Dilling HEATING & COOLING A higher degree of trust and dependability
704.739.3446 Residential & Commercial Service Serving Cleveland, Gaston, Lincoln, Mecklenburg and Surrounding Counties since 1955.
Volume 131 • Issue 27
Indoor Air Quality Assesments • New Installations
Servicing All Brands
A Family Owned & Operated Business
kmherald.com • 704-739-7496
July 3, 2019
75¢
Ramey unhappy Three Shelby men charged with city’s inaction in Kings Mountain robberies
By Loretta Cozart
On Tuesday, June 26, City Council heard a complaint from Keith Ramey of 109 Bessie Drive in Kings Mountain. According to Ramey, Mr. Hound of Wilshire Drive lives on a lot with a house off the water on Moss Lake. Hound has graded his property to give it a lake view. In the grading process, Hound pushed the dirt into the lake, almost choking off the cove. In Ramey’s estimation, Hound has pushed enough dirt into the cove to extend the shoreline ten to fifteen feet out into the lake. In July 2018, Ramey reached out to the Mayor, City Manager, Assistant City Manager, Mike Roper, and Ricky Duncan but no progress has been made. Ramey kept detailed notes with whom he has spoken during the last year and when; he has reached the limit of his patience.
Assistant City Manager, Nick Hendricks told City Council he agrees that the city didn’t meet the discussed deadline but shared that he was only told by Hound two weeks ago that he doesn’t have the money to correct the problem. The city has now given Hound 45 days to respond as to how he intends to fix the situation. If he doesn’t respond in the 30 days remaining, the city attorney will step in. When asked if he can live with that, Ramey replied, “I can live with it, but I’m not happy about it. This should have been fixed months ago. I’ve lost the sale of my property because of this situation. Make him (Hound) clean this mess up. In ten days, it will be a year I’ve had to deal with this. You are asking me to give you 30 more days. I’ll give you 45 days from today… 45 days.” Hendricks told City Council, See RAMEY, Page 7A
Kings Mountain Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Division released an update on two June armed robberies at Domino’s and Amiya Express. “With a multi-jurisdictional approach and through the investigative process, charges for armed robbery, and kidnapping have been secured on three individuals. Below is a summary of these individuals and the charges that have been secured on them,” the statement read. Incident # 1 (Domino’s): Darick Montre Williams: DOB 04/16/1999, 835 Lincoln Dr Shelby NC 28152. Charges: Four counts of armed robbery, three counts of first degree kidnapping and one conspiracy to com-
WILLIAMS
CLARK
CRAIG
mit armed robbery. Kamau Jarek Clark: DOB 01/20/2000, 113 Davis Ridge Rd., Shelby NC 28150. Charges: four counts of armed robbery; three counts of first degree kidnapping and one conspiracy to commit armed robbery. Incident # 2 (Amiya Express):
Darick Montre Williams: DOB 04/16/1999, 835 Lincoln Dr Shelby NC 28152. Charges: one count of armed robbery; one count of first degree kidnapping; one conspiracy to commit armed robbery. Stephen Jamal Craig: DOB 10/03/2000, 2600 Elizabeth Ave, Shelby NC
28150. Charges: one count of armed robbery; one count of first degree kidnapping and one conspiracy to commit armed robbery. The Kings Mountain Police Department thanked the public and other agencies that were involved with this investigation.
Celebrate July 4th at KM’s Red, White and Boom!
CITY’S FIRST ROUNDABOUT – Construction has begun on Kings Mountain’s first roundabout at Margrace Road and Kings Mountain Blvd. According to Mayor Neisler, “Construction is going at a fast pace so it might be opened sooner than expected. The intersection will become much safer and it will able to move traffic more. See more photos on page 8A.
Kings Mountain will celebrate the 4th of July with a “Revolutionary 4th” celebration at the Walking Track Park in Kings Mountain on Cleveland Avenue (Hwy. 161), near the YMCA. This Independence Day event begins Thursday, July 4th at 6 pm with “Bounce” America’s #1 Party Band, performing at the Neisler Stage in the park with a concert featuring cover hits from the last 50 years. Additional music, featuring, DJ Tony Cutlass, will play a
Fireworks show will begin at full dark (estimated time is 9:30 – 9:45 p.m.) on July 4. File photo
variety of classic and current hits with line dance performances led by Kountry-Urban-Soul line dance group and the Fitness Troupers. This free event will also host a variety of entertainment for the entire family including; food vendors, a “Kid Zone” area, and a local author book signing, “Goin’ South” by Dale Swafford “Revolutionary War reenactor”. The Kid Zone area will include inflatables, games, and a See 4TH, Page 7A
Candidate filing starts July 5 Candidate filing for all municipal elections in 2019 in Cleveland County starts Friday, July 5 and ends Friday, July 19 at the Cleveland County Board of Elections, 215 Patton Drive, in Shelby. In Kings Mountain fouryear terms of Mayor Scott Neisler and four council members Annie Thombs, Ward I, Rodney Gordon, Ward 4 and currently mayor
pro tem, Jay Rhodes, Ward 5, and Keith Miller, AtLarge, expire this year. Terms of council members Mike Butler, Ward 2, Tommy Hawkins, Ward 3, and David Allen, At-Large do not expire this year. In Grover, four-year terms of Grover Mayor Bill Willis and council members Patrick Shannon Jr. and Angelia Early are expiring this
year. Filing fees are $60, mayor, and $35, council members, in Kings Mountain and $5 for Grover mayor and council. All municipalities in Cleveland County, except Shelby, have the non-partisan plurality-type election which means the top vote-getters are elected, See FILING, Page 3A
Daughter Kellene Wells Brock with Betsy Wells, Secretary of State Elaine Marshall, and Wayne Goodwin at presentation of the Order of the Long Leaf Pine during the North Carolina Democratic Party's State Executive Party. Photo provided
Betsy Wells honored with Order of the Long Leaf Pine On June 8, Kings Mountain resident and retired educator, Betsy Wells, was presented the Order of the Long Leaf Pine at the State Executive Committee meet-
ing of the North Carolina Democratic Party by Secretary of State Elaine Marshall in Raleigh. Before the meeting Wells was told she needed to sit near the front so she could make a District Chair’s report. Wells’ daughter, Kellene Wells Bock, secretly drove from Iredell County and Wells was stunned to see Kellene come on stage.
Linda Gunter of Wake County had spent many weeks getting people to write letters supporting Wells’ nomination for this award from Governor Roy Cooper. As the award was presented the entire Auditorium rose and gave long and enthusiastic applause. Wells has served as Tenth District Chair for 7 years and See WELLS, Page 2A
Police Chief Lisa Proctor and KMPD officers were honored by the city because Kings Mountain was ranked 20th in the state for safety and security. The fountain in front of City Hall will be colored blue in their honor through the month of July. Photo Loretta Cozart
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