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www.KMinsure.com Volume 131 • Issue 19
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May 8, 2019
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Man pleads guilty to shooting of Deputy Sims By Loretta Cozart On April 30, Dakota Green was sentenced to 21.5 to 27.5 years in prison with no opportunity of parole for shooting Cleveland County Sheriff’s Deputy Tim Sims in the face and leg last August After the sentencing, Sheriff Norman said, “This coward shot Sims when he was only doing his job. The individual took advantage and shot Sims, only because he didn’t want to go to jail. Sims almost made the ultimate sacrifice and this coward’s actions caused damage. “I wish that mandatory life without parole would be given to anyone who
SIMS shoots a law enforcement officer,” Norman said. Last February, the NC House introduced House Bill 224 Assault w/Firearm on LEO/Increase Punishment increasing the applicable penalty from a Class E felony to a Class D felony, a reform that requires
prison time for anyone convicted of the crime under North Carolina’s sentencing guidelines. Current law allows probation for some offenders who assault a law enforcement officer with a firearm, but H.B. 244 would require a minimum of 38 months in jail upon conviction. H.B. 224 has gone to the NC Senate for their approval. When asked how Deputy Sims is doing now, Sheriff Norman replied, “Sims is assigned to the Criminal Investigation Division and he hit the ground running the day he returned. He is doing a fantastic job and is totally dedicated to the people of Cleveland County.”
GATEWAY TRAIL BUTTERFLY GARDEN File photo
Chief Bill Harris testifies in before the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs in Washington D.C. on May 1. Photo provided by US Senate Committee on Indian Affairs
Chief Harris testifies in Washington, DC By Loretta Cozart On May 1, Chief Bill Harris spoke before the United States Senate Committee on Indian Affairs in Washington D.C. regarding legislation introduced by Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) that, if approved, would open the way for the Catawba Indian Nation to open a casino in the Dixon Community of Kings Mountain. Senator Graham introduced Chief Harris and explained the rational for S. 790, saying that the Catawba Indian Nation signed the Catawba Federal Settlement Act with South Carolina and North Carolina independently in 1993, the results of which would provide them 4,200 acres of land and the right to acquire land within the congressionally established service area.
Graham told the Senate Committee, “More than 25 years later, the Tribe’s reservation is only 1,000 acres. The Tribe is locked in poverty without claim to their native land and without the means to financially support themselves. He says this is “largely due to poor drafting of the Act.” Graham explained, “The language of the Act has been deemed ambiguous on the Tribe’s right to make limited land acquisitions in that state (NC). The bill specifically gives the Secretary (of Indian Affairs) the authority to make this decision. In a sense, this legislation is a technical correction to allow the Tribe to do what Congress envisioned. Nothing more, nothing less.” “Our government has promised a bright future for the Catawba people, but they have been deprived of that fu-
ture through a tortured legal process that has left them with little to show for giving up their land claims and treaty rights. And they did give it up. They didn’t get what they promised, and S. 790 will right that wrong,” he said. In his written testimony, Chief Harris explained, “The Catawba Land Claim Settlement Act was intended to settle a land claim brought by the Nation for its previous 144,000 acre, 15-mile square reservation. The Tribe also gave up its land claims in North Carolina and understood, as did Congressional and North Carolina leadership, that it had secured the right to take land into trust in North Carolina within its congressionally established service area.” Key Interior officials involved in the negotiation of See TESTIFIES, Page 2A
Celebrating Earth’s Pollinators Kings Mountain celebrates at the Gateway Trail, May 16 National Day of Prayer
By Loretta Cozart Kings Mountain Gateway Trail and Duke Energy invites the public to a ribbon cutting and volunteer event on Thursday, May 16 “Celebrating Earth’s Pollinators” at the Plateau Butterfly Garden site of the Kings Moun-
tain Gateway Trail. The volunteer event is scheduled from 2:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m., with a ribbon cutting at 4:00 p.m. A shuttle pickup is available from the trailhead to the Butterfly Garden between 2:00 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.
Please RSVP by May 10 to Shirley Brutko at sbrutko@att.net or call 704 739-9663. Refreshments will be served. Kings Mountain Gateway Trail is located at 807 S. Battleground Ave. in Kings Mountain.
Round-about approved at City Council meeting By Loretta Cozart At the April 30 regular City Council meeting, council members unanimously approved a round-about for the intersection of West Mountain Street and South Cansler Street per a recom-
mendation from the Transportation Committee. The round-about will be the first in Kings Mountain and was recommended to control traffic in the area. The maximum speed through a round-about is 15 mph.
SALES FLYERS INSIDE: • CVS • Food Lion • Ingles • Tractor Supply
The round-about is planned in conjunction with a reduction of lanes on South Cansler Street, from four lanes to two, and will include an addition of parallel parking and sidewalks to make the area more pedestrian friendly. City Council also adopted an ordinance accepting the offer of dedication of streets I Kings Pointe Subdivision from William See ROUND ABOUT, Page 2A
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Kings Mountain joined with others around the nation to celebrate the National day of Prayer last Thursday, May 2. Americans across all 50 states gathered in churches, local businesses, steps of city halls, schools, neighborhoods and public gathering places for this day of public prayer for the United States of America. Kings Mountain celebrated the day with two events.
16th Annual Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast Kings Mountain began the day with the 16th Annual Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast, hosted by Family Worship Center. A delicious breakfast buffet was served by members of the church. Rev. Roger Woodard, Pastor of Family Worship Center gave the welcome. Pastor Scott Whitney of East Gold Wesleyan Church led in prayer and scripture reading. Sophia Kellstrom, Miss Metrolina sang the National Anthem. Chris Moore,
Mayor Scott Neisler gave remarks at the 16th Annual Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast at Family Worship Center. Also pictured left Chad Connelly, speaker and Rev. Roger Woodard, Pastor of Family Worship Center. Photo by Carolyn Henwood
Assistant Chief of Police of Kings Mountain led the Pledge of Allegiance. Blessing of the meal was given by Pastor John Houze of Peoples Church. Pastor Ron Caulder of Eastside Baptist Church and President of the KM Ministerial Association prayed for our city, county state and nation. The Honorable Scott
Neisler, Mayor of Kings Mountain gave special remarks. Special music was provided by Molora Kellstrom. Rev. Woodard introduced the keynote speaker Chad Connelly who gave a compelling message entitled, “Faith Wins.” Connelly communicated in an inspiring and powerful way the importance See PRAYER, Page 3A
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