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Volume 130 • Issue 10
March 7, 2018
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November Election
Brinkley challenges Moore for NC House Seat 111 Eric Greenway, the city’s director of planning and zoning, speaks at a public hearing before city council approved an overlay district in the one mile perimeter of the city. City Hall was packed for last Tuesday’s meeting of city council. Photo by TYRA SILAPETH
Overlay District approved City Council took the recommendation of the zoning board last Tuesday and approved an overlay district in the one mile perimeter of the city. Eight property owners spoke against the zoning change, charging there were no advantages to changes in the outside perimeter of the city. Eric Greenway, Planning Director, said the Thoroughfare Protection District would enhance the safety of those living in the extra-territorial jurisdiction (one-mile perimeter) by establishing requirements for those wanting to develop and bring businesses to the area. “The ordinance prohibits some commercial uses that will be prohibited, including
adult-oriented businesses, pawn shops, drive-in theaters, automobile wrecking, junk yards, flea markets, amusement video game arcades, vehicles, trucks or automobiles used as signs, Internet cafes and businesses, including retail, with sweepstakes gaming machines and the like,’’ said Greenway. The state standard for driveways and other points of thoroughfare access is a part of the ordinance. Public hearing will be held March 27 at 6 p.m. on a map of the Thoroughfare Protection District which the zoning board will ask council to approve. “This is really a guide to shape the development of the Greater Kings Mountain area,’’ said Mayor Scott Neisler, which protects the area
for future development. He responded to several speakers who said “we don’t want the city to tell us what to do with our property.” Another speaker said council should keep the area residents informed about everything and specifically whether or not a casino could be coming to the area. “The federal government is the authority on a casino, not the city,’’ the mayor responded. “Looks to me like it’s (the casino) has turned into a political football,’’ said another speaker. Councilman Howard Shipp, the only councilman voting against the “zoning ordinance text amendment for Article VI overlay districts,’’ said “We don’t know See OVERLAY, Page 5A
Sheriff says to school threats
We will charge to the fullest Sheriff Alan Norman said this week in the wake of threats in February at three of the high SHERIFF schools in NORMAN the county that “we will charge to the fullest extent of the law anyone who communicates threats of violence toward the school environment.” The most recent threat of violence came at Burns High
School. On Tuesday, Feb. 27, Cleveland County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested a 16-yearold male Burns High School student and charged him with false report of mass violence on educational property, a felony, and six counts of disorderly conduct. He was jailed on a $20,000 bond. The student allegedly wrote threatening messages on a restroom wall, specifically targeting certain teachers and then announcing an intent to carry out a school shooting. An investigation by school officials and law enforcement found the source
of the threat. On Feb. 19 a male posted on social media that he was “thinking about shooting up Shelby High.” He is now being evaluated at a mental health facility. On Feb. 15, Cleveland County Sheriff’s deputies charged a 15-year-old male Crest High School student with false report of mass violence on educational property, a felony, through the Division of Juvenile Justice. “We want the citizens to know that if they see something suspicious, they should See SCHOOL THREATS, Page 5A
KM’s Siravanta worked on film Andy Siravanta, a native of Kings Mountain and film and television graduate of the Savannah College of Art and Design, was a member of the team that worked on the three-time Academy Award-nominated film,’’ Baby Driver.’’ The film was up for Best Film Editing, Best Sound Mixing and Best Sound Editing at the 90th Academy Awards Ceremony.
ANDY SIRAVANTA Siravanta graduated from SCAD in 2014 with a M.F.A. in film and television and worked as a production assistant on the film. He is the key office production assistant at Rampage.
Consistently ranked on Hollywood Reporter’s list of top 25 film and TV programs in the nation, SCAD’s School of Entertainment Arts is the preeminent program in the country for film and TV. SCAD’s wholly unique, project-based approach to film and TV allows students to master the entertainment arts before they graduate through award-winning, acclaimed faculty and unparalleled access to industry tools, experts and life-changing opportunities.
H i s family and supporters joined D a v i d Brinkley, owner of Brinkley Properties DAVID of Kings BRINKLEY Mountain, as he filed last Tuesday afternoon at the Board of Elections to challenge five-term Republican Tim Moore for N. C. House Seat 111 in the November election. Moore, Kings Mountain lawyer, is serving a second year as N. C. Speaker of the House. Filing for the 2018 election ended at noon last Wednesday with 26 running for seats representing Cleveland County. Seven
new candidates filed for Cleveland County races since the first week of filing. Brinkley, in a filing speech, said his reason for running for the House Seat is because he is concerned with “the divisiveness in our legislature and voter suppression which is not the American way.” He said there are so many issues that need to be addressed including teacher and law enforcement salaries. His campaign, which kicked off with his filing on last Tuesday, is a blend of the red party, the blue party and unaffiliated “for the betterment of the citizens of Cleveland County.” His team is “Team Purple.” “In Raleigh they reported the average teacher pay is
$51,000. I challenge you to find educators in Cleveland County District 111 that are averaging $51,000. The law enforcement officers’ pay is even worse. It is time we started concentrating on paying the people that are educating our children and grandchildren and protecting our lives. Their responsibilities seem to grow more every year with no pay increases. They claim pay increases in Raleigh, but they fail to tell you about additional health insurance and other insurance premiums having to contribute to the pension plan and averaging their longevity to count as a pay raise. The $51,000 average salary is a result of supplements from large school See BRINKLEY Page 4A
Gateway Trail runs Saturday Get your running shoes on and participate in the Gateway Trail 9th annual 5K/10 mile and fun run Saturday, March 10, from 9 a.m.-12 noon at Kings Mountain Gateway Trail, 807 S. Battleground Avenue. Runners signed up by March 1 are guaranteed a Gateway Trail Run shirt but you can still sign-up to run on Friday, March 9, from 3-7 p.m. and on Saturday, March 10, from 7:30-8:30 a.m. at the trail. Packet pickup is Friday, March 9 from 3-7 p.m. at the trail or Saturday before the run. Registration is $25. Registration on Saturday is $30. Runners can also sign-up online: www. racesonline.com Trophies will be awarded in all categories and Fun runners will re-
The Gateway Trail 9th annual 5K/10 mile and fun run will be held Saturday, March 10. The new 30-car parking lot across the street from the trail will be open. Photo contributed ceive medals. Presenting sponsor for the big event is Kings Mountain Tourism and Development Authority. Levels of sponsorship
are listed on the website: www.kmgatewaytrails.org or contact Shirley Brutko at sbrutko@att.net or call 704-739-9663 for more information.
KM’s Lanier honored For military service Ret. Sgt. First Class Jackie Donald Lanier of Kings Mountain has received a citation from now Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis, retired Four Star General, in recognition of his service during the period of the cold War Sept. 2, 1845-Dec.26, 1991. The certificate honors Lanier “for promoting rescue and stability for this nation, the people of this nation are forever grateful.” Lanier served in the US Army from Oct. 1967-August 1990. During his service he spent three terms in Korea and one year in Vietnam and was exposed to Agent Orange four years.
JACKIE DONALD LANIER Lanier volunteered for military service in the 7th Infantry Division. His family will frame the most recent citation with 30 others he has received for exemplary service in Uncle Sam’s Army. Lanier has also retired from Freightliner where he built trucks from 1990-
2009, also serving for some time as a driver. Lanier and Dixie Hill Lanier were married 30 years prior to her death in 2002. They raised four adopted children, including a 13-year-old daughter they adopted while he was in the Army. He and his wife, Savannah Williams Lanier, have been married 15 years. Together they have eight children, including three adopted children. Their youngest, Savannah Keona Lanier, is in 5th grade. The family live on North Dilling Street in Kings Mountain and attend Zion Baptist Church in Gastonia.
For Dental Implants Locally Here In Kings Mountain
Baker Dental Care Preventative, Restorative & Cosmetic Dentistry
703 East King Street, Suite 9 Kings Mountain, NC www.BakerDentalCare.com
Just a few benefits of Dental Implants: • Improved appearance. Dental implants look and feel like your own teeth. • Improved speech. Dental implants allow you to speak without the worry that your dentures might slip. • Improved self-esteem. Smile again and feel better about yourself. • Durable. Implants are very durable and with proper care, can last a lifetime. To find out more about Dental Implants and schedule your next appointment
call us at 704-739-4461