ILOT
$7.5 Million Industry
Will Be Located Here
Post Office Sales Up 23%
In Busy Yule Season Here
With counter sales up 23
percent, the Southern Pines Post
Office is having one of its busiest
Yule seasons in recent years.
Postmaster Robert Peele
estimates that business has
tripled in the local office over the
past two weeks. This activity is
expected to taper off this week.
Counter sales have increased
23 percent over a comparable
period last year. However, 15
percent of this is attributable to
the fir^ class mail rate increase
implemented in May, thus
cutting the actual increase to
eight percent. Even so, business
has been surprisingly brisk,
Peele says.
In addition, the incoming
mail-that is, the mail
deliverable in Southern
Underwood Elected
To Moore SS Post
Calvin Ernest Underwood will
assume the duties of director of
the Moore County Department of
Social Services on Jan. 2, it was
announced this week by Lee
Williams, Chairman of the Social
Services Board.
Underwood, who has been
working as social work super
visor for the Durham County
Department of Social Services,
will succeed Mrs. Waltpr B.
(Pauline) Cole, whose
retirement becomes effective at
the end of December. Mrs. Cole
has directed the Moore Ck)unty
department for 36 years.
“The board’s decision was
unanimous. Mr. Underwood is
fully qualified, and we like his
philosophy toward public
relations. He will let the people of
Moore County know what’s going
on and will keep us up to date on
the work of his department,’’
said Williams.
The 31-year old Underwood,
whose annual salary will be
$18,348, is being employed
(Continued on Page 16-A)
as
THE
PILOT LIGHT
PRAISE-Governor Jim Hunt
praised former Governor Jim
Holshouser on Friday when he
presented his predecessor with
the first copy of a book con
taining the Holshouser public
papers.
Reference was made to
Holshouser’s implementation of
state government
reorganization, a study of
government operations and
establishment of rural health
clinics. Governor Hunt said,
“Governor Holshouser spent his
time making government work
better and getting government to
do more for the people in their
communities....The test of
whether we left things better.
Governor Jim Holshouser passed
that test with flying colors.”
CEREMONY-Attending the
ceremony in the State Archives-
library building were about 50 of
Holshouser’s cabinet members,
aides and associates, including
George W. Little, former
Secretary of Natural Resources,
and Gene Anderson, former aide
and political adviser, of Southern
Pines.
(Continued on Page 14-A)
is
Pines-has shown an increase of
17 percent this year. Mail volume
is up more than 10 percent for the
entire year, Peele adds.
For the accounting period
extending from Dec. 2 ttu'ough
Dec. 13, toe Southern Pines office
sold $19,500 in stamps, mostly for
first class noail but with some
sales covering parcel post.
During toe same period last
year, that figure was $15,500.
Peele reports that his office
kept two windows open all day
for four consecutive days last
week, and there was a line at
both windows almost
continuously. Although the
Southern Pines office did not
extend its window hours, it was
necessary to work some
(Continued on Page 14-A)
Holidays
Coining Up
For Area
Moore County schools close
today-at toe end of toe class
day-for almost two weeks of
holidays. Classes will resume on
Tuesday, Jan. 2.
For other offices and
businesses Christmas will mean
a holiday ranging from one day
to three, with another holiday
coming up a week later for New
Year’s Day.
County offices will be closed
three days, Friday, Monday and
Tuesday, but state offices will be
closed Monday and Tuesday.
The Town of Southern Pines
will also take Monday and
Tuesday for the Christmas
holidays, as will many other
municipalities in toe area.
Post offices will be closed
Monday, and there will be no
window service or home
delivery. There will be no mail
(Continued on Page 16-A)
Hearing Re~Set
The hearing to determine toe
outcome of a temporary
restraining order filed by a group
of Pinehurst residents has been
rescheduled for tomorrow
(Thursday) in toe Anson County
courtroom in Wadesboro before
Judge F. Fetzer Mills. The
hearing was originally scheduled
for Monday.
Through toe restraining order,
the plaintiffs seek to in-event the
Pinehurst Village Council from
employing a village manager, an
act which they contend is not
within the council’s authority.
The class action suit was filed by
James F. Thompson, A. Parker
Hall, C.R. Mclver, Mr. and Mrs.
Robert Fisher.
Air tools will be manufactured
by Moore County’s newest
industry. The Aro Corporation of
Bryan, Ohio, which this week
announced plans to build a $7.5
million plant immediately north
of Southern Ptoes on U.S. 1.
The plant will be erected on a
25-acre site, originally part of toe
Fred Taylor estate. The area is
zoned for industry and is already
occupied by several industries.
Aro will initiate a training
program for new employes in
1979, and it is expected that toe
plant will reach full strength of
400 employes by 1982.
Moore County officials
received the news with
jubilation.
In welcoming the “new
corporate citizen,” Lee
WilUams, chairman of toe Moore
County Board of Commissioners,
said: “We are most fortunate to
have been selected as toe site for
their new plant.”
Homer Faulk, director of toe
Moore County Economic
Development Committee, said
the industry “will have a
significant impact on Moore
County, providing good paying
jobs in the metal working trade.”
North Carolina Commerce
Secretary D.M. “Lauch”
Faircloth expressed satisfaction
over toe new industry. “This is a
growth company, and it serves a
worldwide market. We are
pleased they have selected North
Carolina in which to grow, and
for North Carolina it means 350
to 400 new jobs,” he said.
Aro plans to begin construction
on a 100,000 square foot building
in the spring, according to
Arthur F. Reimers, the
Commerce Department
industrial representative who
worked with the company.
Reimers said that a portion of toe
$7.5 million capital investatient
would be financed through
industrial revenue bonds.
In his announcement
Thursday, M.J. Anderson,
(Continued on Page 16-A)
CHRISTMAS PARADE — These young people
on the J.P. Stevens Co. float sang as they rode
in the Jaycee-sponsored Christmas Parade in
Southern Pines Saturday morning. A large
crowd gathered for the downtown parade which
included Santa Claus.—(Photo by Glenn M.
Side«j»;..
‘Workable’ Compromise Is Reached
In Moore Communications Dispute
BY FLORENCE GILKESON
Moore County’s Com
munications Control Board and
Sha-iff Jerome Whinile reached
“a workable communications”
compromise at a special meeting
Friday morning, according to
Carolyn Blue, board chariman
and member of toe County Board
of Commissioners.
The Friday meeting, devoted
largely to a personnel discussion
in executive session, followed a
sudden reversal by Stqierior
Court Judge John McCkmnell
concerning a restraining order
County To Extend Note
On Sewer System Work
issued by Whiffle against toe
control board, the county
commissioners, and certain
county employes.
After an all-day hearing in toe
Union County courtroom in
Monroe Thursday, Judge Mc
Connell signed an order
dissolving toe restraining order
but taking note that the PIN
machine and other necessary
communications equipment
should remain imder toe sheriff’s
control.
Overnight toe judge had a
change of mind, however, and by
10 a.m. Friday he had signed
another order, this one con
tinuing toe restraining order as it
pertains to toe equipment used
by toe sheriff’s department,
most particularly the PIN
(Police Information Network)
(Continued on Page 14-Al
Renewal of toe grant an
ticipation note foi* the Southern
Moore County Wastewater
System will be considered in a
Mrs. George Marshall
Dies Monday At Age 96
Mrs. George Catlett Marshall,
the former Katherine Tapper
Brown and widow of toe famous
author of toe Marshall Plan, a
longtime resident of Pinehurst,
96, died Monday night in Lees
burg, Va.
The funeral service will be held
Thursday (tomorrow) at 3 p.m.
in toe Fort Myer, Va. Ctoapel.
Gen. Marshall died in 1959,
after serving as (jeneral of toe
Army, Secretary of State in 1947-
1949, and Secretary of Defense,
and being toe only military
person ever to receive the Nobel
Peace p-ize.
“Marshall Park” in Pinehurst
is a memorial to him, as is a
research center in Lexington,
Va. dedicated by Presidents
Johnson and Eisenhower in 1964.
Mrs. Marshall was born in
Harrodsburg, Ky. and attended
Vassar College and graduated
Mrs. George Marshall
from Hollins College in 1902. She
was an actress in England as a
member of the Benson
(Continued on Page 16-A i
called meeting of toe Board of
(Commissioners tonight.
The meeting will begin at 7
o’clock in the board meeting
room.
The note, due to the Carolina
Bank, has been reduced to.
$625,000 and will be payable once
toe project is complete and a
federal grant representing five
percoit of toe cost is received. At
their November meeting, toe
(Continued on Page 16rA)
Pinehurst
Seeking
Increase
Pinehurst, Incorporated has
filed a water and sewer rate
increase request with toe State
Utilities Commission which, if
granted, would cause the
average monthly bill to climb
from ^.60 to $10.30 for water and
from $3.80 to $11.55 for sewer
service.
The corporation’s action came
to light Tuesday at the regular
December meeting of the
(Continued on Page 14-A)
Red Dverton Dies At 83;
Funeral Is Held Tuesday
John Tyler Overton,
affectionately known in the
Sandhills as “Red,” retired
owner of toe Sandhill Drug Co.
Inc. and horse and antique car
lover, of 410 North Bennett
Street, died Monday at Moore
Memorial Hospital at toe age of
83.
Funeral services were held
Tuesday at 3 p.m. at toe Church
of Wide Fellowship with toe Rev.
Michael J. Garber and toe Rev.
Frederick Stecker officiating.
Interment was in Bethesda
Cemetery in Aberdeen.
Originally from Mt. Gilead,
Mr. Overton had lived in
Southern Pines since 1929. He
began his drug store experience
wito five years in Wadesboro and
five years in Rockingham. His
late wife, toe former Sarah
Isabelle Terry, was from
Rockingham. They were
(Continued on Page 16-A)
T Love You, Santa Claus, ’ They Say
BY FLORENCE GILKESON by toe distant tap tap tap of the fireplace felt good. efficient travel routes is at ^
BY FLORENCE GILKESON
(Editor’s note: As a rule Santa
Claus does not grant interviews
to toe media. However, this year
he agreed to this interview with
The PQot because the boys and
girls of Moore County have been
exceptionally good).
Bells tinkle softly, toe sound of
gently-falling snow is punctuated
by toe distant tap tap tap of the
elves’ hammers, and there is an
overall hum of cheerful, but very
busy activity. It’s toe week
before (Christmas.
The old gentl^an pushed
back into his over^tuffed chair,
clasped his pipe ever so firmly,
and eased his feet from toe heavy
black boots. The blaze in toe open
fireplace felt good,
“ ‘I love you, Santa Claus.’
Those are toe most beautiful
words in toe world. You have no
idea how helpful it is, to be loved
and appreciated,” he said.
Most of toe hard work of
making the toys, compiling long
lists of names and addresses, and
developing the speediest, most
efficient travel routes is at an
end. Now Santa must rest in
preparation for toe finale—the
big day, or rather, toe big and
very long night that will take him
around toe world wito toe speed
of sound.
“It’s been a good year for
Santa, and yes, I am ready for
(Continued on Page 14-A)
John Tyler “Red” Overton