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Thompson Is Good Choice
Democratic Party representatives from
the First House District will gather in
Elizabeth City on Tuesday night to name
a nominee to replace Rep. ,W. ,T. Cul
pepper, Jr., who resigned last week due
to poor health.
The eight counties in the district have
a voting strength of 57 votes, according
to computations of the State Democratic
Executive Committee. These votes will
be cast by two representatives from each
county, who in the Spring were named to
the First District House of Representa
tives Executive Committee.
This is something new in the Demo
cratic Party organization. And appar
ently every precaution is being taken to
make sure it is properly done.
When State Chairman James R. Sugg
of New Bern named W. L. Thompson of
Elizabeth City chairman of the commit
tee he demonstrated the state organiza
tion’s intent to fairness.
Sheriff Thompson, who retired several
years ago, possesses one of the keenest
political minds in Northeastern North
Carolina. His character and reputation
qualifies him for the tremendous responsi
bility handed him by Mr. Sugg.
The chairman has the ability and tem
perment to keep the ship on course and
a sense of fairness without peers.
Three men are actively seeking the
nomination. Pasquotank County, al
though the home of Rep. Culpepper, let
it be known early that they would not
have a candidate for the nomination. This
obviously was a move toward harmony
with the seven smaller counties in the
district.
While Pasquotank has 15 votes, it cer
tainly cannot wag the dog in this case.
We view the contest for the nomina
tion to be an open race and the appoint
ment of Sheriff Thompson as chairman
insures that fair play will be the name of
the game.
Vaughan Center Supported
Two weeks ago it was announced that
a Respiratory Care Center was being es
tablished at the Chowan Hospital as a
memorial to Dr. Roland H. Vaughan. A
committee has been named to handle
contributions and oversee the purchase
of necessary equipment for the Vaughan
Center.
The establishment of a Respiratory
Care Center hi & hospital thf Size Os the
one W?ing those along the -Public Pa
rade and throughout the area is a very
ambitious undertaking. And it is en
tirely fitting that one would be named in
honor of the late Dr. Vaughan, who gave
so unselfishly of his time and talent to
this community.
The proposed center received a SI,OOO
contribution from Mr. and Mrs. E. L.
Hollowell to get the memorial fund es
tablished. Several other smaller dona
tions have been made in memory of Dr.
Vaughan.
While it will be necessary to have
small donors to insure the success of
this project, it never hurts when the
“big buck” rolls in. The following let
ter states it much better than we ever
could:
‘‘At our September meeting of the
Chowan Hospital Auxiliary, we unani
mously agreed to give SI,OOO towards
establishing the Respiratory Care Cen
ter as a memorial to Dr. Roland H.
Vaughan.
“The auxiliary is anxious to encour
age residents of Chowan County and
surrounding areas to contribute to this
unique facility. The service will pro
vide out-patient care, as well as acute
and chronic respiratory patient care.
The hospital already has trained per
sonnel to operate the highly technical
equipment. Dr. Landis Voigt will be
doing chest surgery, and this sophisti
cated equipment is an absolute neces
sity.
“When the Vaughan Respiratory Care
Center is established, it will mean that
patients with respiratory problems will
not need to be moved to Norfolk or Wil
son. Our hospital patients can then be
given mere specialized care.
"Thank you for all your help in in
forming our community of this much
heeded facility.”
(MRS.) JUDY EARNHARDT.
Member Chowan Hospital Auxiliary.
%
Sports Report
Sports and politics must rank among
the most frustrating of hobbies or avo
cations. And not necessarily in that
order.
The May primary election wasn’t ex
actly what one could call an excuse for
us along the Public Parade to celebrate.
Now before we knew it the long, hot
summer is over and the gridiron has
beckoned.
• The Edenton Aces, always favorites
hereabouts, managed a tie with a strong
Bertie in the opener. Last Friday they
weren’t as fortunate against Murfrees
boro, goipg down in defeat.
Continued on Pago 4
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Fiberfoam Buys Chris-Craft
| EH Tljfl CHOWAN HERALD IB
Volume XXXVffl.—No. 35. Ed %~ t, Chowan County, North Carolina, Thursday, September 14, 1972 Single Copies 10 Cents
Board Splits
On Matters
:
At Meeting
By Flynn Surratt
Among the important items of busi
ness discussed by the Chowan County
commissioners Monday was the school
system, landfill project, revaluation, and
the board of directors of Chowan Hos
pital. Each of these was also the ob
ject of stormy debate during the four
hour meeting.
Dr. Edwin West, superintendent of
schools, in his monthly report to the
board, stated that the $35,000 debt
owed to the commissioners for the loan
to cover expenses incurred during the
1971-72 school year, would be paid as
surpluses accumulate. Commissioner
N. J. George immediately quizzed him
regarding some $9,000 which had al
ready accumulated but had not been
paid to the commissioners.
In reply, Dr. West said that this
money had already been used to cover
operational expenses for the month of
August. Following that answer, George
demanded that an attorney be called
in or the Grand Jury be asked to settle
the loan “mess” once and for all. Ac
cording to him, either a mistake had
been made or someone had not report
ed the truth to the county com
missioners.
In fiscal ' 1971-72, $417,000 was
budgeted for the schools of which only
$318,000 in revenue was collected. The
resulting deficit, as has been previously
reported in The Herald, has been the
continuing subject of heated debate for
several months.
A report of revaluation showed that
farm land was valued only slightly high
er than in 1964. On the basis of 100
per / cent valuation, farm land was
valued at S4OO per acre in Chowan
County. Although the commissioners
approved the valuation report, Com
missioner George questioned the basis
of the revaluation. Because “too many
questions have been left unanswered”
he voted in opposition to the report as
it read at this time.
Melvin Howell of the Farmers Home
Administration along with Commission-
Continued on Page 4
Chowan Fair To Open Next Week
Final preparations are being made
this week for the big Chowan County
Fair which formally opens Tuesday.
The fair will run through Saturday with
many special events on the schedule.
The fair is sponsored by Edward G.
Bond Post No. 40, American Legion,
and W. A. Perry is president.
Joseph Byrum, fair manager, remind
ed those who plan to have entries and
exhibits at the fair that the deadline is
6 P, M., Monday with judging to start
at 9 A. M., Tuesday.
The David B. Endy Shows will be on
the midway, with 15 thrill rides, con
cessions and shows. There will be free
acts nightly.
Also, a 4-H Regional Talent Show
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Banks Merge— Lamar Benton, right, chairman, Gates County com
missioners, is shown here wth area officers of Bank of North Ca
rolina, N. A., at a brief ceremony Monday when the Bank of
Hobbsville officially joiried BNC. From left are: Walter Harlow,
vice president, and Mrs. Elizabeth Hare, assistant cashier. of the
Gates County branch, and Jack B. Harris, vice president in charge
of the Edenton branch.,
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Candidates Meet House Official —Archie Lane, Sr., of Perquimans
County, former state legislator and currently sergeant-at-arms in
the House of Representatives, is shown at right with Joe Nowell,
state highway commissioner of Winfall, and John A. Mitchener,. Jr.,
of Edenton during a gathering at Elizabeth City last week. Mitch
ener and Nowell, along with Stanford White of Manns Harbor are
seeking nomination to the House since Rep. W. T. Culpepper, Jr., re
signed. -
Thompson Given Post
ELIZABETH CITY W. L. Thomp
son, retired sheriff of Pasquotank
County, has been named chairman of
the First District House of Representa
tives Executive Committee which meets
at 7:30 P. M., Tuesday to name a Demo-
Fish Fry Planned
The story of Shriners Hospitals for
Crippled Children is being told here
as 40 Chowan County Shriners endeavor
to raise SI,OOO for the institutions.
Tickets are now being sold for a big
fish fry to be held September 23 at the
Boy Scout Hut on North Broad Street.
Serving will begin at 11 A. M., and
continue through 6 P. M., with a goal
of 1,500 pounds of fish being set by
the sponsors.
The Shriner fish fry has become an
annual event and over the past three
years a considerable amount has been
raised for the hospitals.
will be held at 7:30 o’clock each night
with prizes, ribbons and trophies going
to the winners. Those who win pre
liminaries each night will compete Sat
urday night for the grand prize and
trophy.
The show is under the leadership of
Chowan County 4-H Club Council and
competition will include bands. The
top 4-H talent from Chowan, Bertie.
Gates, Perauimans, Washington and
Tyrrell will be invited to participate.
There will be a screening Saturday
night at 7:30 o’clock at the fairgrounds.
The purpose of the talent show is to
provide good entertainment; to increase
fair participation and attendance; and
Continued on Pag* 4
Production To Begin December 1
cratic Party replacement for Rep. W. T.
Culpepper,’ Jr. The appointment was
made by James R. Sugg of New Bern,
state party chairman.
The meeting will be open to the pub
lic and will be held in the Pasquotank
County Courthouse. -
Thompson is one of two members
from Pasquotank County on the district
house committee.
Each of the eight counties, has two
members on the committee but ballot
ing on the nominee will be according
to the one-man. one-vote plan with a
total of 57 votes to be cast. W. B.
Gardner and J. Gilliam Wood are Cho
wan’s representatives on the committee.
The State Democratic Executive Com
mittee has ruled that the counties will
have the following voting strength:
Camden, four; Chowan, eight; Curri
tuck, six; Dare, five; Pasquotank. 15:
Perquimans, six; Tyrrell, three; and
Washington. 10.
Three men are actively seeking the
nomination. They are: John A. Mitch
ener, Jr., of Edenton, and W. Stanford
White of Manns Harbor, both candi
dates in the May primary: and Joe
Nowell of Winfall, state highway com
missionei.
Rep. Culpepper recently resigned be
cause of poor health. Vernon James
of Weeksville is the other Democrat
nominated in the two-seat Home Dis
trict.
Road Money OK
RALEIGH The State Highwnv
Commission has allocated over sl-mil
lion to purchase right of way for the
US 17 bypass of Edenton. Commissioner
Joe W." Nowell of Winfall has an
nounced.
Meeting in its regular monthly ses
sion. the commission approved the ex
penditure of $1,041,050 to finance the
purchase of property for the 7.5-mile
project.
Nowell said he was extremely pleas
ed by the action because “this gives
this project a big push forward.”
The bypass will be a 24-foot road
way with eight-foot shoulders. General
ly, a project can be let to contract with
in a year after right of way acquisition
begins.
Hobbsville Bank Merges With BNC
HOBBSVILLE Following approval
by the U. S. Comptroller of the Cur
rency, the Bank of Hobbsville Monday
merged into the Bank of North Caro
lina, N. A., at a formal ceremony held
in this Gates County community.
Participating in the formal dedication
in addition to bank officials from the
system’s Central Office in Jacksonville
were Rev. William E. Carter; Lamar
Benton, chairman, Gates County com
missioners; and Rep. Philip P. Godwin,
speaker of the house. The response
was made by Walter Harlow, BNC vice
president and former Bank of Hobbs
ville officer.
Mrs. Elizabeth B. Hare, assistant
cashier, participated in the unveiling
Property
Fiberfoam, a division of U. 5. Indus
tries headquarted in Spokane, Wash.,
has purchased the 100,000-square-foot
Chris-Craft boat plant in Edenton and
is expected to begin production De
cember 1.
Announcement of the purchase of the
East Coast production facility was made
at Fiberfoam’s eastern dealer group
meeting at its Spokane plant.
William Bongers, executive vice pres
ident of Fiberfoam, will direct the or
ganization and initial production at the
Edenton plant which will serve the
growing Fiberfoam dealer organization
established in the East during the past
two years.
Fiberfoam, the largest fiberglass boat
builder on the West Coast and one of
the largest in the United States, manu
factures a complete line of ski boats,
runabouts, camper style boats and cruis
ers from 14 to 28 feet.
Donald K. Barnes, president, founded
Fiberfoam and it was later merged with
U. S. Industries, now the 69th largest
corporation in this country.
W. P. (Spec) Jones, chairman of the
Industries Committee of Edenton Cham
ber of Commerce, hailed the announce
ment as being extremely fortunate for
the community and especially for
“those who have skills in fiberglass boat
building and who have had to seek em
ployment outside the county since
Chris-Craft closed.”
He noted that Fiberfoam has two
other plants—one in Spokane and an
other in Canada—and this is the first
move into the East Coast. “They
should really do something for us,” he
added.
Jones said the area is very fortunate
to get a firm of this caliber to purchase
the spacious Chris-Craft plant. He said
employment is expected to be equal or
even surpass that of Chris-Craft.
Chris-Craft purchased 54 acres of
land on Albemarle Sound and construct
ed a modern fiberglass boat building
plant. The plant opened in 1969 and
operated-for approximately 18 months
before being closed. It has been closed
for about 18 months.
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Rep. Walter B. Jones
Jones To Speak
ELIZABETH CITY Rep. Walter B.
Jones of the First Congressional Dis
trict will be keynote speaker at the an
nual fall dinner meeting of the Albe
marle Law and Order Asociation on
September 28.
The banquet will be held at Carolin
ian Motor Hotel in Negs Head, begin
ning with a social hour at 6:30 o’clock.
Rep. Jones will be introduced by
Dare County Sheriff Frank Cahoon,
secretary of the association and a mem
ber of the board of directors. N. C.
Sheriff’s Association.
R. L. Spivey of Perquimans County,
association president, will be moderator
at the banquet. Others on the pro
gram include: Father Joseph Klaus, R.
V. Owens, C. B. Barham, 111, and Eliza
beth City Police Chief W. C. Ou'ens.
Melvin E. Bunch, planning director,
said the purpose of the association is
to provide the Albemarle with a capa
ble, respectful Criminal Justice System.
Those interested in attending the
banquet are urged to contact the asso
ciation office in Elizabeth City.
of the new bank sign.
The Bank of Hobbsville had assets
of $5-million at the time of the merger
with the $320-million BNC.
Rep. Godwin said he was sure those
who founded the bank would be proud
of the merger. “The bank showed
strength and fiber during the depression
and was one of only a few small banks
to survive,” he said.
BNC Vice President Dick Buell com
mented on the size of the parent sys
tem by saying “bigness itself is really
pretty meaningless” and that the bank
is primarily the people it employs and
the people it serves.
“I assure you of fine, personal bank-
Continued on Pag* 4