J
Opinion Page
THE BRUNSWICKiBEACON
Kchvanl M. Swcatt and Carolyn H. Swoatl Piihlinhers
Kdward .>1. SKcatl Filiinr
?iT” .\virVEditor
Kahn AdaniH & Doug Kiiller If'rilers
Johnny Craig Editor
Chrisl„H> Ballou Office Manager
l.fCfha Core & Susan Barefoot. .Advertising Repre>sentativcs
'laniniie Galloway & Dorothy Brennan Typesetters
Robert Williams Pressman
Brenda Clemmons Photo Technician
Lonnie Sprinkle.. 4ssistant Pressman
t.lyile and Mattie Stout, Phoebe Clemmons (nrculation
Page 4-A
Thursday, Septembers, 1987
There's Got To Be More
It s a touchy area, no doubt about it. At issue are the
public’s right to know versus the right of any institution to han
dle personnel matters discretely. But pumors and suspicions
often do more damage than the truth.
Trustees merely said they feel the college needs a change
of leadership.
But has that alone ever been reason to fire an ad
ministrator?
Carter told us the board hadn’t “supported” him as it
should have in the past year, hadn’t given him as free a rein as
in the past. There was also something said about a letter he’d
sent to state officials complaining about the conduct of an
obligatory investigation of the college’s continuing education
program.
But there’s got to be more.
Had they evaluated Carter and found him lacking in
specific areas? What guidance had they given him for im
provement?
If there were administrative problems, the public has a
right to know. The public also has a right to know how the col
lege trustees plan to work with a future administrator to in
sure that whatever has happened doesn’t reoccur.
In an ongoing promotional campaign the college has told
us over and over again, “Brunswick Technical College ... We
Believe In You.”
Trustees should keep that faith.
Schools Planned Ahead
What's The Fuss Over A 200-Year Old Paper?
The public has heard Brunswick Technical College Presi
dent Joe Carter’s version of why he was dismissed by the col
lege s board of trustees last month. And we’ve heard from a
former trustee as to why he thought Carter was dismissed.
But we haven’t really heard from the trustees themselves,
the only people in a position to know. They’ve hung a curtain of
silence.
Brunswick Tech is a tax-supported institution. Only
recently county voters expressed their faith in it by adopting
an $8 million bond referendum to expand the campus.
But that kind of faith has to be two-way.
As far as is practical, the public has a right to be told why
the college’s leader of seven years was abruptly dismissed a
week after trustees met privately with the head of the state’s
Department of Communitv Colleges.
I've sat in on the last two meeUngs
of the committee planning
Brunswick County's observance of
the Bicentennial of the ConsUtution.
Appropriately, it's a small group
with big ideas.
The anniversary of the signing of
the Constitution is Sept. 17. However,
the “big event"—at least the first—in
the county's observance won’t come
until Sept. 26. That day holds pro
mise, based on the plans I’ve heard
the last few Wednesday nights.
That afternoon a brief program is
planned in conjunction with
Brunswick Town’s “Autumn Day"
living history’ program. The commit
tee’s got a pleasant surprise up its
sleeve.
I.ater that evening at Tavern on the
Tee at Sea Trail Golf Links,
Associate Justice Harry C. Martin of
the N.C. Supreme Court will be
keynote speaker at a seated dinner.
His subject: the Constitution, of
course. Not as a document on dry,
crackled paper, but as a living,
breathing, changing entity. A timely
topic these days, is the Constitution.
Martin, of Asheville, teaches a
seminar on the Constitution at the
University of North Carolina Law
School. He's not only knowledgeable.
Susan
Usher
\ \ I
but easy to listen to, a plus for us non
lawyers practicing compreherision
on a full stomach.
Bicentennial Committee members
say they want the celebration to con
tinue long past Sept. 26 into the New
Year. That means they’ll need a lot of
cooperation from other people and
organizations, and that's beginning
to fall into place.
Among other programs: The
Southport DAR Chapter is proposing
a Living Legacy Garden in memory
of Benjamin Smith, the man for
whom Smithville (now Southport)
was named and a former governor
who happened to die a pauper.
Honor will also be paid to Alfred
Moore Sr., a Brunswick County
native who ser\'ed for four years on
the U.S. Supreme Court in the earlv
1800s.
What else is happening as the 50
United States join in a “Celebration
of Citizenship?"
That’s the name given the premier
event of 1987 honoring our Constitu
tion. On Sept. 16, you can watch na
tional leaders and schoolchildren
recite the Pledge of Allegiance on TV
at 1 p.m., and hear Chief Justice
Warren E. Burger, Retired, chair
man of the national Commission on
the Bicentennial of the U.S. Constitu
tion, lead a reading of the Preamble.
On that same day, schools across
the country are expected to hold
special educational programs, teach-
ins and the like.
On Sept. 17 at 4 p.m., the time of the
actual signing of the Constitution, the
Commission wants everyone to get
involved. Those of us with access to
chimes, bells or carillons are asked
to join in a “ringing tribute to the
Constitution."
We’re to sound the bells for 200
seconds—one for each year of the
Bicentennial—and to simultaneously
release 200 red, white and blue
helium-filled balloons. The Commis
sion also suggests that Americans
reflect on the blessings of liberty, the
ideals of justice and equ:.} opportuni
ty made possible by the Constitution.
For participating in “Bells Across
America" groups can earn “an of
ficial Bicentennial certificate.”
Earlier in the day we can join in na
tional observances by television, in
cluding a parade and ceremonies at
Independence Hall in Philadelphia.
Also coming up: an ABC-TV
miniseries based on the book,
“Miracle at Philadelphia;’’ a 5epi. 16
ABC special on the Constitution’s
history and principles; another
special called, “Fuiuiy, You Don't
I.X)ok 200," to air in October; and an
animated Peanuts special.
Brunswick County was one of 1,600
designated Bicentennial Com
munities as of July 25, and will be one
of at least 85 communities across
North Carolina joining in the obser
vances.
Some folks may wonder what’s the
big deal about the Constitution being
200 years old, but newspaper William
Allen White of Kansas understood
when he said, “Liberty is one thing
you can’t have unless you give it to
others.”
That’s exactly what makes our
Constitution unique and precious, not
just a document from the past.
Why not join the celebration?
vwiius >-\traici Qt DQbd
Bookworm?
ihere’s at least one in every
crowd: the guy who purposely misses
his class reunion, then calls a
classmate to find out who showed up.
This summer I was that type of
guy—a little insecure, a little short on
cash for the country-club affair and
more than a little curious about what
had become of my former peers.
In high school I was known as “that
shy little boy who doesn’t talk to
anyone,” a reference I resented
somewhat.
I was always of the opinion that I
should keep my mouth shut unless I
had something important to
say—kind of like the boy who
throughout his childhood was
presumed mute until he spoke up the
first time his mother burned the
breakfast toast.
Rohn
Adams
As it turns out, that description of
me is ironic, since for the past four
years I’ve made my living by talking,
as a radio newsman.
Several months ago I ran into an
old classmate who didn't know who I
was until she recognized my voice of
all things. I took it as a compliment,
even though she might only have
been suggesting that my voice is
about as distinctive as Tiny Tim’s.
After avoiding it like the plague, I
waited a couple of days before phon
ing one of my friends for a blow-by-
blow description of the event. But my
friend hadn't attended either, so I
was still in the dark about what had
befallen the 250 members of my high
school’s Class of '77.
To ease my curiosity, I dusted off
my senior yearbook and leafed
through its dog-eared pages, and I
imagined what each classmate must
be like now, ten years later.
First I looked up Susie Sweetheart,
then voted “Most Popular.” I im
agined Susie now as a kindergarten
teacher, married to her male senior
superlative counterpart (Freddie
Football), with two beautiful
children, a big house at the lake, two
shiny cars and a pit bull.
iiictc waS uOOK>vOtrri,
voted “Most Intellectual.” She must
have finished her doctoral studies by
now, probably on the traumatic ef
fect of reunions on shy people like
me.
And Danny Delinquent is possibly
out on parole, unless he finally
perfected the pipe bomb he tried to
enter in the school science fair.
Finally I looked at my own senior
picture: that of a confused 18-year-
old long on hair, short on e.xperience
and anxious about the future.
Somehow I haven’t changed much
except that I’m 10 years older, have a
lot less hair and enough experience to
know my anxiety was well-founded.
Luckily I have five more years to
rationalize missing my next class
reunion.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
IX
ruin
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Vote
In neighboring Columbus County and all across North
Carolina, school superintendents and school boards are be
moaning a federal ruling that requires them to have all-adult
bus drivers as of Jan. 1.
While they moan, Brunswick County school officials like
Bill Turner and William Gurganious are smiling. Two years
To the editor:
Sen. R. C. Soles supposedly
represents all of the people in
Brunswick, Bladen and Columbus
counties. When he doles out the “pork
barrel funds” only the people in his
own Columbus County seem to count.
ed by each legislator in the area.
Rearranging the list by county I find
this shocking bias toward Columbus
County:
Brunswick County 6,000
Bladen County 5,000
Columbus County 54,000
The Wilmington Morning Star
listed the pork barrel recipients nam-
I could not locate the Ranson Ac
tivity Center ($2,00C) or the Beaver
Dam Fire Dept. (51,000), so $3,000 is
not included in the totals.
Using the 1987 Rand McNally atlas
population figures, the amounts per
capita are:
Brunswick County $ .018
Bladen County .016
Columbus County 1.06
This money comes from our state
taxes. We are being treated very un
fairly. Remember this when Sen.
Soles asks for your vote.
I think this information should
have been published in The
Brunswick Beacon so residents who
do not get the Wilmington paper
would be aware of the lopsided
distribution of our taxes by Sen.
Soles.
Chris Alcorn
Carolina Shores, Calabash
“st;, v/nen ms tir'uiiswick County Bcord of SducBtiOn iiirsd
Gurganious as transportation supervisor, it also began phas
ing out the use of student drivers.
According to Turner, assistant superintendent for opera
tions and Gurganious’ supervisor, the system has recruited
many of its 131 drivers from the ranks of existing full-time
employees: janitors, teacher assistants and cafeteria staff,
rearranging their hours on campus to accommodate the dual
roles. Salaries also are more attractive, with beginning
drivers now earning $4.20 and the most experienced drawing
$5.93. Because most of the drivers are full-time employees,
they qualify for benefits such as insurance and retirement.
The approach seems to be working well for everyone in
the system—students and employees.
Brunswick County Schools didn’t make the move to adult
drivers because their student drivers had bad records (in fact,
they have performed well), but because the writing was on the
wall. Nationwide, there has been a push for adult drivers from
the U.S. Department of Labor to local PTAs.
The county schools’ foresight has paid off. While other
school systems have reason to panic, Brunswick County has
only to keep up the good work.
Victim's Plea: Person Who Caused Accident Come Foward
To the editor:
My children and I were run off the
road last night (Aug. 25) by a car in
our lane. I wish to express my ap
preciation and admiration for the
Calabash Rescue Squad. They did an
excellent job. Not only were they effi
cient; they were also kind and car
ing.
Barbara Ruby and her husband
came back and picked us up at the
hospital after they had already’ been
to where our car was towed to
retrieve some important papers for
me.
These people went beyond the call
of duty and are to be commended.
Their kindness to my children and
myself is greatly appreciated,
especially at a time when were were
already experiencing very hard
times.
I would also like to make a plea to
the person who caused this accident
to please come fonvard. I am not a
greedy or vindicUve person. I don’t
want you to be punished for what I’m
sure was an accident, nor do I want to
claim a lot of injuries for money.
I am an unemployed teacher with
four cliildren. We only had liability
insurance on cur old car and the loss
of our car and the hospital bill leave
us in a terrible situation.
Janet Hawfvermale
Rt. LShallotte
New Kid On The Block Bringing Others In Line
To the editor:
Just as we figured, the new kid on
the block is bringing some of the
other service stations (gasoline)
down to their price level. Pretty soon
they’ll all be falling into line.
Only question that comes to mind
is, if they can drop their prices now
eight to ten cents per gallon (in order
to compete with the new competi
tion), why have they been gouging us
all these years? I don’t know about
you, but as for me—I’m staying with
the good people who made it all possi
ble. Let ’em lick their wounds, I say.
By the way, I called AT*T on their
toll-free number to get in on their
"Reach Out America” offer where
you can call long di.stance for one
whole hour for $8.00 per month, plus
other amenities they offer.
And now (as you know) “for the
rest of the story,” as Paul Havey
would say, "Sorry, but it isn’t
available through Atlantic
Telephone.”
Ho-hum—so what else is new!
Jimmy Simpson
Shallotte
often cave in to the commercial and
other special interests.
The Brunswick Beacon well
represents what freedom of the press
is all about. Keep up the good work.
John D. Ashford
aeffer Luck
Did you ever have the feeling you
were transported here from another
planet?
I get that feeling at least ten times
a day. So many things are foreign to
me in Brunswick County that I
sometimes want to just pack up and
leave.
On my planet, the language is
f'nglish. They speak the same
language here 1 am told, but I come
across very few natives who speak
English the way it was taught to me.
It IS kind of a more mellow and warm
English which is spoken on Planet
Brunswick.
On my planet, there is snowfall
during the winter and steamy days
during the summer. This planet has
never seen the likes of a two-foot
Adapting To A New Environment
To Brunswick
Community
Is Fortunate
Fayetteville
Doug
Rutter
On my planet, the game of golf is
played on concrete fairways and
cragged greens for five months out of
the year. The game here is played on
a carpet-like substance with silky-
smooth putting surfaces, and
played year-round.
it’s
snowfall or a fivivmonth freeze. An
occasional frost and an average
temperature of 70-something are
more the order.
On my planet, the inhabitants
cheer for the Phillies, Sixers, Eagles
and Flyers. People on this planet root
for the Tar Heels, Wolfpack, Blue
Devils and Demon Deacons (.some
pretty tough critters).
On my planet, development and
progress have taken over much of
what Mother Nature once owned.
Mother Nature has been allowed to
remain throughout much of Planet
Rninswiclc :harinp hpr hpniilv with
everyone.
On my planet, people are rushing
everywhere you look. There is no
time to waste by smelling the roses
or watching the sunset. Planet
Brunswick is full of relaxed people
who follow an easy lifestyle and live
happily for it.
Come to think of it. Planet
Brunswick isn’t so bad.
I think I can learn the language
given enough time. I can certainly do
without the snow down my back. I
can probably get by without wat
ching the Eagles go through another
losing season. I know I can deal with
the golfing conditions.
And I can adapt and eventually live
peacefully ci’.’side the environment
of the concrete jungle. I can even do
without the fast-paced lifestyle of
Planet PA.
In fact, if I don’t finish this column
until tomorrow, it won’t bother
anyone in the least. So how do I file
for citizenship?
To the editor:
I hope the kind of fate Art
Buchwald wrote about in his column
of August 27 in the Roanoke Times
doesn’t befall your wonderful
islands.
Being a long time lover of your
beautiful and peaceful coastal area, I
would hate to see you suffer the same
fate as the Outer Banks and Myrtle
Beach. These areas are no longer
dc.sirablc because of oven!evelo)>
ment and overcrowding.
Wiaston Tear
Roanoke, Virginia
To the editor:
The citizens of this community are
indeed fortunate to have physical
therapists of such excellence at The
Brunswick Hospital. They are not on
ly caring and supportive, but
knowledgeable, skillful and clinically
competent.
lx)is Beato
Rt. 6, Shallotte
Supports Beacon
Editorial Policy
Researcli
saves lives.
To the editor:
I would like you to know that 1 sup
port your courageous editorial policy
all the way. Small weekly papers too
ft American Heart
V-
Association
WE17E FIGHTING FO(?
'OJRLIFE