The Kings Mountain Herald
January 18, 2012
By Ron Isbell
In a way Mitt Romney wanted to fire
me.
And, I kind of have to agree with him.
A few years ago I worked for a com-
pany that was dealing with the same eco-
nomic downturn that laid our entire
country low. It’s just that this industry and
this company, perhaps in particular be-
cause of some internal decisions, got hit a
little harder and a little sooner than the
rest of our economy.
They turned to a company now very
publicly associated with Romney for help
in figuring out how to deal with their sit-
uation. ;
Bain’s suggestions were hard to hear.
They were uncomfortable to a company
rooted in tradition and proud of its ac-
complishments. And they were many. Its
reputation in its field was stellar and peo-
ple, including me, were eager to be a part
of their future.
But in 2008 things changed quickly.
Especially.in markets driven primarily by
secondary housing. Vacation homes
dropped in value by double digits
“overnight. Reductions in tax revenues fol-
lowed.
Bain recommended changes that upset
the very way we did business daily. There
were consolidations, layoffs and closures.
There was a new way of doing business.
One I personally didn’t like because it
moved decisions involving my job closer
to corporate level and farther from local.
In fact one recommendation from Bain
would have eliminated my position, and
others at that same level, although that
recommendation was not accepted.
I’m not sure that in the particular case
of my specific job Bain’s recommenda-
tion was wrong. However, my boss saw
the value in those same positions through-
out her division and convinced the com-
Front Porch Music
Politics
pany to keep them.
I watched my boss sift through pages
and pages of Bain recommendations and
make sense of nearly all of it.
What Romney’s company did was
present her, other vice presidents in the
company and managers at the top level
with alternatives they could accept or re-
ject to keep their company strong. Some
of those recommendations were so pow-
erful it could be argued they helped save
a company that filed for then emerged
from bankruptcy. ;
Did the process cost jobs? Yes. Did it
save jobs? Most certainly.
By the way, my boss at that job
emerged as one of the people I most ad-
mire in business today. She was tough,
fair and never lost focus of her goals of
emerging from a difficult situation in a
stronger position. Looking back, she most
certainly has done that. Bain-and Romney
probably helped her do that.
I don’t think Romney needs to apolo-
gize for downsizing some companies they
have helped. Far better to save 1,000 jobs
while cutting 200 than to lose the whole
company. To not recognize that is to par-
ticipate in the economic lie we’ve lived
under for several years now. Smoke and
mirrors and policies that don’t fix our
economy won't help. Romney seems to
have this figured out. I’m tired of bailouts
at every level, but especially for huge
banks and corporations that want to re-
ward themselves for bad business prac-
tices and not make investments in our
country’s economic future. Especially at
taxpayer expense. At least Bain and Rom-
ney put the responsibility for fixing their
clients’ companies and the ones they
[bought or managed squarely on their own
backs. |
My kind of president.
FAST: detective work leads officers to
nab suspects in beer, money heist
FROM Page 1
Proctor said that upon further investi-
gation by both KM and Gastonia City
police two suspects were charged with
robbery in both cities.
Jordan Leon Mustard, 20, of 801
Raleigh Court, Gastonia, and Nathaniel
Elias Hook, 22, of 213 Indiana Avenue,
Bessemer City, face felony charges of
robbery with a dangerous weapon and
felony conspiracy for robbery with a
dangerous weapon of One Stop in Kings
Mountain. The duo is also charged with
robbery in Gaston County, according to
KM Det. Sgt. Lisa Proctor.
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Sgt. Proctor said that as she and Det.
Lance Hamrick began processing the
robbery scene that other officers work-
ing with Sgt. Mark Butler, who re-
sponded to the initial call, processed the
description of the getaway car and sus-
pects to other agencies.
Gastonia City Police notified KM Po-
lice of a robbery in their jurisdiction in-
volving the same suspect vehicle and
Mustard and Hook matched the descrip-
tion of the KM suspects when a Gasto-
nia policeman stopped the car in which
the suspects were riding. Gastonia City
police detained the suspects.
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Wes Westmoreland -
tapped for Senate seat
Wes Westmoreland will
represent the remainder of
Senator Debbie Clary’s 2012 *
term in N.C. Senate District
46.
The Shelby businessman
and longtime leader in the
Republican Party got the nod
Thursday after he won a
unanimous vote from GOP
leaders in the Cleveland-
Rutherford Senate district.
Governor Bev Perdue is ex-
pected to make the formal
appointment of Westmore-
land later this month.
Westmoreland had been
considered the presumptive
appointee since winning a
December straw poll of GOP
leaders in Cleveland County,
which had the majority of
weighted votes in the Cleve-
+ land-Rutherford Senate Dis-
trict. Former Shelby mayor
Ted Alexander and former
state Senator Dennis Davis
had also sought the appoint-
ment.
“I’ve been very clear I
Letter to the Editor
was not gong to stand for
election in 2012,” West-
moreland said as votes were
cast at a meeting that Clary
hosted in her Shelby office
of Millennium Marketing
Group. Westmoreland had
said previously he would
support incumbent GOP
Senator Warren Daniel of
Morganton in his election
bid for the new Cleveland-
Burke state Senate seat.
“Whether it’s one year or
17 years, we hold a tempo-
rary trust of the public, and I
will do my best to fill that,”
Westmoreland said.
Clary announced her re-
tirement in June 2011. Her
last day in office was Jan.
10, 2012. She has repre-
sented Cleveland County in
the NC Senate since-2008
and served in the state House
since 1994.
Clary thanked her
ntother, her constituents,
GOP leaders and gave West-
moreland a bear hug and her
‘will
Senate pin. .
“The words thank you-
hardly feel adequate to ex-
press the gratitude I feel to-
ward the people of
Cleveland, Rutherford and
Polk Counties,” said Clary,
adding, “It has been the
greatest of compliments that
you put complete faith in my
ability to serve as your State
Representative and State
Senator through nine elec-
tions. These 17 years of serv-
ice have been challenging
and rewarding.”
Clary said she will con-
tinue to work for business
and industry in North Car-
olina as a legislative consult-,
ant with local governments,
registering as a lobbyist
when the 2012 General As- -
sembly adjourns and taking
private sector clients as well.
Westmoreland said that
bringing jobs to the region
top his legislative
agenda in this new year.
Dear Editor and Friends,
The words thank you hardly feel ade-
quate to express the gratitude I feel to-
wards the people of Cleveland, Gaston,
Rutherford and Polk Counties. - It has
been the greatest of compliments that you
put complete faith in my ability to serve
as your State Representative and State
Senator through nine elections. These sev-
enteen years of service has been challeng-
ing and rewarding.
As it-comes to a close, many of you
have asked what is next. I will continue
to work with Millennium Marketing &
Technology as well as begin working as a
legislative consultant with local govern-
ments during 2012. I will register as a
Lobbyist when the 2012 session adjourns,
and be able to take private sector clients .
as well. I am excited about being able to
continue to work for business and indus-
try in NC.
Again, I say thank you for your trust
and confidence in allowing me to serve as
your Senator.
Debbie Clary
W.H. Costner
SHELBY - William H.
Costner, 82, of 517 Leander
St., died Jan. 14, 2012 at
Hospice at Wendover.
He was a World War II
US Navy veteran.
The funeral service was
conducted Monday, Jan. 16,
2012 at Clay-Barrette Fu-
neral Home Chapel in
Shelby. Interment was in
Rosehill Memorial Park with
military honors.
Lisa J. Greene
SHELBY - Lisa Joely
Greene, 44, 1306 Greer St.,
died Jan. 7, 2012 at home.
The funeral service was
conducted Saturday, Jan. 14,
2012 at Clay-Barnette Fu-,
neral Home
Shelby.
Chapel in
B.B. Lewis
SHELBY - B. B. Lewis,
80, of 908 E. Main St.,died
Jan. 14, 2011 at Hospice at
© OBITUARIES
Wendover.
He was a US Navy vet-
eran of the Korean Conflict.
The funeral service was
conducted Tuesday, Jan. 17,
2011 at Clay-Barrette Fu-
neral Home Chapel in
Shelby. Interment was in
Sunset Cemetery with mili-
tary honors. ;
Becky M. Parker
KINGS MOUNTAIN -
Sharon Rebecca “Becky”
Parker, 58, of ‘146 Park
Grace Rd., died Jan. 11,
2012 at Kings Mountain
Hospice House.
She was the widow of
Charles “Redman” Parker.
The funeral service was
conducted Friday, Jan. 13,
2012 at 2 p.m. at Ollie Harris
Memorial Chapel, interment
followed in Mountain Rest
Cemetery.
J.C. “Bill” Lynn
KINGS MOUNTAIN -
+0.C.c “Bill? i Eynn, 92, ‘of
Thursday
January 19
Friday
January 20
Kings Mountain Weekend Weather
Saturday
January 21
Sunday
orth rrr
January 22
>, Em, .,
Avg - Low: 29 Hi: 51 Avg - Low: 29 Hi: 51
Mostly Cloudy - 48° Mostly Cloudy - 55° Showers - 57° Mostly Cloudy - 62°
0% Chance of 0% Chance of 50% Chance of 10% Chance of
precipitation precipitation precipitation precipitation
Avg - Low: 29 Hi: 51
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Letter to the editor...
Do you have questions or concerns about
what’s happening in your community?
Are there good things happening in your
. neighborhood? Let us know in a Letter to
the Editor. We welcome your comments*!
Send your Letters to The Editor at:
The Kings Mountain Herald :
P.O. Box 769, Kings Mountain NC 28086
or e-mail us at:
emily.kmherald@gmail.com
*Letters to the Editor must be signed and include address and phone number.
Thank you letters are required to be placed as paid personal notes.
Kings Mountain, died Jan.
12, 2012 at White Oak
Manor in Kings Mountain
He and his wife, Jennie
Catherine Erwood Lynn, had
been married 70 years.
The funeral service was
conducted Saturday, Jan. 14,
2012 at 2 p.m. at Ollie Harris
Memorial Chapel at Harris
Funeral Home, interment
followed in Mountain Rest
Cemetery.
Charles Whitmore
EARL- Charles “Chuch”
Barclay Whitmore, 56, of
3018 Blacksburg Road, died
Jan.12, 2012 at Carolinas
Medical Center in Charlotte.
A Celebration of Life
service was held at noon Sat--
urday, Jan 14, 2012 at Clay-
Barnette Funeral Home
Chapel in Shelby.
Dottie Williams
GROVER = - Doris
Bowles Williams, 82, died
Jan. 10, 2012.
She was a US Marine
Corps veteran who served in
Washington, DC .
The funeral service was
conducted Saturday, Jan. 14,
2012 at Clearview Baptist
Church of which she was a
member.
Interment was in Arling-
ton National Cemetery.
Naomi S. Wright
SHELBY - Naomi S.
Wright, 75, 2440 Shelby
Road, died Jan. 14, 2012 at
Carolinas Medical Center in
Shelby.
The funeral service will
be conducted Wednesday,
Jan. 18, 2012 at 2 p.m. at
Clay-Barnette Funeral Home
Chapel in Shelby. Interment
will be in Cleveland Memo-
rial Park.
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