By Loretta Cozart

On Friday evening, August 4, Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office was told of suspicious individuals visiting homes and claiming to be affiliated with the Cleveland County Schools.  
They issued the following warning, “Please be vigilant and cautious if anyone ever comes to your doorstep representing themselves as school personnel, especially if you find their behavior or intentions suspicious. We strongly encourage you to contact your local law enforcement immediately. The safety of your children is of the utmost importance, and we want to ensure that everyone feels secure in your neighborhood and homes.”

By Loretta Cozart

Candidate filing for the Kings Mountain municipal elections on November 7, ended Friday, July 21, at noon. Nine candidates filed to run. Both Annie Thombs in Ward 1, and Jimmy West in Ward 4 are running unopposed.
Four challengers have emerged in three key municipal races. For mayor, incumbent Scott Neisler is running against newcomer Rob Wagman.
In Ward 5, Woody Edwards and Mark Wampler are challenging incumbent Jay Rhodes. And Shearra Miller is challenging incumbent Keith Miller for the seat of City Council Member At-Large.
The Kings Mountain City Council is a seven-member board and includes three members with unexpired terms. They are Mike Butler, Ward 2, Tommy Hawkins, Ward 3; and At-Large Councilman David Allen.
In Town of Grover, Mayor Pro  Tem  Tony  L.  Willis, Sr. is running unopposed for mayor. Vying for the two open seats are incumbents Richard D. Smith and Bill Willis, along with newcomers Dylan Emory, and Thor Inman.
In Town of Waco, incumbents are running unopposed. John E. (Butch) Barrett, Jr  is running for Mayor, Mike Scism, Pete Sauls, and Chester R. Haynes are running for Aldermen.
The race for Cleveland County Water Board Commissioner has six candidates filing. Incumbents Bill Cameron, Dewey C. Cook, Tony M. Brooks, and Bruce Martin are running with newcomers Pamela Parker Maddox and James D. Bundy.

 

By Loretta Cozart

Jeff and Kelly Bolin reached out to the Herald last week sharing news  that on Friday morning they had sold Bolin’s Daycare at 901 Ramseur Street. The new owners are Tyler and Jessica Fletcher, and Woody Edwards, owners of Ronald’s Garage.
But Kelly won’t be stepping away just yet. “Well, I am going to be here for another year as the Director. I’m going to give them a year’s worth of experience, whatever they need,” she said. “The decision is bittersweet, but I feel now that the time is right.”
Tyler Fletcher’s stepdaughter has spent many years enrolled at Bolin’s Day Care, so the family is familiar with the business. This is their first day care, so they asked Kelly to stay on for a year in the transition.
“Whatever they do, I know it is going to be an improvement,” Kelly said. “I'm excited to see those because that's why we've hung in there for so long. We had to trust that the buyers are good people and that they plan to keep things going.”
Kelly has worked in the daycare for 33 ½ years, with Jeff having just a little less time working there. But for Jeff, Bolin’s Day Care has always been a part of his life; he has never known a day, until last Friday, that his family didn’t own the business.
In 1970, Barbara Ellen Bolin and her husband, Herman, lived two blocks away at 705 Ramseur Street. They had just completed construction of their new home on Cansler Street and decided to open a daycare in the basement. They had three children: Cindy, David, and Jeff. Jeff was just a year old.
Eventually, the Bolin's business outgrew their space, so they moved the daycare back to their house on Ramseur Street. In 1978, the Bolin’s bought the current property across from North School and built a facility that accommodates 98 students. The 74 Bypass took their property, and they needed a new location. Eventually, Jeff and Kelly bought the daycare from Barbara.
Bolin’s Day Care is well known for keeping traditions, like hot dog and chili day on Friday. When asked about the chili recipe during their 50th anniversary celebration, Jeff almost disclosed the recipe. Kelly quickly interrupted and explained, “it is a highly classified.” It was not disclosed if the chili
recipe was included in the sale.

Join Catawba Archivist Mr. Ensley Guffey as he presents a deeper look into the Catawba People and their participation and involvement in the American Revolution.
This free event is Saturday, July 29, at 1 p.m. at Kings Mountain Historical Museum. Visit the museum’s website to reserve your seat for this event.
Ensley F. Guffey has completed his AA, BA, an MA in History, and an MLIS. Since 2020, Ensley has been the tribal archivist for the Catawba Indian Nation, working out of the Catawba Nation Archives in the Catawba Cultural Center on the Old Reservation outside of Rock Hill, South Carolina. There he cares for a multi-media collection including everything from documents to pottery to projectile points to traditional regalia to audio and video on a variety of formats.

By Loretta Cozart

During the June 27 City Council meeting for the City of Kings Mountain, members voted unanimously to enter a one-year contract with Kings Mountain Forward, Inc. for ongoing services in support of the Municipal Service District; the Downtown; and small business corridors within the City of Kings Mountain. The contract can be cancelled by either party with 120 days-notice. In addition, Kings Mountain Forward, Inc. would be granted alcohol sales for promotions after this season. The plan is for Kings Mountain Forward, Inc. to work closely with the city.
Prior to the vote, City Manager Jim Palenick explained to council that once the contract was finalized, MSD funds of $42,000 would be transferred to Kings Mountain Forward, Inc. for use only in the Municipal Service District. Additional funds of $75,000 would also be made available to the nonprofit, with some additional funds set as matching, contingent upon Kings Mountain Forward, Inc. raising $25,000 on its own.
Because Kings Mountain Forward, Inc.’s contract was approved, city council unanimously voted to repeal both the Amending the Downtown Development Incentive Grants Policy and Resolution 12-46, which establishes the Kings Mountain Main Street Advisory Board and dissolve the board.

By Loretta Cozart

County commissioners passed the 2023-2024 fiscal year budget with no tax increase to residents. The current property tax rate of 54.75 cents per $100 valuation will remain the same, as will the 14 cents public school tax, and the 8.75 cents fire tax.
Total revenue in the General Fund is budgeted at $134.6 million, approximately a $9 million increase from the prior fiscal year. Most of this increase is associated with the consolidation of the rescue squads into Cleveland County Government along with increased debt funding for the Justice Center project. All revenue projections were established maintaining a 54.75 cent tax rate. The budget includes a 5% cost of living increase for county employees.
Seven new positions are being added to the Cleveland County Sheriff's Office that includes four new deputies, victim’s specialist, shooting range officer, and mechanic.
County Commissioners have identified several key initiatives specific to promoting and improving community wellness with the top being an intentional focus on actively engaging in the fight against the opioid epidemic. Included under the Community Wellness Focus Atea arc:
• Improvement in Community Health Rankings
• Effective Use of Opioid Settlement Funds
• Expansion of Existing Trail Systems & Exploration of New Opportunities
The county plans to re-engage its focus on community health and re-focus on improving metrics. Cleveland County remains outside the top 80 in County population health. The primary driver to that ranking remains premature death.
Chronic disease such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and substance abuse are among the leaders in the premature death category. Almost one-third of our county residents are diabetic or pre-diabetic. Our county's stroke rate is 80 per 100,000 (which is double the state average) and our overdose rankings are unproportionally high.
Cleveland County District Schools’ budget increased by $900,000 for teaching supplements, bringing the 2023-2024 fiscal year budget to $32.4 million.
Interim County Manager Todd Carpenter said the county is experiencing growth in population, property and sales tax, Jobs, housing, and industry.
The county also anticipates an additional $75,000 in revenue generated by Catawba Two Kings Casino.

By Loretta Cozart

Kings Mountain Project Center, located in historic Griffin Drug at 129 West Mountain Street, is a meeting and education center open to walk-in visitors who want to learn more about the proposed Kings Mountain Mine project, employment information, and potential community investment. It’s also home to the Albemarle Kings Mountain Community Affairs staff.
“We’ll be open Tuesday through Friday every week, and we plan to have evening and weekend hours every month also,” said Albemarle’s Community Affairs Manager, and Kings Mountain native, Kirsten Martin.
“We’ve held two board meetings already here at the Project Center for local nonprofits, and we have two more meetings on the schedule. So, if there are any small groups looking for a place to meet in the evenings, we have a space for up to 15 people.”
   The Project Center is designed to serve the community, providing information about the proposed mining activities, and informing the community of the latest happenings. Whether you stop by to watch their state-of-the-art mining videos on
their giant TV screens or want to team more about how lithium is a much-needed resource for renewable energy, their doors are open, and they want to meet you.
   Kirsten said, “We want to be accessible and transparent every step of the way. I am very excited about our new downtown Project Center and look forward to engaging directly with our community.”
   “We have the Project Center so anybody with questions can come to get answers. We want to make sure people know we’re here, we have a phone number, we have a website, we have a newsletter, and we have emails. We have many, many, different channels to contact us. If we have the answer, we’ll give it to you. If we don’t, we’ll tell you that, or that we’re we not sure yet and we will get back to you.”
   KM Project Center will hold its first mine tour on Thursday, June 22 from 2 – 4 p.m. Email Cynthia.Estridge@albemarle.com to register for the tour, which will be filled on a first come, first served basis. They will create a waitlist if they reach capacity.
   To learn more about Albemarle Kings Mountain, or to read their newsletter, The Element, visit www.albemarlekingsmountain.com or call (704) 734-2775.

By Loretta Cozart

Mountain Holiday, at 110 West Mountain Street in Kings Mountain, will reopen for business on Wednesday, July 5 at 10 a.m.
After two months, Mountain Holiday 2.0, as employee Camryn King called it in the store’s Facebook announcement, will be open for business. The interior paneling, flooring and drywall have been replaced with brighter, updated finishes. The color is light grey, and the flooring complements the store’s many showcases and fixtures.
On May 2, the store suffered a flood, damaging the interior of the store. Many downtown merchants and business owners came out in support, helping quickly move inventory and fixtures to storage. Within the week, a new roof replaced the one that collapsed, and the interior restoration work began.
Now that the work is complete, staff is working hard to fill the store with brands the community has come to know and love like Byer’s Carolers, Jim Shore, Willow Tree, and Corinthian Bells, among many others. The Christmas Room, along with its iconic mantle, will once again bring Christmas to Kings Mountain year-round.

By Loretta Cozart

Three downtown businesses will hold a Rolling Ribbon Cutting on Wednesday, June 21, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. On Q Financial – The Ingle Team kicks off the event at 129 S. Battleground Avenue at 10:30 a.m., followed by Brittany Austin and Co Huitt Realty at 11 a.m. at 144 S. Battleground Ave. The final ribbing cutting will be at The Imperial Mercantile at 138 W. Mountain Street at 11:30 a.m.
The community is invited to celebrate with these new businesses and welcome them to the community.

By Loretta Cozart

On Thursday, June 8, Kings Mountain City Council approved the city manager's proposed FY 2023-2024 budget of $65,079,820, an increase of $11,174,987 from last year during a monthly work session. That budget was explained to the council and the community in detail during their Monday, May 22, meeting at city hall.
   The proposed budget includes:
• A 5-cent property tax increase.
• A 10% increase in water and sewer.
• A solid waste fee increases of $2.49.
• A stormwater fee increases of $1.50.
   There were no increases in electricity or natural gas.
The new rate of 48 cents is moderate compared with that of other municipalities of comparable size to Kings Mountain that, include Lincolnton: 56 cents, Newton: 54- cents; Morganton: 57-cents; Albemarle: 64-cents, and Lexington: 65-cents, for an average property tax rate of .59-cents.
The budget also includes $1.8 million for paving and road improvements. "Thirty-five streets will be paved throughout the city," Palenick said. "And, $100,000 is included for parks and recreation capital improvements. A five percent wage increase has also been set aside for city employees included in the budget."
How does that translate to the average citizen's monthly budget? For a person who owns a $100,000 house, the city estimates the increase to be $12.79 per month. For a $200,000 home, the additional cost is estimated to be $17.51 per month. And for a $400,000 house, citizens will see an increase to $26.40 per month.
Mayor Neisler suggested a different path, suggesting instead that $1M be taken from the Economic Development Fund, suggesting that only one fire truck be purchased this year and that the city pave fewer streets to make up the difference and not raise property taxes this year.
Mayor Pro-Tem Annie Thombs offered her opinion, saying, "Mayor, the comments I want to make are going in the opposite direction of what you just stated. Looking at this budget, it is perhaps one of the hardest decisions I've had to consider while serving on the city council."
   "Perception is one thing, but when you get information that we have been given concerning investment within our city so that we are able to deliver great services without having leaf trucks breaking down, without dump trucks not moving, without city staff being out cutting the grass and the lawn mower stops and they’ve got to wait two days to get it fixed before they can come back and finish cutting grass, we have neglected maintenance. We have neglected our rolling stock. We have neglected things that should have been addressed, had we known that they needed to be addressed. I see this budget as, in Mr. Green used Words, as being very 'pivotal,'" she continued.
   "Number one, we need to set a different standard. And we can't continue like we have been going and expect a different outcome. Inflation continues to rise. If we put it off and wait, it's going to cost us more. It's hard when you think of all the citizens; it's not an easy decision. But at the same time, we have to look at what's best for the city.
   "And I think, as David (Stone) alluded to, this is not a political decision for me. This is what's best for this city. And if it's a hill I have to die on, I just die on the hill. At least I will have made a decision to set a different standard for this city and set a budget, so those that come behind us will have a standard to follow. And if they choose to do something different, then again, the citizens will be able to see what really works and what doesn't work. What really makes sense and what doesn't make sense."
   "Yes, it's going to be hard on our citizenry, to a point. But years down the road, they'll be able to look back and be glad of the decision we made. And when we look at it, we are a city that must maintain our public utilities because we own our public utilities to maintain, sustain, and provide growth, and that is a delicate balancing act. And I think this budget is beginning to address that balancing act because when I first looked at it (the budget), I had the reaction, "Nowhere in the world am I going to pass 5 cents. Because I just couldn't see a five-cent increase," she explained.
   "But when we had the last budget session, and he (City Manager Jim Palenick) gave us the options that we have available to us. And when he so clearly pointed out why we needed to have this increase, all of the speech I had prepared just flew out the window. Because I looked at this and I said, 'I've got to make a responsible decision no matter the outcome. And if citizens decide that because I voted for this budget, I don't need to sit here, so be it. I'm to do the thing that's necessary right now based upon what I have been presented with, based upon what I have seen, and based upon the needs of this city.'"
   "It is the first budget that I have seen that is a budget reinvesting in our city, prioritizing the things that we need to do. And a fire truck now versus a fire truck later… The fire truck that we purchase now, if we put it down the road it, is going to cost us almost twice as much. So, we must look at and be responsible for the things that we as a governing board need to do."
   "And I just would encourage us, like the mayor said, regardless of how we vote, regardless of the outcome, we have to support whatever the majority has done. I just ask that each one of us just look at this, have the courage to be responsible, and do what we need to do and do, and support the city manager," she explained. "Because we said together we needed a change. We said together we needed to go in a different direction. And the city manager told us when he came on board, after he had been here about three weeks and began to assess things, 'You all are going to have to make some hard decisions.' And so, he kept his word."
   The vote passed 5 to 1, with Councilman Jimmy West voting against. Councilman Mike Butler was not in attendance.

Toney Peavey of Kings Mountain took a chance on a $2 Powerball ticket and won a $1 million prize in Saturday’s drawing.
Peavey bought his lucky Quick Pick ticket from the Circle K on Cleveland Avenue in Kings Mountain. He matched numbers on all five white balls to win $1 million.
Peavey claimed his prize Friday at lottery headquarters and, after required federal and state tax withholdings, took home $712,501.
Saturday’s Powerball drawing offers a $308 million jackpot, or $160.1 million in cash. The odds of winning a Powerball jackpot are 1 in 292 million.
Ticket sales from draw games like Powerball make it possible for the lottery to raise $2.5 million a day on average for education. Cleveland County received $28.5 million in grants, using funds raised by the lottery, to help with school construction.
How do NC Education Lottery funds benefit Cleveland County? In 2022, $13,491,646 was reinvested into the county, including $639,754 for Pre-K programs, $313,098 toward college scholarships, $92,353 in financial aid, $3,473,308 in Non-Instructional Support, $152,633 in school transportation support, and $8,820,500 in school construction.