The Daily Times-News from Burlington, North Carolina • Page 5

SECTION, 10 PAGES TUESDAY, MAY 4, 1971 The Daily Times-News A JNt BarlfnfftoiifN.C. LOCAL AND SPORTS COMICS AND WANT ADS Voting Heavy In Area Municipal Elections Voting appeared to be heavier in this year's municipal elections than in the 1969 At 11 o'clock today, a total of 1,485 voters had been reported to have voted in Burlington, Graham, Mebane and Gibsonville. Candidates were running for the office of councilman, town board of aldermen and mayor in the four municipalities. Interest in the elections appeared to be heightened this year by the broad field of candidates and more local issues. Burlington Voting was running ahead ol the 1969 Burlington municipal elections at 11 o'clock today with a total of 890 persons voting in the seven city precincts.

At 11 o'clock in 1969, the last nfajor municipal elections, the total of persons voted stood at this year of Vaughn, were eleminated in last Sam L. White, all of whom week's primary election. Mebane An exceptionally good voter turnout was forecast this morning in Mebane, whose citizens today are selecting a new mayor and two members of the town board of commissioners. Mrs. Mildred S.

Fender, town are running for the board for the first time. Graham, A heavy vole count in ham, in comparison with the previous municipal election, was seen at 10:30 this morning as a total of 246 voters had visited the polls since 6:30 o'clock. In 1969, omy 144 persons had served on the council for the past 14 years. Seven challengers are seeking I to capture those three council They are Ralph R. ura- iv.tka..

registrar, reported that 209 per-jcast their vote by 11 o'clock 777, an increase 113 voters. Heaviest voting was reported at Turrentine Junior High School with a total of 212 voters. Second was voting at Fisher Street School with a total of 201 voters. Other precincts reported 11 o'clock totals as follows: Burlington No. 1 at Hillcrest School, 152; Burlington No.

3 at Broad Street Center, 58: Burlington No. 4 at Maple Avenue School, 138; Burlington No. 5 at Grove Park School, 81; and Burlington No. 7 at Elmira School, 48. A total of 3,070 voters turned out for the municipal elections in 1969.

A similar turnout was expected today. Total registration in the city stands at 15,637 persons. Voters today were electing two council members to fill the seats of Paul Andrews and C. R. Byrd.

Both incumbents are running in contending today's for the race. Also seats are Robert Edward (Bob) Brown and Mrs. Judy Fuller. Two other candidates, George T. Lashley and Donald A.

sons had cast ballots by 10:45 o'clock this moning almost twice the number who had voted at the same time in the 1969 local election. A better turnout was expected, however, since the election two years ago did not include a race for mayor and only 389 voters cast ballots. A total of 880 persons voted itf 1967, the last time a mayor was elected. Mrs. Fender said that the vote this year could exceed 90 per cent of the town's estimated 1,000 eligible voters.

A total of 142 new names were added to the books during the recent registration, most of them residents of the area south of Mebane recently annexed into Mebane. The polling place at Mebane Fire Department will close tonight at 6:30 o'clock, with election results to be posted soon afterward. The organizational meeting for the new board is set for next Monday night at 7:30 o'clock. Voters today are selecting one i of two candidates for mayor and two of six candidates for seats on the town board. Running tor mayor are Paul C.

Davis, who is in the midst of a four-year term as commissioner, and Arthur A. Bradley, a former commissioner. If Mr. Davis is elected to the post, the new board will appoint a on election morning. Mrs.

Elizabeth Culp, registrar sons voted ard, M. Vernon Lemons, Welker 0. Shue, Bob L. Moore, Arnie Eugene (Gene) Yates Don G. Guthrie and Harold Dean Black.

In 1969, when only four chal- Vengers ran against the three incumbents, a total of 652 per at South Graham precinct, said 39 persons had voted there this morning and numerous others were turned away because they were not registered to vote in municipal elections. North Graham precinct had recorded 107 votes by about 10:30 o'clock this morning. The final vote will determine three winners of the total 10 candidates running in the Graham race- Council seats up for re-election are those of Mayor Myron A. Rhyne, Mayor Pro Tern M. Carson Hardie and Councilman Thomas Harden Jr.

All have This year's final vote may be somewhat heavier, based on the number of votes cast this morning. Registered voters in Graham total approximately 2,450. The two top men receiving the most votes will be elected to four-year terms, while the third man will serve a two-year term. All votes will be tallied at the Graham City Hall tonight after the polls close at 6:30 o'clock. The new council's organizational meeting will be held at 10 o'clock Thursday morning, when the mayor and mayor pro tern will be chosen by the council members.

Gibsonmlle Voting was heavier than expected this morning in Gibsonville, whose citizens are selecting a mayor and three members of the town board of aldermen today. Gibsonville Registrar Lingle Cobb reported that a total of 140 persons had voted this morning by 10:45 o'clock, almost twice the number who'd voted by the same time in Gibsonville's 1969 local election. Only 77 persons had cast ballots in 1969 at the same time. Mr. Cobb said that if the turnout continues to be as heavy during the day, the percentage of the town's eligible 803 voters casting ballots could reach 80 per cent.

Only 398 votes were cast in 1969. The polling place at Gibsonville Town Hall will close tonight at 6:30 o'clock, with election results to be posted soon thereafter. The organizations meeting for the new board set for Jine 7. Gibsonville's new mayor ant board members will be selected from a field of two candidates for mayor and seven for alder- See VOTING on Page 10B Downtown Merchants Ask One- Way Street Operation Be Eliminated replacement to fill the unexpired cording to investigating Trooper Woman Is Killed In Auto Accident GRAHAM--A 54-year-old woman was killed yesterday afternoon near Southern High School in a two-car accident which also hospitalized a Burlington woman. Killed on Highway 87 at 3:05 o'clock was Beulah Curl Coble, 54, of Rt.

2, Snow Camp. She died instantly in the accident as a result of "severe chest and head ac- term. Seeking the two seats on the board are A.P. (Jack) Long William R. (Bill) Hupman, Mrs.

Shelia W. Massey, Norman Wood, T. Everette Fender and J.M. Cooke. Remaining in satisfactory condition this morning in Alamance County Hospital was Rose Smith, 50, of 2014 Trail 2, Burlington.

According to a hospital ALAMANCE NOTEBOOK By Don Bolden Another Scene From The Past spokesman, she suffered a fractured knee, lacerations and bruises. Both women, Trooper Cooke, according to were driving The old Piedmont Hotel building stands today, a victim of the times, but in its day, it was a fine structure. The building was constructed in 1906 and originally housed the Piedmont Loan and Trust Co. It is that firm which is shown in today's old photograph from the past. It, shows the office of the, banking firm.

The man' standing to the left is identified as John Cook. The woman seated at right is, Lizzie Zachary, while the man seated across from her is Ed Murray. The two people standing in the background are not identified. It is said this picture was made shortly after the firm opened in the Piedmont building in 1906. One thing that is of particular notice very ornate stove seen at right The vault seems to be at the rear of the office, with tellers' windows down the left side.

would not be able to tell they had been there. Not a single scrap of litter could be found. The boys policed the area so well that it probably was cleaner after they left than when they arrived. All their garbage was neatly bagged and piled under a tree for collection when the event ended Sunday. BOLDflN Alamance Battleground was covered with countless boy scouts over the weekend, as the Cherokee Council staged a camporee there in connection with the bicentennial.

The boys and their adult leaders camped out Friday and Saturday nights and engaged in scout activities during the days. We wondered how the area would look when they packed up and went home. Anyone walking over the area after they left As a preliminary to the Battle of Alamance Bicentennial, the Hillsborough Historical Society will hold its fifth biennial spring house and garden tour Saturday and Sunday. Visitors will be able to tour many of the old houses in the town, including the Ruffin-Snipes house, now owned by Betty and Jack Snipes, known to many here in Alamance. The House is located near the site where six of the participants in the Battle of Alamance were hanged for their part in the fight.

The dining room of the house was moved from Alamance many years ago, and the story goes that a man had been hanged in it for stealing a Bible. Many strange events have been reported, leading to the idea that the bouse is haunted. Some years back, a workman mysteriously fell from the roof, and when the Snipes couple was restoring the house last year, all paint cans were marked with the room to be painted. When painters began their work, it was found that al the labels had been switched, and no room received the correct color. It might be interesting to see the place.

alone in cars when the accident occurred. The Coble vehicle apparently was turning left onto Highway 87 from Woods Road and went into the path of the Smith car, which was traveling north on Highway 87. Mrs. Coble was killed instantly, Trooper Cooke said, when her car was struck in the side by the oncoming Smith car. Both cars were total losses.

No charges were filed. Mrs. Coble was a native of Alamance County and an em- ploye at Sellars Manufacturing Co. in Saxapahaw. She was the wife of Dolph Coble of the home, who survives.

She was the daughter of the late Rufus Curl and Eliza- See WOMAN on Page 10-B Pirdmont Loan And Trust Go. Local Plane Continues After Trouble The problem which caused the forced landing of a Burlington plane near Yanceyville yesterday was quickly corrected, and the four men aboard continued their trip shortly afterwards. The plane was piloted by Worth Matkins of Burlington, and be had three other Burlington men as passengers, E. Chapman, Calvin Jessup and Bill Keziah. They were enroute to Atlantic dry, N.J.

to attend the meeting of the National Association of Hosiery Manufacturers. Reports this morning indicated that the engine of the plane stopped with the craft at about 7,000 feet Mr. Makins glided the plane until he found an open stretch of highway, kept it aloft while a truck passed, and then landed on Highway 119 south of Yanceyvflle. He had called the FAA in Raleigh by radio to alert the Highway Patrol and Caswefl Sheriff. They had stopped traffic when the plane landed.

The four rolled the plane into a yard, and it was found that a fuel line had worked loose. A mechanic made repairs in short order. The highway patro! hold traffic while Mr. Matkins took off alone, with the other passengers going to Ihe Danville Airport by auto. The others had planned to get another plane, but when the trouble was corrected quickly, they were notified to wait for Mr.

Matkins. The repair had to be approved by an FAA inspector before the plane could take off. The four met at Danville and continued on to Atlantic CSty as planned without further incident. Four petitions, containing some 100 names of downtown merchants and business men, were presented to the City Council this morning asking that one-way streets be eliminated in the business district. The council took no action on the requests but three the councilmen Mayor L.

Beamon, C. R. Byrd and Paul W. Andrews, left little doubt that they favored doing away with fine-ways. Mayor Pro Tern L.

G. Guth rie and Councilman W. Evans maintained that the 90- day trial period for one-ways should be seen through before a vote was taken. When the council put the plan into effect, it was with the stipulation the plan would be reconsidered after 90 days. After extended discussion on the requests, the council agreed the petitions should be kept as evidence to be used at the expiration of the trial period in 26 more days.

The council also refrained from voting on one-ways in the light of today's election, in which Mr. Byrd and Mr. Andrews are seeking reelection. One-way streets has been a minor issue in the campaign. Among reasons given in the petitions for the disfavor with one-way streets were that they had caused a reduction in shopping traffic, sales and that customers habitually complained about the inconvenience.

Among the signers of the petitions were large department stores and small retail businesses, several of whom had orginally favored one-way streets. A cover letter to the Petitions was signed by George C. Colclough, executive vice president of the Burlington Merchants Association. It said mat one-ways were damaging downtown business and that if something was not done shortly the merchants would petition county commissioners for tax relief. The letter called for the inv Queen Will Be Named At Ball The Battle of Alamance Bicentennial Queen will be crowned Saturday night at 10 o'clock at a ball to be held at the Burlington Efts Lodge.

The ball will begin at 9 p.m., and admission will be S4 per couple. Tickets are on sale at the bicentennial headquarters at 424 S. Main SL None of the contestants will know the winners until the 10 p.m. announcement The contest for queen wiO continue through Saturday, and the first 11 girls in the competition will be winners. The first girl, of course, win be crowned queen, and the next 10 will be members of the royal court.

These girls win reign over all the events of the bicentennial next week. The queen will receive an expense paid trip for two to Hilton Head Island, S.C. The next 10 winners will be able to choose from a wide range of valuable prizes including a color television act, lingere and other items. Contestants earn points for each advance ticket sold to the First For Freedom pageant. The tickets in advance are $1 each, while at the door, they will be $1.50.

The pageant will be presented nightly from Tuesday through Saturday at Williams School Stadium. mediate elimination of one- ways without a public hearing, with a return to the old system along with addition of two-hour parking meters. Public Works Director William Baker told the council, "you haven't made a big mistake as some might envision because from a traffic standpoint one-ways have been a success." He added that if "people are not going to come downtown then that's another matter." Mayor Beamon reaction to the request was "the proof of the success of one-way streets is the cash register, and if they've put a damper on business then I don't want any part of them." He continued, '-a lot have been in favor of them, but they're not on See DOWNTOWN on Page 10B Following Ruling Ambulance Body Is Proposed By MIKE MILLS Times-News Staff Writer GRAHAM The County Board of Commissioners yesterday began outlining plans for a seven member ambulance commission which is expected to become the key in finding a solution to the ambulance service dilemma in the county. The board's decision yesterday to approve George Sidden's subsidy proposal of $41,900 for operating ambulance service the next fiscal year came on a bare 3-2 vote. He had agreed to operate despite the volunteer operation of the Alamance County Rescue unit, which he has considered "unfair competition" against his business.

The rescue unit, feeling commissioners do not appreciate what they have" donated to the county in time and effort, decided after the to quit running ambulances for emergencies and stick to rescue operations. Paul Cobb of the rescue unit clarified this morning that rescue unit members do not feel that the people of Alamance County do not appreciate their services. He emphasized that the statement quoted in yesterday's Times-News about the rescue unit not being appreciated was directed to the Board of County Commissioners, not the people. Rescue personnel had proposed that the county should take over ambulance service, with rescue operating it for a lower cost to the county. Either decision still would have required an ambulance commission to work things out 'or the future, since both solu- i ions were temporary in na- ure.

i However, strong sentiment from the public, and from the board of commissioners itself, had been expressed in favor of the rescue unit to do the job. Bypassing a change in the county's ambulance service, the board, with the blessings of County Manager D. J. Walker, chose to leave it.pret- ty much like it was, giving the commission a year to come up with a more permanent setup. The pullout hy the rescue unit, however, does leave a changed 1 situation.

Approving a proposal by Commissioner N. N. Fleming III, the board decided the ambulance commission would consist of seven members. These seven members will consist of: (l) two practicing physicians, (2) a repre- thoroughly study the issue and See AMBULANCE on Page 10B Graham Postpones Annexation Bid GRAHAM--Action on the proposed annexation of Graham iigh and North Graham Elementary Schools was postponed ast night by the Graham City Council until some questions can be answered. Council members accepted and the double utility rate, ast night a petition from the County Board of Eduration to annex the area including the wo schools, but decided to find )ut more about what changes vould occur as a result of the innexation.

Bruce Turney, Graham City ifanager, said he was requested nformation from Graham High School concerning how many tudents are from within the ity limits-and how many county residents are students, but he has received no response to this request. Graham is presently supplying three schools with garbage ser- rice. Other schools are being serviced with garbage pickup county school maintenance. The council asked what policy ill govern pickup for Graham igh and the elementary school. If annexed, the schools will ave Graham police preelection.

which exists outside the city limits, will no longer have to be paid. A problem also brought up was that the annexation proposal, which does not include TroUinger Road itself, would restrict Graham police from directing traffic on the street in front of the schools, since it would lie outside the city. The road, council members believe, would also have to be annexed. The council accepted the petition from the school board, but will study it further before making a final decision. In other business last night, a bid of 1850 for sale of a surplus tractor and backhoe was acctped from L.

B. Morris of Ashland Drive in Burlington. The other bid was $451 from See GRAHAM on Page 10B MebaneTownBoardTables Several Items To Allow New Board To Act MEBANE The Mebane Town Board of Commissioners moved cautiously last night on the eve of municipal etectioes deciding several tunes to table agenda items until after the new board takes office. The present board will meet again at noon tomorrow to canvass the vote for the two commissioner seats and the office of mayor. The new board will be sworn into office at a special meeting next Monday night.

Although no controversial not to begin the job of reorganizing the planning and adjustment boards or cbxming a replacement for Sam McGuirt, who resigned from the planning board. They also did not choose a new chairman of the town beautifjcation committee. The candidates were advised to begin considering how to tackle these tasks. The commissioners di.1 instruct Town Manager Virgil Wi'-ja recreational program. If matters arose board decided last night not to act the on several appointments until after election.

According to Mayor Jack Phelps, who is not seeking, re-election, this win allow the! lew board to have control over! hapingtown government during term of office. All of the candidates today's elections had been invited: attend the meeting to acquaint themselves with ihe is- oes at hand and see how the ward operates. i Tne decided: cent complete and conduction of a new waste treatment plant is 78 per cent finished. The contractors have used up only 78 per cent of the time alloted for completing the work. Mayor Phelps reported the town has been to get federal or state funds for purchasing the old Mebane Middle School property.

The town is now leasing the scbool to house kins to draw up a tease enabling property owners to donate the town right of way to build a sidewalk along Charles Street from the town limits to E.M. Yoder Elementary School The town agreed almost a year ago to construct the sidewalk if the school's PTA could obtain the necessary right of way. It was noted it would be most feasible if the sidewalk was constructed on Ihe west side of the streei. town is able to buy it. the schooi has been mentioned as the post- siblc site for relocating municipal offices.

The board also approved a 13,000 contract to a local individual for burying refuse at the town dump. The commissioners approved a town seal designed by Mr. WiOdtis. The seal composed of an eagle on a blue sheild. The eagle is clutching Ron Dick of Buchart-Hom As-ia banner stating "Protection" and "Service." Above the eagle's head is the state seal.

The town's name and the date is was chartered, 1181, is also sociates, who is supervising the town's sewer project, said work should be completed by the end of June. He reported the extension of iKwct noes is per inscribed on the shield..