Newspapers / The Kings Mountain Herald … / Jan. 1, 2004, edition 1 / Page 1
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~ 008 ow A 2g on 11 LOVE" Vos KR PRRRLOT, : oF RARER a5 ODUer #3 {So rar Wenorael WET rR AR Le \ RAT SNE 4 EY MEnuont, RE 20086 i LN —rerriiel Byers top-ranked Greco-Roman wrestler in the world 6A Economic, utility improvements goals for 2004 By GARY STEWART Editor of The Herald It was not politics as usual in Kings Mountain and Cleveland County during the year 2003. In fact, it was a history-making political year. In what would have to be voted the top local story of the year, two women were elected to the Kings Mountain City Council, and a Kings Mountain woman was elected chair- person of the Cleveland County Board of Commissioners. In the long history of the town and county, that’s never happened before. Cousins Kay Hambright and Brenda Ross were the first two women elected to City Council dur- ing the same year. Previously, Mrs. 0.0. Walker was appointed to fill the unexpired term of her late husband, and Norma Bridges was elected to serve numerous terms on the board. To make November's election story even more interesting, Jerry Mullinax was also elected to Council. Mullinax is Hambright’s brother and Ross's cousin. The trio took office December 16 and Mullinax lost a 4-3 vote to Carl DeVane for mayor pro-tem. The election also saw incumbents Clavon Kelly and Dean Spears voted out of office. Spears lost to Hambright in Ward 4 and Kelly lost to Mullinax in Ward 3. Falls won the Ward 2 race, where incumbent Jim JOSEPH BRYMER / FILE Kay Hambright watches as votes are posted at City Hall on election night. Guyton filed for re-election and then withdrew because of health concerns. Incumbent Gene White did not seek re-election and former Police Chief Houston Corn won his seat. The only incumbents to win re-election were Mayor Rick Murphrey, At-Large Councilman Rick Moore, Ward 1 rep- resentative Howard Shipp and DeVane in Ward 5 Accor, a Kings Mountain educator, was unanimously elected chairperson of the Cleveland County Board of Commissioners, marking the first JOSEPH BRYMER / FILE Jerry Mullinax, right, talks to Curtis Pressley after being elected to City Council in November. Cousins elected to City Council, Accor’s appointment made history time in the 160-year history of the county that a woman has held the position. Kings Mountain's Ronnie Hawkins was elected vice-chairman, marking the first time ever that Kings Mountain residents have held the chairman and vice-chairman posi- tions at the same time. Serving as head of the county board wasn’t the only promotion for Accor this year. Early in the year she was named Director of Administrative Services for Kings Mountain. District Schools, and assumed that position on July 1. Previously she had served as a teacher, assistant principal and princi- pal in Kings Mountain District Schools with her most recent appoint- ment as principal of Bethware Elementary School. In Grover, former commissioner Robbie Sides launched a late write-in candidacy for mayor and won. He didn’t start campaigning until the final week before the election. Sides collected 55 votes to defeat former police chief Ed Pheagin with 44, and Bill Ellis with 20. Two newcomers also won positions on Grover Town Council. Jackie Bennett, who incidentally was the only person to attend a candidate forum sponsored by the Grover Woman's Club, led the ticket with 84 votes. Barry Toney also won a seat with 50 votes. See Top Ten, 3A Mad cow disease not major concern locally BY ANDIE L. BRYMER Staff Writer Since mad cow disease was detected in a Washington State Holstein cow in December, the disease has gotten more attention nationally. Locally, the reaction has been miid. Cleveland County Cooperative Extension Service Director Greg Traywich is confident local growers are not feeding their cattle animal by products. Most local calves are sold at the Shelby Livestock Yard when they reach between 300 to 800 pounds. to slaughter and sale. These cattle are purchased by buyers from the midwest who take them to feedlots prior BY ANDIE L. BRYMER Staff Writer Economic development and utility improvements are on the 2004 agenda for the City of Kings Mountain, according to Mayor Rick Murphrey. The water and sewer department will tackle an infiltration problem with its lines. Rainwater is getting into those lines causing the city to pay Gaston County more for waste water treat- ment, Murphrey said. The fee is based on volume.’ Murphrey said the lines do not leak waste products. Getting away entirely from using Gaston County services is in the works. Currently all waste water to the east of the ridgeline goes to Gaston County for treat- ment. The city would like to install pumps which would get its water across the ridgeline for treatment in Kings Mountain. The city also will review feasibility of building anoth- er water impoundment at Muddy Fork Creek. “We should at least look at the possibility,” Murphrey said. Natural gas lines may be expanded into the Ebenezer community. Economic development officials plan a visit to the state Department of Commerce for a presenta- tion on Kings Mountain. “We want to let them know what we have in Kings Mountain,” Murphrey said. “We have a lot to offer.” He included a skilled workforce, low taxes and utility rates and easy access to Interstate 85 on that list. The city reduced its quali- tying threshold for econom- ic incentive grants. “We're looking to help people who are going to expand,” Murphrey said. The public works depart- ment, police, fire and other emergency responders are working to create a central emergency command loca- tion at the public works department. The city hopes to nate a site for an em shelter. That could be a city building or another facility, Murphrey said. Two additional electric substations are under con- sideration for Phifer Road and Crocker Ridge. Lighting upgrades along N.C. 161 coming into town are planned. This coincides with the town being desig- nated a gateway community to Kings Mountain National See 2004, 5A 1 SENCY City Council, manager meet in closed session BY ANDIE L. BRYMER Staff Writer Kings Mountain's city council met behind closed doors Tuesday night to dis- cuss a personnel matter regarding the city manager. Neither Mayor Rick Murphrey nor council mem- bers would say what hap- pened in the meeting which city attorney Mickey Corry was also part of. North Carolina law allows closed meetings to discuss personnel and legal matters. Votes must be made in open session. * The special called meeting was announced last week. City council member Kay Hambright did say the meeting went well. Council member Jerry Mullinax said there was good discussion. Neither would say any more about the closed ses- sion which lasted approxi- mately an hour and 15 min- utes. Former city council mem- bers Gene White and Clavon Kelly and two other citizens sat in the council auditorium area while the meeting took place behind closed doors. White, who served as a council member until early December, praised city man- ager Phil Ponder. “He has an extremely high level of integrity, just what Kings Mountain needs,” White said. He said Ponder was “superbly qualified” both academically and with on the job experience. White also praised Ponder during December's regular council meeting. Ponder was hired in April. At that time, Mayor See Council, 5A aR Cattle prices were average Tuesday at the Shelby Livestock Market, according to Kings Mountain cattleman Matt Bell. Bell is hopeful that the Washington scare won't hurt the industry. Mad cow is largely blamed on the protein prion. It is largely believed to come from feeding animal by-products to cattle. This practice was outlawed by the United States Department of Agriculture three years ago. Traywich recommends local consumers who are concerned about mad cow disease purchase beef from Cleveland County farm- ers. For more information, call 704-482-4365. Cattleman association President Wayne Yarbro says he has been approached by peo- ple interested in buying their beef directly from the grower, however he is not set up to See Mad Cow, 3A ANDIE BRYMER / HERALD Cattleman Matt Bell and his son John feed cattle on their Kings Mountain farm. Gastonia Shelby 529 New Hope Road 106 S Lafayette St. 704-865-1233 704-484-6200 Kings Mountain 300 W. Mountain St. 704-739-4782 Bessemer City 225 Gastonia Hwy. = 704-629-3906 FIRST NATIONAL BANK Celebrating 150 Years OXG CYA YOUR Lelia BANK
The Kings Mountain Herald (Kings Mountain, N.C.)
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Jan. 1, 2004, edition 1
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