Thursday, January 13, 2005
KINGS MOUNTAIN
The Heral
Vol. 117 No. 2
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More money, more input? |
Some KM Council members want more say in economic development program
BY ANDIE L. BRYMER
Staff Writer
The Cleveland County Chamber
of Commerce is asking the City of
Kings Mountain for $90,000
though a few council members say
they want to be inside the loop on
economic development before
committing more funds.
Chamber officials met with the
council Friday afternoon to pitch
the 20/20 economic development
program.
Council members Kay
Hambright and Jerry Mullinax
asked for more input from the
chamber on industries considering
or moving to Kings Mountain.
“It seems like we should know
before it gets in the paper,”
Hambright said.
Mullinax disagreed with Mayor
Rick Murphrey having that infor-
mation and council not having it.
“Why should the mayor know it
and he can’t vote?” Mullinax
asked.
During an interview Tuesday
afternoon Mullinax reiterated his
request.
“If they'll communicate with this
council, maybe not to the full
extent (but) they've got to tell us
something,” he said.
Chamber officials defend their
position.
“It’s critically important we do
have a certain level of confidential-
ity,” Chamber President Stuart
Gilbert said during the meeting.
Murphrey said the need for con-
fidentiality stems from industries
looking at several towns at one
time and plans for existing plants.
Councilman Carl DeVane sup-
ports the plan.
“The city should do more for
economic development,” he said.
“Kings Mountain needs to be a
player.”
The city budgeted $30,000 for
the chamber during the 2004-2005
fiscal year.
Council members Brenda Ross,
Rick Moore and Howard Shipp
said Tuesday they are still study-
ing the request. Councilmen
Houston Corn could not be
reached for comment.
The chamber hopes to raise $3.5
GROVER SCHOOL TRAFFIC PROBLEMS
million in public and private funds
over the next five years. The cham-
ber is requesting contributions
from municipalities across
Cleveland, the county and the
Cleveland Sanitary District. Shelby
Mayor Ted Alexander said he did
not yet know how much his town
would contribute.
Shelby contributed $60,000 for
economic development during fis-
cal year 2004-2005 and Cleveland
County, $232,000.
During Friday’s meeting Larry
Hamrick spoke out in favor of the
plan. He believes it will help the
area’s struggling economy.
“We as local merchants aren't
doing the kind of business we
should,” Hamrick said.
ANDIE BRYMER / HERALD
Traffic backs up along Carolina Avenue as parents and caregivers wait to pick up children from Grover Elementary.
Growth, traffic concerns Grover
BY ANDIE L. BRYMER
Staff Writer
Grover Town Council must
decide if it will pay CMR Services
$5,000 to maybe help the town
GIOW.
CMR, a private planning, com-
munity development and manage-
ment firm, would develop a map
of Grover showing current zoning,
water lines and facility assets, gen-
eralized land use and area of influ-
ence for the town.
The project would include an
assessment identifying areas quali-
fying for annexation. Codes
including minimum housing, junk
vehicle and public nuisance would
be developed. Lastly, CMR would
create a list of priorities for the
town.
Grover has already mapped its
sewer and water lines, according
to Mayor Robbie Sides.
The presentation launched a dis-
cussion of Grover’s growth poten-
tial. The town currently cannot
provide water outside its bound-
aries. The General Assembly grant-
ed that right to the Cleveland
Sanitary District. The town would
have to annex before laying water
lines or reach an agreement with
the sanitary district.
Commissioner Max Rollins told
the council that businesses are
more lucrative to annex than resi-
dential areas.
Bill Willis, mayor pro-tem, advo-
cated the town look at annexing
the land around Interstate 85 Exit
Sewage
spills into
2. He said the area has potential
for development.
Willis also encouraged the town
to sell itself as the best location for
the county’s fifth middle and high
schools. School board Chairman
George Litton has said he believes
the schools should be built in
Patterson Springs or Grover.
“If we do nothing we'll get
bypassed again,” he said.
In other business, Commissioner
Willis presented his plan for reduc-
ing traffic congestion in front of
Grover Elementary. Springdale
Road would be extended to meet a
drive behind the school. Motorists
picking up children would use that
drive instead of Carolina Avenue.
Town officials say that the traffic
problem is caused by motorists
using Carolina Avenue as a cut
through between Shelby and
industry on Battleground Avenue.
Willis also proposed a gated cross-
walk across Carolina Avenue. He
said it would encourage non-
school related motorists to use +
Cleveland Avenue instead of
Carolina Avenue.
After parents approached the
council about their safety concerns
during the December meeting, the
Cleveland County Sheriff's Office
deputy contracted by the town
was directed to be on hand when
school ended.That practice has
been discontinued because it was
ineffective. The right turn lane at
the school is not long enough to
accommodate all vehicles waiting
to turn.
KINGS MOUNTAIN PEOPLE
ANDIE BRYMER / HERALD
Larry Hamrick speaks in support
of the 20/20 Partnership.
HOLD
THAT
TIGER
Bengal found 5
on Highway 216 ii
headed for zoo
BY ANDIE L. BRYMER
Staff Writer
A Bengal tiger nicknamed Sheba
put Cleveland County in the spot-
light earlier this week, however
the now well-known cub is mov-
ing to Asheboro.
After a motorist spotted two
Bengal cubs on N.C. 216 Saturday
night, highway patrol, Sheriff's
deputies and animal control offi-
cers from Cleveland and Gaston
counties sprung into action.
Sam Lockridge, coordinator of
health services for Cleveland, com-
mended the joint police effort. ‘
A Cleveland Sheriff's deputy
was able to tie the first tiger's
leash to his patrol car without inci-
dent, according to Roger
Lowrance, chief of animal control
for Cleveland. The tiger was wear-
ing a camo collar and the leash.
“It was very docile,” Lowrance
said. “It’s a wild animal but its
been around people.”
The second tiger was caught on
the Gaston County side of the
highway 200 yards away, also
without incident. It was wearing a
make-shift collar that appeared to
be an orange electrical cord. The
second tiger was taken to Gaston
County's shelter. Officials think
See Tiger, 2A
KM creek
BY ANDIE L. BRYMER
Staff Writer
Between 50,000 and
60,000 gallons of untreated
wastewater spilled into
Long Branch Friday.
Dennis Wells, director of
Kings Mountain's
Collection and Distribution
System, said employees
were at the Long Branch
pump station to grease
pumps Friday. The leak had
not occurred when they
arrived. After conducting
the regular maintenance
they discovered the leak.
“We were right on the
scene,” Wells said.
A private septic pumping
See Spill, 3A
Bovd touches lives
BY ANDIE L. BRYMER
Staff Writer
Bethware Elementary
Principal Valerie Boyd
spends much of her time
making not just the school
but the community a better
place.
Boyd started her educa-
tion career working in the
pre-school program Head
Start. From there she taught
fourth and fifth grade at
Grover and North elemen-
tary schools.
“I've always enjoyed
kids,” Boyd said.
Her next stop was Kings
Mountain High School
where she served as an
assistant principal.
“They're kids in a bigger
body,” Boyd said.
Boyd also worked with
. Project TEACH while at
KMHS.
After five years Boyd
returned to elementary
school, this time Bethware.
She worked as an assistant
principal under Mary
Accor. When Accor left the
campus to work in the cen-
tral office, Boyd was pro-
moted.
Boyd says she touched
lives while in the classroom
and realized administration
would give her an opportu-
nity to make systematic
change. Boyd earned her
masters in school adminis-
tration from UNC-
‘who strengthens me,” she.
Charlotte.
Boyd calls graduate
school “challenging.” She
remembers the advice of
one professor who told her
“you can do anything for
one semester.” Boyd says
taking it one day at a time
and her faith got her
through.
“I'm a firm believer I can
do all things through Christ
said.
Along with her parents,
she credits administrators
Dr. Jane King and the late
Bill Hager for encouraging
her to strive for more.
“They see in you what
you don’t see in yourself,”
See Boyd, 7A project.
Bethware Elementary Principal Valerie Boyd helps
Adrian Tirado, left, and Alexis Connor with a science
a -
ANDIE L. BRYMER/HERALD