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Our Town
i confused about
: Jeach, but certain
\ uthport — Page 2
n<*> cr^ *
aighbors
thing hot about
vas the chili, as
1 the area — IB
Yelton
may sue
county
Former manager
prefers settlement
By Terry Pope
County Editor
Former county manager Wyman
Yelton says the Brunswick County
Board of Commissioners violated
federal law aimed at protecting work
ers with physical disabilities when he
was fired from his job last year. »■
YELTON
His attorney,
W. Harrell
Everett Jr. of
Goldsboro,
plans to file a
lawsuit in U. S.
District Court
this week
against the
county in hopes
to negotiate a
settlement to re
ward Yelton
back pay plus a job in county gov
ernment.
“All they’ve done so far is delayed
this,” said Yelton on Monday. “I think
the public needs to know. But I’ve
tried. I’m embarrassed to be doing
this, to have to file a lawsuit against
the county.”
Yelton was severely injured in a car
accident April 3, 1994, in which his
wife was killed. He was hospitalized
and out of work for five months be
fore returning in September, 1994, but
with physical impairments that re
quired daily therapy in the mornings
at Dosher Memorial Hospital. It was
a schedule that commissioners cited
in their vote to fire him last March.
Commissioners Jerry Jones, Leslie
Collier, Doug Simmons and Bill Sue
led the 4-1 vote to fire Yelton. Dis
trict 4 commissioner Tom Rabon Sr.
voted no.
Everett will argue that the federal
Americans with Disabilities Act of
1990 (ADA) protected Yelton, 59,
from losing his job when he was mak
ing an effort to cope. He was unable
to perform his duties at the same pace
but worked long hours to compensate
for arriving late from morning therapy
sessions.
The accident left him with limited
movement in his right hand and arm.
He has also undergone an artificial
socket implant in his shoulder.
Commissioners asked Yelton to re
sign due to a “lack of leadership and
direction” in county administration,
but when Yelton refused he was fired.
In a letter to commissioners just days
before the firing, Everett warned the
board that as a handicapped person
resulting from injuries in an accident
while employed by the county, both
See Yelton, page 11
Passersby at the Sacred Heart Catholic church
yard on Monday morning were reminded of
Sunday’s Easter celebration, the most important
Photo by Jim Harper
event in the Christian calendar, and of a world just
ready to burst into full springtime bloom.
The 'War on Drugs'
Government
on losing end,
says DEA agent
By Holly Edwards
Feature Editor
Looking back on the major stings
and near-death experiences of 24
years in federal drug law enforce
ment, Michael Grimes cannot explain
why he has repeatedly risked his life
and is pessimistic about prospects of
the U. S. government’s “war on
drugs.”
“No, we won’t win the war on
drugs because the federal drug effort
is in my opinion a shambles,” de
clared Grimes, agent in charge of the
DEAoffice in Wilmington. “It’s cha
otic, it’s a free-for-all, it’s a shambles
and it’s a disgrace.”
No less than 42 federal agencies
currently are involved in drug law
enforcement investigations, he said,
ranging from all branches of the mili
tary to the Department of Agriculture
Although the U. S. Attorney General
has mandated that all agencies work
together, Grimes said, most agencies
work independently and do not share
information.
Individual agencies and individual
agents seeking self-glorification com
pound the problem, he added.
“We could put a stranglehold on
drug dealers, but that's not going to
happen because there’s no central in
dices of information," Grimes said.
“The price of drugs has dropped and
the supply is going up because we
See Drugs, page 9
I
Growing
pains
County must deal
with its future now
By Terry Pope
County Editor
Dealing with projected growth over the next 20 years will be a task
mostly assigned the county planning department.
The Brunswick County Board of Commissioners divvied up roles last
week to implement a list of 16 recommendations drafted earlier this year
by a long-range planning committee. The list suggests how the county
should handle its expected population boom.
Planning director Wade Horne said at least seven of the recommenda
tions presented in February fall under a comprehensive plan his depart
ment is drafting. Other topics were assigned the county school superin
tendent, community college leaders, economic development staff and
engineering office to guide.
“What I’m looking at with a comprehensive plan is to cover every as
pect of the county,” said Horne. “I’ll be looking at not just other depart
ments in this (government) complex, but I’ll involve the county and other
See Growing, page 10
End-of-zrade
Test scores up,
but gap widens
By Holly Edwards
Feature Editor
Student performance in Brunswick
County during the 1994-95 school
year improved in some areas but de
clined in others, and continued to fall
short of average student performance
statewide, results of the annual assess
ment report indicate.
“Even though we’ve gained a little
bit, everybody else is gaining at a
greater pace than we are," said Glenda
Browning, vice-chairman of the
county board of education. “My bone
of contention is we still have the same
areas of weaknesses we' ve had for the
past three years.”
The annual assessment report is
See Scores, page 11
STUDENT PROFICIENCY
i Set builders on the “Morning Glory” crew build me
riians to be wheeled into place in downtown Southport
streets to provide a small-town atmosphere.
’Glory’ begins filming here
Moore Street is central location
By Holly Edwards
Feature Editor
The CBS television movie “Morning Glory" will 'c filmed in
Southport now through April 20.
Described as a lighthearted comedy, the movie will -trir TV per
sonalities Joanna Kerns of “Growing Pains,” Ann IGnisey of the
“Mad About You” series and Tom Amandas, and will mil the story
of a reporter who comes to a sleepy town and tries to s ope with the
change of pace.
Moore Street shops were transformed Tuesday 1 preparation
for filming.
Filming was conducted today (Wednesday) at I: nAlin Square
Gallery and on Moore Street. Moore Street w ill be - '■ed to traf
fic between Howe and Davis streets this evening > i two condor
lifts with lights will be moved in for filming of a ' 11 scene in
side the Crow’s Nest.
Filming will continue at the same location Thni'd.iy morning
and a portion of Moore Street will again be closed to traffic until
11 p.m.
Filming also will be conducted Thursday at Franklin Square
Gallery from 3:30 to 7:30 p.m.
On Friday, film crews will move to the interior of the Callari
residence on Fast Bay Street and traffic may be held up intermit
tently while sound recordings are comoleted.
A funeral scene will be filmed at the Old Smithville Burial
Ground on Saturday between 0:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Interior film
ing at the Callari residence also will be conducted Saturday until 9
p.m.
A portion of Atlantic Avenue will be closed Monday from 7:30
a.m. to 1 p.m. while film crews work at the Eagle residence, and
traffic may again be held up on Bay Street as filming continues at
the Callari residence on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday of next
On Friday, filming will be conducted at K.&M Fuel Sales on
See Filming, page 11
Forecast
Warmer weather is moving into
the area and we can expect to see
temperatures in the-70's for the pe
riod Thursday-Saturday.
INSIDE
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Church ..•*«..» SB
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District Court .. 7C
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