Vol. 113 No. 39 Since 1889
we
KMHS volleyball
team beats Foard
to take over first
place in conference
BEN LEDBETTER/THE HERALD
A Kings Mountain firefighter prays during a
recent prayer service for the victims of the
recent terrorist attacks at Kings Mountain High
School’s Barnes Auditorium. The fire department
has been wearing the logos of the New York City
Fire Department, and black straps on their
badges honoring the firefi ighters that have died
Prayer service
held at KMHS
By BEN LEDBETTER
Staff Writer
Wesleyan Church and
President of the
Ministerial Association,
pastors and participants
“will be praying for the
bereaved families in our
nation, our nation’s
leaders, and other needs
virelated to the terrorist
attacks on our nation.”
Thursday’s service
was conducted by the
Kings Mountain
Ministerial Association.
Both patriotic and
spiritual elements were
seen at the service with
area ministers giving
prayers and musicians
singing patriotic and
spiritual songs such as
“Amazing Grace” and
Two hours before
President George W.
Bush gave an address in
Congress meant to unite
the nation, Kings ;
Mountain once again
gathered in prayer last
Thursday at Barnes. .
Auditorium at Kings
Mountain High School.
Religion and faith
have been typically
strong in the South, and
that truth becomes evi-
dent during a time of
Crisis.
According to an earli-
er announcement by the
Rev. Eddie Gray, pastor
of East Gold Street Roads south of Kings Mountain.
See Prayer Page 3A
LAYING IT ON THE LINE
GARY STEWART / THE HERALD
Williams Gas Pipe Line/Tronsco is conducting a massive expansion of its natural gas
services and is laying its fourth section of gas line through the Carolinas and part of
* Virginia. This line is currently being placed in the area of Bethlehem and Dixon School
AD
3B
City council
honors KM
civil servants
By BEN LEDBETTER
Staff Writer .
Much of Kings
Mountain's City Hall
was anything but busi-
ness as usual during
Tuesday's City Council
meeting.
During the meeting
_the city honored its pub-
lic safety workers and a
slain resident.
With a procession of
Scottish bagpipes, much
of Kings Mountain's
Police Department, Fire
Department, and Rescue
Squad walked into the
council chambers for
prayers and singing pro-
vided by the Kings
Revue of Kings
Mountain High School.
The chorus sang Bette
Midler’s “From a
Distance.”
The service was to
honor the city employees
following the attacks on
the World Trade Center
in New York and the
Pentagon near
Washington D.C.
Nobody from Kings
Mountain had any first
hand effects from the
attacks, but city
See Council Page 3A
KM hospital CEO
By BEN LEDBETTER
Staff Writer
As for right now,
Kings Mountain
Hospital and Cleveland
-. Regional Medical Center
in Shelby are staying
separate.
Officials at both hospi-
tals have denied recent
rumors that Cleveland
Regional was going to
purchase Kings
Mountain Hospital.
The two hospitals are
owned by Carolinas
Health Care System, in
Charlotte. The compa-
ny’s flagship hospital is
Carolinas Regional
Medical Center.
Kings Mountain Chief
Executive Officer Hank
Neal said the hospital is
currently discussing its
strategic plan, and
Cleveland Regional is
not part of it. She said a
denies rumor of sale
number of topics are dis-
cussed during the plan-
ning session which the
hospital does every two
years. The stage lasts
approximately three
months.
“You discuss every-
thing in the world and
every possibility,” Neal
said.
Neal said the strategic
plan involves reviewing
the hospital's mission,
setting goals, and work-
ing on what it means to
be a community hospi-
tal.
Cleveland Regional
Public Relations Director
Cindy Cook said the
medical facility is carry-
ing out its strategic plan
and purchasing Kings
Mountain Hospital was
not part of it.
Any request for
See Hospital Page 3A
Ex-coach
not guilty
of liberties
allegation
A former assistant football
and baseball coach at Kings
Mountain High School was
found not guilty in Cleveland
County Superior Court
Monday of a charge of taking
indecent liberties with a stu-
dent.
Russell “Rusty” Bumgardner
was charged in May 2000 after
a 17-year-old student claimed
he touched and kissed her at
the school.
The incident allegedly took
place when Bumgardner was
lifting weights with students in
School children show
By GARY STEWART
Editor of The Herald
Children seem to mirror the emotions of their
parents, according to Kings Mountain elemen-
tary school staff who have tried to help kids
deal positively with the recent terrorist attacks
in the United States.
~ For most kids, school officials sense life as
usual but some have shown some fear and con-
cern.
Schools are dealing with the tragedy through
special patriotic programs, fund-raising, and
one-on-one‘counseling.
Grover Elementary School took the patriotic
route Friday morning, encouraging all students
and staff to dress in red, white and blue for a’
brief opening program around the flag pole.
School music director Roxanne Bridges led the
group in the Pledge of Allegiance and the Star
Spangled Banner and other songs.
Children waved their flags high.
Counselor Janet Smith said she has talked indi-
patriotism
GARY STEWART / THE HERALD
Grover School students and staff, dressed in
red, white and blue, pledge allegiance to the flag
during a special patriotic observance prior to the
start of school Friday morning.
and some individuals,
” she said. “But I think our
parents and churches have done a good job. A
few children have not been sleeping well. We had
a few classes that were so focused on it that teach-
the KMHS weight room.
Bumgardner said the only con-
tact he had with the girl was
the same that he had with other
students, and that was simply
to say “hello.”
Bumgardner testified that he
locked the weight room after
class and left, following another
student out of the parking lot.
According to Assistant
District Attorney Stephen
Kaylor, the student said that
she had gone to the weight
room to see some friends and
vidually with students who have expressed con-
cern and “let them openly express their feelings.
“Most of them are doing fine,” she said. “The
ones that I've seen that have had difficulty are the
ones that have watched it on television. If their
parents are emotional, they are emotional. It’s
very real to them.”
Grace Costner, counselor at East Elévieniary,
said each classroom has compiled a list of fire
departments, police stations and schools in the
Manhattan area and are making cards to send to
them
East is also collecting money which will be dis-
tributed by the United Way.
She said some students have been affected by
the incidents. :
“I have had to go in and talk to some classes
ers felt I should come in and work with them. But
mostly, the situation has been handled well by
their families and churches.”
East Principal Jerry Hoyle said he has tried to
emphasize to children that what happened “was a
long way from Kings Mountain, but that some
bad men took a plane and crashed it into some
buildings.
“1 didn’t emphasize a great deal about how
serious it was,” he added. “I told them to talk to
their parents about it. That's where it needs to
come from, especially for the very smallest kids.”
Melissa Rikard, counselor at North Elementary,
said every grade level is making cards this week
GARY STEWART / THE HERALD
Christine Phanhly, 5-year-old Grover School student, holds her
American flag high during a patriotic o observance prior to the
See Schools Page 3A
start of school Friday morning. :
See Bumgardner Page 3A
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