public iiarade j
1 t 111
A Progressive Step
Chowan County commissioners fupre
taken another progressive step in stream
ing county government along the Pub
lic Parade. Good judgment was Shown
in action last Friday to abolish the office
of treasurer.
It has been evident for many years
that there was a duplication of work
where the county had both a treasurer
and accountant. This is in no why to
reflect on the people who held these po
sitions, it is just a statement of fact.
Across the state some of the more
wealthy counties have designated banks
as treasurer. Now it appears that the
General Assembly has recognized the
fact that overlapping existed and on July
1, 1973, the offices will be combined.
There are other areas in county gov
ernment where consolidation would not
only result in savings of tax money but
in efficiency of operation. Commission
ers in this county are gradually moving
in this direction and their efforts, while
sometimes more deliberate than some
would desire, arc to be applauded.
Mitchener: Able and Available
There is this week a bright gpoyon
the horizon of politics along TKaftib
lic Parade and throughout NortjSjasfern
North Carolina. It lies in the
John A. Mitchener, Jr., of Edejpni* is
considering becoming a "for
the General Assembly.
Mr. Mitchener, a key political figure
for many years, has been more c 4 less
coasting since he declined to seek re
election as Mayor of Edenton three
years ago. He has, however, never lost
interest in total development of the Al
bemarle Area.
When the question of the possibility
of him becom
. (J*d t
mitted he had
been contacted by people from outside
Chowan County who have expressed an
interest in his possible candidacy. With
the filing date less than three weeks
away, he has little time to test the wat
ers in the eight counties which make up
the First House District.
Mr. Mitchener is a logical candidate.
He has many valuable contacts in each
of the counties in the district, having
served with influential representatives of
these counties on the Albemarle Plan
ning Commission. This commission, in
April, 1967, produced the most out
standing development plan ever publish
ed for such an area.
“A Region In Transition—The Gen
eral Development Plan For the Albe
marle Area” was developed under the
guidance of Mr. Mitchener, chairman,
and some of the best talent in North
eastern North Carolina. While it( is far
reaching, it remains a realistic approach
to area development.
This gives him rather impressive cre
dentials as one of the finest minds we
have in the area or regional concept for
development. I \l
He also enjoys pretty sterling creakn
tials in municipal government. He bowed
out in May, 1969, after five terms as
mayor here and served eight years on
the Town Council prior to becoming
mayor. During his tenure as mayor he
went up through the ranks of the pres
tigous N. C. League of Municipalities
and served as president.
Better highways and good govern-
Continuod on Pafe 4
Treasurer’s Post Will Be Abolished
The office Os treasurer wtfl be abol
ished in Outran County on December
1, as the result of action taken Friday
by county commissioners. The duties
will be combined with these of the
county accountant
It was leaned that veteran treasurer
George Hoskins would not seek re-elec
tion. This is beUeved to have prompted
the commissioners’ action. Hoskins, a
retired banker, has held the post for
some 40 years i
Chairman C. A. Phffltos told the
** roer^ed ***** oa **
y 6 rfrfltr 1 there had
vfpfSH I
Volume XXXVm—No. 5.
Hb r ~ ffaSMtEjSSlr r
v- .vi-* -4, Sr
IK v- f ' r
|f||l
-^ <4 x‘? >'»'‘ £/* *** \ • f.
Speaker and Presidents —Frank White, outgoing president of the
Albemarle Firemen’s Association, left, chats with guest speaker for
the evening, Phil Godwin, center, and newly elected president of the
association, Dennis Swain. The firemen held a supper meeting at
the Center Hill-Crossroads Department on Tuesday night.
Godwin Lauds Firemen
By Patricia M. Arnold
Approximately 90 firemen from 17
fire departments in the Albemarle Fire
men’s Association gathered at Center
Hill-Crossroads Volunteer Fire Depart
ment on Tuesday night to enjoy a bar
becue chicken supper and to hear Phil
Godwin of Gates County speak. Also
new officers of the organization were
installed.
Troy E. Toppin, member of the host
department, introduced the speaker.
Godwin remarked that he had to ap
plaud the community for knowing the
value of the fire department and con-
Satulated the individual departments
r the work they were doing so well.
He stated he knows what a fire depart
ment means to a community because he
was once a fireman himself.
Godwin commented that the purpose
of firemen is to save property not law
enforcement. He stated it gets under
his skin when during a riot or other
adversities in a town or city that peo
ple will turn on firemen because of
the problems that face the citizens.
He told his audience that we as citi
zens need to renew Qur faith in de
-toftcracy-,,
He apia we should be grateful tp
Jefferson and others for the doctrine
they made has stood the test of time.
He remarked that when they were
drawing up the constitution they were
not confronted with things of today and
the complex world.
He said he believed that everything
written in the Preamble of the Consti
tution had been fulfilled.
Hospital Report
The cost of operating Chowan Hos
pital, Inc., during the past fiscal year
was $1,311,440, according to a report
given at the annual meeting of the
board of trustees on January 25.
In a financial report, Thomas M.
Surratt, hospital administrator, said this
cost figure was up from $734,311 in
1970. The hospital’s fiscal year ends
September 31 and the comparison is for
the first full year of operation in the
new facilities.
Chowan Hospital, InC., has a total
of 115 beds in acute and extended care
units. Before the new hospital was
opened in mid-October, 1970, there were
55 available beds.
In further comparison, Surratt point
ed out that 2,382 patients were admit
ted to the hospital last year while the
figure for 1970 was 1,922. The hos
pital provided a total of 29,239 days of
care in 1971, and 18,866 days of care
the previous year. This is an average
of 80.1 and 51.6 patients per day re
spectively.
The number of meals served at the
hospital" increased more than 100 per
cent. There were 114,694 meals served
Continued on Pago 4
been some feeling that duties of the
treasurer and accountant might be
overlapping and that a desire to con
solidate the two offices had been men
tioned.
Commissioners voiced praise fdr the
manner in which Hoskins had carried
out his duties over the years.
At the meeting the commissioners
passed a resolution supporting the ap
plication of Albemarle Regional Plan
ning and Development Commission as
the “L£AD” agency for the 10-county
olbciQsrlfi
Wesley Cullipher, ARPDC executive
director, described such designation as
coordinating programs of a regional
nature through one office. He said its
duty is to be sure that every county
and town in the region is included if
they desire and that each are treated
faiiiy,
THE CHOWAN HERALD
Godwin remarked that many of us are
prone to blame the government for the
way many things are today when it is
actually us and our narrow-mindedness.
The speaker stated that our greatest
protection is the first 10 amendments
of the Constitution. He remarked that
the strongest fiber of today’s citizens
is that we are willing to assist those in
distress and underprivileged.
Godwin closed by saying that too
many citizens criticize government of
ficials when they did not take any time
to vote or elect the officials.
Continued on Page 4
- Yi
■ .V-'R r" • •- s f
■ j
■- f: |
ft.
DSA Banquet Priniepals— Marion W. Kirby, right, recipient of
the 1971 Distinguished Service Award presented by Edenton Jaycees,
shares his plaque with his wife following a banquet last Thursday
night. Others are, left to right, James Hunt of Wilson, keynote
speaker; Mac Privott, Jaycee president, and James C. Dail, mayor
pro tem, who presented the award.
Taylor Singing Popular Tune: Help One More Time
Lt. Gov. Pat Taylor didn’t disappoint
those who gathered in Chowan County
Court House Monday afternoon to hear
what he is promising Northeastern
North Carolina in his bid for the guber
natorial nomination.
In typical Pat Taylor fashion he
promised that if his friends down here
helped him as much as they did four
years ago and he is elected governor,
he won’t ask them to support him again
for a statewide office. “Just look after
me one more time,” he asked.
And for those political activists who
find it increasingly more difficult to
drum up interest among voters as well
as money to finance a campaign, this
was nothing short of sweet music.
In a more serious vein, he called for
a long-range planning body to provide
a framework for better continuity in
state programs. Taylor suggested that
such a group might be composed of
private dtizens rather than an addi
tional state agency.
“The General Assembly only meets
every two years, and each time it is
to some extent a new General Assem
bly. The governor only serves four
years. But many of the things we need
to accomplish in North Carolina cannot
be completed in two years or even four
years,” he said.
He mentioned land use, environment
al protection, public and higher edu
cation and highways as areas in which
more long-range planning is needed.
Taylor said that the find of group
he envisions would have no authority
to implement programs, but would work
with existing agencies to develop long
range goals and step-by-step plans.
‘‘Each General Assembly and each
successive governor would have the op-
Edenton, Chowan County, North Carolina, Thursday, February 3, 1972
Kirby Given
DSA; Hunt
Praises Area
A young man who has proven his
worth to the area and another who
wants the opportunity to be of service
to North Carolina were in the lime
light last Thursday at a banquet given
by Edenton Jaycees.
Marion Wesley Kirby, athletic direc
tor at John A. Holmes High School, re
ceived the coveted Distinguished Ser
vice Award. Jim Hunt of Wilson, a
candidate for the Democratic nomina
tion for lieutenant governor, was prin
cipal speaker.
Kirby, 29, was presented the award
by Mayor Pro Tern James C. Dail, a
former DSA- recipier*. The coach is
the first school-connected recipient and
the 18th to be voted the high honor.
He described his latest recognition as
being like winning a championship.
“From here on out you are a marked
man,” he stated. “From here on out
you. need all the folks to give a helping
hand.”
Coming to the land of Edenton Aces
in 1965 as assistant football coach, he
has moved up to head coach in football
and track as well as athletic director
and assistant principal. His teams have
posted a football record of 51 wins, 13
losses and two ties. The Aces have won
many championships under Kirby’s
guidance.
“But most importantly, team members
Continued on Page 4
portunity to review these plans and
possibly make changes. But at least
there would be an on-going frame of
reference.
“I believe this kind of long-range
planning would give us a better sense
of direction and a better sense of pri
orities, and eliminate a certain amount
V - * . 2
Subfeet: Politic » —Mayor Pro Tem James C. Dail, center, and
W. J. P. Earnhardt, Jr., right, talk politics with Lt. Gov. Pat Taylor
in front of Chowan County Court House. Taylor made his first
official visit to Edenton on Monday afternoon as a candidate for
the Democratic nomination for governor.
#4#|
Sen. J. J. (Monk) Harrington
Sen. Harrington
Seeks Re-Election
LEWISTON—A sixth term as one of
two senators from the First Senatorial
District in the General Assembly is be
ing sought by J. J. (Monk) Harrington,
according to an announcement made
Wednesday.
Four additional counties have been
added to the Senator’s District making
this the largest in area in the state.
New counties added are Beaufort,
Hyde, Tyrrell, and Dare. The 10 coun
ties previously in the district were:
Bertie, Chowan, Gates, Hertford, North
ampton, Washington, Perquimans, Pas
quotank, Caipden, and Currituck.
In announcing his candidacy for an
other term, Sen. Harrington stated it
has been a pleasure to serve the 10
counties in the district and he looks
forward to serving the new counties
which were added. He promised to
continue a policy upon which he prides
himself and that is trying to serve all
the people of all the counties “to the
best of my ability.”
Continued on Page 4
Deadline Nearing
Friday is the last day to list your
property for taxes without paying a 10
per cent penalty, according to Dallas
Jethro, Jr., tax supervisor.
Residents are given 30 days in which
to list their property with the county.
Jethro said listers experienced an
extremely busy period early in the
month but for the past several weeks
listing has been steady but not rushed.
He said for some reason property own
ers generally have keen listing early.
“There have been no lengthv delays
and we are thankful for it,” Jethro said.
However, he said it is evident that
many people have not. yet listed and he
urged them to do so prior to Friday’s
deadline to avoid the 10 per cent
penalty.
of waste, both in time and money.”
Taylor said there is no simple solu
tion to the problems North Carolina
faces. “Those who make rash, unrea
sonable promises either don’t under
stand government or are intentionally
fooling the people,” he declared.
Continued on Page 4
Single Copy 10 Cents