Joe Lanier
?0N <* a
ggfr
ine county commissioners have, once again, failed to
take advantage of the situation. There has been a
resignation in the county manager's office. . .One of his
secretaries has left the county employment to work for a
private firm. . .A most opportune time to do away with the
position. It is not needed. . .It is one of those positions
there for the glory of it. It is kinda like the gold wrapping
on a package of cigarettes. . .It looks good, but it has no i
use. When the package is thrown away, the gold wrapper
goes too. . .Fact of the matter, the whole office can be
discarded. . .It simply has not paid for itself. . .It has been
a liability from day-one and still is a cobblestone around
the county taxpayer's neck. . .It is a convenience for the '
county commissioners as it handles the mundane,
unimportant things for the county commissioners. . .And it
costs the county taxpayers well over $100,000 a year. The
office uses monies budgeted to ot^er areas, such as the
county commissioners, so as not to si.^ *he actual amount
of tax money thrown away. . .The secretary' - nosition that
was resigned is the higher paid secretary, with ,. salary of
$11,213. The other position pays some over $9.OOo. .A
most strange situation. . .The higher-paid position is not
being advertised. . .The lower-paid position is being
advertised for someone. . .However, the county and the
lower-paid position employee said the lower-paid
employee has not been promoted to the higher-paying
position ? even though she is doing the work normally
associated with the higher-paying position. . .And, her job
is open on the bulletin board seeking someone to fill it. . .If
there is a job of any importance in that office, it would be
the lower-paid secretarial position. . .And that position
could be handled with a part-time employee. . . as the
county manager so often likes to say, for less than $4 an
hour. . .If the commissioners would just spend the tax
money as though "they had to earn it." . . .
?????
I often complain about the wastefulness of the county
commissioners, but here is a praise. On Monday nipht of
last week, the commissioners put the taxpayer's money to
a good use, in my opinion, and that was when they held the
4-H appreciation banquet. . .Some 60 young boys and girls
from all over Duplin County who excelled in their 4-H
projects, were treated to a supper at the famous Country
Squire restaurant. It was a dress-up affair ? top flight all
the way. The youngsters dined by candlelight on steak and
baked potatoes after devouring a most scrumptious salad.
So often the only youngsters you read or hear about are
those who are doing something bad. . .Here is a group who
did good. . .And it is very right to spend the few tax dollars
to show some appreciation to this fine group of young
people. . . I believe it is an investment in the future of
Duplin County. This pat on the back will be long
remembered. . .1 do. however, have a complaint. . .Seems
there were too many adults in the crowd. I think only the
commissioners, the 4-H executive and his boss-lady and
the featured speaker should be in attendance. . .1 saw too
many groups of adults talking. The commissioners should
have been circulating among the youngsters talking and
shaking hands and congratulating each individually. .
But, all ip all, it was a praiseworthy affair. Con
gratulations, commissioners, you have tor once spent my
tax money in the right place. . .Do it again.
*****
My daughter gave me a sweater for Christmas. It is, to
me, a very pretty and fine-feelir.g and wearing sweater.
On the front is an emblem of a horse and rider jumping a
fence. . .Steeplechase brand. A fellow pointed to the
emblem the other day and said, "I see you've got one of
those high-priced sweaters.". . .1 smiled and he went on. .
"They make a sweater with an alligator on it too, and it is
high-priepd. . .But the one that costs the most is the one
with the alligator riding the horse.". . .Son-of-a-Gun.. .
Along
tha Way
?*
-Intllv Klllett*
Most people in Duplin
County have heard of
Weaver's Bridge on High
way 24 between Kenansville
and Beulaville. Above the
bridge is Pickett's Hill, and
during 1937, Duplin com
missioners signed a resolu
tion to unify both names after
A.J. Pickett.
Pickett was a Duplin
citizen and the bridge bears
"the name of a former United
States presidential candi
date, General James B.
Weaver of Iowa. Letters from
Duplin citizens came to the
DUPLIN' TIMES to protest
the name change because of
the historical significance of
the bridge's_ title.
According to the March
11, 1937 newspaper ac
counts, the bridge was origi
nally constructed by people
living east of the Northeast
Cape Fear River who desired
a crossing. The builders of
the bridge were said to be
strong supporters of Weaver
for President.
The following excerpt was
taken from a letter about
Weaver's Bridge: "In 1892,
General James B. Weaver of
Iowa was the Popularist
nominee for President of the
United States, and I heard
him make a speech during
that campagn in a big grove
belonging to Captain John C.
MacMillan at Teachey. I am
quite positive that this bridge
was named for General
Weaver. That was my under
standing at the time. I was
living at Sarecta at the time,
about four miles from
Weaver's Bridge."
The resolution to change
Weaver's Bridge to Pickett's
Bridge was abandoned by
the Duplin commissioners
after submitting the petition
to the Highway Commission.
The Highway Commission
informed Duplin commis
sioners that the bridge's
name could not be changed
by the county governing
board.
This yeai you're faced with over 100 changes in the tax
aws and forms. Did you know that working married
couples may deduct up to $1,500 for the first time?
There's even a new entry for charitable deductions or
the 1040A short form. And that's just the beginning)
DVe know every change on every form.
H&R BLOCK
The new tax laws, ? ?
This year's number one reason to go to H&R Block.
111 North Front Street
Open ? AMIPM Mon -Set. PhCne 293-4733
APPOINTMENTS AVAILABLE
MasterCard and Visa accepted
WARSAW
-Mr
H H IB M H^ M ^? h . H .. ? ??? - 1
'^" _ : QUANTITY ^
" ^ w duke's ^
% PORK II MAY?TAISE I
LOIN IL? 99 I
?frozen shoe string
SLICED I POTATOES 3/'l[
??comet
a ? # I IRICE 42 oz. 99*1
I _ %m lq I Iduncan hines brownie I
w IIMIX 23 oz. $1.39|
CENTER CUT I IcOLA . u,.. 8?|
PORK CHOPS I Ikraft single wrap 11.
$100 I IcHEESEu oz.*1.49|l<
?1.99 lb. J|90z II
Imerico butter-me-not ii
hbiscuits 2/b?|
i ikraft macaroni &
wuni p dcce i icheese deluxe
I wwflwLE DEEr I [dinner 4 oz.
99 ? I
i bcarolina ice
I RIB EYE I Imilk va gal.
" ii
joy dish
i (cut into steaks free) ii detergent ii
king size
I SO QO II '1M I
^ j ? hold south orange
i w eb. ? |ju|ce '/i gal. 99?J
FRYER PARTS SALE:
k WINGS 55* LB. I
? LEGS 66* LB. I
* THIGHS 77* LB. I
DRUMSTICKS 88* LB. I
^BREAST99^B^^^J
I' MSLICED i
gnus
CURTIS II
| BACON I
I$ 1.291
bologna!
f; 1.491
m
gg^CURTIS
WHOLE HOG
I SAUSAGE I
I; 1.591
CHEF |
BOY-AR-DEE I
FROZEN PIZZA I
12 OZ. . I
( LETTUCE
HEAD
39*
I RUTABAGAS 13* LB.
(?TEMPLE ORANGES 10/99* I
? WASHINGTON STATE I
? GOLDEN DELICIOUS APPLES 39* LB. J
:
f SOUTHERN
I BISCUIT
I FLOUR
5 LB. BAG
I 88*
I