Mountaineers’
Josh Hendricks
signs to play
college baseball
end
1B
Who will
E=="m 7] run for
| Council
this year?
BY ANDIE L. BRYMER
Staff Writer
Thursday, February 24, 2005
Land Use Committee is appointed
BY ANDIE L. BRYMER
Vol. 117 No. 8 ) Since 1889 50 Cents
dations on residential and industrial
Staff Writer zoning changes, infrastructure and
: road planning. The plan will include
Kings Mountain's Land Use the city and its two-mile extra territo-
Development Committee was named
during city council’s Tuesday night
meeting. :
Mayor Rick Murphrey appointed
Jerry Blanton, David Allen, Dean
Spears, Ronnie Wilson, John Houze,
Ron Humphries, Raeford White,
Phillip Putnam, Emmanuel Goode,
Shirley Brutko, Greg Johnson, Tim
Plonk, Jim Childers, Brenda Ross,
~ Larry Hamrick Jr., Donald Crawford,
Johnny Bumgardner, Teresa Ruppe,
Steve Padgett, Phillip Bunch and
Ernest Rhome.
The committee will work with city
council and staff to make recommen-
rial jurisdiction.
In other business, city council
referred back to the planning and zon-
ing board a rezoning request by
Donna McNamara. She wants a half-
acre property located at the intersec-
tion of Blair Drive and Shelby Road
changed from residential to neighbor-
hood business.
McNamara and Paige Crisp want to
open an upscale salon offering hair
care, massage, skin care, anti-aging
treatment and facials.
A beauty salon is located next door.
Nearby is a garage, church and stereo
See Council, 2A
McGinnis Furniture closing
End of
an era
BY ANDIE L. BRYMER
Staff Writer
Will Kings Mountain's leaders run o
for re-election come November? While o
filling doesn’t open till July 1, the city’s .
mayor and two council member have
already decided to run. A few other
council members aren't sure.
This year marks Rick Murphrey’s
sixth as mayor after serving six years
on city council. Murphrey says he is
. following his father’s example. The
senior Murphrey has served 35 years
on his eastern North Carolina home- ©
town council. Murphrey said his father 5
encouraged him to give back to the
community.
“I'd like to continue to work for the
citizens,” he said Tuesday afternoon. pe
Looking back at his 12 years with the ¥
city, Murphrey points to new police
and fire department headquarters, a
senior center and playground and
infrastructure improvements. He also
lists downtown revitalization, the
Gateway project linking the city with
nearby parks, quality of life events
including a summer concert series and
beautification efforts. :
Long-time Councilman Howard
Shipp, who represents Ward One, said
he will run for re-election. Jerry
Mullinax of Ward Three also plans to
run for re-election. He was first elected
in 1995 serving until 1999. Mullinax ran’ ~~
a successful campaign again in 2003. Ee
Councilwoman Brenda Ross, who o
was elected in 2003, says she is not sure
about re-election. Ross, who represents (
Ward Two, said she felt like the council 3
had accomplished several goals. A cost- (
saving pumping station went on-line Ta
early this year and the city entered into oy
a 10-year contract with the YMCA. 6S
Both Southeastern Container and Axle
Alliance have opened facilities here.
“We're delighted to have them,” she
said.
Ross also praised the efforts of spe-
cial events Coordinator Ellis Noell and
Library Director Sharon Stack.
Councilman Carl DeVane said he
hasn't decided yet if he will seek re-
election. He represents Ward Five.
Councilwoman Kay Hambright, also
serving her first term, said she had not
made a final decision either.
See Election, 2A
KM Chief
ANDIE L. BRYMER/HERALD
Pressley Anderson was honored Tuesday night as an
ambassador for the City of Kings Mountain. He umpires
little league baseball and works as a crossing guard.
After more than 60 years in business, McGinnis Furniture
is closing Monday. Owners Bill and Doris McGinnis are
retiring, :
go They are selling the Battleground Avenue building to
Herb Anthony who plans to continue selling furniture.
Hinkle McGinnis opened the store in the early 1940s sell-
ing used furniture. Originally the store was located at 110
West Mountain Street. In 1959 he built the current location.
In the early 1960s he added an addition to the Battleground
Avenue site.
. Hinkle McGinnis first arrived in Kings Mountain in 1898
to work for Carpenter Brothers Groceries. Two years later
he opened a tin shop supplying roofs to area mills, homes
and other buildings. :
During the Great Depression of the late-1920s he lost both
the Mountain Street business and North Piedmont Avenue
home. The elder McGinnis moved his family to a large farm
and started over.
His sons have made a name for themselves in the city’s
business community. Paul McGinnis started McGinnis
Department Store. Donald McGinnis opened Kings
Mountain Brick. Odell McGinnis worked in insurance in
Gastonia.
Bill McGinnis and his brother Hubert stayed in furniture.
Hubert McGinnis Jr. opened McGinnis Furniture in
Cherryville. a :
Over the decades in the business, Bill McGinnis has ; Ai
watched customers buy much the same styles only larger
pieces today. McGinnis sees a trend in larger chains sell-
ing goods manufactured overseas. This threatens small
ANDIE BRYMER / HERALD
Bill McGinnis stands in front of McGinnis Furniture, a family-owned business
of over 60 years in Kings Mountain. McGinnis, who is retiring, is closing the
See McGinnis, 2A
store Monday.
Remembering Bridges Airport
BY ANDIE L. BRYMER
Staff Writer
Today cars travel up and down Bridges
Drive. However, 50 years ago airplanes took
off and landed on what was then a dirt strip.
G.A. Bridges built the runway, hanger and
control tower in 1945. While houses dot
Bridges Drive and Landing Street today, the
10 acres adjacent to the Bridge's homeplace
were devoted to flying just a half-century ago.
Bridges built the airport after getting his
private pilot licenses at a Shelby airport. He
was inspired to take up flying when his son
J.C. Bridges trained as an Army Air Corp
ilot.
r “My dad couldn’t stand it, him not know-
ing how to fly,” J.C. Bridges said. Te
The younger Bridges trained as a pilot in
1943. Initially the young man was told he
would work as a fighter pilot. However the
orders were changed and Bridges was sent to
a Texas base to train other pilots. He worked
there until World War II ended in 1945.
Bridges and other flight instructors were
allowed to fly available planes on the week-
ends. In early 1945 he flew to Kings Mountain
buzzing the runway and rolling his plane
over his father’s airport.
“I had a good time,” he said. :
Bridges couldn't land though. That would
have violated Air Corp rules.
After an October discharge from the mili-
tary, Bridges considered working as a com-
mercial pilot for Eastern Airlines. Those plans
changed when Bridges proposed to his girl-
friend Edie and accepted a job at the family
See Airport, 2A
J.C. Bridges
' stands at the
intersection of
Bridges Drive
and Landing
Street, once
* the site of
Bridges
Airport. Below
is a picture of
the airport
which closed
in the 1960s.
‘very leery’
of tasers
BY ANDIE L. BRYMER
Staff Writer
Policies on Taser use by law enforce-
ment vary across Cleveland County.
Kings Mountain Police Department
does not use the device. Chief Melvin
Proctor said he is concerned about a
class action law suit against Taser y
International. Over 20 people have died 2g!
as a result of Tasers being used. a
“That makes me very leery of them,” ¥
Proctor said. pd
“It wasn’t worth the risk.” $0
Proctor said he consulted with the ;
city attorney who agrees with his deci- :
sion. The devices don’t work on all
individuals, according to Proctor.
City officers use pepper spray and
batons to subdue suspects if necessary.
The North Carolina Highway Patrol
does not use the Taser.
Cleveland County Sheriff's
Department does use the Taser. Officers
have used the device nine times since
September, Sheriff Raymond Hamrick
said. No officers have been injured.
Suspects have only received surface
injuries where the Taser attaches to the
skin.
Department policy requires training
to use and remove the Taser. If the :
Taser hits soft tissue, a physician must 8
remove it. The Taser cannot be used on :
individuals under age 16, pregnant
See Tasers, 3A