EMPLOYMENT PHOTOS INSIDE
aserviceinc.com
Volume 131 • Issue 21
kmherald.com • 704-739-7496
May 22, 2019
75¢
Rendering for new artificial turf for KMHS John Gamble Sadium. Photo by Medallion Athletic Products, Inc.
Artificial turf planned for Gamble Stadium, new tennis facility approved by KMTD Club The Kings Mountain Touchdown Club voted last week to raise $1.6 million for new tennis courts at KM High and artificial turf for John Gamble Stadium. President David Brinkley is asking everyone in the community to contribute to the project, which is being financed over a five-year period. However, Brinkley said, if the community supports this project as well as it did previous ones it will be paid off much sooner than that. The tennis courts will
be completely demolished, and all the sod removed and playing field being prepared for the turf immediately after graduation on June 10. “All of our athletic facilities were built in the mid to late 60s, and for the most part have not been upgraded,” Brinkley said. “The reason we looked at artificial turf is because the football stadium is used by multiple programs, including soccer, middle school football, KM Elite, and the band. When it rains the band is out there marching
on a sloppy field.” Upkeep on the grass football field is over $50,000 a year, Brinkley noted. “The turf is going to be very beneficial,” he said. “It’s a big upgrade for our teams. If it’s raining and not lightning they can continue to practice on a nice field instead of in the mud. Lacrosse is becoming popular all over the state and it wouldn’t surprise me if it comes to Kings Mountain. “Our track was built in 1974. It was designed for a
Public hearing Tuesday on KM City budget Public hearing on the city’s 2019-20 fiscal year budget will be held Tuesday night at 6 p.m. at Kings Mountain city hall. City Manager Marilyn Sellers will present the proposed budget which the seven-member council will consider for adoption. Several budget workshops have been held at which department heads have given input to staff nd council. The public is encouraged to attend.
Memorial Day Observance May 27 Kings Mountain’s Memorial Day Observance will be held on Monday, May 27 at 10 a.m. at Mountain Rest Cemetery. This tribute honors those in the Armed Forces, those who served and those who gave their lives defending our freedom. Veterans and families are invited to the observance and wreath laying ceremony.
SALES FLYERS INSIDE: • CVS • Food Lion • Ingles • Dunham Sports • Tractor Supply
National Poppy Day® Friday American Legion Auxiliary Unit 155 members will distribute poppies around town Memorial Day weekend and requests that the person receiving the flower donate. Friday is officially National Poppy Day®, and Legion Auxiliary members will be stationed in front of the old Plonk’s Store downtown
See POPPY Page 7A
440 and they don’t run a 440 anymore. It’s 400 meters. If we were to break a state record on our track right now it would not be recognized by the State athletic association.” Brinkley said the tennis court has been an issue for years. “It was built in the sixties and there’s a six-foot drop off from top to bottom,” he said. “It’s not just used by our boys and girls but by the public.” Brinkley said it’s the Touchdown Club’s goal to eventually upgrade every ath-
letic facility on campus. “This is a brand new era and we try to reach the needs of people in several sports,” he said. “The turf has the capacity to reduce the heat on the field from 30 to 50 degrees. Safety for our children is another issue we looked at. This is a project for everybody. We’re not about just fixing up one of them.” Brinkley pointed out that the club has spent over $3 million in its 12 year existence. The new field house cost $950,000 and was paid
off in three years; the concession stand and restrooms cost $485,000 and were paid off in two years, and the weight room was $200,000 and will be paid off soon after just 12 months. “This is another project for everybody,” he said. “This is not just about fixing up one of them. We’re asking for a five-year pledge where people can give a lump sum or do a monthly bank draft. I know the people will support this.” See KMTD, Page 7A
KMPD focuses on speeders By Loretta Cozart Kings Mountain Police Department continues to focus on enforcement of speed violations, especially in school zones across the city. Chief Lisa Proctor asks, “KMPD Officers have been issuing tickets to many individuals driving well over the speed limit in our school zones, even ones speeding over 60-mph in a 25-mph zone. How much is your life, or the life of another, worth? Slow down! “KMPD will continue to protect our children as they travel to and from school by enforcing the speed limit. I ask the community to assist us by doing their part to slow down. Saving five to ten minutes of time is not worth losing a life,” Chief Proctor said. The Department will also participate in the Click it or Ticket it Campaign with the Governor’s Highway Safety Program, that runs May 20th through June 2nd. Make sure you and your children buckle up! During Click It or Ticket campaigns, law enforcement agencies increase the number of patrols and officers in an area, set up checking stations and use local media to reach
Chief Proctor with Traffic Officer Jason Dee and Patrolman Brent Herndon in the KMHS school zone. Photo provided by KMPD out to drivers. Violators of North Carolina’s seat belt law are fined $179 (or $263 if a passenger under age 15 is not properly restrained). North Carolina’s Click It or Ticket campaign was the first in the nation and is now used as the model by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Even with its success, more than 11,900 people have lost their lives since 1993 because they did not take the three seconds to buckle up. Chief Proctor said, “We want our citizens to have a safe and happy Memorial Day and we are going to do our part to keep our roads safe as you travel.”
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