fctflr»pfe* A Stat istic
i More and more people convicted
of crimes along the Public Parade
ire finding it easier and easier to
stay o\it of jail. At the same time
they are facing judges who are
making it more convenient for
them to pay their debt to society
through a fine and court costs.
Every time the General
Assembly meets the bleeding
hearts are on hand to plea for
legislation which makes it more
difficult to put a man behind bars
and keep him there. The cost of
maintaining a man in prison has
sky -rocket ed-much faster than
inflation on the outside. There are
no more people and more crime
and the state can’t keep up.
“Go to prison, behave yourself
and you’ll be out in no time,” the
judges said in the past. Now it goes
like: “Recieve a heavier fine, stay
at home, pay the fine at the
direction of the probation office
and don’t misbehave so that you
will be found out.”
The key to the latter is the
probation officer. Time payment
departments in the Clerk of
Court’s office have about closed
down but the probation officer has
been turned into a collector. And it
ain’t right!
Because of a bad collection
experience, the payment of court
charges has shifted from the clerk
to the probation officer. The clerk
has no staff to enforce court orders
concerning payments. The
probation officer has no time to do
a similar job.
Everyone connected with law
and justice is overworked.
Statistics are in vogue as never
before, as everyone at the higher
level is attempting to justify his
existence via a computer printout.
The volumes of paper work have
gone out of sight and so have
demands on the time of
enforcement personnel.
If fewer and fewer people were
convicted of crimes along the
' Public Parade and elsewhere the
problem would soon disappear.
The jails would be less crowded.
And if judges would recognise
that their no “ installment’-’-policy -
on the one hand places added work
’ on another, then probation officers
could counsel deserving
probationers rather than be bill
collectors for the courts. Should
this be done, maybe probation
repeaters would be a statistic we
could herald with pride.
Regionalism On Trial
Another level of government is
in the process of being imposed
upon citizens along the Public
Parade, throughout Tar Heelia
and the nation. So says the former
chairman of the Lead Regional
Organization in the Albemarle,
which could turn into a Council of
Governments and ultimately
another bureaucratic monster.
W, B. Gardner was the first
chairman of the Albemarle
Regional Planning & Development
Commission. He served for three
years in this capacity. Because of
his philosophy of government in
general and his vocation (Edenton
Town Administrator) in
particular, he has been an
outpsoken advocate of the agency
remaining a planning agency.
Nevertheless, it has gobbled up
programs. Some of the programs
the agency foster, others it took in
by mandate from the Holshouser
Administration. Planning has
become secondary to program
operation for two reasons. There is
little “visibility” in planning. Not
only are program operations
highly visible, that is where the
money is.
This could not have been more
graphicly brought home than over
in the Isle of the Pasquotank last
week when an item on the agenda
dealt with how information about
the region from the regional
organization should be disbursed
to those representing member
governments. Before the
conversation on this mellowed
there was _an express o l near
anarchy from the staff.
Board members of ARPDC
represent member governments,
i Apparently the critics didn’t count
noses because seven of the 10
counties in the Albemarle were
present to hear the charge of
disinterest. If a vote had been
taken with staff members allowed
Continued an Page 4
•- l
ev. H. Willard Lampe
\ %v. Lampe
S %’ts Post
Re ’illard Lampe, pastor
of Fir. >yterian Church, has
announ t he will seek the
post of £»ain for the N. C.
Department of the American
Legion. His candidacy was
announced this week.
Election to department posts
will be held in Raleigh in June.
Mr. Lampe came to Edenton in
1975 after having resided in
Nebraska. He has been an active
member of Post 40 here, and
currently is serving as First
District chaplain.
He attended McCormick
Seminary in Chicago in 1939 prior
to joining the U. S. Army Chaplain
School in 1943. During his tour of
duty, he was stationed at Camp
Edwards, Mass., Ft. Brady,
Mich., Ft. Custer, Mich.,
Australia, New Guinea,
Phillipines, Okinawa, and Korea.
Mr. Lampe was decorated with
the American Defense Service
Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Service
Medal, Phillipines Liberation
Medal, Victory Medal, and the
American Campaign Service
Medal.
In 1946, he shifted to the U. S.
Army Reserve where he served
until his retirement in 1972.
Mr. Lampe and his wife,
Charlotte, reside on West Queen
Street. They have two daughters
and one son.
-Bike-A-Thon Set
A Bike-A-Thon to raise funds for
the Easter Seals campaign will
again be held in Chowan County
and has been incorporated into the
four-day Edenton-Chowan
Bicentennial Arts Festival
program.
Mike Johnson, # recreation
director, announces that the third
annual event will take place on
April 10, beginning at 2 P.M. All
persons interested in participating
are asked to sign-up at National
Guard Armory.
“There will be six fantastic
prizes this year to be given to both
boys and girls who turn in the most
money from 18 years of age and
down,” Johnson pointed out.
Bicycles are being donated by
Goodyear and Belk-Tyler.
Participants have sponsors sign
up to contribute so much per mile
completed on the 18-mile course.
Meeting Slated
Coordinated promotions for
Edenton will be the subject of a
special meeting of merchants set
for March 25 at the Municipal
Building. The meeting will begin
at 8 P.M.
Bill Norvell, chairman,
Merchants Committee, Edenton
Chamber of Commerce, has
requested that all merchants meet
with committee members to
discuss a promotional program.
.
A MOVING EXPERIENCE—TIM Armed Forces Bicentennial Caravan on its way to cities and
towns across die United States. Filled with exciting shows and displays about our nation’s history,
thaßioentennial Caravan will tour through December 1978. It will be in Edenton next month during
the Bicentennial Arts Festival.
T wM pk T* TP TP |
M S’- B s B B Vv 8 \ ’B >
8 S S B 8 B B B- A B' : *T»
Volume XLH—No. 12."
Polls Prepare For Primary
More than 5,000 registered
voters in Chowan County can cast
a ballot for their choice of a
presidential candidate, pass on
two state constitutional
amendments and a bond issue.
However, a light vote is predicted.
(A sample ballot and
instructions for voting is printed
on Page 4-C of today’s
newspaper.)
This primary Democrats can
vote only for Democrats, the
constitutional amendments and
the bond issue. Republicans can
vote only for Republicans and the
other three questions.
American Party members,
independents and those registered
MUi 3r & -c.
Wfk Mm ?, ■-**-
STUDY RURAL DEVELOPMENT—Dick Blue and James
Weaver, center, representatives of a USDA agency studying
rural development here, are pictured with area leaders. Left to
right are: Pete Thompson, county extension chairman; Melvin
Howell, Farmers Home Administration area specialist; Blue,
Weaver, Howard Campbell, district health director; and A. C.
Hudson, chairman, Edenton Housing Authority.
County Provides Laboratory
Edenton and Chowan County is
serving as a laboratory for U. S.
representatives working on rural
development in foreign countries.
Some 22 employees of the USDA’s
Agency for International
Development Monday began a 17-
Sen Morgan
To Open Park
U. S. Sen. Robert Morgan will
speak at the dedication of
Edenton’s waterfront park
development at 4:30 P.M. on April
9. -
In making the announcement, J.
Clarence Leary, Jr., chairman of
Bicentennial activities here, said
this will be one of the major events
scheduled during the Edenton-
Chowan Bicentennial Arts
Festival. “We are fortunate to be
able to have the popular U. S.
Senator as speaker for the
dedication,” he said.
W. B. Gardner, town
administrator, said further
details of the dedication will be
announced later.
The festival gets underway on
April 8 and concludes April 11 with
a sailboat race sponsored by
Edenton Yacht Club.
Edenton will host the U. S.
Armed Forces Bicentennial
Caravan as part of festival
activities, April 8-9. To be set up at
the Barker House Visitor Center-
Continued on Page 4
Edenton, North Carolina, Thursday, March 18, 1976
as no-party cannot vote for any
candidate but can vote on the
three questions. However, a
person registered as no-party can,
on the day of the primary, go to the
registrar of the presinct in which he
is registered and tell the registrar
that he would like to declare a
party.
The polls open at 6:30 A.M. and
close at 7:30 P.M. Curbside voting
will be allowed for those persons
who are unable to go into the
voting enclosure. The hours for
curbside voting is limited to from 9
A.M. to 5 P.M.
The voting machines will be
used, except for absentee ballots.
The deadline for voting absentee is
day study program here.
James Weaver and, Dick Blue.
AID officials, are directing the
program which began with an
overview of local government. R.
M. (Pete) Thompson, county
eMtension chairman, put together
the program which was kicked off
with talks by C. A. Phillips, Roy L.
Harrell, W. B. Gardner, and L. F.
Amburn, Jr.
Phillips, chairman of the
Chowan County commissioners,
told the group at the Municipal
Building that the area claims no
record for achievemment. “If we
have anything going for us it is
that we are hospitable people,” he
said.
The chairman also explained
some of the diverse activities of
local government. “There are
things going on that would have
been considered unprecedented
only a few years ago,” he noted.
He said planning is a key
Continued On Page 4
*J - £
Sen. Robert Morgan
I ...
*
already passed, except for people
becoming ill after March
a near relative may apply with an
application signed by a physician.
Further information about
voting regulations can be obtained
from Mrs. Byron P. Kehayes,
chairman, Chowan County Board
of Elections, or Mrs. Joseph M.
Thorud, executive secretary.
Total registration in Chowan
County is 5,002. There are 4,538
Democrats, 406 Republicans, eight
American Party members, 23
Independents and 27 with no-party
affiliation.
The polling places are as
follows:
East Edenton—County Office
Commissioners
Set Salary
The salary for the new Chowan
County Register of Deeds will be
SIO,OOO annually. This decision
was made Monday night by county
commissioners
C. A. Phillips, chairman, said
the motion also calls for a 40-hour
week for the person holding the
position. He said it is understood
that the register of deeds could
serve as clerk to the board of
commissioners.
Mrs. Bertha B. Bunch, in
announcing her forthcoming
retirement earlier this month,
requested that no change be made
in the salary. She is drawing
$11,400.
Mrs. Buoch has served as
registrar for 19 years and has
worked in the office for 51 years.
She will not seek re-election,
therefore, will retire on December
1.
Mrs. Anne Spruill and Mrs. Jean
Bunch have already announced as
candidates. • '
Commissioners action came
following a public hearing at the
Ryland Community Building to
discuss formation of a fire district
by a Perquimans County
volunteer unit but with a service
area which covers a portion of
Chowan County.
After considerable discussion
Phillips was authorized to form a
committee composed of
Perquimans commissioners,
representatives of the Center Hill-
Crossroads Volunteer Department
and the Belvidere-Chappell Hill
Volunteer Department and local
commissioners.
Elwood Inscoe of the State
Department of Insurance will be
invited to meet with the group.
The final decision will rest with
the Chowan commissioners.
In other action, the board
approved the participation of
Edenton-Chowan Schools in a pilot
program sponsored by the Local
Government Commission. Also,
the animal control officer is being
transferred from the Sheriff’s
Department to the coordinator’s
office.
All commissioners were present
for the meeting.
Commission Is Criticized
ELIZABETH ClTY—Board
members of the Albemarle
Regional Planning & Development
Commission were openly
criticized here Thursday night by
two staff members attending the
regular board meeting.
After Ray Beckler was
unanimously named acting
director in the absence of Wesley
Cullipher, the appointment was
challenged by Mrs. Bunny White
of the Aging Program. She
questioned whether or not Beckler
had been associated with ARPDC
a sufficient length of time to be
thoroughly familiar with the
programs.
T. R. Spruill of Washington
County, chairman, had chosen
Beckler for the post on an interim
basis until the board meeting.
Beckler has headed the Human
Resources Division since July,
1975.
Mrs. White, over the objections
of some board members, went on
to request that staff members be
Single Copies id Cents.
Building on East King Street.
West Edenton—Municipal
Building at the foot of Broad.
RoAy Hock-Rescue Squad
Building behind Earl Smith’s
Store.
Center Hill-Center Hill
Community Building at Tyner.
Wardville-Wards Community
Building on Highway 32.
Yeopim—Edenton Municipal
Airport.
* n TSPf WBPyJj WpM
Dr. Abraham Holtzman
Forum Set
For Tuesday
“President and Congress:
Conflict Over War Powers and
Impoundment” will be the topic of
Dr. Abraham Holtzman at 7:30
P.M. Tuesday at Chowan County
Courthouse.
The second speaker in the
American Experiment, a series of
Bicentennial forums, Dr.
Holtzman is a N. C. State
University Department of Politics
professor whose research includes
American political parties,
interest group*, Congress and the
Presidency.
His talk will touch on the
separation of powers of the two
bodies, the difference between the
two institutions, the tremendous
growth of Presidential power, the
conflict over who may involve
Continued on Page 4
Bill Passes House
Legislation to allow peanut
producers to transfer their federal
growing allotments between
counties and states has passed the
House and awaits action in the
Senate.
A national wire service reported
Monday’s action which came on a
voice vote. It would exempt
growing areas devastated by
natural disasters, such as floods,
from the current ban that
prohibits transfer of allotments
between counties.
The Senate earlier approved a
similar bill but must act on the
House version before the final
measure is sent to the White
House.
consulted more by the board about
program acitivity. “I question if
board members keep up with
programs,” she stated. She also
charged that the board members
were not familiar with services
being offered.
Turning to the group, she said
the fact that so few board
members were present for the
meeting is evidence of the point
she was trying to make.
(There were 13 board members
and 10 staff members present for
the meeting. Seven of the 10
counties were represented.)
Later Mrs. Naomi Hester,
director of the Aging Program,
said there are apparent
differences among staff and board
members. ‘‘We need an increased
demonstration of support ot board
members for programs,” she said.
The director called for ‘‘staff
chain training” to strengthen the
agency, for fairer rates staff
salaries, a policy to assist staff for
Ceatiaaed ea Page 4