Since 1889
KINGS MOUNTAIN
Hera
Vol. 117 No. 33
Ul
50 Cents
at Gamble Stadium
aliases
Jamboree Friday
Winn
BY ANDIE L. BRYMER
Staff Writer
Last week’s Herald incorrectly stated that
Winn-Dixie was closing its doors for good
Sunday.
Store officials say there is no exact closing
date known yet. Currently the store is hold-
ing sales on merchandise. Business has been
brisk.
The Herald apologizes for its incorrect
headline and story last week and for any
inconvenience that the story may have
caused Winn-Dixie and its employees.
The grocery store chain is closing stores
across the southeast as part of its bankrupt-
cy plan. In the Charlotte region there are 43
stores and all are closing.
On February 21, 2005, Winn-Dixie Stores,
Inc. filed a voluntary petition to reorganize
under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy
Code. The company’s Customer Reward
Card is being honored as usual and all other
customer programs and policies, including
those pertaining to coupons, gift cards and
refunds, remain in effect.
The company says it intends to use the
reorganization process to take additional
ixie not closing yet
action to improve its operations and finan-
cial performance and strengthen its busi-
ness.
On June 21, Winn-Dixie announced a
series of actions intended to enhance its
financial performance and position it for
profitability in the long term. The corner-
stone of the plan focuses on its strongest
markets. This means reducing its stores
from 913 stores in the U.S. and the Bahamas
to 587 stores. :
All stores in the Carolinas and Tennessee
will close along with some in Mississippi,
Louisiana, Georgia and Alabama.
Town Hall meeting draws crowd
McHenry spends recess talking to constituents
BY ANDIE L. BRYMER
Staff Writer
Congressman Patrick McHenry paid
Kings Mountain a visit last Wednesday.
McHenry, who is home from Washington
on recess, visited several locations across
Cleveland County ending the day at Kings
Mountain City Hall.
Cleveland County Commission Chairman
Ronnie Hawkins introduced him as a “good
conservative individual.”
McHenry took questions from the packed
house. First to speak was J.C. Bridges who
told the congressman he was doing an
“excellent job.” Bridges asked for feedback
on the trade deficit which he said was
“ruining the country.” :
McHenry started by defining the trade
deficit as the United States buying more
from other countries than it sells. He told
the audience that the US became wealthy by
making things, then selling them across the
world.
He said that our declining production
was making us beholden to other nations in
terms of foreign policy.
Premier Federal Credit Union President
Willene Combs told McHenry she was con-
cerned about legislation which would make
it easier for credit unions to become banks.
See McHenry, 3A
ANDIE BRYMER / HERALD
Congressman Patrick McHenry addresses the crowd at a town hall meeting last week at
Kings Mountain City Hall.
Gas prices just keep going up
BY ANDIE L. BRYMER
Staff Writer
Gas prices reached a record high this
week but motorists aren't curtailing driving,
according to AAA Carolinas.
The state average on Monday was $2.43 a
gallon. In the Charlotte region it was a cent
cheaper at $2.42. In South Carolina gas aver-
aged $2.34. A break down by county is not
available.
In this region, that is a jump from last
week's $2.27 a gallon average.
Sarah Davis, public relations manager at
AAA, attributes the higher prices to “uncer-
tainty” in the Middle East.
Despite the record highs, demand is‘high-
er this year than last year.
“People are determined to travel. They
simply budget for it,” Davis said.
In Kings Mountain prices ranged from
ANDIE L. BRYMER/HERALD
East Elementary teacher’s assistant Betty
Jordan gathers papers Tuesday morning.'
$2.46 to $2.87 and averaged $2.51 for low
grade to $2.68 for high grade.
Atlanta resident Diane Barry stopped at
Little Dan's for gas as she headed back to
Georgia Monday afternoon. She bought
only half a tank with plans to stop again
and fill up in South Carolina to avoid North
Carolina’s higher fuel tax.
When she left Atlanta early last week gas
was around $2.39 a gallon. Georgia does not
levy fuel tax.
Barry said the higher prices weren't cur-
tailing her traveling.
Foy Pratt of Smyrna, S.C. usually avoids
North Carolina gas pumps but was almost
on empty Monday when he stopped for $10
worth. He described the prices as “stupid.”
Pratt isn’t happy with prices in his home
state either, he said.
Pratt called attributing higher prices to
instability in the Middle East a “rip off.”
ANDIE L. BRYMER/HERALD
Gas prices continue to rise in the wake of
instability in the Middle East. Mike’s Food
Store had some of the lowest prices in
Kings Mountain.
KMHS field
house named
for Bill Bates
Dedication set
for September 30
By GARY STEWART
Editor of The Herald
Two upcoming events will honor former
Kings Mountain High football coach,
teacher and administrator Bill Bates.
During halftime of the East Gaston-Kings
Mountain football game on Friday, Sept. 30
at John Gamble Stadium, the Kings :
Mountain Sports Hall of Fame will dedicate
the Mountaineers’ field house in honor of --
Coach Bates. At the Hall of Fame’s request,
the Cleveland County Board of Education -
named the facility in honor of Bates at its
June meeting. :
On Thursday, Sept. 29 at
6:30 p.m. at the H.
Lawrence Patrick Senior
Life and Conference Center,
a “Salute to Bill Bates” din-
ner will be held. Many of
his former players will be
the speakers and tell Coach
Bates what he meant to
them personally, and to the
school and community.
Bates came to Kings
Mountain High in the fall of
1957 as assistant coach to John Gamble.
Bates took over as head coach and athletic
© director in 1962 and held that post until
after the 1970 season, when he went into
school administration. He served as assis-
tant principal at KMHS, assistant superin-
tendent in Kings Mountain District Schools
and then became Superintendent of
Hendersonville City Schools. He retired
from there in 1984.
In addition to coaching football, Bates
served as head women's basketball coach
for five years and as head baseball coach for
three years.
As football coach, Bates turned out two of
the best teams in school history in 1963 and
‘64. His 1963 team finished 9-0-1, the only
See Bates, 8A
Bill McCarter,
former Grover
mayor, dies
By ANDIE BRYMER
Staff Writer
BATES
W.W. “Bill”McCarter, 89, who served as .*
mayor of Grover for 16 years and on the :-
council for 17 years, died August 12. 2
Jean Francis, who lives in Grover and is °-
related to McCarter, described him as faith- :
ful and dedicated to his job, town, friends, -
children and especially his wife and elderly *
mother. He cared for his mother and his .-
wife Sady after she suffered a stroke. 2.
“He was most faithful to those he cared
about,” she said. 2
John Harry, a current city commissioner
and relative of McCarter, called him a “fine
See McCarter, 2A
School bells ring next week
BY ANDIE L. BRYMER
Staff Writer
In one week school will start for students.
Teachers, administrators and staff are
already on campus and hard at work.
At East Elementary School third grade
teacher Dorcas Beasley and second grade
teacher Heidi Jones sorted through educa-
tional materials.
“We're as excited and nervous as the kids
are,” Beasley said.
On the morning school starts, Jones says
excitement over the year about to begin will
cause her to wake up at 4 a.m.
In the cafeteria, first grade teacher's assis-
tant Betty Jordan gathered paperwork
administrators had placed there for faculty.
The school will have several new employ-
ees this year, including a new speech thera-
pist, counselor, music teacher, second grade
teacher and social worker.
Together Everyone Achieves More
(TEAM) will be the theme at Grover
Elementary this year. Each class will choose
a team theme and will focus on how work-
ing together makes a stronger school com-
munity. :
Academically, Grover will continue to
emphasize writing. Each grade level will
turn in writing samples on a rotating basis
to Principal Janet Anthony and selections
will be highlighted on the bulletin board
near the office each week.
The school also will continue its Student
Academic Incentive Plan which focuses on
student achievement/improvement and
appropriate school behavior.
At Kings Mountain Intermediate School,
fifth grade language arts and science
teacher Lee Crocker was busy hooking up
computers with some help from her hus-
band. She returned to the classroom
Monday, the first discretionary day for
teachers.
See School, 8A
Back to sChOOL
concert Saturday
night at gazebo
The City of Kings Mountain will wind up
its summer events with a Back to sChOOL
concert Saturday night from 6 to 10 p.m. at
the gazebo at Patriots Park. Le
The Coastline Band and The Fantastic
Shakers will play beach music for the event.
Both bands have played at Kings Mountain |
events before and are well received by the .
community, according to Ellis Noell, city
events coordinator. : :
“We wanted to do something for the kids
and the whole family,” Noell said.
City officials invite the public to bring yard
chairs or blankets to the concert. The weath-
er should be comfortable by evening.
; See Concert, 8A
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