INSIDE...
SPORTS - 7
Obituaries .......................... 2 Police Log .......................... 2 Lifestyles ........................... 6
■ Merchant
Memorial Day Photos
commits to Naval Academy
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Relay for Life First time in 26 years Friday at 6 pm 3 cent property tax increase proposed Kings Mountain's Relay for Life wants to raise $40,000 this year and that number is expected to increase following Friday's big fundraiser. Opening ceremonies will be held Friday at 6 p.m. at Kings Mountain High School Stadium after a survivor reception and check-in from 4 -5:45 p.m. The event will be held rain or shine unless weather conditions become dangerous. If any changes need to be made last minute due to weather conditions an update will be made on the KM Relay for Life webpage. Cancer survivors will celebrate life by making the first lap on the track at 6:15 p.m. after welcome by Mayor Scott Neisler, the National Anthem by Jaiden Huffman and the appearance of American Legion Riders and Friends. Caregivers will walk a lap
around the track at 6:25 p.m. followed by a team banner and team lap which will feature all teams on the track. Robin Knight, chairman of the event, said this year's Relay for Life will be bigger and better than ever with 24 teams and 140 walkers participating on the “Disney” theme. Free skin cancer screening will be available and sponsored by Dr. Carley's team. Plenty of food, crafts, entertainment and games are planned for the whole family. New this year will be a box car show and race, the free cancer screenings, and fireworks. Teams have been busy for several weeks holding fundraisers. Students and churches have held fundraisers. The full schedule of events is printed in today's Herald.
Brigade of 87 Music at the Market supports This Thursday, in correlation with the opening battle drama night of the farmers marJoin The Brigade of 87 and support the Revolution! The Brigade is named for the 87 patriots wounded or killed at the Battle of Kings Mountain, October 7, 1780. Membership supports the production of Liberty Mountain which tells the story of the turning point of the American Revolution. Option 1: Membership is $87 annually and includes two tickets to Liberty Mountain for the current summer production and playbill listing in the Brigade Roster. Option 2: Receive membership and playbill listing by purchasing an opening night ticket. Opening Night 2016 is on Friday, June 24th with tickets priced at $100 per person. The event includes dinner, beverages, special entertainment before the show, and admission to the opening night performance of Liberty Mountain. Questions should be directed to jim@kmlt.org or call the box office at 704730-9408. Liberty Mountain was written by Robert (Bob) Inman. The action-packed theatrical performance tells the story of our founding See BATTLE DRAMA, Page 11
ket, members of the Kings Mountain Middle School band will perform under the gazebo from 6:30-7:00 pm. In the following weeks a variety of entertainment will be at the gazebo to add to the festivities of the market. “The City wanted to add to the atmosphere of Patriots Park and after speaking with Mayor Neisler, the idea to have music at the farmers market made perfect sense.” said Haley Wilson, Special events Coordinator. We encourage people to come out and enjoy the market and listen to the music, bring a lawn chair or blanket and enjoy summer evenings in Kings Mountain.
ELIZABETH STEWART
lib.kmherald@gmail.com
Kings Mountain citizens can probably expect a 3 cents property tax increase (40 cents to 43 cents per $100 valuation) effective July 1, the first tax increase in 26 years. City Council at a sixhour marathon work session last Thursday took their first look at the proposed $45.2 million budget proposed by City Manager Marilyn Sellers and will hold public hearing June 16 at 6 p.m. at city hall. “We've made very difficult decisions and we've worked hard to present a balanced and tight budget'', Sellers told council members at the H. Lawrence Patrick Senior Center. “Our employees are our greatest asset and we want to keep their interest in the forefront and keep
them.” She said that requests in the proposed budget from department SELLERS heads are not inflated. “We're proactive and I'm proud to be associated with this team.” A line-item budget will be available this week to city council and the budget will be available for public viewing. Sellers acknowledged that the general fund budget was a “dilemma'' with a shortfall due to higher health insurance costs. The budget calls for no electric rate increase, no water rate increase, no waste water rate increase, no storm water rate increase but
slight changes in the sanitation, recycling, and natural gas rates. A citizen with all city services with a house valued at $100,000 and a vehicle valued at $25,000 will see a total annual increase ( including the $30 property tax increase) at $105.92 or $8.83 per month. The sanitation fee is expected to rise from $7.63 per month to $9.54 per month and the recycling fee from $2 to $2.75 per month. An increase in tipping fees from Cleveland County Landfill is expected in the 2017-18 budget year. The basic facility rate for natural gas is expected to rise from $6.50 to $7.50 with the average household expected to see a 10 cents per day increase. Basic facility charges for commercial customers should drop
from $30 to $17.50 during summer months. Council indicated it would study cemetery rates but the rates are expected to rise substantially. The proposed cemetery rates would increase plot prices for inside city residents from $350 to $1500 and plots for outside city residents from $1750 to $3,000. Cost of opening and closing graves for outside city residents would go up from $530 to $3,000 and cost for inside city residents would remain $375. The proposed burden on customers outside the city limits is due to limited space for city residents and additional property anticipated to be needed within the next five years. Sellers said that higher insurance costs are the main See PROPERTY TAX, Page 11
Respect and honor for Grover veteran Cpl. Terry Wayne McKenzie of Grover didn't get the medals nor the warm welcome he deserved when he returned from US Marine Corp service in Vietnam. But Thursday, thanks to Hospice Social Worker Emily Crocker and US Congressman Patrick McHenry, he got it all. Hospice Chaplain Terry Floyd led a pinning service in the Hospice Cleveland County Administration Building Conference Room and presented the ribbons and medals in a shadow box, along with the American flag. “Let's remember the ones who didn't make it and the ones who did come back and have all these problems,'' said McKenzie, 64. “Thank you for your service and welcome home,'' said Floyd.
McKenzie had asked Crocker to help him in obtaining the medals because he wants to pass them on to his four grandchildren. 'It's something they can look back and say, 'My grandpa got these while he was in service.” McKenzie was awarded the Combat Action ribbon (Vietnam), National Defense Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with three bronze campaign stars, Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation, Gallantry Cross Color with palm and frame, Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation ( civil Action Color with palm and frame), Republic of Vietnam Campaign medal and Rifle Marksman Badge. At the ceremony he was also presented a Vietnam 50th anniversary commemorative pin and a We See GROVER VET, Page 11
Hospice Chaplain Terry Floyd shakes hands with Marine Cpl. Terry Wayne McKenzie of Grover at a medal and pinning ceremony Thursday at Hospice Cleveland County in Shelby. McKenzie medals also pictured. (Photos contributed by Hospice)
Commencement exercises begin Sunday with baccalaureate sermon at 7 p.m.
TOURISM DAY – Kings Mountain Tourism Development Authority members were in Raleigh last week to meet with legislators on Tourism Day . From left, KMTDA Executive Director Ellis Noell, Rick Moore, KMTDA chairman, NC Speaker of the House Tim Moore, Mayor Scott Neisler, Authority member Kemp Mauney and Dr. Dennis Reno. KMTDA photo
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Commencement exercises for 302 Kings Mountain High School seniors will begin on Sunday with baccalaureate and end on June 11 at 9 a.m. at graduation exercises in B. N. Barnes Auditorium. Rev. Jason Mills, Youth Pastor at First Baptist Church, will deliver the baccalaureate sermon June 5 at 7 p.m. on the topic “Standing Ovation” from Hebrews 12:1-3. Senior students will take part in the service by
reading scripture and a litany and seniors in the Symphonic Chorale, under the direction of Sarah Fulton, will sing “Not One Sparrow is Forgotten.” The audience will join in singing “Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee” and “Be Thou My Vision.” The hymn, “Step by Step” will be sung prior to the benediction. Sherry Young will play a prelude of music on piano and will accompany for other music on the program.
The six student worship leaders will be Taylor Amanda Davis, Geoffrey Dawkins, Gregory Hawkins, Wesley Henson, Gwendolyn Hopper, and Tony Cheyanne Sanders. Mills grew up in Asheville where he graduated from Buncombe High School. A graduate of Gardner-Webb University with a B.A. In Religious Studies and a Masters in Divinity, he received the 2007 Christian Life and Service award, the Com-
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