26, 1978 ^ are on en, the le, with n topas quartz agthey IS ine up the inerals id is by > other Index Book Page, 2-B; Church Calendar, 3- B; Classified Ads, 10-15-C; Editorials, 1-B; Entertainment, 6-8-C; Obituaries, 7-A; Pinehurst News, 1-4-C; Sandhills Scene, 2-6-A; Sports, Ift-ll-A. Uiqhtalll ^ndoi' lorcond picrbe ik bp Glen don loqe Pll Jack' Pin&lu /''^nes Alje'Uz.en Vol. S8, Number 40 Pages Southern Pines, North Carolina 28387 LOT Tourism finds business travel and conventions becoming more important. See Page 10-B. Wednesday, August 2, 1978 60 Pages PRICE 15 CENTS / ) 0 C>-’ i- 0 \ ,3 Moore Below Average In NC School Tests 0 iPc. i^r: \ ■19- tobacco SALES OPEN — Prices were considerably higher on opening day auction sales Tuesday at Carthage over the 1977 opening, with an average of $122.40 per hundred pounds recorded for tobacco offerings. A total of 273,668 pounds were sold Tuesday at Carthage. Opening day sales begin today Aberdeen.—(Photo by Glenn M. Sides). at Opening Tobacco Sales Is $122; Quality Much Better Than In ’77 BY ELLEN WELLES The 1978 Tobacco Season opened Tuesday at four warehouses in Carthage with prices averaging $122.40 per hundred pounds on gross sales totalling $335,064.43 and a total of 273,668 poun^ sold. Growers were pleased at the big jump from last year’s for 40 years.” opening day average of $79.89 per hundrfid£ According fff FFaflk Bryant of the Farmer’s Cooperative Warehouse where sales began at 9 a.m., “This was the best and cleanest opening sale I’ve seen, and I’ve been working tobacco Sales opened this morning on the Aberdeen market with the New Aberdeen Warehouse prices ranging from a high of $1.55 to 90 cents per pound. Liquor Hearing Aug. 9; Some Issues Advanced Major questions in regard to regulations on the sale of mixed beverages were announced this week on the eve of a public hearing in Southern Pines. The date for the hearing has been changed from Tuesday, Aug. 8, to Wednesday, Aug. 9. Two sessions-at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.-will be held in the Town Council chamber at the Southern Pines Municipal Building. Former Governor James E. Holshouser, Jr., said that a switch in the hearing dates was made between Southern Pines and Wilmington because of a conflict with the Southern Pines Town Council’s regular meeting on Tuesday night. Holshouser emphasized that all citizens, including consumers, potential sellers, local ABC officials, enforcement agencies, liquor industry representatives, are invited to attend the hearing and offer comment. Holshouser was appointed by Governor Jim Hunt as chairman of a special conunittee to conduct the hearings and make (Continued on Page 14*A) It was estimated the three warehouses in Aberdeen would sell 250,000 pounds today at an average of $123 per hundred. The second sale was held at Planter’s Warehouse and the third was set for Galimore and Lambeth. At press time this morning, the high at Planter’s was $1.55 also. Others agreed with Bryant and Moore County Agricultural Extension Agent Talmadge Baker called the tobacco quality excellent. Both attributed the rise in {K-ice to the favorable growing season, the efforts of farmers and the quality of tobacco. A number of farmers are leaving the lowest and most undesireable leaves on the stalk. At Cooperative Warehouse, the prices ranged from 92 cents to $1.55 for an average of $125.95 per (Continued on Page 16-A) Grant Received By Vass For Recreation Facility Citizens Meet Monday For Liauor Vote Talk A group of citizens composed of some local churchmen and others has called for a public interest meeting of persons opposed to liquor-by-the-drink in the forthcoming referendum vote on Sept. 12. The meeting will be held in the Southern Pines Municipal Building next Monday, August 7, at 8 p.m. Presently, there is no organization of citizens promoting opposition to liquor- by-the-drink, nor is there any current plan to form such an organization, a spokesman said. “The single purpose of the August 7 meeting is to determine how much public interest there is toward the goal of presenting to the Southern Pines conununity fair and clear arguments in opposition to liquor by the drink,” it was announced. A $51,446 recreational development program is under way in Vass. Town CHerk Irene Mullinix .reported this week that Vass has received a $25,723 grant from the state for the development of an eight-acre recreational complex at the intersection of US Highway 1 and the Carthage Road. This amount had to be matched by the Town of Vass and the town council already had appropriated its share of the funds. A special recreation committee composed of the Rev. J.C. Parker, Joseph Frye and Dr. Russell Tate was instructed to begin work immediately on the project. The land had been cleared earlier through donated funds and construction can be started on a series of recreational BY JENNIFER CALDWELL The results of a testing program planned for state-wide release tomorrow were obtained early by The Pilot-and show that Moore County students perform below the state average in every case. In each criteria, students tested in every grade in the county scored below the state average. However, this does not mean individual scores were all low. Parents of those tested received their child’s scores in May, and many were quite high. The test is called the North Carolina Annual Testing Program, although this is the first year it was used. Students in first, second, third, sixth and ninth grades were tested in reading, math and a battery of other sl^s. As in the state-wide competency tests, which beginning next spring will help determine status for graduation, Moore County was linked with surrounding counties and school districts in “Region Four.” Regions One and Four scored the lowest in the state in the Annual Testing Program. However, within the boundaries of Region Four, Moore County did a little better-scoring not up to the state average but at least a little better (Continued on Page 16-A) Robbins Industry Is Sold The sale of one of Moore Countys major industries- Mansion Homes of Robbins-to a Georgia corporation was an nounced this week. The sales price was reportedly in the range of around $3 million. James A. Hutchinson Jr., president of Brigadier Industries Corporation, Thomson, Georgia, and A. Allan McDonald, president of Mansion Homes Corporation, Robbins, jointly announced the acquisition by Brigadier of the mobile home manufacturing business of Mansion for cash effective July 31. The acquisition will involve no management changes at Man sion Homes. Charles R. (Dick) Davis will continue as executive vice president and general manager, George F. Heatwole will continue as vice (x'esident and sales manager and A. Allan McDonald will continue in his capacity as consultant to purchasing for lumber and plywood. It is an- (Continued on Page 16-A) Pinehurst Survey Begun On Residents Attitudes A survey is underway on the attitudes of residents of Pinehurst about the present and the future as weU as their opinions on the “quality of life” in the village. Jerry Slade, president of Pinehurst, Inc., this week issued, the following statement about the survey: “Pinehurst, Incorporated, has hired a team of graduate students from North Carolina State University to survey facilities. These facilities will include a lighted baseball and softbaU (Continued on Page 16-A) Youth Dies In Cycle Accident Thomas Andrew Coffey, 18, died Friday in a motorcycle accident on the base at Fort Bragg. He was a member of Company A, 407 S and S Batallion, U.S. Army, and a graduate of Pinecrest High School. Graveside services were held Tuesday at 2 p.m. with military honors at Mt. Hope Cemetery. (Continued on Page 16-A) Robbins Farmer’s Day Will Be Held Satiu*day The annual Robbins Farmer’ Day festivities are set for Saturday, and the crowd promises to be one of the biggest yet to see Grand Ole Opry stars and Curtis Hussey’s wagon train. Vernon Myrick, chairman of the Robbins Merchants Association, said he expects more than the 20,000 who lined the streets of Robbins during the first weekend in August last year. There is some debate which anniversary this is for the Farmer’s Day, which has been held the first weekend in August for either the past 24 or 25 years. Curtis Hussey said that the fir:rt year didn’t really count, because there were only a few wagons, but if the occasion dates from that time, this is the silver anniversary. The “doings” will begin Friday morning, when the wagon train commanded by Hussey leaves the High Falls Elementary School. Arrival time in Robbins is scheduled for noon, and the wagons can begin to set up camp. . During the afternoon people will set up booths alot^ the streets of Robbins, aU of which turns out for the annual gala. By sundown the streets are rolled not up but out, and are the site for singing and dancing that won’t be seen again for another year. (Continaed on Page 16-A) Kelly: Schools Reject State Offer THE PILOT LIGHT PRESIDENT - President Jimmy C^ter is coming to North C^arolina on Saturday to help boost the U.S. Senate campaign of John Ingram, but state Democratic leaders are hoping he will be back in the fall for another appearance. The President’s visit to Rocky Mount and Wilson is also seen as backing of the tobacco support program, and while here Carter will talk widi tobacco leaders and visit a warehouse. Such backing is seen as beneficial to Ingram’s campaign in Eastern Carolina. Democrats have talked about holding a party fund-raiser and campaign gala in the fall and hope to persuade President Carter to come back as the headliner for that event. REPUBLICANS - Former Governor Jim Holshouser and (jieorge Little of Southern Pines have been appointed to a Board of Advisors for the North Carolina Federation of College Republicans. Rudy Ogbum, chairman of the group, said that the board members will be used in an extensive membership drive this faU. A number of Republican of ficials and leaders were named to the board. Little is chairman of Moore County Republicans and is former Secretary of the Department of Natural (Continaed on Page 16-A) BY JENNIFER CALDWELL Kent Kelly, the well-known pastor of Calvary Memorial Church in Southern Pines, revealed over the weekend that his opponents in a court suit about the rights of church and state offered to grant the church schools everytWng they asked for in an effort to stay out of court. The unpublicized compromise ai^ars to be not really a compromise but a gift-lawyers from the state Attorney General’s office offered the church school defendants a stipulation saying they would resolve their differences. However, the stipulation did not offer the thing the Christian schools want most: recognition that they are an entity with no reason to be governed by secular educational criteria. “They were giving us everything we were asking for except for the recognition that as church schools we had First Amendment protection,” Kelly said. “Mr. Ball said the stipulation demonstrated how badly they wanted out.” Mr. Ball is William Bell, a- celebrated Pennsylvania lawyer, who has tried several cases of this type successfully, one all the way to the Supreme Court. He has defended the right of the Amish to educate their children, and according to Kelly “...has a mind like a computer. It’s easy to see from the logic he derives to constitutional cases. “Mr. Ball says there’s no question whether this will go to (be Supreme Court. He calls ours a ‘first impression’ case. This is the first time a state government has ever claimed total power-there are no provisions on what they can’t do. “This is the first time there’s been a suit against a movement, a group of schools, rather than an individual.” Kelly is referring to the class action suit brought by the state of North Carolina against eleven Christian schools, of which Calvary is not included. However, Kelly said there are 51 other schools that could just as easily have been named. “There are 62 Christian schools that are concerned with this, and we’re all in this together. We’ve all agreed to go to jail if it comes to that.” Would Move Kelly added: “My church members have agreed with me to close the school and move to another state if we are forced to recognize state laws.” Superior Court Judge Donald Smith, who tried the case last week in Raleigh, determined at the recess Thursday a ruling can be expected no later than Sep tember 1. Kelly said Saturday that Calvary and the other 61 schools cannot be closed down by an unfavorable ruling, but he and residents of Pinehurst about their attitudes on the present and future of Pinehurst and the quality of life enjoyed here. “The results of this survey conducted by these unbiased young ladies can help Pinehurst, Incorporated, determine how its future operations can answer the needs and wishes of the residents. “As has been stated previously, Pinehurst, In- (Continued on Page 16-A) WRITERS SPEAK - The North Carolina Writers Conference held its annual gathering in Southern Pines this past weekend and on Saturday night at a banquet at the Sheraton Inn paid tribute to Jonathan Daniels, noted editor and writer. Paul Green is the speaker, and at left are Dr. Lewis Patton, Mrs. Greene and Sani Ragan.—(Photo by Linda Walters). Writers Support Weymouth Effort Enthusiasm for future plans and pledges of support for the preservation of Weymouth were expressed here this past weekend by members of the North Carolina Writers Con ference. More than 100 writers from all parts of the state attended the 29th annual gathering of the Writers Conference. It was the first of what the Friends of Weymouth hope will be many future meetings of similar groups at the home of the late novelist James Boyd and Katharine Boyd. The Conference opened Friday afternoon at the Sheraton Inn and a central theme of the formal program and informal workshops was a growing in terest in the short story. (Continued on Page 14-A) Conventions Important For Sandhills Resorts The convention and meeting business is becoming more and more important in the Sandhills. Those who visit in Pinehurst during the summer after many years away are often stunned by the change. Once a winter resort, Pinehurst and the rest of the Sandhills now attract golfers and tourists throughout the year. In fact, many hotels cite summer as the fastest-growing season for new business. Kurt Gary at Mid Pines said “Generally speaking the big convention months are April and May, but June is coming up there. “We call conventions anything from a group of 25 to a full house, which is 200 and includes the Golfotel and cottages. “Looking back, I see we had 18 conventions in May, the majority being North Carolina-based organizations. April is a large package-plan month-the last two weeks in April all the groups were state-based.” Don Calfee at the Sheraton Motor Inn said April and May were especially big months. The Sheraton attracts many large, (Continued on Page 16-A) other ministers can be jailed for contempt. “I’d a lot rather go to Mississippi or Florida than go to jail.' Florida has a strong Christian school lobby. California has no requirements of any kind. I think the majority of my congregation would move,' too, because of the principle involved. We’ve talked about it.” Kelly’s congregation of over 220 include many who are parents of the 120 students enrolled in Calvary Christian School or its day care center, which cares for 55. About half of those enrolled, however, are children of people who do not worship at cialvary. “They just want a good Christian education for their children,” Kelly said. Kelly ’s definition of a Christian education includes all of a school’s instruction. “We say everything we teach is religious instmetion. Therefore the state (Continued on Page 7-A) KELLY IN RALEIGH — The Rev. Kent Kelly is shown talking with reporters during proceedings involving Christian schools and the State of North Carolina. —(Photo by Cooper Francis).