The Anniston Star from Anniston, Alabama • Page 29

Sfje Annteton Thursday, May 18, 1978 state, regional news i it "4' i i Star Photo by Joyct Akri Young eyes stare as rockets soar high in Ranburne RANBURNE "Some go high, some go low, but they sure don't go slow; some people don't believe their eyes when they see them go so high That's how Ranburne sixth grader Tammy Forsyth in a poem described Rocket Day at Ranburne High School, an annual event which allows sixth graders like Tammy to test their aerodynamic mettle by building and launching model rockets The affair is part of the sixth grade's space and flight curriculum. The rockets Estes models have engines that propel them from 200 to 2,000 feet upward. The event also is spiced with a little competition awards are given for the rocket with the best performance, best design, and most unusual name. Physics students were on hand to compute the altitude attained by each rocket, and the festivities were capped by an exhibition by senior Daryl Huddleston who launched a series of advanced multi-stage rockets. Other opportunities are afforded students to learn more about modes of air travel.

An example is the annual visit to the school by David Akers, a pilot for Delta Airlines. He fields students' questions in an attempt to help them better understand the mechanics of jet airliners and other concepts of flying. The only apparent problem with Ranburne's Rocket Day, for some students, was that it ended too soon. As Tammy noted in her poem, 'Rockets are a blast for the time thev last :7 if i 3 4 Ranburne kids (top) have a 'blast' as rockets launch; Kenneth Hyatt, (bottom left! prepares' for takeoff, right Who wants Shelton's seat? Willis says he does; Whaley, Nisbet unsure After Wallace, what's next? Analysis By THOMAS NOLAND Star Staff Writer JACKSONVILLE Rep. Tom Shelton's decision not to seek re-election to his state House District 57 seat has opened the door to at least three hopefuls, one of whom said this morning his wife is the only obstacle to his quest for the post.

Gerald Willis, owner of Willis Lumber Co. in Piedmont and a former Calhoun County commissioner, told The Star this morning, "I'll announce as soon as I can get my wife to agree to It." And two other campaign veterans former Jacksonville Mayor John B. Nisbet and Alexandria High From Staff, Wire Reports When George Wallace leaves the governor's chair in 1979, he will likely be succeeded by a "modern Southerner" more interested in working with the federal government than defying it. That is the view of 'former Gov. James E.

"Big Jim" Folsom, who has called Wallace "our last Civil War governor." Others also feel a Wallace successor will be more interested in administering the state government than Wallace has been. They say that in many instances, despite his appointments to various boards, agencies and offices, Wallace has not set a policy for his appointees. In' their view, a number of state government agencies no longer will operate in a vacuum after the Wallace years. It's likely too, that a number of Wallace appointees will leave office before he does to seek more secure employment possibilities. One recent example is C.

Dothard, who resigned as head of the Department of Public Brw rX SB if A GROVER WHALEY GERALD WILLIS School Principal Grover ipoM SHELTON Whaley sid they are "considering" the race. Nisbet, owner of a telephone interview this Jacksonville real estate and morning "I don't have any use Safety to head the Anniston District Trooper Post. In Dees' opinion, history will view Wallace as "the last of the true demagogue politicians." But, according to U.S. Sen. Jim Allen, Wallace will be judged "a great Alabamian and a great American." Also sympathetic toward Wallace is former Georgia Gov.

Lester Maddox, who says Americans should "wish him well." Maddox, also known as a segregationist, said Wallace "served a long time and was a prominent part of the conservative cause." The former Georgia governor said Wallace deserves sympathy because of his. paralysis, caused by an assassination attempt in 1972 when Wallace was seeking the Democratic presidential nomination. Wallace's injury could be part of the reason for his decision, Maddox said "He paid a great price that few men in politics are ever called upon to pay," said Maddox. "Injury can be worse than death. He has suffered and we should pray and wish him well." Vivian Malone Jones, whom Wallace tried to bar from integrating the University of Alabama in his famous "stand in the schoolhouse door" in 1963, said she believes Wallace "is doing the right thing." "A lot has happened since 1963," said Ms.

Jones, who succeeded in graduating from the university and now heads the Atlanta-based Voter Education Project. "We're finally 'moving Into airew erawherrsorne of theoid politicians arc getting out. There've been some changes in Alabama but we still have a insurance agency, went so far for them at all. I hope the In the Senate, he said the that arose when Susan Shelton battle between the Alabama and another-teacher filed suit Farm Bureau and the Alabama against the Jacksonville School Education Association over the Board for terminating their "lid bill" resulted in contracts, legislators' inability to act on The board eventually agreed Other officials will be as to say. "I plan to continue to voters turn out every one of be involved in politics," though them." he added, "I am not prepared to The 47-year-old realtor went replaced in the new administration, thus lessening whatever state government influence other issues to reinstate the two.

although. Wallace may nave wniie oui oi onice. JOHN B. NISBET JR. state of affairs "I'm as disgusted with the public as I am with the system because apparently the public in our county appreciates and likes crooks.

I don't," he said. He refused to comment on who was the target of his reference to crooks. Nisbet was mayor of Jacksonville until his defeat in 1976. Whaley. formerly principal of Ohatchee High School, lost his 1976 runoff to state Sen.

John Teague of Childersburg It's not wholly clear what Wallace say rm running (lor District on io say ne nopea uov. ueorge 57) and I'm not prepared to say C. Wallace would not call a I'm not." special session in the next few decision to serve out his term as governor and not run for the Senate means for the state Both he and Whaley, who was weeks because, "I don want to defeated in a runoff for state go back However, the session Senate District 19 two vears is a certainty because ago, said they would decide within the next two weeks For Shelton, meanwhile, the The bill would place a ceiling Mrs Shelton declined to return or "lid" of 20 percent on the to her job increase in the amount of Shelton also pointed to his property taxes each county growing business and the could collect as a result of financial headaches of Alabama's ongoing property supporting four children in reappraisal. college as reasons for not Asked whether a controversy seeking re-election, which erupted last year over his "I thought I ought to tend to wife's teaching job in the my business," he said Jacksonville city schools had Sheltnn saidJie Jiad jedded anything to do with his decision "a long time ago" to run for the to drop out, Shelton said, "No. state Senate if he were to She is completely vindicated as remain in politics at all.

He also far as I'm concerned." said, in response to a question Shelton asked for and about legislative performance, received a legislative he blames the public as well as investigation of the situation the legislators for the current legislators failed to pass the state's education budget for fiscal 1979 during their regular session. Shelton blamed the deadlock in the House on Wallace's attempts to control the flow of legislation. "Wallace's people decision is over. In the wake of what he described as a "frustrating" legislative in the long run. But there are those such as civil rights attorney Morris Dees of Montgomery who I believe "things are going to get better for the state" with Wallace out of office.

Others, such as Joe Reed of Montgomery, "chairman of the Alabama Democratic Caucus, the black arm of the state Democratic Party, feel Wallace will continue I to play a role in state politics for years to But, adds Reed, the three-term governor and four-time presidential candidate eventually will "fade into the pages of history." session this year, the freshman representative announced -earKer-this-week he mrMtevt. akin the session from the out. very beginning," he said. Visitors abound In 1977. NetttfVdrk City was host to 1.850.000 overseas visitors, says the New York Convention and Visitors Bureau I don't want to serve with "They were not letting anything this crowd (current legislators) come up (for consideration and long way to go." anymore," Shelton said in a voting)..