The Robesonian from Lumberton, North Carolina • Page 9

Wednesday, February 11, 1976 Fire Stations Top Priority For Community Projects C47V SALEMAN Not really, just collecting cans for a little extra cash via Reynold's aluminum recycling center. The swamp (romper is Currie of Rt. 4, Lumberton who said he had just returned from a can-hunting excursion in the Raft Swamp (C.E. McLaurin Photo) Reprieve Given Some Maxton Residents On Service Costs MAXTON Citizens here who were scheduled to be billed for water and sewer service, regardless of whether or not they use it, have been given a reprieve, at least temporarily. By a unanimous vote of the Maxton Town Board Tuesday night, the effective date of the new billing has been changed from January 1 to April 1.

An ordinance adopted last year stated that citizens who have water and sewer available but choose not to use them will be billed minimum amounts each month. Persons who have already paid bills rendered under thus ordinance will receive refunds. In suggesting this move, Mayor William S. Chestnut said, "It is our information that our town actually does not know where water and sewer lines are in some instances. Some citizens have water available but inadequate sewer and vice-versa.

If the town is going to bill for such services, it certainly has at least the responsibility to be sure that these services are in fact available." Chestnut asked that town officials "and especially the town planner" take immediate action in preparing accurate maps and descriptions of the water and sewer facilities. A public meeting will apparently be scheduled to hear public response to the issue. In a related matter, the board voted to replace some 92 faulty water meters at a cost of about $30 each. According to Town Manager Morrison McKenrie, some of the meters are known to have been defective for the past four or five years. Citizens have been receiving bills for minimum usage during that period.

In other business, the board formed the Maxton Advisory Citizen's Committee and appointed to it the following: Bob Russ, Lou Henderson, Fairley Butler, James McEachin, Vivian Dash, Elizabeth Cole, Edna Jones, B. C. McBee, Mac Lenly and Mac Hoffman. Maxton will apply for a 701 planning grant in an attempt to update existing land use plans. In voting to seek federal assistance, the board did not determine who would do the work or just what studies will be made.

The board also agreed to participate in a Four-County i i manpower program involving senior citizens. "Accept all we can get" was the board's decision. The only stipulation attached to the program, according to McKenzie, is that supervision be provided. Councilman Robert E. Davis urged that first hiring preference be given to Maxton residents.

--KAREN VELA ByLOLITAHUCKABY RobesoniaB Staff Writer Funds for a satellite fire station to serve South and West Lumberton and a new central firehouse will lead the list of community projects for the city's 1976-77 Community Development application, "if the political winds don't change" before Monday night. The Lumberton City Council met last night in a work session to compile a fenative list of community projects that could be funded by the city's CD grants, which last year amounted to $733,000. The list is subject to change but councilman E.B. Turner called the council "80 per cent certain" that the list would stand until formal acceptance at Monday night's regular council session. Proposed projects reached much discussion were: for fire protection.

This includes a new facility to serve as Fire Station No. 1, estimated at $300,000 and a satellite station to serve South and West estimated at (60,000. for closing out projects R-72 and N.C. A-4. This includes provisions to continue with the downtown parking lot as proposed by the council in January, omitting the Ralyass building.

for Day Care Centers. for a bridge over Meadowbranch at Walnut Street. for a flood barrier at Noir Street. sewage lines in South Lumberton extensions. recreation.

Remaining $25,000 in contingency. FIRE STATIONS A satellite fire station to serve South and West' Lumberton was one of the priorities of the city's Human a i Commission suggested to the council. Councilmen E.B. Turner of Precinct 4 and Glenn Maynor of Precinct 7 supported the need for a backup facility. i a Douglas Mclntrye raised the issue that the fire house in downtown Lumberton, which is Fire Station No.

1, located on Elm and Second Street, had deterioated beyond repair and that the council had talked for years about building a new main firehouse, but no action had been taken. Fire Chief Edwards came before the council and stated that the current central firehouse was "inadequate in size, age and condition" and needed to house five pieces of mobile equipment, while it currently can hold only two. "I agree that we need additional protection in South and West Lumberton, but my top priority must be a new central firehouse," Edwards stated. added that he had been before the council every year at budget preparation time since 1968 to request appropriations for a new firehouse, but only $25,000 has been set aside during that period. The $350,000 proposed for two new stations does not include appropriations for any new equipment for the satellite station.

PROJECT CLOSEOUTS Including $153,383 from next year's CD grant Mayor Cliff Bullard presented a financial plan that would conclude the city's obligations in the South Lumberton and West Lumberton projects. A total of $478,383 of city money is needed to complete the two projects, which includes a parking lot adjacent to the new courthouse, omitting the Raylass building. With $250,000 budgeted for the projects from the 1975 CD application, $75,000 from the 1976 funding, the $153,383 was arrived at for completion of the debt. RECREATION Councilman Frank Benton cited the need for recreation appropriations and suggested a figure of $100,000 to complete various projects around the city. Priority projects were not included in the list, pending the suggestions of Recreation Director Bill Sapp.

Councilman Glenn Maynor requested money be spent on converting the old Jaycee display hall into a gymnasium. The council delayed final decisions on the various projects. Councilmen Doug Mclntyre and James Bracey both supported spending additional money in the Recreation Center on Cedar Street. CPL Denies Report On 'Rags To Riches' Maxton Officials See More Action Possible On Ambulance Service Industrial Visits Scheduled At RTI PRECINCT SESSION Precinct 6 will hold its precinct meeting Thursday night at 7:30 p.m. at the regular polling place, the South Lumberton Elementary school.

Robeson Technical Institute is scheduling visits of industrial representatives to the campus in order to meet and interview prospective employes among the students who will graduate from R.T.I, this year. At the. end of the spring quarter, beginning February 26 and slated to end May 17, some 87 students will be graduated with the Associate of Applied Science Degree. These students are enrolled in such courses as: Accounting II, Business Administration II, General Office Technology II, Police Science Technology II, Secretarial Science II. Anyone from industry who is interested in scheduling a visit to the campus is asked to contact Eddie Mack Locklear, director of placement, to give him a preference date and also an idea as to the type of training the industry is interested in.

Upon arrival at the campus, industrial representatives will be given a job-placement folder of students with a resume of studies and any part-time work experience, as well as faculty evaluations, for all graduates that a person wishes to interview. Also R.T.I, will arrange for students to contact the industry, if that is more convenient. Interviews will be scheduled to begin in early March and will continue until May 7. Students in the one-year vocational programs will graduate in August. Emergency Ferry Service Is Initiated OCRACOKE, N.C.

(AP)-The North Carolina Department of Transportation has initiated twenty-four hour emergency ferry service for Ocracoke Island on a trial basis. Billy Rose, state highway administrator, announced that the Hatteras Inlet ferry will now remain docked in Ocracoke nightly after its last scheduled run. Rose said he has authorized certain persons to approve use of the ferry on an emergency basis after normal operating hours. Prior to this, there was no way for those suffering major injuries or illnesses to leave the island after ferry service halted for the night except through emergency efforts by the Coast Guard. The island has no doctor permanently stationed there and no facilities for medical treatment.

RALEIGH (AP)--Published reports that rate hikes had brought Carolina Power and Light Co. from near bankruptcy to its "second best year in its history, were "incomplete, inaccurate and very, very misleading" a top CPL official says." CPL Executive Vice President Sherwood H. Smith Jr. made the comments Tuesday in response to an Associated Press story carried Tuesday morning. The article said that CPL, Duke Power Co.

and Piedmont Natural Gas after having raised the possibility of curtailed service or even bankruptcy a year ago, are reporting large profits this year. The story said Duke reported its highest profit in history, CPL its second best year in history, and Piedmont is refunding $1.3 million in excess profits to Us Radio Program Planned For Bicentennial Vocational Education Forum Set Thursday For VoEd Week A Vocational Education Forum will be held on Thursday at 7:15 p.m. at Tanglewood "Elementary School, Lumberton. Similar forums are planned all over the state, to give people an opportunity to learn more about vocational education, in their communities and in the state, and to give people an opportunity to voice their concern about vocational education. This week February 8-U is Vocational Education Week, a fitting time to hold a forum and to inform the public about the aims of vocational education.

In developing the forums school personnel are particularly interested in getting lay people to the meetings. The meetings are in conjunction with an informational broadcast aired over the Educational Television Network. In preparation for the program a film crew has been all through the state talking with people about vocational education and how it is working. Vocational education, note school administrators, really involves all students. Sooner or later, students will enter the world of work.

The background that they have toward that world of work may mean success or failure. All persons, including parents, who want to know more about vocational education and its place in the public schools, are invited to The Joe P. Moore School, which began special Bicentennial activities in January White and Blue Day" which featured Lumberton's Bicentennial Chairman Ron Bown, will continue to celebrate with activities open to the community. Assistant principal J.F. Cummings has announced the following events for the remainder of the school year.

On February 12, at 9 a.m. a group of seventh graders from the homeroom of Mrs. S.H. Stockton will participate in a live radio broadcast on station WTSB which will be moderated by Ron Pait of that station. Students will respond to questions related to their study and research stimulated by the Bicentennial year.

Participating in the program are Lee Gordon, Shirley Glover, Mitchell Ivey, Joey Poole, Laura Burns, Gay Lamb, Kevin Pittman, Nancy Chavis, Monica Marie, Darren Lloyd, Myra Taylor, Barbara Hornbuckle and Lee Bowen. customers. Smith said in a telephone interview however that' 'close to 80 per cent" of the company's $2.70 per share dividend was based on profits calculated on future income from incomplete construction. The company had to borrow money to pay the dividends which were the second highest in its history, he said. When a utilities company makes an investment in construction, it is allowed to calculate an 8 per cent profit on the expenditure against future earnings, even though the plant is not yet in operation, Smith said.

The investment can be used as collateral for loans, but no profit actually enters the company's cash flow, he said. The company still needs a 22 per cent increase pending before the N.C. Utilities Commission, a similar hike in South Carolina and a 35 per cent wholesale rate increase pending before the Federal Power Commission, to restore its financial health, Smith said. A Duke spokesman said that although Duke's rates have doubled since 1970, "we're just getting rates up to where they should be." Duke board chairman Carl Horn said in published interview that 1975 profits would reach the 13.5 per cent allowed by the Utilities Commission for the first time since 1969, but that dividends on common shares were a "lackluster" 5.7 per cent. Horn sid he expected the next big Duke rate increase would come in 1978 when the company puts its second nuclear power plant in operation.

By KAREN VELA Robesonian Staff Writer MAXTON Mayor William S. Chestnut has advised Town Board members here to keep a couple of nights free next week in anticipation of a called meeting regarding the town's ambulance service. In a letter presented to the board Tuesday night at a regularly scheduled meeting. Mayor Chestnut noted that the Maxton Rescue Squad is 'slated to appear before the County Board of Commissioners Monday night, February 16, in another attempt to secure a county subsidy for continuation of the squad's ambulance services. I ask that you keep your calendars open for next Tuesday and Wednesday so that you can attend a called meeting Chestnut told the board.

"If this matter is not resolved in some acceptable manner before that time, I will consider the advisability of calling an emergency meeting We have a responsibility to make every effort to insure the health and welfare of our community." Chestnut requested that Police Chief Robert Fisher instruct all police "to cooperate fully and assist in every way any person needing medical transportation." According to Fisher, Bill Yarborough, Commander of the rescue squad, has assured him that the squad will respond in any emergency. "They will still come to our rescue," he said. During recent weeks the Maxton Rescue Squad has urged the county commissioners to subsidize the squad to the tune of $15,000 annually in exchange for full time ambulance service for the Maxton area. Following a denial of that proposal, the rescue squad last week announced that it would discontinue all ambulance services, but continue with rescue assistance. A county-'wide ambulance plan adopted by the county last December places one ambulance station 16 hours a day, five days.a week in the Pembroke-Maxton District.

Back-up service for weekends and nights was to be provided by rescue squads and the central ambulance station located in Lumberton. It is the contention of the Maxton Rescue Squad, that adequate service cannot be provided to the town with one ambulance for two towns the size of Pembroke and Maxton which are about ten miles apart. The district's ambulance is currently located in Pembroke although future plans would place it midway between the two towns. Citizen concern over the situation was apparent Tuesday night. According to several persons, a petition is circulating and an all-out attempt is being made to have a large attend the county commission meeting next Monday night.

As many as several hundred persons are expected to attend, according to one source. Urging the town to take a stronger stand, one man attending the Tuesday night meeting said, "It's time for Maxton to let the county commissioners know we pay taxes too. There's no reason why we should be pushed around." Chestnut explained that the rescue squad does not come under town control and that the outcome of Monday's meeting will determine what course the town will follow. Municipal Electric Systems Protest New Fuel Clause WASHINGTON (AP)--North Carolina municipal electric systems have protested to the Federal Power Commission a proposed new wholesale fuel clause, saying it is "an effort to evade the Federal Power Act" and would be "an unwarranted rate increase." Bahai' Conference Set For St. Pauls Meeting PRCCTORVILLE The Town Board of Proctorville has called a special meeting for Thursday at 7:30 pjn.

in the Proctorville Community House. The meeting will be held for the purpose of completing plans for the town's drainage project. ST. PAULS A conference of Central District Baha'is will be held Saturday and Sunday at the Municipal Community House in St. Pauls.

All activities will be open to interested persons. The theme of the conference is "One World Under God." Guest speakers include Dr. Jane Failey of Chapel HOI, an associate professor of psychiatry at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is to speak wt 1 pjn. Saturday on "Is It Possible" (to have one under God).

Mrs. Jean Scales, associate professor at N.C. Central University, will speak on principals of the Baha'i Faith at 2 p.m., with a worship service following at 4 p.m. At 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dr.

Roger Roff, a chiropractor of Dillon, S.C. speak on ihc main theme. Don Erbe, a factory worker from Latta, S.C., will speak on "Biblical Prophecies" Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m. Other impromptu speakers may be present. Posters and additional information on the Baha'i Faith will be available at the commmity house.

MRS. BETTY ROBERTS of Pembroke took her oath as an Intake Court Counselor Tuesday before Chief District Judge Britt. Mrs. Roberts will work with the court hi counseling young people who Have to appear before the court. (Bill Normcnt Photo) Electricities of North Carolina represented the municipalities in a petition filed with the FPC.

It urged the federal agency to reject CPL's proposed fuel clause and asked that a proper fuel clause be installed. In a filing Jan. 15, the power company asked thai the fuel clause be effective Jan. 1. The Electricities petition said CPL made "an unwarranted adjustment" in the proposed fuel clause which "results in a rate increase the company claims is $180,000 during 1976." Electricities also told FPC the power company had begun billing the cities under the new- fuel clause even though the FPC has not approved it.

The agency said the power company had already added an adjustment to some cities' bills, which, if continued, would mean an increase of another $140,000 on service since late last yea Marshall Elec- triCities executive director, said the its counsel is considering whether the municipal systems should withhold payment to CPl.of the portion of their bills which is retroactive..