The Clinton chronicle. (Clinton, S.C.) 1901-current, August 14, 1969, Image 1
Local Merchants Offer 'Dollar Days' Bargains Thursday-Monday
WEATHER
(Week of Aug. 6-13)
High: 93 Low: 62
(Aug. 8) (Aug. 7. 11)
Rainfall: .01 in.
(Aug. 12)
Soil Temp. Range: 81-85
Clinton Chronicle
Vol. 70 — No. 31 Clinton, S. C., Thursday, August 14, 1969
INDEX
Three Sections, 20 Pages
Classified 6-A
Deaths 4-A
Editorials 2-B
Hospital News 2-A
Society 2-A, 3-A
Sports 7-A
$10,437.29 Increase
United Fund
Budget $55,000
A 1969-70 budgetof$55,500has
been approved by the Greater
Clinton United Fund Board of
Directors. The budget represents
a $10,437.29 increase over the
1968-69 budget.
The biggest increase is an
additional $4,500 for the Clinton
YMCA. The YMCA is to receive
$17,000 under the new budget,
compared to $12,500 last year.
The additional money was needed
because of the YMCA’s expanded
program and additional per-
Two Fire Calls
The Clinton Fire Department
answered two calls during the
past week.
On Aug. 7, the Department an
swered a call to a car fire on
the downtown square. The engine
of the vehicle was heavily dam
aged, but the blaze was extin
guished before any further dam
age was done. Also on Aug. 7,
the Department answered a call
on Pitts Alley to extinguish a
mattress fire. There was some
smoke damage to the house.
A Fire Department spokesman
expressed concern about mo
torists’ failure to stop when the
fire whistle begins.
He said, “When that whistle
begins, all traffic should come to
a complete stop and remain that
way until the whistle stops. If
this continues, we will have no
choice but to fine some people.”
sonnel, according to Robert Han
son, chairman of the United
Fund’s Budget and Admissions
Committee.
Most other agency allotments
are up in varying degrees. The
Laurens Red Cross Chapter is to
receive $5,600, compared to$4,-
500 last year. Local relief and
administration is up $1,171 to
$5,022 from $3,851 last year.
Other agency allotments are:
Laurens County Cancer So
ciety, $3,500; Blue Ridge Council,
Boy Scouts of America, $8,712;
Salvation Army, $750; OldNinety
Six District, GirlsScouts,$1,500;
Greenville County Cerebral
Palsy, $150; National Cystic Fi
brosis Research Foundation,
$400;
Also, Laurens County Chapter,
Crippled Children and Adults,
$1,350; Clinton Camp Fire Coun
cil, $6,400; United Health and
Medical Research Fund of S. C.,
$300; Laurens County Retarded
Children, $250; S. C. Funds and
Councils, $570;
Also, Alston Wilkes Society,
$275; Florence Crittenton Home,
$161; S. C. Mental Health, $591;
American Social Health Associa
tion, $48; International Social
Service, $25; National Assembly
for Social Policy, $25; National
Association of Hearing and
Speech, $25; National Council on
Crime and Delinquency, $60; Nat
ional Recreation and Parks Asso
ciation, $20; TravelBfS'Aidj^tS;
USO, $300; Campaign expenses,
$850; Shrinkage, $1,600.
Dollar Days' Sales ^
Slated For Four Days
Clinton merchants are offering
‘Dollar Days’ bargains this week.
The summer clearance promo
tion which also offers back-to-
school bargains is sponsored by
the Clinton Merchants and Busi
nessmen’s Association.
All participating merchants
will display an American flag
in front of their stores and will
offer a special chocolate candy
sale. Participating merchants
will offer two Hershey candy bars
for five cents with a limit of 10
bars per customer.
Speed Crackdown
The Clinton Police Department
has begun a crackdown on speed
ers and other traffic law vio
lators.
During the past week, the de
partment has made cases against
over 20 persons.
‘Dollar Days’ opens today,
Thursday, and continues through
Monday.
* * *
Mountville Man
Struck By Car
Samuel Franklin Montgomery,
48, of Route 1, Mountville, was
still listed in critical condition
Wednesday afternoon at Green
ville General Hospital where he is
being treated for injuries re
ceived when he was struck by a
car in Laurens last Thursday
morning.
Montgomery was struck by a
car on Fleming Street as he left
his car in front of a Laurens
barber shop.
The driver of the 1963 station
wagon which struck Montgomery
has been identifiedas Julius Bur
dette Leopard, 61, of Route 3,
Laurens.
Space-Side' Seat
Lanky Long, a native of Joanna, had a good
view of the Apollo 11 moon launch.
Long, who was home on vacation last week,
is sports editor of the Cocoa, Fla., Evening Trib
une. Cape Canaveral is only a few miles from his
office building and the area literally sparkles with
rocket and missile launches.
For the Apollo 11 launch, Long finished his
sports page early and went atop the four-story
Evening Tribune building to watch the sho^,
through binoculars.
He says, “You could see the rocket with the
naked eye from atop the building. It was only
about twelve miles away. Our office is on a slight
rise so we had a good view. We saw the rocket
go up. About the time it got out of sight, the
sound and heat waves hit us. Then we ran inside
the building to pick it up on television.”
Of course, Long was impressed with the moon
launch but he says some of the most spectacular
shots come at night.
He says, “The press box at the ball park is the
best possible place to watch the night shots, such
as some they fire from submarines. Most of these
are ‘unscheduled’ and you don’t know when one
might go off. Many times I’ll be covering a ball *
game and look up to see a rocket rise out of the
ocean. It’s quite spectacular.”
FOOTBALLERS DRILL—Feel that hint of fall in
the air? It’s still hot and muggy but those crisp
autumn nights can’t be far away as high school
football players are already hard at work. Shown
above is a scene at the Clinton High School practice
field Tuesday afternoon. The Clinton High Red
Devils open their season Sept. 5, playing host to
Georgetown.— (Yarborough Photo)
Charged In Vietnamese Case
Maj. Middleton Is Favorably
Remembered At PC And Joanna
Clinton and Joanna people who
know Maj. Thomas C. Middleton
Jr. are quick to speak favor
ably of him.
Maj. Middleton, a graduate of
Presbyterian College who is
married to a Joanna native, is one
of eight Green Berets accused of
killing a Vietnamese man. Maj.
Middleton’s attorney said this
week that the dead man worked
for both the U S. Central Intelli
gence Agency and the North Viet
namese.
The attorney, George W. Gre
gory of Cheraw, S. C., said, “You
will find that this agent (the
Vietnamese man)---if they're
able to prove even this much—
was wrongfully entrusted with
such valuable information that
hundreds and thousands of lives
of American agents and Ameri
can fighting men were saved in
the most necessary manner.' The
slaying occured on June 20 and
the eight are accused of murder
and conspiracy.
Maj. Middleton is married to
the former Phyllis Bodie of Jo
anna. They have three children.
His mother-in-law, Mrs.
Frank Bodie of Joanna, said,
“It’s hard for us to conceive
that he is the same man they’re
writing about. We know him and
we know what a wonderful per
son he is. Som^ of the people
in this area who know him didn't
even connect the news stories
with our son-in-law.”
The Middletons visited in Jo
anna last Christmas before Maj.
Middleton left for Vietnam.
Mrs. Bodie said, “I have all
the faith in the world in him and
in his sense of doing what is
right."
At PC, Middleton was the out
standing ROTC student in his
graduation class. While at PC,
he met and married Phyllis Bod
ie. Mrs. Middleton attended Clin
ton High School. She and the three
children are living in Columbia
while Maj. Middleton is in Viet
nam.
Ben Hay Hammett, director of
Public Relations and Alumni Af
fairs at Presbyterian College,
remembers Middleton favorably
as an outstanding student at PC.
Answering a Chronicle request
for a statement, Hammett said:
“I recall Tommy Middleton
very pleasantly as nne of the
outstanding leaders of his class
at PC. He was well liked and re
spected on campus for his inte
grity and pleasing personality--
a really clean-cut young man who
operated completely above board.
Although I have not seen him often
since his graduation, he has been,
through the years, one of the most
loyal members of his class in
his response to our alumni pro
jects and in his support of the
college program. The Army
charge is completely out of char
acter with the Tommy Middleton
known at Presbyterian College."
Middleton is a 1961 graduate
of PC, receiving a RS degree
in Business Administration.
In the ROTC program, he was
a company commander, captain
of Scabanl and Blade, (honorary
ROTC organization) and execu
tive officer of the Pershing
Rifles. He was an officer in his
fraternity, Pi Kappa Phi.
William S. Cannon, associate
professor of math at PC, worked
with Middleton’s ROTC company
as a tactical officer. He de-
scril>ed Middleton as, “mild man
nered, considerate, quiet, well-
liked, efficient and thoughtful..."
John Mabry of Clinton, a close
friend of Maj. Middleton, said,
“Frankly, I think that Maj. Mid
dleton is lieing used by our gov
ernment to case this situation in
Vietnam a little. Maj. Middleton
is one of the finest men I know.
He's dedicated, conscientious and
I know that he's just trying to do
a job.
I think it’s a sorry state of af
fairs when our government has to
do son)'thing like this to bring
about peace’. I’d l>et my last
TOMMY MIDDLETON
. . . As PC Senior
In 1961
dollar that he’s lieing used. I
lielieve that he and the entire
outfit will lx- cleared of these
charges.
“Maj. Middleton is a fine man.
I personally consider him in
capable of murder.”
Middleton’s attorney said Mid
dleton is lieing “sacrificed” for
political reasons. He suggested
that Congress investigate the
case.
OAK LEAF CLUSTER — An Oak
Leaf Cluster for his Leerion of Merit
is presented to Col. William B. Tut
tle, Jr., (second from ri^ht). new
professor of military science at
Presbyterian College, for “exception
ally meritorious conduct in the per
formance of outstanding: services
during the period July, 1968, to June,
1969, while serving as Senior Army
Member of the Joint Staff, Office of
the Deputy for Civil Operations and
Revolutionary Development Support.
Ill Marine Amphibious Force, Unit
ed States Military
mand in Vietnam.’’
in the picture are
Academic Dean W.
Assistance Corn-
Shown with him
Mrs. Tuttle; PC
Fred Chapman,
and Col. Jerry M. Sage of Fort Mc
Pherson, Ga„ deputy chief of staff
for ROTC, Third US Army. Col.
Sage made the presentation in a
special campus ceremony Monday.
Col. and Mrs. Tuttle arrived in Clin
ton last month for him to assume his
duties as head of the Presbyterian
College ROTC program. — (Yarbor
ough Photo)
Bike Rodeo Is Slated Aug. 23
A Bicycle Safety Rodeo will be
held Saturday, Aug. 23, for Clin
ton area school children.
The Rodeo will be held at
Clinton Elementary School,
starting at 4 p.m. It is sponsor
ed by the Clinton Chamber of
Commerce. The Clinton YMCA
staff and Clinton Jaycees will be
in charge to staging the Rodeo.
The Rodeo originally was sche
duled for Friday, Aug. 22, but
the date was moved to Saturday,
Aug. 23.
All bicycles will be safety in
spected before riders are given
proficiency tests. Owners of
bikes which pass the safety in
spection will be given an inspec
tion sticker of approval to place
on their bikes. Those who pass
the riding proficiency test will be
given a membership card in the
Bicycle Safety League.
Some of the points to be check
ed in the safety inspection are:
Saddle—Adjust height so leg
bends only slightly with ball of
foot on pedal at bottom of stroke.
Tighten securely.
Coaster Brake, Hand Brakes--
Must brake evenly every time.
No slippage. Have it adjusted by
a trained serviceman.
Reflector--Must be visible for
300 feet and be state approved.
Spokes---Replace broken
spokes promptly. Keep them
tight.
Tire Valve—-Inspect for leaks
and straightness.
Chain-—Check for damaged
links and a snug (but not-too-
tight) fit. Clean frequently and
lubricate with light oil.
Pedals---Tighten pedal spin
dles. Replace worn-out pedals.
Handle grips—Replace worn
grips. Make sure they fit snug
ly.
Bell or horn---Be sure it
works properly.
Handle Bars—Adjust for your
comfort. Keep stem well down in
'fork. Tighten securely.
Light-—Must be visibel for 500
feet.
Tires---Inflate to correct
pressure. Check tires frequent
ly. Remove imbedded glass, cin
ders, etc. Don’t ride on worn-
out tires.
Wheels---Tighten wheel nuts.
School Opening
Schedule Given
For District 56
School bells will ring for School
District 56 first graders on Wed
nesday, Aug. 27, accordingto Su
perintendent R. P. Wilder.
All first graders will report to
their respective schools at 8:15
a.m. on Aug. 27 for a brief orien
tation program. They will not re
turn to school until Tuesday,
Sept. 2, for the beginning of the
regular school schedule.
Second, third and fourth
graders report at 8:15 a.m. on
Thursday, Aug. 28, and fifth and
sixth graders will report on Fri
day, Aug. 29.
At Clinton Junior High, seventh
graders will report Aug. 28 at
8:30 a.m. and eighth graders re
port at 8:30 a.m. on Aug. 29.
Students will meet in the school
auditorium.
In the high schools, ninth and
10th graders will report on Aug.
28 and 11th and 12th graders re
port on Aug. 29 at 8:15 a.m.
Monday. Sept. 1, is the Labor
Day holiday. The regular sche
dule starts on Sept. 2 and lunches
will be served at the schools on
Sept. 2.
Supt. Wilder reported that the
district enrollment is expected to
be about the same as last year’s,
approximately 4,300 students.
Teachers will report on Mon
day, Aug. 25, for in-service
training. All district teachers re
port to the old Hampton Ave.
School which has been convert
ed into administrative offices for
the district. On the afternoon of
Aug. 25, the in-service training
program for all district element
ary school teachers will be held
at Clinton Elementary School and
for high school teachers at Clin
ton High School.
The teachers’ sessions will
continue through Aug. 26 and on
Aug. 27 they will report to their
respective schools.
Mr. Wilder reported that all
teaching vacanices have been
filled for the 1969-70 school term.
Wanted: CHS
'Victory Bell'
While Clinton High School football players are going through that
rugged initial phase of practice, the CHS cheerleaders are pre
paring for the season and they’re optimistic. They’re looking
for a “victory bell".
The cheerleaders would like to have a large bell which they can
mount on a rolling platform for use at athletic events and pep rallies.
They will paint the boll in school colors and will ring it after
CHS touchdowns and after victorious games.
If you have a 1*11 which you would like to donate to the cheer
leaders, contact Hoad Cheerleader Catherine Boyle at 833-4337.
Annex To Be Built
$500,000 Is Borrowed
To Renovate Courthouse
A $500,000 loan has been ap
proved to finance renovation of
the Laurens County Courthouse
and construction of a new court
house annex.
Laurens County Supervisor
Furman Thomason reported last
week that the county received a
$500,000 check from the State
Budget and Control Board.
Thomason said the courthouse
is to 1* rest« red and “ made func
tional by completely rewiring the
structure and installing central
heating and air conditioning."
He said no structural changes
will 1* made to the outside of
the building.
The county is purchasing pro
perty with a 170-foot frontage on
West Main Street in Laurens. It
is adjacent to the county jail pro
perty and will be the site of the
new courthouse annex.
The new 40 X 100 foot build
ing will be a two-story brick
structure with a full basement.
It will house several county of
fices, including some to be moved
from the present courthouse.
Office to be moved into the
new annex are board of educa
tion, county supervisor, probate
judge, county service officer,
magistrate, registration board,
sheriff and forest ranger.
In the present courthouse, sev
eral offices will be located on
the ground floor. They are, clerk
of Court, auditor, treasurer and
tax assessor.
The architectural firm of Fant
and Fant of Anderson has been
employed to design the new an
nex.
Legislation was enacted by the
1969 General Assembly authoriz
ing the county board of com
missioners to borrow up to $500,-
000 for the county courthouse re
storation and construction pro
ject.
In the past two years, Laurens
County voters three times de
feated proposals to construct a
new courthouse.
PC Orientation
Starts Aug. 23
New students will report to
Presbyterian College Aug. 23 for
orientation, opening the fall term
at the college.
Upper classmen will report
August 28.
The second term of PC’s sum
mer school ends Friday.
Other Memoirs
BY JOE H. SIMPSON
When I pass by the modern Bailey Hospital
it brings to my mind the first hospital or clinic
that Clinton ever had for the general yuclic. It
was located on the second floor of the building
across the street from Young’s Pharmacy and was
owned and operated by Dr. S. C. Hays. There were
six or eight rooms.
I recall that one of the efficient nurses was
Mrs. Essie Atkins. This clinic was operated for
several years until the more modem hospital was
erected down beyond the oil mill. This was de
stroyed by fire after which another was erected
near the R. Z. Wright home. Of course, Thomwell
Orphanage has had its own hospital for many
years.