The White Falcon - 16.07.1976, Qupperneq 3

Page 3
July 16, 1976
Driving in Iceland takes caution
Absentee voting tip
Mistakes on FPCAs --
Election officials throughout the
United States say they continue to re-
ceive Federal Post Card Applications for
Absentee Ballots that are either illegi-
ble and/or improperly filled out by
military personnel.
If you applied for an Absentee Ballot
in one of the many primary elections
earlier this year, and did not receive
one, that was probably the cause.
Officials say they cannot process
FPCAs with deficient information. They
also point out that applications are
often received too close to the election
date to allow time for the applicant's
ballot to reach him in time. Another
problem officials address is the appli-
cant's name or address is often omitted,
or the address is incomplete or illegi-
ble on the post card application. As a
result, the absentee voter does not re-
ceive a ballot.
All military personnel and their
dependents of voting age are urged to
contact the Voting Assistance Officer at
extension 7900 or 7901 to insure their
Application for Absentee Ballot is
no ballot
complete, accurate and mailed in plenty
of time to receive their return ballot.
MY VOTE:
FREEDOM'S PRIVILEGE
by TSqt. Paul R. Fawcett
Since there are a great many of us
who will be taking trips through the
country, there are a few things to con-
sider before traveling.
Most of the roads are single lane,
dirt roads with soft shoulders made of
loose gravel and dirt. The soft shoul-
ders can pull a car off the road and
possibly cause an accident before the
driver has a chance to react. When
meeting oncoming traffic on these roads
slow down before pulling over to the
side. If necessary, come to a complete
stop.
Dirt roads are also known for having
a rough washboard effect. Icelandic
roads are no exception. Excessive speed
can cause loss of control by causing the
rear of your vehicle to bounce around.
Excessive speed can be less than 30
miles per hour, so keep your speed down.
Unless it is raining or has just
rained, the roads will be dusty. When
following another vehicle or after meet-
ing another vehicle your vision may be
obscured by dust. Turning on your
headlights will increase your chances of
being seen by others.
Somewhere, sometimes during these
trips you are going to have to cross a
bridge. Many of the bridges are single-
laned traffic only and very narrow.
There may be chuckholes on the approach
to bridges which could cause vehicles to
serve and strike a bridge rail or go
over the side. So, be sure to slow down
and make allowances for oncoming traffic
and the road condition.
Occasionally, there is a stream to
Iross but no bridge. Before proceeding,
Investigate the situation thoroughly to
nsure you and your family won't be sit-
ting in the middle of the stream or
river waiting for someone to come along
and help you out.
Another hazard to consider while
driving is the rocks thrown up by the
vehicle ahead of you and the ones you
meet. If you stay well back from traf-
fic ahead of you and you slow down while
meeting traffic, the chances of a rock
breaking your windshield will be con-
siderably reduced.
Wearing seatbelts will help keep you
firmly in the seat and in control of
your vehicle on the rough roads. Also
they can reduce or prevent injuries if
you should get forced off the road or
involved in an accident.
Another factor to use in planning
your trips is time. Even a short trip
(in mileage) will take more time than
you will expect at first. The long sum-
mer days also tend to make you think the
time is passing more slowly. So don't
over extend yourself on the route you
are planning; think in terms of an aver-
age of 30 miles an hour or less and
numerous stops to enjoy the sights.
Also, plan for lower gas mileage than
you got in the States. Keep in mind
that gas stations are few and far be-
tween and you will pay in excess of
$1.50 per gallon for gasoline.
Remember, the livestock have the
right of wav on the roads and the sheep
should be approached with caution.
If you are a four-wheel-drive enthu-
siast and like to get out in the "boon-
docks" and travel the sheep trails, you
should consider traveling with at least
one other four-wheel-drive vehicle. You
can get into situations that even your
four-wheel-drive will not overcome, such
as vehicle break downs, running out of
gas due to a ruptured tank or being
stuck in the middle of a stream, just
to name a few.
The sun is very low on the horizon,
both when it goes down and when it comes
up and there will be times when you
find yourself driving straight into it,
so be sure to take a pair of sunglasses.
The glasses prevent a headache and eye
strain and could prevent an accident.
So get out there, enjoy the country
and your trip, and drive defensively.
Many states to hold elections
Several states will hold non-presi-
dential primaries during the month of
August. They include Idaho, Kansas,
Michigan and Missouri on August 3; Ten-
nessee on August 5; Georgia on August
10; Louisiana on August 14; North
Carolina on August 17; and Alaska and
Oklahoma on August 24. Military person-
nel and their dependents who are resi-
dents of these states are urged to
register and vote. Federal Post Card
Application for Absentee Ballots and
details on the registration and voting
laws of each state can be obtained from
the Voting Assistance Officer. For more
information, call 7900 or 7901.
Marines get new senior enlisted advisor
The NATO Base Marine Barracks has a
new sergeant major. He is Sergeant Ma-
jor Jimmy L. Belin. The Command sergeant
major is the senior enlisted member of
the Marine Barracks. He acts as the
enlisted representative to the command-
ing officer and as the senior enlisted
advisor.
SgtMaj. Belin recently reported to
the Marine Barracks from the Philippines
where he served as sergeant major of a
deployed helicopter squadron of the 1st
Marine Aircraft Wing.
SgtMaj. Belin joined the Marine Corps
in 1954. His first assignment, after
basic training in San Diego, was with
the 1st Marine Corps Test Unit. In 1955,
he went to Hamburg, Germany for duty
with the Department of State as a Marine
Security Guard. Upon completion of a
successful tour of duty, he returned to
Camp Pendleton, Calif, and was assigned
to the 1st Marine Division.
He joined the 12th Marines in Viet
Nam in 1965 and was assigned to Depart-
ment of State in 1968 as NCOIC of the
Marine Security Guard in Kabul, Afghani-
stan. Upon completion of that tour of
duty, he again went to Viet Nam as a
member of the 11th Marines. His unit
was one of the first units to be rotated
back to the States in October 1970.
SgtMaj. Belin has been married to the
former Dorothy Jean Allen of Lexington,
Ky. for 18 years. They have two daugh-
ters; Karen Leigh, 17 and Teresa Linn,
14.
The sergeant major is the recipient
of the Navy Commendation with Combat V.
SgtMaj. Belin relieved Sergeant Major
George McDurmon who has been transferred
to Marine Corps Base, Camp Lejeune, N.C.
Vacation Bible School-each day a complete unit of learning and fun for 2 to 13 year-olds
Nearly 250 children, ages two through
13 year-old ninth graders, will attend
Vacation Bible School at the Lower
Rhool Monday through July 30.
Busses with "Vacation Bible School"
signs in the window will be stopping at
the bus stops beginning at 1 p.m. to
pick up the students. When the school
is over at 4 p.m., a bus will deliver
the children back home. "Since we have
young children attending Bible school,
we will have adults riding the busses to
make sure the children are safe," com-
mented Vicky McCreary, the director of
Vacation Bible School.
It is sponsored by the Base Chapel
and children of all denominations are
encouraged to attend. Bible school is
free. However, each child is requested
to bring a package of cookies for snack-
time and two and three year-olds should
bring a tuwel (with a name tag) for
rest-time.
"People can still register their
children after the school has begun,"
said Mrs. McCreary. "They can call me at
6174, bring the child to the school or
just send him along. We also need adult
volunteers, anyone interested in helping
should give me a call."
"Not only does the school provide
some recreation for the children, but it
gives the newcomers a chance to meet
many of the children they will be going
to school with this year," Naval Station
Chaplain (Lieutenant) Stanley McCreary
said.
"It also gives mothers two weeks of
afternoons to get the children ready for
school," added Mrs. McCreary.
The theme of Vacation Bible School is
"Jesus is Love." The children will be-
gin each day of Bible school with an
assembly and singing. Then the children
will break up into classes with their
respective age groups. They will have a
Bible story and work on handi-crafts
which are coordinated with the day's
lesson. They will learn about mission-
aries from ten countries—at that time,
an offering will be taken which goes to
the American Bible Society for trans-
lating the Bible. The day includes
recreation and refreshments (for the
young students, recreation time will be
rest-time).
"The way the school is set up, each
day is a complete, separate unit. If a
child misses a day it doesn't affect the
other days he goes," said the chaplain.
On the evening of July 30, the last
day of Vacation Bible School, there will
be a Closing Program and Open House
at 7:30 p.m. in the Lower School Multi-
Purpose Room. The children will be
awarded certificates, there will be a
display of the crafts they have been
creating and there will be a story nar-
ration with the children singing. All
parents and friends are invited to at-
tend.
For more information about Vacation
Bible School, to register your child for
the school or to volunteer to help-out,
call Vicky McCreary at 6174.