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
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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.
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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 <S aig said numerous
counties across t'S £ >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
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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.