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Volume 130 • Issue 39
kmherald.com • 704-739-7496
September 26, 2018
75¢
Candidates speak at Women's Club forum By Loretta Cozart Ten candidates spoke to voters attending the Candidates' Forum at the Kings Mountain Woman's Club Monday evening. In attendance were Ted Alexander; David Lee Latimore; Kelly Hastings; Christy G. McCleary; Tim Moore, David Brinkley; Ali Paksoy, Jr.; Micah J. Sanderson; Alan Norman; and Clyde Ledbetter. Thirty-five citizens filled the seats and listened as candidates spoke. Each candidate had three minutes to introduce themselves and present their platform. Questions were not taken during the presentations. Afterward, attendees met with candidates one-on-one. Candidates for County Commission did not attend the forum due to a
scheduling conflict with another forum in the county. Their remarks were submitted in writing and Woman’s Club member Anne Gamble read them to the group. Ted Alexander (R) is running for NC State Senate District 44 and spoke to the gathering on his service as a past Mayor of Shelby, his experience in economic and community development with the Uptown Shelby Association's Mainstreet Program, and in NC Historic Preservation. He described himself as a "fiscal and social conservative, pro-life, in support of second amendment rights." David Lee Latimore (D) also running for NC Senate District 44 told the gathering he was a native North Carolinian and has lived in the state all
ALEXANDER
LATTIMORE
HASTINGS
McCLEARY
MOORE
BRINKLEY
PAKSOY
SANDERSON
NORMAN
LEDBETTER
Candidates Forum Group–Ten candidates spoke to voters at the Kings Mountain Women’s Club Monday evening. Photos by Loretta Cozart
his life. He shared his platform and explained his interest is in education and that he has experience as a substitute teacher in Cleveland County Schools. He said there are "necessary changes for North Carolina Schools that need to be addressed." He touched on the lack of resources and money in the school system. He pledged that he "will work to get better funding for education and our kids." Kelly E. Hastings (R) is the incumbent candidate for NC House of Representatives District 110 and spoke on a platform of "lower taxes, less crime, and enhanced student learning." He explained that "faith is important to me" and that he "serves the portion of Kings Mountain that is in Gaston County." Christy G. McCleary (D) also running for NC House of Representatives District 110 spoke of her work in the community serving on the Cleveland County Historic Preservation Board
and the Kings Mountain Planning and Zoning Board. She shared that "Kings Mountain's cost of living results in lower wage requirements. People are harmed by working two jobs. We need to protect them," she said. McCleary also shared concerns about environmental and natural resources. She supports equal pay for women and pointed out that there are "nearly 15,000 unsolved rape cases in Cleveland County that should be given more attention.” Tim Moore (R) is the incumbent running for North Carolina House of Representatives for District 111 and has served in that office since 2002. He addressed the unemployment rate, witnessing it drop from 15% to 4% while in office. Mentioning the Shelby bypass, he said, "that project has been on the books for a long time, and we are going to see it finished." He also touched on improvements in economic See CANDIDATES, Page 7A
Donate to hurricane relief W & B Trucking in Kings Mountain is sponsoring a North Carolina Food Relief Drive for the victims of Hurricane Florence. The two drop-off points in town are Hometown Hardware located at 110 Railroad Avenue and W & B Trucking located at 2072 Shelby Rd. Items can be dropped-off from 7 a.m. until 5 p.m. daily. Items accepted are: non-perishable food, school supplies, blankets, towels, soaps, sheets/pillow
W&B Trucking is sponsor of NC Food relief drive for hurricane florence victims. cases, pillows, toothbrushes and paste (small), bleach, shampoo, baby Items, feminine items, diapers, body-
wash, folding chairs, wipes, rormula, cleaning and laundry supplies, scrub brushes, See DONATE, Page 2A
Speaker of House continues Florence flood assessments with N.C. Legislators North Carolina House Speaker Tim Moore (R-Cleveland) continued conducting assessments of Florence’s devastation with state legislators and local officials across North Carolina on Tuesday and Wednesday. The tour included Anson, Bladen, Columbus, Craven, Cumberland, Duplin, Harnett, Lee, Pender, Richmond, Robeson, Union, and See FLOOD, Page 8A
K-9 Officer Chris Graham with Kubo. Photo by Carolyn Henwood
Police Department receives grant By Loretta Cozart
Speaker Moore assesses damage to farming and livestock operations.
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Last week the Kings Mountain Police Department received a grant of an Ace K-9 Heat Alarm Pro, a device used to warn officers if temperatures in their vehicles reach 82 degrees. Police dogs are kept in kennels inside the cars until they are needed, and the alarm helps to protect these valuable canine partners. "A month ago, Chief
Tessneer suggested we apply for the grant with the National Police Dog Foundation. They had 12 heat alarms to award nationwide, and we needed a second alarm for K-9 Officer Jonathan Price's unit. In 100 words or less, I had to describe why our agency deserved the alarm. Winners were announced within 10 to 14 days," K-9 Officer Chris Graham reported. "I am just happy that Of-
ficer Price and his canine partner, Aaron, will have this protection. It gives us great peace of mind. K-9 Officers must still be vigilant and check the car when our partners are in their kennels. No system is foolproof, and we are responsible for protecting our partners. We don't normally leave them in the car more than fifteen minutes without checking on them." See GRANT, Page 7A
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