^ '9 PROGRESS SENTINEL ^QL. XXXXV NO. 50 USPS 162-860 ^ KfcNANSVILLE. NC 28349 DECEMBER 11. 1980 20 PAGES THIS WEEK 10CENTS PLUS TAX Kenansville Board Requests Additional Traffic Studies The Kenansville Town Board will ask the state Department of Transporta tion for new traffic studies on Main Street resulting from public concern expressed at the December 1 meeting. Phil Kretsch of United Carolina Bank and Kenneth Futreal. director of the Soil and Water Conservation Ser vice, appeared before the board requesting a crosswalk on Main Street. A crosswalk is. needed in the area of the Courthouse, Kretsch said, ^ecause of the speed of Raffic through town. The three lanes through down town has sped up trtffic making it difficult for a pedestrian to cross the street, he said. At the Cooper and Main Streets intersection, there is a vision problem when cars are parked on the roadsides, Kenansville citizen Alan Wood said. And, Duplin Emergency Services Director Hiram Brinson said two fire hydrants in the area of the intersection are being blocked by parked cars. "We are sticking our heads in the sand over this thing," Commissioner Cordell Johnson said. "We didn't have a restaurant in that area when the study was done by the highway de partment. 1 recommend we three-lane the street from the Scotchman (convenience food store) to the hospital." After no formal motion was made to three-lane the entire section of Main Street, the board agreed to request new studies of the street. A special request to investigate the need for a crosswalk, parking at the Graham House Inn, and the possi bility of converting S. Front Street from a one-wav into a two-way street will be made to the Department of Trans portation. The request for two-way traffic on South Front Street was made by Gary Herring, vice-president of Financial Saving and Loan. Herring presented two tentative drawings of the Saving and Loan building planned for location in the old Exxon station on Main Street. The purpose for the two-way traffic, Herring said, is easier access to the bank and drive-in window. Both build ing sketches presented to the board were in the Williams burg-type architecture. A rate increase by Carolina Power and Light will cost the town of Kenansville an addi tional S4.000 this budget year. Town Administrator Woody Brinson said. Budgeted for the 1980-81 fiscal year is $10,840 and with the in' re;'se, the town will be paying 514,840 for utilities. To date, four months into the fiscal year, the town has paid $2,572 in utilities. The $2,572 is 25% of the budgeted funds for the fiscal year's utilities. The town board approved the installation of 15 sodium vapor lights on Main Street. The lights will be replacing mercury light fixtures and provide 70 percent more I light. Mayor Doug Judge i said. Each light will add an i additional 20 cents or a total 1 of $3 per month to the i utilities bill. Budgeted for street light utilities is $10,000, and, to date, 25% of the funds have been ex pended using the mercury vapor fixtures. Appearing before the board was W. T. Stokes, director of the Extended Day < School at E.E. Smith Jr. 1 High. Stokes disputed a report given by Police Chief Tyson Bostic concerning dis turbances at EDS. Stokes added the events may have occurred prior to January 14, before he came to EDS as director. "To my knowledge, the Kenansville police have been called only once since '? January 14," Stokes said. 1 "And, that was when some- | one broke into the office." i An additional request to [he Duplin Sheriff's Depart ment for a deputy to work at EDS at 6 and 9 p.m. when the buses are loading and unloading was made by Stokes. Stokes requested the Kenansville Police to answer no calls to EDS without reporting to the Director's office. Police Chief Bostic was not present at the meet ing. County ^Manager Ralph Cottle and Duplin Health Department Director Joe Costin met with the Kenans ville board seeking permis sion to place a temporary mobile office next to the health services building. Ac cording to Costin. Women, Infants and Children, a Federally funded program, will be starting in Duplin, but there is not enough office space in the health services building to house the pro gram. The half-million dollar & year program will aid pregnant women and young children with food coupons. The goal of the W1C program is to insure proper diets for pregnant women and young children, Costin said. An estimated 2,000 people will qualify for the program within Duplin. The board agreed to allow the mobile office on the health department lot for a period of one year. Zoning laws of the town of Kenans ville do not allow the per manent location of mobile units in the area of the health department. The board adopted a reso lution to sell $50,000 of the $170,000 in bond anticipation notes for the Kenansville water project. The bonds were sold December 2, fol lowing the Monday board meeting.Town Administrator Brinson and Mayor Judge recommended a 2.3 acre she on Highway 50 for the location of the water project well and elevated storage tank. The site, owned by Ray Bell of Kenansville, costs $15,000. The board approved the site' and agreed to pay Bell $8,500 before December 15, and $6,500 the following month before the 15th. A public hearing on the rezoning of a lot owned by Carey Williams was set for January 5 at the next regular meeting of the town board. Williams' lot is zoned one-half residential and one half general business; he requested the enitre lot be general business. Mayor Judge informed the board of plans to begin working to distribute the duties of the town adminis trator among board members. Judge said he planned to contact the League of Municipalities for information. "1 recommend the board begin to receive compensa tion again," Commissioner Earl Hatcher said, "because of the additioal duties from the resignation of Woody." Earlier in the meeting, the resignation of town adminis trator Woody Brinson had been approved by the board. The resignation was effective immediately. Brinson will be employed with the engineer ing firm, McDavid and Asso ciates. A motion to reinstate governing board pay was approved. Each commis sioner will receive $300 and the Mayor, $600 for the fiscal year. Mary Ann Jenkins, town clerk, was appo?i;^d to sign town checks and given a salary increase of $10 a wr< <. The salary -increase w*s approved because of additional responsibilities due to the resignation of Brin$on. The Kenansville Board also accepted the resignation of Anne Craft from the recreation commission. BRINSON RECEIVES APPRECIATION RESOLUTION - After the Kenansvitle town board approved the resignation of the tri-town administrator Woody Brinson, he was presented a plaque of appreciation by Mayor Doug Judge. Brinson had worked for the town of Kcnansville for seven years. Pictured, left to right, Mayor Judge, town clerk Mary Ann Jenkins and Brinson. * Twelve Days Of Christmas In Historic Kenansville In 1978, the Kenansville feArea Chamber of Commerce initiated a project called "Candle - In The - Win do#." The response was overwhelming and in 1979 area businesses and county offices joined the community unity. Plastic decorations have also been eliminated from the streets in action by the Kenansville Town Board feas the town celebrates the Christmas season in a special way. The State Department of Commerce, tourism divi sion, is helping promote this activity as part of "The Twelve Days of Christmas in Historic Kenansville." First Day of Christmas On Sunday, December 14, church bells and chimes will officially ring in the Christ inas season atl2 o'clock noon ?and The Twelve Days of Christmas in Historic Kenansville will begin. Sponsored by the Kenans vUle Area Chamber of Com merce, the project is a series of events and activities that recapture the unity and spirit of a community: Liberty Hall, ancestral home of the Kenan family, Awill open its doors to the public from 2-7 p.m. The home will be decorated in the period of the 1800s with each room filled with fresh fruits, nuts, berries and ever greens. Candles will be burn ing, fires roaring and the Kenansville beautification committee will be serving holiday refreshments. At 7 p.m., everyone is , invited to assemble in the m Municipal Park for the light ?mg of the community tree. Mayor Douglas Judge will preside and caroling will be led by David and Anne Dickey around open bonfires. After the ceremony, hayrides will be the order of the day and the area nursing homes and Duplin General Hospital will be visited and caroling will take place. After the hayrides, warm refresh ments will be provided in the park by the ladies of Grove Presbyterian Church. Second Day of Christmas Voices from throughout Duplin County, along with musical organizations, will join together for an evening of holiday music in Christ mas Sing Out scheduled for Monday, December IS at 7:30 p.m. in the Kenan Memorial Auditorium. Organizations from area schools have been invited to perform. Christmas Sing Out is the second event in the "Twelve Days of Christmas in Historic Kenansville," a project of the Kenansville Area Chamber of Commerce. The Third Day of Christmas Carlo Menotti's popular Christmas musical presenta tion, "Amahl and the Night Visitors," will be staged Tuesday, December 16 at 8 p.m. in the Kenansville United Methodist Church. Presented by the Kinston Lenoir Community Theatre, the event is part of "The Twelve Days of Christmas in Historic Kenansville." This charming musical features some of the finest voices in the Kinston area under the direction of Leigh Kilgore Hart. "Amahl and the Night Visitors" is a traditional holiday operetta based on the Biblical story of the visit of the three wise men from the east at the birth of Christ. The Fourth Day of Christmas The smell of delicious home-cooked dishes will fill Kenan Auditorium on Wed nesday, December 17, be ginning at 6:30 p.m. when a community covered dish suppe? will be the fourth event in "The Twelve Days of Christmas in Historic Kenansville." Last year this event was one of the best attended and it is being repeated by popular demand. Dick Jones of WITN, Channel 7, will again be present with tele vision cameras video-taping for his popular Almanac television program. The Fifth Day of Christmas Santa Claus along with carolers will be visiting area businesses as stores throughout the business dis trict participate in Merchants' night, December 19 as part of "The Twelve Days of Christmas in Historic Kenansville." Most stores will remain open until 9 p.m. so shoppers can take ad vantage of special bargains in filling their Christmas list. The Sixth Day of Christmas Liberty Hall,. ancestral home of the Kenan family, The Graham House Inn and the David Byrd residence off Hwy. 11N. will be decorated in Christmas finery and open to the public on Saturday, December 20 from 2-6 p.m. Liberty Hall was built in the early 1800s and is an >? excellent example of the Greek revival style of archi tecture. The home remained in the Kenan family until 1968 when it was restored and deeded to Duplin County by Frank Kenan of Durham. The restoration efforts were under the supervision of Thomas S. Kenan III of Chapel Hill. The house is furnished with original pieces where possible and replica pieces of the period. All furnishings are at least made before 1850. The Graham House Inn has recently opened as a country inn offering food at its finest. This lovely old home, built in 1855, is one of the most elaborate houses in Kenansville and the only house of the Italianage re vival style of architecture. For open house on December 20. the entire house will be open for viewing. Decora tions of natural greenery, fruits, nuts, berries, etc. have been especially created for the house. The lovely old country home of David and Betty Byrd will also feature native greenery and natural deco rations. Visitors will enjoy the adaptive restoration effort and clever chicken decorations used throughout the house. The Byrd resi dence is located on Rural Paved Road 1300, three miles off Hwy. 11 North. It, along with Liberty Hall and the Graham House Inn. will be open from 2-6 p.m. , For more information, contact the Kenansville Aiea Chamber of Commerce, P.O. Box 5%, Kenansville, NC Lanier Appointed Director W. Harold Lanier W. Harold Lanier, has been appointed director of lending for East Federal Savings, according to presi dent W.W. Whittington. Ef fective immediately, Lanier will oversee the associations mortgage lending operation, which includes the conven tional, FHA, VA, commercial and secondary markets. Lanier has most recently served as home office mana ger. Since joining East Federal in 1971, Lanier has served as loan counselor as well as managing officer of Eastern Appraisal Services, a wholly owned subsidiary of the association. Lanier is an associate member of the Society of Real Estate Appraisers, and a designated mtmb'r of th? National Associ'ion of p Review Appraisers. He is also a licensed real estate broker. ? Lanier is a native of Duplin Countv and a graduate of Pembroke State University. He is also a member of the Kinston Rotary Lluo and the Gordon Street Christian Church. He. his wife Barbara and their two daughters, Cindy and Shari, reside in Kinston. 1 Only 14 More Days Before Christmas Student Of The Month Julia Spicer, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Williams Spicer of Kenansville, was named December Rotary Student of the Month at their regular December meeting. Julia ranks second in her senior class of 143. Her school activities include: Beta Club, cheerleader, president of Student Council, All County chorus, Softball team, ASU Summer Science Program, accompanist for chorus, Pep Club, tennis team, Swing Choir, sophomore class treasurer, president of Student Government Association, National Honor Society, Monogram Club, annual staff, Peace College Scholar ship nominee, Morehead Scholarship nominee. She has been very active in 4-H, having been president of the Kenansville 4-H Club, participant in 4-H talent show in Raleigh, attended 4-H National Jr. Horticulture convention as a state winner and was selected national winner, and is a Jr. 4-H leader. Other activities include her church, where she has been accompanist for the church youth group, has been a member of the Kenansville Beautification committee, secretary of Grove Presby terian Youth Group, and a semi-finalist in the Miss United Teenager State Pageant. She has worked with the Twelve Days of Christmas in Historic Kenansville. Her future plans are to attend Davidson College or UNC-CH. Faison Phone Rates Increase 69% At the December 2 meet ing of the Faison Town Board, Mayor Bill Carter informed the board of a 60 percent increase of the local telephone rates. A 60 percent increase over the basic rate of $5.95 would mean a bill of $9.40 each month, Carter said. An in crease of $2.20 in Faison's basic rate and a charge of $1.25 for each phone would increase customer bills at least $3.45. he explained. And, Carter added, Faison is second in overall increases listed by Carolina Telephone and Telegraph. Rate increases were filed with the Utilities Commis sion on October 1, and will become effective April 1, if no action has been taken by the Commission. However, Carter said, the Commission can review the rates after April 1. "I want this board to go on record with the Utilities Commission," Carter said. "We should'either approve the rates or disapprove them, but we should go on record one way or another. And, we must take into consideration that a great amount of Faison's citizens are living on fixed incomes." Commissioner William Igoe suggested the board take no action on the rates until a representative from Carolina Telephone could meet with the board at the January meeting. A contract was approved with Pittard and Perry, a Goldsboro accounting firm, to audit Faison's water pro ject. According to Town Ad ministrator Neil Mallory, payment of a $90,500 Clean Water Bond Grant will not be issued Faison until an audit of the project is complete. The accounting firm will receive $375 for auditing the project. Commissioner Fred Wheless updated the board on the water project. Ac cording to Wheless, the ele vated storage tank is com plete and will begin opera tion when distribution and well lines are connected. The storage tank had been sche duled to begin operation November 15, but, Wheless said lines to the well were not complete. Cumberland Paving Company, respon sible for the instalation of distribution and well to tank lines, is working under a late penalty, Wheless said. A public hearing was held on uses for revenue sharing funds received since the compl^fion of the 1980-81 budget. A total of $3,242 in additional revenue sharing funds and $168 of increase were amended into the town budget after the hearing. Mavis Bradshaw, with the Community Building Com mission in Faison, was the only citizen appearing before the board at the public hearing. Mrs. Bradshaw thanked the board for allo cating $1,000 into the com munity building fund. She commented that some paint ing and cleaning inside the building has bees accom plished. Since May the faci lity has been rented 11 times, she said. The revenue sharing funds were adopted into the budget as follows: $1,000 for the community building, $910 for sidewalks, and IL500 for drainage and tile. .$? ' ) * ROTARY STUDENT OF THE MONTH JULIA SPICER - Pictured above is Julia Spicer,, a senior at James Kenan, who was chosen as Rotary Student of the Month for December. Julia is pictured with Rotary member Jimmy Strickland of Warsaw. I