INSIDE...
SPORTS......... 1B
Obituaries ............. 2 Police Log ............. 2 Lifestyles .............. 6
kmherald.com
■ KM falls to Shelby, faces Draughn Friday
Volume 127 • Issue 39 • Wednesday, September 30, 2015
Vigil attendees take on casino project DAVE BLANTON dave.kmherald@gmail.com
Pastor James Baker of the First Wesleyan Church of Lenoir speaks at a prayer vigil Saturday evening at City Hall. He joined other local ministers in questioning the morality of gaming operations. against regional gambling operations. “I have seen the casino business model in action,” said James Baker, the pastor at Lenoir’s First Wesleyan See VIGIL, Page 8A
CC Public Schools look into Chinese exchange program DAVE BLANTON dave.kmherald@gmail.com
Public schools in Cleveland County could within a few years see a big influx of Chinese foreign exchange students. Members of the Cleveland County Board of Education on Monday heard a presentation from Tower Bridge International Education Group, an organization that already operates Chinese exchange programs in
four U.S. states. “It would be in the range of 30 to 40 students (from China) who would be attending schools throughout the system,” said Cleveland County Schools superintendent Dr. Stephen Fisher. “No decision about the program has been made at this point – we’re just learning about how it might work. If adopted, it could be implemented by the 2017-2018 school year.” See SCHOOLS, Page 7A
More commuting to Mecklenburg, Gaston Counties
Government data shows that Cleveland County residents are increasingly commuting to the Gastonia and Charlotte areas to earn a paycheck in the last 25 years. DAVE BLANTON dave.kmherald@gmail.com
Workers who live in Cleveland County are increasingly commuting to
Mecklenburg County to get to their jobs, according to recent data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau and the Gaston-Cleveland-Lincoln Metropolitan Planning Organization. In 1990, 1,144 Cleveland County residents made their way into the state’s most densely populated county to earn a paycheck. By 2013, that number had climbed to See COMMUTING, Page 2A
75¢
See Page 3B
KM, Shelby see prizes in state budget ELIZABETH STEWART lib.kmherald@gmail.com
Drizzling rain could not deter a small group of anti-gambling advocates from holding a prayer vigil Saturday night on the steps of Kings Mountain’s City Hall. Under a large banner that read “You pay even if you don’t play – predatory gambling is not a revenue policy,” area pastors and other community leaders met came together in what the nationwide group Stop Predatory Gambling was calling a National Day of Action. The vigil, which was attended by about 35 people, was a mix of policy talk and scripture as Wesleyan and Baptist pastors from as far away as Boger City and Lenoir attacked casinos for their greed and made a plea to elected officials to stand
Josh Brucker Gwen Hopper KMHS 2015-16 Homecoming King and Queen
Kings Mountain officials are elated at a grant announcement from the state a n d TIM MOORE are waiting to learn more about the details of the grant and how money from the grant can be spent. The latest N.C. budget resolution, which was signed into law earlier this month, includes a handful of major infrastructure and economic development rewards for
Cleveland County, including Kings Mountain and Shelby. The budget, which covers funding for fiscal year 2015-2016 and fiscal year 2016-2017, invests in Cleveland County and offers tools aimed at spurring economic development in the region. The N.C. House of Representatives passed a bipartisan State Budget by a vote of 80-35. It offers Downtown Revitalization Grants to both Kings Mountain and Shelby to help continue growth and job creation. Similar grants have proven effective for other cities across North Carolina, according to N.C. House leaders. It also allocates $250,000 for much-
needed improvements to Keeter Stadium, which plays host to the American Legion World Series every year. Speaker Tim Moore (R-Cleveland) said he was pleased with what the grants will do for Cleveland County. In a news release Moore said, “Regardless of my leadership post, I am always
a representative for the people of Cleveland County, and I am proud to say this state budget collaborates with local entities to improve our community. He added, ‘’As in many of North Carolina’s rural districts, Cleveland County has experienced setbacks that have slowed economic growth. With See KM, Shelby, Page 7A
License plates become available today from DMV
Mayor says 'state of the city' excellent ELIZABETH STEWART lib.kmherald@gmail.com
“The state of the city is excellent as the City of Kings Mountain continues to move progressively forward.” Mayor Rick Murphrey, presenting a power point presentation at Thursday morning's industrial customer appreciation breakfast, echoed that theme as he touched on numerous internal cost savings and high dollar savings for the city and customers now and in future years. Some of the major points:
NTE - Signing with a new wholesale electric provider beginning Dec. 31, 2018 for 20 years will produce $9 million a year and because of the new contract the city will put up a second natural gas gate station, a one time savings of $1.5 M. STEAG – Through negotiations with Duke Energy, the city is servicing the old Anvil Knit that was once served by Duke Energy. STEAG was looking for distribution service and the city is now the electrical provider to the entire STEAG campus. STEAG is in the top five electrical users of the city.
Ed Tucker, left, NTE official, Mayor Rick Murphrey, county commissioner Susan Allen and Bill Watson, president of Cleveland County Chamber, are pictured at the city's annual industrial appreciation breakfast last Thursday at the Senior Center. Photo by JAN HARRIS The mayor estimated savings of $239,000 per year in electric only. NEW STATE Reform
energy tax - Natural gas has never been taxed on sales and how it transports. See MAYOR SAYS, Page 4A
NTE Carolina applies Gateway Festival Oct. 10 This year’s Cleveland Comfor annexation into city Gateway Fesmunity College,
NTE Carolina has applied to the City of Kings Mountain for voluntary annexation into the city limits and council was expected at Tuesday night's meeting to set Oct. 27 at 6 p.m. for public hearing and vote. NTE has begun site preparation off I-85 at Dixon School Road to construct the Kings Mountain Energy Center, a 480MW natural
gas electric facility lauded as one of the most efficient and clean sources of capacity and energy in the Carolinas. When the Kings Mountain Energy Center is completed, the plant has capability to supply electricity to power 300,000 homes and represents an investment of over $450 M, providing numerous benefits to Kings Mountain, See NTE, Page 4A
Candidate forum Oct. 5 A candidate forum will be held Monday, Oct. 5 at 6 p.m. at Bynum Chapel AME Zion Church Family Life Center, 310 Ellis Street, in Kings Mountain. Invitations went out this week to candidates for mayor, city council, and board of education to attend the event which will include free hot dogs, door prizes and certificates to the church with the largest number of representatives. The event is sponsored by Alpha Kappa Alpha So-
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rority, Inc., Zeta Mu Omega Chapter, Mount Zion Baptist Church and Bynum Chapel AME Zion Church. 'We want this forum to be a community-wide event and encourage the churches to send representatives,'' said Ina Hager. Robin Smith will be moderator for the forum. In addition to questions submitted by the sponsoring groups, the public can submit questions to the moderator prior to the opening of the forum.
tival will when it starts bring “Music, near the Gazebo Muskets, & at Patriots Park. Merriment” This dayto downtown long fall festiKings Mountain val (10 a.m. -5 on Saturday, p.m.) celebrates October 10. Kings Mountain Starting the being designated day early at 8 by the National a.m. will be the Park Service as runners who the “Gateway will participate City” to all three 2015 in the Gateway area parks. This Festival 5K, benefiting the community-wide event will early college program at See GATEWAY, Page 4A
Ribbon-cutting Oct.19 at Senior Center Ribbon-cutting at the new expansion of the H. Lawrence Patrick Senior Life & Conference Center will be held Oct. 19 at 10 a.m., Mayor Rick Murphrey announced at Thursday's industrial customer appreciation breakfast at the Senior Center. The expanded cafeteria will allow the serving of lunch to 60-85 seniors and prospective new clients on a daily basis. The computer lab will be relocated and upgraded. A
new multipurpose room will be created and a craft room and exercise room will be increased in size. Additionally, the pantry storage area will increase in size for the future free-standing nutrition program. A covered entrance and reception area at the rear of the building and a walkway extended completely around the building to make it a complete circle are new features. The public is invited.
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