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PAGE 2 — WEST CRAVEN HIGHLIGHTS — NOVEMBER 23, 1989 Our Opinion (iail Winds Mavretic Does As Expected In His Political Dealings A Problem Is Compounded When Illiteracy Present We believe it was Andrew Jackson who once said “to the victor be longs the spoils.’ Democratic Representative Joe Mavretic of Edgecombe County was elected Speaker of the North Carolina House ofRepresentatives thisyear. It is true that it took 45 Republican votes and 20 votes from his own party members to defeat former Speaker Liston Ramsey. But the fact remains, whether we like it or not, that Mr. Mavretic was elected and he served in that position during this year’s legisla tive session. Now from sc»eral sides he is being criticized for removing certain Democrats from committees and commissions and naming his own supporters. Is not that exactly what others have been doing in the realm of politics since government started in North Carolina. We do not like all that we see, but we must admit that had Mr. Mavretic been defeated in his effort to gain the speakership, Mr. Ramsey would be bypassing everyone who supported Mr. Mavretic. That is the way it is in politics. The issue and the criticism have been rather severe since he failed to reappoint Reps. George Miller of Durham County and Joe Hack ney of Orange County to two legislative oversight committees. Mr. Miller was stripped of his co-chairmanships of the Joint Le gislature Utility Review Committee and the Joint Legislative Com mittee on Low Level Radio-Active Waste. Mr. Hackney has been a leading exponent of environment affairs, and he was removed from the Environmental Review Commission. We must agree that a lot of ability was lost in taking away their knowledge and understanding of the issues. But again, Mr. Mavre tic chose to appoint those who have supported him and on whom he is counting to elect him House speaker again. Mr. Mavretic did say he was not satisfied with the operations of the utility review commit tee’s efforts to bring more natural gas to Eastern North Carolina. It must be remembered that most of those 45 Republicans who supported Mr. Mavretic and most of those 20 Democrats who did likewise are up for re-election next year. So is Mr. Mavretic both in Edgecombe County and for his position as speaker. A politician does not appoint his political enemies. He rewards his friends and supporters. So Mr. Mavretic is just doing what scores of other political leaders have done in years gone by. And unless some thing bizarre happens, we shall expect the system to continue as long as we have both politics and government. We believe what has happened in many ways has hurt North Car olina. It is strange indeed for a coalition of Democrats and Republi cans to elect a speaker. But it happened. And “to the victor belongs the spoils.” At least that’s the way it is |;vcn if many of us do not like it. When something new is introduced, we like to stand up and listen. At least, when the matter of human justice is involved, it might be a case in which we can learn something. In Durham County recently a man came before District Court charged with failure to meet his child support payments. That is a familiar charge today in many courts in North Carolina and we sus pect in other states as well. We have been told that here in this Pam lico area, we have a goodly number of such cases coming up for trial. But this case in Durham recently was somewhat different. The defendant could not read and write. He had no job. He could not make child support payments when he was out of work and not mak ing any wages. And so often that is the case among fathers hailed into court for non-support. It is a sad and tragic condition to face, but judges have to face it all the time. The Durham judge gave the illiterate defendant 90 days in jail. But instead of ordering the standard work release as is done so of ten, this judge suspended the sentence on condition that the defen- dantgo to school and learn to read and write. The judge learned that Durham Community College offers free literacy classes after the jurist had offered to pay the costs for what he termed as “education release” rather than Svork release.” The judge says he will continue to offer “education release” in cases of a similar nature brought before him. The judge took note of the fact that so many persons are brought to court for failure to pay alimony, child support, and court costs because they are out of work and because they cannot read and write, they are at the very bottom of the totem pole when it comes to getting and holding jobs. In this particular case, it was learned that the defendant could not even fill out an application for a job because he was so handicapped. It is just common sense to realize that in today’s world, an illiterate human being can find but few jobs he can hold. In days gone by he mighthave been a ditch digger, but we do not digmany ditches today with a plain old shovel. He might have been a farmer’s helper, but few farmers use mules and plows today, and farm machinery takes some education when learning to operate. So really, what is there to do today for a fellow who absolutely can not read and write and who has never been to school a day in his life? Why we read thatby theendof this century 85 percent of all workers must have at least a high school education. The dropouts, all of whom can read and write, will hold the other 15 percent of the jobs. If this story from the Durham court can be looked upon as an ex periment, then over our state it might be wise to follow the progress there on this first “education release” defendant. We might learn something valuable. The Best Answer Different Situation Over North Carolina in recent days we have seen many municipal campaigns being waged in towns and cities across the state. In many instances public meetings among the candidates have been held so that voters could ask questions and engage in personal conversa tions with those seeking office. In one such encounter, the fellow wishing to ask the question made a speech on the needs of his city such as education, law enfor cement, utilities, streets, lire departments, and recreation. He dwelled on each subject, and then he asked his question of the coun cil candidates. “What do you consider a wise and practical amount our tax rate should be increased to realize these needs?” If that is not a loaded question, we have never seen or heard of one. But some candidates tried to stumble through with half hearted answers. But one fellow gave a very simple answer. He said, “I have no idea.” That was the best answer of the evening, and from the applause received, he scored a hiL As we follow the emigration of thousands of East Germans to West Germany through Czechoslovakia, we need to realize that this is no comfortable world situation. It is a very much different stoiy than that which might be told by neighboring countries. Poland, Czechoslovakia, and other Euro pean neighbors have a long history and sometimes a distinguished one. East Germany has a very short history. It was formed after World War II, and it is perhaps the most purely communist country today in Europe. At least it adheres more closely to the Stalinist traditions and philosophy than does the Soviet Union or any other communist country there. With so much movement, the situation is far more explosive than most people realize. If East Germany begins to bear down in terms equal to what China did, then we hesitate to think of the aftermath. What we really have is a divided Germany. And it appears that many Germans living under Stalinist communism are fed up and want to leave. As I sit on the porch and listen tothebirds, a pine-scented harvest breeze slightly stirs my peaceful countryside. These are the mo ments of life worth savoring. Moments filled with awareness, and with peace and promise...times of thoughtfulness and thankfulness. . , As we perpare ourselves for yet another Thanksgiving, perhaps we should spend a little less time searching through the stores for the turkey and more time towards searching through our hearts for Thanksgiving. Like all the holidays in the year, this one, too, has fi nally lost its meaning. At the end of the day, the women are ex hausted from toiling over hot stoves. The men reach for their hunt ing boots or check thier watch not to miss the kickoff. And the child ren... well, they go on to future Thanksgivings patterened after what they’ve already seen. We just stuff our bodies with food and our brains with mindless entertainment, and head towards the Christ mas holiday to do more of the some. Well, I’ve revived Thanksgiving hero at my house.. .the way it was meant to be. And, I try to keep a bit of that special holiday in my life each day the whole year through. I am thankful all the time, for many things. Some of them can be touched with the hand. Some with the eye. And some can only be felt with the heart. I am thankful for the sense of wonder that survived my childhood, and for the courage to see myself as I really am. Courage to take risks. Couroge to live. I am thankful for the mixture of new insights and old wisdoms, and that I'm not one of those poor souls who neither enjoy much nor suffer much because they live in the gray twilight that knows not victory or defeat. I am thankful to finally come to understand that being, doing, and having, are like a triangle where each side supports the other. And most of all, I am grateful that I’ve reached the awareness, at long last, that little things affect little minds. I’m grateful for friends who drop by unexpectedly, baby bunnies that rush to the cage door each morning, and time to linger now and then. Blessed are the mamas who share and doctors who care, and nephews who run to hug my knees. And teddy bears. And what would Ido without my dreams, and those who support them, no mat ter how crazy they might think I am... There are so many little things that make my life worthwhile, the kind of things that lift my heart and cause my soul to sinile. Like kittens playing in the leaves near sage upon the vine, and harvest tangled in the breeze as combine engines whine. I love the shells that lie in groups upon my kitchen shelf, recalling moments by the sea I gladly gave myself. I often sit and wonder just how blind some folks can be, to the marvels of the universe that mean so much to me. ' For each passing of the twilight has made me more aware, of the tiny treasures in my life I should more often share. Like the little white haired grandmas and honeysuckle days, pastures, ponds, and clover fields and time for carefree ways. Tiny birds upon a limb and butterflies and bees, provide a sense of wonderment like do shady big oak trees, So why not stop your rushing, and pause along the way, to make time every morning for another thank-fflled day. Don’t wait until Thanksgiving to be thankful. Don’t wait until then to celebrate. Go out and find Thanksgiving everywhere, eveiy way, in your heart. And you’ll find yourself plenty of reason to be grateful at any time for another thank-filled day. When you paity I’emeniberto... UmHsiiittmitd Ifunih’iiulvixT- tiruwn’HHMin’ ‘ PflQTV kl V (ikt «K’ iIh’ di > tin- (Imiii^ m MiXntL\MJtS OTAVIEUC^ rtKIt’SVtRI Soil & Water B>' Michael Harriett Soil Conservation Technician Most people take soil for granted and think of it as the *dirt” that we walk, play work and build on. But soil and soil conservation is much more than that. In fact, it is a matter of life and death. Stop and think about it — every thing we have comes from the soil, directly or indirectly. The bluejeansyou wear are made of cotton, which comes from a plant that grows in the soil. ITie egg you ate for breakfast came from a chicken which ate corn that grew in the soil. The house you live in is made of wood or has wood in it. Wood comes from trees which grow in the ground. Without the soil to grow crops and trees we could not survive. This is why it is important for us to conserve our soil. By conserving our soil, we ensure it will continue to support us and fu ture generations. If you look at the soil closely, you will find it is much more than just dirt. It iscomposed many things—bits of rock, mineral crystals, plant roots, decayed roots and leaves, liv ing and dead animals and plants, water and air. Most soil is formed from various types of rocks. Water action, air, temperature, plants, animals and chemical actions all work together to create new soil. To get some idea of the physical force and length of time it takes na ture to produce topsoil, take two rough rocks and rub them together. It takes a long time just to produce a spoonful of mineral from which soil develops. Tliis simple experiment explains why it takes nature about 500 to 1000 years to produce one inch of topsoil. All soil is composed of sand, silt and clay. The various combinations of sand, silt and clay is what makes our soils suitable or unsuitable for the various uses. Some examples of the various uses are fanning, build ing houses or for septic tank systems. Soil scientists have identified more than 70,000 kinds of soil in the United States. These soils are usu ally named for the town or locality in which they are Art defined. Some ex- ampicsofsoil namesin this area are Pantego, Arapahoe, Craven and Lenoir. Our soil is composed of different layers. Tliese layers are known as horizons. The three main layers are known ns topsoil, subsoil and bed rock. These layers vary in thickness and color. Even if soils look alike on the surface, they may be very diffe rent below the surface. The thick ness of the layers and their struc ture make a big difference in the suitability of the soil for various uses. To manage soils properly and use them to their utmost capability, we must know something about their characteristics. This information is available in the form of a published soil survey. Soil surveys are composed of aer ial photographs that show the vari ous boundaries of the different soils and all technical data. lYiisinforma- tion is very valuable to landowners, engineers, fanners and others. dp descnl tions of the different soils for such purposes as cropland, ponds, build ing sites, septic tanlu and other things. Wurlitzer Pianos & Organs Selmer Band Instruments Guitar & Accessories Aftordabla I Rental Program* Available on Plano* & Band Inatrument*. Excellent Service Fuller’s Music House, Inc. Low interest in-store financing available 216 Middle street 63B-2811 New Bern tf-- Wmt Craven W Highlights Craven County’s Family Waskly Hawapapw P.O. Box 487 Vanceboro, N.C. 28586 (Main St Aenu From P«t Ofliw) Publlahad Each Thuraday Aahley B. Futrall, Jr. Publisher MIk* Voa* Editor l>a«iM«w; Ssnd sddraM ehtnoM to; Wtm CravM WghagMs P.O. Boi 4V7 Vumlnro, N.C. Msa*-M*7 Edith Hodga* Office Manager Office Hours Mon 8:30 am - 10:30 am Thurs. & Fri. 8:30 am - 6:00 pm Talephon* 2444780 or 946-2144 IN-COUNTY RATES Single Copy 25* 1 Year *7.36 2 Years •11.65 3 Years '16.76 OUT-OF-COUNTY RATES 1 Year '8.40 2 Years *12.60 3 Years *16.80 Abov* Include* N.C. Tax. Payable in advence. Subscribers desiring their Highlights term!- nated nt expiration should notify us of this intention, otherwise we will consider it their wish to conti- nuc to receive the paper and they will be charged for it. U.S.P.S. 412-110 Second Class Postage Paid Vanceboro, N.C. Member. N.C. Press Assodation BUSHESS&SBWMXS MISTY Pat'! PAY CASH ^and uv* 20% and roor*.'^ 90 days-sa/ne as J cash. Come on down.' Furniture Co. Inc. 244-1828 Tslcr i Son Garage Owner A Operator louli Toler Custom Exhaust & Mufflers Tune-up - Transmission & Motor Service Nwy 17| 3 mllBS North of Vanceboro 24 Hour Wroekor Sorvieo a44-12S3 Form Ufa Horlst OFFICE 244-2S19 After Hours Call: Elva 244-1036 Jean 244-0847 Eve Ann 637-4437 RINSE-N-VAC sleamcieanscaipets cleaner and keeps them cleaner longer. Rent Al Pat's Furniture Co. 244-1828 SUPER SAVERS S I m. 244-2444 VCTOBAt; • lAlff IS.991 VANCEBORO HAROHARE ROSE Oil wTH rn£E a oz. BOTUE OFCIEM lAMPOIL Unf f off soft PWCusfomK HMb OuanrlfM Usff EXVirL£76. eojeUe, IM MIODLI tt. Nt«aiiui.N.e.tiMa TtLBOHGNI MT-4SM ^you^^^itunond^lox^ Timmy Ray Hawks Painting Co. Inlerior-Exlerior-Painting Roof Coaling * 244-2626 Aher 6 P.M. 244-1381 H. M. B. Morris Plaza Vanceboro Complete Family Insurance Coverage “Stop & Look” HWY. 17 POHERY OVER too ITEMS 244-9060 Edward’s Small Engine EXOTIC BIRDS a TROPICAL FISH PET SUPPLIES NEW a USED LAWN MOWERS SALES a REPAIR — See our toy selection 244-2208 VANCEBORO Hardware & Plumbing Movie Rentals ‘Timex Watches ‘Groceries ‘All kinds of Frozen Food.. & Film & Flash Bulbs Hwy. 17 N. Vanceboro 244-1451 Open 6:00-11:00 Every WATTS Da^ TTp7 GAVE -*■ • WITH PROPANE ECONOMCAi EFFICCNT (XMVENIENT 244-0320 ERNUL CROSSROADS - CONVENIEUCE • GOOD FOOD ■ HAME BRAUD CLOTHES Down East Restaurant NOW OPEN UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT, MEET ^ TOMUy t SHKEY Home LEONTHOimSON Come See What Everyone’s Raving AboutI rtaw i MftGiitehu-al twiniM Face’s Stop & Shop VIDEO RENTALS (dl the new relearo.) ERNUL CROSSROADS Hwy 17 & WEYERHAEUSER R ERNUL 244-1116 / Ok BoIimIwi CNe lagrod OWnond Ouui Jonbdi. Bttlc Sizet 1-20 PETITE AVERAGE a TALL . Layaway* AvaHaU* Emu Croasroads mm -10-5 Mon. Thiu SaL tUPUt^K I wil nai ( ing ala tin sod dra ( jarr I low cen 17.1 diu 21 I bul 1 . 2 5 3 1 2 y 1 1 c yoll C mix turi E gen F til I Lo Th Th Ar I I W1 .Th Ac Wi As •Th Th Nc Th Lo Th Lil Gi Th Lo I T1 who Hon Schc Hun cTiae Angi Bev S Broi Bern Deni Jen; Larr Ei low, Chei Meli Si Anti lysoi wani Amy Cryfl Haiti ins, Hill, Hud Kom rum, Lovi McC McK Teor Moot Jainr Powi Shie Stan Tftyl L of B wort willl wedt held ist C p.m. Tl San Allfi to at
West Craven Highlights (Vanceboro, N.C.)
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Nov. 23, 1989, edition 1
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