Nothing’s
safe as NC
legislature
tackles ‘11
budget
Almost no one and no place could be
exempt from cuts when the North Car-
olina General Assembly convenes its
2011 - session in
Raleigh Jan. 26
and starts slicing
the budget,
The budget
deficit, Stills re-
ported at $3.2 bil-
lion, has grown to |
$3.7 billion, ‘ac-
cording to Repre-
sentative Tim
Moore (R) who
has been attending
meetings : in
Rep. Tim Moore
Raleigh in December and working on po-
tential bills. The Kings Mountain lawyer
returns to Raleigh for his fifth term in the
legislature.
Moore said that since the elections,
speaker-elect Thom Tillis has been ap-
pointing his leadership team and meeting
with House members. In mid-December
Moore said he heard a presentation on the
budget and address by the governor.
“I think everyone will be able to hit
the ground running with the reconvening
of the legislature, in January,” said
Moore.
Moore is working on the drafts for a
number of bills, such as legislation to
toughen the state’s DWI statutes, legisla-
tion to reform our election system (in-
cluding voter identification) and
legislation to improve the auditing of
government spending and avoid duplica-
tion of services and waste.
KM escapes fallout
from Christmas snow
No city street crews were called out
nor any wrecks reported by police in
Kings Mountain on Christmas Day and
Sunday during the 3-4-inch snow that
blanketed Kings Mountain. But highway
patrol was kept busy throughout the state
in weather-related calls and accidents.
It was the first snowfall in Kings
Mountain on a Christmas Day in 63 years
and gave kids an extra Christmas present.
Public Works Supt. Jackie Barnette re-
ported that Christmas Eve crowds en-
joyed the lighting display at Mountain
Rest Cemetery and donated a total of
$2,024.47. Entering the cemetery from
King Street, the crowds commented on
the two angel statues at each side of the
gate that appeared to be “guardians” of
the last resting place of many residents.
Barnette expressed appreciation to the
many people, including Boy Scouts, who
put out over 5,000 milk jugs and candles
for the traditional event. A new feature
this year was the red-painted jugs holding
lighted candles on the graves at Veterans
Park. “We thought we’d paint the jugs red
and they showed up great and were dis-
tinctive as a way to honor the veterans,”
said Barnette.
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[1ITV Tes
Banks Trust
TTL
KMMS students
reach out to
kids around the
globe at
Christmastime
Winter
Wonderland
Patriots Park in downtown Kings
Mountain was transformed into
a winter wonderland Christmas
Day as local residents enjoyed
- their first snow on a Christmas
Day in 63 years. Snow started
falling Saturday afternoon and *
continued during the night, and
on Sunday citizens awoke to
- about 4 inches of the white,
fluffy stuff which delighted chil-
dren.
HERALD PHOTO BY JIM ZYBLE
2010: Jobs, politics,
By EMILY WEAVER
Editor
The common year of 2010 has been any-
thing but. A new state law shut down busi-
nesses. A sheriff shocked supporters. New
industries came to Kings Mountain. Downs
town sets to welcome three new restaurants.
An earthquake in Haiti hit close to home.
All of these events and more garnered
headlines this year and we take a moment to
remember them in the top 10 of 2010.
1. Sweepstakes Game is Over
2010 saw electronic sweepstakes parlors
go from burgeoning to bust. The games’
spread in Cleveland County was seemingly
halted this year when 1) state legislature
voted for the sweepstakes to end Dec. 1st.
On Monday, June 21st, the Senate re-
soundingly rejected the argument that
sweepstakes parlors could be a cash genera-
tor for the state, voting by 47-1 to ban the in-
- dtisiry. On the night’ of July 7th; afiér
two-and-a-half hours of debate the House
agreed in an 86-27 vote to ban video sweep-
stakes.
A couple of months later, while support-
ers were still hoping for a gubernatorial veto
touting the industry could save thousands of.
jobs and provide nearly half-a-million in tax
revenue to the state, Governor Bev Perdue
begrudgingly signed the ban into law.
downtown
2. An Election Like no Other
From a highly-contested and controver-
sial race for the high seat of sheriff to an his-
torical shift of power on the county board,
-this has been an interesting election year.
Mostly absent Sheriff Raymond Hamrick
filed at the last minute to run for reelection
-and told his two officers (Chief Deputy
Danny Gordon and Capt. Alan Norman) also
running for the seat not to campaign or par-
ticipate in a public forum before the primary.
The forum became a “one-um’ as Gordon
and Norman watched, from the audience as
only one out of four Democrats vying for the
seat sound off on issues.
See 2010 on Prge 5
Same ‘Auld Lang Syne’ for KM: Jobs!
by ELIZABETH STEWART
staff writer i
Some forecasters say the economy is
.showing some signs of healing. But as 2010
‘draws to a close at midnight Friday it depends
on who you talk to.
Last-minute holiday shoppers picked up,
the pace over the weekend, filling carts with
bargains, despite a Christmas Day snowfall
for the first time in 63 years.
As the strains of ‘Auld Lang Syne’, har-
binger of a new year, ring out Dec. 31 citi-
zens still count their blessings. But by all
accounts Kings Mountain’s big priority for .
2011 is the same as the past two years: jobs.
And the city is eyeing an estimated popu-
lation of 11,600 people.
Mayor. Rick Murphrey said the city will
continue to aggressively seek new industry
and business in 2011 working with the state
and county economic development commis-
sions with a goal to bring more businesses
and more jobs to the area while maintaining
competitive utility rates and infrastructure up-
grades.
The mayor is optimistic the new year will
' be better for every citizen and a large dent in
the high unemployment rate will be cut with
new businesses expected to bring jobs.
“The year just ending has been challeng-
ing forall of us,” said the mayor. He said city
Photo by Lib Stewart
Mayor Rick Murphrey, left, city manager Marilyn Sellers and mayor pro tem Rodney Gordon
talk about old year 2010, which ends Friday at midnight, and high hopes for the new year 2011
beginning Jan. 1.
council is giving citizens a New Year present
with no hike expected in the electric rate.
A big money item for Kings Mountain in
future years will be paying for the cost of run-
ning a new 36-inch water line from Moss
Lake to Kings Mountain and for costly re-
pairs to the dam spillway. City manager Mar-
ha! Sellers said that this project on the draw-
ing board for several years is in the engineer-
ing phase and that some money has been
budgeted but she said the city may have to
float a bond referendum to see the project
completed.
See CITY on Page 3
Murders,
robberies & drugs
...Page 3
Building Confidence.
Bright spots shine
on Cleveland
schools...Page 5
Building Trust. Building Smiles,
209 S. Battleground Ave., Kings Mountain * 704.739.5411
www.alliancebanknc.com « memser mic
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