NCPA Award
KJ tlGS^MOUMp^ii^
Winning Newspaper
MIRROB-HEB&LD
15
NO. 5
Cleveland County's Mitdern Newsweekly"
KINGS MOUNTAIN. NORTH CAROLINA 28086 THURSDAY, JANUARY 30,1975
Residential Pickups
Cut Once Weekly
By TOM McIntyre
Editor, Mirror-Herald
wr
S/p PONY - This pony owned by Jack Moss of Midpines
^killed Tuesday. Shown in foreground is one of two axes
ch were used, along with other items, to slay the animal.
Photos By Gary Stewart
Moss has signed warrants against a neighbor, J. C. Pugh,
charging him with cruelty to an animal.
lead Was Smashed
charge Made In Pony’s Death
The beating death of a pet
pony Tuesday night has
resulted in a cruelty to animal
diarge against J. C. Pugh of
3150 Midpines.
Pugh’s across-the-street
neighbor. Jack Moss, signed
the warrant Wednesday but,
according to the sheriff’s
department, it had not been
served late Wednesday af
ternoon.
m
»’.
Moss, who acquired the
pony three months ago, said
the animal was beaten bet
ween the hours of 5 and? p. m.
Tuesday afternoon, then killed
Biound 9.30 p. m.
4
Moss said he was home at
the time but was not aware of
die beating. However, Tony
Whitaker, another nei^bor
who sold the animal to Moss,
said he and seven other young
boys witnessed the killing.
Whitaker and Moss said two
axes, two fire logs, an
autombbUe tire rim and rocks
were used to slay the poqy.
One of the axes was broken.
The animal was beaten
severely in the head and one of
its eyes was knocked out. It
was tied to a small shed in the
back yard of MosS’s home
“It was a neighborhood
pet,” Moss said of the animal.
“All the kids in the nei^-
borhood rode it.”
Deputy Wilbur Benton of the
sheriff’s department in
vestigated the incident late
'Tuesday night.
Moss said his wife phoned
the humane society in
Charlotte Wednesday and was
told the maximum penalty for
cruelty to animis is six
months in jail or a fine of $500.
No trial date has been set for
Pugh.
JACK MOSS... Pony
charged nei^bor with
his pet . . .
owner
killing
iN
FIRE ALARM
City firemen were called to
extinguish a blaze in a house
trader Thursday to Dixie
Trailer Park. Fire Chief Gene
Tignor reported no damages.
PI
J
WHITAKER .
leigh^r who said he wit-
eesed killing of pony looks
yer two of the weapons, a
iece |of firewood and an
utomobile rim, used in
laying the pet.
SHAREHOLDERS
The annual Kings Mountain
Savings and Loan Association
shareholders meeting is
scheduled Tues., Feb. 11 at 2
p. m. in the association of
fices, 300 W. Mountain St. Mrs.
Ruby H. Baker is KMS&L
secretary.
Drys Stepping Up
Vote-No Campaign
Kings Mountain “Drys’’
stepped up their offensive this
week with a third mass
meeting to encourage voter
registration.
Meeting Tuesday night at
Central Methodist church, the
13 Days
t To
Title One Funds
To Be Increased
gister
yj.3 days remain for non-
Jed voters to place
i^mes on polling books
- thenar. 18 rrferendum on
®tipn of legalizing sale of
er and wine for off-premises
and establishing
^ %res.
^e^ons Board Chairman
. ennett reminds that
Imust be 18 years of
i have resided within
^■limits 30 days.
Kings Mountain District Schools Supt. Don Jones said the
board of education expects Title One funds to be increased
here next year.
Title One is a Federally funded program which aids
programs designed to bring up to an acceptable level the
disadvantaged students.
“This year we received $96,000 to use in the program here,”
Jones said. “We expect that amount to be increased to $150,000
next school year.”
Jones said the Title One funds have been used here in
reading programs in the elementary and kindergarten grades.
The funds finance teadier’s aid in bringing up those students
who are at least one year behind in reading and understanding
capabilities.
enlarged committees of about
200 heard reports of house-to-
house visits and publicity
campaigns including showing
of films on “dangers of
alcohol” before youth groups
in churches throughout ,the
city. “Drys,” who are con
ducting “block” visits, are
offering free transportation to
the polls, not only for
registration, but on Mar. 18,
date of the referendum on
question of legalizing sale of
beer and wine for off-premises
consumption and establishing
ABC stores.
Rev. Reg Alexander, Kings
Mountain native who is on the
faculty of Gardner Webb
college, opened the meeting
with a devotional using the
story of Gideon and stressing
the duties of carrying out
responsibilities, trusting in the
Lord for results.
Residential garbage collec
tion will be reduced to once
each week beginning Fdb. 10
based on data gathered in a
recent survey on efficiency
and cost.
The commissioners adopted
the once a week pickn),
reducing pickup crews from
four to two recommendatirais
along with others concerning
commercial pickups made by
Willie Webb, planner with
Isothermal Planning and De
velopment Commission. Webb
conducted the solid waste
study for the city this month.
Webb cited figures
tabulated following his study
and told the commissioners
the four residential pickup
crews, based on a 40-hour or
less work week, averaged
about 5.4 home pickups per
minute, which is far above the
national average of 1.83 per
minute, and, that it cost the
city 47 cents per pickup per
crew.
The cut from twice to once
each week for residential
pckups will allow the present
method of backdoor to back
door service.
Commissioner M. C. Prurtte
co.mTT'nt.ed th.at sani^^tioii
W6iS: ' ,*xes a big bite out of
the budget every year.”
Approximately 39 percent of
each tax dollar goes to pay for
this service.
Although commissioners
indicated they expected
criticism from the citizens
they voted to institute once
each week pickups, “rather
than increasing city taxes in
the next fiscal year,” com- '
mented Commissioner Ray
Cline.
The board also adopted
Webb’s recommendations;
“ that commercial pickup
trucks collect city containers
now being handled by
residential pickup trucks;
that containers be
acquired by the Housing
Authority and that the Kirgs
Mountain-based Harris-
Teeter supermarket be
contacted about purchasing a
container for more efficient
and economic collection
(Webb said pickups there at
times requires collectors to
pickup refuse by hand);
- that city ordinance ip-
dating to encourage com
mercial establishments
purchase containers; and,
“ that, for non-decaying
waste, a pickup system be
arranged whereby the city be
notified by phone when such
pickup is desired.
Redevelopment Moves
Into Another Phase
The Kings Mountain Redevelopment
Commission in cooperation with the dty of
Kings Mountain Codes Department has began
to institute another part of the redevelopment
program in the central business district.
The portion of the redevelopment program
now being instituted will deal with code up
dating of all central business district buildings.
The commission, said Gene White, executive
director, has hired the architectural firm of C.
Crawford Murphy to inspect each building and
provide the owner with a written summary of
all code deficiencies suggestions for im
provements and preliminary drawings
showing suggested improvements to the ex
terior of the building.
In addition, the Redevelopment Commission
will be working with downtown merdiants to
remove all signs which do not comply with the
city of Kings Mountain sign control ordinance.
“Signs which the ordinance prohibits include
signs which hang over the sidewalk, blinking or
moving signs, signs painted on buildings and
billboards, White said. “The city of Gastonia
has recently enforced its sign ordinance and
has dramatically improved the appearance of
downtown Gastonia.”
The Redevelopment Commission has
received very good cooperation from the
downtown merchants in helping to improve the
downtown area. However, the senior citizens
park and the new section of the pedestrian
walk have suffered extensive damage from
vandalism.
The fountain in the Senior Citizens Park had
to be removed because the great amount of
trash thrown into the water which damaged the
pump and within the last two weeks vandals
did extensive damage to the brick work which
surrounded the fountain.
In addition, vandals have killed one tree,
damaged another tree and destroyed ten
bushes in the park. The park benches have
been taken apart several times and the wood
has been damaged by knife and other types of
cuts. The new section of the pedestrian walk
has already had four bricks removed from the
planters along the walk.
“If the present rate of vandalism continues,
in approximately three years the park and
pedestrian walk will stand as sad mmuments
to the ignorant viciousness of several citizens
of this area,” White said
Eaton’s Food Bank Opens
Home Is Here Tomorrow
Rising
Eaton Corporation is in
terviewing applicants for the
600 new jobs the plant will
provide on completion ;by
summer, Rrai Tompkins, plant
manager, said this week.
“We’ve got seven acres
under roof now and some of
our production equipment in”,
said Tompkins, who said
hiring hasn’t begun yet for
Eaton’s multi-million dollar
truck transmission
manufacturing and assembly
plant on Grover Rd.
Tompkins said the plant will
open as soon as utilities to the
Iwilding are complete, which
may be before summer.
He said that, so far, (he
truck transmission market
has not been affected by the
recession.
A “Food Bank” will ring up
groceries and not cash for the
area needy, opening Friday
morning at 10 at the Com
munity Center.
The.project is an expansion
of the Ministerial
Association’s “Helping Hand”
program and is necessitated,
said a spokesman, because
many families are out-of-
work.
Ministers had bought
enough groceries this week at
wholesale prices to feed 96
families for a week, said Rev.
Gary Bryant, First
Presbyterian pastor, who is a
member of the committee
with Rev. Frank Shirley,
chairman, and Rev. Guy
Cabaniss.
Needy families wDl be given
“menu slips” from their
pastors, not “slips” to take to
the market to do their own
shoH)ing, many of whom had
chosen “frills” instead of
staple food items, explained
Bryant.
The “menu” a needy family
takes to the Center Bank will
^ve the “sales clerk” there
information ai whether the
family has two members, four
members or six members and
the “clerk” will fill their bags
with enough staple food items,
not “frills”, to feed the whole
family for a week.
“We are concerned”, said
Bryant, “that many chOdren
are not getting the proper
diets because their parents
use the cash they are
receiving to buy other items,
not food.”
CLUB NIGHT
$300 Reward
Offered For
Barnes Auditorium h®™® Vandai
VO registrars are Mrs.
let Rayfield, West
fountain registrar who
|n Waco Rd. near
> just outside the city
Ind Mrs. Ruth Hord,
Iv Kings Mountain
who lives at 529
he St.
Dedication Mar. 14
Joks are open at their
five days a week or
|lmay register at the
County Board of
s Office in Shelby five
jfeek fl-om 9 until 5.
It reminds voters to
I their addresses are
listed by the
and that they are
hg in the ward in
by reside.
On Mar. 14 the B. N. Barnes Auditorium will be dedicated.
The new professional-style theater is located on Kings
Mountain Senior High property and is engineered to be a
central point for community entertainment.
With 1,000 seat capacity, a lighting booth with intricate and
sophisticated lighting and sound system and a 35 by 70 foot
stage, the auditorium rivals many professional theaters in the
Tar Heel state.
On the main floor there are almost 800 seats. Then there are
two rear sections with almost 100 seating capacity each that
can be sealed off when not in use. There are rest rooms off the
lobby and restrooms, dressing rooms and storage rooms off
the stage level. A paved parking lot is located at the rear of the
auditorium.
The first stage production, now being prepared within the
school system, will be presented as part of the dedicatory
services on Mar. 14. Other productions are also being planned
within the next few months geared to the public.
James Hall, director of the cultural arts. State Department
of Education, was in Kings Mountain Tuesday to help plan the
dedication program.
Someone practically
destroyed a house at 215 N.
City St. this mraith and the
owner is posting a reward for
information leading to arrest
and conviction of the culprit.
Warren Reynolds, Reynolds
Realty Co., said the house is
under the Kings Mountain
Redevelopment Commission
program and was standing
empty at the time, estimated
to have been Jan. 12, of the
breakin and destruction.
“lam posting a $300 reward
to anyone who has information
that will bring the person or
persons responsible to
justice,” Reynolds said.
Damages, which are
estimated at over $1,000, in
cluded destruction of all
windows, all doors andkitchen
cabinets. Anyone with in
formation in this case is asked
to call the KMPD, 739-3636.'
Club Night is Saturday at
the Kings Mountain Country
club with dinner at 8 p. m. and
dancing from 9 until midnight.
Hosts are Mr. and Mrs. Gene
Timms, Mr. and Mrs. Wilson
Griffin, Mr. and Mrs. Johnny
Kerns and Mr. and Mrs. Bill
Fulton.
No-Penalty Listing
Deadline Is Monday
The Food Bank will be in
operation Mondays, Wednes
days, and Fridays from 10
until 12 noon and 2 until 4 p. m.
with civic clubs, including the
Woman’s, Senior Citizens,
Kiwanis, Lions, and Rotary
clubs, manning the store. In
addition, many of the clubs
will support the effort with
contributions from special
money-raising projects.
Monday is the last day you can list your taxes without
penalty.
Taxlisters will be on duty at City Hall today, Friday,
Saturday morning, and Monday until 5 p. m.
Business was brisk, as usual, taxlisters Edwin Moore, Mrs.
Jacob Hauser and Mrs. Charlie Ballard reported this week.
They remind citizens that all properties must be listed for
taxes. Dog owners should also list dogs.
NO WRECKS
The city police department
reported no wrecks within the
city limits during the period
ending Tuesday at noon. Chief
of Police William- Roper
reported.
A Water Sprite
EGAD! - There seems to be a small baby falling into the
pool.
But, be assured there is nothing tragic in the making.
This is eight-month-old Julie Spencer and she has been
swimming since she was four-maiths-old. Her dad is Ed
Spencer, of Kings Mountain, and while working at the Gastonia
YMCA he has tau^t his daughter to swim.
There are more photos rai Page 6A.