Panama City News-Herald from Panama City, Florida • Page 5

WREST RANGER MILTON STRENGTH INSTRUCTS WEWA CLASS Gulf Students Participate In Annual Forestry Program One hundred and eighty-eight sixth-grade students of Gulf County participated in the 24th annual Forestry Day at the White City Work Center of the Division of Forestry. The students and their teachers Journeyed from Port St. Joe, Highland View and Wewahitchka for a day of instructions in fire prevention, forest management and wildlife conservation. Forestry Day was initiated in 1950, and is nowjointly sponsored by the Gulf County Forest Fire Prevention Committee, St. Joe Paper Company, Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission, and the Florida Division of Forestry.

Six stations were used in a county fair system of instruction. Instructors were provided by the Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission and Florida Naval Warfare Group Meeting A thee-day conference involving a review of existing and proposed Navy research and development programs, assessment of capabilities, identification of areas of improvement in the field of naval warfare, and exchange of information among members of the Advanced Technical Objectives Working Group will begin today at the Naval Coastal Systems Laboratory here. Approximately 30 persons are expected to attend. Established by the Director of Navy Laboratories in June 1966, the ATOWG's mission is to Truck Driver Sought Tom Lindsey, Denver resident, is trying to find Henry Taylor, a Panama City truck driver who he said saved the life of Lindsey's daughter when the Taylors had an automobile accident near Fayetteville, in November, 1972. The Lindsey car ran off the road and Linda, age two at the time, was thrown from the auto.

Taylor, driving a gasoline truck stopped and gave the child resuscitation. Taylor left without giving his address and Lindsey, who is vacationing here, would like to get in touch with him. Lindsey is staying at Holiday Inn West. TWO HELD TALLAHASSEE. (UPI) Federal Drug enforcement agents said Monday they had arrested two young men, one of them a doorman for the state legislature, on charges of selling undercover men 25.000 amphetamine pills.

A drug enforcement agency spokesman said Raymond R. Cayson A Florida State university student who has been serving as a doorman during the current legislative session, and Christopher Coombs Larimore, 20. of Miami, a yacht salesman, were arrested Saturday night at a Tallahassee Motel where they turned the shoebox full of pills over to the undercover men. assess continuously the capabilities of the U.S. Navy in maintaining control of the seas.

Members of this high level group are Chairman D.S. Malyevac, Naval Weapons Laboratory; Cdr D. B. Llnehan, Commander, Operational est and Evaluation Force; E.S. Gravlin.

Naval Air Systems Command; Capt W.T. Boyer. Naval Ordnance Systems Command; D.H. Witcher and J.F. Latimer, Naval Weapons Center; T.

Willy and B. McHugh, Naval Air Development Center; E.B. Ireland, K.J. Powers, and G.L. Carlson, Naval Electronic Laboratory Center; D.J.

Zoll, Naval Missile Cener. J.K. Burke and Dr. A. J.

Faulstitch, Naval Ordnance Laboratory; Dr. J. MacCallum, CAPT H. Bress, Dr. J.L.

Walsh? and Dr. J. L. Walters. Naval Research Laboratory; Dr.

Robert Allen. Naval Ship Research and Development Center; M. Baldwin. J. C.

Avery, and M. Mudurian, Naval Undersea Center; A. M. Bottoms and G. E.

Everly, Naval Undersea Systems Command; Dr. R. L. Ely and R. S.

Carlson, Applied Physics Laboratory; and Michael Houser and L. L. Stone, Naval Coastal Systems Laboratory. Michael Hauser is the NCSL coordinator for the event. Rish Gets Bill Through A bill introduced by Rep.

Billy Joe Rish, Port St. Joe, calling for a tax of 10 cents per fifth of whisky to go toward the treatment of alcoholics, passed the entire House by a substantial vote, and was immediately certified to the Senate, Rish noted. Rish said of House Bill 3610: "When some of the people told me I would never get it to the floor of the House, it really became a challenge. It is the sensible thing to do if we are to properly treat alcholics under the Myers Act. We should allow a 10 cent tax on whisky to pay for this teatment.

Otherwise, we would be taking money out of education, highway patrol budgets or other monies which we shouldn't dp at this Division of Forestry. At the first station the students climbed the fire tower to learn how fires are detected, located and crews dispatched to suppress them. Forest Ranger Archie Marshall manned this station. Frest Ranger Milton Strength stressed the importance of forest fire prevention at Station 2. The causes of wild fires and their effects were explained.

"Each year there are a few fires in Gulf County which are delibrately set," said Strength, "but many of our fires are caused by human carelessness." Burger Howard of the Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission manned Station 3. He discussed with the children the effects of environmental pollution upon fish and wildlife, and ultimately on people. His display included fishing pictures, as well as charts, to support his points on pollution. County Forester Ralph Edenfield discussed forest management at Station 4. Edenfield demonstrated methods of measuring tree heights, diameters and growth, as well as planting of seedlings.

Station 5 was manned by Forest Ranger, John Redmon. He showed the students the equipment used in wildfire suppression, and discussed the technique employed. Tractors, plows, handtools, and back fire torches were covered. Station 6 was the Smokey Bear Theatre, where the children were shown movies by Forest Ranger Gerald Blackwell. Teachers Sarah Owens and Mabelle Whitley from Wewahitchka brought their 58 sixth-graders Monday.

One hundred and five sixth graders from Port St. Joe visited the Forestry Work Center, along with their teachers Gwen Ingram, Betty Herring, Virginia Harrison and Billy Barlow. Twenty-five sixth graders from Highland View School visited the Forestry Work Center, along with their teacher Herman Jones. After formal instruction the students enjoyed sack lunches, soft drinks, and games until time to return to school. The soft drinks were donated by St.

Joe Paper Company. Mailbox Week Declared National Mailbox Improvement Week will be held May 20-25. according to Postmaster Ray Schmidt. The Panama City post offie is encouraging customers on rural, city motorized and contact delivery routes to examine and improve, if needed, the appearance of their mailboxes. Mortgage Money Getting Crimped Hy JULIAN UKItll STAFF Writer An upward creeping prime interest rate is putting the crimp on mortgage money and new construction activity in Bay County.

This Is. the consensus of an inquiry among area financial and const ruction firms. "It's just like turning a faucet off," Bobby Hodges, vice president at Panama City's First Federal Savings and Loan, in regard to the effect of the upward movement of the prime Interest rate. Hodges reported what he termed "buyer residence" toward loans at the9 percent Interest rate. Over at Security Federal Savings and Loan, Vice President Ann Jernigan acknowledged loans and construction in the single-femily residential building category were down.

She noted rates at her institution were currently 9'! 4 per cent and that the legal rate for savings and loan companies is 10 per cent. She compared the current rate with 7 to 8 per cent two years ago or to the per cent rate just two months ago. Savings and loan firms are also faced with the problem of expansion if they could find buyers for their product (mortgage money) due to the fact their suppliers of additional capital are now charging rates of 10 per cent, according to one source, and 10 per cent is the legal loan rate. Last week the prime rate had topped 1 per cent and was sitting at 11 2-5 per cent. Monday, a Panama City mortgage banker noted the rate was currently at 11 4 percent.

"I can't keep up with it," said Ted McLane of Commercial Bank in Panama City. McLane agreed high interest rales were basing an effect on area business, especially on housing starts or new residential construction. "Many persons are currently holding off on home construction, at least for the next month or so," McLane observed. While McLane forecast a reduction in interest rates, he pointed out that demand, in outstripping supply, had forced rates upward. McLane also noted Panama City is a growth area and will continue to be one, thus creating a continued local demand for mortgage money.

He predicted a drop in rates by the end of summer and a consequent surge of building activity. Some of the large construction "starts" have substantially slowed down because they are lagged to the prime rate plus a percentage. McLane said. Pearl Harbor Is Remembered The 12th anniversary of the dedication of the USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, will be held Memorial Day. It marks the site-of the sunken hull of the battleship USS Arizona, destroyed in the attack of December 7,1941.

The 1,677 killed aboard the Arizona represented 49 American states and territories. Ten of the men who died aboard the Arizona were from Florida. Those from the Panhandle included Rex Haywood Mayo of Panama City, James Durant Mattox of Peiisacola, William L. Watson of Havana, and Roliford Fields of Qunicy. The names of those killed aboard the Arizona are inscribed in marble in the Memorial.

As for bank's willingness to make loans, McLane noted It might largely depend on the liquidity of the individual bank whether the bank had sufficient funds of' its own or whether it must go to the Federal Reserve to borrow at the current rale. Jon Law of Jon Law Construction said lie has seen much shelving of construction plans by prospective builders. Law said he knew of at least a half dozen projects in the area which had been shelved after preliminary negotiations had iK'gun The beach-area contractor also laid construction outbacks on the beaches at the door of Save Our Shores (SOS) an ecology-minded organization. SOS started a panic that filtered to the lenders causing them to become cautious, asserted Law. He said his firm is contracted about a yea)- ahead and that it TO MEET Florida University Alumni Association will meet at 8 p.m.

today at the Safari. Mrs. Lurina Tibbs, president, said a rededication program will be discussed. ITA TO.MEET Pa rent-Teacher Association of Beach elementary school will meet today at 7 p.m. at the school.

Officers will be installed and open house observed. COUNTY Bay County Commissioners wil hold their weekly session today at the courthouse annex, beginning at 9 p.m. COMMISSION SESSION Parker city commission will meet at 7 p.m. today at the city hall. GETSDEGREE Rita Carol Sorrentino received a bachelors' degree in music education from the University of Montevallo during the university's commencement exercises.

Sunday. Auburn University president. Harry Phipott delivered the address for the commencement exercises. GETS CAIN AWARD Kappa Sigma social fraternity won the Frank Cain Memorial Award at the University of Southern Mississippi given annually to the club camus displaying excellence and devotion inservices to the university and community. Cain, a student at USM when he died, was from Panama City.

Troy Degrees To Be Awarded Eleven students from the Panama City area will be awarded diplomas from Troy State University at spring commencement exercises June 7. They will be a part of Troy State's 87th and largest graduating class which includes 1,122 candidates for degrees. Tannie Patricia Askew and Lewana Davis Patterson of Panama City. Judith Steverson Bradshaw and Martha Reeves Riley of Bonifay, Anita Kay Hall of Marianna, Brenda Mitchell Lovett of Vernon, Lewana Davis Patterson of Wewahitchka, and Deborah Kaye Thompson of Greenwood will receive bachelor's degrees. Among those receiving masters' degrees are Blanche Martin Bell, of Chipley, Flenn Morgan Grove of Marianna, and George Paul Lanceskes of Tyndall AFB.

lias contracts into March of next year. Another contractor said the prime interest rate has had a very definite effect, especially in residential construction. "The average family cannot pay the high interest rates," said the builder who chose not to be identified. "The nrosnective homeowner is caught two ways." he said. "The cost of building minerals and labor is going up and the interest rate is going up." He pointed out another factor playing a major role in a family's decision to build their own home the cost of raw- land which is constantly rising.

"For example, I know one fellow who paid S45 apiece for lots he is now wiling for S2600 eac.li." he said. That's over a 15-20 year interval, but that's still a lot of increase." An official of a local mortgag banking firm also called attention to the Increase in building costs. Pulling out his ever-present Marshall and Swift Appraisal Handbook, the mortgage banker came up with the following figures. "A frame house in 1970 would cost 1.4 times as much today. So a $20,000 frame house in 1970 would now cost $28,000.

And if you want to hear something really ridiculous, that same dwelling would cost 1.99 times more than it would have cost in 1960. That S20.000 house in 1960 would be up to $39,800 today." What does the future hold? "Two things are going to happen. Either we will have an all out recession and interest rates will go down or if we don't have a recession, interest rates will continue to climb." The mortgage banker said future home loans mny have to be subsidized by the federal government because the investor will be demanding a return higher than the homeowner is willing to pay. He explained that commercial business is not usually affected as much as home construction. Shopping centers and new business facilities will continue to built, he noted.

Motels may be affected because of the gasoline shortage and the fact inflation is digging into family pocketbooks and keeping closer to home. He said home loan interests rates were unually about one per cent lower than commercial building rates, but that now the two raters are at the same level around per cent mark. If interest rates, building and materials costs, labor, land and laxes continue to rise, what's in store for the future homeowner? A local financier suggested Americans take a look at Europe where the inflationary situation has preceded that of the United States. "There will lie more cluster living, more row houses such as in Germany and England." he forecast. "We'll have to get away from the luxury of our big lots." And finally, as one banker observed.

"That's why the mobile home business is so good now. People just can't afford to build their own home." Trio Arrested In Theft Case Three men were arrested- Monday shortly before noon by Sergeant Tommy Winslett of Panama City police on grand larceny charges. The three, Richard Paul Ekasala. Walter Robert Porter and Stephen Campbell, who gave out of town addresses, are charged with stealing a dozen hatch covers from Cove Contractors at Port Panama City. DOUBLE GOOD NEWS Jack Selig, a manager trainee at Bay National Bank, received double good news last weekend.

Friday night his wife gave birth to eight pound 12 ounce girl, whom they named Maryann N'ieol. Saturday Jack received a letter from Karl K. Hansmeier, University of West Florida, saying he had been awarded the Bob Sikes Foundation Scholarship for the 1974-75 academic year. Jack was a student at Gulf Coast Community College while serving a tour of duty with the U.S. Air Force and stationed at Tvndall Field.

JuniorCadets Get AF Unit Awards Uutstandlng Junior ROTC cadets rom the three local high schools were honored by the Panama City Chapter of the Air Force Association during a chapter meeting held at Tndall AFB. Presenting awards and feature speaker for the meeting was Col. William R. Sommer, director of junior programs for the Air Force ROTC at Maxwell AFB Awards to cadets at the different schools includuded the following: Rutherford High School- David W. Laramore, outstanding sophomore cadet: Ellen Mass.

outstanding junior cadet; David outstanding senior cadet; Richard Bigeow. special general excellence award: and Hosea Battles. national AFA junior ROTC award. Mosley High School- M.J. Sabochik.

outstanding ninth grade cadet: M.J. Johnston, outstanding 10th grade cadet; R.L. Beveridge. outstanding 11th grade cadet; nd G.A. Rhinehart.

special general excellence award. Bay High Valerie Hunter, outstanding sophomore cadet: Jack Adams, outstanding junior class cadet; Jams Skinner, oustanding senior class cadet; and Dorothea Lee. special genral excellence award. Winning the State AFA awards from each school were Rhett Soxton. Bay High: Richard Bigelow.

Rutherford; and Gregg Rhinehart. Mosley. A special plaque of recognition was presented by Chapter President Bill Tu'rxal to Frank Parker of Panama City who is the charter president of the Panama Citv chapter. CANCER TALK Capt. (Dr.) Gerald Monchik of the Tyndall USAF Hospital will be the guest speaker for a special program sponsored bv the NCO Wives Club Mav 29 at 11 a.m.

at the NCOClub. The doctor will discuss the latest detection and cure techniques for cancer, especially in women, followed by a question and answer period. All women of Tyndall are cordially invited to attend this meeting ad refreshments will- be served bv the NCO Wives' Club. ARRIVE ALIVE DRIVE The Miracle Stripettes. the auxiliary for the NCO Association, will man booths for the "Arrive Alive May 24-27.

Volunteers are requested to assist with this project. Persons willing to partcipate in this safety program are requested to call Greg Hrdln at 286-7054. PHOTO MEETING The newly formed Photo Club at Tvndall will meet Thursday, May 23. at the Tyndall Recreation Center at 7 p.m. All interested photo enthusiasts are invited.

For more information contact MSgt. Barker at extension 6251. YOITH ART CLASSES Art classes are being offered by tlie Tyndall Youth Center as part of the summer program starting June 1 for the youth ten years of age and up. Registration fee is set at SlOper month for two hour classes each Saturday morning from 9:30 to Instructor for the class will Mrs. Angela Skoskle.

Enrollment is limited 12 students and persons interested should register as soon as possible. For more information contact the Youth Center. EQUIPMENT NEEDED The Officeis' Wives' Club will conduct a Women's Exercise Class from 8:30 to 1 a.m. each Monday. Wednesday and Friday.

Persons having any tvpe of exercise equipment for loan to this class call 286-5761. Cancer Group Makes Offer In keeping with the national observance of Memorial Day, the Bay County, unit of the American Cancer Society again presents to the public Its memorial program. "That Others Mav Live." Mrs. Barefield. chairman, said: "A contribution to the society's program serves a two-fold purposed 1) It provedes a fitting means of honoring the memory of a deceased relative or friend.

(2) the contribution is then automatically designated to be used to support the society's year-round cancer control programs of public education, research and services for cancer patients." "When the donor's contribution is received, the society sends out a dignified memorial card to the bereaved family qr friend (the amount given is'not mentioned). At the same time an acknowledgement card goes to the donor, plus a receipt for tax deduction purposes." HOPPER BROTHERS and CONNIE GOSPEL SING FRIDAY MAY 24 7:00 P.M. PANAMA CITY MUNICIPAL AUDITORIUM SPONSORED BY BAYOU GEORGE VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPT. Groups HOPPER BROTHERS CONNIE DIXIE ECHOES BILLY DALE A THE UNITED TICKETS $3.50 AT DOOR Following progroitivo builnew have a limited numbor of complimentary tickets. Ml 01 Ct.

friM Ctlvki Hnvy Vkkm My Slap Htrkr' OmlM HWM ISA Stntt In UpMttwy 1 Drapwy OUfCHitttrity J.I. Mwtriti life iMkStm ARMED FORCES DAY AT NCSL Heavy showers put a slight crimp in the Armed Forces Day program at the Naval Coastal Systems Laboratory but enough ofthe ivity had been completed to give visitors an interesting show. In theabove photo spectators peer through the portholes of the small test tank in the Ocean-Simulation Facility as divers inside demonstrate diving techniques. The crowd al saw the dropping into the water by helicopter of four swimmers who simulated destruction of a target on the opposite shore, and visitors inspected one of ihe largest helicopters in the free world, the RH-53D, used by the Navy Lab for its mine eountermeasures research and development. PART TIME WORK Deliver the News-Herald This is a great opportunity for housewives, students, retirees, anyone wishing to supplement their regular income.

Help solve the inflation problem by delivering the News-Herald seven mornings a week. If you have dependable transportation and able to post cash bond, mail us the coupon below. THE NEWS-HERALD CIRCULATION DEPT. P.O. BOX 1940 PANAMA CITY, FLA.

32401 I I am interested in delivering the Newt-Herald. I neve (Typo of transportation) end cen peit caih bond. I ADDRESS CITY. PHONE AGE 1 rr rr rr rr.