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Volume 129 • Issue 6
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Are politics in play here? - Smith asks
Public hearing on street change draws 13 speakers to City Council ELIZABETH STEWART lib.kmherald@gmail.com
SPRING MUSICAL – Kings Mountain High School Theatre Department is presenting a spring musical. From left, Paloma Dettloff and Ethan Clinard.
‘Once Upon a Mattress’ Opens February 24 Kings Mountain High School Performing Arts Department will present “Once Upon a Mattress,’’ with music by Mary Rodgers, lyrics by Marshall Barer, and book by Jay Thompson, Dean Fuller and Marshall Barer. Show times are Friday and Saturday, February 24, 25, March 3 and 4 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, February 26 and March 5 at 2 p.m. at Barnes Auditorium on the campus of Kings Mountain
High School. Tickets are $12 for general admission, $10 for senior citizens and Cleveland County Schools (CCS) Renaissance Silver Card Holders, and free for children 5 and under and CCS Renaissance Gold Card Holders. Tickets can be purchased at the box office prior to the show, in the front office of Kings Mountain High School beginning Wednesday, February 22, See PLAY, Page 7A
HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY – Dessie Morrow Loftin and Major Loftin have been married 66 years and their love is still as strong as it was on their wedding day Dec. 22, 1950.
Happy Valentine’s Day to Dessie and Major Loftin The Kings Mountain couple have been married 66 years and both say their love for each other is still as strong as it was on their wedding day Dec. 22, 1950 at First Church of the Nazarene. The close-knit family will have to postpone a celebration until Mrs. Loftin is discharged from the hospital and they hope she will be coming home soon after suffering a bout of pneumonia. Mrs. Loftin, now 83, was a high school senior, swept off her feet by her handsome boyfriend and schoolmate,
Major Loftin, now 86, who was 19. His bride was 17 years old and the couple decided to marry before she finished Kings Mountain High School in June of1951. Family is priority for the Loftins. The couple raised four children and dote on their nine grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. A big fan of Kings Mountain High School sports, Major followed the team for years to home games and outof-town games such as state play-offs. He is also a big St. Louis Cardinal and N. C. State sports fans. All the members of the Loftin family gathered for a Christmas get-to-gether. See LOFTIN, Page 7A
“I think politics are in play here,’’ former M a y o r K y l e Smith told city coun- MAYOR NEISLER cil at last Tuesday’s public hearing on changing the name of Kings Mountain Boulevard. “I personally like the way it is.” Four other people at the hearing agreed with Smith that they liked’’ the way it is.’’ Mayor Scott Neisler told The Herald this week that he will not recommend changing the name of Kings Mountain Boulevard. He said city council makes final decision on naming or renaming of streets and that discussion could come at a future work session. With seven members on council, the mayor has no vote ex-
cept in case of a tie. The mayor said he was excited “that people want to honor people who mean something to Kings Mountain’’ and said he feels that a memorial sign or some other honorarium may be considered. He said that one of the reasons he hopes the street name isn’t changed is that changes of addresses might deter first responders to emergencies. Five of 13 speakers at last Tuesday’s public hearing said “leave the name Kings Mountain Boulevard as it is.” Four speakers suggested the name of the late, slain Civil Rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Brenda Brown presented the name of Sam Brown, who moved to the Compact Community in 1920, was active in the community and in the Cleveland County Extension Club and worked at Margrace Mill all his life. Three speakers suggested the name of the late
Hazel L. Gill, funeral home owner who also operated a trucking business. Donnell Gill said his father had a “big heart and helped many people. Councilman Curtis Presley said Gill was “a pillar of the community” and commended him highly for his service, honesty and generosity. At a recent council meeting Pressley had suggested that the city honor Dr. King by naming Kings Mountain Boulevard after him. The mayor said that he recognized King as a great leader but suggested that local African Americans had contributed much to the community and perhaps that route was the way to go if council, which has the last say, approved renaming or naming streets. “It’s important that we recognize our own who honor the foundation of our community,’’ said Neisler. Doug Lawing, chairman of the city’s Planning and Zoning Board, was the first to speak on the proposed
name change. ” I oppose it because Kings Mountain Boulevard is the gateway to Kings Mountain and I-85. Use the honorarium process but I can tell you that both processes are cumbersome and tiring. People get frustrated when their home addresses are changed and they miss their mail. You have to work on the Department of Transportation schedule. Many good people have contributed to our community.’’ “Consider other options,’’ said Thomas Wells whose ancestors fought at the Battle of Kings Mountain. It’s good that we can discuss issues without fear of reprisal.’’ Andrew Dixon, a resident of Gastonia who volunteers at Mauney Memorial Library, said the name of Kings Mountain Boulevard honors those who fought and died on the battle field which is a short distance proceeding down to the end of Dixon School See PUBLIC HEARING, Page 7A
Hartley Plyler is beating the odds When Hartley Plyler was a baby her parents were told that she would never walk, talk or be able to do many things, yet she has beat the odds and has completed one year in Clemson LIFE, a program at Clemson University designed to help students with intellectual disabilities who desire a post-secondary experience on a college campus A 5K “run with Hart & Sole’’ benefit will be held Saturday at 9 a.m. at Patriots Park to help Hartley 18, attend her second year at Clemson LIFE. The family is hoping to raise the $40,000 tuition cost.
Last year the Plylers entered an on-line contest and won $20,000 through the North Carolina Educational Lottery and with additional fundraisers paid the tuition for the first year. No scholarships or loans are available. Hartley will not earn a degree but will learn to live independly and the program will teach her vocational skills. Born with several medical conditions that put obstacles before her resulted in numerous surgeries over her young lifetime. Her parents, Charles and Lucy Plyler, have exhausted their See PLYLER, Page 7A
Hartley Plyler with Clemson University Quarterback Deshaun Watson on the Clemson campus.
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Elaine Ollemi is Ms. Miracle God brought Elaine Ollemi, 68, back to the living, the Kings Mountain woman said after she quit breathing three times. “He must have more for me to do.” February is Heart Month and the Love Valley community resident wanted to share her story. She said friends now call her “Ms. Miracle.” She had no brain damage after her heart stopped three times, a total of 45 minutes. Active minister at St. Peter Missionary Baptist Church Elaine had a long family history of heart disease and had battled high blood pressure for years. So, when she suddenly felt hot and her heart started racing on an October afternoon,
she quickly realized what was happening. “I knew immediately that I was having a heart attack’’ she said. “I’ve had several siblings pass away from heart disease, so it’s something I’m fully aware of.” She quickly called 911. By the time emergency workers from Kings Mountain Rescue Squad and Cleveland County EMS responded, her heart had stopped beating. Rescue workers administered CPR and transported her to Carolinas Medical SystemKings Mountain where her heart stopped beating again and Dr. John Robertson and his team in Emergency Services restored her breathing. See MS. MIRACLE, Page 7A
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