The Heral
Thursday, July 22, 2004
aD Lo Be at aT
KINGS MOUNTAIN
Vol. 116 No. 30
Since 1889
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50 Cents
NAIR ED rr a a A CT ays,
6A
‘1 almost passed out’
Northwoods parents say they can’t afford $1,404 school tuition
BY ANDIE L. BRYMER
Staff Writer
. Some parents plan to show up at
Gaston County School Board's
August 2 meeting and ask that
funds follow their children to the
Cleveland County Schools they
have attended until now.
Ella Leach, whose two grand-
daughters are slated to attend
Bessemer City High School, is
leading the effort. Leach lives in
Northwoods, a section of Kings
Mountain which is in Gaston
County.
After Cleveland County's three
school systems merged in January,
Gaston County officials said they
would not let county money fol-
low those students. State per pupil
money, which is not controlled by
local systems, will follow.
The Cleveland County School
Board voted July 1 to charge out-
of-county students $1,414.in tuition
per year. Rising seniors already
enrolled in a Cleveland County
School and the children of school
employees are exempt.
Affected families received letters
‘last week.
“When I read that letter, I almost
passed out,” Leach said. “Don’t
they know people are unem-
ployed, barely getting by? The
schools can’t be broke.”
Shayla Proctor, a high school
junior and one of Leach’s grand-
daughters, says the decision is not
right. :
“It’s hard to make friends, espe-
cially when they already don’t like
you because you're from Kings
Mountain,” she said.
Proctor will have to attend
Bessemer City High School unless
her grandmother can pay the
tuition or move, an option Leach is
considering.
Crystal McLain, who lives near-
by, is relieved she is a rising senior
and included in the group exempt
from tuition.
Eight-year-old Starr Nixon does-
n't want to leave East Elementary
School. Her mom Candis McLean
doesn’t doubt that Bessemer City
Schools can educate her child but
See Parents, 3A
“Don’t they know
people are
unemployed,
barely getting by?
The schools can’t
be broke.”
Ella Leach
Bessemer
prepares
for Relay
for Life
By TODD HAGANS
Special to The Herald
Residents of Bessemer
City are preparing for the
fourth annual American
Cancer Society's Relay for
Life, an event they believe
brings the community
together in an effort to fight
cancer.
Relay participants attend-
ed a pep rally meeting on
Monday evening at the
Bessemer City Community
Building to register teams,
give updates on relay
fundraisers and turn in
money already collected
toward the goal of $50,000.
Gerri Davis, relay co-
chairperson with Jim
Hodge, said the planning
committee hopes to register
25 teams for the relay and if
each team raises $2,000,
they will meet the fund
raising goal.
As of Monday, 17 teams
registered to participate in
the relay set for September
10-11 at Bessemer City High
School's Dixon Stadium.
The all-night event runs
from 7 p.m. - 7 am. Two
more teams have plans to
register and organizers are
hoping to add a few more
teams in the coming weeks
to reach the goal of 25, up
from the 22 teams that par-
ticipated in 2003. Monday's
fund raising total topped
$15,000. :
The $50,000 goal is about
$5,000 higher than last
year's fund raising total of
$44,832. Since its beginning
in 2001, the Bessemer City
relay raised over $100,000 to
help the American Cancer
Society fund cancer-related
services, educational pro-
grams and research.
Organizers exceeded the
fund raising goal each year,
See Relay, 3A
57th Bethware Fair
opens on August 3
The 57th annual Bethware Fair will be held August 3-7 on
the campus of Bethware Elementary School in Kings
Mountain.
Gates open at 6 p.m. each day and closes at 10 p.m. on
Tuesday through Friday. The fair closes at 11 p.m. on
Saturday.
Admission is free. Every night is designated as Family
Night. A $15 arm band is available that will allow unlimited
rides.
Bethware Progressive Club will man the concession stand,
and the White Plains Shrine Club will offer parking for $3
per car.
Exhibits will be on display on the fair grounds and in the
gym at Bethware School. Outside exhibits include commer-
cial, antiques, farm and garden equipment. The indoor
exhibits include arts, crafts, antiques, flowers, field crops,
: See Fair, 3A
PRIMARY 2004
. GARY STEWART / HERALD
Speedy and Judy Bowman were working on behalf of Cleveland County Commissioner candidate Johnny
Hutchins in the Republican Primary election Tuesday at Boyce Memorial A.R.P. Church in Kings Mountain.
BET
KM candidates advance
in Commissioners race
BY ANDIE L. BRYMER
Staff Writer
said.
Hawkins spoke highly of
Tuesday’s winners.
“They're all good people,” he
phone interview Wednesday
morning, Bridges said canvass
results will not be in until next
week. He's confident about the
possible run-off. said.
“I appreciate everybody's sup- Hawkins thanked his support-
“port,” he said. “We'll hang in ers.
there.” “I really am appreciative of all
Newcomers and Shelby resi- those who voted for me,” he said.
dents Democrat Robin Hendrick Hutchins called Tuesday a
and Republican Will Troutman “hard day” and a “new experi-
also won in Tuesday's primary. ence.” He credited supporters
Accor said she felt blessed as who campaigned at several
she watched results come in. polling sites around the county.
“Something is being done right “Without the team, my friends
in the eyes of the citizens,” she See Primary, 4A
Kings Mountain candidates did
well in Tuesday’s primary elec-
tion.
Cleveland County Commission
Chairwoman Mary Accor and
Commissioner Tom Bridges, both
Democrats, and Republicans
Commissioner Ronnie Hawkins
and political newcomer Johnny
Hutchins won their races, accord-
ing to unofficial results.
Bridges could face a run-off
from Kenneth Ledford. In a tele-
By TODD HAGANS
Special to The Herald film.
If you are planning to see
the movie, 'Fahrenheit 9/11,
now showing in theaters,
make sure to look for Kings
Mountain resident Lib
Stewart.
Stewart, retired news edi-
tor of The Kings Mountain
Herald, is shown in the con-
troversial documentary-style
movie that is critical of
President George W. Bush's
administration.
Stewart received several e-
mail messages last week
from friends who saw the
movie and noticed her unex-
MORGAN SCISM
Bethware Fair Queen
Lib in Fahrenheit 9 11
pected appearance in the
Stewart, who served as
national president of the
American Legion Auxiliary
in 1999-2000, is shown in a
latter portion of the movie
during a scene taped at the
national legion convention
in 2000 in Milwaukee,
Wisconsin. Stewart is
shown on film at the podi-
um where she was greeted
by Bush, who attended the
convention during his 2000
presidential campaign.
At first, Stewart said she
didn't believe her friends,
but later learned from Betsy
See Lib, 2A
BEACH
BLAST
Fun, games, music
highlight Saturday
event at Walking Track
The City of Kings Mountain is bringing
the beach to its residents. The town’s fifth
annual Beach Blast kicks off Saturday at
the walking track adjacent to the YMCA.
“We always have a great time, a lot of
fun,” said Mayor Rick Murphrey. “It’s a
family outing. Everyone will have a good
“time! Tt's"a chance to see neighbors;
friends and enjoy ¢ pod music.”
The musical line up begins at noon with
Crimson Rose. Ocean Boulevard takes the
Neisler Stage at 4 p.m. and Billy Scott &
The Prophets at 7 p.m. :
The YMCA pool will be open with free
admission from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. A sepa-
rate splash area will be set up at 1 p.m.
A Teenie Weenie Bikini Contest, spon-
sored by the Kings Mountain Business
and Professional Association, also begins
at 1 p.m. The contest is open to children
under age six. :
Trophies will be awarded first, second
and third place winners in boys and girls
competition. All participants will receive a
gift.
Parents may pre-register at First
National Bank, Ashley’s Antiques, This ‘N
That Novelty Shop, Sub Factory or city
hall. Registration will also be open from
11 a.m. to noon during the beach blast.
Cost is $5. The KMBPA uses the contest
to raise funds for scholarships awarded
Kings Mountain High School students.
Antique fire truck rides, courtesy of the
Kings Mountain Fire Department, begin at
3 p.m.
Folks with a taste for watermelon and a
large appetite can participate in a water-
melon eating contest at 4 p.m.
Beach balls will be released at 4:45 p.m.
Hot air balloon rides begin at 5 p.m. The
event concludes at 11 p.m.
Normally held at the gazebo at Patriots
Park, the Beach Blast was moved to the
walking track this year due to construc-
tion.
For more information on the teeny, wee-
. nie bikini contest, call JoAnn Hall at 704-
629-3906.
Ocean Boulevard is based out of Shelby.
See Blast, 3A
LIB STEWART
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