The Pilot Covers
Brunswick County
THE STATE PORT PILOT
I
;» I
A Good Newspaper In A Good Community
Most of the News
All The Time
VOLUME 41
INO. 27
10-Pages Today
SOUTHPORT, N. C. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 24 , 1969
5t A COPY
PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY
Old Fashioned Christmas Tree At Brunswick Town
The beginning date of- the use of Christmas trees
in America is uncertain, but some sources state that
the custom was introduced by German imigrants in
the early 19th century. The tree is first mentioned in
German literature in 1605. Brunswick Town was in
ruins after the American Revolution, but a few fam
ilies returned, and in 1804 Bishop Francis Asbury
visited Brunswick, mentioned the brick walls of St.
Philip’s Church and that there were four houses stand
ing “entire”. A replica of the type of tree these inhab
itants would have used is on display in the lobby of
the Visitor Center. It is decorated with homemade
and iced cookies, strings of popcorn, paper ornaments,
paper chain, and painted pine cones of the area. Miss
Kathy Carson of the Brunswick Town staff is respon
sible for this display of homemade decorations, from
baking and icing the cookies to stringing the popcorn.
Visit the site and see the unique Christmas tree.—
(Brunswick town photo)
Auto License
Plates Go On
Sale January
Application cards necessary
for obtaining 1970 license plates
were placed in the mail on
December 18 and Department of
Motor Vehicles officals expect
this huge mailing, estimated at
more than 3,300,000 cards, to
be delivered by January 1.
Motorists will be paying more
for their 1970 plates than they
have been paying in the past.
The registration fees were
increased about 25 percent by
the 1969 Legislature. This does
not apply to North Carolina’s
amputee war veterans and those
war veterans have a 100 percent
disability rating by the Veterans
Administration. They will get
their tags free!
The new reflectorized red and
white plates will go on sale
throughout the State on January
2. The 1969 plates expire
December 31 and their use
beyond that date is permissible
only if they are duly registered
by the department to the vehicle
on which display is made.
Owners who have their vehicles
properly registered by the
department have until February
16 to obtain new plates.
Surrounding area residents
may obtain plates at Shallotte,
where office hours will be from
9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday thru
Friday, and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on
Saturdays.
The local license agent, Mrs.
Christine Soles, points out that
“to renew a plate you must have
a renewal card” and cautions
against the misplacing of it when
Continued On Page Four
Colorful Christmas
Parade Draws Big
Lights flashed, flags billowed,
and a crowd estimated at 8,000
stood in the cold weather to
watch the annual Shallotte
Christmas parade last Saturday
morning.
The 50-unit parade included
the Brunswick County Band, the
Wampee Band and the Chestnut
School Band and many
decorated floats.
If the crowd lacked
enthusiasm, it wasn’t noticed by
the parade members. The Star
Dels, the Bicyclists of Union, the
Pom Pom Girls and many others
shouted greetings to the familiar
faces and wished season’s
greetings to everyone.
The smallest members of the
parade was a Baton Group from
Carolina Beach. Their rosy
cheeks and bright smiles brought
compliments from mothers who
had their own warmly-wrapped
in layers of warm clothing.
Adults and children alike had
their fancies tickled by the
clowns and the appearance of a
Mexican with a donkey-cart.
Shallotte’s Commercial
Education Departments are to
be commended for their float
with the theme in mind that
commercial students today,
leaders tomorrow.
Miss Samantha Townsend,
WWAY Weather Girl was the
Parade Marshal. She was riding
in an open convertible and
waving to the cheers of the
crowds along the way.
Miss Brunswick Beacon, Miss
Carolyn Marshall of Shallotte,
escorted by Col. Dave Stanly,
(Continued On Page Four)
MRS. EDITH SMITH
Historic Sites
To Be Closed
Brunswick Town and Fort.
Fisher State Historic Sites will
be closed December 24-26 and
normal hours of operation will
resume on December 27. Both
sites are open seven days each
week throughout the year with
the exception of Christmas and
Thanksgiving day.
Visitation to the sites has been
excellent this calendar year,
according to William G. Faulk,
Jr., site manager at Brunswick
Town. More than 94,000
persons have visited Brunswick
(Continued On Page Pour)
Mrs. Smith New
President Of
Woman’s Club
Mrs. Afton Smith, Jr., was
installed as president of the
Southport Woman’s Club at
their annual banquet in the
Community Building. The
occasion was a joint meeting
with the Lion’s Club and was
presided over by Mrs. W.E.
McDougle and William Powell.
Other officers installed were
Mrs. McDougle, 1st
vice-president; Mrs. Laura
Roughton, 2nd vice-president;
Mrs. James Melton, secretary;
Mrs. Cash Caroon, treasurer; and
Mrs. Landis Brown, chaplain.
(Continued On Page Hire*)
Year’s Analysis
District Court--‘Fairer,
Efficient And Convenient’
By ED HARPER
The District Court in
Brunswick County is still an
infant, but it is a year old now
and is learning to stand on its
own.
Judges, court officials and law
enforcement personnel share this
evaluation of the court system :
that observed its first birthday
anniversary this month. It is a
“crossword puzzle,” said Jack .
Brown, county clerk of court,
“and the pieces are just .
beginning to fit into place.”
“It has been working the hell
out of us,” said one person
closely-associated with the
system, “but now it is starting to
work FOR us.”
The district court was created
for Brunswick County—along
with Bladen and Columbus ,
counties—last December. Elected
to the judgeships were Ray
Walton and Giles Clark, both
lawyers. Lee Greer of Whiteville
was selected solicitor for the
court in the three-county area.
Walton, from Southport, is
chief judge for this district.
Clark, an Elizabethtown
Express Regret
Of Resignation
Gilbert T. Reid has resigned as
a member of the board of
trustees for Dosher Memorial
Hospital, and this week he
received from L.T. Yaskell,
chairman of that body, the
following letter of regret:
“It is with deep regret I write
this letter on your resignation
from the Board of Trustees this
hospital. Records indicate you
have served honorably and
faithfully since 1951.
“However, I do wish to take
this opportunity to commend
you for the outstanding manner
in which you have served for
these many years. During this
time you have seen many
changes take place within the
hospital, you have witnessed
progress and by your sense of
responsibility you have helped
to guide the hospital in its
endeavor to fulfill its service to
the community, that will be felt
for many years to come. You
have shared its hardships and
frustrations, its ups and downs.
“Minutes of the Board indicate
you have missed but very few
meetings while you served. It
also shows that you made many
motions that were passed, which
gave the hospital many policies
and regulations under which it is
governed. Many of these gave
fringe benefits to its personnel
and other have established a
higher standard of care and
treatment to the patient.
“Your dedication and
devotion to the Board has been
an inspiration to each of us who
have served on the Board and
those of us that will continue to
serve. Your presence will
certainly be missed at the
meetings.
“In closing all members want
to thank you and extend to you
their sincere appreciation for a
job well done.”
Time And Tide
Believe it or not, but there was a front page photo in our edition
for December 22, 1964, showing a total eclipse of the moon, a shot
taken looking out across the Cape Fear River on the previous Friday
night. There was little then to foretell man’s this year’s romp on the
moon. Sue Jones had been selected Woman of the Year by the
Southport Junior Woman’s Club, and her picture also was on the
front page.
There was a picture, too, of the Savannah, famous nuclear
powered merchant ship, which was to pass through the Southport
Harbor that week, and this also was a harbinger of things to come in
the nuclear field. And everywhere in that edition, from front page to
want ads, you could sense the Christmas spirit!
It was December 23, 1959, and the local school committee at
Shallotte changed the name of the athletic field to Rourk Field in
honor of Dr. M.H. Rourk. The Bob White building in Shallotte had
been moved from the highway right-of-way.
George White, a senior at Leland, was to represent Brunswick
county in the district section for the Morehead scholarship. Dale
Williams led Leland to a 66 to 57 victory over Shallotte for their
13th straight win of the season. Bobby White of Shallotte was a
dean’s list student at Presbyterian Junior College.
Continued On Page Four
resident, is a young, energetic
judge. These two men, along
ivith solicitor Greer, enjoy the
idmiration of all law
jnforcement officers in the area,
iccording to a sheriff in one of
;he counties. They “give
iignity” to the court system,
;ays the sheriff, and make his
ob a lot easier.
Not only have the new judges
idded dignity to the courts of
Brunswick County, they have
idded respect. Judge Walton said
the first time he stepped into
court last December there were
two lawyers and one defendant
present. Now, when Judge
Walton says court starts at 9:30
a.m., it does.
One needn’t observe many
sessions of district court to be
convinced Judges Walton and
Clark have complete control of
the courtroom. Probably, if one
or the other came into court at
9:30 and there was no sheriff to
officially open court, he would
open it himself. ;
But the sheriff is usually there.
Although the Constitution
prohibits the requirement of
legal training as a qualification
for judicial office-holding, most
critics of court action feel that
legal training; which Walton and
Clark have,' is good for. the
system.
The office of district judge is
not comparable to that of
(Continued On Page Four) 5
Install Officers
Newly-elected officers of Southport Junior Woman’s Club were installed Thurs
day night by Connie Young, past president. The new officers are, left to right, Donnie
Dodge, publicity chairman; Jean Kenny, treasurer; Mrs. Young; Ellen Sherrod, presi
dent; Mary McHose, vice-president; and Judy Wiggs, secretary.
y v.
Club Woman Of The Year
May Barbee, left, was honored as Junior Club Wo
man of the Year at the Christmas banquet Thursday
night. Presenting her the trophy designating this honor
is Beth Sell.
Holiday Schedule
To Be Observed
A Holiday schedule will be
followed in Southport most of
this week.
City Hall will be closed from
the close of the business day on
Tuesday until Monday of next
week.
Both the Waccamaw Bank and
Trust Co. will remain closed on
Thursday and Friday. This holds
true for all of their offices in
Brunswick count'-.
Christmas holidays are being
observed by the public school
system, with classes not to
resume until after the first of the
year.
All county offices will be
closed December 24 through
December 28, in observance of
the Christmas holidays. The
county offices will also be closed
January 1 in observance of New
Years.
Club Officers
For Juniors ’Jg
Are Installed |
The Junior Woman’s Club of *
Southport held its annual
Christmas party-meeting at the
Lorraine Restaurant December
16. Members and their guests
enjoyed a social hour from 7 to 8
o’clock and then a meal
followed by the induction of •>/
new members into the club.
They were Susan Smith, Susan
Herring, and Patricia Foy.
During the club year members
collect commemorative stamps
to be sent to the N-C
Correctional School for Boys in
Raleigh. The member collecting
the most is recognized as stamp
champ. This year’s champ was
(Continued On Page Three)
Tide Table
Following Is the tide table
for Southport during die
week. These hoars are ap
proximately correct and
were furnished The State
Port Pilot through the'
courtesy of the Cape Fear
Pilot’s Association.
Thursday, December 25
8:46 AM 2:34 AM
9:0B PM 3:16 PM
Friday, December 26
9:2a AM 3:16 AM
9:39 PM 3:52 PM
Saturday, December 27
9:51 AM 3:52 AM
10:15 PM 4:28 PM
Sunday, December 28
10:33 AM 4:34 AM
10:51 PM 5:04 PM
Monday, December 29
11:00 AM 5:16 AM
li:33 PM 5:46 PM
Tuesday, December SO
11:45 AM 5:58 AM
6:28 PM
Wednesday, December 31
0:21 AM 8:52 AM
12:33 PM 7:16 PM