C
Total Press Run
4000 Copies
Vol. 1 No. 39
Greater Kings Mountain's Progressive Newspaper
Kings Mountain, N. C. Wednesday, May 24, 1972
lOe
14 Pages Today
262 To Get Diplomas
KMHS To Graduate
Largest Class Ever
If,
-j
Attending Baccalaureate
The Kings Mountain High School graduating class of 1972 at
tends Baccalaureate Sermon in the school gymnasium Sunday
evening. Dr. Paul K. Ausley delivered the message. See tejrt
on this page. (Mirror Photo by Lem Lynch)
Jurisdiction Of School District Undecided
School Superintendent Donald Jones told
the Mirror Tuesday that still no word has
been received from the State Attorney
• leneral’s office regarding the legal juris-
lictlon of the City School District.
The controversy Is over students living In
the eastern section of the city which is ac
ross the Gaston County line. For years
, these students have come under the juris
diction of Gaston County, butaccordlngtoa
long overlooked law recorded in 1905, and
brought to the attention of the Board of Ed
ucation by theSuperintendent recently, the
kings Mountain School District incor
porates any territory which is Included In
the Kings Mountain city limits.
At the request of the board. Attorney Jack
White was instructed to write the Attorney
General for a ruling to clear the issue once
and for all. The Board of Education is still
awaiting the ruling.
Jones said he is receiving many calls
from people, and many morearenow con
cerned because of a new housing develop
ment going up in the area. He called it one
of the main concerns of the school system
at present. According to the 1905 law, the
school district should have expanded auto
matically to take in any new territory ann
exed by the city. Jones said thatapparent-
ly it was just something that had slipped by
KM Residents Are Summer
Volunteers In Park
Superintendent Ben F. Moomaw an
nounced today the summer hours of oper
ation for the Kings Mountain National Mil
itary Park Museum. The park will be open
Monday-Friday from 8:30 - 6 p.m. dally,
and on Sundays and holidays from 9-6
p.m. The new hours are effective from
May 28th thru September 4th.
Three new seasonal rangers have been
hired tor this summer to assist in the var-
» ious programs offered to visitors. These
include slide programs and living history
demonstration. These seasonal rangers
are Jim Worsham of Anniston, Alabama,
who completed his Masters in history this
Spring; Kenneth Kulp, a Junior High teach
er in Gastonia; and Hilda Fowler, 1st
grade teacher in the Kings Mountain Early
Childhood Development Center.
Living history projects Involve demon
strations of flintlock weapons used in bat
tle. Also this summer the park is using
Volunteers In The Park(VIP’s) for the 18th
Century camping scene that will be con
structed on the battleground. This will
consist of cooking, making lead bullets,
and telling about the life of the 18th Cen
tury Revolutionary War soldiers. The VIP
will be dressed in Revolutionary War per
iod clothers.
The VIPs donating their services in the
program are Jason Pouchak, David Stone,
and John and David Parker of Kings Moun
tain, and Thomas and Arthur Bell of Char
lotte. There is no admission charge to the
park.
6- Member Coroner’s
Inquest Clears McDevitt
A 6-member coroner’s jury found no
probable cause Monday for charges a-
gainst Kings Mountain police chief Thomas
McDevitt in connection with the death ofa
Kings Mountain woman on the night of May
Sth.
Senora Hughes Williams was struck and
killed by a police car driven by the chief
on that date.
Two Kings Mountain policemen, John
Belt and Bynum Cook, were witnesses to
the accident and testified that they were
in another police car stopped on South
Cansler Street, and saw a car speed by,
followed by a police car with the blue light
and siren on. They reported seeing a wo-
ynan step from the curb of North Cansler
paid start across U. S. 74 just after the
first car sped by, she got in the middle of
the road, hesitated, and then proceeded
across and was struck by McDevitt’s car.
Rev. Robert Allen of Kings Mountain also
testified. He did not see the accident, but
was traveling east on West King in the
same direction as the chief, and reported
hearing an emergency vehicle.
It was revealed in the inquest that the
car McDevitt was in pursuit of was a grey
66 F ord with a black top.
Highway Patrolman Burnette was hos
pitalized and couldn’t attend the inquest
Monday, but Sgt. Butler, who assisted in
the investigation, testified. He reported
skid marks from the chief’s car measur
ing 96 ft. and 7 in. before the impact and
34 feet after the point of impact. He es
timated the speed of the police car at the
time of impact at 50 mph.
Bennett Masters, Assistant Coroner,
read a report from Dr. Sam Robinson,
medical examiner, stating that the blood-
alcohol content of the deceased woman was
certified to be .31. According to state law
.10 blood-alcohol content Is considered
intoxicated. The sample was taken one
hour alter death by Dr. Robinson. His re
port also stated that death was instantan
eous, caused by a fracture of the neck.
The jury deliberated tor about 15 min
utes before returning with the verdict of
no probable cause.
over a period of years, and expects the
Attorney General’s ruling at anytime.
King Secures
Mini Bikes For
Junior Police
The Junior Pollce/Junlor Deputy Pro
gram has just been presented twenty-four
(24) hondas. These hondas were donated
free by American Honda through the Nat
ional Youth Project and the local Honda
Corral.
David Beam of Honda Corral assembled
and adjusted all units and is cooperating by
helping us teach the boys maintenance.
Tommy King of the Kings Mountain Police
Department is coordinating the Mini-Bike
Program for this area and all Junior De
partments will be eligible to ride as the
adult leaders are trained and the boys are
instructed in sale riding.
Riding of mini bikes will be limited to 25%
of the total Junior Police/Junior Deputy
Program.
The bikes will never be ridden on streets-
only on approved safe lots and fields and
only with the boys wearing the proper safe
ty equipment. One of the main goals of the
mini bike program will be to teach riding
safety and where to ride and where not to
ride.
In addition to the free bikes we are re
ceiving free gas and oil from Mauney-
Wllliams Oil Company, Inc, and L & R
Oil Co., Inc. and other considerations by
many local merchants and industry.
Any boy between the ages of 10 and 15
years of age may apply for membership in
a Junior Police or Junior Deputy Depart
ment by contacting their local police de
partment or Sheriff’s Department.
Any adult who would like to become one of
the leaders is invited to contact any Chief
or Sheriff in this area.
Ben Clary is in the process of construct
ing a trailer to transport the mini bikes on.
This program is operated by the Police
Departments and Sheriff’s Department in
Cleveland County and other counties and
is one of the programs funded and coordi
nated by RegionCriminai Justice Planning
Agency.
American Honda is donating over 100
hondas to our program Region-Wide.
Joe Waters Honda, Forest City, will ser
vice and deliver the hondas for Rutherford,
Polk, and McDowell Counties.
New Police
Officers
Hired
Three full time and one part time police
officers were hired last week, In an ef
fort to increase the Kings Mountain force
by 7 new men.
Chief of Police Tom McDevitt was given
the go-ahead to add the new men, part of an
effort to enable the off leers to ride two per
car.
The new officers are WarrenG, Brooks,
Donald D. Ivey, and Bobby L. Meadows.
Approved as a part-time officer, Jimmy
Dickey, Jr, during the summer months.
By RODNEY DODSON
Editor, The Mirror
Diplomas will be presented to 262 Sen
iors in Kings Mountain High School grad
uation exercises at 8 p.m. Friday.
This will be the largest class to graduate
from the high school, according to a
spokesman for the school. Last year 250
Seniors received diplomas. There was no
breakdown of the numbers available, but
there are more boys than girls in the 1972
graduating class.
Diplomas will be awarded by Principal
J.C. Atkinson, assisted by Chief Marshal
Lynn Blanton.
Invocation will be given by David Bolin
Vice President of the class of 1972, with
KMHS Wins
Sportsmanship
Trophy
It was announced Tuesday by Principal
J.C. Atkinson that Kings Mountain High has
won the Athletic Conference Sportsman
ship trophy for this year.
The sportsmanship trophy is presented
annually to one school in the conference
which exemplifies the best sportsmanship
during athletic events, including all con
ference sporting events.
Atkinson reported that Kings Mountain
has been runner-up lor the trophy several
times, but this is the first time to win.
The trophy will be presented by the
principal, on behalf of the conference, to
the student body during a special as
sembly.
the official welcome given by Vice Pres
ident Danny Rhodes. Diane Cornwell,
class treasurer, will make the present
ation of the class gift, to be accepted by
Mr. Tommy Bridges, member of the Kings
Mountain Board of Education. Secretary,
Kathryn Owens will deliver the benedic
tion.
Baccalaureate Message Is
To Become ‘Dreamers’
“Dreamers and visionaries havealways
enjoyed a place of prominence in the work
of God,’’ Dr. Paul K, Ausley told the 1972
graduating class of Kings Mountain High
School In his Baccalaureate sermon Sun
day night.
Dr. Ausley, pastor of Kings Mountain’s
First Presbyterian Church, drew a com
parison of God as employer, and his work
ers as members of the firm. He proposed
for the graduates a figurative “help want
ed’’ ad. “Heipwanted-youngpeopleof all
ages, shapes and sizes - to have and pro
mote the vision of a new world - lifetime
employment - no salary - understanding,
resourceful employer.’’
Such a job. Dr. Ausley continued, would
have plenty of positions available and no
one would be turned away.
“The job is that ofa dreamer, and there
haven’t been too many applicants. The
work is sometimes dangerous - people
sometimes hate us. The general public
sometimes considers dreamers to be no
thing but aslU'fooI, to be snickered at and
sneered at.
“Our founder has always been pleased
with men and women with high ideals,’’the
speaker continued, “dreamers and vision
aries have always enjoyed a place of prom
inence.
Ausley reminded the students that what
most people consider reality is really out
of touch with “the founder’s Intention, and
his workers are rarely on the side of the
status-quo.’’
“Another problem with dreamers is that
they have frequently been young people,
and nobody likes a smart kid.’’ Heaccused
many older folks of cultivating cynicism.
“Many young dreamers today have a
vision of a new world coming, and we’re
always glad to welcome young people and
have their applications, even if it means
rocking the boat. We must not forget our
dreams and become discouraged.’’
Dr. Ausley encouraged the graduates to
keep in touch with the “founder,” to call
upon him frequently, and challenged the
young people not to squander their talents,
energy, and time on things that can destroy
the mind and body.
The Baccalaureate was held in the KMHS
gymnasium at 8 p.m. The invocation was
given by Rev. Paul C. Millwood of First
Baptist Church of Grover, and Rev. D.C.
Wilson of Ebenezher Baptist Church,
Kings Mountain read the scripture.
Dr. Ausley was introduced by Dr. Charles
E. Edwards of Boyce Memorial Associate
Reformed Presbyterian Church, Kings
Mountain. The benediction was given by
Rev. D.A. Costner of St. Peters Baptist
Church, Grover.
Special music was presented by the KMHS
Senior Choir.
At $1000 A Month
Water Being Pumped
From KM To Bessemer
The cities of Kings Mountain and Bes
semer City strengthened their ties Thurs
day when a 250,000 maximum gallondally
water supply from Kings Mountain to her
sister city was turned on.
The contract for the ^e of water be
tween the two cities was approved in a
special meeting of the Kings Mountain
Board of Commissioners last Wednesday.
Bessemer did likewise, and at 4 p.m.
Thursday, the water was turned on, and
will probably stay on for the duration of
the two year contract.
Bessemer has had a water emergency,
and they are having to pay a minimum of
$1000 a month for the Kings Mountain wa
ter, a rate of 37.4 cents per 1000 gallons.
Under the terms of the contract. Kings
Mountain has the power to adjust the rate
by giving 3 months notification to Bes
semer City.
The water is being delivered by a 12 inch
diameter line, connecting at a point in the
shoulder of state road 1483, between the
two cities.
Following the brief turn-on ceremony,
Bessemer City Mayor George Newton
said, “I’mgladKingsMountalnletushave
the water..,we will cooperate any way we
can, we’re neighbors and we want to stay
that way.”
Mayor John Moss of Kings Mountain view
ed it as a joining together of two pro
gressive communities. Mr. Gene Frone-
berger, member of the Gaston County
Board of Commissioners, said as far as
Bessemer City is concerned, this is one of
ttie greatest things that’s happened in a
long time, adding that the county has been
in need of the communities coming togeth-
Sfl..
The city adopted a resolution Thursday
night agreeing to comply with the N.C.
Water and Air Resources Board in im
provement of the Kings Mountain sewer
system. It was reported that diversion
from the McGill plant to the Pilot plant
should be completed by December 15,1972.
This is all a part of the plan to clean up
Crowders Creek.
Commissioner James Dickey made the
motion that the city submit assurance of
compliance to the Department of Water
and Air Resources.
.j
'■ -t'.
Turning on the water from Kings Mountain to Bessemer City are Mayor George New
ton, Gaston County Commissioner Gene Froneberger, and Kings Mountain Mayor John
Moss. (Mirror Photo)