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PROGRESS SENTINEL
^fcvOL. XXXXV NO 10 USPS 162-860 KENANSVILLE. NC 28349 MARCH 11. 1982 16 PAGES THIS WEEK 10CENTS PLUS TAX
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Board Now Following Procedure
The Duplin County Demo
j? cratic Party executive com
Mk mittee is now following the
? proper procedure for filling a
f vacancy on the county Board
of Elections, party chairman
Melvin Williams said last
week.
The committee acted im
properly last week when it
elected Douglas Judge of
Kenansville to fill the vacant
elections chairmanship, state
elections director Alex K.
Brock said Tuesday. Brock
said only the state elections
board can appoint mejaacrs
of county elections ?frds
and only the elections boards
can elect their chairmen.
Williams said the Demo
crats' committee acted last
week through the mistaken
impression it could name the
replacement, not realizing it
could only recommend nomi
nees to the state party chair
man.
Brock said county parties
must submit their elections
nominations to the appro
priate state party chairman.
The chairman consults with
the state elections board on
the nominees.
Thursday. Williams said
the county Democratic exe
cutive committee has nomi
nated Judge and Larry Bostic
of Bculavillc for considera
tion by state Democratic
Party chairman Russell
Walker.
The executive committee
gave Judge 85'/i votes and
Bostic. 39 votes, for the
position last week.
Brock also said a board
member's resignation be
come.. effective only after
being submitted to the state
elections board. Claud
Heplcr of Wallace, the
former county elections
board chairman, did that.
Heplcr also sent a copy of the
letter to the county Demo
cratic executive committee,
which Brock said w as proper
procedure.
A county elections board
consists of three members,
usually two from the majority
party and one from the
minority party. In Duplin
County. Democrats are the
majority.
Both parties. Republican
and Democratic, must be
represented on the commit
tees. Members are appointed
for four-year terms.
0 Kenansville CP&L
Dispute In Limbo
A long, confusing wrangle
Monday night among the
?; '1L Town of Kenansville. Caro
flina Power & Light Co. and a
property owner over con
struction of a power line
ended with the town's con
sulting engineer saying he
believes the problems can be
worked out.
The board agreed to take
the controversy to the State
: Utilities Commission if a
compromise cannot be
#- "? reached.
The town needs a three
phase power line constructed
Jf from the new Kenansville
: Elementary School to the
new well and water pumping
station near the school.
Landowner Steve William
son wants a single-phase
power line extended to his
Mr '-ui'se stJ?hb*s-*tc>rect>mporM^
SL lot providing n,>ht-of-wa- .
B Without provision for his
L power line: Williamson ob
JAjected to the three-phase line
crossing his property.
Steve Banks of Goldsboro.
district right-or-way agent
> for CP&L, said the proposed
? three-phase line could use
? existing poles but would
require one additional pole,
plus guy wires, on William
's son's property. It would
require cutting down several
?U. trees as well.
?Last fall Williamson asked
the power company for a line
. across an open field to his
stables. He said CP&L
wanted $1,279 to construct
the line.
"Let's get this thing
straight," said Williamson.
"I'm not wanting money. I
want a power line run to my
horses' stable as compensa
tion for the right-of-way."
A plan to build the three
phase line on another loca
tion struck a snag when the
landowner. Ivey Fields, re
fused to sign a right-of-way
agreement even though he
didn't object to the line.
Banks said the company can
not build a power line across
property without a signed
right-of-way agreement.
Board member Jimmy
Johnson said: "I don't
understand this. The town
has offered to pay CP&L
$>279 (the -ftst oflhe
liamson stables line!, and the
company won't accept it."
'.'Any time we accent
money, we have to put it on
our books," Banks replied,
"and we don't want to do
that if we have to turn around
and take it right back out.''
Johnson said: "1 don't
know why you've got to have
everything your way...
whether anyone likes it or
not. I think it's time to stop
this arguing."
Board member Earl
Hatcher said, "We spend
$12,500 for street lights and
another $12,500 for other
nower with vou. The town's
due for some consideration."
Mayor Carolyn Hall said|
Jo Johnson, the Mount Olive
CP&L office manager, told
her the company would
neither accept a check from
town nor negotiate for the
right-of-way.
The exasperated Hatcher
said: "Let me tell you, I*
don't care if mv neighbors
fight. But. when they start
throwing bricks that break
my windows, then they're
encroaching on my rights. I
can see both sides of this
thing. CP&L is so big they
have a monopoly. We're
willing to pay. CP&L won't
take it. Williamson won't
take it. What are we going to
do? If somebody don't do
something, this is going to be
known as Kenansville's 'folly
beside the creek'."
"It's about time one of you
took a stand we can negotiate
with." he said. "We know
what the trouble is. It's the
principle of the thing. I don't
see why CP&L should care
where the money comes
from."
Tyndal Lewis, engineer
with McDavid Associates of
Goldsboro. the town's engi
neering firm, said after
talking separately with
Banks and Hatcher: "I think
we can work this out. It's the
well driller's responsibility to
get power to the well."
Duplin Officials Fear
4 Federal , State Cuts
Duplin County officials say
they will face their greatest
L- challenge in putting together
the 1982-83 budget because
of troubled economic condi
. tions and federal and state
grant reductions,
jfc While money demands will
increase, they pointed out,
i high unemployment, low
.!?' farm product prices and
weak business demand will
virtually preclude any tax
increases.
Calvin Turner, chairman of .
the county board of com
missioners. said. "No one
wants any tax increase, but
all this stuff that is being cut
out (federal budget reduc
? tions) is passed out to the
states and from the states to
the counties. Counties have
only one source of money - ad
valorem taxes - and these
simply can not pick up every
thing that's being cut."
While saying he expects a
[. "tough year," Gerald Quintv
of Quinn Wholesale of War
saw added, "I think it looks
good for industry in Duplin.
One of the things that will
9 help the county in the future
is 1-40 and our location on the
expressway to the port at
Wilmington."
He said, "Duplin is very
different from other coun
j ties. Things seem bad right
now, but it will be a different
tune in April. When people
& get out in the fields, the
Ej? music and the tempo
|*1 change."
A The Warsaw businessman
said he believes the reces
sion will be severe but
shorter than in 1974.
Although the unemploy
ment rate of 10.3 percent in
November was expected to
increase during December
and January. John Gurgan
ous. county economic devel
opment director, expressed
some optimism for later in
the year.
"If folks can see daylight
(improved economic condi
tions nationally)," he said,
he believes more industry,
jobs and tax base will come
to the county this year than
in the past five. Employment
should increase by June, he
added.
On the darker side, he
said. "I don't like to think
about it. but our textile
industry is closely related to
auto industry, and they're
(auto) going to have to turn
around before textiles will
build up."
"A job today is a lot more
important than it was a year
ago," said Graham Phillips,
chairman of the county board
of education.
"My corn is a $1 and
soybeans $1.60 cheaper than
last year, while nitrogen
fertilizer was $98 (per ton)
last year and $118 this year."
Turner said. "Interest rates
are so high we can't buy
tractors or equipment.
"A lot of our folks who
went up north for work are
coming back here as the jobs
give out up there," he said.
"That means welfare here."
County manager Ralph
Cottle said, "This will be the
most difficult budget yet.
due to the economy and
grant cuts. They cut grants
but didn't cut the paperwork
even though they cut admin
istrative money."
The county's 1980-81 bud
get tptaled $8,285,000.
County ad valorem tax reve
nue provided $4,255,000 or
51 percent of the total.
Revenue sharing provided
$800,000 last year. In the
past, revenue sharing has
provided as much as
$800,000 in a single year.
Cottle emphasized that the
county will be unable to take
on any new programs or
expand existing programs in
the next fiscal year.
"Local political people will
have to become more in
volved, such as county
boards meeting more often,"
he said. "As the cuts come
down, the local government
is going to become more
complicated."
Cottle said that despite
economizing, basic costs con
tinue to increase.
He said the county paid
57.5 cents a gallon for
159.000 gallons of gasoline in
1977, a total cost of $81,525.
In 1980 it paid $1.12 a gallon
for 131.000 gallons, a total of
$146,720.
BARBECUE SUPPER
Unity United Methodist
Church of Route 2, Warsaw,
will have a barbecued pork
and chicken supper
beginning at 5 p.m., Satur
day, March 27. Plates are
$2.50 and may be eaten in or
taken out.
Duplin Will Live
With School Cuts
The Duplin County school
administration will not try to
offset reductions in federal
and state funding by asking
for more local money.
"Although the federal and
state projected revenues for
public schools appear to be
significantly reduced, there
will be no attempt to expand
the local budget to absorb
those projected losses."
SuperintendentL^S. Gu\$v,~
the Board of Education at
their meeting last week on
Tuesday night.
"Information. . .from the
state level indicates that
federal reductions will not be
absorbed by the state." Guy
said.
He estimated 1,197 school
jobs affecting 173.000 stu
dents in the state could be
lost because of proposed
federal budget reductions.
The administrative staff
will present its proposed
budget to the board at its
March 16 meeting.
Guy told the board the
school system may get
through the year without
requiring additional fuel oil.
Early last month, officials
estimated an additional
30,000 gallons would be
needed. However, moderate
weather in February enabled
schools to reduce fuel con
sumption.
Because of increasing
rates, the school system may
need additional money from
the county for electricity, he
added. Guy said the alloca
tion for electricity must be
increased tor next year, but
the need can't be determined
until the state Utilities Com
mission acts on Carolina
Power & Light Co.'s current
rate hike request.
Others appearing before
the board last week included:
? Alice Scott, assistant
superintendent, who said an
additional guidance counse
lor will be needed for junior
high schools.
'r? Gary Sanderson, assis
tant superintendent, who
said funds will be needed to
maintain accreditation with
the Southern Association of
Schools and Colleges and for
large equipment items for
music programs in the
schools.
Sanderson also said more
funds should be included for
replacement and repair of
instructional equipment and
furniture so the number of
school fund-raisers can be
reduced.
? Robert Tan. vocational
programs director, who said
vocational education faces
significant reductions in re
sources from the state. He
said the state may lose from
600 to 1.000 vocational edu
cation teachers and large
reductions in funds for dis
advantaged and handicapped #
student training because of
proposed federal budget
cuts.
? Victor Tucker, finance
officer, who noted health
insurance premiums will
increase from $40 per month
to $48 per month during the
next school year.
Duplin Employees
Favor Insurance
Duplin County employees
want to maintain health
insurance even at higher
premium costs.
Facing a 39 percent in
crease in employee insurance
premiums, county officials
conducted a survey to obtain
employees' opinions about
health insurance.
The survey revealed 109
employees wanted to con
tinue health insurance, even
at higher cost, while 19 were
against it and 10 undecided.
Also. 97 employees opposed
reducing coverage while 21
favored a reduction and four
were undecided. Ninety
seven employees said they
would favor changing
insurance companies and 41
opposed any change.
The county pays S24 of the
monthly premium. Em
ployees pay S12.84 per
month plus additional
amounts for family coverage.
The county began paying the
total Blue Cross-Blue Shield
premium of $6.50 per month
for employees in 1975. When
the premiums were raisco to
$24 per month in 1979. the
county upped its payment to
cover them.
The 39 percent increase
would raise an employee's
payment to $27.19 per month
it tne county contribution re
mained at $24. If the county
raised its share of the pre
mium payment by $26 a
month to $50. leaving $1.19
for an employee to pay. it
would cost the county an
additional $43,977 a year.
County Manager Ralph
Cottle said. That would
amount to 2.5 percent of the
county payroll, he added.
If the county increased all
employees' salaries by $26 a
month, the cost would be
$6,621. However, after de
ductions. an average em
ployee would only receive
$153 more take-home pay a
year out of the gross pay
increase of $312 per month,
he added.
The board will study the
matter at its March 15 meet
ing. Meanwhile it will deduct
the increased premium from
employees' checks to keep
insurance in force.
Two hundred Duplin
County employees are
covered by the insurance
program.
TTie county paid $125,417
in premiums and insurance
processing fees last year.
Gaims of $122,000 were paid
by the company, mostly to
dependents of employees.
Claims averaged between
$1,700 and $1,800.
EMPLOY THE OLDER WORKER WEEK
Carolyn M. Hall, mayor of Kenansville.
signs a proclamation designating March
14-20 as Employ the Older Worker Week.
Dennis Kirby looks on. Gov. James Hunt has
proclaimed the observance in North Caro
lina. All employers tn the area are asked to
consider the skills and other qualifications of
men and women aged 40 and over.
Student Aid Cuts
Worry Sprunt Officials
James Sprunt Technical
College officials said they arc
uncertain about the effect of
the economic crunch on the
Kenansvillc institution.
"We lost 50 students this
past quarter who simply
couldn't pay their fees or buy
books." said Dr. Carl Price,
president of the school.
Prospective federal cuts in
student aid will force more of
the neediest students out of
school, he said, noting 38
percent of the 650 full-time
students receive aid through
the federal grant program.
"Our immediate problem
in keeping the doors open is
cost of electricity," Price
said. "It appears that we'll
be out of utilities money in a
month or two. Over half of
the money we get from
Duplin County is budgeted to
utilities and this keeps grow
ing. We're going to have to
go back to the county com
missioners for more money
for utilities."
The school is continuing to
adjust plans to train students
for fields in which job oppor
tunities seem available. It
added a two-year course in
electronics technology last
fall in which 18 students are
enrolled. This is a two-year
program to teach students to
repair and service electronic
machines ? such as com
puters. word processing ma
chines and game machines.
"We can place everyone
who graduates from this
course." Price said.
The school had added
computer, data and word
processing to its business
and secretarial programs,
said Gene Ballard, dean of
students.
He said a course on un
derstanding data processing,
a beginning step for more
advanced work in the field, is
being planned for next
quarter. A skills laboratory to
provide better individual de
velopment opportunity for
students in shorthand,
typing and office machine
use is being developed.
A day care center is being
considered. It could serve
two purposes: providing care
for children of students and
providing training for stu
dents interested in this field
of work. Ballard indicated
such a field might interest
some of the people who have <
4
considered teacher aide
training as opportunity in
that field has about evapo
rated.
"We want to add a bio
logical science program,"
Ballard said. This would be a
two-year course to train
technicians for the poultry
and swine industries, major
industries in the region. Bal
lard said the demand for
such people is good. He said
the industry had indicated it
could employ all who would
be graduated from such a
program.
Price said the welding
classes are full and the
school has to turn students
away from them.
In contrast, if building
trades continue in the dol
drums. Price said the school
would have to "take a bard
look" at reducing its courses
in these fields to enable it to
provide facilities in more
active job-producing areas.
In addition to the full
time students. Price said
about 3.000 people are taking
extension courses.
Price said 100 adults
qualified for high school
diplomas through the adult
high school courses offered
at the school last year. The
county's four high schools
graduated about 500 stu
dents last spring.
Whitley Will
Seek Re-election
Third District Congress
man Charlie Whitley of
Mount Olive has announced
that he will be a candidate for
reelection in 1182 subject to
the Democratic primary.
Whitley, now completing
his third term, servbd for
more than 15 years as ad
ministrative assistant to his
predecessor. David N. Hen
derson of Wallace, before
seeking election in his own
right in 197b.
In the House he serves on
the agriculture ccmmittee
and is the ranking Demo
cratic mcmbet on its sub
committee on tobacco. He
was elected by his colleagues
from North Carolina and
Virginia as zone whip, a
position in the House Domo
cratic leadership structure
During his first term in
["engross. Whitley was a
member of the House urnted
services committee, and he
remains active in defense
related issues.
He is a graduate of Wake
Forest University and its law
school, having been awarded
the BA degree in 1948 and a
lav degree in 1950. He
earned a master's degree in
legislative affairs from
George Washington Univer
sity in I974.
Whitlcs is married to the
former Audrey Korncgav of
Warsaw , and the couple has
three children: Charlie Jr.,
Martha and Sara.
Commenting on his deci
sion to seek a fourth term.
Whitley said. "The people of
the third district have an
investment in me. in my
education which I received
by virtue of the Gl Bill, in the
experience I have from 22
years in the third district
congressional office, and in
the money, energy and sup
port they have provided in
my past campaigns. I offer
myself again as a candidate
this year with the commit
ment that I will continue to
do my utmost to conduct
myself in a way that will
reflect credit upon them and
provide for all of the people
of the third district the kind
of representation they de
serve and have a right to
expect." .