People In The Future May
Live For Two Centuries
Some scientists think the time is coming
when people can expect to live (or 200 years
or more.
As 1977 began, there were about 13,000
people in the United Statep who were born
in 1876 or earlier—a small number in a
population that exceeds 216 million. Yet in
some parts of the world, living more than a
century is not unusual.
In a study on aging supported by the
National Geographic Society, gerontologist
Alexander Leaf a few years ago visited
Abkhazia in the Soviet Union, Vilrabamba
in Ecuador, and Hunza in Kashmir. Dr. Leaf
found that in all three places 100 years was
regarded as a normal lifespan.
Lead Active Lives
In Abkhazia, he met a woman who was
130. Dr. Leaf noted: "Many elderly couples
had been married 70,80, or even 100 years."
He reported that most of the centenarians
worked and led active lives.
Since the structure of the molecule DNA
first was described by scientists in 1953, the
possibility has grown that aging may be
delayed and life dramatically prolonged.
DNA is present in every living cell and
has been called "the keeper of the keys to
life." Research now has deciphered the
genetic code bv which this mysterious
chemical directs the manufacture of
proteins, enabling each cell to sustain and
duplicate itself.
"Since they realized that DNA holds such
a trove of secrets, biologists have taken
revolutionary strides," observed Rick Gore
in a recent National Geographic article on
the progress of 'The New Biology."
"We are whatever we are because of our
cells," he wrote. "Our every breath is the
work of lung cells and blood cells. Each step
we take, each word we speak, is the
collaboration of thousands of nerve and
muscle cells."
Complex Subject
But there are many kinds of cells, and it
takes a hundred trillion or more to make a
human being. The areas of research now
under way, and still to be done, are
immense.
Yet unlocking the secret of how cells
remain healthy and productive is helping to
combat cancer and other diseases and holds
the ultimate promise of doubling and even
quadrupling a person's normal life.
The prospects are startling and, in the
view of some authorities, alarming. Albert
Rosenfeld, former science editor of Life,
examines them in his new book,
"Prolongevity."
"If people lived longer, would we prize
life more—or less?" he wonders. He
speculates on what might happen to
insurance and pension benefits and the
outlook for younger job-seekers if
retirements are postponed for decades.
"If people begin to think of themselves as
their own heirs, how will they feel about
their children?" he asks.
Mr. Rosenfeld concludes that, for better
or worse, it appears certain that science will
continue to make new discoveries and
people will have to come to terms with
living longer.
Former State Senator Named
To Staff Of Senator Helms
WASHINGTON - Former
State Senator Hamilton C.
Horton. Jr.. of Winston Salem
has been narvd administrative
assistant to United States
•Senator Jesse Helms, and will
assume His duties in Washington
"in the very near future,"
According to an announcement
by Helms today.
"Our staff is one of the
smallest on Capitol Hill," Helms
said, "but I have always been
proud that it is the best. I am
proud to have Mr. Horton ioin
us, and he comes at a time when
the work-load is increasing:
rapidly. Ham Horton is a
distinguished and prominent
North Carolinian; he understands
the needs of our state,
and he enjoys helping people.
He and Clint Fuller, working as
a team, will render top-flight
service."
Fuller has served as
executive assistant to Helms,
and will continue in that
capacity. Fuller was editor of »
The Franklin Times in
Louisburg prior to joining the
Helms staff, and was chairman
of the Franklin County
Democratic Executive Committee.
Horton. one of North
Carolina's most prominent
Republicans, will give continued
emphasis to what Helms
called "the kind of constructive
bipartisanship which all public
offices should regard as an
obligation. We're here to serve
all North Carolinians, regardless
of political affiliation—and
that's what we have done, and
what we will continue to do."
Horton served in the North
Carolina Senate from 1971
through 1974. Prior to that, he
served in the North Carolina
House of Representatives for
two years. He is an attorney
and business man, active in
civic affairs. He was one of the
leaders in the fight to save the
New River. Senator Helms was
the chief sponsor of Legislation
in the United States Senate
which led to the preservation of
the New River.
Horton was educated in the
Winston-Salem public schools
and is a Phi Beta Kappa
graduate of the University of
North Carolina where he also
received his law degree in 1956.
He is a Morehead Scholar, and
did summer study at the
University of Salzburg, Austri?,
and the University of
Grenoble in France.
He has done extensive
writing for law journals and
other periodicals. He is a
Moravian, having served as an
elder and trustee of Calvary
Moravian Church in WinstonSalem.
Horton is married to the
former Evelyn Moore and they
have one child, Rosalie Hanes
Horton.
Export Value Rises
The value of exports from the
state has risen from arounc
$321 million in 1964 to $765 ir
1975.
J Mr. Farmer*^ vj
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| from FCX?
>; k
| 1) Prices are competitive at FCX.
| 2) We can carry your purchases untl the
fall with approved credit.
| 3) A complete line of farm supplies.
| 4) Any analysis of fertilizer you need.
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Warren FCX Service
Phone 257-2410
If you see a mountain lion I cougar | in North Carolina, be sure
to let the State Museum of Natural llistor* know about it. Any
footprints, hair samples or other evidence should be preserved
for study, and a photo — if you can get it — would be especially
welcome.
Hunt Is On For Big Cats
Have you seen any big cats
recently? The N. C. State
Museum of Natural History
would like to know about it if
you have. The Museum is not
interested in ordinary housecats,
or even bobcats. The cat
they're interested in is the
panther (also called cougar,
puma, mountain lion or
catamount).
In recent years, there have
been a number of reported
sightings of cougars in various
parts of the State, and at least
one of these reports is
considered reliable. Five employees
of the Great Smoky
Mountains National Park made
a confirmed sighting of a cougar
on July 23 1975, on the eastern
end of the Park near the
Cataloochee River.
Because of the likelihood that
- a few cougars still exist in the
State, the Legislature has
passed a bill providing
complete protection to these
rare cats, and it is now against
the law to shoot or harm one in
any way. These cats are also
protected by Federal law.
The State Museum has
printed signs showing a
drawing of a cougar and
furnishing a telephone number
which you are urged to call if
you see one of these big cats,
the number to call (collect) is
919-829-7451. You can also
write the N. C. State Museum
of Natural History, P. 0. Box
27647, Raleigh. N. C. 27611, but
they'd rather Ret a call because
it's quicker.
The sighting of the Cataloochee
panther is particularly
interesting because it offered
not one, but five, men a
sustained look at an animal
previously thought to have
been extinct in North Carolina
for many years. An account of
the experience was published in
the January 1976 issue of
"Wildlife In North Carolina."
The five men„Lee Cochran,
Ernest Wiggins, Horace Cunningham,
Walter Laws and
Jesse Elliot. Jr., all of Bryson
City. N. C. were sitting on the
front porch of a bunkhouse in
the late afternoon watching
some deer feeding in a nearby
t meadow.
The deer seemed quite
agitated, which was unusual.
At one point, they bolted from
the meadow only to return
moments later. Again the deer
bolted wildly. A park service
truck drove up. greetings were
exchanged, then the truck
headed down the road past the
meadow.
Suddenly, a panther leaped
across the road and sprinted
through the meadow. Everyone
got a good, long look. That
night, the horses were
uncharacteristically skittish,
and the next morning, round
pad marks were found in the
edge of the road.
Other sightings have been
reported near eastern swamps,
and also in the Uwharrie area.
Hair samples have confirmed
the presence of at least one
panther. The big cats may be
visitors, or they may live here.
No one knows for sure, but
hopes are high that additional
solid information will be
forthcoming.
Peoples Bank Has
Record Earnings
Peoples Bank and Trust
Company has announced record
earnings and assets for the year
ending December 31, 1976.
Peoples Chairman and President
W. H. Stanley reported
assets of $279.6 million
compared to $246.1 million a
year ago, an increase of 13.6 per
cent. Deposits increased by
$28.5 million to $251.9 million
from $223.4 million last year, a
12.8 per cent climb.
During the year, Stanley
reports loans of $150.2 million,
up 16.5 per cent over loans of
$128.9 million reported in 1975.
Last year the bank's net
income was $2.49 million. This
rose to $2.72 million at the close
of fiscal 1976, an increase of 9.3
per cent.
Per share earnings (before
security gains and losses) for
1976 were $3.36, after adjusting
for the stock dividend of 20 per
cent paid in November.
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Cold Fails To
Chill Library
In spite of bitterly cold
weather, the library at
Vaughan School is a busy place.
The kindergarten and first
grade children watch Sesame
Street. Children in grades two
and three watch the Electric
Company. This program supplements
the reading program.
For the remainder of the
year students in grades three
through seven will receive
instruction in library skills.
This instruction includes the
learning of the Dewey Decimal
system of classifying books into
ten categories. These categor
ies are: Philosophy, Religion,
Social Sciences, Language,
Science. Technology, Arts and
Recreation, Literature and
History. These categories
include the books on facts.
There are also books in fiction
and the easy books.
Students will also learn to
use the Card Catalog which is
tjie alphabetical index of all the
materials in the library. All
students have access to the
audio visual materials available
to them. These materials
include filmstrips, records,
sound filmstrips. tapes, 16mm
films, and transparencies. They
learn to operate the machines
that make use of these
audio visual materials.
Stay cool.
Keeping the thermostat
at 68°costs you 20%
less than keeping it at73?
CP&l
Ask for a free copy of our 24 page booklet How to Save
on Your Electric Bill at your nearest Cral office
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