Sb Spe i ti dt
Thursday, December 1, 2004
Vol. 116 No. 49
to the mayor read “Twas The Night Before Christmas.”
Tree lighting kicks
off Christmas i in KM
2 ANDIE L. BRYMER
Myer Rick Miphicy had just finished reading “Twas
the Night Before Christmas” to children gathered at the
library when his cell phone rang. It was none other than
Santa Clause.
The jolly old fella was in town and could stop by the
library, Murphrey announced to the young crowd. That
was all it took for the little ones to stream toward the
door. Soon after they assembled on the library’s front
lawn, flashing red lights could be seen down Piedmont
Avenue.
A bearded, rotund Santa arrived on a Kings Mountain
Fire Department engine along with green-clad elves
Krista Harris and Taylor Cox.
After the tree was lit, Santa headed inside to take
requests and pose for photos.
Before Santa arrived, Murphrey read the Christmas
story from the gospel of Luke and the holiday classic by
See Tree, 3A
KINGS MOUNTAII
Since 1889
upseL crover
for first win
8A
— CHRISTMAS TIME IN THE CITY——
JOSEPH BRYMER / HERALD
Kings Mountain citizens gather around the tree at Mauney Memorial Library Tuesday night for the city’s annual
tree lighting ceremony. Below, three-year-old Dakota Mellon sits with his grandmother, Kaye Ramsey, as they listen
KM, Grover parades Saturday
BY ANDIE BRYMER
Staff Writer
If you love a parade, Saturday is
the day. Both Grover and Kings
Mountain will hold Christmas
parades.
In Kings Mountain, military repre-
sentatives will serve as grand mar-
shals. Army Sgt. Michael Zurling,
Navy Petty Officer Marcia Frailey,
Air Force Technical Sgt. Peggy
Spence, Marine Pvt, Christopher
Biggers and Army National Guard
First Lt. Kenneth Caldwell will ride
on a National Guard Humvee.
Caldwell is a veteran of the second
/ Iraq war.
While titles like Tiny Mister Kings
Mountain typically conjurer up tod-
dlers, the city’s reigning Tiny Mister
is 16-year-old Chris Beheler. When
the teen learned that his successor
had not been crowned, he decided to
make an appearance.
“He's still tickled to death about
it,” said Barbara Burgess Riley,
Beheler’s mom. They now live in
Lenoir. Chris” dad James Beheler
lives in Shelby.
Riley said she was surprised to
learn Kings Mountain had not held a
pageant since 1991. Her son was the
only redhead among almost 50
entrants. He was three years old
when he won the title.
Beheler will wear a beige tuxedo
similar to the one he wore in the 1991
parade.
Beheler is a junior at West Caldwell
High School where he is a member of
the marching band, wrestling team
and ROTC.
Beheler’s brother Tony Taylor was
See Parades, 3A
Jimmy Wayne hasn’t forgotten KM
BY ANDIE L. BRYMER
Staff Writer
Even though he’s now famous, Kings Mountain native
Jimmy Wayne hasn't forgotten his childhood.
The country singer known for hits like “I Love You This
Much” and “Stay Gone” has produced “Paper Angels.” The
song is about the childhood Christmas when Wayne and his
sister's paper angels were picked from a Salvation Army
tree. The pair spent Christmas day playing with the Uno
cards he received.
+ “I wrote this song to make more people aware of how little
it can take to make kids happy,” Wayne writes on his web-
site, jimmywayne.com.
Wayne and his sister spent their childhoods in and out of
foster care. When they were living with their mom, she
would take them to the Salvation Army each year to com-
plete angel tree paper work. Some years they received pres-
ents, other years there were none.
Wayne is hoping every child will have a present this year.
He spent Friday at Cleveland Mall promoting the angel tree.
Wayne grew up in Kings Mountain and nearby Bessemer
City. Seven years ago he moved to Nashville. There he was
offered a job writing songs for the Acuff Rose company. He
See Jimmy, 3A
Jimmy Wayne sings for city employees Wednesday at
Kings Mountain City Hall.
* ing the position. The item
cast the lone dissenting vote.
Council to
study hiring
own engineer
BY ANDIE L. BRYMER
Staff Writer .
The City of Kings Mountain will again look at hiring an
engineer.
City council voted six to one Tuesday night to instruct its
manager to analyze the
potential cost savings of fill-
“We’ve studied it
three times. Every
time it’s not cost
effective so why
~ waste time study-
ing it again?”
was placed on the agenda at
the request of Councilman
Rick Moore who chairs the
utility committee.
Councilman Carl DeVane
“We've studied it three
times,” he said-after the
meeting. “Every time it’s not
cost effective so why waste
time studying it again?”
The council hired Carson
Fisher as engineer in
January. He left less than two months into the job. Fisher
told the Herald that he was accepting a job with the state
land quality section in Asheville which he had applied for
before coming to Kings Mountain.
During fiscal year 2003-2004, the city paid four firms
$113,000 for engineering, surveying, construction adminis-
tration and observation, preparation and design of con-
struction plans, preparation on bid and contract documents,
professional services, technician services, clerical services,
environmental consultation and geo tech services and
expenses.
Those firms include Moretz Engineering, $69,320; Byers
Engineering, $9,601; Progressive Engineering, $34,704 and
W.J. Turpish and Associates, $203.
See City, 5A
KM's Hawkins
will probably
be county chair
BY ANDIE L. BRYMER
Staff Writer
Commissioner
Carl DeVane
If tradition holds true, Ronnie Hawkins will head the
Cleveland County Commission when it reorganizes Dec. 6.
Hawkins has served as vice-chairperson this year.
Typically the board chooses a new chairperson after each
election. That post traditionally goes to the vice-chair.
Current Chairperson Mary Accor said some have ques-
tioned why she is “stepping down,” a description she dis-
agrees with.
“It’s been a practice of our board to pass it around. We
feel like we are all qualified,” Accor said Monday.
Accor said she will vote for Hawkins but can only “speak
for myself.”
Commissioner Jerry Self would not speculate on who
would become chairperson, only saying everyone was well
qualified.
Hawkins has said he is willing to accept the post.
Hawkins said the board agrees to take turns at leader-
ship. While he was this year’s top voter getter with 20 per-
cent of the vote, Hawkins said this does not determine who
chairs the board.
While there is a Republican majority on the board with
the election of Johnny Hutchins, Hawkins does not expect
See Hawkins, 5A
Moore to reintroduce
marriage defense act
BY ANDIE L. BRYMER
Staff Writer
Lower taxes, more highway funds, matriage, expanding
sewer and creating a business friendly climate will be on
the minds of local legislators when the General Assembly
convenes in January.
Representative Tim Moore, Republican, told the Herald
last week that he will concentrate on lowering corporate
and personal taxes and gas tax. He also wants to eliminate
the inheritance tax. : i 2
Moore says he wants to secure more funds for paving
roads and making highway safety improvements.
Moore will re-introduce the Defense of Marriage Act
which did not pass this year. He represents Cleveland
County.
Debbie Clary, Republican, who represents portions of
Gaston and Cleveland counties, said she hopes to secure
funds for more water and sewer in the two counties. She
said this will help with industry recruitment.
Clary predicted a tough budget process this year.
November's election gave the House of Representatives a-
See Moore, 5A
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