Dilling HEATING & COOLING A higher degree of trust and dependability
704.739.3446 Residential & Commercial Service Serving Cleveland, Gaston, Lincoln, Mecklenburg and Surrounding Counties since 1955.
Volume 131 • Issue 1
Indoor Air Quality Assesments • New Installations
Servicing All Brands
A Family Owned & Operated Business
kmherald.com • 704-739-7496
January 2, 2019
75¢
KM Energy, NTE celebrating a milestone
MILESTONE – The City of Kings Mountain celebrated a milestone in the city’s history in 2018 with the opening of KM Energy and on Jan. 1, 2019 became a power customer. Pictured at the August opening of the massive plant, from left, are NTE CEO Seth Shortlidge, KM City Manager Marilyn Sellers, Assistant City Manager Nick Hendricks, and Mike Green, NTE Director of Development. File photo
The City of Kings Mountain and NTE Energy marked a milestone in 2018 and on New Year’s Day January 1, 2019 the city became a power customer of Kings Mountain Energy. “We are extremely proud of this milestone and offer our thanks and congratulations to everyone who had a hand in bringing this state-of-the-art facility to completion,’’ NTE Chief Executive Officer Seth Shortlidge said at the plant’s ribbon-cutting opening in August. Shortlidge said NTE has enjoyed building long-last-
ing relationships with the City of Kings Mountain and customers as they work to bring significant power cost savings and economic development opportunities to the Carolinas. “What a great day this is for the citizens of Kings Mountain,’’ said Mayor Scott Neisler at the opening of the facility. “We will look back on this day as the start of the best decisions Kings Mountain has ever made since the decision to build Moss Lake,’’ the mayor added. Kings Mountain Energy Center off Dixon School
Road is a 475 MW natural gas-fired combined cycle electric generating plant, a $500 million facility providing clean energy to more than 400,000 homes through long-term agreements with nine municipalities, including Kings Mountain, in the Carolinas. In addition to providing wholesale electric service to the City of Kings Mountain, KM Energy will be a significant contributor to the city/county tax base and will be large water/ sewer customer of the City of Kings Mountain.
2018 year in review As 2018 ended with the strains of ‘Auld Lang Syne’ Dec. 31 Kings Mountain area citizens could look back at a year filled with memories of many happenings that impacted their lives. The year 2018 is captured in these excerpts of news headlines in the Kings Mountain Herald which some would look at as problems and others would consider as opportunities. A pictorial review of 2018 is featured in today’s Herald and does not include every photograph but does picture people having a good time at special events and remembers happenings in the lives of the community. By 3-0 the panel of Judges in the North Carolina Court of Appeals rendered judgment in a
KMPD CHIEF TESSNEER
HOWARD SHIPP
two-year old civil case, ruling for the City of Kings Mountain and a proposed housing development, Orchard Trace being sued by Brinkley Properties and adjacent property owners on KM Boulevard and Margrace Road who allege the city erred in a change in zoning. The appellate court filed its ruling Dec. 18, affirming a trial court’s ruling denying Brinkley Properties motion for summary judgment. The opin-
TIM MOORE
ion was only 10 pages in length but the file that has accumulated is a couple feet thick. Kings Mountain families said goodbye to many loved ones in 2018. The City of Kings Mountain mourned the death of Chief of Police Jerry Tessneer and Ward I city councilman Howard Shipp. Tessneer was one in a long line of Kings Mountain chiefs to be promoted through the ranks. He joined KMPD
KM CITY COUNCIL – The 7-member Kings Mountain City Council and Mayor Scott Neisler officially welcome newly-appointed Annie Thombs, Ward I commissioner. From left, David Allen, Jay Rhodes, Rodney Gordon, mayor pro-tem, Thombs, Mike Butler, Tommy Hawkins, Keith Miller and Neisler. File photo in 1992 and became chief on June 30, 2017. His funeral was conducted by his predecessor, retired Chief Melvin Proctor. Rev. Shipp had served as councilman for 18 years. Council appointed Annie Thombs to fill the unexpired term. As-
sistant KMPD Chief Lisa Proctor is serving as Acting Chief. The massive power plant, Kings Mountain Energy, cut a ribbon formally opening the $500 M natural gas-fired facility off Dixon School Road. The plant
is providing clean energy to 400,000 homes through long-term agreements with nine municipalities in the Carolinas, including the City of Kings Mountain. At the height of construction KMEC created more than See IN REVIEW, Page 3A
City needs assistance to control recycling costs By Loretta Cozart
Martin Luther King, Jr. observance January 21 The City of Kings Mountain will remember the life of Dr. Martin Luther King,
Jr. at the Joy Performance Center on Monday, January 21 at 3:00 pm with an inspirational celebration and play based upon the legacy of the Civil Rights Leader.
When Kings Mountain began recycling in 2012, the only costs incurred was for retrieving and delivering the materials to the recycler, Sonoco. There were no charges by the vendor to receive those materials, which saved the city money. The city was recently notified that Sonoco will close their doors effective January 31, 2019. With this news, the city quickly located a new vendor to handle the recyclables and Republic Waste Services agreed to a six-month contract which then renews month-to-month.
For Dental Implants Locally Here In Kings Mountain
Baker Dental Care Preventative, Restorative & Cosmetic Dentistry
Since the city began a recycling program in January 2012, citizens have been very supportive the program. According to City Manager Marilyn Sellers, 75% of Kings Mountain residents currently participate. The city currently hauls 1,400,393 pounds of recyclables annually. That translates to 700.20 tons not being placed in the County landfill. In the last six years, much has changed in the world of recycling. In the beginning, most of the United States’ recycling
materials were shipped overseas. Now, many items considered desirable for recycling are no longer wanted. As a result, those items have become a burden on recyclers to dispose of, so they charge additional fees to accept specific items. Beginning February 1, 2018, the City of Kings Mountain will change the accepted items for recycling to match Republic Waste Services guidelines and save the community money. The city needs your help to follow these guidelines. Items to recycle in your Blue Bin include: • clean newspaper • office paper • unwaxed cardboard
• aluminum cans • steel cans • plastic bottles (without the lids). • (Please do not place your recycling in bags, leave items lose in the bin.) The following items are no longer recyclable and should be placed in bags and into the Green Garbage Can for collection: • plastic bags (including grocery bags) • lids from plastic bottles • glass bottles or containers • pizza boxes • styrofoam • waxed cardboard • plastic take-out containers If you have questions, contact the Public Works Department at 704-7340735.
Just a few benefits of Dental Implants: • Improved appearance. Dental implants look and feel like your own teeth. • Improved speech. Dental implants allow you to speak without the worry that your dentures might slip. • Improved self-esteem. Smile again and feel better about yourself. • Durable. Implants are very durable and with proper care, can last a lifetime. To find out more about Dental Implants and schedule your next appointment
call us at 704-739-4461
703 E. Kings St., Suite 9, Kings Mountain • www.BakerDentalCare.com