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{OPINION
eg
ack and
Still flying
fa
T
friendly sky
I As our econ-
“because of the
recent heart-
break and
~tragedy, it is
up to us to
continue
enjoying the
iti we
have always
had, including
i flying with
confidence.
«the worst thing we Americans
can do is to give in to fear. But I
~tave to admit to a sinking feel-
ing when I boarded jets recently
i To fly to Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
It was the first time I had
. § “flown since the September 11,
-+::2001 tragedy.
After logging thousands of air
—miles in 1999-2000 as National
President of the American
Legion Auxiliary, it was the first
| time I was ever apprehensive
about flying because I love to fly.
Not to be cavalier about it, but
my traveling companion said,
mm AW Lib, I think when it’s your
me to go it’s your time.”
And that’s pretty much how I
find felt before September 11 as I
replied to her, “But we can
Shasten our time by our choic-
” Several of our Auxiliary
rents opted to drive their cars
to Iowa and several others can-
celled out.
What has changed since
September 11 really did not reg-
ister until we left safe, comfort-
able Kings Mountain. At four
airports we saw beefed-up secu-
rity, national Guardsmen wield-
ing M-16 automatic rifles.
Our travel agent told us to be
at the airport two hours early
and it was necessary on our
% return flight when one flight was
Sanceled. Every piece of clothing
#y as taken from my bag and
amined by airport personnel.
espite, or maybe because of
; at increased security, I never
{ felt any danger.
| | There are reportedly more
steps in the works by the gov-
| ernment and airlines to ensure
| safety | in ‘the air, whatever the
| cost - screening of all checked
\ baggage, more air marshals on
| commercial flights, anti-hijack
| training for flight crews, and
Lib Stewart
Staff Writer
Ja onsen EU CTR
quick action on background
checks of afrport screeners.
As I traveled to nearly 50
states and 10 foreign countries
from September 1999 until mid-
September 2000, I didn’t think
he terrorism and felt safe.
ine was a fast-paced job, visit-
{ Ing Auxiliary units for a day or
{ two and moving on and chang-
ing plans and hotels along the
way. Fleighténed security was
evident in South;Korea, where
50th anniversary observance of
the beginning: of the Korean
Conflict; in Taiwan, The =
Philippines, London, Belgium,
Germany and France. For years
See Lib page 5A
Bammer
Arlene Barrett.and I attended the
The Kings Mountain Herald
OPINION
Thursday, November 8, 2001
Editor: Gary Stewart © 739-7496
PICTORIAL EDITORIAL
EXERCISING THEIR RIGHT - Voters receive ballots front precinct workers Tuesday at Second Baptist Church fellowship hall.
¥
A season of loss
but there's still
a new day coming
Maybe now it
won't be as
muddy in KM
As I write this, Kings Mountain is in the mid- Ben Ledbetter
dle of a long and somewhat controversial elec-
tion campaign for all elected offices for the city.
Much of the controversy has been similar to
Shakespeare’s “Much Ado About Nothing.”
And by the time this column runs, it will be over, and the city
will have its officials for a two year | term.
Alan Hoilge
Loss.”
In too many ways and places, loss has come
to our land and homes. It all started, of course, back on
September 11 with the. World Trade Center attack. How do you
comprehend thousands of lives snuffed out in a ratio of! mine, -
utes by airliners used’ as‘guided missile$? How GBR PE sd To!
majestic buildings- symbols of our economic and commercial
might- turned into smoking rubble in a matter of minutes? It is
simply surreal.
Loss has hit closer to home for me this autumn. One of my
best friends lost his mother to cancer a few weeks ago. Another
friend saw his father waste away in a similar fashion about the
same time. :
Yet another friend and his wife were expecting to adopt a
child in a few weeks. They had fixed up a nursery room in their
home for the infant and even bought some clothes in eager
anticipation of the arrival. Now the whole thing has fallen
through and they are devastated. Loss has hit again.
At our house, loss has also made its unwelcome presence
known. Last week, our pet rooster Big Fred died. Just last night,
‘his mate Little Wilma had to be put to sleep because she had
also gotten an incurable avian illness.
There are those of you out there who may say it is silly to feel
saddened by the loss of a chicken or two. After all, isn’t a chick-
en just something to stew, fry, bake, or broil? Maybe so, I can’t
deny that I consume my fair share of fowl, but to our minds,
Fred and Wilma were more than two birds saved from the pan.
To me, Big Fred was the living embodiment of manhood. A
full blooded gamecock, Freddy was a sight to see and hear each
morning when he greeted the new day with a chorus of crow-
ing. His feathers were a mixture of deep burgundy, jet black,
golden yellow, and rich orange. His legs were armed with spurs
at least two inches long. He was the King of the Barnyard, our
pet of three'years, and a darn good guy. Now he’s gone and the
yard i is silent and drab. Loss is everywhere.
“In‘her own fussy hen way, Little Wilma was Fred's perfect
companion. She always carried her tail straight up like a flag in
See Alan page 5A
Staff Writer
es i sought office.
How does a traffic ticket or other minor charge keep someone
from doing their jobs now?
People change, learn, and evolve over time.
But I think President Bush handled his storied past the best.
He took responsibility for it and went on about life.
I'm glad the mud slinging's over.
Let's get back to business. .
¢ Weird Al Yankovic has made a living with song parodies so
I thought I would give it a try and slant it toward Cleveland
County politics. I've always liked Simon and Garfunkel’s s “Mrs.
Robinson”, so here goes.
“Where have you gone Jim Crawley, three school systems turn
their collective eyes to you. What's that you say South Carolina,
Crawley has left and gone away...” Ok, I won't leave my day job
on that one.
e A friend of mine sent me an e-mail about the Kansas City
Chiefs suspending practice %fter finding an unknown white
powdery substance on the field. After law enforcement agencies
put in their two cents, the story said, it turned out to be the goal
line. If that story is true, I hope the Carolina Panthers haven't
loss sight of it.
e Michael Jordan has made his way back to the NBA, playing
for the Washington Wizards. If he was able to purchase the
Charlotte Hornets, could he be playing for the Hornets now? If
he was, the new arena team officials have bargained for would
be ready for the season now.
» Why is it the big issues with government seem to appear at
election time? Would there be a new playground or senior center
now if it wasn’t an election year? Would the school merger talks
“have started if county commissioners’ seats were not open at the
time? If every year was an election year, progress would be at
an all-time high in Cleveland County.
See Ben page 5A
¥
I think I shall call this autumn the “Season of Gost Colin :
LOOKING BACK
The way
‘we were
in 1959
Excerpts from the Thursday,
‘November, 5, 1959 edition of the
Kings Mountain Herald:
- Will Kings Mountain natural
gas rates be increased? Mayor
Glee A. Bridges said Wednesday
he didn’t know, but that the city
commission is expecting a
report fromvits gas engineer, Bell
Edwards, of Greenwood, S.C., in
the near future. The possibility
of rate increases came about sev-
eral months ago when
Transcontinental Gas Pipeline
Corporation, from whom the
- city ‘purchases gas, filed applica-
tion with federal and state regu-
latory commissioners for a rate
increase of six percent.
- Halloween night “Trick or
Treating” provided $140.97 to
UNICEF, the United Nations
Children’s Fund; a project con-
ducted locally by young people
of Central and Grace Methodist
churches. Young people all over
the nation joined in the :
Halloween promotion.
- Kings Mountain firemen
have been‘going to school this
week. Serman Pickard, repre-
senting the State Commissioner
of Insurance, is the instructor
and has been holding classes
nightly for Kings Mountain's 24-
man department, of whom 20
are volunteer firefighters.
- Moss Electrical Company
opened for business this week in
the Walker building, 504 E. King
Street. It was announced by R.
W. (Bill) Moss, owner.
JHILK ngs Mountain City!
Schéols: Kyilbjoincin the nation-
wide observance of American
Education week, beginning
Sunday and continuing through
November , Robert M. Kennedy,
East School Principal and
President of the Kings Mountain
National Education Association
“Unit said this week. The schools
will’ hold open house next week
and are inviting all citizens to
visit the schools during the
observance.
- Pierre Dasen, 17-year-old
"exchange student from Geneva,
Switzerland, has adjusted well
to Kings Mountain life and is
doing well in his activities here.
- The Kings Mountain
Merchants Association is cur-
rently conducting a fund drive
to improve the city’s Christmas
lighting.
- Fred Withers, Kings
Mountain High School teacher,
was elected chairman of the
steering committee of
Television-in-the Schools, a
statewide program at a meeting
at NC State College in Raleigh
last weekend.
- Kings Mountain Woman's
Club will hold “Teacher
Recognition Day” on Tuesday
during the national observance
of American Education week.
SIDEWALK
SURVEY
wa
BY BEN LEDBETTER
THE HERALD
Hu
How important do you
consider voting?
Got a question you'd like to submit to
"Sidewalk Survey? Send your question by
“mail to us here at The Herald.
If we use your question, we'll give you
the credit.
BE EE EE EE A er re
wr rh
It's very important. Voting is important Pretty good, to make sure | think its important to
Taris Howell because of our future kids. we get the right person in vote.
Kings Mountain Alien Cole there. : > Levander Little
: Kings Mountain Roland Gibbons Monroe
Lawndale
| wonder sometimes if it
“makes a difference who
you vote for.
: ; Billy Malpass
Kings Mountain
ee -