. |H(pfitt rife %iviu$ PROGRESS SENTINEL VOL. XXXXVIll NO. 25 USPS 162-860 KENANSV1LLE, NC 28349 JUNE 20. 1985 14 PAGES THIS WEEK 10 CENTS PLUS TAX John Viscardi...Alias Phenius Pickett New York Actors Perform Lead Roles At Liberty Cart History and tradition are two of the most notieceable differences in Duplin County and New York City, commented John Viscardi who is portraying Phenius Pickett in the 10th anniversary production of THE LIBERTY CART. "Here in Kenansville," John Vis cardi said, "and not only here, but in other parts of North Carolina, you are literally overwhelmed by its I | heritage-. Anu that is especially true ' ' in Kenansville. "Where I'm from it's more of an amassment of different people," John, a native of New York City, said. "There^s certainly a history, but things are so fast-paced that it tends to get lost in the shuffle." In addition to the preservation of history through outdoor drama and ""'tfesVoriufWr of Mt&tfe-' sites! J. tin " added that a difference can be found in the attitude of the people of 5 Carolina and^New York. "The real difference between the people of Kenansville and New York is that there seems to be more of a concern for the quality of living," John said. "People care enough to ask you how you are feeling or have a nice day." And, from the attitudes of the local citizens, John believes the character of Phenius was born. The palyful, fun-loving type character of Phenius in the outdoor drama charms each member of the audi ence, just as local residents make out-of-state visitors welcome, John pointed out. As the lead in the outdoor drama, John realizes a demand from the weight of the role. But, he also views the role as one of leadership among the more than 40 local cast members. "When I'm around the local cast, on-stage and off, I do feel like I'm a center of attention," John said. "4lHl iMtitl of the attention to me as a professional, 1 feel I have a standard to maintain." Working for the first time in outdoor drama, John pointed out many auterences from indoor theatre. An obvious difference is the type of drama and the demands on the performer's voice. "The big difference for me is having to project my voice so people in the last row can hear clearly," John said. "I think that is boing to be a challenge. "But, also, outdoor drama is much more of a spectacle with fireworks and battle sceenes, than indoor theatre. There's a lot more going on in an outdoor drama," he said. John began is acting career as a sophomore at Columbia University. He later graduated with a bachelor's degree in English literation and a theatre minor. "The first scene 1 was in 1 forgot half my lines and mumbled the other * ha!f,v John laughed. "Needless to say it was a disaster, and to top it off, they made me sit oh stage and take criticism. 1 felt about the size of a peanut, but acting really did grow on me!" North Carolina Farms Turn To Hogs North Carolina farmers appear to be in the beginning stage of a swine production push. Farmers who are seeking addi tional income in the face of low grain 3 prices and an uncertain future for tobacco are turning to swine and poultry production as alternatives. A tight credit situation is slowing the rate of expansion, according to some producers. As a result some of the larger producers are expanding their own operations as well as looking for contract growers. Murphy Farms of Rose Hill is one of those expanding. Owner Wendell Murphy said that Murphy Farms is building a hog finishing complex near Waycross in southern Sampson County. Five houses, each housing 1,100 hogs, have been completed and filled with hogs. Five others are under construction, In finishing operation, small pigs of 40 to 60 or 70 pounds each are out on Finishing, floors to be fed out to mark weight of 220 pounds or mort. Murphy said his company has never stopped growing in its 20 years of existence. "We're just moving where we feel like it's reasonably prudent," he added. "We feel pretty good about expanding because of packing company expansion that should strengthen the market." Murphy was referring to the expansion of Lundy Packing Co. in Clinton. "We re also now starting con struction of a 1,000-sow facility near Garland," he added. Murphy warned hog producers to be concerned about "the tremen dous expansion of the poultry indus try" u He noted there is a limit to the amount of meat people will buy. The poultry industry has done an excel lent promotion job. Murphy said, and the pork industry needs to match it. "The thing that concerns us as much as anything else is holding on to our share of the meat market, he explained. Rose Hill Gives Raises In Budget ^ Town employees will receive in creases of five or three percent, according to the 1985-86 budget approved last week by the Rose Hill Board of Commissioners. The police will get the three percent increase because they re ceived a 10 percent increase last year. Other town employees, who got four percent last year, will receive a five percent increase. The new budget is based on \ anticipated income of $241,000, an increase of $5,000 over the current fiscal year. The tax rate of 70 cents per $100 worth of property remains unchanged. Town Clerk C.T. Herring based his projections on collection of $95,000 of the gross property tax leyy of $126,000. The remaining $146,000 wiff come from other taxes ? and from state and Federal grants. Any properly tax collections over the projected $95,000 will be added tp the town's surplus. It is entering the new fiscal year with a fund balance of $68,000. The new budget includes S5.500 for a police car. The vehicle will be a former Highway Patrol car. Chief Bobby Maready asked for the car and for a six percent pay increase for the police force. Mayor Ben Harrell said: "We can reasonably assume that we'll proba bly lose revenue sharing. 1 don't know what the legislature will do about this tax package, but we can depend on losing revenue sharing." "We can't keep on raising salaries," he said. "We raised police ten percent last year. They asked for six percent this year. We need to go to a merit system." Harry Bradshaw, who has bought the former Watson Poultry and Sea food Co. office building, asked to have a portion of Oak Street next to the building closed. Commissioner Clarence Brown, who owns some nearby property, protested that he needs to have the street kept open for easy access to part of hi!s ( business. The board took no action. * Other uusjness at the board's meeting included: ? During a public hearing, D.J. Fusseli supported closing Elm Street behind Whisper Soft Mills. Clayton Herring Sr., who owns property on the street, spoke against closing it. Whisper Soft is expanding its plant on the far side of the street from its present building. ? The board heard that Eugene Fusseli, a town maintenance worker, needs two to three days a month to read the 630 water meters in town. The board will try to find a retiree as meter reader on a part-time basis to relieve Fusseli of the chore. ? Brown told the board, "1 want a list every month of everybody who owes overdue taxes. If these people don't pay their taxes we're going to have to raise taxes." ^WE SflUITEp .......-3 ALL IN THE ^ DAIRY INDUSTRY* t Vinegar And Brine Fill The Air As Pickle Making Time Comes Around The state has become the leading pickling cucumber producer of the nation. It must be time to get out the vinegar and spices, because the cucumbers are rolling by the truck loads down the byways of rural eastern North Carolina. Pickling cucumber buying stations are busy as pickup truck and trailer loads of pickles-to-be arrive steadily. The buying stations for several companies are scattered across much of eastern North Carolina. The state has become the leading pickling cucumber producer of the nation. Numerous stations are operated by buyers under contract with Jharles F. Cates & Sons of Faison, one of the major "picklers" of the country. Just up U.S. 117 from Faison is Mount Olive, home of the Mount Olive Pickle Co., one of Cates' rivals. The cucumbers come from several states to the pickle factories at dif ferent times of the season. North Carolina pickling cukes may travel a long distance, as much as 1.000 miles to a pickle factory. The cukes coming into C.C. lvey's station on N.C. 11 at Kenansville were destined for Crosswell, Mich., where the Aunt Jane division of the Cates company produces pickles. lvey said they would be taken to a "hydrocool" on N.C. Ill in the Albertson area. Pickles destined for long distance travel are cooled to 40 degrees by a "rain of icewater" while they move through a long tunnel. A worker at the hydrocooler said the cooling process takes just a few minutes. The cooled pickles are loaded into a refrigerated trailer of an 18-wheeler rig for their long ride to Michigan. "These pickles will be put up in fresh pack," lvey said. They must be handled quickly, he added. Other pickles are stored in brine and can be kept for a long time before pro cessing, he noted. Neil Southerland of the Kenans ville area unloaded a trailer of pickles at lvey's station last week. "I ha?'?- *h