Want To Know About
That “Golfcrest DeaV*?
jOingERN PINES, NORTH CAROLINA, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 1954
Why did the town council pay
Newland Phillips $2,433.59 for
water lines laid more than three
years ago in his Golfcrest subdi
vision outside the city limits?
Was it legal? Was it economi
cal? Was there any alternative?
The Pilot this week went to W
Lament Brown, town attorney,
and City Manager Tom E. Cun
ningham for the answers, since
the matter has been the subject
of some interest and general mis
understanding.
Both said the same thing—“It
was a compromise arrangement
We didn’t particularly like it
Neither did the Mayor nor the
rest of the council. But it was the
best way out of a bad situation.
A Legal Action
In answer to the questions
above, the town attorney said,
“First, it was legal. North Caro
lina General Statute 160-255 cov
ers the matter fully. There is am
ple precedent, supported by Su
preme Court decisions, and also
by the N. C. League of Municipal
ities.
“Second, it was economical. For
the $2,433.59 the town secured
title to 2,000 feet of six-inch
jor Vehicles
Of Town Now
Radio-Equipped
Cenlral Conlrols
water line and 700 feet of two
inch water line already installed
at a cost more than twice that
amount. The town would have
had to pay the full amount later,
and perhaps a good deal more.
“Third, yes, there was an al
ternative—the council could have
refused to pay. However, Mr.
Phillips had a legally enforceable
agreement, made with the former! equipped, with central
town board in 1951. He could, and in the town hall,
most likely would, have sued,
and won.
“Also, in the event Golfcrest
residents ever petitioned for an-
nexatioij, the town would have
had to pay for these water lines,
and any others which might have
been laid in the meantime. It is a + i j , •
question as to whether the town truck and the big new
At City Hall;
Savings Are Seen
All major pieces of mobile
equipment owned by the Town
of Southern Pines are now radio-
controls
The two-way hookup set up by
the police department, for law
enforcement purposes, three and
a half years ago has been expand
ed during the past eight months
to include the water department
truck, the sewer and streets de
could afford the payment later.
It might even have required a
bond issue, or forced the turning
down of the petition.
Only Practical Coui^
The council made the payment
reluctantly, and Mayor Clark was
the last to comp around. The city
manager and I didn’t like it
either, though we were the ones
fire truck. Installation on the fire
truck was completed just last
week.
The radio speaker is in the po
lice station, on the second floor of
the town hall, where a staff mem
ber is on duty 24 hours a day.
Also, City Manager Tom E.
Cunningham, whose office is on
the first floor, has received his
BLUE KNIGHTS
The Blue Knighls will
travel to Rowland tonight
(Friday) to play the Rowland
High School team under the
lights. Kickoff time, 8 p. m.
The game will be a real
test, as both teams -are un
defeated so far this season.
Rowland has won two, while
Southern Pines has one tie
and one victory.
The 0-0 tie was with Max-
ton two weeks ago. and word
from Robeson county is that
Rowland is tougher.
The Blue Knights won
against West End on the local
field last Friday, having
things pretty much their own
way for a 52-12 score. The
game offered an opportunity
to play the reserves quite a
bit, Qulstanding players were
Jimmy Humphrey, Billy Cox.
Bobby Cline and Johnny
Watkins.
who worked out the plan, as the I f ® license, and can talk
T, .-.X I to the town crews just by going
(Continued on Page 8)
Chamber Supports Action To Retain
USAFAGOS; Fall Plans Are Considered
Mother Acts Fast,
Saves Daughter
From Fiery Death
♦ The Southern Pines Chamber
of Commerce went on record
Tuesday night as expressing ap
preciation of the USAF Air-
Ground Operations school and its
beneficial effects in the commun-
Mrs. R. E. Rhodes of Ridge Street
extension suffered severe burns
Saturday afternoon when paraf
fin she was heating on the kitchen
stove, to cover jelly jars, exploded
and caught fire.
The flaming wax covered Mrs.
Rhodes’ hands and set fire to her
ruffled slip. Her mother, Mrs. T.
J. Garrett, hearing her screams,
rushed to her and threw a rug
about her, undoubtedly saving
Mrs. Rhodes’ life.
The two women were alone in
the house at the time. Mrs. Gar
ret called a neighbor, Mrs. E
Nolley Ja'ckson, who came to
their aid. By then Mrs. Garrett,
who is 70 years old, had put out
the flames, applied soda paste to
her daughter’s burns and was
beating out fire which had started
up in the kitchen from the blaz
ing wax.
Mrs. Rhodes was taken at once
to Moore County Hospital, and
Monday was transferred to Duke
ilospital, Dprham. Doctors said
some skin grafting would be done
on her hands, also a small bit on
her hip. She was slightly burned
also about the legs. She received
no burns on her face.
Mrs. Garrett was slightly burn
ed on one arm, but said later, "I
didn’t even notice that—I was too
busy.”
upstairs and making a quick call.
“The saving in time and the
extra convenience are far greater
even than we expected,” the city
manager said this week. “Also,
they represent considerable sav
ing in actual money.
Gilmore Elected
To National Post
With State YDC
Voit Gilmore, 36-year-old local
businessman and town council
member, was elected national
committeeman of the North Caro
lina Yoimg Democratic Clubs at
the annual YDC convention held
at Charlotte last Thursday, Fri-
j day and Saturday.
are out all day, anywhere in
town, do not have to check back
and forth for information and in
structions. We can find them in
ity, and supporting the action by I an instant, anywhere they happen
interested citizens in endeavoring j to be working.
“Water can be turned on prac
tically as soon as requested—fre
quently before the person making
the request gets back home. In
one recent case, where a family
moved into a home late Friday
afternoon, this saved their spends
ing the whole weekend without
water. In sewer emergencies, we
“The operating trucks, which! Gilmore was unopposed for the
...n o t. . .-.n
to keep the school here.
In the resolution adopted at
their regular meeting at the
Southland Hotel, the directors
pledged cooperation with the ef
fort to retain USAFAGOS
Southern Pines.
Announcement was made last
week that the school would be
moved to Keesler AFB, Biloxi, j have been able to get a crew on
Miss., sometime after the first of | the job within minutes,
the year. However, there is a “Having radio on the fire truck
feeling in some quarters that this I releases the police car, in case
decision may be still a tentative) hurry call comes through. For-
one, and that, since the school has | merly, after bringing an officer
office, as were all the other off!
cers when election time rolled
around—a situation believed to
be unprecedented in an organiza
tion which thrives on contests
and campaigns.
In Gilmore’s case, the fact that
opposition threatened, but failed
to materialize, was attributed by
many to his smooth, effective and
wejl-organized campaign. The
campaign developed after he was
elected Moore County YDC pres
ident at the county convention at
Carthage August 27. It became of-
(Continued on page 8)
to handle traffic, the police car
had to stay on the scene to relay
messages to the firemen.”
integrated so well with the com
munity life, it may be alloO^ed to
remain.
June Phillips was a visitor at
the meeting, to suggest that the
Chamber sponsor store displays
for the Homecoming Game, as in
past years. This was referred to
Miss Katharine MacDonald, chair
man of the retail division, to as
certain the wishes of the mer
chants. The directors authorized
the expenditure of prize money if
the contest is held.
No Fall Sale
Miss McDonald reported a ma
jority opinion of the retailers (12
out of 15) that they preferred not
Invitations have been issued
instead to concentrate on a really through every school in the coun-
thereupon 114 years of age, to take part in
the event, said w;. T. Huntley, Na-
“Kids Day” Will
Be Big Day For
Moore Youngsters
Saturday will be National Kids
Day, and in Moore county, as all
over the land, U. S. Air Force
personnel and Kiwanians will
join hands to give the kids a
wonderful time.
Mrs. Holtzelaw
Heads Appeal For
Promotional Fund
Commissioners
Plan Conversion
Of County Home
Will Be Private
Boarding Home,
Supervised By Stale
The Moore County Home, “poor
house” type of county institution
for the care of the indigent for
uiany years, will be converted
into- a privately operated board
ing home for white persons.
This is the decision recently
reached by the county commis
sioners and announced this week
by the chairman, Gordon Cam
eron.
Mr. Cameron said that details
of the arrangement had not yet
progressed beyond the tentative
stage, and the time set for the
move remains indefinite. It had
been hoped that it could be ac
complished within the next two
months, but costs of the necessary
renovation of the old building,
now being considered by the
county board, are so high that
more time will probably be need
ed to study the matter and figure
cut methods of financing.
“It really is hardly settled,” the
chairman of the board said. “It’s
something we hope very much to
do, but it’s going to be quite a
difficult undertaking.”
While it is understood the ar
rangement has been approved by
the county board, it remains to
be accepted by the State Depart
ment of Public Welfare, which
must license the Home and the
new operators before it can be
opened. Only fully licensed
homes, it is ruled, may accept
cases under the Old Age Assist
ance program.
Renovation of the building is
expected to include new light
ing throughout; also a new stove
and hot water plant, beds and
other furnishings.
Facilities Enlarged
It is planned to equip the Home
to care for 20 boarders. With only
from five to eight, on an average,
there during the past 10 years,
(Continued on Page 8)
PRICE—TEN CENTS
Ballpark Lights Go Up
As Project Nears End
Accident As First
Pole Is Hoisted
Causes Delay
I ,»
I
INGLIS FLETCHER
Sunday Will Be
‘^‘Homecoming” At
Old Bethesda
discontinued.
(Continued on Page 8)
Accident On Saratoga Track Costs
Life Of Nemrod, Cardy Racing Star
A second tragedy on the Sara
toga track near the close of the
recent racing season cost the life
of Nemrod, a prized thorough
bred of the Vernon G. Cardy
stables and a former st2ir of the
Aga Khan’s string.
Wthile running a hurdle race,
the horse struck a pylon as he
rounded a curve and somersault
ed off the tracks throwing his
jockey, Pat Smithwick, to the
ground. Smithwick was only
slightly injured and it was
thought at first that Nemrod
might not have suffered serious
hurt. However, some days later
the fine animal had to be destroy
ed.
Nemrod, son of Nasrullah and
a cousin of Citation, and Kerkeb,
a filly, were purchased from the
I tional Kids Day chairman for the
Sandhills Kiwanis Club. Children
j even younger may join in provi
ded a parent comes along.
Pope Air Force base will be
j the center of activities for the
owned and trained by Mrs C E visitors from Moore and
Adams of Southern Pines, ’ while counties, all under
running in the Beverwyckbsupervision of
Steeplechase Handicap at Sara- Kiwanians.
toga broke a pastern and had
be destroyed. The accident cli- youngsters are ex-
maxed the longest winning streak assemble at Weaver
in recent racing history. Winning -^^^^^orium at 9 a. m. There they
seven straight races for a total of receive a greeting from Brig.
$24,515, Escargot was well on ther^®’^' W. Jenkins or some
way toward a possible eighth win • ranking official of the
when the fatal mishap occurred
Mrs. Adams’ son Dooley was his
jockey at the time.
In the Beverwyck, L. R. Troi
ano’s King Commander, trained
by Walsh, renowned as the na
tion’s leading hurdle horse Of
1953, went on to win. Then, the
day before the August racing sea
son ended, he scored a spectacu
lar record-shattering victory in
Aga Khan by the Canadian] the $11,375 Saratoga Steeplechase
sportsman last December, and'
stabled at Vernon Valley Farms,
the Cardy winter place here. The
price of the pair was stated to
have been in six figures. Both
were under training by Mickey
Walsh of Stoney brook Stables
here. After some tests on the
summer circuit they were to have
formed the nucleus of Cardy’s
breeding establishment.
Just one week earlier Escargot,
' Handicap, in which his share was
$7,750. He set a new track record
of 5:00 2-5 for about two and a
half miles over 16 stiff jumps.
He had won several previous
races and was second in the Shill-
elah Handicap.
Smithwick, riding the five-
year- old gelding in his impres
sive win, in the Saratoga, was
much acclaimed for his courage
(Continued on Page 8)
USAF Air-Ground Operations
school. Welcome wiU also be ex
tended by N. L. Hodgkins, Ki
wanis Club president, and mem
bers of the club will distribute
special souvenir buttons to the
guests.
At 10:15 a caravan will be
formed to take the kids to Pope
Air Force Base. Many parents
are expected to provide cars, and
three USAFAGOS buses, also the
school activities bus, will carry
the overflow. A Kiwanis Club
member will ride with each bus,
and stay with his group during
the day.
The real fun will begin at 11
o’clock when the caravan reaches
Pope.
Aircraft Displays
Static displays of all types of
great modem aircraft will be on
every hand. Types shown will in-
(Continued on Page 8)
The annual fund drive of the
US Highway 1 Association is un
der way here, with a quota of
$480 and a deadline of October 1,
or very soon thereafter.
Mrs. Oscar Holtzelaw, conduct
ing the drive, said this week she
has raised $168 through personal
visits and letters to tourist-related
businesses, and hopes to get up
the rest within the coming week.
She asks that all individuals
and businesses interested in the
resort and tourist trade do their
part promptly in this well-known
promotional endeavor. Any mon
ey raised over the quota will be
retained in Southern Pines, for
advertising and promotion.
A letter this week from Lester
Rose, of Raleigh, executive secre
tary of the association, informed
her that the money had to be in
hand verj' soon if Southern Pines
is to share in the program for the
year. This includes advertising
folders, maps and other promo
tional materials, with effort ex
pended in various media to attract
tourist travel along US Highway
1. With strong competition from
301, which has a strong associa
tion and well-heeled budget, it
has become of vital importance to
keep US 1 in the public eye.
Mrs. Holtzelaw may be reached
at Jefferson Inn, which she and
her husband manage. She is the
Southern Pines Chamber of Com
merce representative op the High
way Association board.
Lightning Strikes
Foursome, Sets
Golf Course Afire
Lightning jabbed out of a prac
tically clear sky Sunday afternoon
to strike the Southern Pines
Country Club golf course, stun
ning a foursome and setting fire
to the pinestraw beneath a tree.
Will Russ and O. T. Parks, Jr.,
of Southern Pines, Carlos Frye
and Harry W. Davis of Carthage
had just teed off on the 18th tee
when the bolt flashed from the
blue. Russ, Parks and Frye were
knocked flat. Davis staggered
but kept his balance. As the
stunning sensation passed, and
the prostrate golfers scrambled to
their feet, they saw the pinestraw
about them had caught fire. For
the next few minutes they were
too busy putting out the fire to be
scared. But then—“We were ner
vous and shaky for about an
hour,” Parks said later.
The caddies had gone ahead and
were not affected. The golfers
went on and finished their game,
unhurt, and very thankful to be
alive.
It was a fair afternoon, with
“just one little dark cloud” in the
sky. It was from the heart of this
cloud the bolt presumably came.
A short time later there was an
other rather severe flash, which,
however, did not strike the course.
An hour or so later, a rainshower
fell.
The clans will be gathering
Sunday at historic Old Bethesda
Presbyterian church; between
Southern Pines and Aberdeen, ip
observance of the annual Home
coming Sunday and 164th ani-
versary of the church’s founding.
The tradition cf excellent
speakers recalling the days of the
Scottish pioneers will be main
tained by a distinguished young
historiEn and a famous woman
novelist. They are Dr. Blackwell
Robinson, of the University of
North Carolina history depart
ment, and Inglis Fletcher, author
of many historical novels, inclu
ding one about Flora Macdonald,
Scottish heroine, scon to be pub
lished.
Dr. Robinson and Mrs. Fletch
er, who lives in Edenton, will be
heard on the afternoon speaking
program, starting at 2:15. Deliver
ing the sermon at the morning
service at 11:15 will be the Rev.
C. W. W|orth, former pastor of
Bethesda church, now of White-
ville.-
Picnic Luncheon
The two parts of the program
will be divided by a noon hour
gathering and picnic luncheon in
the grove.
Hundreds of members, former
members and their friends and
relatives, as well as others inter
ested in the lore of the old Scots,
are expected to attend the event
from all over North Carolina and
several other states. J. Talbot
Johnson of Aberdeen is serving
as program chairman for the 27th
successive year.
Dr. Robinson is well known in
the Sandhills, as he spent the
summer of 1953 here compiling
a history of early Moore county
for the Moore Historical associa
tion. This is slated for publication
under the association’s auspices
as soon as funds are available.
Mrs. Fletcher, who will be ac
companied by her husband and
other members of her family, re
cently returned from Soo-tland
(Continued on Page 8)
Despite delay occasioned by an
accident last Saturday,*the light
ing of the school athletic field
progressed mightily this week. •
Eight of the big poles were
erected, seven of them' complete
with lights ready to be hooked
up with the lighting system. Two
are 75 feet high, six 70 feet. A
ninth pcle, 40 feet high, which
will carry transformers and
switches, will go up soon.
Cross-arms and lights were
placed last Saturday afternoon
on an erstwhile giant of the for
est, and quite a crowd of interest
ed, onlookers were present to see
the first pole go into place.
Hoisted by a crane, it had
reached a height of about 50 feet
in the air when the crane started
to topple and the pole came to
earth with a sickening crash.
“It was like an atomic explo
sion,” one viewer said later. When
the dust cleared away, it was
found that every one of the 24
bulbs and reflectors, also the
cross-arms, had broken.
Persons close to the 75-foot pole
got away fast as it crashed,
and there were no injuries. The
crane did not topple, as it had
started to do'uniir^" the weight of
the big pole. Vernon B. ej opera
tor, said he had had no chiite
but to let go.
The Cameo Construction Co., of
Sanford was in charge of the job.
Ted Baroody, supervisor, said
that the loss—amounting to about
$750—was covered by insurance.
A rush order was sent off at once
for replacements, and the new
bulbs came in Tuesday, with re
flectors expected to arrive the
end of the week.
Tuesday morning. Cameo sent
over a large crane, which could
handle the big poles like jack
straws, and the work went for
ward then without a hitch.
Next week will see the trans
formers and switches installed
and all the wiring connected up,
said W. B. Holliday, chairman of
the project sponsored by the
Southern Pines Chamber of Com-
mrece.
Newland Phillips of the Phil
lips Motor Co., gave a 1937 car
to the fund committee last week,
and it was sold for $50.
This brought the total of contri
butions to $3,054, the chairman
said.
Collection of pledges consti
tutes the committee’s main worry
now. The sum of $611 is outstand
ing, some of which sure not to be
paid until October 1, with two
or three to be paid in November.
All the rest are past due.
C. E. Holt is in cheu-ge of the
pledge collection. “We need to
collect every dollar of this, or go
in the red,” he said. "‘We hope
all those who made pledges will
keep the faith. It is impossible to
contact everyone personally, and
we urge that this money be sent
in quickly.”
One-Day Drive—1,200 Workers
The annual Boy Scout fund
drive will be held Tuesday, Octo
ber 5, in Moore and other coun
ties of the Occoneechee Council,
when a one-day solicitation will
have as its aim the raising of
the $121,071 budget.
In Moore approximately 1,200
workers will take part in the
“Dawn-to-Dusk” campaign, with
an estimated 500 attending the
“kickoff breakfasts” throughout
the county, according to Brig.
Gen. Pearson Menoher of South
ern Pines, district chairman.
Places where the breakfasts will
be held will be announced later. I
In Moore, special emphasis is
being placed on raising enough
funds so the district may regain
a fuU time executive. For the
past nine months Jim Wilson,
scout executive living in South
ern Pines, has been servng both
Lee and Moore counties.
In the past year there has been
a 20 per cent increase in total i
membership—boy and adult—in
the Moore district. In adult man
power, about 100 per cent in
crease in service has been seen,
said General Menoher, the great
est in the district’s scouting his
tory.
Homecoming Game “Under the Lights”
Recalls Another Historic Occasion
Friday night, October 8, wiU be
a history-making night in South
ern Pines sports. For, come that
evening at 7 o’clock, Supt. A. C.
Dawson will throw a switch that
will turn night into day at High
School Memorial Field. Shortly
afterwards the referee’s whistle
will signal the kickoff, beginning
Southern Pines’ first home game
under the lights.
It will be Homecoming Game,
and the visiting team taking part
in the gala occasion will be an
Eastern Conference stalwart, Bla-
denboro High. Runner-up . in the
Eastern finals and semi-finals two
years in a row, the visiting foot
ballers from way down East are
worthy foemen of what appears
now to be a Blue Knight power
house in the making.
But the historic part of the
game reverts back to an occasion
seven years ago this October. On
that date. Southern Pines High
school, a pioneer of six-man foot-
Iball in our Tar Heel state, pro
moted a game with a powerful
Lexington Orphanage team that
attracted over 2,000 fans, includ
ing His Excellency, Gregg Cherry,
North Carolina’s governor at that
time.
The promotion of the game was
to attract attention to the advan
tages of six-man football in' high
schools, with too few students to
play or finance 11-man football.
The results exceeded any foreseen
probabilities.
The big dailies had their sports-
writers on hand to view the game,
and the sportscasters of the three
major radio stations were there.
On that fall day fewer than 30
schools in North Carolina played
six-man football; there were no
conference groupings, no eligibil
ity requirements, no nothing, but
the hope and faith of a few.
Today more than 70 schools in
Tarheelia play six-man football,
with more than 1,000 boys partici
pating, who otherwise would not
(Continued on Page 8)