This week in history: June 2-7

June 1, 2022

The Southern Wayne class of 1971 received grants, scholarships and work-study loans that totaled nearly $60,000. Martha Winifred Arthur, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Harold Arthur of Goldsboro, won the prestigious Peace College Honor Scholarship and the Tobe-Coburn Scholarship.
“Valdez is Coming,” starring Burt Lancaster, was the Thursday-Saturday matinee movie at Center Theater. Also on the box-office card were two James Bond movies, “Thunderball” and “You Only Live Twice.”
Dr. Thomas Vernon was appointed dean of instruction at College of the Albemarle in Elizabeth City. He was honored by the 1971 graduating class at Mount Olive College with a special plaque recognizing his dedication, contributions and service to the school.
American Legion, Kelly’s 86, Mount Olive Pickle, Grady’s, Oak Ridge and Burlington each picked up a win during men’s summer softball games played at McGee Field.

Seaboard Systems Railroad informed town of Mount Olive officials that they can have the old train depot, but they must move it away from railroad property. The local Kiwanis Club started the Mount Olive Depot Preservation Fund and hoped to get enough support from town residents and area businesses and industries. The initial destination was Westbrook Park, but the historic treasure now sits across from Steele Memorial Library on Main Street.
Neil Mallory, town administrator, presented a $1.68 million fiscal budget proposal to the town’s board of commissioners. The budget included a 4% lump sum pay increase for town employees.
Deloit Cotton, chair of the Wayne County Board of Commissioners, continued to talk about a salary freeze among county employees. The strategy would trim about $1 million from the county’s estimated $29 million fiscal budget for 1983-84. Cotton also predicted a 3-cent tax increase for the next fiscal year if the state legislature did not raise the state sales tax by a penny.

Organizers of the Miss Pickle Festival Pageant Association announced that the Miss Pickle Festival Queen would be eligible to compete in the Miss NC Pageant. The association received $1,500 in seed money from the Mount Olive Area Chamber of Commerce to start the scholarship fund.
Ten students from North Duplin Junior/Senior High School received scholarships to continue their respective college education. Recipients were Serena Faison (Duplin County NAACP, MOC Leadership), Jamie Alphin (FTA, FBLA), Karri Waters (Duplin County Merit Award, Beta Club), Travis Tucker (MOC Leadership), Wesley Brock (Lions Club), Phyllis Vaughn (MOC Leadership), Paul Bronson (Lions Club), Leigh Ann Underhill (FBLA), Kellie Sutton (North Duplin Boosters Club) and Brad Lee (MOC Leadership).
Southern Wayne’s Logan Porter threw a no-hitter during a 15-0 win over Grantham in Babe Ruth minor league play. Porter collected two hits and three RBI at the plate.
The Mount Olive Town Board of Commissioners approved $7,000 in the new budget to repair the roof at First American Savings Bank. Intentions were to transfer Steele Memorial Library to the building. At least $5,000 was available in capital reserves for the project.

– Compiled by Rudy Coggins