North Carolina Newspapers

The Pilot Covers Brunswick County THE STATE PORT PILOT I A Good Newspaper In A Good Community Most of the News All The Time VOLUME 38 10-Pages Today No. 4 SOUTHPORT, N. C. WEDNESDAY, JULY 6, 1966 Si A COPY PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY LST LANDS MEN AND EQUIPMENT AT SUNNY POINT MEN AND EQUIPMENT OF 82nd AIRBORNE HERE MONDAY U. S. Army Forces Back From Dominican SUNNY POTNT — A group of 250 combat-weary members of the famed 82nd Airborne Divi sion disembarked here Sunday and Monday on route to Fort Bragg. It was the first time in the history of Sunny Point that troops returning from combat duty had been unloaded here. The men were given the “red carper1 treatment. They were greeted by Gen. James M. Shepherd, assistant divi s i o n commander. The group which arrived Mon day was routed through South port, where they were present ed a key to the city by Mayor Eugene B. Tomlinson as part of that community’s Independ ence Day festivities. The men and ISO vehicles and artillery pieces were un loaded from two LSTS the coun ty Waldo County and the Churchill County. All of the men are members of the First Battalion, 320th Field Artillary Regiment of the 82nd. 50TH anniversary Mr. and Mrs. Alex Williams of Shallotte will celebrate their 50th Wedding Anniversary with open house on Sunday from 3 to 5:30 o’clock at their home in Shallotte Village. BENEFIT SMORGASBORD Members of Ocean View Meth odist Church will serve a smor gasbord supper Friday evening, starting at 5:30 o’clock. BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT Mr. and Mrs. Lee Aldridge of Southport announce the birth of a son on July 4 at Dosher Memorial Hospital. BACK FROM KOREA s/Sgt. Gene A. Bennett, son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred J. Mintz of Shallotte, returned home Sunday from Soowan, Korea, after a 13-months stay. He was met at Myrtle Beach AFB by his wife, the former Miss Helen Gore. ★★★★★ City Tax Rate To Remain Same Members of the Board of Al dermen for the City of Southport on Thursday approved a budget of $281,850 for the next fiscal year and announced that the tax rate would remain unchanged at $1.30. This represents an increase of $8,150 in the amount of the budget for the present. This is the ninth year during which there has been no increase in the city tax rate, although there has been a steady increase in the cost of government. In 1958, for instance, the budget was $176,200, meaning that there has been an increase in budget estimate during this period of $105,650. During this period there have been numerous costly improve ments to city utilities and other facilities. These include $45,000 improvements and additions to the water system; $196,105 for the sewage disposal plant; $22,500 in additional firefighting Choral Groups Have Workshop A choral workshop given for the combined church choirs of South port, will be held at the South port Baptist Church next week. All choir members and other in terested persons are invited to attend. Specific times are Monday 7;30 to 9:30 p. m.; Wednesday, 8 to 10 p. m.; Thursday and Friday, 7:30 to 9:30 p. m. Sessions will begin and end promptly. Six choral works, ranging from the contemporary “Alleluia” by Randall Tompson, to works by Mozart and Handel will be studied and performed. Particular emphasis will be placed on per formance problems pertinent to local choirs. Interested persons should con tact Mrs. Leila Ptgott or Lew Hardee. equipment; $45,000 for a new water tank; $15,000 in street drainage projects; $20,000 spent on electrical distribution; and $25,000 for new equipment. The present total indebtedness of the city is $240,000 of which $235,000 is for water and sew age bonds voted on in a special election in 1964. Medicare To Be Available In Southport Dosher Memorial Hospital in Southport has been approved for medicare by the Department of Health, Education and Welfare. Hospital officials were advised last week through the Atlanta of fice of this favorable action. In May the hospital was visited by two federal inspectors, who ruled that the hospital was not at that time in compliance and therefore not eligible to take part in Medicare which will begin July 1. Throughout the state, hospitals anticipate an increase in elderly patients due to the number who will seek aid under the Medicare program. The hospital was finally de termined to be in compliance on the basis of a Medical Fa cilities Questionnaire which was filled out following the federal inspection and mailed to Wash ington. From time to time inspectors are expected to visit the hos pital to make a determination with regard to maintaining com pliance with regulations, spe cifically the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Integration of the facilities commenced 12 months ago foi the purpose of satisfying govern-, mental demands. Play Activity On Organized Basis Closing As the city recreation pro gram draws to a close, those in charge point to the variety of ac tivities for this group including volley ball, soft ball, darts, tetherball, and scoop ball. A bubble gum contest and an animal show were held and chil dren have worked with plaster molds. The molds were displayed in the library at the Art Show during the 4th of July Festival and the Woman’s Club gave awards for winners. Next Wednesday, there will be a trip to Brunswick Town. Any one between 6 and 13 years of age can go but should register before Tuesday so those in charge can obtain enough transportation. This group will leave the gym nasium at 10 o’clock and each person is to bring his own lunch. Drinks will be provided. For ad ditional information on this trip please see Mrs. Micky Hart, di rector, or Vincent LeClerc, assistant director, at the gymna sium during the hours of the program. Next Thursday movies will be shown instead of on Friday. This program will acquaint the chil dren with the two latest states. The first, Alaska, the 49th state, will be featured in a 16-minute color film. Breathtaking scen ery, modern, rapidly growing cities and towns, wide variety of climate, natural resources and people, this is Alaska. Second will be a 17-minute color film, entitled “Hawaii, Fif teeth State.” An instructive and entertaining film of the history, culture economy and geography of Hawaii will be shown. It will give a good general impres sion of the people and their way of life. On the final day of the recrea tion program the directors are planning an all-event day. They want all the parents who are able to attend this day with their children. The schedule will start at 9 a. m. and go straight through until 2 p. m. Everyone is to bring his own lunch. There will be play offs in horseshoes, darts and tetherball for boys and girls divided into age groups 6-9 and 10-13. There also will be a member of team relays. This will conclude the program for the year. Funeral For Captain Davis Capt. James I. Davis, 84, of Southport died Wednesday night in Dosher Memorial Hospital after a long illness. Mr. Davis was a retired em ployee of the Corps of Engineers, also as a member of the Wil mington-Cape Fear Pilots As sociation. Final rites were held Friday at 4 p. m. at Trinity Methodist Church by the Revs. William Davenport and L. D. Hayman, with burial in Old Southport Cemetery. Survivors include his wife, Mrs. Esta Davis; two daughters, Mrs. Lex Jones of Elizabethtown and Mrs. Earl Townsend of Wil mington; and three sisters, Mrs. Lucy Williford of Wilmington, (Continued on Page 4) Time And Tide The date was July 8, 1936, and the late Clyde R. Hoey had been returned the winner in the second primary voting in Brunswick on the preceding Saturday. What’s more, the gubernatorial nominee had written a local citizen to say that he planned a vacation visit to Southport. There was a front page news note saying that the Shallotte post office has been advanced to third class rating; work of surveying the shrimping waters off Southport has been started by the u. S. Coast and Geodetic Survey; and we find in our edition of that date a column called “Waterfront” and written by the late H. W. Hood. We just re-read it—and it was a good first column. This was back in 1941—July 9 was the date—and there was a front page prediction by Mr. and Mrs. Jack McVey, famed sports fisher men, that “Marlin and Broadbills May Be Caught Here.” It took a long time, but the first part of the headline has come true. A delegation of Brunswick county citizens had appealed to the district highway commissioner for a bridge over the intracoastal waterway at Holden Beach after 1,100 cars had used the old ferry on the Fourth of July. Capt. H. T. Bowmer was a deputy sheriff back in those days and had been run off from official duties by a swarm of bees. The front page picture was of Mill Creek Baptist Church, where a revival was scheduled to start the following Sunday. July 3, 1946, and a front page headline announced: “Brunswick County Featured In Look Magazine,” and the story went on to say that five of fourteen photos in the feature entitled “River Vacation” were of this area. Included was a full page picture of Orton. Announcement had been made that the Border Belt Tobacco Markets would open on August 1; ships were expected to begin ar riving soon at the Lay-up Basin; and a holiday dance was being scheduled at Long Beach Pavilion. Back in 1951 The Pilot was printed on the Fourth of July, and on the front page there was a pronounced note of patriotism. There was a U. S. Flag, and a full program of events for the Fourth of July (Continued on Pag* 4) Present Flag Pageant IMPRESSIVE — One of the most impressive features on the Fourth of July Festival program was the Flag Pageant presented Monday afternoon by members of the U. S. Marine Corps. 4th Of July Festival Is Success A Fourth of July Festival that lasted for three days during the long, hot holiday weekend was held in Southport again this year to the delight of literally thousands of visitors and to the satisfaction of scores of local residents whose combined ef forts made this event possible. There was plenty of action on Saturday when the USS Johnston arrived in the local harbor and began to receive visitors aboard during the afternoon. Heritage House and the Art Show were open, and that night there was a donkey baseball game at Taylor Field. On Sunday all churches had visitors from among the holiday crowds and the service men. Holiday House and the Art Show were open during the afternoon and the Sidewalk Art Show also was opened. On Monday things began to happen bright and early. Prior to the parade, men and equip Exchange Letters The following message was sent at noon Tuesday via U. S. Navy communications circuits: From; Mayor Eugene B. Tomlinson Jr., Southport, N. C. To: Commanding Officer, U. S. S. Johnston, DD 821 "Southport’s most successful Fourth of July Celebration is pri marily attributable to your participation in the week-end activities. The men of the USS Johnston have a permanent place in the hearts of Southport citizens. We wish you God-speed and smooth sailing." Mayor Tomlinson was assured that the ship would receive this message in the early afternoon as she sailed south to engage in maneuvers off Puerto Rico. From: Commanding Officer, USS JOHNSTON (DD-821) To: Editor, State Port Pilot, Southport, N. C. Subj: Port visit to Southport, N. C., of USS JOHNSTON (DD-821) 1. On behalf of the officers and men of the Johnston as well as myself, I would like to extend to the people of Southport, through you, my most sincere gratitude for the hospitality that was shown to us during our stay in your city. The good North Carolina weather, the varied program of events commemorating Independence Day, the opportunity to show the ship to over 3000 people during our stay, and above all the true warmth and friendliness of the people of Southport combined to make it one of the most enjoyable port visits I have ever made. 2. The key to the city, which resides in a display case aboard Johnston will serve for years to come as the key to unlock the many pleasant memories and reminiscences we take with us of this Fourth of July weekend. 3. Our deepest thanks to you all. Finding For Inlet Work The Aids to Navigation Branch, Seventh Coast Guard District, located in Miami, Florida, ad vises that it has been contacted by local charter boat skippers to investigate the feasibility and need of marking a new cut or opening across the Little River Inlet Bar. This new cut appeared in the bar some six weeks ago. This type cut has been studied by the Coast Guard for several years, and experience has proven such cuts to be of extremely un stable nature. Such cuts often disappear as rapidly as they ap pear, due to the action of ocean and tidal currents upon them. It is the Coast Guard’s position that such cuts or openings be ob served for a period of approxi mately one year to verify that a stable entrance is afforded. To immediately mark any new cut of this type would create apossi ble hazard to mariners not com pletely knowledgeable with the local area. There is an existing channel across the Little River Inlet Bar which is presently well marked. This existing channel is used daily by small craft and has proven stable for a long period of time. The Coast Guard is studying the Little River Inlet Bar and will advise the public at such time as a decision has been reached to effect any re-buoying of the area. ment from the Airborne, a unit which had returned that day from Dominican Republic, paraded through Southport on its way from Sunny Point to Fort Bragg. An hour later the color ful parade, center of interest for hundreds of visitors, was held. It featured bands and floats and clowns and dignitaries. During the afternoon there was a band concert by members of the visiting Navy Band, followed by the Flag Pageant by the U. S. Marine Corps. Immediately following these features, the center of interest changed to the Southport water front where sky-diving held the stage for an hour. Later there was a calliope concert and the giant display of fireworks. The annual boat award went this year to W. W. Way of Car thage. Heritage House Attracts Many For Festival Over 400 persons registered at the Heritage House sponsored by the Southport Woman’s Club over the Fourth of July weekend, and many others attended without signing the guest register. This Antique Show of furniture and memorabilia from the homes of Southport citizens attracted much attention and was one of the many attractions of the town dur ing the holiday weekend. Among interesting items was a fog horn used on a ship during the war between the states, a col lection of fractional currency, a doll bed which folded up in the manner of a Murphy bed and showed a mirror on the bottom, several old fans, many fine pieces of old cut glass, silver and china. Interesting were three silver pieces brought out of Martinique when Mount Pelee erupted in 1902. Commodore Harry Phelps, father of Miss May Phelps who loaned the silver, was sent there to remove the body of the Ameri can Consul and brought out the silver as a souvenir. A sixth century Greek amphora, still encrusted with the marine creatures which stuck to its sides in the 1500 years it remained in the bottom of the Aegean Sea, was on display. Of particular interest to South port people was a copy of “The Southport Standard’’ of July 3, 1902 which was printed in red ink and told of the plans for cele bration of the Glorious Fourth that year. Notable was the room arranged on a raised platform with old living room furniture owned by Mrs. A. P. Henry Jr. and Mrs. H. B. Smith. There was a collection of old guns, including a buffalo rifle exhibited by Bill Sharpe. A fine collection of old clocks was ex hibited by Mrs. A. B. Joyner and the Arrington dolls in two cases attracted much atten tion. Old tools exhibited by Ray Spencer and a table of old uten sils were among the nostalgic items. These included some old charcoal irons exhibited by the McDougles of Yaupon Beach, a coffee grinder and some old wooden bowls. Mrs. James M. Harper, Jr. general chairman of the show, (Continued on Page 4) Sunday School Work Features Assembly Work Dr. Ernest Loessner, who is a professor of Religious Educa tion at Southern Seminary, Louis ville, Kentucky, is one of the outstanding Conference leaders during Sunday School Week at the North Carolina Baptist Assembly this week. Pastor for the Sunday School Conference is Dr. M. Ray McKay, who is a retired professor of Preaching, Southeastern Semi nary, Wake Forest. Filling the capacity of Bible Study Leader is Dr. E. A. Mc Dowell also of the Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary where he taught New Testament. Charles Warnock is Con ference Library Consultant. He is with the Baptist Sunday School Board, Nashville, Tennessee, and will spend the week assisting Church Librarians from across the state in selecting, class ifying, cataloging and promoting Church Library material. The Sunday School Depart ment of the Baptist State (Continued on Page 4) DR. R. E. MCDOWELL DR. ERNEST LOESSNER DR. M. RAY MCKAY Tide Table Following I* the tide table lor Southport iinHny the week. These hours ere ap proximately correct and were furnished The State Port Pilot through the courtesy of the Cape Fear Pilot’s Am aodatton. HIGH LOW Thursday. July 7, 10:51 A M 5:04 A M 11:09 P M 4:58 A M Friday, July S, 11:33 AM 5:40 A M 11:45 P M 5:46 P M Saturday, July 9, 12:15 P M 6:22 A M 6:34 P M Sunday, July 10, 0:27 A M 7:10 A M 1:09 P M 7:28 P M Monday, July 11, 1:15 A M 7:58 A M 2:03 P M 8:28 P M Tuesday, July 12, 2:09 A M 8:46 A M 2:57 P M 9:34 P M Wednesday, July 13, 3:03 A M 9:40 A M 3:51 PM 10:34 P M