The Pilot Covers
Brunswick County
THE STATE PORT PILOT
I
m
I
A Good Newspaper In A Good Community
Most of the News
All The Time
VOLUME 412
No. 3
10-Pages Today
SOUTHPORT, N. C. WEDNESDAY, JULY 29, 1970
5* A COPY
• - s •
PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY
Bald Head Island Landing Party
This was the scene at Bald Head Island Friday
as a Navy LCM discharged the first wave of news
paper visitors. This was a side trip from the North
Carolina Press Association Convention at Wrights
ville Beach, with more than 100 newsmen and mem
bers of their families visiting the island. Those who
took off their shoes fared best, as the landing craft
was unable to extend its loading ramp to dry land.
(Photo by Spencer)
Shallotte May
Get New Bank
Continuing efforts by a group
of business leaders in lower
Brunswick County are expected
to result in First National Bank
of Eastern North Carolina
establishing a full-service office
in the thriving commercial town
of Shallotte, it was learned this
week.
J. Hugh Rich, president of the
$ 100-million banking system
which has 36 branches in 23
cities across the state, said First
National this week filed a
request with the U.S.
Comptroller of the Currency to
locate an office at Lewis
Shopping Center.
The action followed a series of
meetings by community leaders
over a several-month period,
leading to an invitation for the
First National president to
attend subsequent meetings to
discuss possibilities of
establishing a First National
office in their area.
“Of course we were honored
and flattered that we were asked
to provide such service,” Richt
said in announcing the new
application.
“Immediately after making a
survey of the present need and
future potential for a second
bank in Shallotte, our board of
directors expressed complete
enthusiasm and requested we
(Continued On Page Itonr)
v.v.v/,'.
>7
i Brief Bits Of I
c:
y
SMORGASBORD—Ocean
View United Methodist Church,
Yaupon Beach, will serve a
smorgasbord supper on
Saturday. Serving will begin at 4
p.m. and will continue until the
food is gone. Orders will be
filled to go.
SHELL FIELD TRIP
Southport Shell Club members
attended a field trip to Lake
Waccamaw on Saturday and
came back with a good
collection of fresh water shells
including seven of the nine
species. Making the field trip
were Elizabeth Felton, Lillian
Collins, Mary Bellows, Gertrude
Johnson, Jim Johnson, and
Jimmy Bowman. The collection
display can be seen at Leggett’s.
CURRENT OFF
The City of Southport will be
without electric current Sunday
from 4 a.m. to 9 a.m. and also
Sunday, August 9 from 4 a.m. to
8 a.m. New and larger conductor
lines are being installed by
Carolina Power and Light
Company to supply both Sunny
Point and Southport. A total of
nine hours are needed to do this
work and it is the decision to do
five hours on the morning of
August 2 and four hours on the
morning of August 9.
Newsmen Invade
Bald Head Island
Members of the North
Carolina Press Association held
their annual summer convention
last weekend at Wrightsville
Beach and on Friday made a side
trip to Bald Head Island.
This group left the Blockade
Runner by bus, traveled to Oak
Island Coast Guard Station
where they had a box lunch,
then embarked aboard a landing
craft for the island about which
many of them had written but
which few had visited.
The group was transported in
two trips, permitting visitors to
roam about the tropica! seashore
island for at least two hours.
One group of nine persons far
exceeded this limit when they
made a motor trip that was
complicated by a breakdown.
For this and other reasons the
visit to the island became a
principal topic of conversation
for the convention.
David Whichard, II, of the
Greenville Daily Reflector, the
outgoing NCPA president
expressed the sentiments of the
association membership by
criticizing recent action by
judges that denies courtroom
access to newspapers and the
public.
“In my judgment, the interest
of neither the defendant, the
public nor the judicial system of
North Carolina has been served
by the action,” he stated. “The
courts of this state cannot close
their doors to the public and
carry on their business in secret
without further eroding public
confidence in the judicial
system.
“The fact that the doors of
courtrooms of the state have
been closed to the public in
these instances should be a
matter of grave concern not just
to the press, but to all citizens,
including the judiciary and
officers of the court.”
The convention, held at the
Blockade Runner Hotel, was
attended by newspapermen from
throughout North Carolina.
Other activities of the
three-day convention included a
“shrimperoo” Thursday night
Swim Classes
Are Planned
Mrs. Kenneth Wooten, Red
Cross Instructor, again will
conduct swimming classes this
year under the sponsorship of
the Junior Woman’s Club of
Southport with the cooperation
of superintendent Fred Smith
and the North Carolina Baptist
Assembly. The classes will be
held at the Ft. Caswell Pool
from August 10-21. There will
be three levels: beginners, those
never having had formal
instruction; advanced beginners,
(Continued On Page Pouf)
and Friday a trip to Bald Head
Island, the controversial piece of
real estate at the mouth of the
Cape Fear River near Southport.
Approximately 100
newspapermen got a first-hand
look at the island and nine
members of the excursion were
left behind on Bald Head. They
were “rescued” by a small boat
that passed the island and made
it to the Friday night banquet
well behind the others but still
on time.
Robert Boyd, chief of the
Washington news bureau for the
Knight Newspapers chain, was
the major speaker and told
NCPA members that the
Communists have the
determination to prolong a war
in which the United States is fast
losing interest. He spent two
weeks in North Vietnam this
spring, one of the few U.S.
reporters who have been allowed
in the country since the war
began.
He added that the bombing
of North Vietnam has devastated
the countryside but neither the
supply of equipment or soldiers
has been slowed significantly.
L . T. J ames of the
Montgomery Herald at Troy was
selected president of the NCPA.
Howard White of the Burlington
Daily Times News was elected
vice-president and Mrs. Margaret
Harper of Southport was
re-elected secretary-treasurer.
Blake Memorial
Being Planned
A movement now is underway
to establish the Katie H. Blake
Memorial Fund at Dosher
Memorial Hospital in Southport,
with proceeds from this source
to be used to help finance a new
ostetrics unit for the hospital.
Mrs. Blake, whose death
occurred earlier this month at
Memorial Hospital in Chapel
Hill, is a former resident of
Southport and was the wife of
Charles Blake. She was a
registered nurse and in addition
to performing professional
services at the local hospital, had
been instrumental in organizing
Candy Stripers for service there.
The need for new obstetrics
facilities recently have been
highlighted by the
announcement that cases of this
kind will be handled only on an
emergency basis for the time
being. Officials of the hospital
hope that with the addition of
new facilities in this field, it will
be possible to attract the services
of a full time specialist.
Already contributions have
been received for this fund, one
for $50.00 having come from
the Junior Woman’s Club of
Southport, which once named
the honoree as their Woman of
the Year.
Weed Market
Opening Has
High Average
Higher prices and more pounds
were reported in first-day
activity on the Border Belt
markets as the 1970
tobocco-selling season got
underway Tuesday.' 1 „.
According to Bril Edmunds,
sales supervisor for the
Whiteville Tobacco Board of
Trade, reported a first day sale
of 989,151 pounds in the
Whiteville warehouses. The sale
brought $706,365.16 for an
average of $71.41 for each 100
pounds.
Last year the first salesday
total was 735,155 pounds at an
average of $65.94.
The Whiteville average was
typical of first-day yields all
along the Border Belt that were
termed “unbelievably high” by
some tobaccomen.
According to Edmunds, 38
percent of the first-day sales
went to stabilization. Chadboum
Warehouseman Jimmy Green
said he was disappointed that
the government got as much of
the tobacco as it did.
“There was not as much
activity from the buying
companies (in Chadboum) as I
would have liked to see,” said
Green. “But it was opening day
and things will begin to get
regulated as the week goes on.”
Border Belt markets will sell
through Friday this first week,
four hours each day. Beginning
Monday, sales will be four and
one-half hours daily through
Thursday. That schedule will
continue two weeks.
State Agriculture
Commissioner Jim Graham, on
hand for Border Belt sales,
commented that “these farmers
need every penny they can get.
No crop has ever cost as much as
this year’s and the money
received for tobacco is for most
growers their wages for the year,
after deducting the costs.”
Legal Action
Withdrawn In
School Case
The Brunswick County Board
of Education met in special
session July 20 as four intersted
patrons from Southport
observed the board’s
proceedings.
The following teacher’s
resignations were accepted:
Bolivia—Marilyn B. Phelps;
B. C.H.S.—Richard M. Holbrook;
Leland—Marcia N. Kallfelz;
Shall otte—Betty H. Hewett,
Ruth Galloway, Larry Wilson.
The following teachers
contracts for the 1970-71 school
year were approved:
Bolivia—Ann Herring Evans, Ida
C. Mintz, Leland—Judy D.
Tancrelle, Kay M. Shackelford,
John Buckingham;
Shallotte—Lula C. Little,
Eleanor C. Powell, Bermon
Hewett; Southport—Calvin
Evans; Union—Ruth Galloway.
Jack Croft, school architect,
reviewed the Southern Area Site
of Boiling Springs, and the
Shallotte Site, showing deletions
to be made from building plans,
demolition of old Southport
School, possible letting of bids
in early September, and the
system of letting and sub-letting
of bids to general contractors.
The resignation of Mrs. JoAnn
McDowell as Title I ESEA
bookkeeper was accepted.
A letter from the North
Carolina State Baptist
Convention concerning
utilization of Caswell facilities
for school purposes set May
1971 as the final deadline for
such utilization.
Board members evaluated
principalship vacancies occurring
at B.C.H.S., Southport and
Bolivia. Principals for these
positions are to be selected in
the near future. Members of the
board authorized
Superintendent Ralph King to
hire these principals with the
consent of the local school
committee and County Board
representative. Mrs. Mae Barbee
requested the board to grant this
authorization.
Board members discussed
HEW personnel visitation to the
county and the letter being
compiled by Superintendent
King answering allegations
concerning discreminatory
actions to faculty desegregation,
teacher dismissals,
transportation, and
extra-curricular activities.
The board deferred action on
student accident insurance for
1970-71 school year until the
next meeting.
Mason H. Anderson, board of
education attorney, informed
the board that Bolivia patrons
had removed litigation against
the board concerning Beaver
Dam as the site of the southern
area school.
Mrs. Clora Marshburn
appeared before the board in
order to gain clarification of
reasons for termination of
teaching contract.
man Lost rrom
Ship At Sea
A merchant seaman, Pie Min
Chueneg, disappeared from
aboard the British freighter SS
Ulysses Monday and his body
has not been recovered despite
an intensive half-day search by a
crew from Oak Island Coast
Guard Station and the Cutter
McCulloch.
The disappearance was noted
(Continued On Pag* Pour)
e And Tide
Ever dream of having all the bananas you could eat or haul away,
free for the taking? Well, that’s what happened in Southport
thirty-five years ago this week, and the story appeared in the July 24 ,
issue of the Pilot in 1935. This banana bonanza developed when a
shipment of 2,000 bunches was turned down in Wilmington and the :
crew of the Norwegian freighter that carried them as cargo started
throwing them overboard as soon as the ship passed the Cape Fear
River bar. An incoming tide brought in this unexpected harvest, and
all along the Southport waterfront people were fishing bananas from
the river. Elsewhere in the news, Reginald Turner had resigned as
principal at Shallotte High School and was going to Asheboro; the ,
first case of typhoid fever in recent years was reported in Brunswick; i
and there had been no weekly session of Brunswick County i
recorder’s court for the very good reason that there were no cases to .
be tried. ‘
The Democrats had held their nominating convention in Chicago
and had named Roosevelt and Wallace as the standard-bearers for the ,
1940 general election. Pictures of these men were on the front page |
of our July 24 publication. Back in those days, school opened later
(Oontkm*! On rour)
Anatomy Of A Bank Vault
No means of advertising the safety of funds deposited in Waccamaw Bank <Sj
Trust Co. could possibly be more convincing than the above eye-witness observant
ce of the construction of the vault for the new bank building in Southport. This
has been in progress for the past two weeks, with heavy steel bars being used to
remforce the concrete which will complete the structure. The consensus is that A1
Mundy himself couldn’t crack this one. (Photo by Spencer) :
Retiring Principal Honored
Principal A. C. Caviness is shown here as he accepts a gift from his former
students and fellow citizens at a dinner held in Southport earlier this month to
honor him for the 41 years he has spent as an educator. At the left, seated, is Dr.
Leila Ruth Hankins, professor of Biology at Bennett College, who was the princip
al speaker for this occasion, and at the right, making the presentation, is Ephriam
Swain. (Baker Photo)
Grateful Parent
Suggests Medal
The sorrow of a son’s death
was tempered by respect for two
Oak Island Coast Guardsmen
because of their heroic action
earlier this month at Yaupon
Beach.
Ten-year old Charles Gregory
of Burlington was drowned in
the Atlantic surf on July 3. His
12-year old sister Cindy Ann
Seafood Men
Planning Plant
An increase of $300,000
income, more jobs for local
aeople and a market for local
seafood with top prices were the
:opic of discussion by local
jommercial fishermen and
shrimp boat owners, captains
md crewmen and James Roof,
Lf S D A F armer’s Cooperative
services specialist, said Harry L.
Varnam, president of the local
>rganization.
“We are in the process of
naking a survey among
nterested persons for the
Lockwood’s Folly Seafood
Freezing-Processing Plant,” said
/amam.
“Preliminary information
shows a wide range of support,
nterest and cooperation among
he potential suppliers of
eafood—that is the fishermen
hem selves—and the Waccamaw
lank, the Resources
Development Commission, and
>thers who have been contacted
his week,” he continued.
“If and when the project
(Continued On Page Seven)
rushed back into the ocean when
it became obvious the young
boy was lost and nearly drowned
herself. The father said his
daughter would have lost her
life, had it not been for the
rescue effort of Boatswain Mate
David E. O’Neal, a Southport
man, and Engineman Mate
Ronald D. Savage.
Clarence Gregory addressed
letters to U.S. Senator B. Everett
Jordan and U.S. Rep.
Richardson Preyer that tell the
story:
“In the midst of much sadness
in my family at this time, I take
this opportunity also to express
appreciation.
“My 10-year-old son, Charles,
lost his life in the surf of
Yaupon Beach near Southport
last Friday around noon. He was
in the shallow surf, and my
other children had come out of
the water, as we recognized that
it was too rough for safety. Yet,
our Charles did not come from
the water. He disappeared, and it
developed, as we later learned,
that he had been struck by one
or more sand sharks. His remains
were found Monday morning,
after an almost constant search
since his disappearance.
“What I ask at this time is that
you join me, in whatever official
chanels you deem proper, to give
what we consider more deserved
recognition and honor to two
members from the Oak Island
Coast Guard Station near
Southport. I will tell you, now,
why I so sincerely believe this to
be worthy.
“After it fully was determined
that my son was missing in the
(Continued On Page Three)
Honored By ■
Old Students
To every thing there is a
season, and a time to every
purpose under the heaven:
The opening assembly of the
Brunswick County Southport
High School was started by
reading this passage of scripture
for the past thirty eight years.
Principal Alvin Chester Caviness
never started his school year
without having read to his
students the third chapter of
Ecclesiastes.
Upon learning that the
(OnttmMd OB Pkfi Two)
Tide Table
Following is the tide table
for Southport during the
week. These hours were
furnished to The State Port
Pilot by the Cape Fear Pilots
Association.
High Low
Thursday, July 30,
6:39 A.M. 12:46 A.M.
7:09 P.M.
Friday, July 31,
7:27 A.M. 1:40 A.M.
7:51P.M. 1:34 P.M.
Saturday, August 1,
8:09 A.M. 2:22 A.M.
8:33 P.M. 2:16 P.M.
Sunday, August 2,
8:51A.M. 2:58 A.M.
9:09 P.M. 2:58 P.M.
Monday, August 3,
9:29 A.M. 3:34 A.M.
9:39 P.M. 3:34 P.M.
Tuesday, August 4,
10:03 A.M. 4:10 A.M.
10:15 P.M. 4:16 P.M.
Wednesday, August 5,
10:39 A.M. 4:46 A.M.
10:45 P.M. 4:52 P.M.