IN
YOUR
OPINION
Marriage
Protection
Amendment
To the editor:
The election results are in,
and Americans overwhelm-
ingly want marriage to be
defined as the union of one
man and one woman.
All of the 11 states with
constitutional amendments
on marriage passed them -
by upwards of 60 or 70 per-
cent of the vote in most
cases. Hopefully, that sends
a message to our senators
and representatives in
Washington that we want,
and expect, them to similar-
ly protect this sacred institu-
tion in the U.S. Constitution.
Sadly, though, the ballot
box is no match for the
judge’s gavel in modern-
day America. Don’t be sur-
prised if the next headline
you read about this issue
involves a state court ruling
one of the amendments
unconstitutional, usurping
the power rightly delegated
to the people.
The sole sure-fire way of
stripping judicial tyrants of
their ability to do this is to
amend the federal constitu-
tion through the Marriage
Protection Amendment. You
made your voices heard at
the polls, now I hope you
will join me in calling your
representatives in the U.S.
Senate and in Congress to
urge them to give the peo-
ple what they want in the
United States...the Marriage
Protection Amendment.
Sharon B. Eaker
Cherryville
Opinion
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continue through Christmas.
Thankful for
the blessings
that matter |
Earlier this year I got caught up in’ Andie Brymer
wanting an older two-story home in an gaff Writer
small town historic district. A Volvo
wagon was parked in the driveway of
my fantasy.
Knowing that wasn’t possible on my salary, [ was sad. I
felt like I didn’t have enough. Then my husband's friend
Gene Reep died.
A sports fan, Gene traveled to ball games with Fook and
other journalists. When he had a sudden and fatal heart
attack, two writers penned a column about their friend.
Their words helped me refocus. Mike Powell and David
tant. Gene made his money mowing grass and managing
a self-service car wash. Neither venture brought in big
profits. Gene lived in a tiny house but much of his time
was his own. He spent it wisely, coaching youth leagues
and supporting his favorite teams.
This accounting of Gene's life helped me realize I
should focus more on experiences than possessions. I
looked at my life and realized I was rich.
I am blessed to have a husband who loves and accepts
me. Cats Susie and P.O. are always glad to see us. We
have a small but comfortable home. Our refrigerator is
packed full of tasty treats. Our vehicles are older but so
far reliable.
I value the time I spend in person, on the phone and
over e-mail with friends Carol, Abby, Teresa and Elvenia.
The people I work with at The Herald and our sister
papers are smart, helpful and fun. I am healthy and when
I do feel. bad, have quick access to healthcare. New titles
and old favorites are free for the picking at the library.
Looking over my life here at Thanksgiving: I see much
to be grateful for.
Going in another direction, who saw “Wal-Mart: Is It
Good For America” on Frontline last week? That was one
eye opening documentary. According to the film, Wal-
Mart has bargained so hard for low prices from its suppli-
ers that those businesses are having to send jobs to China.
Wages are dramatically lower there than here, as we all
know. I feel bad both for the American workers who lost
jobs and the Chinese who are being exploited. Maybe if
we all stopped wanting so many cheap consumer goods
‘this wouldn't happen. We all need to ponder that as we
“do our Christmas shopping.
Andie Brymer can be reached at 704 739-7496 or
abrymer@kingsmountainherald.com
Keever described Gene as a man rich in what was impor- .
The Kings Mountain Herald
(EJ
JOSEPH BRYMER / HERALD
The sign above Grady Costner’s work shop in the Midpines Community serves as he and wife Katie’s
Christmas card to everyone in the area. The Costners’ annual light display begins Thursday at 5 p.m. and wil
Zealotry
should be
unlawful
As I have said many times before, we
are a nation of zealots. They invade every jo. Heffner
aspect of our lives.
I saw a comment in another newspaper
the other day: “Death by drunk driver is
not an accident; it is murder.”
Now isn’t that ridiculous?
MADD, of course, is behind all the anarchy regarding
drunk drivers. They are intent on zero tolerance. In other
words, if you have one sip of beer and drive, they want
you in jail and charged with drunk driving.
If they get their way, you won't be able to have a glass
of wine with dinner should you choose to dine out in a
nice restaurant. Don’t even think about having two glass-
es. That's tantamount to mass murder. «
The lady who started MADD has left the organization
because the zealots have taken over. It’s outrageous.
The zealotry is such it has spilled over into the work-
place. If you happen to drink a beer after a hard week's
work, get pulled over and ticketed, you could lose your
job. Think I'm kidding about that?
Ask your employer how he feels about it. It isn’t that
employers are so hard-nosed, it’s that there's a good
chance they'll be visited by their local MADD group if
they continue to employ anyone who has received a ticket
for drunk driving,
I know a young man who suffered that embarrassment.
He lost his job, then his father did a little research and
found that the owner of the small company also had
received a DWI ticket a year earlier.
When confronted, the employer took the man’s son
back, but restricted him to inside work. After a few
months, the boy was eased back into his old job as a serv-
ice mechanic. Justice does prevail in some cases.
The zealots began to edge their way into society in the
late seventies. When the Iranian hostages were released in
early 1981, the zealous movement blossomed fully.
Everybody wanted to give the prisoners as much
money as they could cart home in a large hay wagon.
These people worked dangerous jobs.in a dangerous
country. They were career diplomats, and they were well
compensated for their work.
When they got out, the airlines competed to see which
one could provide the most luxurious vacations for the
prisoners and their families.
Automobile companies ran all over each other trying to
give them new cars of every description.
. See Heffner, 5A
Columnist
Wednesday, November 24, 2004
LOOK BACK
City-mills
suit went to
trial in ‘74
From the Thursday,
November 21, 1974 edition
of the Kings Mountain
Mirror-Herald:
Two main items of con-
cern discussed by directors
of the Kings Mountain
Chamber of Commerce
Tuesday were the proposed
merger with the Merchants
Association and the ward
equalization project.
Rev. Gary Bryant, new
pastor of First Presbyterian
Church, will deliver the
sermon in the traditional
community-wide
Thanksgiving service
Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. at
Central United Methodist
Church.
City of Kings Mountain
vs. Mur Glo and Bonnie
Mills is docketed for trial
in the current civil term of
Cleveland County Superior
Court, which opened in
Shelby Monday. The city
alleges that the mills owe
the city $2,548.51 for gas
usage and $323.55 for
water used between Nov.
4, 1972 and March 5, 1973.
The mills, in a cross action,
allege that the water and
gas were supplied to the
“mill village” and was not
part of the contract for use
of city utilities.
Mayor John Henry Moss
has been named chairman
of the CAGO Recreation
Study Commission.
Bill Stinnett, owner and
operator of Bessemer City-
Kings Mountain Drive-In
Theatre, was robbed at
gunpoint Saturday night
by a masked bandit.
Kings Mountain High's
cagers, hoping to be vastly
improved this season
under veteran coach Allen
Dixon, put out the wel-
come mat to Crest, Burns
and Shelby Monday and
Tuesday in the fourth
annual Cleveland County
Tipoff tournament.
Russ Conley, stepson of
KMHS teacher I.G.
Alexander, is leading
North Carolina’s Tar Heels
in pass interceptions with
three. Bobby Trott, nephew
of KM’s Tom Trott, has one
interception.
Myra Jane Griffin, Kings
Mountain Carrousel
Princess, will depart for
the Queen City Wednesday
for activities culminating in
the Thanksgiving Day
Carolinas Carrousel.
Kings Mountain’s Frank
Cornwell will be inducted
into the NC Legion
Baseball Hall of Fame Jan.
25 in Salisbury.
Dellinger’s Jewel Shop
has occupied brand new
quarters on West Mountain
Street.
SIDEWALK
SURVEY
By ANDIE BRYMER
HERALD ;
What are
your plans
for the
Thanksgiving
holiday?
Our kids/who are in col-
lege and the family are
meeting with another fam-
I have this Thanksgiving
off. This is the second time
I've had it off. I'm going to
spend it with my family. ily we've been friends
Daniel Tenney with since they were
York, S.C. babies.
" Connie Ash
x Kings Mountain
Have a big turkey and fol- We're going to cook at my Have Thanksgiving dinner
low up on some requests house and have a big din- with family.
at city hall. Fer. Howard Lutz
Jerry Mullinax Frances Lingerfedt Kings Mountain
Kings Mountain
Kings Mountain