Gov. Moore Dedlfites Bridge HERTFORD Gov. Dan K. Moore dedicated the hand some new Perquimans River Bridge and U. S. 17 by-pass Monday and predicted it would mark “the beginning Full text of Gov. Moore’s address can be found on page 6, section S. of new growth and develop ment for your area.” “You have a great potential fbr new advances for the principal sectors of our state’s economy—agriculture, indus try, and travel and recrea tion,” the governor said. “All the ingredients of suc cess are here—if you have ay _ Volume XXXIII.—No. 26. 3Jhe public parade Just For The Record Following is an exchange between the chairman of the Board of Public Works in Edenton and the publisher of The Herald. The letters pertain, among other things, to finances; something vital in our community, both present and fiuture. They speak for themselves: To The Editor: • I am amazed that you would print such an article as, appeared as a part of your Public Parade under date of June 23, 1966. Your willingness to broadcast in formation of such a nature and dignify it by putting it in news print without any attempt to verify it, which you admitted to me, is utter ly beyond my compresen sion. i Records of the operations of the Board of Public Works are and have been for years furnished the Town Clerk or Administrator. These records’ are complete in detail. They record the bill payments, minutes of meetings, analysis of sales showing sources of revenue, departmental head recom mendations, and a complete financial statement. The above is handed to the Town ft berk or Administrator ihohthly. It is his duty to gdvise the Town Council of these reports, and I assume he has been performing this duty. These records are also in the Town Clerk’s or Admin istrator’s office and are available to the public dur ing the working hours of every day. r'j- These records will show, yMr. Amburn, that there is a sioo,ooo emergency reserve i'ip'r Unfofseen developments artd disastrous happenings. This reserve has been in ex istence and has been approv ed by a considerable number of Boards made up of many different elected members. There are other funds that are earmaked for the payment of bond interest and principal as it becomes due, and for the payment of equipment on order and ob ligated for. These records show that there is $89,000 that is not earmarked for any special purpose. This is far from the $300,000 to $500,000 fig ure you mention and de scribe as an “outrageous kitty.” The many projects that would have been beneficial to the citizens of Edenton that have gone “begging” for lack of funds have not been begging because the Board of Public Works would not “turn-over” the money. For your information, Mr. Am burn, there has never been a request for a stipulated amount of mpney by the Town Council to the Board of Public Works that has not been transferred to them when wanted it. Bene ficial projects have been postponed, delayed or brush ed aside, maybe, but not be cause tins Board refused to transfer requested funds when the Council requested them. There are, of course, Continued 23.4% Wage Gains In 1965 Are Reported ■ Chowan County workers covered by unemployment compensation laws were paid $5,568,000 during 1965. This represents an increase of 23.4 per cent over the total payroll of $4,510,233 in 1964. R. E. Cheek, manager of the N. C. Employment Se curity Commission office for this area, said this healthy increase is due to additional jobs in manufacturing and other areas of employment, as well as increased average wages. A report for the fourth quarter of 1965, just com piled by the Raleigh ESC office, shows CboWan County ranked second in the state in percentage of change in the roads to open them up for their full use.” Earlier, in a prepared ad dress, Gov. Moore said it is his intention that this area share in “our goal of total development” in North Caro lina development of “our vast human and natural re sources.” He said this whole region is a vast “reservoir of natural resources which provides beauty for the eye, pleasant living, and an unlimited po tential for growth and ex pansion.” However, the task of plan ners and builders becomes staggering when it comes to THE CHOWAN HERALD Edenton, Chowan County, North Carolina 27932 Thursday, June 30, 1966. From the Editor: We are happy to print the accompanying letter from Chairman Jesse L. Harrell of Edenton’s Board of Public Works. It is fairly evident that he disagrees with our observa tions and he even goes a step further to read some thing into the article which just isn’t there. We stated a new council policy of assuming responsi bility for the finances of the town would allow the Board of Public Works additional time to tend to their duties as prescribed in the Town Charter. And it will do just that, even if Chairman Har rell got the impression we were being critical of the way his board has been op erating. Too, from the budget of his department for fiscal 1966-67 the board members implied it was going to be a very busy year. For this reason they increased appropriations for board members’ salary from SBSO to $1,500. In our business we get a lot of information. Some times, we admit, it is not as accurate as we would like. But claims that the Board of Public Works enjoyed a pretty healthy bank account was about as close as you. Can come. The invested funds of. the board on June 1, 1966, was $306,000. That is pretty close to the $300,000 low figure we quoted. The board had $31,000 in U. S. Treasury Bonds, $265,- 000 in certificates of deposit in Peoples Bank & Trust Company, and SIO,OOO in Edenton Savings & Loan As sociation. The financial statement for the same period showed: cash, $514.17; accounts receiv able, $37,249.51; inventory, $46,277.90; reserve, $100,000; escrow account, $20,000; ap propriated surplus, $97,000; and unappropriated surplus, $89,000. This is a total of $390,041.58, or within about SIOO,OOO of the total electric and water department budget for fiscal 1966-67. In presenting a budget to the Town Council, the board estimated that the depart ment would have a net profit next year of $143,866. So, take from this $102,000 for a new fire station and a bill ing computer, and an addi tional $60,000 needed in the general fund to keep the tax rate at sl, and you wouldn’t have to dig into the kitty for but $19,000. Whey, then, is a SIOO,OOO reserve fund necessary? True, we did not trouble Town Administrator W. B. Gardner for the board’s fi nancial statement. We thought it fruitless since on Page 4 S-. CL, roads, he said. He cited t v fact that costly bridges a ra fills are needed at almi "c every turn. 5 Nevertheless, the goverr said he realized that in or( for the area and all Eastern North Carolina to move ahead,, roads are a must. “Let me assure you that we understand and sympa thize with your road needs, and we intend to do some thing about opening up this area for unprecedented growth and development,” he declared. Joseph Hunt of Greens boro, chairman of the. State Highway Commission said the Tax Ra te $1 Town Budget Approved The Town of Edenton will operate during fiscal 1966-67 on a budget of $865,107. The tax rate will remain at $1 per SIOO valuation. Town Councilmen meet in special session Tuesday night to approve the budget and set the tax rate. They were told by Town Administrator W. B. Gardner that the budget is based Edenton Ready For Big July 4 Edentonians will join mil lions of other Americans this weekend in the observ ance of July 4. Monday will be a general hoiiday here with most busi ness establishments being closed, as well as municipal, county, state and federal of fices. For many the weekend will begin Friday and end Tuesday morning. Because of this “long weekend,” saf ety officials predict a record number of highway mishaps and fatalities during this holiday period.* Police Chief James H. Griffin of Edenton and dis trict highway patrol offi cials urged area residents to drive especially careful as the streets and highways will be crowded. Town Administrator W. B. Gardner said there will be no garbage collection here Monday, but the street de partment would make rounds throughout Edenton Tuesday. Also, the Municipal Building will be dosed Monday. Chow'an County Court House will be closed Monday as well as all other county offices. County commission ers will meet Wednesday, July 6, instead of Monday, according to W. E. Bond, chairman. The U. S. Post Office will be closed and there will be no rural mail deliveries, Postmaster James M. Bond said. Peoples Bank & Trust Company’s main office and consumer credit branch will be closed Monday. Puppet Glass Set Wednesday The Chowan Arts Council Chairman announces that a puppet class will start on Wednesday, July 6, at 3:30 o’clock in the Arts Studio under the direction of Miss Marion Taylor, arts teacher of the Edenton City Schools. With the assistance of mo thers, an additional morning workshop may be held each week if desired. Although interest in this class has come from the 6 to 10 year olds, it is hoped that older children may wish to participate not only in mak ing puppets but in planning and preparing a set in which to use them. The small fee of 25 cents a lesson has been set. employment over the third quarter. The change was an increase of 9.9 per cent and was topped only by Granville County. Some counties showed as much as a 41 per cent de crease for the two quarters. The state average was an increase of 1.9 per cent. The average number of employes covered by the un employment compensation laws during 1965 was 1,586. Their average pay was $67.45. The fourth quarter payroll for these workers was $1,568,000, and the average weekly wage was $70.29. Continued on Page 2 ' E i co .ire state could take pride o the $2 million bridge and -pass. He cited other high- ! E y improvements in the ' n it and said he hoped that ' the future “we will have : many more such projects” in this area. , Hunt drew a chuckle from the crowd estimated at 300 when he commented on the war dance performed by the Perquimans County High School Marching Unit. “I think they wanted me to get the message that if more highway work wasn't done in the area they would get my scalp,” he said. R. L. Hollowell, master of — 1 * * ■« • Bp ■ tlm fBHL, Ifflr ; Jn ul CHARLES L. OVERMAN Jaycees Honor CharlesDverman DOUGLAS VILLE, Georgia —Charles L. Overman, son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles W. Overman of Edenton, N. C., has been selected as one of the “Outstanding Young Men of America.” Overman is general mana ger of the Douglas County Electric Membership Corpor ation. His picture will appear in the 1966 edition of the pub lication to be published soon. The book is a “Who’s Who” among young men between the ages of 21 and 36. Selec tions for it are based on re ligious, professional and civic achievements of those cited. Overman’s citation high lights his work in the Central Methodist Church of Monroe, N. C., following serious ra cial disturbances in the com munity in 1961; his rise from public relations and promo tional work in the 1950’s to his appointment as general manager of Douglas County EMC in April of this year; and his six years of active Jaycee membership. In 1964, North Carolina Jaycees selected him as Out standing State Vice Presi dent. He has just completed a term as National Director for the Georgia Jaycees, and has held other local, state and national offices. He is married and the father of three children. SCHOOL BOARD Chowan County Board of Education will meet at 8 P. M., Thursday in the office of Supt. Hiram J. Mayo, Ho-, tel Joseph Hewes. This will take the place of the July meeting. ceremonies, said when the bridge was first planned some thought it would be “unsightly on our beautiful Perquimans River as well as spell the doom for Hertford and Winfall.” Now that it is completed all of these fears have been dispelled. Gov. Moore was introduced by a classmate at the Uni versity of North Carolina, Carroll Holmes. Mayor V. N. Darden join ed Gov. Moore in cutting the ribbon ending the cere mony. The PCHS Marching Unit performed during the cere mony. Single Copy 10 Cents on an assessed valuation of $10,500,000. It is further bas ed on collection of 97.5 per cent of ad valorem taxes. The budget includes a sal ary increase of 9.5 per cent in all departments, except the electric and water de partment. The Board of Public Works recommended a 22.2 per cent salary increase in this department. Os the total budget for fiscal 1966-67, more than half the total amount is for the operation of the electric and water departments. The budget for these departments is $498,771. It is estimated that $188,950.46 of this amount will be paid to Vir ginia Electric & Power Com pany for electric power. The department estimates a net profit of $143,866 for 1966-67. The profit for 1965- 66 was $140,227, according to the budget estimates. It was hecessary to trans fer $60,000 from electric and water department profits to keep the tax rate at sl. Revenue from property tax is anticipated to be $102,000, up $4,000 from the current fiscal year. Electric revenue is estimated at $415,271; wa ter revenue, $40,000; and sew er revenue, $37,000. Too, $102,000 is being appropriated from surplus to pay for the new fire station and a billing department computer. A recap of department bud gets shows: Administrative: $28,410, up from $25,285. Fire: $36,035, up from $30,- 366.80. Police: $59,910, up from $52,802.85. Street: $97,190, a decrease from $100,856. Electric and Water: $498,- 771, up from $454,521. Miscellaneous: $144,791, up from $42,061.92. (This in cludes the expenditures for a new fire station and the bill ing department computer). Councilman Luther Parks, finance committee chairman, said the budget was figured “real close” and is what he considered very “conserva tive”. The total salaries in the administrative, fire, police Continued on Page Two Company Pays Record Dividend Edenton Savings & Loan Association this week paid $84,484.63 in dividends to some 2,000 savers. James C. Dail, executive vice president, said this was a record amount paid in a semi-annual installment. The dividend rate is W\ per cent The association now has as sets in excess of $4,750,000 and this figure is expected to reach the $5 million mark within the next 12 to 18 months. Dail said the association has over $392,000 in reserves as well as having insurance , on each account in the amount of SIO,OOO. “Through the savings re ceived from the fine citizens of our community we are able to make home loans to . qualified applicants,” Dail said. He added that home financing plays a very vital role in the growth and wel fare of this community. “The officers and directors of this association take pride in the ’ contribution they are making , to this growth," the execu tive added. . SOME INDIANS marched while others had to take a breather due to the heat (insert). : ¥ ’ . ♦ * W t Pff i M 4 mPh j ' .. ./I Jag ’ Jl iV' 1 CEREMONIES got underway with R. L. Hollowed as master of ceremonies. Others on the program line up and await their turn to speak. i V . • WmHm ■L PL^H '•- ||l|| ; ■BP :< % m ,i ■ V ', " * S * 1%, HMHK v I HHs^ GOV. DAN K. MOORE and other dignitaries stand, while the chief executive’s speech awaits hails the opening of the bridge, as the state flag ||| tSU jMpKr ill ~ . : i#.. v: ITT ../fL' w !»■ >; Pr faMi MAYOR V. N. DARDEN, left, holds the ribbon as Gov. Moore applies the setason, for mally opening the ?2 million bridge and by-p«as in Perquimans County. ■ ' ; wait for the cue to approach the speakers his delivery (insert). Later Gov. Moore appears to be tapping him on the shoulder.