The Danville Register from Danville, Virginia • Page 11

Second Section News THE DANVILLE REGISTER Classified Automotive Second Section FEBRUARY 1847. PANVILLE, WEDNESDAY MORNING, MARCH 19,1975 NO. 30,692 Union Expected To File $1.5 Million Suit Today Against City Attorneys for the United Textile Workers Union of America are. expected to fjle a $1.5 million suit today against City Manager W. Lord and members of City Cpuncil over the'pity's han- dling of union' members.

1 applicatjpns fpr fopd stamps during strike aga.inst Dan River Inc. last year. Members of the legal firm Shine and Ferguson, Kingsport, Term-, arrived in Danville yesterday to begin preparation for filing the suit in the Danville offices of U.S. Western District Court, Attorney Bruce Shine said he would, be present at the filing today, along with UTW International President Francis Sch.a'ufenbjl. Danville attorney Ruth Harvey will be present.

The suit stems from ajjeged irregularities by the city during Police Seeking iFirst Degree Murder Verdict G.REEN.SBQRO, N.C-G.uilfprd County authorities will push for a first-degree murder conviction of Michael A. Lester, the 22- year-ojd former undercover agent who js charged in the death of Robert A. WsUer IU of Danville, when his trial begins here A conviction, under North Carolina Law, would carry with it an automatic death penalty. Lester has been held "in QuilfQrd County jail since his arrest in connection with the Dec. 29, 1974 shooting and stabbing death of the 18-year-old Danville youth.

North Carolina authorities have charged Lester with being the driver who picked up Waller and a companion, Kent Douglas Wells, near Reidsville when they were hitchhiking to a concert in Greensboro. The two were taken to a dirt road east of Greensboro, police said Wells reported, and said the driver was going to pick up his girlfriend. The man stopped the car and held a pistol on the twp youths and demanded their money. They handed over the $14 they had, Wells reported tp police, and a struggle Waller and the driver after the driver suggested a homosexual get be per- formed. Weils then fled the scene, he said, and called for help at a near- by.hquse.

While he was running, he said, he heard shots fired. found Waller's body with two bullet wounds and. multiple knife wounds. Wells'was unharmed. Capt.

Jirn Worrell of the Guilford County Sheriff's Department, said a composite drawing from Wells' description, coupled with assistance fVom the public, resulted in Lester's arrest. Lester was the undercover informant in the first large-scale drug arrests made in Danville, Va. Rep. Daniel Slates Six Public Meetings the strike in regard to processing strikers' ap- plications for food stamps, according to UTW vice-president Roy Groenert, The city's Social Services Bureau was investigated by a team from the State Department of Welfare during November and December. The three federal programs handled by the city were checked, with attention focused on the handling of food stamp applicatons.

When a report on the study was completed, the agency stated that the city had not complied fully with federal regulations governing the food stamp program- In a genera.1 overview of the Social Services Department, the report stated at times bases decisions on a feeling level rather than on federal and state regulations. "Mr. Lord and Mr. Joseph often refer to a 'philosophical dif- ference' that indicated that local opinion or local policy should take priority over state and federal policy. manifest in all financial services programs and the Pbvious result is a rather high error rate.

"Welfare policy, at least in the case of strikers applying for food stamps, was not applied correctly because of a directive from the city manager." The lengthy report contained only five paragraphs devoted specifically the foqd stamp program. A notation at the end of this section stated: "The agency denied eligible food stamp ap- plicants. They knew these cases were eligible." The report also cited 19 specific cases in which the city denied participation in the food stamp program. As a result, the city was penalized two months administrative the period of the strike. The investigation of the Social Services Bureau stemmed from' complaints filed by the union with the U.S.

Department of Agriculture. In the Union's newsletter, Schaufenbil stated the union's reason for filing the suit: "We are familiar with the propensity of community officials to side with management in industrial disputes, even to the extent of becoming strikebreakers. And we are determined when such officials flaunt the law, as in this case, to secure compensatory justice." Fifth District Congressman W. C. "Dan" Danielwill hold six workshop sessions with constituents during the up- coming Easter recess.

The meetings will be held according to the following schedule: March 28: 10 a.m. to noon in the basement of the Brunswick Government Office Building and 2-4 p.m. in the Mecklen- burg County Courthouse in Deadline April 4 Boydton. April 1: in the Fire House in South Boston, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

in the Genera' District Courtroom in the Halifax County Office Building in Halifax and 3-5 p.nx in the Charlotte County Courthouse at Charlotte Court House. April 4: 9:30 a.m. to noon in the Campbell County Cour- thouse in Rustburg. Farm Agency Office Site Proposed By Supervisors HUMAN TRAPEZE--Big Top aerial stars Rita and Elba of the Clyde BeattyrCole Brothers Circus will apear as part of the show April 8 on the grounds adjacent to Mason's on Riverside Drive. Performance will be at 4:30 and 7:30 p.m.

Leaf Designations Coming Slow The designation period for tobacco farmers to name the warehouses at which they will sell this year's crop reaches its mid-point today. The period ends April 4. Designation filings have been slow, according to Warren Price, director of the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service office in Chatham- At closing time yesterday, Price reported only 950 growers had filed designation. He estimated that between 2,300 and 2,400 designations will be filed this year. "We're staffed to take care of about 130 applications a day," said Price.

"If the growers come in steadily, they won't have to wait to file." Price believes that the delay in filing designations this year is due to the early filing period. Last year's designations were filed in May-and June. The time allowed farmers to contact warehouses and make sale arrangements. The period was moved back two months this year, however, and Price believes a farmers still haven't contacted warehouses. The filing procedure involves a few minutes, according to Price.

However, where leased land is involved the procedure is more complicated. Price advises farmers to designate during the lease period because of the un- certainty of re-designation dales. The U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Flue Cured Tobacco Advisory Commission have not set re-designation times. "We don't want anyone to miss designation," said Price.

The Chatham ASCS office is open from 8 a.m. to p.m. Monday through Friday. CHATHAM--Will the three federal agricultural agencies in Pittsylvania County agree to lease a buidling proposed for location directly behind the County Courthouse annex? Six members of the County Board of Supervisors in a work session last night decided to ask the Pittsylvania heads of the Agricultural Satbilization and Conservation Services (ASCS), Soil Conservation Service (SCS) and Farmers' Home Administration (FHA) that question. A i i a Anthony Barrett last night recommended to the super- visors that "if built, the agrucultiural building be placed directly behind the Courthouse annex." According to a study released last night, a 9,100 square-fpot building one story high with walls strong enough to support other floors is estimated to cost $360,000.

This i a i a County building study, including data on each department of Government, the county jail and the Agricultural building, was conducted during the past month by Juby E. Towler, civil defense coordinator and for- mer acting county ad- ministrator. commenting on the location of the building behind the courthouse annex, Barrett said, "Simply put, this option allows flexibility in planning for office space for the next 20 years." There is another con- sideration which Barrett noted the Agricultural agencies only are authorized to lease office space on a 12-month basis. If, for some reason, the building were to be vacated after one year by these federal agencies, the office space would be more useful and salvageable if located next to the present county buildings, Barrett admitted. In Jauary, the Pittsylvaia ASCS, SCS and FHA were chosen by the U.S.

Department of Agruculture as a pilot project for Virginia in the development of one-stop agricultural service centers. To carry out the purposes of that project, a committee of the Pittsylvaia agency heads was designated to determine the type of building they need. They also have been assigned to locate a building to lease or someone that will build for lease. Several supervisors ex- pressed concern over the possibility of a private firm constructing a building for the agricultural agencies outside of Chatham. "I would like to see the agricultural offices stay in Chatham," said a River Supervisor James P.

Kent Jr. "However, I am not willing to spend this much of the county's money when they only can offer a one-year lease unless we can use the building for other purposes." The other supervisors present agreed with Kent and decided that a building next to the other county offices would be the most salvageable. The other possible location, as mapped out in Towler's study, is at the back of the two- acre lot owned by the county. Chatham Supervisor Pr. Ernest Overbey said the a.gepcy heads--Warren Price of the ASCS, John Lunsford of the FHA and Russell Vaughan of the SCS--had told him that they preferred the location on the back of the property.

Barrett noted a the possibility exists of the Virginia Polytechnic and State University extension service joining the other services in the agricultural building. "Our trump card is the ex- tension office," asserted Barrett. The present agreement between the VPI extension i and Pitt- sylvania County has the county providing office space for the service, he said. Towler also presented recommendations to the supervisors on parking space, the county jail and office space for departments of county and state government. On the problem of parking, he noted that a vacant warehouse adjacent to the county's property on Main Street possibly could be pur- chased.

By clearing that land and by removing the tin building and sheds on the present property, the county could provide 173 parking spaces. Towler reported that, with the agricultural building, the complex would house 125 employes. He also proposed the pur- chase of the a a Cleaners, Grubb Auto Supply Co. and Art Barber Shop for parking space. The supervisors decided to place these recommendations concerning the purchase of a i i a property on the agenda for their April meeting.

Towler also estimated that alteratios and additions to the county office i i anci courthouse annex to provide the space needed by the a housed there would cost $185,000, Judge Jones Summonses 1.5 Glenwood Petitioners Says Bank Of Virginia Official Inflationary Spiral Already Broken The backbone of the current inflation already has been broken by three successive months of decline in the price index, Dr. R. Pierce Lumpkin, senior vice-president--finance, Bank of Virginia Company, of Richmond, told members of the Danville Rotary Club yesterday. The next task is to cope with the depressed economy by stimulating a business upturn at a pace that will not unlease a new inflationary spiral next year. That, he said, is the danger.

Dr. Lumpkin was head of the Department of Economics at Virginia a University and earlier a Federal Reserve Bank official before going fulltime as the chief finance officer of the bank holding company. He traced economic developments marking the inflationary period and recent developments signalling the decline iiythe economy. The outlook for the present quarter is about what it was for the preceding quarter. He looks for a slight improvement in the second quarter and some positive improvements in the latter half of the year.

As money is pumped into the economy, the trend will be for money rates to drop. He cited the recent edging off of prime rates from the highs of the last quarter of 1974 and the current 7.5 percent charged best customers by major New York banks. The next rate an- nouncement, due this week, probably will be slightly lower. Lumpkin said he "could not imagine a prime rate above 6.5 Lower interest rates on money will start a flow through banks and savings and loan institutions into mortgage loans for commercial and home construction. Dr.

Lumpkin suggested that the area of construction--the segment of the economy hardest hit in the general decline--be watched for signs of important gains. Congress will vote cuts in taxes and pass other measures to stimulate the economy. Dr. Lumpkin said. Measured stimulation is necessary under the circumstances, but he cautioned against an over- dose, lest we find ourselves right back where we were at the worst of the inflationary spiral that began depressing our economy and brought on a wide and deep decline.

Judge Langhorne Jones has summonsed 15 Glenwood annexation petitioners to appear before him today at Glenwood Elementary School. These persons, whose names were signed to the petition for annexation, were unable to attend the interviews con- ducted March 7 and 8, Judge Jones said. He noted that 190 petitioners Joel Shelton Considering County Race Joel E. Shelton, 41, of Gretna, reportedly is giving serious consideration to run- ning for the Callands-Gretna seat on the Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors. County officials yesterday said they expect Shelton to announce his candidacy this week.

An employe of the County School Board for many years, Shelton has served as principal of Gretna Elementary School and presently is an elementary supervisor. He also is a member of the Gretna Town Council. No announcements of can- drdacy have come from the Callands-Gretna district since Lionel Reynolds last month announced his intention to bid for the Democratic nomination for supervisor. Callands- Gretna Supervisor Felix Hunt yesterday said he has not decided whether he will seek re-election. were summonsed to the March 7 and 8 sessions.

At that time, Judge Jones asked the petitioners whether they had signed the petition, authorized someone else to sign for them or now wished to ratify their signatures. As special master in the annexation case, Judge Jones has been named to determine the validity of the 888 names on the petition submitted to the Pittsylvania County Circuit Court by Glenwood residents who want about eight square an- miles of county territory nexed to Danville. i i i a a a i law requires that such petitions carry the signatures of at least 51 per cent of the qualified voters in the proposed area. Judge Jones has said he hopes to complete his report this month. The annexation move is opposed by the Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors, Danville City Council and several industries Glenwood.

near Livestock Market Sells 358 Animals For Over $29,000 i i i a a i a Livestock Market yesterday notched a $29,000 sale on 358 animals sold. The auction sold 97 hogs, 55 veal, 35 slaughter cattle, 17 baby calves, 8 cow-calf com- binations and 171 stock-feeder cattle. Prices remained sleady-to- strong on the market. U.S. Department of Agriculture-graded animals brought the following prices per hundredweight: Hogs: top weight (190-240 Ibs.) heavy butchers.

$35-37; light butchers, butcher sows. boars, $25. Veal: choice and prime, $45- 48; good, standard, $28-35. Heavy slaughter calves: good and choice, $35-40; standard, $27-33. Slaughter cattle: Cows: i i and com- mercial, canner and cutter, $14-18.

Bulls: cutter, Stock-feeder cattle: Steers: (300-500 Ibs.) choice and fancy, good, $25- 28; medium, S20-24, common, $17-20; (500-750 Ibs.) medium, $22-25; common, $17-22. Heifers: (300-500 Ibs.) choice and fancy, $26-31; good, $23-26; medium, $19-24; common, $16- 21; (500-750 Ibs.) medium, $21- 24.50: common, $15-20. Baby calves, $8-28 per head. Cow-calf combinations, $101- 167 per head, some with calves. Special Security Precautions Set For Thomas Hearing Today City Police Impound Vehicle After Chase Through Downpour MARTINSVILLE(AP)-Spe- cial security precautions will be in force here Wednesday at a preliminary hearing for Eddie Lee Thomas, 34, charged with killing a Henry County mother and her four children.

Thomas is to appear before General District Court Judge Kenneth M. Covington at 9:30 a.m. for the hearing, at which 14 state witnesses are sched- uled to The defense has subpoenaed no witnesses. Thomas, a ripsaw operator, is charged with murder in the Dec. 26 rape-slaying of Mrs.

Sallie Aliff, 34, and the deaths of her children Peggy Marie, 10; Charlotte Ann, James Al- vin, 4, and Vernon, 2. Police said Mrs. Aliff was raped and fatally stabbed and that the four young children were beaten to death in what they called "a cold-blooded exe- cution." Mrs. Aliff's husband, James, found her body in the bedroom of their home when he returned from work the day after Christ- mas. Bodies of the children were found face-down in a wooded gully near the house.

Sheriff C. P. Witt said "what- ever measures are necessary" will be taken to avert disorder at the hearing for Thomas be- cause although no threats have been received, "community in- terest is running high." It is unlikely, however, thai persons entering the courtroom will be searched, the sheriff said after a two-hour confer- ence with Judge Covington and state and city law enforcement officials. Judge Covington will decide after the hearing whether to certify the charges against Thomas one of rape, four of murder to the Henry County Circuit Court grand jury. An armed black man held up the Hardees restaurant on West Main Street last night and left with about $90, police said.

Shortly after the incident, police began following a white, 1968 Chevrolet which, ac- cording to detectives, was speeding. During ensuing moments, the car sped out of the city on Rl. 41 north with the police cruiser in pursuit. The police followed the car through heavy, sporadic rainfall out Rt. 41, through a fast, banked right turn onto Rt.

835 and then into a sharp, right- hand turn onto Rt. 834. Across two bridges and through two intersections, the pursuit continued until the driver apparently lost control of the vehicle on a straight stretch of Rt. 834. The driver disappeared into the rain-swept night there, where several then-darkened houses stood.

By 1 a.m. police had sum- moned a wrecker and retrieved the Chevrolet from the ditch on the left side of the road. Danville Det. David Dalton said last night the car was being impounded by police for a search. Although he would not admit that police followed the vehicle because they thought it was connected with the armed robbery, he did say the car would be "processed" for evidence that might relate to the holdup.

Other, unofficial sources, indicated the vehicle contained a weapon and some money, both thought to be connected with the robbery. The man was described as black with a long brown coat. He wore a mask during the holdup. Police said early this mor- ning they have a "suspect" in the case. Apparently for that reason police launched no immediate manhunt for the driver this morning.

During the chase, Danville police called on Piltsylvania County officers and State Police to help close off escape routes on Rt. 834. However, the driver ended the automobile chase before the other officers could join it..