Receives Degree
From The
Editor’s Desk
Judy Zander
1 recently received a much ap
preciated letter from Exlic* M.
and Martha luonita Fl*tch«r,
former emi^oyees, retired since
June 1, 1981. They wanted to tell
all their Firestone friends “hello”
and to send them a little news of
two *^ld” retirees who are really
enjoying life!
Both retired from the Shop, Ex
lice as a Roll Coverer with 10 yrs.,
9 mos. service, and Juanita as a
Balancing Machine Operator with
26 yrs., 5 mos. service.
They have been enjoying their
retirement during the past two
years and have taken several trips.
They’ve been to Nashville, TN,
Memphis, TN, The World’s Fair in
Knoxville, TN and later on visited
EPCOT Center in Florida. Their
favorite trip was the one to The
World’s Fair.
This sununer, they’ve been busy
raising their garden and canning
beans, okra, etc.
Both of them have been doing
volunteer work at Gaston
Memorial Hospital for the past 18
months. Juanita works as a hostess
in the Emergency Room and Ex
lice works in the Messenger Service
They both feel very rewarded do
ing something for someone else.
Exlice also keeps us informed of
Firestone people who are
hospitalized and for this, we give
him a big THANKS!
Recently Exlice was awarded
THE TEACHER OF THE YEAR
TROPHY as teacher of the Men’s
Bible Qass at Firestone Wesleyan
Church where he has been a
member for 37 years and a Sunday
School teacher for 30 years.
We wish them continued good
health and happiness in their retire-
, ment.
Exile* Fl*tch«r prM«nt*d THE
TEACHER OF THE YEAR
TROPHY. CONGRATULA
TIONS!
Disabled & Handicapped
Able To Claim Tax Benefits
Albert L. Ellis, BobUn Changer
in Twisting, recently graduated
from Gardner-Webb College with
an overall grade averse of B-f
Albert earned his B.S. Oegree ini
Management while participating in
Firestone’s Tuition Refimd Pro
gram. In addition to attending
classes on a full-time basis, he
worked full-time at Firestone and
maintained a good work record
and attendance. He also devotes
two weekends per month to the
Retiring on July 1 with 35 years,
2 months service was Trula B.
Ball. Rewinder Operator/Twisting.
U.S. Army Reserve.
An em^oyee with sixteen years
service with Firestone, Albert
plans to enter Graduate School in
the Fall of 1984.
We look for great things from
Albert in the future! CON
GRATULATIONS FOR A JOB
WELL DONE!
Any employee wishing informa
tion on Firestone’s Tuition Refund
Program should contact Johnette
Mitchell, Personnel Dept.
Ruba A. Hanna, Inspector/Quali
ty Control, retireid August 1 with
41 years, 4 months service.
No Child Too
Young For
An Eye Problem
No child is too young for a vi
sion problem. Eye and vision
disorders affect nearly half a
million preschool children—one in
every twenty youngsters ages three
through five—according to the Na
tional Society to Prevent Blindness
(NSPB).
Although the ability to see is
often taken for granted, it is a skill
that children normally develop as
they grow. However a child may
be seeing blurred images or may be
using only one eye, with no idea of
how things “siiould” look, no
means of comparison.
It is recommended that every
child have an eye checkup between
the ages of three and five, before
school age. Disorders that prevent
eyes from seeing clearly and
developing normally can lead to
life4ong handicaps, even blindness,
unless detected and treated in the
early years.
Two common eye conditions
that can hinder development are
strabismus—lack of alignment bet
ween the two eyes, such as crossed
eyes; and amblyopia, or lazy eye, in
which the child unconsciously
relies on one eye and ignores the
other.
Amblyopia must be treated by
age 6 if the condition is to be suc
cessfully corrected, or else it may
lead to permanent vision impair
ment or even blindness in the ig
nored eye. Unlike crossed eyes or
other alignment deviations,
amblyopia is usually not apparent
in appearance.
The surest way to find out if a
youngster has normal eyes and
sharp vision is through a profes
sional eye examination. Next best
is a vision screening, such as those
provided as part of a general
medical exam or in organized com
munity screenings.
For those parents who cannot
take their children to an eye doctor
or obtain a vision screening, NSPB
offers its Home Eye Tests for
Preschoolers. This do-it-yourself kit
comes complete with instructions
for the parent to test the child and
interpret the results at home.
For a pamphlet on vision pro
blems in children, or to obtain a
free Home Eye Test write: Na
tional Society to Prevent Blind
ness, 79 Madison Avenue, New
York, N.Y. 10016.
Many families with disabled
andbr handicapped members are
unaware of many Federal tax
benefits available to them. Here
are some typical questions, with
answers that the Internal Revenue
Service receive frequently:
Q. Overall, what kinds of ex
penses for medical care of special
equipment are deductible for han
dicapped persons?
A. Generally, any unreimbursed
expenses you incur for medical
care or equipment are deductible,
and can be included with other
medical expenses you would nor
mally deduct.
Q. Are there any special ex
penses relating to the handicapped
that could be deductible?
A. Yes, for instance, special
language training recommended by
a physician to correct dyslexia is
allowable. Also, “patterning” exer
cises for a child who is mentally
retarded, would be allowed, as>
would the costs of maintaining a
child who is mentally ill at a special
children’s center.
Q. Are there any special tax
breaks for the blind?
A. Yes, the blind can benefit
from deductions and an extra per
sonal exemption. They can deduct
the difference between the cost of
books, magazines, and braille edi
tions. Expenses for the care,
upkeep, and vet’s expenses for a
guide dog arc allowable.
Q. What if the handicapped per
son must be transported to a doctor
for treatment?
A. Transportation expenses to
and from a qualified doctor are
allowable. This transportation in
cludes bus, taxi, plane, and train
fares, as well as ambulance hired.
Firestone News • Gastonia
Volume XXIX jujy Zander, Editor
Number 6 Aogo»t, 1983
Monthly puUication of the Gastonia, N.C., plant of Firestone Fibers & TextUes
Company, a division of The Firestone Tire & Rubber Company, Akron, Ohio.
Division Headquarters, GastMiia, N.C. Ronald E. Noble, President. Member
Carolinas Associaticm of Business Communicators.
REPORTERS
GASTONIA
Penonnd—Bobbie Baldwin
Main Office—Freida Price, Judy Matthews
Shop Maintenance—Betjy Smith Treatin* Unit»-Don Norwooa
Process Dev. Engr.—Susw Costner Q.C.—Iretlt Rowland
Tire Coid Twisting-Hease Cole, Katie Peder Payrolt-Elhel Jenkins
Fact. Mgr.'s Oniai-Betty Summitt Chafer-Preparation-Nell Bolick
TroHIc « Whw.-Novp low* Photographer-BiU Passmore
SERVICE AWARDS
ANNIVERSARIES
JUNE, 1983
35 YEJWS
Twisting - MIIm T. Micha«ls.
Section Supervisor.
30 YEARS
Twisting - Earl W. McMillan,
Twister Operator.
15 YEARS
Weaving - Ncmcy M. Tlgnor,
Reweaver.
10 YEARS
Twisting - Vicki* D. Boon*,
Trainee; Dorothy M. Ash*ly,
ResDOoler.
5 YEARS
Twisting - Douglaa E Drum,
Twister Operator; T*rri* L.
Wotkina, Respooler; K*vin D.
Maun*y, Twister Operator;
Marlyn D. Wilk*r, Beam & Yam
Handler.
Weaving - Tarry J. St*ph*ns,
Loom Knotter/Style Changer;
M*llnda M. Lunsford, Loom
Knotter/Style Changer.
JULY, 1983
35 YEARS
Cloth Room - Ruby*
McAlUst*r, Ooth Burler.
G«
30 YEARS
Twisting - Fr*d C. Bruc*, Utex
Twister Bobbin Changer; Weaving
-Julia R. Buchanan, Loom Knot-
ter.
2S YEARS
Twisting - Louis* Medlin,
Winder Operator.
IS YEARS
Prodn. Mgmt. - B*tty G. Sum,
mitt. Secretary.
10 YEARS
Twisting - Isioh McClaar*,
Elevator Operator; Andrew
Pagram, Beam & Yam Handler;
David G. T*rry, Section Super
visor; J*«Bi* R. Pays*ur,
Respooler Operator; H*l*n L
Wiggins. Beam Knotter.
Weaving - Roy E. Spurling,
Weaver; Warehouse - Iom*a E.
H*lms. Warehouseman; Industrial
Engineering - Guido A. Mar-
tin*Ui, Manager.
5 YEARS
Weaving - Jack W. K*m*a,
Fabric Baler.
I
TRULA BALL
Retirements