WarrentonKen.Library X
117 S . M a L n St.
ifarrenton, N.C. 27589
®l|t Harren Hecnrft
Volume 84 15c Per Copy ^ Warrenton, County Of Warren, North Carolina Wednesday, December 16, 1981 Number 51
Election
Results
Reported
Agricultural Stabiliza
tion and Conservation Ser
vice Community Commit
tee elections were held re
cently for the one-year
term beginning January 1.
Following is a list of
townships with the newly
elected committeemen
listed in order of chairper
son, vice-chairperson,
regular member, and first
and second alternate .
Fishing Creek - Ed
ward Conn, Frank A.
Gupton, Billy L King, Ray
Melvin Shearin, and
George Harrison.
Fork — Leon S. Wil
liams, Gillis Alston, Ben
nie P. Collier, Martin C.
Fowler and V. A. Dillard.
Hawtree - William J.
Hawks, Albert E. Perkin
son, Robert H. Frazier,
Macon Myrick and James
H. Taylor.
Judkins - Matt D.
Nelson, Jr., Vance Robert
son, J. M. Overby, Arthur
Lee Evans and Hughey C.
Spruill.
Nutbush - W. B. Elling
ton, A. P. Holtzman, Jr.,
Thomas E. Edwards, L. M
Bender and John Russell,
III.
River - J. Robert King,
Harvey H. Shearin, Ed
ward Warren, Floyd A.
Walker and D. S. Isles.
Sandy Creek - Sidney P.
Fleming, Andy B. Garrett,
Willis A. Fleming, Owen H.
Williams and Otha "L.
Hayes, Jr.
Sixpound - Charlie W.
Duncan, E. P. Daniel, 0. C.
Leonard, John Henry
Palmer and George A.
Perkinson.
Smith Creek - Sidney G.
Burton, Richard J. Holtz
man, Norvell H. Bolton,
Rodgers Holtzman and A.
0. Johnson.
Warrenton - Ernest C.
Brauer, A. Kenneth Mus
tian, Robert Dunston,
Leonard Wilker and
Franklin Rivers.
Shocco - Melvin T.
Abbott, Edward Somer
ville, William Fuller, Jr.,
Eugene Mustian, Jr. and
W. L. Peoples.
Chairperson, vice chair
person and regular mem
ber of each community
committee will be dele
gates to the county conven
tion to fill vacancies on the
county committee. The
convention will be held on
December 21 at 10 a. m. in
the courthouse.
Chief Nabbed
For Drunk Driving
No disciplinary action is
being planned against
Norlina Police Chief
Romey Williams, who was
arrested Thursday night
on a drunk driving charge.
A Raleigh newspaper
today quoted Norlina
Mayor Kenneth Davis as
saying that a suspension or
other disciplinary action
could be imposed on
Williams only by a vote of
the full town council at its
next meeting on January 4.
Davis was quoted as
saying he doubted any
action would be taken until
the case is heard in court.
Williams, 42-year-old
resident of Rt. 1, Warren
ton, was stopped by State
Trooper Al Bennett of
Norlina about 10:15 p. m.
on State Road 1229 and
charged with driving un
der the influence of intoxi
cating liquor.
Another man in the car,
Dallas Bullock, 24, of
Warrenton, was charged
with driving under the
influence and resisting an
officer. Court officials said
both men had driven the
vehicle at different times.
The two are scheduled to
appear for trial in Warren
County District Court on
January 13.
FIRE SCENES — The photo at bottom shows the remains of a house fire near Embro
which snuffed out the lives of two Warren County residents on Thursday. At bottom is
the converted mobile home near Parktown which was destroyed by flames on Friday.
isiaii mown
Two Warren Residents Die
In House Fire At Embro
The bodies of two resi
dents of the Embro
community were found in
the smoldering ruins of the
home of Tealie Edwards on
a dirt road between Embro
and Vaughan Thursday
afternoon.
Firemen identified the
victims as Chlorie
Edwards, 83, and her
nephew, Charlie Edwards,
55, who apparently died of
burns while his aunt died of
smoke inhalation.
The fire is believed to
have started when an oil
stove in the kitchen
malfunctioned and
possibly exploded,
according to Warrenton
Rural Fire Chief A. A.
Wood, who said the fire
apparently spread quickly,
trapping the victims.
The fire was first
reported at 2 p. m. to the
Macon Fire Department,
which responded with a
pumper and a tanker.
Flames were coming out of
the roof and from the back
of the house when the
firemen arrived. They
immediately radioed for
assistance, and responding
were the Areola Volunteer
Fire Department with one
tanker, then the Norlina
department with a tanker
and a squad.
The Warrenton Rural
Fire Department soon
joined with a pumper, a
tanker and a crash wagon.
Shortly thereafter the
Improvements
The Areola, Grove Hill, and Old Bethlehem
!| communities along Highway 43 southeast of
Warrenton are experiencing good growth in
residences and are expected to increase from 213
telephone subscribers now to 508 subscribers in
ten years.
Because of this growth additional telephone
facilities are currently being placed in service in
order to assure that the future communication
needs of the communities are met.
Carolina Telephone and Telegraph Company
plans to spend $130,000 in order to place a TD-80
Digital Subscriber Multiply System in service by
March of 1981. This system has a capacity of
handling 576 telephone lines.
Need For More Blood
Cited By Volunteers
Approximately 992 pints
of blood are needed each
day for patients in the 104
hospitals in the 57-county
Carolinas Region of the
American Red Cross.
Yet, the Red Cross blood
mobile is able to visit
fewer locations during the
Christmas holidays be
cause of plant closings,
family travel, and holiday
gatherings.
"Now is the time the Red
Cross needs the extra
effort by volunteer blood
donors, Red Cross Chap
ters, volunteer workers,
nurses and sponsoring
groups to make sure that
blood is available for
anyone who needs it during
the holiday period," ac
cording to Gail Clower,
local Red Cross volunteer.
The Red Cross is spon
soring a Holiday Miracle
Campaign, and it is asking
people to donate blood
during this critical period.
Donors can become a
Holiday Miracle by giving
a pint of blood at the
Wesley Memorial Metho
dist Church on December
31 from 10 a. m. to 3:30 p.
m.
Each donor will be given
a gold lapel sticker
reading; "Thank you for
being a Holiday Miracle."
The Red Cross reminds
area residents that this is
the traditional time for
giving and receiving - and
for sharing with another
person the gift of life.
firemen discovered a
woman was trapped inside
the building but were un
able to reach her in tirre.
The flames reportedly
hit mainly in the kitchen
area of the house. They
spread upstairs and into
the attic, working their
way to the front of the two
story, woodframe building
The downstairs front and
central sections of the
house were not burned but
were filled with thick
smoke.
Chief Wood said firemen
did not realize that Charlie
Edwards possibly had been
in the house until the blaze
was almost extinguished.
Just before 4 p. in. Chief
Wood located the second
body, which was badly
burned, while searching
the smoldering rubble in
the kitchen area near an oil
stove.
The house and contents
(Continued on page 6)
Nursing Home
Celebration Held
A new 100-bed nursing
home could be completed
in Warren County in 1982, a
Gastonia attorney told
some 50 person at a victory
celebration held at the
Norlina Woman's
Clubhouse on Thursday
night.
Carl J. Stewart, Jr., a
North Carolina lawmaker
and attorney for N. L.
Williams, Jr., was the prin
cipal speaker during the
dinner meeting in Norlina.
Just about all the members
of the Warren Nursing
Center Advisory Council
were on hand for the
celebration, along with
special guests.
Stewart said that "within
90 days we hope to tell you
that we have arranged
long-term financing" for
the new facility. He said
there is now "fierce
competition" among
building contractors, and
that this may be an ideal
time to begin construction.
He said there is a nine
month construction time
table.
Stewart pointed to the
need for a facility in
Warren County, saying
that virtually every
nursing home in North
Carolina now has a waiting
(Continued on page 6)
Committee Assignments Made
Mayor, New Boord
Members Take Oaths
Mayor Beverly G. White
and six members of the
Warrenton Board of Town
Commissioners elected in
the November 3 election,
the first Tuesday in No
vember, were sworn in at a
re-organizational meeting
on Monday night. The
oaths of office were admin
istered by Richard Hunter,
former town commission
er, re-elected in the No
vember election, and now
Clerk of Warren County
Superior Court. Hunter
refused to take the oath of
office as a commissioner
Taking the oath of office,
in addition to Mayor White,
were Butch Scott, a new
commissioner, and five
commissioners who were
re-elected, as follows: A.
A Wood, Gordon Haith
cock, Eddie Clayton,
Charles M. White, III and
Billy Lanier, Jr.
A A. Wood, who receiv
ed the largest number of
votes in the recent elec
tion, was elected mayor
pro-tem. Other officials
re-appointed were Charles
T. Johnson, town attorney;
V. R. "Pete" Vaughan,
town administrator; Caro
lyn Robertson, bookkeep
er and Debbie Clary, clerk.
Also re-appointed were
Water Department Super
intendent, Bill Neal, Police
Chief, Freddie Robinson,
and Fire Company Chief,
Lee Cheek.
Mayor White announced
his committee assign
ments for the fiscal years
1981-82 and 1982-83 as
follows;
Finance - Eddie Clay
ton, chairman; Charles M
White, III and Butch Scott
Water and Sewer -
Gordon Haithcock, chair
man; A. A. Wood and
Eddie Clayton.
Police - A. A. Wood,
chairman; Charles M
White, ni and Butch Scott.
Street - W. K. Lanier,
Jr., chairman; Gordon
Haithcock and Eddie Clay
ton.
Fire - Butch Scott,
chairman; A. A. Wood and
W. K. Lanier, Jr.
Zoning and Historical -
Charles M. White, HI,
chairman: Gordon Haith
cock and W. K. Lanier, Jr.
Town checks are signed
by the mayor, town admin
istrator and chairman of
the finance committee.
Should any of these not be
available, a commissioner
may sign as the third
signer. Butch Scott was
designated to sign checks
should any of the regular
signers not be available. In
the discussion preceding
the election, it was pointed
out that Scott works for
Branch Bank and Trust
Co., near the town munici
pal building, and could be
easily reached.
Bill Neal, water com
pany superintendent and
Chief Freddie Robinson of
the Police Department
were present at the
meeting When Mayor
White called on the water
committee for its report,
Neal reported that he had
been assured that the
engineers would replace a
section of pipe removed in
building the regional waste
water plant at Warrenton,
now 90 percent completed.
Robinson made no re
port, but A. A. Wood of the
police committee reported
Hmt his committee and the
town administrator had •
rebuilt motor placed in the
town's Nova Chevrolet car
and that it Is now running
well. He said that the
• blue" standby car would
not start and that it would
be checked out and
repaired.
The finance report was
briefly given by Mayor
White and Administrator
Vaughan. They said that
while tax collections had
(Continued on page 6)
AT DEDICATION — General Claude T. Bowers and Mrs. Bowers, residents of
Warrenton, are shown during the dedication of the North Carolina Military Center at
Raleigh on Saturday. The complex was named in honor of General Bowers, who has had
a long National Guard career and was credited as being the founding force behind the
military facility.
Bowers Is Honored Saturday
At Dedication In Raleigh
RALEIGH - Amid the
sound of drum rolls,
trumpets, and cameras
clicking, Maj. Gen. Claude
T. Bowers of Warrenton
walked slowly through the
crowd assembled to honor
him Saturday by giving his
name to the North Carolina
Military Center.
The 82-year-old general
bears a personal history
rich with tradition and
honor. Referred to as the
"father of the modern
National Guard," Bowers
began his career in
February 1921 when he
enlisted in Company B,
120th Infantry, "Old Hick
ory" division. Later, after
receiving his commission,
he was called to active
duty and served several
European assignments be
fore returning to the states
at the end of World War II.
Among his many distin
guished service awards
are the bronze star medal,
the combat infantry badge,
and six campaign stars. He
has also been awarded the
North Carolina Distin
guished Service Medal ana
the Distinguished Service
Medal of the National
Guard Association of the
United States.
Bowers was promoted to
major general after as
suming command of the
30th Infantry divisions in
1954. He retired from the
guard four years later, but
the story didn't end there.
Two years after his retire
ment, he was appointed
adjutant general of North
Carolina by Governor
Terry Sanford. Bowers
held that position until
January 31, 1970.
Bowers has been cited as
one of the key proponents
of building a new military
center during his time as
adjutant general. His de
sire to upgrade old
armories, build new ones,
and see the military cotter
plans become a reality
have been an example of
his pride in seeing North
Carolina become one of the
top National Guard states.
"We often forget the
struggle if took to get
this building." said Maj.
Gen. William E. Ingram in
reference to Bower's con
certed efforts to get the
military center.
Brig. Gen. Collin Mc
Kinne, former commander
of Command and Control
headquarters, said, "No
guardsman in the state is
more deserving of this
recognition and honor
Bowers almost .single
handedly masterminded
the acquisition of the
property and the construc
tion of the building He's
just a wonderful old
gentleman."
Col. Albert G. Taylor
agreed. "I can't think of
any more appropriate
name for the center I
think it's just wonderful. I
enjoyed every minute of
my service because of men
like General Bowers. He's
a great friend of mine. It
makes me feel great that
he was so honored."
Guest speaker for the
event, Burley B. Mitchell,
secretery of the N. C.
Department of Crime Con
trol and Public Safety,
summed it up in his tribute
to Bowers "General Bow
ers is truly a man for all
seasons. As he enters the
autumn of his life, it is only
fitting that we gather here
today to give thanks for all
this man has done for his
state and the people he
loves so well . General, I
thank you for your life of
service You have set a
mark in life tow ards which
I, and all other men, would
do well to strive."
Warren County Woman
Is Killed In Wreck
HENDERSON - One
Warren County resident
was fatally hurt and
another was injured Satur
day afternoon when their
automobiles collided al
most head-on on U. S.
Highway 1 bypass, just
north of the Henderson city
limits, according to the
state Highway Patrol.
Fatally injured was Mrs.
Lucy Mae Riggan, 68, of
South Division Street Ex
tension in Norlina, who
was reported dead on
arrival at Maria Parham
Hospital in Henderson.
Trooper C. G. Todd said
also hurt and carried to
Maria Parham was the
other driver, David Bul
lock, 28, of Rt. 2, Norlina.
Bullock, however, ap
parently was not critically
injured and was reported
released after receiving
treatment at the hospital.
The crash occurred at
1:20 p. m. Saturday on a
relatively straight stretch
of U. S. Highway 1 bypass,
three-tenths of a mile
north of the Chicken Farm
Road, in sunny weather.
According to the report
by Trooper Todd, Bullock
was driving north on the
highway when his 1978
model auto apparently
veered left across the
highway centerline and
collided with the 1970
model car operated by
Mrs. Riggan. Her vehicle
was headed south at the
time.
Both vehicles were vir
tually demolished by tin
nearly head-on cnuk
Damages were figured by
(Continued on paget)