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DIRECTOR HONORED Pete Thompson, Chowan County
extension chairman, and Mrs. Ila Gary White, area nutrition
specialist, are shown here greeting Dr. George Hyatt, Jr., at a
reception in his honor Friday in Raleigh. (See Public Parade).
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The Hyatt Era
Dr. George Hyatt, Jr., retires
June 30 as director of the N.C.
Agricultural Extension Service
and assoicate dean of the School of
Agriculture and Life Sciences at
N.C. State University. As he
moves from a pinnacle in his
distinguished career, those who
meander along the Pbulic Parade
and throughout the Tar Heel State
will have lost a strong advocate in
the public arena.
We were fortunate to be among
some 630 friends and-or co
workers who attended a farewell
party for Dr. Hyatt last Friday in
McKimmon Center in Raleigh.
They put the big pot in the little
one, so to speak, in a well deserved
tribute to one of the nation’s most
distinguished agricultural
leaders.
In doing it they waved so much
red (NCSU’s symbol of
something) around it was obvious
all the bulis were well secured.
Seated on our left was J.C. Jones,
a long time friend of Northeastern
North Carolina who now heads the
State Office of Marine Affairs. He
put ah elbow in our ribeeverjLtime
the color appeared.
Gov. Jim Hunt, who wears hats
from NCSU and UNC-CH, ap
propriately proclaimed it “George
Hyatt Appreciation Day” for the
man whose administration has
been marked by an emphasis on
staff development and long-range
planning. He is especially sup
portive of long-range planning
that involves local citizens at the
county level.
This is how we got to know and
respect him. Being a grassroots
editor, Dr. Hyatt is our kind of
folks. Our first encounter caused
us to, wonder, though.
It was a time when Charlie
Overman was retiring as Chowan
County Extension Chairman and
Gates County was without Zackie
Harrell. We thought it would be a
good time to move Pete Thompson
into a true administrative
position as tri-county chairman.
After all, no,one would have to
lost their job and specialists had
already proven themselves. We
had known the late Dr. George
* Smith, a Hyatt assistant, back in
Iredell County so we discussed it
with him. He suggested that WE
discuss it with the boss.
„ A trip was planned to Raleigh
for the appointment. After wit
nessing the Hyatt temper it was
obvious why George wanted us to
do it. He knew what the reaction
would be.
We didn’t accomplish our
mission, but we did get a lecutre
on the failure of multi-county
arrangements in Kentucky and
Opt, Hie best thing we got was
Pete and Dr. Hyatt’s friendship,
Continued on Page 4
PTA To Meet
Citizens from throughout
Edenton and Chowan County are
invited to a meeting of Swain
Parent-Teacher Association
Tuesday night to hear a presen
tation from Edenton-Chowan
■ a I nnfrtn Callare iwnniilnrit
said the meeting will begin at 7:30
P M Mrs Sellers said miestfons
’will be allowed train the trfence
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Volurhe XUV.—No. 25i Edenton, North Carolina, Thursday, June 22, 1978. Single Copies 15 Cents
Council Approves $ 5.4-Mil. Budget
Edenton Town Council adopted
a $5.4-million budget Tuesday
night, ignoring a plea from Mayor
Roy Harrell to give further study
to the salary of the Town ad
ministrator as well as the audit
contract.
Councilman Gil Burroughs, a
strong proponent of salary
ceilings, job classifications and
merit raises, was the only
member to register a negative
vote. Before the vote, however, he
disagreed with the mayor con
cerning a delay. “I don’t think
much insight will come about in
the next 10 days,” he said. “It is
going to take time.”
The two and one-half hour
hearing, which was dominated by
Mayor Harrell, ended when
Councilman Harry Spruill made a
motion to adopt the budget as
presented, which includes a
$27,000 salary for W.B. Gardner,
administrator, and $4,000 for an
auditbrTrniberlgke&sykes.
A controversy developed over
the two items after the budget was
accepted by the council. Mayor
Harrell took issue with council’s
action, going on the radio and
writing a letter in the newspaper.
He objected to Gamder getting
the same 7% per cent cost of living
County Budget Cuts Taxes
A four-minute public hearing, at which time only one question was
asked, preceded adoption Monday night of a $3.4-million budget for
Chowan County for the fiscal year beginning July 1. By adopting the
previously published budget ordinance the commissioners established
the ad valorem tax rate at 85 cents per SIOO valuation, down eight cents
from the current rate.
The current year’s property tax, based on $124-million valuation, will
bring in little more than sl-million. The other two thirds of the revenue
will come from other sources, including $196,841 in fund balance appr
priated.
Included in the budget for the first time in Chowan County’s history is
$41,377.96 for the county manager’s office. Henry E. Dick, who was
selected for the post, has been on the job for two weeks.
Nearly one half of the budget, $1,617,869, is for the Department of
Social Services.
State and federal aid towards the budget is $1,442,068.
Chairman N.J. George convened the hearing by saying it was a time to
have citizens speak on the proposed budget and warning that it would not
be a question and answer period. Thomas Paul Griffin, a member of
Edenton-Chowan Board of Education, asked for explanation of the
Governing Body item in the budget, exceeding $50,000.
The chairman reminded him the budget is open for inspection but
questions would not be anwered at the hearing.
When there was no additional comment from the dozen people in the
audience, the chairman remarked, “It doesn’t make for a good press if
no one complains.”
DAMAGE SLIGHT - Mother
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from the house and this week cut down the entire tree.
iff
FRIENDS MEET Dr. Carlton Blaylock, an assistant of Dr.
George Hyatt, left, and J.C. Jones, former district extension
chairman in Northeastern North Carolina, are shown at the
McKimmon Center luncheon for Dr. Hyatt.
increase other employees of the
town received, and further object
to a merit raise.
Speaker after speaker from the
council and the audience said the
merit raise was justified. They
included Burroughs, who said
accomplishments should be
reflected in the pay.
Councilman W.H. Hollowell, Jr.,
Finance Committee chairman,
read a statement into the record,
as did Councilman Jesse L.
Harrell, explaining the com
mittee’s action. Hollowell also
produced salary comparisons, but
the mayor said they did not relate
to the ability of “5,000 people to
Lab Improvement
New refrigeration facilities will
be installed at the Animal Disease
Diagnostic Laboratory on
Paradise Road. N.C. Com
missioner of Agriculture Jim
'‘- ’‘Graham was successful in getting
the General Assembly to ap
propriate $20,000 for the project
last week.
Another “money bill'’ to be
written into the budget designates
$8,913 for James Iredell House in
Edenton. It is for a gardner’s
position.
pay the salary.”
Mayor Harrell so completely
dominated the discussion that at
one point Councilman Allen
Homthal objected to the manner
Continued on Page 4
Rotary Poll Covers Topics Os Local Interest
The majority of Edenton
Rotarians disagree with Town
Council’s recent denial of a
rezoning application to allow
development of a shopping center,
yet the majority of “no” votes
increase on a question of the
ability of the community to sup
port additional retail shopping
centers.
They not only overwhelmingly
oppose construction of a con
solidated high school “five to
seven miles” from Edenton and
express the opinion that a new
high school is not needed, period!
Alma Byrum, local
business and civic leader who
formerly served as councilman,
then mayor, conducted the survey
and opinion poll at last Thursday’s
Rotary meeting. The program
consisted of 33 questions on a wide
range of subjects.
In the field of politics, the survey
showed Rotarians would vote for
Sen. Jesse Helms and would turn
out President Jimmy Carter. Sen.
Helms scored ahead of Rep.
Walter B. Jones in 'ratings which
put Gov. James B. Hunt, Jr., third
and Sen. Robert Morgan a poor
fourth.
In fairness to the program
chairman, The Chowan Herald is
printing the entire questionnaire
rather than results of selected
questions. The questions and tally
follows:
Do you agree with recent Town
Council decision not or rezone a 10
acre site adjacent to the hospital
to Shopping Center? Yes: 14 No.
20.
Do you support cost of living pay
increase for government em
ployees? Yes, 23 No. 12.
Do you give cost of living pay
increases in your business: Yes,
24 No, 10.
Do you think Edenton needs and
can support additional retail
shopping centers: Yes, 14-No, 22.
Do you think municipal and
Superior Court
Judge Harry C. Martin of
Asheville will preside ovgr a term
of Chowan County Superior Court
which begins at 10 A.M. Monday.
Asst. Dist. Atty. J. Richard
Parker of Elizabeth City will
prosecute the docket.
Two men are scheduled for trial
on morals charges. Jimmie Lewis
Bateman is charge with taking
indecent liberties with a child
while Samuel Thomas Potts faces
seven counts involving indecent
liberties with a child, crime
against nature, and carnal.
knowledge.
Jessie West faces twb counts of
dnmk driving, third offense and
two counts of driving while his
license was revoked. Seven other
drunk driving charges and a
charge of driving after drinking
appear on the calendar, released
by Mrs. Lena M. Leary.
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NRHDA Grant
Earns Approval
WASHINGTON, DC. Rep. Walter B. Jones of the First
Congressional District announced Wednesday afternoon approval of a
$200,000 grant for Northeastern Rural Health Development Association.
He described it as a health underserved rural areas grant from the U.S.
Public Health Service.
The grant is for the first year of a three-year demonstration project.
Rep. Jones said a great deal of interest has been expressed over the
grant application because NRHDA’s primary care project will benefit
some 28,000 residents in Bertie, Chowan, Gates, Perquimans and Tyrrell
counties.
Drs. C. Clement Lucas and Richard N. Hines, Jr., have been assisting
the association’s board of directors in the project to provide additional
medical and dental services in the They have agreed to be the
primary providers for NRHDA and will recruit other specialists to
provide a core for the extension of primary care, prevention and
education services in the area surrounding Edenton.
T.B.H. Wood, president, said the organization was formed because it
was recognized that local consumer, business, and philanthropic in
volvement in the development and extension of medical care services
was essential if the Edenton medical community was to be able to ex
pand and extend itself to reach the underserved areas and medically
needy individuals in the service area. A movement which led to the grant
began in August, 1977.
NHRDA is said to be an effective mechanism to bridge the gaps bet
ween urban-rural and provider-consumer to create a systems approach
to the delivery of services in the central part of the Albemarle region.
The provider organization associated with NHRDA is Albemarle Family
Health Services, Inc., which is an umbrella organization presently
composed of medicine, dentistry, and pharmacy.
The provider group has plans to develop a core center on 23 acres at
the intersection of U.S. 17 and Highway 37, in Perquimans County, some
five miles from Edenton. Satellite clinics will be established in Gates,
Tyrrell and Bertie counties.
county employees are underpaid
5, overpaid 1, adequately paid 30?
Have you expressed your views
on local issues to a councilman or
county commissioner in the last
two years? Yes, 34 No, 2.
Do you think Chowan County
needs county-wide zoning? Yes, 29
No, 6.
Would you object if your county
neighbor installed a hog parlor
operation near your home? Yes, 34
No, 2.
Do you think house trailers
should be zoned out of certain
areas? Yes, 35 No, 1. ,
Do you agree that Chowan
County needs a qualified ad
ministrator? Yes, 30 No, 6.
Do you think the commissioners
selected the best site for the new
courthouse? Yes, 21 No, 16.
Do you feel that we need a new
high school complex five to seven
miles from Edenton? Yes, 6 No,
30.
Do you feel we need a new high
school in or adjacent to Edenton?
Yes, 14 No, 22.
How do you think our local
schools are rated in teaching
students? Good, 6 Fair, 25
Hearing Slated
Chowan County commissioners
took “ministerial” action Monday
night in regards to a $3.5-million
school bond referendum, ap
proving a bond order which sets a
public hearing for 8 P.M. Wed
nesday.
Included in the order is a
requirement that Pansy A. Elliott,
finance director, file with Anne K.
Spruill, clerk to the board,
documents relating to the
property valuation in the county
along with the county’s bonded
indebtedness.
Because of requirements of
state legislation regarding
finance, the board will not meet
the August 15 referendum date
previously requested by Edenton-
Chowan Board of Education. The
new date appears to be September
12.
Hie school board petitioned the
commissioners to have the
referendum on a date other than
the general election. The opinion
was expressed that this would give
the issue a chance to “stand on its
the voters.
Henry E. Dick, county manager,
was appointed to represent the
board in matters related to the
referendum.
In other action, commissioners
approved a new contract with
Chowan Hospital to provide meals
for those held by the Sheriff’s
Department. Dick said the cost
would be $1.75 per meal.
Dick noted in bis brief presen
tation that the existing contract
was entered into hi 1174 and called
far $4.5# per day for three meals.
Now meals are necessary only far
these being held on trial days.
Poor, 7.
Do you believe discipline is a
problem in our schools? Yes, 36
No, 1.
Do you believe your tax dollars
are being administered and spent
wisely by: Town of Edenton, Yes,
33 No, 5; Board of Education, Yes,
21 No, 17; District Health Dept.,
Yes, 26 No, 14; Federal
Government, Yes, 0 No, 38;
Chowan County, Yes, 29 No, 9;
Social Services, Yes, 3 No, 35;
and State of N.C., Yes, 15—No, 23.
How would you rate law en
forcement in: Edenton, Good, 24
—Fair, 12 —Poor, 0 and Chowan
County, Good, 22 Fair, 14
Poor, 0.
Do you support the Town
acquiring additional waterfront
property such as J.H. Conger &
Son or Leary Oil Co.? Yes, 31
No, 7.
Have you attended a Town
Council or County Commission
meeting in the last two years?
Yes, 31 No, 7.
Have you ever attended any
Town Council or County Com
mission meeting? Yes, 34 No, 2.
Have you ever written or called
your representative or senator in:
Federal Government, Yes, 31
No, 7 and N.C. Government, Yes,
29 No, 9.
If election were held this week,
would you vote for: President
Carter, Yes, 13 No, 25 or Sen.
Helms, Yes, 30 No, 8.
How do you rate: Rep. Walter
Jones, Good, 20 Fair, 17 Poor,
1; Sen. Helms, Good, 26 Fair, 9
Poor, 3; Sen. Morgan, Good, 4
Fair, 19 Poor, 15; Gov. Hunt,
Good, 8 Fair, 29 Poor, 1.
Would you, as a state
representative, have voted for
liquor-by-the-drink in the North
Carolina House: Yes, 33 No, 5.
Would you vote for liquor-by
the-drink in: Chowan County, Yes,
26 No, 12; Dare County, Yes, 33
No, 5; and Wake County, Yes,33
No, 5.
Do you favor increased gas tax
Continued on Page 4
Funds Allotted
Chowan Hospital received
$37,415 from the Duke Endowment
in 1977, according to the annual
report released this week. Os this
amount, $2,415 was for free days of
care at the hsopital.
The endowment made grants
and appropriations during the
; year of $25.6-million to educational
institutions, hospitals, churches
and child caring programs in the
Carolinas. This exceeds by more
than $2.7-mtilion the grants made
in 1976.
Chowan Hospital operates a 61-
bed acute unit and a 564>ed long
term care facility. The annual
report showed occupancy at the
units to be 77 per cent and 96 per
cent, respectively, from October,
1*76, to September, 1*77.
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