The Herald-Sun from Durham, North Carolina • 1

Dnrljnin illorning IfcraU) Wm Section Thursday December 8 1983 State National In Henderson Case Vance County Couple Honored As Young Farm Family Of Year Weroon Fouodl Franklin 29 is president and general manager of Franklin Brothers Nursery and Greenhouses Inc The couple has been active in the farm bureau in Vance County and at the state level for several years HENDEKSON Hr and Mrs Samuel Franklin Jr of Rt 2 Henderson were honored as the "younf farmer and rancher family of the at the 48th Annual Convention oftheNC Farm Bureau Federation in Asheville this week They trill receive an expense-paid trip to the American Farm Bureau Convention Jan 8-12 in Orlando Fl to compete for the national title Franklin is a member of the Vance County Farm board of directors and the State Farm Bureau Horticulture Advisory Committee uirdeiring Woman By ELEANOR LEE Herald Staff Writer HENDERSON A Vance County Superior Court jury Thursday convicted James Vereen of the first-degree murder of 72-year-old Geraldine Abbott in 1979 The eight-woman four-man jury returned its verdict at 10:30 am The jury began deliberations late Tuesday afternoon taking of total of 1VJ hours to reach its decision At the request of Vereen's defense lawyers each juror individually confirmed the verdict The jury returned to the courtroom shortly after 10 am to question Judge DB Herring again on the choices of the first-degree murder second-degree murder or not before retiring to resume deliberations VEREEN DRESSED in blue trousers and plaid shirt sat quietly while the verdict was read Members of the Abbott family had no comments to make to reporters However several of Vereen's cousins said they did not believe he received a fair trial and he should have been tried outside of Vance County After the verdict was delivered a second phase of the trial began to determine Vereen's sentence The first-degree murder conviction carries a life sentence or the death penalty Vereen also is charged with assault with intent to kill rape armed robbery and crime against nature tT Welcome Home Marines At the beginning of the sentencing hearing Herring at Susie Abbott 34 who also was attacked in ruled that i the Lehman Street home was capable of understanding questions and able to answer them Marines hustle down the gangplank of the USS Iwo Jima after arriving in Morehead City Wednesday following duty in Lebanon Two hundred and forty Marines from the group the 24th Marine Amphibious Unit were killed during a terrorist bombing in Beirut Youngsters from the Beaufort Elementary School were on hand to wave flags and yellow ribbons as they held a sign welcoming the Marines Story on 1 A (AP Laserphotos) ABBOTT who is physically handicapped was helped to the front of the courtroom by her sister She testified she was living with her mother on Sept 29 1979 She said the two were preparing for bed in separate rooms when a black man wearing a blue suit entered her room She said he put a finger to his lips motioning her to be quiet "I started hollering 'Mother mother' He grabbed my mother around the she said "Then he started stabbing her with a knife She was saying Then she was laying on the floor and he was stabbing her on the Miss Abbott said the man then turned to her and cut her neck She said he also cut her on her buttocks and genital area She said she was then thrown on her bed pulled my clothes off and tried to make love to me He got on top of me with his clothes she said She said the man began kissing her and told her to say she loved him State Says Company Developing $1 5 Million Marina At Kerr Lake By JACK HOLMES MISS ABBOTT said she had difficulty remembering what happened after that She said he then went through their pocket books although she said she did not know how much money was in the purses Miss Abbott testified she had never seen her assailant before that evening After Miss Abbott's testimony the state introduced the fact that Vereen was charged and convicted in 1969 of armed robbery The defense then called aunt Alice Mc-Knight to the stand She said Vereen had lived in Henderson with her from infancy to about age 15 She told operated by the state with the new marina complex being operated by Steele Creek Marina Inc This is the second agreement the state has struck with the company to help improve recreation facilities on Kerr Lake The firm secured a lease on the former Wildlife Club marina on the west side of the Nutbush Creek arm of the lake and began operating it last spring Fuller said that the state is at Rolling on Falls of the Neuse Lake with an eye toward its development by a private firm too Steele Creek Marina Inc will spend will be open the year round Fuller said that Kerr Lake is the used and inland area of North Carolina with more than 15 million visitors a year The new marina will feature fuel dock sales and marine repair shop wet and dry storage areas boat-launching ramps snack bar and public restrooms It will rent "every kind of according to Fuller Including boats for fishing sailboats paddle boats pontoon boats ski boat and lnni-boats The firm also plans six fully equipped vacation rental cabins The state will receive 3 percent of the gross revenues from Steel Creek rentals sales and launching fees ant secretary of the NC Department of Natural Resources and Community Development Hall said that the agreement with the company is a part of the program to better meet the increasing demand for recreation facilities in state recreation areas through partnerships-with private enterprise The present marina at Satterwhite Point has been operated by the state since expiration of a lease with another private firm that had operated the present marina about a year ago according to Kirk Fuller of the State Parks and Recreation Department Fuller said the Satterwhite Point state recreation area still will be HENDERSON A private firm is developing a new 915 million marina at Satterwhite Point on Kerr Lake state officials announced Wednesday State officials and officials of the company Steele Creek Marina Inc held a ceremony Wednesday at the Satterwhite Point Community Building to officially mark the beginning of the construction of the new marina i However actual work began on Dec 1 A lease agreement between the state and the company which is a subsidiary Of the Tobacco Trading Corp of Oxford was announced by Billy Ray Hall assist the court her nephew had been a Boy Scout and mcm-st church in his youth ber of a Baptist She said he later held a job at JP Taylor Co a tobacco distributor and had received praise for his work there The jury will deliberate on the sentence today after arguments by lawyers $700000 in its first phase of development of Satterwhite Point That is to be completed by May 1984 and the marina reusgana- Disabled Mother Needs Holiday Help A divorced mother with four children is totally disabled due to a congenital heart condition and a severe lung problem Her oldest daughter age 15 is disabled by a mease similar to muscular dystrophy This 36-year-old mother has managed to keep the family together on a very limited income but she has no money for Christmas presents for her family Your generosity could make their holiday season brighter THE WAY THINGS ARE This family which is case number 213 is one of 63 families and individuals that remain to be adopted as part of the Share Your Christmas program The deadline for adopting families has been extended until Friday To sponsor a family or individual call 682-4562 9 am-4 pm today or Friday Volunteers will match the sponsor with a family and provide gift suggestions General cash contributions to the adopt-a-family portion of the Share Your Christmas program may be sent to Share Your Christmas Volunteer Services Bureau 809 Proctor St Durham 27707 This money is used to buy gifts for families who do not get adopted Families and individuals that remain to be adopted include: Case number 243: Until recently this 37-year-old mother of three was unemployed Her rent and fuel bills are all past due and are her main priority now instead of Christmas presents for her children She want her children to feel unloved this holiday and she hopes be able to provide a Christmas din ner for them Santa will need some help to visit this house this year Case number 545: A 42-year-old man is disabled He is a deaf-mute and is retarded He lives in a rest hone and has no interested family living nearby He will not celebrate Christmas this year unless someone helps Case number 212: A 45-year-old woman cannot work Late one afternoon last week a burglar struck the Nicholson household over in the Duke Park section Turned out to be a right peculiar cuss Mainly on account of the fact that he visited the Nicholsons while they were at church But that all The things he took showed something about his character He took the best TV in the house Then he took Mrs Janice wedding ring After that he raided the clothes closet and took a whole bunch of clothes that belonged to the children Kathy and Michael Right down to the shoes Something must have happened along about this time though because he obviously left in a hurry Dropping things as he went and never stopping to pick them up or turn to see what was being left behind And for a moment Mrs Nicholson thought they were In luck when she saw two shoes scattered in the bade yard So she went out to check Sure enough the shoes belonged to daughter Kathy But then the disappointment Each shoe belonged to a different mate still in the clutches of the burglar due to a physical handicap She is a divorcee and is trying to raise three children without any financial support from her ex-husband One of the children has severe emotional problems and one is hearing impaired Case number 88: A family of six know what it means not to worry about making ends meet The par ents have been unable to obtain employment since a recent layoff The four children ages 6 months to 5 years celebrate Christmas this year unless someone helps Santa fill their stockings Case number 165: A 63-year-old woman cares for her 8-year-old grandson whose mother is retarded Another daughter and her two children ages 9 months and 5 years also live in the house There is no extra money for Christmas presents this year Warm clothes and educational toys would brighten this Christmas Case number 120: A 44-year-old woman's limited income enough to support her five children The family really needs some warm winter clothes for Christmas Case number 357: A young couple wu expecting a baby this month but the woman had a miscarriage in October and has been depressed since then Her husband works for minimum wage and the two are barely making ends meet Financial problems coupled with the emotional strains of the miscarriage give this couple much to celebrate this Christmas Warm winter dothes would make their Christmas happier Case number 323: This 38-year-old father of four is recovering from a recent work injury His wife stays home to care for the children Their limited income covers necessities but doesn't leave any extra for Christmas gifts Case number 24: Two brothers ages 8 and 10 and their 7-year-old sister live with a relative who recently assumed responsibility for their care They would like to receive some games for family entertainment this winter The Share Your Christmas program also indudes a spedal Christmas tree at Northgate Mall The tree Is covered with ornaments which bear the names of the foster children In Durham County Gift suggestions are provided for each child People who wish to help can select an ornament buy gift ana place it under the tree The tree will be in operation through Dec 12 General cash contributions to the program may be sent to the Foster Children's Stocking Fund PO Box 1025 Durham NC 27702 Share Your Christmas is sponsored by the Volunteer Services Bureau the Foster Parents Association the Durham County Department of Social Services and the Herald Sanford Supports Lauch Faircloth By TOM OLIVER Herald Raleigh Bureau squandered on needless studies and professional symposiums the state can afford to Improve its education system and give state employees needed pay raises without raising taxes Faircloth said Faircloth also called for reducing state regulation of businesses and abolishing duplication in state agencies "We have enough regulations on septic tanks alone to fill one and that Is where they belong in a septic Faircloth said borough Mayor Fred Cates and former town attorney Lucius Cheshire The Durham County delegation was led by William Bell chairman of the Durham County Board of Commissioners Faircloth told the dinner audience of about 300 supporters that the state can improve its education system without raising taxes State revenues are exceeding estimates by $30 million to $35 million a month the former secretary of commerce said If that money Is not Sanford described Fair-cloth as an old and trusted friend and far the best qualified candidate we have in North Faircloth has the vision and courage to deal with the state's most pressing need improvements in education Sanford said Former Charlotte Mayor John Belk added his endorsement of Faircloth Wednesday night at a dinner for the campaign supporters The Orange County delegation attending the seminar and dinner was headed by former Hills RALEIGH Terry Sanford president of Dpke University endorsed Democrat Lauch Faircloth for governor Wednesday think we can serve the people of North Carolina through Lauch Faircloth and I think we can elect Lauch Sanford said Sanford a former governor spoke to a gathering of Faircloth supporters at a campaign strategy seminar Wednesday afternoon Prediction at.