To Understand
Chowan Hospital, Inc., like
Chowan County commissioners,
has experienced management
difficulties of late which have not
been in the best interest of those
designed to be served. -
At today’s (Thursdays) meeting
of the board of directors, it will be
the recommendation of a Search
Committee that a management
firm be employed to administer
the affairs at the hospital. • .
Things, up until now, have ’
happening at such a quick*.
pace that it appears no one b
been able to get a handle on th '
situation. Contracting with a\
management group, with a stable x .
of experts in every aspect of ad
ministration, could be the answer
to many of the problems being
f experienced. We sincerely hope
< so -
Chowan Hospital is a big, im
portant business along the Public
Parade. The community can ill
afford for it to get, let alone keep,
a black eye. The challenges of
providing the necessary services
in the health care field are
tremendous and not getting any
less. It is for this reason that cost
containment must remain
foremost in the minds of those
authorized to make the day to day
decisions, while not neglecting the
quality of patient care.
The community, then, should be
encouraged by the new
developments and be more willing
to understand than to criticize.
Fooling With Dare
* The State of North Carolina has
recently taken on Dare County.
Foolish, isn’t it?
Nevertheless, this could prove to
be a test case for the other 99
counties in Tar Heelia including
the Public Parade. The question is
about who runs the Health
Department.
While the state funds the Health
it js still
considered a county operation.
The employees are county em
ployees.
But in Dare the duly appointed
health administrator doesn’t
measure up to the educational
standards set by the Department
of Human Resources for such an
employee, therefore, funding is in
question.
The county has told the state to
y take the money and place it
. elsewhere. The state agrees that
Dare has been getting good health
administration in recent months
although the administrator is
longer on common sense than
degrees.
In the past, Chowan has sup
ported Dare on issues before the
Coastal Resources Commission.
And if the need arises, Chowan can
be expected to again support our
neighbors on the Outer Banks.
Those folks may talk differently
but what they are saying is in tune
with the need of the citizens. What
you read from a book of policies
should also conform to what the
citizens receive in services. In
Dare it doesn’t, and it may not in
the other 99 counties either.
g No Fat Cat
v Historic Edenton, Inc., could be
beaded for its most successful
biennium or its worst. The
majority along the Public Parade
hope for the better.
As reported last week in this
newspaper, the N.C. General
Assembly, in a year of tight
MpHa, Wc., was quite generous
*tifif%iests from Edenton. The
Continued On Page 4
Committee Prepares Report
The Board of Directors of
Chowan Hospital, Inc., are
meeting this morning (Thtffsday)
to act on recommendations of a
Search Committee with regard to
a new administrator.
* portymiy ior our nospiiaii
Citizens Ask Questions
Commissioners Set 93-Cent Tax Rate
Chowan County commissioners
Friday slashed five cents off the
proposed tax rate before adopting
a $2.8-million budget for fiscal
1977-78. The action followed a
three-hour public hearing during
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BIG JULY 4th CELEBRATION All roads in Chowan County
led to Murray Nixon’s Fishery in Rocky Hock Monday as more
than 4,500 people turned out for Nixon’s annual free fish fry.
From 9 A.M. until well past the 4 P.M. cut-off time, people
streamed to the Chowan River site to eat fried fish, with all the
trimmings and to listen to music provided by several groups.
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Hospital Is Reaccredited
Chowan Hospital has been
readcredited by the JbmtTom
mission on Accreditation of
Hospitals (JCAH) according to
Mrs. Barbara Cale, acting
president. News of a one-year
accreditation for the hospital was
received on June 21 and the one
year accreditation for the Skilled
Nursing Facility (Units B and C)
was received July 5.
These accreditations are the
result of two on-site surveys made
by field representatives of the
Joint Commission’s Accreditation
Council. Accreditation indicates
that both facilities have chosen to
operate according to standards set
by the JCAH and that the facilities
Impact Funds
Edenton-Chowan Schools have
been approved by the Department
of Health, Education and Welfare,
Office of Education, for federal
assistance for current ex
penditures under a law which
provides financial assistance for
schools in federally affected
areas.
Rep. Walter B. Jones of the First
Congressional District, announced
that the local unit has been cer
tified to receive an immediate
payment of $5,678.86; with ten
tative entitlement of $15,117 for
Fiscal Year 1977.
Additional payments will be
subject to such adjustments as
may be required by actual data in
place of estimates on which the
tentative entitlement is based, and
by the availability of funds in
relation to total entitlements for
financial assistance.
regarding contracting with a
management firm for services,
but it is the feeling of the com
mittee members that it is the thing
to do,” it was noted.
Mrs. Barbara Cale, vice
president for medical services,
was named acting administrator
when Bill Bums decided after less
than a month in the post to accept
employment in Nebraska.
Burns, who was administrator
of a long-term care facility in
Hampton, Va., was employed to
succeed Thomas M. Surratt after
Surratt moved to Morehead City.
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which the board members came'
under attack for previous actions,
especially the purchase of
property for the new courthouse
jail complex.
The tax rate will be 93 cents per
substantially comply with these
standards.
The standards set forth optimal
achievable goals of excellence
against which a facility can
measure itself and be measured
by a survey.
The Skilled Nursing Facility is
one of approximately 1,600 long
term care facilities throughout the
U.S. that have earned this
recognition. There are ap
proximately 23,000 facilities in the
U.S. that fall into the long term
care classification of the JCAH.
The Accreditation 'Council for
Long Term Care Facilities was
formed in 1971 to set standards as
a benchmark of quality for
facilities that provide extended,
nursing, or residential care. This
council is bne of four such
programs of the Joint Com
mission.
The Joint Commission began in
1918 under the auspices of the
American College of Surgeons. It
was incorporated in 1951 with the
support of its member
organizations.
JCAH is a Chicago-based, non
governmental, not-for-profit
organization.
“In view of the Joint Com
mission’s new standards in areas
not previously covered by their
surveys, we are all very proud to
have received these two ac
creditations and have already
begun work on the recom
mendations which accompanied
the notices of accreditation,” said
Mrs. Cale.
Drop Charges
Five charges of drunk driving
were dismissed in Chowan County
District Court June 28 because of
low breathelizer readings—below
.10 which is considered the
minimum for prosecution in North
Carolina.
Three of the cases were brought
by patrolmen with Edenton Police
Department and the other two
were lodged by members of die
State Highway Patrol.
Judge John T. Chaffin presided
over die weekly term at which
time the following drunk driving
charges were dismissed:
SIOO valuation. This is based on an
assessed value of sllß-million and
95 per cent collections.
Commissioner Lester Copeland
voted against the budget, saying
he felt the county could be
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Above left shows a group of men, (Nixon with back to camera in
white shirt), as they turn out the fish. Earl Smith, a store owner in
the community, was among those who assisted Nixon with his
feed. He presides over the combread pan. Below, a group doesn’t
let the boiling sun deter them from enjoying the music.
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Volume XLm. —No. 27 Edenton, North Carolina, Thursday, July 7, 1977. Single Copies 15 Cents.
Ashley Is ‘Not Backing Up 9
Murray Ashley, captain of
Edenton-Chowan Rescue Squad
and director of Civil Preparedness
in Chowan County, denies
allegations that he worked for the
county only part-time while
seeking the Democratic
nomination for register of deeds.
Ashley resigned his CP post
when he announced for the county
office. He said it was his un
derstanding that since none of his
salary would be paid from CP
funds then he was to devote all his
time to the rescue squad.
Through what was described as
“a comedy of errors”, he was not
officially reinstated as CP director
until a special meeting of Chowan
County commissioners last
Friday.
Commissioner N. J. George put
forth a motion that Ashley rein
burse the county for his salary
during the period of the campaign.
It did not get a second.
“They (the county) want the
state and federal funds but they
don’t want me to do any Civil
Preparedness work,” he said
Tuesday morning. And he said he
doesn’t know what caused any
misunderstanding about his
salary.
“I was puttng in more than 40
hours for the county each and
every week (during the cam
paign) and my daily log will show
it,” he said. “I didn’t take off any
time from my county job to
campaign. I didn’t have the time.”
“I have never just worked part
time for the county.”
CP funds for Ashley’.. salary
Judge Speaks
The New Chowan County
Courthouse-Jail complex hasn’t
been put out for bids yet and it is
already under attack from a
Superior Court jurist.
In open court here last week,
Judge Bradford Tillery of
Wilmington called on citizens to
voice objections to the size of the
courtroom in the proposed facility.
The jurist said the proposed
circular facility would not seat as
many people as the existing
courtroom. “He appeared real
concerned that the county might
be making a serious mistake if the
facility is built according to
preliminary plans which are now
available,” a court official said.
Judge Tillery is among the
jurists who have, in the past, been
highly critical of the existing
courthouse, pointing out it is
“totally inadequate” for efficient
operation.
Earlier in the week he told the
citizens dkawn for jury duty that it
might get a little hot hi the court
room because the air condttiooen
are inadequate.
operated on a 90-cent levy.
Commissioner Alton G. Elmore
countered with the remark that to
cut it that thin would be doing
what the board had done in recent
years, under tax.
stopped when he resigned. Since
that time his full salary has been
paid from county funds, which are
normally matched by state and
federal funds.
Commissioner Alton Elmore
told a reporter that the continued
full payment of Ashley’s salary
was apparently the result of a
“breakdown in communication”
4-H’ers Get District Titles
Chowan 4-H’ers won nine first
place and four second place
awards at the Northeastern
District Activity Day held Wed
nesday in Gates County. Chowan
4-H’ers also had two blue ribbon
numbers in talent contest.
Mrs. Yates Parrish was
recognized as the most out
standing 4-H adult leader for the
15-county district. Ai Ward and
Vanessa Spivey were recognized
as candidates for district officers.
For the afternoon program
Harold Jones and Cynthia Jones
were asked to perform their
“Hambone Rhythm” act. This act
and Beverly Twine’s vocal solo
were both awarded a blue ribbon
in talent competition. Also, taking
part in the district talent show were
Elizabeth Homthal, Carol Voight,
Karen Keeter, Greer Amburn,
Patricia Ashley and Nicole
Roberson who performed a
variety act, “Carwash.”
Chowan boys and girls who won
first place district honors were as
follows: Automotive skill driving,
boys - Bradley Ward; automotive
skill driving, girls - Beverly
Twine; beef-char-grill, Al Ward.;
ssssssis
DISTRICT «-H WINNERS - Bradley Werd, Route l. Tyner,
and Beverly Twine of Tyner, won the 15-county Northeastern
District 4-H automotive skill driving coldest recently. They
received engraved trophies and sponsorship to attend N.C. 4-ts
Congress July 25-29 in Raleigh whore they will compete for state
honors. Hie awards are sponsored by the N.C. Motor Carrien
Association. Henry Revell, Jr., 4-H specialtet with the N.C.
Agricultural Extension Service, left, coordinated the contest and
presented the trophy to Ward. Trooper S.E. WQaanefGatesviUe,
made the other presentation. W.T. Lawrence of Gates, right
served as a judge.
The first action after adopting
the budget was to amend it to
provide an additional $5,000 to
Edenton-Chowan Board of
Education for an alternative
program to handle problem
students. The board is making
application for a $95,000 grant to
cover the cost of the first year of a
two-year pilot program the first
of its kind in Region “R”.
The program appealed to a
majority of the commissioners but
N.J. George voted against the
budget amendment because he
felt that to do so now would leave
the board open to criticism from
other departments who ex
perienced budget cuts.
“I wouldn’t touch it with a 10-
foot pole,” he said when Chairman
C.A. Phillips brought up the
request following the budget
hearing. “I don’t know that much
about it, anyway,” George said.
It was apparent that his “no”
vote was prompted by his un
successful efforts to amend the
motion to require Murray Ashley,
Civil Preparedness director, to
Continued On Page 4
with Mrs. Pansy A. Elliott, finance
officer. He said a motion had been
passed calling for half payments
but the information apparently
never reached the finance officer.
Ashley apparently has no in
tention of repaying the funds. “I
have never felt it necessary to
back up to the table to get paid,”
he concluded.
crop production, Greg Brabble
and David Jordan. Open class,
Leon Rouson; pork cookery, Jane
Parrish; small engines, Bobby
Dail; American Business System,
team Carroll Perry and Bill
Jordan; American Business
System, individual, Bob Jordan.
Four Chowan entries that placed
second were egg cookery, senior
division, Vanessa Spivey; poultry
barbecue, Allan Dail; sewing,
Sarah Chappell, breads, junior
division, Sue Bunch.
Among others attending were:
Frankie Martin, Anne Becker,
Gary Copeland, Jewel Langley,
Coleen Jordan, Jill Copeland,
Dawn Blount, Deneen White,
Craig McCloud, Darren White,
Troy McCloud, Martha Hornthal,
Maurice England, Mrs. Fran
Ward, Mrs. Lynn Jordan, Mrs.
Wayland Spivey, Nelva Brabble,
Cindy Martin, Mrs. Blannie
Copeland, Murray Goodwin, Mr.
and Mrs. Yates Parrish, Wayland
Spivey, Mrs. Betty Dail, Mrs,
Olivia McCloud, Mr. and Mrs.
Julius Hardiman, Mrs. Gladys
White, Theresa Turner, Mrs. Gail
Bunch, Mrs. Ginny Ashley, and
Dr. and Mrs. Allen Hornthal.