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.... VOLUME 42 THE STATE PORT PILOT A Good Newspaper In A Good Community NUMBER 51 12PAGES TODAY WEDNESDA Y, JUL Y 14, 1971 [SOUTHPORT, N. C. [5c A COPY PUBLISHEDjEVERY Wt Heading Out To Sea This is a picture of Capt. Rob Austin as he headed out to sea one day recently with a fishing party aboard the charterboat Douglas. These trips begin at dawn and last into the late af ternoon. (Photo by Elgie Clemmons) Sencland Director Resigns: Poor Are More I: II portant’ By ED HARPER Critics of Charlie Mumford will take great pride in knowing that the executive director of Sencland Com munity Action has resigned effective August 1. “If that’s what it takes to help the agency and the poor people,” he said, “then that’s the way it will have to be.” Mumford, who has served as executive director of the agency since January, 1970, has been the subject of attack by former employees of Sencland. Misuse of funds, income tax evasion and immoral conduct have been charged, but the whole affair has been conducted contrary to accepted procedure. “I never have seen JAMES W. SMITH Southport Man On FHA Board James T. Johnson, State Director of Farmers Home Administration, has an nounced the appointment of James W. Smith of Southport to the Brunswick County Farmers Home Ad ministration County Com mittee for a three-year term. He succeeds W.T. Bowen whose term has expired. Smith’s term of office began officially on July 1. He will serve on the three member committee with Dalton Simmons and Charlie Knox. The Farmers Home Ad ministration County Com mittee certifies eligibility of applicants for Farmers Home Administration loans and recommends action in making and servicing loans to the FHA County Super visor. The committee also advises on other activities connected with the varied programs offered bv Far mers Home Administration. Smith lives about three Continued On Page 4 anything in writing,” said Mumford. “Until I do, I have no comment about the ac cusations.” The opponents of Mumford have continued their efforts to have the executive director fired. One group told the Columbus County com missioners that if they didn’t use their influence to get rid of Mumford, then they should withhold county funds from the program. “If Columbus County goes,” the board was told, “the other counties have got to go.” The three counties need Sencland, Mumford said, and if the controversy were to continue the poor people would be the losers. “The agency and the poor people are more important than Charlie Mumford,” he said. Mumford, who became acting executive director in 1969 when the agency’s first director was dismissed, said his first concern has always been the interest of poor people. “Much to my regret,” he said, “we were about to get into something that would hurt these poor people.” In his letter of resignation, Mumford wrote, “I dare to be a part of the solution rather than a part of a cause and with profound sorrow, a clear conscience, and without reluctance, I tender my resignation.” “If my resignation will help the agency continue to grow and provide the services so needed by the poor, then I’m willing to move on,” he ad ded. Fishery Money To Be Continued Officials on the North Carolina Fisheries Association have announced that their assessment will continue for another three year period. With better than a two - to - one majority favoring the assessment plan, the Association’s leaders expressed condifence that the next three years will bring even more progress than the previous three years which saw the momentum develop, the horizons ex pands, the purposes come into focus, and the relationships with other associations and which agencies and institutions mature. Some of the items the association will give attention to will be various kinds of insurance programs, more favorable tax interpretations special navigation projects, and programs which will give the fishermen benefits comparable to those other segments of society get. Linnie Perry n of Colerain, president of the association, stated “This favorable vote means we can be counted on to be right there when the next round of negotiations Continued On Page 12 Time And Tide The front page picture in The Pilot for July 15,1936, showed the two tennis courts on the grove, at the location where the gymnasium now stands. The Indra, a floating prep school, was here on its annual visit. The Brunswick County Recorder’s court had played host to royalty when an exiled Russian prince had appeared as prosecuting witness in a drunk driving case; William and Charles Wells of Southport had figured in the rescue of the Alta D. and her ^party of seven off Wrightsville Beach; and assurance had been given that five miles of the Shallotte Whiteville highway would be paved. In our edition far July 16,1941 there was a graphic description of the rescue by Capt. Arthur J. Dosher of his son, David, and of his use of artificial respiration to revive him following a near* drowning. Three Southport men, Frank and Bryant Potter and Law Swan, were at home of leave after duty in the Pacific aboard the USS Helena. Judge Henry A. Grady of Clinton had made his first airplane trip in a plane over at Long Beach; and there were reports of a short crop of tobacco in Brunswick. Record rainfall was the big news in Brunswick as reported in our newspaper for July 10,1946. With 11.05 inches recorded by Continued On Page 4 The Clarkton native, who also served as a Washington, D.C., policeman, said he expects some problems in the program because of the recent developments, “but with the technical assistance of the state and federal OEO offices, I don’t see why any difficulties can’t be kept to a minimum.” “I feel that Sencland has come a long way,” be con tinued. “We are at a point where the general public has begun to grasp the real purpose of a community action agency. However, the controversy at hand would serve only to hurt the agency and the poor people.” Mumford indicated in this letter of resignation that the board of directors could stand some improvement. “It is my firm conviction,” he wrote, “that until such time as the board disciplines itself to follow the provisions of its bylaws and its policies and procedures, the poor people will be deprived of capable and committed staff mem bers, and the excutive director will continue to be without the authority to carry out his responsibilities.” He was referring to action by the board which allowed the accusations against Mumford to be presented at a recent meeting by an angry former employee, who demanded his civil rights but wouldn’t sit down. The proper procedure, and the one ap proved by the board, would have the complaint chan neled through the director and then to the personnel committee and the board if he were not satisfied. Mumford emphasized that he bears no grudges against anyone because of what’s happened. “I don’t intend to leave here throwing stones,” Mumford added. “Too many people have been too good to me for that.” FHA Helping Build Homes Attractive, modern homes make life more enjoyable for 65 Brunswick County families, and their con struction has given a shot in the arm to the local building industry, Parks C. Fields, county supervisor for Far mers Home Administration said this week. In addition, Farmers Home Administration, the rural credit arm of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, has helped the local economy with loans to farmers to buy Continued On Page 4 House Tables Frink’s Bill; [ Gov. Scott Wins 1st Round i A bill that would keep the state from condemning Bald Head Island was tabled by a legislative committee Tuesday, giving Gov. Bob Scott at least a temporary victory in his fight against the development plans of Carolina Cape Fear Cor poration. The- House Calendar Committee chairman ruled that a voice vote to postpone the State - passed bill had carried. A motion can only be reversed by a two - thirds vote of the committee. Chances of a reversal in the near future are slight. All weekend, lobbying efforts were made to sway the vote, which was considered almost 50-60. There are 17 members on the calendar committee. According to a Sunday newspaper, “Aides of Gov. Scott, who favors state acquisition, and legislators backing him thought they had counted noses carefully and concluded that the Senate - passed bill would never see the light of day.” The com mittee is responsible for deciding what bills will go before the legislature for consideration. The bill, introduced by Sen. S. Bunn Frink of Brunswick County, would prohibit the state from condemning the controversial island off the Brunswick coast. There was only one condition attached — that the developer invest a certain amount of money right away. William Henderson, president of the development firm, delcares he fully in tends to do that. He has revealed plans for a multi - million dollar resort complex that already has local government officials coun ting the added revenue. The state, more specifically Gov. Scott, wants the island under public ownership. Conservationists contend that the 12,000 — acre sand and marsh tract is a haven for birds, a breeding ground of marine life and a forest of unique vegetation. For this reason, Scott, and the conservationists say, Hen derson’s plan should be stopped. The would - be developer has said it would cost the Bad Weather Candidate Absent But Demos Meet A summer storm in Burgaw late Monday af ternoon prevented Hugh Morton, Wilmington man who is testing his chances for the Democratic nomination for governor, from flying by helicopter to Holden Beach and a dinner meeting with about thirty Brunswick County citizens who had gathered at the Ebb-Tide Restaurant. This was to have been the final stop of the day for Morton, who had worked his way down the coast from Manteo in his effortto contact representative citizens in each county to evaluate his chances in the gubernatorial race. It is expected that he will schedule another trip to this county at a later date. When they were informed that weather had intervened in Morton’s plans the Brunswick contingent decided to stay for dinner, and afterward they held an impromptu Democratic rally. At the conclusion of the meal several persons present spoke of the job which lies ahead for the Democrat party in Brunswick County and great emphasis was placed upon the importance of getting an early start for next year’s general election campaign. One of the speakers was Earnest E. Parker, a past chairman of the Democratic Executive Committee for Brunswick County and presently a member of the N.C. Board of Conservation and Development. “I have been told that our chairman, Grover Gore, says he does not feel he can unite the various Continued On Page 4 New Drunk Driver Bill Punish If ent Too Harsh A bill up for adoption would make it mandatory that drunk drivers go to jail. The chief judge and solicitor of this district think it is a bad idea. “No one underestimates the seriousness of drunk driving,” Judge Ray Walton explained, “but anytime the minimum punishment is imprisonment it is more difficult to get a guilty verdict from a jury.” Solicitor Lee Greer agrees: “The harsher the penalty, the harder it is to convict,” he said. The bill, which received surprisingly strong support from the Senate last week, would require jail sentences for drivers convicted of driving under the influence more than once. The bill would not change the present penalty for the first offense, which includes a minimum fine of $100 and loss of license. The judge could sentence the offender to as much as six months in jail, but this is rare indeed. Under the Senate bill, a judge would not have any choice but to jail the con drunk tdriver1 for further offenses. For the second offense, the driver would serve a three-day term anytime during a 90-day period. For the third con viction within five years, the offender would be sentenced to 30 days either in jail or in an alcoholi: rehabilitation center. The fourth conviction would result in a 60-day term in either jail or the rehabilitation center and the fifth conviction would be punishable by six months. The sixth conviction within a ten-year period would carry a fine of not less than $1,500 and six-mcnths in either prison or the center. A driver convicted si:: or more times would lose his license per manently, but could have his driving privileges restored if he could show he had restrained from excessive use of intoxicating beverages or drugs for a period of two years. At present, Greer said, it is not difficult to get convictions of guilty drunk drivers because of the limited driving permits the judge may issue at his discretion. “I think you can get more drunk drivers off the road like it is than by requiring three days of punishment,” Greer said. Judge Walton said that the matter of confinement as punishment is under study by judges and other court of ficials, but “I wouldn’t vote to make it mandatory. Whether or not to send a convicted drunk driver to jail should be leftto the judge’s discretion.” Something To Remember Jay Barnes, son of Mr. and Mrs. James T. Barnes of Southport, is shown here with Representative Thomas Harrelson, left, and Representative R.C. Soles, right, during a recent session of the General Assembly in Raleigh where he served for one week as a page. state upwards to $20 million to carry through with Scott’s condemnation plan. Carolina Cape Fear reportedly paid $5.5 million for the property, and it is listed on Brunswick County tax books for $1.2 { million. Observers have stated that the legislature is unwilling to spend that much money for the island. There are too many other needs that should have priority, they argue. One of the most listened - to legislators on the subject is Sen. Frink. He introduced the lull in the Senate with the knowledge it would be ap proved. The General Assembly apparently will not pay for the property, so Gov. Scott has undertaken a “secret plan” to raise funds for purchase. Another argument pressed recently is that the state would have to spend millions of dollars to stabilize the island if development were commenced. The answer heard from supporters of Henderson is that the state Continued On Page 4 Humphrey Is j Given Raise The U.S. Senate has con firmed President Nixon’s I recent nomination of William Edwin Humphrey, son of Mrs. Mamie G. Humphrey, Pauls Valley. Oklahoma, for promotion to Class 5 in the Foreign Service of the United States. The promotion resulted from the recom mendation by the 24th Foreign Service Selection | Boards. Humphrey was graduated from Pauls Valley High School in Oklahoma and received Bachelor’s degrees - from Yale University in 1961 and Oklahoma State University in 1962. Since entering the Foreign Service in 1962, he has been stationed in Washingon, D.C., Managua, and Istanbul. He is presently assigned to the American Embassy in Mexico City as Executive Aide to the Ambassador. Humphrey speaks Spanish. Mrs. Humphrey, the for mer Gay Gordon Wells, daughter of the Wiley Gordon Wellses of Southport attended New Hanover High School in Wilmington, and graduated '* J from the University of North Carolina. They have one child, Marran Elizabeth, age 2%. Mr. and Mrs. Humphrey and daughter have been visiting Mr. and Mrs. Wells in Southport for the past few days.
State Port Pilot (Southport, N.C.)
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July 14, 1971, edition 1
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