Newspapers / West Craven Highlights (Vanceboro, … / July 20, 1989, edition 1 / Page 1
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i» Oraui^ountn West Craven Highlights iVpirs From Alonn Tho Hanks Of The \eiise PHONE 244 0780 OR 946-2144 (UPSP 412-110) (jppr NATCNAl »CWSMSr« VOLUME 12 NO. 28 JUI^0jJ989 VWJCEBOROJlJORTI^AROUNA 26 CENTS SIX PAOES Jobless Figures Decrease RALEIGH — Craven, Jones, Le noir and Pamlico countiea are part of the 86 out of 100 counties with un- 'imployment rates at or leu than 6 percent for May. Craven Counts unemployment rate fell ftom 3.9 percent in ^ril to 3.6 percent in May, according to fig ures releawd by the N.C. Employ ment Security Commission. The county’s jobieu rate for May 1988 was 3.7 percent. Craven County’s labor force tot aled 33,490 during May and 1,170 were unable to secure employment. ‘Ihe labor pool for April was 32,470 and 1,280 were unable to find work. ‘Ihe work force in May 1988 was 31,860 and 1,180 were without jobs. Jones County’s unemployment rate decreawd from 4.9 percent in April to 4 percent in May. ’The rate for May 1988 was 3.6 percent. ’Ihe Jones County work force totaled . ^210 in May and|I70 could not find work. ’Hie April labor pool num bered 4,070 and 200 were without jobs. The May 1988 work force was 4,120 and the number of unem ployed 150. Lenoir County’s unempioyment rate fell from 4.8 percent in April to 4 percent in May. 'Ihe jobieu rate in May 1988 was 3.7 percent. ’The May labor force totaled 29,180 with 1,180 unable to find employment. There were 1,430 people in April without jobs out of a 29,720-man work force. ’Ihe Hay 1983 work force totaled 28,670 end 1,070 drere without work. Pamlico County’s unemployment rate fell from 4 iwrcent in April to 2.6 percent in May. The May labor pool totaled 4,850 end 120 were without work. ‘The April labor force numbered 4,760 and 190 could not find jobs. ’The jobless late in May 1988 was 3 percent.’The labor force >jJ7luafl totaled 4,630 and 140 could not find employment. ^jyi Rains Bring Good, Bad To Farmers Extra Water A Plus, Sometimes Hindrance fUc C«rl«r photo Hw state unemployment rate fell from 4 percent in April to 3.4 per* cent in May. The national unad* justed rate fell from 5.1 percent in April to 6 percent in May. ’ • • Last week's high temperatures forced many to seek relief where they could find it. This young woman found a swimming pool the best place to keep her cool. Temperatures neared or surpassed the triple*digit mark (above right) as evidenced by this reading on a time-and-temperature sign. Others sought relief by staying in air-conditioned buildings, stocking up on cool drinks or wearing as few clothes as possible. Relief came late in the week as a cold front brought lower temperatures and rain. By Greg Stroud Staff Writer Rains which came to North Car olina this winter have stayed through spring and lasted into sum mer in areas of the state. Resulting crop conditions have many Tar Heel farmers predicting that production costs this year will be the highest the/ve faced in years. The frustration that droughts have brought in recent seasons com pares marginally to the havoc too much rain is creating for some grow ers. It can best be ciescribed as the domino effect. For example, too much rain means that crops don’t get planted on time; herbicide, fertilizer, and pesticide activity is reduced; more weed, insect and disease pressure results; more rain means you can’t get in the field to treat these prob lems, and more expensive hand la bor is then required. In most cases, overall yields are reduced. Western Craven farmers find the inability to get into the fields at cru cial times mostfrustrating. Said one local former: *It makes It real hard when we can’t get into the field to get the crop when its ready. Wait ing, even a few days, makes a big difTerence.” According to the Agricultural News Service, the bottom line means paying much higher produc tion costs to produce a smaller crop. N.C. Farm Bureau fVesident W.B. Jenkins says, *On a per pound basis we will see a 15 to 20 percent in crease in tobacco production this year.” He says beside the increased costs following this unpredictable weather, fuel, fertilizer and chemi cal costs have increased substan tially this year. Elsewhere in eastern North Car olina, others are also painting a gloomy picture in several areas. To bacco grower Atlas Wooten of Pitt County says its his prediction that 26 percent of the crop has flopped. He says, *Tobacco is looking awful yellow and black.” Disease pressure in this area is also on the increase with Wooten re porting the wprst cases of Granville wilt he has seen. Wooten said, ”Wa- ter is conveying the disease from one area to the other.” Labor costs are up in the area, which is bound to make the oVerall cost of tobacco to rise. One farmer remarked, *I know one fellow who has 19 laborers working with hoes the last three days because he couldn’t machine cultivate. Lost herbicide activity is drawing pro duction costs up even further.” ”// makes it real hard ufhen we can*t get into the field to get the crop when its ready. Waiting, even a few days, makes a big difference." — Local farmer Golden Leaf Tobacco growing has come a long way over the years. But it’s still hard work from planting to harvest. Take a photographic look through the lenses of Lee Schweitzer Jr. at today’s methods of raising the historical crop. See page 4. Visit To Capitol Beneficial, Informative, Says OCT AD By Mike Voss Editor An apparent trend by the federal government to return more control over local issues to state and local governments is the right move, said several area men who returned from tvro days of meetings in Uie nation’s cartel. ^e men were part of a group of representatives from eight eastern North Carolina chambers of com merce attending a two-day ”fly-in” to discuss legislative and economic Issues v/ith officials of the govern ment and the United States Cham ber of Commerce. The group — CKITAD — is com prised of the chambers of commerce from New Bern, Washington, Greenville, Kinston, Goldsboro, Tarboro, Wilson and Jacksonville. The men said they expected local and state governments to begin working onlocal issues knowingless help is available at the federal level and that the private sector will be come more involved in solving local problems and encouraging local development. Prank B. *Bo” Lewis, executive director of the Greater Washington Chamber of Commerce; Jim Nance, a developer based in eastern North Carolina and William *3111" Zach- man, a certified public accountant and head of a film production com pany, left last Wednesday for the event. They met with Reps. Walter B. Jones, Tim Valentine and Martin Lancaster and with Sens. Terry Sanford and Jesse Helms. Zachman said Helms and Sanford discussed legislation pending in Congress. Zachman said their aides were more familiar with some of the legislation and issues than the sena tors. He said there isa'strong possi bility” a capita] gains tax provision will be put back into the nation’s tax codes. Zachman said Rep. Dan Ros- tenkowski, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, is against the proposal but appears to be weakening on his view. Zachman said if the capital tax gain provision is returned to the tax code it will be a form of revenue en hancement that will *spur sales of capital assets” and increase re venues. Zachman said the provision should help the economy because the provision would make it more ‘attractive fbrbusinesses to sell their capital assets. Nance said he is encouraged with the shift of'power back to the states and private sector” when it comes to identifying and addressing local issues. He said that local and state governments are more in tune with their problems and issuesand are in abetter position toknow whatit will take to address the issues and solve the problems. ’The private sector is going to need to he listened to” on state and local issues, said Nance. Nance end Zachman agreed the days of federal revenue-sharing funds are over and the federal gov ernment appears to be willing to let state and local governments provide the tools to handle issues and prob lems, while providing some money to make the tools available. Nance said he sees local governments and the private sector coming together more often to solve local prc^lems, identify local needs and deal with local issues. •That was confirmed up there,” See JUNKET, Page 5 Vanceboro Mayor ‘Jailed’ For A Day, Joined By 13 Others •—By Grtg Stroud Stan Wrtfrr Vanceboro Mayor Jimmie Morris spent the day in jail on July 11. Mor ris was later released after friends and family members posted his bail. Hiirteen other residents were also arrested during the day. No charges were actually filed against any of the ^lees* as the arrests were all in frin as a fund-raising event for the American Cancer Society. ‘The jail, which was located at the Vancetoro Pharmacy, was filled to capacity on several ocassions. Gus Kite, of Kite’e Supermarket, and Etheleene Butler, spent much of their alternoon in -jail* trying to raise their bail. Richard Bowers, principal of Vanceboro-Farm Life Elementary and Mike Morton, pharmacist, were given only bread and water in an effort to keep them See JAIL, Page 6 ‘Big Sweep’ Targeting Coastal, Inland Waters If You Give Blood, You Might Receive A Present Of Wheels By Greg Stroud Staff Writer Anew Isuzu Trooper II will be one of a number of prizes to be given away to conclude a mqjor fiind- raising campaign by Che Oaven- Pamlico (Chapter of the American Red Cross. The local chapter is facing a defi cit of some $23,000 in its operating budget. •We have two options we are fac ing,” says Margaret Lamb, chair man of the chapter”8 board of direc tors. 'We can raise the more than $20,000 we need to operate for the last six months of the year, or we can close down.' The chapter serves Craven, Pam lico and Jones counties with blood services, first aid and CPR classes, swimming classes, disaster pre paredness end relief, and acts as a important link between members of the armed forces and their families. Automobile dealer Joe Alcoke will provide the Isuzu Trooper. See RED CROSS, Page 5 The Neuse, Pamlico and Tar riv ers, state parks and other inland rivers andlakes will be included this ysar in a nationwide effort to pick up trash left on beaches from the sum mer tourist season. As port of the nationvdde effort, thousands of people are expected to- pick up trash in a statewide water way cleanup. But North (Carolinians will clean up inland rivers and lakes this fall as well as the state’s beaches >> the first such effort i n the nation. Called Big Sweep, it will take place September 23, event organiz ers said in an interview Monday. Formerly named Beach Sweep, this year’s event has been expanded to include inland waters from Nags Head to the Nantahala River near Asheville. Merchants Millpond State Park, Cliffs of the Neuse State Park, Eno River, Jordan Loke, (Chowan River, Kerr Lake and a variety of other in land waters ore on the cleanup list See BIO SWEEP, Page 5 Ue 8ehwstU«r Jr. photo Remembering Twenty year, ago today, the first men to walk on the moon took their first steps. Astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, two members of the Apollo 11 crew, made the his toric steps July 20,1969. Twenty years later, the moon still appears the same. Many area residents remember a time when no man had set foot on the lunar surface. Other resi-, dents, those less than 20 years old, only know times when man has already been to the moon. Yesterday was the 20th anniversaiy of Sen. Ted Kennedy’s accident at the Chappa- quiddick bridge that resulted in the death of Mary Jo Kopechne. Foreign Students Seek Host Families For Stay By Grtg Stroud sun Writer Pacific Intercultural Exchange (PIE), is looking to find aeveral fami- lies in the West Craven area to host their high school exchange atudenU who will bo arriving in August. These students, travelling to the United States flvm Spain, Ger many, Japan, Argentina and Braril, will spend an academic year in North Carolina studying in local high schools. ’Hie participants, all between the ages of 15-18yeara, are flilly insured and will bring their own spending money. Host familiea are asked to provide only room and board during the program. By hosting for PIE, a non-profit, tax-exempt organiia- tion, each family is allowed to take a $50 per month tax deduction. Founded in 1975 and licensed by the United States Information Agency, PIE has sponsored more then 10,000 exchanges. ’The organi- See INTERN, Page 6
West Craven Highlights (Vanceboro, N.C.)
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July 20, 1989, edition 1
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