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West Craven Highlights
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VOLUME 12 NO. 26
JULY 6, 1989
VANCEBOROJJOOTIjMCAKOLl^
PHONE 244 0780 OK 946-2144 (UPSP 412-110)
25 CENTS
SIX PAGES
No Increase
In Bridgeton
Tax Schedule
Fire Truck, Insurance
Highlight New Budget
By Oreg .Stroud
.Surr Writer
The Board of Aldermen of Bridge-
ton on Monday approved a general-
fund budget amounting close to
$223,000^ compared to last yearns
$177,590 budget.
The budget is for fiscal year
1989-90 that began July 1.
Planned changes include pur
chasing a new fire truck on a seven-
year lease plan and insurance for
Town Clerk Janet Williams. The
town also plans to employ an addi
tional part-time helper.
The tax rate will remain at 50
"cents per $100 property valuation.
The $45,335 increase in expendi
tures will ^ made possible b^ause
of residual tax revenues from the
1988-89 fiscal year. Approximately
$50,000 remains unused in the gen
eral fund from the previous year.
Local oflicials commented that a de
crease in the tax rate was consid
ered, but because of predicted re
venue needs for the 1990-91 tax
year, it was decided to leave the tax
rate at its current level rather than
reducing it for one year and then
having a large increase the next
year.
The fire department is in the pro
cess of roising money in the com
munity and throughout the state in
hopes to offset the cost of the new
lire equipment to the town. Local ar
tist Willie Tog Lieri has designed a
placemat with a fire department
theme in cooperation with the North
Carolina Firemen's Association
which will be sold to (Ire depart
ments and individuals throughout
the state.
Insurance rates for public build
ings will increase around $4,000,
and the town plans to make road im
provements, increasing the budget
for street improvements 1^ an addi
tional $4,000 from last year's
budget.
Powell Bill funds, which are set
aside for street repairs, will increase
from $44,073 to $49,504. The sewer
system has been allotted $20,980
from the town's special savings ac
count. Around $11,000 is on account
for security deposits.
The total budget amounts to
$304,709 for the 1^9-90 fiscal year,
an increase of $69,989 from this
year.
General Fund
$222,925
Total Budget
$304,709
Tax Rate
50 cents per
$100 valuation
Lm Schwtitier Jr. photo
Roberta Amick of Virginia Beach, Va., was iajured Friday
night when her 1987 Nissan hit the railing of Askin Bridge
on U.S. 17. According to a report filed by Trooper J.R. High
of the N.C. Highway Patrol, her car ran off the right side of
the road, hit the bridge railing and flipped over into the
crcckbcd. She was charged with careless and reckless driv
ing. A spokesman at Craven Regional Medical Center said
yesterday she was treated for multiple ipjuries and re
leased Tuesday.
Task Force Sends Suggestions On Airspace To Coastal Resources Panel
By Mike Voss
Editor
Despite some verbal dogfights,
the Military Activities Task Force
will present strong recommenda
tions on military operations in coas
tal North Carolina to the Coastal
Resources Commission this month
following a meeting here Thursday.
The task force position on noise
from low-flying aircraft is so strin
gent one of its non-voting military
members called it an "eviction no
tice," saying it would bring military
flights over the coast to a halt.
To reduce the roar from low-
flying aircraft on training flights,
military pilots will just have to "get
the levels up or throttle back,” a
member of Gov. Jim Martin’s admi
nistration said.
The task force, formed earlier this
year by CRC, is chained with re
viewing environmental problems
arising from military training on
the coast. It is also required to deve
lop and suggest changes in current
state policies to bring military activ
ities more in line vrith the state’s
coastal management plan.
Lynn Muchmore, assistant sec
retary of the N.C. Department of
Natural Resources and Community
Development, verbally sparred with
military representatives over lan
guage and intent of the prop^'sod re
solutions and recommendations.
Muchmore argued that the prop
osed decibel limit on noise from air
craft was acceptable. The task foice
is not making regulations but set
ting criteria for state policy, he said
TTiere have been "no overtures
whatsoever ... to help us figure
out what would be a reasonable
standard” for noise levels, training
routes or minimum altitudes,
Muchmore said.
Marine Col. Tom Schmidt said
the proposed 85 dDA maximum, if
enforced, would mean no military'
flights near the const.
The Federal Aviation Admi
nistration has no authority to regu
late military noise pollution effects,
according to Robin Smith, a rep-
lesentntive from the state attorney
general’s ofllce. Muchmore said the
maximum level will require modifi
cations in operational procedures of
military flights.
The Marine, Navy and Air Force
representatives questioned the
neutrality of the recommended
standards. Navy Cmdr. Larry Hur
ley said while the military members
are non-voting members of the task
force and are available to providein-
formntion, no requests for specific
information had been made by the
task force to the military. Schmidt
said the military is working to help
alleviate the problems.
'fhe military representatives also
contended there are adequate ac
cess corridors for civilian flights
along and through the coastal areas
and Outer Banks.
Jim Bnluss, health director for
Pamlico County, .said he was con
cerned with ordnance and other
items being dropped in public trust
waters. A parachute with a metal
flare ra.sing, which he said was
found in a waterway open to the
public, was displayed during the
meeting. Bnluss said the parachute
could foul commercial fishing gear
and propellers.
“Nobody else 1 know of is drop
ping parachutes into public crust
waters,” he said of military planes.
The recommendations and resol
utions will be reviewed by a CRC
subcommittee before intrc^uced at
the CRC meeting in July.
The task force made these deci
sions, to be forwarded to CRC for
action:
See TASK FORCE, Page 5
Dioxin Statements
By Weyerhaeuser
Disputed By Group
By Bclty Gray
Special to the
West Craven Highlights
Statements made by Weyer
haeuser Co. oflicials during a
meeting at the Plymouth plant last
week have been challenged by en
vironmentalists who say informa
tion presented on dioxin, a poison
found in the company’s waste, was
inaccurate.
At the some time, the company
presented data showing it had re
duced the amount of the poison dis
charged from three of its Plymouth
mills.
Dioxin has also been found in the
company's discharges into the
Neuse River from its plant near
Vanceboro.
In a telephone interview, n
Greenpeace spokesman said a Wey
erhaeuser company official "lied”
during a meeting last week with
Martin County government and
business leaders when he said there
are no adverse long-term effects
from exposure to dioxin.
John Pritchard, technical mana
ger at the Plymouth plant, made the
statement about long-term effects
See DIOXIN, Page 5
‘Jail’ Time Coming
For Some Citizens
There is a rumor that some prom
inent community members are go
ing to be arrested very soon.
Bui it will all be in fun.
The arrests in question is an an
nual bust, called a jail-a-thon, spon
sored by the Craven County unit of
the American Cancer Society.
A jail-a-thon is just what it
sounds like. It is a fund-raising
event where people raise money by
soliciting pledges from their friends
in order to meet their "bail.”
TTie event will be held July U at
the Vanceboro Pharmacy, according
to Mike Morton and Scott Thomas,
co-chairmen of this year’s jni1-a-
thon in the Vanceboro area.
People seeking to have someone
arrested before July 11 can call
Mike Morton at 244-1086 and make
a $25 pledge. On the day of the
event, you can call 244-2113 or
244-2211 and pay a $25 arrest fee
and a uniformed, off-duty police of
ficer will be sent to the person’s resi
dence or office to "arrest” them.
These arrests will follow the same
format as in any arrest, berinning
with the suspect being read his or
her rights.
All prisoners in this case will be
read their special American Cancer
Society rights: "You have the right
to remain healthy. Ifvou give up the
right to remain healthy, anything
you do not try to prevent can ^ held
against you. If you have any ques
tions, we will be glad to answer
them at any time. You have the
See JAIL, Page 6
Acting Company
Seeks Local Talent
For Its New Season
Sign of the past?
Lee Sehw*Hi«r Jr. phole
This old hand pump was used for years to pump water in the
Pleasant Hill community, but the water was not always
pleasant to drink, cook with or use for bathing. Ucsidents
began complaining in earnest over a year ago, saying the
water stained clothes, smelted ns was unfit to drink. Hope
fully, the old pump and bad water are things of the past now
that residents have neress to a county water system. Sec ad*
diiional photos, page 5.
Ever think about being an actor?
Cabaret Players Inc. is looking for
performers to join its professional
acting company for roles in its five-
plny 1989-90 season.
Parts are available for those of
college age to senior citizens in two
comedies, a musical revue with orig
inal book and n dramatic comedy.
Tryouts for the entire season have
been set for 7:30 p.m. July 9-10 in
the Cabaret Room of Dominic’s Ita
lian Restaurant (about five miles
south of Vanceboro on U.S. 17).
Those interested in trying out for
these paid acting positions ns mem
bers of the company are asked to:
— Prepare a short audition
monologue.
— Be prepared to sight-read n
scene with fellow actors.
— Prepare a resume of theatrical
training and experience.
— Submit a photo, if available.
Hopefuls arc also encouraged to
call co-nrtislic directors Bob Hen-
non (637-6881 from 10 a.m. to 5
p.m.) or l.«slie John Lee (633-4516
after 5 p.m.) to let them know you
Cove City Tax
Same, Budget
COVE CITY — Cove City will de
crease its proposed expenditures for
fiscal year 1989-90 because of a de
cline in interest received from an
FHA investment.
Proposed cuts include $900 in au
diting expenses, $1,000 in salaries,
$1,700 in insurance costs, and
$2400 in legal fees. The proverbial
bell was tightened in several other
arena as well.
are planning to attend.
S^pts for the plays will be avail
able from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. for on
site perusal at The Stitchery, 220
Pollock St., New Bern. The shows
include:
— Seascape with Sharks and
Dancer, a two-person comic romp
with serious undertons and a dra
matic twist. It requires a man in his
late 20s and a wpmnn around 20.
The action takes place in a Cape Cod
beach house where a mixed-up
young woman is recovering from a
near drowning that she prefers to
call a dance with the sharks. Her un
likely hero is a long-suffering writer
who bides his time ns a librarian. It
is being directed by Lee and is set to
open in early fall.
— Blood Moon, n Ihree-chnracter
dramatic mystery opening with n
dance oflust that ends in n rape and
closing with a brutally choreop-
graphed act of retribution. It re
quires a perky college girl with
strength and passion, a good-
See CABARET, Page 6
Rate Remains
Sees Decrease
Several street signs will be re
placed in the upcoming year, in
creasing that budget item to $800,
compared lo Inst year’s figure of
$100.
The cost of elections was included
this year with $650 was alloted to
cover these expenses. Elections will
be held in 1990.
The lax rate will remain at 15
cents per $100 valuation.