<!)
Thursday
'■ (
20c
VOLUME 94, NUMBER 12
THURSDA Y, FEBRUAR Y 12, 1981 KINGS MOUNTAIN, NORTH CAROLINA
9
Apartments To Be Built
9 •
rs,
« •
9
Photo by Molany Bolin
ORGANIZE GROUP — Sgt. Shirloy Pniott, loft, oi th« Clovoland
County Shoriifs Doportmont oisUts Suo Allan in organizing
tho oiiicort for tho nowly-tormod Bothwaro Community Watch.
Tho group organizod in a zpocial mooting Monday night at
David Baptist Church.
Watch Groups
Prevent Crime
By MELANY BOLIN
StaR Writor
The Bethware Community
Crime Watch program was
organized Monday night at
David Baptist Church.
Sgt. Shtrliy“Pruett-• of~the“"
Cleveland County Sheriffs
Department was guest speaker
for the organizational meeting
and explained how the com
munity should get involved in
combating crime.
Ms. Pruett said she got involv
ed in community watch four
years ago and now runs a tight
schedule of trying to get com
munities involved.
In 1979-80, she said, there
were 72 break-ins in the north
end of the county. Break-ins are
generally professional jobs, she
said. Thieves use walkie-talkies
and scanners and usually watch
people’s homes and know when
they are away.
In most cases, she said, rob
bers do not want the victims to
be at home because first degree
theft carries penalties of up to
life in prison, whereas, breaking
and entering when no one is at
home carries a lighter sentence.
‘The crime watch program is
not going to stop crime, but it
will help,” Ms. Pruett said.
Communities organize crime
watch programs by choosing a
committee, chairmen, and block
captains who oversee six to
seven homes in their area.
A nominal cost of about $5
per family is required for reflec
tor signs to be placed on
mailboxes and boundary signs
that proclaim the community as
a crime watch community.
After her speech, Ms. Pruett
answered questions and gave out
community watch stickers and
Rezoning Request Okayed
booklets for all interested per
sons.
When asked why she thought
a community should get involv
ed in crime watch, Ms. Pruett
said, ‘hhe days and times have
changed. It used to be that
almost everyone would never
lock their doors when they left
home. Now, everyone is warned
to always lock doors when they
leave and when they return in
side their homes.
“We need to be on the look
out for our family as well as our
neighbors, so that we can do our
part in preventing and catching
those involved in crimes,” she
said. “Watching out for others is
actually watching out for
yourself and your family because
it helps you when those involved
in crimes are caught.”
Ms. Pruett gave the following
tips on preventing crime:
•Use dead-bolt locks for front
and back doors.
•Don’t carry large sums of
money.
•Women should not carry
handbags but should carry
change purses that can be car
ried in the hand.
•Forty to 50 percent of break-
ins are through unlocked doors.
Therefore, be sure to always lock
doors.
•If you see any strange people
or vehicles in the neighborho^,
contact the Sheriffs Dept. If
possible, get the tag number.
•Do not approach the person
or persons you suspect as being
robbers.
•Make a special effort to
watch out for the elderly.
•Do not advertise. Leave a
light on at night.
(Turn To Pago 5-A) ’
By GARY STEWART
Co-Editor
The Kings Mountain Board of
Commissioners Monday night
unanimously approved the
rezoning of 10 acres of property
on Canterbury Road to be used
for the construction of multi
family luxury apartments.
Local attorney Scott Clon-
inger made the request on behalf
of Hunter Real Estate of Green
ville, S.C., which plans to build
the 80-unit complex on the J.O.
Plonk Estate. The property ad
joins Herald Publishing Co.
The local Planning and Zon-
★★’A’
Meter
Reading
Class Set
Are your utility bills too high?
Are you interested in lowering
them?
If so, classes set at the Govern
mental Services Facilities Center
could be your answer.
Walt Ollis, section supervisor
for the City Public Works
Department, Mayor John Moss
and the Board of Commissioners
will lead meter reading classes on
Tues., Feb. 24, and Thurs., Feb.
26, from 1:30 until 5 p.m. and
7:30 until 9 p.m.
The classes will teach concern
ed citizens hdxv to read gas, elec
tric and water meters, and sug
gest ways in which to cut energy
usage.
The classes are being schedul
ed due to the ever-increasing
costs of utilities. If enough in
terest is shown. Mayor Moss
said classes will be scheduled in
different districts of the city to
reach “as many citizens as possi
ble.”
Moss said the city has received
numerous complaints on high
energy bills since the last billing,
and he understands the citizens’
concerns.
“With the citizens being able
to read their meters, they will be
able to determine their usage and
be able to adjust their usage
habits and conserve energy,” he
said.
“We are very concerned with
the cost of energy and recognize
that for people on fixed incomes
it is very difficult,” he added.
“We want to work in every way
possible to assist citizens in keep
ing the cost of utilities as low as
possible.”
By keeping a running tab on
the use of electricity, gas and
water. Moss feels the citizens
can lower their utility costs
through wise usage.
‘This is being done in an ef
fort to work closely with citizens
to assist them in any way possi
ble,” he said: “We feel the classes
will provide the citizens the abili
ty to check their usage as often
as they desire so as to reduce
their use habits and lower the
costs.”
Higher Tuition Approved
Outside school district pupils
will pay higher tuition next year
but the board of education Mon
day delayed action on the recom
mended increase.
In a related action affecting
pupils next year, the board
postponed for further study a
policy on transfer of elementary
students beginning with the
1981-82 school year. ^
Board members asked Supt.^
William Davis to incorporate a
proposed policy on appeals pro
cedure to cover emergency situa
tions and to cover children who
move from one school zone to
another within the school year.
I The board also asked Davis to
find out what tuition charges of
Gaston and Cleveland County
systems are and report them at
the March meeting.
The transfer policy, as propos
ed by Supt. Davis, spells out that
beginning students in 1981-82 be
assigned to the school in the at
tendance zone in which their
parents or guardians reside.
Students who are now attending
schools outside their attendance
zone will be permitted to con
tinue unless that school becomes
overcrowded. In that event, the
last pupils approved for transfer
by the board would be first to
return to school in their own
district. Out of district students
would be assigned by the
superintendent to the school
closest to their residence. In the
past, the parents have designated
the school of their choice and
paid $100 tuition. Persons who
are employed in the schools
would still have the option to
place their child in the school in
which they are employed, pro
vided there is room for them.
For administrative reasons, the
board may request parents to
volunteer to transfer their
children outside attendance
zones.
Supt. Davis reiterated that the
current transfer policy makes it
easy for students to attend
schools outside their attendance
areas and has resulted in over
crowded situations in the five
elementary schools.
(Turn To Pag* 4-A)
ing Board earlier approved the
request and recommended that
the city board approve it.
A similar request by the real
estate firm to build the apart
ments near Kings Mountain
Country Club was denied by the
Zoning Board several months
ago. Hunter withdrew its request
before it went before the city
board.
Cloninger cited a problem in
traffic flow as the main reason
residents on the west side of
town protested the apartments
being built there.
“1 don’t think we will have
that problem here because of the
Highway 74 bypass which we all
hope will be completed,” Clon
inger said.
“Hunter Real Estate prefers
this property anyway,” Clon
inger told the board. “It is far
away from any residential
houses.”
No persons present spoke in
opposition of the request.
The city board several months
ago approved rezoning of pro
perty in the Canterbury Road
area from residential to light in
dustry over the protest of several
area citizens. At that time.
Herald Publishing and Commer
cial Shearing were planning to
build there. Both companies are
now in operation.
The 10 acres are divided into
two tracts of 4.22 and 5.88 acres,
and Cloninger said a 60-feet
driveway will be built between
the tracts. He said he feels the
right of way could someday be
extended “all the way to Gold
Street to alleviate any traffic
flow problems.”
In other action Monday night,
the board approved several mat-
(Turn To Page 4-A)
’r
HONORED FOR LONG SERVICE - Tommy
King. l*h. lack E. Hiill*nd*r, R*t. J.C. Goar*
and lim Amos or* pictured at a special
recognition service honoring lack Hullender
for service to scouting. Mr. Amos prsents a pla
que from former members oi Hullender's scout
troop.
School
Calendar
Kept As Is
By ELIZABETH STEWART
Co-Editor
The Kings Mountain Board of
Education voted 3-1 Monday
night to “keep as it is” the pro
posed 1981-82 school calendar
over objections from 216
members of the NCAE-ACT
units.
Board member Bill McDaniel
made the motion, Kyle Smith
seconded and June Lee approved
the adopted calendar. Harold
Lineberger abstained. Chairman
Marion Thomasson votes only
in event of a tie.
Speaking on behalf of the
NCAE KM Unit, President
John Pettus said that a survey of
228 representatives of eight
school plants, including some
P-TA members, expressed
“discontent” at the lack of
teacher input in drawing up the
new calendar. Pettus said the
committee did not propose more
than one calendar, as has been
the custom in years prior, and
that the proposed calendar was
not posted at schools for teacher
“comment” before it was approv
ed last month.
Teachers and parents ob
jected, he said, to a shortened,
(by two days) Christmas break
and a lengthy spring vacation.
Next year’s calendar cuts the
usual two weeks for Christmas
and includes a spring vacation of
seven school days. The new
calendar calls for Christmas
holidays beginning Wed., Dec.
23, and concluding Fri., Jan. 1.
Easter vacation begins Thurs.,
Apr. 8 and concludes Fri., Apr.
16.
The NCAE Council proposed
cutting two holidays from the
spring break and adding them
onto Christmas vacations so
that Christmas holidays would
begin Mon., Dec. 21 and con
clude Jan. I. Easter holidays
(Turn To Pag* 5-A)
Hullender Is Honored
For Service To Scouting
Jack E. Hullender, 81, was
honored for 45 years service to
Boy Scouts of America at a
sptecial program planned by
former members of his troop, at
Kings Mountain Baptist Church
Sunday.
Mr. Hullender organized in
the early 20’s Troop No. 5 which
was sponsored by the
Goodfellows Club of Pauline
Mill and disbanded in the early
1960’s. Mr. Hullender continued
in an advisory capacity to Boy
Scouts in Kings Mountain in the
years since he served as a scout
master.
Tommy King, Troop 91 scout
master, presented the 45-year
service pin from Boy Scouts of
America and Jim Amos, a
former Scouter, presented a
handsome plaque to the well
known Kings Mountain man
which read, “Presented to Jack
Hullender for Devotion to
Scouting By The Boys He Serv
ed.”
Fifteen former Boy Scouts
who served under the leadership
of Mr. Hullender were present
for the special recognition ser
vice.
The Hullenders reside on
Fulton St.
Funeral Services Today
For Ex-Cop Ellis King
Ellis Harmon King, 65, of 609
Temple St., who retired Aug. 1,
1977 after 20 years with the
Kings Mountain Police Depart
ment, died Tuesday afternoon in
Kings Mountain Hospital after
declining health.
Funeral services will be con
ducted Thursday at 4 p.m. from
Second Baptist Church of which
he was a member. Rev. Eugene
Land, assisted by Rev. W.F.
Monroe, will officiate, and inter
ment will be in Mountain Rest
Cemetery.
At one time during the former
officer’s service with the Kings
Mountain Police Department,
two of his sons were serving on
the police force with him.
Mr. King was son of the late
John Claude and Sallie Elizabeth
Cunningham King. His wife,
Maude Jolly King, died Jan. 5,
1980.
Surviving are five sons. Tom
my King, David King, Joe King,
and Bobby King, all of Kings
Mountain, and Jimmy King of
Blacksburg, S.C.; three
daughters. Miss Barbara King
and Miss Susan King, both of
Kings Mountain, Mrs. John D.
(Janell) Wood Jr. of Bessemer Ci-
' ELUS HARMON KING
ty; a brother, Willis King of
Kings Mountain; four sisters,
Mrs. Sadie Burton, Mrs. Mamie
Roper, Mrs. Milton (Jeanette)
Kiser and Mrs. Harry (Reba)
Wilson, all of Kings Mountain,
and eight grandchildren.
Masters Funeral Home is in
charge of arrangements.