We Wish You A Blessed And Joyful
Volume 129 • Issue 52
kmherald.com • 704-739-7496
December 27, 2017
75¢
Gordon Mayor Pro Tem
City Council reorganizes for New Year
Gary Smart Sr., the man with the camera at most all sports events at Kings Mountain High School and many events in the city, was surprised with the 2017 Community Spirit Award by the City of Kings Mountain last Tuesday. Mayor Scott Neisler, left, makes the presentation.
Smart wins Spirit Award ELIZABETH STEWART lib.kmherald@gmail.com
It shouldn’t have been any surprise to the public attending last Tuesday’s city council meeting that Gary Smart Sr. would win a community spirit award. But to the man with a camera who came to city hall on invitation of the mayor to take pictures of the swearing-in ceremonies it was a complete surprise. From the time that Smart got into the meeting, he was making pictures. That is, until Mayor Scott Neisler called Smart’s name as recipient of the 2017 Community Spirit Award. He had to walk to the front of the room and get a hug and an award. Then Smart had his picture taken, and with his own camera, by Captain Lisa Proctor of the Kings Mountain Police
Department. “We see this man at every athletic event and city event in town, the kids at the high school all know him on a first name basis and everyone loves him, he is the epitome of community spirit,’’ said the mayor. The mayor made the special presentation prior to the swearing-in ceremonies. Smart said that he appreciated the honor. His wife, who accompanied him to the meeting, had kept the secret but had insisted she wanted to come to council meeting with him. It was an emotional presentation. The mayor hugged Smart and a packed audience and the full board gave Smart a standing ovation. Then Smart retrieved his camera and went back to doing what he does best.
94.11 acres
Roadside truck plaza satellite annexed City Council unanimously satellite annexed Roadside Truck Plaza on Dixon School Road last Tuesday night on voluntary annexation petition by Maliks International, Inc. Chambersburg, PA. The newly-annexed area unanimously approved by city council is one tract containing 94.11 acres. Property tax value is $1.3 million. Eric Greenway, the city’s Director of Community Planning and Economic Development, said the area annexed is under significant growth pressure and the requests for city services are increasing. He said effective police and fire protection that are substantially equivalent to those within the existing corporate limits can be provided without additional personnel. Laeego Khan, President of Malik, said during the public hearing conducted by
city council he has long term plans for improving the business and area. He told The Herald recently that he plans to renovate the truck plaza to include a Sonoco gas station with new pumps, restaurant, and upscale RV park and hire 7 or 8 new employees. Maliks purchased the truck stop and acreage from the Testa corporation seven years ago. In other actions, city council: +reappointed Ralph Grindstaff to the ABC Board for a term of three years, term expiring January 2021. +okayed changes in the by-laws of the Mauney Memorial Library regarding trustee terms and reappointed Marie Brinkley for a four-year term ending 2021; appointed Debbie Greene to a four-year term ending 2021 and appointed Todd Wilson to a four-year term ending in 2021. After a five-minute break, the city council organizational meeting was held.
Newly elected city councilmen Tommy Hawkins, Ward 2, Mike Butler, Ward GORDON 3, a n d ..Mayor Pro Tem D a v i d Allen, At Large were sworn in for a four-year term last Tuesday night at City Hall and Council reorganized for the coming term. Ward 4 councilman Rodney Gordon was elected unanimously by his fellow council members to serve as mayor pro tem for a two-year term. Gordon has served previously as mayor pro tem. City Attorney Mickey Corry was reelected unanimously to serve in the position he has held for a number of years. Corry is also City Attorney for the Town of Grover. Retiring City Clerk Lynda Mattox swore in Karen Tucker, Deputy City Clerk, as City Clerk. North Carolina Speaker of the House Tim Moore, a native of Kings Mountain and also State Representative and a Kings Mountain attorney, was presented an engraved clock and Cormetech Inc., formerly STEAG, was honored for generously funding “Feed the Children Day” with a gift of: $15,000 to bring $75,000 worth of food distributed to 400 needy Kings Mountain area families. Mark Vasco accepted the resolution for Cormetech. Councilmen Hawkins and Butler took the oaths of office from Speaker of the House Moore and Allen, the new member of the board succeeding Curtis Pressley, took the oath of office from J. R. Rowell, Union County Clerk of Superior Court. Allen, Butler and Hawkins thanked their families and friends and said they looked forward to serve the citizens of Kings Mountain. The mayor took the occasion to present a gift and
SWEARING IN – David Allen, Tommy Hawkins, and Mike Butler (left to right), newly-elected councilmen, are sworn-in as city councilmen for a four- year term.
Retiring Kings Mountain City Clerk Lynda Mattox swears-in the newly-appointed City Clerk Karen Tucker as Mrs. Tucker’s husband, Jerry, looks on. plaque to Pressley from the city recognizing his service as At Large commissioner. Pressley extended his appreciation to the mayor, members of the board and city staff. The board and the large audience gave Pressley a standing ovation. Prior to the swearing-in ceremonies the regular December session of city council was held. The mayor recognized Ricaylen Mack, Kings Mountain High School athlete, chosen for the third time as an All-American football player and selected to play in the All-American Bowl on Dec. 26, 2017 in New Orleans, LA and Sophia Kellstrom, a recent graduate of KMHS and a freshman at
Mayor Scott Neisler presents plaque to Curtis Pressley for his service as At Large commissioner. Photos by GARY SMART High Point University, Miss Gastonia 2018. Both young people were presented res-
olution plaques and were accompanied by friends and family.
McAbee sisters say Kiwanis club is role model Sisters say Kiwanis Club was their role model Their story may not seem like a life-changing event but for two sisters, Sonya McAbee Gregory, 57, and Angelia Jarrell, 60, performing in Kiwanis-sponsored talent shows in the 1960s and 1970s impacted their lives and Kiwanis International is printing their story because Kiwanis was role model for them 40 years ago. The daughters of Mary Helen Melton McAbee and the late Brooks McAbee grew up on Second Street in the Cora Mill Village. “We learned from an early age that you can do anything if you put your mind to it,’’
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said Angie. From the time they were six years old until age 18 their mother hand sewed every stitch of their satin and sequined costumes, choreographing numbers from latest pop songs orBroadway tunes of the era that impressed the judges. The sisters wowed the judges. ‘It taught us great responsibility, patience, respect, honor and pride in the quality of our work,’’ said Sonya. She said the talent show was a big event in Kings Mountain and the two girls practiced and practice paid off. ‘It was like Hollywood for us,’’ added Sonya. Reminiscing about those
ANGELIA JARRELL
SONYA GREGORY
special times, Sonya said that their parents helped them decide which songs to sing and their aunt, Priscilla Guy-
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