Emphasis On Cotton
Program Draws Support
By L. F. AMBURN, JR.
(Fourth in a Series)
Edenton Cotton Mills is Chowan
County’s oldest industry and
continues to set the pace of a
healthy business climate in
Northeastern North Carolina.
Therefore, it is a matter of course
that corporate officials en
thusiastically support renewed
emphasis on cotton as a major
field crop in the Albemarle Area.
C. A. Phillips, president, points
out that Edenton Cotton Mills will
be unable to purchase raw
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Cotton Breeding Line Is Developed
* A cotton breeding line has been developed at North Carolina State
University that could contribute to the development of commercial
varieties with resistance to some of the major insect pests of the crop.
The breeding stock, known as F2-BR-1, was developed by Dr. Joshua
A. Lee, a U. S. Department of Agriculture scientist stationed at NCSU
and a member of the university’s Department of Crop ‘Science research
faculty.
The breeding line contains a high level of condensed tannins in leaves
and growing points. The scientist explained that these tannins are
distasteful and toxic to various insect pests, such as spider mites, aphids
and boll worms.
F2-BR-1 isn’t suitable as a commercial variety but can be used by
plant breeders in the development of insect resistance in new com
mercial varieties.
The cotton stems from a cross of a commercial upland variety -of the
type grown in North Carolina and the South- by a primitive
“houseyard” cotton of India. This “semi-wild” cotton is the source of the
high tannin level in the breeding line developed by Lee.
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Vol. XIVI - No. 32
W. J. P. Earnhardt, Jr.
One of life’s certainties-death
has recorded another victim along
the Public Parade. Jim Earnhardt
was called early Sunday to
practice before the Great
Tribunal.
Jim lost a battle with cancer at
the age of 48. It was a touch-and-go
contest until about 4 A.M. Sunday
when the Supreme Jurist called a
forceful citizen in this community
to his Heavenly rewards.
The death of Jim Earnhardt
further reduces the cadre of at
torneys along the Public Parade.
He became the third in his
profession here to succumb to
death since January, 1979.
Even at a midpoint in life, Jim
experienced and accomplished so
much. And along the way he gave
more weight to contributing than
receiving plaudits for his com
munity performances.
His superior command of
situations, his foresight and his
professionalism made him im
mediately suspect in some
quarters. His mannerisms bor
dered on conceit but beneath the
facade was a tender heart as big
as the whole world. Selfishness
was not a virtue.
Jim Earnhardt laughed easily;
with you but not at you. By precept
and example he was always in full
command.
During his tenure along the
Public Parade he moved from an
Eagle Scout to a Navy captain;
from a country lawyer to a state
Continued on Page 4
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CHAIRMEN DISCUSS MEMORANDUM R. M. (Pete)
Thompson, left, county extension chairman, and C. A. Phillips,
chairman, Chowan County commissioners, discuss the
Memorandum of Understanding between the county and
Agricultural Extension Service. The local board approved the
f memorandum at a meeting Monday.
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materials directly from the gin but
has reason to believe his company
will be seeing an increased
amount of locally grown cotton in
its product mix.
Edenton Cotton Mills furnishes
yarn to the knitting trade.
Phillips, who also is chairman of
Chowan County commissioners,
said recently he sees nothing but
good signs for cotton as the costs
of synthetics soar. Furthermore,
he said the quality of Carolina
cotton has increased as the result
Continued on Page 4
Edenton, North Carolina, Thursday, August 7, 1980
Board Taps Reserve For Bus
Edenton-Chowan Board of
Education voted Monday night to
dip into a $25,000 unappropriated
reserve account for $2,000 to pay
the local share of a 25-passenger
bus for Alternative School and
handicapped students. Some
$15,600 in state and federal funds -
Mrs. Griffin Dies
Mrs. Margaret Belle Walters
Griffin, 107 North Granville
Street, died Sunday in Norfolk
General Hospital.
Mrs. Griffin, a former school
teacher, was active in Edenton
United Methodist Church,
Edenton Tea Party Chapter, DAR,
Edenton BPW Club and Delta
Kappa Gamma. She was the wife
of Lloyd E. Griffin.
A native of Perquimans County,
she was bom February 17, 1894,
daughter of the late Thomas B.
and Margaret Stokes Walters.
In addition to her husband,
surviving is a son, Dr. Lloyd E.
Griffin, Jr., of Elizabeth City ; two
daughters, Mrs. Margaret G.
Evans of Rocky Mount; and Mrs.
Mary G. Douglass of Raleigh; and
10 grandchildren.
Funeral services were held at 11
A.M. Tuesday in Edenton United
Methodist Church with Rev.
Richard Blankenhora and Dr.
John Allen officiating. Burial was
in Beaver Hill Cemetery.
Pallbearers were: A. B.
Harless, Jr., West W. Byrum, Jr.,
W. Herbert Hollowell, Jr.,
George Alma Byrum, J. Clarence
Leary, Jr. and Joseph Thorud.
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SUPPORTS COTTON PROGRAM— C. A. Phillips, president of
Edenton Cotton Mills, is shown here checking the latest raw
material price delivered to his office via a ticker. Phillips, who is
also chairman of Chowan County commissioners, is a strong
supporter of agriculture, especially the expanding cotton
program.
are available for the purpose.
At the same time, board
members delayed at least for 30
days a decision on closing down
the welding shop at Chowan Junior
High School.
Dr. John Dunn, superintendent,
' , sai(Tif the mirti-bus is purchased it
would allow the system to add
night transportation for students
to the Alternative School, as well
as transport three handicapped
students during the day. The unit
would be equipped with a wide
door for wheelchairs and a power
lift.
He said Law Enforcement
Assistance Administration money
is available for the purchase, as
are funds from contract tran
sportation sources for the han
dicapped. He said the bus would be
EPA Responds
The U. S. Environmental
Protection Agency is giving
“careful attention” to recom
mendations to the Chowan
Regional Task Force concerning
pulp and paper regulations. Rep.
Walter B. Jones of the First
Congressional District released a
letter from EPA, acknowledging
his interest in the matter as well
as task force recommendations.
Susanne L. Wellford, acting
director, EPA Office of
Legislation, told Rep. Jones the
agency appreciates expressed
concern about difficulties created
by the fact that the Chown River is
located in two different EPA
regions.
Capt. Alfred Howard of
Arrowhead, task force chairman,
said he is encouraged by the
support Rep. Jones and Sen. Jesse
Helms have given recom
mendations recently submitted.
Rep. Jones wrote August 1: “Be
assured of my deep and continuing
interest in this matter, and as soon
as there is a further report, I will
again be in touch with you.”
Vandals Strike
Vandals struck the new Queen
Anne Park on Water Street late
Monday with five recently planted
bushes being stolen.
Police Chief J. D. Parrish said it
was reported shortly before
midnight Monday that a car with a
white man, woman and child in
side stopped at the park. They
were seen pulling up the bushes
and placing them in the trunk of
the ear^|
Single Copies 20 Cents
available for the opening of school
September 2.
Mrs. Clara Boswell, Alternative
School principal, said last year the
school had 28 day students from
the rural area and eight night
students. She projected an in
crease in high school students if
transportation is available over
a 30-mile route.
Dr. Dunn said once the bus is
acquired it would be maintained
and operated by the state in the
same manner as existing school
buses.
The motion, which passed 3-1,
Continued on Page 4
NOMINEE CERTIFIED Mrs. Anne H. Bunch, right, has
been certified with Chowan County Board of Elections as
Democratic nominee for county commissioner from Third
Township. She will appear on the ballot in the place of the late
Lester Copeland. Shown with her is Mrs. Harriet Sawyer, elections
director.
No Action On Nominee
Chowan County Democratic
Party Executive Committee’s
recommendation of Mrs. Anne H.
Bunch to fill the unexpired term of
the late Lester Copeland failed to
get action Monday by county
commissioners.
Chairman C. A. Phillips ex
plained that the board has 60 days
in which to act on the recom
mendation, adding that the board
will make a decision prior to the
September 14 deadline.
Commissioner Alton G. Elmore,
who also serves on the Democratic
Executive Committee, pushed for
a decision Monday. He backed off
after a round of discussion in
which Commissioner George
Hospital Seeks
Additional Beds
Chowan Hospital, Inc., backed by a resolution of support from
Chowan County commissioners, filed a petition Monday seeking to add 15
acute beds for Region “R” in the State Medical Facilities Plan. Earliei
the hospital filed application for a Certificate of Need for a 10-bed ex
pansion.
Petitioning the Division of Facility Services for the amendment of the
area bed need allocation is the first step outlined in the new plan for such
action, according to David L. Henson, hospital director.
The recently revised plan shows an excess of five beds in the 10-county
Albemarle Area. Henson said with this documented excess of beds the
hospital’s application for additional medical-surgical beds would likely
be disapproved at the state review level.
“This might provide Chowan Hospital its only recourse insofar as
being in a position of eliminating this obstacle to having its application
approved,” Henson explained to county commissioners Monday mor
ning. He went on to explain that even if the petition to amend the plan is
successful, the hospital will still have its application reviewed by the
Health Systems Agency (of which Henson is a member) and by the State
Health Coordinating Council.
C. A. Phillips, county board chairman and hospital advocate, said
hospital officials have done a study which shows the need is here for
additional facilities. “Dr. (C. Clement) Lucas has a large staff that has
contributed greatly to the ifnproved census at the hospital,” he added.
Commissioner Alton G. Elmore proposed that proper people move
ahead, going to court if necessary, to get “the needed facilities for our
people."
Henson said the hospital had maintained a pheonominal 92 per cent
occupancy since October.
Excellence Award Is Earned
Gov. Jim Hunt has announced
that Edenton in Chowan County is
a winner of the Governor’s
Community of Excellence Award
for the second straight year.
The award will be presented to
those communities under 15,000
persons which meet requirements
designed by the N. C. Department
of Commerce to make them more
competitive in recruiting industry.
Mrs. Peggy Anne Vaughan
again coordinated the presen
tation for Edenton : Chowan
Chamber of Commerce.
Nearly 120 communities have
applied for the award.
“This award doesn’t guarantee
that a new industry will locate
within a community. But, we know
from experience that meeting the
requirements to win the award
will give a community an edge
when recruiting industry,” Gov
Hunt said.
He added, “It will be more
difficult to recruit an industry to
an area that can’t meet the
requirements of the awards
program.”
Communities were judged on
the following standards:
An economic promotion
organization must exist for the
purpose of promoting the com-
Jones called for a two-week
deadline and Commissioner J. D.
Peele said the opposition he had
received from Mrs. Bunch’s
nomination rendered him un
prepared to vote.
“I am ready to make a motion
but it sounds like I wouldn’t get a
second anyway,” Elmore said.
Elmore said it seemed highly
unusual for the commissioners to
consider a name other than that
recommended by the party’s
Executive Committee. He
questioned the reason for a delay.
Peele reported that “a lot of
people in that end of the county
(Third Township) are opposed” to
Mrs. Bunch.
munity for industrial plant
location.
A development corporation
must exist. The corporation must
have the ability to finance the
construction of industrial
buildings that can be leased or
sold to industrial clients, and that
can option purchase and sell
property.
W. J. P. Earnhardt, Jr.
Buried On Monday
Funeral services were held
Monday afternoon for W. J. P.
Earnhardt, Jr., prominent local
attorney and former state
legislator, who died early Sunday
after a long cancer illness. He was
48 and resided at 107 Blount Street.
The services were held in St.
Paul’s Episcopal Church with
Rev. Raymond Storie officiating.
Burial was in Beaver Hill
Cemetery with Williford-Barham
Funeral Home in charge of
arrangements.
Pallbearers were: Max S.
Busby, T. B. H. Wood, William B.
Gardner, Walter B. Jones, Jr., Dr.
Allen L. Hornthal, J. Gilliam
Wood. Bernard P. Burroughs and
Clay B. Foreman.
A native of Pasquotank County,
Mr. Earnhardt was bom August
27,1931, son of Wiley Jacob Propst
and Carrie Miller Earnhardt. He
was married to Mrs. Judy Home
Earnhardt.
In addition to his parents and
wife, surviving are two children:
Mark Wiley and Clare Thompson
Earnhardt.
Mr. Earnhardt graduated from
Duke University in 1953. He served
in the U. S. Navy from 1953 to 1956
and received his law degree from
Duke University in 1960. He
retired from the U: S. Reserve in
August of 1979 with the rank of
captain.
He represented Chowan County
in the 1965 session of the N. C.
General Assembly; was a former
member of the Board of Gover
nors of the N. C. Bar Association;
member and past president of
Edenton Rotary Club and served
on the vestry at St. Paul’s.
Mr. Earnhardt was attorney for
the Town of Edenton at the time of
his death.
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W. J. P. Earnhardt, Jr.