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VOL. 87 NO. 27
KINGS MOUNTAIN. NORTH CAROLINA 28086 THURSDAY. JULY 8. 1976
To Draw Death Penalty Statute
Harris Favors Special Session
Last Friday, the U. S. Supreme Court
struck down North Carolinas death
penalty law. ruling it imoonstitutional,
while upholding the laws of Georgia.
Florida and Texas.
The mandatory death penalty in
certain cases took the burden of sentence
recommendation away from the jury and
at the same time gave the judge no
authority to impose anything other than
death.
The statutes in Georgia, Florida and
Texas establish specific guidelines for
judges and juries to use in determining
which convicted citizens would get death
Grover
Adopts
Budget
and which would get life in capital
crimes.
The news met various reaction across
the state. Gov. Jim Holshuuser who voted
against the death penalty when he was a
legislator, commented that he would
have to study the ruling before he made
comment.
However, closer to home. Sen. Ollie
Harris of Kings Mountain said, “I was
very disappointed the North Carolina law
was ruled unconstitutional. I wish the
Governor and the members of the
General Assembly would call a special
session to handle it.
“If this doesn’t happen,” Harris
continued, “I will make it my first order
of business, if I get elected, to introduce
legislation that would reinstate the death
penalty for certain capital crimes in
North Carolina.”
Sen. Harris said tar heel legislators
would have to simply get copies of the
Ga>rgia or Florida law to use as a
guideline to introduce a workable death
penalty law here.
“I am willing to return to Raleigh for a
special session at no charge to the tax
payers to get this situation settled,”
Harris said.
In commenting on the 116 inmates on
death row in Central Prison, Raleigh,
Harris said, “I hope there is something
that can be done about those on death row
now to see that they never get paroled.
Those convicted of capital crimes should
have already been executed.”
With the state’s death penalty law
ruled unconstitutional, those inmates
awaiting execution could have their
sentences commuted to life im-
pris<>nment. In that case the inmates
would be eligible for parole in 20 years.
“I am really of the opinion that the
death penalty is a deterent to crime,”
Sen. Harris said. “In the 1930’s, following
the Charles Lindbergh child kidnapping
when kidnapping was made a capital
crime, that type of crime was slowed
Considerably.”
Harris said in his four-country district
“eighty-five percent or better of the
people highly favor the death penalty in
certain crimes, such as first degree
murder and rape. I share their opinion.”
Sen. Harris said it was also his opinion
that should a special session of the
legislature be called the General
Assembly could write effective
legislation that would be upheld by the
Supreme Court concerning the death
penalty.
However, in an interview with the
Associated Press, Rep. Carl Stewart of
Gastonia, who is the top choice as the
next speaker of the North Carolina House
of Representatives, said, “I think it is
incumbent upon the legislature to
examine the decision and fashion another
statute that will meet the constitutional
lest, whateverthat may be.” But Stewart
also said he didn't think a special session
to consider a statute would be ad
visable.
GROVER — The town council here has
adopted a $99,613.32 budget for the 1976-77
fiscal year and maintained the 35 cents
per $100 valuation tax rate.
The new budget represents an increase
of $21,113.38 over the fiscal budget which
ended June 30. That budget was adopted
at $78,499.94.
Under the new budget the town
estimates spending as follows: fire
department — $3,500 i street lighting —
$2,500; garbage collection — $11,420;
street repairs and maintenance — $1,250;
new paving and sidewalk improvements
— $20,000; deputy — $10,723.95; utilities,
including new well and water lines —
$38,000; and r^reation — $3,629_ (which
w91 be paid with revenue*sharingttai(is).
Estimated revenues for the coming
year are as follows; property taxes —
$36,400: franchise tax — $8,800; in
tangibles tax — $1,250; Powell Bill funds
$9,100; local sales tax — $8,800; interest
on savings $6,000; tax refunds — $250;
Natural and Ek;onomic Resources grant
for deputy — $5,834.32; itilities —
$18,750; and revenue sharing — $3,629.
Are You
Registered
For Primary
Just a reminder that voter registration’
for the Aug. 17 Democrat and Republican
Primary- elections will end at 5 p. m.,
Mon., July 19.
Although the registration books remain
open year-round, citizens 18-years of age
(or who will be 18 by Nov. 2) must
register by the July 19 deadline in order
to vote in the Aug. 17 primary.
The deadline for voter registration for
the Nov. 2,1976 general election is Mon ,
Oct. 4 at 5 p. m.
The Cleveland County Elections Board
also suggests that voters who have
changed addresses within the county
since their registration should check with
their registrars to fill out a change of
address form and to determine if they
are now residing in a different precinct.
The Aug. 17 primary will be for
Democrats and Republicans only, since
there are no Labor or American Parly
candidates in the running.
In the Kings Mountain area eligible
’ citizens may make appointments with
registrars or judges to register for the
Aug. 17 primary.
In the Bethware Community the
registrar is Hazel McNeilly, Rt. 2, Box
486C, phone 739-4820. Bethware judges
eligible to register voters are Aileen
Herndon. Rt. 2, Box 525, phone 739-2209
and Herman Goforth, Rt. 3, phone 739-
5160.
West Kings Mountain the registrar is
Mrs. Geraldine Myers, 317 Scotland Dr.,
phone 739-9188. Judges: Mrs. Frankie
White, 304 Silver St., phone 739-8347 and
Mrs. Rebecca Cook, 717 Meadowbrook
Rd., phone 739-3950.
Elast Kings Mountain, registrar, Mrs.
Margaret White, phone 739-4019
(registration at Harris Funeral Home).
Judges: Connie G. Putnam, 311 York
Rd.. phone 739-4511 and Mrs. Grace A.
Talbert, 200 S. Oriental Ave.; phone 739--
4419.
Bethware Community voters will vote
I at Bethware School, West KM voters cast
; f ballots at the National Guard Armory
), and East KM voters at the Community
> Center. The polls will open on Aug. 17 at
r 6:30a.m.andcloseat7:30p.m.
City Lands
Big Industry
iOM MclNTYRE
tor, Mirror-Herald
c.-A
X
TUG O W AR — These youngsters are
pulling with all their strength to win
(he tug o war event during Satur
day’s Independence Day activities at
Deal Street Park. Guess what
happened to the boy in the hat? To
see. turn to Page 4-A.
Union Underwear, a division of
Northwest Industries, will begin
operation in Kings Mountain
immediately, > according to an
announcement made Wednesday
at city hall.
Union is the largest
manufacturer for men and boys
under’vear in the world and the
: Kings Mountain location will be
the 15th site in the United States
for the organization.
Mayor John H. Moss and the
co-chairmen of the mayor’s
industrial committee, L. E.
(Josh) Hinnant and Sen. Ollie
Harris, made the announcement
about 2:45 p. m. Wednesday.
The big news, according to the
announcement, is the em
ployment of 1,500 persons by the
en<l of the last quarter of 1977.
Union-Underwear will establish
operation in the present
Kingsmont Knit-Oxford In
dustries plant at York Rd. and
Frederickson St. Union officials
said they intend to retain the 290
present Kingsmont employes
Suicide Ruled In Willis Death
The sh(xiting death of a 28-year old City
of Kings Mountain employe has been
ruled suicide by an assistant Gaston
CVninty coroner.
Jack Monroe Willis died from a single
22 caliber bullet wound in his neck last
Thursday afternoon as he sat in his car in
front of the residence of his father-in-law,
Labon Eugene Eamey. Earney resides
at 2438 Milton Ave., (Gastonia.
Don Conrad, assistant coroner, said
Willis’ body was discovered in his car
with the doors locked from the inside.
The 22-caliber rifle was butt-down on the
fkxir with (he muzzle aimed at Willis’
neck.
Gastonia city police officer L. D.
Crawford said he was told by Earney that
Willis had come to Eamey’s home about
5:45 p. m. last Thursday to see his
estranged wife. Willis and his wife, ac
cording to police, had been separated
about five weeks. During this period Mrs.
Willis had returned to live with her
father.
Earney told police that he had in
formed Willis his daughter had just left,
then returned to his home to eat supper.
About 15 minutes later Earney said he
came back outside and discovered Willis’
in his car.
Willis was employed in the Kings
Mountain water department. He resided
in Gastonia.
and gradually increase the
employment rolls to 1,500.
Hinnant read a statement from
John B. Holland, chairman of the
board. Union Underwear, Inc.
“Gentlemen, Union Un
derwear, Inc. and Oxford In
dustries of Atlanta, Ga. have
entered into an agreement
whereby Union is purchasing
Oxford’s plant and will im
mediately begin phasing out the
present operation and move
toward new equipment and full
production of union Underwear
products which are marketed
throughout the United States
with warehouses and sales
organizations in the Common
Market Sales Complex.”
Holland stated that Kings
Mountain was selectetl because
of the cooperation and efforts by
the mayor and the mayor’s in
dustrial committee. Holland also
said prior to settling on Kings
Mountain, the company had
looked in Oklahoma, Louisiana
and several other states before
making a final decision on Kings
Mountain.
”We look forward to beginning
the operation in Kings Mountain
immediately and feel we have
made an excellent "choice in
coming here,” Holland stated.
Joe Medalie, executive vice
president of Union, stated “It is
our intention to retain Oxford’s
290 employes and when full
production is achieved, the plant
will employ approximately 1,500
people. The target date for
achieving full employment is by
the last (luarter of 1977.”
Mayor Moss said officials from
Union will be in Kings Mountain
next week to begin planning the
new operation.
When Union Underwear,
Bell Asks Reimbursement
By TOM MclNTYRE
editor, Mirror-Herald
A resolution to what Southern Bell will
do concerning placing their phone lines
underground in the S. Chero.ee St.
municipal parking lot is no clearer today
than it was two weeks ago.
The city’s plans call for removal of all
poles and wiring above ground and
placing them in pipes beneath the
parking lot as a beautification move. The
contract for completion of the lot is Oct.
1, 1976.
Dan Carter, district engineer for
Southern Bell, told the Mirror-Herald
this week that Bell sees no real problem
in conforming to the city’s wishes as far
as the parking lot is concerned, but that
the phone company cannot make a
decision on the matter until the down
town Kings Mountain merchants decide
what type of renovation and
beautification they want on the backs of
their buildings.
“1 have met with Mayor (John) Moss
and members of the redevelopment
commission in Kings Mountain to discuss
the matter,” Carter said. “I told them at
that time that Bell feels there should be
reimbursement for this non-betterment
work on our part"
In other words. Bell feels taking down
phone lines, running them underground
and reconnecting the service is not
bettering the service, only making it
available by a another means.
“We feel that if the city’s wants the
lines out of sight in that area for
beautification sake, then Bell should be
reimbursed for the expense of making
the change," Carter said.
Carter said a Bell representative has
contacted merchants in the central
business dictrict to ask them what plans
they were making to renovate the ex
teriors of their buildings.
“The situation there is,” Carter said,
“not many of the merchants know what
they plan to do. In many cases the tenant
is not the owner of the building, therefore
those tenants have no idea what will be
done to beautify the rear of their
buildings.”
Carter said Bell will conform to the
building improvements, but also Bell
feels “to go in there now at some expense
before the renovation work is done to
those buildings would be foolish. We
would only have to go back and redo that
work later.”
He said he suggested to the mayor in a
meeting two weeks ago that the poles and
phone lines be left as they are until
ouineimng concrete is planned by the
merchants as far as their buildings are
concerned.
“Bell is talking about a temporary
plan,” Carter said, “which is no different
than what the merchants are planning I
suppose they plan to renovate the backs
of their builefings at some time in the
future. When that is done, then we can
engineer the best way to improve the
looks of the phone service. I don't think
that is an unfair attitude.”
Carter said submerging the phone lines
at a later date doesn't necessarily mean
the parking lot would have to be dug up.
‘We are concerned more with the five to
10 feet between the backs of the buildings
and the parking lot,” he continued. “It
Would be a simple thing to trench a line
behind the sidewalk, but it would not be
wise to do that work until we know
exactly what is going to be dotft in that
area by the property owners.”
carter said tne worx in this particular
case would not mean a great deal of
expense, but that the Kings Mountain
project is only one of many in this
district. He said Bell is now in litigation
with the City of Gastonia in its downtown
area where a mall-type concept is being
proposed. Also the Town of Spindale has
requested a change in phone line display
under a renewal project.
“The problem is Bell is being clob
bered by many such projects under
renewal plans,” Carter said. “Total
these projects and you see it would be
quite an investment. Bell feels that it is
not its responsibility to conform to any
beautification projects.’
Carter said the Bell policy is the same
today as it was in 1969 when he met the
first time with Mayor Moss and Joe
Laney, then director of the KM
Redevelopment Commission, to discuss
the proposal downtown.
‘ L,aney read a statement, r presume,
that came from HUD in Atlanta,” Carter
said. “The program outline stated that
utilities would be relocated at the
owner’s expense. I lOld Laney and the
mayor at that time it was a great
statement, but that it doesn’t bring to
bear a whole lot of pressure Bell still
wants to know if it will be reimbursed for
non-hetterment work.”
which manufactures Fruit of The
Loom brand T-shirts and shorts
for men and boys, is operating at
full capacity the plant will use
about one million gallons of
water per day and the waste
from the plant will be treated at
the new' nilot plant,
Mayof Moss said Union will
take over Kingsmont’s natural
gas allocation and will operate
on the same interruptable
schedule as other plants in the
area.
Hinnant said work by the in
dustrial committee began in
March with Union Uncierwear
officials, who are headquartered
in Bowling Green, Ky.
The purchase was not
disclosed Wednesday, but it was
indicated it will be announced
within a few days
Grover Wants
To Be KM
Sewer Customer
The Town of Grover wants to be an .
outside city industrial waste customer of
the City of Kings Mountain.
Grover Mayor W. W. (Bill) Camp and
Minefte Mills Secretary Charlie Douval
met with the mayor’s sewer committee
Tuesday.
Chairman Norman King presided and
other members were present were
Comm. Bill Grissom. Comm. Corbet
Nicholson, chairman of the water study
committee, and Mayor John Moss.
Mayor Camp told the group that
Grover is interested in a rate for both
water and sewer from Kings Mountain
but Chairman King said the city is
confronted with EPA criteria and a 201
Sewer s’udy which is not yet complete
before firm rates can be established.
Mr. Douval said a time element on the
decision as far as Grover is concerned is
critical. He said that Miiiette Mills has
contracted to build a secondary waste
treatment plant estimated to cost bet
ween $206,000 to $225,000 and operational
deadline for the new treatment plant
izider federal guidelines is June 20, 1977.
Camp said Minette Mills and Grover
Induitries project 60,000 gallons of
sewage a day.
Replying to a question. Comm. King
said that (he boundaries for the 201 study
now underway joins Kings Mountain and
Grover.
To a question of a combined water and
sewer rate. Camp replied that Grover’s
water rate needs stuefy. “Our rate,” he
said,” begins at about where yours ends.
Oir lowest rate now is 40 cents. We
couldn’t buv for 52 cents and sell for 32.”
Mechanical
Difficulties
Because of mechanical
difficulties, the print in Sec
tion B in today’s Mirror-
Herald is not easy to read.
The Mirror-Herald
apologizes for this in
convenience and will make the
correct*'"" in next week’s
paper.