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 135 • Issue 31
Wednesday, August 4, 2021
Indoor Air Quality Assesments • New Installations A Family Owned & Operated Business
Servicing All Brands
kmherald.com • 704-484-1047
75¢
Truck demolished by train at Gold Street crossing Friday By Loretta Cozart On Friday, July 30, at 11:06 am, a Piedmont, LLC landscaping truck hauling equipment on a trailer behind, got caught on a cement pole at the Gold Street railroad crossing in Kings Mountain. According to witnesses, two men in the truck got out to see what got caught just as the crossing arms dropped and the signal indicated an approaching train. The men moved away from the truck and witnesses in downtown watched as the Norfolk Southern cargo train traveling from South to North sounded its horn loudly before impacting and demolishing the truck. Along with the truck, the crossing arm and signal were pulled
from the ground. Nobody was hurt in the accident. The driver of the truck, Joseph David Bridges of Shelby, works for Piedmont, LLC, a landscaping company based in Mooresville, NC Regarding the accident, KMPD Police Chief Lisa Proctor said, “When crossing over any crossing one must make sure that they do so in a safe manner and when you are pulling a trailer you have to allow yourself more room to make the turn based on the length of the trailer.” She went on to day, “There are several other routes one could use in town instead of this location when you are pulling a trailer of any size. It's always best to err on the side See TRAIN, Page 4A
Main Street Coordinator Christy Adkins took this photo of the train wreck as KM Police Department and KM Fire Department respond to the scene. See more photos on page 4A.
Tempers flare Vendor registrations open regarding downtown for NC BeachBlast Festival Festival Streetscape project Full-day set for August 21st at City Council By Loretta Cozart Temp e r s flared during c i t y council as staff, citizens, and city council shared their frustrations over communication related to the downtown Streetscape project.
Early in the meeting, City Manager Marilyn Seller announced an update of Kings Mountain’s Streetscape plan during the city council meeting on July 27. “I'm very excited to give an update on our downtown Streetscape phase two. The streetlight design has been completed, lights and poles have been selected, and all the materials have been See STREETSCAPE, Page 5A
Vendor registration has officially opened for the NC BeachBlast Festival, the City of Kings Mountain’s award winning fullday Carolina Beach Music Festival scheduled for 10:00am-10:00pm, August 21st, 2021. Vendors, who are interested, are encouraged to register at www.kingsmountainevents.com/vendor-application. Registration for Arts/
The City of Kings Mountain’s Planning and Zoning Board meets the second Tuesday of every month. This month’s meeting is scheduled for August 10. On the agenda is slated discussion of the city’s new Comprehensive Plan used to implement the new Unified Development Ordinance approved by city council on June 30. During the July 27 City Council Meeting, Planning
Director Stuart Gilbert reminded citizens that this meeting is important since the Comprehensive Plan is the tool used to interpret the UDO. The city has until December 31 to develop the city’s Comprehensive Plan. In addition, the board will also discuss Prestige Corporate Development, LLC’s (Brinkley Properties, LLC, owner) request for voluntary annexation. City Council has scheduled a public hearing for August 31 at 6 pm to rezone property at 1017 Phifer Road, 1025 Phifer Road, and 1027 See PLAN, Page 5A
Food vendors need to register with City of Kings Mountain Special Events to participate in the NC BeachBlast Festival August 21. Photos by City of Kings Mountain
Kings Mountain women honored
Planning and Zoning Board to discuss Comprehensive Plan on August 10 By Loretta Cozart
Craft/Information Vendors-$30.00. Registration for Food/Beverage Vendors-$100.00. Space is limited. To register, vendors must agree to stay for the duration of the event. Bring your grass table skirts, seashells and sand dollars, vendors are asked to decorate booths to match the beach theme of the event. One lucky vendor will win a Mayor’s Choice prize for best set-up. For more information on the NC BeachBlast Festival See BEACHBLAST, Page 5A
NC BeachBlast road closure Aug. 19 - 21 The City of Kings Mountain looks forward to this year’s NC BeachBlast Festival located at Patriots Park. A portion of Railroad Avenue and West Gold Street surrounding Patriots Park will be closed beginning at midnight Thursday, August 19th, 2021, and remain closed or barricaded until midnight, Saturday, August 21, 2021. Please use See ROAD, Page 5A
Proctor and Wingo named Distinguished Women of Clev. Co. By Betsy Wells The Cleveland County Commission for Women will host its twenty-ninth Distinguished Women’s Banquet on Thursday, August 26, 2021, at the LeGrand Center, 1800 E. Marion St, Shelby at 6:30 PM. Valerie Boyd (704-8137713) is chairing the 2021 Banquet Committee. Tanzy Wallace (704-300-5439) is co-chair. The Commission solicited nominations from the community to find these “Distinguished Women”. After reviewing the numer-
LISA PROCTOR KM Police Chief
TERESA WINGO
ous applications that were submitted, the group selected the following women for the
2021 Distinguished Women Awards: See WOMEN, Page 8A
For Dental Implants Locally Here In Kings Mountain
Baker Dental Care Preventative, Restorative & Cosmetic Dentistry
703 East King Street, Suite 9 Kings Mountain, NC www.BakerDentalCare.com
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