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704-466-6008 Volume 134 • Issue 25
Wednesday, June 22, 2022
kmherald.com • 704-484-1047
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KM Police Chief Lisa Proctor retires June 30 By Loretta Cozart
Kings Mountain Police Chief Lisa Proctor will retire after 30 years and 3 months of service to the city at the end of June. In that time, she has served under six police chiefs, including her husband, Melvin. She has risen through the ranks from patrol officer to chief, serving in various roles in between, as a D.A.R.E. officer, patrol sergeant, and investigation of narcotics, ABC, and child abuse cases.
LISA PROCTOR KM Police Chief
Throughout her career, she has leaned on her faith to get her through tough cases and interviews and will continue to serve the Lord after her retirement. In late May, husband Melvin suffered a heart attack. After surgery and prayer, Melvin is doing much better. “While his heart attack didn’t have anything to do with my decision, I can’t stop thinking that it just confirmed that we had made the right decision.” Chief Proctor attended Basic Law Enforcement
Training at Isothermal Community College and graduated in October 1992 with the top score on the state exam. She took a part-time job right out of school at Shelby Police Department. “I even graduated wearing a Shelby Police Department uniform,” she recalls. While there, she heard of an opening at Kings Mountain Police Department and was interviewed and hired by Warren Goforth on March 30, 1992. Her first job was a patrol officer, and she soon
had an opportunity to go to D.A.R.E. school, where she graduated as a top team member. She recalls that a Sergeants job came open after her training, but just before school started back. And even though she was selected as the top candidate, she felt an obligation to the city to fill the D.A.R.E. role because she did not want to waste the city’s money or let the school children down. She turned down two sergeant promotions to fulfill her D.A.R.E.
responsibilities. A narcotics position opened and she took sergeants exam, and was selected. She took the job and eventually worked in an investigative role in narcotics, ABC, and child abuse cases for 18-years. “I found working the child abuse cases to be the most rewarding. These cases meant so much to me because it has a permanent impact on the victim’s life to help them bring closure,” Chief Proctor said. See PROCTOR, Page 4A
Kings Mountain celebrates Juneteenth at Patriots Park On Friday June 17, City of Kings Mountain hosted it’s first Juneteenth celebration at Patriots Park. The celebration included performances and music participants from the Mt. Zion Baptist Church, performances by Jett Edwards, and a presentation by the Mauney Memorial Library. “Now that that we have laid a foundation for Juneteenth, moving forward I hope we will be able to build on it and making this event a city observance. This should be an event where we can celebrate with our community and tell the story of how we have the freedom that we have today,” said organizer Janie Mcvay. “I am so proud that I took the I initiative to reach out to our city Special See JUNETEENTH, Page 8A
AMY ALLEN
Amy Allen retires as principal of North Elementary School Juneteenth Celebration at Patriots Park. See more photos on page 8A. Photos by Janie Mcvay
City and DOT crews get to work clearing the road. See more photos on page 4A Photo by Roxann Malone
Storms, winds brought down trees Friday By Loretta Cozart
Storms swept through Kings Mountain on Friday, June 17, bringing gusty winds and spotty rain across the city. Due to those gusty
winds, several trees fell. One caused a power outage and internet loss for customers in that section of the city. Another tree fell on a home and causing damage. At approximately 5:30 p.m., the huge Oak tree at Matt and Brandi Maples home at 809 E. Kings Street fell, crashing power lines to the ground and breaking two poles in the process, resulting
in an entire electrical circuit for the city being down. The entire roadway was blocked, along with the sidewalks on both sides of King Street. Drivers traveling in that section had no option but to turn back and find a different route. The Oak tree came up by the roots, leaving a huge hole in the Maples’ See STORM, Page 4A
By Loretta Cozart Amy Allen will be retiring as principal of North Elementary School and will take on a new challenge as Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity of Cleveland County. “I have had a wonderful career in Cleveland County Schools and was honored to serve as prin-
cipal at North. Leaving is bittersweet, I am excited about the opportunity to try something new while still serving the county I love so much. But I'm sad to leave the great staff and students,” she said. “Habitat for Humanity's mission statement is ‘Seeking to put God’s love into action, Habitat for Humanity brings people together
to build homes, communities, and hope.’ Habitat believes everyone needs a decent, affordable place to live. I look forward to serving alongside the staff and volunteers at Habitat for Humanity.” Allen retires on June 30, with over 31 years of experience in education. The last six have been as principal of North Elementary School.
Owners and City of KM at odds about buildings in downtown By Loretta Cozart Property owners in downtown, along with the City of Kings Mountain, are struggling with growth, both in progress and anticipated. Most of the downtown buildings are receiving some type of renovation, either for the owner’s own project or to prepare for new tenants. One thing is that is certain, change is coming. During recent city council meetings, building owners spoke about their desire to make changes to
their buildings, primarily by painting. However, the new Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) adopted by the city only allows for painting a building in some cases if it is approved by the city’s advisory board, called the Downtown Design Advisory Review Committee (DDRAC). Currently three people serve on the committee: two from the Planning Department and one from the Kings Mountain Historical Museum. No building owners currently serve on the board.
The new UDO requires that a building owner who creates dwellings for tenants in their buildings must make provision for 1.5 parking spaces. This can be particularly challenging if the buildings have a zero lot-line, meaning the footprint of the building alone is all the property the building owner possesses. This is a significant new requirement, so the city decided to allow owners of buildings already undergoing renovation to choose by which guidelines they want See BUILDINGS, Page 5A
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