Cold, Hard Facts
Murray Nixon, a fishery owner
on the Chowan River, predicts that
in two years the industry will be
dead. His prediction is supported
by a fish harvest report compiled
by the Water Resources Com
mittee of Edenton-Chowan
Chamber of Commerce.
The cold, hard facts for the
period from January 1 to April 13
show a tremendous economic
impact on the industry. One
station sampled showed a
significant decrease in earnings
from $36,768.69 in 1978 to $8,382.69
in the three and one-half month
period dted.
The second station further up
ttie river shows a decline from
$117,246.92 to $93,903.29, but $40,000
of this year’s figure shows pur
chases from Albemarle Sound. All
die figures are what is paid
directly fishermen, so the real
impact on the economy is not yet
known.
In 1972 the first station pur
chased 1,133,418 pounds of river
herring. This year only 72,109
pounds have been recorded.
To dramatize the problem, Capt.
A1 Howard relates a fisherman’s
woe as late as Thursday when six
pound nets were fished. The total
catch was one herring, 12 white
perch and 25 catfish. Not hardly a
day’s work by any standards.
The cold, hard facts are that
farmers who derive a second
income from fishing, and vice
versa, are in deep, deep trouble.
They may not be able to hang on
with the decline in fish catches and
double digit inflation playing
havoc with agriculture.
Harry B. Caldwell
North Carolina remains
essentially a rural state; and few
• leaders have done more in the 20th
century for the improvement of
agriculture than Harry B. Cald
well, the longtime master of the
State Grange, who died here
March 4.
Any listing of the handful of
ablest state agricultural leaders,
indeed, would automatically in
clude both Caldwell and his
dymnamic wife, Margaret Hood
Caldwell, who rank along with Dr.
Clarence Poe and Governor W.
Kerr Scott as individuals of great
vision and energy for farming
causes.
Harry Caldwell, a tall, im
perturbable farm boy from Ohio,
came to North Carolina in 1929.
That was a period of depression in
U.S. agriculture. It was also a
time when the Grange movement,
strong during Reconstruction, had
weakened. Caldwell, along with
Dr. Poe, editor and publisher of
“The Progressive Farmer”, and
the Scotts of Haw River, set about
changing all that.
Perhaps the peak of their efforts
at agricultural renaissance came
in the election of W. Kerr Scott as
Governor of North Carolina in
1948. Scott, a vigorous, candid
farmer, had a simple straight
forward program. It incorporated
paving farm-to-market roads,
providing electricity and
telephones for rural people and
sustaining and improving North
, Carolina’s remarkable one-foot-in
■ the-farm, one-foot-in-the-factory
economy, which many today see
as the wave of the future in
Continued On Page 4
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SYMPOSIUMHELD —The Edenton Symposium on History, Architecture and Furnishings of the
Nineteenth Century was held Thursday and Friday of last week. Hie photos above show John Tyler,
chairman of Historic Hope Foundation in Windsor, lecturing on Federal furniture. His presentation
was made Friday afternoon at St. Paid’s Episcopal Parish House. It was reported that 24 persons
attended the full symposium with an equal number attending individual lectures. Persons from as
| far away as Charlottesville, Va. and central N. C. turned up for the series.
THE CHOWAN HERALD
Vol. XLVI-No. 17
$7.5-Million Pledged For Clean-Up Os River
Federal support of efforts to
clean up the algae-plagued
Chowan River has been pledged on
the level of $7.5-million, an EPA
regional official told members of
the Chowan River Task Foree at
its first meeting last Friday.
Alec Little, deputy director of
EPA Region IV out of Atlanta,
Ga., said those funds are ear
marked for development of land
application waste treatment
facilities in municipalities along
the Chowan River Basin. He went
on to say that federal funds will
also be made available to assist
programs of the Agricultural
Extension Service.
According to Little, some 14-
million has already gone into the
river project.
He said the type algae in the
Chowan River is the most in
sidious they deal with and that it is
time to stop the studying and get
on with doing something to clean
Seven Charged With Larceny
Seven Chowan County men,
including two whites and five
blacks ranging in age from 17 to
20, have been charged with lar
ceny of gasoline and batteries
during an investigation by the
Chowan County Sheriff’s
Department. A total of 38
warrants, 10 for gasoline and 28
for batteries, were served by
officers during a round up of the
suspects, Tuesday night. All were
released on written promises to
appear in Chowan County District
Court, May 27.
Deputy Melvin Evans and Chief
Deputy Glenn Perry spearheaded
the investigation of thefts alleged
to have taken [dace between
January 29 and April 1.-
Walter Smith, 18, of Rt. 3 is
charged in 10 warrants; Clarence
Evans, 18, of Rt. 3 and Rodney
Perry, of Rt. 1, Box 109 are
charged in eight warrants each;
Ronald Armstead, 20, Rt. 1, Box 73
is charged in six warrants; Willie
Perry, 19, Rt. 1, Box 109 is charged
in one warrant; W. George Perry,
17, Rt. 1, Box 109 is charged in
three warrants; and Richard
Armstead, 18, Rt. 1, Box 73 is
charged in two warrants.
All charges are for
misdemeanor larceny, but total
value of the stolen property has
been estimated in excess of SSOO.
Only two of the stolen batteries
were recovered.
Sheriff Troy Toppin said other
warrants for larceny as well as
receiving stolen goods may be
issued pending completion of the
investigation.
According to Deputy Evans, a
break in the case came April 1 on
information supplied by an in
formant. He later learned the
stolen batteries were being sold to
a local junk dealer.
The first theft officers have been
able to link to the group occurred
January 29 when a battery was
stolen from a 1963 Chevrolet
owned by Clarence Lupton, a
resident of Rt. 3. Lupton was hit
again on March 14 and 21 when a
the river up.
EPA officials said the Town of
Edenton is “receptive” to land
application of treated waste but
there seems to be a problem with
file high water table.
The announcement of the
federal funds came one day after
Gov. Jim Hunt wrote to EPA
administrator Douglas M. Costle
asking for their support.
“Although 75 per cent of the
basin in Virginia, North Carolina
has carried the brunt of the bat
tle,” Gov. Hunt said. “We have no
way, other than negotiations
between the two states, to in
fluence Virginia dischargers.”
He went on to say that Region IV
has so far been only in a review
and advisory role and that Region
111, responsible for Virginia, has
not been involved at all.
“A positive attack on the
pollution problem will not result
from a buisness-as-usual ap
total of some 40 gallons of gasoline
were stolen. Then on February 26,
another battery was stolen from
Lupton’s 1967 Chevrolet pick-up
truck.
Henry White of Rt. 1 reported
that on March 15, a battery was
taken from his 1968 Chevrolet.
That same day, two batteries were
taken from trucks owned by Home
Continued On Page 4
Democrats Debate Resolutions During Convention
Chowan County Democrats,
meeting in convention Saturday,
adopted three resolutions aimed at
county commissioners. They
concern township election of board
members; redistricting along the
one man, one vote doctrine; and
more equal representation on
boards and committees.
In the keynote address at the
courthouse convention, L. F.
Amburn, Jr., cited successful
Democratic administrations in
state government saying it “is
because our great party has long
shown that not only is it a party of
vision and dreams, but that it also
is a party of action, responsibility
and achievement.’’
Census Workers
Still Needed
Census workers are still needed
and anyone can apply and be
tested. Testing of prospective
employees is scheduled for this
Friday at 11 A.M. in the fourth
floor conference room of the
Chowan County Office Building.
Additional information may be
obtained by calling Debbie Parker
at (919) 585-0994 after 6 P.M.
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Edenton, North Caroline, Thursday. Aoril 24, 1980
proach,” Gov. Hunt wrote.
Gov. Hunt specifically asked for
the appointment of an audit team
to review every detail of the
state’s dean up program, to have
Region HI begin immediately to
evaluate the adequacy of
RIVER TASK FORCE The 18-member Chowan River Task Force met last Friday with state
and federal officials to discuss clean-up of the algae plagued Chowan River. Dr. Neill Grigg,
director of the Chowan River Restoration Project, is shown above in the foreground with Brent
Bower of the J. E. Serrine consulting firm to his left. At the end of the table is Capt. A1 Howard, task
force chairman. Other members of the group are shown seated in the background.
The publisher of The Chowan
Herald continued: “There are
principles, facts and a party
record of service which attracts
people to the Democratic Party.”
He cited registration figures
which with 72 per cent of the
voting age people on the books
only 500 are affiliated outside the
Democratic Party. “And when
Chowan County goes to fulltime
registration even more people will
become registered voters.”
The keynoter added: “We must
be flexible enough to be both a
Democrat in the general term and
a Democrat in the partisan sen
se.” Furthermore, he said times
change, economically and socially
as well as politically. “As citizens,
and yes as Democrats, we must be
able to adjust to change without
being captives.”
Also, he compared Gov. James
B. Hunt’s victory in 1976 to that of
Gov. Augus W. McLean in the mid
1920’5. Gov. Hunt’s mandate, he
said, followed “four years of
stumbling and fumbling;
regression rather than
progression...”
There was spirited debate
during the convention, held at the
new courthouse. The resolution
from Yeopim precinct concerning
Public Hearing On Vepco Requested
WASHINGTON-The United
States Office of Consumer Affairs
has joined the State of North
Carolina in requesting a public
hearing of complaints filed by the
State and by Operation Over
charge before the Federal. Energy
Regulatory Commission claiming
mismanagement and imprudence
resulting in unjustified electric
rates being charged by the public
utility to the consumers of Nor
theastern North Carolina.
In a petition to intervene the
Office of Consumer Affairs goes
even further to request that the
public hearing and evidenciary
proceeding cover the entire
operations of Vepco so as to
protect consumers in Virginia and
other areas served by Vepco.
The petition claims that lack of
management of oil fired units and
failure' to convert them to lower
cost coal, and the failure to recoup
losses brought about by mistakes
in design made by third parties
Virginia’s programs for reducing
nutrient inflow into North
Carolina, and to ask EPA Region
IV to provide technical assistance,
approval of construction grants
and enforcement activities.
Rep. Walter B. Jones of the First
appointments was defeated when
wording included only Democrats.
“I agree with the intent,” Com
missioner Alton G. Elmore told
the delegates, “but I don’t think
we are ready to see it in print.”
After the defeated motion, a
second was passed by voice vote
leaving out the reference to party
affiliation.
The convention, with 51
delegates from six precincts voted
34-13 with four abstaining votes, to
request township nomination and
election of candidates to the
county board for seats ap
portioned to that township. The
second resolution from East
Edenton dealt with reap
pointment, It was adopted by
voice vote.
Thomas Shepard, party
treasurer, spoke against the
township election plan, as did
George Alma Byrum, former
mayor of Edenton. Byrum said it
would take away the vote of the
people. In such a small county he
said the change would be “spin
ning our wheels in the wrong
direction.”
Mayor Roy L. Harrell told the
delegates that it would create the
same system (ward voting) as
was adopted by Edenton. “I have
designing plants for Vepco have
cost consumers extensive
amounts of money that
Vepco should not have been al
lowed to charge to its customers.
The action by the Office of
Consumer Affairs has intensified
efforts by the State of North
Carolina and by Operation
Overcharge to get public hearings
before the Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission on their
complaints.
The consumer affairs action is
the latest in a long list of steps
taken by agencies and
organizations supporting the State
and Operation Overcharge in their
complaints.
Governor Jim Hunt, Jr., has
dispatched a letter to Chairman
Charles Curtis of FERC, pointing
up the importance of the public
hearings to give the State and
other parties an opportunity to
prove their complaints against
Vepco.
Single Copies 20 Cents.
Congressional District, made an
appearance before the group
convened in the Chowan County
Courthouse, to personally pledge
his continued cooperation in the
project. He said he talked with
Continued on Page 4
seen no problem whatsoever,” he
added.
Another speaker, Rosa Roun
tree, said the time for equal
treatment in the county is long
overdue. On the other side of the
question was Mrs. Lena M. Leary,
clerk of court, pointed out that
“we have had mighty fine” board
members and entered a plea not to
take away the right of any person
to vote on all nominees.
Confusion developed over voting
on one resolution with N. J.
George, party chairman, making
two or more rulings before the
final tally.
Die chairman said redistricting
would only affect voting and in
dicated that some legal problems
would develop if the realignment
according to population is not
carried out. Lester Copeland, a
county commissioner and the long
debate from Wardville Precinct,
said percentages of registration
now were: First Township, 61 per
cent; Second Township, 19 per
cent; Third Township, 9 per cent;
and Fourth Township 11 per cent.
Chairman George also
recognized E. N. (Pete) Manning,
chairman of the board of elections
and hailed the manner in which
Continued on Page 4
Meanwhile, FERC has called for
a ‘private” investigation. The
Office of Consumer Affairs, in its
petition, finds no fault with the
FERC investigation but says it is
not sufficient to protect consumers
and that the public hearings
should be conducted by FERC.
“We heartily agree,” J. Larkin
Little, Chairman of Operation
Overcharge, said today. “The
pressure is growing on FERC to
carry out a public type hearing
against Vepco,” Little said. “Such
action is needed to bring the
evidence into focus,” he said.
Meanwhile, he said those
communities that have begun to
worry about where their electric
power is coming from, if and when
Vepco leaves North Carolina,
should get active in the effort.
“It’s those communities that
have caused the most trouble in
this entire undertaking.” he said.
‘'They should have been spending
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