1 "milliard Kroin Pa
savings in utility rates while
having an opportunity to earn
attractive return on any North
Carolina Eastern Municipal
Power Agency Bonds they pur
chase.
As we started out saying, it is
difficult in the best situation to
compare apples with apples when
dealing with utility rates. Vepco, a
company that has cleaned up it’s
management act in more recent
times, has lost the electricities
business. It will be doing
customers, former as well as
present and future, a disservice to
continue to reflect on how it could
have been, which really wasn’t
that way at all.
New Climate
There’s a new climate in Rich
mond, Va., and it is already
showing signs of benefiting those
who meander along the Public
Parade. Gov. Charles S. Robb is
governor of the Old Dominion; a
young, energetic man who has a
bright political future. The new
climate, however, comes about
because of his party affiliation -
Democrat.
In only a few weeks of the Robb
Administration in Virginia, the
chill is beginning to thaw on at
least two fronts which greatly
affect Tar Heelia. We speak of
water resources and U. S. 17.
Gov. James B. Hunt, Jr., has set
water quality in the Chowan River
as his top environmental priority.
This has now been expanded to
include the entire Albemarle
Sound Basin. With 75 per cent of
the Chowan watershed being in
Virginia, close cooperation with
that state is mandatory to any real
progress.
Former Sec. Howard N. Lee of
the State Department of Natural
Resources & Community
Development, established a bi -
state water < unmittee on orders
from Gov. Hunt. Meetings of the
committee were merely per
functory.
Asst. Sec. Jay Langfelter
3>rted a new climate already
tinjf at the'fifsT’Joiht Meeting
e Gov. Robb’s inauguration.
This is welcomed news
hereabouts.
While Capt. A1 Howard out at
Arrowhead Beach may take issue,
(and almost certainly so), news
coming from Richmond earlier
this month about highway politics
is equally as important as thawing
water.
It wa sported in our favorite
morning daily, of general cir
culation along the Public Parade
and throughout Northeastern
North Carolina, that Gov. Robb
ran into stubborn legislators from
Chesapeake as the Virginia
General Assembly was winding
down. He needed the delegates’
votes to pass a gasoline tax he felt
essential t meet the state’s high
way needs.
The delegates could find nothing
for Chesapeake in the highway
package. It was about 1 A.M. on
Sunday that Highway Com
missioner Harold King played the
trump card. He told the
Southeastern delegates that if they
supported the tax measure, Gov.
Robb would name the eight - mile
interstate in Chesapeake linking
Bowers Hill to U. S. 17 a “No. 1
priority.”
North Carolina has been
dedicated to opening up northern
markets via U. S. 17 since the
Terry Sanford Administration, if
—— ■■ I
The Chowan Herald cusps 106-380)
P.O. BOX 207, EDENTON, N.C. 27932
Published every Thursday at Edenton by The Chowan Herald,
Inc.. L. F. Amburn, Jr., Editor and Publisher, 421-425 South Broad
Street, Edenton, North Carolina, 27932.
Entered as second-class matter August 30,1934 at the Post Office
of Edenton, North Carolina, under Act of March 3,1870.
L.F. AMBURN, JR. E. N. MANNING
Editor & Publisher General Manager
SUSAN BUNCH J. EDWIN BUFKLAP
Office Manager Editor Emeritus
Subscription Rates
One Year (outside N.C.) SII.M
One Year (in N.C.) $19.40
Six Months (outside N.C.) S7.M
Six Months (in N.C.) r $7.28
Edenton, North Carolina, I. -!ay. March 25, 1982
1C! i I |k| AKjiifc
fill li I\
NEW TOWNHOUSES CONSTRUCTED William 0 Meyere, left, local developer, points out
some of the features of Colonial Townhouses new complexes overlooking Pembroke Creek to Jerry
Hendee, second from left, Executive V.P. of the Edenton-Chowan Chamber of Commerce, and Cliff
Copeland, right, Chowan County Manager. Norman Lee Bass, second from right, who did the finish
carpentry, looks on. Two units of this prestigious townhouse project are presently completed. Plans
are underway for an additional 16 structures. An open house is planned in the near future to allow
interested persons to view these unique homes. *
Wholesale Energy Prices Compared
Continued From Page 1
a rate increase request. The
commission has conducted
hearings on the application, but no
final order has been issued.
However, a tentative settlement
has been reached, Mclver said.
And the rate comparisons reflect
these tentative settlement rates.
If the settlement is approved,
Vepco will refund the difference in
bills back to September.
The chart shows Elizabeth City
would have paid Vepco $834,445 for
January. If the settlement is
approved, that would drop through
a refund to $779,849.
The power agency’s bill for
January would have been $806,760,
according to the chart. Watson
argued that the power agency rate
also would be subject to a partial
refund.
The April comparisons of retail
rates is based on newly approved
fuel rates. CP&L was given an
Received a
v per kilowatt hour * j**
For the average 2,000 - kilowatt -
hour customer, probably a home
with an electric furnace, Vepco
indicated a price that is 6 per cent
lower than that of CP&L.
“While the rates of both com
panies will vary,” Mclver said,
“Vepco has achieved parity with
CP&L, and this parity will con
tinue.”
Vepco rates dropped below
CP&L’s about this time last year,
according to Nick Parham, Vepco
public information officer. In
April 1981, the 1,000 - kilowatt -
hour customer was paying about
1.1 per cent less with Vepco,
Parham said.
Mclver said the company’s
average residential price and
overall price per kilowatt hour
were lower in 1981 than in 1980.
a Republican administration of
our own, steady progress has been
made on this corridor. Marc
Basnight of Manteo, a member of
the State Board of Transportation,
has been a magician in keeping
this project in a constantly
declining highway construction
program.
The Bowers Hill link in
Chesapeake is the first positive
step in the Old Dominion in some
time. It seems Gov. Robb is
already sending a message and it
is certain to be well received.
“Among 20 large U. S. electric
utilities, only Vepco showed a
decrease. Increases in residential
prices for the other 19 utilities
averaged about 15 per cent.”
Mclver said.
Vepco has a $20.5 - million rate
increase request pending before
the utilities commission. Gov. Jim
Hunt has repeatedly criticized
Vepco rates in the last few years.
On the current drop in the com
parative rates, Hunt’s position is,
according to his deputy press
secretary, Brent Hackney, “that
that’s a temporary situation.”
“He does recognize that Vepco
has done some good things in
management and operations,”
Hackney said. But he said the
administration was still paying
close attention to Vepco rates, and
now the governor wants the
utilities commission and the
public staff to “take a very, very
hard look at CP&L” Hackney said.
JStlsf AfeA warded During
Continued From Page 1
passed.
Last on the agenda, the Board of
Education and the County Com
missioners had a joint session, so
the Board of Education could
explain their Capital Outlay
Program and a pew one - cent
sales tax.
The Board of Education
presented a slide - tape presen
tation on the new sales tax. This
tax could provide funds to
modernize the schools. According
to the slide - tape program, 27 per
cent of the schools in use today in
North Carolina were built before
1949, and these schools are not fire
- resistant; 29 per cent of the
schools in use today in North
Carolina were built between 1950
and 1959, built with the concern of
most space for the money and no
regard to energy conservation;
and 44 per cent of schools in use in
North Carolina Mtere built from
1960 to 1981 (the slide show was
made in 1981) With the additional
one cent sales tax, the schools
could gei.erate enough funds to
rehabilitate the older schools. Also
explained was a comparison of
two sales tax proposals, the Boyles
- Phillips Prcoosal and House Bill
839. The differ mce in the two is the
Boyles - Phill. os Proposal would
impose the ac ditional one cent
sales tax statewide by action of the
General Assembly, and proceeds
would be divided in three ways.
The House Bill 839 would impose
an additional one cent local option
tax by vote of the people in each
county, and the proceeds collected
by the State Department of
Revenue would be distributed
back to the counties in which it
was collected. The Commissioners
passed a motion that a resolution
in support of the Boyles - Phillips
Proposal be drafted.
The Board of Education then
explained about Phase I of their
long - range planning process.
Phase I will include the con
struction of a new cafeteria, four
new classrooms, and the
renovation of the present cafeteria
into two science labs, all being at
John A. Holmes High School. The
cost of the project, which would
District Court
Cases Are Heard
Hie following cases were heard
March 16 in the Chowan County
Criminal District Court by John T.
Chaffin, the presiding judge.
Carey Alan Dail, unsafe
movement, $lO fine and cost of
court.
William Douglas, Jr., two counts
of worthless check, 30 day
suspended sentence, $25 fine, cost
of court in both cases, restitution
of $10.02 to Etna, and restitution of
S3O to Edenton Shell.
William Lee (Hook) Wilson,
trespassing, 30 days commitment.
Robert Archer Prezzano,
allowing dog to run at large. 30
days suspended two years, SSO fine
and cost of court, ordered not to
allow his dog to run at large again.
Edith Carroll Ferrell, two
counts of worthless check,
voluntary dismissal.
Carol Ferrell, worthless check,
voluntary dismissal.
hopefully be completed by 1983, is
$590,000. The School Board has
approximately $500,000 and needs
$90,000 in local monies. Other *
phases of the five - phase project,
include additions at the D. F.
Walker School for 1983 - 84; at
Chowan Junior High School; at
White Oak School in 1984 - 85; and
a new athletic complex at Holmes
in 1985 - 85. The Commissioners
adopted a resolution in support of
this project. Following this, the
meeting was adjourned.
Two For One
Continued From Page l
of Tarheel, said the action should
create a healthy environment for
shareholders and a more
marketable environment for the
stock. A similar split was made in
1977.
He said the split is a credit to
progress in growth pattern,
profitability, a good banking
environment and excellent
management.
“We are an agressive bank,”
Lee said, praising the abilities of
the bank's management team.
Lee indicated there is a trend
toward merger and consolidations
for independent banks today and
said there are predictions that
small independent banks will
further deminish in the future.
“Tarheel is an independent bank
and we intend to remain so," Lee
said, stating the bank system is on
solid financial ground.
The six banks of the Tarheel
system realized an increase in net
income of more than 25 per cent in
1961 over 1960. The.net income for
this year was $649,350.
Earnings per share are also up '
from $1.21 per share in 1977 to $2.45
. last year. Shareholders were paid
88 cents in dividends per share in
1980 and 31 cents per share in 1981.
According to Lee, the system has
more than ISO-million in total
assets, more than a 12-million
increase over the December
annual report figure.
The Tarheel system has banks
at Lewiston, Winton and Edenton
which serve approximate 12,000
customers with an employee force
of «5 people.
Representatives Tour Facility
Continued From Page 1 according to Chesson.
legal technicalities involved in
purchasing straight from Vepco.
Another future project is an
energy conservation study to cut
operating costs related to energy
consumption. This is a problem we
all share.
The high school dropout
program, along with many other,
were also outlined. The dropout
program, which was started
recently, is designed to help high
school dropouts obtain high school
certification.
The proposed budget at COA for
next year is expected to be
$3,606,260, with 83 per cent of it
coming from state funds, 8 per
cent from Pasquotank County and
4 per cent from the federal
government. The remaining 5 per
cent will come from other sources,
IpW"
A JHKS
mM ■■ ■■
BP
COUNCILMAN FENNER DONATES Councilman James
Fenner donates blood at the March 16 Bloodmobile. Town em
ployees gave 15 units, while the County employees gave 11 units of
blood. The travelling trophy instituted in November will remain
with the Town for a second time. The one with the highest
donation rate among its employees receives the award.
147 Pints Are Collected
M »WI %*•!«••
At the Red
March 16, spons6l*OT b?“th'fe~
J&dantan Jayc«es- nt thsitt—w|>an u
Legion Building, 147 units of blood
were collected from 159 dopors.
Town employees are also on a
roll. For the second straight time,
they beat out the County em
ployees for highest donation
honors. A travelling trophy was
instituted in November to be given
to the segment with the highest
Downing Fined For Pot Possession
The following cases were heard
March 23 in the Chowan County
District Court by Grafton G.
Beamon, the presiding judge.
Leander Diowning, DUI and
possession of marijuana, 90 days
suspended 3 years, S2OO fine and
cost of court, surrender operator’s
license.
Thomas Moore, three counts of
worthless check consolidated, 10
days suspended 2 years, $5 fine
and cost of court in each case, two
restitutions of $25 to A&P and one
restitution of S2O to A&P. Ap
pealed.
Marvin Bonner, worthless
check, 5 days suspended 2 years,
cost of court, and $5 restitution to
S&R. He was also fined $25 for
failure to appear.
James Norman Hughes,
shoplifting, 90 days suspended 3
years, SSO fine and cost of court,
ordered to remain off the premises
Benefits Totaled
Continued From Page 1
program (Part A), which is ad
ministered by the Plan.
Through its underwritten and
administered government
programs combined, Blue Cross
and Blue Shield of North Carolina
serves approximately 2.5-million
North Carolinians, roughly half of
the state’s total population.
Now in its 49th year of service,
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of
North Carolina is the 10th largest
Blue Cross Plan and the 11th
largest Blue Shield Plan in the
nation. The voluntary pre
payment organization was
founded in 1933 and is the oldest
and largest health service plan in
the state.
The average student age, ac
cording to Chesson, is 30. He added
that enrollment is at an all-time
high.
A slide-tape presentation was
also presented. It featured a
Humphrey Bogart-type detective
who heped high school graduates
find a college to attend after high
school. COA plans to use this as a
recruitment-type presentation.
The presentation, which offers a
different way of showing the
advantages of COA, has been a big
success so far in the schools where
it has been shown.
Following this, a tour was given
through the new facilities. Several
of the training programs were
observed. These are programs
where students can learn a skill
that will last them a lifetime.
donation. The County won in
—-November, butthrTwn has now'
County employees had ll
donations, while Town employees
had 15.
According to Bruce Wackelin,
Chairman of the Bloodmobile, the
Bloodmobile will be held at
Chowan Hospital beginning May
18. This will now be a permanent
home for the Bloodmobile.
of TG&Y for 3 years.
Roderick Vernon Leary,
careless and reckless driving,
operating a motor vehicle left of
center line, 90 days suspended 3
years, S3OO fine and cost of court,
driving privilege suspended until 9
A.M. April 23.
Armie Riddick, Jr., 45 MPH in a
35 MPH zone, sls fine and cost of
court.
George Mark Amick,
misdemeanor possesseion of
Marijuana, SSO fine and cost of
court. DUI and'66 MPH in a 55
MPH zone, 90 days suspended 2
years, $l5O fine and cost of court.
Randall Thomas Dixon, in
spection violation, voluntary
dismissal.
Paul Tunney Blizzard, 65 MPH
in a 55 MPH zone, cost of court.
Gary Lynn Smith, 67 MPH in a
55 MPH zone, $5 fine and cost of
court. Appealed.
Martin Edward Bateman, 75
MPH in a 55 MPH zone, S2O fine
and cost of court, ordered to
surrender his operator’s license.
Randy Stevenson Green,
breaking and entering and lar
ceny, probable cause was found
and the case was bound over to
Superior Court.
Cynthia Howard White, larceny,
6 months suspended 3 years, SIOO
fine and cost of court, ordered to
remain off the premises of Macks
for 3 years. Appealed.
Robert Archer Prezzano, motion
for appeal, his appeal was en
tered.
FrankOunior Leary, operating a
motor vehicle left of center line
and improper equipment. $35 fine
and cost of court. Appealed. No
liability insurance. SSO fine and
cost of court. Appealed.