Boost In Tax
Said Certain
For Edenton
Property owners in the Town of
Edenton can prepare for some increase
in taxes this year and Mayor George
Alma Byrum has asked the Law and
Finance Committee not to shy away
from planning for the over-all needs of
the town in making budget recommen
dations.
Mayor Byrum, saying Tuesday night
he is “very conscious” of taxes, outlined
several areas for special study. They
include:
1— Increased salary for councilmen.
(Councilmen are now paid $lO per
meeting). He proposed a monthly sal
ary in the S3O to SSO range, saying if
councilmen involve themselves in the
work of the community they deserve
just compensation.
2 Purchase open land for parks and
recreation to be paid for over a period
of years.
3 Make provisions for purchase of
waterfront property either through:
a. Urban Renewal
b. Piece meal
c. Not at all.
4 Include $15,000 for downtown
sidewalk construction. There is $15,000
in the 1970-71 budget and merchants
have agreed to participate on the front
footage basis.
And to the entire council, the mayor
said he hoped they could plan now for
the future, using vision. He noted that
the town could not have surplus funds
available for any need not planned for.
The committee will meet Monday
night and present its findings to council
at 8 P. M., Tuesday.
Council denied a request for loading
zone parking spaces ip the P&Q lot back
of Elliott Cleaners and the Habit build
ing. In a rare tie vote, Mayor Byrum
was required to break the tie.
Town Administrator W. B. Gardner
reported on progress of the water and
sewer expansion project. He said it
could be completed within 30 to 45
days. He also noted some difficulty
being experienced with the contractor,
Central Builders.
David White, head of the Public
Works Committee, reported on the poor
condition of buildings at Bdenton~ Mu
nicipal Airport. He said there Had been
extensive vandalism at most buildings
Continued on Pago 4
Vote Set May, 72
RALEIGH Voters in the Town of
Edenton will go to the polls in May,
1972, to decide on a change in the town
charter which would abolish the elected
Board of Public Works. The General
Assembly recently passed the local leg
islation and it has been ratified. '■
Four years, ago the question was put
to the voters and those favoring the
two-elected board system in Edenton
won by 101 votes.
Mayor George Alma Byrum is a
strong advocate of abolishing the board.
He contends there would be more ef
ficient use of town personnel with one
elected board, with councilmen being
designated to oversee the electric ahd
water departments.
Mayor Byrum sought agreement be
tween the two boards in a joint meet
ing. Later, town council voted to re
quest special legislation and the mayor
asked members of the Board of Public
Works to serve on a committee to iron
out language in the bill. He was re
fused.
On the basis of council’s unanimous
vote, Rep. W. T. Culpepper, Jr., of Eliz
abeth City, introduced the measure. It
was not opposed by any of the legisla
tive delegation from the First District
* ?.5Nw
■ PpS -I
#Mpy Damage —This is the scene of an early Monday morning
accident on U. S. 17 in front of Jeff White’s Service Center in Ber
tie County. The car, driven by John Arthur Freeman of Route 3,
Windsor, and his two companions was heading toward the United
piece Dye Works when it collided with a radar unit being pulled
by a military trailer. The three passengers in the car received
minor injuries according to investigating officer, State Highway
Trooper Larry Overby. According to the patrolman’s report, the
driver of the unit had his turn signal on to turn left into White’s
store when the car attempted to pass. Charges are pending upon
completion of the investigation.
Public Purade
Share In Action
Many who meander along the Public
Parade can expect a taste of the better
life as result of two federally-backed
programs which will start next year.
When we read so much about waste in
government it is refreshing indeed to
have people-oriented local programs.
On Monday, the first auction of the
young sfeason will be held at Chowan
Cooperative Produce Exchange at Val
halla. And on Tuesday, Edenton
Housing Authority will break ground
for 100 units of low-rent public hous
ing.
Both programs at times appeared to
be questionable as to becoming real
ity. It is almost uncanny both are be
ing launched within two days.
The produce exchange will give farm
ers, large and small, a market for their
goods. It will bring in buyers from a
wide area and the potential for growth
is almost out of the realm of one’s im
agination.
The government didn’t take over the
exchange. The local, hard working
people showed their need for tempor
ary assistance and the need was met
with a combination loan-grant.
Also, the road to construction of the
low-rent housing units has been equal
ly as bumpy. After more than three
years in the mill, a $ 1.8-million develop
ment program is going to the construc
tion phase.
Edenton probably could have had
low-rent public housing units sooner.
Here again, people who have pride in
the community and a dedication for the
best, regardless of the time involved,
were at the helm.
The local authority vowed from the
start not to have a project if it was not
of a design in keeping with colonial
and progressive Edenton. After repeat
ed road-blocks and landmark decisions,
the authority has won another round.
There are other people-oriented local
projects which have federal monies in
volved. Chowan Hospital, Albemarle
Cooperative Association, Economic Im
provement Council, and the newly fund
ed Economic Development Association
are but four. These point out the va
lidity of a statement by a ranking mem
ber of the U. S. Department of Agri
culture to a group here just Monday.
He said if the people don’t want some
thing to happen, it won’t.
We are fortunate to have people in
responsible positions who want a piece
of the action, not just for the sake of
action, but for the sake of our people.
Back To Drawing Board
Chowan County Commissioners sev :
eral months ago launched a study of
local government. One commissioner
went so far as to say there was a need
to find ways of doing more things
cheaper in order to maintain a reason
able tax rate.
In recent weeks, commissioners have
had little time to devote to the study.
They probably feel, and rightly so, that
the roof has fallen in on them.
Continued on Peg* 4
History Awards
Martha Jo Hollowell, Kathy Wright
and Tom Ward received the Hugh T.
Lefler Award for excellence in North
Carolina History.
The awards were presented at clos
ing ceremonies at the Chowan Academy
on June 2. Each received as an award,
a small replica of the Edenton Tea Pot,
made by Carolfcsta Fletcher Baum,
granddaughter of Inglis Fletcher.
Dr. Lefler is author of the state adopt
ed text of North Carolina History. He
has taught state histopr at UNC for 45
years. He gave permission to the Cho
wan Academy to give the award an
nually in his name for excellence in
North Carolina History.
Vote Backs
OW County
«\
Pairol Plan
Chowai % nty Sheriff Troy E. Top
pin and Lena Leary, Clerk of
Court, ap d before the Chowan
County coi & loners Monday to ask
for support getting the State High
way Patrol in this county back to the
Elizabeth City District. Until recently
the patrolmen in the county were in
the Elizabeth City District, when they
were transferred to the Ahoskie Dis
trict.
Mrs. Leary stated that every time she
needed information about a traffic case
coming to court involving the highway
patrol, she has to make a long distance
call to Ahoskie and before it was just
a local call.
Sheriff Toppin remarked that in the
past that there was always good rela
tions with the Elizabeth City office and
that he could not see any need for
change.
The commissioners passed a motion
that “strong” letters should be written
to state officials that could change the
situation back to as it was before.
Other business before the commis
sioners included a request from the
Town of Edenton to be released of two
years’ taxes from U. S. Lumber Com
pany properties. The commissioners
granted one year’s relief.
Mrs. Ross Inglis was reappointed to
the board of Social Services for three
years.
Roger Spivey with the Forestry Ser-
Continued on Pago 4
Squad Stays Busy
Twenty-five emergency calls were
answered by the Edenton-Chowan Res
cue Squad in May along with 20 con
valescences for a total of 185 hours
spent in rescue duty with over 2,200
miles being traveled.
Included in the emergency calls were
four traffic accidents and three water
calls.
The squad also spent 2,382 hours on
standby in case of an emergency.
A new unit has been added to the
squad and is located at Earl Smith’s
Slobs and is headed by Marion Bunch,
first lieutenant, with Carlton Dail as
second lieutenant.
A total of 60 men have been certified
by the State Board of Public Health to
serve on the Edenton-Chowan Rescue
Squad.
Winbome Cited
FT. BRAGG—The Bronze Star Medal
with First Oak Leaf Cluster for heroism
and the Purple Heart have been award
ed posthumously in honor of Ist Lieut.
John H. Winbome, who was killed in
the Republic of Vietnam, October 2,
1970,
The awards were presented to his
parents, Mr. and Mrs. William H. Win
borne, Jr., of Route 1, Edenton.
At the time of his death, Ist Lieut.
Winborne was assigned to Headquar
ters and Headquarters Company, 2d
Battalion, 34th Armor, 25th Infantry
Division.
He was killed during a combat op
eration in an encounter with hostile
forces.
USDA Official Pleased With Aid Programs In Area
Dr. Henry Ahlgren, deputy under
Secretary of Agriculture (USDA), was
the guest of the Chowan County Farm
er Cooperative Service on Monday at
a luncheon.
cauuKu i ■■m—m— i— i
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THE CHOWAN HERALD
Volume XXXVH—No, 21
Edenton, Chowan County, North Carolina, Thursday, June 10, 1971
Bids Total $1.3-Million
Public Housing Set
Low bids of $1,282,655 have been
received by Edenton Housing Authority
for construction of 100 units of low
rent public housing. Contracts will be
signed Tuesday morning with tradition
al groundbreaking on the North Oakum
Street site to follow at 11 o’clock.
Jack Habit, chairman of the housing
authority, said Mayor George Alma By
rum and members of the Town Council
have been invited to join members of
the local authority at the brief cere
mony.
Bids were opened at 3 P. M., last
Thursday.
Kirkpatrick & Associates, Inc., of
Greensboro, was low bidder on general
State FFA Event
Ten students from Chowan High
School are attending the State FFA
Convention held at N. C. State Univer
sity from June 9 through 11.
Everett White, advisor of the chap
ter, is accompanying the students.
Each of the boys attending will en
ter some type of competition or will
receive an award for previous work
done in the club.
Jimmy Evans, Joseph Temple, Don
Bass and Glenn Rogerson will partici
pate in the livestock judging. They
have already won district and federation
honors.
Allen Spivey and Jimmy Evans will
receive the State Farm Degree, the
highest award given statewide by the
club.
Official voting delegates at the con
vention from the Chowan Chapter are
Randy White and Tony Langley.
Serving on the contest and awards
committee will be Aubrey Tynch, local
chapter president.
Paul Gene Copeland is a candidate
for the American Farmer Degree and
is competing with 23 other club mem
bers from across the State. This is the
highest honor awarded by the national
organization.
Alan Copeland will receive the award
for State Agricultural Electrification.
Dr. Ahlgren was in the county to in
spect the work that the cooperative had
begun and to advise on what could be
done to improve the services.
He commented that he detected
Single Copy 10 Cents
construction with $1,072,000. Federal
Construction of Fayetteville was second
with $1,075,557.
Southerland Electric Company of
Jacksonville was low for electrical dis
tribution, interior wiring and heating
with $104,798.
Lenoir Plumbing & Heating of Kin
ston was low for interior plumbing,
heating and air conditioning with $105,-
857. The individual units will not be
air conditioned; only the administration
community building.
Actual construction of the project is
to begin June 28 and is to be complet
ed in June, 1972.
The units will be built on four differ
ent sites throughout Edenton, with the
prime site being north of D. F. Walker
Junior High School on North Oakum
Street.
The project, designed by Sheetz &
Bradfield Architects, Inc., of Atlanta,
Ga., is total electric.
The bids were approximately 3 per
cent below estimates in the local au
thority’s development program. Over
all development of the project, which
began three years ago, will cost nearly
$l.B-million.
L. F. Amburn, Jr., executive director,
stated that although the authority spent
$40,000 in development of a mobile
home park for relocation of seven fami
lies, cost of the entire project is nearly
$25,000 below estimates made two years
ago.
Mayor Byrum, attending the bid
opening, commended the authority for
the hard work that had gone into de
velopment of a project to provide low
rent public housing in Edenton. He
said he was aware of the obstacles the
authority had experienced and appre
ciated the work which had been done.
Summer Program
The Edenton Recreation Department
is having a girls’ program again this
summer and it started Wednesday. The
program is for girls ages eight to 15
and those who wish to participate will
meet from 9 A. M., to 12 noon and 1
P. M., to 3 P. Mr. at Holmes High gym
nasium.
pride in the work of the service and
that he was most impressed with the
fact that the cooperative wanted to im
prove the economic situation here. He
further remarked that nothing will hap
pen unless someone wants it to and
that everyone had worked together, re
specting what the other had to offer,
to make the cooperative service a suc
cess.
Other guests at the luncheon includ
ed J. Lamar Harrison, vice president
of the service; George Lee Norman,
board member; Joe Bolton, treasurer;
Wayland Spivey, secretary; Melvin How
ell, supervisor of Farmers Home Ad
ministration; Don Norman, district su
pervisor; George L. Chapel, associate
director of N. C. State University Ex
tension Service; Pete Thompson, Cho
wan County Extension Service; and Roy
Harrell, field representative of Rural
Fund for Development.
Also, Marcus McClanahan, manager
of Albemarle Cooperative Association;
Gene Sutton, rural services specialist
for Farmer Cooperative Service; Ray
mond Williams, regional supervisor for
Rural Services-Farmer Cooperative Ser
vice; Jack Parker, area livestock spe
cialist of N. C. State Extension Ser
vice; and Bob Moore, secretary of the
Edenton Chamber of Commerce.