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PAGE 2 — WEST CRAVEN HIGHLIGHTS - APRIL 20,1989 GAIL WINDS by: Call L. Cobersoa i There’s a very good reason for lawyers. Think how boring the world would be if everything was as simple as it realty is. We may as weti accept the fact that none of us can live without the lawyers. It’s for certain we can’t die without one. ’The minute I read something I can’t understand, I am sure it was drawn up by a lawyer. Not all of us are cut out to be counselors of the law. Thomas Reed Powell declared that, “if you think that you can think about a thing, inextricably attached to something else, without thinking of the thing it is attached to, then you have a legal mind.’’ Like I said, not all of us can do such things. Our country has created over 32,000,000 laws. However, we have not yet improved upon the Ten Commandments, which, if they were properly abided by, would deem the 32,000,000 useless anyhow. For generations we have fought for our free dom. For generations, we have accumulated laws to take it all away from ourselves. I agree with Calvin Coolidge who said, “I sometimes wish that people would put a little more emphasis upon the observ ance of the law than they do upon its enforcement.” That’s a great statement there. All laws are really useless anyhow, for good men don’t need laws at all, and bad men are made no better by them. Getting yourself caught up between two lawyers is like a fish landing on the ground between two huge tom eats. You’ll be lucky to escape with your bones. You may as well open an oyster without a knife as a lawyer’s mouth without a fee, so save up your quarters if you plan to seek legal advice. A lawyer is a learned person who rescues your estate from your enemies and then keeps it, or most of it, for fees due his firm. Unfortunately, despite best intentions sometimes, many laws today resemble a spider’s webs. They grab hold of the little flies and gnats which fall into them, but the mighty and rich will break and run through them at will. While I was laying the foundation for my writing career, I was a legal secretary for seven years. I owe much to my em ployers, who, along with a weekly income, also taught me many lessons of law, both in the courtroom and personal observations. The greatest lesson I acquired from them, however, was that these particular lawyers were as honest as the day is long, as hard working as a convict on a chain gang, and as dedicated to law and order as they were to winning in the courtroom. It was wonderful to study some of the more interesting aspects of this vocation at the feet of such people. I never think of lawyers, however, that I am not reminded of one particular man who certainly had his day in court. Paul Harvey once told about a defendant in Battle Creek, Michigan, who was before the court, charged with assault. He was being badgered mercilessly by the prosecutor that day, and was fastly reaching the end of his patience. The prosecutor said to him ... “You say you didn’t hit the plaintiU, you just SHOVED him a iittie?” “That’s right,” the defendant replied. I just SHOVED him lightly. “On, now, IS it?” snarled the prosecutor. “Well now, I want you to come on down off that witness stand right now and show the jury just how hard you SHOVED the plaintiff. You can pretend I’m the plaintiff.” ITie defendant stepped down from the witness stand, dou bled the prosecutor over with a hard blow to the stomach, bloodied his nose, and finally knocked him half-conscious to the floor. He then turned to the jury and said ... “Ladies and gentlemen ... about one-tenth that hard.” Obituaries Joe S. Dudley Joe Spencer Dudley, 79, of Rt. 2, Box 263, Vanceboro, died Saturday at his home. The fiineral service was held at 2 p.m. Tuesday in the Wilkerson Funeral Chapel in Vanceboro with the Rev. Ellis Bedsworth officiating. Burial was in Celes tial Memorial Gardens. Surviving are his wife, Vera Foy Dudley: four sons, Joe W. Dudley and David S. Dudley, both of Vanceboro, Max Dudley of Askins and George T. Dudley of High Point; two sisters, Mrs. Hazel Smith of Norfolk, Va., and Mrs. Myra Vincent of Jasper; 10 grandchildren and one great grandchild. He was a native and lifelong re sident of the Pitchkettle com munity of Craven County. He farmed all his life and was a member of the ABC Board for 18 years. He was a member of Lane’s Chapel United Methodist Church. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 2007 S. Glenbumie Rd, New Bern, N.C. 28560. Gerald G. Green JACKSONVILLE — Ms. Gerald Gardner “Jerri” Green, 45, of 806 Onslow Pines Road, Jacksonville, died Saturday at Craven Regional Medical Center in New Bern. The fiineral service was con ducted at 2 p.m. Monday in the Wilkerson Funeral Chapel in Vanceboro by the Rev. Roger Carroll. Burial was in Celestial Memorial Gardens. Surviving are a son, Mike Green of Beaufort, S.C.; a daugh ter, Maisie Green of the home; five sisters, Mrs. Ivor Ruth Cox of Andeson, S.C., Mrs. Maxine Highcove of Jacksonville, Fla., Mrs. Hazel Willis, Mrs. Joyce Ipock and Mrs. Nadane Waters, all of Vanceboro. Ms. Green, a native of Craven County, lived her early life in the Vanceboro community. For the past 17 years she had made her home in Jacksonville. She was employed at Camp Lejeune Marine Corps Base. Our Opinion Give a hoot. Don’t pollute. Forest ServicCj U.S.D.A. GOING OUT OF BUSINESS SALE!! 20% Off a!l Items except catalog, plants, drinks, and consignments. CMNON’S VARIETY STORr 244*0508 Vanceboro Constitutional Convention Not Too Practical For N.C. It is very true that the Constitution of North Carolina makes provision for a constitutional convention for the state. But the process is both unusual and somewhat cumbersome. In looking over the processes necessary for a state conven tion to change or amend the state constitution, first of all, the General Assembly would set a tentative date for such a con vention and a two-thirds vote of both the House and Senate is necessary. ’Then the proposition is submitted to the people for a vote on the clear-cut proposition of “convention” or "no convention.” If the people reject the call for a convention, of course the matter dies right there. If the people vote in favor of a conven tion, it is then called as specified by the legislature. But this convention can only consider matters previously laid out as convention business. Such a state convention would be made up of the same number of members as the N.C. House or 120 and they must come ffom each of the 120 legislative districts. No member of the legislature can be a delegate to the convention. Now any matter adopted by the convention regarding a change in the constitution or an amendment must then be submitted to the people of North Carolina for approval or non-approval. ’That is the way a state constitutional conven tion works. Now for a constitutional change in this state of North Caroli na, the simple and usual way is for the legislature to adopt a resolution putting a constitutional question before the people for a “yes” or "no” vote. If the vote is “yes” then at the next session of the legislature, the will of the people is carried out. If the people vote “no,” that ends it without question. So the call for a constitutional convention, made recently in the state House, is hardly any practical answer. It is so easy to change our constitution by the usual route through the assem bly with approval of the people. It would be so difficult and cumbersome to amend our constitution in a state convention. Perhaps the introducer of the bill calling for a state convention has not studied the state constitution fully. While we feel quite confident that any call for a state constitutional convention will die in the legislature, the very fact that one is considered by a legislator is somewhat puzzling. It is true that there are several matters involving constitu tional changes now before the legislature. But the assembly can handle all the constitutional calls without going the cumbersome route of a state convention. Maybe some feel that a state convention will do what a legislature refuses to do. But there is always the fact that only the people of North Carolina can change or amend our con stitution. So we feel such a state convention is both unneeded and really impractical. If a change is worthy, then let the legisla ture submit the proposition to the people for approval or non approval. Weird Bills Introduced In Our General Assembly ’ITiere is an old saying that goes something like “some peo ple have something to say; others have to say something.” Tliat saying might also apply rather aptly to some of the legislators who are introducing bills so far out as to sound ridiculous at times. As of this writing, we read that 2,206 bills have been introduced to date. Many of those 2,206 bills will help North Carolina not at all. ’These so-called weird bills will hardly get out of committee. If they do get to the floor and the members debate weird bills, then this state will have reached a new era in public debate. Really, how does a legislator debate a ridiculous proposition? For instance, we have a lot of bills of questionable value. There is a bill which says that if one steals a neighbor’s cat or dog, it could possibly get the thief 10 years in prisoit. Somepet, owners, we read, are having their pets tattooed. Another bill would make it illegal to own a ferret. A bill would make the use of helmets optional with motorcycle oper ators. A bill would ban the sale of beer from open coolers, barrels, or containers. There is a bill which, if passed, would ban the Sunday sale of beer at places which also sell gasoline. While we think we need to bear down harder on those who deliberately give worthless checks, there is a bill which could get 10 years in prison for anyone who gives a bad check in excess of $400. Another bill would ban the use of state tax money to build a school with a flat-top roof. A bill which surely would hit a lot of good people, if passed, would ban anyone using a hook and line and natural bait from fishing in the county of residence without a license. TTiere is a bill to ban profanity on school grounds. ’There is a bill which would make it a crime to possess a milk crate bearing the name of the owner. * ’Then there is a bill regarding the size of a loaf of bread. A biU says that one might buy a hot dog from a street vendor but the vender will be regulated. Just what the regulations are do not appear in the bill, we read. There is a bill to make the Plott hound the official dog of North Carolina. ’Then there is a bill which would require reporters to wear name tags in the leg islative building and at all functions termed formal receptions for legislators. TTiere are many others too numerous to mention. If we can, just imagine what might happen to North Carolina if aU those 2,206 bills should become law. TTiere are always legislators who feel they are not doing their part unless they introduce some bills, regardless of the worth involved Yes, there are legislators who have to say something and there are legislators who have something to say. And there are those who have something to do and there are those who have to do something. ASGS Notes The Craven County ASCS office has the following informa tion; Participation in the 1989 Wheat and or Feed Grain Program under the soybean and sunflow er provision is not binding. A producer may change his inten tions. In doing so, the producer may change his intentions at the time certification takes place. TTie producer who does decide to reduce his soybean intentions under the provision may not re duce the soybean acreage below 10 percent of the maximum per mitted acereage and receive P. and C.P. credit for the program crop. TTie exception to this is where a producer substituted 10 percent of the maximum permitted and the acreage was reduced 20 per cent due to modified soybean acreage. The acreage may not be re duced the modified acreage and receive planted and considered planted credit. Producers who are participat ing in the program may report any changes made as far as their plantings or inability to plant at the time they cerfity and this will determine how they are actually participating in the program. What this means is that certi fication of crops enrolled in the program will actually determine the producer’s enrollment status and will be the most binding part of the 1989 pro^am. If a producer is enrolled in the 1989 program or programs he may receive payments for plant ing, not planting failed acreageor prevented planting. The 1989 programs are not binding. For example, a producer can be enrolled in the com program to plant his maximum permitted acreage and be prevented from planing due to wet weather. The producer may certify zero planted acreage and receive pay ments if he reports C.U. for pay ment to support payments for 92 percent of his maximum per mitted. Also, the producer must report eight percent of his permitted as C.U. without pay to be eligible. Any producer who withdraws completely out of the program will have to pay back advance payments plus liquidated dam ages. Note that the oat program pro vision is binding after the signup ends. The producer may not change his intentions and plant a crop he has designated as oats without being penalized. Producers enrolled in the 1988 0/92 program will receive pay ments in October of 38 cents. Corn program producers re quested an advance payment of 44 cents in April, 1988. TTiis year 28 cents was paid in March and 38 cents will be paid in October. These fiqures will account for the guaranteed $1.10 that was men.v tinned at signup. Eagles From Page 1 Flue-cured tobacco support amounts will be $1,468 per pound, up from $1,442 in 1988. Kanuck had the only two West Carteret hits as the Patriots fell to 0-3, 0-4. WntCMmt m IM 1 — 1 MtUrti M ni 1 — 4 BEAUFORT — Despite mak ing eight errors in the field. East Carteret turned two double plays and threw one runner out at the plate as the Lady Mariners (2-3, 3-6) ended a two-game losing skid with their victory against the Eagles (1-2, 3-2). Stacy Ebron fielded a groun der, stepped on second and fired to first for the initial double play in the third inning. Later, fir- stbaseman Georgia Jones snag ged a sharp liner and stepped on first for the second twin killing. Ebron also ended a three-run frame by West Craven in the second when she took a relay throw from left field and fired to catcher Missy Hall. Ebron batted 3-for-4 with a double to lead East Carteret while Terry Johnson and Robin Parker batted 2-for-3 and 2-for-4, respectively. Patricia Bryant went 2-for-3 for West Craven. WMCtliM IN M 1-1 CMCvUral Ml Ml « —I HAVELOCK — Russell Sea ton, a senior left-hander, threw his third straight complete game, allowing just one hit, as Have lock (3-1, 7-3) topped D.H. Conley. The Vikings (2-1, 6-3) had just two baserunners — Bill Jenkins singled but was stranded and Scott Seymour walked but was also left on base. Seaton finished with 12 strike outs and one walk in improving to 4-0 for the Rams. Hal Conger, 2-1, lasted 11/3 innings and had two strikeouts and no walks be fore being relieved by Travis Clemmons. Clemmons finished with five strikeouts and three walks. Jeff Smith batted 2-for-2 to lead Havelock. szcwhi m m i-i SanMi M Ml I-S CRAVEN COUNH BUSINESS AND SERVICES Tohr t Son fiarago Ownai k Operator Louis Tolar Cuttom EilMuit ( Muffisrs (adiattir - Tiansnlttlm i Motor S«ivico Mwy 17, 3 mllao North of Voneoboro 24 Nour Wrookor Sorvloo 244*1283 Braxton's Stop ft Shop • fink Sastatt • nmi Watclnt • ftaili Chiciwu • trocuitt * frisadi UasMtart * M kMi si ftina food hMl40-IIM.tnfrt4> * fila 1 riaili Mt Hwy. 17 H. Vaneahara 244-1401 244-1381 H. M. B. Moffli Plaza Vanceboro Complete Family Insurance Coverage Farm Ufa Horlat OFFICE 244*2519 After Hours Call: Elva 244-1036 Jean 244-0847 Eve Ann 637-4437 tSSRMOOll BT. MW MAN, N.C. SBBM TtLWNOMMT-ttM ^oux U^Utmond^lox' Q •EtlDOTUl MMinnUCC CMoncut V intisnitt if. RMRaW EUEOTRIO SERVICE Routt 2, Itoi 528 Viiieoliort, N.C. 2t5U (lit) 244-NM N.C. lie No. 14128-1 For !nformation About Advertis!ng 1 Contact Oeno K!ng 946-2 n This Directory !144 •rS’S, West Craven W Highlights Craven County’s Family Woakly Ntwaiwpar P.O.Box 487 Vanceboro, N.C. 28586 (Main St Across From Post Office) PuMIshod Each Thursday Ashloy B, Futroll, Jr. Publisher -' Mika Voss Editor TorrI Jamloson Advertising Manager And StaffWriter Edith Hodgos Office Manager Office Hours Mon 8:30 am -10:30 am Thurs. & Fri. 8:30 am - 5:00 pm Tslsphons 244-0760 or 040-2144 IN-COUNTY RATES Single Copy 25' 1 Year $7.36 2 Years’11.55 3 Years’15.75 OUT-OF-COUNTY RATES 1 Year >8.40 2 Years *12.60 3 Years *16.80 Abova Inoludos 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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April 20, 1989, edition 1
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