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West Craven Highlights
iVpirs From Alonn Tho Hanks Of The \eiise
PHONE 244 0780 OR 946-2144 (UPSP 412-110)
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NATCNAl »CWSMSr«
VOLUME 12 NO. 28
JUI^0jJ989
VWJCEBOROJlJORTI^AROUNA
26 CENTS
SIX PAOES
Jobless
Figures
Decrease
RALEIGH — Craven, Jones, Le
noir and Pamlico countiea are part
of the 86 out of 100 counties with un-
'imployment rates at or leu than 6
percent for May.
Craven Counts unemployment
rate fell ftom 3.9 percent in ^ril to
3.6 percent in May, according to fig
ures releawd by the N.C. Employ
ment Security Commission. The
county’s jobieu rate for May 1988
was 3.7 percent.
Craven County’s labor force tot
aled 33,490 during May and 1,170
were unable to secure employment.
‘Ihe labor pool for April was 32,470
and 1,280 were unable to find work.
‘Ihe work force in May 1988 was
31,860 and 1,180 were without jobs.
Jones County’s unemployment
rate decreawd from 4.9 percent in
April to 4 percent in May. ’The rate
for May 1988 was 3.6 percent. ’Ihe
Jones County work force totaled
. ^210 in May and|I70 could not find
work. ’Hie April labor pool num
bered 4,070 and 200 were without
jobs. The May 1988 work force was
4,120 and the number of unem
ployed 150.
Lenoir County’s unempioyment
rate fell from 4.8 percent in April to
4 percent in May. 'Ihe jobieu rate in
May 1988 was 3.7 percent. ’The May
labor force totaled 29,180 with 1,180
unable to find employment. There
were 1,430 people in April without
jobs out of a 29,720-man work force.
’Ihe Hay 1983 work force totaled
28,670 end 1,070 drere without
work.
Pamlico County’s unemployment
rate fell from 4 iwrcent in April to
2.6 percent in May. The May labor
pool totaled 4,850 end 120 were
without work. ‘The April labor force
numbered 4,760 and 190 could not
find jobs. ’The jobless late in May
1988 was 3 percent.’The labor force >jJ7luafl
totaled 4,630 and 140 could not find
employment.
^jyi Rains Bring
Good, Bad
To Farmers
Extra Water A Plus,
Sometimes Hindrance
fUc C«rl«r photo
Hw state unemployment rate fell
from 4 percent in April to 3.4 per*
cent in May. The national unad*
justed rate fell from 5.1 percent in
April to 6 percent in May.
’ • •
Last week's high temperatures forced many to seek relief where they could find it. This
young woman found a swimming pool the best place to keep her cool. Temperatures
neared or surpassed the triple*digit mark (above right) as evidenced by this reading on a
time-and-temperature sign. Others sought relief by staying in air-conditioned buildings,
stocking up on cool drinks or wearing as few clothes as possible. Relief came late in the
week as a cold front brought lower temperatures and rain.
By Greg Stroud
Staff Writer
Rains which came to North Car
olina this winter have stayed
through spring and lasted into sum
mer in areas of the state.
Resulting crop conditions have
many Tar Heel farmers predicting
that production costs this year will
be the highest the/ve faced in years.
The frustration that droughts
have brought in recent seasons com
pares marginally to the havoc too
much rain is creating for some grow
ers. It can best be ciescribed as the
domino effect.
For example, too much rain
means that crops don’t get planted
on time; herbicide, fertilizer, and
pesticide activity is reduced; more
weed, insect and disease pressure
results; more rain means you can’t
get in the field to treat these prob
lems, and more expensive hand la
bor is then required. In most cases,
overall yields are reduced.
Western Craven farmers find the
inability to get into the fields at cru
cial times mostfrustrating. Said one
local former: *It makes It real hard
when we can’t get into the field to
get the crop when its ready. Wait
ing, even a few days, makes a big
difTerence.”
According to the Agricultural
News Service, the bottom line
means paying much higher produc
tion costs to produce a smaller crop.
N.C. Farm Bureau fVesident W.B.
Jenkins says, *On a per pound basis
we will see a 15 to 20 percent in
crease in tobacco production this
year.”
He says beside the increased
costs following this unpredictable
weather, fuel, fertilizer and chemi
cal costs have increased substan
tially this year.
Elsewhere in eastern North Car
olina, others are also painting a
gloomy picture in several areas. To
bacco grower Atlas Wooten of Pitt
County says its his prediction that
26 percent of the crop has flopped.
He says, *Tobacco is looking awful
yellow and black.”
Disease pressure in this area is
also on the increase with Wooten re
porting the wprst cases of Granville
wilt he has seen. Wooten said, ”Wa-
ter is conveying the disease from one
area to the other.”
Labor costs are up in the area,
which is bound to make the oVerall
cost of tobacco to rise. One farmer
remarked, *I know one fellow who
has 19 laborers working with hoes
the last three days because he
couldn’t machine cultivate. Lost
herbicide activity is drawing pro
duction costs up even further.”
”// makes it real hard ufhen we
can*t get into the field to get the
crop when its ready. Waiting,
even a few days, makes a big
difference."
— Local farmer
Golden Leaf
Tobacco growing has come
a long way over the years.
But it’s still hard work from
planting to harvest. Take a
photographic look through
the lenses of Lee Schweitzer
Jr. at today’s methods of
raising the historical crop.
See page 4.
Visit To Capitol Beneficial, Informative, Says OCT AD
By Mike Voss
Editor
An apparent trend by the federal
government to return more control
over local issues to state and local
governments is the right move, said
several area men who returned from
tvro days of meetings in Uie nation’s
cartel.
^e men were part of a group of
representatives from eight eastern
North Carolina chambers of com
merce attending a two-day ”fly-in”
to discuss legislative and economic
Issues v/ith officials of the govern
ment and the United States Cham
ber of Commerce.
The group — CKITAD — is com
prised of the chambers of commerce
from New Bern, Washington,
Greenville, Kinston, Goldsboro,
Tarboro, Wilson and Jacksonville.
The men said they expected local
and state governments to begin
working onlocal issues knowingless
help is available at the federal level
and that the private sector will be
come more involved in solving local
problems and encouraging local
development.
Prank B. *Bo” Lewis, executive
director of the Greater Washington
Chamber of Commerce; Jim Nance,
a developer based in eastern North
Carolina and William *3111" Zach-
man, a certified public accountant
and head of a film production com
pany, left last Wednesday for the
event. They met with Reps. Walter
B. Jones, Tim Valentine and Martin
Lancaster and with Sens. Terry
Sanford and Jesse Helms.
Zachman said Helms and Sanford
discussed legislation pending in
Congress. Zachman said their aides
were more familiar with some of the
legislation and issues than the sena
tors. He said there isa'strong possi
bility” a capita] gains tax provision
will be put back into the nation’s tax
codes. Zachman said Rep. Dan Ros-
tenkowski, chairman of the House
Ways and Means Committee, is
against the proposal but appears to
be weakening on his view.
Zachman said if the capital tax
gain provision is returned to the tax
code it will be a form of revenue en
hancement that will *spur sales of
capital assets” and increase re
venues. Zachman said the provision
should help the economy because
the provision would make it more
‘attractive fbrbusinesses to sell their
capital assets.
Nance said he is encouraged with
the shift of'power back to the states
and private sector” when it comes to
identifying and addressing local
issues. He said that local and state
governments are more in tune with
their problems and issuesand are in
abetter position toknow whatit will
take to address the issues and solve
the problems.
’The private sector is going to
need to he listened to” on state and
local issues, said Nance.
Nance end Zachman agreed the
days of federal revenue-sharing
funds are over and the federal gov
ernment appears to be willing to let
state and local governments provide
the tools to handle issues and prob
lems, while providing some money
to make the tools available. Nance
said he sees local governments and
the private sector coming together
more often to solve local prc^lems,
identify local needs and deal with
local issues.
•That was confirmed up there,”
See JUNKET, Page 5
Vanceboro Mayor
‘Jailed’ For A Day,
Joined By 13 Others
•—By Grtg Stroud
Stan Wrtfrr
Vanceboro Mayor Jimmie Morris
spent the day in jail on July 11. Mor
ris was later released after friends
and family members posted his bail.
Hiirteen other residents were
also arrested during the day. No
charges were actually filed against
any of the ^lees* as the arrests
were all in frin as a fund-raising
event for the American Cancer
Society.
‘The jail, which was located at the
Vancetoro Pharmacy, was filled to
capacity on several ocassions. Gus
Kite, of Kite’e Supermarket, and
Etheleene Butler, spent much of
their alternoon in -jail* trying to
raise their bail. Richard Bowers,
principal of Vanceboro-Farm Life
Elementary and Mike Morton,
pharmacist, were given only bread
and water in an effort to keep them
See JAIL, Page 6
‘Big Sweep’ Targeting
Coastal, Inland Waters
If You Give Blood,
You Might Receive
A Present Of Wheels
By Greg Stroud
Staff Writer
Anew Isuzu Trooper II will be one
of a number of prizes to be given
away to conclude a mqjor fiind-
raising campaign by Che Oaven-
Pamlico (Chapter of the American
Red Cross.
The local chapter is facing a defi
cit of some $23,000 in its operating
budget.
•We have two options we are fac
ing,” says Margaret Lamb, chair
man of the chapter”8 board of direc
tors. 'We can raise the more than
$20,000 we need to operate for the
last six months of the year, or we can
close down.'
The chapter serves Craven, Pam
lico and Jones counties with blood
services, first aid and CPR classes,
swimming classes, disaster pre
paredness end relief, and acts as a
important link between members of
the armed forces and their families.
Automobile dealer Joe Alcoke will
provide the Isuzu Trooper.
See RED CROSS, Page 5
The Neuse, Pamlico and Tar riv
ers, state parks and other inland
rivers andlakes will be included this
ysar in a nationwide effort to pick up
trash left on beaches from the sum
mer tourist season.
As port of the nationvdde effort,
thousands of people are expected to-
pick up trash in a statewide water
way cleanup. But North (Carolinians
will clean up inland rivers and lakes
this fall as well as the state’s
beaches >> the first such effort i n the
nation.
Called Big Sweep, it will take
place September 23, event organiz
ers said in an interview Monday.
Formerly named Beach Sweep,
this year’s event has been expanded
to include inland waters from Nags
Head to the Nantahala River near
Asheville.
Merchants Millpond State Park,
Cliffs of the Neuse State Park, Eno
River, Jordan Loke, (Chowan River,
Kerr Lake and a variety of other in
land waters ore on the cleanup list
See BIO SWEEP, Page 5
Ue 8ehwstU«r Jr. photo
Remembering
Twenty year, ago today, the first men to walk on the moon
took their first steps. Astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz
Aldrin, two members of the Apollo 11 crew, made the his
toric steps July 20,1969. Twenty years later, the moon still
appears the same. Many area residents remember a time
when no man had set foot on the lunar surface. Other resi-,
dents, those less than 20 years old, only know times when
man has already been to the moon. Yesterday was the 20th
anniversaiy of Sen. Ted Kennedy’s accident at the Chappa-
quiddick bridge that resulted in the death of Mary Jo
Kopechne.
Foreign Students Seek
Host Families For Stay
By Grtg Stroud
sun Writer
Pacific Intercultural Exchange
(PIE), is looking to find aeveral fami-
lies in the West Craven area to host
their high school exchange atudenU
who will bo arriving in August.
These students, travelling to the
United States flvm Spain, Ger
many, Japan, Argentina and Braril,
will spend an academic year in
North Carolina studying in local
high schools.
’Hie participants, all between the
ages of 15-18yeara, are flilly insured
and will bring their own spending
money. Host familiea are asked to
provide only room and board during
the program. By hosting for PIE, a
non-profit, tax-exempt organiia-
tion, each family is allowed to take a
$50 per month tax deduction.
Founded in 1975 and licensed by
the United States Information
Agency, PIE has sponsored more
then 10,000 exchanges. ’The organi-
See INTERN, Page 6