The Charlotte Observer from Charlotte, North Carolina • 44

71 i pa (0 P411J2A) 4D THE CI1ARLOTTE OBSERVER Thursday December 11 1986 News Photographer Videotapes Suspects' Car ar 111 "K)rdc Carolina Watch from the house Including a stolen car stereo still in a box McCrae said Montgomery and Part low were charged with breaking entering and larceny Partlow was also charged with possession of stolen goods They remain in the Mecklenburg County Jail On Tuesday night police had raided the house and arrested 10 persons on cocaine trafficking charges They also confiscated about 21s ounces of cocaine several pounds of marijuana about $5000 cash a sawed-off shotgun and several stolen televisions stereos and appliances from the house stolen car stereo were charged nd larceny ParIth possession of In the Mecklen- had raided the rsons on cocaine also confiscated several pounds cash a sawedtolen televisions -11 the house "That's what made the case" Herr said he was shooting videotape for a follow-up story on a Tuesday night drug raid at the house when he spotted two men in the backyard Standing out of sight Herr watched as one of the men jumped a fence carrying a garment bag and blue duffel bag and ran to a waiting car Herr videotaped the light blue 1979 Oldsmobile as it pulled away "1 wanted to be sure and get the tag number" he said Herr returned to the Channel 9 newsroom to view the videotape and call police He went back to the house about 10:30 am to give police a statement Investigator McCrae and officer RB Townes drove up a short time later While Herr was telling his story the light blue Oldsmobile pulled into a nearby driveway Police chased the car and caught up with It a short time later at West Park Avenue and WI Drive The car's driver Rodney Lee Montgomery 19 and a passenger Randy Part low 27 were arrested following a search of the car Police found a garment bag and blue tote bag inside the trunk McCrae said The tote bag contained several items By NANCY WEBB Staff Miter WSOC-PI news photographer Roger Herr pulled up to the frame house on Wilmore Drive Wednesday to shoot footage for the noon news What he captured police say was a crime in progress Charlotte police Investigator Dan McCrae says Herr's quick work helped lead to the arrests of two persons accused of breaking into the house at 1908 Wilmore Dr "If he wouldn't have (videotaped) the vehicle leaving the Rcene we probably wouldn't have had anything" McCrae said SRP Officials Close Down Incinerator '4 4" qv Retirement Announced In Gaston ment need ton An incinerator that burns solvents and low-level radioactive wastes at the Savannah River Project near Aiken SC was shut down Wednesday while officials Investigate a leak of fire-fighting chemicals that injured four construction workers Some 2000 workers were sent away from the construction area for an hour Tuesday after the fumes escaped during a test of fire-suppressant equipment near the incinerator No radioactive materials were involved in the incident at the US Department of Energy plant which produces tritium and plutonium for nuclear weapons The incinerator is used to dispose of some low-level radioactive waste such as disposable clothing By KEN SOO Gastonia Bureau GASTONIA Ben Carpenter director of the Gaston County Department of Social Services has announced he will retire April 1 Carpenter 57 became the department's director on that date In 1974 Coworkers and members of the departments board of trust- e---1---- ees praised Car- penter as a pro- gressive "10 tvp-- effective leader I'll: over 13 years of service ls SOO Bureau Ben Carpenter ston County Deal Services has I retire April 1 became the der on that date in rr i 1'f 'r" ''f ee pt fi-' "1:) 4--i' G' 4''''''''A- 4 i -1 1'-: r'i -is )' ii-4 r'3' r'' 744-1 4m'4'4' A 1 117 'i: -) 4N r- "''--0 i 44 I i- i i 7'" Pf77 -st4FA Tti: -4g 1 470 1'741- '-'t'' ii f' i 7 twii 4 4 4 v40' 05 t' 4i 47ik i A' it4iL le' 1': i "4 4M 114 '-1 i 't1' ('X' ::24 jI r01! :4 4 7 ----74 ik4 tiV 7 477-! -W'Mr-' 1 :7 -7 Ik 41 -c- r': "4'' ''1 1: 1- '1'-: 7 "It's going to be very difficult to find a re- Carpenter placement for Mr Carpenter" said Marianna Cone chairman of the department's board "The staff respected him He made very well thought-out decisions" Carpenter Carpenter" le chairman of oard "The staff made very well Today's Quote "With 500000 trees on the move it gets a little crowded around here" David Massee Avery County agricultural extension agent noting that two dozen tractor-trailers loaded with Christmas trees pass by Newland in an hour's time during the height of the shipping season Lawyer Convicted Greensboro lawyer Thaddeus A Adams III a former Guilford County assistant district attorney was convicted on a felony drug charge Under a plea bargain Adams got a suspended two-year term and one year's unsupervised probation Superior Court Judge William Helms fined Adams $250 and agreed to make no recommendation regarding Adams' law license Adams pleaded no contest Tuesday in superior court to possession of MDA an illegal The social services department has more than 200 employees operating on an annual budget of $37 million The department is responsible for welfare payments community day care the county child development center and other ces department employees opal budget of $37 ment is responNayments corn-he county child and other Under Carpenter the office improved services and decreased its error rate Cone said the office Im- id decreased its lid Stall Photo By MARK SUMER lot when the helicopter came down "We're very grateful that it did not come down closer to dismissal a time when children would have been in the parking lot" Joines said Federal officials are investigating the cause of the accident Hard Landing: A helicopter being used to check lines crash-landed Wednesday in a parking lot at Cochrane Junior High School in Charlotte The helicopter owned by Midstate Executive Helicopters in Duluth Ga crash-landed about 2:40 pm in a bus parking lot behind the school Pilot Omar Burdette of Matthews walked away uninjured said Charlotte fire Capt Robert Middleton Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools spokeswoman Myra Joines said no children or buses were in the parking serr Carpenter has been a social services worker for more than 30 years Before coming to Gaston County he was western regional director for the NC Division of Social Services and director of the Cleveland County Department of Social Services en a social sermore than 30 ling to Gaston testern regional LC Division of director of the Department of Male Smokers Decline North Carolina the nation's leading producer of tobacco showed the biggest decline in male smokers between 1981 and 1985 in a recent federal survey of 12 states and the District of Columbia The Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta found that the percentage of North Carolina men who smoked declined from 478 In 1981 to 314 in 1985 a drop of 164 percentage points The median figure for states surveyed was 56 points Partial Recount Keeps Coble Lead Zil tw ahattottt Ivry 4 VAlittiA114- 4 It Its Time and Place 1869-1986 by jack Claiborne 36 News Notes New College Degree: Catawba College in Salisbury will launch its first master's degree program next month offering courses in early childhood education intermediate education and middle school education with concentrations in language arts math and computer education 13rtt 12 011 utter Al titter Al total was inaccurate" said Kirby "I Just can't understand why there is a problem here with ordering a full recount" Britt's appeal to Wake County Superior Court will ask for a recount of votes in the remaining 89 Guilford County precincts Alternatively he would seek a new election Kirby said The stay can be ordered by a Judge in Superior Court the Court of Appeals or the NC Supreme Court he said Without the certification Coble cannot be sworn into office Jan 6 a prospect that upsets Coble's staff "First they tried to disenfranchise the voters of Guilford County who voted absentee" said Coble campaign manager Marshall Hurley "I hope they will not act in any manner now to deprive this district of representation Sooner or later they're going to have to accept the verdict of the people of the 6th District" Hurley said Britt's campaign has been granted every wish it requested a recount hearing before the Guilford County Board of Elections a new hearing before the state board and finally a partial recount "Marshall is flat wrong" said Britt's campaign manager Mark Longabaugh "We have not gotten a full recount and I wish the Coble people would quit stalling" "I don't think we're depriving the people of a representative because we haven't been able to figure out who that is" he said Associated Press GREENSBORO US Rep Howard Coble remains the apparent winner in the 6th Congressional District race after a recount of some votes Wednesday gave him a 79-vote lead But challenger Democrat Robin Britt has decided to appeal to the NC Superior Court for a full recount his campaign manager said "We would seek a stay of certification at the same time" to keep Coble from taking office Jan 6 said Britt's attorney David Kirby Coble gained three votes and Britt one in a recount of votes Tuesday afternoon in the South Monroe precinct But the completed recount of absentee ballots excluding 172 that were voided by the NC Board of Elections worked slightly in Britt's favor In South Monroe Coble's total went from 530 to 533 Bdtt's went from 445 to 446 In the absentees Coble's total changed from 1019 to 933 Britt's went from 648 to 568 That means Coble lost 86 votes and Britt 80 The state board threw out 172 ballots because they weren't properly notarized signed or returned on time In the district which includes Alamance and Davidson as well as Guilford County Coble has 72329 votes and Britt has 72250 While the new figures gave Britt's attorneys little numerical victory they said they feel their case for a full recount of the votes cast in Guilford County is stronger than ever "When you get a different total in South Monroe it's just continuing evidence that the election night 7t4 I tll --i--4---'41-i-y34(1- NACTS3a tvink t't'be vwtr' 7'1' oirrk a Back On The Air: Bob Kwesell a conservative radio talk-show host whose controversial views cost him his Job last month at WPTF in Raleigh soon will be broadcasting in Fayetteville and Wilmington Kwesell will Join Cape Fear Broadcasting Co and should be back on the air Dec 29 with his afternoon talk show "Wrestle with Kwesell" The show will be carried by WFNC in Fayetteville and by WFNC and WAAV in Wilmington both owned by Cape Fear maatis 2 INSPORTS I tart CIMPITESIITSDAY t- Itv coteu 1Iii: kV Ct ili VIU'l Iiii 5 0 7dourinoovuti mvisports314 rtsmussoAi 9111)Viti TTACK I tort umr! Ct il 0 THE CHARLOTTE NEWS EWS THE CHARLOTTE IS 111 kr si rot I' ion I Not i capon tkiZrl Ot 1m a 'TnIt'fLrtilIt HITS jAPAt arlotte 0 -1---- a) Thum Mightirr Than 2 we1 Bomb Er Drotyped I NIXOLI Res Ls1 7 Nete President PirsiVolueeted 4c1 -6seis "1 l'ord 1 li JPMi Mfghtirr Than bet Dronoped Broyhill's Lenoir Office Stands Dark Vacant Now On Sale le of his constituents" Stuckey said "It would be hard to go into detail about everything we did but it ran the gamut from food stamps to passports You name it and we did it" Stuckey said when people came Into the office and didn't know how to go about making a request the staff knew what to do "We would point them in the right direction and then the senator would take a specific interest in their problems and follow it through to its conclusion whether it was positive or negative" she said "He got results" "I've applied for a position with Congressman Cass Ballenger" said Stuckey "But I won't know anything until after the holidays" Ballenger won the Nov 4 election to replace Broyhill as 10th District congressman Stuckey said Broyhill built his reputation as a public servant in part by giving attention to detail and helping to solve the problems of 10th District residents She said It didn't matter how trivial or complex the problem Broyhill would give it his full attention "Mr Broyhill maintained this office simply for the convenience Continued From Page ID don't stay this close and not know them" Broyhill's staff also was sentimental as they cleaned out the office last week "I feel like a nonentity" said staff member Jean Stuckey as she packed boxes and collected papers last Tuesday "I still can't believe he lost" Stuckey said "I think I'm still in shock I have cried since Nov 4 Really" While Stuckey is currently without a job she says she is not without prospects Night Owls See Ponder On TV Night owls nationwide saw Joe Ponder an Iredell County man reputed to have the world's strongest teeth perform early Thursday on NBC's "Late Night With David Letterman" In the show taped Wednesday afternoon in New York Ponder broke a cinder block with a sledgehammer he held in his teeth lifted Letterman in a swing and bent a steel bar Since he discovered his skill in 1973 he's used his teeth and a special mouthpiece to pull tractor-trailers and box cars and lift pumpkins and naked women 1 Slaying Was An Accident Defense Says Observer associate editor Jack Claiborne explores the history of the state's largest newspaper and its largest city in The Charlotte Observer Its Time And Place 1869-1986 Released in time for Christmas gift-giving this book spans generations and will appeal to all ages' Available in The Observer's Lobby Shop and area bookstores or fill out coupon and mail $1995 plus $1 postage and handling per book to: Observer Book The Charlotte Observer PO Box 32188 Charlotte NC 28232 Please send copies of Jack Claiborne's book The Charlotte Observer It's Time and Place 1869-1986 Enclosed is $1995 plus postage and handling for each book Name Address City state zip Daytime Phone Amount Enclosed explores and its me And this ail ages: Ind area 95 plus rver 188 ok The Enclosed for a short period of time" Cioninger said When Simonds realized Miller had stopped breathing he attempted to revive her Cioninger said Simonds then wrote the suicide notes wrapped Christopher in a blanket took an overdose of his antidepressant and drove to Kimberly Simonds's house Cloninger said Update Eagle's Killer Sought: Wildlife agents say they hope to catch the killer of a bald eagle found 10 days ago in heavy woods by a deer hunter in Johnston County It was the third eagle shot and the second to' die in the same area within the past two years As an endangered species the bald eagle is protected by three federal statutes and NC wildlife laws A person convicted of injuring or killing a bald eagle faces up to three years in prison and fines up to $100000 that resulted from Simonds's state of mind and a domestic dispute between Simonds and Miller Simonds had taken antidepressants since his father died of cancer a month before Millers death Simonds also was worried about his house-painting business CionInger said Two days before the slaying Miller ordered Simonds to leave the mobile home Cloninger said Simonds left willingly but came back Jan 27 after Miller called him to ask for money Cioninger said An argument started and then a physical struggle Cloninger said "My client in the state he was in grabbed her by the throat Continued From Page ID "He was real upset and crying and saying he didn't mean to do it" Ricky Simonds then drove to the house of his mother Joyce Simonds where he collapsed leaving his car half in the driveway and half in the street Joyce Simonds testified she found her bloodied son in the car after hearing Christopher crying and called paramedics Simonds came close to death paramedics testified and was hospitalized for several days In an opening statement Wednesday Public Defender Chip Cloninger told Jurors Simonds admits he strangled Miller Cloninger said the slaying was an accident Ilk (tharlotte (Observer rver Cook up a storm With tips from Wednesday's Food Page In The Charlotte Observer To subscribe call 379-6666 or toll tree (NC) 800-532-500 (SC) 800-532-5351 Edited by Stan Brennan.