— Grover —
Will the
sweepstakes
be back?
Dark sweepstakes parlors in
Grover tell players much the same
thing that similar businesses across
the state believe. They’ll be back.
As the sweepstakes ban started
Thursday town officials said at least
one of the business owners vowed to
be back.
The machines are silent but coun-
cilman Roy Dyer said that some op-
erators say they plan to reprogram the
machines with-new software to com-
ply with state codes.
The North Carolina Supreme
Court ruling overturned on Jan. 3 the
State Appeals Court ruling that said
regulating the games violated the
Constitutional right to free speech.
Board moves
ahead with plant
construction
The Grover Town Board moved
ahead Monday night with plans for
construction of a $1.9 million waste-
water treatment plant.
W. K. Dickson Company engineer
Brian Tripp gave an update of the
project as board members voted to
apply for $600,000 in grants from the
Clean Water Management Fund and
applied for a grant to also fund three
pump stations.
The board had previously received
See GROVER, 6A
Business Showcase
begins Feb. 19
The 15th annual Chamber Busi-
ness Showcase Feb. 19-March 15 is
gearing up to be one of the best ever
and on the theme “The Business of
Art.”
Space for exhibits by area busi-
nesses is assigned on a first come,
first served basis and applications can
be obtained at the Chamber Office in
Kings = Mountain or email
Shirley@ClevelandChamber.org for
details.
Kickoff for the event is Tuesday
evening, Feb. 19, from, 5:30-8 p.m.
with fun, food, music, award presen-
tation and door prizes at Kings Moun-
tain City Hall.
Highlight of the event will be the
presentation of Kings Mountain’s
Outstanding Kings Mountain Busi-
ness or Businessperson for 2012.
Last year 50 businesses partici-
pated and 2,000 people visited the ex-
hibits during the four weeks they
were on display at City Hall.
“Chamber members as well as
non-members are welcome to partic-
ipate,” said Shirley Brutko, local
Chamber office manager. “This is a
great opportunity to advertise your
business because everyone who visits
city hall will be able to view your dis-
play and see how your company may
be of service to them.”
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Welcome baby Leeam
Cleveland County’s first baby of 2013
Leeam Matthew Blanton, an
8lb. 50z baby boy, snuggled in his
mother’s arms, unaware of the ex-
citement he created as the first
baby of the New Year 2013 in
Cleveland County.
His parents, Laura and Matthew
Blanton, will have plenty to tell
their son. He arrived 38 minutes
after the arrival of New Year 2013
in Cleveland Regional Medical
Center.
A teacher’s assistant in Head
Start at East Elementary School,
Mrs. Blanton said the baby’s due
date was December 28 and she
worked. up until Dec. 20 when
schools closed for the holidays.
“My friends at school thought
the baby would arrive sooner than
Jan. 1,” she laughed this week as
she and her husband delighted in
their first child.
Laura said she met Matthew
when they were students at Kings
Mountain High School. They mar-
ried : nearly three years ago.
Matthew is an employee of UPS
Store in Gastonia.
He likes being a first time fa-
ther. Laura said, after enduring a
16-hour labor, enjoys being
“Mom” and both like to hold their
baby.
Proud grandparents are Jimmy
Leeam Blanton, the first baby born in Cleveland County in 2013, is seen
here with his parents Matthew and Laura of Kings M
and Lisa Bradley of Kings
tain, Ronnie and Kim Blanton of
Cherryville and Mary Blanton of
Maiden.
r
Moun-
Mountain.
ountain.
Photo by Lib Stewart
Proud great-grandparents are
Elizabeth and George Ledford of
Shelby and Ina Blanton of Kings
Rep. Tim Moore is sworn in by Judge Donna Stroud as his sons, McRae and Wilson, right, look on.
Photo by Lib Stewart
Moore, Daniel sworn-in Thursday
Senator Warren Daniel (R-Cleve-
land/Burke) and Rep. Tim
Moore, (R-Cleveland) were sworn-in
by the Cleveland County Board of
Commissioners Thursday night be-
fore a full house of supporters in the
commissioners chambers of the
Charles F. Harry government build-
ing in Shelby.
“It’s a great night for Cleveland
County,” said commission chairman
Ronnie Hawkins, welcoming the
crowd which also included former
Cleveland County Senators Debbie
Clary and Wes Westmoreland.
Judge Donna Stroud of the N. C.
Court of Appeals administered the
oaths. Families of Daniel and Moore
held the Bibles for the oath-taking.
Both Daniel and Moore pledged
to be “your voice in Raleigh and
welcome your input.” County com-
missioners also took the occasion to
congratulate the legislators and
thank them for their service.
. Daniel recalled
the first time he took
the military oath as a
West Point Academy
Cadet “to defend our V
country and state
against all enemies
foreign and domes-
tic” and suggested
that part of the oath
should be included
in others taken by
legislators.
“I’ve watched the
EW 8 7
foore p
“We face a lot of challenges but
there is also a lot of good news com-
ing into our area.”
Both legislators are lawyers,
edged
‘your
i
fo De.
voice in Raleigh
and welcome
your input.”
Daniel in Morganton
and Moore in Kings
Mountain.
Daniel intro-
duced his wife and
daughters, thanking
his family for their
support.
Moore also took
the occasion to rec-
ognize his parents,
Rick and Jean
‘Moore. His sons,
McRae and Wilson
political landscape and the economy Moore, held the Bible as he took the
of our area change since I started as
a legislator in 2002,” said Moore.
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SPORTS,
1B
Water
rate study
underway
© A water rate study is in
the works as Kings Moun-
tain City Council plans to be
shovel ready in May for a
$34 million dollar water ex-
pansion project.
City Council is expecting
the report from consultants
soon as well as report from a
mayoral finance committee
including mayor pro tem
Rodney Gordon, Tommy
Hall and Keith Miller.
Mayor Rick Murphrey said
the study is necessary as the
city looks for financial
means to finance the big
* project.
The city has applied for
a 20-year no interest loan
from the state for $34 mil-
lion to finance the project
which will mean new water
lines, improvements, expan-
sion of the water plant, and
completion of a 36 inch
water line from Moss Lake
to the city.
“The finance committee
is reviewing water expendi-
tures, we’re getting some
new customers and until we
get the loan we won’t know
what our payback will be
and cost figured in next
year’s budget,” said the
mayor.
Photography
contest and
exhibit set
for Jan. 21
Martin Luther King, Jr.
once wrote, “Faith is taking
the first step even when you
don’t see the entire stair-
case.” These words of inspi-
ration will also serve as the
theme of “Faith” for this
year’s Martin Luther King
Photography Contest and
Exhibit Monday, Jan. 21 in
Kings Mountain. ‘
The show will be pre-
viewed to the public during
the special opening exhibit
and reception with the artists
that evening at 6 p.m. in the
Kings Mountain City Hall
lobby. The event is free and
open to the public.
The photography compe-
tition is open for residents of
Cleveland County and stu-
dents in the Cleveland
County school system. There
is no entry fee and there will
be cash prizes for 1st, 2nd,
and 3rd place in both adult
and student divisions.
Photographic prints or
digital disks will be accepted
by mail or can be dropped
off at Kings Mountain City
Hall or e-mailed to Ellis
Noell : at
ellisn@cityofkm.com.
Deadline for submission
is Friday, Jan. 21 at 5 p.m.
Information, eligibility and
rules for submission are
See PHOTO CONTEST, 6A
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