VINCE JENKINS
Harris Funeral Home
Locally Owned
& Operated Since 1947
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A Family Tradition of Dignity,
Service & Understanding
108 S. Piedmont Ave. 43
Kings Mountain, NC L
City sets deadline on sweepstakes
By ELIZABETH STEWART
Staff writer
Sweepstakes businesses were put on notice by Kings
Mountain City Council Tuesday night. A six-month mora-
torium is in effect until June 15, 2010 to give city fathers
time to develop a zoning ordinance for dealing with a land
use that has created a concern about its impact on the pub-
lic. ,
During the period no permits will be issued to new
sweepstakes gaming establishments, including internet
cafes or any type of business (including retail) with sweep-
stakes terminals available to the public. Currently, 8-10
similar businesses are operating in the Kings Mountain
area.
Under the ordinance no vacant buildings may be con-
verted for sweepstakes operations during the period Dec.
15-June 15, 2010.
As adopted, the ordinance directs "city staff to compile
information (a study) for use by the planning and zoning
board. That board would take two months to complete
drafts of ordinance revisions. City council would use two
months to both schedule and hold public hearings and sub-
sequent to public hearings council would consider amend-
ing an ordinance or create an ordinance to mitigate land
uses associated with internet cafes and businesses, includ-
ing retail, with sweepstakes gaming machines and the like."
After a second public hearing, council accepted a re-
quest from John A. and Patricia Queen to withdraw their
petition to rezone their property at the corner of N. Cansler
and Morris streets. The Queens faced opposition from
neighbors when they requested their property be rezoned
for a car shop. Adjoining property owners filed two protest
petitions and last month's Public hearing was continued by
council.
Neighbors protested the change in zoning because they
said trends in the area tend to favor residential and the use
(car shop) is not appropriate for the site. Twice before, the
Cansler Street neighborhood had opposed changes in Zon:
ing saying they wanted to “keep our neighborhood.”
City decides
to pay the
bill to keep
Christmas
Municipal workers take up
torch first sparked by one
man 15 years ago
By ELIZABETH STEWART
Staff Writer
Christmas Eve luminaries will shine again Dec. 24 at
city-owned Mountain Rest Cemetery.
“We're going to make it happen because it's a tradi-
tion,” said City Manager Marilyn Sellers who only
learned this week that Jim Belt, who originated the proj-
ect 15 years ago, could not oversee it again.
There was no time to put out collection bins to ask for
donations of milk jugs from the public so city staff or-
dered 6,000 milk jugs Tuesday. By mid-Christmas week
Public Works/Cemetery Superintendent Jackie Barnette
and city crews will start putting the jugs out at the ceme-
tery and on Christmas Eve the city crews, and others who
want to volunteer, will light the candles.
"We didn't want to disappoint citizens, so we've ap-
plied for a tourism grant and with donations from the
Lights still on for luminaries
tradition alive
FILE PHOTO
Christmas Eve luminary service at Mountain
Rest Cemetery.
public at the gate we know we'll get the funds needed,"
said Sellers.
Mayor Rick Murphy
praised city employees for
"pulling together to make
this project happen,” noting
that hundreds of citizens
drive through the cemetery
on Christmas Eve to pay re-
spect to loved ones.
Barnette said the ceme-
tery gates will open at 6
p.m. and close at 11 p.m. on
Christmas Eve.
Sellers said that citizens who want to volunteer to
help staff on the project can call city hall at 704-434-
0333.
HEART OF KINGS MOUNTAIN:
Brutko wins
EAGLE SCOUT PROJECT
Painter focuses on
Joy to earn wings
By ELIZABETH STEWART
Staff writer
His passion is theatre
- arts and so it was natural
that Dylan Painter, 16,
chose to refurbish the lobby -
of the Joy Performing Arts
Theatre as his Eagle Scout
project.
The Kings Mountain
High School Junior is busy
this week repainting, re-
placing lighting and restor-
ing the original crescent
doors of the 1950's when
the Joy-now the home of
the Kings Mountain Little
Theatre—was in its heyday.
In addition to painting,
the project will replace six
DYLAN PAINTER
doors and install 10 chan-
deliers, and carpet, all to be
completed in time for two
big January shows.
No stranger to the Little
Theatre, Dylan was active
in the L-T Drama Camp
and in "Tell Me A Tall
Tale," and acted on stage in
"Snow White" and "Jungle
Book." He is a member of
the Advance Theatre
Troupe at KMHS which
traveled to Greensboro in
November for the N.C.
Theatre Conference. They
then advanced to the state
level in competition for the
first time ever. He will play
the role of Vlad Vladicoff
in the KMHS musical
"Seussical," based on the
work of Dr. Seuss, in Feb-
ruary.
| Alliance |
Banke Trust
Spirit award
Staff writer
Kings Mountain's presti-
gious 2009 "Spirit of Kings
Mountain" award, a crystal
Kings Mountain-shaped
monument, was presented
to = Shirley (Mrs. Mal)
Brutko Tuesday night at the
beginning of the December
city council meeting.
Mayor Rick Murphrey
made the presentation, rec-
ognizing the executive of
the Cleveland Chamber of
Commerce for giving back
to her community as an ac-
claimed advocate for Kings
Mountain.
"The City of Kings
Mountain was incorporated
Feb. 11, 1874 and we have
always had people who
welcome opportunities and
create an exciting future for
our city," said the mayor.
"The Spirit of Kings Moun-
tain Award is given to out-
standing individuals who
exemplify the character of
our community, a person
who gives back to their
community because they
care. They have a sense of
dedication to improving the
‘quality of life for everyone.
Our recipients always un-
selfishly and through per-
sonal sacrifices give of
for service
"By ELIZABETH STEWART
themselves to accomplish
the success of the project.
Giving back to the commu-
nity is part of their F daily
life."
SHIRLEY BRUTKO
se.
Brutko's leadership in
various endeavors epito-
mizes the Kings Mountain
spirit, one of the most no-
table the opening recently
of Gateway Trails, a con-
nector to the parks. As vice-
president of Gateway
Trails, she spearheaded
Kings Mountain efforts in
completion of the trail and
greenway to provide educa-
tional and historical infor-
mation to visitors as well as
opportunities for healthy
activities through walking
paths and multi-use trails.
See SPIRIT, 3A
After football practice,
Painter visits Kings Moun-
tain businesses for dona-
tions and at night he paints.
Bridges Hardware donated
the paint, and Duke Power
See PAINTER, 3A
Councilmen pledge oath of office
LIB STEWART/HERALD
State Rep. Tim Moore, L-R, administers the oath of office to newly-
elected city council members Mike Butler, Ward 2; Tommy Hawkins,
Ward 3; and Dean Spears, At-Large.
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