Newspapers / The News-Journal (Raeford, N.C.) / Aug. 5, 1976, edition 1 / Page 1
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- Ca "* H?ke Com'' Ne? ? cjfl ,?8 ^ - journal 25 THURSDAY. AUGUST 5, 1976 Around Town BY SAM C.MORRIS The weather for the past two days has been cooler than for the past three weeks and the rain Monday was welcomed. The fore cast is for more rain today (Tues day) as this is being written. * ? * Last week this writer congratu lated Joe Upchurch on making a hole-in-one at the Arabia Golf Course. A member of the foursome approached this writer as to why the others weren't "named. He stated that whenever someone makes a hole-in-one that the entire ?roup is named in the write-up. So here they are: Clyde Up church. Joe Upchurch, Jack Tuck er and Earl McDuffie. Maybe other writers must have proof to tell about an Ace, but sometimes the more names you mention and the more it is talked about, makes one wonder what did happen. * * * A few people have mentioned to me about the number of political posters that have been placed on poles and trees in the City of Raeford. Some are on the right aways and this could be against the law. I know it is in some cities. They certainly don't help the appearance of the city and from the comments of citizens don't help the candidates, either. Just a note to you campaign workers who have placed these posters. It might be better to take them down. ? * ? The Kathy McMillan Day was very successful and for comments and what people have to say read further articles in the paper. Now for the mail, which brings forth many letters that should interest you: Dear Sam: Under a separate cover 1 am mailing you a copy of my book The Monroes of the Upper Cape Fear Valley. After you have looked it over, I will appreciate it if you will pass it on to the library as a gift from me. If you are in the mood to make some mention of it in the paper 1 will be grateful. I am sorry that I did not include more information about my relatives, the Morrises, but 1 couldn't extract any data from a member of the family named Sam. Obviously the book is for sale. The price is S7.75 including tax and mailing. Sincerely, Alex M. Patterson 1 haven't completed the book but feel that most of the kinsmen of early settlors of the Longstreet and Sandy Grove section would enjoy this book. The address is: Alex M. Patterson 2425 West Lake Drive ? Raleigh. N.C. 27609 Thanks for the book. Alex. * * * ? Dear Sir: Enclosed please find a check for five dollars for which please send The News-Journal to the address listed below. Please begin with the July 29th issue. My sister wants to read about "Kathy McMillan." 1 have beenreading about her all the time. I think Kathy is going to sell a lot of subscriptions to your paper. We are from Hoke County and Kathy has made us real proud. Sincerely yours, Doris P. Jackson Washington, D.C. * * ? Dear Sam: Please allow me to thank Hoke Countians for their generosity to Kathy McMillan Day. The Radio thon, the county store jars, and the money which came in through The News-Journal and the Chamber of Commerce office have shown clear ly that many, many people wanted to give. A precise accounting of monies collected and spent will be available at the Chamber office; the names of all the contributors are impossible since there were many neighborhood collections, a Main See AROUND TOWN, page IS Crowds Welcome Kathy Back KATHY'S HOME! ? Olympic star Kathy McMillan was back home and the center of attention Saturday at a reception at the high school. Grasping her silver medal won in Montreal, she is shown greeting her fans wifh her mother (far left) and her father (in white jacket) looking on proudly. \ In McMillan Home, Her Coach: F amily Winds Down ^ve ^er By Suzanne H. Aplin It seems strange driving down a nameless road near Upchurch School looking for the biggest name in Raeford. With posters blanket ing the town proclaiming her fame, one almost expects to see a placard proclaiming "Here lives Kathy McMillan. Olympic Silver Meda list." Instead, the address is given by Mrs. Alexander McMillan. Kathy's mother, as "fifth brick house on the left." The McMillan home is a modest, neat house, comfortable with the look of use by eight children. No signs in the yard. No legible name on the mail box. No signs of notoriety anywhere outside. Inside the living room hang a few placques won by Kathy and her brothers. On an old black piano in the next room sit a multitude of shiny bronze trophies belonging to various members of the family. Are all the McMillans athletic? "Not really." answers 14-year-old Sharon while bathing her 13-month -old niece in the kitchen sink. "All four of the boys played football and some basketball," she continued. The boys are Alexander, 21, a business administration major at Elon College; Preston. 26. now living in North Dakota; Prentiss, 25, and Randy, who is celebrating his 16th birthday this week. "My sister Evelyn used to play the piano some and she sings and Debby is married and expecting her second baby any day now," she said. Evelyn, 23. works at the county courthouse and Debby, 22, is married to a soldier stationed at Ft. Bragg. Parents. Mildred. 44, and Alexander. 49, work as a teacher's aide and brick mason, respectively. Has fame changed the McMillan household? Mildred McMillan said, "Not really. I don't feel different. I loved the Olympics. The most exciting moment of my life was seeing her on that stand. 1 was so nervous and tense during the event. And for some reason I just began to cry. "Everyone was so nice. When Colston and I sat down in our seats an usher came up and tapped me on the shoulder. 'Are you Mrs. McMillan?' And, then she asked if we'd like to sit closer to the long-jump pit. So w< had terrific seats. Bunny, that's what we call Alexander, had already gotten a seat in the VIP section. They asked him to leave and he said. 'No. not until my sister jumps.' And, they let him alone," she said. "It was a very quick trip. We arrived Friday and left that night. Wilma Rudolph offered to let us stay in her suite, but I decided to come on home." she continued. "It's all been so exciting. Satur day, on Kathy's Day, I began to feel kind of silly with all those people looking at us. Randy said that he wanted to hide down in the seat. I've just never had anything like that happen to me. I thought I was going to have to go to the hospital. My blood pressure went up so high," she said. Modesty is still one of Kathy McMillan's greatest attributes. Perhaps a little weary of living in a celebrity's fish bowl. Kathy was a little slow to talk about her recent achievements. "Everything was just as 1 expected it to be. Except the pressure was greater knowing that these were the best athletes. On one jump I thought I was hurt, but 1 wasn't. 1 was flying through the air on my side and I was telling God 'I don't want a pulled muscle' and everything was alright." "1 had been so disappointed in the way 1 was jumping that 1 had to slow down and really think about what I was doing. 1 didn't know 1 had won until I got up and heard the crowd cheering. I could hear my mother, brother and Coach Colston yelling at me from the stands." she said. Afterwards on the award stand Kathy reported that all she could think was "I finally made it." Finishing competition early in the week allowed Kathy some time See FAMILY, page 14 The Credit 9 Kathy McMillan and Bill Col ston each graciously credits the other for the successful Olympic venture at Montreal. Bringing home the silver medal in the long jump competition. Kathy McMil lan has said that Colston was the driving force behind her interest in the Olympics. He was the one who encouraged her and kept her spirits up. Jack Griffin, assistant coach of the women's team, has been quoted as saying that "Her coach deserves a lot of credit. He stuck with her and learned with her. They went to clinics together and they came back and worked on the things they had learned." Bill Colston. 32. says Kathy is "a natural athlete." "Sure, she's lucky, but she's also a good athlete. Some athletes are at the wrong place at the right time, but Kathy's at the right place at the right time. Some of her best jumps have been made at big events. That's how an athlete develops a reputation and gets invited to bigger, more presti gious track meets." Colston said that it was a real thrill to get to go to the Olympics. See COLSTON, page 1 1 Hoke County's Olympic star Kathy McMillan was welcomed back home Saturday as a crowd of nearly 500 persons jammed Main St. to cheer her as she was driven through the city in a morning motorcade and later she was mobbed by well-wishers at the high school grounds when she arrived for a reception in her honor. With the heavy Olympic silver medal hanging from her neck, the 18r year-old long jump sensation waved from an open convertible tn a parade led off by a National Guard color unit with the 82d Airborne marching band following, under a brightly colored banner hanging across the street which said 'Welcome Home, Kathy.' Cameramen from television stations around the state as well as a bevy of newspaper photographers were on hand to film the former Hoke High track sensation who returned to Raeford last Wednesday night from the Summer Olympics in Montreal. As her car proceeded down the street, the throngs of people applauded Miss McMillan and her high school track coach, Billy Colston, who followed in another open car with his family and Miss McMillan's brother, Alexander. Her parents, Alexander and Mildred McMillan, were in another car, beaming with pride. The Hoke High girls track team marched along, also to the applause of the crowds. Immediately following the motorcade, the crowds traveled to the high school for the reception and program for Miss McMillan and she was mobbed by a crush of people seeking autographs before she could leave the car and enter the cafeteria. Five hundred to six hundred persons crowded into the cafeteria for a chance to congratulate Miss McMillan, who signed autographs tirelessly for nearly an hour and a half. Miss McMillan received a standing ovation as she mounted the ^^tform in the courtyard of the Gibson building for the start of the program, but a sudden cloudburst in the middle of the invocation given by Rep. Joy Johnson sent everyone scurrying for cover. Mayor J.K. McNeill Jr. presented Colston with a silver plaque framing a photograph taken of him and his protege in her Hoke High track uniform. "I really don't know what to say, the girls get me into these positions, they are the athletes. I'm deeply flattered and honored. I'd like to have another five or six Kathy McMillans," he said, accepting the plaque. City councilman Sam C. Morris substituted for an absent Ralph Barnhart and presented Miss McMillan with an identical plaque after praising her as the most "outstanding goodwill ambassador for the community." "I would like to thank God for all of this," she told the hushed crowd. "And I would like to thank Coach Colston for all he has done." Chamber of Commerce manager Dayna Pate welcomed the See KATHY. page 1 1 Thank You ? On behalf of the Chamber of Commerce. 1 would like to thank all those who contributed to making last Saturday's Kathy McMillan Day a success. Because Kathy returned from the Olympics on Wednesday, the parade and reception were planned for Saturday. July 31. since she has the chance to compete in Maryland at a Russian American meet on Sat., Aug. 6. A great deal of Work, therefore, was done in a very short time; and it could not have been accomplished without the generous cooperation of all. Those who would still like to make a donation to Kathy McMillan Day may do so by contacting The News-Journal or Chamber of Commerce. After the expenses of the celebration are met. the remaining money will be put in a fund to be used by our school athletes to help cover expenses at future competitions. It was indeed a privilege to be part of the enthusiastic, community spirit that worked together to honor Kathy. and 1 appreciate the efforts of all who participated. Sincerely yours, Davna T. Pate Manager. Raeford-Hoke Chamber of Commerce Before County Board Ambulance Fund Dispute Crops Up Again The continuing controversy over public funds for the only black owned ambulance service in the county came up again Monday at the county commissioners' regular meeting with chairman Ralph Barnhart arguing strongly against approving any subsidy to the black firm. Tony Buie. owner of Buie's Ambulance Service, alone with Rev. W.K. Mitchell, officer of the Hoke County Civic League, a black ministerial association and Jimmy Morrisey. chairman of the local NAACP unit, appeared at the meeting and requested the Buie firm be appropriated county funds, just as Harris Ambulance Service the only other firm operating in the county. "We're concerned about the $27,000 going to Harris Ambulance Service. 1 know it's a complex situation. Tony Buie was working under Danny Morrison. Danny Morrison sold out. and Tony felt he would receive some consideration as he was already ^working in the county," Morrisey said. Buie said he was never given a chance to officially request a subsidy for his service for this year, but that he had submitted a proposed budget before Harris' contract ran out on June 30. "The request would have been considered it he had come before us at budget time. My feelings are if we do this, what's to prevent somebody else like Frank Crump ler. or anyone, from buying an ambulance and wanting to get in on it. too." Barnhart said. "We didn't encourage you to get into the ambulance business. You did it of your own free will. 1 am personnally a little apprehensive and leer^- of subsidizing two or three ambulance services." he said. "More, than half of Hoke County is minority people and let's be very realistic Mr. Chairman. Mr. Buie is going to be dealing with these minorities through no fault of his own. He got into this situation with Mr. Morrison and then he was left dangling," Morrisey said, a refer ence to Morrison Ambulance Ser vice which sold out to Harris late last year. "What went on behind the scenes. I don't know. I think Mr. Harris and Mr. Buie ought to sit down before the board and discuss this together. 1 think he should be present, we have a contract with him and we are obligated to him." Barnhart said. Commissioner James A. Hunt and Neill W. McPhatter were the only other members present. Mc Phatter. a black, did not join in the discussion, but Hunt said he did not feel it would be appropriate to approve any supplement to Buie at this time. "Personally, I can see both sides of it. Speaking for myself, I'd like to help Mr. Buie. But on the county's side. 1 don't see how it can be done. We've already set the budget and the tax rate (for the year)," Hunt said. "It's not as though we can't give him SI. 000 or S2.000 It's that we are bound to protect the interests of Mr Harris, with whom we have a contract. 1 can't see how we can ride roughshod over him." Barn hart said. "All I'm asking for is a little consideration. I don't want you to think I'm trying to bust his contract or anything." Buie said. Commissioners finally agreed to schedule a meeting privately with Harris to discuss the problem and then to hold a second meeting with both Harris and Buie present. Monday's discussion was the second time in two weeks Bute's request has come before county commissioners. At the mid-month July meeting, two members, includ ing Barnhart, were absent, and the others agreed to table the matter until the next meeting. In other business, the ounmls slonera: , Tabled a discussion of the peti tion submitted earlier seeking Sun day beer sales in groceries after no one showed up; Designated the Hoke County Recreation Commission to receive S 1,8 19 in funds allocated by the Lumber River Council of Govern ments for Hoke for its summer youth recreation program; Appointed Frank Bundy and W.K. Morgan to the Recreation Commission; Approved a resolution declaring a small tract of land located behind the Highway Department office on Dickson St. surplus property and ordering it sold at public auction on Sept. 8; Approved a request from Sheriff D.M. Barrington and authorized payment of $465 as the employer's contirubtion to cover the period of July 1. 1959 to Feb. 1. 1%1, for credit for his retirement fund; Tabled until the next meeting a discussion of appointing a county Council on Women, part of a state program, because all five members were not present; Also tabled any decision on approving payment of S687 to cover commissioner Hunt's recent trip to the national convention of county officials in Salt Lake City, Utah, after a motion by McPhatter to See BOARD, page 1 5
The News-Journal (Raeford, N.C.)
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