The Franklin Times
... v
Published Every Tuesday & Thursday
Se rving All Of Franklin County
Telephone Gy6-3283
Ten Cents
Louisburg. N. C.. Tuesday, October 7, 1969
(Eight Pages Today)
100th Year-Number
Rescuers View Accident Scene
Six Year Old Killed By Tree
A six-year-old Bunn area Negro
youth was crushed to death Saturday
by a fallen dead tree while playing in
the woods with two brothers. Thomas
Earl Tabron, one of eight children Mrs.
Mary Alice Tabron of Route 4, Louis
burg, died instantly around 12 noon a
short distance from his home.
Authorities on the scene theorized
that the youth had been attempting to
crawl beneath the fallen tree that was
propped on its stump and another
nearby tree when the rotted tree broke
crushing the youth underneath. It was
assumed by Rescuers and Sheriff's
officers that Gregory Tabron, 8, and
McCray Tabron, 11. were walking on
the dead tree when it cracked about
halfway and fell on their brother.
Efforts to revive the boy by the
Louisburg Rescue Service were futile
and Rescuers said they believed the
youth died instantly. He was crushed
across his chest.
The boy'i mother said she thought
they were watching television until
one of the boys came home to report
the accident. The accident occurred on
land owned by Decimo Gay of Bunn.
Board Retains Dog
Warden On Secret Vote
The Board of County Commission
era, meeting here Monday in regular
session, voted to retain the services of
Tyree Lancaster as County Dog War
den. The vote was 3>2 in a secret
ballot.
The minutes of the meeting show
that the Board "thoroughly diicussed
the situation of the Franklin County
Dog Warden and after lengthy discus
sions and and talking the situation
over very carefully-Chairman (Brooks
W.) Young called for a secret ballot on
the above." Hie vote was recorded as
"three yes and two no" and the
minute* report "the yes won to keep
the prawnt dog warden. The no's
lo*t."
County Accountant Kenneth Bras
well, who acts at secretary to the
Board would neither confirm nor deny
today, report* that a motion was made
by Commissioner E. M. Sykes to dis
charge Lancaster. The report also said
that Commissioner John W. House
seconded the motion. The usually re
liable source said that at this point.
Commissioner Norwood Faulkner re
quested Syke* to withdraw hi* motion
to prevent putting the Chairman on
the spot Sykes withdrew the motion,
according to the report and the secret
ballot was ordered by Commissioner
Young. The implication, according to
the lource, was that Commissioner
Faulkner and Commissioner Robert
Lee Burnette favored retention of Lan
caster and that. a vote on the Syke*
motion would have resulted in a tie
with Young being caled on publicly to
break the tie. The minute* make no
reference to the motion and Brasweli
acknowledged that such a motion had
been rescinded.
Lancaster was involved In an Inci
dent at Centerville several weeks ago
which lejl to charges of assault against
him. He was found guilty in District
Court last month and given a suspend
ed sentence. He was charged with
assaulting several young men who Lan
caster claimed was disturbing the
peace with their automobiles.
The incidents and Lancaster's sub
sequent conviction had led some rela
tives of the boys involved to ?eek his
ouster as a county employee. Friends
of Lancaster appeared before the
Board a few weeks ago and sought to
have him retained.
Former Board Chairman Richard H.
Cash appeared in Lancaster's behalf
Monday and asked his former asso
ciates to retain him.
In other actions, members of the
County 4-H Clubs appeared before the
Board to explain (he work being done
by their clubs and told the Commis
sioners there are 32 4-H Clubs in
Franklin County with 600 members.
Appearing were 4-H'ers Myra Harris.
Ann Wheless and Jolly McKnlght. With
the youngsters were Mrs. George Ful
ler, Mrs. Bernice Harris and Mrs. Luth
er Baldwin. County Demonstration
Agents. The group served the Board
and visitors of the meeting a cake and
refresh menu.
The Forest Fire Control Program
received an additional $1630.10 from
the county budget and the budget was
ordered amended to show the addi
tion. An increase of $1667.58 was
ordered added to the budget of the
Mental Health Program. These funds
are to come from the University of
North Carolina. Mrs. William T. De
ment was named as secretary of the
Mental Health Program replacing Mrs.
Irene Scott, who is moving to Raleigh.
Clerk of Court Ralph Knott swore
the Jury Commission members to new
terms. The Commission members are:
L. C. Hasty, Napier Williamcon and J.
W Perry. Jr. John Hodges.. chairman
of the local Project Attainment to
raise funds for Louis burg College ex
pansion, appeared before the Board to
explain the program.
The Board authorized Superinten
dent of Schools Warren Smith to
employ an electrical inspector from
Vance County In order to comply with
state inspection Jaws. The Board killed
the Franklin inspection last year.
The Commissioners approved a re
solution endorsing the local option
one-cent sales tax to be voted on
November 4.
Zollieville Rest Home Enlarged
Mrs. Beaufort Harris, Specialist on
Aging, Franklin County Department
of Social Services, reports that the
ZoUlerille Rest Home here has expand
ed its facilities to accommodate 51
patients. "Hie Home originally opened
three, miles east of Louisburg on the
Rlrer Road, in May, 1966, and was
enlarged from 22 to 34 beds in Sep
tember, 1967.
The Home, owned and operated by
Warren E. Manenbilrg. hu two large
living irm, a large dining area and an
Institutional type kitchen. Mra. Harris
aayt a staff it on duty 24 hours a day
and that the facility la licenaed by the
State Department of Social Services.
Mri. Harris reports that social work
See HOME Page 6 *
NAACP Airs Complaints
In School Board Meeting
The Education Committee of the
Franklin County Chapter of the
NAACP aired what one committee
member termed "valid complaints"
before the Board of Education here
Monday night. The Committee, com
posed of Rev. Earlie Brodie and Rev
S. G. Dunston of Louisburg, Rev. J. P.
MangTum of Franklinton, Rev. S. A.
Manning of Route 4. Louisburg and
James Smith, a law student at North
Carolina Central University, made
charges that the Board is not "repre
senting all the people" and that it is
"setting a trend to rule out Negro
principals and teachers".
Board attorney E. F. Yarborough
termed the charges vague and asked
the Committee members to name
names and instances where the Board
had failed to "hire the best qualified
person without regard to race".
Rev. Brodie opened the two-hour
session by saying there "is a lack of
communication" between the Negro
and the Board. He hit at the fact that
no PTA's are meeting in some schools.
Board member Clint Fuller explained
that PTA's. athletic boosters and other
such organizations are not "subject to
the Board's jurisdiction". Brodie ad
rioted that he did not attend either of
two open house events at the Louis
burg Schools last year.
Brodie sahL "We're looking at the
principals of the schools in the coun
ty" and added thM^at Edward Best
High School there were no Negro
teachers in the high school grades.
Board member William Boone ex
plained that the two Negro high school
teachers hired for Edward Best reign
ed shortly before school was to opehv
and they were replaced with white
teachers who made applications for
the positions.
Rev. Mangrum, saying that he was
not as familiar with the county opera
tions as he was with the Franklinton
City Schools, remarked, "If this thing
This Is
National
4-H Week
See 2
is true-and the Board ought to know
if it is or not--we can see what the
trend is. The trend is to rule7iut the
Negro principals and teachers and if
anybody is to go, it will probably, be
the Negro teachers and this ought not
to be". He took issue with the fact
that the Board had employed a white
principal at Bunn Elementary School.
Yarborough explained that when the
long time Negro principal resigned
there two years ago. the Board hired a
Negro principal from Vance County to
take his place. When this principal
resigned last year, the Board employed
a highly qualified man already in the
county system. Yarborough explained
This Is
National
Newspaper
Week
See Pope 4
that 110 Negro applied for the position
and that the Board hired the "best
qualified applicant it had".
Mangrum asserted that the Board
should have advertised for a Negro to
fill the position. At this point. Yar
borough asked if the NAACP was
advocating that the Board defy the
federal court order and begin hiring
teachers and principals on the basis of
color. Mangrum said this was not what
he meant.
Fuller took issue with Mangrum on
the use of the word "trend". He said it
was unfair and that one principal
exchange did not constitute any trend.
Mangrum stood fast that it did
Board Chairman Horace Baker ask
ed Mangrum at one point if he. Man
grum, meant to infer that he, Baker,
did not represent all the people of the
county. Mangrum said that was exact
ly what he meant, adding that he
thought "you are a good man but you
do not represent the Negry".
Board member Jones Winston told
the Committee that in the Youngsville
District, Negro teachers could come to
him with any problems they might
have and that he believed that they
would. Mangrum said he believed the
Youngsville situation was good.
Local Girl To Head District FHA
Patricia Freeman, daughter of Mr.
and Mrs. Wyatt Freeman, Kdward
Drive in Louisburg, was elected Satur
day at the District F.H.A. Rally in
Northern Nash School as the District
President and State Recreation Leader,
the highest office that can be held by
an F.H.A. member in the twelve coun
ties reprasenting this district for
1970-71. Patricia will be installed at
the State Convention at the Dorton
Arena. .April 4, 1970. She is a junior,
honor student, at Louisburg High
School and k presently the president
of her F.H.A. Chapter.
Others attendirtg the District Rally
from Louisburg wer^. Linda Baldwin,
Ellen Pernell, Julia Battle, Ernestine
Mann, Janice Mitchell, Barbara Brodie,
Princess Lynch, Carita Perry, Sharon
Strickland, Mary .W. FreemanNand
Mrs. L. D. Baldwin, Mrs. Mary B.
Jones, and Mrs. Marjorie Leonard;
from Bunn were Peggy O'Neal, Step
hanie Phillips, Brenda Brewer and ad
visor, Mrs. Li la T. Pearce
There were over 1,200 girts, par
ents, and advisors at the rally. Using
the theme "F.H.A.'ers Venture into
the the 70's", the new program of
work, the three state projects, and
convention reports from the national
convention in Fort Collins, Colorado,
and the State Leadership at Saint
? Andrews in Laurlnburg, was presented
Mrs. Ann Collins of Wesleyan Col
lege, Rocky Mount, delivered the key
note address, using "Action for Ac
complishment" the National Future
Home makers of America Theme, as
her topic.
On hand to extend greetings were
Mr. C. H. Fries, Superintendent of
Nash County Schools, and Mr. Donald
Johnson, Principal of Northern Nash
High School. Mrs. Hazel Tripp, State
Advisor, brought news from the State
Department of Public Instruction.
"The Lonely Drifters", a combo
from Raleigh, entertained the girls
while their advisors conducted a busi
ness meeting.
-Nlangruin also criticized the Board
for not rehiring two Negro teachers.
Supt. Warren Smith explained that one
of the two resigned to accept a posi
tion in Greensboro after she was mar
ried and her husband lived in Greens
boro] The other. Smith told the Com
mittee. accepted a position in Gran
ville County.
James Smith said that teachers were
fearful of talking their problems with
the Board and Manning said the teach
ers had "formally approached the
NAACP because they could not come
to the Board."
Yarborough. at this point, again
asked for names and specific instances
saying that the Board wanted to know
of any problems. No names were
given.
Mangrum stated, "I think it's
funny. You have fought integration
harder than any school board in the
country. 1 know that you're going to
do everything you can to carry out
your plan as long as its legal But I am
not discouraged. I am for integration
and if it doesn't work in this genera
tion, it will work in the next genera
tion. I know integration has been a
bitter pill for you".
The Board, following the session
with the NAACP Committee, approv
ed the election of two teachers and
two aides in the system, gave its OK to
a host of fund raising projects in the
various schools and awarded the audit
ing contract to Lonnie II. Shuping for
another year at a cost of $800.
A greenhouse for Bunn High School
was approved with a limit of $1500 set
for its construction and the Superin
tendent was authorized to have a
survey made to ascertain what is need
ed in way of rewiring some of the
older school buildings.
Five Teen-Age Girls
Injured In Accident
Five young girls were hospitalized
here early Sunday morning following a
single car accident on State Rural
Koad 1116 near Youngsville Saturday
night around 10 P.M. State Trooper D.
"C Day identified the injured as De
bofah Arlene Dorsey, 13, 99 WhiUker
St., rr^nklinton', Alice Mae Privette,
13, Robte 1, Franklinton; Urenda
Carol StallTngs, 15, Route 4, Louis
burg, Jo AniN\V heeler, 14, and her
sister, Marie C. ^Vheeler, 12, of 6
North Second St., Franklinton
Two young men eac?ped injury in
the accident. These were identified as
Raymond David Kvaas. 18, iiftwtified
by Trooper IJay as- the driver of the
1969 Chevrolet, and his brother Kddie
Evans. 16, of 705 Fast Franklin Street,
Franklinton.
Day said the accident occurred on
the old Frinklinton-Youngsville high
way and that the car left the road,
overturned and struck a utility pole.
Day said the car skidded 360 feet
before overturning and another 60 feet
afterwards. He has charged Kvans with
exceeding a safe speed.
A woman and two small children
were treated at Franklin Memorial
Hospital following an accident on the
Konald Tharrington Koad here around
5:30 P.M. Saturday. Day identified the
driver of the 1969 Volkswagen as
Bennette Gail Morris, w/f/19, and said
the accident apparently occurred when
one of two small children grabbed the
steering wheel. The children were iden
tified as Sandra Kay Burnette, 7, and
Pamela Kaye Burnette, 6. The vehicle
ran off the road and overturned.
Trooper Day reported a two car
collision at US-1 and 1-A intersection
near Kranklinton Saturday. He report
ed that a car driven by Earlie Hod well.
^/m/33, of Wake Korest failed to yield
and was struck by a car driven by
Allen Ray Moody, w/m/21, of Route
2, Henderson. Rodwell has been charg
ed wjth failing to yield the right of
way, according to Trooper Day.
Sportswear Gives Scholarship
Jerry CosU, second from right, Production Manager for the Sportswear Company, la ahown above praaentlng a Sportswear
Scholarship valued at $200 to Superintendent of Schools Warren Smith In ceremonies at Loulaburg High School Monday. Others
shown are Thomas Rlggan. left. School Principal, and Don Hartnesa, right, local Sportswear plant manager. The scholarship is to
be preaented to the student at Loulaburg "who has attained the highest acholaatlc rating" and ? who Intends enrolling at an
accredited Institution of higher learning." Photo by Clint Fuller