Floyd McKissick Speaker As 161 Get Diplomas At JGHS Floyd B. McKiasick, founder and director of Soul City, gave the 161 graduates of John Graham High School an exhilarating speech during commencement exercises on Friday night. McKissick's speech was in terms familiar to the students and often laughter erupted with applause interrupting the speech at certain points. He told the graduates that there are six principles of success and he elaborated on each principle. McKissick noted that the first principle was to be grateful, to learn to day thank you. He told graduates to be thankful for their home life, their family and the school. His second principle was to "determine to do your best." He wittingly said that whether a goal is shoe shine boy or executive that if the best is obtained, success will j be achieved. i He also noted to have no time to hate. He said, "The < more you give out, the more f you can find." He challenged the seniors to hate no man or anything. McKissick also said that now was the time that the graduates would have to learn to make their decisions. He told them that parents or the school could not make them any more. He reminded the graduates that now "you are the master of your fate." Giving illustrations, McKissick said that "no man is ever successful without the grace of God." He confessed not to be a preacher, but his address was presented as well as any preacher. And finally, he told the students to have the capacity to dream "because ireaming is planning." He idvised them to dream what hey wanted of their lives six ^ears from now or longer. Using the principles in the iddress, the graduates may ibtain success, he noted. The Rev. Kenneth Howard if Macon Baptist Church :ave the invocation. Ricky O'Neal, salutatorian, pre* sented the class welcome. The John Graham Chorus, under the drection of Mrs. Glendora Powell, sang "The Lord's Prayer." Following McKissick's address, Miss Barbara Ann Pullen gave the valedictorian address. Samuel Merritt, assistant principal, presented awards totalling over $15,500 in scholarships to 14 seniors. Up to $1400 will also go to 26 other seniors for loans, scholarships or work plans at colleges, it was announced. Dr. L. B. Henderson, member of the school board, presented the diplomas to the graduates. Miss Elaine Tunstall, senior class president, presented a new public address system to the school on behalf of the Class of 1977. She also gave the benediction. The chorus sang "The Impossible Dream" and the audience joined the seniors for the Alma Mater before the recessional. Hawking Alumni and Friends, Inc., awarded three college scholarships to graduates of John Graham High in the amount of $600.00 each. Awarded the scholarships were, Barbara Pullen, [left] Mary Lou Cheek and Edna Elaine Tunstall. The local civic group awarded a total of $2,000.00 in college scholarships to four graduating seniors attending school in Warren County. Brenda Clarke Named »»• -- - -•> .-/. v c " • * - ♦«* »* *# <* Art Commission Head Brenda Clarke was elected president of the Warrenton Arts Commission Thursday night after directors of the two-year-old organization voted to restructure the commission. Ms. Clarke, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. R. B. Butler of Warrenton, will direct activities of the Arts Commission during the 1977-78 fiscal year which begins July 1. Other officers elected were Nannette Henderson, first vice president; Mike Williams, second vice president; Clarice Green, secretary; Howard Jones, treasurer; Delores Rose, historian; Cora Hawkins, publicity chairman; and Fair Mitchell, scrapbook chairman. Members of the Arts Commission voted to drop the 18-member board in favor of an eight-member executive committee, and to launch a membership drive to raise funds. In addition to state matching money, the commission operates on a $1,500 appropriation from NOTICE The Budget for the Town of Warrenton has been submitted to the Town Board and is available for public inspection in 1 the Town Manager's Office, located at the corner of Market and Bragg Streets with office hours from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. A public Hearing will be held on June 27, 1977 at 8:00 p.m. at the Town Hall. Any person who wishes to be heard on the budget may appear at this time. the Town of Warrenton and a $1,000 appropriation from Warren County. The commission received a report from Susan Simmons, artist in residence who has resigned affective July 29, on plans for summer art classes locally. Since the commission voted to adopt a quarterly meeting schedule, Thursday night marked Ms. Simmons' last official meeting with board members. Ruritans Outline Tournament Plans The Afton-Elberon Ruritan Club will sponsor a softball tournament June 17, 18 and 19 at the Warren County Track and Field just off 401 south of Warrenton at Afton. The tournament will begin Friday night at 7, continue all day on Saturday and begin at 1 p. m. on Sunday. Health Agency To Hold Public Meet The Capital Health Systems Agency will hold a public meeting in the Superior Courtroom of the Vance County Courthouse at 7:30 p. m. on June 21 to obtain comment on four competing nursing home proposals for Region K. Region K, composed of Granville, Vance, Warren, Franklin and Person counties, has a total of 121 nursing home beds remaining in the N. C. State Plan for allocation. The four proposals submitted were by E. C. Powell, Jesse Martin and Louise Parham of Warren County and Granville Care Corporation of Granville County. The proposals are for a total of 390 beds. The Capital Health Systems Agency in the draft of its Health Systems Plan has made a recommendation for 270 additional beds in Region K. The Project Review Committee of the Agency will be dealing with the issue of the difference in numbers of beds as well as with the competitive proposals at its meeting on June 27, to be held in the Agency's office at 501 Willard Street in Durham. Citizens of Warren and Granville Counties are urged to attend the public meeting on June 21 to express their views on the need for nursing home beds in their county. Miss Palmer Wins $500 Scholarship Miss Danylu Palmer of Norlina High school was presented at the Alumni Banquet of Louisburg Junior College recently as a recipient of the Book of Remembrance Scholarship for the school year, 1977-78. The scholarship is in the amount of $500. She was also awarded the Valedictory and Merit Scholarships given by that institution for outstanding scholastic achievement throughout high school. Miss Palmer U the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. R. Palmer of Norlina. DIPLOMA PRESENTATION—Annette Jones of Warrenton receives her high school diploma from Dr. L. B. Henderson, a member of the Warren County Board of Education, at the commencement exercises held at John Graham Friday night. She was one of 111 graduates of John Graham High School to receive the "sheepskin. A total 302 seniors in the public school system were awarded diplomas in graduations at Norlina and Warrenton. [Staff Photo by Don Stith] Health Program To Be Held The need to prepare for parenthood will be the message of an educational outreach program of the Warren County Health Department next Wednesday, June 22, at 7:30 p.m. at the Bible School To Be At Warren Plains The Warren Plains Baptist Church will hold their annual Vacation Bible School, June 20-24, from 7 to 9 p. m. Classes will include nursery through youth. The youth will have special sessions called "Rap Session" at same time as other classes. The commencement program will be held at the Sunday morning worship service, June 26. All are invited to come to this and bring your children each night during the week, Mrs. Sue King, principal of Vacation Bible School, announced. Ridgeway Volunteer Fire Department building on Highway 1 in Ridgeway. The program will include a film and presentations on nutrition, nursing care and health services for mothers and infants. "The most important health resource is a well informed individual," said Dennis Retzlaff, health educator at the Department. "The Ridgeway meeting is intended to give people some basic information to help families properly pre pare for pregnancy and birth." Mrs. Ruth Bugg, Health Department home economist, and Mrs. Marinda Earp, public health nurse, are coordinators of the program which is designed to help not only mothers-to-be but also fathers and other relatives be better equipped for responsible family care and planning. Similar meetings are planned for other areas in the county during the summer. Social Security Hike To Be Felt Next Month By MARIE BRUBAKER Field Representative A cost-of-living increast in monthly Social Securit) benefits will be included in checks delivered on July 1, according to John Peraza, Social Security Branch Manager in Henderson. The increase will amount to 5.9 percent for most people getting Social Security payments. The automatic cost-of-living provision was added to the Social Security Law in 1972. "People getting Social Security checks don't have to do anything to get the higher payments," Peraza said. "The increase will be added automatically." The increase is based on the rise in consumer prices from the first three months of 1976 to the first three months of 1977. With the cost-of-living increase, average Social Security retirement payments to retired workers will go from $221 to $234 a month. Average Social Security disability payments to disabled workers will go from $248 to $262 a month. Average Social Security survivors payments to widowed mothers or fathers with two children in their care will go from $517 to $547 a month. r. Social Security pi monthly benefits to over million people. The p ments are funded by Soc Security contributions fr employees, employers, i self-employed people. Employees and empl ers contribute 5.85 perci each of the first $16,500 yearly earnings from )< covered by Social Securi Self-employed people conl bute 7.9 percent. "Tin figures remain unchanged Peraza said. Social Security checks i usually delivered on the I of the month. When the i falls on Saturday or Sundi the checks are delivered I preceding Friday. July 3 on a Sunday this year, a the checks will be delivei Friday, July 1. The Social Security > ministration is an agency the U. S. Department Health, Education and W fare. Resident Given Rutgers Degree Linda Ann Johnson of ] 1, Norlina was one of thr North Carolinians receivi diplomas from Rutge during recent comment ment exercises at N< Jersey's state university.