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aly Thursday, April 25, 2002 KM budget will show increases In services By BEN LEDBETTER Staff Writer No property tax increases are in the proposed $25,487,931 budget for the upcoming fiscal year, but a series of rate increases are. City council members agreed to go with the rate increases during a work session at the Patrick Center Wednesday afternoon. The new fees that will be discussed during the April 30 council meeting are a gas availability charge of $3.50 a month, an automobile tax of $5 a vehicle, increasing cemetery lot sales and opening/ closing of graves by $50. City Manager Jimmy Maney said tax increases could be reoccurring budget issues in the next two years. “It’s coming in the next two years,” he said. “No matter how you doit, it’s coming.” Council also recommend- ed contracting with Cleveland County for ani- mal control, contributing $30,000 to a merged Cleveland County Economic Development Commission/Chamber of Commerce, giving $3,000 to the Kings Mountain Historical Museum and giv- ing $10,000 to the Kings Mountain Crisis Miriistry, City council member Jim Guyton said Kings See Budget, 11A Four inducted into Hall of Fame By GARY STEWART Editor of The Herald Influence of family, teach- ers, coaches and friends were the keys to their athlet- ic success, the four newest inductees to the Kings Mountain Sports Hall of Fame told the audience dur- ing their induction speeches Tuesday night at B.N. Barnes Auditorium. Football standouts Jack Ruth, Jerry Adams and Calvin Stephens and basket- ball sensation Butch Blalock comprised the 2002 induc- tion class at the 15th annual ceremony. A large crowd was on hand to support the inductees. In addition, the Hall of Fame presented spe- cial achievement awards to the KMHS conference cham- earned a full scholarship to Ta KINGS MOUNTAIN The Heral Vol. 114 No. 17 Since 1889 . 50 Cents 1B STICK TO YOUR RIBS TT RLUIL and other photos on page 3A. +. GARY, STEWART 7 HERALD ] Mike Mikina of the Butts ‘R" Us cooking team of Spartanburg, SC samples some of his barbecued ribs during Saturday morning’s cooking competition at the sixth annual Kings Mountani Firehouse Cookoff at the Cleveland Avenue walking track. See Stoty MERGER CLOCK TICKING County letter to DOJ started 60-day review By GARY STEWART Editor of The Herald A recent letter from County Attorney Bob Yelton - to the U.S. Justice Department has started the school merger clock ticking and the Justice Department could decide to preclear the merger by next Monday. The letter was authorized by the Board of Commissioners, some of whom say they did not real- ize at the time that the letter would result in the Justice Department evaluating any material before all court cases were cleared. Apparently what hap- pened was that a pro merg- er group learned of a letter that was written from the DOJ to merger attorney Gil Middlebrooks on September 19, 2000 that stated when all stays and injunctions were lifted in Kings Mountain School Board's suits against. that the Commissioners were to notify the Justice Department in writing. Kings Mountain representa- pion men’s basketball and swim teams, the State 3A champion KMHS volleyball team, and the State's Volleyball Player of the Year, Shonda Cole. All of the inductees stressed that they were members of teams and could not have been suc- cessful without the help of others. Betty Kate Ruth, who inducted her husband, Jack, who was a 3-sport star at KMHS in the late 1940s and Davidson College, said his idols were always his coach- es - particularly Shu Carlton and Don Parker at KMHS and Crowell Little and Bill Dole at Davidson. “They still keep in touch today,” she said. “ See Hall, 10A GARY STEWART / HERALD Four of Kings Mountain High’s all-time great athletes were inducted into the Kings Mountain Sports Hall of Fame Tuesday night at the Hall of Fame’s 15th annual induction ceremony at B.N. Barnes Auditorium. Left to right are football stars Jack Ruth, Jerry Adams, Calvin Stephens and the school’s all-time leading scorer in basketball, Butch Blalock. KINGS MOUNTAIN PEOPLE tives said they felt they were obeying the law by author- izing the letter, but were not told by anyone that the let- ter would put the merger wheels in motion. The letter was mailed to the Justice Department on February 27, placing the 60- day deadline for the evalua- "tion period for preclearance or denial on Monday, April 29. Kings Mountain School Board's merger attorney, Brian Shaw, was in Cleveland County Court Monday trying to get an injunction to stop the Justice Department from acting until Kings Mountain's pending appeal against the . NC School Board is decided. According to Supt. Larry Allen, Judge Tim Patti agreed to grant a stay “in the event the Justice Department rules against us,” but would not approve an injunction against the... DOJ studying the material and making a decision. See Merger, 10A Hospital merger reaction mixed By BEN LEDBETTER Staff Writer During Tuesday's com- munity meeting, a small group of Kings Mountain residents told members of the Kings Mountain Hospital Merger Study Committee they did not want the medical facility given away. The committee was appointed by the trustee advisory council to draft a proposal about merging with Cleveland Regional Medical Center. Both hospi- tals are managed by Carolinas Healthcare System in Charlotte and owned by Cleveland County citizens. It presented a lease that is . being negotiated between the two Cleveland County hospitals. After going over where both hospitals are in the process, the committee took questions from a group that included citizens, doctors and hospital employees, a city councilman and a county commissioner. Ron Humphries said the hospital was given away when CHS took over man- agement of the hospital. “The hospital was literal- ly given away for nothing,” he said. Rescue Squad a perfect match “And she would tell me about doing things with the rescue squad.” She told him about activities such as going to classes. And while she helped him, peo- ple he played softball with also were instrumental in telling Blanton about the rescue squad. “Some of the guys I played soft- ball with in Bessemer City were on the rescue squad in Kings Mountain,” he said. Blanton, By BEN LEGBETTER Staff Writer “I started in it when I was 22 years old,” he said. “I was just a young kid. It just {grabbed a hold of me and I Hienjoyed it. I just basically spent my life there. It’s like my family to me.” ‘ Blanton's involvement in {the Kings Mountain Rescue I] Squad stemmed from an old relationship. “Well, the way I got started in it was I'used to date a girl from. Bessemer City who used to be on Bessemer City rescue,” he said. “Being single makes it a lot easier,” he said about his schedule. “If I had a wife and kids, there would be no way I could keep the sched- ule that I keep.” He has been working at the post office since 1988 Joni Blanton keeps busy with a variety of activities ranging from civic clubs to civil servant. Blanton works at the Kings Mountain Post Office and the Kings Mountain Rescue Squad. He and has worked with the also has been involved with the rescue squad for almost 20 White Plains Shrine Club. years. Community service and being Although he is involved single are reasons he likes to be with a variety of activities, Blanton involved with the amount of activi- said the rescue squad is his pas- ties, Blanton said. _ sion. BLANTON See Blanton, 11A See Hospital, 11A Gastonia 529 New Hope Road 704-865-1233 Shelby 106 S. Lafayette St. 704-484-6200 FIRST NATIONAL BANK Kings Mountain 300 W. Mountain St. 704-739-4782 Bessemer City 1225 Gastonia Hwy. 704-629-3906 Member FDIC Celebrating 128 Year
The Kings Mountain Herald (Kings Mountain, N.C.)
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April 25, 2002, edition 1
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