Absence Os Rock
There are those who would say
most fishermen are puzzled; it is
Just a matter of degree. We ran
into an extremely puzzled
fisherman earlier in the week.
He apparently loves to fish for
rock. He recalled the days when he
could catch a mess early in the
morning and still get to work by
8:30 o’clock. Later he could fish
from his back yard on the
Albemarle Sound and still catch a
mess.
Now the rockfish are gone.
Why?
Not being an avid fisherman, we
couldn’t help him solve the puzzle.
Later in the day, however, we ran
into Carlton Nixon, who is paid to
know all about the fishing laws if
: not the habits of fish. We asked
about the rockfish. He related that
the theories are about equal to the
number of specialist who are
asked.
Even if Carlton had produced a
i satisfactory answer to where the
rockfish have gone, it would not
have solved the lug puzzle. That is
why the National Fish Hatchery
along the Public Parade produces
so many rockfish fingerlings only
to stock distant waters?
Will someone out there please
: help us help Bill Easterling solve
his puzzle? Then we can go back to
talking money with him instead of
listening about the absence of
rockfish.
Time Has Come
Some agencies talk about being
cost effective. Other agencies do
something about it. The N. C.
Agricultural Extension Service is
now gearing up to make funds
available stretch the furtherest.
Dr. T. Carlton Blalock, director,
threw out such words as “multi
county assignments” and “con
solidation of administrative units”
in a matter-of-fact speech last
Thursday night at the quarter
board meeting of Albemarle Area
Development Association.
Dr. Blalock was not speaking in
an unknown tongue. He wf*
f speaking to people who enjoy the
benefits of multi-county assign
ments of specialists and in an area
where consolidation of ad
ministrative units could expand an
already successful program.
Northeastern North Carolina
has been the testing grounds for
programs which require a
specialist to travel the circuit in as
many as 15 counties. In every case
it has been proven that the
citizenry benefits.
Any consolidation of ad
ministrative units will be new in
Tar Heelia. In fact, we proposed it
10 years ago but it has not began to
catch on until now. The assign
ment of one extension chairman as
administrator of two or more
counties would result in greater
use of talents and greater chances
of every person with a problem
having that problem addressed by
a specialist.
Hie time has come for serious
consideration of the concepts Dr.
Blalock is developing in the
Agricultural Extension Service.
#But Ins agency doesn’t have a
monopoly on a need for cost ef
ficient operation. Local govern
ments along the Public Parade
need to go to school on this subject.
Different Flags
Hie proposal by Pitt County
Memorial Hospital to construct a
144-bed tower and convert 20
existing beds to intensive care unit
status has been approved by the
Eastern Cardins Health Systems
Continued On Page 4
Copeland Named Manager
Luther C. Copeland, Jr., has been employed as Chowan County
manager, effective July 9, He succeeds Eddie Dick who held the position
for a year before accepting a similar position in Craven County.
“Cliff” Copeland, 27 and single, was cboeen from some 75 applicants.
County commissioners readied the decision Mooday night following a
public hearing on the budget for fiscal 1979*0.
The manager’s starting salary was placed at $19,000 plus a car
Copeland is coming to Chowan County from Albemarle where he has
f been assistant county manager since October, 1975. Earlier he worked as
a Department of Finance intern with the Town of Chapel Hill, was a
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Volume XIV.-No. 25
Vepco’s Foes
Keep On Heat;
Increase Asked
As “Operation Overcharge”
continues to put the “heat” on
Vepco, the electric utility has
“pancaked” a rate increase in
North Carolina. Vepco announced
earlier this week an intent to file
for $18.7-million worth of
wholesale rate increases by July
31.
This filing will be in addition to a
$10.2-million wholesale rate in
crease imposed last September
and being protested by Tar Heel
municipalities. The newest
request would average 7.4 per cent
for municipalities and 12.8 per
cent for cooperatives.
The Town of Edenton and
Albemarle Electric Membership
in Hertford would be affected by
the increase.
A Vepco vice president said the
increases would help defray the
cost of constructing the second
unit at the North Anna nuclear
power station.
Meanwhile, Stanley W. Hege of
Chowan County, chairman of the
N. C. Utilities Commission
Committee of “Operation Over
charge” said .Monday the Three
Mile Island incident “must not
cause us to let up on them (Vep
co).”
“We will continue to keep the
heat on them at every level,” he
continued.
In a report today (Thursday) to
Edenton-Chowan Chamber of
Commerce, Hege predicted that
the N. C. Utilities Commission will
“roll back” the 19.7 per cent retail
rate increase granted in Sep
tember by 6 per cent.
Bridge Hearing
The Division of Highways of the
N. C. Department of Trans
portation (NCDOT) will hold a
public meeting concerning
replacement of the Highway 32
bridge over the Albemarle Sound
in Chowan and Washington
counties.
The meeting will be held June 28
in the Perquimans County Office
Building on South Church Street in
Hertford at 7:30 P.M. NCDOT
representatives will present
preliminary work accomplished
and will hear suggestions from the
public.
Alternative bridge locations
have been identified. Movable and
fixed span bridges now are being
evaluated.
The bridge is listed in the
Transportation Improvement
Program and has high priority for
replacement as federal aid funds
become available.
Transportation board member
Marc Basnight of Manteo said,
“Ihis bridge replacement meets a
significant transportation need for
the area. I’m delighted we’ve
reached the public meeting stage,
and I encourage residents to ask
questions and voice their opinions
on the proposed alternatives at the
meeting.”
For more information, contact
T. L. Waters, manager of planning
and research, Division of High
ways, P. O. Box 25201, Raleigh,
N. C. 27611 or telephone him at
(919) 733-3141.
Edenton, North Carolina, Thursday, June 21, 1979
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ELECTIONS BOARD Mrs. Lena M. Leary, left, is shown
administering the oath of office to the three members of the
Chowan County Board of Elections. They are: E. N. (Pete)
Manning, Mrs. Opal Kehayes, and Mrs. Novella Wilson. (Staff
Photo hy Luke Amburn.)
Board Gets 2 New Members
Two Democratic Party
nominees to the Chowan County
Board of Elections were sworn in
at noon Tuesday. E. N. (Pete)
Manning and Mrs. Novella Wilson
took the oath along with Mrs. Opal
Kehayes, the Republican member
who was renominated.
The oaths were administered by
Mrs. Lena M. Leary, clerk of
Chowan County Superior Court.
Manning and Mrs. Wilson
replace Robert Harrell and Mrs.
Sadie Hoskins.
At a brief meeting later, Mrs.
Corrine Thorud, director of
elections, submitted her
resignation.
The appointment of the
Democratic Party members by
,i U>e of Election
created confusion and contro
versy. It was not until Monday
afternoon that Mrs. Thorud finally
learned who officially had been
elected by the state board.
J. Clarence Leary, Jr., former
chairman of the Chowan County
Democratic Executive Com
mittee, submitted Harrell and
Mrs. Hoskins for re-election.
Leary did not seek another term in
the party post and N. J. George
was elected chairman.
A complaint was registered with
state party headquarters about
the manner in which Leary
reached the decision to provide
Change Coming
HERTFORD The winds of
change are growing in the Ni C.
Agricultural Service and the
direction is toward more citizen
involvement, consolidation of
programs and personnel as well as
development of multi-county
units.
Dr. T. Carlton Blalock, director,
said last Thursday night that he
feds what will come from im
mediate changes and long-range
planning will be a stronger
mechanism to enrich the lives of
the citizens. He said also that the
agency must become more cost
efficient.
Speaking at the quarterly
meeting of the 10-county
Albemarle Area Development
Association, Dr. Blalock said he
has a commitment to expand and
improve the use of private citizens
at the policy making level.
Because of this he has encouraged
the development of the N. C.
Agricultural Extension Advisory
Council.
The speaker said his agency is in
the “people business” and people
have to be more involved at all
levels. He pointed out that a 10-
member state council, headed by
L. F. Am burn, Jr., of Eden ton, is
now organized and has already
begun to make a contribution to
the agency. “We are excited about
this state council,” he noted.
"We have some tough problems
facing us in this nation,” he
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Single Copies 15 Cents.
names for consideration. George
said he was asked to submit ad
ditional names.
The State Board of Elections
met June 5 and apparently elected
Harrell and Mrs. Hoskins.
However, the board chairman
informed Mrs. Thorud that he had
made an error and it was Manning
and Mrs. Wilson who were ac
tually elected.
Mrs. Thorud has been asked to
reconsider and stay in the part
time post. The county board will
meet again Monday.
Fees Scheduled
The Pasquotank-Perquimans-
Camden-Chowan District Health
Department- firtnoUnCes that
beginning July 1, individuals
requesting Family Planning
services will be charged a fee
based on a sliding scale deter
mined by family size and income.
However, all individuals eligible
for third party reimbursement
such as Medicaid and Title XX
programs will not be required to
pay for services offered. Also,
teenagers will not be charged at
this time.
Due to regulations set by the
Department of Health, Education
and Welfare, Family Planning
Programs are required to charge
fees in order to be in compliance
with Federal Health Services
Funding Regulations.
At the present time federal,
state and local funds are providing
for existing services in Family
Planning Clinics. In order to
maintain the high level quality of
health care, a fee must be
collected from patients to cover
costs of services maintenance.
Any patient requesting more
information is encouraged to
contact the Famly Planning Clinic
at their local Health Departments.
The phone numbers are as
follows: Pasquotank - 338-2167,
Perquimans - 426-5488, Camden -
335-4486, and Chowan - 482-2511.
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AGENT TO RETIRE Mrs. Gladys White retires from the
staff of Chowan County Agricultural Extension Service this
month, after more than 20 years of service in two counties. She is
shown hare with R. M. (Pete) Thompson, county extension
chairman.
Chowan County commissioners Monday night adopted the budget for
fiscal 1979-80 which carries a 11-cent tax increase. Meanwhile, Edenton
Town Council has accepted for public hearing a budget for the same
period which requires a six-cent increase per SIOO valuation in ad
valorem taxes.
Both local governments have adopted job classification pay grades.
The county budget reflects a 7 per cent across the board increase above
the pay grades while the two proposes a 7 per cent cost of living salary
increase with a 3 per cent merit increase.
Meanwhile, the town proposes a minimum annual salary of $7,000 for
all employees who have completed 12 months satisfactory service.
Specifics in the two budgets follows:
County
Chowan County commissioners
Monday night adopted a $2,525,255
budget for fiscal 1979-80 as
presented earlier by Manager
Eddie Dick, but agreed to continue
to provide an employee for
Edenton-Chowan Airport Com
mission.
The Airport Commission had
requested $8,500 from the county
and a similar amount from the
Town of Edenton. The Finance
Committee, composed of J, D.
Peele and George Jones, included
$4,000 in the budget, the first time
for such a budget item.
At the public hearing Monday
night, Capt. Alfred Howard,
chairman, said full funding is
needed since the commission can
no longer retain an employee in
the CETA position. Rather than
amend the proposed budget at this
time, commissioners agreed to
find means of providing an em
ployee.
After detailing operations at the
airport, Howard was questioned
about rentals. He said the com
mission now receives $6,600 per
year in rent on property.
Warren Twiddy, an airport
commission member, pointed out
that the county receives $63,000
per year in taxes from property
developed at the airport.
Frank Sellers questioned county
commissioners about money for
future capital projects.
Chairman C. A. Phillips said no
funds are included in the current
budget for this. There are funds,
however, to finish some things
Continued on Page 4
Notes Are Sold
Chowan County last week sold
$46,000 in water bond anticipation
notes through the Department of
The Treasurer. State Treasurer
Harlan E. Boyles said the bonds
were purchased by First-Citizens
Bank & Trust Company at an
interest rate of 5.44 per cent.
This was one of six transactions
on June 12. One was S6O-million
highway bonds by the State of
North Carolina. Wachovia Bank &
Trust Company, NA and
Associates were the successful
manager for the bonds with a bid
of 5.1343 per cent.
Mrs. White Changing Role
Mrs. Gladys White recently was
described by R. M. (Pete)
Thompson, Chowan County
Agricultural Extension chairman,
as one of the finer home agents
with whom he has worked. She
retires this month after 20 years
with the agricultural education
agency--12 of those years in
Chowan County.
Mrs. White is a 4-H and
Town
A public hearing will be held at 8
P.M. June 28 in the Municipal
Building here on the Town of
Edenton’s proposed $5,692,705
budget for fiscal 1979-80.
The tentative budget was ac
cepted by Town Council in a called
meeting last Thursday night
which was conducted in executive
session brought about by
discussion of the new job
classification pay grade plan.
W. B. Gardner, town ad
ministrator, said while the budget
provides across the board in
creases in salaries, some em
ployees have been granted ad
ditional increases in order to meet
the minimum pay grade
established for their job
classification.
In the current fiscal year the
town tax rate was 68 cents per SIOO
valuation, based on $48.5-million
valuation. The new levy would be
74 cents on a valuation of SSO
- The levy will bring in
$351,500, based on 95 per cent
collections.
The Finance Committee has
transferred $265,358 from the
Utility Fund to balance the budget
with a six-cent tax increase. This
is up from this year’s $233,513
transfer.
The Electric, Water-Sewer
funds exceed $3.7-million in the
budget.
Highlights of the budget in
clude:
Capital Improvements
$500,000 has been included for
capital improvements in the
waste-water treatment plant. The
expenditure of this money will
depend on the receipt of Federal
Grant funds.
SIBO,OOO has been included for
electric capital improvements
consisting mainly of continuing
the conversion of the distribution
system.
SIOO,OOO has been included for
construction of a transfer station
for solid waste.
$20,000 has been included as
matching funds for a Bureau of
Outdoor Recreation grant for the
construction of a softball complex.
Funds have been provided for a
study and cost analysis for
drainage improvements in East
Edenton.
Continued on Page 4
homemaker specialist and those
two groups will honor her Sunday
at a reception. The event will take
place from 3 P.M. to 5 P.M. at the
American Legion Building. The
public is invited.
In addition to her tenure with
extension, Mrs. White taught
school for nine years, being a
principal at one time. All of her
public service positions have been
in Pamlico and Chowan counties.
She came to Chowan in 1967 after
her marriage to C. B. White of
Tyner.
When asked what she plans to do
in retirement, Thompson beat her
to the answer. “She’ll become a
volunteer,” he said. “That means
she’ll work more but get less
money.”
But Mrs. White had another
answer. She has some things to do
at home and then plans to travel a
lot. And of course, there is her
granddaughter and seven step
grandchildren who will receive a
lot of her attention.
While Mrs. White has been in
volved in all phases of extension,
she has a preference for housing.
“I have enjoyed working with
people and seeing improvement in
rural homes,” she said. She
especially enjoys workshops
related to the subject.
A native of Richmond County,
Mrs. White graduated from High
Point College and took a teaching
position in Oriental in 1942. Her
Continued on Page 4