Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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The Newberry Sun, Newberry, S. C., Thursday, Sept. 16, 1971—PAGE 5 EXISTING NEW South Carolina Highway Departrtient EXISTING NEW TRUCKS TURN TURN KEEP RIGHT DO NOT ENTER Highway Dept signs feature new symbols The State Highway Depart ment is planning to install new highway signs that will empha size symbols rather than words. They will be similar to Eu ropean road signs, which rely heavily on symbols. In accor dance with national standards now being printed, all 50 states will convert to the new signs. Tests have shown that driv ers can comprehend symbols more quickly than words, ac cording to W. W. Bradley, Highway Department traffic and planning engineer. Thus, on today’s high-speed thoroughfares, use of symbols on signs could allow a driver to save valuable car lengths if he is informed a few split se conds sooner of a changed traffic or road condition. In addition, the new signs are part of a trend toward standardized signs that can be understood by international tra velers regardless of language differences, Mr. Bradley said. Full scale changeover will not begin in South Carolina for several months. Federal guide lines set the end of 1974 as a target date for the new sign system to be in effect nation wide. Although a few states already have begun erecting new signs, South Carolina is waiting until it receives exact details and specifications from federal of ficials, Mr. Bradley said. Details are being printed in the national Manual on Uni form Traffic Control Devices, a Federal Highway Admini stration publication that sets standards for road signs, pave ment markings and related traffic control devices on roads built with federal aid. When the new manual ar rives, probably in the early fall, the state road sign ma nual will be revised—a process that will take several months. Then widespread conversion of signs will get under way. In the meantime, the High way Department plans to con vert some of the more common and important signs within a few months, Mr. Bradley said. One of the first to be changed is the “Yield” sign. The pre sent downward traingle shape will remain, but the yellow de sign will be changed to a red border, with a smaller white interior traingle. “Yield” will be written in red letters inside the white triangle. Symbols will appear on se veral signs where words now are used. Most symbols should be easily recognizable, Mr. Bradley added. For instance, a school zone will be indicated by a symbol showing two children carrying books. A deer crossing sign will show a silhouette of a leaping deer. Signs pointing to hospital lo cations will be blue with a large letter “H” in the middle. Other signs, like the familiar read and white “Stop” sign, will not be changed. Until motorists have time to learn the new symbols, a smal ler plate will be posted beneath each new sign, giving its mean ing in words. One symbol that motorists should learn quickly is the red slash inside a red circle. It will be imposed for certain movements and will show that these movements are prohibit ed. The slash and circle will tell the drivers, “Don’t.” For example, a right turn arrow with a red circle and slash imposed on it will mean, “No right turn.” A silhouette of a truck with a circle and slash over it will mean, “No trucks.” Basic color schemes will re main as they are now. A yel low background will indicate a warning sign (Stop ahead,” School crossing”); red will in dicate prohibition (“Stop,” “Do not enter,” “No left turn”); blue will appear on service signs (“Hospital,” “Telephone,” “Camp site”). The new sign system was prepared by a committee of police, government officials and highway and traffic ex perts. The committee recom mended changes in the traffic control devices manual, which was last revised in 1961. More than two-thirds of state highway departments, as well as the Federal Highway Admi nistration, approved the recom mendations, paving the way for their inclusion in the manual now being printed. Thomas Grant dies in Calif. Thomas Benjamin “Joe” Grant Jr., 49, died unexpectedly in Stanton, California, Sunday while visiting his sister. Mr. Grant was bom in New berry, the son of the late Tho mas Benjamin and Rosanna Harrison Grant. He had been employed at the Mollohon Plant, Kendall Co. for thirty years and was a member of Epting Me morial United Methodist Church. He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Ruth Stockman Grant; two sons, James Michael Grant of Newberry and Tommy Joe Grant of Barnwell; two bro thers, William C. Grant of Win ston-Salem, N. C., and Frank H. Grant of Aurora, Colorado; one sister, Mrs. Betty Grant Wilson of Stanton, California; and one grandchild. He was treasurer of the Young Adult Sunday School Class and was on the Administration Board of the church. Funeral services were con ducted at 3:30 p.m. at Epting Memorial United Methodist Church by Rev. J. Hubert Tho mas and Rev. Donald F. Fund erburk. Burial was in Rosemont Cemetery. Inoculations for animals mandatory A state-wide vaccination pro gram for all horses, mules, and ponies will begin Monday and must be completed by October 15. The reason for the vaccina tions is given by Dr. Carl E. Boyd, the head of Clemson Uni versity’s L i v e s t o c k-Poultry Health Department and state veterinarian: “A possibility exists that the disease may be spread to South Carolina this summer and fall through wild animals. We want to obtain an immune horse pop ulation.” There will be no cost to the owner. The federal government will furnish the vaccine to the veterinarians and will pay the veterinarian to do the job. All animals not vaccinated on Oc tober 15 will be quarantined to the premises. VEE is transmissible to hu mans but is less virulent, re sulting in flu-like symptoms. The disease is transmitted by mosquitoes. All owners are asked by J. 0. Dunkle, Associate County Agent, to cooperate with other owners in getting 10 or 15 ani mals together in one location and save time and travel for the doctor. As soon as a group has agreed on a place to gather the ani mals, Donkle said, call the doc tor and work out a schedule with him. Veterinarians must know at least one day in ad vance in setting up their vac cination schedule as this vac cine must be picked up from the Federal Veterinarian the day it is to be used. It is good for one day only. The doctors in Newberry County are Dr. Lowman, 27&- 2498; and Dr. Lide, 276-2010. The County Agent’s Office will assist horse owners in sche duling appointments with vete rinarians if needed. NOTICE OF PASSAGE OF ORDINANCE ON SECOND READING Notice is hereby given that City Council adopted the following ordinance at a meeting of City Council held in Council Room, City Hall, Newberry, S. C. on September 14, 1971. An ordinance to annex 2.96 acres located on Derrill Avenue into the City Limits of the City of Newberry, effective January 1,1972. Mayor & City Council