Kings
kmherald.net
eT
an
TR IP
Volume 124 « Issue 52 ¢ Thursday, December 21, 2012 75¢
Putnam
promoted
Ricky Putnam Jr., 40, has assumed
new duties as Director of Public
Works for the City of Kings Moun-
tain.
His promotion was announced
this week by City Manager Marilyn
Sellers.
Putnam, who has been a supervi-
sor in the Public Works Department
for 22 years, succeeds the retiring
See PUTNAM, 3A
Will Jan. 3
see end of
Sweeps?
GROVER- January 3 may see the
end of business for sweepstakes in
neighboring Grover.
Council has been working for
months to establish an ordinance reg-
ulating sweeps but Town Attorney
Mickey Corry said at the recent coun-
cil meeting that in light of the recent
NC Supreme Court ruling that "the
issue may take care of itself."
Meantime sweepstakes companies
continue to pursue a U.S. Supreme
Court appeal to put a hold on the law
banning video sweepstakes state-
wide.
See SWEEPS, 6A
Smith
sought for
Rite Aid
robbery
Kings Mountain Police have iden-
tified the main suspect involved in the
Rite-Aid armed robbery that occurred
on Dec. 15.
Felony warrants were issued on
Dec. 19 for Arthur Charles Smith, 57.
These warrants are still outstanding
and the suspect should be considered
armed and dangerous.
Anyone who might come across
this individual should contact their
local law enforcement agency, said
KMPD investigating officer Det. Cpl.
K. L. Hamrick.
89
md Ianovalion never fell so good.”
Premier Dealer ™
LENNOX)
dome Comfort Systems
Same ‘Auld Lang Syne’ for KM: Jobs!
z= ELIZABETH STEWART
lib.kmherald@gmail.com
Some forecasters say the economy is
showing some signs of healing. But as 2012
draws to a close at midnight Monday it de-
pends on who you talk to.
Kings Mountain's big priority for new
year 2013 is the same it has been for the last
several years—jobs.
Mayor Rick Murphrey said the city will
continue to aggressively seek new business
and industry working with the county and
state economic development commissions
while maintaining competitive rates and in-
frastructure upgrades.
"We feel very blessed in Kings Moun-
tain," said Murphrey.
A big money item for the city in new year
2013 will be funding major water system up-
grades, a, a project on the city council's draw-
ing board for some time.
The mayor said a new water line into
town and treatment plant expansion and up-
grades should be shovel ready by May 2013.
Spillway repairs at Moss Lake are slated to
begin in 2013. Expanding the natural gas sys-
as working a second year on
storm water solutions man-
dated by the EPA.
City officials look back at
the old year and remember
bad times (the economy) and
good times (more jobs becom-
ing available) for Kings
Mountain area citizens.
As the strains of 'Auld
Lang Syne ring out Dec. 31,
the traditional harbinger of a
new year, citizens can’ look
back on a year that was gener-
ally productive for the City of
Kings Mountain.
Kings Mountain was a jobs
powerhouse for economic de-
velopment during 2012:
AT&T's industrial announce-
ment in the early spring was
the largest investment ever an-
nounced for Cleveland
County. There have been other big announce-
ments of expansions and new buildings.
This month Southern Power's new natural
gas-fueled plant began operation southwest
tems to 2 to 3 miles each year is another pri-~of the city - revving up equipment capable of
ority of city fathers. Evaluating and
implementing a mass emergency notification
system where customers can choose various
“alerts and alert methods is a priority as well
providing 350,000 residential customers
throughout the region. The new power plant
will pump electricity and money into the
county.
Photo by LIB STEWART
Mayor Rick Murphrey and City Manager Marilyn Sellers look
back at old year 2012 and the work of city council in approv-
ing some good news (jobs coming) for citizens in a sluggish
economy. More jobs in 2013 will be priority for city leaders.
"The city has had a very progressive
year," said Murphrey. "We continue to pro-
mote a pro-business climate, working with
the county and state to position Kings Moun-
tain to attract new industry and create jobs,"
he added.
Sellers says the city continues to be a low
See JOBS, 6A
Carrigan plays Santa Saturday
Saturday was what Christmas
was all about.
The generosity of one man
and the efforts of an entire com-~
munity brought Christmas to
hundreds of families in need.
Kings Mountain businessman
Charlie Carrigan never got a bike
for Christmas. The ex-Marine
said it took him until he was a
grown man to realize that it's bet-
ter to give than receive.
Carrigan played Santa Claus
and bought 400 girls and boys
bikes and with the help of volun-
teers from Bethlehem Baptist
Church, Grace Christian Acad-
emy and the Sheriff's department
gave Christmas to many in need.
Toys were also collected for chil-
dren who would not otherwise
have Christmas. Volunteers, in-
cluding Sheriff Alan Norman and
deputies from the Sheriff's De-
partment, helped put the bikes to- |
gether and pump the tires. "It was
amazing," said Betty Carrigan.
The effort took only three to four
hours, she said, because of the
number of volunteers from a
a 2)
PLAYING SANTA - Rev. Mike Chambers, pastor of Christian Freedom Baptist Church, county commissioner
Johnny Hutchins, Charlie and Betty Carrigan, Tonya Leatherman and Sheriff Alan Norman, left to right,
helped distribute 400 bikes—Christmas gifts to needy children-from Charlie Carrigan.
wide area who came out to help.
The gymnasium at Christian
Freedom Baptist Church was
overflowing as Sheriff Norman,
along with a number of deputies,
helped hand out the bikes and
wheeled them to waiting cars:
The sheriff's office had worked
with county schools to help iden-
tify the families that needed help.
Some families were unable to
make it to the church to pick up
bikes and deputies went to them
instead.
"We can't afford a bicycle for
my grandson, his father left us
and your gift will make his
Christmas," said a tearful grand-
mother to Charlie Carrigan. Char-
lie's daughter, Tonya Leatherman,
quickly found other gifts for the
nine-year-old boy, including a
Bible. All children received
Bibles. :
Betty Carrigan said her hus-
band told her he wanted to order
bikes for needy children from an
ex-Marine friend in California. "I
had no idea the number."
On Christmas Day bikes were
delivered to hospitalized children
in county hospitals and at Levine
Children's Hospital in Charlotte
where the Carrigan's granddaugh-
ter Taylor Rippy is a nurse.
Charlie Carrigan owns and
operates Cherokee Auction and
Chief Enterprises. He served in
the US Marine Corps in 1956-60.
He and his family are active in
Bethlehem Baptist Church. The
Carrigan children - Tonya
Leatherman, Sherry Lynn Rippy,
Justice fo
r Kings as
suspects go to trial
« ELIZABETH STEWART
lib.kmherald@gmail.com
Three suspects in the brutal
slaying in September of Michael
and Thelma King, son and daugh-
ter-in-law of Jerry and Jane King
of Kings Mountain, will go to trial
in Philipsburg, the capital city of
St. Maarten, on Jan. 22.
Jerry and Jane King don't plan
to attend.
Thirty people, including fam-
ily. from Mount Pleasant, SC, and
friends from Mount Pleasant and
St. Maarten, plan to be in the 200-
EAT RTT
$500 OFF
Dentures
year-old courtroom as Jamal Jef-
- ferson, 20, a Guyanese national;
Meyshane Kemar Johnson of Ja-
maica, and Jeremiah. Chevon
Mills, 17, a Dutch national of Ja-
maican descent said to be John-
son's cousin, face a judge who will
render a verdict.
No jury is involved and all
three suspects will be tried at once
in a trial conducted entirely in
Dutch and expected to last two
days.
Michael and Thelma King of
Mount Pleasant, SC, kept a part-
for $250 lower)
To schedule an appointment contact Baker Dental Care today! Call 704-739-4461
- 703 E. Kings St., Suite 9, Kings Mountain * www.BakerDentalCare.com
friends on the island and planned
$500 OFF
Invisalign
See CARRIGAN, 6A
time home in the tiny Dutch Word that they had been brutally
Caribbean territory, had plenty of stabbed sparked an intensive in-
vestigation. Prosecutors say rob-
See JUSTICE, 6A
Now
Open on
Fridays!
to invest in a rum-export business.
TREE]
® ¥ > i
¥