THE STATE PORT PILOT
A Good Newspaper In A Good Community
VOLUME 43 NUMBER 40 20 PAGES TODAY SOUTHPORT, NORTH CAROLINA APRIL 26, 1972 5 CENTS A COPY PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY
Public Hearing On Bridge
Project Set For May 24
A public hearing for the
proposed high-level bridge to
Oak Island, required before
any work can begin on the
project, is scheduled for May
24.
The hearing has been
delayed because of necessary
action and reevaluation by
the State Highway Com
mission’s Planning and
Research Division. A
required environmental'
impact study also was time
consuming.
Little opposition to the SHC
project is expected at
the public hearing, to be held
at 3:30 p.m. in the Brunswick
County—Southport High
School auditorium. Long
Beach Town Manager Jack
Hayward said earlier that his
i v town’s people would not care
where the bridge was located,
just so the State Highway
Commission got on with the
work.
f The high-level span is
fe expected to take 18 months to
complete, according to a SHC
spokesman.
■j The swing-type bridge that
m had served Oak Island was
demolished by an In
tracoastal Waterway barge
last September 7, stranding a
large number of Labor Day
tourists and the island’s in
creased population. For
several months, the only link
Z'i .. . . . % ■
M" : . ' . .. .. '
with the mainland was an
overcrowded and oft
maligned ferry service.
The present one-lane
bridge was put into service in
November, easing the strain
on island residents but still
the scene of early-morning
and late-afternoon traffic
snarls. The summer beach
season is expected to be
slowed somewhat, but the
majority of island business
owners report the loss of
customers is below what was
expected.
The state was criticized by
island residents for what they
termed a poor response to
their emergency situation.
The SHC, however, has
developed a bridge plan to
satisfy most Oak Islanders.
The public hearing will air
local sentiment regarding the
proposed new bridge, to be
located just to the west of the
existing waterway crossing
and to have a vertical
clearance of 65 feet — high
enough to accommodate
waterway traffic without
having to be opened.
The southern approach to
the bridge would cross the
marshlands south of the
Intracoastal Waterway and
would tie into existing NC 133
again approximately one
tenth of a mile south of state
road 1102 north of the
waterway.
Political Views
Next week’s edition of The State Port Pilot will
include a special section about politics on the
county and district levels. Letters have been
mailed to the candidates, who were told that all
news items and advertisements for the special
section must be in the newspaper office by this
(Thursday) afternoon.
Purpose of the section is to give politicians an
equal chance to present their views, and to give the
public an opportunity to consider what the can
didates have to say before deciding for whom to
vote.
| Growth Noted During
§ NationaL Library Week ^
&
National Library Week was
| . observed Sunday during a
program held at Southport
Brunswick County Public
Library honoring students
| who participated in projects
and displays inspired by this
£ observance.
Rep. Thomas Harrelson
< was speaker and expanded on
the theme for this year —
“Reading Makes The World
Go Round”. “Hie library
holds a special place in our
society,” he said, “because it
is a symbol of our freedom —
freedom from censorship,
intellectual freedom ...
Surely no institution holds
f% greater promise for the
future of American
Democracy and the benefit of
V all citizens.”
The speaker spoke of the
steady, spectacular increase
in the use of library facilities
in Brunswick County, in
cluding the bookmobile.
P.R. Hankins, Brunswick
County chairman for the
National Library Week ob
servance, presided, and
following a musical medley
by the Waccamaw High
School Glee Club, the in
vocation was given by the
Rev. Mr. Glisson. The
welcome was extended by
James Clemmons, vice
president of Friends of the
Library for Brunswick
County.
Mrs. Dorothy Davis in
troduced professional library
personnel and school
librarians were introduced by
Mrs. Edna Gause, supervisor
of Brunswick County school
libraries.
Members of the National
Library Week Committee and
special guests were in
troduced by Mrs. Frances
Stone, assistant county
superintendent of schools,
and this was followed by a
group of choral selections by
the Leland High School Glee
Club. Ralph King, county
superintendent, introduced
the speaker.
After the speech by Rep.
Harrelson, the Southport*
Brunswick County High
School Glee Club sang two
selections.
A progress report on
Friends of the Library was
given by Harold Aldridge,
chairman of the board of
trustees for the library. Mrs.
Martin Nielson presented
awards and gave recognition
for projects in connection
with the Library Week ob
servance.
The following persons were
elected to serve during the
coming year as officers of
Friends of the Library:
president, James Clemmons;
vice-president, Mrs. A.P.
Henry, Jr.; secretary, Mrs.
Martin Nielson; and
treasurer, Mrs. Catherine
Skipper.
The benediction was said
by the Rev. Mr. Glisson,
following which a reception
was held in the council room
of the library. About two
hundred persons attended the
program.
The hearing is to include an
explanation of the proposed
bridge and approaches, right
of-way requirements and
procedures and relocation
advisory assistance. The
hearing will be open for any
statements, questions,
comments or material
pertaining to the proposed
project.
Beach Police
Chief Resigns
Aubrey Hickman has.
resigned as Long Beach chief
of police, according to Town
Manager Jack Hayward.
In a report of a recent town
board meeting, it was noted
that Hickman’s resignation
was effective March 23.
Patrolman Glen Cockram
was named acting police
chief.
In a letter addressed to
Hayward, Chief Hickman
stated that “after much
consideration, it is with
reluctance that I tender iny
resignation as chief of
police.”
Hickman said the decision
was made because he has
interest in some business
enterprises on the beach
which are requiring much of
his time. “It has become
increasingly more difficult to
pur use these interests and, at
the same time, devote to the
Town of Long Beach the time
required in the performance
of my duties,” Hickman
stated.
Cochram was appointed by
Mayor O.G. Coleman.
Festival Floats
Must Be Okayed
Organizations interested in
entering their own float in
this year’s annual Fourth of
July parade should have the
floats completed and ready
for inspection by June 1.
All floats must be approved
by members of the Fourth of
July Float Committee.
Beginning May 1, members
of the Float Committee will
be calling on local businesses
for their order for
professional floats provided
by the Thomas D. Richie
Float Company of Charlotte.
For further information
regarding specifications for
floats, please contact Sally
McDougle (457-6843) or Mary
McHose (457-3731).
lixadna. 7lidto
WfUdS h*'(hu>
mm
fjit
NATIONAL LIBRARY WEEK was observed*
last week, with the local celebration climaxed by
a Sunday afternoon program at Southport
Brunswick County Library. Rep. Thomas
Harrelson was the guest speaker and noted the
tremendous growth the library has enjoyed in
recent years.
A DETOUR of the Fort Caswell Road has been
constructed so that the Carolina Power and Light
Company discharge pipes can be placed un
derneath the roadway. The 15-foot diameter
tubing has arrived at the site, and also is being
laid underneath the Intracoastal Waterway.
Morgan: Democrats Can
Win In General Election
Democrats don’t have to
take a negative approach
towards politics because
their leadership has been
responsible for North
Carolina’s progress since
1900, Attorney General
Robert Morgan told Brun
swick County party faithfuls
during a Friday night rally.
Morgan, who was con
sidered a front-runner for the
Democratic nomination for
governor until he decided to
Wn the attorney general’s
Kirby’s Store
To Be Rebuilt
From ashes of the million
dollar fire that demolished
Shallotte’s Town and Country
Shopping Center on April 11,
will come a large shopping
complex.
Floyd Kirby, Jr., owner of
the building, has already
started construction of a new
supermarket, slated to retain
the name of “Kirby’s Food
City”, on a location near his
former enterprise. Kirby said
the new supermarket will
include 19,800 square feet of
space, and will be located at
the intersection of U.S. High
way 17 and Highway 130.
The new location is located
on a four and one-half acre
lot. The businessman said
that “barring bad weather
and other problems, we hope
to reopen August 1, this year.
“Negotiations” continued
Kirby, “are underway now to
bring in four other businesses
to the new location."
Kirby, a native of Supply,
said the new site will boast
parking facilities for some
300 cars and that the new
supermarket “will possess
the most modern and latest
innovations available.”
Facilities, he added, “with
assets not to be found in any
other market in eastern
North Carolina.”
post, addressed about 100
persons at Jones’ Tranquil
Harbour Restaurant.
“Not until 1900 when the
Democrats took the reins did
we begin to see progress in
North Carolina,” he said,
adding that the state has had
Democratic leadership ever
since.
Morgan noted the ad
vancements in education,
industrial development,
roads and the rehabilitation
of the handicapped among
the accomplishments of his
party.
“We have seen a wise
development of the natural
and economic resources of
the state,” he told local
candidates and other
members of the audience.
Among the candidates
present were Doran Berry,
candidate for the 7th
Congressional District house
seat; State Senate hopefuls
Bobby Sessions of Whiteville
and Arthur Williamson of
Chadbourn; and Com
missioner of Insurance
candidate Russell Secrest.
Local candidates included
Bill Sue, Donald White and
W.T. Bowen, vying for two
available board of education
seats; Durward Clark,
unopposed candidate for
Register of Deeds; and
several candidates for county
commissioner, including
Wayland Vereen, Herman
Strong and Bobby Thorsen of
Southport; W.A. Stanley, Jr.,
of Shallotte; Lonnie McKoy,
Jr., of Northwest and Ernest
McGee of Town Creek.
Plans also were announced
for the Brunswick County
Democratic convention,
scheduled for May 27 at the
Shallotte High School
auditorium.
Morgan, in his Friday night
address, said despite the
strong points of Democratic
administration there are still
thngs that could stand im
provement.
Consumer protection is the
most publicized ac
complishment of Morgan’s
office and he said the purpose
is to represent the average
citizen and “keep the market
as free as we can.”
He also said that his office
is doing everything possible
to reduce the number of
crimes but it isn’t enough. He
emphasized that drugs have
been responsible for the in
crease in law-breaking
because users must have
money to pay for their habit.
Morgan said the
Democrats have a package
they can sell and be elected in
the fall general election.
Motel Resident
Killed In Blaze
A Holden Beach woman
was burned to death early
Friday morning when a fire
swept through her motel
room.
Mrs. Annie Lula Corbett,
52, was found dead inside her
home at the motel. Cause of
the fire was not known.
Lowell Bennett, Brunswick
County coroner, said the body
of Mrs. Corbett was found,
lying across a table.
The fire swept through the
interior of die home, leaving
it gutted.
Bennett said the body had
been removed to Chapel Hill
for an autopsy by the chief
medical examiner to
determine the exact cause of
(Continued On Page Flour)
Campaign
Diary
By MARGARET HARPER
Ten days to go!
Things still are looking good. Last week a poll taken by one of
the gubernatorial candidates showed that I still am in second
place in the race for lieutenant governor. The disturbing thing
about the figures is that it showed more than 50 percent of the
voters still undecided about whom to vote for. This is where you
can help during the next few days. We must convince the un
committed voter that this is the year when we ought to elect a
woman. It sounds better when someone else says it,
if it some of my home county folks.
Last Wednesday was a full day spent in Orange County,
starting with an a 11-male breakfast at Carolina Inn with Orville
Campbell serving as M.C. Later, he took me on a tour of the
business district to meet some of the merchants. Elizabeth
Ellis was principally responsible for plans for the luncheon at
the inn, and afterward I visited “the pit” for a talk with the
students. One of them was our own Kermit Phelps of Southport.
Another contact there was with Dr. Lara Hoggard, who once
was arranger and assistant conductor for the Fred Waring
orchestra. I had met him one summer when he was in charge of
State Music Week when it was held at the Baptist Assembly
That night I attended a meeting of Democratic Women at
Colonial Inn in Hillsborough.
Thursday morning I spent in Durham helping to plans
(Continued On Page Pour)