Thursday, March 24, 2005
Vol. 117 No. 12
Thelleriici
Since 1889
fF U3
MAUNEY MEMOR
4 100 S PIEDHONT AVE og
KINGS MOUNTAIN NC 28086-34
Ial LIBRARY
=
Mounties win
two games on
10-run rule
50 Cents
i
KM kickers
JosetoR-S
Kings Mountain
in 3A, is off to a slow
start in conference play.
Mountaineers lost their
second straight confer~
champion R-S Central,
3-2.1B Ba
Patriots win
fourth straight
Kings Mountain
Middle School got a 3-
hit performance from
pitcher Jeffry Howell
and defeated county
rival Shelby 10-0 on the
mercy rule Monday
afternoon at Lancaster
Field, 3B
Jack Greenfield
paints like a pro
Jack Greenfield calls
himself an “amateur”
artist, but it would be
hard for him to con-
vince those who have
seen his work at Kings
Mountain Art Center
that he is not a profes-
sional. 3A
‘help ministry
The donation of com-
puter equipment by
FMC Lithium to the
Kings Mountain Crisis
Ministry will help the
Ministry and other
County better serve
Seniors gear
up for Games
first place in county
_ competition and others
are preparing for sports
competition which will
be held in April. 9A
‘High's women’s soccer
team, a perennial power
Monday night, the Lady
ence game to defending
Election talk
BY ANDIE L. BRYMER
Staff Writer
A former Kings
Mountain mayor is
vying for the job again.
Kyle Smith has con-
firmed that he will run
in the November may-
oral race.
After launching a
write-in campaign two
years ago, Clarence
“Buddy” Smith has
announced he will make
a bid for city council.
Kyle Smith served a
four-year term as mayor
from 1987 to 1991.
Smith, who was
mayor when the council
hired its first city man-
ager, said he believes in
giving managers room
to work.
He doesn’t believe the
town should annex areas
which it cannot provide
services like water and
sewer.
“Westover still hasn't
gotten it,” Smith said.
“The law says you're
suppose to furnish that.”
believes the chamber of
commerce should handle
recruitment. Smith said
Kings Mountain's prox-
imity to I-85, railroad
and the airport make it
the best location in
Cleveland County.
While Smith said he
would not try to stop a
unionized industry from
Smith opposes liquor- coming to Kings
by-the-drink. Potential Mountain he did say he
businesses look at preferred non-unionized
schools, tax rates and industry.
utility prices, not avail-
ability of alcohol, Smith
said.
Smith opposes giving
money to the Cleveland
County Economic
Development
Commission. Instead he
Computers will /
agencies in Cleveland
people in need. 7A. a
Senior citizens are get-
ting ready for the annu-
al Cleveland Senior
Games. Already, one
“dance group has taken
“Crosswalk,” a passion play held in downtown Kings Mountain, ends with the singi
Easter drama draws 1.500
BY ANDIE L. BRYMER
Staff Writer
Organizers say at least 1,500 peo-
ple watched the passion play
“Crosswalk” staged in downtown
Kings Mountain this weekend.
Three performances were held
on both Friday and Saturday
nights. Thursday night performanc-
es were cancelled because of rainy
weather. Reg Alexander, one of the
organizers, said most people who
had purchased tickets for the
Thursday performance were able to
reschedule. Thursday performances
traditionally attracted more of an
impromptu audience than the
weekend shows, he said.
KM High’s renovation
request going to board
BY ANDIE L. BRYMER
Staff Writer
Kings Mountain High School officials will present a
renovation plan to Cleveland County Schools’ board
members in April.
.The'school hopes to move its vocational program into
a building across Phifer Road which formerly housed a
textile mill. The property was purchased before the three
county systems merged but renovation work had not
begun.
The board asked during Monday afternoon’s meeting
for the plans to be presented in April. The building
would free up space around the crowded campus.
Currently 15 mobile classrooms are in use.
In other business, board members learned that Head
Start will no longer be able to provide transportation to
its pre-school age participants. Guidelines for the federal
See KM High, 5A
A majority of Saturday night's
audience members were from out
of the area, according to Alexander.
He credits this to advertising
placed in regional Christian publi-
cations. Money for advertising
came from a Kings Mountain
Tourism Board grant.
Alexander believes the play is
good for the city’s economy.
“It had to have had an impact on
local restaurants and gas stations,”
he said.
CROSS WALK
Alexander hopes more area busi-
nesses will want to get involved
with supporting the drama.
The weekend performances
marked the fifth year for the play
See Cross Walk, 10A
Smith is a native of
‘West Virginia. He gradu-
ated from Marshall
University. After retiring
from the Navy, Smith
worked in personnel. He
also retired from
Combustion
heating up
Kyle Smith to run for mayor, Buddy Smith for council
Engineering.
He has been active in
the Lions, Rotary and
Kiwanis clubs and is a
Red Cross volunteer.
Smith served on the
United Way board for 28
years and the Kings
Mountain District
Schools board for 10
years.
Smith is a member of
First Baptist Church
where he teaches men’s
Sunday school, drives
the vacation Bible school
van and sings in the sen-
ior choir.
Clarence “Buddy”
Smith said he will either
run as an at-large candi-
date or in Ward Five.
Carl DeVane, who now
represents that ward,
hasn’t decided if he will
seek re-election. The fil-
ing period runs from
July 1 to Aug. 5.
Budget cuts are at the
top of Smith's platform.
“I think there's still a
lot of fat that can be
cut,” he said.
Smith does not sup-
port cutting existing
positions but did say
workers should be used
to their maximum capac-
ity.
Liquor-by-the-drink
would not get Smith's
vote. He claims pro-
liquor forces may work
to elect candidates who
support the issue. Smith
See Election, 5A
Staff Writer
12 years.
Bridges said.
Norma Bridges opened the way for
women in local politics. The Kings
Mountain native was the first female to
win election to city council.
Bridges was elected in 1988 and served
“I'm glad the citizens gave me a chance
to serve them,” she said.
The wife, mother and grandmother of a
sports-minded family ran in hopes of
being a voice for recreation.
“I wanted to do something for the kids,”
She accomplished that goal. During her
JOSEPH BRYMER / HERALD
ng of “Amazing Grace.”
Jesus, played by Eddie Parker,
agonizes in the Garden of
Gethsemane
KINGS MOUNTAIN PEOPLE
Norma loves to serve
BY ANDIE L. BRYMER tenure, the city built a walking track and
improved ball fields. A road which ran
through the city park was closed for safety
reasons.
The city’s 10-year lease with the YMCA,
entered into this year, was a smart move,
the long time recreation advocate believes.
Constituents at the other end of the age
spectrum were also high on Bridges’ list of
priorities. She served on the city’s aging
committee while a council member.
“I love older people, now I'm one of
them,” she jokes.
Bridges won a seat as a political novice.
While she campaigned friends advised her
to run again if she didn’t get in office on
See Norma, 2A
Staff Writer
Hawkins said.
K. SMITH
7)
B. SMITH
County
budget
requests §
coming in [i
BY ANDIE L. BRYMER
Cleveland County Manager David
Dear is meeting with department
heads regarding budget requests for
fiscal year 2005-06.
So far over $3 million in new
requests have come in, according to
Commissioner Ronnie Hawkins. That
is contrasted with $1.2 million in new
revenue. Medicaid will take $400,000
of the $1.2 million, leaving $800,000,
Two percent of that figure will be
consumed by cost of living raises and
six percent in health insurance
increases, Hawkins said. Fuel and
energy costs will take another chunk.
Hawkins said he hopes the county
will be able to give a portion of the
$1.2 million to the schools.
Hawkins is confident that the coun-
ty will not raise taxes but will contin-
ue to offer the same level of services.
Hawkins.
lic.
North Carolina is one of two states
which require counties to pay into the
Medicaid system along with the state
and federal governments. Legislatures
are working to repeal the require-
ment, Hawkins said. In Cleveland
County most of the Medicaid money
goes to nursing homes, according to
Department heads will make formal
requests to the board in April. No
meeting dates have been set yet.
Those meetings are open to the pub-
Andie Brymer can be reached at
abrymer@kingsmountainherald.com
or 704-739-7496.
NORMA BRIDGES