Sandhills Business Survey
Shows Cautious Optimism
SYCAMORE WINTER — The stark naked beauty of sycamore trees, gleaming
white in the sunlight or moonlight, seems to typify the winter scene more than
anything else. Here are sycamores along East Indiana Avenue in Southern Pines
which never fail to draw attention from visitors and residerits.—(Photo by Glenn
M. Sides).
Break-Ins, Brawl, Hold-Up
Keep Moore Officers Busy
An armed robbery, a brawl,
some minor vandalism and three
break-ins, one involving all the
offices in a Southern Pines
commercial building, plagued
law enforcement officers of
Moore County during the days
preceding and following
Christmas.
j The robbery occurred in the
Haw Branch section in extreme
northeastern Moore County the
Monday afternoon before Christ
mas.
Fred A. Talley and his wife
were on duty in their country
store when a masked man
entered brandishing a rifle. He
said nothing, but made it clear
with his rifle that he wanted
'y money. They surrendered ap
proximately $100 from the cash
register apd Talley’s wallet, and
he left.
The victims said the robber
wore gloves as well as a mask, so
they could not even tell the color
of his skin.
Thieves who broke into a home
in northern Moore County
Sunday and made off with $20,000
in savings bonds may have
trouble reaping any profit from
their crime.
For savings bonds must be
signed by the owner or
beneficiary in the presence of a
witness—which makes them
extremely difficult to cash
illegally.
The toeft occurred between 10
a.m. and noon Sunday at the
THE
PILOT LIGHT
RUTH — Ousted Republican
Coogressman Earl B. Ruth has
put in an application for several
jobs with &e Ford administra-
tioo including the position of
governor of Samoa.
Hie appointive governor of the
Sot^ l^s island of less than
30,000 people carries a salary of
$45 ,000 a year, along with
rent-free occupancy of tiie gov
ernor’s mansion, tree personal
servants, including a cook and a
diauffeur, a large office staff
and a limousine.
Ruth, who was defeated for
reelection by Democrat Bill
Hdbner, said that he had filled out
some forms in applying for the
job. He also admitted that he had
applied for several other posi
tions.
The former coach and dean of
students at Catawba College in
Salisbury is at home for the
holidays, but he is expecting
appointment to a high-salaried
job from his old friend. President
Gerald Ford, whom he first met
when both were in military
training at Chapel Hill.
Samoa signed a treaty of
cession with the United States in
1900 and has had an appointive
governor since that time.
UNEMPLOYMENT — The un
employment figures of 6.6 per-
(Continued on Page 14-A)
home of Robert Reynolds, living
on rural road 1470 northeast of
Robbins. Entry was gained by
forcing a rear door. 'Ihe Moore
County Sheriff’s Department has
the theft under investigation.
The MacKenzie Building at 135
West New Hampshire Ave. was
broken into during the weekend
before Christmas, all the offices
were entered and ransacked and
three of them were robbed.
The offices were left in
something of a mess in the
(Continued on Page 14-A)
Dedication
Of School
Set Jan. 5
Wallace O’Neal Day School
will dedicate its new $850,000
educational building in cere
monies to be held Sunday,
January 5, at 2 p.m. at the school.
Principal speaker will be
Calvin L. Criner, coordinator,
non-public schools, in the North
Carolina Department of Public
Instruction.
Also on the program will be
Edward T. Taws, Jr., chairman
of the school’s Board of Direc
tors; James R. Van Camp,
chaiiman of its Building Com
mittee; Mrs. Wallace O’Neal,
who gave the land on which the
school is located, in memory of
her husband; and Cindy Wallace,
a tenth grade student who will
speak in behalf of the school’s 150
pupils.
(Continued on Page 14-A)
Some uncertainty bu' a
cautious optimism marked nost
of the predictions of Sandiills
business leaders in regard t> the
general economy in 1975.
In a survey of opinion by Ihe
Pilot there was a general feeling
that an upswing will be coning
by summer.
The opinions came on the hiels
of reports by most merchanb in
the Sandhills area that )re-
Christmas sales were “beter
than expected.” All indications
were that for most stores and
shops business was good.
Practically all of those queried
in the survey were of the opinion
that Washington must shift its
emphasis from fitting inflaion
to fighting recession.
As for the Sandhills regbn,
most felt the region would 10*0
better in the months ahead tlan
the nation as a whole. ‘Tm
optimistic as far as the future of
the Sandhills is concerned,”
William Samuels of First Fed;r-
al Savings and Loan Association
said.
Floyd Sayre, executive vice
president of the Sandhills Area of
Commerce, predicted an upturn
in grow^ and said that new
travel trends would work to the
advantage of established resorts
such as exist in this area.
Sayre pointed out that the
Sandhills has had a 16.2 percent
increase in population in the
period from mid-1970 to Jan. 1,
1974. “We have had some
increase in the past year but t
was beginning to level off,” 1m
saidv adding that he expects an
upturn in growth in 1975.
In regard to travel, Sayre said
that surveys show that people
are taking shorter trips and are
deciding beforehand where they
are going. That, he said, is to the
advantage of places Ifte Pine-
hurst and Southern Pines.
“There is a difference between a
‘resort town’ and a ‘tourist’
town,’ ” he noted. Sayre said
some conventions have been
cancelled but that this has been
offset by additional bookings.
Norris Hodgkins, Jr., of First
Union National Bank said,
however, that there is “sonie
evidence of slowdown in this
area,” meaning the resort
business, and he thinks that
much depends on what develops
in the next few months.
Hodgkins said that his bank’s
economist had been predicting a
(Continued on Page 14-A)
Speaker
Secretary James E. Harring
ton Jr., of the Department of
Natural and Economic Re
sources will be the featured
speaker at the annual meeting of
the .Sandhiltis Area Chamber of
Commerce on Jan. 28.
Harrington, who made his
home in the Sandhills from the
age of six weeks until three years
ago, is a former president of
Pinehurst, Inc., and also the
Sandhills Area Chamber of
Commerce.
Durward Grady will serve as
master of ceremonies for the
annual meeting at the Southern
Pines Country Club, which will
start with a reception at 6:30
p.m. followed by dinner at 7:15
p.m. Phil Pearsall is chairman of
the committee in charge of the
meeting, and tickets may be
obtain^ from Chamber direct
ors or at the Chamber office.
New Law On Drinking
To Take Effect Jan. 1
GIFT TO PRESIDENT — Donald C. Collett (right), president of the World Golf
Hall of Fame, presented Pfesident Gerald R. Ford with a special com
memorative photo album of the President’s visit to the $2.5 million shrine last
September. The President dedicated the Hall of Fame and spoke at the first
annual induction ceremonies. Shown with President Ford and Collett is Mrs.
Collett, who accompanied her husband to Washington and a visit to the Oval office
in the White House.
Tar Heel Motorists Facing
Many Traffic Law Changes
BYWESLEFLER
While you are ringing in 1975 at
a New Yaer’s party, law en
forcement officers vrill be ring
ing in a new law that could put
you behind bars before dayUght-
if you are driving a car and
you’ve had too much to drink.
The new “per se” law goes into
effect at the stroke of midnight,
Jan. 1, 1975.
It makes no difference whether
you are an inexperienced drinker
or an alcoholic, a fat man or a
small woman, three beers or a
fifth of bourbon...
If the officer’s Breathalyzer
indicates your blood alcohol
concentration is .10 per cent or
above, you are guilty of breaking
the law “per se” (of itself).
That’s why the law is called the
“per se” law.
Ben Loeb, an attorney and
assistant director of the UNC
Institute of Government in
Chapel Hill, explains the new law
by saying, “It’s not a question of
being drunk or not at .10 per cent
of blood alcohol concentration.
It’s just that you’ve gone over the
legal limit in North Carolina just
as one might break the 55 mph
speed limit.”
Dr. John Ewing, director of the
UNC Center for Alcohol Studies
in Chapel Hill, says the object of
(Continued on Page 14-A)
Ground Hog Open Slated
At Mid Pines OnFeb. 1-2
The First Annual Ground Hog
Open Golf Championship will be
held on Felx'uary 1 and 2 at Mid
Pines and Pinehurst, it was
announced today by Bill Bryant,
chairman of Par Travel Council
of the Sandhills Area Chamber of
Commerce.
“We decided to give the ground
hogs a break,” Bryant says.
“We’ll waive entry fees for any
ground hog teams that want to
compete. Entry fees for people
will be $12 each.”
Proceeds from the tournament
will be used by the Travel
Council in its area-wide
promotion.
According to Bryant a number
of participants in the First An-
nujd Team Championship, held
by the Travel Council last
August, asked for another
similar tournament soon. Ten
tative plans are to schedule
about four such tournaments
annually.
Entry blanks will be available
at all the local pro shops and
(Continued on Page li-A)
Motorists who continue mak
ing right turns on the red light at
intersections controlled by traf
fic signals may find themselves
in trouble starting New Year’s
Day.
For this practice, made legal
by legislative action only last
July 1, is repealed as of January
1. Under that law, motorists
could make right turns on the red
light, except at intersections
where special signs specifically
forbade such turns.
J ackson
Is Given
Senate Job
U.S. Senator Alan Cranston
(D., Calif.) has announced the
appointment of William E. Jack-
son Jr., of West End, former
assistaht professor of political
science at Davidson College, as
his chief legislative assistant for
foreign affairs and military de
fense.
Jackson will advise the Sena
tor on legislative matters related
to the Senate Committees on
Foreign Relations, Armed Ser
vices, and Aeronautical and
Space Sciences, on which the
Senator serves.
Cranston, a second-term Sena
tor who was re-elected last
month by the largest margin
ever received by a U.S. Senate
(Continued on Page 14-A)
What makes this situation
troublesome to law enforcement
officers is that the legislature is
expected to again legalize such
turns shortly after it convenes
January 15. But until the legis
lature acts, such turns are
illegal, and violators can be
given traffic tickets.
Actually, law enforcement
officers are expected to be
lenient to motorists caught
making the illegal turns. The
(Continued on Page 14-A)
Vass Man, 44, is Killed
When Car Runs Off Road
Robert Edward Evans, 44, of
Vass, a Civil Service employe at
Fort Bragg, was killed Tuesday
afternoon on the Lobelia Road,
about six miles east of Vass,
when his car went off the road
and overturned.
He was returning home from
the post earUer than usual,
because of the Christmas holi
day, when the accident occurred
about 2:30 p.m.
State Trooper Donald Baxley,
investigating with Trooper C.A.
Todd, said the car went off on the
right, slid broadside for a dis
tance along the shoulder, then
went off on the left, and hit some
deep ruts made by erosion. This
apparently caused the car to flip
over, Evans was thrown out and
it landed on top of him.
The Vass Rescue Squad took
(Continued on Page 14-A)
Moore County Hounds Set
Hunter Pace Next Sunday
What
BY VALERIE NICHOLSON
JANUARY
Federal grant of $607,500
approved for Phases 1 and 2 of
Moore County’s regional waste-
water treatment project 201
Planning Area...Gas shortage
felt all over-most stations closed
during holiday week or selling to
regular customers only...Local
merchants report record Christ
mas sales, as gas crunch kept
most shoppers close to home.
Moore County schools adjust to
daylight saving without incident,
though opening school in the dark
b^gs some parent protests...
County school bus system nlnked
third in state for oujrUll
^iciency, economy of opezKtion
...Amtrak reports 700 passe Bars
boarding or departing traflNt
Southern Pines station during
December...Local gas distribu
tors, Chamber of Commerce
cooperate in effort to get more
gas for Sandhills.
Pinehurst holds first demo
cratic election, voting in a nine-
member council from field of
29...Aberdeen town board in split
vote authorizes Sunday sale of
beer and wine, sparking con
troversy...Carthage gets 2,000-
gallon gas storage tank, solving
immediate town emergency.
New Pinehurst Village Council
swo-Ti in; Billy G. McKenzie,
who led in the election, named
chairman...Southern Pines Pilot
wins five awards at N.C. Press
Institute...Bryan W. Smith, Pine
hurst race track employe.
stabbed to death in Taylortown;
Tony “Busy Bee” Ross charged
with murder...Robert Earl
“Yogi” Phillips of Aberdeen Rt.
1 charged in murder of two men
in Marlboro County, S.C.
William P. Saunders an
nounces retirement from State
Senate at end of current legis
lative year...Canine “execution
ground” strewn with remains of
42 dogs found on Pine Lake
shooting preserve...Moore
County News to go semi
weekly...Ground-brea^g held
for $828,000 building at Wallace
O’Neal Day School.
FEBRUARY
County commissioners table
revised subdivision or^tiance
following protests at Bublic
hearing...Sheriff C.G. Wimberly
announces for reelection, will be
opposed by June Cockman in
Democratic primary...Jack My-
rick, well Imown dog trainer,
arrested in dog-killing case,
charged with failing to bury
animals within 24 hours after
death...Hyland Hills completes
transformation to motor lodge,
golf course and restaurant
complex on and near site of
former Whispering Pines rest
aurant and lodges.
Katharine Boyd, widow of
poet-novelist James Boyd, com
munity benefactor, former editor
and publisher of The Pilot,
passes February 8 at Weymouth
Estate, Her Southern Pines
home; memorial reception held
there brings hundreds of friends
to honor her...Lew G. Brown
employed as Southern Pines
town nuuiager, effective March
1...Crowd protests new Sunday
beer and wine sale ordinance at
Aberdeen town board meeting...
County commissioners propose
oddreven number system to
equitable gas allocation, ask
citizen cooperation.
Weymouth, the James Boyd
estate, left in trust by Mrs. Boyd
for benefit of Sandhills Com
munity College...Compliance
with gas allocation proposal seen
as spotty-lines con«““* m
fit scrvic^^ ai«fcioiis».»L)6Spit0 ^ss
shortage. Foxfire Golf and
Country Club reports increase in
convention business.
Stephen Paul Bridges, 23, dies
of heart attack on basket!^
court in town park...Starting
school construction program
made possible by passage of
statewide bond issue, plus local
funds, coimty board of education
approves plans for Union Pines
classroom annex, accepts bids
on athletic facilities at Pine-
crest...Filing deadline finds 28
candidates for office, with
primary contists for sheriff,
House of Representatives,
county commissioner, also State
Senate (in district vote)...Frank
sivaim nuui^d new Pinebluff
police chief,'following resigna
tion of Glen,' T. Wilson to join
I^ehurst security force...Rob
bins Record opinion poll shows
Members of the Moore County
Hounds will hold a hunter pace
event at 1 p.m. Sunday, January
5.
The “ideal time” event will be
held over a flagged course of
about three and a half miles and
over approximately 30 fences in
the hunt country.
Contestants will ride m pairs,
starting and finishing in Lang
field, located on Youngs Road
general belief gas shortage is a
government fraud.
MARCH
County commissioners discuss
need for additional courtroom,
see possible use of Moore County
rescue squad building (now
owned by county) as temporary
solution...Ribbon cut for opening
of Center Park Shopping Center
on US 15-501 near US 1...Streak
ers run at Sandhills Community
College...Fore rt fires bum 98
acres at Lakeview-one of sev
er^ forest fires in county during
dry spell.
Robert Gary Bock, Jr., 21-
year-old Fort Bragg soldier,
goes to Death Row in conviction
in Moore coiurt of the stabbing
death of a Fayetteville woman;
two and a half miles fnm
Southern Pines. An average of
the finishing times will be taken,
and the pair of contestants riding
the course in a time closest to the
average will be declared the
winners.
The event is open to any
interested rider, and riders from
fox hunts in eastern North and
South Carolina will be invited.
' (Continued on Page 14-A)
appeal taken...Southern Pines
town council argues zoning
question in connection with
Duncraig Manor, group home for
disturbed children in Weymouth
area; Councilman McLaughlin,
irked at a voting decision of
Mayor Hubbard, stamps out in a
huff...Presentation made l»fore
Southern Pines town council of a
third version of local traffic and
parking plan...Republicans take
over county election machinery;
C.C. Thompson is new elections
board chairman, succeeding
A.M. Brewer.
State contract awarded for
diorama at Weymouth Woods
Nature Museum...Village Green,
unique retirement community
(Continued on Page 8-A)