It’s Now Time For Spring-O-Rama In Edenton
' •’ 31 . jTiy (>•> O Hp% IEI i I
FOR SPRING-O-RAMA—lnsid* Md outrid* displays, as well as a special sales promotion is now underway in Edenton as 29 merchants are participating in Spring
of t£T*V* * P M^f re<1 l -^ T , .y*”^*" l * c< * n “‘ ttee .°/ Edenton Chamber of Commerce. Ten local industries are displaying their products in First National Bank
fr-vi^irT I *.- i C i rolma ‘. ay or _ George Alma Byrum, m the picture at right, stands by a century old peanut roaster, displayed by Seabrook Blanching Corporation. C. A.
iff* . B>0 ? , * h ° Y £? ** *»e end of I the table with Graham Hilburn of Wilmington, FNB's 1968 employee of the year. Edenton Marina will display this water bike. Mrs. W.
£*k t^5 n V*V 1 ' Jr " I *“' * nd .****• A ” n "Jr® 10 ?* T#e ** Y i .‘nstructiions in operating the fun machine from Bill Boyce. There will be numerous other interesting displays
a the block between Eden and King streets Thursday and Friday.
public Parade
Paychecks, Not Bread Lines
Hunger, malnutrition, undernourished,
tnd similar words fill the public print
and other media these days as the do
gooders attempt to touch the conscious
of America. But isn’t there a better
way?
Those who meander along the Public
Parade seem to have answered this ques
tion in the affirmative. Instead of doing
a lot of talking and writing, there has
been a lot of action. New and expanded
industry has been secured to take up the
slack of mechanization on the farm.
Fewer and fewer of our population stand
around with their hand out.
The U. S. Department of Agriculture
recently reported that during March,
228,165 “needy” persons in North Ca
rolina got food aid. Here in North
eastern North Carolina most counties
either participated in the food stamp or
food distribution program.
It was reported that in Chowan, 684
persons participated in the food stamp
program. In neighboring Perquimans,
1,255 participated in the food distribu
tion program.
Chowan cannot be especially proud of
the Tact tharnifcfe are still many peo
ple (but less than one-half of 1 percent)
who must look to public programs for
their daily bread. However, the hurt
is somewhat lessened by comparisons.
Perquimans with less population had
nearly twice as many in the bread lines.
Unemployment in Chowan is less than
1 per cent, according to latest Employ
ment Security Commission figures. This
is a record low for all Northeastern
North Carolina counties.
These are significant figures to sift
out at a time when industry is being
saluted. For without new plants becom
ing a part of the local industrial family
and existing plants enjoying growing
pains, we could very well be in the un
dignified position of some of our neigh
bors.
Cotilinucd on Pago Four
Room Rates At Hospital Increased
An adjustment of room rates at Cho
, wan Hospital was announced today by
Thomas M. Surratt, administrator.
Surratt said the new rates were ef
fective Monday.
The new rates represent a 20 per cent
increase. The last increase was in Feb
ruary, 1968.
The rate for a private room now is
$29-31; semi-private, $24-25; ward, s2l.
Surratt pointed Out that the new rates
are less than those charged at Albemarle
Hospital in Elizabeth City and in line
with rates at Bertie Hospital, Washing
ton County Hospital and Roanoke-Cho
wan Hospital. AH these institutions in
creased rates in January.
The administrator said the increase
was brought about due to boosts in
* - K
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Iff ■ '‘‘Jr ' -StMY,
THE CHOWAN HERALD
Volume XXXVI—No. 21.
Jaycee s Sponsor
Air Show Sunday
Edenton Jaycees are preparing for
thousands of people who are expected to
converge on the Municipal Airport here
Sunday afternoon for the second annual
air show.
Robert Dail, chairman, said last year’s
crowd of 15,000 is expected to be sur
passed Sunday. “We are getting ready
to host many more this year,” Dail said.
The events get underway at 2 P. M.
A featured attraction will be an ap
pearance by Bevo Howard, one of the
world’s top aerobatic pilots. Howard
will be flying his famous red and white
Buecker Jungmeister, a 1936 German
built bi-plane previously owned by two
other internationally-known precision
pilots.
Howard packs approximately 35 in
tricate maneuvers into a thrilling exhi
bition lasting 155 minutes.
The show will open with short re
marks by dignitaries then will come a
fly-over by U. S. Coast Guard. This
will include a H-52 helicopter, HU-ly
Albatross and a C-130 cago plane.
Ray Meads of Weeksville will give an
exhibition and an air race demonstra
tion will follow.
The U. S. Navy flyover will feature
skyhawk jets. George Walters will give
an exhibition and F. E. Cockes of Vir
ginia Gyro Aircraft Sales will give a
demonstration.
Skydivers will also give an exhibition
and the program will conclude with a
P-38 model exhibition.
Airplane and helicopter rides will also
be available.
salaries and additional personnel which
improves patient care.
Surratt said a bulk of the base labor
at the hospital is now making $1.60 per
hour, the federal minimum. The mini
mum for hospitals is V 51.30, he pointed
out. Also, there has been an increase in
professional nurses—five more registered
nurses; three more licensed practical
nurses.
“We feel service at the hospital is so
much improved because of added person
nel,” Surratt said. The increased room
rates is price which must be paid for pro
gress,” he added.
He expressed the hope that no further
room rate adjustment would be neces
sary at least until the new hospital is
completed. ,
New Commander
Deputy Sheriff Troy Toppin has been
elected commander of EdwaVd G. Bond
Post, No. 40, American Legion. He suc
ceeds J. L. Chestnutt. ,
Deputy Toppin has been active in
the American Legion for a number of
years.
He and other new officers will be in
stalled June 5 at the Legion Hut on
U. S. 17 South.
In addition to the commander, new
officers are:
W. A. Perry, vice commander; E. L.
Hollowell, second vice commander; Wil
liam D. Stallings, adjutant; R. E. Leary,
finance officer; J. L. Chestnutt, chap
lain; Joseph Byrum, sergeant-at-arms;
W. J. Yates, historian; and L. C. Briggs,
service viucn •
"
Edenton, Chowan County, North Carolina, Thursday, May 22, 1969.
Farmers Welcome Rain
The showers Monday afternoon and
Tuesday may have been worth sl-million
to Chowan County farmers.
This was the word this week from
Charlie Overman, agricultural extension
chairman.
Overman said prior to the welcomed
Registration
Parents of pre-school children (chil
dren that will be six years of age on or
before October 16) are requested to
register their child at Walker and White
Oak on Tuesday, May 27, from
10 until 12.
Parents are requested to bring the
child’s immunization record and birth
certificate with them to the school. It
is not necessary to have the child present.
C' i ” M .
THE SOUNDS AND THE CASH—"The Sounds Unlimited." local high school musical
group, played for a Chowan Hospital benefit dance Saturday at National Guard arm
ory and more than $375 was realized for the hospital building fund. The Health Ca
reers Club of John A. Holmes High School sponsored the event and the music was fur
nished free. Thomas M. Surratt, hospital administrator, holds high the check presented
Tuesday. Rosemary Holmes, left, ant Linda Harrell, right, were co-chairmen of the
event. Band members shown, left to right, are: Gary Swanner, Buddy Boyce, David
Copeland, Frank Cox, John Sutton and Ken WorrelL Absent were A1 Asbell and Mar
tin Parker.
Dye Works’ Reports Hail Activity At Edenton Plant
Harold Welburn, president, The Unit
ed Piece Dye Works, recently reported
a 25 per cent increase in total income
for the first quarter of 1969, as com
pared with the corresponding period last
year.
The efficiency and production of the
firm's plant in Chowan County has con
tributed greatly to this increase, it was
noted.
“Plants are continuing to operate near
capacity levels,” Welburn stated in a
quarterly report to stockholders. And
a new plant in Olmstead, Pa., should be
in limited operation in early summer.
In an interim report, issued May 1,
Welburn said the demand for the firm’s
services in all areas, in both the knit
and woven divisions, was greater in the
early part of the year than anticipated.
“In order to cope with these demands
a new finishing range has been installed
in the Edenton plant and is now operat
ing on a three-shift basis,” he added.
Also, much development is being car
ried out in the Edenton plant on new
fabrics.
The Edenton plant was featured in
the firm’s annual report. A five-page
color insert illustrating some of the steps
in the dyeing and finishing of knit goods
•
showers, local crops were getting well
on toward the critical stage. “This
could amount to a sl-million rain,” he
added.
Peanuts and soybeans were not com
ing up as they should, Overman asserted.
“These showers will pop them right up,”
he said.
Also aided by the rain is Chowan’s
vegetable crop.
Overman said most corn and peanuts
have been planted but there still re
mains a considerable number of acres
of soybeans to go into the ground. He
had only one report of a farmer plowing
up his peanuts and replanting.
“There are naturally some rotten pea
nuts,” he continued, “but there is still
sufficient seed to have a good stand.”
Overman said the showers were “per
fectly timed” and the “soaking” type
rain was just “tremedous”.
was included in the report.
It was noted also that knit goods
production capacity of the Edenton plant
was doubled early in 1968, allowing the
firm to give excellent service and deliv
ery during peak seasons.
The United Piece Dye Works began
operation here in November. 1965. The
plant is now engaged in commission dye
ing and finishing of polyester knits.
Joe Gaino, UPDW’t Edenton Plant Manager
Single Copy 10 Cents
Cash Prizes,
Displays Set
This Week
Spring-O-Rama, a four-day sales pro
motion by Edenton merchants, is now
in full swing and will be climaxed Fri
day night by the awarding of SSOO in
cash prizes.
Exhibits, both inside and on the street,
are attracting much interest as 29 merch
ants are participating in the biggest co
operative event ever held here. Outside
exhibits are in the block between Eden
and King streets.
Entertainment in this area will be
furnished from 8 P. M., to 10 P. M., to
night (Thursday) and Friday by Homer
Briarhopper and his band. The popu
lar Clyde Moody will be in the group.
The cash prizes, spendable with any
of the participating merchants, will be
awarded at 9 P. M„ Friday. First prize
is $250; second prize, $150; and third
prize, SIOO. Anyone 18 years of age or
older can register with any merchant
participating in Spring-O-Rama.
WCDJ will broadcast from a portable
studio in downtown Edenton today and
Friday, to add further luster to the pro
motion.
A highlight of Spring-O-Rama is an
exhibit of goods manufactured in Cho
wan County. The exhibit, the first of
its kind held in the county, will feature
10 displays, according to C. A. (Chuck)
Benson, manager of First National
Bank of Eastern North Carolina Eden
ton office, where the exhibit is being
held.
The exhibit will be open to the general
public during banking hours and until
9 P. M., today and Friday.
Benson, in announcing the manufar-
Conlinued on Page Foux
Mitchener s Paid
Tribute For Work
By BILL COZART
Some 150 citizens of Edenton and the
Albemarle said a simple yet eloquent
“thank you - well done” to former May
or John A. Mitchener, Jr.. Thursday
night.
The occasion was an Appreciation
Night banquet which highlighted John
and Nancy Mitchener Day in Edentor.
It was a fitting tribute to a man who
served for 18 years in public office the
past 10 of them as mayor.
The tangible gifts were simple . . a
lovely cameo brooch for Mrs. Mitch n
er, an electric typewriter for the former
mayor. The real gift came in the genu
ine affection and esteem evident among
those in attendance.
S. Lee Wilson, assistant executive di
rector of the North Carolina League of
Municipalities, spoke briefly of the man
he once served under in the league. He
said Mitchener has “meant a great deal
to municipal government in North Caro
lina.” He cited his dedication to it and
said programs initiated by Mitchener
during his tenure as president of the
League have proved beneficial to town ,
and cities across the State.
Wilson called Mitchener “an outstand
ing ambassador of good will for the
Continued on Page Four
Employment averages approximately 300
people from the Albemarle area.
The Edenton plant has expanded from
the processing of approximately 3,000
pieces per week to a capable output of
8,000 pieces per week. With diversifies
tion, the plans hopes to continue to ex
pand and contribute to the economic
growth of the greater Chowan area, ac
cording to Joe Gaino, plant manager.