China’s balloon passes over Kings Mountain area

By Loretta Cozart

At approximately 10:30 a.m., on Saturday, February 4, a balloon launched by China passed over the Kings Mountain area. In a photo shared by Sarah Mauney Rhea, the balloon can be seen above the KM Post office as a distant speck in the sky.

A statement from Secretary of Defense (DOD) Lloyd J. Austin III on Saturday afternoon announced the balloon had been shot down off the South Carolina coast.

The statement read, “… at the direction of President Biden, U.S. fighter aircraft assigned to U.S. Northern Command successfully brought down the high altitude surveillance balloon launched by and belonging to the People's Republic of China (PRC) over the water off the coast of South Carolina in U.S. airspace. The balloon, which was being used and beyond the call of duty and which has made a significant impact and strengthened North Carolina.

Among the honors and awards the Governor of North Carolina can bestow, none is more valued than The Order of the Long Leaf Pine. Since its creation in 1963, it has been presented to honor persons who have a proven record of service to the State of North Carolina or some other special achievement, and to others as a gesture of friendship and good will. Upon being named to The Order of the Long Leaf Pine, the honoree receives a certificate by which the Governor confers

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KM City Council adds work session to regular meeting schedule

The City Council for the City of Kings Mountain adopted an amended regular meeting schedule on January 31, to include a Regular Work Session held on the second Thursday of each month starting at 6:00 p.m. in addition to the Regular Council Meeting held on the last Tuesday of each month starting at 6:00 p.m.

Regular Work Sessions and Council meetings are held in Council Chambers at City Hall, 101 West Gold Street, Kings Mountain, NC.

The amended schedule for 2023 is as follows:

• Tuesday, January 31

• Thursday, February 9

Tuesday, February 28

• Thursday, March 9

Tuesday, March 28

• Thursday, April 13

Tuesday, April 25

• Thursday, May 11

Tuesday, May 30

• Thursday, June 8 Tuesday, June 27

• Thursday, July 13

Tuesday, July 25

• Thursday, August 10

Tuesday, August 29

• Thursday, September 14

• Tuesday, September 26

• Thursday, October 12

• Tuesday, October 31

• Thursday, November 9

• Tuesday, November 28

• Tuesday, December 12

See SESSION, Page 5A

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by the PRC in an attempt to surveil strategic sites in the continental United States, was brought down above U.S. territorial waters.”

“On Wednesday, President Biden gave his authorization to take down the surveillance balloon as soon as the mission could be accomplished without undue

See BALLOON, Page 5A

Saturday morning, the balloon from China could be seen