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a vr Bo i —— a : 4 El I Br i ‘October 30, 2003 The Kings Mountain Herald NOELL From 1A Business owner Reg Alexander said that the city’s events show Kings Mountain cares about peo- ple. He questioned a recent Herald article which stated other nearby towns do not have people employed in a similar capacity as Noell. Noell and his department have been the subject of three recent articles, one edi- torial and at least one letter - in the Herald. Local resident Janie Martin has been pub- licly critical of that depart- ment. She also spoke during the meeting, calling for the department to be eliminat- ed. Mayor Rick Murphrey broke with his usual pattern of not commenting on pub- lic comments to praise Noell. Councilman Dean Spears also praised Noell. Councilman Jim Guyton took issue with the Gateway Festival being held on Sunday. “What's going to happen to our church life,” Guyton said. Jim Zunich asked city council to look at dangerous intersections in town. Mayor Rick Murphrey requested a list of the roads. In other business, Murphrey agreed to meet with members of the Westover community. Keith Bradley appeared before the council to repeat his request that the community be offered sewer. Bradley said the neighbor- hood association has not yet decided if it will pursue legal action. During the September meeting, Bradley said the community is con- sidering pursuing de-annex- ation. City attorney Mickey Corry said that he is not familiar with that procedure. He also said that the statue of limitations for the com- munity to take other action has expired. Community members accuse the city of using what they call a legal loophole to avoid installing sewer. City officials contend that they are-abiding by the law and that the city cannot afford to install sewer at this time. According to City Manager Phil Ponder, it would take $7 million to install sewer to all city residents. Murphrey read a procla- mation honoring Rev. Kenneth George for his work establishing an aging program and home deliv- ered meals for Kings Mountain. Murphrey publicly thanked everyone who called, sent cards and prayed for his wife Sandra Murphrey who is battling cancer. Councilman Clavon Kelly publicly thanked everyone for their prayers and calls. He has undergone treatment for cancer. “The doctor says I'm fine,” Kelly said. In an interview after the meeting, Councilman Guyton expressed concern that the utility committee met Oct. 7 while he was out of town. During that meet- ing the committee decided to present cycle billing to council during the Nov. 25 meeting. Currently, there is a long gap between the time a utili- ty service is used and the time it is billed for. This has caused the city to lose rev- enue when customers leave town without paying their bills. Shortening that gap should save money, officials say. To get the new system started, customers will ini- tially receive two bills closer together. If approved by council, the bills will come in the spring when bills are typically lower. After the first two bills, customers will resume receiving monthly bills. Guyton said he is not opposed to the program but did not like being left out of the discussion. He also ques- tioned the timing of the council vote. “The election is over when they bring this up,” Guyton said. IRAQ From 1A the life and death reality of war. “I tell them ‘you’ve only got one chance to get it right.” Good bluntly describes Iraq. “It’s the fourth level of hell, like in Dante’s “Inferno.” When angry Iraqis aren't firing on soldiers, they have to watch out for scorpions and huge, aggressive camel spiders. Sand storms can leave grains of sand between your teeth for two days, Good says. Summer temperatures reach 144 degrees. By nightfall, they drop to 100 degrees and it feels cold in contrast, he said. High winds blow trash back and forth across the dessert. While setting up a tent, one soldier discovered a dead body. The group realized they had made camp on a graveyard of sorts. Sand had covered recent casualties who were hastily buried in the dessert. The Iraqi dessert does have one redeeming quality, it’s sky. “You can see every star God ever created,” Good said. He's even seen gold, green and silver shooting stars. While aggressive Iraqis get news coverage, most like Americans, according to Good. However, they do not like being an occupied nation, having to rely on U.S. subsidies. Despite the peril, Good voluntarily returned to Iraq Saturday. He'll stay there until Christmas. Jackie Good says she understands how important training young soldiers is to her husband. “He's bound and deter- mined he will bring as many home as he can,” she said." “It’s what he does. That's what he is.” The couple stay in touch primarily through email. Postal service to Iraq is not reliable. Care packages often don’t reach their destination. Jeff and Jackie don’t allow themselves to talk about when he will return until a few days before the date. This summer five-year-old Tess held her tears until her father returned home. Jackie says she tries to keep their lives normal. Her tears don’t come until she is alone late at night. “I don’t have my buddy . here,” she said. ELECTION From 1A Mountain. He believes the city has sev- eral things to offer. “We have a low tax rate and utility rate. We need to maintain those,” he said. .. Mayoral candidate Gilbert “Pee Wee” i d lack of IA Te ib sequent loss of jobs and respect for the middle class as the two major issues fac- ing Kings Mountain. “That's what everybody needs is a job,” he said. To recruit industry, he would eliminate strict codes. Hamrick would allow citi- zens to make comments dur- ing city council without being on the agenda. The public is currently allowed a . three minute comment peri- "od by signing up immedi- ately before the meeting. Running in Ward 1, Lamar Fletcher's top issues are recruiting more industrial jobs and keeping utility rates low. Working closely with the city manager, other council members, the mayor ‘and the chamber of com- merce is his strategy to bring jobs. He would also like to seek incentives from the state. Cost cutting is how Fletcher would keep utility rates low. “Cut out things we are paying twice for,” he said. Preston Leonard, Ward 2, identified keeping tax and utility rates low and aggres- sively recruiting industry and business as key issues. “We need to operate the city as efficiently as can be done a he, said, “We need to do whatever we can come up with to attract industry here.” Raeford White, Ward 2, declined to comment. “There are a couple of issues on my mind but I won't reveal them yet,” he said. In Ward 3, creation of jobs and wasteful spending are Jerry Mullinax’s top issues. He would attract industry with as low as possible tax and service rates. Mullinax would like to develop an emergency Jobs Tasks Force with representatives from the citizenry, schools, busi- ness, community college system, chamber, Cleveland and Gaston economic devel- opment commission and state and federal representa- tives to promote and solicit jobs. Mullinax would cut spending if elected. Mullinax said he would not raise taxes or rates during KINGS MOUNTAIN WEATHER REPORT (Compiled by Kenneth Kitzmiller) Oct. 22-28 Year Ago Total precipitation 82 91 Maximum one day .55 (26th) .70 (28th) Month to date 2.65 6.21 Year to date 78.88 35.57 Low temperature 41 (22nd) 50 (22nd, 28th) High temperature 79 (22nd) 67 (27th) Avg. temperature 64.9 56.9 a “Your One Stop Home Medical Shop” Now serving Cleveland, Rutherford, Gaston, Lincoln, Burke & Catawba Counties! Jazzy Power Chairs, Scooters & Seat Lift Chairs Complete Home Oxygen Services, CPAP & BIPAP Units Free Monthly Home Delivery for Nebulizers, Nebulizer Medications & Diabetic Supplies - call for details! Name Brand Diabetic Shoes & Socks Great Selection! Medical Hosiery by Jobst, TE.D., Futuro, Spa Activa We bill Medicare, Medicaid & most major insurances Medical Arts Pharmacy Home Medical Equipment & Supply 108 East Grover Street - Shelby (One block west of the hospital) Home Delivery & In-Home Demonstrations* Call for details today! Toll Free 1-877-627-7627 or 704-487-8068 what he calls “crucial times facing our city and county.” Ralph Grindstaff, Ward 3, identified spending and industry recruitment and retention as key issues. He plans to insure spend- ing is kept at a minimum to protect from tax and utility increases. He would also like to revisit this year’s budget to “see what kind of “¢uts'if any” could Be made. Grindstaff also plans if elected to see that all avenues of available eco- nomic incentives are used to recruit and retain industry. Carl DeVane, Ward 5, named job recruitment and maintaining a sound finan- cial condition as the biggest issues for the city. “We should keep taxes and utilities at our current low level and continue to provide incentives,” he said. DeVane said he would give the budget a through look while keeping in mind the needs of a progressive community which includes arts, theater and recreation. Ward 5 write in candidate Clarence “Buddy” Smith would like to insure newly annexed areas get services while not taking from other city residents. Smith would also like to capitalize on Kings Mountain's strategic loca- tion next to I-85, N.C. 74 and an airport. At large candidate Bill Marcellino named jobs and economic growth as a fun- damental issues. Lowering taxes and hav- ing fewer regulations would make the town attractive to industry, he said. He would also continue to work with the Cleveland Chamber /Economic Development Commission. “The Chamber/EDC has made major upgrades in personnel and institutional knowledge, and the city of Kings Mountain can benefit from that resource,” he said. The loss of jobs and utility revenues created by plant closings and the subsequent effect on the city’s budget are the two biggest issues for at-large candidate Houston Corn. He would work with the economic development com- mission to bring more jobs. Corn also would prioritize needs within the city budg- et. At large candidate Gary Joy sees lost jobs and sewer system deterioration as the town’s two primary issues. To lure jobs, he would cre- ate a professional, affordable and effective program of incentives for new and exist- ing companies. A system of planned repair and/or replacement of sewer lines and pump stations is how he would address sewer issues. history. kitchen and bath, NC HOUSEHOLDS CAN GET $50,000 Up to $50,000 per NC household is now available | through the Neighborhood Housing Renewal ' property improvement loan program. This program | is for families whose homes need repair and * homeowners may be eligible regardless of length of ownership, condition, location of home, ethnic background, marital status, age, income or past credit Some homeowners may even qualify to pay off bills. All payments are set to fit each homeowners budget. Funds may be used for vinyl siding, vinyl trim, (overhang), lifetime roofing, custom insulated replacement windows, porch enclosures. Call now toll free 24/7 1-800-808-9408 ext. 711 Limited Time Offer!! Pie 3A Grover to elect mayor and two commissioners BY ANDIE L. BRYMER Staff Writer Grover residents will go to the polls Tuesday to elect a mayor and two commissioners. Bill Ellis and Ed Pheagin are seeking the mayor's seat. Seeking the two available commissioners’ seats are Kenneth Bell, Jacqueline Hope Bennett, Jack Herndon, Robert L. Hunt and Barry Toney. Polls open at 6:30 a.m. and close at 7:30 p.m. at Town Hall. Grover citizens will also be voting for two members of the Kings Mountain School Board, and four commission- ers on the Cleveland County Sanitary District. Running for school board are Stella Putnam and Shearra Miller, who occupy the two inside city seats. Running for the Sanitary District Board are Kathy Blanton, John Cline, Dewey Cook, Sylvia Lattimore and C.J. “Pete” Pederson. The Herald asked Grover council and mayoral candi- dates what major issues were facing the town and how they would deal with these issues. Community involvement and more access to the town’s park are top issue for council candidate Jackie Bennett. “We need to get the people, all the people, get their ideas for what they want for the town,” Bennett said. Bennett would also like to change the rules for park use making it a “park for the whole community.” Mayoral candidate Bill Ellis would like to see the town's leash law enforced. He also would like to see updates at the town’s park. “We need to have a place where young people can go to,” he said. AutoTrader Your car is waiting. You want to sell cars. We can help you sell more of them. It’s as simple - and as powerful - as that. . To learn more call Susan Wiley @704-718-7187. Baia ATNE HIE WRITE IN CANDIDATE WARD 5 CITY COUNCIL Paid for by the Committee to Elect Buddy Smith Sve yiLLAReStaurant 2% Hallowee Part All Beer Yee ve | 3 1 50 Goodies:
The Kings Mountain Herald (Kings Mountain, N.C.)
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Oct. 30, 2003, edition 1
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