THE CHOWAN HERALD
i vol. xiww. to
March Blizzard Paralyzes Chowan County
Common sense and ample
precautions kept most local
residents safe and secure during
the blizzard that dumped over 21
indies of snow between Saturday
VIEW FROM A HEIGHT A view from atop the Chowan
Herald building downtown shows Broad Street under a 21-inch
blanket of snow that-paralysed Edenton and Chowan County.
(Photo by Luke Amburn)
fa***;.
Enough's Enough
A record 34 inches of snow has
fallen along the Public Parade in
less than a month. And if we are to
believe weather ohservers more is
yet to come.
Enough of a good thing is
enough. There are mixed feelings
about whether or not it is good.
Those who would argue the point
are school children.
Edenton-Chowan Schools were
open last Saturday to make up a
snow day lost in February. By
10:30 A.M. the buildings were
cleared as snow began to fall. It
turned into blizzard proportions,
just like the weatherman forecast.
The storm turned ye old towne
on Queen Anne's Creek into a giant
snow bank and 20 inches ac
cumulated. Now they are calling
for a “sister" storm to pass
through the area today i Thurs
day).
One downtown merchant
Continued on Page t
SWINE CONFERENCE OFFICIALS Four of the at
ttw Eden too Regional Swine Conference held ben Thursday of
lasi week are pictured above during the noon break. Left to right
are: Dr. David Spruill of Raleigh, extension swine specialist;
Tom Farmer, executive of the N. C. Pork Producers Association*
Jack Parker, area swine specialist; and Carlton Perry, president
of Albemarle Feeder Pig Cooperative. p^wssm
and Sunday nights. Private
citizens and National Guardsmen
in 4-wheel drive pick-up trucks
and jeeps assisted local law en
forcement and emergency per
Grant Sought For Algae Studies
The State Environmental
Management Commission is
seeking $880,838 in federal grant
funds to further study the cause of
extensive algae blooms in the
Chowan River
A public hearing on applications
to the federal Environmental
Protection Agency was held
Wednesday of last week in
Raleigh. Two of the six projects
being considered were sent forth
by the Water Quality Management
Planning Staff involve
agricultural practices.
While endorsing the projects,
the Water Resources Committee
of Edenton-Chowan Chamber of
Commerce has entered a letter in
the hearing record to clarify
portions of the projects.
The big project, which would be
funded at the $680,838 level, in
volves a study of agricultural
Pork Conference Is Held
•Some 300 people attended the
Edenton Regional Swine Con
Edenton. North Caroline. Thursday, March 4. 1960
sonnel. There were no serious
accidents or fatalities as a result
of the storm, though the blizzard
claimed 13 lives elsewhere in the
itate.
IMPASSABLE STREETS - Broad Street, like all of the rest in
Edenton, was negotiable only in four-wheel drive vehicles and
tractors, but as the bottom photo shows, even the pick-ups proved
ineffective under some circumstances. It took the assistance of
l*u other trucks to get one unstuck from in front at the Municipal
Building. (Photo by Luke Amburn)
practices in the Chowan River
Basin. Another $200,000 is being
sought to do the same thing in
Cutawhiskie Creek
The pi ojects Would aid in control
of non point sources of water
pollution at specific sites.
Agricultural practices that could
reduce the amounts of fertilizer,
animal waste and soil that are
washed into streams are the focus
of three projects.
Septic tank malfunctions are a
chronic problem in some parts of
the state and they are the subject
of two projects Roadbank
stabilization is the topic of the
remaining proposal.
The staff claims that a detailed
study is needed of the water
quality below agricultural areas to
determine how much phosphorus
and nitrogen from farm
operations is entering creeks that
ference last week. The conference
was held Thursday at the
American Legion Building.
The program began a: 10 A.M.
with a discussion on “Farrowing
House Management by Chailes
Stanislaw, area extension swine
specialist. "Update on Swine
Medications" was presented by
Bob Jones, an extention swine
specialist.
"My Swine Operation" was the
topic of Tony Hale, a hog farm
management "Producer of
Tomorrow”.
Dr. Charlie Kandall of Kinston
ended the morning session with a
discussion of "Pig Pneumonia.”
The lunch was sponsored by the
Albemarle Feeder Cooperative.
Carlton Perry, president of the
cooperative, was in attendance.
Afternoon topics were: ‘‘How To
Live With Low Hog Prices.” Jack
Parker, area extension swine
specialist, “Eperythrozoonosis”
by Bob Behlow, and “Update on
Pigs in Decks” by Dr. Dave
Spruill, extension swine specialist.
First signs of the im
pending storm came Sat
urday morning in the form of
light but persistent rain, sleet and
granular snow. An accumulation
flow into the Chowan River.
The 49-square mile watershed of
Cutawhiskie Creek, which has
been extensively ditched and
channelized, will be analyzed for
nutrient delivery to the river.
The staff is seeking $87,500 in
funds to cover four other projects.
Wallace B. Evans, chamber
president, pointed out in a
February 27 letter to .Alan Klimek,
Division of Water Quality
Management, that such studies as
are proposed are “a vital part of
the overall program for cleaning
up the Chowan River and
Albemarle Sound.” It was noted
that data developed from these
programs will greatly aid in
resolving similar programs with
other bodies of water in Eastern
North Carolina.
Capt. A1 Howard is head of the
local committee which is seeking
answers to the following
questions:
l. The scope of the proposed
study and work to be ac
complished with the specific
projects.
2 Specific projects to be funded.
From information available, it
appears the plan is to fund one
project in Bertie County, one
project in Chowan County, one
project in Gates County and three
Continued On Page 4
Trash Collection
Resumes Today
Trash collection, hampered by
the weather, will resume in
Edenton today (Thursday). W. B.
Gardner, town administrator, said
garbage in East Edenton will
be picked up today with West
Edenton on Friday.
Gardner asked that only
spoilable items be put out, saving
boxes paper and other ua
spoilables for collection next
week.
County manager Cliff Copeland
reported that the county com
missioners' meeting originally
Continued on Page 4
of four to six inches was being
predicted for the day. Students
making up for lost days from the
last heavy snow were released by
mid-morning. Business at local
supermarkets was brisk in an
ticipation of what was to come.
By Sunday morning, five and
half inches was on the ground and
a second storm moved into the
area bringing with it 35-mile per
hour winds and a torrent of
precipitation. Motorists were
advised to stay off the roads as
three to five foot drifts piled up.
The storm was punctuated by
thunder and lightning with gusts
of wind building up to 60 miles per
hour Sunday night. By Monday
morning, another 16 inches of
snow had fallen, making it a
record for the area.
J.D. Parrish, Edenton Police
Dept, said patrol cars operated
until about 10:30 P.M., Saturday,
Annual Testing Program
Is Scheduled In March
Chowan County students will
participate in the state's Annual
Testing Program during a two
week period beginning March 17.
The 1980 annual testing marks
the third year the state's program
has been in operation.
The tests will be administered to
students in the first, second, third,
sixth, and ninth grades.
State education officials are
confident that the test results for
1980 will continue to show the
improvement illustrated in the
first two years of testing.
Reading and mathematics
scores improved at all grade level
and in all areas of the state from
1978-79.
First and second graders scored
above the national average in all
eight of the state's educational
districts in 1979
Math scores ircreased from a
grade level equivalent of 2.1 to 2.3
among first graders and from 3 2
to 3.4 among second graders
w •- «u «mumm
LAUNDROMAT FIRE A fire between the false ceiling and
roof of Edenton Laundromat at Mitchener Village resulted in
heavy damages to the facility. Half of the roof was badly
damaged as was all of the interior ceiling and wall panelling.
Firemen had the blaze under control in about 15 minutes and
remained on the scene for three hours afterward. The actual
cause of the fire is undetermined pending further investigation.
Submarine Cable Needed
Carolina Telephone and
Telegraph Co., headquartered in
Rocky Mount, has applied to the
Department of the Army to con
struct two submarine cable
crossings of the Chowan River,
adjacent to the U. S. 17 bridge,
according to a public notice from
the Corps of Engineers.
Wilmington District office.
Plans submitted with the ap
plication call for the placement of
two cables parallel to an existing
cable about SO feet downstream of
the bridge. The cables are to be
placed at a depth of 3 feet below
the existing bottom contours of the
river.
The purpose of the proposed
work is to provide improved
communication facilities for
Chowan County.
Single Copies 20 Cents
then began moving in vehicles
provided by George Chevrolet and
Hoke Motor Corp. Some IS
National Guardsmen were
mobilized to assist officers and
provide transportation for citizens
in need.
Hobbs. Implement Co. and
Edenton Tractor and Implement
Co. brought out large tractors and
Byrum Implement Co. stood-by in
case more equipment was needed.
Sheriff Troy Toppin said their
last patrol car was parked about 9
PM.
He said the National Guard
Edenton, Chowan Rescue Squad
and county fire department
responded to calls for the Sheriffs
Department. Private citizens
volunteered their services in
helping to keep the department
mobile.
Sheriff Toppin said, "I was
Continued on Page 4
between 1978 and 1979.
Reading scores went up from a
grade level equivalent of 1.7 to 1.8
for first graders and from 2.8 to 3.0
for second graders.
Third graders also improved,
from a 1978 grade equivalent of 3.5
in reading to 3.7 the national
average i in 1979. and from 3 6 lo
3 8 in math.
Sixth grade reading scores
remained below the national
average. 6.7. in 1979, despite
having improved from a 1978
grade equivalent score at 6.3 in
1978 to 6 5 In 1979.
Math scores among sixth
graders averaged a grade
equivalent level of 6 8 in 1979, up
from 6 5 in 1978 and above the 6 7
national average
Ninth grade students remained
below the national average. 9.7. in
both reading and math in 1979,
despite improving in both areas
from a grade equivalent level of
9.0 in 1978 to 9 2 in 1979
Before the project may proceed,
it will he reviewed by the N. C.
Office of Coastal Management and
the Division of Environmental
Management for compliance with
the Clean Water Act. Coastal Area
Management Act and regulations
governing dredge and fill work.
A preliminary study by the
district engineer shows that an
Environmental Impact Statement
will not be require! and that the
project will pose no threat to
marine life or their habitat.
No permit Will be issued if the
project is found not to be in the
public interest.
Citizens wishing to make
comments on the proposed work
may do so by writing to the at
tention of Kin .lolly. Department
Continued on Page I