Thursday, June 2, 2005
KINGS MOUNTAI~ :
The Heral
Vol. 117 No. 21
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KMHS girls
to play for state
championship
1B
; Since 1889 750. Cents
‘My inspiration’ Budget
Young cancer patient, teacher learn from each other
BY ANDIE L. BRYMER
Staff Writer
A Kings Mountain girl battling cancer and teacher
Patricia Wood have formed literally an award winning
team. Autumn was honored with the Hero Award by
Cleveland County Schools Foundation and Charter Cable.
Wood was given the Agape Award by the Foundation.
Autumn was diagnosed with a rare form of ovarian can-
cer as a first-grader. She moved from Gastonia to Kings
Mountain the next year. As a student then at Bethware
Elementary, Autumn’s classroom was across the hall from
Wood's. When Autumn’s homeroom teacher could not
serve as a homebound teacher, Wood offered to do the job.
Despite adult strength chemotherapy, radiation and a
stem cell transplant, Autumn has been determined to keep
up with her school work.
“I've never taught a child who works as hard,” Wood
said.
Initially colleagues warned Wood not to get too attached
to Autumn. She didn’t heed their advice and has no regrets.
“Some people shy away from those things. It can be the
biggest lesson ever. She’s (Autumn) my inspiration,” Wood
said. |,
Wood says she and Autumn “clicked.” The two have
sometimes spent as much as eight hours working on assign-
ments. During the four years they've worked together,
Autumn and her parents Billy and Sherri have become like
family for Wood.
Sherri Malpass credits Wood for her daughter's success.
Autumn has maintained A /B averages and made 4s on
end-of-grade testing.
Wood is quick to praise Sherri for learning about
See Autumn, 2A
Hope
Christian
graduates
first class
BY ANDIE L. BRYMER
Staff Writer
Hope Christian
Academy's first senior class
graduated Friday night.
The seven-member class
received their diplomas at
East Gold Street Wesleyan
Church, the same place the
school is located.
“It amazes me seven peo-
ple can be do different but
share an amazing bond,”
Valedictorian Hailey
Spearman said in her
address.
In her speech,
Salutatorian Alycia
McAnelly thanked each fac-
ulty and staff member indi-
vidually. She credited
Principal Ray Sibley for
starting the school.
McAnelly and her class-
mates had attended a
Gastonia Christian school
which closed unexpectedly
last year. At the time
McAnelly thought she
would home school her
final year in high school.
Her classmates weren't sure
what they would do, she
said.
“But God had a plan. We
would be together our last
year,” McAnelly said.
Speaking to her class-
mates, the salutatorian
thanked each one for being
part of her life. She men-
tioned one’s sense of humor
and another being like a
brother . McAnelly thanked
See Hope, 3A
Clint Yarbro,
left, and Kent
Triplett are part
of the Old
Hickory
Association.
Here they are
dressed as
MEMORIAL DAY
ANDIE L. BRYMER/HERALD
Autumn Malpass and her teacher Patricia Wood have
formed an award winning team.
GARY STEWART / HERALD
Mayor Rick Murphrey speaks at Monday’s Memorial Day observance at Veteran's
Park at Mountain Rest Cemetery. Below, former Post 155 Commander Claude
Pearson speaks.
Rain doesn’t dampen spirit
of annual event at cemetery
By GARY STEWART
Editor of The Herald
Approximately 50 peo-
ple didn’t let the light rain
keep them from gathering
Monday morning at
Mountain Rest Cemetery
to honor those who made
the ultimate sacrifice in
our nation’s battles.
“Our men and women
in combat don’t let rain,
sleet or snow stop them,”
noted Mayor Rick
Murphrey as he gathered
the crowd close to the
stage at Veteran's Park for
the annual Memorial Day [8
service.
Murphrey and Claude
Pearson, former
Commander of American
Legion Post 155, made
brief speeches. The Kings
Mountain Police Honor
Guard presented the col-
ors, and Kings Mountain
Police Chief Melvin
Proctor led the Pledge of
Allegiance. Commissioner
Howard Shipp gave the
invocation.
Full-size American flags
decorated the speaker’s
See Memorial, 3A
PASSES
by 4-3
Mullinax wants everyone
to vote in city ward races
BY ANDIE L. BRYMER
Staff Writer
Kings Mountain City Council passed a $27.9 million
budget on a 4-3 vote Tuesday night.
Councilmen Howard Shipp, Rick Moore and Jerry
Mullinax voted against the budget citing objections to
increases in utility rates and other fees.
The budget included a five percent increase in water and
sewer rates for residential customers inside the city limits.
For that same category of customers, the base rate on gas
ro up five percent. Trash pick-up went from $5 a month
to $6.
In other business, Mullinax advocated for allowing all
voters to vote for candidates in every ward. Candidates for
the five ward seats would still be required to live inside
their wards.
City attorney Mickey Corry said the Justice Department
probably would not give pre-clearance to the request. Prior
to 1991, a system like the one Mullinax is proposing was in
place. The new system was created so that the city would
have a majority minority ward.
At the time 60 percent of Ward One residents were
African-American, according to Corry. That number has
dropped due to annexation but the ward is still a majority
minority. Councilman Howard Shipp represents Ward One.
After.the meeting Mullinax wasn’t sure if he would pur-
sue the plan. A public hearing would be required before the
council could vote. Mullinax said he was acting on behalf of
constituents who asked why they could not vote for all
council members. He denied trying to weaken the minority
vote.
Council unanimously raised camping rates at Moss Lake
to the ire of some who use the park. The rate for campers
staying 30 days and hooked to an electric meter went from
$200 to $325. Camping rates for less time than that remain
largely unchanged. :
While the monthly rate was increased the option to camp
that long may be taken away next month. The city is con-
sidering not allowing campers to stay over a fixed period of
time. Currently the Moss Lake rule book only allows camp-
ing for 14 days; however, the fee schedule had established
rates for up to a year. Tuesday night's rate change did erase
the yearly option but kept a monthly option.
Vicky Black, who lives at the campground full-time,
spoke out against the rate increase and proposed cap on
how long campers may stay. She told council seven people
are living there long term. She said the community which
has developed acts as a deterrent for crime.
Black argued that the city will lose money if long term
campers are disallowed. She said the park is rarely at capac-
ity from short term campers.
Jenny Rivera of Gastonia has kept her recreational vehicle
at the park full-time for the past two years, partly because
ordinances in her city don’t allow her to keep it at home.
She often spends weekends there.
The Moss Lake Commission will discuss the length of
stays during its Wednesday meeting at 6 p.m. at City Hall.
Also during the public comment portion of the meeting
Mary McKenny asked that the Cleveland County Health
Department's Kings Mountain clinic be left open.
“The economy is not getting any better,” she said. “We
have to go where we can afford.”
Health Department Director Denese Stallings said last
month that the clinic will be closed in June because it is not
utilized enough to justify operation. McKenny acknowl-
edged that many residents do not know about the clinic but
asked for a larger sign. She said many mistake it for a pri-
vate doctors office.
Andie Brymer can be reached at abrymer@kingsmoun-
tainherald.com or 704-739-7496.
WAR STORIES
Reenactment of U.S. wars held at KM battlefield
World War ll sol-
diers as they
give a program
at Sunday’s war
reenactments at
Kings Mountain
National Military
Park.
ANDIE BRYMER/
HERALD
BY ANDIE L. BRYMER
Staff Writer
Battle history enthusiasts
visiting Kings Mountain .
National Military Park had
plenty to see this weekend. Re-
enactors from most of the
United State’s wars set up
camp for two days.
James Allen, a Vietnam vet-
eran, was surprised to see a
living history display repre-
senting the group he served
with, the 199 Infantry Brigade.
“I think it’s nice,” Allen
said.
Thirty-year-old machine
guns, munitions, communica-
tion devices and sandbags
were surrounded by a barbed
wire fence. Attached to the
wires were tin cans painted
camouflage green to sound an
early warning.
“You've got all the other
See War, 3A
ETT pore Phy emt