KINGS
The He
Thursday, October 17, 2002
Vol. 114 No. 42
Since 1889
Nat
MOUNTAIN
50 Cents
_ n=S Central
1B
SCHOOL
Senior citizens learn
to operate computers
at KM Patrick Center
By ELIZABETH STEWART
Republic Newspapers
One of the most popular places in
‘town is the Lawrence H. Patrick Senior
Center and Conference Center where
60 senior citizens are learning comput-
ers.
Carole George, a part time employee
of the City of Kings Mountain, started
offering the program on September 24
and it wasn't but a day or two until 60
residents had signed up for the 12 week
course which ends December 12.
"We have a waiting list for the
es small groups of five students at a
time in the library of the new facility.
The fee is one dollar and those who
Thirty minute classes are on Tuesday
and Thursday.
by an orientation in which she found
that beginner, basic and intermediate
class have typed "a little" and they
learn how to move the mouse on the
unfamiliar terms. Those in beginners
See Computers, 3A
January class," said George, who teach-
can't pay a buck are not turned away.
George conducted a survey followed
courses were needed. Those in the basic
computer, use the keyboard and learn
NEW COMPUTER CLASS - A computer class is a popular place for senior
citizens at the Patrick Center. From left to right, Hazelene Abernathy,
_ Helen Alexander, Lynn Sutton and John George.
ELIZABETH STEWART / HERALD
Schools, students recognized by ord
By GARY STEWART
Editor of The Herald
Kings Mountain schools and stu-
dents were recognized for their out-
standing achievement in the State’s
ABC program and end of grade and
end of course testing at Monday
nights School Board meeting at .
Central School.
Most Kings Mountain schools
showed improvement in last year’s
ABC testing and two of the schools -
East and West Elementary - continued
their tradition as schools of excellence.
Supt. Larry Allen presented all
schools with framed certificates and
banners to mark their success.
The banners, which have been used
since the inception of the ABC pro-
gram, “are a little worn,” according to
Dr. Allen, “but that’s a result of put-
ting them up and taking them down.
“All of our schools have done well
since the program started,” he said.
“We look forward to the day that all
schools make their goal.”
The local schools received the follow-
ing State awards:
Grover - Achieved Expected Growth
and was named School of Distinction.
KMHS - School of Growth and
School of Progress.
Davidson - Expected Growth.
East - High Growth and School of
Excellence.
West - High Growth and School of
Excellence.
Bethware - High Growth and School
of Distinction.
North - High Growth and School of
Distinction.
In addition, for the first time ever,
the School Board recognized the stu-
dents from each school that achieved .
the highest marks in their school on
particular end-of-course or end-of-
grade tests. They included:
End of Grade year 2001-02 - Anna
Cole, Megan Loftin, Samantha Rikard,
Bryan Goodwin, Taylor Rippy, Jennifer
Cole, Brenton Reid, Joshua Slycord,
Laura Weigle, Stephanie Smith,
Christopher Starr, Casey Batchler,
Sarah Smith, Lindsay Batchler, Jessica
Yarbro, Trey Robinson, Claire Richards.
End of Course - Clay Costner, Lauren
Horne, Jamie Ellis, Chris Wright,
Thomas Reid (awards in Geometry and
ELPS), Megan Wright, Matthew
Presslar, Sharon Lamberton, Mary
Grace Keller, Bryan Davison, Virginia
Neisler, and Michael Mendoza.
In other action Monday, the Board:
HM Received a resolution from the
Cleveland Chamber of Commerce
commending all three county school
systems for the progress shown in clos-
ing the achievement gap.
BM Heard concern from a parent
about a situation that happened to his
daughter at Kings Mountain
See Schools, 3A
KINGS MOUNTAIN PEOPLE
TAX MAN
COMETH
MONDAY
Additional 1/2-cent sales
tax vote along party lines
By ELIZABETH STEWART
Republic Newspapers
Three of the five county
commissioners favor a half
cent sales tax increase which
could be implemented by
December 1.
The item was not on the
agenda for Tuesday's night's
commission meeting but all
five commissioners said the
state requires 30 days notifi-
cation and it's likely the
action could come Monday
at a noon meeting in the
commission chamber at the
county administrative
offices.
Chairman Willie McIntosh
recessed Tuesday's meeting
until Monday when he said
he will ask for discussion on
the half cent sales tax
increase. Monday's meeting
will also include a public
hearing on a Community
‘Block Development grant
application to be submitted °
by the county for a raw
water line to the Broad
River. David Odum of the
engineering firm of Odum
and Associates, will make a
presentation.
McIntosh of Lawndale
and members Mary Accor
and Tommy Bridges of
Kings Mountain said earlier
this week they favor the half
cent sales tax increase
because everyone spending
* a dollar in the county,
whether they reside here or
not, would be contributing
to the tax base.
"It's either a half cent sales
tax where everybody will be
contributing to the tax base
or raise property taxes and
put the burden on property
owners or cut services
almost $3 million dollars,"
said McIntosh. He said the
half cent tax is the more fair
way to do it..
Accor said the bottom line
is "we must find revenue or
cut" and she said she doesn't
want to pick and choose
who will pay taxes. "People
are suffering already and by
no way or means am I in
favor of a property tax
increase," said Accor.
Bridges acknowledged the
3-2 vote would be along
party lines but said no com-
missioner favors a raise in
property tax. He said com-
missioners don't want to
wait to vote on the sales tax
increase because that could
be viewed as political since
two commissioners are up
for reelection November 5.
"The half cent tax isn't on
food and everyone will be
contributing to the tax
base," he said.
"I have never voted for a
tax increase," said commis-
sioner Jerry Self. “The state
legislature put us in a diffi-
cult position and cities are
tied to what the county
does.” Self said he would
like answers to some
detailed questions but he is
conservative and does not
See Tax, 3A
Grant should
help find jobs
Bill Ware always had the firefighting bug
By ELIZABETH STEWART
Republic Newspapers
Every little boy likes to ride a
fire truck and William B. “Bill”
Ware was no exception.
His role model was his great-
uncle, Miles Rhyne, Bessemer
City fireman, who used to take
oung Bill in a ride on the
truck while Rhyne charged the
battery.
"[ guess I got the firefighting
bug even then," says the veter-
an of 24 years as a full-time
firefighter on the Kings
Mountain’ Fire Department.
After high school graduation,
Bill started volunteering at the
local fire department in
December 1963 while taking a
business course at Evans
Business College and working
for a local grocer. But a letter
SIE
Oc
HOMETOWN
BANK
from Uncle Sam
interrupted his
work and his
love for firefight-
ing was put on
hold. He served
in the United
States Air Force
at Seymore
Johnston Air
Force Base in
Goldsboro four
years with some
temporary over-
seas duty, came
out of service
and went to
school at
Piedmont Air
Space Institute in Winston-
Salem and started fixing air-
planes, working for LTV in
Greenville, SC in the aircraft
maintenance department for
FIRST NATIONAL BANK
Celebrating 128 Years
BILL WARE
two years.
"I always liked
tenance on the
side and for sev-
eral years worked
full time fixing
laughed.
But Bill got out
of aviation and
into engineering
sales after he took
drafting classes at
Gaston College
and began work-
' ing for
Engineering Sales
in Charlotte as a
draftsman, commuting from
Kings Mountain to work in
Charlotte. He took a job at
Buckeye Fire Extinguishers in
Kings Mountain and worked
Kings Mountain
300 W. Mountain St.
704-739-4782
to piddle in main- _
small aircraft," he
for 11/2 years while volunter-
ing in the fire department. An
opening for a full time positon
came in the Fire Department
and he jumped at the opportu-
nity.
Ware drives the fire truck to
fire calls and with the addition
of the new Fire Station No. 2
rotates along with other fire-
men every 28 days to mann
that station.
He recalled that the first vig
fire he helped put out was at
the old BVD, now Anvil Knit
plant, on Linwood Road. Fire
had erupted in the cotton stor-
age area and bales and bales of
cotton were destroyed in the
blaze and damaged by water.
It was also raining that night
and with the sprinkler system
going off and the rain the cot
See Ware, 3A
Gastonia
529 New Hope Road 106 S Lafayette St.
704-865-1233
for unemployed
By ELIZABETH STEWART
Republic Newspapers
County commissioners Tuesday night gave the
green light to a $63.000 Community Development
Block grant which also includes a federal match of
$240,000 aimed at finding new opportunities for
the unemployed and underemployed workers.
Rob Youngblood, Chamber President, said the
$63,000 will be used to hire consultants who,
through the process will be challenged to provide
new direction for the economy of Cleveland
County.
There is no cost to the county. :
Youngblood said the grant is a joint regional
economic development approach and will include
a plan for Cleveland County and a plan for Gaston
County
Youngblood said the county will be participating
in the Comprehensive Economic Development
See Jobs, 5A
Shelby Bessemer City
225 Gastonia Hwy.
704-484-6200 704-629-3906
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