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Volume 130 • Issue 45
Indoor Air Quality Assesments • New Installations
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November 7, 2018
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A large crowd turned up for Kings Mountain’s annual Great Pumpkin Halloween Parade last Wednesday. See photos on Page 1B. Photo by Gary Smart
Hope returns to Kings Mountain By Loretta Cozart
Mackenzie Ramsey and her service dog, Violet. (Photo provided)
Ramsey and Violet make a great team By Loretta Cozart Mackenzie Ramsey plays soccer at Spartanburg Methodist College, where she is a midfielder for the Pioneers. Not long ago, she worried she wouldn’t be able to continue playing due to a health issue. Thanks to her best friend, Violet, she just finished her first season. During Ramsey’s junior year at Kings Mountain High School, she had a seizure during Chemistry class. She saw a neurologist and discussed medications. A few weeks later, she suffered another seizure and was diagnosed with Epilepsy. Her doctors told the family they were surprised she hadn’t suffered sei-
zures sooner because, at ten months old, Ramsey developed meningitis and suffered five seizures during that illness. One of her first questions of the doctor was if she could continue to play soccer. “My doctor didn’t say ‘no,’ so I continued to play,” she said. “I have had three convulsion seizures so far and have absence seizures about once every two months. I stare into space and ‘blank out.’ When I become aware again, I get very emotional. I can’t help it,” she says. “Before the seizure, my brain sends a signal to my cells to produce adrenaline and my heart races out of my chest. Normally, it is your heart that sends the
message.” Since then, Ramsey has also been diagnosed with mast cell disorder which causes a malfunction in her white blood cells. “The doctors don’t know what is causing this, so I’m going to Vanderbilt University in February to run some tests,” she says. And her best friend, Violet, will be right there with her. But, Violet isn’t a person. She is a service dog. Violet warns Ramsey and her coaches if she senses an issue. Ramsey said, “My neurologist suggested we consider a service dog to help us predict seizures. So, we got Violet 11 months See RAMSEY, Page 2A
Murphey’s 24th annual Toy Run to be held on November 17 Murphey's 24th annual Toy Run to benefit Shriner's Burn Center, Oxford Orphanage Masonic Home for
Children and Kings Mountain Police Department's Shop with a Cop will be held Saturday, November 17 at 11 a.m. at Scooter Shed, 114 Camelot Court, off Phifer Road. The ride will depart at noon. Projected donations are $5 and
a new toy per person. Free barbecue will be served after the ride and Backroad Band will play music. In event of rain the benefit will be held Sunday, November 18. For information call 704739-4707.
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With Veterans Day less than a week away, hear the story of James Hope. He’s a Kings Mountain native, all-conference football stand-out, Vietnam War Veteran, and father. He is a humble man, not wanting to draw attention to himself. He doesn't want his story embellished. His story doesn't need embellishment, because it is impressive by itself. James Hope was born in Kings Mountain and spent most of his childhood in the Methodist Children's Home in Winston-Salem. While there, he yearned to return to home and graduate from Kings Mountain High School. After his eighth-grade graduation, he returned home and attended ninth grade at Central High School. When he completed the ninth grade, he decided to play football. "My coach was John Gamble. After he stopped teaching, Bill Bates and Mr.
James Hope returns home. (Photo provided.) Cashion coached me. My senior year I got the Blocking Trophy and was named ‘All Conference’. I got scholarship offers to Gardner-Webb and N.C. State.
After graduating in 1963, I planned to go to State but ended-up doing something stupid," he jokes. "I joined the Marines instead." See HOPE, Page 2A
City Council approves Faunce’s rezoning request By Loretta Cozart On Tuesday, October 30th, City Council considered a rezoning request from David Faunce for five properties located at 116 East Mountain Street, 118 East Mountain Street, 114 South Gaston Street, 202 South Gaston Street, and 206 South Gaston Street. Faunce requested the rezoning properties from Central Business (CB) to Residential Office (RO). A public hearing for this request was held October 9th and during the October 30th Council meeting. The City’s 1995 Comprehensive Plan anticipated that the properties in this area would become commercial properties. However, that has not proven to be the case. Currently, a revised comprehensive plan is underway for the downtown business
district, creating more residential opportunities in and near the urban town core. Properties on both South Gaston and East Mountain Streets were built before the 1995 Comprehensive Plan was adopted, so many homes there do not meet the proper side yard setbacks currently required under the Residential Office (RO) Zoning guidelines. Because of this, the Planning and Zoning Board recommended approval of Faunce’s request using a Consistency Statement acknowledging that the properties don’t meet the current zoning guidelines. The City Council unanimously approved adopting a Consistency Statement in favor of Faunce’s five properties. Subsequently, they voted unanimously to approve amending the zoning map for the City of Kings
Mountain for the properties located at 116 East Mountain Street, 118 East Mountain Street, 114 South Gaston Street, 202 South Gaston Street, and 206 South Gaston Street. In further business, the City Council unanimously approved: Transfer $100,000 to the Capital project fund to complete City Lake dam repairs utilizing funds from DEQ Grants for Water fund debt payments the past two years. Adopt an Ordinance declaring a roadway closure for the Kings Mountain Christmas Parade on Saturday, December 1, 2018, at 3:00 p.m. Adopt an Ordinance regarding the beginning and end points for the speed zones for school hours on Phifer Road, requested by the NCDOT. The currently posted signs are correct.
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