SCPA Award
Winning Newspaper
MISROR'HElUdD
15
i NO. 20
Cleveland County's Modern Newsweehly"
KINGS MOUNTAIN, NORTH CAROLINA 28086 THURSDAY, MAY 29, 1975
fo Settle Eaton Sewer Line Controversy
Sen. Morgan Sponsors Meeting June 2
ByTOMMcINTYRE
Editor, Mirror-Herald
Robfft Morgan has arranged for
i county officials, Meral
lesentatives to meet with offi-
(Eaton Corp. June 2 to iron out
rt problems over the costs of a
Sings Mountain sewer line prob-
inceriB me very much and for sev-
easons,” Sen. Morgan stated this
-Eirst of all, I want to make cer-
at all the agencies of cur federal
nient are doing their jobs effec-
and promptly
“My major Concern is for the Eaton
Corporation,” he continued. “This
company is an important member of the
industrial community in our state. They
are investing heavily in new plants and
equipment. When present projects are
completed, this company will have some
nine plants operating in North Carolina.”
To open lines of communication. Sen.
Morgan dispatched Les Roark of Shelby
to Atlanta to talk with Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) officials.
Roark was to “press for this (June 2)
meeting in the hopes of getting some
thing started,” according to Morgan.
In late breaking news stories last week
Ron Tompkins, manager of the new
Eaton plant near Grover, said, “we
wouldn’t have come here” if the com
pany hadhad knowledgeof the cost of the
proposed sewer line to the plant site was
going to be $1,034,000 and that the indus
try would be expected to repay the
majority of that cost.
ITiese developments were announced
late last week by Harold Duhart, project
manager of the EPA, Atlanta, "niis
organization is holding up the Kings
Mountain application for a 75 percent
grant on the project cost.
Duhart announced that if the ap
plication is approved Eaton must, under
federal law, along with any new industry
that may tap onto the sewer line repay
the grant. Repayment is interest free
over a 30-year period (considered the life
of the line). Fifty percent would be
repaid the federal treasury and 50 per
cent repaid the City of Kings Mountain to
use for use and future expansion of the
line.
Tompkins contends no discussiais
were ever held with Eaton about the
industry having to repay any costs of the
sewer line. He said the letters of commit
ment from the county and city are over a
year old and “I think it’s up to the parties
that made those promises to provide
services. I still think it’s their intaitionto
provide the services.”
Mayor John H. Moss said “repayment
by the industry is the law in any ex
tension anywhere in the U.S. at this time .
. . but I believe Congress will amend
that.”
At the same time Mayor Moss said he
was still hopeful the city’s application
will still be approved under the old law
under which the original application was
made last year. Under the old law the
industry would escape repayment.
However, Duhart said the application is
approved it will be done so under the new
law, the one requiring industry to repay
grant loans.
Initial cost of the sewer line was
estimated at $500,000 and according to
County Manager Joe Hendrick this cost
was still believed to have been valid. He
said neither he nor the county com
missioners had been informed the cost
would be doubled.
County Commissioner L E. (Josh)
Hinnant noted that if the federal
government is going to require Eaton to
repay the grant loan it may be better for
the county to form another non-profit
organization to build the sewer line and
let Eaton’s county taxes pay for it
(Please Turn To Page 2A)
$5,855,858.98 Proposed
Estimates
Make For Record Budget
By EUZABETH STEWART
StaffWriter
The city commission Tues
day night tentatively adopted
a record budget for fiscal 1975-
76 totaling $5,855,858.98, an
increase of $752,190.46 over
the budget for the fiscal year
which ends June 30.
Public hearing is slated
June 9 with formal adoption
expected June 23.
The commission also tenta-
At CommimUy Center
Senior Citizens
■ ■
Honored Today
tively set the tax rate at 65
cents per $100 valuation, same
rate which has prevailed the
past 10 years.
Principal increase in
revenues derives from up
ward projections of sale of
utilities, including income
from the water and sewer sys
tem $397,025 (vs. $323,357 an
increase of $73,668;; from the
electric and power system
$1,150,366.92 (vs. $955,168, a
■.Irfrvpicg increase of
$555,198.92) and the natural
gas system $996,898.40 (vs.
$692,572, an increase of
$304,326.40). Due from other
funds $854,701.80 (vs.
$965,903), decrease of
$111,201.20.
“'Ihe city is caught in the
crunch of an energy prob
lem”, said Mayor John Moss
in his budget message to the
board. “Even though most
departments of the city have
reduced operating costs for
the new year beginning. Bulk
of the increase is reflected in
LLIE IN RALEIGH - Sen. Ollie Harris
is with Kings Mountain senior citizens from
id and Oak G rove Ba ptist Churche s in front
le Senate Building in Raieigh. The KM old-
s visited with Sen. Harris and W. K.
Three Weeks
Mauney, Reps. Jack Hunt, Bob Fails and Bob
Jones, toured the Governor’s office and were
recognized while attending a session of the
Senate. David Baptist senior citizens made and
sold quilts to pay their trip expenses.
jmolition Of KMRC
iuilclings Is Planned
ByTOMMcINTYRE
Sditor, Mirror-Herald
'D has approved award-
$53,800 contract to Brad-
enkins Co. of Gastonia for
emolition of 30 buildings
d by the Kings Mountain
velopment Commission,
ne White, KMRC execu-
director, said today that
nolition will begin in
t three weeks.” The first
ings to come down are
former Dellinger’s Jew-
Warlick Insurance and
s Snack Shop.
fe are going to stick
dly to the contract,”
osaid. “That means oiKe
scific site is demolished
site will be cleaned up
0 the demolition crew
on to the next site.”
"ooe the three buildings on
lorthsideofW. Mountain
sre down and rubble
construction on the
ll third pedestrian walk
1 begin,
I’^rhaps the most im-
rant action to take place in
■"W 30 days,” White said,
‘“De the planning of a mall
off Cherokee St.”
has agreed to pur-
„ this area from the re-
f^Pment commission, but
,, any work can be done
■nm >aiust be
.“^'ofaplan. To get that
pproval a meeting be-
engineers,
e aff/f j merchants in
area will be held,
"arally, plans call for
Ja of all utility poles and
Sr. ■' "«8r«u„d
‘f'cal winng. Also con
struction of proper storm
drainage, grading, paving for
parking and landscaping.
Hopefully, the affected mer
chants will agree on a plan for
renovation of the rear of their
buildings to conform to the
maU-type idea.
For the city’s part, action is
expected shortly after July 1,
the date when the city’s
community development
funds will be available. No
word has been received as yet
from the applications, but
thinking is the entire package
of applications for the CD
funds will be approved.
The second part of the
Bradley-Jenkins contract
(Please Turn To Page 2A)
Today is Senior Citizens Day
in Kings Mountain.
To help the city’s elderly
residents celebrate a program
of activities has been planned
for the community center
beginning at 10 a. m.
A registration and “getting
acquainted” period” is sched
uled in the Mountaineer Room
until 11 a. m., according to
Rev. Kenneth George, co
ordinator of the Community
Committee on Aging and
Senior Citizens, sponsoring
agency.
“Following the registration
period,” Rev. George said,
“an entertainment program is
scheduled in the gym area up
stairs in the community cen
ter.”
The program will feature an
array of local and area talent,
including Rev. Gary Bryant,
pastor of First Pressbyterian
Church. Rev. Bryant will sing
and accompany himself on
guitar. The Kings Mountain
Senior High junior choir,
under the direction of Mrs.
Myrle McClure, will perform
several numbers. Mrs. Mc-
Ward Equalization Recommended
Staggered Board Terms
Approved Next Election
Clure will accompany David
Lucas, a KMSHS senior with a
tremendous voice, who will do
a couple of solo numbers.
Linda Ross, chorus director
at Central school, will sing
and be accompanied on lead
and bass guitar by Ronnie
Whisnant and Sherrill Toney.
The latter two are teachers at
Central. From Forest City
Rosemary Walther, who
played the lead in the recent
production of “Carousel” at
Barnes Auditorium, will sing
a medley of songs from the
show.
The finale will be an old-
fashioned sing-along con
ducted by Rev. Allen Jolley of
First Baptist Church.
At noon luncheon will be
served and a number of local
and county dignitaries will be
on hand to welcome all senior
citizens. Also representatives
of local civic clubs are expect
ed to attend.
‘"rhis is the second in as
many weeks of a series of pro
grams designed for our senior
citizens,” Rev. George said.
“Last week the city recreation
department sponsored a bene
fit softball tournament. We
hope in the future to plan num
erous programs under our
committee for the senior citi
zens.”
The city commission Tues
day night unanimously ap
proved a staggered term of of
fice for the city council effec
tive with the upcoming dty
election Oct. 7.
Specifically, this action
means that the three top vote-
getters on the first ballot in the
1975 city election will serve a
four year term. The low trio
will serve two years. The
Mayor will serve a four-year
term.
Motion was made by Comm.
Ray Cline and seconded by
Comm. Corbet Nicholson.
Their action came near the
close of a lengthy meeting.
In another matter involving
the upcoming city election, the
board received “for study” a
report of the Mayor’s Ward
Equalization committee.
Chairman Carl De Vane
said his committee recom
mends the city utilize only two
polling places and suggested
voters from Wards 1, 2, and 3
vote at the Community Center
and voters in Wards 4, 5, and 6
vote at the Armory.
He presented a map
detailing how the wards can
be equalized with all the
changes effecting voters in
Wards 1, 5, and 6. The break
down of voters would tally
Ward 1, 613; Ward 2, 638
Ward 3, 740 ; 742; Ward 5, 734
Ward 6, 732.
Chairman De Vane, former
President of the Chamber of
Commerce, told the board that
some confusion would arise at
the first election if the plan is
implemented but that it will
work. ” His coiknittee gave an
alternative voting place for
Ward 5 voters — the school
administrative offices on W.
Parker St.
Registration
For Drivers
Class Begins
Registration for summer
classes in driver’s education is
slated for June 5 at 8:30 a. m.
in KMSHS gymtorium. Class
room instruction begins June
10th and will continue through
June 30th from 8 until 10 a. m.
daily.
Students must be at least
151/2 years old to enroll for the
classes.
Blaine Froneberger will
serve as instructor.
Power
Shutoff
Sunday
Mayor Jdin H. Moss said
again this week he wants to
remind Kings Mountains there
will be a six-hour power
shutoff Sun., June 1 between
12:30-6:30 p. m.
The Gaston St. power sub
station must undergo repairs
caused by vandals.
'The city’s electrical con
sultant, W. H. Little Jr., said
the city’s customers could
facilitate restoration of power
if they would limit the use of
electrical appliances for at
least an hour after power is
restored.
In case of inclement
weather this Sunday, the
shutoff will be postponed until
Sun., June 8.
RONNIE HAWKINS
One Day
He Could
Save Your Life.,,
Ronnie Hawkins is an apprentice mortician
and funeral director working at Harris Funeral
Home. He also has an application in to become
a city fireman.
He is also a member of the Kings Mountain
Life Saving Crew. And has attended classes at
both Gaston College and Cleveland Tech and
served a year in the U. S. Army.
“I joined the rescue squad a year ago,”
Ronnie said. “I had worked two years at Kings
Mountain Hospital as a nursing assistant and
this thing about being of real help to people
\yhen they really need it just made it a natural
for me to join the rescuers.
“There is a big need for such an operation,”
he continued. “I consider it the city’s best
organization because it helps people. We have
25 men who want to do something beneficial to
their community.”
He has taken emergency medical technician
training at Tech and even with his work at the
hospital, Ronnie says he’s never had
aspirations toward becoming a doctor.
Single, Ronnie resides at 806 First St. with his
mother, Mrs. Eloise Hawkins. His father is de-,
ceased.
the utility fund, though this
budget reflects increased
sales of utilities, the city’s
revenue is down $111,201.20.”
The mayor said he was
pleased that in the face of
higher costs of operating
utilities that the tax rate re
mains the same.
Mayor Moss said he had
written utility suppliers ask-
(Please Turn To Page 2A)
Bicentennial
Committee Is
Now Complete
Mayor John Henry Moss
Wednesday named a 40-mem
ber Bi-Centennial Committee
to plan with Co-Chairmen
Mrs. John 0. Plonk and
Howard B. Jackson the city’s
celebration of the nation’s
200th birthday.
The Co-Chairmen said they
look forward to working with
the committee in developing
plans for the 195th anniver
sary celebration of the Battle
of Kings Mountain and the Bi-
Centennial Celebration.
“Both celebrations”, said
the Mayor, “will refresh
memories of our illustrious
past and encourage us to strive
for our idealistic hopes in re
newed faith in our nation’s
future.”
The mayor said he will
name an honorary com
mission within the next few
days.
Ex-Officio members of the
Commission are Mayor Moss,
Senator J. Ollie Harris and
Senator W. K. Mauney, Jr.
and County Commissioner L.
E. Hinnant.
Publicity chairmen are
DarreU Austin and Elizabeth
Stewart of the Mirror-Herald
and Jonas Bridges of Radio
Station WKMT.
The full committee: Mrs. D.
B. Faunce, Charles E.
Hamilton, J. C. Bridges, Tom
McIntyre, Mrs. Charles D.
Blanton, Mrs. Aubrey
Mauney, Mrs. Fred Withers,
Myers Hambright, Fred
Dixon, C. A. Allison, Mrs. Ben
T. Goforth, Wade Tyner,
Johnny Kiser, Eugene Timms,
Ron Osborne, Mrs. L. E.
Hinnant, Dr. P. G. Padgett,
Shuford Peeler, Lyn Cheshire,
Mrs. James Going, W. S. Ful
ton, 111; Robert Edgerton,
Mrs. John L. Blalock, Zeb
Plonk, Bill Bates, Mrs. N. H.
Reed, Bill Grissom, Mrs.
Menzell Phifer, Mrs. Charles
Neisler, Frank Mitchem, Mrs.
Charles Mauney, Mrs. George
Houser, Jim Guyton, Mrs. S.
R. Suber, Jr., Mrs. Jack
Amette, Mrs. Ray Holmes,
Rev. S. T. Cooke, Mrs. Vic
toria Bess, Rev. Gary Bryant
and Mrs. 0. 0. Walker.