North Carolina Newspapers

wmuilt sue MtwKLtf!!iUKS ttWIIIl - m<4 YOUR BEST p————— sss? TUP PIIIIPT l*PTP DAOT cb^c~t i ixiL Xjtmm* fi il rUoi ___ _ “Charlotte’s Fastest Growing Community Weekly" " .. ——_TOE CHARLOTTE POST - Thursday. August 9. 1979 " Pr„a ^ ro„tc. Building Permits Decline Special to tne rose Building permits for single family dwellings continued their downward trend during May, N.C. Labor Commission er John C. Brooks reported last week. At the same time, permits for multi-family dwel lings continued to climb. Brooks said 38 North Caro lina cities with more than 10,000 population issued per mits for construction of 589 single-family dwellings in May, down 10.8 percent from the 660 units authorized in April 1979 and down 5.9 per cent from the 626 authorized in May 1978. Estimated construction cost of these private homes was *22,175,921 in May 1979 or an average cost of *37,650, up 10.1 percent from the *34,182 a year ago. The cities have issued 2,491 single-family permits during the first five months of 1979, down 16.1 percent from the 2.973 permits issued for the same period in 1978. By contrast, Brooks pointed out, the 388 multi-family per mits issued in May 1979 reflect an increase of 4.3 percent over the 372 units in May 1978 and a 78 8 percent increase over the 217 units authorized in April 1979. For the first five months of 1979, multi-family dwelling permits are up 3.0 percent, with 2,476 reported in 1979 ^compared to 2,403 for the same period last year. Esti mated construction cost of the units authority Th May was *4,558,763. Building permits as a whole were *78,420,066 for the month of May, up 16.1 percent from the *67,516,583 a year ago but 1.2 percent below the *79,348,207 last month. For the year to date, the 38 cities have issued *339,690,471 in building permits, up 6.2 percent over the *319,876,975 for the same period last year. Raleigh led the cities with May permits totaling *12,795,954. Charlotte was se cond with *11*710,678, followed by Reidsvllje, *9,219,155; Winston-Saletn, *7,942,070; and Greensboro, *5,357,526. Reidsville made the top five with a *8.9 million addition to Annie Penn Memorial Hospi tal Three other cities (Gas tonia, Greenville and High Point) each reported permits exceeding *2 million. Permits for 392 nonresiden tial buildings were issued in May, down 7.3 percent from the 423 authorized in May 1978. • Pt»oto by Jerry Cvrry~ LOVELY CATHERINE BREWTON ...Harding High graduate, Catherine Brewton Is Beauty Of Week By Sherleen McKoy Post Staff Writer Catherine Brewton is our beauty for this week. A recent graduate of Hard ing High School, Catherine has been involved in numerous activities. She was a cheerleader for three years, a student council representative, a member of OSilSSnta'CIuto (sorority club for high school women) and a member of the Red Cross and Science Clubs. On the aesthetic side, she was a contestant in the Miss Harding Pageant, second run ner-up in the Miss Black and Gold Pageant and was crown ed “Miss June” in the Calen dar Girl Pageant. Catherine describes herself as an easy-going person who can be mysterious at times and a very friendly person who gets along with most people. Her hobbies are swimming, meeting people, singing and traveling. This Fall, Catherine will be attending Hamilton College to major in Business Adminis tration. She plans to secure a management accounting-rela ted job when she completes her formal training. Catherine cites her mother as being an influential force in her life. "When I needed confidence the most, my mother was there to always give me ad vice or whatever 1 needed,” she explained. Some of the most cherished memories in Catherine’s life occurred during her traveling adventures. Following her graduation from Harding this year, Catherine and a group of her friends spent ten days at Virginia Beach. “It’s a time that I’ll never forget,” she recalled. “The atmosphere was very relax ing.” Another time was when she spent the summer in New York with her aunt. “I did a lot of different things that summer,” she said. “We went to Washington to tour the Capital, Coney Island, Chinatown, Harlem, and Manhattan to see the Empire State Building.” Stating that New York was a place that everyone should see at least once in their life, Catherine said sentimentally, “Hopefully someday I can go again.” There’s another future ad venture that Catherine would like to store in her memory banks. A cruise to the Cari bbean. On this trip, however, she wants to be accompanied by the permanent man in her life. She expects this pre dawning event to be filled with “joy.” The oldest of three children, Catherine is the daughter of Mrs. Barbara Brewton and the late Mr. Brewton. Fuel In Greater Supply Service Stations Open Longer North Carolina motorists found service stations r-en longer hours last week, fik.. in greater supply than in July, and gas costing an additional one cent a gallon. These findings were releas ed recently as part of a weekly ffuel and price audit conducted by the Carolina Motor Club. The one cent increase brought the total boost in gaso line prices to 25.4 cents since January 1 Slightly over four cents of the total increase occurred during the last three weeks The year-to-date Increase means if a motorist has an average size 18-gallon gas tank, the cost for a fill-up since the first of the year amounts to an additional $4.57 Survey results indicated that 25 percent of the monitor ed stations in North Carolina were selling premium, unlead ed or both grades of gas for 99.9 cents or more a gallon. The average price for full service premium in North Carolina last week was 97.7 cents a gallon, unleaded 95.9 and regular sold for 92 cents a gallon. In Charlotte, full-service re gular averaged 92 9, unleaded and premium cost 98 2 cents. North Carolina diesel fuel averaged 85.9 cents, up 0.2 cents over last week’s report. Four percent of North Caro lina service stations limited fuel purchases from IS, to 110, or a maximum of ten gallons, and six percent of the stations were out of one or more grades of fuel. The state sweep showed 28 percent of North Carolina's stations are remaining open after 8 p m. on week nights Forty-five percent of the service stations in the state plan to open Saturday and 31 percent expect to pump gas Sunday. The most expensive gas last week was reported in the mountain resort area of North Carolina (Sugar Mountain, Banner Elk, Linville Falls and Boone). Full-service premium grade gas averaged 98 5 cents. In Public Schools Hunt’s Education Program Strives For High Standards Victory Celebration Planned By Eileen Hanson Special to the Post The Charlotte 3 and their supporters will hold a Victory Celebration on Sunday, August 19 at Freedom Park, beginning at 4 p.m. According to Rev. James Barnett, head of People Unit ed for Justice, “We want to give a special thanks to sup porters and friends of the Charlotte 3, those who have worked hard to secure their freedom, and the many people who gave financial and politi cal support." The program, to be held in the amphitheatre, is free and open to the public. It will feature live entertainment, poetry, dance and music. The Charlotte 3 - Jim Grant, T.J. Reddy and Charles Parker - will also be there to greet supporters. They were con victed in 1972 of burning the Lazy-B Stables four years earlier. Civil rights supporters considered their case a poli tical frame-up. ine 3 had been active in Charlotte's black community organizing around issues of better jobs, an end to the Vietnam War, and racial equality Supporters believe they were convicted for their political beliefs. Amnesty International, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, agreed and designated the “3” as prisoners of cons cience. Many other national and international organiza tions joined local citizens in appealing to N.C. Governor James Hunt for a pardon of innocence. On July 20 Hunt reduced the sentences of Grant and Reddy making them eligible for immediate parole. Parker was already on parole A1 though the "3” are now out of prison, they must still report weekly to the parole board and their actions will be carefully watched. Mayoral Candidates Will Meet At District 3 Forum by Eileen Hanson Special to the Post Charlotte’s three mayoral candidates will meet face-to face for the first time at a forum sponsored by the Dis trict 3 Committee on Wednes day, August 15. The Forum will be held at Amay James Community Center, 2425 Lester Street (off West Boulevard) at 6:30 p.m. The public is invited democratic candidates Harvey Gantt and Eddie Knox, and Republican candi date Barry Miller, will each present their views on the future of Charlotte. Then the audience will have the oppor tunity to ask questions Spencer Thompson, chair man of the District 3 Commit tee, expects some stiff ques tions from the audience. “District representation, crime prevention, zoning, flood control - these are all issues of concern in our com munity.” said Thompson Gantt and Knox are oppos ing each other in the Septem ber 27 primary. To date Miller is unopposed as the Republi can candidate The election will take place November 6. Councilman Ron Leeper. who currently represents District 3 on City Council, will also be present at the forum. District 3 is the area bound ed by South Boulevard-Pine ville Road, Tuckaseegee Road, and the city limits, including the southwest and west side of Charlotte. The District 3 Committee is a non-partisan organization of individuals and local commu nity groups organized two years ago by Thompson and Leeper. Its aim, according to Thompson, is "to educate people about the political sys tern and get them involved in voting and the whole political Drocess " The Committee also aims to make people more aware of what is going on downtown, he added It is the only non-partisan district committee and Thompson feels its success is due to its independence of any political party. The District J Committee has worked successfully to get more parks for the area, to stop rezoning, to educate citi zens about crime prevention, and to help community organi zations get started This fall the Committee will sponsor an ifter-school tutor ing program with the YWCA and Be‘!:lehem Center The upcoming City Council primary i as sparked renewed interest in voter registration in the black community, with Harvey (.antt seeking the Mayor's seat and several blacks running for City Coun cil Charles Dannelly (District 2) and Deeper 'District 3) are running lor re-election Mar nile Shut'ord. Rev Kudy Hen dricks and Willie Payne are running lor the first time in the at large City Council elec tion Members of the District 3 Committee are working with the Vote Task Force to regis ter new voters in the district. Area representatives on the District 3 Committee include l/onnie Graves 'Dalton Vil lage i. David Garris (Camp Greene. Lillian Mc Grath (Ashley Park), Naomi Worthy Windsong Trails), Rev Willliam Bailey. Freddie DeWalt and Sarah Harris (all Clanton Park * Also on the committee art Margaret Rudd (Montclair South' Vivian Hicks (Brook hill', Lucille McNeil (Little Rock Homes), David Rich (Westerly Hills'. Mattie Line berger Wilmore), Scotty Renders 'West Boulevard) James Walton and Carlton Robinson Nations Ford). To Meet With Charlotte 3 Supporters Rights Lawyers To Visit Charlotte By Eileen Hanson Special to the Poet “Are there human rights violations in the United States?" Eight international lawyers and judges are addressing this question as they tour the United States this month, visiting prisons and meeting with Justice officials to ex change vfaprs on human rights violations. The international Jurists will visit Charlotte August 11-12, meeting with the press and supporters of the Char lotte 3 and Wilmington 10. A press conference will be held Saturday, August 11 at the Main Library, 310 N. Tryon, at 11 a m. The public is invited to attend. Among those speaking will be Babacar Niang from Sene gal, Maureen Archer from New York, Rev. James Bar nett of Charlotte and other local ministers. On Sunday evening, August 12, there will be a reception and disco to welcome the international guests at the Excelsior Club on Beatties Ford Road, beginning at 7:30 Her. James Harnett ...Black activist p.m. The public is invited to join supporters of the Wil mington 10 and Charlotte 3 in welcoming the international guests to Charlotte. Donations are welcome at the door. The jurists’ visit is in res ponse to petitions presented last December to the United Nations entitled "Human Rights Violations In tiie United States" The United Church of Christ Commission on Racial Justice and the National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression filed the petition which called attention to spe cific political prisoners, in cluding the Wilmington 10 and Charlotte 3 in North Carolina The petition also calls atten tion to all prisoners who are victims of racial and econo mic discrimination by the (J.S. justice system Lennox Hinds of the Nation al Conference of Black Law yers said, "President Carter s much-publicized campaign on the human rights of people in other countries only makes these hidden domestic victims of naked racism and supres sion of political dissidence even more outrageous ” The tour of the internation al jurists is sponsored by the Commission on Racial Jus tice, the National Alliance, the Conference of Black Lawyers and the U S. Peace Council Several church groups are co-sponsoring the tour, which will take the lawyers and judges to 20 cities in the U S to visit 25 individual political pri soners and 7 groups of prison ers Other cases include civil rights activists in Nebraska and Mississippi, members n!' the American Indian Move ment in Wounded Knee. S D . Attica defendant Dacaje waiah. Assata Shakur. the five Puerto Rican Nationalists jail ed since 1954, and Dilbert Tibbs, whose conviction of the rape of a white woman and murder of a white man in Florida and sentence to death was reversed in 1977 Through the U N petition and the international jurists tour, sponsors hope to draw international attention to these cases "These victims of racism and selective prosecution have exhausted all legal re medies in the United States Black Publisher Is Slain lATwin n ■ Iiwiiids, JV, nmor publisher of the Danville Ot^ server, a black owned news paper, was fatally shot at 1 a m July 30 Aiphonso Covington of Kast Greene Street, Danville has been charged in the incident The shooting occurred in the parking lot of the American legion Mull on vionroo Mreei in Danville The problem stemmed from a disagree ment inside the dance hall. Thomas died Irom a che*i wound made by a small cali her pistol Thomas, who started th< Observer with $165. was it) sole employee Jesse Jackson A^:,: luted To Trustee Board Special to the Post ■'If I can achieve it, I can achieve it." -The Rev Jesse Jackson Jesse Jackson's message of optimism and expectation re^ fleets one of the reasons why Gov. Jim Hunt worked to establish the minimum com petency test for high school graduation and the remedial programs that go with it. Gov Hunt, who appointed Jackson to the board of trustees of the N.C. Math-Science High School, believes, as Jackson does, that if you expect young people to achieve, and if you give them the tools to do it, they will succeed The Governor's broad edu cation program is designee .0 restore high standards to pub lic education, as well as increase public confidence in the schools The various parts of the program -- the mini mum competency test, reme dial programs, the annual testing program, the primary reading program, the com munity schools program and efforts for exceptional child ren -- are closely connected in a single tight package "What we are trying to do overall is to strive for excel lence, and not be satisfied with less than our best,” Gov. Hunt said. "To do this, we need the support of the total commu nity. and we need more citi zens involved in our schools " The minimum competency test requires that every high school student in the state's public schools, beginning with the class of 1980, show basic survival skills in reading and math before graduation. Stu dents must be able to figure sales lax, understand a utility bill, balance a checkbook, and fill out a job application form and an income tax form. These are skills all students should have before they reach the llth grade The first minimum compe tency test was given in November 1978, the test was given again in early May to those students who failed one or both parts of the test these students will have two more opportunities during the 1979-‘80 school year to pass the test before graduation The test will be given October 9-10 and April 22 24. 1980 Every student will have at least four chances to pass the test before his scheduled gra duation date, as well as have opportunities to take advant age of special math and read ing remedial programs If a student only fails one part of the test, either the reading or the math section, he will not have to retake the part he missed a iiv ■ viiivuiai pi vp^i a iiib have been successful in help ing students pass the compe tency test. Seventy-five per cent of the Mack students passed the reading portion of the Pall 197* test, and after receiving remedial help, an additional 10.3 per cent of the black students passed On the math portion of the test, W> percent of the Mack students passed, and after remedia i tion, an additional 14 percent of the blacks passed • 1 k H. ' The LAZIER a man Is the Jf MORE he PLANS to do fer TOMORROW. r Candidate Harvey Gantt welcomes two new voters, Eula Mayfield (L; and Mary Mayfield <R> of 1717 Main Street in Cherry. Both registered for the first time at the August 4 voter registration drive sponsored by the Cherry Community Organization The drive registered 52 new voters. 1 Photo by Eileen Hanson'.