Honest Work, at a Fair Price Shop: (704) 739-5376 TIRES & ALIGNMENT Complete Automotive Repair
Lift Kits Performance Upgrades Exhaust Repairs
M-F 8am - 5pm • Sat. 7am to 12pm ronaldsgarageNC.com
3- Year Parts & Labor Warranty!
904 South Battleground Ave. • Kings Mountain, NC
Volume 136 • Issue 36
kmherald.com • 704-484-1047
Wednesday, September 4, 2024
75¢
City manager’s contract renewal abruptly removed from the council agenda By Loretta Cozart
FFA students currently involved in the FANG hot sauce project at KMHS. See more photos on page 3A. Photo by FFA
KMHS FFA pepper project celebrates huge harvest By Alexys Padgett, FFA student contributor The pepper project began at KMHS’ FFA last February by inviting Duncan Blunt, owner of the local hot sauce brand Shelby Spice, to talk about different types of advertising for agricultural commodities and how to start a business. After connecting with Kings Mountain Agriculture students, Shelby Spice reached out and asked if there was a way for students to participate in hot sauce production by growing a variety of peppers called Puma Peppers. The Puma pepper is
a hot pepper similar to a habanero that changes to a purple and orange shade when ready to harvest. Students started seeds during horticulture classes, spending each day watering and transplanting plants into larger pots until they were old enough to be transplanted outside in the garden beside the school. With help from Rhodesdale Farm, the land was tilled and prepped for the Puma Peppers. Around 150 peppers were planted in the garden in late May and have just now begun changing colors for harvesting since school started back in mid-August.
With the peppers harvested, Shelby Spice has released its new locally sourced and organically grown small-batch hot sauce, “Fang.” It is all made from Puma Pepper and was grown by the agriculture students at Kings Mountain High School. As noted on the FANG label, “Among the most sunning hybrid peppers ever developed, the puma pepper is a delight from beginning to end. With a sweet and herbal flavor, this hot sauce is sure to rip your face off. Bite down and hold on for the ride. This is a hot sauce made for those who ask for more.”
City of KM Council considers dissolving KM Housing Authority By Loretta Cozart On Friday, August 30, the City of Kings Mountain called a special meeting on September 3, to consider dissolving the Kings Mountain Housing Authority and
transferring its powers, duties, and responsibilities to the Kings Mountain Redevelopment Commission. During that 4 p.m. meeting last Tuesday, city council discussed adopting a resolution appointing members to the Kings Mountain Redevelopment Commission with overlapping terms
and appointing an Interim Executive Director who will be an employee of the Kings Mountain Redevelopment Commission. The Herald went to print before the meeting was held, so the outcome will be shared in the next edition.
North Elementary School holds Monster Boot Camp Sept. 9 By Loretta Cozart North Elementary School in Kings Mountain will hold their Monster Boot Camp on Monday, September 9, at 5 p.m. at 900 Ramseur Street. Due to space limitations, only one parent and one North School student can attend the event.
During the Boot Camp, each teacher presents curriculum information to help you and your child during the school year. After the meeting, the parent and student will receive one Chick-fil-A sandwich. To register, visit North Elementary School’s Facebook page and print a ticket to return to your student’s teacher.
An item directing the mayor to renew City Manager Jim Palenick’s, contract was JIM PALENICK r e m o v e d City Manager from the city council’s agenda after it had been published as a discussion item the week before. The City of Kings Mountain published the agenda for the regular city council meeting on August 22. Item H included: Motion to adopt and authorize the mayor to enter into an employment agreement with the City Manager. The proposed city manager’s contract included a salary of $189,305 and other benefits provided to all city employees. Additionally, the city manager would receive a $500 car allowance, four weeks of vacation, and a merit and performance package as part of his compensation, which read: “That the merit bonus payable to the Manager
shall be one fourth of 1% of cash payments paid to the City, during the term of this amended agreement. The city shall pay that amount within 90 days of receipt of a cash payment to the City by the Albemarle Corporation. That additionally all land donated to the City by the Albemarle Corporation, during the term of this Amended Agreement, which may be suitable for development by the City shall be appraised, and that the Manager shall receive a merit bonus of one fourth of 1% of the appraised values. For clarity, real estate deemed developable must not be constrained by conservation, utility, wetland easements or any other setasides which may render the real estate undevelopable.” Item H had been removed from the agenda by Friday morning, and a revised agenda was published. During the Citizen Recognition portion of the meeting on August 27, Kings Mountain Business owner Jimbo Thompson addressed the city council, saying, “I think it's imperative that the citizens
of Kings Mountain know what's going on and their council’s involvement. It is of most importance that the city manager serves at the council's pleasure. However, I don't think this is the case. “According to the council members, none of them, nor the mayor, have ever sat in on any negotiations between the city and Albemarle. That means our city manager negotiates on behalf of the citizens of Kings Mountain, with no oversight. “So last week, when the city published this night's agenda, there was an item that's no longer on there. I read the proposed contract language, as many others have. I was taken aback and received numerous calls from the business leaders in the city. An egregious contract asking to take funds from the citizens of Kings Mountain for his own personal gain struck very hard,” he continued. “Not only did he (the city manager) ask for a percentage of these funds, but he also asked the city that any land donated be See CONTRACT, Page 5A
Cleveland County awarded over $370k for 911 improvements The N.C. Department of Information Technology’s (NCDIT) 911 Board awarded $21.028 million in grants statewide at its Aug. 23 meeting to benefit 14 public safety answering points (PSAPs) handling 911 calls on behalf of North Carolina’s communities. Cleveland County received a $371,769.65 grant for a 911 facility improvement project. “Public safety answering points perform life-saving work across our state,” said N.C. 911 Board Chair Jim Weaver, state chief information officer and Secretary and State Chief Information Officer of the N.C. Department of Information Technology. “The N.C. 911 Board is proud to provide grant funding for facility and equipment upgrades that will help PSAPs continue to carry out their critical mission.” Additional grant awards include: • Alamance County Central Communications –$6,155,711.26 for 911 services facility project • Cabarrus County Sheriff’s Office – $719,765.07 for AXS radio console mi-
gration • Caldwell County 911 Communications–$2,659,312.07 for 911 and emergency services facility project • Jones-Lenoir Emergency Communications Center– $607,200 for APX consolettes & MCD5000 desksets • McDowell County 911 – $116,230.63 for console/ radio replacement project • Pamlico County Sheriff Communications – $373,258.79 for equipment for new Pamlico County PSAP • Pasquotank-Camden Central Communications – $1,188,203.58 for equipment upgrades • Perquimans-Gates 911 Communications –$4,831,481.00 for 911 center expansion project • Person County PSAP – $255,740.57 for radio console replacement • Pitt County 911 Communications –$640,893.68 for Motorola Command Central Axis Radio Console • Scotland County Emergency Communications–$17,250.00 for radio console expansion project • Stanly County
911 Communications–$2,414,424.11 911 for emergency services facility project • W a s h i n g t o n County–$677,407.50 for emergency management training operations center “The N.C. 911 Board is committed to supporting our state’s PSAPs through grants and other efforts,” said L.V. Pokey Harris, executive director of the N.C. 911 Board. “We will continue to partner with local PSAPS to ensure that our state’s emergency responders are well-equipped to help callers quickly reach the services they need.” PSAPs will receive official notification of the award of grant funds for the FY2025 cycle within the next two weeks. The application period for the FY2026 PSAP grants will start in spring 2025. Once it is underway, applications and instructions will be available on the N.C. 911 Board’s Grants web page at https:// it.nc.gov/about/boards-commissions/nc-911-board/ nc-board-911-grants-legislation-policies.
For A Solution to Your Dental Concerns Visit Our Professional Staff
DENTAL CARE General, Cosmetic and Restorative Dentistry
• Would you like a healthier, more attractive smile? • Do your teeth chip or break for no apparent reason? • Are you embarrassed by the looks or condition of your teeth? FIND OUT TODAY’S DENTAL SOLUTION with a NO RISK Complimentary Consultation
704-739-4461
703 E. Kings St., Suite 9, Kings Mountain • www.BakerDentalCare.com
Dr. Robert Baker