Locklear completes NG basic training Army National Guard Pvt. James V. Locklear, son of James L. Locklear pf Rural Route 1, Maxton, and Dorothy J. Woods of Rural Route 2, Red Springs, has completed basic training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. During the training, students received instruction in drill and ceremonies, weapons, map reading, tactics, military courtesy, military justice, first aid, and Army history and traditions. Walker promoted 'Ernest C. Walker, son of Ernest H. Walker of Rural Route 2, Raeford, has been promoted in the U.S. Army to the rank of private first class. Walker is a medical specialist at Fort Bragg with the 82nd Airborne Division. He is a 1984 graduate of Hoke County High School. Reviving the press Jeff Crum, editor of the Sandhills Community College student newspaper The Eye of the Needle begins work for the first issue. The students of the Hoke and Moore County campuses of Sandhills Com munity College are about to find themselves involved in the revived college newspaper. According to Crum, he and his staff are " taking a fresh approach " to satisfy the demand for a campus paper. The Eye of the Needle will feature editorials, student essays, "5.C.C. Scenes, " student government news, commentaries, and a "Gabby Weisenhimer" column ( with apologies to Ann Landers) written by one of the wrier men on campus, assistant editor Ken Newton. In the past weeks, Crum has pulled together some of the best and brightest from the S.C.C. campus to form a staff made up of production manager, Keith Borshak; photograhper, William Jarrell; and writers Amy Clark, Brian Crum, Tip luliucci, Monica Parsons, Brenda Squires, Shane Varney, Thomas Wolfe, and Sarah Young. The first Issue is due out the second week in November. Variety of factors affect farms Editor's Note: This is the fourth in a series of four articles focusing on the changes in North Carolina farm structure since 1950. The structure of the farming in dustry is determined by a variety of factors, and our knowledge of the underlying causes of changes in structure is limited. Nevertheless, this article will consider briefly some of the topics Extension I News Willie Featherstone Jr. County Extension Chairman usually thought to be related to farm numbers, the size distribution of farms and other structural characteristics. There is a clear relationship be tween technological change and changes in farm size. Farm numbers have fallen and farms have grown in size over the last half century as new methods were introduced to allow more output per farm operator and to allow a (See FARMS, page 5B) Insulation should be checked before cold winter weather hits Chances are good that your mobile home already has insula tion, but there are other things to check in searching for ways to prepare the home for winter. First check to be sure there is insulation in the floor. There should be three or four inches. If there isn't, add R-19 fiberglass batts. Consider install ing storm windows and doors. If it isn't possible to add conven tional storm windows and doors, put plastic over the inside of the windows. In some cases a custom made storm door can be placed on the inside of the existing door. You may also weatherstrip around doors and windows, or caulk around all windows, doors and other places where air may pass through. Placing a skirting material around the base of the mobile home may be one of the best investments you can make to reduce heating costs. This reduces heat loss and helps prevent water pipes from freezing. You should allow some vent space in the skirting. Have your heating system checked and servic ed by a competent service person, if this hasn't been done recently. The system should be adjusted for maximum operating efficiency. If heat system duct is exposed under the floor, wrap it with a minimum of R-4 insulation. Also, insulate all water pipes and tanks to prevent freezing. On the Front Burner] Alice Pettitt Home Economics I Agent I Keep doors and windows closed when possible. Lower thermostat setting as low as possible without keeping the home too uncomfortably cool. Biscuit La