The
Published Every Tuesday & Thursday
in Times
Serving All Of Franklin County
98th Year_Number 69
Ten Cent
Louisburg, N.C. Tuesday, October 17, 1967
Six Pages Today
This And More
An unidentified Raleigh man Is, shown above, busily painting the courthouse flag
pole here last Friday afternoon. The Board of County Commissioners authorized
the Job In a prompt, orderly manner. Others elements of the Friday meeting,
however, were not so orderly. See story elsewhere on this page.
Big Still
Destroyed
Franklin County Sheriff William T.
Dement said Friday that agents of his 4
department working with members of
the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax Division
destroyed a large whisky- making oper
ation in the Pearce's section of Frank
lin Thursday night.
Dement said the distillery was not
In operation at the time of the raid,
but had recently been run with the
operators leaving 40 gallons of freshly
made whisky behind.
He said that some 2,000 gallon* of
beer contained In 10, 220-gallon barrels
were destroyed along with the still.
He said his department confiscated
1,100 pounds of sugar, five 10O-gallon
tanks of propane gas, one gas burner,
two pumps and 100 cases of gallon
Jars.
Due To Market Conditions
Furniture Firm Decides
Not To Locute Here
The plant that was to have produced
"cabinetry representing the highest
state of the art" here In Loutsburg
has been canceled. In a prepared,
statement, Issued to newsmen last
Friday morning, Fred C. Lohmueller, -
President oi Carolina Fine Wo6as, -
disclosed that the concern "Today
cancelled plans (or the construction
of a furniture plant here."
Mr. Lohmueller s%W In the state
Louisburg Market
Averages Are Tops
Tha Federal-State Market News Service reports that the Louisburg
Tobacco Market has sold, through Wednesday of last week, a total of
6,483,081 pounds of leaf. Of this, 109,090 pounds has been tied tobacco
and 6,373,991 pounds has been untied.
Sales last Wednesday were as follows: Untied, 324,386 pounds for
1$95,589.00 and an averaae of 60.30. Tied leaf, 12,778 pounds for $9,254
and an average of $72.42
Through the Wednesday selling day, tied leaf has brought on the Louis
burg Market, $75,874 for an average of $69.55. Untied tobacco, for the
same period has brought $4,159,354 for an average of $65.26.
Louisburg's average paid for tied leaf is greater than any other market
in the Middle Belt. The $69.55 average exceeds that of Fuquay-Varina
which ha* the nearest amount, $69.32.
Louisburg is second to Oxford in untied averages by a few points. Ox
ford's' average is reported at $65.57 for the 18-day selling season and
Louisburg's is $65.26.
Faulkner Walks Out
Flare -Up Marks
Board Meeting
A flare-up and a walkout by County
Commissioner Norwood Faulkner high
lighted the special called meeting of
the Board of County Commissioners
here last Friday afternoon.
The walkout could possibly spell the
resignation of the sometimes contro
versial Commissioner, Inasmuch as he
prefaced his action by telling County
Attorney Charles Davis that either
he or Davis could quit. Davis did not
comment and remained in the meeting
while Faulkner left. No comment has
been forthcoming from Commissioner
Faulkner since the Friday encounter.
The session was called to adopt a
resolution authorizing the payment of
fees to the auditing firm of Perry,
Place, Shaw and Burchfleld, Certified
Public Accountants, lor work accom
plished in a special extended audit of
the County Accountants office.
After extensive discussion by the
Board, on the November 25 county
courthouse bond vote, County Attorney
Charles Davis attempted to read a
prepared motion explaining the special
accountant's audit as requested by
Chairman E. M. Sykes. Faulkner took
issue with the motion, declaring that
it was too lengthy.
After further discussion, Commis
sioner George Harris moved that the
auditing firm be authorized to continue
the audit at First Citizens Bank and
Trust Co. here, as requested by Dls
Commissioners Endorse
Figures Show No Tax
Increase Due To Bonds
? -i
The Board of County Commissioners
unanimously endorsed figures as pre
sented by Cleric of Court Ralph Knott,
last Friday, showing that the November
25 courthouse Improvement bonds
would not necessitate any tax Increase.
"A vote for the bond issue will not
Increase your tax rate," one spokes
man said.
Figures showed that the county was
now receiving $12,418.50 from the pre
sent three cent levy for courthouse
Improvement. Fees to be paid to the
county by the State for cases tried in
the various courts were listed at
$6,286.00.
Other fees to be paid to the county
by the State, Including Superior Court
cases, brought the total rent paid by
the State to the county to a total of
$10,038.00.- Added to this amount was
$15,200.00 In salaries, now paid by the
county which will be taken over by the
State after December 1, 1988 when the
court reform system comes to Frank
lin County.
The present three cent tax levy, the
rental by the State and the savings in
salaries were listed at a total of
$37,654.50.
The amount of money needed annually
to retire the $200,000 courthouse bonds
was shown at $27,200.00, based on a
ten-year pay back at six percent in
terest. This, according to the report,
would net the county $10,454.50 more
money than presently received.
At the end of the ten-year period,
according to figures approved by the
Board of County Commissioners, the
county would be getting the entire
amount of $37,654.50 plus whatever
?
Increase might be forthcoming by the
end of the ten-year period.
The alternative to courthouse reno
vation would be to rent space from
private individuals, who would In turn
reap the benefits from the State funds,
the report states.
The $200,000 County Courthouse Bond
vote is slated for Saturday, November
25, 1967.
Some members of the Board urged that
the people understand the figures and
that no Increase In taxes would be
necessary to pay off the bonds. They
did not preclude the possibility that
a tax Increase might become necessary
In some other county area not connected
with the courthouse bond Issue. One
likely area In which tax Increase could
come Is In the growing problem of
ambulance service to the county. This,
however, It was pointed out, would have
nothing at all to do with the fact that
a vote for the courthouse bond would
not bring on a tax increase.
A committee was named to head the
drive for approval of the bond issue,
by Chairman E. M. Sykes. County
Attorney Charles Davis was named
Chairman of the group and Commis
sioner Richard Cash and Clerk of Court
Ralph Knott were named as members.
Radio newsman As her Johnson and
Times Editor Clint Fuller declined to
serve on the committee when requested,
both stating that they favored the
passage of the bonds and would work
toward that end. Johnson said that he
opposed the bonds until the report as
prepared by Knott was made public
but, in light of these figures, he would
now support the Issue.
trlct Solicitor W. G. Ransdell. Faulk
ner seconded the motion and Davis
wa s aaked to word It.
Davis began to read his wording of
the motion which Included the word
"Investigate." Faulkner told Davis
he did not like that word and was tired
of people pointing the finger at any
one. Davis told Faulkner to write
the motion himself.
At this point, Commissioner Faulk
ner told Davis, "Well now. Til tell
you, this thing has been building up
for a long time. If you don't want
to work for us either you can quit
or I will quit." Davis did not re
ply and Faulkner rose from his seat,
took his hat from the rack and walked
toward the door. He paused long
enough to tell newsmen that he would
endorse the figures presented by Clerk
of Court Ralph Knott pertaining to the
courthouse bond Issue, excused him
self and walked out of the meeting.
At this point a motion was made to
adjourn the meeting; however, even
though the members agreed to do so,
discussions continued. After a brief
period, It; was ruled that Faulkner's
second to the motion was withdrawn
and Commissioner Harris again moved,
this time seconded by Commissioner
Brooks Young that the auditing firm be
authorized "to extend" their audit to
the local bank. The word "Investigate"
was deleted from the new motion.
The Board issued a statement Octo
ber 8th, In which It disclosed "Items
of unexplained disbursements" a
See FLARE-UP Page 4
To Stage Fly In
The local unit of the ClvU Air Patrol
will hold a fly-In here on Sunday,
October 28, according to an announce
ment by Major Joe Shearon, Com
mander.
The fly-In Is described as "one of
the largest tasks since the CAP was
organized here In 1965." The pro
gram calls for a number of flyers
from throughout the state to fly In
to Loulsburg for breakfast and a sight
seeing tour.
Shearon said parking for the aircraft
Is going to be a problem, but he ex
pressed confidence that the local unit
would be able to solve this and other
problems.
"There will be a control tower In
operation and we are stressing safety
from start to finish," he stated. He
also called lor "outside cooperation."
Shearon said that a person does not
have to be a pilot in . order to parti
cipate In the program and be Invited
the public to purchase tickets from
any CAP member. Breakfast will
be served starting at 7 A.M.
Rites Held For
Election Official
Funeral services for Harry Thomas
Rogers, 74, of Rt. 1, Youngsvllle, who
died Wednesday In Wake Memorial
Hospital, were conducted Friday at
3 p.m. at the Bethlehem Baptist Church
of which he was a member by the
Rev. Tommy Lomax. Burial followed
In the Church cemetery with Masonic
rites. He was a member of the
Franklin Board of Elections, Shrlner
and a Deacon In the Bethlehem Church.
He was a retired farmer.
Surviving are his wife, Mrs. Mar
garet Mlkkelsen Rogers; three sons,
Lawrence Rogers of Youngsvllle, Doug
las Rogers of Raleigh and Max G.
Rogers of Florence, S. C.; five daugh
ters, Mrs. Pauline Arnold, Mrs. Carrie
Martin, and Mrs. Jane Brannon, all of
Zebulon, Mrs. Dot Plckard and Mrs.
Inga Grayson both of Greensboro; two
sisters, Mrs. Rosa Baker of Zebulon
and Mrs. Hollle Knight of Wake Forest;
17 grandchildren and one great-grand
child.
See Editorial Comment Page ?
ment, "The company's decision was
made as a result of changing market
conditions and production for color
and monochrome television sets and
stereophonic phonographs."
He further stated that, "The 50-acre
tract originally set aside for a plant
will be sold." The tract is situated _
along N. C. 56 Just outside Louisburg
on the Franklinton highway and was
formerly occupied by the Ben Frank
lin Boarding Home.
W. J. Benton, Director of Industrial
Development here said, "The an
nouncement is extremely disappointing.
We will Just have to roll up our sleeves
and go to work to get someone else."
J. H. Talton, Chairman of the Industrial
Development Commission echoed Bent
on's expressions and said, "We will
have to go farther and do better."
Talton continued, "We cannot look
back. Mr. Benton and I will be In
Raleigh this (Friday) afternoon and
Mr. Benton will leave for New York
Monday. We are hoping state and other
officials will be willing to give us a
Merchants
Polled On
Parade ^
Members of the Louisburg Business
Association are being polled this week
on their preferences for a Christmas
Parade. In a letter from James R.
Grady, President of the organization,
members are being asked If they wish
to have the annual event, whether
or not they are willing to sponsor
a float and if they are willing to
See Editoriq,l Comment Page 4,
contribute otherwise to the expense
of the parade.
The letter states, "A great deal of
concern was expressed by many of
the Board Members about the feas
ibility of having the Christmas Pa
rade again this year. The Associ
ation has noted a declining Interest
In the parade from year to year.
"There has been an Increasing prob
lem about raising the necessary money
and securing sponsors for the floats.
For this reason, it was the feeling of
our Board that the merchants In town
' should have an opportunity of express
ing their views on this matter."
The Association has staged success
ful parades each year since It began
In 1963.
Wild Chase Nets
Multiple Chaises
A wild highway chase last Friday
night has netted a Henderson man
charges in three counties, two mu
nicipalities and two states. The chase,
which originated in Franklin County
and split Loulsburg shortly before
10 P.M., also resulted in damage to
five automobiles.
Bunn Police Chief Tom Powell pur
sued the 1962 brown Oldsmoblle con
vertible when he noticed the car tra
veling west on N. C. 98 at r high
rate of speed. Powell radioed his
position and the license number of
the car to police headquarters In Louls
burg.
Radio operator Karl Pernell alerted
Loulsburg Police officers Earl Smith,
who took up a position at the Inter
section of the Bunn Road and Blckett
Boulevard, and Charlie Lambert who
was stationed at the Loulsburg School
crossing on North Main Street. Lam
bert was preparing for the traffic
soon to leave the Loulsburg-W akelon
football game.
The Olds, reportedly driven by Bobby
Blssette, 26, 211 Glenwood Avenue,
Henderson and carrying a 14-year old
unidentified boy as a passenger, did
not stop for the Bunn intersection,
traveled across Blckett Boulevard onto
Main Street. He sldeswlped Lambert's
police car at the school crossing and
headed north on N. C. 39-u.S. 401.
Deputy Sheriff Lloyd Gupton had
picked up the car on the Bunn road
and, taking the by-pass, fell In behind
the Blssette car again at tne nunnern
intersection of the by-pass and North
Main Street. Powell was behind the
Gupton car.
All three vehicles traveled N. C.39
to Glllburg where Blpsette turned onto
the Greystone roaa leading to US 1
north of Henderson. Meanwhile, Deputy
Sheriff Leroy Terrlll had Joined the
chase near Ingleslde, five miles out of
Loulsburg. Terrlll wrecked his car on
the Greystone road when he was forced
to take to the ditch to avoid oncoming
traffic.
Pernell, in steady contact with State
Highway headquarters In Raleigh, had
had Raleigh set up a road block at
the fairgrounds in Henderson in anti
cipation that the Olds would continue
on N. C. 39.
The chase continued Into Warren
County along Interstate 85, through
Norllna and over Into Virginia. State
Trooper Vaughn of Warrenton Joined
the chase at Norllna and Gupton gave
way for the Trooper to give pursuit.
Powell had fallen behind the chase
when he was forced to stop for traffic
at a crossroads.
Trooper Vaughn caught up with the
fleeing Blssette and after bumping the
Olds from the left side and then the
right side, forced the Olda off the
highway and to ? stop about two mile*
south of South Hill, Virginia.
Gupton, attempting to stop after the
Olds was wrecked, did minor damage
to his car.
little extra help since we have suffered
this setback."
Talton, Benton and several other local
leaders visited the Department of Con
servatlon and Development in Raleigh
last Friday and also called on the
Industrial Department of Carolina
Power and Light Co. in efforts to gain
assistance on finding another industry
to locate here.
"We were given every con
sideration," Benton said Monday.
"There were no promises, but they
expressed their willingness to be co
operative. The trip to New York has
been In the making several weeks and
has nothing to do with the Friday
announcement," he continued.
Benton, Talton and others began work
on the Carolina Fine Woods project
In May of 1966. For several months
negotiations were going on between
local industrial development people and
company personnel. The nature of the
plant In question was a closely guarded
secret, kept for months from county
officials and newsmen alike.
The announcement came on Novem
ber 29, 1966 that Carolina Fine Woods,
a subsidiary of Sylvanla Electronics
Corp. would build a 130,000 square
foot-one story furniture plant here.
Construction was said to be slated
to begin in December on the 50
acre tract. While no official state
ment was made as to the number of
potential employees the plant would
have, unofficial figures ranged up to
six hundred.
McFarland
Is Alumnus
Of The Year
Dr. Daniel M. McFarland, Professor
of History at Madison College, Harri
sonburg, Virginia, was named Alumnus
of The Year as Alumni Day activities
were held Saturday, October 14, at
Loulsburg College. Several hundred
former students returned to the his- _
torlc campus for a full day program.
An Alumni Day Golf Tournament was
held Saturday afternoon at the Green
Hill Country Club with Bill Moon, '46,
of Raleigh and Fred Roberson, '62, of
Durham walking away with the low net
and low gross trophies respectively.
As the golfers enjoyed a beautiful
fall afternoon on the links, other alumni
participated In the first Alumni Day
Bridge Tournament. Mr. and Mrs.
Durward W. Leggett, '62 and '63, of
Ellzabethtown were team winners of
trophies for high score.
Other alumni were entertained at a
Social Hour in Main Parlor. Reunion
calsses held meetings at 5 p.m. In
various homes about the community.
The Alumni Day highlight came at the
annual banquet at 7 p.m. in the B. N.
Duke Cafeteria as Dr. McFarland, '42,
received the Alumni Award. The
coveted award was given to Dr. Mc
Farland for his continuing support and
Interest In Loulsburg College and his
contributions in the field of higher edu
cation. Several members of Dr. Mc
Farland's family were in attendance
for the affair, Including his mother,
Mrs. Frances McFarland of Charlotte.
Featured speaker at the Alumni Ban
quet was Dr. Richmond P. Bond, Kenan
Professor of English at U.N.C., Chapel
Hill, and Professor-ln-Residence at
Loulsburg for the current school
semester. Dr. Bond humorously told
of his mission at Loulsburg as lecturer,
consultant and exhibitor.
Dr. Cecil W. Robblna, president of
the College, announced to the alumni
that construction on a new dormitory
for women should begin November 1,
with completion scheduled for late
August, 1968.
Blssette is being held In South Hill
awaiting trial. He will face charges
in Warren County, Vance County and
Franklin County. He will alao be
charged In the wrecking of the police
car and speeding In Loulsburg and
Bunn. Virginia authorities will try
him first.
Miraculously no one waa Injured In
the sixty-mile chase, but damage of
$200 waa suffered by the Loulsburg
police car, 9300 to the TerrUl ear and
about $300 to the State Patrol car.
Damage waa minor to the Gupton ve
hicle and to the BUsette car.