NCPA Award
Winning ISewspaper
. kjnqs>moumtaih_
MIRROB-HEIALD
15
mu
NO. 44
~(Uneland (.oitntys \ltnlern .\eH'sne(>Uly
KINGS MOUNTAIN, NORTH CAROLINA 28086 WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 1975
District 1
District 2
District 3
District 4
District 5
District 6
JAMES CHILDERS
JUNE LEE
HUMES HOUSTON
CORBET NICHOLSON
NORMAN KING
BILL GRISSOM
ByTOM McINTYRE
Editor, Mirror-Herald
A record 2,000-plus voters
Hit to the polls Tuesday for a
ti-off election to reinstate
e incumbent and seat five
w commissioners.
Corbet Nicholson, district
ree incumbent commission-
again proved to be the high
tegetter with an unofficial
35 total. Under the
ggered term system,
Five New Commissioners Elected
Nicholson Top Vote-Getter
FRED WRIGHT JR.
Lee And Thomasson
Are School Trustees
Nicholson is one of three men
who will serve on the city
board for ^^e next four years.
The other five commission
ers elected Tuesday were
James Childers, district one;
Humes Houston, district two;
Norman King, district four;
Bill Grissom, district five;
and Fred Wright, district six.
In the district one race Ray
Cline, who lost by only six
votes, said Tuesday night “I
am considering calling for a
recount. I haven’t made up my
mind.”
James Dickey, district six
candidate who lost by an
unofficial 29 votes, said Tues
day night “I will request a
recount.”
Kings Mountain Elections
Board Chairman Luther
Bennett said “requests for re
counts must be made prior to
the official canvass of votes.
The canvass is at 11 a.
Thursday at city hall.”
m.
Unrest’ At High School
From, Discipline
ByTOM McINTYRE
Editor, Mirror-Herald
ftat’s behind the reported
’•est” among students at
life. Mountain Senior High?
)id tliis have anything to do
the fist-fights that oc-
rredin the bus parking area
onday?
School officials seem to
ink the one doesn’t neces-
ily have anything to do
til the other. The reported
inrest” was heightened,
wever, by the violence be-
een blacks and whites on
: school grounds Monday.
‘Tbe fight Monday was
lated to a fight between a
ick and a w'hite last Thurs-
y,” said Principal Forrest
lieeler. “That fight took
ace away from school
nperty. Tbe one Monday
B between different stu
nts, but was indicated to me
ig related to the first
hi,”
Supt. Don Jones said he felt
fight between the two
idents goes back to the dif-
ences that black and white
'dents feel they have.”
lones said he and other
officials felt the fight
Bday was far from being
race riot” first reported
them.
®e other reports of “un-
among the senior high
'®t body, according to
Citizens
tet Here
Friday
JaSenior Citizens Club will
'sa noon Fri., Nov. 7 for a
ad dish luncheon.
sponsored by the
ss Mountain Woman’s
l^Sete
'“PPy Sale
Auxihary will conduct
Poppies
feing i streets
‘S at 9 a. m.
Peggy
%ing
■®'dent sva
' rnembers will
the red poppies
e made by hospi-
,, 'eterans.
benefit
benefiting
''eteran
a and their
both Wheeler and Jones,
apparently stems from the
discipline guidelines instituted
by Wheeler. The principal is
serving his first year in
office, replacing J. C. Atkin
son who resigned to take an
education-administration post
elsewhere.
“When I came here I found
there were so many rules and
regulations that had not been
enforced in the past,” Wheeler
said. “I don’t believe in having
rules just for the sake of rules,
so some were enforced, others
discarded and replaced.”
This, according to the
principal, has brought him
some criticism from among
the students. “Perhaps they
feel their rights have been
violated,” Wheeler said, “but
my job is to administrate an
educational facility in Kings
Mountain and that’s what I am
doing and intend to do.”
There has been a general
grumbling from among some
students because they have
been assigned seat numbers
during special programs at
Barnes Auditorium.
“I am in support of Mr.
Wheeler,” Jones said. “At the
beginning of the year seats
were not assigned and some of
the senior high students
abused the privilege. There
were incidents of unruly
conduct, disrupting programs
and becoming so distracting
that speakers found it difficult
to continue. That is the reason
seats were assigned. Since
then the disruptions have
stopped.”
Since taking over the
principalship at KMSHS,
Wheeler has also enforced
rules about use of the school
corridors during class activi
ties. Another infraction that
can cause a student grief is
breaking in line in the cafe
teria. Certain areas outside of
the school buildings have been
designated for the smoking
student, whereas before there
were no restrictions and a
much closer check is made on
students coming into and
leaving the school facilities.
Jones said he supports
Wheeler in the new rules he
has instituted.
Prior to the beginning of
school this semester Wheeler
commented that he is an
teacher-administrator who
believes in discipline. That
discipline includes suspending
students from three to 10 days
if they break the rules and
disrupt the educational
process at the senior high.
The fight reported Monday
resulted in some aches and
pains for a few students and
for the students pointed out as
the ringleaders it mean’t
suspension for up to 10 days.
“We are going about it
quietly,” Wheeler said.
“There are others who are
instigators. Troublemakers, if
you please, and they will also
be found out and suspended.”
Wheeler indicated that
under the law, until students
reach 16, they must attend
school and when they are
under 16 and cause trouble
school officials must deal with
it the best they can.
“It would certainly help if
some of our more troublesome
students received some
discipline in their homes,” the
principal said. “We do have
rules and guidelines set up at
school and they are enforced
because it is best for the
majority of the students who
are here to learn.
“Now, as far as fights be
tween blacks and whites,” he
continued, “I could lie and say
everything is smooth, but it
isn’t and never will be as long
as students develop their own
prejudices and resentments or
pick up those feelings in their
homes.”
Wheeler said there have
been times when administra
tors have talked with students
about the trouble they have
gotten into because they did
not heed the advice to talk it
over with teachers or prin
cipals. ’The answer he said
that has come back says
something like “my ’ol man
told me not to let people push
me around.”
Wheeler said the type of
school Kings Mountain has
now and will have in the future
depends entirely on the type of
school the community as a
whole indicates it wants.
“The recount request, with
a reason stated, must be in
writing and in my hands by 5
p. m. today,” Bennett said.
Despite the heavy turnout in
Tuesday’s runoff election the
ballot counting was fast.
Voting results in the East
and West Kings Mountain pre
cincts were: District one —
James Childers — 420 & 566 —
Ray Cline — 439 & 541; Dis
trict two — W. S. Biddix — 277
& 420 — Humes Houston — 576
& 681; District three — Jim
Guyton — 260 & 337 — Corbet
Nicholson — 587 & 748; Dis
trict four — Norman King —
541 & 648 — Don McAbee — 309
& 446; District five — Jarhes
Amos — 410 & 465 — Bill
Grissom — 439 & 616; District
six — James Dickey — 391 &
569 — Fred Wright Jr. — 457 &
532.
The other two commission
ers, based on high vote-get
ting, are James Childers and
Norman King. Houston, Gris
som and Wright will serve for
the next two years.
Following the final vote
count Tuesday the new
commissioners made com
ments to The Mirror-Herald:
Bill Grissom — “I don’t
know what to say. I’m just
flabbergasted. I never
dreamed I would win. I’m
very grateful to the people
who. voted for me and I thank
them from the bottom of my
heart. I will strive to work for
the betterment of the city to
the best of my ability ...”
James Childers — “It’s been
a long campaign and I truly
thank the voters of Kings
Mountain for placing their
confidence in me. I will try tb
fulfill all obligations as a
commissioner to the best of
my ability ...”
Norman King — “I ap
preciate the vote of the people.
I’ve made no promises other
than to do the very best I can
for all the citizens of Kings
Mountain and to make Kings
Mountain progressive and
aggressive for the future....”
> Humes Houston — “I’m well
pleased in my first showing in
a political campaign. I’ll do
my best to represent the
people of Kings Mountain in
all matters coming before the
city board. ...”
Fred Wright — “I’d like to
thank the citizens of Kings
Mountain for the good turnout
for the runoff election. I ap
preciate your support and will
try to return your confidence
in me by voting in your best
interests . . .”
Corbet Nicholson — “I’m
very surprised by the vote for
me in both the Oct. 7 and Nov.
4 elections. I couldn’t believe
it. I’d like to thank all of the
citizens for the fine support
they gave me and I’ll try to
serve all the citizens to the
best of my ability ...”
The new board will be sworn
in on Dec. 8 following a brief
meeting of the present board
to clear the agenda of pending
old business. The six new
commissioners wiU take the
oath along with Mayor John H.
Moss.
Kings Mountain school dis
trict voters elected two wom
en to school board trustee
ships Tuesday.
Mrs. Joe'^ee and Mrs.
George B. Thomasson were
the front-runners among six
candidates, including four
men.
Only two women have
served on the board of educa
tion in recent years — Mrs.
Haywood E. Lynch and Mrs.
John L. McGiU.
Both June Lee and Marion
Arthur Thomasson sought
public office for the first time.
Mrs. Lee led in Bethware and
East and West Kings Moun
tain boxes garnering 887
votes. Mrs. Thomasson led in
Grover and polled 800 votes
followed closely by Charles F.
Maunev wiiV 791 v tes Wil
liam Orr received 637 votes,
Herman Greene garnered 466
and Kyle Smith received 437.
Both Mrs. Thomasson and
Mrs. Lee were elated.
Said Mrs. Lee, “I am just
thrilled and excited and want
to thank everyone who worked
for me. I will work hard for
quality education for all stu
dents in the Kings Mountain
school district.”
Mrs. Thomasson echoed her
statement, adding, “I will
strive to reja-esent all the
people of the Kings Mountain
School District to the best of
my ability.”
Wife of Kings Mountain
lawyer George B. Thomasson,
Mrs. Thomasson is the daugh
ter of Mrs. J. H. Arthur and
the late Mr. Arthur. She
worked for 13 years in the of
fices of Superior Stone Co.
after two and one-half years in
Tokyo, Japan as administra
tive assistant for the Depart
ment of the Army. ’|'he
Thomassons are parents of a
daughter, Ann, and attend
First Presbyterian Church.
Mrs. Lee, who grew up in
Anderson, S. C., is wife of KM
me.heal doctor. Dr. Joe Lee.
She earned hei iS.S. in biology
from Limestone College and
took a course in medical
technology. The Lees have re
sided in Kings Mountain
nearly 12 years and are active
in First Baptist Church. Mrs.
Lee is President of the newly-
formed KM Hospital Auxiliary
and is a parent volunteer in
the school system. The Lees
are parents of four children,
Nancy, Stephen, Michael and
Suzanne.
The new school board mem
bers will be sworn Dec. 1 and
will replace George H.
Mauney, chairman of the
board, and James E. Herndon,
Jr., both of whom did not seek
re-election.
McCarter
INDUSTRIAL LEADER IN UF DRIVE — Spectrum em
ployes were leaders in the 1975-76 United Fund with contribu
tions of $32 per person or $11,153.13, tripling their goal. Kings
Mountain citizens have contributed a record $46,800 to the
drive which supports 10 causes. Larry Wood, Spectrum per-
Photo By Lib Stewart
sonnel manage-, receives check from Fay Gantt as Katherine
Hollins and Ruth Thurman, front row, left to right, look on.
Back row, from left, David Adams, Bill Stewart, Gary Black-
well, Carl Morrison and Steve Daves.
Pee Wees
Win 19^6
Gifts Above Goal
United Fund Goal
Going To $50,000?
Kings Mountain’s pee wee
footballers ran their record to
3-5 last Tuesday night with a
19-6 Gaston League victory
over Belmont.
Boo Robinson scored on
runs of two and 20 yards and
also ran for an extra point to
lead the KM attack. Dougy
fright scored the other KM
touchdown from 25 yards out.
Wright, Robinson, Tony
Rainey, Trent Hullender and
Ricky Green led the KM de-
faisive charge.
Kings Mountain citizens
have made record contribu
tions to the United Fund this
year with collections totaling
$46,800.
Led by Spectrum Textured
Fibers’ 348 employes who
gave $32 per person or
$11,153.13, industrial workers
have swelled the 1975-76 goal,
oversubscribing the quota of
$36,000 by more than $10,000.
Spectrum tripled its goal this
year over 1974-75 with indus
try contributing $34,975.10,
more than $12,000 over its goal
of $22,000.
Second highest industrial
leader is Duplex where 250
employes doubled their quota
and contributed $6,083.00.
Third highest industrial
leader is Mauney Hosiery
Mills, which also doubled its
quota, contributing $5,626.00.
In the Commercial division
of the campaign $5,200 has
been contributed, the quota
oversubscribed by $200.
Professional men have con
tributed $1,260, topping goal of
$1,000. School employes
topped their goal of $2,400 with
total of $2,900.94. Postal
employes also topped their
goal of $100, giving $155.
Contributions from the Minis
terial division are $210 with
goal of $1,000 and city workers
have contributed $25 with a
goal of $100.
“We’re just elated,” said
Campaign Chairman Lee
McIntyre, who estimates that
with collections not yet
reported from Fiber Indus
tries and Lithium Corporation
of America that the United
Fund total from Kings Moun
tain would reach the $50,000
mark.
All contributors will be
recognized and honored at the
annual United Fund Awards
Banquet Nov. 12 at 6:30 p. m.
in Kings Mountain Junior
High School Cafeteria.
Elected
W. W. (Bill) McCarter,
Grover alderman, edged Sam
Stevenson, political new
comer, by two votes Tuesday
to win the mayor’s race of
Grover by 81-79.
All Grover’s registered
voters —165, went to the polls.
Three aldermen were
elected, including Grover’s
first woman alderman in the
person of Martha (Mrs. Gary
Dan) Byers. Mrs. Byers re
ceived 95 votes.
Also elected were Tommy
Keeter, who led the field with
126 votes, and Bob Hambright,
incumbent, who garnered 88.
M. H. Camp, who received
80 votes, was defeated in his
bid for re-election and Arthur
Davis, who polled 34, and
Larry White, who received 49,
were defeated.
Bethlehem
Calls Frank
Bethlehem Baptist Church
has extended call to Vernon
Frank of High Point to become
Minister of Music and Educa
tion.
Mr. Frank has accepted the
call and expects to move with
his family to Kings Mountain
Dec. 1.
A native of North Carolina,
Frank was educated in
Tennessee and at South
western Seminary in Fort
Worth, Texas. Mrs. Frank is a
native of Missouri and the
couple are parents of two
children, Nathan, 13, and
Sally, seven.
Mr. Frank comes to Bethle
hem from Lexington Avenue
Baptist Church of High Point.