Newspapers / The Kings Mountain Herald … / Feb. 28, 1974, edition 1 / Page 4
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Pat{e4A KINGS MOUNTAIN MIRROR Thursday, February 2!, 1974 TKOirun appendix editorials Organized confusion die misadventures and memoirs of one man^s organ Tuesday night the Kings Mountain Commissioners met in special session to consider a five- point program submitted by members of the city’s police department. The KMPD requests are clear enough, but we must admit to a bit of confusion on how the commissioners handled portions of the request. Items 1 and 2; to accept Mc- Devitt’s resignation, and to appoint William Roper chief and J.D. Barrett as assistant chief - are the items in question. Ward Five Commissioner James Amos asked for someone to make a motion on Item 1. Ward Two Commissioner Lloyd Davis made a motion, but his move was to rescind his Monday night motion to grant McDevitt a SO^ay leave rf absence with pay, plus two weeks vacation pay, to reconsider his resignation. Davis’ Tuesday night motion excluded rescin ding the two weeks vacation pay. Immediately following a passing vote on this motion. Ward Three Commissioner Corbett Nicholson moved to adopt Item 2 of the KMPD proposal. Ward Four’s Don McAbee seconded and the “motion was ruled carried,” according to Mayor John H. Moss. And this is where the confusion begins. Commissioner Amos said he didn’t vote. Ward One’s Ray Gine said he didn’t vote. And when asked. Commissioner Davis even said he didn’t vote. If that was the case, then the vote was three to three and would mean the mayor would have to break the tie. But, remember, the mayor said “motion was ruled carried.” City Clerk Joe McDaniel told The Mirror Wednesday he just entered the motion in the minute books as carried without in cluding who voted ot how he voted. After the “chief vote” the commissioners went into executive session to talk to both Roper and Barrett about their jobs. Why were both men in terviewed after the vote was taken? More confusion. Reconvening, the mayor announced “Items one and two of the request list have been acted on...” Following the meeting Commissioner Amos com mented “Item two had been changed to a unanimous vote.” Wow! Since the resignation of Mc Devitt was never moved, seconded nor voted on in the (^01 meeting, and at least three of the six commissioners com mented they didn’t vote on the chief, assistant chief motion in the open meeting, then following the executive session it was announced both Items 1 and 2 had been acted on, unanimously in the Item 2 matter, it would appear we do not have sole claim to being confused. We would remind the com missioners voting in executive session is in violation of the North Carolina Open Meetings Law. Master chefs brew trouble-stew Police Chief Tom McDevitt resigned Monday. And the Gtizens of Kings Mountain are now getting a taste of what it’s like to lose a police chief under less than compatible conditions. And the taste is bitter. It’s also dangerous. Monday night’s board of commissioners meeting was a prime example of how bitter the taste can become and the danger for the community surfaced in the aftermath. It happens everytime any issue plays on people’s emotions and the situatimi with Chief McDevitt can be defined as nothing less than an emotional concert. Tbe current cixnmissioners were the master chefs in this trouble-stew. They were the chefs, but the ingredients were supplied by their constituents anxious to see them elected. The ingredients were rumors and campaign promises that placed a cloud over the KMPD and Chief McDevitt. In this case it’s like the classic example of cutting off one’s nose to spite one’s face because some of the stew ingredients were supplied by KMPD officers. The cloud remained throughout the campaign and after the election. The com missioners did little to dissipate the cloud when they failed to neither rehire nor fire McDevitt as they took office. Later, Mc Devitt was rehired, but not unanimously. Then came the question of nine cases of cim- fiscated booze missing from a total of 41 taken in a bust almost six years ago. The booze has since been destroyed. Next came the question ot pdice controlled equipment; hcndas, revolvers and scanners. Where were these items? ’That question, too, has been resolved satisfactorily. And with the resignation of McDevitt it would seem all of this is now just so much liquid through the spillway. It would seem so, but not quite. It made little difference to the citizens who packed the com missioner chambers here Mixiday night that while they were offering suppot to Mc Devitt, that he was in Forest City accepting the job of police chief. In fact it made the taste even mwe bitter as evidenced by the heated confrontations between citizens and commissioners, citizens and at least one police officer. Such stirrings keep the bit terness strong and there is the danger. Hie Mirror would be the last to suggest peqile do not have the right to stand up and be counted. Mix-e power to the people who make their feelings known to their governing bodies on the issues. And even more power to the people who mate their feelings known on all the issues, not just the ones tainted with the scent of blood. We said the conunissioners were the chefs and some con stituents supplied the ingredients for the trouble stew. Ihen we must also mention that the rest of us, through nco- sui^wt and apa^y, supplied the pot in which the stew was brewed. McDevitt is gone. To his devotees. Forest City’s gain is Kings Mountain’s loss. To his enemies, the opposite applies. At this point that is neither here nor there. We must remember that Kings Mountan is still here and the people are still here and they are entitled to expect the best police depart ment possilde. But we must also remember this will not be possible without community interest and su^xat. [owntM 'f - > i jL II DateUne: Febniary 8, in4 White Plains, N.C. - Some of the boys got j together down at the store today to tab about changing the name of the town to Kings Mountain. It was doubtful whether anything much would come of it since most folks felt like bJJKING BACK since the mining was about gone and everybody had headed for California, that the townofWhite Plains wouldn’t last much longer anyway. Every now and again I like many of you, am given to reminiscing I suppose it’s brought on lately because of the 5S-mph law. The only trouble with this reduced speed limit is now your dangerof being run down by a transfer truck is much greater. But, anyway, back to reminiscing Being a fellow who likes to think tlirough past events with the eye of an uninvolved ob server it came to me about 3 a.m. on a recent day that I had never really paid proper respects to my appendix. It’s belated, but bears out the ancient soothsaying that you never value anything until you don’t have it any longer. I haven’t had my appendix since 1956. I do remember at the time I was only too happy to be rid of them. Afterwards I never gave them that much thought Being young at the time I was not given to lamenting lost companions. But at the morning hour of three, while a friend was talking about the new Woody Allen movie playing in Charlotte, I suddenly was filled with remorse over the fact I had not said the proper words, nor sipped even a toast to my late appendix. Shame on me. It’s utterly indecent of me. Afterall, were we not warmed by the same womb? Did we not make our debut in the maternity room together? It was on the 27th day of January hack in ’37. There was snow on the ground A kindly old doctor was in attendance. My mother was there. It works best that way. I wasn’t sick so the slide for life was not made in the antiseptic confines of a hospital. It was the front room of my home, actually a textile mill superintendent’s home - my grandfather • in Belmont (Garibaldi Station, Montbell) on the Catawba. Incidentally, this house also served as the death scene for my grandfather. I was barely two when it happened. I have no nieinory ol him. I don’t m'en know whether he still had his appendix or not I pr^er to believe he did. It leaves no loose ends when the roll is called up yonder. ■ (sigh) I am not to have the same neat, orderly demise. I lost my appendix in Ron- ceverte. West Virginia. Memories come streaming back now. When I recall how horribly you could have done me in, my silent companion for little more than 19 years, but that you didn’t I am overcome. Valiantly you kept it together, almost like a premier air passenger too embarrased to use his motion sickness bag, until the surgeon’s retractor (or whatever he used) lifted, you pulsating swollen and grotesque from that intricate cavity. Safely away from me you came unglued I was still unconscious when they packed you for shipment to Charlotte Memorial Hospital I am crestfallen, old buddy. I have never had the thoughtfulness to even inquire why this was done. I hang my head in silence when I recall how you awakened me in the middle of that chilly March night; your last night Sharply you warned me. So sharply, in fact, I assumed the Lotus position instantly from a deep sleep. The earlier warning, which I foolishly ignored, had been mild It was so like you to be gently, resorting only to violence when it came down to you or me How unselfish. How noble. At last, old buddy, the respects are paid. SkollI Salute! Cheers! There will always be a warm spot in my side for you. And now, emotionally spent I am left only with one more mystery to solve. The mystery of why the mention of Woody Allen should remind me of the debt I owed to my appendix. suffer Drug Laws A Must To the editor: I have read of President Nixon’s plea for stiffer laws in order to control the dope pushers and feel this is something long overdue. Also long overdue is an awakening of individuals who have not placed enough emphasis on the evils of dru^. Only yesterday a young man I know remarked he knew of an individual who is pushing drugs in the community, and he asked what the police would pay for the information. I had a question for him; what is more important? Making a little money or perhaps saving the life of a friend? Those who think informing the authorities of drug violations is hurting a friend must consider the awesome damage drugs is causing so many in dividuals. Whether or not we care to admit it - we are our brother’s keeper. Or don’t we care? We had better reexamine our thinking. EVERE'TTE H. PEARSON Kkip Maiataie Letters To The Editor Citizens Express Concern Over McDevitCs Plight EDITOR’S NOTE: This letter was presented to Mayor Moss and the com missioners at Monday night’s meeting at city hall.) Gentlemen: I have heard, as I am sure most of you have, that Chief McDevitt intends to resign at this meeting. I feel that this is something that you as the leaders of our city have caused and I don’t see how you could possibly accept his resignation with a clear conscience. This man has done an outstanding job since he has been here. Our police department has now developed into a 9:^ of well-trained men. Before Chief McDevitt assumed the duties here anyone was hired as a law enforcement officer and was never required to un dergo any special training. Now all of this changed under the supervision of (^ief McDevitt. I realize and I am sure that each of you do, that he has worked under a tremendous strain for the past several months, yet he has performed in his usual great manner. He has been questioned about everything passible and has been checked on countless times and each time has come out looking great. I think if you will put yourself in his place you will find that he is trying to do a job that is all but impossible for any Citizen* Quiz Commissioners At Monday Night Meeting human because of all the pressure that has been upon him lately. Could you perform under these conditions? How many times have any of you tried to bring before the peo^e of Kings Mountain all of the good things this man has done..? I’m sure if you answer truth fully you will find you have not lost any sleep trying to bring out his good points. Yet, look at the papers from months past ' and you will see time was spent to dig up’ things to make him look bad ■ but none (rf it has worked. McDevitt has proven himself, so why can’t he be allowed to do the job he was hired for without interference from anyone? Why is he not allowed to hire, Tire and promote within his department as he sees fit? Is this not part of his duties? I know for a fact one of the reasons for him considering resigning is because be is not allowed to supervise his men in all phases of their jobs...What’s wrong with giving him complete control of his department?...Who knows better than he who should be promoted or terminated? I sincerely hope each of you will search your hearts and disregard any personal feelings you may have for Chief Me-' Devitt, and look instead at the tremed- (kMis job he has done for each of us before you accept his resignation... MRS. WAYNE RUSSELL MRS. ORANGREL JOLLEY MYRTLE PLOTT NANCY K. ^MITH AUDREY DICKEY W.H. CHILDERS LAURIE JOLLEY ‘HNA RUSSELL ■ 'Vv What is the best mefiiod for,-'i; checking a community’S’'|| ;jl pulse? Through an exchange Uof dialogue. Through ^reader’s dialogue within;^' these columns his or her’'(f- f’V point of view will be made|[ p clear on whatever issue he or ;|’ i^she chooses. The Mirror t jj: values your viewpoint.® Address your letters to:fv S'Kings Mountain Mirror'S I DIALOGUE, P.O, Box 6,|' Pl Kings Mountain, N.C., 28066. :4 All letters must be signed || ^and include full address and 4 gphone number. Pms ready? & ffilhen begin '&
The Kings Mountain Herald (Kings Mountain, N.C.)
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Feb. 28, 1974, edition 1
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