KMH_071917

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Over 20 years experience!

Call for an appointment today! 704.473.4048 786 Bell Rd., Kings Mountain

Volume 129 • Issue 29

Wednesday, July 19, 2017

kmherald.com • 704-739-7496

75¢

Deadline Friday

More candidates file

DISTINGUISHED ROTARIAN – Kings Mountain Rotary Club has honored Paul Ingram as Distinguished Rotarian for 2017. Pictured from left, Rotary International Representative Duane Benton, Mary Ingram and husband, Paul Ingram, and Rotary District Governor Tom Smith. Photo by ANNA LINEBERGER

New Police Chief honored With his hand on the Bible, Kings Mountain Police Chief Jerry Tessneer swore to “enforce all laws, so help me God” in an induction ceremony Thursday morning at city hall which also featured charges to the Chief and to all city employees by City Manager Marilyn Sellers. Lt. Lisa Proctor pinned on the Chief’s badge as a crowd of family members, special guests and city employees looked on. Sellers charged the Chief with his duties and responsibilities, admonishing him to set high standards leading the department in a professional manner and relying on God for guidance. She also charged city employees to pledge their support. Area law enforcement heads were present for the ceremony, including Sheriff Alan Norman, Shelby Police Chief Jeff Ledford

Block Party Bash downtown Thursday A Block Party Bash, a Main Street special event, will be held Thursday, July 27, from 6-9 p.m. in downtown Kings Mountain. “This will be a great time for merchants to show off and promote their business or service,’’ said Main Street Director Jan Harris. Booths can be set up on W. Gold Street between Battleground Avenue and Cherokee Street from 5-6 p.m. and the public is invited from 6-9 p.m. Call the Main Street Office at 704-730-2197.

TESSNEER and Gaston County Sheriff Alan Cloninger. Former District Attorney Rick Shafer was also present along with Kings Mountain city councilmen Mike Butler, Rodney Gordon, Tommy Hawkins, Jay Rhodes and Curtis Pressley. Mayor Scott Neisler presided in the “welcome Chief Tessneer celebration. “Based on the turnout today we know that Chief

Tessneer is well respected in his service to the city and his future service to the city,’’ said the mayor. Tessneer, 59, who was promoted to Assistant Chief in 2016, is a 25-year employee of the city who was promoted through the ranks in the Kings Mountain Police Department. He joined the department as a patrolman June 15, 1992 and was transferred to the COPS program October 28, 1996. He served as Moss Lake officer from August 1, 1997 to January 5, 1998 when he became DARE officer. Tessneer became Patrol Sergeant on June 8, 1998 and on March 30, 2000 became DARE officer until Sept. 11, 2000 when he became Patrol Sergeant and was promoted to Patrol Captain Nov. 2, 2002. He became Assistant Chief on October 7, 2016.

Main Street Program recognized Kings Mountain’s M a i n Street p r o gram has earned 2017 acHARRIS creditation from the National Main Street Center for downtown revitalization efforts in 2016. The North Carolina Department of Commerce’s Main Street and Rural Planning Center announced recently that both Kings Mountain and Shelby, along with 37 other municipalities in the state, have received accreditation. The Main Street Center looks for public and private partners, organization structure, economic de-

velopment strategies and historic preservation when making the awards. Jan Harris, Main Street Director, said the recent 2017 accreditation is proof that the city is working and moving in the right direction because downtown Kings Mountain matters. One of the ways that the city has been successful has been its partnership with public and private partnerships which have included Mauney Memorial Library, Gateway Trail and Kings Mountain Historical Museum as well as encouragement to private businesses to invest in downtown. Currently, two downtown spaces are being developed retail and apartment space. “We are growing the downtown area while preserving our history,’’ says Harris.

With candidate filing deadline Friday, July 21, two local men filed for city elective office and as of Monday five candidates had filed for the school board. David Allen, a newcomer to city politics, filed for the At-large seat on the Kings Mountain city council and Mike Butler filed for reelection to the Ward 2 seat on city council. Phillip Glover of Shelby, currently the chairman of the county school board, filed for reelection. Brian Kevin Whisnant of Lawndale, Rodney Eugene Fitch, Robert Paul Queen and incumbent Danny Lee Blanton, all of Shelby, seek a seat on the county board where four seats are up for grabs in November. Butler, who currently serves as mayor pro tem on city council, is seeking reelection. On the first day of filing Tommy Hawkins filed for reelection to Ward 3 councilman on city council. Allen, a native of Cleveland County, was raised in

ALLEN

GLOVER

BUTLER

Grover on his family’s farm and moved to Kings Mountain when he married his wife, Elizabeth White Allen, in 1985. His chosen profession was law enforcement and he worked with the North Carolina State Highway Patrol from 1987 until his retirement in 2015. Since retirement he has owned and operated his own consulting business delivering leadership training for law enforcement executives around the country. He seeks the seat now held by incumbent Curtis Pressley. In addition to his fulltime career of public service, Allen has served on a number of citizen and advisory boards for over 25 years in Kings Mountain. These boards were the

Moss Lake Commission, Parks and Recreation, Planning and Zoning, Travel and Tourism, and the board of adjustment, He holds a Master’s in Public Administration from UNC at Pembroke. Elizabeth and David have three adult sons, their spouses and three grandchildren. In a filing statement, Allen said “I am seeking the position of At Large on city council to continue to grow my service to the citizens of Kings Mountain. I look forward to having the opportunity to work with the citizens, city employees, businesses and council members to refine the vision for Kings Mountain’s future. My priorities are See CANDIDATES, Page 7A

Real to Reel opens today Lights, cameras, action! The Cleveland County Arts Council of Shelby is proud to present the 18th annual Real to Reel International Film Festival for four days beginning Wednesday ( today) at the Joy Theatre, a unique festival celebrating the art of film. This year’s festival is co-sponsored by Kings Moun-

tain Little Theatre, The Historic Kings Mountain Tourism Development Authority and the Broadcast Film Critics Association. Forty-eight films from all over the U. S. and 30 different countries will be showcased during the fourday event including 10 from North Carolina. For one day only – July 19 – you can save $20 on the en-

tire festival pass at the door of $40 if you purchase a pass at the ArtsCenter or by phone at 704-484-2787 or on the website with PayPal. New this year is Real to Reel Kids Fest sponsored by KidSenses Children’s Interactive Museum. This special screening on Saturday morning at 10 a.m will feature See REEL, Page 7A

County tax bills go out July 21 Cleveland County tax bills will go out July 21 and for those residents owning properties served by county volunteer fire departments a 3.75 cent tax increase is assessed by action of county commissioners in the 2017-18 budget. For property valued at $150,000, the owner should expect to see an increase in his/her tax bill of approximately $55 or $4.72 per month. Municipal fire departments are not affected by the tax increase. At 5 cents, the current fire tax rate, is significantly lower than that of adjoining counties whose current average is approximately 9 cents. The new tax rate for prop-

erties served by volunteer fire departments is 8.75. Volunteer fire departments are Bethlehem, Boiling Springs, Casar, Cleveland, Fallston Grover, Number 7 (Lattimore), Number 3 (Rippy), Oak Grove, Polkville, Shanghai and Waco. County commissioners said the rate increase will allow departments to provide paid personnel during weekdays when the vast majority of volunteers are busy with alternate work commitments and to ensure that citizens continue to get the same high level of fire protection service they are accustomed to. Cleveland County is served and protected by 448

volunteer firefighters who respond to over 4,400 service calls per year. Across the nation, communities are seeing the number of volunteer firefighters trending downward. In an effort to be proactive, commissioners contracted with the Office of the State Fire Marshal to develop a five-year strategic plan for the county’s volunteer fire departments. Over the last year, county staff has worked with the volunteer fire departments to review and prioritize the recommendations for the strategic plan. Kerri Melton is the county’s Community Service Director and Perry Davis is Emergency Management Director.

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