Thursday, January 27, 2005
Vol. 117 No. 4
Since 1889
Mountaineers
sweep swim
meet
6A
50 Cents
.
~ City extends YMCA contract
Mullinax casts lone dissenting vote, large number of citizens support plan
BY ANDIE L. BRYMER
Staff Writer
Kings Mountain City
Council voted 5-1 during
Tuesday night's meeting to
approve a 10-year contract
with the YMCA.
Several residents spoke
out in favor of the contract
and a few said they opposed
it.
Council member Jerry
Mullinax cast the lone dis-
Council
updated on
emergency
procedures
BY ANDIE L. BRYMER
Staff Writer
A state emergency official
updated Kings Mountain
City Council on the
National Incident
Management System
Tuesday afternoon.
State and local govern-
ments which receive federal
money must implement
NIMS, according to Tim
Miller, director of the west-
ern branch of the state
Office of Emergency
Management.
I'he system standardizes
how local, state and federal
agencies respond to emer-
gencies making it easier for
agencies to assist each
other, Miller said. Resources
are classified as Type I, II or
IIT making the request
process quicker and more
efficient.
Locally police and fire
officials have already start-
ed using the new system.
Upper and middle manage-
ment at the Kings Mountain
Police Department have
received training. Upper
management will attend
additional, optional train-
ing, according to Police
Chief Melvin Proctor.
To be in compliance with
federal mandates, the city
See Council, 3A
Cold snap
causes
problems
BY ANDIE L. BRYMER
Staff Writer
Recent temperatures dip-
ping into the teens resulted
in frozen pipes and more
requests for help from
Kings Mountain Crisis
Ministry.
Customers at Bridges
Hardware are purchasing
more space heaters, plastic,
caulking and other weather-
ization tools. David Black
reports that several people
have come in for supplies to
repair burst pipes.
Plumber Philip Bollinger
reports several calls about
frozen pipes. He advises
residents to cover outdoor
spigots. When temperatures
are going to be below freez-
ing for more than 36 hours,
leave a faucet running at a
drip.
Dennis Wells of the City
of Kings Mountain Water
Department finds leaving a
spigot dripping effective at
his own home. Wells’ pipes
have only frozen once, the
one time he failed to leave
the water running. He also
recommends leaving cabi-
net doors open to allow
See Cold, 3A
senting vote. Councilman
Rick Moore was absent.
Mullinax said he was not
opposed to the YMCA but
did not support any con-
tracts over three years in
duration.
Single parent Sharon
Vassez told council members
that she appreciates the pos-
itive environment the
YMCA provides her two
children. She described it as
a place which is open to
DREAM
everyone.
“The Y is not fancy. It's
not expensive. No one is
turned down,” Vassez said.
Vassez works part time at
the YMCA and also volun-
teers there.
According to past board
chairman Dale Green, 130
families receive financial
assistance with membership
fees. The YMCA calls these
scholarships.
Steven Surrat said he first
IN’ ‘BOUT THE BEACH
visited the YMCA while
doing community service.
The staff’s consistent good
mood caught his attention.
Surrat returned to coach bas-
ketball.
Retired nurse Cynthia
Morris said she liked the
dependable programming.
Jack Griffin praised the
YMCA for teaching children
morals.
Shirley Brutko described
the YMCA as a place which
bridges racial boundaries.
She also said the organiza-
tion helps produce commu-
nity leaders.
Shawn Terry said he fre-
quents the YMCA almost
daily and credited it for
keeping him out of trouble.
Luz Betancur said her
daughter enjoys the games,
crafts and devotions which
are part of the YMCA after
school and summer pro-
grams. :
Manager’
Greg Grabert gave a
detailed cost analysis of the
contract. According to his
figures, the city would save
$2.2 million over the life of
the contract.
Jay Majors and Judy
Whisnant also spoke out in
favor of the contract.
Lamar Fletcher asked the
council to remain in the cur-
rent contract. That contract
gives both parties an annual
See YMCA, 3A
S report:
city engineer
would be costly
BY ANDIE L. BRYMER
Staff Writer
A full time, staff engineer would cost the City of Kings
Mountain between $150,000 and $200,000 annually, City
Manager Greg McGinnis told = ———————
council Tuesday night.
Council requested the report foresee
during its November meeting.
The city hired an engineer
early in 2004 but he left after a
few weeks to take a position in
Asheville.
According to McGinnis’
report, a professional engi-
neer’s salary would be at least
$65,000. The benefits package
would bring that sum to
“l don’t
enough
capital projects to
keep a city
Greg McGinnis
City Manager
engineer occupied.”
$100,000. Other costs would include support staff, confer-
ANDIE BRYMER / HERALD
Micah Stewart leans on a beach ball during story time at Mauney Memorial Library.
_attorney for over 50 years.
iL
KINGS MOUNTAIN
ANDIE BRYMER / HERALD
George Thomasson has been a busy Kings Mountain
PEOPLE
ence and seminar attendance and other professional devel-
opment costs, a vehicle or car allowance, internet access,
office space, equipment like CADD computer stations, engi-
neering software, monochrome plotter and printer, reloca-
tion costs and cell phone.
The position would be for a civil engineer. A specialized
engineer would still have to be contracted for gas, electric,
water and sewer projects, according to McGinnis.
No city department heads thought a civil engineer was
needed on staff, McGinnis said. Former city managers, rep-
resentatives from the UNC School of Government and pri-
vate consulting firms also have told McGinnis a staff engi-
neer is not necessary.
“The driving factor in engineering is projects, and I don’t
foresee in the near future enough capital projects to keep a
city engineer occupied for forty hours per week,” McGinnis
wrote in his report. :
In other business, a Kings Mountain Rotary request was
withdrawn from the agenda. The organization had planned
See Engineer, 3A
Attorney Thomasson
has seen many changes
BY ANDIE L. BRYMER
Staff Writer
Attorney George Thomasson has
watched the legal profession change dra-
matically over the past 50 years.
After a year working for Duke
University, Thomasson returned home to
Kings Mountain and opened his law prac-
tice.
In the early 1950s there were no female
attorneys in Cleveland nor Gaston coun-
ties. Thomasson estimates over 50 percent
of today’s attorney’s are women.
“That's fine. They are very capable,” he
said.
Law is more complicated now than a
half century ago, according to Thomasson.
There are more laws and more frequent
changes in existing laws.
“They're changing constantly,” he said. -
When Thomasson opened the doors to
his Kings Mountain practice, lawyers, like
doctors, were generalists.
“You took everything that came in,”
Thomasson said.
Until 1968, some misdemeanors - reck--
less driving, assault on a female - were
tried in Kings Mountain. Thomasson
served as judge for the Monday afternoon
session known as recorders court. Court
was held at the old city hall where the cur-
rent police department stands. Fines could
not exceed $100 and sentences were 30
days or less.
Despite all the changes, Secretary Karen
Moss has been a constant in Thomasson’s
practice for the past 36 years.
“She does most of the work I have to
admit,” Thomasson said.
While Thomasson took criminal cases
earlier in his career, he now limits his prac-
tice to civil cases. Real estate sales, refi-
nancing contracts and wills take up most of
Thomasson’s time. He appreciates not hav-
ing to appear in court and deal with con-
tinuations.
Thomasson is part of what has been
called America’s “greatest generation.”
After serving in the Army infantry during
World War II, he used the GI Bill to attend
Davidson College and then Duke
University’s law school.
“It’s (GI Bill) probably one the best
things that happened to the United States,”
Thomasson said.
The bill helped many soldiers return
home to study law, medicine and other
professions.
Thomasson worked as city attorney for
11 years under former Mayor John Henry
Moss. Several area attorneys including
Andy Neisler and Mark Hullender have
worked as associates in Thomasson’s prac-
tice. \
The state of North Carolina recognized
Thomasson when he reached the 50-year
mark in the profession. :
“My health is good. I enjoy doing what
See Thomassen, 2A