he
aounties lose
to Burns,
at Crest
Friday night
1B |
50 Cents
BY ANDIE L. BRYMER
Staff Writer
Sharon with helping him through los-
ing his leg. Even a client of his wifes
pitched in, giving Carringer a motor-
Before a rare blood disease threat-
ened Larry Carringer’s health in
1989, he thought he could handle all
his problems himself. After the dis-
ease caused a dangerous blood clot,
Carringer remembered God. When
the disease led to the amputation of
his right leg in 1993, Carringer’s
restored faith brought him through
the surgery.
“I choose to adjust, to take what
God gives me and 80 with it,” he
said.
Carringer sees his illness as God's
way of bringing him back into the
fold.
After the surgery, Carringer left his
management job with an insurance
firm. He admits the temptation to
feel sorry for himself was strong but
his six-week-old grandson James
Russell Carringer would not allow
that. After Carringer’s daughter-in-
dad's help was needed. For three
years, Carringer took care of the child
Monday through Friday.
“It’s amazing how that took my
mind off myself,” he said.
Along with God, Carringer credits
his wife Carolyn, son Rusty and
law Sharon returned to work, grand-
ized chair.
Carringer uses the mobile chair
when he works in the garden and
flower beds. When the grass needs
cutting, he simply gets on the riding
mower. Earlier this week, he cut the
grass in his, his brother-in-law, neigh-
bor and son's yards.
Keeping active was a conscious
choice for Carringer. He had seen
other people become recluses after an
amputation and refused to do the
same. Today, children and grandchil-
dren of amputees approach him in
public to say they wish their father or
grandfather would do the same.
“I do everything I can to stay
active,” he said. “I don’t see myself
as handicapped though [am to a
degree.”
Carringer picks James Russell and
his sister Sara up from Bethware
Elementary and cares for them until
their parents return from work. The
two children also stay with their
grandfather through the summer.
Some days he and James Russell go
fishing. The two grandchildren like
to play with Carringer’s crutches,
folding their right leg behind them.
“They have accepted it real good.
ANDIE BRYMER / HERALD
Larry Carringer tosses a ball to his grandson James Russell Carringer as granddaughter Sara Carringer looks on.
choose to adjust’
Amputee Larry Carringer leads active lifestyle
I'm proud of that,” Carringer said.
He hopes the two will never be
embarrassed by him. Carringer
believes if he continues to keep a
good attitude, the grandchildren will
do the same.
He chooses to use a combination of
the motorized chair, manual wheel-
chair and crutches to get around.
Because his amputation is so high, a
prosthetic does not fit well, he said.
“I can get around a lot faster with-
out one,” he said.
Carringer is able to see the hurnor
in having one leg. The Carringers
were visiting a mountain farmer’s
market with friends when Carolyn
asked her husband to hold a styro-
foam beverage cup. As he stood by
the door, passersby stared. It was
then Carringer realized he appeared
to be begging.
“My friends have a lot of fun with
it,” he said with a smile.
Carringer experiences what is
known as phantom limb sensations,
common among amputees. He still
feels pain and coldness in his missing
right leg, sometimes to the extent of
needing medication.
“It’s amazing those things can hap-
pen,” he said.
What may be more amazing is the
full life Carringer continues to live.
nexation
loop-hole?
City collecting tax but not
providing service to Westover
BY ANDIE L. BRYMER
Staff Writer
A representative of the Westover neighborhood accused
Kings Mountain City Council members of using a legal
loophole to avoid installing water and sewer in that neigh-
borhood and also mentioned ER TT SE
a reverse annexation process “Wh
y were
exists.
we mislead?”
During the public com-
ment’s phase of Tuesday
night's city council meeting,
Keith Bradley said his neigh-
borhood was told they
would have water and sewer
within two years if annexed.
However, it has been five
years since annexation and they do not have those services.
-“You have used a loophole in the annexation law to avoid
giving us our due,” Bradley said. “Why were we mislead?”
The loophole Bradley referred to is a part of the law
which says that water and sewer must be available nearby.
Councilman Carl Devane, whose ward includes
Westover, said that while the city has a moral obligation to |
provide the services the money is not currently available.
Devane and Mayor Rick Murphrey said they would contin-
ue to work on the problem.
“We want to do everything we can,” Murphrey said.
Water and sewer funds are short because the city recently
lost its second largest customer, Anvil Knits. The state also
held back $300,000 in funds due to a state budget crisis,
Murphrey said.
More money will be available in 2005-2006, the mayor
See Westover, 3A
Citizen says Noell’s
Keith Bradley
Westover resident
BY ANDIE L. BRYMER
Staff Writer
A Kings Mountain resi-
dent took issue with the
city’s special events depart-
ment during Monday
night's city council meeting.
During the public com-
ment phase of the meeting,
Jane Martin told council
members that the depart-
ment’s yearly budget is
$103,000 but only $34,500 is
spent on special events.
Some in the audience could
have been left with the
impression events coordina-
tor Ellis Noell’s salary was
what remained in the budg-
et, $68,500.
Noell’s salary is $30,000,
according to city officials.
Council member Rick
Moore defended Noell dur-
ing an interview after the
meeting.
“He earns every dime of
Teachers get 25%
supplement raise
High School
cafeteria to
BY ANDIE L. BRYMER
Staff Writer
Kings Mountain District
Schools’ teachers pay will
increase. Board members
voted Friday afternoon for a
25 percent increase in the
local supplement for teach-
ers.
All public school teachers Kings Mountain in High
are paid on the same scale by School's cafeteria will get a
the state. Kings Mountain facelift over the Christmas:
and many other school dis- holiday. nr
tricts supplement what the The school board :
state pays in an effort to approved spending
recruit and retain teachers.
The board also approved a
10 percent increase in the
supplement paid coaches
and other personnel who
assist with after school stu
get facelift
BY ANDIE 1 BRYMER
Staff Writer
$211,163 for renovations
during a Friday work ses.
sion. : A
The project includes new
serving equipment, better
lighting in the serving area,
FTE
ANDIE BRYMER / HERALD
Children enjoyed zooming around and around on the motorcycle ride at the Cleveland
Shelby
position is ‘rip-off’
it,” Moore said.
Councilman Gene White
said he believes the special
events department spends
closer to $200,000 if all cost,
including city labor to set
up events, is figured in.
White criticized the city for
sponsoring musical events
such as the Beach Blast. The
outgoing councilman said
he may bring the issue up at
the October 28 meeting.
The special events depart-
ment also handles public
relations and promotions for
the city. Martin criticized
this function, saying the city
has already paid the
Cleveland County Chamber
of Commerce $30,000 over
two years to promote the
town.
“It’s a rip off of tax pay-
ers,” she said.
Council members made
no public comments after
Martin finished her remarks.
Saturday
last day
of Fair
BY ANDIE L. BRYMER
Staff Writer
Cleveland County's Fair
is in full swing through
Saturday.
The annual event has
brought the crowds out to
ride ride, play games, view
livestock, visit the exhibit
halls, buy merchandise and
eat fast foods.
The traditional fair foods
- cotton candy, carmel
apples with and without
peanuts, and vinegar fries -
were represented among
vendors. Along side those
old favorites were some
See Fair, 3A
Bessemer City
See Tenchens, 24 Pee Facelift, ol County Fair. The fair continues thraugh Saturday.
FIRST NATIONAL BANK Kings Mountain Gastonia
300 W. Mountain St. 529 New Hope Road
Celebrating 7 29 Yeare 704-739-4782 704-865-1233
106 S. Lafayette St.
1225 Gastonia Hwy.
704-484-6200
704-629-3906
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