Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Debutantes Announced (See Page 2-A) ®j)e Clinton Cljrontck Vol. 71, —No. 25 Clinton, S. C., Thursday, June 26, 1969 INDEX Three Sections, 24 Pages Classified 6-A Deaths 8-A Editorials 2-B Society 2-A, 3-A Sports 7-A DEATH CAR—Johnny Franklin, 23, of Valdese, N. C., was killed Monday when the car shown above wrecked between Joanna and Clinton on High way 76. Franklin was driving the car toward Clinton when he lost con trol. The car hit a guard rail on a bridge and flipped over. The 1%8 Mustang was listed as demolished. Franklin was taken to a local hos pital where he was pronounced dead on arrival. The accident occurred around noon Monday. State Highway Patrolman J. H. Seigler investigated, asisted by Sgt. A. W. Hampton.— (Photo by Johnny Cannon) The Chronicle To Publish Early Next Week Fly-In Copter Service When Joe Crawford opened Mason Young’s Gulf Station Saturday morning, he had an un usual customer—a helicopter pilot. When Crawford went to work at 7 a.m., Satur day, the helicopter was parked on the vacant lot at the corner of South Adair Street and Highway 56, across from the National Guard Armory. Crawford said the pilot purchased a fan belt and, after a trip downtown in a truck, hopped back into the helicopter and took off. He’s still trying to figure out what a helicop ter was doing there. He believes the helicopter was a crop duster. Ellis (Huff) Huffstetler listened to Crawford’s account of the event but he didn’t see much unus ual about it. A former crop duster pilot, Huffstet ler recalled that he was flying back to Newb«rry from a job in 1951 when he ran low on fuel. He landed the plane on a roa^ -' + Cross Anchor, bought four gallons of high test fuel, took off and resumed his trip to Newberry. Redfern Flight Recalled Mrs. Raymond Pitts and Mrs. H. M. Wise re- recently went to Sea Island, Ga., for the dedication of a memorial plaque to Paul Redfern, who unsuc cessfully tried to fly from Brunswick, Ga., to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1927. Mrs. Pitts and Mrs. Wise accompanied Mr. and Mrs. George Bultman of Sumter who are neighbors of Mrs. W. H. Sanders, sister of Mr. Paul Redfern. Mr. Bultman is Mrs. Pitts’ brother. Trying to link North and South America by air in 1927, Redfern flew a 200-horsepower Stin- son-Detroiter off the beach at Sea Island. Loaded with 550 gallons of gasoline, the plane had a hard time taking off and its wheels were still spinning as they touched the breakers. The Redfern plane w r as sighted about 165 miles off the coast of South America by the crew of a freighter. Redfern reportedly dropped a note to the freighter requesting directions to land but the plane never made it. The Clinton Chronicle will lie published early next week. The Chronicle will be published Tuesday evening for distribution Wednesday morning. The Chronicle will be closed from Wednesday afternoon until Monday morning so that em ployes may enjoy a long holiday weekend. Advertisers are requested to have their ad copy in by 5 p.m. Monday. Correspondents and others wishing to have articles or pictures published in next week’s Chronicle are requested to have their copy in no later than noon Tuesday. Fire Destroys Bell St. House A frame house off South Bell Street was destroyed by fire early Friday. No injuries were report ed. The four-room house, which was occupied by the JamesJohn- son family, was engulfed in flames when firemen arrived at 3:15 a.m. Origin of the fire is undetermined. Clinton firemen answered three other fire calls over the weekend, including one false alarm to Bluford Street. A Thursday night trash fire on Tribble Street was extinguished before it did any serious damage and on Saturday morning, fire men extinguished a car fire in front of Clinton Cafe. OWENS HONORED — Thomas Ow- 41 years with the Fire Department, ens, left, was honored Tuesday night was presented a portable television at a banquet sponsored by the Clin- set by Fire Chief Bill Milam, right, ton Volunteer Fire Department, on behalf of the firemen.—(Photo by Owens, who will retire June 30 after Dan Yarborough) Wind Storm Cuts Power In Some Areas A sudden wind and electrical storm Tuesday afternoon left many areas of Clinton without electrical power. Clinton Mayor Harry Layton said gusting wind, which hit at about 4:30 p.m., blew some lines together, causing them to arc and burn in two. He said two main lines at Elizabeth and Florida Street burned in two. Also, three lines were down in front of First Bap tist Church, six lines on the Thornwell campus (including three main lines), four lines on West Walnut Street and one line at Bailey Memorial Hospi tal. A blown fuse also knocked out power to part of the hospi tal area. Mayor Layton said, “The wind did considerable damage. All of our crews were immediately on the job and we got some assist ance from the contracting firm which is doing power extension work in the city. “Our crews and those from the contractor did an excellent job and I want to express my appre ciation to them for the way they handled a difficult situation. We also are sorry for the in convenience caused the citizens but this came from a source be- yong our control." Mayor Layton said the longest any area was without electrical power was two and a half hours. + * * $44,000 Grant Awarded To Higher Ed Commission A grant of $44,000 has been a- warded to the Commission of Higher Education Facilities in Clinton. The commission is to conduct comprehensive planning to determine construction needs of institutions of higher educa tion throughout the state, accord ing to U. S. Sen. Strom Thur mond. The grant was approved through the Office of Education, under Title I of the Higher Edu cation Facilities Act. Dr. Marshall W. Brown, for mer president of Presbyterian College, is co-ordinator of the S. C. Commission on Higher Education Facilities. His office is in the Jacobs Building in Clin ton. * * * $1,300 Theft Is Investigated Investigation continued this week into the theft of ahxiut $1,300 from Piggly Wiggly in Clinton. The theft was reported last Wednesday, June 18, about 4 p.m. Police are seeking four Negro men in connection with the in vestigation. A police spokesman said the thief or thieves ap parently took the money from a cash register when an employe stepped away from the counter for a short time. * * * Swim Team Meets The YMCA swim team will meet at the Clinton pool on Tues days and Fridays each week. All boys and girls ages nine through 17 are urged to attend. We must have at least 40 swimmers in order to have a team so if you are interested and did not come on Tuesday, June 24, call the YMCA and get your name on the list. LIONS CLUB OFFICERS—Officers and directors of the Clinton Lions Club were installed Tuesday night at Mary Musgrove Hotel. Shown above, left to right, are Dillard Milam, one-year director; Richard Gasque, Lion Tamer; W. P. Jacobs, III, assistant Jail Twister; Miles Powell, secretary; John Daniluk, one-year director; Milford Smith, outg-oing president; Erskine Jacks, second vice- president; Claude Crocker, president; Rev. Bill Rogers, first vice-president; J. A. Orr, treasurer; Carmen Core, three-year director. Unavailable for the picture were Charles Waldron, third vice- president; W. S Home, Tail Twister; and two-year directors W. C. Neely, and Calvin Reed.— (Photo by Dan Yarborough) Industries Shut Down For July 4 Holiday Most major industries in the Clinton area will shut down opera tions this weekend for the week-long July 4th holiday. Most will reopen on July 7. The Clinton Mills plants will close at midnight on Friday, June 27, and will reopen at 12:01 a.m. July 7. Also closing June 27 and reopening July 7 are the Joanna plants of Greenwood Mills and C. W. Anderson Hosiery Co. The Clinton Bearings Plant of The Torrington Co. will l>e closed from June 29 until July 7. Brookline Carpets will close June 28 and reopen on Monday, July 7 as will Azalea Mobile Homes. * * * Hanson Named Chairman Of UF Budget Committee General A. B. Godfrey, Presi dent of the United Fund of Great er Clinton announced this week that Bob Hanson will serve as Budget Committee Chairman for this year. Mr. Hanson has worked with the United Fund for tlie past four years serving as a member of the Board of Directors, BudgetCom- mittee Member, Assistant Com mercial Division Chairman, and Commercial Division worker. The Budget Committee is sche duled to meet this year on Thurs day, July 17th, at the Mary Mus grove Hotel. At that time all agencies who wish toobtain funds from the United Fund will present their budgets and programs to the United Fund Budget Committee. From these requests the budget for ttie United Fund will be pre pared. Mr. Hanson is employed as production manager at the Tor rington Company and resides at 505 Cedar Street with his wife and four children. * * * Immunization State Supt. of Education Cyril B. Busbee today reminded parents of children who will enter the first grade in the fall that “now is the time for the youngsters to get their shots.” Busbee and State Health Offi cer Dr. E. Kenneth Aycock urge parents to take prospective first graders to their family doctor or health department now in order to avoid the late summer rush. TOUR EUROPE—Mr. and Mrs. Gary Holcomb and sons, Brent and Barry, recently returned from a T5-day tour of Europe. They participated in cere monies commemorating the 25th anniversary of ”D-Day.” Your Chamber Of Commerce Means Business (Editor’s Note: This is the first in a series of articles about the projects and members of the board of directors of the Clinton Chamber of Commerce. It is offered in an effort to familarize you with the activities and leaders of the Chamber of Commerce.) Aviation DON CREIGHTON Beautification The Aviation Committee is composed of Mr. Ed King, Mr. Charles Pitts, and Mr. D. B. Smith as members and Mr. R. V. Bodmer, Chairman. The first and foremost concern of this committee was to have the Laurens Municipal Airport ap proved by the FA A. The previous difficulties in getting this certi fication are now resolved, as the requirement of having grass growing adjacent to the runway strip is now becoming a reality. In order to progress with this project, this committee sees other basic needs satisfied. A ro tating beacon should be installed immediately. There is a need for additional aircraft parking. This could be satisfied by utiliz ing the old landing strip. The air craft and the vehicle parking areas should be provided with adequate lighting. Improvements in walkways to the aircraft are necessary. As this facility expands, the need to service aircraft will be come more imperative, so proper service facilities and storage facilities for aircraft will In come necessary. Mr. Bodmer, the Chairman, at tended schools in Rochester, New York and was graduated from the U. S. Naval Academy. Prior to as suming the position as Plant Man ager of The Clinton Bearings Plant of The Torrington Com pany, he was Manufacturing Man ager at this plant. Richard, his wife Pat, and two young sons presently reside on East Centennial Street in Clin ton. Serving as chairman of the City Beautification Committee is Don G. Creighton. Other mem bers of the committee are Ray Fernell, Mrs. Gary Holcomb, Mrs. P. M. Moore, George Reid, W. M. Shields and Mrs. C. L. Stine tt. Objectives and special projects of the City Beautification Com mittee are “Clean up” campaign for the towntown area, working with the Garden Clubs of Clin ton is assisting in the beautifi cation of the new parking lot. Em phasizing to the City Council the importance of inaugurating the zoning of our city which would include city ordinance of up keep of downtown property and removal of junk automobiles within the city. Mr. Creighton is a native of Atlanta, Ga., veteran of U.S. Air Force and graduated from the University of Georgia School of Forestry. Joined the Bowaters organization in 1953, working in Tennessee and Georgia. Moved to Clinton in 1958 as District Fores ter with Catawba Timber Com pany - woods organization for Bowates Carolma Corpoi'ation in York County. Member of the So ciety of American Foresters and a licensed Forester in South Carolina. Member ofofficial board Broad Street Methodist Church, serving as Church Lay Leader and mem ber of Greenwood District Board of Lay Activities of the Metho dist Church. Married to the former Mary Frances Wheeler and the father of a son and a daughter. They reside on Huntingdon Rd. Clintonians Revisit ’D-Day' Scene Several Clintonians recently attended ceremonies in France marking the 25th anniversary of “D-Day* earlier this month. Mr. and Mrs. Gary Holcomb and sons Brent and Barry at tended ceremonies June 6 at Utah Beach and Gen. and Mrs. Ansel Godfrey attended cere monies at Omaha Beach on June 5. For Holcomb and Gen. God frey, the trips brought back many memories as they revisited sev eral areas where they saw com bat action during World War 0. Holcomb says, “I wasn’t in the first wave to hit Utah Beach, I’m sorry to say. I came in after the beach had been taken." Even then, the scene was one of mass destruction. On his re turn trip recently, there was only one piece of equipment, an old anchor, remaining on the beach from the battle. He was one of 360 veterans of the Fourth Infantry Division who attended the dedication of a monu ment commemorating the land ing. After the ceremonies, he and his family attended an official French reception and luncheon in tents on the beach. French offi cials offered free transporta tion to any spot in Normandy for the veterans. The Holcombs left Clinton May 31. Their 15-day tour included visits to London and Exeter in England; Pontorson, MontSt. Mi chel, Utach Beach, St Marie- Du-Mont, Versailles, Paris and Reims in France; Luxembourg; Bastogne, Malemdy, Spa in Bel gium; Bad Godesburg, Bonn and Rudesheim in Germany; Rot terdam and Amsterdam in The Netherlands. Gen. Godfrey didn’t participate in the “D-Day* action. He was stationed in Italy at the time but he attended the Omaha Beach ceremonies in which a monument was erected in memory of all National Guardsmen who died in the action. - However, Gen. and Mrs. God frey revisited some of the scenes of battle in Italy during their 21- day trip abroad. Gen. Godfrey commented, “You’d never know there had been a war in the areas we visit ed. All are completely recovered now. The contrast from the last time I saw some of those places was remarkable.” The Godfreys’ trip included visits to Deauville on the Nor mandy Coast; a few days in Paris; a trip along the coast to Florence, Genoa, Rapello, Monaco, Pisa and Rome.