North Carolina Newspapers

{ | I Wednesday, April 7, 2010 Duo draws from experience to fight cancer By ELIZABETH STEWART Staff writer Kings Mountain Fire Chief Frank Burns fights cancer with the same spirit he fights fire. And so does Tammy White, his co- leader of the 2010 Kings Mountain Relay for Life, the annual campaign for funds now underway. * For both individuals and many others in the Kings Mountain area, the dreaded cancer disease has im- pacted their lives. Burns is among hun- dreds of survivors from the Kings Mountain area. Both his brother and sister-in- law had cancer. Burns was one of the first Relay vol- unteers 14 years ago and he credits many people from the community who work as a team for its success. This year's goal is $75;000. He said Relay teams are hard at work planning _ ‘events to raise money for research into a cure. White's uncle had can- cer seven years ago and she immediately started volun- teering at Relay events. A nurse for Interim Health Care, she has seen how this “insidious disease has taken a toll on families and how a caring community turns out every year in support ‘and last year topped a goal of $68,000 in spite of a fal- tering economy. Burns is chairing the Kings Mountain campaign for the second year. White has co-chaired the annual drive four years. "Early detection saved my life and that's what we emphasize," Burns said. Active on the Haz-Met team of firefighters, he went to the doctor for his ‘annual physical. "I had no symptoms, a cancer the size of a pencil head showed up after a prostate specific test," he said. The Kings Mountain Herald 4 < v RELAY ~ FOR LIFE ; LIB STEWART/HERALD Fire Chief Frank Burns and Tammy White White added, "It's im- portant that everyone have annual physicals." Numerous fun and fund- raising events are planned prior to the big all-night event from 6 p.m. Friday, April 23 until 6 a.m. Satur- day, April 24, at the Kings Mountain Walking Track. "Cancer never rests,” Burns says, explaining the sched- ule. The opening cere- monies will include a U.S. TRAIN From Page 1 * Kings Mountain North- west Connector: an exten- sion of KM Blvd. to the north. It connects Shelby Rd., US 74, Oak Grove Road and NC 216. The whole western circumferential is meant to relocate through- traffic out of downtown Kings Mountain. The recom- mended cross section is two 12-foot lanes. This also in- cludes a new interchange with US 74 with Patterson Rd. and Countryside Rd. tee- ing into the Connector. * NC 216/NC 161 Con- nector: connects NC 216 at Chestnut Ridge Rd to NC 161 near the Gaston County line. The recommended cross section is two 12-foot lanes. This connector will carry traffic around the north side of Kings Mountain and reduce traffic downtown. * » Gold Street Extension connects the eastern end of Gold St. to East King St. near US 74 to reduce the traffic and congestion on King St. through downtown. The recommended cross sec- tion is two-12 foot lanes. » Major Improvements: As part of TIP project R- 2707, US 74 will be up- graded to freeway standards between the US 74 new lo- cation and the existing free- way in Kings Mountain. » Widening Projects: NC 150-Cherryville Hwy, four lane divided section; KM Blvd. and Dixon School Road, full four lane divided cross section between I-85 and Shelby Road; NC 216- N. Piedmont Ave. between US 74 and the NW Connec- tor, four lane divided cross ~ section; NC 161-York Rd . between King St. and Lake Montonia Rd, four lane di- vided cross section; NC 226- Cleveland Ave. between NC 180 and Grover town limits, three lane section; Oak Grove Rd between Elizabeth Ave. and US 74, three lane cross section; Bethlehem Rd between US 74 and the SC line, three lane cross section; Phifer Rd between KM Blvd. and King St., three lane cross section. ¢ A minor widening im- provement on NC 161-York Road, between Lake Monto- nia Rd and the SC line to full 12-foot lanes with desig- nated bike lanes. » Two potential locations GLB RE STADIUM SEATING] LL AUDIT ORILIVE es eesseecasnseecccnsesesecsoscnsenne CLASH OF THE TITANS - 3D! Rated PG-13 - 3:30, 4:15, 6:10, 7:00, 8:40, 9:30 TYLER PERRY'S WHY DID | GET MARRIED T00 Rated PG-13 - 4:25, 7:15, 10:00 THE LAST SONG Rated PG - 4:05, 7:05, 9:50 HOT TUB TIME MACHINE Rated R - 5:00, 7:30, 10:00 HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON Rated PG - 4:50, 7:15, 9:40 HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON - 3DI} Rated PG - 4:50, 7:15, 9:40 THE BOUNTY HUNTER Rated PG-13 - 4:05, 7:00, 9:40 DIARY OF A WIMPY KID Rated PG - 4:45, 7:00, 9:20 for patk-and-ride lots near the intersections of NC 10, NC 18 and NC 27, near the Cleveland Mall, and in east- ern Kings Mountain. Designated as a bicycle route is NC 161-York Road between Lake Montonia Rd . and the SC line, widening to full 12-foot lanes with desig- nated lanes. "These are .long range plans but if the opportunity develops for grants we need to be ready," said Dosse in response to question from councilman Dean Spears on a time table. Dosse said the state DOT could consider the plan as early as July this year. In other actions Tuesday, council: + welcomed Boy Scouts from Troops 92 ‘and 95. Mayor Rick Murphrey in- vited the large group of Scouts to advance the Amer- ican flag and the North Car- olina flag, and then retire them at the end of the meet- ing. The mayor also recog- nized a number of individuals, including Kings Mountain police and four firemen, for special recogni- tion. : » approved after public hearing a request for condi- tional use rezoning from Steve Ingram, owner of property at 502 King Street. The existing single family dwellings are to be demol- ished and parking facilities developed to support the ex- isting medical office build- ing at 502 King Street. * approved after public hearing a request for a con- ditional use permit, rezoning from R-10 to Residential 20, the George Grier property on the west side of Pearce Drive. » approved after public hearing the annexation of contiguous property owned by the City of Kings Moun- tain, the water storage prop- erty north of Grace and west of Church streets. * approved after public hearing an industrial incen- tive program grant to Patrick Yarn Mills, Inc. . based on a total new taxable investment . in building and equipment in the amount of $650,000 and the creation of six jobs, both within 18 months. The jobs EARRINGS PENDANT le loll RING IAN typically have higher pay than the average weekly pay for Cleveland County in order to qualify for the job creation percentage, 25 per- cent. The grant totals $6,875, distributed over the five year period following. the com- ~ pany's expenditures that co- incide with the payment of tax bills. + reappointed = David Mark Hullender to the ABC board with term expiring March 31, 2013, Mary Neisler to the Historical Landmarks = Commission with term expiring Dec. 31, 2012 and recommend to the Cleveland County Board of Commissioners to appoint Doug Lawing to serve on the board of adjustment ETJ po- sition with term expiring Dec. 31,2012. + adopted "no parking" ordinances on the westbound side of S. Cherokee St., cor- ner of Falls Street behind Farmers Furniture, to the chain link fence behind property at 409 S. Battle- ground Avenue and "no parking loading zone" at Stevo's, 133 W. Mountain St, ‘between the hours of 9 a.m. and-5 p.m. ¢ authorized the mayor to execute an agreement on be- half of the city to enter into the NCLM Municipal Enyi- ronmental Assessment Coalition project participa- tion. sapproved budget amend- ment to appropriate $82,678 grant funds received from NC Rural Center Building Reuse and Restoration Grant for the Qual-Tech project. ,* set April 27 at 6 p.m. for a public hearing to consider a request from Howard El- more to rezone two proper- ties on the east side of City Street from Conditional Light Industrial to Central Business. * set April 27 at 6 p.m. for a public hearing to consider an ordinance text amend- ment for internet cafes and businesses, including retail, with sweepstakes gaming ' machines and the like. » authorized the mayor to ‘execute easement for an Au- tumn Woods lot access across city property for a driveway, Expressions #1] Lov FREE GIFT WRAPPING WITH PURCHASE ee Te ENE IR AEST PE, Marine color guard flag presentation, the traditional survivor lap, and always a highlight the lighting of hundreds of luminary can- dles which honor and me- morialize loved ones. A midnight feature that is ex- pected to be a must-see event is a womanless beauty contest and men of the community are already planning their wardrobes’ for the show. INTERSECTION From Page 1 travelers should be able to see a good distance both north and south before turn- ing. "When we first built that new road, we did have a problem with accidents, but it was mostly people running the stop signs," Nichols said. The DOT added rumble strips (sets of raised white lines) before the signs to re- mind drivers to prepare to stop and put in other counter-measures to rein- force the intersection. Since then, Nichols says, he hasn't heard of many more wrecks. But after a call from a concerned citizen last Thursday, he and his staff members are investigating the crash history of the inter- section. The results of a signal study, conducted earlier on the crossroads, did not war- rant the need for a traffic light at the intersection, but Nichols said that they will continue their investigation to see what, if anything, should be done. BUDGET From Page 1 posed new water line from Moss Lake to town, upgrad- ing of infrastructure and maintaining service to cus- tomers. Council is expected to receive a draft of a pro- posed budget from City Manager Marilyn Sellers in May. Former city councilman Clayvon Kelly asked how many citizens are charged a fuel charge. Electric Supt. Nick Hendricks said that every public power served by Duke Energy pays a fuel charge and it is built in your rate. "Ninety percent of the rate is fuel driven," he said. Hendricks said the purchase cost for power has risen dra- matically over a five year pe- riod. Sellers said it is the goal of the city to create a rate that customers understand and a rate study is currently under way. with a full report coming in January. She said the result would be a 'simpli- fied rate concept.’ "Our rates have been tweaked through the years, she said, but we want to get rid of the fuel ad- justment cost and go to a purchase of power adjust- ment rider." Page 3A The mayor noted that a rate consultant will update city officials in November together with administrative adjustments by Duke Power to remove the fuel adjust- ment that now appears on monthly bills. "It will be much easier for customers to read their bills," he said. Sellers commended Hen- dricks and his staff for "a great job negotiating a new contract with Duke Power", the city's supplier of whole- sale electricity. Dennis Wells, Water/Sewer Resources Di- rector, presented costs of running water and sewer, re- viewed collections, and up- dated council on revenues which showed a downward trend due to a slow-down of Kings Mountain industry. Sellers commended Wells and his staff for their diligent service to city customers. Council took no action. The mayor and Hen- dricks also took the occasion to show off SCADA, the city's peak shaving operation which saves the city upwards of $1 miillion each year in shaving electricity. By law, council has to adopt a budget for 2010- 2011 by June 1. Public hear- ing will be scheduled in May. Insurance NOWIS THE TIME to switch and save on your auto insurance. CALL 704-739-3953 TODAY to see how much you can save. John Caveny 210 East King St. | Kings Mountain cavenyj@nationwide.com Nationwide’ Source: AM BEST 2007 Combined Lines PC. Products underwritten by Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company and Affiliated Companies. Home Office: Columbus, OH 43215. 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