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EE ——————— J Thursday, March 16, 2006 Le Since 1889 GARY STEWART gstewart@kingsmountainherald.com Frank Stewart's face beams when he talks about his 41 employees at Ultra Machine & Fabrication and what they’re doing for the war effort in Iraq and Afghanistan. Stewart's business builds compo- nents for heavily armored vehicles called the Buffalo and Cougar, which are resulting in fewer deaths to U.S. military personnel because of explod- ing land mines. Force Protection of Latta, SC manu- factures the monster vehicles but most of the armored components are made in Ultra’s 50,000 square foot plant near I-85 and Highway 161. Ultra moved there in September. from a 30,000 square foot facility it outgrew in the Gaston County Industrial Park near Kings Mountain. Stewart received word last Thursday that two of the armored vehicles - one Buffalo and one Cougar - would be brought to the KM facility. As soon as he told his employees, the excitement began because it would be their first live look at the finished product. Previously, they had. only seen the trucks on brochures and TV. Stewart told all of his employees to invite their families to the plant on Friday for barbecue and an opportu- nity to see, climb inside and take pic- tures of the trucks. A huge crowd "attended, including some dignitaries. “Our employees have worked very hard,” he said. “They’ve sacrificed a lot of family time and I wanted the families to know how their husbands are spending their time.” The Buffalo is especially impressive. It is used by Army and Marine per- sonnel to interrogate land mines - or Improvised Explosive Devices as the military refers to them - and explode them without danger to the 10-to-12 soldiers inside. The truck is equipped with a 30-feet long arm with a fork at the end of it which digs into the ground and explodes the bomb. To date, not a sin- See Trucks, 8A Rivest GARY STEWART / HERALD The Buffalo (front) and Cougar were on display Friday at Ultra Machine & Fabrication in Kings Mountain. Below is the fork that the KM company makes for the Buffalo to dig up and destroy land mines in Iraq and Afghanistan. KM company helps build heavily-armored trucks which make war safer for military Hawkins, Murphrey OK with 20/20 ELIZABETH STEWART Herald Correspondent Cleveland County Commissioner Ronnie Hawkins says Cleveland Chamber is delivering on its contract to aid economic development in the coun- ty and until it fails to do its job he will support the joint 20/20 public/private initiative which has come under scruti- ny in recent weeks. But possible changes in the contract drawn up last year for the Chamber to run the county’s economic develop- ment program could come March 23 at the commission’s 6 p.m. work session at the county office building. “I think the contract needs to be reviewed by all the commissioners,” said commissioner Johnny Hutchins, who called for the termination Monday of the county’s Cleveland 20/20 agree- ment with the Chamber in order to review the contract before it comes up for renewal in July. The motion died for lack of a second. Hutchins voted against the original contract last year. He said he has ques- tions about 20/20 that haven't been answered. Hawkins told the Herald that he sup- ports reviewing the existing contract and invites commissioners to contact him or county manager David Dear with their recommendations. Scott Darnell’s dismissal from his post as the Chamber's Senior Vice President for Economic Development prompted several meetings this month that included an emergency meeting of the county commission March 3 in which See Hawkins, 7A KINGS MOUNTAIN PEOPLE A ae vu uN Ce, THer hurls no-hitter PUD development near Countryside is probably on go Neighbors will probably withdraw petition before City Council meets ELIZABETH STEWART Herald Correspondent A petition opposing a 403-home planned PUD housing development on the south side of Countryside Road may be withdrawn Thursday. Rep. Tim Moore, attorney for the petitioners, said some residents of the area had not met during earlier meetings with representatives of Mann Properties and wanted to share their concerns Thursday night. He said the petition would probably be withdrawn “They responded to our concerns and we appreciate 7 before city council acts on the it. change in zoning from R-10 to Conditional Use R-6 on im March 26. The 119 acre tract is ¥ Att Moore owned by Randy Bates, who orney is requesting the rezoning of his property on the south side of Countryside and approxi- mately 3,000 feet west of the Patterson Road intersection. The Planning Board will recommend the rezoning to city council. The board unanimously approved a statement that the proposed amendment is consistent with any adopted comprehensive plan and also addresses plan consistency. “We have had good dialog with Mann Properties and plan- ner Walter Fields and most, not all, of the property owners have a better feeling about this project,” said Moore. He com- mended Fields and Mann Properties for taking the concerns of property owners and amending their initial plans. Said Moore,”They gave us diagrams and responded to our concerns and we appreciate it.” Lynn Wellborn, a resident of the Countryside community, thanked Mann Properties for listening to their concerns and making concessions such as outdoor lighting, a second access point, buffer zones.and traffic concerns working with the Department of Transportation. A playground, basketball courts, and picnic area in a central park or open recreation area is one of the features of the complex. : See Petition, 2A KM asks county for more money ELIZABETH STEWART Herald Correspondent Kings Mountain city council is hopeful that county com- missioners will approve their requests for additional funds for several projects in next year’s budget. County commissioners met with city council Monday night for a round-table discussion and heard budget priori- ties or a wish list by council. Commissioners said the meeting with Kings Mountain was the first with a municipality on needs this budget sea- son but it won't be the last since they hope to meet with other municipalities before the new fiscal year budget is completed. County Manager David Dear was also present for the meeting at the Patrick Center. Mayor Rick Murphrey welcomed the group to the 6:30 p.m. meeting which followed an afternoon meeting of city "council with Becky Veasey of MAPS Group Inc. who pre- sented a pay classification study, comparing the pay of local employees with those in other cities working the same jobs. No action was taken by council. Council members communicated on these projects which they hope can be get additional funding and several new ones for consideration by the county. See Money, 6A Grover may u ; : refinance. | Mom’s prayers brought Dave home | sewer bonds GROVER- Grover Town ELIZABETH STEWART David j Council is continuing nego- Herald Correspondent Saunders 1 tiations with a local bank to talks with move forward on refinanc- “We do lots of reminiscing,” says David Saunders, one of the reg- 3 fellow ing sewer bonds to lock in ulars at the first Tuesday of the month meetings of area veterans at left to. lower interest rates on a H. Lawrence Patrick Senior Center. right | remaining 23 years of a 40 Saunders, who is spearheading the 3 p.m. monthly meetings, 10onNe | year debt for the sewer sys- gives the credit for the group's founding in 1996 to Charlie Pulley, | tem. Carpenter, also a World War II veteran, and former Mauney Laurence Councilman Calvin Memorial Librarian Rose Turner who got the first group of WWII Anthony Huffman is heading up the vets together to transcribe their memories on tape for the Library and Fred project which is designed to of Congress in Washington, DC. Hamrick save the town thousands of The membership has grown to include veterans from the Korean listen at dollars over the life of the Conflict and Vietnam representing all branches of the military. the bonds by paying the debt The war years come alive again in the stories the vets relate - from Patrick in a shorter amount of time. their time of enlistment or as draftees to boot camp and training Center. Mayor Robert Sides was and service duty, all in audio and videotapes. on vacation this week but a Saunders lost “real good” friends during WWII They were iy spokesperson said that bank Manley Morehead who was killed in France; Jimmy Darracott, a Joseph officers plan to meet with Navy pilot on an aircraft carrier that went down in the Solomon Brymer | him. See Dave, 2A photo 3 {Yi
The Kings Mountain Herald (Kings Mountain, N.C.)
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March 16, 2006, edition 1
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