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! the following letters, one to the editor froitrMayor Roy L. HarreU, the
ether from the editor to Mayor Harrell, address the subject of con
iMeilliiiii of consolidation of local governments along the Public
fande. This is a subject about which much conversation will be
federated in the weeks, months and years ahead.
- To
■Dear Mr. Amburn:
Fror some time now I have read
< t % the local paper that you feel that
the town and county should con
solidate. You have implied that it
would mean a savings to the
taxpayer, both town and county.
Aa you are aware a committee
has been appointed to look into this
matter. As a member of this
committee, I would appreciate it
vary much if you would share with
f me some of the things that you feel
would take place in this change
that would lead to a savings.
I would appreciate this in
formation as soon as you find the
; time.
• Thanking you in advance.
Sincerely,
Roy L. Harrell
Mayor
Farmers Calling
For Rainfall
Farmers in Chowan County and
throughout most of Northeastern
North Carolina need some of the
rain which fell in May and June,
according to Pete Thompson,
county extension chairman.
“We haven’t had enough rain to
make our com,” he said Monday.
, The roots are on top of the ground
due to the wet conditions during
planting and the com needs “a
good soaking rain” every day or
tw6 -
Thompson pointed out that com
prices are favorable, all “we need
to do is make some com.”
Farmers in Chowan County are
pulling cantelopes this week, he
noted. Thompson predicted a
below normal yield in both can
[<■: telopes and watermelons.
• PeanutMre smgll,
Thompson, much smaller than
normal for this time of the season.
“We have got to do a good job of
keeping diseases off and also hope
for a late fall,” he added.
A lot of the soybeans in this area
were planted late. Therefore, the
crop now needs a “good root
soaker” to get them going good.
Tobacco harvest, has begun
while there will be a considerable
amount to be harvested late
because of Conditions at planting.
“The tobacco looks light, but
generally it is pretty good,”
he said.
Coastal Waters
Stocked With
Striped Bass
Some 296,000 small striped bass
(rock fish) were placed in Pamlico
River, Albemarle Sound and
Neuse River last week, according
• to Connell Purvis, director of the
N. C. Division of Marine Fisheries.
The U. S. Fish and Wildlife
Service Edenton National Fish
Hatchery had an excess and
checked with Marine Fisheries
and the Wildlife Commission for
possible stocking sites.
The fish were stocked in coastal
waters because fish of the same
size (one inch) would be found
there this time of year.
Albemarle Sound received
100,000, Pamlico River received
102,000 and Neuse River received
98,000.
Survivors should reach har
vestable size in 12-14 months,
Purvis said.
Fishermen have caught a lot of
yearly striped bass (12-13 indies)
in the Pamlico River this summer.
Pruvis said it has been several
years since high numbers of
Bloodmobile Visit Monday -12 Noon Until 6P.M. - American Legion Building
Quota: 125 Units
From
Dear Mayor Harrell:
First off, let me say how
delighted I am to learn that you
read the “local, paper”. It was
doubtful for a time; appearing
that you spent your time listening
to either “We Shall Overcome” or
“How Great Thou Art”.
Your assessment of my position
on consolidation of town and
county government is absolutely
correct. I am confident that, over
the long haul, it will result in a
savings to the taxpayers.
The committee which you ap
pointed at the insistence of
Councilman Gil* Burroughs,
supported by the entire Town
Council, is the best vehicle for
obtaining information concerning
the pros and cons of the one
government concept along the
Public Parade.
Each year, the town and county
have an exhaustive financial
audit. This audit is performed by
Timberlake & Sykes, a local CPA
firm in which we have great
confidence.
Within the past year, Chowan
County commissioners have had a
furnishings audit to determine
what will be required to occupy
the new facility on Broad Street.
Continued On Page 4
ifrTHE CHOWAN HERALD^
Volume XLV. - No. 28 Edenton, North Carolina, Thursday, July 19, 1979 Single Copies 15 Cents.
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PARK EXPANSION Fuel storage tanks at the old J. H. Conger & Son plant on Dock Street are
being removed to make way for additional development of the waterfront on Edenton Bay. Plans
call for a portion of the site, purchased by the Town of Edenton, to be used for the expansion of
Colonial Park. The inset shows an abandoned gasoline pump at the site which went out of service
when the product was 27.9 cents per gallon. Remember?
■ - - - - - -
Scientists Warn Os River Algae Bloom
A significant build-up of algae in
the Chowan River from Holiday
Island to channel marker three
below the Chowan River Bridge is
leading scientists to believe that
another massive bloom may be
imminent.
The slow moving river currents
coupled with warm temperatures
and the presence of high nutrient
levels and algae spores has made
the liklihood of another bloom
very strong.
At the same time, other coastal
waters including Pamlico Sound,
Chocowinity Creek and the Neuse
River are reportedly being ef
fected by algae blooms.
Dr. Robert Holman of the
Hospital Facing Possible
Investigation By HEW
Chowan Hospital faces a
possible investigation by the U. S.
Department of Health, Education
and Welfare following a complaint
which questions the lack of
minority representation on the
board of trustees.
Jesse L. Harrell, hospital board
chairman, said Monday the in
stitution has received a letter from
HEW advising them of the com
plaint but he is not sure whether of
not an investigation will take
place.
A HEW spokesman has
asknowledged that a complaint
has been filed and a determination
is to be made as to the depart
ment’s authority to conduct any
Division of Environmental
Management stated that factors
contributing to the problem in
clude municipal and industrial
waste discharges, forestry and
agricultural run-off, and possibly
septic tank seepage.
Dr. Holman added he suspects
nutrients are building up in the
sediments of the river bed and are
being recycled back in to the
water. Documentation of
discharge sources, and studies to
determine the threshold levels of
nutrients are continuing.
Harold Johnson of the Elizabeth
City office, Division of Marine
Fisheries, reported a program is
now underway to determine the
type investigation.
At the present time there is one
minority member of the board.
She is Mrs. Daisy Bembry who
was appointed recently to fill the
vacancy created by the
resignation of Mrs. Mary Horton.
Harrell pointed out also that the
most now has representation from
Perquimans County. Lester
Simpson, former Perquimans
County Board of Commissioners
chairman, is the first person from
outside of Chowan County to serve
on the board.
Harrell said an attempt has
been made to find out the origin of
the complaint but efforts along
this line have not been successful.
effects, if any, of the algae on fish
eggs and larvae. Deterioration of
water quality in the Chowan River
and Albemarle Sound has already
reduced the adult fish population,
but this can be expected to im
prove as the causes of the algae
problem are dealt with.
Red sores on fish are an indirect
result of the algae problem.
Johnson explained warm water
temperatures and algae growth
reduce the water’s ability to retain
oxygen. This results in a stress
condition that lowers the ability of
fish to fight bacterial infection.
Dr. Holman affirmed that the
blue-green algae could pose a
problem to human health as well.
The algae excretes a toxin as a
defense mechanism to maintain
its dominance. Humans exposed to
a sufficient concentration of the
toxin could experience skin and
mucous membrane irritation or
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UGLY SIGHT Edenton Bay was an ugly sight over the
weekend, and a new bulkhead around the site of Queen Anne Park
won’t do much to improve the picture. Extensive algae blooms in
the water have caused fish to die, foreground, and made area
waters unfit for recreational use. And from all reports, the ugly
sight is going to linger on for some time to come.
Two Named To BNC Posts
HOBBSVILLE The Bank of
North Carolina, N.A., has named
Walter H. Harlow as agricultural
consultant for Gates, Perquimans
and Chowan counties, according to
John Kabas, senior vice president.
At the same time, James W.
Ball, Jr., of Edenton, was named
assistant vice president and
executive of the Hobbsville
Branch.
In his new capacity, Harlow will
be working with the BNC branches
in the three-county area with
respect to the development of
agricultural-related business.
Harlow joined the Bank of North
Carolina in 1972 as a result of the
merger of the Bank of Hobbsville
and has served as executive of the
Hobbsville office since that time.
He had been with the predecessor
bank since 1961.
Harlow is married to the former
Ada Shaw and they have one son
and two daughters. He has been
active in civic affairs in the Gates
County area, serving on the Gates
County Planning Board, Sun bury
Investment Club, and Gates
Couftty Natural Resources
could become ill from swallowing
the water. He added, however,
that unless the algae is thick
enough to form patches, it should
be safe for swimmers using some
measure of coipmon sense.
Around the first of August a
biologist and research specialist
will join Dr. Holman here. Due to
budget restrictions, however,
specimen analyses will continue to
be handled by a Raleigh
laboratory.
A test conducted by Dr. Holman
on June 26 demonstrated that the
situation is compounded by the
flow of the river itself. A dye was
dropped into the river at a point
just south of the. state line. In
observing its movement, he found
the river reverses flow at some
points, meaning the river cannot
flush out nutrient discharges fast
enough to prevent algae growth.
Commission.
A native of Elizabeth City, Ball
Continued on Page 4
Bloodmobile Sets
Visit Monday
The American Red Cross
Bloodmobile will be at the
American Legion Building from
12-noon until 6 P.M. Monday. Bill
Smith, county volunteer chairman
for Edenton Jaycees, has set a
quota of 125 units.
Smith said this will be the first
visit of the new fiscal year and he
encourages donors to meet the
quota. There will be five visits
during the fiscal with additional
dates set on October 1, December
10, February 25, and May 12.
The chairman said he would like
to thank the people for their
support over the past few years.
He said his co-chairman, Blake
Harmon, donors and volunteers
have contributed to the success of
the blood program in Chowan
County.