Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Vol. 36-No. 2 Newberry, S. C. 29108, Thursday, June 15, 1972 S3.00 PER YEAR City Council asks for tax increase EMPLOYEES CITED-Two city employees were recognized during the regular meeting of city council Tuesday night. Mayor C. A. Shealy Jr. congratulates Thomas P. Buzhardt, city finance officer, for completion of a finance seminar at the University of South Caro lina. At right, Edward Hugh Shealy holds his certificate for comple tion of a course in wastewater plant treatment. (Sunphoto) County budget bearing Dairy industry adds huge sum area economy (By County Agents) June is Dairy Month and we would like to take this oppor tunity to salute our 50 Grade “A” Dairy farmers and 16 Grade “C” producers in New berry County. Over three million dollars worth of milk was sold last year from Newberry dairy farms which certainly means a great deal to the economy of this area. In recent years our dairy farms have grown fewer, but larger. The average size of our dairy herds is now over 100 milking cows. Several Newberry dairy herds now have over 250 milking cows. This has made Newberry County second in dairy production in the State. As with other businesses, lower profit margins have forced dairy farmers to increase herd size and increase efficiency of pro duction. The burden of drudgery from hard labor has largely disap peared from today’s modern dairy farm although dairying is still a seven-day-a-week. 365y4-days-a-year occupation. Automation now aids the dairy farmer in his guest for great er efficiency. The investment is great but now cows are fed with the flick of a switch or the pull of a chain in most cases. Free-stall housing is provided for each cow on the modem dairy. Waste disposal has al ways been a problem, but hold ing pens or concrete lots are now quickly scraped with trac tor equipment or flushed off in to lagoons by water pressure. More milk per cow has kept Newberry dairy farmers suc cessful where others have fail ed. Testers weigh the milk from each cow once a month for pro ducers on DHIA and comput ers quickly point out problem cows or “free loaders” in the herd and other problems such as breeding efficiency. It also points out the top producers from which replacements are selected. The search for better forage and silage crops goes on con stantly with bigger and bigger silos dotting the countryside. (Continued on Page 14) A proposed 10 mill increase in county taxes recommended by the Newberry County Coun cil has drawn fire from a num ber of county citizens. They contend a 10 mill increase is not necessary for operation of the county government. Law requires that three pu blic readings of the budget be held before adoption. Two of the^e have been held and the third is scheduled for this (Thursday) morning at 10 a. m. in the county courthouse. At the request of a number of citizens, a fourth meeting will also be held tonight at 7:30 p. m. at the courthouse. The plea for the fourth meeting was con tained in a letter from Attor ney Robert D. Schumpert who said a number of people had asked for the meeting since they were unable to attend the morning meeting because of their jobs. At the second reading seve ral persons appeared to object to the tax increase. Voicing ob jections were John R. Frazier, local pulpwood dealer, Jack Matthews, local used car deal er and filling station operator, and Frank Lominack, city mer chant. They said a number of people had expressed concern over the increase and expect ed to be on hand tonight for the fourth reading. CAVANAUGH IS MARS HILL GRAD Jeffrey Martyn Cavanaugh, son of Mr. and Mrs. Martyn J. Cavanaugh, received the bachelor of arts degree in poli tical science and sociology dur ing graduating services at Mars Hill College May 21. BULLETIN The June 27th Democratic primary has been postponed by a three-judge federal panel. The action came just before press time Wednesday morning. County Democratic party Chairman Clarence A. Shealy, Jr., said the local elections would not be held as scheduled, and today it was not known when the primary would be re scheduled. The panel also knocked out the numbered seat provision for state legislators. Publication of the "Notice of Election" required by law in newspapers prior to the election does appear in The Sun today. The notice was already rn print at the time the postponement was announced. A tax increase of five mills was recommended by the bud get committee of Newberry city council at the regular June meeting Tuesday night. Budget Committee Chairman reported that long and hard work had gone into preparing the city’s operation for the next fiscal year and that with corners cut at every place possible it would have been impossible for the city to continue operations with out the tax increase. One mill brings approximately $4,000 in to the city coffers. Even with the increase in millage the bud get called for the making of a short term note in the amount of $92,000 to balance the bud get. It was stated that the money would not be borrowed unless it was absolutely neces sary to carry on the city’s bu siness. Councilman C. D. Cole man pointed out that a large part of the increased millage could be attributed to the inte rest nn the revenue bonds old to construct the new Saluda riv er water facility. Mayor Shealy pointed out that no new revenue have come to the city as they have to the state and federal governments, since most reve nue is raised by real and per sonal property taxes which re main fairly constant over the years. a plea for a salary increase for city employees. He said it had been 18 months or longer since a general salary increase in spite of the fact that cost of living had risen considerably in that time. He asked council to give the raise consideration be fore the second reading next Tuesday. Councilman Coleman noted that a contingency fund had been incorporated in the bud get and intimated that a possi ble salary increase could be obtained from this. Expected receipts for the coming year are $2,615,550. Total expendi tures are budgeted at $2,707,- 550. Mayor Shealy presented cer tificates to Tom P. Buzhardt, finance director of the city and Edward Hugh Shealy, waste- water treatment plant operator. Buzhardt received his certificate for completion of a Financial Management Seminar at the University of South Carolina and Shealy for certification as a Class C treatment plant ope rator. Mayor Shealy read a letter from the Newberry Community Players relative the remodel ing of the Opera House. The letter stated: “The Newberry Community Players greatly appreciate the (Continued on Page 14) NEW EMPLOYEE-Wayne Thomas, in uniform, has been named by county council as animal control and litter officer. Here he discuss es his work with Mrs. Richard L. Baker, chairman of the Newberry County Beautification Committee and County Manager W. W. Hur- sey. (Sunphoto) City Manager Ken Riebe made STRIKE WATER-The drilling rig of Thomas Lewis and Son was donated to the Newberry County Law Enforcement Officers for a while last week to furnish water for their new building located off S. C. Highway 34. The center is for use of all county law enforce ment officers and completion is planned about the first of Septem ber. The building will be available for use by other groups at the dis cretion of the officers of the association. (Sunphoto)