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KINGS MOUNTAIN Vol. 116 No. 38 Since 1889 50 Cents Sheloy rn... _ - Thursday, September 16, 2004 Friday 1B an eye on Ivan BY ANDIE L. BRYMER Staff Writer After Hurricane Frances left a sinkhole on Linwood Drive last week, Hurricane Ivan is threatening to possi- bly bring more wind and rain. On Tuesday City of Kings Mountain Risk Manager Ray Wilson was monitoring the National Weather Service. “We're trying to get a handle on what its track will be,” he said. The city will go into storm mode if it looks like Ivan is headed here, Wilson said. Three days from the time the storm is expected, electric department workers will inventory supplies and make additional purchases if needed. Workers will meet 24 hours prior to cre- ate a round-the-clock sched- ule. If needed, the electric department will have employees answering phones 24 hours a day. Otherwise, calls will be automatically transferred to city police dispatch. Water department employees are also prepar- ing for Ivan. “This could be a serious storm. We're watching it close, praying it dies down,” said Dennis Wells, director of water distribu- tion and collection systems. Crews were continuing work on a sinkhole on Linwood Road Tuesday afternoon. The hole was first spotted by a city work- er around 8 a.m. last Wednesday. At the time it was 10 feet. Public Works Director Jackie Barnette said Tuesday repairs should be complete in the next day or two. Crews from C.K. Construction pumped water from the hole and replaced old terra cotta pipe. No injuries resulted from the sinkhole. Traffic has been rerouted around the portion of Linwood between Grace and Phenix streets. Barnette said the workers and equipment have attracted stares from curious motorist. Rains last week also caused four sewer over- flows. The Wilson Street Station overflowed an esti- mate 10,200 gallons into Kings Creek; McDonald Pump Station at Interstate See Ivan, 5A KM comes to aid of By GARY STEWART Editor of The Herald Kings Mountain's newest school, the city and W&B Trucking are joining forces to help the victims of hurricanes Charley and Frances in Florida. Citizens are encouraged to take paper products including paper towels, toilet paper, diapers, baby wipes, plastic spoons and forks, etc., and bottled water to the Kings Mountain Fire Department at City Hall all this week, to be transported to Florida free of charge by W&B Trucking. Ashley Sullens, mother of one of the stu- dents at the newly-formed Hope Christian Academy, located at East Gold Street : Wesleyan Church, presented the idea to his- tory teacher Tim Barrett. Barrett mentioned the idea to his brother- in-law, former city manager Jimmy Maney, and Maney suggested that the city get involved. Mayor Rick Murphrey and other city offi- 9/11 REMEMBERED — a ANDIE L. BRYMER/HERALD Shana Adams sings the national anthem Saturday morning during a September 11 ceremony at City Hall. Below, National Guardsman Brent Turner holds his youngest son Holden Turner. Turner is home on leave from Iraq. Emergency workers honored, remembered BY ANDIE L. BRYMER Staff Writer Kings Mountain police and fire fighters were honored and victims of the attack on America were remembered Saturday morn- ing during the city’s September 11 obser- vance. Police Chief Melvin Proctor, Fire Chief Frank Burns and Cleveland County Sheriff Raymond Hamrick led the emergency work- ers as they filed into the city hall outdoor amphitheater. Police Explorers presented the colors. Piper Jane Gulden of the Loch Norman Pipe Band played the great high- land pipe for the solemn ceremony. “The spirit of democracy cannot be killed because we defend, we remember,” Mayor Rick Murphrey told the crowd. “It’s our responsibility as Americans to support our troops. I get so upset as I watch television and see the protest.” National Guardsman Brent Turner who is on leave from serving in Iraq was recognized for his service. He attended the ceremony with his family. During his remarks, Representative Tim Moore called preemptive action “the only way to make ourselves safe.” Council approves incentives for industry BY ANDIE L. BRYMER Staff Writer : : : The City of Kings Mountain will give Southeastern Container up to $387,000 to locate here. City council approved the measure Monday night six to one. Chamber President Stuart Gilbert called incentives by the city and Cleveland County critical to the decision making process. Cleveland County Commissioners agreed to a $380,000 tax break over a five-year period. Bruce Sampson, who manages the Enka plant where the company is head- quartered and will manage the Kings Mountain location, confirmed Wednesday morning that Southeastern is coming to the city. He credited the city’s proximity to a bottler in northwestern Charlotte. Southeastern is a cooperative wholly owned by independent Coca-Cola Bottlers. The company makes plastic bot- tles. While most local officials were upbeat Monday night, one councilman and some local residents weren't so con- vinced. j Councilman Jerry Mullinax said he voted against the incentive because the city will not be supplying electricity to the plant. When questioned by Mullinax, ~ City Planner Steve Killian described the company as “not as lucrative as some” regarding utility usage. The company will be located in an area serviced by Duke Energy. “Electric is the only outfit making money,” former City Councilman Jim Guyton told Killian after the meeting. The company will not receive a dis- count on utilities; instead, it would be charged the regular industrial rate. During the public hearing Guyton spoke out on the need for jobs.-Mullinax said after the meeting that he supported incentives to bring jobs here. : During the hearing, former Kings Mountain School District board member Michael Smith read from a prepared statement when he asked the board to put the welfare of children before what many consider corporate welfare. Smith argued that the taxes Southeastern pays will go toward schools some Kings Mountain children have been excluded from attending. These students live in the Gaston County portion of the city. Resident Buddy Smith asked for some guarantee that a percentage of the employees would come from Kings Mountain. “We have to respect these people to hire the most qualified,” said . Councilman Carl DeVane. Southeastern will provide 79 jobs, according to Scott Darnell, Chamber vice-president for economic develop- ment. He called the company a local market. ; “They have the best intentions of hir- ing people from Kings Mountain, Cleveland County,” Darnell said. See Council, 2A hurricane victims cials jumped at the suggestion. Several years ago the city helped coordinate a drive for food and other items for flood victims in See Aid, 2A mn GARY STEWART / HERALD Kings Mountain Mayor Rick Murphrey, center, speaks as students at Hope Christian Academy listen in ceremony launching paper products drive for victims of Florida hurricanes. y as I 3 en in
The Kings Mountain Herald (Kings Mountain, N.C.)
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Sept. 16, 2004, edition 1
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