Thursday, October 25, 2001 Vol. 113 No. 43
KINGS
MOUNTAIN “ol
Since 1889
NE ad cat
—entral in
CR «1ecoming game
See Page 1B
Kings Mountain people are showing their colors to ‘support the nation in its fight against terrorism. Steve Evans’ truck was all deco-
rated with American flags and decals which he was selling on King St. Part of the proceeds is going to the Red Cross relief effort.
Post office, city stress safety measures
By GARY STEWART
Editor of The Herald
Kings Mountain voters will
have two opportunities during
the next several days to meet
candidates in the upcoming
City Council election.
Tonight at 7:15, CARE
(Concerned Citizens for
Responsible Education) will
sponsor a “Meet the Mayoral
Candidates” night at Mt. Zion
Baptist Church.
Next Monday at 7:30 p.m.,
Kings Mountain Woman’s Club
will sponsor a Mayor and City
Council forum at the Woman's
Club on Mountain Street.
Curtis Pressley, one of the
organizers of the CARE event,
said there will not be any struc-
tured program or debate-type
forum, but said that persons
attending the event will be
given the opportunity to meet
the candidates and ask them
anything they wish.
“This is just an opportunity
for the candidates to tell who
they are and what their plat-
forms are,” Pressley said.
GARY STEWART / THE HERALD
Candidate in
slated at church,
KM Woman's Club
By BEN LEDBETTER
Staff Writer
Kings Mountain has been taking precau-
tions against hazardous materials in two
areas.
One official with the United States Post
Office in Kings Mountain said it has been
confirmed anthrax cases in the country.
Quay Moss, Customer Service Manager
with the post office, said a majority of the
postal employees feel safe and the recent
events will not stop him from doing his job.
“You have to take it in stride and try to
get the job done,” Moss said.
Moss said residents who receive a pack-
age e they perege suspicious may call the
post office and the police department if nec-
essary. The United States Postal Service is
expected to send out material about suspi-
cious materials to the public, Moss said.
“We're doing everything we can,” Moss
said “We do have an action plan and hope
nothing happens.”
See Safety Page 3A
“There won't be any questions
that are rehearsed. People will
have the opportunity to talk to
them and ask questions.
“A lot of people who go out
to vote really don’t know who
the candidates are, and basically
what we're doing is giving
them the opportunity. to meet
Sd taking preventive measures since several
KM students collect dollars
for children in Afghanistan
BEN LEDBETTER
Staff Writer
Students at Kings Mountain's
West Elementary School
responded to a request by the
President Tuesday to give
money to the children of
Afghanistan.
In an observance that fea-
tured patriotic music and Kings
‘Mountain Mayor Rick
Murphrey dressed as Uncle Sam
pulling a red wagon, West
- Elementary students and staff
raised $255. = i
The money will be placed in
the school’s account and it will
send a check to the White
House for America’s Fund for
Afghan Children.
During a recent press confer-
ence by President Bush, he
asked students to donate money
for children in Afghanistan.
The press conference
spawned a number of ideas at
the school, according to
Guidance Counselor Cindy
Kiser.
“Some of our teachers had
seen the press conference,”
BEN LEDBETTER/THE HERALD
Safety urged
“GARY STEWART / THE HERALD
Crystal Miller, daughter of Wilhermenia Miller, was crowned KMHS
homecoming queen during halftime of Friday's football game.
Crystal was escorted by her godfather, Thomas Thompson.
Kiser said “And we were just
See Students Page 3A
Taylor Radford puts a dollar into the red wagon Tuesday at West
Elementary. The school collected $255 to go toward the children of
Afghanistan.
Gasoline prices continue to fall in area
By BEN LEDBETTER
Staff Writer
The current sluggish economy in the
United States has brought Kings
Mountain lower gasoline prices.
Convenience store operators in Kings
Mountain said they have seen increases
in sales because of the decreases.
Barry Patel, owner of Rick’s Ole
Country Store on Piedmont Avenue, said
volume has increased while traffic to his
store has changed minimally.
“The customers are happy when they
come in here,” Patel said. “We do sell
more gas because people are buying
more.’
Bill Parker, owner of Parker’s Amoco
on Shelby Road, said traffic and volume
at his store have also seen increases. .
Parker said his volume rises approxi-
mately five to 10 percent every day, and
that gasoline prices have decreased by 18
cents over the last four weeks.
Ty Gantt, Vice President of operations
for Cleveland County Oil company
Thomas Petroleum, said the main effect
on the oil industry since Sept. 11 is a lack
of travel and a smaller amount of
motorists using gasoline, which has
increased supplies in refineries.
“The main effect on the oil industry is
the lack of travel now,” Gantt said.
“The refineries have a chance to build
up inventory,” Gantt said, citing an
increase of supply and decrease in
demand for oil.
Other factors contributing to the lower
gas prices, Gantt said, are competition
between other oil companies and a lower
wholesale price.
Oil and travel experts said that the gas
prices have fallen because of the econom-
ic factors including higher production,
decreased demand for gasoline, and a
decision by the Organization of
Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)
to maintain current production levels.
Jacquie Hughett, Spokesperson with
the American Automobile Association of
the Carolinas, said airlines have been fly-
ing approximately 25 percent fewer
flights and that oil inventories were plen-
tiful before Sept. 11.
See Gasoline Page 3A
them,” Pressley said.
Betty Gamble, President of
the Woman's Club, said all can-
didates in the City election were
recently mailed letters about
their open forum, and most of
the candidates have indicated
that they will be in attendance.
Mrs. Gamble said each candi-
date will have three minutes to
present information based on
four questions that were asked
in advance, including:
1 - What do you consider the
most important function of the
office you seek?
2 - What goals of the office
have you established for your-
self?
3 - What are your views on
the revitalization of Kings
Mountain?
4 - Why are you running for
office?
Gamble said after the candi-
dates’ responses to those ques-
tions, they will respond to ques- |
tions from the public. Donna i
Logan, chairman of the commit-
tee planning the forum, said a
box will be placed near the
entrance to the Club building
for the public to drop in ques-
tions for the candidates. A spe-
cial committee will screen the
questions as the candidates are
addressing the Club’s questions.
“We want to make sure
See Forums Page 3A
while trick
or treating
By BEN LEDBETTER
Staff Writer
Gi
Things might be different in
America compared to last year:
but Halloween has not been
one of those changes according’
to retailers and officials.
The costume industry is on
the rise although the entertain- ok
ment business is suffering, ey
according to a Charlotte cos-
tume supplier.
Phillip Morris, owner of WA
Morris Costume in Charlotte \
said there has been a surge of
patriotic items since the
September 11 attacks.
Uncle Sam, Statue of Liberty,
and Betsy Ross costumes, along
with other items have been
popular.
“That's because of our enor-
mous growth in patriotism
since September 11,” Morris
said.
Morris Costume, which is
known as the largest costume
supplier in the United States,
also serves as a fulfillment
house for internet sites.
The Charlotte costume store
is inviting police officers, fire-
fighters, paramedics, emer-
gency medical employees, and
National Guard members in the
Carolinas at Dr. Evil's Million
Dollar Haunted House on Oct.
29-31. Civil servants and guard
members will need to show
their identification for the free
admission.
“These brave citizens are our
front line of defense in this 3
unspeakable war,” Morris said. 8
“And we all need to do what-
ever we can to help the total
population return to normal
times. Let’s all look forward to
not only a happy Halloween,
but to a bright future in
RR
= ST
See Trick or Treat Page 3A
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