H»ag .1 Lons
Book Bindery, Inc.
vpringpert, Uch, 49284
VOL, 90 NO 64 TUESDAY, AUGUST 14, 1979
KINGS MOUNTAIN HERALD
15c
Dewey Styers
One Miss In 32 Years
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By EUZABETH 8TEWAKT
Staff Writer
Only one time during the S3 years
Dewey A. Styers has delivered a
dally newspaper has a Kings
Mountain subscriber missed an
Issue.
That was during a big snow about
15 years ago, recalled the popular
newspaper carrier, who tore up two
sets of chains that early Sunday
morning In an effort to make his
deliveries of The Charlotte Ob
server.
"Some of my customers walked to
the house (on Fulton St.) to pick up
their morning paper," said Dewey,
who has many fond memories of
rising at 8 a.m. and getting the
paper dl^ributed by 6:80 a.m. to
about 700 people on a city route that
:/
.. POPULAR CARRIER—Dewey A. Styers has been delivering the dally
newspaper for St years. Only one time during his career has he missed an
Issue.
By WNCHSA Panel
Hospital Project
Undergoes Review
Officials of Kings Mountain
ioepital are t.iieduled to appear
lefore a review committee from the
Vestern N.C. Health Systems
tgency Wednesday concerning the
tospltal renovation project.
Orady Howard, administrator,
nembers of the hospital board of
rustees, medical staff and hospital
taff, will go to Morganton for the 7
>.m. meeting.
"We anticipate no problems In
{etUng approval for the project,"
toward ssild. "It would appear the
argest objections to the project
vould come from Cleveland
Memorial and Oaston Memorial
wspltals, out both facilities have
tndorsed the Kings Mountain
proposal."
Wednesday’s project review
committee findings will be for
warded on to the WNCHSA
Qovemlng Body for a final review,
set for Wed., Aug. 23 In AshevlUe.
Howard and the trustees and
hospital staffers are expected to
attend this meeting also.
The $^mlUlon renovation and
modernization program proposed
for Kings Mountain Hospital Is to
meet the space allocations for beds
and supporting facilities under
present day codes and standards.
The areas Involved In the proposal
were constructed at three different
times; 1060, '66 and '60. These areas
now contain 66 beds plus support and
ancillary services. The renovation
will add space for support and an
cillary services, which means the
relocation of 86 patient beds to a new
third floor area. The second floor,
constructed In 1970, will be un
changed, no services will be deleted
or added.
The hospital has applied for a
Farmer’s Home Administration
loan for tax-exempt revenue bonds
totaUlng $4,800,000.
Local Man
h Leader
Terry L. Wilson, of
Rt. 1 Box 308 Kings
Mountain Is one of the
local leaders with 68 miles
per gallon In the $100,000
Toyota Mileage Roadeo
underway at Piedmont
Motors Toyota through
Aug. 18.
If Wilson wins the $600
local first prize, he will be
eligible for the $2,600 prize
at the state championship
to be held at Charlotte
Motor Speedway Sept. 16.
ended at Sims St.
OasoUne was 36 cents a gallon suid
Dewey’s first car cost $1400 when he
quit working at Ragan Mill In
Gastonia and started delivering The
Charlotte Observer seven days a
week. "There was no Kings
Mountain Hospital at the time and
many of the residences and newer
buildings In town had notsprungup,”
recalled Dewey, comparing these
early days In his newspaper career.
Jim and Dewitt Guyton rode on the
fender of Dewey’s Ford and helped
deliver the newspaper for years,
rising at 8 and working for about
three hours and going to school.
Rubber bands were used to roll up
the paper .which. In good weather,
was thrown to a spot near the porch.
In bad weather, the carriers had to
walk up to the house and place the
newspaper closer to the door. "We
weren’t given wrappers In those
early years to protect the papers
from bad weather," said Dewey.
mile Mae Styers, who started
helping her husband deliver The
Shelby Dally Star nearly 10 yesu-s
ago, attests to Dewey’s record of
promptness and dependability as a
carrier. Twenty-seven years ago
when the couple was expecting their
son, Dewey accompanied his wife to
Shelby Hospltcd at 11 p.m. on
January 1, remained until the euly
morning hours when he returned
home to "roll a few papers and
deliver them,” traveling back and
forth to the hospital In the mean
time, according to Mrs. Styers, until
the baby, Barry Wayne Styers, was
bom at 4 p.m. on Jan. 3.
Dewey Styers has owned 17 new
cars during the 82 years he has
delivered and collected The
Charlotte Observer and The Shelby
Dally Star. Comparing prices, he
said his first Ford cost $1400. His last
car cost $7,000.
It was November 1668 when
Dewey decided to go to work as a
Star carrier and changed a pattern
of early-momlng rising. Dewey and
lillle Mae Styers drive to Shelby
about noon, pick up 600 copies of the
Star about 2 p.m: and return to
Kings Mountain to make their
deliveries In South Kings Mountain.
Dewey estimated that he travels
about 60 miles a day on the Star
route, sdao transporting from Shelby
the newspapers which Sherry and
Terry Chaney deliver In the North
section of the city.
Mrs. Styers has learned from her
husbsind how to throw a newspaper
correctly from a csu- window and hit
the exact spot every day. And,
there’s an eirt In proper rolling of a
newspaper and getting It to the same
spot for the subscriber to pick up.
Dewey can drive a car, roll a paper,
drink a Coca Qola and toss the paper
out the window, all at the same time.
Mrs. Styers Is learning.
A Kings Mountain native, son of
J.C. and Arle Styers, Dewey started
delivering papers for The Gastonia
Gtazette as a carrier boy at the age of
nine. He took his first dollar and
banked It, he recalled, but lost In
terest In the paper route as he grew
older. He graduated from Myrtle
School In Gastonia. He Is serving his
second three-yesu* term on the
Deacon’s board at Temple Baptist
Church.
Dewey likes politics but has
decided he won’t run tor city com
missioner again. Styers was an
unsuccessful candidate for Ward
Four a couple years ago.
Dewey and LlUle Mae Carroll
Styers, both natives of Kings
Mountain, l&ve celebrated their 87th
wedding anniversary and have
gained friends over the years while
working two paper routes.
"Hoy, Dewey”, Is shouted by old
and young alike when the familiar
paper carrier drives by. Dewey has
delivered papers to generations of
families and has watched some of
his young helpers grow up Into
outstanding citizens.
At age 57, Dewey Styers has no
plans to retire. He likes his work. He
likes the people on his route.
He gets as excited as any
newspaperman when the presses
roll and smother edition Is ready for
delivery.
K
..THERE’S ART TO ROLLING PAPER-Dewey
Styers Is familiar to many Kings Mountain citizens who
beve been morning and afternoon subscribers of dally
Photos by Tom McIntyre
newspapers over the years. Dewey can roll a paper,
drive a car, drink a soft drink and toss the paper out, all
In the same motion.
Economic Development
Program Begun In City
Mayor John Henry Moss and the
City Commissioners announced
today that, at the request of
Governor Hunt, a Small Community
Economic Development Program
has been developed within the
Economic Development Division of
the North Carolina Department of
Commerce.
"This program has been
established to assist, encourage, and
guide community leaders In the
preparation of their community for
the attraction and establishment of
economic growth,” the mayor said.
Mayor Moss has enrolled the City
of Kings Mountain In the Governor's
Community of Excellence Awsird
Program, which Is sponsored by the
Cities’ Economic Development
Office, and has designated Jerry
King as Coordinator; and has named
a chairman for each of the eight
category committees.
The mayor said the first order of
business was to form a development
organization within the community.
The chartered development cor
poration will have the ability to
finance the construction of In
dustrial buildings which can be
leased or sold to Industrial clients,
and the corporation can option,
purchsme and sell property.
Such a non-profit organization will
be one with which City government
could deal without spending tax
payers' money on behalf of In
dividual citizens or whereby in
dividuals might profit directly.
The mayor and commissioners
feel that Improved job opportunities
and capital Investments are
primary goals for the citizens of
Kings Mountain. The purpose of the
Governor’s Community of Ex
cellence Program is to assist North
Carolina Communities to become
more attractive for the location of
Industry and related economic
development.
"The business of attracting jobs
and Investments Is extremely
competitive.” said the Mayor, "and
It Is Important that each community
improve Its competitive position,
for the ultimate success of this
program will depend heavily upon
the dedication of community leaders
and their \^llingnes8 to devote the
time and effort required to prepare
this community for economic
growth.
The directors of the newly for
med Kings Mountain Community
Development Corporation are as
follows: Darrell Austin, Mrs. Ruby
Baker, Mickey Corey, Charles
Hamilton, Larry Hamrick, Ollle
Harris, Josh Hlnnant, Jerry King,
Ms. Jackie Mauney, John Henry
Moss, Tom Tate, and George
Thomasson.
Officers of the Corporation are
Mayor John Henry Moss, President,
L.E. (Josh) Hlnnant, Vice
President; Tom Tate, Treasurer;
and Jerry King, Secretary.
The
Firefighter^
W'ednesday Morning
Adjustment Board Meets
The Kings Mountain Board of
Adjustment meets Wed., Aug. 16 at 6
a.m. In council chambers at the
Governmental Services Facilities
Center.
A four Item agenda Includes
requests from:
-1-Gene Gladden for a three-foot
variance to construct a new house at
Hillside and Oakland Sts.
-I-Ruby Alexander for a five-foot
variance at one point on an uneven
property line to construct a new
office facility at W. King and Sims
Sts.
-(-George Lublanezkl for per
mission to make addition to the back
of a house at 414 York Rd. The house
is In a GB zone.
-(-Paul H. Roberta Jr. for per
mission to park a mobile home at
rear of his property at 112 Waco Rd.
FIREMAN JOHN MASTER.S
John Masters, 20t*ls the son of Mr.
and Mrs. Bennett Masters of 200 9.
Roxford Rd. John Is a 1977 graduate
of Kings Mountain Senior High and
Is attending Appalachian State
University, majoring In business
administration and management.
John Is enip oyed partUme with
Harris Funeral Home. He joined the
Kings Mountain Fire Department In
March 1977 "..a regular, but served
as junior flreinan for severed years
prior to that
John relaxes with photography
and water skiing.