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Keeping In Touch
Well, we meandered near the
west Raleigh branch of the
Greater University of North
Carolina for a couple of days last
week. The occasion was a con
ference to unveil the N.C.
Agricultural Extension Service
Advisory Leadership System.
It is a credit to the sponsors that
95 of the 100 counties in Tar Heelia
were represented at the two-day
event. It happened at the worst
time for a weekly newspaper
publisher (Tuesday-Wednesday)
but since we had screamed so long
and loud for some type lay
organization we felt an obligation
to answer the call when it came.
The system is an expansion of
the highly successful Program
Committee which has been closely
involved in development of
several long-range plans, the
latest of which is known as “4-
Sight”. This system creates an
Advisory Council on the county
level which includes representation
from Extension’s four program
areas Agricultural and Natural
Resources, Home Economics, 4-H
and Youth and Community
Resource Development.
The council is expanded to in
clude other resource people in the
county who are interested in
communicating the programs to
revelant publics, helps
professionals chart general
directions, coordinates efforts of
program committees, and helps
link programs with other groups.
To be successful, the program
must go beyond the county level.
The group voted to expand the
Advisory Council concept to in
clude a statewide study group
made up of two representatives
from the seven Extension
districts. This will result in a 14-
member group representative of
the entire state that can coor
dinate activities among the in
dividual counties to head off, as
one representative put it, the
“reinvention of the wheel’’ in each
county.
In workshop session there was a
fair and open exhange which can
prove to be beneficial in the years
ahead. The main interest ex
pressed is to wipe out duplications.
Agencies tend to spread out to
become all things to all people and
the Extension Service is not im
mune.
Regardless of labels, which are
certainly easy to attach, the
Agricultural Extension Service
has an enviable track record for
the delivery of educational
programs. The Advisory
Leadership System will enhance
this record and insure future
successes. Sure, it is a bit political,
but ain’t that the name of the
game.
Changing Direction
Judge Albert W. Cowper of
Kinston has been meandering
along the Public Parade this week.
He asked to be assigned to preside
at the January term of Chowan
County Superior Court.
Hie amiable jurist was of the
opinion that this would be his last
term of court and he wanted to
spend it in the historic Chowan
County Courthouse. “The records
got fouled up in Raleigh,’’ and he
will have two more terms to
conduct before his retirement.
But being a good and noble
sailor, this change of Erection
didn’t cause him any trouble.
Judge Cowper is an outspoken
conservative. He believes that the
prism system is the best means of
rehabilitation. He doesn’t adhere
to the theory that society can best
be improved by social programs
outside the confines of the judicial
system.
At the same time, Judge Cowper
believes in the doctrine of a second
chance when circumstances
warrant. He possesses an almost
uncanny ability to reduce rhetoric
to essential facts which are
necessaryin arriving at basis for a
fair decision.
There are times when Judge
Cowper is wrong. However, his
“rights” far outweigh his short
comings. It may be a generation
before it is proven.
Those who know him the best
know that it will ike more than a
jib sail to force him to change
Csatlaasd from Page 1
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Volume XLV. - No. 5
Jesse L. Harrell
Harrell Chairing
Hospital Board
Jesse L. Harrell, 7 Queen Anne
Place, has been elected chairman
of the Chowan Hospital Board of
Trustees, a post he previously held
for more than 10 years. He suc
ceeds J. Gilliam Wood, who was
not eligible for re-election to the
board.
Continued on Page 4
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F J
EARNS HIGHEST JAYCEE AWARD—Tom Phillips, vice
president and secretary of Edenton Cotton Mills was recipient of
the Jaycee Distinguished Service Award, presented at a banquet
last Thursday night. Phillips’ selection for the highest Jaycee
award was based on his outstanding community involvement. An
active Jaycee member, he is also a member of Edenton Rotary
Club, Edenton Baptist Church, Chowan Hospital Financial
Authority, and serves as a local leader to the Boy Scouts. Mayor
Roy L. Harrell made the presentation before a crowd of about 100
persons. In the photo above, Phillips, center, is shown with Bill
Smith, left, president of Edenton Jaycees, and Tom Watts,
district attorney, who was keynote speaker.
Health Care Talks Planned
HERTFORD Northeastern
Rural Health Development
Associaton is requesting a
meeting with board of Trustees of
Chowan Hospital to discuss
meeting the health care needs of
the region. The decision was
unanimous at NRHDA’s monthly
board meeting here Monday night.
Chowan Hospital is currently
involved in a long range planning
study and NRHDA board members
felt it is important that a close
coordination of efforts be
maintained.
In December, NRHDA ex
pressed concern over the hospital
bed allotment for Northeastern
North Carolina, as stated by East
Carolina Health Systems Agency
and modified by the State Health
Facilities Plan.
NRHDA, in conjunction with
Albemarle Family Health Ser
vices, is in the process of setting
up a system of health care for the
citizens of six-county area with
Edenton and Chowan Hospital as
J -t: •'
Edenton, North Catolina, Thursday, February 1, 1979
Energy Officials Hear
Complaints Over Rates
WASHINGTON, D.C. Nor
theastern North Carolina’s revolt
against high electric rates arrived
in the nation’s capitol Tuesday
afternoon when officials of
Operation Overcharge met with
the officials of the Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission.
Thieves Strike
Money was stolen from
pocketbooks in four offices of the
Chowan County Office Building
Wednesday afternoon of last week.
A total of SB9 has been reported
missing
Deputy Sheriff Glenn Perry said
s4l was taken from two offices on
the Fourth Floor; S3B from an
office on the Third Floor and $lO
from the Second Floor.
Deputy Perry said the time of
the thefts was around 4 P.M. He
added that none of the pocket
books or billfolds stolen were
taken from the building, only the
money. - -
the hub.
Dr. Clement Lucas, Jr., told the
board that “one year from now
you won’t believe the number of
physicians we will have” in the
Continued on Page 4
AUTOGRAPHS GALORE Jim ‘Catfish’ Hunter of Hertford,
in left photo, and Gaylord Perry of Williamston, in right photo,
were popular targets of autograph hunters at last Saturday’s
event. The Hall of Fame Banquet was a shot in the arm for the
area American Legion Baseball program. A large part of the
Single Copies 15 Genfs.
Richard S. Coiner, chairman of
Operation Overcharge, a group
organized by the Chambers of
Commerce in Northeastern North
Carolina “to fight exorbitant
electric rates being charged both
wholesale and retail consumers by
Virginia Electric and Power
Company, (Vepco), led the
delegation.
In the group meeting with the
Feds in addition to Coiner, were:
Joseph Parker of Ahoskie; Stanley
W. Hege, Edenton; Ed. Walker of
Greenville, and James E.
Fulghum, consultant to Operation
Overcharge.
In a prepared presentation,
Coiner asked the FERC officials to
start a comprehensive in
vestigation of Vepco. He said the
company’s mismanagement had
caused its rates to be way out of
line with other power companies
operating in North Carolina.
“This is economic
discrimination,” Coiner told the
FERC officials, “and we want
something done about it.”
Coiner and his delegation were
backed up by petitions signed by
more than 45,000 electric con
sumers in the region calling on the
North Carolina Utilities Com
mission to roll back retail rate
increases approved for Vepco, and
on FERC to roll back wholesale
increases granted to the company.
“If Vepco is to continue to be
ripe with mis-management, then
its stockholders, and I happen to
be one of them as are others in this
group today, need to bear that
burden, not the customers.”
Coiner told the FERC officials.
Retail Figures
Reflect Decline
Retail sales in Chowan County
during December, 1979, were not
on par with those in other area
counties, according to a report
released this week by the State
Department of Revenue.
Gross collections from the 1 per
cent local option sales tax
amounted to $27,222,37 in Chowan,
some $12,400 less than in
Washington County. This would
indicate that sales in the neigh
boring county were more than
$1.2-million above the total in
Chowan.
Sec. Mark G. Lynch reported the
following other totals for the
Continued on Page 4
Britton, Brooks Get
Active Sentences
Two John A. Holmes High
School seniors were given active
prison sentences in Chowan
County Superior Court after en
tering pleas of guilty to charges
resulting from an armed robbery
December 12 at S&R Super
Market in which an assistant
manager was shot and some $3,184
in cash was taken.
Judge Albert W. Cowper of
Kinston sentenced Linwood Paul
Britton to 10 years as an un
committed youthful offender.
Britton. 17. was charged with
Vann H. Johnson
Heads Drive
Vann H. Johnson, city executive
and senior vice president of
Peoples Bank & Trust Company,
has volunteered to be president of
Chowan County’s Heart Fund
drive. The drive is to be held the
month of February.
Co-workers for the drive are:
Mrs. Evelyn B. Keeter, Memorial
chairman; Mrs. Fran M. Ward
and Murray Goodwin, rural
chairmen; Alton Clark, city
chairman; Mrs. Norma Dirom,
special events chairman; Miss
Rhonda Kirby, Saturday Balloon
Sales chairman and Mrs. Carolyn
Ricks, publicity chairman.
“Although much has been done
through Heart Research, Heart
Disease still remains America’s
number one killer,” Johnson said.
February has been designated
as Heart Month. During the month
there will be several special
events. Residents in Edenton and
Chowan County and all business
establishments will be contacted.
INDUCTED INTO HALL OF FAME Some 350 people packed
Edward G. Bond Post 40, last Saturday night, as the local
American Legion post hosted the Baseball Hall of Fame banquet.
It was the first time in 12 years the banquet has been held east of
Greensboro, and it drew a number of baseball notables including
Mike Caldwell of the Milwaukee Brewers, above right, who is
shown being interviewed by Bruce Creekmore of WBXB. Cald
well, along with Lawrence ‘Crash’ Davis of Gastonia, Bill Leonard
of Salisbury, and John H. Moss of Kings Mountain were inducted
into the Hall of Fame.
$2,000 needed to support the team this season will be provided by
the proceeds from the banquet. Profits will also be applied to the
post building fund and local charities. Last year members of Post
40 and area businesses provided funds to reinstate American
Legion Baseball in Eastern North Carolina.
armed robbery.
John Allen Brooks was sen
tenced to seven years as a youthful
offender. He pled guilty to con
spiracy to robbery and accessory
after the fact. He too is 17.
Judge Cowper described the
sentences as “terrible” but said
the dictates of his conscience
required them. He noted that
Britton could have gotten a life
sentence while Brooks faced a
maximum of 10 years on each of
the two counts.
Paul Blake Stokley, the
assistant manger, testified as to
the events surrounding the rob
bery and his being shot. Police
Chief C.H. Williams testified as to
statements the defendants gave
December 15 after being picked up
for questioning.
Both defendants admitted that
drugs were involved.
Capt. Williams said $1,954.56
was recovered from the defen
dants. He said Brooks claimed he
had not spent any of the money he
received from Britton.
In a brief statement prior to
sentencing, Britton apologized to
the community for his actions.
Neither defendant testified but
both offered a number of
character witnesses.
Asst. Dist. Atty. J. Richard
Parker prosecuted the docket.
Most of the activity was Monday,
with court being in session about
30 minutes Tuesday morning
There were no jury trials.
Action taken included:
Wilbur Lawrence Allio, aid and
abet in violation of insurance laws,
six months, suspended upon
payment of S3OO fine and costs and
surrender his insurance license.
Teresa Barnes Cay ton, forgery,
18 months, suspended upon
payment of costs, SIOO for attorney
fees, and placed on probation for
three years.
Continued on Page 4
Harless Elected
Allen B. Harless, .Jr., has been
elected president of Edenton
Rotary Club. He and other officers
will assume their posts on July 1.
Harless, local insurance
executive, will replace Dr. Allen
Homthal
Elected to serve with Harless
were W.A W’hichard, vice
president; and the following
directors: Max Busby, Byron
Kehayes and Norman Bullard.