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MIRROR-HEIALD
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86 NO. 29
Cleveland Couaty’s Mialern Newsweekly"
KINGS MOUNTAIN, NORTH CAROLINA 28086 THURSDAY, JULY 31,1975
05,000 For Construction
Jonds Approved For
i’eak Shaving Plant
ByTOMMcINTYRE
Editor, Mirror-Herald
Die
lie
Wth an amendment from
uraissioner James Amos,
; TOrd voted to accept
snimendations from Ed-
Mncerning the number
taps available to cus-
“»s within the dty.
-V.MX, l,i,c
amendment set the
"«no more than two te^is
®tomer during first 60
js offered.
J'J'ands recommended the
; ™ no more than 70 new
- which will replace the
' "“"nnnted through re-
Jandardhomesinthecity.
J^dthe total taps dis-
nne 87, but no more
saleE^ '^i^ considered
. ‘^^fwards said that all
lilsandthalJh'^^
'evir . be reserved
» » 35 for
and that all
sis “'®t come, ^*nst serve
•i". ?JT‘'
lilable”
lepen^inf^ said.
Crni f severe.”
further recoVn-
'***0 Turn To Page 6A)
city will issue $105,000 in
nds to construct a gas peak
iving plant. The commis-
nersapproved the measure
owing a public hearing
inday night.
riie $105,000 in bonds will be
iplemented by an FHA
„t of $90,000 to construct
fcplantonDeal St. adjacent
^the city water works.
Iteexpiained by Mayor John
a Moss, the peak shaving
lot will process p-opane air
“mix with natural gas in
.iodsof curtailed gas supply
ithe city’s customers. The
lyor said the propane air
dure will add 25 percent of
lenatural gas suppiy into the
item.
D. Edwards, the city’s
consultant, said the peak
iving plant will benefit the
's customers in times of
me cold during the cur-
Iment program. Transco’s
^ simply for this coming
ir will be low and at this
It there is no way of telling
ictly how much natural gas
be available to Kings
itain customers,
e propane air will aug-
ii tne natural gas,” I.d-
■ds said. “Practically
gas system in the coun-
ias a supple.mental
irce. Propane is the
apest method. Under a
tailment program a
plemental supjiy is the
way aiiy system, can re
in viable”
dwards said it takes about
aliens of propane to make
equivile-it to 1,000
of natural gas and
pane costs about 18 cents
gallon.
he total estimated cost of
is $190,000 and will
d one man to operate the
ipment and the compress-
machinery. Edwards said
seplants can be fully auto-
ted, “but thus far no sys-
aas had the guts to do
Most systems want the
arity of a man on the job to
nn eye on the
chinery.”
he Deal St site has been
teted because that is the
ilral point in the city where
afal gas is receiv^ from
msco's line Mayor Moss
ditis much simpler to mix
gas and propane at this
'dal point for introduction
the city system.
^aled bids on construction
the peak shaving plant will
received at city hall Aug.
Gas Tap
Apps Are
Taken
Applications for gas taps
will be taken beginning at
10 a. in. Fri., Aug. 1 at the
utility window at city hall.
A total of 70 taps are
available with a limit of
two taps per residence.
There will be 35 available
for existing structures and
35 for new construction.
Applicants must live
within the city limits and
be in an area where exist
ing gas lines are installed.
A deposit of $25 per tap is
required with the first 100
feet of line costing $75, plus
$1 per foot thereafter.
SUPPORT BLACK LEONARD — This group of citizens, led
by Mrs. Margaret Harbison, stood and read a support
resolution for Public Works Director Black Leonard during
Photo By Tom McIntyre
Monday night’s commissioner meeting. The comments
sparked a lengthy discussion between citizens and com
missioners.
Pros, Cons Aired Call Gas
Leonard Discussed Again Department
In Conunissioner Meeting Help
REDEVELOPMENT AREAS — This map shows existing
buildings in the downtown redevelopment area and the areas
marked with fee large X shews tlie properties where new
business structures will be constructed.
Interested
In Starting
JC Chapter?
By TOM McIntyre
Editor, Mirror-Herald
Blanton Is Chairman
Rebuild, Revitalize Is
Downtown’s Theme
Response to the announce
ment of formation of a com
mittee for rebuilding and re
vitalizing downtown Kings
Mountain has been tre
mendous, according to Mayor
John H. Moss.
Charles Blanton, owner-
operator of Kings Mountain
Drug Co., has been named
chairman of the committee
and commented, “The
response has been from busi
nessmen and citizens and it
looks as if the project will get
off the ground rather
quickly.”
Both BlcUiton and Mayor
Moss said “We are talking
about seeing action on the pro
ject in about 90 days.”
The committee will actively
seek business to settle in the
downtown area in new build
ings constructed through
Small Business Loan Associa
tion funds to suit tenants. And
the businessman will have the
option of becoming a leasor or
buyer of the property and
building.
“This committee will take a
positive approach in selling
downtown Kings Mountain as
the place to set up business,”
the mayor said. “There is a lot
going for the project, the
appeal of ample parking
under development and the
proposition of a general theme
and design to be followed in
the development of new busi
ness structures as well as
updating existing structures.”
Blanton said it is difficult to
state exactly how much
property will be available
under redevelopment for
building sites because of the
areas set aside for parking,
An organizational meeting
is planned tonight at 7 p. m. at
the Royal Villa to reestablish
the Kings Mountain Jaycees.
Mike Stewart of Charlotte,
member of the North Carolina
Jaycees, will preside at the
meeting.
“We hope Kings Mountain
can again join the 285 other
communities in North
Carolina that curraitly enjoy
Jaycee chapters,” Stewart
said.
Young men from 18 to 36 are
invited to attend the meeting
tonight for particulars. The
jaycees is an organization
dedicated to community in
volvement and self-improve
ment.
For more information call
Mike Stewart at 629-2282 or
739-7507.
(Please Turn To Page 7A)
KIWANIS MEETING
The Kings Mountain
Kiwanis Club meets tonight at
6:45 at the KM Woman’s Club
for dinner, a film program and
check presentation of $500 to
the Rev. Frank Shirley and
the Rev. Glenn Boland for the
ministerial association. The
Interclub Committee is ex
pected to give members an
activities r^ert.
Amos. Houston
The controversy over Public
Works Director Black
Leonard continued at Monday
night’s board of commission-
er^: m.-sung when aoout zO
citizens stood in Leonard’s
support.
There was one anti-Leonard
voice from the audience, Jean
Holden of Rhodes Ave.
Margaret Harbison started
the dialogue by reading from a
prepared statement which in
cluded praise for Leonard’s
work as the public worics
director for the city.
The “praise Leonard”
speech sparked comment
from several individuals that
resulted in putting at least two
commissioners on the spot
with demands of explanations
about why they were against
the public works directo-.
This came after Mrs. Janie
Kincaid stood to ask the board
make a motion and vote on
support for Leonard. Com
missioners Ray Cline and Cor
bet Nicholson did not vote for
support of Leonard and Com
missioner M. C. Pruette, after
some hesitation, did vote in
favor. Prurtte later qualified
his hesitation by saying, “I’ll
support Leonard as long as he
does his job. I don’t expect
people to support me if I don’t
do my job. Mr. Leonard can
expect as much from me.”
Commissioner Cline said, “I
didn’t vote to support Leonard
because he was hired when I
wasn’t here. I had no op
portunity to check into his
background and qualificatims
before he was hired.”
That comment brought a
quest iai from Joe Hord, a citi
zen in the audience. “He’s
been on the job for 18 months
now. You mean you still
haven’t had time to evaluate
his ability on the job?”
Commissioner Nicholson
said “Pruette and I made a re
quest through the mayor for
Mr. Leonard to do something
and he refused to do it. He said
it took six men to tell him what
to do.”
Again Hord commented,
“And for that you’re going to
hold a grudge against the man
for the rest of his life?”
Mrs. Kincaid kept the pot
boiling by stating, “I think we
have a right to know what it
was you asked Leonard to do
' that he didn’t do.”
Mayor Moss intervened with
“it was a personnel matter.
Corbet and Murray asked
about the disposition of a city
employe who had been
suspended. The commission
ers wanted to see the man
reinstated. Eventually, the
employe was reinstated.”
“Then the situation was
ultimately resolved,” said
Hord. “'The man is back rai the
job. If that’s so then I see no
reason for anyone to carry a
grudge.”
Hord also suggested that
Cline was “running from his
responsibilities” by not voting
either for or against Leonard
in confidence vote instead of
not voting at all. “I hope
you’re not letting the election
coming up interfere with your
responsiWlities as a commis
sioner now,” Hord said.
Earlier in the discussion
Mrs. Harbison’s statement
termed Leonard as “a man of
integrity, interested in Kings
Mountain and its people, who
always acts quickly and
courteously.’ She also asked
the statement be read into the
meeting minutes.
In his opening comments
Hord said, “You men backed
him 18 months ago when you
knew he had no qualificaticMis
for the job, but you said you
would work with him. It’s a bit
ridiculous to have a man on
the job 18 months, then start
saying that he isn’t qualified
to do the job.”
Tlie Kings Mountain Gas
Department has asked citi
zens who find they have acci
dentally severed gas lines to
call the department (739-2351)
immediately for repair serv
ice.
Citizens are also asked to
under no circumstances try to
plug the broken end of the gas
line with objects. Broken lines
are to be Irft alone. One gas
department employe has suf
fered injury to a hand while
trying to remove a stick from
a bn'ken line. Gas pressure
blew the stick into the hand.
(Please Turn To Page 7A)
Gas w(irkers urge citizens
n(>t to try to hammer objects
inl( the broken pipe because a
spark can ignite the natural
gas causing injuries from
expi' sii tis and fire.
Two More Candidates In Commissioner Race
James Amos, incumbent
commissioner, and Humes
Houston, a political new
comer, have announced inten
tions of filing for the October
municipal election commis
sioner’s race.
Amos became com
missioner of district (ward)
five two years ago as a mem
ber of a clean sweep ticket
which opposed the old incum-
. bent board.
Houston is seeking his first
municipal post by popular
election.
Commissioner Amos is the
son of Mrs. M. C. .Amos and
the late Mr. Amos. He attend
ed Mars Hill College, St.
John’sUniversityofBrooklyn,
N. Y. and earned his BS de
gree in accounting and busi
ness administration at UNC-
Chapel Hill.
He has 20 years experience
in controllership and produc
tion planning. He now owns
and operates 'The Little Moo in
Kings Mountain.
Amos is a member of First
Baptist Church, is a Mason,
former Kiwanian, a member
of the KM Country Club, a
former director of the KM
Chamber of Commerce. In
World War Two he served with
the 84th Infantry Division in
Germany where he became a
disabled veteran.
“However, no one will tell me
how to vote.”
Houston, 56, is manager of
Kings Mountain Drug Co. and
has been a resident of Kings
JAMES AMOS
Locally, Amos has member
ship in the American Legion,
VFW, Amvets and Disabled
Veterans Organization.
He is married to the former
Elizabeth Holland of Gastonia
and had two children, Su
zanne, in graduate school at
the University of Kansas, and
James Jr., senior at Wake
Forest University. The family
resides at 409 Edgemont Dr,
In his filing statement,
Amos said, “I have en
deavored to represent aU citi
zens of Kings Mountain and to
vote my convictions based on,
not only my judgment, but the
considered judgment of all the
constituency.
“I shall conUnue this policy
and maintain an open door to
anyone who wishes to influ
ence my vote,” he continued.
Mountain since 1923. His fa
ther, H. H. Houston, was
secretary-treasurer of the
Phenix Mill.
A graduate of Kings Moun
tain high, Houston entered the
U. S. Army in 1941 and retired
from military service in 1969
with the rank of Major — CE.
During his service he was
awarded th e Bronze S tar (first
oak-leaf cluster) for exemp
lary conduct in ground combat
against armed enemy as a
first lieutenant 302nd Infantry
Regiment. He was also
awarded a Bronze Star for
heroic achievement in connec
tion with military operations
against the enemy in Ger
many.
He also received four Euro
pean battle campaign stars
with 94th Infantry Division,
Third Army.
Houston organized the local
National Guard Co. as HQ &
HQ Co., 3rd Bn, 120th Infantry,
RICHARD BYERS
One Day He Could
Save Your Life..,.
HUMES HOUSTON
(Please Turn To Page 6A)
A Kings Mountain native now living in Grover,
Richard Byers has been a member of the Kings Moun
tain Rescue Squad for the past three years.
Emiioyed at Vulcan Materials Co., Blackburg, S. C.,
Richard got interested in rescue work through his late
father, Paul Byers, then a Cleveland County Deputy
Sheriff. When he was about 12 Richard served as
mascot for the Grover Rescue Squad.
Now he said he feels “the rescue squad is one of the
most valuable volunteer organizations in the com
munity. I’m grateful my father got me interested in
this work.”
Richard is married to the former Susie Dover and
has one son, Richard Jody, 4. They reside at 203 Price
St., Grover, and are members of Temple Baptist
Church.
Richard is thesonof Mrs.FrancesByers Greene.