IkipUnisfc
PROGRESS SENTINEL
"
WN XXXXVNQ,28 USPS 163-160 KENANSVILLE, NC 28349 JULY 10, 1980 16 PAGES THIS WEEK 10 CENTS PLUS TAX
"?1" ? ?
Migrant Council Works
To Identify Problems
The Duplin Migrant
Council will take all the
migrant people who come to
the organization for help and
place them with the local
agency which can best meet
their needs, said Ray King, a
member of the Council from
Faison.
"We (Migrant Council)
take them (migrants) all, and
the ones that qualify with the
Migrant Seasonal Farm
Workers' Association, we
turn over to them," King
said. "But if they don't
qualify with the MSFWA we
place them with other local
agencies."
According to George
Wallace of Faison, the vice
chairman of the Duplin Mi
grant Council, about IS
members make up the
Council and represent Duplin
health and human resource
agencies.
"The Council members
work together to identify the
needs of the migrant people
which are not being met."
Wallace said. "We can work
together to share information
between Duplin agencies,
and we seek new or existing
resources to deal with the
problems of the migrant
people."
Wallace added. the
Council works to identify the
problem and contact the
agency which would be most
effective in solving the situa
tion. For an example, day
care for migrant children, the
MSFWA was contacted and
slots Cere purchased in local
day care centers for migrant
children. However, the
Council has no funds avail
able to donate to such
projects as day care. Wallace
. said. In the future, he added.
the Council hopes to raise
some money to help deal
with migrant problems.
And, some of the money
'would be used to return
people who do not qualify as
migrant workers to their
home, Wallace said. In
Duplin there is no Salvation
Army to help the people who
come to the county and are
unable to work and have no
income. If the person quali
fied as a migrant worker, the
MSFWA would arrange
transportation, but for the
ones wno do not qualify, the
MSFWA cannot help.
Wallace said.
"Many people come to
Faison each .summer who
have been injected into the
migrant stream but are un
able to work because of age
or disease." King said.
"Sometimes able-bodied
persons are tricked into
going with a migrant crew
and that person can be
placed in a job to make
money for his fare home."
Crew leaders for migrants
are paid by the number of
workers brought to a job.
King said. And, many times
those who cannot work do not
qualify as migrant laborers
and have no income when
they arrive at the job. To
qualify as a migrant and for
migrant benefits, at lease
$400 has to be earned from
farm labor, half the income
and person's time must be
spent in farm labor, and the
-fqjrn work must be seasonal
type jobs.
Also, located in Faison is a
Migrant Health Clinic.
Theresa Taftn. director of the
clinic, said approximately 30
to 40 people come and go
through the Clinic each dav.
In the Clinic is a MSFWA
office. The Clinic provides
free medical treatment and is
staffed with two family nurse
practitioners, one registered
nurse, and Dr. J.S. Blair, Jr.
of Wallace visits the Clinic
once a week. In the waiting
area of the Clinic are two
boxes of clothes provided by
the Duplin Migrant Council
which are free to the people
who come into the Clinic,
"Tann said.
"We are here to provide
total medical care. If we
cannot provide the services
the individual needs, we
refer them to MSFWA,"
Tann said. "The MSFWA
provides travel, housing, and
food assistance. Each year
we have about 12-15
migrants who come to the
Clinic and have been left by
their crew leaders, or
brought to Faison under false
pretenses. The MSFWA
provides these people with
food and housing and travel
expenses back to their
homes."
Persons not qualifying for
migrant benefits and who
have no income but come to
the Migrant Council for help,
are being assisted, King
said. The Council had no
place to board individuals
caught in the migrant
stream. King has arranged
temporary lodging for these
individuals in a building in
downtown Faison. Food is
being bought - with money
donated to the Migrant
Council fund.
lit the future the Council
plans a fund drive to provide
assistance for the people who
cannot qualify for migrant
benefits and need help.
Brewer & Stephens
Promoted At Southern Bank
Robert S. Williams, presi
dent and chief executive
officer of Southern Bank and
Trust Co. announced the
decision of the board of
directors to promote two of
its employees in the Warsaw
branch. Mrs. Jean Cave
naugh Stephens, assistant
vice-president, has been
named branch manager of
the Warsaw branch of
Southern Bank and Trust
Company. Paul A. Brewer,
vice president who assumed
his new position in October
as general officer and branch
supervisor, has been
assigned to the home office
in Mount Olive. One of his
areas of supervision will be
the Warsaw branch.
jean Stephens
Mrs. Stephens, a native of
Duplin County, began her
banking career 15 years ago.
She is presently enrolled in
the N.C. School of Banking at
Chapel Hill and will graduate
this summer. Mrs. Stephens
is married to Jack Stephens
and they have two children.
Jason, age 10. and Anna
Beth, age 6.
Paul Brewer
Brewer moved to Warsaw
in 1972 from Louisburg. He
is a native of Wilson and
began bis banking career in
New Bern with First Citizens
Bank and Trust Co. in 1965.
Brewer is a graduate of
Atlantic Christian College
and the N.C. School of
Banking at Chapel Hill. He is <
presently enrolled in the
School of Banking of the
South in Baton Rouge. LA.
Brewer and his wife. Betsy, i
have two sons. Anderson. 1
age 14 and Doug, age 9.
Hearing Set
In Death Of
Husband
Preliminary hearing for
Kathleen Hargroves Mathis.
24, of Route 5, Mount Olive,
on a charge of murder will be
held July 14 in Duplin
County District Court.
She has been charged with
the slaying of her husband.
Roy Davis Mathis, Jr., 26.
Thursday at their home near
Faison. He was shot one time
with a .38 caliber pistol.
Duplin sheriffs officers said
the shooting resulted from a
family argument.
Mrs. Mathis is being held
without bail in Duplin County
jail in Kenansville.
MAN KILLED WHILE
LAYING IN ROAD
Jose Guadalupe Gomez
Rodrigues, 22, of Dallas was
killed late Sunday night
when he was struck by a
vehicle on N.C. 403, about
nir e miles east of Faison.
The man was apparently
lying in the road, according
to the N.C. Highway Patrol
! report.
i
Wallace Cuts Town Budget-Hikes Tax Rate
A 1980-81 budget of
SI 175,909, calling for an ad
valorem tax rate of 65 cents
per $100 valuation, was ap
proved iast week by the
Wallace town board.
Although the budget totals
S333.652 less than the
1979-80 figures, the tax rate
had to be raised from 59
cents to 65 cents to balance
the new figure.
A reduction in state and
federal grants and a reduc
tion in carried-over money
forced the tax increase. Town
Administrator Tom Phillips
said.
In addition to the tax
increase, the water and
sewer rate will increase 10%.
City auto license tags will
cost $2, an increase of SI. As
a result of residents'
comment at a public hearing,
the boaid raised dog pound
fees from SI to SS per day of
impoundment.
The new budget calls for a
6% salary increase for town
employees.
In other action. Elizabeth
Knowles was reappointed
city tax collector.
The board also set 2 p.m.
July 14 foropen'ng of bids on
city paving asphalt.
LIMESTONE-MUDDY CREEK WORK PLAN SIGNED The Limestone
Muddy Gfeek watershed project began in 1170. Planning and studies have
been in progress since. The watershed project is an effort to drain
farmland, and will result in a lake and resort-type facility near Bculaville
upon its completion. The fina' workplan for Muddy Creek was signed
Monday during the meeting of the county commissioners. Pictured above
? arc George R. Cowan, chairman of the Duplin Watershed Improvement
Commission; standing. Jesse L. Hicks, state conservationist with the
USDA-Soil Conservation Service; Calvin Mercer, chairman of the Duplin
Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisors; and Franklin Williams,
chairman of the Duplin County commissioners.
Pender Residents
Seek VyaUace Rescue Service
Petitions asking the
Pender County commis
sioners to allow Duplin
rescue squads to operate in
northern Pender County
were signed by about 100 at a
meeting Monday night last
week near Willard.
The group named a com
mittee of three to present the
petitions: Tommy Blanton.
Albert Grimmer and Shirley
Jenkins.
Howard Holly, clerk of the
county board and county
finance officer, said Tuesday
last week that the committee
would be heard at 3 p.m. at
Monday's meeting this week
in the county administration
building in Burgaw.
Blanton. who served as
chairman of the meeting,
said the petitions at the
meeting were filled with
signatures. He promised to
get othet copies printed for
additional signatures. "It
won't do any good for just
five or six people to act."
Blanton said. "We need to
get everyone in the commu
nity to join in the effort."
Grimmer drew anDlausc at
the meeting when he com
mented. "The Pender com
missioners don't do a thing
for this area. If Burgaw
needed it, it would already
be done."
The petition drive was
prompted by thy Wallace
rescue squad's cut-off of
service to the area after
answering calls across the
county line for 8 years. The
cut-off came after Duplin
receiv ed an opinion from the
state Attorney General's
office that county-owned
equipment could not serve
people in another county
without a contractual agree
ment between the counties
involved, the Duplin com
missioncrs have asked
Pender for such an agree
ment. hut so far the Pender
board has taken no action.
Duplin already has similar
agreements with Sampson.
Wayne and Lenoir counties,
allowing rescue squads to
cross county lines to serve
towns near their borders.
Wallace is located just
north of the Duplin-Pender
line and serves as a trade
center for much of northern
Pender. Its rescue squad is
closer to many residents than
the Pender Rescue Squad in
Burgaw.
The Duplin commissioners
directed the Wallace squad t
to stop crossing the Pender
linc about six months ago. i
However, the squad had i
continued some service to a
the area primarily with an l
ambulance the squad had <.
obtained withaout county t
funds. That ambulance was ^
recently retired after failing |
to meet state standards. I
A.D. Owen bey. a member i
of the Pender squad who
lives in Upper Union Town
ship, told the meeting: "I
would like to sec the Wallace
Squad continue serving this
area, as we arc having to |
come 15 miles and that's just
m> tar
All Duplin squads must
hargc a flat fee of S20 for
alls inside Duplin County,
ind J 20 plus $ 1 per mile from
he county line for calls
iiitside the county. "Maybe
his is why Pender County
loesn't want to arrange to
>av Duplin County, as
)uplin pays to other
?ounlics." Owenby said.
'Pender makes no charge.'7
Wallace Squad Captain
I.C. Brvant told the group.
'We want to serve the area
ind we are able to do so if
jcrmiitcd
Buck Swamp Kickin' Cloggers
To Perform At
Liberty Cart Opening
The Buck Swamp Kickin'
doggers of Goldsboro. a
nationally recognized
group will perform July 18 at
opening night festivities of
the 1980 season of THE
LIBERTY CART in Kenans
ville.
Formed in 1975 by Randy
and Carolyn Parrish, the
doggers have traveled the
East Coast performing and
teaching the an of clogging.
Traditionally, the group
opens the National Hollerin'
Contest held annually at
Spiveys Corner. Thev have
been filmed by ABC's Good
Morning Ameriea. CBS
News, NBC's Big Blue
Marble and by the British
Broadcasting Company.
In 1979, the Buck Swamp
Kiekin' Cloggers performed
in Washington, D.C. at the
White House and have given
performances at hundreds of
festivals, hospitals and
pri\ ate parties throughout
the bastern United States.
Rich Boyd, director and
general manager of THE
LIBERTY CART, says.' "We
arc fortunate to have this
vritinb crouD entertain
before the opening of our 5th
season. A group of their
ealibre and experience will
add another dimension to our
opening night festivities. I
hope area residents will take
advantage of this opportunity
to see one of the finest
clogging groups in the nation
performing one of America's
unique art forms."
THE LIBERTY CART
opening night festivities will
begin at 6:30 p.m. with
bupper-In-the-Pines adjacent
to the William R. Kenan. Jr.
Memorial Amphitheatre,
followed by the Cloggers and
the 8:15 premiere of THE
LIBERTY CART.
Warsaw Clinic Designated
Rural Health Site
Governor Jim Hunt has
declared the Warsaw
Medical Clinic a State Rural
Health Center making the
Warsaw Center available for
technical and financial assis
tance.
The medical center w ill be
leasing the educational
building, the remains of the
old Baptist Church, from the
Warsaw Baptist Church, said
Gerald Quinn. a member of
the Duplin Medical Associa
tion. The medical center will
be staffed with Dr. Stephen
Griffith and Dr. Clark
Hanmer. who announced
plans in the fall of 1979 to
locate a general practice in
the county.
While Dr. Hanmer works
in Beulaville at the East
Duplin Medical Center, he
will also work in Warsaw,
Ouinn said. Quinn says the
Warsaw center will not be
opened until about Thanks
giving. Until then, both
doctors will be working out of
the Beulaville office.
Renovation of the building
in Warsaw will cost approxi
mately $150,000. Quinn said.
The Duplin Medical Cor
poration will receive a five to
one matching grant from the
North Carolina Office of
Rural Health Services. In
order to qualify for the grant.
Warsaw had to be desig
nated as a Rural Health Site.
Quinn said, and to match the
grant. $25,000 will have to be
raised in the Warsaw com
munity. The state health
services has asked that the
Corporation raise the money
by small contributions from
at least "'SO families. Quinn
said.
Matching funds arc
expected to be collected by
the end of next week;
$21,000 has been raised
since the project began in
June. Gail Ke'lv of the State
Rural Healt', aervitcj said.
The East Duplin Medical
Center in. Beulaville will be
included in the State Rural
Health Center declaration
made by Governor Hunt.
Both the Warsaw and Beula
ville medical centers are
under the supervision of the
Duplin Medical Corporation,
a non-profit organization.
Board Declares
Garbage Pick-Up
Emergency
The Dunlin CVmntv Rnnrrf Mental Health mrf Mental
of Commissioners declared
an emergency condition
exists in the county's gar
bage pick-up program and
called for bids on a garbage
pick-up truck to be opened
July 18. Estimated cost of
such a vehicle is $70,000.
The emergency came about
because present vehicles
have failed due to age and
mileage.
The board was notified by
Fletcher Pearson, chairman
of the Area Mental Health
Board and a member of the
Sampson Commission, that
Sampson County had
approved $71,415 for the
Duplin-Sampson Area
Retardation Service.
Pearson stated in a letter,
"Sampson County is moving
in the direction of equal
financing of the mental
health program in our area
with Duplin County. In the
1978-79 year Sampson pro
vided $4 1.760. in 1979-80 it
provided Sb2.640, and in
1981-82 Sampson hopes to
come up to the $80,000
Duplin County provides the
program in county general
funds."
Duplin County appro
priated $95,000 for the
Mental Health program this
fiscal year, the same at for
last year.