F
Emergency
A new phone number for all
emergency calls in Southern Pines is
692-7031--for Police, Firemen and
Rescue Squad.
LOT
Index
Vol. 59, Number 1
84 Pages
STUDY IN BLACK AND WHITE — A Fall day on the Stanley Cohen
Farm off Youngs Road provides the setting for this study in black and
white by Staff Photographer Glenn M. Sides.
Road Action Taken By Board;
Building Renovation Studied
The Moore Coimty Board of
Commissioners has passed a
resolution covering an
agreement with the State
Department of Transportation
for construction of a road to
serve the county-supervised
landfill. Action was taken at a
called meeting Thursday
afternoon.
Board Chairman Sid Taylor
stated that the resolution was
furnished by Henry Jordan,
highway engineer for the Eighth
Farm-City Week Slated
For Moore Observance
Lee Williams has been named
Moore County Farm-City Week
Chairman for the 1978 obser
vance of Farm-City Week.
The appointment was
announced by J. Wilbur Cabe of
Jobs Steady
Unemployment remained at
three percent during September,
the office of the Employment
Security Commission reported
Monday. The figure was
unchanged from August.
The Carthage office of Frank
Burch reported that the labor
force totalled 22,000 with 21,340
employed. Unemployed reached
660 for the three percent.
September, 1977 had 4.3
percent unemployed, the office
said.
Statesville, state Farm-City
Week Chairman.
Serving with Williams as co-
chairman for the county
committee is Talmadge Baker,
County Extension Chairman.
Other committee members are
Louise Frye, Ellen Allen,
Jean Hubbard and Donald
Matthews.
Farm-City Week will be
observed across the nation on
November 17-23, ending on
Thanksgiving Day. The purpose
of the event is to help create a
better understanding between
rural and urban people. The
theme for 1978 is “Farm and
City-Partners in Economic
Progress.”
In appointing county Farm-
City Week Chairmen, Cabe
(Continued on Page 8-A)
Southern Pines, North Carolina 28387
THE
PILOT LIGHT
Wednesday, November 1, 1978
84 Pages
Books, 2-B; Church Calendar, .3-B;
Classified Ads, 10-15-C; Editorial, 1-B;
Entertainment, 4-8-C; Obituaries, 10-
A; Pinehurst News, 1-3-C; Sandhills
Scene, 2-8-A; Sports, 1-4-D.
PRICE 15 CENTS
Moore V otes N ext T uesday
On Congress, County Posts
Inadequate Facility Gives Moore
Exemption From Speedy Trial Law
Division. The county needs
approximately 3700 feet of a 60-
foot right-of-way easement
before the road can be
completed.
Board members learned that
Hayes-Howell and Associates
has offered to prepare a use
feasibility study for renovation
of the courthouse. Copies of the
proposal were not available, and
the board received this as
information and took no action.
One other architectural firm,
Austin Associates, has prepared
a proposal.
The county plans to convert
the courthouse to local
government purposes after the
(Continued on Page 8-A)
Still No Rain
Dry weather continued as
November began today, with
almost six inches less of rain
than is usual in September and
October.
There was 60 percent of Moore
County “very short” of moisture
and 40 percent “short,” the N.C.
Crop Reporting Service said
yesterday. There was a minus
5.72 inch comparison of rain with
the average at the Jackson
Springs weather station.
Dry weather was worse only in
the Cape Hatteras area, which
reported precipitation of minus
6.09.
Moore Ctounty voters will have
six ballots facing them when they
go to the pools next Tuesday,
Nov. 7, in an election for offices
ranging from the U.S. Senate to
the local soil and water con
servation committee.
There are 20,372 persons regis
tered to vote in Moore County-
12,623 Democrats, 6,889 Repub
licans, 859 unaffiliated and one
Libertarian Party member.
Polls will open at 6:30 a.m. and
close at 7:30 p.m. in the 21 county
larecincts. There have been no
changes in the polling places
since the last election.
In the last “off year election”
(non-iiresidential) in 1974 a total
^ 9,873 votes were cast out of a
total registration then of 18,439,
or more than 50 percent of
eligible voters.
Some political observers are
predicting that voter par
ticipation will be less than 50
percent this year. However,
&ere are several factors not
[xesent in 1974 which may affect
such predictions. These factors
concern candidates who were not
on the ballot in 1974.
While local races draw the
most attention in off-year
elections, there is also con
siderable interest this year in the
contest between the con
troversial incumbent Republican
U.S. senator, Jesse Helms, and
the Democratic nominee, John
Ingram.
Chairman J. Ed Causey of the
Moore County Democratic party
says, that the harty campaign has
been on the election of all
Democrats, with the emphasis on
the party and no single can
didate.
Chairman George W. Little of
the Moore (bounty Republican
party has taken much the same
ai^roach, but with the emi^asis
on the local or county races.
In addition to the U.S. Senate
race, there is also a contest for
the U.S. Representative from the
Eighth Congressional District,
(Continued on Page 12-A)
BY FLORENCE GILKESON
By action of a superior court
judge Tuesday, the courts of
Moore County were granted
temporary relief from a new
state law requiring that all
criminal cases must be brought
to trial within 120 days.
Judge F. Fetzer Mills issued an
order staying the sanction aspect
of North Carolina’s “speedy
trial” law, which went into effect
Oct. 1. Judge Mills announced his
order at 2 p.m. Tuesday, when
the current criminal session of
Moore County Superior Court
resumed after a lunch break.
The judge’s action was taken in
Suspended Sentence
Is Given In Murder
In a plea bargaining
arrangement in Moore County
Superior Ck)urt Monday Milton
Nixon entered a guilty plea to the
charge of second degree niurder
and received a 15-20 year
suspended sentence.
Nixon pleaded guilty to the
May 13 slaying of 27-year old Lee
Austin, Jr., which occurred in
Nixon’s yard at Eastwood. The
weapon was described as a 12-
gauge sawed-off shotjun.
Judge F. Fetzer Mills of
Wadesboro ordered the sentence
suspended for five years and
placed the 49-year old Nixon on
probation with the conditions
that he pay court costs and
restitution of $1,836 to the murder
victim’s widow. Restitution is to
be paid within 12 months. The
defendant was represented by
attorney James Van (]amp.
The Nixon murder case was
one in a long series of guilty pleas
accepted during the early days of
the criminal session, which
opened Monday. Almost 40 cases
were disposed of in the first day
and a half of court, and not one
jury trial was held. District
Attorney Mary McL. Shelton is
(Continued on Page 10-A)
consideration of the county’s
present shortage of adequate
courtroom facilities and with the
understanding that a new courts
complex is under construction.
The new $2 million courts facility
is not expected to be complete
until sometime in 1979.
Assistant District Attorney
Mary McL. Shelton made the
motion for the delay shortly after
court convened Monday
morning. In her motion Ms.
Shelton called attention to the
heavy caseload facing superior
court officials here, including 98
misdemeanor cases appealed
from district court, all in
addition to the regular felony
caseload.
With the court’s action, Moore
County would be subject to the
dismissal of criminal cases upon
motion by defendants if their
cases are not tried within the
required 120 days.
Judge Mills’ order decrees
“that a period of delay in excess
of 120 days which is occasioned
by venue lying in Moore County
shall have no effect on the
disposition of cases set for trial in
the Superior Court” and “that
the provisions of North Carolina
General Statute, Section 15A-703
shall not affect the disposition of
cases set for trial in the Superior.
Court.”
Summarizing his findings, the
judge declared “that in view of
the pending caseload in Moore
County Criminal Superior Court
in addition to the available
courtroom facility and the
number of sessions currently
(Continued on Page 9-A)
Farmers Market Is Busy
With Produce Variety
Fireman’s Jubilee Set
For Vass On Saturday
Deputy
Resigns
Position
Deputy Sheriff William
Bradford turned in his
resignation to the Moore County
Sheriff’s Department on
Tuesday.
Sheriff C.G. Wimberly issued
the following statement:
“Although Bradford was on
suspension, his resignation was
voluntary, and had not been
requested by Lt. Ritter, or by
me.
“Any organization or business
must have certain rules and
regulations. Upon the ac
ceptance of employment, our
employes also accept the
requirements of this department.
“Deputy Bradford was on
probation as a result of violation
of regulations at the time. He
again willfully neglected his
duty, and was therefore
suspended for a period of five
days.
“Due to restrictions upon
revelation of employe personnel
matters, this is as much as I feel
may be disclosed at this time.”
BY BARBARA DANLEY
The Vass Firemen and
Auxiliary are busy as beavers,
scurrying about arranging last
minute details to pull off another
perfect Fireman’s Jubilee
Saturday, November 4. ■
The annual Jubilee, which
began eight years ago as a
money making project to secure
funds for enlarging the building
and purchasing equipment, has
grown into the largest single
event in the town.
Whether actually taking part
in the various events or just
coming out to enjoy the
festivities, people in Vass and the
surrounding towns have played a
large part in the success of the
Jubilee. Something is offered to
interest everyone.
At 12 noon a parade will
proceed down Broad Street
kicking off a full day of events.
Last minute entrants will be
accepted.
At 1 p.m. a water fight, a
tug-of-war type contest, will be
held at the intersection of James
Street and US Highway 1 back of
Angus Mills. Using water
pressure, different departments
will try to prevent their opponent
from pushing a barrel,
suspended from a line in the air,
to tee opposite end.
At 1 p.m. on tee ball field
beside Vass-Lakeview School,
(Continued on Page 9-A)
Summer and fall seasons are
merging each weekend at tee
Moore Ctounty Farmers Market,
where tee colorful displays of
vegetables, fruits and flowers
make an artist’s paradise.
“We have more variety now
than we had in August,” said
market manager Duncan (Gene)
Maples Friday morning.
The display was almost
endless with fall vegetables
mixed with fruits and vegetables
usually associated with the
suiiuner growing season. The
offerings included pumpkins.
four kinds of squash, peanuts,
cucumbers, apples, tomatoes,
corn, turnips and greens,
butterbeans, collards, sweet
potatoes, white potatoes,
peppers, onions, ejgplant,
mustard greens, peas, cabbage,
eggs, apples, hay, flowers,
canned goods, and decorative
materials.
There were also oranges and
grapefruit and other items not
grown in this section of Norte
Carolina, but 90 percent of the
produce was from tee local area,
(Continued on Page 8-A)
Council Approves Bids
For Water, Street Work
United Fimd Over 50%
Toward $125,000 Goal
The Southern Pines Town
Ck)uncil this morning ai^roved a
low base bid of $118,374 for
construction of tee Highland
Road Water Project. With ad
ministrative, engineering costs
and contingencies added, the
project is expected to cost
$149,978, about $5,000 lower than
previoudy estimated.
At tee same called meeting tee
council approved a $50,280 low
bid for resurfacing and new
paving of town streets.
Blue (Contracting (Co. of San
ford was tee low bidder among
six bids received for the water
project. The low bid was ac
cepted on a motion by Coun
cilman Michael Smithson,
seconded by Councilman Hope
(CratiBued on Page 8-A)
The second report luncheon for
tee Moore County United Fund
was held Monday at tee Sheraton
Motor Inn, with $65,500 reported
raised thus far.
John Jackson, Campaign
Chairman, recognized Ron
Kirby, Roteiey Young, and Jim
(Correll for having reached a total
of $39,500 toward their industrial
goal of $55,000.00.
Social recognition went to St.
Jose{te’s Hospital and Mrs. Jean
(Capel for their efforts. Mrs.
(Capel feels confident St. Joseph’s
will attain or exceed their goal
this week.
John Jackson reminded tee
group that to reach their goal of
$125,000 pledges need to be in by
November 13. The next
scheduled luncheon is November
6, and United Fund volunteers
will be calling on many Moore
County citizens in the next two
weeks.
For twelve months United
Fund provides assistance for
the poor, aids community
projects, and health and
rehabilitation services. “Unlike
other charitable organizations,
United Fund is not staffed with
expensive administrators. The
United Fund depends on
volunteers who feel it’s a small
contribution toward providing a
quality community,” Jackson
said.
HEFNER-(k)ngressman Bill
Hefner campaigned in Moore
Ck)unty and on Monday was tee
guest of honor at a “Mayors of
Moore Ck)unty” luncheon at tee
Sheraton Inn.
While here Hefner also taped a
television interview which was
shown on WUNC-TV Tuesday
night.
The taping, conducted by Dick
Hatch of WUNOTV, was held in
the office of Voit Gilmore at
Town and (^unt^ Shopping
Center, and during it Rep.
Hefner answered questions on
textile imports and exports,
veterans benefits, and the
economy in general.
He voiced strong support for
President Carter’s voluntary
wage and price guidelines as a
means of controlling inflation.
He said that everyone should at
least give it a try.
AUMAN-In answer to charges
made last week by his opponent
in tee N.C. House of Represen
tatives race Rep. T. Clyde
Auman this week issued tee
foUowing statement:
“I’d like to clarify my position
on tee Norte Carolina Right to
Work Law. I have supported tee
right to work aU durii^my years
of service in tee Norte Carolina
(Continued on Page lO-A)
Hand-Me-Downs Put To Use Here
“You might say (hey took a
sow’s ear and turned it into a
silk purse,” says Robert
Edwards, Moore County forest
ranger.
His language may bring
chuckles from area firkighters,
who know he is referring to
brush trucks converted from
government surplus.
Since 1976 tee Norte Carolina
Forestry Service has helped nine
local fire departments in Moore
County to obtain these trucks
with federal funds under Title
VI, Rural Community Fire
Protection Act of 1972.
Five local fire departments
have been allocated more than
$3500 in cash grants through tee
same federal act in 1978.
“So far these fire departments
have done a remarkable job of
transforming these government
hand-me-downs into very
serviceable mini-pumpers,”
Edwards told The Pilot. He
added his personal praise to
local fire chiefs for their
alertness in handling fires in
their own communities and for
their assistance to tee Forestry
Service, especially in dry
seasons.
Crane’s Creek Fire
Department received tee largest
grant this year, $1,500. Four
others, Pinebluff, Eagle Springs,
Robbins, and Seven Lakes,
received $507 apiece.
Eastwood and Seven Lakes
departments received brush
trucks in 1976, the Southern
Pines department received one
in 1977, while Pinebluff, Robbins,
High Falls, Crane’s Creek,
Cameron, and Eagle Springs
received trucks this year. All are
1963 models.
Applications for both funds
and tee surplus trucks are made
through the State Forestry
Service, an agency of tee Norte
Carolina Department of Natural
Resources and Community
Development.
To eligible for tee cash
grants a rural fire department
must serve a community with a
population of less than 10,000 and
with a legal basis for existence,
such as being incorporated. Hie
department must answer all fire
calls without discrimination,
Edwards explained.
AU departments are given an
opportunity to apply for the
(Continued on Page 8-A)
FINISH LINE - Jeff Cushing (left) and Walter
Fowler hit the finish line together in the IS mile
run of the First Federal Mini Marathon here
Saturday. (See story and other pictures on
Sports page).—(Photo by Cye Gray).