From The Files of The Seminole Producer

The United States, North and South Vietnam and the Viet Cong signed the Paris Peace Accords treaty Saturday bringing an uncertain peace to Vietnam after a generation of war which killed 2.3 million persons and divided the Unites States as no other issue in its history except its own Civil War, a century earlier.

The guns were ordered to fall silent in Vietnam at 8 a.m. Sunday (7 p.m. EST Saturday).

While Communist demonstrators on the Avenue Kleber outside Paris baroque International Conference Center shouted in triumph, the four signatories signed the peace settlement, toasted it with champagne and then hurried away without public handshakes.

Secretary of State William P. Rogers signed for the United States. The signing was in two sessions, morning and afternoon. Half a world way, the war went on the Vietnam battlefields until virtually the moment of the cease-fire hours later.

At Orly Airport after the signing and minutes before taking off for home, Rogers noted the ceasefire was to take place during his flight, “and very soon thereafter we have every reason to hope, and we do expect, that the cease-fire will extend to all Indochina. Then, there will be no major fighting in any part of the world.”

The settlement provides a fragile peace and international control machinery intended to build a lasting peace. The last 23,700 American soldiers in Vietnam will be withdrawn within 60 days and 501 American military men held prisoner by North Vietnam – some for up to eight years – will be released in the same period.

The Communists handed over a list of the 501 POWS to the U.S., and in Washington the Pentagon started preparations to notify their families.

The treaty called for internationally supervised free elections in South Vietnam and for no more North Vietnamese men and arms to enter South Vietnam.

Rogers, Foreign Minister Tran Van Lam of South Vietnam and the Communist foreign ministers, Mrs. Nguyen Thi Binh of the Viet Cong and Nguyen Duy Trinh of North Vietnam, penned their names a total of 212 times on the inch-high wad of leather- bound documents making up the “Agreement On Ending War and Restoring Peace.” -oOo SHS Coach Boyd Linduff was ejected from the game by officials, police asked one Seminole fan to leave the gym, a Bethany player was thrown out of the contest for fighting, officials were cursed, and paper cups and ice thrown on the playing court as Bethany defeated Seminole, 64-54, here Friday in a heated semifinal contest of the Bethany High School Tournament.

The contest was marred by unsportsman conduct by both Seminole and Bethany fans, and Bethany police were called to the gym, however, no arrests were reported.

Bethany held a 32-23 lead on the Chiefs at the half, but Seminole fought back in the third quarter to pull within three points. From there the official’s whistles were reported to be rarely silent as four Seminole players – John Randolph, Chez Evans, Woodrow Island and Terry Devore – were fouled out. Coach Linduff had three technical fouls called against him and the officials retired him to the dressing room with 3:01 left in the game.

Seminole had a total of 37 fouls called against them by the game officials. Bethany was charged with 16 fouls.

For the contest, Seminole hit 10 of 15 free shots while Bethany nailed 26 of 44 free shots. The Chieftains scored 22 field goals and Bethany hit 19.

In the third quarter Seminole rallied, scoring 18 points to cut Bethany’s lead, who scored 12 points during the period, to 45-40.

The final quarter, which was marked by tempers and officials’ whistles, saw Bethany score only two field goals, however, they rimmed 15 free shots to total 19 points. Seminole added 14 points in the closing frame.

Chris Clark led Chieftain scoring with 14 points while Randolph scored 12, Tim Sanders 8, Island 7, Rickey Young 6, Evans 3, Mike Davis 2, and Devore 2.

Bethany had a player ejected from the contest early in the first quarter when he struck Clark twice in the side during a scuffle for a rebound. No technical foul was called against Bethany for the offense.

Bowman scored 22 points for Bethany to lead its attack while Hendryx sank 21, Criswell 10, Riggs 8 and Holloway 3. In the rebounding game Seminole outclassed Bethany 19-14 as Randolph and Island both clawed eight rebounds.

“We had to work for every basket we got, but Bethany got half of theirs give to them at the free shot line,” Linduff commented. “There’s no way we could have won with the fouls being called like they were. You can look at the statistics and see how lopsided it was.”

Seminole, now 5-7 in season play, was to face Noble in the tournament at 6 p.m. Saturday in the third-place battle. A score on the contest was not available by press time but will be reported in Tuesday’s Producer.

Tuesday night Seminole will host Cushing in the SHS gym at 8 p.m. in a Star Conference Contest. A junior varsity game will be played in a 6:30 preliminary.