have been virtually impossible to find a permanent superinten- dent or an interim from outside the school system until the merger issue is decided. “Why would someone come in here knowing that in six months to a year you could be demoted?” she asked “The opinions of people in position to know is why would someone come in here when they know if we merge Gene Moore is going to be the superintendent. Common sense tells you that’s not going to happen.” Putnam said the School Board received several sugges- tions about current or retired superintendents who may be interested, but none of them panned out. “Every lead was checked out,” she said. “Most of that was just talk around town. But every name that was brought to us we contacted either directly or through a family member. “But, really,” she added, “I don’t know that bringing some- one in that doesn’t know the system and people would be the smart thing to do. They don’t know the people and our needs and where we're weak or strong. Dr. Allen does. I believe Dr. Allen will be an asset. “And, I would like to know what the other systems (Shelby and Cleveland County), would have done if they were in the same situation. Would they have just left it alone? If you're a viable system, you have to have a superintendent.” bn HOWELL From 1A morning. Principal Joey Hopper said some students took the news hard, but'the school was “moving on with education and our lives and just trying to pick back up as nor- mal as possible.” Hopper called Mrs. Howell a “very positive person and a strong educator who made peo-- ple feel good to be around her.” Both Hopper and McRae said they were appreciative to staff and parents for helping make the adjustment period easier for the students. School was dis- missed early Tuesday so stu- “dents and faculty could attend Mrs. Howell's funeral at Saint Matthew's Lutheran Church. .+.“This is a tragic loss,” Hopper said. “She was a good friend and a good colleague.” Grover Principal Jackie Lavender, who worked with Mrs. Howell for four years, echoed those statements. “She did a great job and was always positive,” Lavender said. “She always had an en- couraging word. She was al- ways talking and laughing and made you feel good to be around her.” ALAN HODGE/THE HERALD Plumber David Holland said his job on the Kings Mountain Woman's Clinic was about half over. Holland was moving some “materials while he waited for inspectors to arrive. On your side a A lot of people know a little about insurance. The rest have Nationwide” agents. We're there when you need us. We're a single source for ALL your insurances needs: * Auto * Home ° Financial Products * Business Call me.. Stop by... Log on — it's your choice! Nationwide Is On Your Side® biaid sae “The Caveny Agency 306 E. King Street Kings Mountain, NC ¢ 739-3953 Nationwide’ Insurance & nad Financial Services For Agent E-Mail www.nationwide.com Undenwritten by Nationwide Mutugl insurance Company and affiligted companies Home Office: One Nationwide Plaza, Columbus, OH 43215 STUDENTS From 1A Johnson said the suspect is described as a Black man about 5-10, 190 pounds. He is of mus- cular build, has a mustache, is completely bald, and possibly has a scar on his neck, Johnson said. Kings Mountain Police noti- fied law enforcement agencies within a 25-mile radius to be on the lookout for a suspect of this description who may be at- tempting to lure children into his car. “We're trying to get the word out for everybody to be on the lookout,” he said. “If anyone sees anything suspicious, even if it’s in another school system, they need to call their teacher, parent or respective jurisdiction and let them know what they've seen.” Johnson commended the chil- dren for “doing the right thing” in this incident. “They kept on walking,” he said. “They didn’t get in the car and that’s the biggest thing. They didn’t let him lure them inside the car. “They notified their teacher, even if it was a little late. They need to notify a parent or some- body from the school, and the police.” Johnson said the children also did the right thing by walking in threes. “You don’t want to single yourself out,” Johnson said. “If you are walking single, you need to know your surround- ings at all times. If someone ap- proaches you, run and scream at the same time. Loud noise draws attention.” ALAN HODGE THE HERALD Sara Rhea of Kings Mountain poses with Carolina Tree Service workers Chris Bumgardner and - Kenny Bumgardner as they cut down the oak her parents the late # Botly and David Mauney plant- ed at 203 E. Gold Street 50 years ago. The Bumgardners said it was one of the largest they had ever tackled. Sponsored by the Kings Mountain Busines ; Sweetheart Sockhop will be coming to Bethy raturday e ig, Fel 7 p.m. until 11:30 p.m. Music will be provided by B and of Gold. A their 50s outfits are, from left, Megan Neely, x Bess, and Kay Hamilton. Call 734-0333 for m ruary 10 Hoh: sed up for the event ik ppell, Kathy Neely, Kargh ; BS y Prat 2 Brice Sweetheart sock hop Saturday at Bethware The Kings Mountain Business ‘and Profbssional Association will be presenting their Sweetheart Sockhop Saturday, | February 10 at Bethware School gym from 7:00 p.m. until 11:30 p-m. Musical entertainment will RAYM( Bill Marcellino begin at 8 p.m. and will be pro- Ud I-42 105 Regal Drive, Suite] : : Kings Mountain, INCeal vided by the popular combo Commits al friture 7 2k0s6 Band of Gold. ET The event will be a 50s style sockhop and participants are encouraged dress in period at- tire. Prizes will be given for best costume. News of the event has traveled far and wide and 50s aficionados from as far away as Lancaster and Monroe are ex- pected to attend. In addition, several area car clubs will make the event in their restored hot rods and classic autos. There will also be a dance contest with awards provided by area merchants. One of the prizes will be a DVD player. Tickets will be available at the door, as well as in advance from area merchants. Cost is $25 per couple or $15 for single tickets. ‘Funds will go to raise an histor- ical statue in downtown Kings Mountain. For more information call, 734-0333 or Kay Hamilton at 739-9411. Gift Ga Published every Thursday Periodicals postage at Kings Mountain, NC 28086 USPS 118-880 by Republic Newspapers, Inc. Postmaster, send address changes to: P. O. Box 769, Kings Mountain, NC 28086 Phone (704) 739-7496 e Fax (704) 739-0611 so Office: 824-1 East King Street ¢ Kings Mountain, NC 28086 i E-mail: kmhnews@aol.com Mike Blanton....... «eer. Publisher Gary Stewart....... 0 Editor Alan Hodge : wires StATf Writer Stacy Godfrey Kale.........unsscusssirsscrincnnne Advertising Manager Shelley Campbell............cccconseriirerrecrinecnnnn. Composition Manager Mail Subscription Rates lets offered in Payable in Advance. All Prices include 6% NC State Sales Tax. | unmng 3 1.Year 6 Months ad to any attire. | ; grammed Ri Gaston & Cleveland County $24.25 $15.75 Or fic iff bracelet is the perfect gift Other NC Counties $25.50 $17.00 th ial person, Outside NC $30.00 $19.00 BRA CELE I Republic Newspapers, Inc. Mente $1 5.95 aa NI Te : FREE Monoecram : SU = a Nationwide” is a registered tederal service mark of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company = 226 S. Washington St., Shelby,NC 28150 (704) 487-4521 T¢
The Kings Mountain Herald (Kings Mountain, N.C.)
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