The Chatham News from Siler City, North Carolina • 1

latham Reporting activities, interests and news of the people of (lhathani County Vol.66-No.15 USPS 101-160 Siler City, N.C. 27344 Thursday, April 14, 1988 32 Pages --Two Inserts Price 25c Board condemns In preparation for voting changes Town census property likely coming By Bob Wachs Siler City's electoral system committee should soon be able to get started on its census of the town. "Weve gotten a set of definitions on what to count as a household," says town manager Ben Shivar, "so we hope to get underway as soon as possible." Shivar said earlier this week he and committee chairman the Rev. elsewhere in North Carolina recently in the manner in which local governing boards are elected, and we recognize our responsibilities in this regard. "The committee was appointed to advise the town board on possible alternatives to the present method of electing commissioners, recog- nizing the importance of this issue and the need fa broad community Larry Leake will be meeting Wednesday afternoon to talk about the involvement," he wrote.

this in mind, the board wishes to give the committee further direction as outlined: 1. The special advisory committee appointed by the board shall consider and recommend to the board one or more alternatives fa electng town commissioners. 2 In making its study and recommendations, the committee shall give particular consideration to: (a) providing an equal opportunity far Mack citizens to elect candidates of upcoming census of the town. "There are certain definitions you have to follow," Shivar said, "in determining what a dwelling is. It pertains to things such as plumbing, protection from the elements, and so forth.

"There are also special populations," he says, "like Bryan Center. Thats not a conventional house. "Decisions have to be made on matters like these." At the committees first meeting eeting By Bob Wacha Siler City1 town board adopted six resolutions of condemnation at a special meeting late Tuesday afternoon, clearing the way for die remaining property needed for the reservoir expansion to be seized if negotiated settlements cant be reached with the owners. The owners of six parcels of land, ranging from just over half an acre to almost 12 acres, have 30 days from the time they receive a certified letter telling diem of the boards action to attempt to negotiate a settlement with the town. If that doesnt happen, the town assumes control of the property and a final settlement price is decided by the courts.

The six are the only owners who have not yet settled with the town in its efforts to acquire an additional 180 acres for the expansion of the reservoir. A total of 27 parcels of land was involved in the acquisition efforts. Even with the adoption of time resolutions, the town will continue to negotiate with the property owners, officials say. "Weve been in contact with them all along, town manager Ben Shivar said earlier this wide. Just before the board adopted the resolutions, he told the members "1 dont believe there are any situations amobg these that are insurmountable.

"Given the serious nature of this project and the time frame were operating under, I think its wise to proceed with this if we need it in the future when were ready to get water up in a new reservoir," he said. "Im hopeful we can resolve the last week, members said they prer- their choice, (b) providing stability for town and continuity lor town government, (c) assuring that the board represents the entire community, (d) preventing deadlocks on the board which keep town government from operating efficiently, and (e) choosing a method of election which will not require substantial change over die years. 3. Should die committee consider die creation of election districts, it shall prepare one ar more districting plans and develop statistical data for those plans. 4.

The committee shall be assisted by die town manager, Ben ered taking a local census to determine the population and demographics or the black and white population rather than waiting far die data to cone from the federal government A primary reason is a local census could be done within a few days while it could take as long as three months fa the same information to arrive from the U.S. Census Bureau. Two committee members, Larry Cheek and Adam Smith, indicated they would help take a local census. Because a their jobs, both men are familiar with the layout and population patterns of the town. Cheek works with Carolina Power and Light Company while Smith is a mailman.

Maya Earl Fitts praised the committee as. a "good one wholl do a good job." In a charge to the committee, presented at the first meeting, Fitts outlined its responsibilities in a six-point statement "The town board is aware," he wrote, "of the changes occurring (See "Committee, Page 7-A) remaining properties," Shivar said. He told the board to town attorney Ex-hoop star to be speaker at drug meet WORK ON ENLARGING sn.EB CITYS RESER- pouring concrete fa the foundation of a new spillway VOIR continues full speed ahead. In this photo, a that will raise the water level of the lake 10 feet (Photo steam shovel is digging a trench in preparation for by Jeff Davis) Former Wake Forest University basketball star Mike Helms, a standout in the late 1970s, will be the featured sneaker at a drug awareness meeting this Thursday night (April 14). The meetir meeting begins at 7 pjn.

in Airport Authority okays grading bid the auditorium of Jordan-Matthews High School Helms was convicted was convicted on drug Sam Williams had originally prepared eight resolutions but two parcels had been settled prior to the meeting. "We have already been able to acquire over 90 per cent of the land area," Shivar says. "That shows the good overall cooperation thats been shown in the project" The six owners include: Robert V. and Joyce F. Cheek, 4.90 acres; Bruce L.

and Mattie K. Clark, 11.913 acres; Donald F. and Mary L. Zima, 3.990 acres; Billy E. and Doris C.

Yak, 2.429 acres; Michael Ray Wilkins, 2.287 acres; and Thelma Andrews Hoyle, 0.513 acres. Shivar said earlier in the week that construction on the reservoir expansion was gang well, particularly with the good weather over die past several days. Tuesday's rain was the first substantial bad weather to strike the project in sometime. "Theyre probably gaining time," Shivar says. "Even though the water level had been dropped some to allow fa construction, were still in good shape, in spite of a dry winter.

"And weve still got the pipe in jdace to the Alamance County lake and two year agreement if we need it." Construction company officials have until late July to finish the wort "Its been a long time coming," said Authority chairman Mott Blair. "It looks good." charges during his playing days. He is now a spokesman for a drug-free America. The public is invited to attend and learn more about the effects of drugs, including alcohol. By Bob Wachs Siler Citys claim to fame as the only municipality in North Carolina with an unpaved airport moved a step closer to being just a memory Monday night The Airport Authority voted to recommend a contract fa maja earthmoving, site preparation, and grading to die town board fa consideration at its April 18 meeting.

That site preparation is the last step before paving the 5,000 foot runway. Almost a dozen bids on the project were received and the Authority looked at them all before awarding the job to the low bidder, R. A. Ziegler Construction of Eden. Ziegler's bid was $516,795.

"There were a number of good McGougan said, "and can move in his equipment mat any time. Hell use the same clearing and grubbing subcontractors as the reservoir expansion so he can be ready to go almost immediately." Shivar told the Authority there are still two parcels of land not yet acquired at die airport. "Sam (town attorney Sam Williams) and I have put all our efforts in acquiring land for the reservoir project," Shivar said. "So its rut entirely the property owners fault. "We'll pick back up on it as soon as we finish acquiring land for the reservoir.

"This will not affect the clearing and grading operation," he told the group, "since we already own enough land fa the 5,000 foot runway." Renovation of die local airport was first discussed in October of 1983. bids," says town manager Ben Shivar, "and many of them were in the $300,000 to low $600,000 range, although there was one at $1.1 million. "Were very pleased." Zieglers was the low bid by $10,000. "We checked on them at other sites," Joe McGougan of the towns engineering firm Hobbs, Upchurch and Associates said. "We feel like theyll do a real good job.

The work in question includes site preparation for an additional 700 feet of runway beyond the original 4300. Its that additional length that brings die total to 5,000. The preparation will include removing trees, leveling and grubbing ghe land, and grading ana preparing for paving the runway and taxi areas. Authority members also got some other good news from McGougan and Shivar, who told diem the bid leaves $109,000 left over in a contingency fund. "Thats good position to be in," Shivar says.

"It allows us some leeway fa final land acquisition, lights, or whatever needs may arise." Fox to make decision in Westmoreland case Public hearing set April 18 Enlarging and renovating the airport is a joint effort of die state, county, and city governments. The state provides 80 per cent of the total cost while the town and county split the remaining 20 per cent evenly. "We're basically about a month behind schedule," McGougan told the Authority, "but thats no some evidence but he would not elaborate. If Westmoreland is charged. Fox said it would be under a law dealing with the felonious dispensing of controlled substances.

The district attorney also laid it would be unlikely mat Westmoreland would be trial in Chatham County, if he is charged. In court' records filed seven months ago, SBI agents said at least two women told them Westmoreland had written prescriptions for than in exchange for sexual favors. In addition to the videocas-settes, SBI agents recovered 18 Polaroid photos of women from Westmorelands home. Search warrants were obtained Sept 3, and the investigation continued. But in December, Fox complained that the SBI was not keeping him informed of the progress of its investigation.

He said people in Chatham County were asking him questions about the investigation and it was embalming not to be able to answer. Westmoreland declined to Chatham County district attorney Carl Fox sad this wfeek he will decide before mid-May if he will bring charges against a county medical examiner alleged to have written drug prescriptions in return fa sexual favors. May 16 is the date die next grand jury convenes. Fox said he would know by then if he intends to charge Pittsboro physician James P. Westmoreland.

"I received a 300-page report from the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) Monday," Fox said, "but I havent completed it yet to determine if there is any evidence of criminal wrongdoing. "If there is evidence, then I must determine if any statutes have been violated," he said. hi addition to the report. Fox said he has viewed 12 of the 77 videocasettes seized from Westmorelands house by the SBI when it began its investigation seven months ago. The videocassettes allegedly are of some of the women who received the prescriptions.

Fox told the Associated Press he had an idea of whether there was "The money for raving and light-s committed hi are committed but will not be Perfection Equipment Company will build a new office and warehouse just west of Siler City if the town board okays a recently approved rezoning request. The towns planning board at its. last meeting approved a request from the company to rezone approximately 10 acres across U.S. 64 from Bradshaw Supply Co. The matter now goes before a hearing set for the town 's April 18 meeting.

Perfection Equipment which sells furniture and science equipment to schools and colleges, currently operates out of a building near the railroad tracks on West Raleigh Street Guy Watkins, with Perfection Equipment appeared before the ing available until this July when the state begins its new fiscal year. "Well be able to bid the paving and lighting in June, he says. "By then the clearing and grubbing will be done and we can go in and do compacting and graveling. "Well be ready to rave by the end of October," he said. The airport will be closed due to construction from around the first of May through October.

"Ziegler is ready to go," BLOOD PRESSURE CHECKS were part of a screening at Glendale Hosiery Monday. The event sponsored in conjunction with National Public Health Week, also included screening for diabetes and counseling. Here county health nurse Maurice Tanner takes Dianne Siler's blood pressure. Almost 100 Glendale employees took advantage of the opportunity. See page 3-A for more photos.

(Photo by Jeff Davis). (See "Rezoiing, Page 7-A).