“Sy Buff”
On Vacation
Holton New
Head Coach
David Quinton Holton, Jr., a
native of Edenton and 1965
graduate of Holmes High School,
has returned to assume the
position of head football coach.
Prior to moving to Edenton he was
employed as an account manager
for Agency Records Control in
Durham.
As a student, Holton played
quarterback for the Edenton Aces
under Coach Jerry McGee. He
served as head football and
baseball coach at North Hamptoh
High School from 1969-71. For two
years after that he was assistant
football coach at J. H. Rose High
School in Greenville. Holton
accepted an assistant coaches’
position at Duke University in
1973, and remained there for one
year.
The Edenton-Chowan Board of
Education accepted his
application Monday night at the
regular board meeting.
Recent action in the N. C.
General Assembly will provide
state alloted kindergarten
teachers, the board was told. The
existing program under ESEA
Title I will be phased out.
The number of kindergarten
teachers provided by state funds
will be determined according to 85
per cent of this year's enrollment,
and the remaining 15 per cent will
be computed after the first five
days of school, according to actual
need.
Initially, the Edenton-Chowan
School will receive six state
alloted teachers for an anticipated
enrollment of 175 students, at the
maximum 28 students per class.
Unless eight more kindergarten
students register for the program,
a seventh teacher will have to be
provided from other sources of
revenue.
The importance of kindergarten
pre-registration was emphasized
as it will affect plans for the up
coming program this fall.
The board was officially notified
that the ESAA Basic Project has
lieen funded at a level of $215,000
and that $173,903 can be expected
for the ESAA pilot project.
Including those figures, federal
funds in the school system will
total more than a half-million
dollars.
Cecil W. Fry was designated
associate superintendent. He had
been serving as assistant
superintendent since January
1971, and actually accepted the
responsibilities as associate in
1974.
Robert Harrell, representing the
Holmes High School Band Parents
Association, requested the board
to consider a contribution for a
“Peanut Festival” in the fall. The
funds would be used as seed
money for what the association
hopes will become an annual fund
raising affair, supporting the band
and other school activities.
Summer school has been
scheduled from June 21 to August
2, offering enrichment and
remedial courses. The program is
funded by student tuition.
One-half of the people seem to
think they have been
commissioned to tell the other half
what they can do.
4 ,
A happy spirit is the greatest
possession that comes to man,
regardless of his wealth or lack of
it.
Thursday, June 10, 1976
The Chowan Herald
Box 207, EDENTON, N. C. 27032
Published every Thursday at Edenton by
The Chowan Herald, Inc , L. F. Amburn, Jr.,
president and general manager, 421-425
South Broad Street, Edenton, North
Carolina 27932.
Entered as second-class matter August 30,
1934, at the Post-Office at Edenton, North
Carolina, under act of March 3, 1870.
L. F. Amburn, Jr., President-Gen. Mgr.
J. Edwin Bufftap Editor
E. N. Manning Production Supt.
Subscription Ratos
One Year (outside NX. > 57.00
One Yeer (inN. C.) J $*.24
Six Months (outside N. C.) $8.50
Six Months (in N. C.) (3.30
Continued From Page I
The rise of the commission on
the horizon along the Public
Parade and the other nine counties
in the Albemarle, along with the
development and delivery of
human resources programs, is an
almost modern phenomenon.
From a dream it has grown to the
place where more than $7-million
in funds flow through the regional
organization and a $1.3-million
payroll exists.
This region has always been
able to point with pride to the
small percentage of
administrative costs included in
programs. Programs where more
than 90 per cent of the budget goes
in service to the clients are doing
something worthwhile for any
area.
The history of ARPDC and the
now defunct Albemarle Human
Resources Development System is
interesting, but complicated.
ARPDC took over AHRDS
program management nearly 18
months ago and things haven't
worked smoothly since.
Staff has left, programs have
faltered and now a financial crisis
has put a cloud of suspicion over
the entire regional concept.
It was late in 1974 that a crack in
the dike became so obvious that a
team of disinterested consultants
were brought in. The team
conducted a management review
of ARPDC and AHRDS.
Certain problems were
documented and certain
recommendations were made on
December 6, 1974.
A special committee of the two
organizations generally agreed to
implement the recommendations.
Between presentation and
implementation someone
gummed up the works.
Although the consultants found
"several conditions. . . which
demand immediate corrective
measures" ARPDC moved to
destory AHRDS rather than
functionally align the two “so as to
carry out its complex
responsibiilities in the most
efficient and effective manner.”
This is all history. The state of
the region today is a mess but
through strong, dedicated
leadership the ship can be put on
course. And it is worth the time
and effort.
It will be a long time before
funding agencies think of the
Albemarle as a testing ground for
innovative programs. It will be a
long time before we regain the
confidence of those who can
provide the resources which will
be the most beneficial to the most
people in our region.
What has happened to the region
is almost criminal in nature.
Innocent people are now being
deprived of the services they are
entitled to, innocent employees
are having to go without pay.
There has to be an element for
selfishness and greed in this entire
matter. This is what makes it so
painful for those who have
neglected their own private affairs
to work on boards and
committees. Also, it is alien to any
and all concepts developed over
the years, concepts which made
our star shine just a little brighter
than that of the other multi-county
regions.
While it is late, it is not too late
to pick up the pieces. It is not too
late of pick up ARPDC-AHRDS
Management Review, dust it off
and move forward with a
structure which will restore the
Albemarle to its rightful place in
the scheme of things.
It cannot be done tomorrow or
the next day, next week or next
month. But if a move is not made
today to fuel the ship that will
return us to orbit, the struggle will
become more difficult day,
every week and every month that
passes.
Two. wrongs don’t ever make a
right, it is said. But enough rights
have away of allowing people a
vehicle to use in forgetting the
wrongs.
Bond Sales
Sales of Series E and H Savings
Bonds in Chowan County during
the first quarter of 1976 were
$26,674. This represents 13,8 per
cent of the county’s goal of
$193,680, according to Graham
White, county volunteer
chairman.
(Hr HhEk "
■ jpg- .. JKm— m gH ”5
VISITORS FROM BRAZlL—Serrino Joaquim and Jose
Cavagnae from Brazil are shown with J. Gilliam Wood at Hayes
Farm and Soil Conservation Service leaders during their recent
visit to the area. Others pictured are Jesse L. Hicks', SCS state
conservationist; L. C. Bunch, chairman, Albemarle District;
Albert Moore, district conservationist; and Mitch Clary,
assistant SCS state conservationist.
Brazilians
Visit Edenton
Two members with an
Agricultural Agency of Brazil paid
a recent visit to the Albemarle
District. Serrino Joaquim and
Jose Cavagnae toured
Northeastern North Carolina with
members of the State Soil
Conservation Service staff looking
at various conservation practices.
They visited Hayes farm in
Chowan County as part of their
planned tour.
According to Joaquim, the
Brazilian government is
interested in setting up an agency
similar to our Soil Conservation
Service in Brazil. Their state in
Brazil is somewhat larger than
North Carolina but its climate,
growing seasons, crops,
topography and problems relating
to conservation are very much
alike our Coastal Area.
Both men were real interested in
seeing conservation measures
applied to the land as well as the
overall makeup of the Soil
Conservation Districts, the Soil
Conservation Service and local
farmer relationship with these
agencies.
Tax Rate
Continued From Page 1
He argued against the
recreation program, saying it
could best be handled by
volunteers. “We shouldn’t have to
pay playmakers,” he said.
Commissioner Bateman also
charged his colleagues with not
being realistic with regards to
values. He said it is easy to
approve everything put before the
board because the taxpayers must
pay the bill.
His fellow Finance Committee
member, George, said: “This is
the time for the county to get out of
it (the recreation program). The
program is not what it ought to be
and we are not getting our
money’s worth. It is in the wrong
hands and should be in the hands
of professionals.”
Mrs. Pansy A. Elliott, county
finance director, attempted to
explain the fund balance.
Commissioner Elmore asked if it
was not a figure selected to
balance the budget at a certain tax
rate, and the finance director
agreed that it was.
However, under questioning,
she was unable to explain to the
obvious satisfaction of the board
members how much they would
reasonably expect to include in the
budget.
Commissioner Bateman said the
Finance Committee’s intent was
not to short-change the hospital for
services rendered to charity
patients. He explained that it was
the understanding that money
would be available from other
sources but he understood the
county must pick up the balance.
“We have a good hospital and I
want the county to give 100 per
cent support,” he added.
FOR OUT OF THIS WORLD >4
Inflation Hits
Cost Os Court
RALEIGH—To bring court costs
paid by losing parties more in line
with the expense of running the
North Carolina court system, the
General Assembly recently
increased the rates, effective July
1.
This means that people whose
court cases are handled after July
1 will pay an additional $2 in costs
in the District Court criminal
division bringing the charge to $27.
Superior Court criminal costs will
rise from the present S4O to S4B.
Civil costs will rise also, from sl6
to $24 on the District Court level,
and from $26 to $34 in Superior
Court civil cases.
“The general public will be most
concerned about the increase in
District Court traffic cases from
$25 to $27,” said Bert Montague,
director of the Administrative
Office of the Courts.
“Anyone who has been cited for
a traffic offense and intends to
waive his appearance by paying
costs must do so on or before June
30 to get advantage of the current
lower rates,” Montague said.
“Whether the payment is mailed
- in or hand-delivered, it must get to
the clerk’s office before July 1 to
qualify for the present $25 rate.”
Anyone who delivers a waiver to
the court on or after July 1 and
includes payment at the old rate
will be asked for additional
money.
For those defendants cited now
who appear for trial in July or
later, their costs of court will be
determined as of their trial date.
For instance, a person cited June 1
and appears in court July 7 would
pay costs of $27, which will be the
rate in effect on the trial date.
To assist the public in coping
with the change in rates, law
enforcement officers are being
requested to jot the change in
court costs on the back of the
citations they hand out, until new
citation books can be printed.
One of the reasons for the rise in
court costs is the enormous
increase in paperwork in court
clerks’ offices, brought about by
the revised Code of Criminal
Proce'dure. To handle the
paperwork, the General Assembly
approved the hiring of 155
additional employees for clerks’
offices across the state.
Dead Suspect
Continued From Page 1
Upon further investigation
officers found a suitcase belonging
to Hamilton. I contained a sawed
off shotgun and a new 9mm
revolver, along with shells. All of
the weapons are believed to have
been stolen.
Officers have determined that
Hamilton was an escapee from a
Georgia prison where he was
serving a sentence for armed
.robbery. He is also believed to
have been wanted in connection
with other robberies.
A bus ticket indicated that he
boarded a Trailways coach in Ft.
Myers, Fla., May 30 and arrived in
Edenton on May 31, the day before
the robbery.
Holden told officers he had
known Hamilton for about a year,
having met him in New Yoifc.
Cpl. Spruill, who had bullet
wounds in both legs, was. released
from Chowan Hospital Saturday
morning. He is reported to be
making satisfactory progress in
his recovery. .
Hospital Plan Is Endorsed
Construction of a $167,000
addition to Chowan Hospital with
hopes of expanding the emergency
room , gained endorsement
Monday of the county
commissioners.
The board members heard Dr.
Richard Hardin, chief of staff,
explain that no local money is
being requested at this time. He
said construction of an education
annex will be financed through a
grant from Eastern Area Health
Education Commission.
Thomas M. Surratt, president of
the local medical facility, is
seeking grants from foundations
to hopefully expand the
emergency room at the same
time, according to Dr. Hardin.
The board was told that bids
would be taken later this month
and the money must be “tied
down” by June 30 or it will revert
to EAHEC.
Dr. Hardin also lauded the
hospital’s new emergency room
coverage. It includes physician
assistants, provides better
coverage at a reduced cost to the
patient. He added that medical
students and student PAs are also
being trained at the local facility.
T.B.H. Wood was reappointed to
the Chowan County ABC Board of
Commissioner Alton Elmore
suggested that the officials of the
county take a look at the structure
of all boards in the county. “We
would be better off to have some
fresh faces now and then,” he
said.
The commissioners agreed to
cooperate with Perquimans
County in putting down a water
ARPDC
Continued From Page 1
wages,” he said, “Let’s get that
done first. These people need the
money and let’s concentrate on
getting them paid.”
C. A. Phillips of Edenton also
called for any suggestions for a
way to “bail ourselves out of the
situation.” However, he added:
“We can’t go in and start making
the payroll until we know where
we are and what our responsibility
and liability is/’
■ Herbert Mullen of Elizabeth
City, attorney for ARPDC, said in
his opinion the board could
further complicate the situation
by making any payments for
anything until the audit is
completed.
W. B. Gardner, former ARPDC
chairman, said the group should
not overlook the good that has
been done over the past five years.
“Unless we keep people working
we are taking one step forward
and two backwards.” he added.
By a 9-4 vote the board members
defeated a motion to meet the
payroll.
The problem was called “big
and bad” by Ray McCleese of*
Tyrrell county and Alphonsa
Nixon of Pasquotank County said
ARPDC is the only “outfit I have
ever been associated with that I
am ashamed of.”
Meanwhile, ARPDC board
members and officials are asking
employees to “have just a little
bit more faith.”
Manager Named
The appointment of Peter M.
Curtice as Social Security branch
manager in Elizabeth City has
been announced by Cyrus S.
Adcock, Social Security district
manager in Greenville. He
replaces Robert W. Alford who has
transferred to the position of
administrative assistant in the
Social Security Office in Raleigh.
Curtice is a native of
Petersburg, Va.
Two File
Continued From Page I
17.
Copeland, 33, is now fanning
with his father after nine years
with Wachovia Bank and Trust
Company in Greenville, and
Williamston, where he was an
assistant vice president. -
He is a 1961 graduate of Chowan
High School and 1967 graduate of
East Carolina University in
Greenville. He is a member of
Ballard’s Bridge Baptist Church
and a past president (1973-74) of
Williamston Kiwanis Club.
Copeland is married to the
former Connie Boyce and they
have two sons, Kenny and Chad.
line to serve neighboring people.
When the Perquimans plan is
finalized the local board will be
repaid for the cost of the line.
Dallas Jehtro, Jr., county,
coordinator, reported that Bryant,
Utilities had returned to complete
putting in water lines and meters.
James A. Pruitt of Creswell was
awarded the contract to paint the
trim on the County Office
Building.
Mrs. Catherine Hendren of New
Bern appeared at the request of
Chairman C. A. Phillips to further
explain a Youth Services program
which has twice been voted down
by the commissioners. •
Mrs. Hendren apologized for the
manner in which the matter has
been handled, saying Chowan
County was unjustly put in a bad
light through news releases
coming from the Department of
Human Resources. She said,
however, the county might benefit
in years to come by establishing a
Task Force to recommend youth
programs to prevent children
from getting into trouble.
Commissioners said they would
consider recommendations from
county agencies.
Dr. J. H. Horton was
reappointed to the Albemarle
Regional Planning & Development
Commission and Chairman
Phillips described as “terrible”
the situation where staff members
are being asked to work without
pay while the commission awaits a
full audit.
Commissioner N. J. George said
he would be willing for Chowan
County to put up its share of the
money so staff members could be
paid. He did not get any support on
the suggestion.
Mrs. Luella Sellers questioned
the commissioners about the
placing of priority on a
courthouse-jail complex rather
than adequate funds for schools.
Commissioner George said he
felt the questions were out of
order. “It is out of order to cross
examine the commissioners, and I
resent it,” he added.
Mrs. Sellers charged that the
board had not adequately faced
educational problems ( while
moving ahead with the courthouse
and jail.
Chairman Phillips said many
problems in the county have been
studied and the number one
priority remains. He added that
the county is under a mandate
from the state to provide better
jail facilities.
Robert Harrell appeared to
for support of a proposed Peanut
Festival and Alton Clark, Jaycee
president, pledged support of that
organization in any project in
which the members could be
helpful.
Die county agreed to provide
space for Judd Little, planner. The
Elizabeth City field office of the
Department of Natural and
Economic Resources is being
closed.
Road Projects
Are Approved
RALEIGH—The N. C. Board of
Transportation approved Friday
two separate highway
improvement projects for
Edenton at an estimated cost of
$25,500.
Approval of Edenton projects
came at the board’s monthly
meeting held in Plymouth. These
projects are part of the
Department of Transportation’s
Small Urban Project Program
and are financed entirely with
state funds.
Members of the Board of
Transportation instituted this
program to take care of a need not
previously handled by the
Highway Improvement Program. :
In its April meeting the Board
approved the use of a total of
$6,000,000 in Statewide Urban
funds for new small urban
projects.
Die Edenton projects include:
reconstruction of a short section of '
curb and gutter and storm
drainage on US 17 at Filbert’s ’
Creek; and widening and f
resurfacing with sand asphalt
Paradise Road (SR 1319) from U. t
S. 17 to Edenton by-pass. % ■
The curb and gutter project tin 5
US 17 will cost an estimated
SIO,OOO while Paradise Rond
project costs is estimated At
$15,500.