267 DAYS AND
THE POTOMAC STILL
RUSTS IN THE HARBOR
CARTERET
NEWS-TIMES
EIGHT PAGES
51st YEAR, NO. 55
CARTERET COUNTY NEWS-TIMES, MOREHEAD CITY AND BEAUFORT, N. C.
TUESDAY, JULY 10, 1962 PUBLISHED TUESDAYS AND FRIDAYS
First Lt. Merritt Bridgman tries out his retirement rocker. With -him are Brig. Gerf. Kemrtt~*..
Guthrie, left, 30th division artillery commander, and Lt. Col. Martin L. Lindsay Jr., regular Army
advisor.
The man responsible for More
head City’s National Guard unit’s
activation retired last week from
National Guard service. First Lt.
Merritt E. Bridgman, Bogue Sound
road, Morehcad City, ended 20
years of Army and National Guard
service June 30.
At an informal retirement cere
mony Wednesday in the armory at
Camp Glenn he gave his farewell
to the unit he chartered and or
ganized. A gift from the officers
and men of the unit, a “Kennedy”
rocker with an engraved plaque,
was presented during the cere
mony.
He served as commanding offi
cer of the battery when it was
formed Sept. 13, 1954. Records of
that first night’s drill show there
were more visiting Guard generals
and officers than there were men
in the unit.
Visitors included the state’s ad
jutant general, Col. (now major
general Weston H. Willis, a Car
teret county native and now Di
vision commander; Col. (now brig
adier general) Kermit L. Guthrie,
presently division artillery com
mander, and six other state and
regular Army officers.
The unit’s total was five, one of
ficer and four enlisted men. Only
one of the four, Pvt. Russell E.
Willis Jr., is still a member of the
unit. He now holds the rank of
staff sergeant and is chief of a
howitzer section.
From the small start lieutenant
Bridgman watched the unit grow
to its present strength of three of
Newport Town Board Votes
To Lay Line to Shirt Plant
Newport town commissioners,
meeting Tuesday night at the
town hall, voted to lay a water
line to the shirt factory so that a
sprinkler system, to protect the
building in case of fire, can be
installed.
Mayor Leon Mann Jr. said the
sprinkler system requires 750' gal
lons of water per minute. He ex
plained that water would only be
used, however, in case of fire.
The mayor read the commission
ers a list of materials needed to
install the line and estimated the
' cost at about $7,000. He explained
a plan by which the town could
borrow the money and repay! it in
five years and enumerated the
benefits of the factory to the lown.
Commissioner Raymond Ed
wards said he understood! the
Block Manufacturing Co.,' ’
now operates the factory, '
enlarge the budding in the
future. He told how simila
erations had benefited other
munities and expressed die
ficers and 66 enlisted men. me
unit reached its highest peak dur
ing the two weeks’ active training
held last month.
It scored the highest grade of all
light artillery units in the 30th di
vision on the lengthy and compre
hensive battery test administered
during the second week of training
at Fort Bragg.
Lieutenant Bridgman also saw
the dream and hope of several
years realized in the armory pro
gram. Almost under construction,
near the present building, is a
$150,000 brick armory.
Lieutenant Bridgman’s 20 years
of service included two active duty
tours and two tours with Carteret
county units. He enlisted in the
Army Air Corps July 1, 1942, leav
ing three years later as, a master
sergeant.
He saw active duty again when
the 449th Observation battalion,
| Morehead City, was activated dur
ing the Korean War.
i National Guard service included
ithe 449th, Battery A of the 295th
when it was in Beaufort and Bat
tery C of the 690th when it was or
iginated at Camp Glenn.
His retirement will become more
meaningful when he reaches the
age of 60. At that time he will be
come eligible for full retirement
privileges including medical, com
missary and post exchange rights
and a monthly retirement check.
The Carteret Community theatre
will meet at 8 p.m. Wednesday at
the civic center.
that the town could find a way to
provide services needed by the
plant.
The board agreed to install the
line provided the company will pay
as a sprinkler fee each year an
amount equal to the interest on the
loan.
County attorney Luther Hamilton
Jr. met with the board to discuss
the proposed fire district adjoining
Newport fire district. Mayor Mann
told him the town had agreed to
furnish residents of the area fire
protection until the county com
missioners acted on a petition re
questing an election. The county
has taken no action, the mayor
said, and the town feels it can no
longer provide free protection to
those outside the Newport fire dis
trict, while those in the district
must pay for their protection.
The county attorney, mayor and
town attorney George W. Ball
agreed that the best solution is to
have the election along with the
November election. The polling
Famous Names
Show Up in Court
Famous names attract the eye,
and especially names in the
court records. In the past week
of both the Morehead City re
corder’s court and the county
recorder's court, more than one
familiar name showed up.
For instance, three famous
Americans* can be imagined on
the back row in the courtroom,
George Washington, Abraham
Lincoln and William McKinley,
with McKinley and Lincoln pre
sumably s discussing assassins.
All three’ names popped up as
given names of defendants.
Other famous personages were
“Jerry Lewis,” Edison, Emer
son and LaFayettc. And on the
Biblical side of things, none oth
er than Elijah, Malachi and
Zedekiah.
Pat Smith, Beaufort,
Makes Solo Flight July 1
Pat Smith, son of Mr. and Mrs.
Robert Smith, Beaufort, made his
first solo flight Sunday, July 1,
his 16th birthday. He followed
close on the heels of his brother,
Mike, who soloed April 30, 1961,
also on his 16th birthday.
The boys received their flying in
structions from Bob Burrows.
Their mother says every spare cent
they get goes for flying lessons!
place will be at Wildwood and elec
tion officials there will be provided
with a map of the area and the
names of those eligible to vote on
the fire district question.
The commissioners agreed to
continue fire protection in the area
pending outcome of the election.
Ed Warren gave the water de
partment report for Gordon Cutler,
whose resignation became effec
tive July 1. Mr. Cutler thanked
the board for the pleasure of work
ing with them for two years, but
told them he had a regular job
and the job as water department
clerk had gotten to be too much
for his health.
The commissioners each thanked
Mr. Cutler for his work as water
clerk and expressed regret at his
leaving.
Mrs. Clara Mann was hired to
act as water clerk. She will re
ceive a salary of $55 per month,
beginning in August. Mr. Warren,
<S6e BOARD Page 2)
4-H Leaders Hope Purchase
Will Spur Local Interest
Completed in the past several days was the purchase by
the North Carolina Development Fund, Inc. of a camp site
in this county. The camp will be used during the summer
by 4-H members from throughout the state.
L. E. Lewis, Morehead City, chairman of county 4-H de
velopment program, announced the-good news yesterday.
“I’ve been waiting three and a half years for this!” Mr.
Farm Census
Shows Increase
in Total Acres :
Agriculture in Carteret showed a ,
slight decline in overall crops and |
farm families, but showed an in
crease; in farm acerage in 1961, i
according to the preliminary farm
census taken early this year.
| The census was prepared by the
: North Carolina and United States
Departments of Agriculture. Prin
cipal items in the census show that
! a six per cent drop in harvested
cropland has taken place, and farm
residents dropped from 2,540 in
1960 to 2.372 in 1961.
Farm land increased from 89.887
acres to 90,050 acres, the increase
showing up in idle cropland, un
improved pastures and woods -and
waste land. Total harvested crop
land was 11 per cent of the total
J farm land.
I Increases were shown in tobacco,
| peanuts, wheat, soybeans, milo and
! grain sorghums and lespedeza har
vested for seed. Cotton, corn and
small grains other than wheat and
milo decreased. Mixed hays also
increased, as did Irish potatoes and
beef cattle.
Utilisation of farm land was 79
per cent in woods and waste lands,
11 per cent in harvested cropland,
seven per cent in pasture and
three per cent in idle cropland.
Crops harvested were divided in
to 16 per cent, corn; 28 per cent,
soybeans; 20 per cent, hays; 9 per
cent, tobacco; 13 per cent, vege
tables; 8 per cent, small grains;
and 6 per cent, other crops.
Defendant Fails
To Appear; Bond
Upped to $10,000
Pierson Willis, Beaufort, failed
to show up for a hearing in the
Morehead City recorder’s court
last Monday on charges of break
ing and entering.
A bench warrant was issued for
Willis and new bond was set in
the amount of $10,000 to be met
by a first lien deed of trust on
property. Bond in the amount of
$5,000 for Willis was posted by
Mrs. Blanch M. Willis after Willis
was arrested.
Willis is charged with breaking
and entering while the house was
occupied, with intent to do injury
to the occupants and while armed
with a .25 caliber pistol. Willis
entered the Morehead City home
of his father-in-law, Dan Merrill,
the night of June 27.
Merrill hit Willis with a shotgun.
Willis was arrested upon arrival
of officers.
Several other defendants re
quested a jury trial and were al
lowed bond to appear in superior
court. They were Carlton Pitt
man Morehead City, who request
ed jury trial on public drunken
ness and soliciting funds under
false pretenses, $100 bond, and
public drunkenness, tenth offense
in one year, $100 bond; Johnnie
Pinkham, Beaufort, breaking and
entering in the night time and lar
ceny of $70 ($1,500 bond was set
if corporate surety bond and
$1,000 if property bond); and
Charles Jones, Morehead City, pub
lic drunkenness, third offense in
one year, 90 days on roads, $150
bond. Jones appealed.
A suspended sentence was given
Willie Moore Uarklcy, Morehead
City, possession of a small amount
of non-taxpaid whiskey, six months
suspended upon payment of $50
and costs and remain of good be
havior for one year.
Two defendants were fined for
racing, Ronald Lee Hall, Cherry
Point, and Thomas Scott Webb,
Morehead City, were fined $50 and
costs and $65 and costs respective
ly. Eleanor Lavinia Boyland,
Havelock, was not prosecuted for
drunken driving, but was fined $50
and costs for reckless driving. H<j
Ju Hayashi Lusker, Havelock, was
fined $15 and costs for reckless
driving.
(See COURT Page 2)
Lewis said. Manager 01 neiK s in ;
Morchead City, he was in Charlotte
an business and reported the camp
Kite purchase by long distance j
phone.
Walter Teich, Morchead City, a j
state director of the 4-H develop- !
in ant corporation, said that State
college officials in Raleigh, who
are connected with the program,
have engaged an architect to pro
coed immediately with camp build
ing plans.
The property consists of approxi- |
lr.aloly 112 acres at Mammon |
where Adams creek and the NeUse '
river join. There’s approximately j
a mile of waterfront.
The property formerly belonged ;
to Luke Smallwood, New Bern, j
who sold it to Lycurgus Dickinson.
The B&T Real Estate and Develop |
ment firm, Morchead City, pur
chased the property from Jack
Edens, who acquired it from Dick
inson. v'-.'V
The 4-H development corporation .
actually had an option on the prop- I
erty, which it acquired from Ed- ;
cns. but did not have the funds to I
exercise the option. The B&T firm
then agreed to carry through 6n
the transaction, acquiring the land
and agreeing to turn it over to the
4-H foundation at actual cost, plus
the cost of any capital improve
ments.
There is an unimproved road to
the property.
Mr. Lewis said that a tremen
dous amount of financial support
is needed for the project by Car
t/fc»\’citizcns. Newport 4-H'ers are
sponsoring a fish fry Saturday
night to raise money for the camp
project. Hours are from 5 to 7:30
p.m. at the school lunchroom.
Several other benefit programs
have been given, including a talent
and variety show by the Harlowe
4-H’crs.
Mr. Teich commented that the
4-H leaders are hoping for a little
bit of financial help from every
one. “We must show active in
terest here if our appeal to others
throughout the state, to establish
this camp, is to be successful,” he
remarked.
The 4-H foundation director con
cluded. “I think this is going to be
a wonderful thing for the county.
Not only will we have the oppor
tunity to be host to many 4-H
campers and their parents, but the
camp will be of considerable eco
nomic value.”
Persons wishing to make a con
tribution may give or mail their
donations to 4-H Development
Fund, Inc., c/o J. R. Sanders,
First-Citizens Bank and Trust Co,,
Morchead City.
Four-H camps now in the state
can accommodate only 15,000 of
the 168,000 youngsters enrolled in
North Carolina 4-H clubs.
1,200 Attend
Annual Fish Fry
Charles Caudell, administrator of
Sea Level hospital, estimated yes
terday that 1,200 persons attended
the fish fry on the hospital lawn
Saturday afternoon. The fish fry
was originally scheduled for the
Fourth of July but was postponed
because of rain.
Mr. Caudell said this was the
first time, in its nine-year history
the event has been postponed. He
commented, however, that the fish
fry was highly successful and said
he was grateful to those who con
tributed food and supplies.
Congressman David N. Hender
son addressed the crowd during
the afternoon. He was introduced
by Clayton Fulcher Jr., Atlantic.
After lunch, boat races were held
in Nelson’s Bay behind the hospital.
Tide Table
Tides at the Beaufort Bar
HIGH LOW
Tuesday, July 10
1:43 a m. 8:30 a.m.
2:35 p.m. 9:18 p.m.
Wednesday, July II
2:30 a.m. ’ 9:23 a.m.
3:24 p.m. 10:11 p.m.
Thursday, July 12
3:28 a.m. 10:10 a.m.
4:17 p.m. 11:01 p.m.
Friday, July 13
4:32 a.m. 10:57 a.m.
5:09 p.m. 11P>m.
Artist Displays Paintings
r»u
Passers by examine watereolors on display on (he Morehead City waterfront. The exhibition, over
the weekend, was held bv Charles McNeill, well-known watercolor artist, and traffic director of the
North Carolina Ports Authority, Morehead City.
Press Association to Meet
Thursday at Morehead City
jM v ■..
Voit Gilmore
. . . from Winston-Salem
Puerto Rican Scientist
At Duke Studies Currents
J. Montgomery Curtis
. . . newspaper expert
Dr. Max Vivas shows one of the bottles being used in a study of
ocean currents.
By TOM SLOAN
More than one pair of eyes will
be looking at the sky over Fivers
Island in August, to see if the heli
copters will find the right place this
time.
According to Dr. Maximo J.
Cerame-Vivas, research assistant
at the Duke Marine laboratory,
Beaufort, a trio of helicopters
loaned by the Marine Corps for a
research project May 8 got to Duke
university, all right, but the wrong
portion, namely the university
proper at Durham.
The ’copters were supposed to
come to Beaufort, and eventually
arrived after a classic "right
church, wrong pew” detour.
The copters are participating in
a phase of the overall work of the
laboratory—the study of ocean bot
tom currents and their effect on
marine life. Dr. Vivas, or “Max”
as he is known to his associates at
Pivers Island, describes the project
as the placement of bottles bearing
return postcards from Cape Hat
teras to the Diamond Shoals light
ship.
(See SCIENTIST Page 2)
Featured speakers at the North
Carolina Press association conven
tion, which opens Thursday at the
Biltmore Motor hotel, Morehead
City, will be J. Montgomery Cur
tis, director of the American Press
institute, Columbia university; Dr.
William C. Archie, director of the
North Carolina Board of Higher
Education, and Voit Gilmore, US
travel director.
The convention will open at 5
p.m. with a reception at Spooner's
Creek Harbor with THE NEWS
TIMES as host. An official wel
come will be extended to the press
association at a buffet supper at
the Biltmore following the recep
tion.
Extending the welcome will be
mayor George W. Dill, Morehead
City. Mr. Gilmore will be the after
dinner speaker.
A. B. Cooper, Atlantic Beach,
owner of the Oceanana Resort, has
goffered beach facilities to the con
vention-goers.
Dr. Archie will speak at the Fri
day morning breakfast session at
8 o’clock. Group meetings will fol
low At noon, members of the
press will be guests of Carolina
Telephone and Southern Bell at a
luncheon at the state port in the
newly-completed 95,000-squarc foot
warehouse.
The 12:30 luncheon will be follow
ed by a tour of the port for those
who wish to make. it.
Recreation is scheduled for Fri
day afternoon—fishing, golf, swim
ming. Dave Whichard III, Green
ville, whose family has a summer
home at Atlantic Beach, is chair
man of the hospitality committee.
Mr. Curtis will be the banquet
speaker Friday night following a
reception on the patio of the Bilt
mofe.
The convention will end at noon
Saturday.
Republicans
To Meet Friday
The County Republican club will
join the Republican Women’s club
in a meeting at the Davis commun
ity building Friday night at 8.
Speakers will be the winning can
didates in the recent primary.
After the speeches, the two
groups will hold separate business
sessions. They will join for re
freshments after adjournment.
The women’s meeting at Davis
June 29 was rained out.
The executive committee of the
County Republican club met Sat
urday at Morehcad City to discuss
plans for the summer months.
Clifford Tilghman, campaign chair
man, discussed campaign proce
dures with the committee mem
bers.
Mrs. M. E. Richardson gave a
report on activities of the County
Republican Women’s club.
The Republicans plan to open a
campaign headquarters in Septem
ber. Meanwhile, candidates can
contact Mr. Tilghman at either his
home in Beaufort or office in More
head City.
No County Entrant
Carteret will not have an entrant
in the Miss North Carolina contest
at Charlotte Saturday, according to
Joe Beam, president of Morehead