KINGS MOUNTAIN
The Herald
Thursday, April 5, 2007
McDonalds
robbed
Sunday
Kings Mountain Police
needs information in regards
to an armed robbery that
occurred at 11:30 p.m.
Sunday at McDonald's at 725
York Road.
According to Det. Sgt. Lisa
Proctor of KMPD, a suspect
displayed a long gun - possi-
bly a rifle - and stole an
undisclosed amount of
money.
Proctor said the suspect
vehicle is a burgundy colored
van that appeared to be driv-
en by a heavy set black
female. The suspect is
described as a black male,
approximately 62” tall with
a slim to medium build. He
was wearing a long camou-
flage coat with a hood
attached, and Army type
camouflage cap and jeans.
Police are also interested in
information on another vehi-
cle at the scene. It is a white
colored - possibly a newer
model Ford Expedition -
with rims and dark tinted
window. The vehicle was
parked in the back parking
lot during the robbery and
n remained inere until the sus-
pect vehicle left the scene. It
was seen leaving the parking
lot and traveling south on
Highway 161 (York Rd.).
Anyone with information
on the suspects or vehicles is
asked to call KMPD at 734-
0444.
FSI
SUNRISE SERVICE
VERS
The Community Easter
Sunrise Service will be held
on Easter Sunday morning at
7 a.m. at the cross in the
Mountain Rest Cemetery.
Dr. Jeff Hensley, pastor of
Kings Mountain Baptist
Church, will deliver the mes-
sage and other pastors and
community members will be
participating in the service.
In the event of rain, the
service will be held at Kings
Mountain Baptist Church,
located at the corner of
Mountain Street and
Piedmont Avenue in down-
town Kings Mountain.
Friday, April 6
All Cleveland County
offices.
Banks.
Monday, April 9
Mauney Memorial Library.
H. Lawrence Patrick Senior
Center.
All Kings Mountain City
offices (City Hall, Public
Works, Police Department).
Garbage pickup schedule for
Easter week will be delayed
one day. Monday's trash will
be collected Tuesday;
Tuesday’s on Wednesday;
Wednesday's on Thursday;
and Thursday’s on Friday.
Monday, April 9-13 - All
Cleveland County Schools
closed for Spring Break.
BLOOD
The Kings Mountain
Family YMCA is hosting a
blood drive Wed., April 11,
from 3-6 p.m. in the Board
Room at the Y. All eligible
donors are encouraged to
give blood.
Free T-shirts will be given
to all donors. For appoint-
ments, call the YMCA front
desk at 704-739-9631.
Se
Vol. 119 No. 14
EMILY WEAVER
eweaver@kingsmountainherald.com
Have terrorists found their
way to Bethware Elementary
School or was it a prank? A pipe
bomb was found by the janitorial
staff Monday morning near the
flagpole in front of the school
where two children every morn-
ing raise the American flag.
The only thing the bomb
lacked from making it the real
deal was gunpowder, a reliable
source said. One end of the pipe
bomb was not secured when the
Since 1889
janitor picked it up, leading one
to wonder if powder was on the
way.
Letters were sent out to par-
ents stating, “While we believe
this incident was a hoax
designed to create fear rather
than harm our students and staff,
we are taking it very seriously.”
The pipe bomb appeared to be
more of a statement of hate than
a threat of action, the source said,
as on the bomb was inscribed the
dooming letters “KKK” and
“VB,” the principal's initials.
KMPD Det. Corp. Shane
50 Cents
Shockley said police are still
investigating the incident and
could not say whether it was
more of a hate crime or a prank.
The source said that near
Principal Valerie Boyd's car was
found other markings protesting
the school’s female African-
American leader. Batteries and
‘wires were attached to the out-
side of the pipe bomb.
“I haven't been here long
enough back to know if (this is) a
hate thing or if it is a prank,” said
Superintendent Dr. Bruce Boyles.
“We're going to have to rely on
x
Pipe bomb found at Bethware
the police department to figure
this out.”
But, he said, “we're taking it
serious because we have to. We
have to protect the children and
the staff and keep them safe.”
Boyles said that he spoke to
Principal Boyd on Monday and
they had a principal's meeting
on Tuesday morning to talk
about the incident. He said that
she seems to be doing o.k.
The school seems to have
cranked back up to normal, said
Assistant Superintendent Dr.
Larry Allen. He said that to his
recollection, schools in Kings
Mountain may have had bomb
threats over the years, but “I
don’t recall a device being found
before.” He added that it was
unfortunate someone chose to do
something like this.
Det. Shockley agreed, saying
“I can’t even remember the last
time we (KM schools) had a
bomb threat... We hope it’s an
isolated incident. We don’t know
the reason why this person
would do something like that.”
He said that they are working on
See Pipe Bomb, 7A
EE TE RR
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he al la FRR 25
JOSEPTH BRYMER/ HERALD
Resurrection Lutheran Church In Kings Mountain Is framed by numerous blooming Dogwood trees, a Carolina biue sky and manicured
green grass. Resurrection and other churches will be celebrating the resurrection In special Easter services Sunday.
The Easter Bunny will be mak-
ing his yearly rounds today, vis-
iting preschoolers in Kings
Mountain.
Escorted by the Kings
Mountain Fire Department, Mr.
Cottontail will visit the children
at Boyce Memorial ARP Church
around 9 a.m. At 9:30 a.m. he will
be at ‘White Oak Manor for an
egg hunt with little ones from
Amazing Kids.
After that, he will hop to
Katie's Small Wonders,
Resurrection Lutheran Church
and Carpenter's Clubhouse at
Central United Methodist
Church.
Friday, bunny will start his
Hop Around Town tour at Bolin
Day Care at 9:15 a.m. At 10 am.,
he will visit It Takes a Village and
around 10:30 will enjoy his last
stop at Summit Place.
The big day for all little ones
and the big bunny will be on
Saturday. Around 3,000 eggs will
be hidden on the playground of
the Jake Early Sports Complex
beside the Kings Mountain
Family YMCA on Saturday
morning.
The annual Easter Egg Hunt
will begin at 10 a.m. on the play-
ground. It will include a petting
zoo, games with Mauney
Easter activities slated for children
Memorial Children’s Librarian
Christy Conner, a bunny hop
relay race and photo opportuni-
ties with the Easter Bunny.
Children, ages 3 and under, will
hunt for eggs first. Children ages
4-6 will hunt second and ages 7-
11 will hunt last. The Easter
Bunny will hide three golden
eggs for each age division to
find. Inside these coveted eggs
are $25 gift cards to Toys-R-Us.
Council
to consider
4-year term
ELIZABETH STEWART
“i Herald Correspondent
The majority of Kings
Mountain City Council favors a
four-year staggered term and
say they are ready to set a pub-
lic hearing for April 24 at 7 p.m.
to consider a charter amend-
ment. ;
At The Herald's presstime
Wednesday, Council was meet-
ing to adopt a resolution of
intent to amend the charter and
set a public hearing.
Kings Mountain = voters
opposed the four-year term in a
1995 referendum after a petition
was circulated to Council calling
for a public vote. The petition
was circulated by retired city
planning director Gene White
who led opposition that favored
a two-year term. The public
voted 485-340 in favor of two-
year terms, which took effect
with the 1997 election.
Although Council can make
the decision to make the change,
which must be approved by the
Department of Justice, White
said he hopes Council will let
the people decide on the ballot.
White said he hasn't changed
his opinion from nearly 12 years
ago. “Why keep someone in
office if he or she isn’t doing a
good job, get rid of them at the
polls in two years, not four,” he
added.
“We feel that a four-year term
brings more stability in govern-
ment,” said Mayor Rick
Murphrey, who said the discus-
sion came up last Tuesday when
council reconvened its regular
meeting following an executive
session at which no action was
taken on a potential legal matter.
See Council, 5A
=
JOSEPH BRYMER HERALD
Aaron Holmes pumps gas at Little Dan’s on NC 161 at I-85 In Kings Mountain.
Temperature isn’t
only thing going up
EMILY WEAVER
eweaver@kingsmountainherald.com
Gas prices approaching $2.70 a gallon
Gas prices are on the rise and may continue to be for a while.
Prices of regular gas in Kings Mountain Tuesday ranged from
$2.59.9 to $2.69.9 per gallon. Prices just across the state lineiin Grover
were running $2.42.9 to $2.45.9.
Manager of AAA Carolinas Jayne Cannon said that this time of
year is typically when gas prices will start their painful climb. A lot
of factors play into the hike at the pump, she said.
As the weather starts warming up more people want!to hit the
road and explore the land. This time of year travelers swell the mar-
ket. Supply goes down as demand goes up. Cannon said that is one
of the main reasons why the price at the pump increases.
Another reason could be the situation in Iran, Cannon said. “Iran
controls much of the crude oil in the world today,” she said, adding
that the country is sensitive to sanctions and they will react to those
sanctions.
See Gas, 2A