North Carolina Newspapers

all who read READ THE NEWS-TIMES CARTERET COUNTY NEWS-TIMES «* 49th YEAR, NO. 90. TWO SECTIONS TEN PAGES MOREHEAD CITY AND BEAUFORT, NORTH CAROLINA TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 1960 PUBLISHED TUESDAYS AND FRIDAYS Eagles Come from Behind, Win 12-7 CPA Suggests Reforms; Audit Shows Loss on Court Audit of Morehead City accounts* by Josiah Bailey, CPA, shows that expenses of Morehead City record er’s court for the year 1959-60 ex ceeded revenue by $2,091.48. Reve , nuc totaled $7,138.96 and expenses (salaries, supplies, feeding prison ers, etc.) $9,230.44. The audit indicated that 89.31 per cent of the 1959 levy had been col lected, as compared with 86.53 per cent of the levy for 1958. As of June 30, 1960, the town’s total cash assets in banks were $58,291.28. Balance of taxes due, compared with amount of taxes collected for the year does not verify, Mr. Bailey points out. A shortage of $786.81, 1 he said, “is the result of weak nesses in the system of handling the tax levy.” He told commission ers that he thought the records were at fault and said that the recommendations he makes (sec accompanying story) would correct such situations in the future. Relative to loans to employees, totaling $113, he said it was im possible to determine, because of the bookkeeping system, the age of the loans. Mrs. Blanda McLo hon, treasurer, told the board that the loans had been repaid in full. The auditor noted that “substan tial amounts in late payment penal ties were . . . waived’” in cases where such waiver was deemed ap propriate by the tax collector. Mr. Bailey pointed out that the i town's practice of meeting operat ing expenses by using money from the debt service fund is in viola tion of law. (Such operation was authorized by the board in May of this year since it was a saving to use funds in town hands rather than borrow money to meet ex penses). The auditor further states in his report that the town commission ers have no authority to wipe out, by resolution, a debt of $19,277.17 owed the recreation commission. The action was taken in October , 1959 and was agreed to by the recreation commission. The audit also reports that un paid called bonds totaling $959.16 are outstanding. This sum is on deposit in the Hanover bank, New York. It stated that the audit of 1958-60 reported that $5,959.16 was on deposit in New York when actu ally $5,000 of that had been paid and the bonds cancelled. The treasurer said that there are many bonds and coupons in the of fice vault. Mr. Bailey said it would be a time-consuming job, but the bonds and coupons should be audit ed. Mrs. McLohon said that Gordon Bell, an accountant with the League of Municipalities, “went through all those bonds this sum mer.” The audit revealed, Mr. Bailey said, that $24,000 in public improve ment bonds listed as outstanding on town records, are not outstand ing but were refunded in 1938. He reported that correction had been made after verification with the Local Government commission. Due the debt service fund, hos pital fund and recreation fund, as of June 30, 1960, according to the audit, was $321,579.55 from the gen eral fund. Of that amount, $296,116 is due the debt service fund, as the result of borrowing from that fund over a period of years. As of June 39, the town owed, un der rental purchase or conditional sales contracts $9,616.57. Mr. Bailey said that in his estimation, the town had no right to obligate future boards to buy equipment on a ren tal-purchase plan. He said this was in violation of law. Mayor George Dill claimed such practices are followed by towns all over the state because few towns can pay in one year for a fire truck, for example. Mr. Bailey said that the only way a board can le gally obligate itself for time pay ments is to get approval by a vote of the people. • Improvements in the 1959-60 op erations over the preceding years, ' were effected, the audit indicated, in the administrative, fire and street departments. A comparison of those two years’ expenditures was made. It points out that general fund : revenues were inadequate to meet See AUDIT, Page 2 >-— Negro, Found Lying on Road, Dies in Hospital William Sylvester Davis, 37, North River Negro, died in More head City hospital a few minutes after he had > been placed in the emergency room Saturday night. Davis was found lying in the mid Idie of the Merrimon road at 10:45 Saturday night. Deputies Marshall Ayscue and Bruce Edwards said he was lying across the center line of the highway about a half mile south of the Laurel road. Deputy Ayscue called Barrow s ambulance and the highway patrol. Patrolman W. J. Smith and R. H. ! Brown went to the scene. Patrol man Smith said he doesn't know what caused Davis’s death. It is believed that he may have died from a severe concussion. He had a cut on his chin, and injuries on his back, arms and hands. Deputy Ayscue said that h^ be lieves Davis was struck by a car and run over. Persons Wving near by said that about 20 minutes be fore the officers came upon him, he was seen walking along the road. Coroner David Mundcn made an investigation but could not be reached yesterday for comment. Office Open Today Sheriff Hugh Salter announces that his office will be open all day today, even though the other court house offices are closed. Mayor Sends Birthday Greetings Mayor George Dill of Morehead City on Thursday sent birthday greetings by telegram to John Mot ley Morehead III, Rye, N. Y., grandson of the founder of More head City, Gov. John Motley More head. Mr. Morehead, who was 90 years old Thursday, was honored at the University of North Carolina on that day. He has provided the uni versity with the Morehead-Patter son bell tower, the South’s only Visitors Flood Fort Macon Park October’s bright blue weather helped set a record in attendance at Fort Macon State park. If the attendance holds up during November, 1960 will be the park’s best year, Ray Pardue, superin tendent, reports. Even tkough the ocean-side park was closed a full week after Donna, attendance for the first 10 months of this year is slightly higher than the first ten months of 1959. As of Oct. 31, the figure was 403,132, compared with 402,991 at the end of October last year. Attendance last month was al most 10,000 better than October 1959. “Some of the piers were closed and the fishing has been very good,” Mr. Pardue said in ex planation of the high attendance. Visiting the park last month were 32,439. Visitors in October 1959 to taled 22,742. The number of peo ple fishing, 11,545, was about dou ble the number who fished in Octo ber last year. Visitors to the fort last month numbered 24,886. Since Donna, Mr. Pardue has been engaged mainly in cleanup and salvage work. He said repairs will begin as soon as money is mad^ available. The Gloucester Community club meeting, originally planned for to night, has been postponed because of the election. The club will meet tomorrow night at 8 at the home of the Misses Mary and Georgia Whitehurst. _ ► Josiah Bailey, CPA, who audited 1 the books of the town of Morehead City, made sweeping recommenda tions for change in the handling of town funds Thursday night at the I municipal building. Mr. Bailey, with Robert Mea dows, who is employed by Mr. Bailey, presented town commis sioners with the 1959-60 audit. The auditor, in a statement pre ceding the body of the report, said he could not express an opinion as to the “fairness” of the finan cial statements “due to the mu nicipality having pursued policies during the year under review, as well as in prior years, which are materially contrary to generally accepted accounting principles aqd to generally inadequate internal controls.” Mr. Bailey commended the com missioners for ending up the 1959 60 fiscal year with a deficit of only $13,515.18, as compared with a def icit of $63,851.04 for the fiscal year lending June 30, 1959. Among the recommendations made by the auditor were the fol . lowing: j 1. Commissioners should famil iarize themselves with laws' of the state concerning municipal opera tions and comply with such laws in the future. 2. Comply with agreements with bondholder*. ■-* 3. Opinions of the town attorney affecting board actions should be put in writing and kept with min utes of board meetings. 4. Minutes should be written I promptly after a meeting and cop ies distributed to board members. 5. Ordinances Should be codified. 6. Duties of employees should be separated in such a manner so that no single individual handles all phases of any transaction. See SUGGESTIONS, Page 2 planetarium, and the art gallery. He has also established the More head Scholarship Foundation which provides scholarships for outstand ing high school seniors who fur ther their education at UNC. Mr. Morehead, on Morchcad City’s 100th anniversary in 1957, gave the town a birthday gift of $25,000, earmarked for a gallery at the town's proposed new high school. The gift carries with it the stipulation that it be used by 1967. _ Garment Plant Announces Party Friends of the Morehead City Garment Co. will be entertained at a buffet supper at the new plant at 7 p.m .Saturday, Nov. 19. Following the supper, there will be orchestra music for danc ing. After that weekend machines, cutting tables and other equip ment will be moved into the plant. It is located on Bridges Street, Morehead City, just west of the present plant. Construction start ed in early summer. The new building, partially financed by local funds, contains over 32,000 square feet of floor space, a sprinkler system and is air-condi tioned. Jasper Bell Speaks At Retent JC Meeting Jasper Bell was the guest speak er at a recent meeting of the More head City Jaycees. Mr. Bell, speak ing in favor of the proposed hos pital bond issue, urged the club to support the proposal that would bring a county hospital to Carteret. Members also heard a report from Horace Willis on the recent district meeting in New Bern. Wil lis reported that nine Morehead City Jaycees attended. Paul Geer Jr. and Paul Cordova reported on a meeting with the welfare department pertaining to a Christmas party for needy chil dren. The pair reported that the welfare department advised the club to consolidate with the fire department and local civic clubs for the party. Record Number Due To Go to Polls Today To surpass Carteret county's rec-1 ord vote in 1956 when Dwight Eis enhower defeated Adlai Stevenson for the Presidency, more than 7,679 votes will have to be cast to day. Prior to 1956, the voting record was 7,247 ballots cast in the 1952 election. Based on the interest in the "urrent campaign, most feel that it’s safe to predict that the 1952 record will be easily broken today. In November four years ago, Carteret went for Stevenson by only 71 votes. Stevenson polled 3,875 and Eisenhower 3,804. This county gave Gov. Luther Hodges 5,287 votes and his oppon ent, Kyle Hayes, 2,214. In 1956 it was estimated that 15,000 persons are registered, more than 12,000 as Democrats. But elections officials readily admit that registration books arc so foul ed up it's difficult to give an ac tual number of registrants. In Morehcad City precinct No. 1, eligibility of 361 persons to vote in that precinct was challenged Saturday. Challenges were made on the basis that the registrant was either dead, had moved away, or was already registered in one or more precincts. No challenges were made in Beaufort precinct. The county board of elections re ported yesterday that 308 absen tee balolts had been issued to ci vilians and 220 to service or serv ice-connected personnel. There will be four ballots given each voter in all precincts today; the Presidential ballot, state ballot, county ballot and the ballot on which people will vote for or against a county hospital. In Morehead township there will be a fifth ballot for justice of the .{MM* and. constable, Ip Newport township (outside town limits), will' be a ballot for voting for or against a fire district. Sampleg of all except the New port township fire district ballot appeared in THE NEWS-TIMES last week. The polls open today at 6:30 a.ra. and close at 6:30 p.m. Closed today arc the courthouse, town halls, and ABC stores. Nei ther beer nor wine will be sold today. This is also a holiday for the banks. . Mr. Morehcad is president of the ! North Carolina railroad. He was born at Spray, N. C. Founder of Union Carbide Corp., he commutes daily from Rye to his office in New York City. When he was 8j> years old five years ago, he announced that he would stay on the job until he is 95. (Ma Taylor, Beaufort, celebrates her 100th birthday tomorrow. Sec story page 4 this section). F. C. Salisbury Serves On State Committees F. C. Salisbury, Morehcad City, has been appointed to the sites and markers committee of the North Carolina Confederate Centennial commission. The state and nation will begin a four-year commem oration of the hundredth anniver sary of the civil war Jan. 8, 1961. Mr. Salisbury is also a member of the commemorative events com mittee of the Carolina Charter Ter centenary commission. Co-chair men of the committee are Mrs. Inglis Fletcher, Edenton, and Mrs. Harry McMullan, Washington. Mr. Salisbury is a former news paper editor, is president of the Carteret County Historical society and columnist and feature writer for THE NEWS-TIMES. Three Grass Fires Beaufort firemen extinguished grass fires behind Queen Street school and near Ivey Eubanks’ service station Friday and one on the Copeland road Sunday. Fire men report no damage. Funds Approved for White Oak School County commissioners yesterday morning voted $125,000 for c.on struction of an elementary school at White Oak, to replace the school which burned there almost 10 years ago. The action was taken after H. L. Joslyn, county superintendent of schools, presented a letter from the county board of education. The board of education requested that the building be ready for occupan _ Boy Scouts on the Job Star Scout Larry Drake of Explorer troop fit, Newport, presents Mrs. Edith Gray with a Go Vote placard. Scouts throughout the county distributed the cards Saturday, Oct. 29. Board Chairman Says He Favors Hospital Program “I’m for the hospital and I'm< going to vote for it,” Moses How ard, chairman of the county board of commissioners, told county board members yesterday. Because opinion of the board is divided, Mr. Howard got nowhere with a suggestion that the board go on record as to whether they [are in favor of or against a county ^hospital. Commissioner Gaston Smith said he is not concerned over meeting the cost of building the hospital j alone, he is worried about the cost of operation after the hospital is i built. He opposes the hospital j bond issue and said people in the I eastern part of the county are op posed. Mr. Howard said that he has been berated by one person for an nouncing a hospital site, but he said in his opinion, announcement of the site has enhanced the pos sibility of the hospital’s getting a favorable vote.. Commissioner Skinner Chalk, whose opposition to the hospital is well known, said, “If the hospital bond issue passes, people are go ing to demand that we do some thing about schools.” Relative to a discussion on the services a government should pro vide for citizens, Mr. Chalk said, “If we do what people demand, taxes will go higher and I’m will ing to levy as much as the people want.” Mr. Howard mentioned that the Medical Care commission had be fore it 21 applications for new hos pitals when Carteret made its re quest. He said he couldn’t under stand how Carteret’s was approv ed so quickly, unless it was be cause of the need. Commissioner Smith said he be lieved it was approved partially because of the county’s excellent record in paying off its current in debtedness. Mr. Howard said, "I think build ing a hospital will encourage peo See HOSPITAL, Page 3 Tide Table Tides at the Beaufort Bar HIGH LOW Tuesday, Nov. 8 11:26 a.m. 4:56 a m. . 5:42 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 9 ’ 12:06 a.m. 5:33 a.m. 12:10 p.m. 6:33 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 10 12:53 a.m. 6:23 a.m. 12:54 p.m. 7 38 p.m. Friday, Nov. 11 1:42 a.m. . « 7:51 a.m. 1:41 p.m. 8:41 p.m. cy by September 1961. Moses Howard, chairman of the county board, termed the need for a school at White Oak an emer gency situation. Onslow county this year sent an ultimatum to Carteret, stating that either Carteret had to pay for send ing its children.into Onslow schools, or the children would not be ac cepted in the fall of this year. .3 12 Ships to Make Port in 19 Days Twelve ships, sailing under eight flags, will make port at Morehead City between this Thursday and Nov. 29, a period of 19 days. The ships will be the Birgitte Torm, sailing under the Danish flag and bound for Africa; the Schiedyk, Dutch, bound for Hol land and Germany; Excelsior, bound for Holland and Germany. Morniacoak, United States, sail ing for Scandinavian countries, and for the first time from More head City, the Morniacoak will call at Gydnia in Poland; Jalakrishna, Indian, bound for Egypt. American Miller, US, bound for western Europe; Black Tern, Nor wegian, sailing for western Eu rope; Estrid Torm, Danish, sailing for Africa; Sagami. Maru, Jap anese, bound for Japan. Erlangen, German, bound for western Europe; Masashima Maru, bound for Japan and Hongkong; and the Rantum, German (will come into port if there is cargo to be picked up), bound for western Europe. Four ships are scheduled at pres ent to call at Morehead City in De cember. Governor Asks Why Cattle Still on Banks County commissioners, in ses sion at the courthouse yesterday afternoon, discussed the removal of cattle from Shackleford Banks. The discussion came after a tele gram from Gov. Luther Hodges was read by Moses Howard, chair man. The governor inquired what had been done to remove cattle from the banks in compliance with the law and said he was shocked to learn that some were still on the banks. Sheriff Hugh Salter told the board that 17 head of cattle had been removed so far. Commission er David Yeomans estimated that 25 head remain. The sheriff com mented that the pen erected to confine the cattle until removal had been blown down and washed away during Donna, but that it was his understanding the pen was be ing rebuilt. When an agreement was; finally reached that Carteret children would be accepted this year, the Onslow board of education stipu lated that the agreement was for this year only. Mr. Joslyn estimates that ap proximately 225 Carteret children are going to Onslow schools. A fraction of them are in tygh school. The larger portion are in elment ary grades and would attend the Snap Beaufort s Scoreless String The Morehead City Eagles, unable to move on the ground, took to the air Friday night against the Beaufort Seadogs and found weakness after weakness in the Seadog pass defense as they completed nine of 20 aerial attempts in chalking up a 12-7 win in the annual Mullet Bucket clash. Between 3,000 and 4,000 fans jammed the Camp Glenn football field for the crucial battle that had been hailed as the game of the year. During the first half the home fans saw their team keep the Seadogs in the hole for 24 minutes in battling to a 0-0 halftime score. The Eagles had been at the goal line door twice during the initial two periods but couldn’t get the ball over, but in the third quarter they weren't to be denied as David O’Neal hit Harold Whealton with a pass that was to set up the first touchdown to be scored on the Seadogs since the two teams met last year.t That tally came two plays later j when halfback Ernest Lewis crash- j eri over from the one. If there had ! been a roof over the football field it would have gone off with the wild cheer that went up from the home side of the field The Eagles had received the i opening kickoff and quick-kicked the Seadogs into a hole they were j unable to get out of until minutes before the end of the first half. The Seadogs returned the kick and a David O'Neal to Harold Whealton aerial gave them a first down on the Beaufort 11-yard line. Ernest Lewis carried for one yard to the ten and then a 15-yard penal ty against the Eagles moved the ball back to the 25. On the next ! play Ernest Lewis took a swing j pass from O'Neal and was dumped for a 12-yard loss. The Eagles made their deepest j penetration of the first half on the ! next play when O'Neal hit Wheal ton on a pass that moved the ball ; down to the nine-yard line. From j here a penalty against the Seadogs j cut this distance in half and the I Big Red had a third down situation on t|)c four-yard line. O'Neal then threw two incomplete passes to end the threat and get Beaufort out of a momentary hole. In the second quarter neither team could get a scoring drive j started as penalties stepped off against both teams proved costly. The Eagles kicked off to Beau fort to open the third quarter and the Seadogs, after trying three run ning plays were forced to kick. Ernest Lewis took the Johnnie Has sell kick and returned it 20 yards to give Morehead City a first down at midfield. From here David O'Neal put. his touted passing arm to work and spear-headed a march that saw the Eagles score in eight plays. The big gainers in the series were passes to Ludvik Pospisil and Har old Whealton. The pass to Wheal ton moved the ball to the Beaufort two-yard line. Ted Garner tried the center of the Beaufort line and was stopped after a pickup of one yard. On the next play Beaufort’s unscorcd on string went out the window as half See EAGLES, Page 3 Clerk Odell Merrill was instruct ed to write the governor explain ing this and telling him that the sheriff hopes to have the cattle off in the near future. The clerk was instructed to look up in prior board minutes all ac tion taken in regard to county fairs, circuses and carnivals. He will re port at the next meeting, when the board plans a discussion of activi ties at the recent county fair. Report Given The Local Government commis sion reports that principal and esti mated interest on proposed hos pital bonds and the refinanced cur rent debt will total *1,927,125. This is based on a 20-year retirement schedule. The county proposes to pay the debt, if incurred, over 25 years. proposed new White Oak school. Mr. Joslyn said it is anticipated that the school would be similar to the one at Harkers Island, con tain eight rooms and 10 if possible. It would be built on the site of the old White Oak school, near the in tersection of highways 24 and 58. Mr. Joslyn also reported that the board of education, in session yes terday, accepted the recommenda tion from the Morehead City _ Fire Chief Makes Requests To Town Board Fire chief Lindsey Guthrie ap peared before the Morehead City town board Thursday night with six requests. The first was a request for dona tion of one week of parking meter funds to the fire department for its Christmas welfare program. The board said that there were no funds available for welfare work, even if such were legal. The decision was made after chief Guthrie had presented all his re quests. Referred to commissioner Rus sell Outlaw was a request that the eaves and windows of the West End fire station be painted. Chief Guthrie was also told that firemen at the west end station have the authority to keep tho drive clear today during election. Voters’ cars may not block the drive. The board told the chief, in an swer to a request, that the paid firemen at the station may be near the voting booths so that they can answer the phone if necessary. The chief said that they had been told they should stay in the back part of the station all day today. The chief said that Charles Webb Willis, who ties a partyboat at the end of 6th street, claimed that he couldn't get his boat in and out because of a shad boat that blocks him. The board said that the problem isn't one for the town board to con sider. They said that was a prob lem for the harbor master but the harbor master doesn’t function. The fire chief reminded the board that one of the town fire trucks is 35 years old and they need a new one. Commissioner Bud Dixon was re quested to check on the backing up of water at the south end of 10th street by the Gillikin home. Lcston Gillikin appeared and told the board that the water and sew See CHIEF, Page 2 Two Men Hit On Beach Road Two Swedish crewmen from a ship in Morehead City port were hit by a car Saturday night at the south end of the Atlantic Beach drawbridge. Chief of police Bill Moore, At lantic Beach, said they were taken to the Morehead City hospital by ambulance and did not seem seri ously hurt. Patrolman R. H. Brown, who in vestigated, could not be reached by press-time yesterday. Chief Moore said that the car that hit the men was driveii by a man by the name of Tarver. He said that two cars were ap proaching him on the three-lane highway, he was blinded by their headlights and didn't see the pe destrians until he hit them. Three men were walking. The third was not hurt. school committee, that Stephens and Cardelli be named as archi tects for the new Morehead City high school. He added that it is hoped that work on the new school can begin this year on a unit by unit con struction plan. Hie Morehead City school costs are to be met with tax funds that have been set aside last year and this year for school construction.