North Carolina Newspapers

fflarrrn firrorb Published Every Thursday By R*cord Printing Company P 0 Bo* 70 Warrenton, N. C. 27589 BIGNALL JONES, Editor Member North Carolina Press Association ENTERED AS SECOND-CLASS MATTER AT THE POST OFFICE IN WARRENTON. NORTH CAROLINA. UNDER THE LAWS OF CONGRESS Second Class Postage Paid At Warrenton, N. C. ONE YEAR; $5.00; SIX MONTHS, $3 00 SUBSCRIPTION RATES: OUT-Of-STATE: ONE YEAR, $7.00 SIX MONTHS, $4 00 Secrecy Threat To Nation A censored press serves only to demoralixe. That greatest of vices, hypocrisy, Is inseparable from it. . . . .The government hears only Its own voice while all the time deceiving itself, affecting to hear the voice of the people while demanding that they also support the pretense. And on their side, the people either partly snccnmb to political skepticism or completely turn away from pnblic life and become a crowd of individuals, each living only his own existence. Karl Marx, 184? The above quotation rrom Marx is used by Hedrick Smith to head a chapter on "White Tass and Letters to the Editor" in his book "The Russians," which deals with censorship and the suppression of news and the bending of news to suit a political philosophy in Russia. Smith was The New York Times Bureau Chief in Moscow from 1971 to 1974 and he gives an interesting and informative picture of life and customs of modern Russia. In the chapter on "White Tass and Letters to the Editor," he gives instances of terrible accidents causing heavy loss of life, never being printed in the Russian press because it would tend to be a criticism of the Russian aviation industry, or how important scientific discoveries of other countries, particularly America, are not published because their publication would tend to raise foreign scientists above Russian. As we read this chapter, for the second time in six months it dawned on us that American greatness lies in its Bill of Rights, which includes its Freedom of the Press and Freedom of Speech. When America loses these precious freedoms it will lose its true greatness, will become a dictatorship or perhaps the pawn of a greater country. We think that these freedoms are being challenged today by the growing censorship of information, by the growing number of documents marked Top Secret in many governmental departments, and the number of secret meetings that seek to hide the people's business from the people. Particularly alarming is the growing use of the executive session as a means of keeping public business from the public. We think it should have been of great concern to every citizen when the state's newspapers sought to strengthen the Freedom of the Press by passage of a law for open meetings to have this law opposed by the League of mm : _: i!i: i 11 * • muiiiwipaiittco aiiu tuc naautr ation of County Commissioners. It may seem of small moment whether the county commissioners or the Town of Warrenton commissioners go into executive session, but its excessive use tends to destroy faith in government: And like "Top Secret" on government documents, these sessions serve to cover inefficiency and sometimes, skulldruggery in public business. The people have a right to know and a newspaper has a duty to report. A free press is the country's greatest bulwark. Mostly Personal Ferrv Schedule Calls For Early Rising By BIGNALL JONES It has been nearly a quarter of a century since my wife and I and our three children while vacationing at Nags Head drove down the Outer Banks to Hatteras, a long and hot drive as I have found on subsequent trips. There are two things about this first trip that I have never forgotten. The first is that Howard and Mary Brodie, followed by six-year-old Ann Bignall, ran ahead of us across the sand to the famous Hatteras Lighthouse and began climbing the stairs. I have a terror of hights and I remember a few minutes leter aa we were shouting for thenfto come down, and I terror-stricken at the thought of climbing those stairs but even more fearful of the danger to our children, was contemplating making the climb when they started down on their own accord. One does not forget such experiences. un a nappier note, I remember walking across the sands of an undeveloped beach and thinking what a wonderful beach it would be if only more accessible. A majority of North Carolina beaches, I believe, run north and south, but this undeveloped beach ran east to west. Off Hatteras lies the Island of Ocracoke, which has been our favorite beach since we first visited it some years ago. Since first visiting Hatteras, and perhaps even before as I read of its wild ponies, I had a desire to visit this comparatively undeveloped island. Finally everything fell into place and we returned to a developed and over developing Hatteras and took a ferry for Ocracoke Island. Here we found a quiet but sufficiently developed beach where fishing and crabbing perhaps play a larger part than ocean bathing, and where we saw our first beautiful wild ponies, much to Ann's delight. Because of the nature of our work, we never take week-long vacations, but if we go to the beach it will be from one day to as much as four. The weather had been hot and story developing had pot been too pleasant and when Grace said in a firm tone on Wednesday afternoon that we were going to leave here early Friday morning for Ocracoke, even I, who have no accessive love for but pleasant memories of beaches, made no protest. Any objection that any of us may have was obliterated by the recent announcement that ferry service had been inaugurated between Swanquarter and Ocracoke, and that it would no longer be necessary to go the long way around by Nags Head or by Cedar Point Ferry and home by way of New Bern. The new ferry reduced the distance from Warrenton to Ocracoke by more than a hundred miles. Remembering last year how we almost missed our ferry at Cedar Point, thia time Grace phoned for reservations, and we learn ed that we would have to be at Swanquarter by 9 a. m. Friday. By getting up at 4 a. m., we made it to Swanquarter before the deadline. At Swanquarter we boarded the Ferry Governor Edward Hyde, which proved to be the largest ferry and the most luxurious one upon which I had ever been transported. I do not know how many cars it will transport, although it was far from filled, but I was impressed by the 80-passenger air conditioned lounge on the second deck. Two hours and a half and 28 miles later we docked at Ocracoke for the fourth time. This time, contrary to last year, mosquitoes were no problem and Friday afternoon others in our party were on the beach, crabbing and giving away their crabs, while I read a book in our air-conditioned quarters. They came back all enthused by their success at crabbing and by the beauty of the beach and I was enticed to accompany them on Saturday morning. The beach was pretty and I enjoyed walking down the firm sand of a receded tide while in front of me walked a shapely female who would stop every now and then to pick a shell from the shallow water, allowing me to gain. Finally she stopped and spoke as I came up. She was very nice and I marveled at how a 60-year-old woman could have kept such a girlish figure. My wife laughed >when I made this observation and turned over a rather pretty shell to her, sent to my wife by new acquaintance. My wife was as happy as a lark over the success that she, Ann and Howard were having with their crabbing, and I was happy then at their success and happier later that night as she served the best tasting crabs that I had ever eaten and the best meal that we enjoyed at our stay at the beach. Saturday afternoon we made our reservations to board the ferry for Swanquarter at 6:30 a.m. Sunday morning. This necessitated our getting up at 5 a. m. the next morning. Unfortunately, the night man went off duty at 11 p. m. and we had no alarm clock, but the knowledge that a second ferry would leave at noon in case of a miss was some consolation. Due to fitful sleep, when some one was awake at most hours of the night, we managed to wake up at the designated hour and in time to make our ferry with time to spare. A little more than twohours later, we were disembarking at Swanquarter for some sightseeing in nearby towns, before starting the long journey home. At Swanquarter as our ferry came in we noticed the long lanes of persons heading for the week at Ocracoke, and we knew that this time the ferry could not accommodate the crowd, many of whom would have a long wait for a second run of the ferry. Warren County Man Is Placed Under Bond A Warren County man implicated in a three-county theft ring and the eleventh person arrested in connection with break-ins which netted more than $7,000 in merchandise was bound over Friday for trial in the next term of Superior Court. Judge Charles W.Wilkinson of Oxford ordered Ervin Fields bound over to the higher court during a session of Warren County District Court on Friday. Fields waived his right to a preliminary hearing on three charges of receiving and bond was continued at $500. A reduction to (2,500 was allowed on another bond, ordered after Fields was charged with two counts of conspiracy to commit larceny. Judge Wilkinson also ordered that bonds be combined for another defendant charged with being a member of the theft ring. Bond for Thomas Richardson, charged with breaking, entering, larceny and receiving was set at $8,000. He faces charges in Warren, Vance and Franklin counties. In other cases heard by the Oxford jurist, the follow* ing action was taken: Edwin R. Lynch, charged with eight counts of issuing worthless checks totalling $205, had counts against him placed in the inactive file pending a completion of investigation of the cases. Calvin Alston, assault on a female, ordered jailed for six months, suspended for three years on condition he keep the peace toward all persons, particularly Elizabeth Alston, and pay a fine of $25 and costs. Jasper Alston, bastardy, voluntary dismissal. Thomas R. Burke, speeding 75 in 55 mph zone, voluntary dismissal. Mark Burwell, assault on a female, voluntary dismissal. Andrew Collins, assault with a deadly weapon, sixmonth jail term suspended for two years on condition he keep the peace toward all persons, particularly Willie Lee Bender; pay a fine of $50 and court costs. Defendant gave notice of appeal to the next term of Superior Court with bond set at $100. George M. Davis, three counts of giving worthless checks, 90-day jail term suspended for one year on condition he pay the sum of the three checks ($25) as restitution to the prosecuting witness and that he pay costs of court. Eddie Lewis Gilchrist, careless and reckless driving, 60-day Jail term suspended for six months on condition he pay fine of $50 and costs. Oscar Harris, Jr., public drunkenness, five-day jail term. Forest Hawkins, driving under the influence of intoxicating beverages, sixmonths Jail term suspended for one year on condition he surrender his operator's license and not operate a motor vehicle on the highways of N. C. until allowed to do so by the Department of Motor Vehicles, pay fine of $100 end costs. He was allowed 90 days in which to pay costs and fine. Maurice Henderson, trespass, voluntary dismissal. James Hinton, assault with a deadly weapon, voluntary dismissal. Clemon Leon Kearney, nonsupport, voluntary dismissal. Melvin Paschall, assault on a female, voluntary dismissal. Hinton Richardson, nonsupport, voluntary dismissal. Jesse James Rudd, assault inflicting serious injury, six-month Jail sentence suspended for two years on condition he pay $79 for medical bills of Willie E. Johnson, pay sum of $50 as restitution to Willie E. Johnson, pay fine of $50 and costs and not be found guilty of assault for two years. Wallace Edward Schuster, failure to stop at stop sign, careless and reckless driving, fined $20 and costs with a voluntary dismissal taken on the careless and reckless driving charge. Sandra Scott, two counts of unauthorized use of telephone, six-month jail term suspended for two years on condition she pay the sum of $279.80 to reimburse Carolina Telephone and Telegraph, pay the sum of $50 as attorney fees and pay a fine of $50 and court costs. Eugene Sledge, assault, 60-day jail term, suspended for two years on condition he not be found guilty of assault for a period of two years and that he pay a fine of $25 and costs. Charles Williams, bastardy, called and failed, arrest order issued and bond set at $500. Herman Person, communicating threats. The prosecuting witness, EStella Robinson was found guilty of malicious, false and Letters To The taitor TENNIS ANYONE? To The Editor: I have been reading of Warrenton/Warren County's plight In securing federal funds for a water line for the Soul City complex to Warrenton (Thursday, July 21) and was struck by the appalling paradox created by the attached article covering Winter Park, Florida's "windfall." I felt Warrenton/Warren County citizens might be interested to see how well their tax money was being invested. I'm sure if they're in the Orlando/Winter Park area they will want to take advantage of the "tennis" facility. HOWARD R. MUNDAY (Husband of the former Jean Pope) LAUGH THIS ONE OFF In The Times-Union Jacksonville, Florida July 26, 1977 In reading the news of our multi-layered governmental system in this country, one is pained to know whether to laugh or cry. This is especially true since the national layer has so extensively intruded upon the successive lower segments to make them veritable colonies of -that great universalizing formula-oriented top layer in Washington. Take the City of Winter Park in Orange County, for example; that small, bedroom community of the greater Orlando metropolitan area. The city fathers asked the Federal Economic Development Administration for $900,000 so that the old, dilapidated city library could be replaced and meanwhile that jobs might be created in the community. The role of EDA is to shovel out money so that jobs may be created in high unemployment areas, as contrasted with the objectives of the more traditional project oriented grant-in-aid programs. Well, EDA put Winter Park's $900,000 request into its formula for such doles and, instead of the sum requested, Winter Park suddenly found itself the beneficiary of a grant in the amount of $2.65 million — a sum more than half the annual budget of this city of 23,000 citizens. frivolous prosecution and ordered to pay the costs of court. Erwin Earl Williams, careless and reckless driving, 60-day jail term suspended for six months on condition he pay fine of $50 and costs. The grant information waa accompanied by a notice that the money had to be apent within M daya. Winter Park officiate, understandably, were shocked. And, if they panicked, it ia to be forgiven. They decided that what the 12-tennis court city recreation system needed was IS more tennis courts, plus miscellaneous bicycle trails and so forth. (The city since has revised its list of projects.) EDA officials were unperturbed when questioned about the situation of Winter Park's $1.75 million windfall. They observed that the formula entitled Winter Park to the extra $1.75 million that had not been asked for. And, anyway, people from other cities in Orange County —cities that had asked for and been denied EDA grants — could look for work in Winter Park. Boo hoo. Hee hee. Boo. Hee. CORRECTION To The Editor: For a long time, I have enjoyed reading The Warren Record and look forward each week for the news and information that it brings. Your column MOSTLY PERSONAL is always informative and reminiscent and I have been happy to find on occasions that you have had some very kind recollections about my father and his family. I am writing this letter in an effort to correct some information that appeared in your column in the issue of Thursday July 21, 1977. In paying due tribute to the local fire company and its great history, you mentioned that "In 1868 Jimmie Ransom was also a member of the company." This should have been Jimmie's father-James M. Ransom. It was he who had the carriage factory, along with his sons. In fact, they were blacksmiths, wheelwrights, carriage makers, cabinet makers, and painters, as well as skilled repairmen in many fields. My grandfather, James M. Ransom, did make the coffin in which Annie Carter Lee was buried. My father, Jimmie E. Ransom, was born July 6, 1868. I think that this was after Annie Carter Lee had passed. However, when he was a young child learning his father's skills he found in the shop some scraps from the coffin that his father had saved over the years and made a jewel box, which is now in a museum in Richmond, Virginia. It was my father, as you mentioned, who waa the undertaker. He received his D.S.S. degree in 1915 from the Howard Eckels School of Embalming in Philadelphia. He paased on November 7, 1935. Thank you for your kind recollectiona. Warrenton does have a rich hiatory and certainly there are many who have contributed to the cultural, aocial, economic and religious growth of such a great and beautiful home town. Mr. Alston is to be congratulated, too, for his leadership with the fire company and in bringing out the history of such a fine volunteer organization. MRS. HENRY E. FORTSON (Nee Annie Ruth Ransom) 3920 Spruce Street Inkster, Michigan 48141 Elam Joins Staff Jim Elam has joined the faculty and coaching staff at Princeton High School, Princeton, for the 1977-78 school year. He is a 1971 graduate of John Graham High School where he played both football and baseball under coach Harvey Brooks, the present coach at Princeton High School. Jim is a 1977 Physical Education graduate of East Carolina University and the son of Mr. and Mrs. James G. Elam, Rt. 1, Warrenton. »• —n United Federal has the ways to Increase your means. Because United Federal has a savings plan to fit your exact needs. 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