Local water may cost city more

When Portsmouth City Council meets tonight, it will consider raising rates to water customers by 24 cents per 1,000 gallons. About half

of Suffolk’s residents are on the Portsmouth system.

Meanwhile, a U.S. District Court judge in Washington has denied the Navy’s request for a hearing delay on a lawsuit filed by Suffolk challenging Norfolk’s well drilling on Navy property here.

Milteer questions fund use

Not all councilmen agree using community development block grants for water improvements is the best use.

Curtis R. Milteer said Monday the $2 million the city could be awarded over a three-year period should be used for sewer improvements.

If the city gets the money from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), it may be used for housing rehabilitation and water improvements in northern Suffolk.

Family saw something, not sure what

He described the scene. Johnny Abbott of Manning Bridge Road is sure of what he saw. But he is reluctant to talk about it or to share the drawing he made.

“People might think I’m crazy,” he said. “I know it was something we don’t have. Maybe it could be explained and maybe I could be fooled, but an object that big…we don’t have it.

Abbott was traveling off the route 58 bypass. His father and 10-year-old daughter were with him.

“I don’t know what made me

look up.” But he did look up and saw what has come to be called a UFO or unidentified flying object.

Abbott and his family watched for awhile while traveling and then stopped so lights of oncoming cars wouldn’t blur their sight.

It was about 6:30 p.m. and they were between the Kayo Station and Horace’s Place. What he saw was described by him as having the width of two 747-size aircraft wing-to-wing.

The craft came close enough to the viewers that they could see individual lights. On each end there were diamond shapes in lights formed by one row each of red and green.

Loss of Lennon is mourned

Former Beatle John Lennon was shot and killed in front of his Manhattan home Monday night. A police spokesman said a suspect is in custody.

Area radio disc jockeys say he will be missed and many are playing tributes to the former Beatle.

Don Alexander of WQRK Stereo Rock said he was touched when a friend called him last night and told him about the tragedy.

German Club’s annual Christmas dance kicks off holiday

A page in the newspaper was devoted to the German Club’s annual Christmas dance. Among those pictured enjoying the evening were Mr. and Mrs. Robert W. Harrell Jr., Dr. H.W. Wood and Eley Duke, and Shirley Edwards.

Big man is good but Rangers are counting on team

Forest Glen may have the toughest big man in the district, but Ranger coach McCoy Ricks is counting on a well-rounded team effort to turn back Southampton tonight as the Peanut District moves into its second full week of play.

“I have the outstanding big man in the game, but I don’t think that he is living up to his potential,” said Ricks Monday.

Forest Glen’s big man is 6-8 center Chris Joyner, but Ricks isn’t depending on the big man anymore than he is any other member of the team.

The team hitting the Forest Glen court tonight is Joyner at center, Phillip Clark at forward, Shelton Bryant at forward, Robert Daugherty at guard and Michael Parham at point guard.

Watson sights with W-S SU

Chris Watson, who coach Willie Ricks calls “the best receiver he has seen in his 10 years at John F. Kennedy High School,” has accepted a football scholarship at Winston-Salem State University.

Watson played as a wide receiver for the Wolverines and in the past two seasons has caught 67 passes for 977 yards and 15 touchdowns.