/;>6-l9l6 ■e mmm THE STATE PORT PILOT Volume 47 Number 22 December 17, 1975 Southport, N. C. 24 Pages 10 Cents M H V * FIRST GRADE STUDENTS of Miss Janet Hobbs at Southport Primary School have bought and decorated a live Christmas tree that will be planted on the school grounds. According to a class spokesman, the custom of decorating a live, community Christmas tree came before the custom of bringing trees into the home, and became a symbol of sharing. Dog Control Ordinance Draws JVlixed Response By ED HARDER News Editor The old dog in the street that never bothered anybody is a thing of the past, claim Southport residents in favor of canine control, but he will play an important role in the type of ordinance enacted by the Board of Aldermen. The “old dog” tradition was noted throughout the public hearing on the proposed dog control or dinance, held by the Board of Aldermen prior to its regular meeting Thursday night. “A dog on a leash, that ain’t right,” protested Worth Ward. “I can’t see having the dogs off the streets.” The proposed ordinance was prepared by City Attorney E.J. Prevatte, who " ■ * * •• r>, :■ ■ ' * i referred to the provisions as “dog control” rather than a “leash law.” “Maybe we’re getting too big,” commented Rev. Earl Richardson, who retold the story of the man coming to town, finding the legendary Pot Licker lying under the stoplight and declaring this was the place for him to settle. The first speaker was “very pro” the control or diance. Bob Midyette, who operates a downtown san dwich shop, said he hangs trash cans from his “garbage tree” and even that doesn’t solve the problem of over turned and scattered refuse. “It is needed for the public welfare,” he said. But Jerry Dilsaver disagreed. He said he was against the ordinance, but was against vicious dogs, too. “There are good dogs and bad dogs," he said. His is a good dog. “The leash law breaks the dog’s spirit,” noted Dilsaver, who said he moved back to Southport because there was no leash law. Mrs. Cecelia Franck said there was a need for the ordinance; Mrs. Margaret Connaughton said the or dinance was “the appropriate thing for the preservation and beautification of the town,” going on record for the Woodbine Garden Club. “I don’t believe we need one,” said Bobby Thorsen. “We need one for the protection of the children,” responded a man. Skippy Stiller, who reported he had Maintainance Of Roads By County Questioned A question of “legality” was raised about the county going into the road main tenance business during the bi - monthly meeting of the Brunswick County Board of Commissioners Monday at the Hood Building. County Planner Johnny Sutton said that Institute of Government officials told him the county has no authority to maintain dirt - neighborhood roads. “They said the county has no authority to maintain roads unless it comes from the laws,” Sutton stated. “They said it was a far stretch of the imagination to say that the county can maintain roads.” County Attorney James Prevatte said he agreed with Sutton since the laws place public roads under the state. “The county shall not levy taxes to maintain roads,” he stated. But Prevatte said that attorney Gene Smith of the Attorney General’s staff told him for Brunswick County to go ahead and do it. “If we do, lax money should not be used,” the county attorney added. Secondary Road Com missioner Jackie Murdock of the Department of Tran sportation does not like counties to try to maintain roads “because of the legal ramifications,” Prevatte reported. But he said Mur dock said he would be “glad to help us” with the problem. After more discussion, Prevatte was asked to do more legal research and report back to the board. County Manager Don Flowers, Jr., was asked to arrange a meeting with Murdock and District Engineer Ted Funderburk in Raleigh or in the county to discuss the matter. The county is considering obtaining a small motor grader to maintain “neigh borhood” dirt roads. Sutton reported that he and Shoreline Protection Officer James Gordon went to Raleigh, but were unable to find a surplus motor grader. He said they were told that (Continued on page 2) Student Vacation Christmas vacation for Brunswick County school children will begin at the close of the school day Friday and will last through January 4, according to School Supt. Ralph C. King. The Board of Education office will be closed December 24 , 25 and 26 and January 1. Maintenance and Garage departments will be closed December 22 through 26 and January l. School principals can be reached at their respective schools through December 23. lost a dog to poison, said he would erect a fence and control his dog if the or dinance was approved. Member Mary McHose said she “loved the protection” of her dog lying on her front porch. “What is ‘under control’?” Rev. Richardson asked. He was told by Prevatte that “at large” means off the premises of the owner and not under the owner’s control, but not necessarily on a leash. Mayor Eugene Tomlinson said he did not think any "reasonable in terpretation” would prevent the house - to - house movement of neighborhood dogs. “That’s not what the or dinance says,” protested Member Conley Koontz. “We have to enforce it to the letter of the law.” He said he recognized the dog problem (two broke into a cage and killed his pet rabbit, he reported), but “I don’t think the answer is a leash law.” He suggested the city strengthen the dog ordinance it now has. “If we enforced what we have, it would eliminate 85 percent of the problem we have,” he told board mem bers and about 20 spectators. Member Pierce Horne said the city has an ordinance against “pack dogs,” and he said he felt the problem was lack of personnel to enforce the ordinance. He suggested a dog warden might be the answer. Koontz, who noted that the pet rabbit “could have been a child,” said he wanted to leave the responsibility for controlling dogs with the people because big gover nment is taking away in dividual rights. Midyette said that system would be based on identifying the owner of the problem dog, which he “can’t to this day” do. He said he has tried numerous methods of control, ' including pouring ammonia ' in the cans to discourage the • dogs. It doesn’t work, he said. “What you’re proposing has 1 merits,” he told Koontz, “but it won’t work.” Horne said the proposed 1 law would not prevent the 1 overturned and scattered 1 trash but Midyette insisted it 1 (Continued on page 2) Post Office May Issue f Food Stamps In County By Bll,l, ALLKN Staff Writer The Brunswick County Department of Social Ser vices is working on a plan to have post offices issue food stamps. The announcement was made by Joel Webb, who recently has been named director of the department, during a meeting of the county commissioners Monday. Webb said be believes the plan to have post offices distribute food stamps can be worked out although it is “on a hold status” at the present time because of questions asked by district postal of ficials. It is hoped the program can start February 1. Under the plan, county recipients would be able to purchase food stamps at post offices in Southport, Leland, Shallotte, Bolivia and Ash “as a minimum” rather than having to come to the department office in South port once a month. However, residents who are eligible for food stamps will still have to visit the department main office in Southport the first time to be certified. Webb told Commissioners Ira Butler, Jr., and Willie Sloan that the department can certify a person “in one day to receive food stamps if it is an emergency.” Webb told the board that a review of the department administration budget shows a surplus of $15,900 in non - matchable county fund allocations. Foster care, he pointed out, is in the budget twice, once at the requested $16,300 and the second time at $15,000. Family planning was placed at $1,800 in the budget, when it should have beer. $900. The director presented the board with a revised department budget, which transferred the $15,900 surplus to other items and matches it with state and federal dollars. The revised budget was unanimously approved. “This county money is thereby utilized to hire desperately - needed staff for the new Title 20 program, to allow the agency to move into the upper floor of the present building, to allow for post office issuance of food stamps, to purchase badly - needed capital equipment and to pay the salaries of the already - hired child support enforcement workers,” Webb explained. Under the revised budget, the county share of ad ministrative cost will be $88,369 or $14,385 more than the present share of $73,984. ‘‘This increase in the county share is more than offset by the surplus allocation of $15,900,” Webb pointed out. “In effect, no additional county money will be required this year to make the changes.” The director said the board should keep in mind that the new position and food stamp issuance costs will need to be continued in the 1976-77 budget. “I estimate that if this transfer is approved and the budget is continued at about the same level next year, the county share for administrative expenses in 1976 - 77 will grow to about $90,000,” he pointed out. Regardless of the action taken, Webb said he expected that “the increase will be necessary anyway” because of statewide staffing stan dards, the expansion of Title 20 services and the threat of Pilot Prints Early The State Port Pilot will be published early next week — on Monday — because of the Christmas holiday. Deadline for advertising and news copy will be noon on Saturday. “We are publishing early for two reasons,” said News Editor Ed Harper: “First, we believe our readers should be able to use grocery, general merchandise and other ads prior to Christmas next Thursday. Second, the holiday schedule of our printer makes it necessary to publish as early as possible in the week.” charge - backs in the medical assistance program. “If the Title IV-D, child support enforcement program begins to pay for itself as it’s supposed to dp, and if charge - backs are reduced substantially by increased staff training and efficiency, the total overall budget in 1976 - 77, including AFDC, medical assistance, etc., can be held close to the 1975 - 76 levels,” he stated. “By utilizing the surplus allocation now, we will be making immediate definite improvements that will more than likely be required next year anyway.” Webb said he wanted to create four new positions in the department with part of the surplus. The new positions include an ad ministrative assistant and secretary and two Title 20 workers. He said the department is paying $400 a month to rent the first floor of the Harrelson Building in Southport. He said it will cost an additional $200 a month to rent the second floor. Commissioner Franky Thomas said he had been informed that the department could rent the entire building for $500 a month. Webb said he would check on it. Webb said post office (Continued on page 2) County Planning Effort Receives Pat On Back Brunswick County’s Coastal Area Management Act plan is “unquestionably the most comprehensive and professionally done plan” submitted thus far. That was the reaction of an official of the Department of Natural and Economic Resources, County Planner Johnny Sutton told Brun swick County commissioners Monday. The DNER official said he knew that there was some initial disappointment that the Brunswick County preliminary plan did not reach the Coastal Resources Commission in time for the first review. “However, my initial review of the plan indicates that the wait was well Gilbert Fills Coroner Post By BILL ALLEN Staff Writer A Southport funeral home operator has been appointed coroner of Brunswick County. Thomas E. (Tommy) Gilbert, IV, was selected to serve as the Brunswick County coroner during a meeting of the county commissioners Monday afternoon. He was unanimously selected after the board spent t6 minutes in closed executive session in terviewing five candidates, including two women, for the post. Gilbert will fill a vacancy that has exfsted since veteran Coroner Lowell Bennett of shallotte resigned earlier this ('ear. A Democrat, he will have to run in the 1976 election to fill the remaining two years of Bennett’s term. Gilbert or his assistant will 50 to the scene of all deaths in he county. He will serve as he “leg - man” for Dr. -andis Brown, who is the :ounty medical examiner. Gilbert said that he will TOMMY GILBERT appoint an assistant coroner to help him perform the duties of the office. He said he hoped to appoint his assistant next week. Commissioners expressed the hope that the appointment of a coroner, who will go to the scene of all deaths, will resolve the conflicts that have developed between Dr. Brown and Sheriff Herman Strong and some of the rescue squads since the medical examiner system was put into effect after Bennett retired. County Manager Don Flowers, Jr., said both Dr. Brown and Sheriff Strong agreed during joint meetings that the appointment of a coroner was the best way to solve the problems that have developed. He said guidelines have been developed to spell out the duties of the coroner and medical examiner. Mrs. Mavis Freeman of Shallotte told the board that the county was taking a “step backwards’’ by appointing a coroner since the state recommends a medical ( examiner. Gilbert, who will be paid $25 per case plus mileage, is an owner of Gilbert’s Funeral Home in Southport. He has been in the funeral home business the past two years. Gilbert graduated from Miami - Dade Junior College in Florida in 1973 with an associate degree in mortuary (Continued on page 2) justified,” the DNER representative told other state officials in the letter. “Of all of the plans I reviewed, I feel that Brun swick County’s is unquestionably the most comprehensive and professionally done plan so far,” he declared. “It ft apparent that the Brunswick County Planning staff has taken that extra step to comply with the letter and spirit of the Coastal Area Management Act. ” He said that he felt that both the Brunswick County Planning Department staff and Ed Gore, chairman of the Brunswick County Planning Board, ‘‘should be com mended for their efforts during a particularly trying period of the Coastal Are# •> Management Act program/tV Sutton read the letter t