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Volume 129 • Issue 32
kmherald.com • 704-739-7496
Wednesday, August 9, 2017
75¢
Boards okay incentive grants
Local plant eyeing expansion and 170 jobs The Cleveland County Board of Commissioners and the Kings Mountain City Council approved financial incentive grants in separate meetings last Tuesday night for Project Maud, an economic development project that could mean 170 jobs with average wage of $78,225. Kristine Reece, executive
director of the Cleveland County Economic Development Partnership, told county commissioners that a Kings Mountain manufacturer is eyeing an expansion that would bring 170 jobs in advanced manufacturing positions while making a $10,500,000 total investment ($9M in real property and
$1.5M in personal property. She said the average wage of $78,225 Project Maud jobs would substantially exceed the county’s average advanced manufacturing wage of approximately $53,400 and that if successful the expansion project could be a catalyst for future expansions at the existing site.
Additional indirect benefits to the local community are projected with Project Maud, such as the subsequent rounds of re-spending that the company will make through purchases from local vendors/suppliers and new construction jobs. There also would be See 170 JOBS, Page 7A
Hawkins unopposed SOPHIA KELLSTROM
Kellstrom crowned Miss Gastonia 2018 Sophia Kellstrom is the new Miss Gastonia 2018 chosen Saturday in the annual competition at Stuart Cramer High School. The 17-year-old beauty will make public appearances, implement a community service program and represent the region in next year’s Miss North Carolina competition. A student at High
Point College, Sophia is the daughter of Garry and Malora Woodard Kellstrom of Kings Mountain and granddaughter of Dr. and Mrs. Roger Woodard of Kings Mountain. Sophia has been a consistent winner in beauty and talent pageants. She has been crowned Little Miss North Carolina, Pre-Teen See KELLSTROM, Page 7A
Eaton names new Manager Power m a n agement company Eaton has appointed Boukary M a i g a plant manager of its BOUKARY MAIGA Kings Mountain, North Carolina, Vehicle Group facility, effective August 1, 2017. The Kings Mountain facility produces transmissions used primarily in the medium- and heavy-duty truck markets. In his new position, Maiga will report to Ed Faylo, director, Operations, Vehicle Group North America. He will be responsible for leading the operations at the facility with a focus on continuous improvement and key strategic initiatives supporting the Vehicle Group North America’s short- and long-term business plans. “Boukary brings with him a wealth of knowledge and experience from assignments across multiple Eaton business segments, including the Vehicle Group,” said Faylo. “His operations experience
and proven leadership make him the ideal candidate to lead the Kings Mountain team to the next level of performance.” Maiga has held positions of increasing responsibility since joining Eaton as a manufacturing technician in 1999. He most recently was plant manager for the Eaton Electrical Group’s Waukesha, Wisconsin, facility. Maiga holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Abdou Moumouni University in Niger, West Africa, and a Master’s degree in Business Administration from Cleary College in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Eaton is a power management company with 2016 sales of $19.7 billion. The company provides energy-efficient solutions that help our customers effectively manage electrical, hydraulic and mechanical power more efficiently, safely and sustainably. Eaton is dedicated to improving the quality of life and the environment through the use of power management technologies and services. Eaton has approximately 95,000 employees and sells products to customers in more than 175 countries. For more information, visit Eaton.com.
Ward 3 Councilman Tommy Hawkins is unopposed for re-election to HAWKINS his third term on Kings Mountain city council but incumbents Ward 2 councilman Mike Butler and At-large councilman Curtis Pressley are being challenged in the Nov. 7 election as filing deadline passed Aug. 1 at 12 noon. Butler faces Patty Hall and Pressley faces David Allen. The seven-member city council also includes Ward I, Howard Shipp; Ward 4, Rodney Gordon; Ward 5. Jay Rhodes and at-large member Keith Miller. Their four-year terms are not up this year. As the filing deadline passed Aug. 1 the board of education listed six Democrats and four Republicans running for four seats open in November which necessitated a run-off on Sept. 12 and four of the six elected will be on the ballot with the four Republicans in November. The six Democrats on the ballet are See HAWKINS, Page 7A
Folks enjoyed last year’s 2016 Beach Blast. Photo by Gary Smart
All day event
Beach Blast is Aug. 26 The water, the sand, the sun, the music and the fun – that’s life along the Grand Strand! On Saturday, August 26, Kings Mountain, NC will feel more like Ocean Drive as the City celebrates Beach Blast, bringing the beach experience downtown to the new amphitheater at Patriots Park. Beach Blast is an allday event beginning at 10:00 am and ending at 10:00 pm. Don’t forget your dancing shoes. Beach music fans can shag the day into the summer night with music at the amphitheater featuring Cindy
and Randy Floyd “Electric” Duo with Gene Pharr, Too Much Sylvia, Blackwater Rhythm & Blues Band, and Band of Oz. Water features include the Rotary Splash Pad and continuous rounds of Water Wars. This free event includes the Tiny Tots and Teenie Bikinis Contest, a watermelon eatin’ contest, a Woodie car show, inflatables and so much more. ‘’There is something for everyone,’’ says Christy Conner, Events Director. A variety of food vendor and over 30 craft vendors will
be set up at Patriots Park in downtown Kings Mountain with their unique art, crafts and collectibles for sale. This event is sponsored by Tom’s Family Mart, WGNC AM 1450 FM 100.7, Chiropractic Physicians of the Carolinas, City of Kings Mountain Main Street – Special Events, and Kings Mountain Tourism and Development. GPS location 225 Railroad Avenue, Kings Mountain, NC 28086 For more information visit www.cityofkm.com or call 704-734-0333.
Library seeks 1920-24 Heralds Mauney Memorial Library is looking for copies of 1920-24 Kings Mountain Heralds to add to their files. The library also has a few copies of the 1939 edition of the Kings Mountain Herald but more copies are needed. Call Mary Slaughter at 704-739-2371 if you or your relatives have retained copies of the earlier editions of the newspaper.
NATIONAL NIGHT OUT – K-9 Officer David Warlick and K-9 Aaron and Lt. Lisa Proctor, pictured with two young bicyclists receiving their helmets, were among representatives of area law enforcement participating in Kings Mountain’s National Night Out. More photos in today’s Herald
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