Page 2 Wesc Craven Highlights April 19, 1979
Senator
Joseph E.
Thomas
Legislative Report
April 13, 1979
A Bill has been introduced in the State Senate that
would “prohibit the hauling of building materials
between 7;00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. without documents
to establish ownership and source of the materials.”
The legislation is designed to help eliminate, or to
at least make more difficult, the escalating costs of
nighttime theft at construction sites. The cost of
these thefts is a problem not only for the construc
tion companies that suffer the losses, but also for the
general public because such losses are ultimately
passed on to the consumer through increased prices.
My own personal experiences in the home-
building industry have shown that ther is a tremen
dous loss of time, money, and materials, as a result of
this ever-increasing problem.
On site theft htis always been a problem in the
building industry. However, the theft of expensive
building materials has dramatically increased in
recent years.The reasons for the dramatic increases
are relatively simple.
The materials must, by necessity, be delivered to
the premises at a time when there is often no closed
security space yet available. The hardest hit are the
areas away from population centers in quiet isolated
locations.
Thus, the relative ease with which this type of
crime can take place is an important reason for the
increase. '
Another, perhaps more important reason, is the
rising cost and consequent value, of building mate
rials used in the construction industry. In this time
of severe inflation, the theft and resale of building
materials can be extremely profitable-much more so
than in the past.
Obviously, the sanie opportunities exist for crimi
nal activity in the agricultural field. In fact, a
phenomenal resurgence of -the old-time cattle
rustling is now taking place in many areas across the
country-including North Carolina. Theft of farm
machinery, fertilizers, and even livestock and money
crops, is also taking place.
Unfortunately,Senate Bill 555 probably will not
be able to help the farmer. It might even cause some
concern since farmers and other individuals often
forced to transport building materials in the evening
hours. Naturally, this is the type of problems that
must be addressed and solved before the night-time
hauling law can be passed.
Hopefully, we can work out such problems and
put together a law-possibly with some amendments
and stipulations-that can accomplish the goals of
the law and yet not place undue constraints on the
law-abiding citizens of our State.
This Bill is in the Senate Transportation Commit
tee, and I would appreciate having your comments.
My address is State Legislative Building, Raleigh,
North Carolina 27611, and my telephone number is
73S-5659.
The
Washington Report
by
Rep. Walter B. Jones
No to foreign aid
In a week cut short because of the Easter break, the
House of Representatives’ main business was the
1980 foreign aid bill. This legislation has always
been controversial and this year proved no exception
as spirited debate spanned four legislative days. In
the end the House approvd an amended version of
foreign aid.
The total cost of the package is over $4 billion. It is
interesting to note that nearly half of this money is
earmarked for only two countries—Israel and Egypt;
and this bill does not include any of the costs
committed by the recent Egyptian-Israeli peace
treaty.
Atnoog_thft„ Jiutjor„ ■.animdtnetus.^^Mihkh.--wei;e;.
Orientations Set for
National Volunteer Week
During National Volun
teer Week, April 22-28, the
new volunteer bureau in
Craven County, Volun
teers for Children, will of
fer volunteer orientations
in both New Bern and
Havelock for prospective
"big brothers and,big sis
ters.”
Adults of any age, 16 or
older, are invited to come
for information about
the program. Men and
couples are most needed
at this time.
The orientation to the
program is presented in
two sessions. In New
Bern, orientation meet
ings will be held on
successive Wednesdays,
April 25 and May 2, at 7:30
in the auditorium of the
New#ern-Craven County
Public Library. In Have
lock, the meetings, will be
held on successive Thurs
days, April 26 and May 3,
at 7:30 in the Fellowship
Chapel of the Marine
Corps Air Station.
The purpose of the big
brother-big sister pro
gram is to provide chil
dren ages 6-16 with adult
friendship. Volunteers
make a commitment to
get together once a week
with “little brothers or
sisters” over a period of
6-9 months to take part in
activities that are fun for
both child and volunteer.
Children are referred to
the program by their par
ents, by the Department of
Social Services, by the
Neuse Mental Health and
Juvenile Court.
The Volunteers for
Children program is one
of two big brother-big
sister programs in the
B!)rM.A. PETTI, M.D.
Avoid sunli^it on any
area that has a bosh scar
for about six months. The
sunlight mav cause
Pignientation of the scar.
county. Personal refer
ences,training, and on
going supervision are re
quired of each Volunteers
for Children volunteer.
The other program is
sponsored by Coastal
Progress, the anti-poverty
agency serving Jones,
Craven, and Pamlico
counties.
For more information
about volunteer opportu
nities in Craven County,
contact Cathy Hendren,
Coordinator for Volun
teers for Children, at
633-0131.
SAVING GAS
Gasoline is inexorably
approaching $1 per gallon
and before summer there
may be some sort of curb
on consumption — more
stations closing on week
ends, and possibly ration
ing. Nothing much you
can do about it, but there’s
plenty you can do to cut
your gas consumption and
thereby cut the cost of
driving.
An engine out of tune i|
a gas-gulper, so gei
regular tune-ups.
The average driver runs
on about 700 gallons of
gas a year, so saving even
a few cents a gallon will
add up. The price of gas
varies substantially: look
for the lowest price. Check
discount stations and the
ones selling off-brands.
Buying at self-service sta
tions will save a few cents
per gallon.
Save on gas by adopting
conservative habits when
driving. Keep speed under
55 miles per hour. At 70
mph the gas consumption
goes up about 50 percent.
On the highway, try to
keep your speed constant;
varying speed more than
five mph costs you 1.3
miles per gallon.
Check your tires fre
quently. Tires that are
underinflated cost about a
mile per gallon.
Are you a fast starter?
This not only wears out
your tires faster but costs
at least two miles per
gallon. Turn off your en
gine if you’re stuck in traf
fic for a minute or more.
An idling engine uses one
Cup of gas per minute,
more than it takes to
■lestart.
Trips of under five miles
are gas wasters because
starting a cold engine in
creases consumption, so
combine your chores — to
drugstore, cleaners, super
market — in one trip.
If you’re in the market
for a new car, concentrate
more on miles per gallon
(han on the color of the
upholstery.
© 1979, McNaught Synd.
The average U.S. worker
vyorkt 37 houn, 6 minutei
per weak.
approved was a provision requiring the President to
try to convince other western nations to help
underwrite the cost of a Middle-Eastem peace
settlement. Also the House made funds available to
Syria and Jordan dependent on their co-operation
and good faith in seeking peace. The House also
rejected a provision ^that would have sent American
observers to Rhodesia to monitor that country’s
upcoming elections because a majority of
Representatives felt that this was too much
American intrusion on the internal affairs of
another sovereign state.
On final passage I voted against this bill as I have
voted against other foreign aid bills in the past. I feel
that most foreign aid money is used in ways that do
not benefit American interests and do not help
persons in third world countries who are truly
needy.
Wearing red jasper was supposed by the ancient Egyptians
The West Craven
HIGHLIGHT
(USPS 412-110)
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