Volume XXXVII—No. 31. Craig Talks Os Order County Jail In Big Trouble The last rites were administered Mon day afternoon to the oldest jail operat ing in America. J. Clarence Leary, chairman, Chowan County Board of Commissioners, presid ed but Clifton M. Craig, commissioner of the State Department of Social Ser vice. did the honors. While no tears were shed, it was one of the saddest hours for members of the county board. Craig said his personal inspection of the jail is the final step before issuance of a closing order. He and his staff General Inspection Clifton M. Craig, right, commissioner of the State Department of Social Services, looks at the old keys of Cho wan County Jail prior to his personal inspection Monday after noon. With him is Jailer Glenn Perry. Craig said such an inspec tion is made prior to issuance of a closing order. He had met earlier with county commissioners. 1 |JuMu parade Gone Fishing Two Teen-Agers Sent To Prison Two Pennsylvania teenagers, one on probation, the other free on bail, were given active prison sentences Tuesday in Chowan County District Court. Judge Elton Aydlett also encouraged them to change their way of living to escape a life in prison. Gary Victor Neal, 19, was convicted of no operator’s license and disobeying a stop signal. Lawrence Melvin Thomp son, 17, was convicted of no operator’s license. They were each given 30-day sentences. Solicitor Wilton Walker told Judge Aydlett the pair faces charges of larce ny in Perquimans County and auto theft in Norfolk, Va. Sporting long hair, no shoes and an almost constant smile, Neal and Thomp son slouched in their chairs as Patrol man Ray Coston testified of the events leading to the arrests. The Edenton policeman said he saw a Thunderbird fitting the description of y a car reported to have left a service sta tion in Perquimaans County without pay ing for gas. He later stopped the ve hicle and found Neal to be the driver. Neal produced a New Jersey license, Coatlaaed on Page 4 BHfcffiffiji' Ajjfti''y - - ~ N *^WMr i;J ** l *~ - • "'%' -' V>- ‘/T eilr A*.—•£ ijMlwr.i, ~»WM|||H(|B|ij{Tj»;,|-^^jM^M|^r^^^^^'' ?A in, -.ssw&ssi rUMßtefcM, -*—iMßßßHgfo*- I MOK- *7 * Learning ... i Continuous Process While most school-age people take a vacation, others continue the learning process by going to the Learning Lab at Swain Elementary SchooL Ron Rogerson, PACE student assistant, left, goes over an assignment with Thomas I. Jones, a veteran who studies at the lab. The center picture shows a group of students at work. Mrs. Margaret Smithson, summer school co ordinator, is shown at right reviewing work of Willie Holley, left, and Wayne Bond. "'i-iV4' “,‘ > "3* ' » THE CHOWAN HERALD Edenton, Chowan County, North Carolina, Thursday, July 30, 1970 listened patiently 5 ’( pleas from various board members \ % desire to maintain the status quo. '.?,£• “poverty” claims fell on deaf ears tate had similar problems, yet he 1 S o enforce the law. The commission 2 g -om Raleigh said he could no longei ' rate on promises. “I must have a definite commitment from the commissioners,” he said, as to what is planned and when it can ex pected to be accomplished. “Our de partment has been lenient long enough,” _ t Burglar Is Sought By Edenton Police Police are pushing an investigation into the burglary and attempted rape of a local woman early Monday morning. The victim was Miss Mary Lee Cope land, 309 West Queen Street. Chief J. D. Parrish said police rushed to Miss Copeland’s home at 4:34 A. M., in response to a call from W. J. Yates. He and Mrs. Yates had heard screams by Miss Copeland. The chief said investigation showed the burglar entered the house through a window on the south side after attempt ing to open two others. Miss Copeland told officers when she first awakened the burglar was standing by her bed. “He told her if she screamed he would kill her,” the chief said. However, she did scream several times, according to witnesses. After the rape attempt was unsuccess ful, the burglar told Miss Copeland he was going to take her with him. They went through the house and onto the back porch where he was frightened and ran. Chief Parrish said Miss Copeland de scribed the burglar as a Negro between the ages of 16 and 20 years. The chief said when apprehended he would be charged with first degree burglary and attempted rape. O. L. Wise of Elizabeth City and Doug Phillips of Williamston, agents for the State Bureau of Investigation are assist ing local police. They brought the SBI mobile crime lab to the scene and set up operations. he added. Meeting with the Chowan board prior to inspecting the jail, Craig expressed his sympathy for the county’s position. “I have no alternative under the law but to issue a closing order if your jail is not brought up to standard,” he stated. Repeatedly during the discussion, the commissioner said the ultimate goal is not to close jails but bring them up to standard. The Chowan County Jail does not meet the state standards, he said, read ing a list of some 25 deficiencies. He admitted some of them were insignifi cant, although not in accordance with the standards. The most glaring ones being: the lack of continuous supervis ion; and separation of juvenile females. Chairman Leary explained that Cho wan is no different from all small coun ties with regards to the revenue picture. “We just have so much money to oper ate on,” he said. “I hope we can keep it as it is for the present time.” Craig said, though, it was his under standing the present facility cannot be brought up to standard without exten sive renovation and at a considerable cost. This would appear to leave the county with two alternatives: build a new jail or participate in a regional jail. Continued on Page 4 Business Is Good The United Piece Dye Works report ed a near record second quarter for the current year. Net earnings for the three months ended June 30, including an extraordinary item due to income tax refund from prior years, totaled $580.- 413. In the corresponding period of 1969 net earnings were $374,230. The company operates a plant in Cho wan County. “Except for the diversification in our plants, enabling us to meet the changing needs of our market, such results could TfflTMvg HM atMwwt; M said Albert-**- Moorell in explaining the results. The chief executive officer added: “Although we cannot be strong optimists in face of National Economic Policy, I expect our year will at least line up to the trend of our first half.” Cruiser Damaged A police cruiser was heavily damaged early Tuesday morning when it struck a utility pole on North Broad Street. Driver of the 1970 Plymouth was Patrol man Herman Ray Coston, 23, 209 West Gale Street. The investigation showed that Patrol man Coston went to sleep while on rou tine patrol at 4 A. M., went to the left side of the street and struck the pole. The mishap occurred near the intersec tion of Broad and Third streets. I gaming Lab Seeking More Participation By Adults Wanted! More adult students. Apply: Learning Lab, Swain School or call 482-4745. While the Learning Lab, operated by College of the Albemarle of Elizabeth City, has been a busy place this summer, it is not operating at full potential due to the absence of adult participation, ac cording to Mrs. Betty Bissette, coordina tor. Mrs. Bissette, substituting for Mrs. Anne Britt this summer, said adults can obtain their high school diploma through the local facility or take one of the nu merous general interest courses offered. There is also a program for veterans 1m i m *W Singe Copy 10 Cents I 1, - : jm Hr fkH Promote Feeder Pig Cooperative Roy L. Harrell, left of N. C. Rural Fund for Development, looks at a slide taken by Gene Sutton,; rural services specialist with the U. S. Department of Agriculture, showing progress being made by a farmer on his feeder pig pro gram. A cooperative has been formed to aid farmers and Sutton has been employed to manage the program for the next year. Pig Co-Op Gets Manager Albemarle Cooperative Association, Inc., while founded by an anti-poverty organization, hopes to upgrade and ex pand the feeder pig industry in the 10- county area. Roy L. Harrell, organization-education specialist with N. C. Rural Fund for pjr*" 7 r p, Mrs. Tommy Leary Watermelon King Terry Story On Pape 4 who qualify for study under the GI Bill. Math and reading improvement cours es have been offered summer school stu dents. Those who spend a minimum of 60 hours at the lab and show one year’s improvement are given credit for the course taken. There are 78 students who responded to the recommendation of teachers in Edenton-Chowan Schools to study at the lab to make up courses failed during the regular school term. “They have made outstanding accomplishments,” Mrs. Bissette said. Mrs. M/irgaret Smithson is employed by the schools as summer school coordinator. w , t m y'M Development, said Martin County has now joined the Albemarle Area counties in the cooperative. “While the general goal is to upgrade low income farmers this cooperative is not restricted to a particular group.” Harrell points out. And, he sees the cooperative of being more than for the hog industry. He said feeder pigs were chosen because there appeared to be a greater need and more potential in this area. Gene Sutton, former extension agent in lowa, has been sent by the U. S. De partment of Agriculture to manage the local co-op. The project was funded in 1968 but did not become operative until February, 1969. Harrell already has success stor ies in the file. He said they are the re sult of agencies pooling their efforts— Chowan County Extension people, Jack Parker, area livestock specialist, Eco nomic Improvement Council and the Rural Fund for Development. •There arc now 112 members in the open membership cooperative Sutton, Harrell. Parker and others are now working to develop quality produc tion. This is being done by holding training sessions and securing good breeding stock. Sutton said the place of the coopera tive is to establish and coordinate a pro gram in feeder pigs. He continuously points out the program is designed to supplement services already available, such as extension specialists. “We uti lize their information and experience and pass it on to farmers,” he said. “Our program is totally coordinated with existing agencies.” He said the epiphasis is on quality and sufficiently large operations to have an economic unit. Harrell said this is a self-sustaining and income generating program for the Albemarle Area. Also, some students are taking new subjects. To gain credit they must spend 120 hours at the lab and show a year’s progress. Mrs. Bissette emphasized that the Learning Lab is no place to play. “Everyone down here studies. Some against their will, but they study.” Those enrolled at the center are given periodic tests to measure accomplish ments before going on to another unit. The la bis open Monday. Tuesday and Wednesday from 8:30 A. M., to 4 P. M. and 6:30 P. M., to 9:30 P. M.; Thurs day, 8:30 A. M., to 4 P. M.; and Friday, 8:30 A. M., to 3:30 P. M.