Newspapers / The Kings Mountain Herald … / Jan. 31, 2002, edition 1 / Page 3
Part of The Kings Mountain Herald (Kings Mountain, N.C.) / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
January 31, 2002 The Kings Mountain Herald Page 3A Mistrial declared in Crocker murder case By BEN LEDBETTER Staff Writer After a two-week trial, Kings Mountain resident Scotty Wayne Crocker will have to wait longer for a verdict in his first-degree murder case. He is accused or murdering his son. Last Friday, Judge Timothy L. Patti declared a mistrial in the case, citing widespread juror misconduct. According to initial news reports, Assistant District Attorney Michael Muskus overheard juror Mary Jane Hambright discussing the case with a man at the Dover YMCA in Shelby last Thursday. Closing arguments were No plans By BEN LEDBETTER Staff Writer The Cleveland County Economic Development Commission-Cleveland County Chamber merger study com- mittee discussed the results of their first meeting last Thursday in Shelby. The monthly EDC meeting was the second one since a potential merger of the county-funded office and the Chamber was approved. The study committee was approved in December by Cleveland County Commissioners, and was part of a plan proposed by Charlie Harry. expected to start last Friday morning. Muskus reported what he heard to his boss Friday morning. Instead of closing arguments on Friday, Patti called Hambright to testify away from her fellow jurors. She denied discussing the Crocker case, but acknowledged talking about serving on a jury. Patti also questioned all 12 jurors and two alternates individually. Jurors also acknowledged debating on Thursday whom they should pick to serve as a foreman. That is a step that usually comes before the jury’s deliber- ations. After berating the jury for squander- ing the court's time, Patti said he might order some jurors back to court to explain why they should not be held in contempt. According to NC law, there is a maximum penalty of $500 fine and 30 days in jail for a criminal contempt charge. The jury included a stockbroker, teacher, restaurant owner, bank employees, and retirees. Shelby attorney David Teddy, who was representing Crocker, was sur- prised to hear about the problems with the jury. “It’s always a shock to hear there are those kinds of problems going on in the midst of a trial with somebody’s liberty at stake,” Teddy said. While Patti said Crocker could not get a fair trial with the current jury, Teddy said he will decide whether he wants to file a motion for a change of venue for the next trial. : Teddy said he would have liked to have found out what the jury thought about the case. “Even with the problems, it would have been nice to see what they thought about the case and whether they would be in a position to reach a unanimous verdict,” he said. This was not the first time Teddy had been involved in a case with juror mis- conduct. During a case he tried in Rutherford } County, Teddy said jurors read an arti- cle in a Forest City newspaper that con- tained an item that was excluded from 1 the trial. The judge did not accept the verdict ; initially, but later accepted the jury's decision and sent Teddy's client to prison. The decision was eventually reversed, Teddy said, but not without the case being heard in front of the NC Supreme Court. Crocker may be retried by the end of the year in the April, 19, 2000 shooting death of his 15-year-old son. vet for merger of EDC and Chamber plans for a reorganization came out of the first study committee meeting. “Everybody started talking about a specific plan,” Nye said. “But there is no plan on the table.” Nye said the ex-officio members of the committee, of which he is a mem- ber, are expected to bring something back to the committee in about one month. Although EDC Board members did not explicitly state an opinion on a pos- sible merger, Nye said the Chamber wants to do what is in the best interest the county wants to continue their involvement. Board member Ken Ledford said approximately 14 merged EDC-cham- ber organizations exist in the state. Ledford wanted to know why others in North Carolina have not yet merged. “Why haven't a bunch of others jumped on the bandwagon ?” Ledford said. In Gaston County, three public and private groups exist for businesses and economic development.: ¢ Nye said in an activity report Encompass, which recently announced plans to locate on U.S. Highway 29 between Kings Mountain and Grover, has begun to operate in the former Alstom Power Building, which will give the company 82,000 square feet of manufacturing space. Approximately 50 people are employed, Nye said. Products created from the Kings Mountain plant will go into the power generation market. The company is expected to continue building renova- tion through the first half of the year. was presented. According to the report: six companies invested and estimated $67.7 million in Cleveland County and created approximately 655 new jobs. Those numbers were positive, Nye said. “During 2001 Cleveland County experienced the best year of investment and job creation since the establishment of the CCEDC,” he said in his report. = . ‘But not everything was positive in 2001. “This was overshadowed by a falter- ing economy that caused massive lay- Other notes from the EDC meeting: of economic development. He also said offs and plant closures,” Nye said. EDC Director Steve Nye said no County redistricting committee in planning stage e The EDC's annual report for 2001 By BEN LEDBETTER board during its Wednesday morning sentation. tion, its first task will be less difficult, do it,” Accor said. Staff Writer work session. e Three representatives of county Hawkins said. Accor and Hawkins said they will churches. “They are on a fact finding mission Hawkins said the findings should be .. Two commissioners appointed by the recommend the committee be com- * Five volunteers appointed by com- to find if the county wants it,” documented and should be presented = Cleveland County Board of prised of 15 members and include: missioners. Hawkins said. as facts to the board. e Cleveland County Republican and Democratic Party Chairmen. e A member from the county chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. e A representative from the Cleveland County Chamber. * Two members from a previous committee that studied district repre- Historically, many county commis- sioners have been from Shelby, although several have served from other parts of the county. Currently, three of the five commissioners are from Kings Mountain. While the committee is expected to study the issue of district representa- Commissioners to study changing the method commissioners are elected met Monday in Shelby to decide how a committee should be formed. Recommendations from Mary Accor ! and Ronnie Hawkins, the two commis- sioners appointed to be on the commit- tee at the board's last meeting, are expected to be brought before the School Board work session Friday m——————————— “oversight of charter schools “But they don’t’ have to follow the same rules as far as state and federal regulations. If any of our stu- dents chose to go to that school versus one of our schools then we would have to release them, and any money we would receive from the State or federal govern- ment would have to go to that charter school.” Other topics on the work session agenda Friday include a property issue; 2003-04 cal- endar, employment vacancies, student pro- Hawkins said he also thought a deadline should be set for the commit- tee’s information gathering. “We need to set a deadline so it’s not this time next year,” he said. Accor said any method can be used to inquire about district representation. “We're not going to limit how they Commissioners took up the district representation issue last year when Hawkins said he wanted the matter studied. This summer the board, met with Raleigh attorney Michael Crowell, who later issued his findings which were sent to county officials in October. : from all across the State who elect’ to enter. the online program. Local school systems would lose the State and Federal per pupil money for those students. The proposal is supposed to come up at next week's meeting of the State Board of Education, which must approve any charter schools in the State. Calls to the State School Board, representatives of the State School Board Association, and KM Supt. Larry Allen were not returned. But KM Board chairman Shearra Miller By GARY STEWART Editor of The Herald i | ah Rand 4 Kings Mountain Board of Education will meet at 8:30 a.m. Friday for an all day work session at Central School. The meeting is open to the public. Although the Board normally does not take action during a work session, it is pos- sible it will take action on a proposal to build a new field house at Kings Mountain High School to serve the baseball and soft- 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 © Fax (704) 739-0611 Office: 824-1 East King Street © Kings Mountain, NC 28086 E-mail: kmhriews@aol.com Publisher : ball programs. said she is “scared” of the proposal and jections for next year, update ‘on the new Mike Blanton The Board will also discuss a controver- what it could lead to. She said she has been intermediate school, budget preparations Catv Stewart Editor © sial “virtual charter school” which a group told the online school would recruit a “few for next year, closing the gap recommenda- ty A : of educators and private investors hope to hundred” students for next year but in the tions, textbook adoptions, results from the Ben Ledbetter : Staff Writer put on the Internet beginning with the next ~~ future would want to expand to “thou- KMHS first semester end of course tests, Stacy Godfrey Kale........coviiinninisinssvissnasinn. Advertising Manager school year. sands.” plans for summer school, and gateways for Shelley Campbell... Composition Manager § b The charter school would serve students She said local school boards have “loose” third, fifth and eighth grade students. g Mail Subscription Rates Payable in Advance. All Prices include 6% NC State Sales Tax. KM Closing the Gap Committee meets | 1 Year 6 Months i Gaston & Cleveland County $24.25 $15.75 y Other NC Counties $25.50 $17.00 By BEN LEDBETTER kids,” she said. help from juniors and seniors. Outside NC $30.00 $19.00 § Staff Writer High School principal John Yarbro and “The helpers will be responsible for Republic ® Newspapers, Inc. Merk s ; new Middle School principal Lynda Stewart * encouraging ninth and tenth graders to fol- x At its second meeting, the Kings have also given their support for the pro- low in the right direction, and to depend on « asscirion AE" Not CelaPresshoscain 4 them for support,” Littlejohn said. While clubs have been established to help ported the TEACH program. * minorities, a high gap remains for one class “I'm proud to say parents are proud sup- at the highschool. porters of Project TEACH,” she said. ~~ ..... According to school system data for the Another club at the high school has also « . ©2001-2002 fall semester, a 25.2 percent gap started this school year with similar goals. = “exists between black and white students at Distinguished Gentlemen, which was Kings Mountain High School. established by high school teacher Lamont ~~ KMDS Director for Curriculum and Littlejohn, has a goal to help minority ninth. InstructiontJohn Goforth said Kings and tenth grade students achieve higher test : Mountain High School is below state aver Mountain District Schools Closing the Achievement Gap Monitoring Committee reviewed local data for the fall semester. Kings Mountain High School Assistant Principal Valerie Boyd said although, Project TEACH is expected to lose its state funding for next year, the three top adminis- trators at Kings Mountain's three secondary schools have pledged financial support. Y New Kings Mountain Intermediate School Principal Ethel Pedersen said she has gram. Boyd said another group has also sup- SNES ECEINEARE 704-739-9142 FERENCE INENRNERENE y seen the positive impact the program. scores and recognize their potential. ) ¥ “We WH a large a We had positive To do that, Littlejohn has been asking for See Gap, 5A A i Talents ne Jan Shecialy a I -, ¥ i V x i= g Monroe ohn Gastonia W Es or. l hi lg h D ressure a g | g rr Shelby 12 VISHS.orenisiiidin sions, 189.00 g { : i at : mr Q@ Ergoline high performance : HB. Hwy 74 lee rn 2 12 visits 00000000 0ssnscse e00cevssscen . $129.00 $ 3 s @ Combination package Lenoir 6 visits Sunsport EE fre 6 visits Ergoline................. $149.00 FREE SEALER & INTEGRATED CLEAR [fl URETHANE CLEAR TOP COATING ll WET PREP PACKAGE am olay SAVINGS OF ola SAVINGS OF TIAL SAVINGS OF £ ¥ Gifi 4 Car ds ar e availab le Y rr Southwest Bivd. Hours fol] : Ih TRUCKS, VANS & SU TRUCKS, VANS & SUVs ..Now *3 99% Bl trucks, VANS & suvs ..Now *59 97° Charlotte Mon, Toss. & Tues, J0am spm JL Yer Lmvied Whoa extra preparation repairs by Ne any not include $12 environmental rd Limiied Wana fil LAER Wed. & Fri. Tam- 1pm P~4 Monroe Lake Norman | Gastonia Shelby Lenoir Charlotte : 704-739-9142 == (704) 226-9191 | (704) 489-9565 | (704) 810-9565 {| (704) 484-9565 ES 726-9100 | (704) 394-9599 § * Expires 2-14-02 FREE 1 MATES * Mon-Fri: 7:30am - 6:00pm VT] RANCE "1 [o) :
The Kings Mountain Herald (Kings Mountain, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Jan. 31, 2002, edition 1
3
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75