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WEATHER (Week of Jan. 15-21) High: 65 Low: 22 (Jan 18) (Jan. 15) Rainfall: 3.20 ins. (Jan. 19-20) Clinton Chronicle Vol. 70 — No. 4 Clinton. S. C., Thursday, January 23, 1969 INDEX Two Sections, 16 Pages Classified — 6-A Deaths 3-A Editorials 2.B Hospital News 2-A Society — 2-A Sports 7-A McLendon Aids In VC Capture Pfc. Freddie McLendon of Clinton has been credited with playing a key role in the capture of 10 Viet Cong recently. McLendon was among the 101st Airborne Para- McLENDON troopers who had moved into a small village for a search and sweep op- ©ration southeast of Hue. McLendon told the Information Office a t Camp Eagle, Vietnam, “I was poking around a hedgerow when my bayonet stuck in a bamboo trap door. I called to my buddy to come over and help check it out. As we removed the doer, we spotted movement and called for the rest of the squad to come over. “We tried to talk the enemy out but it was no go,” McLendon said. We tossed in a grenade. After the explosion, the squad leader called for a “tunnel rat” to search the bunker. The trooper wasn't down long before he was pushing out a wounded Viet Cong. An interpreter was called and his interrogation revealed there were nine more enemy soldiers in the small hole. When the paratroopers started digging, they discovered why only one Viet Cong was found by the “tunnel rat.” The walls and most of the ceil ing had caved in. In a few quick strokes, they broke through the wall and uncovered the remaining nine. While the squad covered the entrance hole, the bedraggled Viet Cong struggled out on their hands and knees. The Screaming Eagle paratroopers also captured an AK-47 assault rifle and an SKS rifle. McLendon, 21, is a 1968 graduate of Clinton High School. The son of Mrs. Bill Meade of Sloan Street and the late J. E. McLendon, he entered the Army in June and was assigned to Vietnam in No vember. ★★★★★★★★★★★★★★ ★★ 'Mr. Nick' Bags Linker A couple of weeks ago, we wrote in this column about Mr. C. E. Nichols’ retirement as a commer cial photographer. We pointed out that “Mr. Nick” is an avid fisherman and one of his goals was to catch at least a 10-pound bass. Last week, in his third week of retirement, he realized that ambition. On a fishing trip to Clark Hill with Postmaster Bill Adair, “Mr. Nick” landed a big-mouth bass that weighed 11 pounds, eight ounces. He also caught “ a little one” weighing seven pounds, 14 ounces and four others averaging two pounds apiece. He had the big fishing day Saturday,, casting a “Hellbender” plug from a boat. He caught the big one on a 12-pound test line. Monday, he caught two bass. On Wednesday, he caught one that weighed nine and a quarter pounds and five others, averaging 2Va poundj apiece. “Mr. Nick” plans to have the big one mounted. He said, “When I tied into that big one, I thought I had hooked ‘Blalock’s Bull.’” CC Members Hear Potential, Procedure Local Low-Rent Housing Project Is Discussed Funds are available for a low- rent housing project for Clinton if city officials will take the necessary steps, W. T. (Billy) Bolt told Clinton Chamber of Commerce members Tuesday morning. Bolt, former mayor of Lau rens, is executive director of the S. C. Regional Housing Authority. He and J. Allen Thompson Jr., assistant regional director, ad dressed the quarterly member ship meeting of the Chamber of Commerce at Mary Musgrove Hotel. Bolt said, “I think there is a need for low-rent housing here but it must be understood that such projects do not solve all housing needs. These low-rent projects would primarily help the BOLT THOMPSON low income groiq). This could open up some housing for indus trial workers, creating vacancies in houses which could be up graded and used by industrial workers but it wouldn’t solve that problem." Bolt explained that the low- rent projects have income limits. The amount of rent a person pays Is determined by his income. He said $75 per month usually is the highest rent and by the time one of the project resi dents hits $50 per month rent, he begins looking for other, better quarters, possibly a home of his own. Bolt said, “It has gotten to the point where it is not feasible for aprivate businessman to build a $12,000 home and then rent it for $60 a month. He can’t break even." He said his office is in charge of about 1100 apartments which are partially financed by the federal government. There is a waiting list of potential resi dents for most of the projects, he said, pointing out that the occupancy rate is over 95 per cent. Explaining that residents must pay their rent exactly on time and must maintain clean quar ters, he said, “The fact that we have a waiting list helps us main tain order in these projects. They know that if they misbehave, miss a rent payment or let the housing unit get unsanitary, there’s someone waiting to take their place." Bolt said that 10 per cent of the rent goes to the city, bringing in about $25 per unit per year. He said the city must agree to furnish utilities, at the normal residential rate. After 40 years, the city owns the units. Bolt said the units are built to last at least 40 years and are designed to be in keeping with the locality. While low-rent. housing is not a slum clearance project, there have been cases in this region in which construc tion of a low-rent housing pro ject has upgraded neighborhood by setting an example. He said that once a city makes application for a project, it usually receives a loan to finance planning of the project. After bids have been sought and opened and the contract let, the Housing Au thority issues bonds to finance construction. The bonds are guaranteed by the Housing and Urban Development agency. The first step for Clinton, he said, would be the establish ment of a five-man Housing Au thority. He also said the city must have a community workable pro gram for improvements in order to qualify for one of the low- rent projects. ;. Bolt’s office supervises 60 housing projects in operation in 29 different muncipalities in the region. Thompson pointed out that in handling $411,000 in revenue last year in the region, only $400 was charged off to bad debts. He said the units are inspect ed at least once a year and added, “The Housing Board takes the political pressures off city government in that it has the power to evict troublesome ten ants and city officials have no say-so concerning who can Use in the units." RALPH HOLT , Holt Resigns As Manager Utility Dept. Ralph Holt, manager of Clin ton’s Utility Department, has re signed to accept a similar posi tion with the town of Bennetts- ville. 4 * Holt will assume his duties in Bennettsville on Feb. 1. A native of Gaffney, Holt be came manager of the Clinton U- tility Department in April, 1967. Clinton Mayor Harry Layton commented, “We are sorry to see Mr. Holt leave. He is a very capable young man. We wish him well in his new position. We will start immediately in our ef forts to find a successor." The Clinton Utility Department has 19 employes and only re cently began a project of revamp ing the electrical system. Bennettsville, with 26 in the Utility Department, operates its water system on an artesian well system and also is rebuilding its electrical system. * * * Copt. Elrod Dies In Vietnam Capt. Waymon C. (Red) Elrod, 30, former member of the ROTC staff at Presbyterian College, was killed in action in Vietnam Jan. 3. Capt. Elrod was killed when his helicopter was shot down. It was Capt. Elrod’s second tour in Vietnam. The son of Mrs. Vola Elrod and the late Stan S. Elrod, Capt. Elrod was a member of the staff at PC from March, 1962, to Feb ruary, 1963. Funeral services were held re cently in Cooksville, Tenn. Capt. Elrod also is survived by his wife, the former Reba Smith; and two children, Brian, 6, and Diane, 4. * * * Director Predicts JA Members To Be Leaders The executive director of the Clinton Junior Achievement pro gram predicted Tuesday that the young people who are sticking with the program will be the lead ers of tomorrow. Addressing the quarterly membership meeting of the Clin ton Chamber of Commerce, Dr. Fred Chapman said, “We have encountered some apathy from those who we had figured would be the leaders of tomorrow. How ever, I predict that the young people who are sticking with the Junior Achievement program and who are interested and willing to learn will be our leaders of tomorrow. “We have some outstanding young people who are active in our program. We started with 22 people in each of the two corporations. We now have about 17 in each corporation but those who remain are vitally interested in learning. * Concerning the apathy shown by some young people, Dr. Chapman said, “I don’t know for sure what the answer is. I don’t be lieve it lies in the school sys tem or the program. I believe the best way to combat it might be in the respective homes, over the breakfast table and dinner table. I think it’s time to evaluate the question of what are your re sponsibilities to our youth." The Clinton Junior Achieve ment program has been in opera tion about five months and uses part of the old Hampton Avenue School for its headquarters. The young people bought stock in their respective corporations. They make and sell various pro ducts and at the end of the year will pay dividends, if their corporations have teen success ful. The two companies are Clin- tex and Torrco, sponsored by Clinton Mills and The Torring- ton Co., respectively, which pro vide adult advisors to consult with the young people on manu facturing, sales, promotions and the general operation ofthe busi nesses. •:* FREEHOLDERS OF CLINTON: :j: As all of you know, the City of Clinton is in $ great need of a new city hall. Before this can take •j: place, two things must happen: (1) At least 50% :£ of the freeholders of Clinton must sign petitions >:« stating that this is desirable. (2) This authorizes :|3 the city to hold a referendum on a bond issue to cover building cost not already covered by the >: v building fund. : : : v * . The Clinton Jaycees urge each and every one £ of you to consider this very carefully. Those of $ £ you who are opposed should make a visit to the £: :|: present “City Hall.” It would be obvious that we £: do, indeed, need a new one. :£ *•* ’•** :•: We hope that each and every one of you will £: support the petition so that we can obtain 100% >:• £ support rather than a mere 50%. £ * : : : The Clinton Jaycees support this petition and will be visiting all freeholders and asking them to £ £ support it with us. We will be seeing you some- £ £ time during this next two weeks. The Clinton Jaycees $ MIKE HURT, President £ Miss Perry Is Named To All-State Band Miss Carole Perry of Clinton High School is a member of the 1969 Senior All-State Band which will meet this week at Furman University. The band will meet today, Fri day and Saturday and will cli max its program with a concert at 2:30 p.m. Sunday in McAllis ter Auditorium on the Furman campus. CAROLE PERRY CC MEMBERSHIP MEETING —- Dr. Fred Chapman, one of the fee- Shown above at the quarterly mem- tured speakers; Dr. Louis Stephens, berahip meeting of the Clinton Chamber of Commerce Presdient; J. Chamber of Commerce are, left to C. Thomas, Membership Committee right, George Cornelson, vice-presi- chairman.—(Photo by Jerry Holland) dent of the Chamber of Commerce; Star Students, T eachers Named For Clinton Area The STAR Students and Star Teachers of Laurens County will be honored at a special recog nition ceremony on January 28 at which time the STAR Student and Star Teacher for Laurens County will be announced. This meeting is sponsored by the Clinton Lions Club. Arrange ments are being made by W. R. Anderson, Chairman of the Edu cation Committee of the Clinton Chamber of Commerce. The STAR Students and Star Teachers for the county are: Miss Janice Elaine Armstrong and Miss Teresa Albertson, Thornwell; Miss Sara Jean Price and Mrs. Alvenes R. Barksdale for Bell St. High; Albert Augustus Ramage III and Miss Frances Sheely for Clinton High; Miss Linda Wharton McNeill and Rus sell Burns, Jr. for Laurens High; Lewis Calvin Hughes and Miss Cora Peterson for Ford High; Claude Haywood Watts and S. N. Madden for Sanders High; Miss Mary Ruth Hill and Mrs. Sara F. Long, Hickory Tavern High; Miss Barbara Dianne Woods and Mrs. Linda Fay H. Bobo for Gray Court High. All High schools in the county are participating this GUS RAMA chievement Recognition program is a statewide projeci of the South Carolina State Chamber of Com merce. County Winners will compete in Congressional District Com petition and will attend a state wide banquet in Columbia at which time the South Carolina’s STAR Student and Teacher will be named. year. The Clinton Chamber of Com merce is sponsoring the STAR Student - Teacher program for Laurens County for the third year according to Dr. Louis M. Ste phens, president of the organiza tion. The Student-Teacher A- Designation of STAR Students is based on top-ranking scores made on the College BoardScho- lastic Aptitude Test. Star Teach ers are chosen by STAR Stu dents as the teacher who made the greatest contribution to the student’s scholastic achieve ment. JANICE ELAINE ARMSTRONG SARA JEAN PRICE Lindsay Speaks Everett Lindsay, a self-styled •Human Motivation Engineer* from Cincinnati, spoke to the regular assemblage of students, faculty, and guests at Presby terian College on Tuesday. Lind say, a retired employee of Gulf Oil Company, is concerned with helping people to get the great est benefit from their own a- bilities and potential when deal ing with others, especially in a leadership capacity. Miss Perry was selected as a member of the All-State Band during a recent audition in Co lumbia. She also was a member of the 1968 Senior Clinic Band and was a member of the 1966-67 Junior All-State Bands. A junior at Clinton HighSchool, she is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ed Perry of Pinewood Ave. in Clinton. Miss Perry plays the tympani (kettle drums). Jaycees Plan 'Honey Sunday’ January 26 will be‘HoneySun- day" in Clinton when Jaycees will carry out a door-to-door honey sales program in the com munity. Six - hundred containers of honey for “Honey Sunday" sales campaign in Clinton have arrived and are being stored at dis tribution points throughout the community for the January 26th ramnaipn Clinton Jaycees “Honey Sun day* chairman Mike Hurt said, “We hope to sell every con tainer and to meet our goal for the drive. The ‘Honey Sunday’ program in South Carolina will be a continuation of the Jaycees’ involvement in accepting the challenge to become Involved In what needs to be done.” of the 112 Palmetto State chap ters with thousands of volunteers taking part. Chairman Hurt announced that those who are not called on at their homes and who wish to buy honey on "Honey Sunday’.may call 833-3017 and a volunteer will be sent to their homes. day" will be sent to the S. C. Jaycees. Sixty percent of tt» funds raised from “Hooey Sun day’ will be used to build a summer camp for the mentally retarded. Forty per cent of the proceeds will be returned to the Clinton Jaycees to be used ex clusively for the mentally retard* ed in the Clinton area. Campaigns will be held by many All proceeds from "Honey Sun-