Power Rate Jump, Board Merger Talks Slated
Electric power customers of the Town
of Edenton face a rate increase of about
10 per cent. The increase, probably in
the form of a temporary surcharge, is
expected on bills going out May 1.
Edenton Town Council Tuesday night
received a recommendation from the
Board of Public Works that a compro
mise 9.24 per cent rate increase from
VEPCO be accepted. VEPCO earlier
had requested a 22 per cent increase.
Town Administrator W. B. Gardner
said the increase, the same as accepted
by REA and other members of Electri
cities in North Carolina, would be ret
roactive to July 1, 1970. However, the
town would not have to pay the estimat
ed $25,000 in back charges until fiscal
1971-72.
|3ttbltc parade
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Togetherness
Edenton’s Town Council and Board
of Public Works will sit down together
next week to discuss two very import
ant issues—rates and merger. There is
little that can be done about the rate
increase. There is a lot that can be
done about the merger.
While this is a community of big
ness, in planning, action and progress,
we are constantly reminded of being
“little ole Chowan”—all 10,764 of us.
Yet we have as much or more duplica
tion of government than anywhere in
North Carolina.
Chowan County has five elected com
missioners; the Town of Edenton has six
elected councilmen and a mayor, and
the Board of Public Works has five
elected members. Count them up.
There are 17 elected officials tending to
the business of 10,764 people.
In our opinion the first step toward
better government is merger of the two
elected town boards. Should they
come to grips, because of the legislative
authority of each, one could ruin the
other. But more tragic, either could
ruin the Town of Edenton.
Fortunately, harmony, to a great ex
tent, has been enjoyed. It is, however,
not guaranteed. There are unnecessary
duplications within the two—#&!ted
boards which breed discontent in some
quarters.
We must all be about moving ahead
in an orderly, progressive manner. Be
fore we start crossing town and county
lines to realize economies available in
the computer age in which we live, we
must first cross agency lines.
Togetherness is the word for not only
today or Tuesday night, but forever.
‘ Phooey * On SHC
The State Highway Commission sev
eral months ago accepted an invitation
from the highway-conscious Albemarle
Area Development Association to hold
its August, 1971, meeting in Nags
Head. By coming to the Outer Banks
it was felt the commission members
could view first hand the highway needs
of Northeastern North Carolina.
Acceptance of the invitation was
rightfully hailed as an asphalt victory
for this area. Plans were well along
to make the commissioners comfortable
as well as better informed about our
area.
Now, by political maneuvering, the
commission has again turned its back
on Northeastern Tar Heelia. It has been
claimed that * site committee of the
commission was not aware of the earlier
acceptance of the AADA invitation.
This, while hard to swallow, could be
understood. The highway commmis
, sion, like most beaucratic agencies,
doesn’t let the right hand know what
the left hand is doing.
But now comes J. Arch Laney, pub
lic information officer, who places the
blame on the General Statutes of North
Carolina. Time and again it is pointed
out that ignorance of the law is no ex
cuse. With a stable of attorneys such
as the highway commission enjoys ig
norance of the law is even more ri
diculous.
If the State Highway Commission
doesn’t want to breathe the fresh air
of Northeastern North Carolina and the
Outer Banks, they have the right to
meet elsewhere. If the politicians of
North Carolina, and all SHC members
are Democrats, want to love us only
every four years, that is the responsi
bility of party leaders.
But let’s be men about it It is not
fair to Commissioner Joe Nowell of
Winfali, would-be host commissioner for
the detract August tt
Mayor George Alma Byrum suggested
a joint meeting be held between the
council and E&W board to discuss the
increase as well as “possible merger”
of the two elected boards.
Mayor Byrum said a merger of the
boards, defeated in a municipal vote
four years ago, deserves consideration
again at this time.
“We would like to have a meeting
of the minds on this subject,” the mayor
said in asking for the meeting next
Tuesday night.
In reporting on the E&W n>' nen
dation, Gardner said the * rge
would be necessary because /. ill
not allow necessary studies so fi
nite rate structure. He said \-
crease would probably be aroi % A '
Volume XXXVH—No. 10
.. .Jr.,,...a....... i
KjiuL Ip
New Hospital Services A card file of blood donors was pre
sented to Chowan Hospital this week and a Hair Care Shoppe for
patienT Use was opened. In the picture at left, Mrs. W. J. P. Earn
hardt, Jr., seated, president, Chowan Hospital Auxiliary, is shown
in the Hair Care Shoppe in Unit B (old hospital building) with
Mrs. Marion Thrower and Administrator Thomas M. Surratt.
Group To Meet
On Watershed
There will be an important meeting
of all people interested in the Bear
Swamp Watershed on March 19. Archie
T. Lane, Sr., Chairman of the Bear
Swamp Drainage Commissioners, states
that the meeting will be held at the
Center Hill Community Building at
7 P. M.
The people in the Bear Swamp Water
shed have been working to get this pro
ject started for several years. The
administrator of the Soil Conservation
Service authorized planning assistance
for the Bear Swamp Watershed on Jan
uary 25. Planning assistance will be
scheduled to the sponsoring local or
ganizations in the very near future.
This watershed covers 20,300 acres,
of which about one-third is in Chowan
County and two-thirds in Perquimans
County.
Present channels are shallow.and do
not have enough capacity to carry off
water from the heavy rain storms quick
enough to prevent flooding. Poor
drainage of cropland increases costs of
producing crops and low crop yields.
In addition, it provides good mosquito
breeding areas that increase health
hazards.
Damage caused by poor drainage is
estimated to average nearly $20,000
annually.
Continued on Page 4
Two Court Terms
Judge Elbert S. Peele, Jr., of William
ston, is scheduled to preside over two
Spring terms of Chowan County Su
perior Court.
Mrs. Lena M. Leary, clerk of court,
announced that a criminal term will
convene March 29. Solicitor Herbert
Small is now preparing the calendar
which is expected to be released next
Judge Peele is scheduled to return to
Edenton on April 26 for a term of court
dfuigiHtd to hear civil cases. The calen
dar for this session has not been com-
per cent.
“The REA and Electricities are work
ing together on VEPCO’s request for
a rate increase,” he noted. “We are
trying to hold the increase down to
where we can handle it.
“We have been advised this increase
is our best deal at this time.”
Council approved an application for
comprehensive planning assistance with
the Division of Community Planning,
Department of Local Affairs which calls
for a two-year program which will cost
the town $2,600 annually. Other funds
are available from the federal govern
ment.
Graham White, chairman, Edenton
Planning & Zoning Board, presented
Robert C. Hinshaw, planner, who cx
THE CHOWAN HERALD
Hollowell Seeking Term
W. H. Hollo well, Jr.
Fayton Is Chosen
CHAPEL HILL Charles Earl Fay
ton, 210 East Hicks Street, Edenton,
has been named a Morehead Scholar
to study at the University of North
Carolina here. Fayton was among 102
young men named Tuesday to receive
the coveted honor.
Sixty-one of the recipients are from
North Carolina, according to Hugh G.
Chatham of Elkin, chairman of the
board of trustees of the John Motley
Morehead Foundation.
The awards are worth $9,000 to
North Carolina residents for four years
of study at UNC.
A total of 895 students were nomi
nated for the awards.
Fayton, a senior at John A. Holmes
High School, is outstanding in his aca
demic work as well as in athletics. He
is the son of Mr. and Mrs. John Lin
wood Fayton.
Finalists, including six from District
I, were interviewed here March 5-8.
W. H. Hollowell, Jr., of Edenton, is
Chowan County Morehead chairman.
Edenton, Chowan County, North Carolina, Thursday, March 11, 1971
Mayor Calls Joint Meeting Tuesday
plained the reconnaissance survey for
Edenton which will be completed. The
town has used the services of the state
agency for more than six years.
Gardner urged approval of the assist
ance saying the sub-division section of
the local ordinance needs immediate
attention and this is one phase of the
proposed work.
Councilman Leo Katkaveck, chairman
of the finance .committee, reported that
proposals are being collected from in
surance firms relative to a retirement
plan for town employees. He said fig
ures would be available for considera
tion when the 1971-72 budget is com
piled.
Katkaveck also reported his commit
tee’s favorable vote on finishing the
Mrs. Thrower responded to the auxiliary's request for assistance
in designing and supplying the facility,-unique in hospitals in this
state. Presenting the blood donor card file to Frank Pierce is Jack
Parker, left, chairman of the Jaycee blood program. Others are
Surratt and E. C. Toppin, secretary of the blood program.
(Story on Page 4)
W. H. Hollowell, Jr., First Ward Coun
cilman, Tuesday filed for re-election to
a full term on Edenton Town Council.
Hollowell is the first of three council
nen, whose seats are up for election, to
reveal his plans.
Last week incumbent Mayor George
Alma Byrum said he would* seek re
election to a two-year term. Council
men are elected for four years.
Second Ward Councilman Leo Kat
kaveck and Councilman-at-Large J. D.
Elliott have not made public their in
tentions. Neither has James M. Bond,
town treasurer or three members of the
Board of Public Works—Chairman Jesse
L. Harrell, J. H. Conger, Jr., or T. C.
Byrum, Jr.
The deadline to file for any town
posts is March 26, according to Mrs.
George Hoskins, chairman, Chowan
County Board of Elections.
Hollowell, representative of the coun
cil to the Board of Public Works, stated:
“If re-elected to the Town Council
from the First Ward, I pledge that I
will serve in this position to the best
of my ability.
“I will exert every effort, as I have
in previous years by my vote on the
council and other activities to promote
a progressive Edenton.
“An issue before the council will
receive my vote if (it is) an advantage
for the majority of (the) citizens.
“I am interested in retaining the low
est possible tax rate and receiving full
value for each tax dollar.”
Hollowell, president of Hollowell's,
Continued on Page 4
Jaycees Will Stage Festival Parade
Ray M. Midgett, parade chairman of
the Northeastern N. C. Memorial Day
Air Festival, states that the Edenton
Jaycees are very interested in having
civilian participation in the festivities.
He stated that in regards to the Me
morial Day Parade, people can partici
pate by submitting floats, mobile dis
plays, bands, marching units, etc.
Cash awards will be given for the
best float. To be eligible for the cash
second story of the municipal building
for the police department. Law & Or
der funds are available to assist with
the work.
Council voted to enforce the no left
side parking ordinance. Warning tick
ets arc to be given for 30 days.
Fire Chief Luther C. Parks said as
soon as inspection is completed of
structures in the downtown fire dis
trict, he and Building Inspector Sam
Long will compile a report of their
findings.
Gardner reported that the Corps of
Engineers is working on plans for work
on Pembroke Creek to make an eight
foot channel. The Coast Guard has
agreed to mark the channel once the
Continued on Page 4
W * i » ( iW
ILL ' Ll#
Single Copy 10 Cents
Joint Planning
Efforts Proposed
The chairman of Chowan County
Planning Board has suggested more
multi-county activities. And the State
Board of Health has been asked to sur
vey Chowan and Perquimans counties to
see if a joint solid waste disposal sys
tem is feasible.
At a recent meeting, George W.
Lewis, planning board chairman, told
county commissioners “any agency level
survey or study, where feasible, should
be on a multi-county basis.”
Lewis also questioned the need for a
county and town planning board. “I
see no reason why we can't revert to a
joint board,” he stated. He called the
duplications in planning bad.
Commissioners agreed to call for the
solid waste disposal system study.
Melvin Howell, representative of Far
mers Home Administration, said this
area had been put on the processing
schedule for the waste disposal pro
gram. He said it was recommended by
Continued on Page 4
District Meeting
Mrs. t»mias Waters of Plymouth, state
department president, will be the key
note speaker at the First District meet
ing of the American Legion Auxiliary
on Monday night.
The meeting will be held at Edenton
Restaurant beginning at 10:30 A. M.
All members are urged to attend.
awards the float must have a Memorial
Day or aviation theme.
Midgett stated that if anyone is inter
ested in joining “the effort to show
some good old enthusiastic patriotism
and help to counteract some of the ad
verse publicity created by less demo
cratic groups,” should write the Eden
ton Jaycees, Inc., P. 0. Box 388, Eden
ton. or call Ray Midgett at 482-3666.
The deadline for entering the parade
is May 15.