Index
Books, 2-B; Church News, 3-B;
Classified Ads, 9-15-D; Editorials, 1-B;
Entertainment, 4-9-C; Obituaries, 13-A;
Pinehurst News, 1-3-A; Sandhills
Scene, 2-8-A; Sports, 1-5-D.
LOT
10,100
Paid Circulation
Vol. 59, Number 22
68 Pages
Southern Pines, North Carolina 28387 Wednesday, March 28, 1979
68 Pages
PRICE 15 CENTS
Schools Aren’t Free;
Many Fees Charged
n -
HARNESS RACING—For many years
Pinehurst has been a special training site for
harness racers and on Sunday an exhibition
event was held at the track before a large
crowd. Here’s some of the close action—John
Scroeder driving Fifty Grand and Gary
Cameron II driving Son of A Fella.—(Photo by
Emerson Humphrey).
Group Home Has Way Cleared
To Open With Property Use Right
More problems beset the
Moore County Group Homes
when Mrs. TVacey Brown ap
proached the Moore County
Board of Education at their
regular meeting on Monday
ni^t.
Mrs. Brown, one of the homes’
managers, was following up a
letter addressed to Rotert E.
Lee, Superintendent of the Moore
County Schools, requesting
permission to use the easement
between the home’s location at
340 E. Pennsylvania Ave. and the
home of Mr. and Mrs. Bert
Perham.
This strip of land originally
belonged to the Southern Pines
Middle School and, when con
solidation took place' this
jM-operty was given to the Moore
County Schools. The Board of
Education was unaware that
Aro Corp. To Begin
Hiring Interviews
The ARO Corporation of
Bryan, Ohio has e^anded to the
Sandhills and will be in
terviewing prospective ap
plicants for potential employes
beginning next week.
ARO will eventually hire close
to 400 persons for the Sandhills
plant, which will be constructed
at a $7.5 million estimated cost
just north of Southern Pines on
US 1.
The company plans to
manufacture air tools in its plant
here. Other ARO operations
manufacture fluid handling
equipment, fluid power equip
ment, air systems components
and petroleum systems equip
ment.
ARO and Sandhills Community
College have established a
cooperative training program,
whereby employes of ARO will
be trained for their job at the
college. For this purpose two
buildings have been leased in the
Sandhills Industrial Park, one
building for training and the
other a combination training-
production facility.
Neil Nusbaum, currently
ARO’s manager of outside ex
pansion, will manage the
Southern Pines plant. He and his
family will move to Southern
Pines shortly.
Interviews for ARO job ap-
(Continued on Page 16-A)
Auman Bill Requesting
Two More Court Clerks
In preparation for occupancy
of the new courts facility. State
Representative Clyde Auman
has introduced into the North
Carolina General Assembly a biU
calling for appropriation of funds
to employ two additional deputy
clerks of court in Moore County.
The bill is written to become
effective July 1.
At least one additional deputy
clerk will be needed when the
move is made into the spacious
new facility, according to Moore
County Qerk of Court Charles M.
McLeod. In fact, his office needs
another deputy right now, but the
present quarters are so badly
cramped there is no place to put
anyone else.
Although it is likely a second
deputy will also be needed,
McLeod says he does not plan to
employ the second person unless
the need actually exists.
“We won’t just put them on the
payroll. We’ll wait and see if we
need both deputies,’’ McLeod
told The Pilot.
(Continued on Page 16-A)
they owned the property and
questioned the possibility that
they may not own the alleyway.
Several neighbors in the block
were (x-esent to question the
ownership of the property but
Mrs. Brown explained that their
attorney, Arthur Rowe, had
searched for the deed and found
that it did belong to the Board of
Education. After a long
discussion on the subject the
board voted to have their at
torney meet with the home’s
attorney for verification of the
statement of ownership. A letter
will be sent to the Southern Pines
Town Ck>uncil stating that the
home may use the alleyway until
ownership is proven-as the
board cannot prohibit the use of
the property.
Civil Term
Scheduled
Next Week
Moore County Superior Civil
Court will convene Monday with
Judge Harvey A. Lupton
(residing.
Sixty jurors have been sum
moned and will report for service
at 2 p.m. Monday.
On the docket are 17 cases for
trial, eight of which are non-jury
matters, and eight cases for
motions before the court.
Jury cases docketed for trial
Monday are: Stephanie Smith
versus Wilford Elijah Tucker
and Teddy Rey Lyn; Angus M.
Brewer, administrator of the
estate of Larry Thomas Holt Jr.,
deceased, and John Mac Donald,
by and through guardian ad
litem, Peggy Jean MacDonald,
versus William A. McDonald and
wife, Margaret A. McDonald;
Aberdeen Small Engine, Inc.
versus Russell Dewey Kelly and
Kenneth B. Gibson and The
(Confederate Sporting Oub.
These jury cases are docketed
for trial Tuesday: Kay Tyner
versus Randall Thomas; Ruby
Lee Davis versus Brenda Maness
(Continued on Page 16^A)
Janet Griffin, (Choral Director
for Pinecrest High School, and
Pat Yates, Director of the
Drama Department, along with
the cast of “Oliver! ” presented a
short sketch from the play. Ms.
Yates e3q)lained to the toard how
important the drama depart
ment had been and
how much it has meant to the
students. “I feel the drama
(X’ogram has been very suc
cessful,’’ she stated.
This was followed by a
narrated slide show on Moore
(County and the schools shown by
Edison Powers who e:q>lained
that the show was used in the
recruitment of teachers.
Advisory Council members
who had been nominated at the
last meeting were approved by
the board for initial terms, first
terms and second terms.
Mrs. Jean Williamson
presented the school calendar for
1979-80 school year. A good deal
(Continued on Page 16-A)
A free public school education
is far from being free for in
dividual students in Moore
County.
In fact, they may be charged
as much as $43 or more each year
in fees. Hiey even have to pay $1
to use the playground.
. Even so, Moore County schools
have not , received harsh
criticism or refusal to pay any of
the instructional or activity fees
levied by the Moore (County
School Board on behalf of
individual schools, according to
school spokesman Robert
Dalton.
The Greensboro (City Schools
last week lost a case in Superior
(Court whoi it was ruled un
constitutional that such fees be
levied in the public school
system.
The majority of public school
systems in North Carolina
charge some tj^ of fee to
supplement monies from other
sources. If school fees are judged
unconstitutional by higher courts
individual schools could lose
thousands of dollars a year.
In Moore (County schools fees
are levied at a flat rate for
elementary, middle and high
sdiools. According to Dalton, the
principals decide during their
sununer meetings if they need to
charge a fee and how much that
fee needs to be. It is a uniform
sdiedule, approved by the Board
of Education and by a school’s
own adivsory council.
In the elementary schools, a
student who does not take Band
and who does not enroll in an
insurance program would pay
between $10 and $6.50, depen^g
((Continued on Page 16-A)
Peach Blooms
Peach blossoms will be
reaching their peak in the
Sandhills this week. Rep. T.
Qyde Auman, peach grower of
West End, reported.
Auman said that Sunday
night’s cold snap did not damage
the peaches, and he was hopeful
that other cold weather this week
would not be too damaging to the
young peach buds.
The Auman peach orchards
are located on NC Highway 73
near West End.
The
■ Sandhills
1^ a Observatory
VIEWING SCHEDULED
Sandhills Observatory will be
open to the public oh Tuesday,
Wednesday, and Thursday
nights, April 4th, 5th and 6th.
This will (x-obably be Oie last
month that Jupiter will be well
placed for viewing until about the
first of 1980. Saturn is now high in
the sky, and of course on the
above nights the moon will be
illuminated by the Sun at just the
right angle to bring out
maximum crater detail.
Persons interested in making a
reservation should call Allen
Clarke at 295-3660 any night
before or during the above dates.
Only 15 can be accommodated on
each night. No charge is made.
The Observatory is located
between Pinehurst and Aberdeen
on N.C. R.t. 5; 2.65 miles from
the cailroad underpass at
Pinehurst and 3.25 miles from
the intersection of Rt. 5 and U.S.
1 in Aberdeen.
THE
PILOT LIGHT
Moore Deputy Spots Escapee
'Who’s Caught After Hot Chase
A sharp-eyed sheriff’s
detective spotted an escaped
prisoner on a (Cameron Street
Sunday ni^t, an act which led to
a dramatic chase into neigh
boring Harnett County.
, Edgar Samuel Pilson, 24, of
^ Carthage, Rt. 3, was arrested a
short time later when he at
tempted to hide in the edge of a
field in Harnett County, ac
cording to Det. Lt. Ricky
Whitaker of the Moore County
Sheriff’s Department.
Pilson is charged by Moore
(k>unty authorities with speeding
in excess of 55 miles an hour in an
attempt to elude arrest, careless
and reckless driving, and second
offense driving while license
revoked. Whitaker said Pilson
was released Monday into the
custody of Lee Ck)unty officers
for a hearing on a charge of
felonious larcTeny of a vehicle.
Pilson also faces action by the
North Ckirolina Department of
CJorrection.
Detective Thomas Cox was on
routine patrol about 10:30 p.m.
Sunday when he observed Pilson
standing in a telephone booth on
a Cameron street, Whitaker told
The Pilot. Reports indicate that
Pilson had escaped a few days
earlier from the Rockingham
(X'ison unit, where he was ser
ving a sentence for a
misdemeanor offense.
Cox called by radio to
Whitaker, who was in the Vass
(Continued on Page 16-A)
HEFNER - Congressman Bill
Hefner will be in Moore Ck)unty
this weekend for two
appearances.
On Saturday, March 31, he will
be the main speaker for the
Carthage Jaycees. Hefner will
speak at the annual
Distinguished Service Awards
banquet which will be held at the
Sheraton Inn in Southern Fines.
During the banquet, the
Jaycees will present awards for
Outstanding Young Man, Out
standing Young Farmer, Out
standing Young Educator, and
Boss of the Year.
On Sunday, April 1, Heftier will
be the lay speaker at the morning
services at Calvary Baptist
(Church located between Robbins
and Clarthage.
AUMAN~Rep. T. Clyde
Auman said he is having a bill
prepared to change the
distribution of ABC store profits
in Moore County and to divide on
a 50-50 basis the mixed drink tax
for Southern Pines.
The bill may be introduced
later this week.
Rep. Auman said the com-
(X'omise on the liquor money
appears to be satisfactory to aU
concerned.
,DEMOCRATS-More than 25
Moore County Democrats are
expected to attend the 49th an
nual Jeffrson-Jackson Day
celebration at the Raleigh Civic
(tenter on April 7.
Senator Joe Biden Jr., of
(Continued on Page 16-A)
':sJS
‘W’"
DEATH CAR—One person-Grantland Harris Nelson, 23-was killed
around 3 a.m. Sunday when this car left the highway on Midland Road
here and crashed into a tree. Police and Fire and Rescue Department
members are shown at the scene.—(Photo by Glenn M. Sides).
. \
Young Man Dies In Crash
Of Auto With Tree Here
A fatality occurred early
Sunday morning on Midland
Road near Leak Street when a
car driven by (Hinton Daniel
Kelly II of (tejidor went off the
road.
Killed instantly was the car’s
only passenger, Grantland
“Grant” Nelson, 23, of Asheboro.
Charges are still pending
against Kelly while police are
awaiting lab results from a
chemical test.
According to the police report,
filed by Patrolman Ronnie
Atkins, “the vehicle was
traveling west on Midland Road
when the car ran off the right
side of the road at an excessive
speed, lost control, traveled 18!
Weather
Station
Near Here
A 244iour weather station is
located on the Fort Bragg
reservation near Southern Pines^
part of a 350-station National
Warning System set up by the
U.S. Department of Conunerce,
National Oceanic and At
mospheric Administration
(NOAA).
At the station (teptain Tom
Utley and his staff operate on
VHF frequency 162.475,
available on multi-band radios,
weather-only sets, available at
specialty stores, and police
scanners fitted with the ap
propriate sensory device.
This weather station is useful
not only for making plans in
advance but for use in Civil
Preparedness and dSvil Defense
work, in case of extreme and
possibly dangerous weather
conditions.
There are nine such stations in
North (terolina.
feet back across to the left,
coming te.a stop at a tree, killing
the pass«iger.”
The estimated speed of the
vehicle at time of impact with the
tree was estimated at 60 m.p.h.,
police said. The impact of the
accident was on the passenger
side of the car. The driver,
(Continued on Page 16-A)
GOP Has Resolutions
On County Goverament
Two term limits for county
commissioners and a county
manager form of government
were among resolutions adopted
by Moore (teunty Republicans at
their recent county convention.
The seat held by County
(temmissioner (terolyn Blue, a
Democrat, was targeted as a top
priority contest in the 1980
election.
Over 150 attended the county
convention held at the cour
thouse in (terthage on Saturday,
March 17.
George W. Little of Southern
Pines was unanimously
reelected as chairman.
Mrs. Diane W. Sutphin of
Eagle i^rings was elected as
viceKihairman and Don Pitts and
Joyce Rhodes were re-elected as
treasurer and secretary of the
party. Winford Williams of
Aberdeen was elected as finance
chairman and Harris Blake of
Pinehurst was elected as audit
chairman. Dawn Leland, Willie
Hill, Richard Morgan, Mark
Welliver, Bobbie Peters, C.
(teolidge Thompson, Dr. I^uis
Marchetti, John Womack, and
Floyd (tele were elected as at-
large-members of the Executive
Committee.
Hie convention heard remarks
from Former Governor James
E. Holshouser, Jr., State
Chairman Jack Lee, (teunty
Commissioner James Craven
and Sheriff Jerome Whipple.
Former Governor Holshouser
and State Chairman Lee both
(Continued on Page 16-Al
’Downtown Watch’ Plan
Proposed By Merchants
A “Downtown Watch” was a
suggestion made of a solution to
problems merchants have been
voicing about vandalism.
The suggestion came at a
special meeting between
members of the Southern Pines
Town (teuncil and three Southern
Pines businessmen last
Wednesday afternoon.
Buzz Hicks, who owns Le Flea
Market as well as downtown real
estate property, made the
suggestion in response to Mayor
Emanuel Douglass’ proposal
that ideas be given on ways to
remedy what the businessmen
saw as problems downtown.
Hicks volunteered to take a
night to walk arolind part of the
business area, much the same
way foot patrolmen work for the
police department. The (teuncil
and Hicks noted the
“psychological effect of this
action...vandals won’t know
who to look for.”
Council member Hope
Brogden said “all the studies
(Ctentinued on Page 16-A)
Bluebird Man Comes On Visit
With Free Homes For Friends
BY FLORENCE GILKESON
Jack Finch is a developer of
sorts. He wants to attract a new
population to Moore (teunty, but
it’s the type of population the
environmentalists and the
growth people can agree on.
Finch-his name is something
of a hint-is a bluebird man.
As president and chief
promoter of the non profit
Homes for Bluebirds, Inc., Finch
was in the Sandhills last week to
erect more bluebird homes. He
put up 30 homes at HoUy Hills
Thursday morning, then moved
operations to Sandhills (tem-
munity College, the Southern
Pines Elks Club, and the
Pinehurst Women’s Exchange.
Last year he erected 41 homes at
Hyland Hills Country Club.
To call bluebirds an interest is
to understate Finch’s goals.
Bluebirds are really a passion of
this retired blueberry nur
seryman from Bailey.
Finch not only likes bluebirds,
but he is convinced they are good
for the environment and thus
good for people. He has the facts
to prove it.
Bluebirds dine almost ex
clusively on insects, a factor
which makes them attractive to
farmers and gardeners. When
insects become more difficult to
find in late fall and winter, they
expand their diet to include wild
berries. Curiously, these at
tractive little birds almost never
damage cultivated crops.
Aside from the practical
aspects, they are beautiful birds
(Continued on Page 12-A) i