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PAGE 2 - WEST CRAVEN HIGHLIGHTS — NOVEMBER 2i, 1988 Eastern Echoes By Gail Roberson “Lost. Two-thirds of my life to loneliness. Reward offered if you can salvage the rest.” I was about to place the receiver back in place on the eighth ring when a shakey, barely audible voice answered, “Yes?” “I’m calling about your ad,” I responded. “Are you the one who placed it?” And, from that moment on, my life began to change. The number I had dialed had taken me half across the state and a good portion of my week’s salary, but is was prob ably the most important call I ever made. I found someone who had nothing and nobody, and who was so lonely that the last attempt to reach out had been an open cry of desperation that the whole world could see. Hard as it is to believe, I was told that not another person had responded to that ad. Not a church group, a public service or private citizen. This wasn't exactly the ordinary classified. I find it amazing that it hadn’t swayed some curiosity. I guess folks just fear the worst in people. I had never seen such an ad. It fascinated me from first glance. Who would place it, and why, and the story behind those words, finally got the best of me. I’ve always believed I was meant to open that unfamiliar paper and find it there. Through this experience, I learned much about the lonely, and wrote several articles on it. We’ve all experienced it at some point... that hollow loneli ness that envelopes and consumes, like the person in the ad. For some of us it is just a blue mood once in a while, while for others it’s a constant companion. You would think that in a world of telephones, telegraphs and television, it would be hard to get lonely. But the truth is, loneliness is more common than you think. Surveys show that, as a group, urban girls who are seniors in high school are the most lonely people. Highly intelligent children are also more prone to loneliness, as are both rural adolescents and adults. Surprisingly, the elderly are not. I think that how lonely you are depends mainly on you ... not your surroundings. There is a difference between loneli ness and solitude. I am definitely in rural surroundings, yet I am never lonely though I spend most of my time alone. I epjoy the solitude because it offers me a retreat where I can think about things ... like what I’m going to write next, and life. When I’m ready to interact with people, I do it, and when I’m not, I don’t. You can’t reduce loneliness by working harder to get your mind off it or by watching television. The best way to kick loneliness is to first recognize that loneliness is born inside you, not outside. Admit if you are lonely ... and then do something about it. Get involved, but remember that those with a few activities are involved: those with many are apparently still searching. People who don’t often experience loneliness have a higher self-est^pi and a more positive attitude towards themselves and everything else. Surround yourself with positive people. Negative folks just pull you down that much further. Hopefully, you won’t ever be as lonely as the person who placed the ad. If you can just realize that loneliness comes from within, maybe your life will never by one of those so often lost to lonelinees. Hopefully. New FmHA Regulations Designed To Give Help NEW BERN — New Farmers Home Administration rcgula> lions designed to help financially trouble farmers have been issued, according to the Craven County FmHA office in New Bern. **The new regulations give us a whol line of possible actions to help FmHA borrowers who are behind in their payments through no fault of their own/* a spokesman said. The regulations took effect Oct. 14. The mjyor new feature is the debt write-down feature, which is possible after all other options have been tried. Also, the write-down can be ap plied only if it would cost the government less than it would cost to foreclose. In that case, FmHA can write-down the amount of debt between what the farmer owes and the value of the farmer's loan collateral. In 10 years, the farmer would have to back someofthe collateral. In 10 years, the farmer would have to pay back some of the write-down if the value of the collateral has appreciated. Before a write down is consi dered, the county supervisor will check to be sure other options such as conservation easement or softwood timber programs have been considered. Other alternatives to help the borrower pay back his or her loan include replacing current loans with low er interest loans or stretching out payments over a longer period of time. Davis said there are 53 FmHA farm loan borrowers in Hyde County. Of these, 11 are at least 180 days delinquent. “The purpose of the new reg ulations is to be sure we have done everthing possible to help FmHA borrowers stay in busi ness and be sure that foreclosure takes place only after every other alternative has been explored,” said the spokesman. Birth Godley Mr. and Mrs. Elwood Thomas Godley Jr., and Thomas Day, of Vanceboro announce the birth of a daugher, and sister, Melissa Ann, on Nov. 12 at Craven Re gional Medical Center. She weighed 7 lbs.. 13/12 ounces. REVELATION: THE SERIES Starting Wednsday, Nov. 30.7 PM VANCEBORO CHRISTIAN CHURCH Rev. Dan A. Hall, Pastor Comer First St. Vanceboro, N.C. & College Ave. 244-2001 Wurlitzer Pianos & Organs Selmer Band Instruments Guitar & Accessories Atfordabl* Rantal Programa Available on Pianos A Band Instruments, Excellent Service Fuller’s Music House, Inc. Low interest in-store financing available 216 Middle street 638*2811 New Bern RALEIGH — A bicycle for Christmas is one of childhood’s most memorable presents. If you plan to help Santa Claus select a bicycle for a young child this sea son, the Bicycle Program of North Carolina wants to help you. “Correct sizing is the main con sideration,” said Bicycle Coordi nator Curtis B. Yates of the N.C. Department of Transportation. “Don’t buy a bicycle that is too large. The child must be able to get on and off and use the brakes without difficulty. Too many children are injured when they cannot control their bicycles.” Yates urged parents to follow these guidelines. Size is very important. From the seat, the child should be able to touch the ground with both feet. Standing over the bicycle straddling the top bar, the child should be at least an inch above the bar. On a BMX-style bicycle, reaching the pedals and brakes is even more critical since the bar is low and a BMX bike is designed to be ridden standing up on the pedals. If the bicycle is a surprise gift, tell the bicycle shop the child’s inseam measurement, age, height and general level of coor dination. On a BMX-style and other chil dren’s models, the child must be able to reach hand and foot brakes. Children under 4 or 5 years old who use foot brakes must be able to reach the pedals comfortably while seated. Older children who use a BMX or 10-speed bicycle equipped with hand brakes must be able to reach the handlebars comfort ably. They may also need to de velop hand strength. Certain in termediate styles have both hand and foot brakes. To measure brake reach on a conventional 5-or 10-speed bike, place the child’s elbow against the nose of the seat. If the fingers can reach the handlebar stem, the bike is probably the correct size. A bicycle should be matched to the individual child’s riding habits and skills. A larger 8-year- old interested in learning stunts may need a BMX bike with strong wheels. A smaller 8-year- old just starting to ride may need only a “stingray” or “polo” style BUY UNITED STATES SAVINGS BONDS For the current rate call... I-800-US-BONDS Bassin’i with the pros Bike Program Offers Selection Guidelines bike with a banana seat and high handlebars. Bike shops can advise parents which models to consider. Training wheels can be used on any bicycle, but they are not a substitute for a tricycle. Training wheels are intended to teach a child to lean, balance and turn a bicycle properly. Wheels should be a(I)usted about ‘/i" above the ground on both sides, rather than fiat. Assembling a bicycle from a box is only half thejob; adjusting the bike is also important and is more difficult for an untrained person to do correctly. The Bicycle Program urges pa rents to consider a bicycle shop for assembly. The shop fee may range from $15 to $20. Do this ear ly in the shopping season since December is such a busy tim^. No matter who assembles a bicycle, regular maintenance is an important ingredient in safety. “When kids first get a bike, the first two or three weeks they treat it rougher than any other time. They really want to get out and see what it can do,” said Eric Towne, manager of LifeCycle Sports in Durham. Bringing the bike to a shop for a check-up is inexpensive and can prevent accidents as well as major repair bills. If the bike was purchased from a bicycle shop, according to Towne, check-ups are normally free for as long as six months. Finally,-according to Bicycle Coordinator Yales, “We strongly urge parents to purchase hel mets. For children, manufactur ers now offer small sizes that pro tect this most vulnerable and crucial part of the child’s body. Head injuries are involved in three-quarters of serious bicycle accidents.” Children’s bicycle helmets are sold at most bicycle shops for as little as $30. A helmet should meet cither the "ANSI Stan dard” or the “Snell Standard,” indicated by a sticker inside the helmet. Children’s helmets with replaceable pads come in small, medium or large sizes. For a free pamphlet, “Bicycle Safety: What Every Parent Should Know,” call or write the Bicycle Program, NCDOT, P.O. Box 25201, Raleigh, N.C. 27611. Of all types of structure in a lake, few are more obvious than the steep, imposing bluff banks that cradle some waters. Few arc more lightly fished, either. "Actually,” says top lady bass pro Fredda Lee, a member of the Johnson Outboards Pro Staff, “bluffs can offer surprisingly good fishing, especially in the middle of the day when other structure doesn’t produce.” The key to look for when fishing a bluff says the former model-turned bass pro is a gra dual stair-stepping bottom be low the water. Bass often hold on these steps and willingly hit jigs, worms and crmkbaits. When the bluff continues straight down, explains Lee, the places to fish are at either end of the bluff where the bottom is more likely to be a gentle slope of gravel and smaller rocks. ’’Normally, I like to study a bluff with a depthfinder or chart recorder before I start fishing,” says Lee. “Often, you can guess at what’s below by studying how it looks above water, but a run along the edge with a depthfin der will tell you for certain. “Another thing I look for are possible points or pockets within the bluff itself, which bass al ways seem to use. I also look for rock slides, timber that has washed in and anchored, or any thing else that breaks up the sheer face of the bluff because that’s what bass will be attracted to.” Lee fishes stair-step bluffs several ways. One technique is positioning her boat in 15 to 17- feet of water and casting a jig directly in toward the rocks. She plays out line and gradually hops the jig down the steps. Another technique she recom mends anglers try is parallel cast ing along the rock face with a deep diving crankbait. When she feels the lure bounce into the rocks, she hesitates the retrieve momentarily, then starts reeling again. The lute acts like a cray fish skittering along the bottom. “When you cast parallel like this,” says Lee, “you can easily work several depths, depending on where you position your boat. Sometimes I have my boat 10 or 12 feet out from the bluff, and other limes I’ll be right in tight against the rocks. Where bluffs are standing by themselves in the water seeming ly out in the middle of nowMt^ the Johnson Outboards pro often concentrates on the upsteam side of the bluff where there is likely to be some debris washed in or possibly an eddy where the water breaks around the rocks. In either instance, bass are often present. “Surprisingly,” says Lee, “these isolated bluffs are often better than the regular shoreline bluffs, simply because they offer the only shallow structure around. When I see them in a lake I always check them with a de- pthfinder.” On some lakes with steep bluffs, bass will also hit a fast- moving spinnerbait, says Lee. The trick is to bring the lure back as close to the rock wall as posst hie and as fast as possible with out breaking the surface. “I’ve also noticed bluffs that have darker shades of rock hold bass better than light shades of rock,” says Lee. “It’s simply a matter of light reflection. 'The fish feel more comfortable where the rock doesn’t reflect as much light.” Guard Against Toy-Related Eye Injuries During Holidays When shopping for children’s holiday gifts, beware of danger ous toys that threaten the eyes warns the North Carolina Socie ty to Prevent Blindness. An estimated 21,000 eye in juries were linked to toys and sports equipment used by chil dren last year. Three-quarters of these accidents were suffered by kids under the age of 15. Playthings with pieces that shoot or fly off are particularly dangerous to eyes and should be avoided. A U.S. Consumer Pro duct Safety Commission survey of hospital emergency rooms in dicates that children under the age of 15 were victims of eye in juries predominantly from sling- shots or sling-propelled toys, toy guns and other toy weapons with projectiles. BB and pellet guns are particu larly hazai^ous to children’s eyes and should not be considered as toys. Not only are the number of children’s BB and pellet gun eye injuries high, they are also se vere, often resulting in the loss of the eye. According to the Society, 90 percent of all eye ii\juries are pre ventable. Safety-conscious adults can protect children from eye damage, or even the loss of an eye several ways: — Choose toys and games care fully. In some cases, the child may be too young to use a par ticular toy safely. Factors such as strength, coordination and abil ity to follow instructions should be taken into account. — Teach children how to play safely with toys and supervise their use. It’s important that a child understands how to use a toy and does not take a “harm less” plaything and make it dangerous. An example of this would be a child pulling rubber tips off darts or throwing a toy airplane at another child. —Insist that children have and use protective CA'ewear for games • that require ihem. Baseball, bas ketball, football and racquet sports arc the source of a great many eye injuries to children. The right face shield or sports goggles can greatly reduce the risk of eye accidents. — Be aware of the risks posed by gifts for older children as well. Chemistry and science sets, craft and hobby kits often involve pro jects requiring safety glasses. Activities such as wood burning, mixing chemicals and use of fast acting glues are a few examples. In addition, these kits must be kept out of reach of younger brothers and sisters. “Prevent Blindness” has a number of resources to assist adults in protecting children’s eyes. For more information ab out eye health and safety during the holidays or at any time ofJ^ i year, contact the North Carolina Society to Prevent Blindess, 1033 Wade Ave., Suite 126, Raleigh, N.C. 27605. 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P.O.Box 177 New Bern, NC 2SS60 633-1174 Toltr 1 Son Sarago Owner A Oiwator touts ToUf Custom Eihiust $ Mutflors Radiitor • TrantmittiM t Motor Soniici Hwy 17, 3 miles North of Vaneoboro 24 Hour Wrookor Sorvieo 244-12B3 For InfornwHon AImhI Uvirliling In This Mrsetory Gontaet fisnn King 946-2144 West Craven Highlights Cravm County'* Family Waakly NAwspapar P.O. Box 487 Vanceboro, N.C. 28586 (Main St. Across From Post Ofiice) Publlahad Bach Thursday AshlayB.Futrall,Jr. Publisher Mika Voss Editor TsrrlJamlsson Advertising Manager And StaffWriler Edith Hodgos Office Manager Office Hours Mon 8:30 am-10:30 am Thurs. & Fri. 8:30 am - 5:00 pm Tsltphoos 2444780 or 844.2144 IN-COUNTY RATES Single Copy 25' 1 Year *7.35 2Years’11.55 3 Years'15.75 OUT-OF-COUNTY RATES 1 Year >8.40 2 Years >12.00 3 Years >16.80 Ahovs Ineludss N.C. Tax. Payable in advance. Subscribers desiring their Highlights termi nated at expiration should notify us of this intention, otherwise we will consider it their wish to conti nue to receive the paper and they will be charged for it. U.S.P.S. 412-110 Second Class Postage Paid Vanceboro, N.C. Member: N.C. Press Association
West Craven Highlights (Vanceboro, N.C.)
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