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‘Wishing ‘fou ^ Merry Christmas
West Craven Highlights
AVu’s From Along The linniis OfTho \vost‘
NATCNAi rcwSfwrvH
SIX PAGES
VOLUME 12 NO. 51 DECEMBER 21. 1989 VANCEBORO. NOOTH CAROLINA
PHONE 244-0780 OR 946-2144 (UPSP 412-110) 26 CENTS
U.S. panel
blasts Navy
over range
Spirit of Christmas
Most people would agree the true meaning of Christmas Is
shown by this nativity scene erected In Vanceboro by the Van-
ceboro Junior Woman's Club. The club sponsors the nativity
John Psrry irfiolo
scene each holiday season and sees that It Is erected and main
tained during the Yule season. The project Is one of many the
club sponsors and directs during the year In the Vanceboro com
munity. Perhaps the nativity scene Is the club's yearly Christmas
present to the town.
By Mike Voss
Rdllor
The Navy should have provided
additional time for public comment
on its proposed electronic warfare
range in coastal North Carolina and
done more to study its probable ef
fect on the environment, according
to the federal Council on Environ
mental Quality.
The Navy plans to expand its use
ofPiney Island in southern Pamlico
Sound, constructing new electronic
warfare ranges and increasing use
of nearby air space.
In November, the Navy approved
plans for the range, despite prom
ises from the Navy and Marine
Corps that a decision would not be
made before an environmental eva
luation. The decision was made
without comment from CEQ on
whether it would be in compliance
with the National Environmental
Policy Act, according to a public af
fairs ofllcer at Cherry Point Marine
Air Station, Gunnery Sgt. Jim
Gladkowski.
In a letter to Congressman Wal-
terB. Jones, who asked CEQ to eva
luate the adequacy of a final envir
onmental impact statement (PEIS),
the council said:
*We have reviewed the PEIS and
have met with the Navy as well as a
delegation of state and local govern
ment representatives and con
cerned citizens from North Car
olina. Por reasons developed below,
we believe that the Navy should
have supplemented the draft docu
ment and provided an additional
public commenting period. We also
believe that the Pederal Aviation
Administration (FAA), which is em
powered not only to assign use of
airspace but also to modify or revoke
assignments when required by the
public interest, has a role in the en
vironmental review process.”
The letter was signed by Michael
R. Deland, chairman of the council.
The council's regulations require
agencies to prepare supplements to
environmental statements if there
are significant new circumstances
or information about environmental
concerns that bear on a proposed
action.
”Where, as here, the scope of en
vironmental analysis is expanded to
embrace a new dimension (cumula
tive) of impacts not previously deve-
See AIR SPACE, Page 5A
Northener
dedicated
to education
By Keith Hempstead
Spedal to the
West Craven Highlights
Dedicated doesn't begin to de
scribe the type of commitment
shown by Charles Coit, who has es
sentially devoted his whole life in
some way to education and the rais
ing of four children.
Even at 74, when most people his
age would prefer to rest on their
laurels, Coit still strives to make a
difference in the public education
system. *If I've got another decade
I'd like to devote it to young people
and the public understanding of
public education,” he said.
Coit, once a rerident of Washing
ton, Cmn., spent a good ninety mi
nutes one cold, wet day explaining
what he thought some of we prob
lems were in education and how to
correct the problems. ITie lifelong
student of the educational process
has some radical suggestions.
See PROFILE, Page 6
McKeel picked for
all-state recognition
Becton, Hardy, Holzworth
receive post-season honors
John Porry photo
North Pole visitor
During the holiday season, some people enjoy decorating their lawns. A drive through town and
countiy will show everything from simple decorations to elaborate Las Vegas-type lighting and
displays. Perhapsthe most well-known character Is Santa Claus (who else?). Residents In and near
Vanceboro are no different. From simple candles In windows to thousands of lights, houses and
businesses can be found trying to share the Christmas spirit through decorations.
West Craven High School's Eddie
McKeel has been named to the 1989
Associated Press all-state football
team.
McKeel was also named to the
News and Observer's All-East
squad, as was Eagle junior running
back Lee Becton.
Two otherplayers from the north
eastern area of the state, including
two all-area performers, were
named to the 1989 Associated Press
all-state football team.
Joining McKeel on the all-state
first-team squad are D.H. Conley’s
Paul Merritt and Northampton
East's David Perry.
Becton earned all-state
honorable-mention honors as did
Plymouth senior quarterback
Shawn Walker and receiver Andy
Womble, Roanoke junior tailback
Levy Jones, North Edgecombe re
ceiver Dereke Belcher and Conley's
Tim Carmon and Andy Fassett
earned honorable mention
recognition.
Mcl&el was a Shrine Bowl selec
tion and became head coach Clay
Jordan's fourth all-state player. Jor
dan's last player so honored was
Jesse Campbell, now a star defen
sive back at North Carolina State.
*Eddie was injured his freshman
and sophomore years and got very
little time on the field,” Jordan said,
"being named all-state is a testa
ment to how hard he's worked in the
weight room the lost two years.
"He's really worked herd for the
last two years to become the best
player he could be.”
The 6-2, 255-pound McKeel's
blocking prowess helped clear the
way for all-state honorable mention
selection Lee Becton’s 1,784 yards
West Craven had a perfect 10-0 reg
ular season and advanced to the sec
ond round of the Class 3-A playoffs
West Craven's junior quarter-
See ALL-STATE, Page 5A
Top cinematographer could
join Down East film company
By Mike Vos
Editor
An 0«ar-winning cinematogra-
phor has conditionally agreed to di
rect a movie for a new production
company based in and gettingfinan-
cial support (torn eastern North
Carolina, giving it preference to
working behind the camera on other
films, according to company
ofncials.
The motion picture. The Prodi
gal Father,’ is to be a joint venture
between U.S., Israeli and Hunga
rian entrepreneurs. The production
company is Prolitera of Bethel, Ltd.,
hea^uartered in Washington.
Anwng the three founding gen
eral partners are Washington CPA
William Zachman and two
Hungarian-bom Israeli citiiens —
Paul Salamon and Janos Edelen^.
Cinematographer Vilmos Zsig-
mond, known for his work on *Fat
Man end Little Boy,* -The Deer
Hunter,* ’Close Encounters of the
Third Kind,* *Deliverance* and
other notable films, is also
Hungarian.
Joe Ganti of Greenville, top ofli-
cial of Empire Brushes, has b^me
the fourth general partner. Ganti
said he became a partner because he
wanted to help build the film indus
try in North Carolina.
Actor Michael York, who has
signed for the lead in the film, has
called cinematographer Zsigmond
'the right person to capture the
script's immense visual beauty,* say
company officials.
Salomon and Edelenyi predicted
about a year ago that changes in
Eastern Europe would open doors
for this and other projects with a
multi-national foundation.
Zsigmond wrote them that he is
excited at the prospect of directing
the film.
Zsigmond has been selected to do
the cinematography for Brian De
Palma's “Bonfire of the Vanities,*he
said, with shooting to begin in
March and ending about June 15.
'Afterwards, I am presently com
mitted to Roland Jaffe's new film
Ci^ of Joy, but would give first
priority to The Prodigal Father and
begin working exclusively on the
project, should your efforts of ob
taining fiill financing be successful
and a final contract drawn and exe
cuted between us on or before the
SlstofMarch, 1990,* his letter said.
The film and the development
company have attracted attention
from the state, Zachman said. The
N.C. Film Commission is interested
in whet we're doing in North Car
olina, particularly in the equity
base,* he said.
To make a film in North Carolina
is not only possible, it's logical,*
Edelenyi said, because of lower ex
penses, existing studio facilities and
the state's reputation among the
film community.
The partners told the media re
cently that Lt. Gov. James Gardner
wonts to sign a production agree
ment between the state and Hun
gary once finances for the movie are
completed.
t^hen Gov. James Martin visited
the West Coast recently, he dangled
the film before the movie industry
as an incentive, calling it “the most
sophisticated project ever put
tomther in the state.*
^e film industry has meant $2
billion in revenue for the state, said
Martin.
“We are in the same league sud
denly with De Palma and Jaffe,”
said Edelenyi. “We expect things to
really get better once word gets ar-
Waiting
John Pony photo
JuBt exactly why or for whom these presents on the swing on this front porch Is unknown, unless
they are waiting for Santa Claus to deliver elsewhere. Or perhaps Old St. Nick left them here be
cause he was unable to get down the chimney because of a fire In the fireplace or gaining loo much
around his portly middle. Whatever the reason, the presents seem to be sale and secure — until
See MOVIE, Page 6 Christmas morning.