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Volume 136 • Issue 44
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Wednesday, October 30, 2024
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City awarded $9.6M PHMSA grant By Loretta Cozart Kings Mountain City Manager Jim Palenick and Energy Services Director Wayne Ledbetter announced on Thursday, September 23, that the city has been awarded $9,609,485 to replace 23 miles of aging gas pipeline, upgrade six regulator stations, and retire two. This funding comes from the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA). According to the report, the project will create approximately 100 new jobs. Palenick emphasized that Kings Mountain received the third-largest grant in the nation this award season, with nearly $10 million allocated for a community of
Pictured L-R: Energy Service Director Wayne Ledbetter and City Manager Jim Palenick announce a $9.6M grant awarded to the city to update the city’s gas pipeline. Photo by City of KM 11,000 residents. In contrast, the largest grant was awarded to Philadelphia, which received $39.9 million for its population of 1.5 million, while Richmond, Virginia, received $15.7 million for its 250,000 res-
idents. “This grant is unbelievable; it’s transformational and will significantly impact our community and gas utility,” said Palenick. Director Ledbetter explained that the city has
nearly 100 miles of main pipelines throughout Kings Mountain. This grant will facilitate the replacement of 23 miles of pipeline, modernizing the system to accommodate new large users and support future growth. Six new regulator stations will be installed, and two aging stations will be retired. Many sections of the current system are over 70 years old and replacing them will enhance safety. Given the age of the existing infrastructure, he noted that the community faced a considerable project that could have taken 10 to 12 years to complete and would have required residents' funding. This grant alleviates that financial burden and accelerates the
process. It is still unclear when the grant funds will be available, but they could be received as early as the first quarter of 2025. The project is anticipated to take two and a half to three years to complete. In 2021, President Biden signed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (Public Law 117-58) on November 15, 2021, marking the most significant investment in the nation’s infrastructure in over half a century. This law includes PHMSA’s first-ever Natural Gas Distribution Infrastructure Safety and Modernization (NGDISM) grant program, which authorizes nearly $1 billion in investments over five years to modernize
community-owned natural gas distribution pipes. The initiative aims to reduce energy costs for ratepayers, decrease methane pollution, and enhance community safety from pipeline failures. PHMSA's mission is to protect people and the environment by advancing the safe transportation of energy and other hazardous materials essential to our daily lives. The agency establishes national policy, sets and enforces standards, educates the public, and conducts research to prevent incidents. Additionally, PHMSA prepares the public and first responders to minimize the consequences of any potential events.
NC ballot referendum on amendment to ban noncitizens from voting In the General Election, North Carolina voters will decide on a proposed amendment to the state constitution, House Bill 1074. This amendment seeks to formally ban noncitizens from voting in state and local elections. Proponents argue that the amendment will close any potential loopholes in the current constitution that might otherwise allow noncitizen voting in future local and state contests. Those opposing the amendment contend it stems from anti-immigration sentiment and could inadvertently disenfranchise eligible voters. Notably, the measure does
not impact federal elections, where federal law prohibits noncitizens from voting in presidential and congressional races. Currently, North Carolina law is understood by the courts to bar noncitizen voting in local and state elections. Still, the amendment aims to make this restriction explicit in the state’s constitution. Earlier this year, the bill passed through North Carolina’s legislature with substantial support, seeing a 104-12 vote in the House
and a 40-4 vote in the Senate. Should voters approve the measure, the General Assembly will need to enact additional legislation to specify any changes to the voter registration process. Similar measures are being considered in seven other states during this election cycle, including South Carolina, Idaho, Iowa, Kentucky, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Wisconsin. Each state already has laws barring noncitizen voting, but lawmakers aim to reinforce these rules through constitutional amendments.
Wine Collective hosts soft opening By Loretta Cozart On Saturday, October 26, Mary Quintero opened her new tasting room, Wine Collective, at 216 S. Railroad Avenue in downtown Kings Mountain. She shared online, “I am a certified sommelier (wine specialist) currently pursuing my Diploma and Master in Wine, along with a certified wine educator. I love wine and sharing my knowledge and passion with everyone.” She continued, “We will be offering our popular wine flights, along with over 20 wines by the glass, and a wide selection to shop and grab a bottle to
take home. We also offer craft beers, sake, and non-alcoholic options for the sober curious.” “We offer a casual and welcoming venue with comfy couches and a relaxing ambiance, perfect for meeting and catching up with friends. Private chef Perry Culinary Services Certified Sommelier Mary Quintero held will offer an as- a soft opening for her wine-tasting room, sortment of light Wine Collective, in downtown Kings appetizers. We Mountain. Photo provided look forward to you.” being part of this Check Wine Collective’s awesome community and can’t wait to meet you all Facebook page for opening and share our passion with dates and times.
The Great Pumpkin Halloween Parade will be held on Thursday, October 31. Line-up begins at 9 a.m. Come out and join in the fun. (Photo provided)
City of KM hosts annual Great Pumpkin Halloween Parade on October 31 Trick or Treat, Bags of Sweets, Ghosts and Goblins Will Walk Down the Street! The City of Kings Mountain will host its annual “Great Pumpkin Halloween Parade” on Thursday, October 31. Children Newborn-7, along with their parents are invited to gather at Cherokee Street Parking at 9:30 am to line up for this spectacular spooky parade. At 10:00 am, the foot parade, will travel to the Gazeboo at Patriots Park for a howling good time. Kings Mountain Marketing, Tourism and Events De-
partment, Mauney Memorial Library’s Harris Children’s Department, in cooperation with Dance Magic Studio, Cleveland County Childcare Connections, Partnership for Children and Kings Mountain Historical Museum will provide entertainment, games, Halloween stories, songs, sing-along’s and fun for all. Local merchants are encouraged to dress in costumes to greet the children and hand out candy along the parade route. Tables will be provided at Patriots Park for businesses to use to give away candy and treats.
Afterwards, children and parents are welcome to stay and play, have a picnic lunch, take photos with the Peanuts game in Linus’ pumpkin patch or dine in one of the convenient downtown restaurants. The parade will start at Cherokee Street parking and continue to Mountain St, across Battleground, then left on South Railroad Ave. The parade will end at Patriots Park. For additional information call 704-730-2101 or access our website at www.kingsmountainevents.com.
Fall back and get an extra hour of sleep
Daylight Saving Time ends Sunday, Nov. 3 Daylight Saving Time ends this Sunday, November 3, at 2 a.m. On the bright side, you will get an extra hour of sleep that day. On the downside, the sun will set one hour earlier on the clock than it had on Saturday. While Daylight Saving Time was used in the United
States to begin WWI, it was not consistently used. President Lyndon Johnson signed the Uniform Time Act into law on April 12, 1966. It was to begin the last Sunday of
April through the last Sunday of October and operate by time zone. States could opt out of Daylight Saving Time by creating a state law. In 1986, the official time of 2 a.m. was designated for Daylight Saving Time's start and end time.
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