ALL WHO READ READ THE NEWS-TIMES 52nd Year — No. 3 Eight Pages MOREHEAP CITY and BEAUFORT, N. C.Tuesday, January 8, 1963 Published Tuesdays aad Fridays USCG to Give Awards Aboard Ship Wednesday • Howard Jones Will Receive Medal • Presentation Set For 10 A.M. Aboard the Coast Guard cutter ~hilula at 10 o’clock Wednesday morning, Howard Jones, USCG (ret.), Markers Island, will receive the Coast Guard medal for heroism during the burning of the tanker Potomac. Mi. Jones, who was boatswain’s mate first class, was coxswain aboard the 30-foot vessel from Fort Macon Coast Guard station at the time of the disastrous blaze Sept. 26, 1961. He directed rescue of Potomac crewmen which re quired the 30-footer to run in close to the burning tanker loaded with aviation fuel. Making the presentation will be Capt. Joseph A. Bresnan, USCG, chief of staff, Norfolk. Captain Bresnan will also present a unit commendation to the ship. The Chilula was in charge of fire fighting operations in Morehead City harbor. The Potomac was tied at the Aviation Fuel dock in the harbor when she caught fire. The Coast Guard made inquiry into the cause of the blaze but has not yet announced its findings. Cdr. George Philbrick, who was commanding officer of the Chilulua at the time, has been awarded the Coast Guard commendation medal. He is now stationed at Detroit and presentation of the medal will be made there by a member of the ninth district Coast Guard staff. Letters of commendation have al so been authorized for two others who were aboard the Chilula dur ing the Potomac disaster, lcdr. Henry A. Crctella, who was execu tive officer and is now in Wash ington, D. C„ and Lt. (jg) David A. White, who was engineering of ficer. lie, too, has been transfer red. Court Suspends A. H. Neilson Term Dec. 28 A relatively small number of people were tried in the holiday county recorder’s court Monday, Dec. 28, Judge Lambert R. Morris, presiding. The only suspended sentence of the court session went to Alexan der II. Neilson, charged with pos session of a small amount of non taxpaid whiskey and assaulting a police officer. Other defendants paid fines or costs. Neilson was given a suspended year’s term on the roads, provided he remain sober and of good be havior for five years and pay $50 and the costs. Another defendant, John Alexander Jones, paid $10 and costs for driving too fast for existing conditions. Paying the costs were Cora Mer rill Pratt, improper hand brake; Milton Thomas Pratt, disobeying stop sign; Robert Joseph Van Et ten, speeding; Guy Roland Dicken son III, failure to dim lights; Evelyn Styron Brown, failure to yield the right-of-way. Myron Gilchrist Jones, driving too fast for existing conditions; and Jack W. Calhoun and J. Fred Smith, worthless checks. Both were told by the court to make the checks good. Paying one-half of the costs were Clarence Jones Wilmoth, speed ing, and Bedford Ray Lawson, no driver’s license. Forfeiting bonds were Joseph Jones, improper muf fler; Bill Nelson Jr., no hand brake, and Joe Duffy, public drunkenness. Warrants were issued for two de fendants who forfeited bonds, and the cases continued. They were George Huntley Styron, possession of a small amount of non-taxpaid whiskey and public drunkenness, and Nelson Lewis, public drunken ness. Thomas Elmo Teasley, improper use of license plates and no insur ance, and Jacqueline Ada Joslyn, no hand brake, were not prosecut ed. James Phillips Donnelly, driving on the wrong side of the road, re sulting in an accident, was not prosecuted, but right was reserved to reopen the case. Report Given Nine county building permits were issued during the month of December, according to Harrell Taylor, building inspector. Value of construction was estimated at $45,600. t Editorial Just Between Us Boys An “unofficial meeting” of four Democratic county commissioners was held Thursday night at the courthouse. Uninvited to the meeting was Republican commissioner Header* Willis. Undoubtedly the people controlling county politics felt this meeting was in their best interests. Whether it was in the best interests of the people is another question. Public business should be conducted in public. While those involved may protest that “nothing offi cial” was done, the unofficial things hatched up behind closed doors coukl have far-reaching, harmful effect. We strongly -aspect that the ringmaster' wanted to train his performers well before they went into the arena Monday morning. This would forestall any “unfavorable public ity” that might accrue if too many directions were given in public view. Let’s suppose some commitments were made at a pri vate meeting. Interested citizens go to the public meet ing a few days later to present their views. One or two of the commissioners may then feel they want to change their commitment made at the closed meeting. If they do, they will be accused by their fellow commissioners of being “traitors.” If they don’t, they are violating their own conscience and what perhaps might be action for the good of the people. If they don’t want to change their closed door commit ment, then it is utterly useless for citizens to make any request at the otficial meeting on the first Monday, for the commissioners already have preconceived notions from which they will not depart. This exposure will undoubtedly drive secret meetings of county commissioners underground. Greater care will be made in the future that nobody knows about them. We hope that any commissioner, if invited to any such unofficial session in the future will say, “No thank you.’ Only then will he be abiding by the oath he swore when he took office in December. A quotation credited to one Max Muller may apply in instances where public otficials conduct public business in private: “He who keeps back the truth or withholds it from men, from motives of expediency, is either a cow ard, or a criminal, or both.” Republicans Elect Officers Gerald Murdoch, Wildwood, was elected preaident of the Carteret County Republican club Saturday night by club executive committee members at the headquarters building in Beaufort. Other offi cers: Jim Hux, Morehead City, vice president; Mrs. Ruth Richardson, Morehead City, secretary; Jimmy Howland, Morehead City, treasur er. Plans for a Lincoln Day dinner were discussed. A prominent speaker from the state organiza tion will attend and a report from Carteret’s legislator, Thomas Ben nett, will highlight the dinner. Fi nal plans will be made at a mect-^ ing of the club Saturday night at 7:30 at the headquarters. Appointed as committee chair men by the executive committee were Shelby Freeman, member ship; Cliff Tilghman, house; Ken neth Wagner, publicity; M. E. Richardson, audit; Mrs. Maxine Piner, women’s club. Mr. Howland reported that in January 1962 cash on hand amount ed to $263.95. The club collected $3,598.38, making a total of $3,862. 33; $3,786.41 was spent on the 1962 campaign and outstanding bills amount to $53. This leaves a bal ance of $22.92, Mr. Howland re ported. Former President Signs Booklet For F. C. Salisbury F. C. Salisbury, Morehead City, has received an autographed copy of the booklet, Independence and the Opening of the West, from Har ry S. Truman, former President of the United States. The booklet was sent to Mr. Sa lisbury on his 88th birthday, Dec. 27, by Milton Perry, who is in change of the Harry S. Truman library at Independence, Mo., and who was former curator at the museum at Fort Macon. President Truman wrote across the cover of the booklet, “To F. C. Salisbury with congratulations on your birthday. May you have many more happy birthdays. 12/22/62. Harry S. Truman.” Mr. Salisbury is a former More head City newspaper publisher and editor and has been recognized statewide for his historical writing. Tide Table Tides at the Beaufort Bar HIGH LOW Tuesday, Jan. 8 6:55 a.m. 12:36 a.m. 7:22 p.m. 1:22 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 9 17:43 a.m. 1:27 a.m. 8:11p.m. 2:12 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 16 8:30 a.m. 2:16 a.m. 9:00 p.m. 2:59 p.m. Friday, Jan. 11 9:16 a.m. 19:47 p.m. 3:03 a.m. 3:42 p.m. Gerald Murdoch . . . heads club Civitans Hear Talk By District Governor County Civitans heard a talk Thursday night on the forthcom ing zone meeting in Kinston. The speaker was district governor George Douglas, who was a guest. The zone meeting discussion was followed by a year-end review of past projects of the Civltan club. The club also heard the latest reports on the fruit cake sales. Ci vitans meet each Thursday night at the Blue Ribbon restaurant, Morehead City. Swansboro Board Draws Rules for Use of Building Swansboro town fathers drafted new regulations on use of the com munity building at their recent January meeting. To all users of the building ex cept when the building is engaged for public use, there will be a $10 rental charge plus an additional $10 .deposit to be refunded if the building is left in a clean condi tion. There will be no discrimina tion between groups. Rules to be followed after the use of the building are: all decora tions must be removed; floors must be left clean; marks, smudges and trash must be removed; and there is to be no damage other than that of normal use. These things must be done the following day unless that day falls on Sunday. If that is the case the next day will be the deadline. Police chief M. T. Maness was designated to determine if the above require ments are met and if refund is to be made. Before any decorations, is done, there must be a plan or decorations submitted . to chief Maness also. According to police chief Maness, all residents of the city must dis play city license tags by Feb. 15 or a penalty will be charged. Officers of the Volunteer Fire De partment for the new year were announced and plans were made to encourage attendance of the training classes being taught Board Leans Taward Barbour Hospital Site; White Oak Group Wants School Electrical Co-Op President Hits at Proposed Changes Navy Says It Will Hove Bow Out ot Harbor R. L. Hicks, of Heide & Co , Morehead City, shipping agents, reported Friday that the Navy Bu reau of Ships has promised action on getting the bow of the Potomac removed from the harbor at More head City. Mr. Hicks said he was authoriz ed by the Morehead City Maritime association and the chamber of commerce to make inquiry into the remains of the Potomac and the Navy's plans for removal. In a phone conversation Friday afternoon with Cdr. T, F. Bache lor, USN, Mr. Hicks was assured that the Navy intended to get the bow out of the harbor. Commander Bachelor made no commitment, however, on the date. The Potomac was a Navy tanker, under lease to the Military Sea Transportation Service, when it burned at Morehead City in Sep tember 1961. The stern has been moved, but the bow remains. At the request of the maritime association, Mr. Hicks reports that the Navy is sending a salvage ves sel, the Windlass, here to clean up debris left in the harbor as the result of the Potomac disaster. The tug, due today, is coming from Norfolk. On various occa sions, ships anchoring at Aviation Fuel dock, where the Potomac burned, have accidentally pulled up on their anchor chain, pieces of wreckage from the Potomac. Farm Employment Day Set Tomorrow 8 to 5 Beaufort Wednesday will be Farm Em ployment Day. On that day all farm employers looking for workers and all farm workers seeking jobs should go to the Farm Labor office on Live Oak street (highway 70) across from Beaufort school. The hours are 8 a m. and 5 p.m. The farm labor office is operated by the Employment Security com mission, Mrs. Julia P. Tenney, manager, Morehead City. Frank Nance, Beaufort, farm labor supervisor, comments that “farm employment days” arc held throughout the state. “If an em ployer needs a worker with skills who is not available in this coun ty, then the order can be sent to other offices in the state who might have the type of labor desired,” Mr. Nance said. through the North Carolina depart ment of education. The next training class will be held Thursday night, Jan. 10, at 7:30 in the community building. Officers for this year are Chief, John Bell; assistant, Maj. William Kay; and secretary - treasurer, James Baggs. A resolution was adopted asking Rep. David Henderson’s assistance in making Croatan National Forest a national park. The 1M1-1M2 auditors have in structed the town to enforce laws complying with the 1955 bond ordi nance in connection with the water service account. Ail water and sewer bills will be due by the 20th day of each month. Past due accounts will be charg ed a 10 per cent penalty. If pay ment is not received by the end of the- month, service will be discon tinued and a $5 charge for recon nection plus all past due bills for water service and penalties must be paid to regain service. The Charge for reconnection in the past has been $2. Councilmen voted to purchase new billing cards to this effect. The mayor announces that an audit of the towns books is now on file at the city hall. At the December meeting the commissioners passed a resolution commending Mrs. Florence Cardy, recent recreation commission i chairman, who has resigned. Mayor Carl Mttsted presided. ► Rural electric cooperatives arc “raising sand” about recommenda tions from the legislature-created General Statutes commission. George W. Ball, liarlowo. presi dent of the Carteret-Craven Elec tric Membership Corp., this week denounced the proposals as they re late to the electric cooperatives. A public hearing on proposals of the commission has been set for Friday in Raleigh and Mr. Ball said a request for time at the hear ing has been made by North Caro lina's 32 rural electric coopera tives. One of the proposals which Mr. Ball objects to is the placement of the cooperatives under the juris diction of the utilities commission. The utilities commission would grant area franchises under the new proposals and the rural elec tric cooperatives are fearful that this would mean “the strangula tion of system growth.” Mr. Ball said that |reat care had been ex ercised in this section to refrain from duplication of facilities in areas where the private power companies had existing lines. The preliminary draft proposal also calls for the right of sale of rural electric cooperatives to “any investor owned" power company. Mr. Ball strenuously objects to this proposal. He said that these co operatives were formed by mem bers to serve themselves with elec tric power and the benefits there of, and that it has not been neces sary for a utilities commission to protect the members as they alone, through their directors, establish ed rates and conditions of service. He said members arc very well pleased with electric services as made available -through their own cooperative and will protest vigor ously any proposal whic^i would give the "investor owned” com pany a monopoly in this area, Mr. Ball reported that serving on the nine-man General Statutes commission preparing the propo sals were W. Reid Thompson, full time attorney for Carolina Power and Light Co., Raleigh, and Luns ford Crew, who serves as legal counsel for the Virginia Electric and Power Co. with lines in North Carolina. Mr. Ball said this was "tne mosi wide-open case of conflict of in terest to have been passed before the eyes of the North Carolina public in his memory.” He said in his opinion the proposals will be defeated if presented to the North Carolina legislature. North Carolina was among the first in the nation to bring the benefits of electricity to all rural areas* and 32 cooperatives are ac tively engaged in serving areas where power companies refused to go, Mr. Ball noted. Constituent Wants Meeting One of the new county legisla tor’s constituents, Alban Richey, 118 Moore St., Beaufort, has sug gested to Thomas S. Bennett, leg islator, that he have a public meet ing prior to going to Raleigh in February. Purpose of the meeting, accord ing to Mr. Richey, would be to “re ceive from the citizens an expres sion of what they hope you will stand for and the measures yop will support and sponsor during your term of office.” . Issues on which Mr. Richey seeks Mr. Bennett’s opinion are the fol lowing:- , 1. How do you stand in respect to the attempt now being made by the electric utilities to swallow up the cooperative memberships, Carteret-Craven and Harkers Is land? 2. What about the compulsory auto liability insurance act and the abuses it has produced? 3. What about the abuses being practiced by certain companies selling hospital benefits? Beaufort, Carteret Listed Among 'Planners' Beaufort was one of 40 towns and Cart fret one of five counties which began community planning projects last year, according to a report from the state department of conservation and development. The projects, financed by fed eral grants and communities and counties initiating them,. receive technical assistance from the Di vision of Community planning of the C&D Department. Supervisor Explains Late Tax Notices Hay llall, town supervisor. More head City, said Saturday that some residents received tax notices this year as late as November. Mr. llall said there wbre several reasons for the lateness of the notices. Listing of real estate values, on property that had been sold dur ing 1961-62, was not tip to date in the county books and in the final analysis, he had to go through the real estate books three times. (The towns of Morehead City and Beaufort pick up real estate list ings from the county books. List ing of real estate directly with Morehead City has been consider ed but the cost has been an ob stacle. ) Second notices are now going out, as well as corrected notices. Although people who receive no tices late are not entitled to dis counts, he said that people who owe taxes can estimate what they will be and go to the town hall and pay them any time during June or subsequent discount months and obtain the discount. Mr. llall said that he hopes to have 1963 notices out this year by June 15. County tax notices and Beaufort tax notices were also late last year. Most were not mailed out until the end of June or first of July. Mr. Hall announces that a clerk has been employed in the office of the supervisor and town treasurer. Mrs. Mary Lou Willis began work with the town Monday, Dec. 31. Members Get Symphony Cards Members of the North Carolina Symphony society in this county have received their membership cards for the 1963 season. Included with the card is a sched ule of the 124-concert season. The little symphony, an abbreviated edition of the full symphony, will play in Beaufort Friday, Feb. 1. There will be a concert for cer tain school children at 2 p.m. Fri day in Beaufort high school and a concert for adults at 8 p.m. that day. Miss Nancy Itusscll, Symphony society chairman, reported before Christmas that the society had not by then sold enough memberships to finance the symphony’s visit. Membership entitles the holder to attend all concerts by the sym phony in this area: Kinston, New Bern and Wilmington, as well as Beaufort-Morehead City. The little symphony will play in New Bern Feb. 6 and the full sym phony May 27. VA Says Home Loans Will be Screened at Once The county veterans’ service of fice has been notified that veterans who apply now for home loans will have their applications processed immediately. There will be no de lay. Veterans who are interested should call at the veterans service office on the second floor of the courthouse annex, Beaufort. Masons of Two Districts Will Meet at Newport Jan. 22 Newport Lodge No. 7M, AF&AM of Newport will host the represen tatives of approximately 3,350 Ma sons from 18 lodges in the 7th and 8th Districts Tuesday, Jan. 22, 1963, it was announced today by Russell W. Toop, secretary of New port Lodge. Plans for the District meeting are under the direction of District Deputy Grand Masters Thomas W. Cathey, of Havelock, and Ira J, Graves, of Richlands. A series of discussions wiU.be held beginning at 5 o’clock in the afternoon under the direction of Mr. Graves. A dinner wiU be serv ed at 6 p.lh. for aU who attend the meetings. At the night meeting, be ► County commissioners grappled^ again yesterday with the old prob lems of schools and county hospi tal They also received financial reports, including one on the sher iff's department and the audit for July through November. A delegation with John Bell. Bo gue, as spokesman, requested that the county build a White Oak ele mentary school and have it ready to open in the fall of 1963 Presented was a deed from Bo land Barbour for approximately 20 acres of land in the Country Club Heights subdivision for a county hospital. Action was tabled until yesterday afternoon when Mr Bar bour was requested to appear be fore the board relative to selling an additional 13 acres to the county. A motion to change the proce dure for permitting fees to go to the sheriff and his deputies was tabled, pending further investiga tion. The atidit, covering July through November, was presented by Tho mas Beck of Williams and Wall. LATE BULLEIN: County com niissioners at about 3:30 yester day afternoon agreed to accept the Barbour site on which to build the county hospital. C. R. Wheatly, attorney for Beaufort residents who had opposed an other location (the Webb site), appeared and said the pending hospital suit against the county would be dropped. After presentation of the audit, commissioners signed a letter ad dressed to James D. Potter, former auditor, stating that all "records were found to be in good order and very satisfactory." Mr, Potter was succeeded by Ro nald Earl Mason, who was appoint ed by county commissioners in lie cember. When the discussion on the hos pital opened, commissioner Willis said he is in favor of Morchead City’s being relieved of the re sponsibility of operating a hospital, but said he "was completely ignor ed at a meeting Thursday night when the other four commissioners supposedly decided upon a site lor the new hospftal.” He told a re porter later that he was not inform ed that the meeting was being heRL and was not present. The county has been discussing for two years whether to build a county hospital, as authorized by the voters. If one is built, the Morehcad City hospital will be closed by the State Medical Care commission. Board chairman William Roy Hamilton explained that Thursday night’s meeting was “a discussion among county representatives and no official action was taken." Mr. Willis rc-cmphasized that he could not make a decision on any hos pital sitd without knowing what the other commissioners had agreed upon Thursday night. County attorney Wiley Taylor then presented a deed which he said Mr. and Mrs. Roland Bar bour, Morchead City, executed Jan. 3. The only difference between the new deed and a former deed of fered by Mr. Barbour some months ago is that the time within which the hospital must be built is ex tended two years, according to the attorney. He said that the property fronts 963 feet on “Country Club boule vard, runs 900 feet deep and con sists of 20.3 acres. He also stated that Mr. Barbour will dedicate, from Barbour land, a 60-foot road way on the east and west so that the county “will control all four sides of the hospital property." Mr. Barbour stipulates, however, that the county shall pave Country Club boulevard and also requests of agricultural agencies that his to bacco allotment not be cut due to his sale of land on which tobacco is now raised. Mr. Taylor said that he had in hand also a petition from Country Club boulevard property owners re questing paving. Commissioner Moses Howard (See BOARD Pg- 4) ginning at 7 o’clock, Jesse G. Gra-< ham, Master of the host lodge, will preside at the opening session. Mr. Toop announces that approxi mately 200 are expected to attend from thq two districts. Also expected are Masonic lead ers from over the state, including the Grand Master of Masons in North Carolina, the Grand Secre tary, the Superintendents of the Oxford Orphanage, the Masonic and Eastern Star Homes, and Charles T. Potter, of New Bern, District Deputy Grand Lecturer of the 7th District, and Benjamin R. Alford, of Morehead City, District Deputy Grand Lecturer of the 8th District. John Frivance Dies Thursday On Way to Work A 60-yrar-old Beaufort man. John William Frivance. suffered a heart attack while driving to work Thurs day night and died before the ar rival of an ambulance that was to take him to the hospital. Coroner W D. Munden said Frivance had a history of heart trouble The coroner said Frivance was en route to work at Cherry Point and was driving west on Arendell street, Morehead City. He stopped for the stop light at 24th and Aren dell and apparently suffered the attack as he pulled away. Ills car left the street and traveled down the t'ailroad track about 30 yards before it stalled. Ronald Walton, night attendant at a service station nearby, saw the ear and ran to it. He sum moned an ambulance, but Frivance was dead when it arrived. Death occurred about 11:15 p.m„ the co roner said. A native of Beaufort county, Fri vance was a veteran of World War I, a member of the North Carolina Society of Engineers and the fol lowing fraternal organizations: Moye chapter No. 53, Royal Arch Masons, Washington: Orr Lodge No. 104, AF&M, Washington, (Mas ter Mason); Cavalry Commandery No. 25, Knights Templar, Washing ton; Sudan Temple Aaonms, New Bern; White Shrine of Jerusalem; Order of Eastern Star. Chapter 238, Swansboro; North Carolina White Shrine club. Order of Redman, and Order of Pocahontas. A full Masonic funeral was con ducted at the graveside in Oakdale cemetery, Washington, at 2 p.m. Sunday. Surviving are his wife, Mrs. Ge neva Lnpten Frivance; one daugh ter, Mrs. Cecil Merri* Great -Brfflge, Va.; one son, John W. Jr., Beaufort; six grandchildren add one great grandchild. ECC Will Offer Courses This Winter, New Bern East Carolina college will offer courses in mathematics, general college mathematics, government, general psychology and psycholo gy, beginning Jan. 28 and 29, through its extension center in New Bern. The courses will continue for eight weeks at the Griffin build ing, Central school, in New Bern. Registration for the courses will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Jan. 21-22 and 28 29. Classes in the individual courses will be held twice weekly from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. The classes are open to any high school gra duate or anyone over 21 years of age. The credits earned through the extension center are transfer able for credit at ECC. Railroader Says Holos Could Damage Paving Opening of holes on Broad street to repair drains or water lines could damage the newly-laid as phalt along the Beaufort and More head Railroad tracks, according to A. T. Leary Jr., B&M Railroad. Mr. Leary said the holes don’t damage the track itself but water seeping into the holes, then under the street, could cause break-up of the new paving. John Jones Jr„ town clerk, said permanent repair of the holes can not be made now. because the as phalt that would be used doesn’t hold up when put down in cold weather. Holes are temporarily be ing repaired with marl. Tercentenary Chairman Will Present Program F. C. Salisbury. Motehead City, chairman of the Tercentenary com mittee in the county, will give a program on North Carolina history at this month's meeting of the Jun ior Woman’s club. The program will consist af slides and narration on the early begin nings of the state. The program has been prepared by Mr. Salis bury, winner of the Smith wick 09 for outstanding work by local his torians. and past president of the i County Historical society.