KINGS MOUNTAIN
High scnoot
football practice
gets underway
.
Grover
tables
rezoning
requests
BY ANDIE L. BRYMER
Staff Writer
Grover Town Council
tabled two rezoning
requests Monday night.
Clyde Huffman had
asked to rezone 15 acres
divided by Maple Avenue
and Locust Street from light
industrial to residential.
Calvin Huffman asked for a
portion of a 47-acre tract
"located off Locust Street be
rezoned from light industri-
al to residential.
During the meeting,
Calvin Huffman asked for a
change in his request.
Mayor Robert Sides called
the request confusing.
“I think the whole council
felt that way,” Sides said.
The council requested
Calvin Huffman provide
exact measurements of
what he wants rezoned.
Calvin Huffman said that
Zoning Administrator Bill
McCarter had told him he
could make the change.
Neighbor Jean Francis
objected to Calvin
Huffman’s request saying
smaller homes would drive
down adjoining property
values.
Neighbors Bill Favell,
Johnny Lavender and
Robert Roper also spoke out
against the rezoning.
According to McCarter,
the county believes the
town should not rezone
because it would mean a
loss of most of its industrial
property.
In other business, com-
missioners were faced with
where to find $3,700 needed
for police expenses.
Commissioner John Harry
made a motion that the
council stop receiving its
$100 a month salary. That
motion was withdrawn
because council was con-
cerned that after
November's election possi-
ble new council members
would resume the salary.
The matter was tabled until
next month.
The council discussed
purchasing liability insur-
ance to cover Ronald
Queen's equipment when
he works on water lines.
That matter was tabled.
Council voted 4-1 to
charge people who rent
their home a $150 water
and sewer deposit. That is a
$50 increase. Jackie Bennett
cast the lone dissenting
vote.
The town lost $539 on
See Grover, 2A
Cpt. Chris Gilbert hugs his daughter Christina, 9.
Pride and tears mark ceremony
to send 505th Battalion to Iraq
BY ANDIE L. BRYMER
Staff Writer
505th National Guard families are sending their
citizen soldiers off to New Jersey for training, then
to Iraq with a mixture of pride and worry.
“I'm apprehensive but I'm proud of her,”
Dolores Johnson said Saturday afternoon.
Beside her stood Johnson's youngest child,
Spec. Kelly Johnson, 22. The family was attending
a send-off ceremony at Kings Mountain High
School’s B.N. Barnes Auditorium. Dressed in
fatigues, Johnson said she was ready to represent
her country and support her family, friends and
the United States.
Johnson has a cousin serving in Iraq who she'll
be stationed near.
“That's going to make it a lot easier,” she said.
Spec. Charles Rice and his wife April were also
at Saturday’s ceremony. Rice was deployed two
years ago when the unit guarded National
Security Agency headquarters at Ford Mead, MD.
That was an eight hour drive away. Cell phone
connections worked well.
“This is a whole different ball game,” April Rice
said.
Spec. Rice described it as “surreal.”
The couple’s 12- and 17-year-old sons attended
the send-off two years ago. They opted not be
there Saturday.
“It’s just too hard. They don’t want to cry in
front of everybody,” April Rice said.
Before the deployment was announced, Michelle
Littlejohn and her husband Sgt. Von Littlejohn
were taking foster parenting classes. Her hus-
band’s absence is not stopping Michelle Littlejohn
from following through with foster parenting. She
believes the experience will be good for her as
See Guard, 6A
ANDIE BRYMER / HERALD
Spe. Kim Walker gets a hug from Dana Colon, who formerly served with the 505th, during Saturday’s
ceremony to officially send off the KM National Guard battalion to train for service in Iraq. Below,
Election filing
heats up as
deadline
draws near
BY ANDIE L. BRYMER
Staff Writer
Several candidates for Kings Mountain
and Grover council seats filed this week.
The deadline is Friday at 12 noon.
Incumbent Rick Moore filed for re-elec-
tion to the at-large seat. He is among four
people - Roy “Butch” Pearson, Dean
Spears, Houston Corn and Moore - run-
ning for the two at-large seats.
Moore's platform consists of opposing
tax increases and promoting a business
model of efficient city government.
"I want to continue the work I began
two terms ago to fight for responsible
government spending, lower taxes and
.economic development. We have a great
town and we need to work together to
promote it."
Houston Corn is running for re-election
as an at-large candidate.
“I want to keep working for the peo-
ple,” he said.
Corn said working with the Economic
Development Commission to bring in
more jobs is a top priority. He supports
keeping taxes and utility rates low to
attract industry.
Mike Butler is making a bid for Ward 2
against incumbent Brenda Ross. Butler
pledges to keep taxes low and would not
favor tax increases. He supports continu-
ing a balanced budget and keeping
wasteful spending out of the budget.
Butler supports downtown growth and
bringing more jobs to the area.
He wants Kings Mountain Gaston
County residents to be allowed to attend
Cleveland County Schools without
tuition. Butler also supports more money
See Election, 2A
Sales tax
holiday is
this weekend
BY ANDIE L. BRYMER
Staff Writer
Shoppers will have a chance to make
purchases without paying taxes August
5-7. The sales tax holiday was established
by the state General Assembly four years
ago.
While the tax-free weekend is timed to
coincide with the start of school, this year
there will be a gap. School starts August
25 due to a change in state law. requiring
the later date.
John McGinnis of McGinnis
Department Store is expecting a busy
weekend selling jeans, shoes and shorts.
Clothing priced less than $100 per item is
tax free.
“It’s amazing how people respond,” he
said. “People like not having to pay
taxes.” :
Because the store is closed on Sunday,
Aug. 7, the tax holiday there will start a
day early on Thursday.
Wal-Mart in Shelby is preparing for the
weekend by having more associates
working those days.
“It will make for a very busy week-
end,” said store manager Johnny Wise.
Night Out tells
crime to go away
BY ANDIE L. BRYMER
Staff Writer
Bethware Fair
begins Monday
By ANDIE BRYMER
City, county and state law enforcement Staff Writer
agencies got to know Kings Mountain resi-
dents Tuesday during National Night Out.
Dubbed a “going away party for crime,”
the event was held at Patriots Park.
Cleveland County Sheriff's Offices
canine Rocky was a big hit with kids and
The 58th annual Bethware Fair will be Monday, Aug. 8
through 13 at Bethware School.
During opening ceremonies which begin at 6 p.m.,
Lyndsey Brooke Murphey will be given the title Miss
Bethware Fair. She is the daughter of Buffy and John
: adults. ; Murphey. ;
Sheriff's Office weapons were another “She’s very excited, honored,” said her mother.
popular exhibit. Lyndsey attended Bethware Elementary School. She will
“A lot of that people don’t see often,”
said Sheriff Raymond Hamrick.
SERT team members Sgt. Jimmy Spargo
d Deputy Di Bryson showed off a ] ; . .
and Deputy : ug ioe fd Maggie Deviney, 2, enjoys a burger during crafts. Science is her favorite subject.
ft National Night Out. See Fair, 2A
’ HI Y {
be in fifth grade at Kings Mountain Intermediate School
this year.
Lyndsey’s hobbies include soccer, swimming, arts and
Lyndsey Brooke Murphey is
Miss Bethware Fair this
year. Her parents are John
and Buffy Murphey.
ANDIE BRYMER / HERALD
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