North Carolina Newspapers

PRIZE- WINNING NEWSPAPER of th. TAR HEEL COAST CARTERET COUNTY NEWS-TIMES "? 46th YEAR, NO. 14. THREE SECTIONS TWENTY PAGES MORBftEAD CITY AND BEAUFORT, NORTH CAROLINA FRIDAY, FEBRUARY IB. 1967 PUBLISHED TUESDAYS AND FR1DAY3 Teachers Up in Arms Over 9.1 Raise i S ? : : *? 1 ? ? ? <1 i-n -? ? ? ? ill Carteret Group Endorses Proposal for Outdoor Drama A long-range program designed * to establish an outdoor drama pro duction in or near Beaufort was ap proved Monday night at a meeting of the Carteret County Historical Drama Association. Representatives from all sections ol the county met for a buffet sup per at the home of Mrs. G. W. Dun can, Queen Street, Beaufort. Advantages in staging a drama similar to The Lost Colony and Un*o These Hills were outlined by Glenn Adair, president of the Beau fort Chambei of Commerce, Jim Wheatley, Dr. W. L. WooJard and Norwood Young. Gives Report Mrs. Charles Hassell, who has conducted research on the project, reported on two prc-organizational meetings. Mrs. Hassell has been in contact with the drama depart ment of the University of North Carolina and through Samuel Sel den, head of the department, has obtained information on procedure for establishing an organization to sponsor the production. Mr. Adair commented on the cul tural value of an outdoor drama. Dr. Woodard pointed out the eco nomic advantages gained by Dare County through its Lost Colony, and Mr. Young remarked that opening of the seashore highway would bring a new mass of tourists to this county. Mr. Wheatley stated that the project has a tremendous potential. A successful drama would mean that hotels and motels would be built to provide lodging for drama audiences; better roads too, he said, would follow the tourist trade. Itoost to Economy Mr. Wheatley remarked that sue* cess of the drama would improve the economy of the entire county. It is estimated that the payroll to those involved in drama production would be between fifty and sixty thousand dollars a summer. See DRAMA, Page 4 Beer, Cigarettes Taken at Grill The sheriff's office is investigat ing a break-in at Lettie's Place (the former Airport Grill), west of Morchead City. Sheriff Hugh Sal ter said that three cases of beer and a quantity of cigarettes were stolen there Wednesday night. The thief broke into the juke box and took all the change in the machine. Deputy Bobby Bell was assigned to the case Thursday morning. The sheriff also reports that he and Deputy Sheriff Bruce Edwards drove to Norfolk Tuesday to pick up Ralph Arnold, who is wanted for violation of parole. He was put on parole after serving part of a sentence for breaking and entering the Snack Grill on Highway 101. Arnold is now in jail here. Two other prisoners in the Nor folk jail arc wanted in this county for questioning in a power saw theft at Newport. Bobby and Alton Waddell have been in the jail sincc they were apprehended in Norfolk by Sheriff Salter and an SBI agent Dec 8. The sheriff was unable to bring them back on his trip becausc they refused to waive extradition. Ex tradition papers were filed on the pair Dec. 18, but the papers have not comc through yet. When the papers come back, the two men will be brought back here for trial. Bankers Finance Farm Course Terry Garner, left, and Billy Simmons receive a check from J. R. Sanders, Carteret County key banker. The check is financ ing the farmer short course the two boys arc now enrolled in at State College. Mr. Garner is the son of Mrs. Jesse Garner. Newport, and Mr. Simmons is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Harold Simmons, Newport. Photo by R. M. Williams Walter Wetherington, Stella, who was originally seheduled to take the course, could not go because of business commitments. Mr. Simmons took his place. The two boys were selected for the course on the basis of their outstanding record in 4-H club work. The course ends Feb. 22. It is sponsored by the North Caro lina Bankers Association. Ships Bound for Struck Ports May Dock Here J. D. Holt, Morehcad City port manager, said yesterday that due to the longshoremen's strike, it is jNMMttfcte that skips north of here may bfe diverted to Morchead City for unloading. Longshoremen at Virginia ports northward went on strike Tuesday. Although a quick settlement was hoped for, no agreement had been reached by noon yesterday between the International Longshoremen's Association and shippers. Sectional Agreement Stevedores from Morchead City southward and along the Gulf coast, numbering 15,000, have reached contract agreements with local employers and therefore are not involved in the strike. Mr. Holt said that it looked Wed nesday as though one ship might be diverted here from New York, but the shipper decided to take a gam ble and go on into New York on the chancc that the strike would be settled. Mr. Holt said a major part of the cargo was consigned to New York. Once a ship has docked at a struck port, it cannot pull out and re-dock at a port where longshore men are in operation, Mr. Holt said. Ships can only be diverted while still at sea. Morehcad City longshoremen went on strike in November in a walkout that tied up the East and Gulf coasts. A Taft-Hartley injunc tion interrupted the strike Nov. 24. Advance Movement In other port activity: A few ad vance troops and gear in the Ma rine Caribbean maneuver are be in? loaded on LSD's at Morehcad City. The major movement will start Tuesday, Feb. 26. The fish oil ship American Miller, has been delayed again. It was originally scheduled to arrive Feb. 10. It is now expected next Friday. The fish oil will be exported ^ Rot terdam, Holland. A barge of jet fuel was sent from Morchcad City to Cherry Point yes terday. Gloucester Club To Give Supper To raise money to finish the com munity building, the Gloucester Community Club decided Tuesday night to have a ham supper Satur day, Feb. 23. The plates will be prepared to be taken home; "fixed to go," in other words. Members of the supper commit tee are Miss Hilma Chadwick, Mrs. Walter Stewart, Mrs. Monroe Wil lis, and Mrs. Henry Chadwick. Mrs. H. D. MacFarlanc is in charge of ticket sales. Mrs. E. H. Piper, chairman of the landscape committee for the park, reported that dogwood would be planted. Club members will meet at the park ait 2 p.m. tomor row on a clean up project. The club met at the home of the president, Richard Whitehurst. Twenty-one attended. The meeting closed with a song fest with Mrs. Al Hubbard at the piano. Doctors Meet Dr. William Fahy was guest speaker at the monthly meeting of the County Medical Association at the Morehead City Hospital Mon day night. Dr. Fahy, an authority on marine biology, spoke to the group on poisonous tropical fish. Conifer Recovers Lightship Anchor, Gets Commendation The Coast Guard buoy tender Conifer has reeeived an official commendation from district head quarters in Norfolk for a job well done in its recovery of the Dia mond Shoals lightship anchor Monday morning. The lightship informed the Con ifer late Saturday night that her anchor chain had parted. A SO to 80 milc-an-hour gale was blowing when the chain parted, and the lightship had drifted about 20 miles off her position. The Conifer, commanded by Lt. Cmdr. Arthur K. Shcppard, More head City, left Fort Macon at mid night Saturday. She arrived at Diamond Shoals in time to begin dragging for the anchor shortly after > a.m. Sunday. The commander of the lightship, Chief Warrant Bos'n Doily Fulcher of Stacy, had returned his vessel to its position and gave the Coni fer hia exact location when the anchor chain bad parted. I Twenty minutes after the Con ifer began dragging operations, she picked up the broken chain, complete with anchor. The chain was repaired aboard the Conifer and all the mooring gear of the lightship was checked before the buoy tender departed. Commander Sheppard gave cre dit for the rapid recovery to Mr. Kulcher, who was able to give the exact location of the lightship, and to members of the Conifer's staff who computed the dragging run. He said that all the members of the crew were commended for their performance of duty in man ning the dragging gear and com pleting the necessary routine of the operation. Commander Sheppard said that operations of this sort often take three or four dayi. The length of time required to find an anchor is determined by the accuracy of the log kept by the skipper of the ship losing Ihc anchor and by the compulations of the staff aboard the searching vessel. The Conifer returned to Fort Macon at 1 p.m. Tuesday. Tides at the Beaufort Bar Tide Table moil LOW Friday, Feb. IS 8:40 a m. 9:08 p.m. 2:35 a.m. 3:04 p.m. Saturday, Feb. If 9:32 a.m. 10:01 p.m. 3:24 a.m. 3:48 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 17 10:25 a.m. 10:55 p.m. 4:12 am. 4:33 p.m. Monday, Feb. 18 11:1* a.m. 11:49 p.m. 5:00 a.m. 5:20 p.m. Taeaday, Feb. It 12:12 p.m. 5:54 a.m. ?:U p.m. Parade Group Begins Plans Governor Hodges, Polly Bergen Will Appear In Centennial Event Plans for the ccntennial jubilee parade were made Wednesday night when members of the parade committee met with chairman A. N. Willis at the recreation building. Morehead City. The parade is scheduled for Saturday afternoon, Aug. 10. Mr. Willis and his committee voted to invite beer and soft drink companies to send their floats. They expect to obtain 20 floats from outside Morehead City, with local businesses adding more. Gov. Luther Hodges and Polly Bergen head the list of dignitaries who have agreed to ride in the pa rade. Invitations have been extend ed to John M. Morehead 111, grand son of tnc founder of Morehead City, and other famous personali ties, including Bill Cullcn and Andy Griffiths. Bill Cullcn is a member of the panel on the TV show, I've Got a Secret, and Andy Griffiths is fam ous for his recordings and his role in No Time for Sergeants, which was a Broadway hit and is now be ing filmed. Mr. Griffiths, a native of Mount Airy, N. C., is playing in the movie the same character he portrayed in the play. The length of the parade, who will participate, and the route of the parade will be determined as plans develop, Mr. Willis said. Motorists Stand In Line for Tags I^ong lines of motorists who wait ed until the last minute to buy state license ??*? h ?ve been forming this week at the installment loan de partment of the First-Citizens Bank, Morehead City. Tags are being sold at the loan department. Today is the deadline for display ing 1956 liccnsc plates, and the mo torists have a choice of standing in line or paying a fine in court. The fines range from one third court costs ($7.25) for driving without a Morehead City tag to $21.50 in county recorder's court for driving without a state tag. Beaufort town clcrk Dan Walker reported that only 276 town tags had been sold in Beaufort so far. That represents about 60 per cent of the cars owned by town resi dents, according to Mr. Walker. In Moichead City, 950 of the city tags have been sold. Deadline for the city tags is the same as state tags. A breakdown of state tag sales here shows: 4,320 auto tags, 684 pri vate truck tags, 253 small trailer tags, 130 farm truck tags, 50 large trailer tags, and 9 motorcyclc tags, a total of 5,446. Yacht Returns To New Jersey The Mary N. II, a yacht from which Mrs. Mary Ann Scalcs dis appeared Saturday night at Ocra cokc, left Ocracokc Wednesday afternoon, bound northward to New Jersey from whencc it had comc. Aboard waa Dr. James T. Dodge, Trenton, N. J. Mrs. Scales, his travelling companion and nurse for 12 years, mysteriously disappeared from the yacht while it was anchor ed north of the Coast Guard Station at Ocracokc. The Coast Guard called off for mal search for Mrs. Scalcs yeater day. She is believed to have drown ed. Dr. Dodge says she may have been swept off the yacht while he was sleeping below. Ben O'Neal, commanding officer of Uie Ocracokc Coast Guard Sta tion, said yesterday that all fisher men in the area have been alerted to be on the lookout for the body. Although drowning victims some times flokt to the surface in three days. Mr. O'Neal said water tem peratures can causc a variation in that time. Dr. Dodge's wife, Mcrccrsville, N. J., left her husband last May because of Mrs. Scales. Mrs. Scales' husband, Trenton, N. J., said he had filed suit for divorce on the grounds of desertion. Centennial Headquarters The white trailer parked in front of the Morehead City Drug Store it the official headquarters for the Centennial committee. The trailer will be lettered and decorated ap propriately. The trailer haa been lent to the committee by Warren Bcck, Morehead City. Teachers Protest Morehead City teachers wasted no time Wednesday in getting letters of protest off to the governor and coun ty representatives in the general assembly, and letters of approval to three representatives who have introduced a bill calling for a 20 per cent teacher pay raise. Twenty per cent is the amount the teachers are seeking. All members of the Morehead City faculty have sign ed the following letter which was sent to both I). G. Bell, representative, and Luther Hamilton, state senator: Honorable Luther Hamilton North Carolina State Senate Raleigh, N. C. February 13, 1957 Dear Judge Hamilton: The 38 teachers and principal of the Morehead City Graded School wish to register in the strongest manner possible our united disappointment, disapproval, and disgust at the recommendation of the Governor and Ad visory Budget Commission concerning teacher salaries in North Carolina. We urge you to use every resource at your command to defeat this recommendation and strive for an increase of not one whit less than the 19.31'. recommended by the United Forces for Education. The nearly one million North Carolina school children involved can settle for no less. Any compromise below this amount will be an ig nominious defeat in the battle for a truly enlightened and prosperous state. We are counting on you to bo counted on the right side of this issue. Very sincerely, T. L. Lee, Principal The following letter is from a member of the More head City faculty : February 13, 1957 Governor Luther Hodges Raleigh North Carolina My dear Governor Hodges: As a member of the faculty of the Morehead City Graded School, I strongly endorse the letter of my prin cipal, Mr. T. Lenwood Lee, protesting a 9.1 % raise for North Carolina's public school teachers. After 33 years of service as a first grade teacher, I am tossing in the sponge after this year, so my position in the matter is not too personal in its nature. However, out of many years of experience, I do know a great deal about the terrific pressures brought to bear on teachers by over-crowded class rooms, undisciplined children, de manding parents, an indifferent public, and lack of ade quate income ? a small salary received nine months of the year, with three remaining lean months during which, somehow, one must manage to live. I wonder how we have survived, and why we have been so patient. But I do believe that the climate among teachers is changing. They will no longer be so patient. This was obvious at a faculty meeting in our school this afternoon and there must have been many such, when news of the niggardly 9.1 % raise broke throughout the state. I would not encourage any young person to enter the teaching field. This is particularly true in the case of young men, or even young women who have family re sponsibilities. How can any educated, ambitious young man expect to marry and be responsible for a family in these days of fantastically high living conditions on a teacher's meager earnings? Who can blame them for seeking greener pastures? It seems to me the future of our schools looks dark in deed, for I do not believe the young men and women of this day, our potential teachers, will sacrifice them selves, as the old guard has done, to keep them going. Very truly yours, Mr*. Lucile Arthur Smith Morehead City Graded School Morehead City, N. C. Following is Principal T. L. Lee's personal letter to the governor: February 13, 1957 The Honorable Luther H. Hodges Governor of North Carolina Raleigh, North Carolina Dear Governor Hodges: Never have I seen teacher morale in as low a state as was evidenced in this school yesterday at the news of your and the Advisory Budget Commission's recommen dation concerning teacher salaries. As a harassed school principal ? when it comes to finding teachers and operating a 39-teacher school sans clerical aid ? I beseech you to reconsider this recom mendation. A nine or ten percent raise will only drive prospective teachers farther from our classrooms, and those already there will join the exodus in increasing numbers. I feel very strongly that the United Forces for Educa tion's recommendation for salary increases is the bare minimum, and that the threat to our public education system in North Carolina posed by continued inadequate salaries is far greater even than integration or any other problem that faces us today. We simply cannot teach the youth without teachers. Admittedly our ?tat? faces many grave problems, but not one single iasue is more vital today than that of sal tee LETTERS, Pace 1 i^ouiuy icacners ieei iney were dealt a lemai uiow mis week when the state budget came out with only a 9.1 per cent pay increase for public school teachers. The North Carolina Education Board requested a 20 per cent increase. When contacted yesterday, Lenwood Lee, principal of the Morehead City School, said, "We are protesting vigor ously. I have never seen the teach- i ers so upset over an issue. We have had two faculty meetings this week and letters are being written to our representatives at Raleigh. This is hitting us awfully hard." "Bruce Tarkington, principal of the Beaufort School, declared flat ly that the proposed 9.1 per cent increase is inadequate. lie said it will not solve the teacher shortage situation. Mr. Tarkington is legis lative chairman for the county North Carolina Education unit. 'Disappointed' I He said, "We're disappointed and we can't understand it. The budget recommendation certainly docs not bear out what Governor Hodges said at Wilmington." In a speech at Wilmington Governor Hodges said he had a keen interest in the public, schools and was in favor of adequate salaries for teachers. Referring to salary increases al ready given and those proposed for top state officials. Mr. Tarkington said, "If a man earning $10,000 a year needs a 20 per cent increase I fail to sec how a teacher making $2,600 a year should have anything less than a 20 per cent raise." E. B. Comer, principal of New port School, said yesterday that he planned to send a telegram to Ral eigh protesting the 9.1 per cent pro posal. R. W. Davis and teachers at Camp Glenn School arc also tak ing action. Atlantic Acts J. W. Johnson, principal of At lantic School, said that members of the Atlantic faculty were writing Sec ACTION TAKEN, Page 2 Beaufort School Tops, Per Pupil, In Polio Drive Beaufort School again this year contributed the highest amount per pupil in the March of Dimes drive. According to Mrs. Clem Johnson, campaign treasurer, the school con tributed 45.6 cents per pupil, or a total of $542 74. Camp Glenn and Atlantic Schools were tie with a 35-cent contribu tion per pupil. Other schools contributed as fol lows: Smyrna. 30 cents per pupil; Salter Path. 32 cents; St. Egbert's, 31; Newport, 22; Morehead City, 18; llarkcrs Island, 13;. Queen Street School, 13; W. S. King School, 9. and Stella, 9. Beaufort kindergarten contrib uted 40 cents per pupil and the Morehead City kindergarten 19 cents per pupil. Beaufort School has won the priv ilege of presenting a record player to its 1957 polio pal, 6 year old Joyce Womblc of Lillington. The same school also won a record player for its polio pal last year. The total received from the schools, Mrs. Johnson reported, was $1,620.82. The campaign total as of yester day was $2,762 42. Some money in coin collectors is still to be counted. Representatives Give Opinion on Proposal Carteret's representatives at Ra leigh showed mixed reaction toward the 9.1 per cent teacher pay raise proposal. D. G. Bell, contacted at Raleigh yesterday, said he would like to sec teachers paid more "if we can find the money." State Senator Luther Hamilton declared, "In Core Sound language, I'm mad as hell over it." Senator Hamilton said, "I plan to do any thing and everything to get this thing corrected. It's one of the grossest injustices possible." Both Mr. Bell and Mr. Hamilton arc on the appropriations commit tee in their respective houses. The It's Card-Playing Fun for Tonight For an evening of card-playing fun, the Carteret B4PW Club rec ommends its party at 7:30 tonight at the American Legion building, Beaufort. The benefit chairmen, Mrs. C. L. Beam and Mrs. Floyd Chad wick, announce that the party is not a "bridge for blood" affair? the purpose is to have a good time and everyone is invited. Setback, canasta and bridge will be played. Players should bring their own cards. Tickets have been distributed in sets of four. Persons may make up their own tables or they may come singly or in pairs and tables will be made up tonight. A prize is guaranteed every player. In addition to table prizes, card bingo will be played until cach person wins. A recapped tire is being given as a door prize. Other prizes in clude a door knockcr, cigarettes, soft drinks, a hundred pounds of fertilizer, a blanket, grease jobs, and theatre passes. Free refreshments (sandwiches, cake, and coffee) will be served. Soft drinks will be on sale A few ticket! are still available. Rcaervations may be made by phoning 2 -<501 or (-4431. Down East Uons Hear Talk by G rover Munden Speaker at the Down East Lions Club Monday night at the Sea Level Inn wai Graver Munden, Morehead City. Mr. Munden was introduced by Ed Willard, program chairman. Th? topic of Mr. Munden's talk waa starting a new business in a field of which you know nothing. During the business session, the club voted $20 to buy a pair of glasses for a girl in a nearby com munity. Through 10 a.m. Monday, North Carolina highway deaths totaled 121 as compared with 103 killed up to that time in 1956 appoint merits wore made Wednes day. The appropriations commit tees are important ones. Those serving on these committees have a direct voice in determining how state funds shall be spent. Favors 20 Per Cent Mr. Bpll said he agrees that teachers should have a 20 per ccnt raise "and more if available." Cut he expressed doubt that there was the money to do it. He said, "In my opinion the sales tax would have to be increased or certain sales tax exemptions done away with." He said he could see no way in which money for a 20 per ccnt in crease could be "raised regularly." "What do the people want?" he continued, "a pay raise for teach ers or more tax? I would like to hear what the people think." It was pointed out to Mr. Bell that pay raises have been granted members of the Council of State and the budget has recommended pay hikes for many other state of ficials, including educators at col leges and universities. Mr. Bell said, "Well, everybody needs more money. The higher-ups arc getting a proportionate raise. It's easier to pick up about 520,000." Alumni Lobbyists He pointed out that collcge alum ni groups arc powerful lobbyists and "they arc going to sec that they get theirs." The 500-page budget recommen dation came out Wednesday. Mr. Bell said that it was too early to make a statement on what might be done. "After we get to studying it, we might find that school teach er pay is moat important, but it is conceivable that a majority of the appropriations are as important as raising teacher pay." He cdncludcd, "I don't believe the teachers will get a 20 per ccnt pay raise without some upward ad justment in the sales tax." Senator Hamilton declared that (he most important agency of the state "cannot be the least paid." He said that the school children are the state's future and without faith in that future, legislators and senators were wasting their time going to Raleigh. Senator's Views Senator Hamilton stated flatly, "I'm for the entire school program as outlined by Dr. Charles Carroll." Dr. Carroll is head of the State Department of Public Instruction. He aaid that ever since he hai been in Raleigh he has "button holed" everybody and tried to con vince them of his point of view. When asked why top state offi cial were voted a pay raise right off the bat, Senator Hamilton re plied, "That waa psychology. We don't want to have them to start arguing economy when we aak for pay raiaea for the teachers." Mrs. Roy Idleburg, Morehead City, ia the former Ruth Oray Guthrie, not Ruth Gray Garner aa stated In Tuesday's paper.