Gov. Moore Dedlfites Bridge
HERTFORD Gov. Dan
K. Moore dedicated the hand
some new Perquimans River
Bridge and U. S. 17 by-pass
Monday and predicted it
would mark “the beginning
Full text of Gov. Moore’s
address can be found on
page 6, section S.
of new growth and develop
ment for your area.”
“You have a great potential
fbr new advances for the
principal sectors of our state’s
economy—agriculture, indus
try, and travel and recrea
tion,” the governor said.
“All the ingredients of suc
cess are here—if you have
ay _
Volume XXXIII.—No. 26.
3Jhe public parade
Just For The Record
Following is an exchange between the chairman of the
Board of Public Works in Edenton and the publisher of
The Herald. The letters pertain, among other things, to
finances; something vital in our community, both present
and fiuture. They speak for themselves:
To The Editor:
• I am amazed that you
would print such an article
as, appeared as a part of
your Public Parade under
date of June 23, 1966. Your
willingness to broadcast in
formation of such a nature
and dignify it by putting it
in news print without any
attempt to verify it, which
you admitted to me, is utter
ly beyond my compresen
sion.
i Records of the operations
of the Board of Public
Works are and have been
for years furnished the Town
Clerk or Administrator.
These records’ are complete
in detail. They record the
bill payments, minutes of
meetings, analysis of sales
showing sources of revenue,
departmental head recom
mendations, and a complete
financial statement. The
above is handed to the Town
ft berk or Administrator
ihohthly. It is his duty to
gdvise the Town Council of
these reports, and I assume
he has been performing this
duty.
These records are also in
the Town Clerk’s or Admin
istrator’s office and are
available to the public dur
ing the working hours of
every day.
r'j- These records will show,
yMr. Amburn, that there is a
sioo,ooo emergency reserve
i'ip'r Unfofseen developments
artd disastrous happenings.
This reserve has been in ex
istence and has been approv
ed by a considerable number
of Boards made up of many
different elected members.
There are other funds
that are earmaked for the
payment of bond interest and
principal as it becomes due,
and for the payment of
equipment on order and ob
ligated for.
These records show that
there is $89,000 that is not
earmarked for any special
purpose. This is far from
the $300,000 to $500,000 fig
ure you mention and de
scribe as an “outrageous
kitty.”
The many projects that
would have been beneficial
to the citizens of Edenton
that have gone “begging” for
lack of funds have not been
begging because the Board
of Public Works would not
“turn-over” the money. For
your information, Mr. Am
burn, there has never been a
request for a stipulated
amount of mpney by the
Town Council to the Board
of Public Works that has
not been transferred to them
when wanted it. Bene
ficial projects have been
postponed, delayed or brush
ed aside, maybe, but not be
cause tins Board refused to
transfer requested funds
when the Council requested
them. There are, of course,
Continued
23.4% Wage Gains In 1965 Are Reported
■ Chowan County workers covered by unemployment
compensation laws were paid $5,568,000 during 1965.
This represents an increase of 23.4 per cent over the
total payroll of $4,510,233 in 1964.
R. E. Cheek, manager of the N. C. Employment Se
curity Commission office for this area, said this healthy
increase is due to additional jobs in manufacturing and
other areas of employment, as well as increased average
wages.
A report for the fourth quarter of 1965, just com
piled by the Raleigh ESC office, shows CboWan County
ranked second in the state in percentage of change in
the roads to open them up
for their full use.”
Earlier, in a prepared ad
dress, Gov. Moore said it is
his intention that this area
share in “our goal of total
development” in North Caro
lina development of “our
vast human and natural re
sources.”
He said this whole region is
a vast “reservoir of natural
resources which provides
beauty for the eye, pleasant
living, and an unlimited po
tential for growth and ex
pansion.”
However, the task of plan
ners and builders becomes
staggering when it comes to
THE CHOWAN HERALD
Edenton, Chowan County, North Carolina 27932 Thursday, June 30, 1966.
From the Editor:
We are happy to print the
accompanying letter from
Chairman Jesse L. Harrell of
Edenton’s Board of Public
Works.
It is fairly evident that he
disagrees with our observa
tions and he even goes a
step further to read some
thing into the article which
just isn’t there.
We stated a new council
policy of assuming responsi
bility for the finances of the
town would allow the Board
of Public Works additional
time to tend to their duties as
prescribed in the Town
Charter. And it will do just
that, even if Chairman Har
rell got the impression we
were being critical of the
way his board has been op
erating.
Too, from the budget of his
department for fiscal 1966-67
the board members implied
it was going to be a very
busy year. For this reason
they increased appropriations
for board members’ salary
from SBSO to $1,500.
In our business we get a
lot of information. Some
times, we admit, it is not as
accurate as we would like.
But claims that the Board
of Public Works enjoyed a
pretty healthy bank account
was about as close as you. Can
come.
The invested funds of. the
board on June 1, 1966, was
$306,000. That is pretty close
to the $300,000 low figure we
quoted.
The board had $31,000 in
U. S. Treasury Bonds, $265,-
000 in certificates of deposit
in Peoples Bank & Trust
Company, and SIO,OOO in
Edenton Savings & Loan As
sociation.
The financial statement for
the same period showed:
cash, $514.17; accounts receiv
able, $37,249.51; inventory,
$46,277.90; reserve, $100,000;
escrow account, $20,000; ap
propriated surplus, $97,000;
and unappropriated surplus,
$89,000. This is a total of
$390,041.58, or within about
SIOO,OOO of the total electric
and water department budget
for fiscal 1966-67.
In presenting a budget to
the Town Council, the board
estimated that the depart
ment would have a net profit
next year of $143,866. So,
take from this $102,000 for
a new fire station and a bill
ing computer, and an addi
tional $60,000 needed in the
general fund to keep the tax
rate at sl, and you wouldn’t
have to dig into the kitty for
but $19,000.
Whey, then, is a SIOO,OOO
reserve fund necessary?
True, we did not trouble
Town Administrator W. B.
Gardner for the board’s fi
nancial statement. We
thought it fruitless since
on Page 4
S-.
CL,
roads, he said. He cited t v
fact that costly bridges a ra
fills are needed at almi "c
every turn. 5
Nevertheless, the goverr
said he realized that in or(
for the area and all Eastern
North Carolina to move
ahead,, roads are a must.
“Let me assure you that
we understand and sympa
thize with your road needs,
and we intend to do some
thing about opening up this
area for unprecedented
growth and development,” he
declared.
Joseph Hunt of Greens
boro, chairman of the. State
Highway Commission said the
Tax Ra te $1
Town Budget Approved
The Town of Edenton will operate during fiscal 1966-67 on a budget of $865,107.
The tax rate will remain at $1 per SIOO valuation.
Town Councilmen meet in special session Tuesday night to approve the budget
and set the tax rate.
They were told by Town Administrator W. B. Gardner that the budget is based
Edenton Ready
For Big July 4
Edentonians will join mil
lions of other Americans
this weekend in the observ
ance of July 4.
Monday will be a general
hoiiday here with most busi
ness establishments being
closed, as well as municipal,
county, state and federal of
fices.
For many the weekend
will begin Friday and end
Tuesday morning. Because
of this “long weekend,” saf
ety officials predict a record
number of highway mishaps
and fatalities during this
holiday period.*
Police Chief James H.
Griffin of Edenton and dis
trict highway patrol offi
cials urged area residents to
drive especially careful as
the streets and highways
will be crowded.
Town Administrator W. B.
Gardner said there will be
no garbage collection here
Monday, but the street de
partment would make rounds
throughout Edenton Tuesday.
Also, the Municipal Building
will be dosed Monday.
Chow'an County Court
House will be closed Monday
as well as all other county
offices. County commission
ers will meet Wednesday,
July 6, instead of Monday,
according to W. E. Bond,
chairman.
The U. S. Post Office will
be closed and there will be
no rural mail deliveries,
Postmaster James M. Bond
said.
Peoples Bank & Trust
Company’s main office and
consumer credit branch will
be closed Monday.
Puppet Glass
Set Wednesday
The Chowan Arts Council
Chairman announces that a
puppet class will start on
Wednesday, July 6, at 3:30
o’clock in the Arts Studio
under the direction of Miss
Marion Taylor, arts teacher
of the Edenton City Schools.
With the assistance of mo
thers, an additional morning
workshop may be held each
week if desired.
Although interest in this
class has come from the 6 to
10 year olds, it is hoped that
older children may wish to
participate not only in mak
ing puppets but in planning
and preparing a set in which
to use them.
The small fee of 25 cents
a lesson has been set.
employment over the third quarter. The change was
an increase of 9.9 per cent and was topped only by
Granville County.
Some counties showed as much as a 41 per cent de
crease for the two quarters. The state average was an
increase of 1.9 per cent.
The average number of employes covered by the un
employment compensation laws during 1965 was 1,586.
Their average pay was $67.45.
The fourth quarter payroll for these workers was
$1,568,000, and the average weekly wage was $70.29.
Continued on Page 2
' E
i co .ire state could take pride
o the $2 million bridge and
-pass. He cited other high- !
E y improvements in the '
n it and said he hoped that '
the future “we will have :
many more such projects” in
this area. ,
Hunt drew a chuckle from
the crowd estimated at 300
when he commented on the
war dance performed by the
Perquimans County High
School Marching Unit. “I
think they wanted me to get
the message that if more
highway work wasn't done in
the area they would get my
scalp,” he said.
R. L. Hollowell, master of
— 1 * *
■« • Bp
■ tlm
fBHL, Ifflr ;
Jn
ul
CHARLES L. OVERMAN
Jaycees Honor
CharlesDverman
DOUGLAS VILLE, Georgia
—Charles L. Overman, son
of Mr. and Mrs. Charles W.
Overman of Edenton, N. C.,
has been selected as one of
the “Outstanding Young Men
of America.”
Overman is general mana
ger of the Douglas County
Electric Membership Corpor
ation.
His picture will appear in
the 1966 edition of the pub
lication to be published soon.
The book is a “Who’s Who”
among young men between
the ages of 21 and 36. Selec
tions for it are based on re
ligious, professional and civic
achievements of those cited.
Overman’s citation high
lights his work in the Central
Methodist Church of Monroe,
N. C., following serious ra
cial disturbances in the com
munity in 1961; his rise from
public relations and promo
tional work in the 1950’s to
his appointment as general
manager of Douglas County
EMC in April of this year;
and his six years of active
Jaycee membership.
In 1964, North Carolina
Jaycees selected him as Out
standing State Vice Presi
dent.
He has just completed a
term as National Director for
the Georgia Jaycees, and has
held other local, state and
national offices.
He is married and the
father of three children.
SCHOOL BOARD
Chowan County Board of
Education will meet at 8
P. M., Thursday in the office
of Supt. Hiram J. Mayo, Ho-,
tel Joseph Hewes. This will
take the place of the July
meeting.
ceremonies, said when the
bridge was first planned
some thought it would be
“unsightly on our beautiful
Perquimans River as well as
spell the doom for Hertford
and Winfall.” Now that it is
completed all of these fears
have been dispelled.
Gov. Moore was introduced
by a classmate at the Uni
versity of North Carolina,
Carroll Holmes.
Mayor V. N. Darden join
ed Gov. Moore in cutting
the ribbon ending the cere
mony.
The PCHS Marching Unit
performed during the cere
mony.
Single Copy 10 Cents
on an assessed valuation of
$10,500,000. It is further bas
ed on collection of 97.5 per
cent of ad valorem taxes.
The budget includes a sal
ary increase of 9.5 per cent
in all departments, except
the electric and water de
partment. The Board of
Public Works recommended a
22.2 per cent salary increase
in this department.
Os the total budget for
fiscal 1966-67, more than
half the total amount is for
the operation of the electric
and water departments. The
budget for these departments
is $498,771. It is estimated
that $188,950.46 of this
amount will be paid to Vir
ginia Electric & Power Com
pany for electric power.
The department estimates a
net profit of $143,866 for
1966-67. The profit for 1965-
66 was $140,227, according to
the budget estimates.
It was hecessary to trans
fer $60,000 from electric and
water department profits to
keep the tax rate at sl.
Revenue from property tax
is anticipated to be $102,000,
up $4,000 from the current
fiscal year. Electric revenue
is estimated at $415,271; wa
ter revenue, $40,000; and sew
er revenue, $37,000.
Too, $102,000 is being
appropriated from surplus to
pay for the new fire station
and a billing department
computer.
A recap of department bud
gets shows:
Administrative: $28,410, up
from $25,285.
Fire: $36,035, up from $30,-
366.80.
Police: $59,910, up from
$52,802.85.
Street: $97,190, a decrease
from $100,856.
Electric and Water: $498,-
771, up from $454,521.
Miscellaneous: $144,791, up
from $42,061.92. (This in
cludes the expenditures for a
new fire station and the bill
ing department computer).
Councilman Luther Parks,
finance committee chairman,
said the budget was figured
“real close” and is what he
considered very “conserva
tive”.
The total salaries in the
administrative, fire, police
Continued on Page Two
Company Pays
Record Dividend
Edenton Savings & Loan
Association this week paid
$84,484.63 in dividends to
some 2,000 savers.
James C. Dail, executive
vice president, said this was
a record amount paid in a
semi-annual installment. The
dividend rate is W\ per cent
The association now has as
sets in excess of $4,750,000
and this figure is expected
to reach the $5 million mark
within the next 12 to 18
months.
Dail said the association
has over $392,000 in reserves
as well as having insurance
, on each account in the
amount of SIO,OOO.
“Through the savings re
ceived from the fine citizens
of our community we are
able to make home loans to
. qualified applicants,” Dail
said. He added that home
financing plays a very vital
role in the growth and wel
fare of this community. “The
officers and directors of this
association take pride in the
’ contribution they are making
, to this growth," the execu
tive added. .
SOME INDIANS marched while others had to take a breather due to the heat (insert).
: ¥ ’ . ♦ * W t
Pff
i M 4 mPh
j ' .. ./I Jag ’ Jl iV' 1
CEREMONIES got underway with R. L. Hollowed as master of ceremonies. Others on
the program line up and await their turn to speak.
i V . • WmHm
■L
PL^H
'•- ||l|| ; ■BP :< % m
,i ■ V ', "
* S * 1%,
HMHK v I HHs^
GOV. DAN K. MOORE and other dignitaries
stand, while the chief executive’s speech awaits
hails the opening of the bridge, as the state flag
||| tSU jMpKr
ill ~ . :
i#.. v: ITT ../fL' w
!»■ >; Pr faMi
MAYOR V. N. DARDEN, left, holds the ribbon as Gov. Moore applies the setason, for
mally opening the ?2 million bridge and by-p«as in Perquimans County. ■
'
; wait for the cue to approach the speakers
his delivery (insert). Later Gov. Moore
appears to be tapping him on the shoulder.