dv
Thursday, April 6, 2006
Herald
publisher,
reporter
named
GARY STEWART
gstewart@kingsmountainherald.com
Two staff additions have
been announced by The
Herald.
Bill Parsons has been
named Publisher of the
_ Herald and
its sister
publica-
tions, The
Cherryville
Eagle, and
the ban-
nernews of
Belmont
BB and Mount
“== Holly.
Emily
PARSONS Weaver has
pb e e n
named
staff writer
for The
Herald.
Parsons
began his
newspaper
career in
1975 in
Tampa, FL
and spent
seven years
in circulation, eight years as
an advertising director, and
the past 16 years as publish-
er of weekly newspapers in
WEAVER
Wyoming, ... California,
Indiana, Virginia and
Tennessee.
He attended East
Tennessee State University.
He and his wife, Tracy, have
six children - Stephanie,
Matt, Rachel, Adam, Aaron
See Herald, 6A
Grover still
considering
re-financing
of bonds
51
EMILY WEAVER
eweaver@kingsmountainherald.com
GROVER - The town
council met Monday night
to discuss the possible refi-
nancing of their water treat-
ment plant and current
sewer bonds.
“If we can get it in time at
5 percent, then we should be
able to cut off 13 years of
payments at about $36,000
per year,” said Councilman
Calvin Huffman. He added
that this depends on the
interest rate the town is able
See Grover, 7A
City Council
met Monday
on utility bill
Kings Mountain City
Council met in closed ses-
sion Monday to discuss
claims by the city.
One of the items included
discussion about a payment
plan for a major utility user
that is behind in its utility
ayments.
i law (G.S. 132-1.1)
prohibits city officials from
publicly discussing utility
accounts of individuals or
businesses.
City policy provides for
cutting off utilities for
accounts that are past due
after the 25th of the month;
however, city policy also
allows the council and city
manager to develop a pay-
ment plan for individuals
and businesses if they see fit.
l
KINGS MOUNTAIN
Vol. 118 No. 14
Since 1889
FRELELER RARER ER RRCARRT LOT%:C 008
307 08-06-08 0002400 8p gg Lp
HAUNEY MEMORIAL
100 S PIEDMONT ave!
Lhe turrry
point of
| KINGS HOUNTAIN NC 28086-2414
the universe
N
5A
JOSEPH BRYMER / HERALD
Grover Councilman Brent White puts his ballot into the voting machine as Chief Judge
Brenda Lipscomb looks on.
On and off premise beer
and wine sales defeated
. EMILY WEAVER
eweaver@kingsmountainherald.com
An issue which has been debated in Grover for over a cou-
ple of decades has been decided. The votes are in. The scores
are tallied. The town has spoken.
1 - “To permit the ‘on-premises’ and “off-premises’ sale of
malt beverages:” 96 voted “FOR,” 113 voted “AGAINST”
2 - “To permit the ‘on-premises’ and ‘off-premises’ sale of
unfortified wines:” 93 voted “FOR,” 115 voted “AGAINST”
Absentee ballots showed a score of 5 to 1 “AGAINST” bring-
ing the total number of voters for this referendum to 215 out
of a possible 430 registered. ~~. :
Nearly a dozen faces that waited to hear the results
showed mixed reactions: surprise, disgust, disappointment,
anger, confusion and relief.
“Don’t come complaining to the council any more if you
didn’t come to vote . . . you had your chance,” said disap-
pointed Councilwoman Jackie Bennett.
“The 113 people who voted against aren't allowed on my
property anymore,” joked Councilman Calvin Huffman.
“I'm certainly glad to see it defeated,” said former
Councilman Bill Willis. “The town had to pay $12,000 (in
taxes) for an election that the people didn’t ask for.”
Studying the faces of the 209 registered voters that came to
the polls on April 4th, it was difficult for either side to
announce which direction this train would travel.
Earlier that day Bennett said, “I think it’s going to be clos-
er than I anticipated.” She added, “I don’t care if it’s 115 to
105 as long as it goes the right way.”
According to a poll conducted by The Shelby Star, 75 per-
cent believed the vote would be ‘for’ and 25 percent believed
the vote would be ‘against’, Willis said. He also agreed that
the final count would be close.
A party was planned to be held at the mayor's after the
decisions were posted. But no one was sure, at the time, if it
would be a “celebration” or a “pity party.”
Around 5:30 pm, Bennett drove her car to the handicap
parking spot in order to help a fellow constituent place a
vote. To the dismay of the opposing side, she had passed the
See Vote, 7A
Sign calls attention to what
JOSEPH BRYMER / HERALD
could be built on East King
St. since City Council turned down property owner Mike
Brown’s rezoning request for a car lot.
What’
S NEw
pussycat?
It could be a night club, but
owner would p
' GARY STEWART
| gstewart@kingsmountainherald.com
refer a car lot
While some may think it’s a joke or a “protest” sign”
because City Council turned
down his rezoning request,
Kings Mountain businessman Mike Brown said he’s seri-
ous about building a nightclub on property he owns at
204 and 206 East King Street near First Presbyterian
Church.
City Councilman Jerry Mullinax called attention to the
sign at last week's Council meeting. No other city officials
commented, and Brown was
not present.
Mullinax said after the meeting that Brown, who owns
the property, which is zoned Neighborhood Business,
wanted to put up a automobile rental and leasing busi-
ness but wanted the zoning changed to General Business.
The planning and zoning board turned down Brown's
request, citing that the text change would apply to every
zone of neighborhood business. Council took the recom-
mendation from the planning board and rejected the
rezoning 6-0. Rodney Gordon was absent due to illness.
A sign that reads “Coming Soon, Pink Pussy Cat
Nightclub” is what prompted Mullinax’s comments, and
what has passersby taking a second look as they travel
through town on US Highway 74 Business.
Brown said Monday what he wants to put there is a
See Brown, 7A
&
|
New game, new faces
EMILY WEAVER
eweaver@kingsmountainherald.com
“Have you purchased your
North Carolina Education
Lottery tickets today?” is a
common question heard
among many local vendors
who are seeing new faces
with their new sales.
As of 4 p.m. Friday, Jack's
Jewelry and Loan at 106
North Cleveland Avenue
had sold close to 300 tickets.
“Some people are coming in
just to buy tickets,” said
employee Gail Garrett, a
Kings Mountain transplant
from Hendersonville, NC.
The sales of gas stations may
— KINGS MOUNTAIN PEOPLE ———
teve’s the boss at
the Rathbone home
. ELIZABETH STEWART
ii Herald Correspondent
Family are his eyes and
care givers now and they
affectionately call their
beloved brother and uncle
Steve Rathbone the “boss.”
To most Kings Mountain
people who have ever
enjoyed a fountain drink at
Griffin Drug Store,
Rathbone is a downtown
institution.
At age 18, he started off
as a soda jerk working for
the late Ellerbe W. Griffin
Sr. for 85 cents an hour,
then worked for the senior
of
Lottery boosts sales in local stores
be higher than those of other
stores but the Jack’s friendly
staff is excited about this
new draw and the newer
faces it will attract.
Silver Express, 507 East
King Street, as of 4:30 p.m.
Friday had sold between
1200 to 2000 tickets, with
winnings ranging from $50
to $3 and free tickets. “We've
sold a lot of $25, $10, $5 and
$3 winners,” said Diane
Wilson. “It’s been real busy
with people lined up out the
door (at times).”
“We've paid out over $730
in winnings,” she said.
Alot of confusion has gen-
erated from not reading
See Lottery, 7A
“Come see friendly Billy at
Jacks,” said Billy Scruggs
at Jack’s Jewelry and Loan.
Griffin's son, pharmacist
Wilson Griffin, for years.
His job included a deliv-
ery route on his bicycle
and then motorcycle. The
years passed as Steve
established rapport with
customers that made him a
“Steve of all trades.”.
“I had to retire after 35
years at Griffin's in 1984
because of failing eye-
sight,” said Steve, diag-
nosed with retinitis pig-
mentosa. By all accounts
he loved Griffin's. He
filled in behind the soda
fountain, serving up his
specialties of thick choco-
See Rathbone, 7A
STEVE RATHBONE
+ $+
¢
mee