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* Complete News Coverage Of Warren County
Volume 80 Warrenton, County Of Warren, North Carolina Thursday, April 28, 1977 Number 17
Conservation May Fue! Interest In Warren Man's Invention
By BIGN ALL JONES
A Warrenton man holds a
patent on an attachment to an
automotive engine which his
tests have shown will not only
cut the consumption of gasoline
in half but will eliminate the
emission from the standard
engine that causes air polution.
The President's warning to
the Congress of the United
States last week that the
world's oil supplies were being
depleted and that America is
facing a crisis, not only caused
oil and automotive industries to
suggest relaxing governmental
controls on the marketing of oil
and the elimination of environ
mental considerations, but also
caused older Warrenton citi
zens to remember that David
Hight years ago had applied for
a patent for a vapor engine and
had used such an engine on a
lawn mower for some time ar.u
that he and his partner the late
J. T. Mitchiner had claimed
that it greatly reduced the
consumption of gasoline.
The amount of gasoline used
by a lawnmower was not a
great deal and its consuTptioii
would have very littlf- effect un
the sale of a lawnmowpr. in
addition the supply of a-,oiine
seemed inexhaustible in 1960
and its price «v.-s rehtivolv lov.
There seemed at that time to je
no great tiemand for a more
economical lawnmower. But
sixteen years and the Vietnam
War has made a difference and
today more efficient use of
gasoline is essential. A visit to
David Hight seemed in order.
He talked freely of his discov
ery.
e time that Hight made
i:i« -Iscovery Economy Auto
jpp'iy was managed by the
late J. T. Mitchiner and David
Hight was the repairman in the
mower repair department of
the store. Hight was working
on.a lawnmower on a summer
day around 1960 and had taken
the covering off when he
noticed that the motor would
keep running from the vapors
from a nearby oil tank. He
recalls that when the tank was
brought closer to the engine the
engine would speed up and slow
down when the tank was moved
further away.
Hight was fascinated and
called Mitchiner over to watch.
For some time the two grown
men were little boys again as
they played with the lpwnmow
er engine. And thus did David
Hight invent his vapor engine,
an engine that might well have
revolutionized the automotive
industry in less prosperous
times.
That summer day the two
men playing with the lawn
mower finally tired of playing
and resumed their regular
duties. But when David Hight
went home that night he could
not forget the lawnmower
running from vapors. In the
next several days he fashioned
a , vapor instrument and
fastened it to his lawn mower.
It worked. Ordinarily, Hight
said, it took two quarts of oil to
cut his rather large yard. This
time there was no pause to
refill the gasoline tank. Finally
the cutting of the grass was
completed. This time David
found that a coffee cup of
gasoline was sufficient to refill
the tank.
By now Hight knew that he
had something, but he was not
completely satisfied. He next
fastened his vapor attachment
to a farm tractor. Again it
worked. He said he detached
the ignition wires one by one
until only one was left. The rear
of the tractor was fastened so
that it could not move, and yet
the wheels continued to turn,
digging into the earth as the
engine ran on one cylinder.
David commented this werk
that a tractor will not run on
only one cylinder as long as raw
gasoline is the fuel.
Hight had the idea, but not
the money to patent his
invention. He told Mitchiner
that if he would pay the cost of
patenting and marketing the
vapor engine patent that he
would split all profits. A patent
lawyer in Raleigh was employ
ed and sixteen years ago Hight
received a patent on his
invention. It has one more year
tContinued on page 41
These Warren County farm Wborerewt mil tobacco plants
« behind a tractor driven by Raymond Seaman. Transferring the
young plants on a farm near Axtelle are (left to right] John
Durham, Amos Durham, John R. Bullock and Jim Durham. Mr.
Seaman, who hag 35 acres of tobacco land wider cultivation, is
one of many Warren and Vance fanners taking advantage of a
week of warm weather to transplant tobacco.
[Staff Photo by Don Stith]
Board Of Adjustment Grants
Variances On Tuesday Night
Variances were granted in
the town's zoning ordinances
Tuesday night at a called
meeting of the Warrenton
Board of Adjustments.
Permission was granted for a
fish market to be operated in
the Jasper Johnson building on
South Front Street, and a
permit was granted the County
of Warren to use "School
Days," the former Allen home
on Cousin Lucy's Lane, as an
office building.
Jasper Johnson, owner of the
building on South Front Street,
appeared before the board on
behalf of Johnnie Fitts who
asked that he be permitted to
operate a fish market in the
part of the building formerly
used as a pressing club and
later as a Watkins Center.
Johnson said that Fitts had
Red Carpet Treatment
Given Visiting Board
Warrenton rolled out the red
carpet Sunday as the board of
directors for North Carolina
Easter Seals met for the first
time ever at Warrenton. The
meeting and luncheon was held
at the depot.
Dewey F. Beame, a member
of the board, presented a
$25,000 check to the board
during the meeting.
The money will be used for
rehabilitation and upkeep of
Camp Sertoma in Winston
Salem, a summer camp donated
by the Sertoma Clubs of North
Carolina for handicapped chil
dren.
Beame, a Cherryville busi
nessman, has donated monies
for other Easter Seal functions
before. "He has no children of
his own, and prefers to spend
fscaped Prisoner
Is Still At Large
Nathaniel Tunstall, a 20-year
oM white male from Henderson
wrving a two-year sentence at
the Warren County unit of the
Department of Correction, re
mains at large, according to
prison sources.
- Tunstall escaped from the
complex on April 12 about 10:46
ft. m
his money on projects like this,"
Mrs. Anna Butler, president of
the N. C. Easter Seal Society,
said.
The Warrenton Woman's
Club catered the luncheon
enjoyed by approximately 55
people.
The Warren County Histor
ical Society provided a car and
Mrs. Luther Lee and Mrs. Mary
Hinton Kerr led tours around
Warrenton for wives of the
visiting board members.
Mayor W. A. Miles welcomed
all the guests to the town. Mrs.
Butler presided over the
meeting.
The group discussed long
range plans for continued de
velopment of some 343 acres of
land at the site of Camp
Sertoma.
"With the completion of
Camp Sertoma, we have one in
the east, and one in the western
part of the state," Mrs. Butler
noted.
Handicapped children from
throughout North Carolina are
eligible to attend the summer
camp sessions, and are often
sponsored by local civic
organizations. Counselors and
directors are hired during the
summer months, A ranger
checks on the camp in the
off-season.
retired but that his doctor had
said that he ought to carry on
some business.
Thomas Watson, chairman,
presided over the meeting and
called for a discussion. Other
members present were Mrs.
Richard Hunter, who acted as
secretary, Charles Fitz and
Kenneth Mustian. L. B.
Henderson was absent.
Fish markets were not
mentioned in the town
ordinance, although at least
two are being operated in the
town. Charles Fitz motioned
that Fitts be permitted to
operate a fish market in the
Johnson building since A&P
located a fish market on an
adjoining lot and to deny him a
permit would be a hardship. His
motion was seconded by
Kenneth Mustian. Mrs. Hunter
voted against granting the
variance and Chairman Watson
avoided a tie by voting in favor
of allowing the fish market to
be operated.
No one appeared in opposi
tion to granting a variance.
Chairman Walter P. (Feete)
Jones and Commissioner Jack
Harris appeared before the
board with County Chairman
Charles Hayes, who acted as
spokesman.
Hayes told the board that the
county planned to use the
former Allen home as office
building in which office space
would be supplied to all
agricultural agencies in the
county, plus offices for the
Warren County Historical
Society and the Warren County
Historical Association. He
asked that a variance in the
zoning law be granted. Again
Charles Fitz made the motion
that the variance be allowed
and a permit issued to use the
former Allen home as an office
building. Kenneth Mustian
again seconded the motion and
(Continued on page 10)
Vance Will Get $64y404 Monthly Increase
Benefits Hike To Add
$24,450 Monthly Here
An estimated 3,730 Warren
County residents will receive
an additional $24,450 a month
when they receive their Social
Security or Supplemental
Security (SSI) checks in July.
Marie Brubaker, field repre
sentative of the Social Security
branch in Henderson, said the
increase will be the result of a
cost-of-living hike in monthly
Social Security and SSl
benefits starting July 1.
Approximately 7,137 resi
dents of Vance County will
receive an additional $64,404 in
payments, she reported.
"The increase," she said,
"will amount to 5.9 percent for
most people getting Social
Security and SSI income pay
ments.
'The cost-of-living provision
was added to the Social
Security Law in 1972, and this
latest increase is based on the
rise in consumer prices during
the 12-month period that ended
March 31."
Ms. Brubaker reported that
Warren beneficiaries are now
receiving approximately $424,
400. In Vance County, recipi
ents now receive approximate
ly $1,091,600.
The Social Security reported
that with the cost-of-living
increase, average Social Secur
ity payments will rise from
$221 to $234 monthly. Average
Social Security disability bene
fits are expected to rise from
$248 to $262 a month.
Average Social Security
survivors benefits for widowed
mothers or fathers with two
children in their care will
increase from $517 to $547 a
month.
Eligible persons with no
other income at all who live in
their own household have been
receiving supplementary secur
ity income payments of $167.80
a month for an individual and
$251.80 for a couple. Starting in
July, the amounts will go to
$177.80 and $266.70.
Ms. Brubaker said "the
Henderson Social Security
Office serves all residents of
Warren and Vance counties. If
you have any questions about
Social Security or supplemental
security income, you should call
or visit our office."
The Henderson office is
located at 425 South Chestnut
Street. The telephone number
for Warren County residents is
257-2426.
The cost-of-living increase
will automatically be added to
the July checks, Ms. Brubaker
stressed, and it is not necessary
for anyone to make application
for the hike.
The increase in benefits was
announced last week by the
Department of Health, Educa
tion and Welfare.
Nationwide, larger checks
will be going to 33,400,000
Social Security recipients and
4,300,000 aged and disabled
recipients of federal SSI
payments. Approximately 2,
500,000 persons receive checks
under both programs.
The average Social Security
monthly benefit for an elderly
couple, both of whom are on
Social Security, will go from
$377 to $400.
The maximum benefit for
a working woman retiring at
age 65 this year will rise from
$422.40 to $447.40, and the
maximum benefit for a working
man retiring this year at the
same age will go from $412.70
to $437.10.
Most states supplement me
federal SSI payments, and their
contributions must remain at
generally the same level and
may not be reduced because of
the increased federal payment.
The increase will cost the
financially troubled Social
Security trust funds $5.3 billion
during the year that ends
September 30, 1978. This
means the trust funds will pay
out approximately $92 billion in
the next fiscal year.
Ms. Brubaker also urged all
persons planning to get
summer jobs to apply immedi
ately for a Social Security
number if they don't already
have one.
John Peraza, Henderson
branch manager, said persons
"should apply for a number
several weeks before you need
it for a job covered by Social
Security. Applications must be
screened against central files in
Baltimore to make sure that a
second number isn't issued to
the same person. Screening
generally takes several weeks."
More than nine out of ten
jobs are now covered by Social
Security, he said. Persons
applying for a number for the
first time may be asked to
prove their age, identity and
citizenship.
"You can get information
about applying for a Social
Security number by calling,
writing or visiting any Social
Security office," Peraza said.
Nominations Submitted
Board Of Elections
Makeup To Change
Political ivwdwrt. appear
destined to control the Warren
County Board of Elections
following the appointment of a
new board in June.
The Warren County Demo
cratic Executive Committee
has nominated three persons
who have never served on the
Elections Board to take two
positions on the three-member
board.
W arren Democratic Chair
man Mrs. Eva Clayton said the
three Democratic nominees are
Mrs. Janice Crump and Mrs.
Dorothy Pitchford, both of
West Warrenton Precinct, and
Mrs. Avis Bugg of East
Warrenton Precinct.
Their names will be submit
ted to the state party chairman
who will make recommenda
tions to State Elections
Secretary Alex Brock.
According to state statutes, a
list of three names from each
political party are submitted to
each respective state party
chairman who in turn presents
the names to the State
Elections Board secretary. The
names are then chosen by the
state board secretary with the
majority of members reflecting
the party in power at the time
of the appointments.
Last year, with a Republican
administration, two of the
county elections board, Mrs.
Ada Johnson and Leland
Gottschalk. were Republican
appointees. Gottschalk served
as chairman, while Kenneth
Governor Taps Deputy's Son
From Warren To Head Patrol
Gov. Jim Hunt has tapped
the son of a former Warren
County deputy sheriff to
command the North Carolina
Highway Patrol.
The new patrol head is Capt.
John T. Jenkins, a native of
Macon and a 29-year veteran of
the Highway Patrol.
Jenkins was born in Macon in
1922, the son of the late James
T. Jenkins and Mrs. Julia
Jenkins Hanna. His father,
then a resident of Littleton,
was appointed a Warren
County deputy sheriff by the
late Willis J. Pinnell and given
the oath of office on June 5,
1950.
Following Sheriff Pinnell's
death in office, Deputy Jen
kins was reappointed by
Sheriff Roy Shearin and took
the oath of office for a second
time on Dec. 4,1950. He served
as a deputy sheriff here until
his sudden death on Oct. 10,
1954.
The new patrol commander
was educated in the public
schools of Macon, Littleton and
Enfield. During World War II
he won five battle stars in the
European Theater while ser
ving as an army sergeant in the
79th Division.
' Jenkins joined the Highway
Patrol in 1947 and was
promoted to captain in 1909. He
has served in several eastern
North Carolina communities
and at the time of this
appointment was commander of
TVoop "C."
Jenkins, married in 1946 to
the former Addie King,
succeeds Maj. Jack D. Cabe,
acting patrol commander.
He said he will continue his
practice of riding with his
troopers in their patrol cars
periodically.
He said he believes there is a
need for discipline in the patrol.
"I think everybody requires a
certain amount of discipline,
and they expect a certain
amount," he said.
Severance was. the lone
Democrat on the board.
This year. Warren Republi
cans have told their state party
chairman that they want Mrs.
Johnson to receive foremost
consideration for a seat. County
GOP Chairman John Hawkins
said Mrs. Johnson was his
party's first choice because of
length of service. Next in line
would be Gottschalk, with Ma.
Charmaine McKissick a third
choice.
Appointments to the board
will be made by the State Board
of Elections on June 7.
Sale Of License
Tags Will Begin
Here On Monday
Mrs. Roy P. Robertson, clerk
at the municipal office of the
Town of Warrenton, has been
appointed a North Carolina
License Agent and will open
her office in the Warrenton
municipal building on May 2.
Her office hours will be Monday
through Friday from 9 a. m. to 5
p. m.
Mrs. Robertson, who is
taking a refresher course in
Raleigh this week from Monday
through Thursday, has had
five years experience as a
license agent, serving in this
capacity from 1968 through
1973 when she was secretary of
the Warrenton Chamber of
Commerce.
Mrs. Robertson was recently
encouraged by the commission
ers to apply for the position ia
recognition of the need for an
automobile licensing office in
Warrenton.
Democratic Women
Will Gather Here
The Second Congressional
District Workshop for Demo
cratic Women will be held at
the Warrenton Depot la
Warrenton on Tueeday, May 8,
beginning at 10 a. m. A very
informative program has been
planned and the Warrantee
Woman's Club will cater the
luncheon.
Those planning to attend
must have reeervatioaa ia by
April 28. A check should ha
aent to Mrs. B. G. White,
treasurer, Warren County
Democratic Women, reports
Mrs. L. C. Cooper. pofaiMty
chairman.