Puhlic Parade
Kill Evans, Jr.
i Byof us who ply our trade on
Side have lost a noble
Mwbor and a valiant fighter of
human obstacles in the untimely
death Monday of Merrill Evans,
Jr.
Those who meander along the
Public Parade who weren’t
subjected to his keen sense of
humor, his untiring devotion to
duty, his unequivocal loyalty to his
family, profession and fellow man,
mutt now take another’s word for
Merrill Evans probably prac-
more sidewalk law than most
attorneys practice in the court
house. It wasn’t because of any
lack of professional ethics, but
because he loved the out-of-doors
and would suggest a sidewalk
conference in a heartbeat.
He came from a family with a
long history in politics. His father,
who is now Mayor of Ahoskie, was
± chairman of the highway com-
Imission in the Terry Sanford
Merrill liked
''politics since politics is people.
Nevertheless, he put his gaff at
being Mr. Inside, not Mr. Outside.
Because of his unselfishness, his
name probably won’t be inscribed
on many tablets which honor those
of noble deeds along the Public
Paradje. It was not because he
didn’t; contribute, it was merely
because he contributed silently,
without fanfare.
Meijrill Evans held many
positions of trust in his profession
and the community. However,
he never lost sight of the fact that
he was only a servant on this
earthi.
As] attorney for Edenton
Hous:,ng Authority for nearly a
decajje he would go to the most
extreme of means to bring about a
settlement rather than evict a
tenant or take him to court for
nonpayment. It was almost a
crefd with him to protect the
' rights of the underprivileged,
ratfher than flex a muscle only to
gflmhis attention.
, Merrill Evans will be missed by
b* m of- us. Unfortunately, those
*why will miss him the most will be
those who never had the op
portunity to meet him, even those
who ply their trade on Cheap Side.
Night Meetings
Tuesday night’s meeting of
Edbnton-Chowan Board of
Education was advertised as a
“working session’’ dealing with
consolidation. A lot of “working’’
'vent on with the best outcome
being a session where the board
J came face to face with faculty and
I patrons.
k The Chowan County com
missioners earlier in the day,
Kurned down, by a 3-2 vote, a
proposal for night meetings in the
Pmiddle of the month. The school
[ board drew a crowd which forced
' it to be moved from the Third
Floor Conference room to the
Fourth Floor.
It may be because it was a single
Continued on Page 4
[Vepco Taxes Better $1 -Mil.
Virginia Electric and Power
Company has presented checks
totaling $1,011,232 in payment of
1978 real estate and personal
property taxes to the county, city
and town tax collectors in the 22
counties that Vepco serves in North
Carolina.
The largest check of $150,203
went to Halifax County. Other
counties receiving checks in
cluded Northampton, $107,050;
Martin, s69,Bso;Hertford, $85,673;
Dare $70,125; Currituck,s7l.67B:
Washington, $41,068; Bertie,
$31,245; Edgecombe, $27,259;
Warren, $24,136; Gdtes, $29,637;
Pasquotank, $28,004; Perauimans,
$23,413; Pitt, $37,534; Nash, $9,801;
Tyrdl, sls,l42;Beaufort, $11,138;
Chowan, $14,024; and Camden,
1 The (Sty of Roanoke Rapids
received $36,563, and the Roanoke
Rapids School District and the
Roanoke Rapids Sanitary District
IBloodmobie Visit Mon., Jan. B—American Legion 81dg.—125 Units
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PROPOSED HEALTH CARE CENTER Shown above is the preliminary site plan for a com
prehensive ambulatory health care center being planned by Albemarle Family Health Services.
The 37,000-square-foot facility will be built on a 26-acre tract at the intersection of U.S. 17 and High
way 37 between Edenton and Hertford.
THE CHOWAN HERALD
Volume XIV.—No. 1
Partial Consolidation Plan Considered
Partial consolidation of
Edenton-Chowan Schools without
a capital expenditure could be
realized this fall if faculty and
administration can work out the
mechanics of a plan which will not
“fracture off” the Ninth Grade
from a 9-12 pattern.
This was cited as an alternative
during a “working session” of the
board Tuesday night. The board
drew strong statements of support
from staff and school patrons, but
the first hint of legal action to
erase curriculum inequities
surfaced.
Net Sales Tax
Collections Noted
Net collections from the 1 per
cent local option sales tax in
Chowan County in November
amounted to $32,752.11, nearly
$2,000 more than in Washington
County.
Statewide, collections were in
excess of sls.smillion.
The eight other Albemarle Area
counties haa the following
collections: ,
Camden, 4?.287.34; Currituck,
$16,999.18; Dye, $70,498.13;
Gates, sß,Blo.B3;*Hyde, $9,281.69;
Pasquotank, $103,956.05;
Perquimans, $13,914.51; and
Tyrrell, $8,446.33.
received $13,828 and $4,911
respectively. Elizabeth City
received a check for $6,586. Other
cities receiving checks included
Greenville, $7,049 and Washington
$1,549.
The largest town check of
$19,189 went to Williamston. Other
towns receiving checks included
Ahoskie, $11,701; Plymouth,
$12,802; Murfreesboro, $4,216;
Nags Head, $5,570; Manteo,
$8,163; Tarboro, $3,111; Kill Devil
Hills. $4,242; Weldon,
$2,332; Winfall, $2,477; Aulander,
$1,619; Edenton, $2,204; Bdhaven,
$1,319; Bethel, $1,682; Columbia,
$1,880; Winton, $1,546, Whitakers,
$1,150 and Robersonville, $1,203.
Vepco’s 1978 North Carolina
state and local taxes are estimated
to total $5,394,000 including
$1,024,000 for property taxes and
$7,074,000 for taxes on gross
receipts.
Edenton, North Carolina, Thursday, January 4, 1979
Cecil W. Fry, a former principal
and school system administrator,
made the motion which sent
drafters back to the drawing
board after Dr. John Dunn,
superintendent, had outlined
several alternatives only one of
which he said at this time ap
peared feasible. That was to put
the Ninth Grade, countywide, at
Chowan School.
Mrs. Emily G. Amburn, who
supplied the second to Fry’s
motion, earlier had drawn a
positive response from Dr. Dunn
regarding the time element in
Pledge Efforts
U.S. Sens. Jesse Helms and
Robert Morgan last week ex
pressed concern over the severe
algae bloom in the Chowan River
and have pledged their best efforts
in getting action aimed at
returning the river’s water quality
to a high standard.
Earlier, Rep. Walter B. Jones of
the First Congressional District,
contacted the Environmental
Protection Agency in Atlanta, Ga.,
to express his deepest concern.
EPA officials contacted Edenton-,
Chowan Chamber of Commerce
but chamber officials termed the
agency’s interest as only passing.
Sen. Helms has given the
problem a “top priority” status
and Sen. Morgan has joined him in
pledging to state officials all the
assistance at their disposal. Sen.
Helms is known to have discussed
the matter with Gov. James B.
Hunt, Jr.
Locally, Chowan County com
missioners continue to press for
regional governmental
cooperation in the matter. The
board passed a strongly worded
resolution at Tuesday’s meeting,
the thrust of which was to bring to
the attention of Gov. Hunt their
overriding concern for continued
dumping of nitrogen at the Tunis
point source.
Chairman C.A. Phillips said
nitrogen entering the river at CF
Industries is “burdening the
system to a point that it will not
take it.”
The chairman expressed the
opinion that “someone appears to
be getting the attention of
regulatory agencies... and it is not
too soon.” He said local in
volvement will continue to be “at
the top level” and emphasis will
Continued an Page 4
Single Copies 15 Cents
bringing about any form of con
solidation at the beginning of the
next school year. However, the
superintendent said a great deal of
planning is required and some
action must be taken “right
away”.
After the motion to study further
a 9-12 plan, Dr. Edward G. Bond
said it would be “a shame for the
board to go with a second rate
curriculum” in any of the schools.
He thanked the staff and patrons
for their expressions of concern
and support.
Earlier, Joe HolloweU, who was
a driving force in the Concerned
Citizens for Better Education
group which unsuccess
fully prompted the $3.5-
million bond referendum last fall,
said he couldn’t understand why
the school board and county
commissioners had not been sued
over the course inequities. While
he said he did not advocate such a
class action, he hinted that it was
not out of the realm of probability,
even yet.
Dr. Bruce McGraw, principal at
John A. Holmes High School, put
Continued on Page 4
Death Claims Local Attorney
Merrill Evans, Jr., 41, Edenton
and Chowan County Attorney, died
Monday in Leigh Memorial
Hospital, Norfolk.
A native of Hartford County he
was the son of Merrill and
Margaret Smith Evans of Ahoskie.
He was a member of the Edenton
Baptist Church.
He graduated from Oak Ridge
Military Institute, Atlantic
Christian College and Wake
Forest University School of Law.
Merrill Evans, Jr.
Health Service
Sets Expansion
Drs. Richard N. Hines, Jr. and
C. Clement Lucas, Jr., announced
today that construction of a 37,000-
square-foot major comprehensive
ambulatory health care center for
Albemarle Family Health Ser
vices will begin in the next few
weeks. The owners described it as
“one of the most important un
dertakings in health care in
Northeastern North Carolina in
many years.’”
The center will be located at the
intersection of U.S. 17 and High
way 37, in neighboring
Perquimans County.
Over two years in planning and
development by Dr. Hines, a
dentist, and Dr. Lucas, a family
physician, the project is expected
to cost over $2-million when
completed and fully equipped.
The facility will bring to the
Valentine Draws
Active Sentence
Percy Valentine, alias Percy
Lee Leary, of North Oakum
Street, was given an active sen
tence in Chowan County District
Court. The 39-year-old Negro was
convicted of assault and assault
on a female.
Judge John T. Chaffin sentenced
the defendant to 12 months. Notice
of appeal was entered but
Valentine was returned to Tri-
County Jail in Elizabeth City in
lieu of bond.
Robert Day Hutchison has his
first appearance in court on
charges of breaking and altering
and larceny. A probable cause
hearing was set for January 16.
Asst. Dist. Atty. H.E. Williams
of Elizabeth City prosecuted the
short docket with the following
other action taken:
Duanne Frederick Amman, no
liability insurance, 90 days,
suspended upon payment of 3100
fine and costs. Notice of appeal
was entered.
Ercell Griffin, shoplifting, 30
days, suspended upon payment of
SSO fine and costs.
Mittie Brickhouse, shoplifting,
30 days, suspended upon payment
of SIOO fine and costs.
Mary Douglas and Mary Hardy,
simple affray, companion cases
with each given 30 days,
suspended upon payment of $25
fine and costs.
Royal Nixon, judgement ab
solute on surety.
Richard Andrew Byrum, Jr.,
larceny, 30 days, suspended upon
payment of SIOO fine and costs.
Notice of appeal entered.
Mr. Evans was a member of the
Endowment Committee of
Chowan College and the Board of
Trustees of Chowan Hospital, past
president of the First Judicial
District Bar and a member of the
N.C. Bar Association. He was also
a member of the American Trial
Lawyers Association, the N.C.
Academy of Trial Lawyers and
president-elect of Edenton Rotary
Club.
Besides his parents he is sur
vived by one daughter, Miss
Margaret B. Evans and one son,
Cameron M. Evans, both of
Greenville; and one brother,
Andrew Evans of Virginia Beach.
Funeral services were held
Wednesday at 11 A.M. in the
Chapel of the Garrett Funeral
Home in Ahoskie by Dr. Robert
Gray and Rev. Jim Langford.
Burial was in the Ahoskie
Cemetery.
The family requests that
memorial donations be made to
the American Cancer Society.
Pallbearers were: Kel Elmore,
James C. Dail, George W. Lewis,
Thomas E. Francis, Haywood W.
Jones, Vann H. Johnson, James E.
Darnell and J.H. Conger, Jr.
Albemarle Area for the first time
ever a comprehensive array of
health services under one roof
including
The facility will bring to the
Albemarle Area for the first time
ever a comprehensive array of
health services under one roof
including family dentistry, oral
surgery, pharmacy, family
medicine, pediatrics, internal
medicine, pulmonary medicine,
cardiology, dermatology,
gastroenterology, abdominal and
thoracic surgery, obstetrics and
gynecology, urology, orthopedics,
otorhinolaryngology, and
ophthalmology, as well as
psychiatry.
Also offered will be unique
patient support areas such as an
optical shop, a patient and health
educationcenter, physical therapy,
respiratory therapy and a com
prehensive blood laboratory and
an extensive x-ray unit.
The administration will be
based upon a sophisticated cost
accounting mechanism utilizing
an in-house computer for billing
and patient appointments. Drs.
Hines and Lucas indicated that
every possible modern aspect of
medical technology had been
incorporated in the design. For
instance, there will be a separate
waiting area for well and ill
children, and a separate entrance
for ill newborns, as well as a
playground for children.
In a continuing relationship with
the Northeastern Rural Health
Development Association,
linkages to the three main satellite
clinics will be maintained and
strengthened. Health
professionals in each specialty
Continued on Page 4
Watch For Leaks
If you are a user on the coun
tywide water system in Chowan
you had better watch for leaks.
County commissioners, at the
suggestion of the Water Depart
ment, have adopted a policy which
allows a 20 per cent adjustment to
the amount of water leaked in
excess of the customer’s average
bill.
Graham Farless, head of the
Water Department, said for the
past months there had been no set
policy on adjustments for leaks.
This has created a problem and he
asked for adoption of a formal
policy.
Here’s an example of how it
works:
If your average bill is for 5,000
gallons consumed. But your next
months’s bill is for 30,000 gallons.
You deduct the average, take 20
per cent of it, add back your
normal consumption and you have
25,000 gallons on which you pay.
It may not sound like much, it
was pointed out. But after March
1, if you have a leak users will feel
the bite.
Sales Underway
Validation stickers and plates
for 1979 wait on sale throughout
the state Tuesday. They may be
obtained locally at the bus station
on North Broad Street.
Anyone who has not yet received
a renewal card should notify the
Division of Motor Vehicles in
Raleigh by mail at 1100 New Bern
Avenue or by telephone at 733-
3025.
Newcomers to North Carolina or
those buying a car for the first
time should make application for a
license plate at the nearest local
agency.
With the exception of some
special classifications, 1979
automobile licenses will be
renewed with a validation sticker
to be affixed to the upper right
hand comer of the current plate,
over die 1978 sticker. Care should
be taken to place the sticker ex
actly as instructed to prevent
accidental removal.