Continued Prom Page 1
tatives.
But Rep. Jones is content to do
as he has always done, listen to the
people he represents, vote ac
cordingly, and with painstaking
dedkadon provide a constituent
service second to none at any level
of public service.
The qualities Rep. Jones
possesses are natural, God given
ones which are sacred to him.
dreamed of by many, and trans
mitted with deep humility to
those with whom he comes into
contact.
Chairing a standing committee
in the U. S. Congress is a her
culean task. Rep. Jones is man
enough for the job! While there
was some minor contest for the
Merchant Marine & Fisheries post
in the 97th Congress, he had the
solid backing of Speaker Tip
O’Neal and the overwhelming
majority of Democrats. Speaker
O’Neal has called Rep. Jones the
‘ “most popular man on the floor’ ’ of
the House. This is an honor justly
given to a man who has more than
paid his dues in every endeavor
undertaken.
Rep. Jones is a man with friends
on both sides of the liberal
conservative fight. To his bet
terment is his unwaivering
honesty which earns him respect
among his peers in Washington,
his friends, as well as his foes at
home.
He has already hit the ground
running his newly obtained
position of high public trust. It will
be no surprise to those who know
Rep. Jones to read that in his first
public statements about his new
position he called for cutting the
committee staff. Since joining the
U. S. Congress in 1966, he has
annually turned back a lion’s
share of his allowable expenses. It
was his way of trying to balance
the Federal budget before it
became a popular campaign issue.
But probably his greatest
priority will be to see the Mer
chant Marine fleet once again gain
superiority in the world. In 19.
years the U. S. Merchant Marine
has fallen from first in the world to
10th; from a fleet of 2,000 ships in
1960 to 900 in 1979, while the
Russian fleet increased during the
same period from 700 to 2,500.
How is he going to accomplish
his goal? He will simply ask
Ronald Reagan as soon after
January 20th as possible to
remember the value of the Mer
chant Marine fleet to national
defense. And the amiable
congressman will continue to ask,
remind and prod until the scales
are tipped in favor of America.
Those who have difficulty with
what is fair, just and right will be
very uncomfortable with
Rep. Jones in the position of
chairman of a major, permanent
committee of Congress.
And while he will be “Mr.
Chairman” to his colleagues, he’ll
still be “Walter” to those he holds
warmly in his heart.
Still Winning
Although a bit tardy, we would
like to congratulate the Edenton
Aces on a superior football season.
The Aces were knocked out of 3-A
state competition at the semi-final
level.
Coach Jim Addison and
colleagues did a fantastic job of
turning their lads around after two
non-conference defeats. The
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Carolina. J 7932.
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FERC Requested To Suspend Vepco Wholesale Rate Increase
RALEIGH Electricities of
North Carolina Friday asked the
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission (FERC) to suqpend a
10 per cent wholesale rate in
crease sought by Virginia Electric
and Power Company (Vepco) for
the full five months permitted by
law.
Vepco had filed at FERC on
November 14 for an $18.5-million
annual increase in the rates it
charges the municipalities and
rural electric cooperatives that
purchase power at wholesale and
resell it at retail to their own
residents and customers. Elec
tricities members include all of
Vepco’s wholesale municipal
customers in North Carolina and
Virginia, including Edenton.
Vepco asked to have the higher
rate put into effect on January IS,
1981, at the end of the reqiired 60-
day notification period at FERC.
Noting that Vepco has not had
an increase in its retail rates in
North Carolina for two years,
Electricities’ petition said that
imposition of another wholesale
rate hike on top of the 1978
wholesale increase put into effect
but not yet approved by FERC
would put its North Carolina
member cities in a “price
squeeze”. The effect of a price
squeeze would be to make it im
possible for those North Carolina
cities to charge retail rates that
are competitive with Vepco’s
retail rates.
discipline problem of the early
contests was conquered and the
Aces barged into the winning
column.
Meanwhile, Marion Kirby, a
former mentor of the Aces, con
tinues his winning ways. The
Greensboro Page Squad captured
the 4-A state crown. Then Marion
took the helm of the North
Carolina team in the 44th annual
Shrine Bowl High School football
team.
The Tar Heel lads defeated
South Carolina in the Charlotte
event, 35-33. The Kirby coached
team delighted 25,000 fans in
ending South Carolina’s two-year
winning streak.
Winning is the name of the game
and Aces, past and present, are
still winning.
Guest Editorial
As 1980 draws to a close, one of
the lessons learned this year has
been that there are no quick and
easy answers left in our times.
Every solution to a national
problem seems only to create
another problem.
If we switch to coal to save oil,
we increase carbon dioxide and
pollution.
If we insulate our houses with
urea formaldehyde foam to
conserve energy, the insulation
may make us sick.
If we use too much pesticide,
we’ll poison the earth itself.
What to do?
It seems to us we have to return
to a simpler, more natural way of
life; to walk more and drive less;
to wear warmer clothing instead
of turning up the thermostat.
Things like that.
Many people are already em
bracing such changes, and that’s
an encouraging trend.
So while there may be no quick
and easy answers left in our time,
there are some simple answers.
What we need mo6t is a
willingness to accept them.
Joel Lawhon
WRAL-TV, Raleigh
Vepco has said that its filing for
the wholesale rate increase is
designedmodusivdy to recover
the capital costs of its North Anna
2 nuclear unit, the company’s
fourth nuclear unit, which was
scheduled to come on line
sometime in December.
In announcing its filing at
FERC, Vepco said its proposed
increase in wholesale base rates
would be offset by a higher
projected savings in nuclear fuel
costs, prompting the company to
attempt to claim an overall rate
reduction.
“Vepco’s attempt to make a 10
Special Christmas Programs Planned By Churches
Churches throughout the area
have special programs planned
during the Christmas season.
FoUowing is a composite of
programs announcements which
have been furnished The Chowan
Herald:
The Ballard’s Bridge Baptist
Church Choir wiU present a
cantata, “Home For Christmas,”
Sunday at 7 P.M.
The musical presentation is a
touching letter of a young
woman’s warm and treasured
memories. It is also an experience
of love -a very deep and ex
traordinary love shared between
those in a very ordinary family.
Mrs. Brenda Winbome is music
director at the church.
Refreshments and fellowship
Dense Smoke
Continued From Page 1
Carolina.
NRCD Secretary Howard N. Lee
said, “I sent Dr. Jones to take a
personal look at the situation and
to discuss the smoke problem with
local people. I realize the
seriousness of the problem, and I
want the people of eastern North
Carolina to know that we intend to
do everything within our authority
to bring them relief.”
Each year about this time tree
stumps, scrub timber and other
material from year-round land
clearing activities are burned off,
sometimes creating large volumes
of smoke.
NRCD officials report the smoke
is creating more problems this
year because of increased burning
in the northeastern area, weather
conditions and increased burning
near population centers.
“I asked Dr. Jones to meet with
the people who are doing the
burning to explain to than the
severity of the problem and to ask
for their cooperation in finding
ways to relieve the problem,” Lee
said. “I am also asking him to hold
a public meeting with the citizens
of the area to hear first-hand about
the adverse effects of the smoke
and to obtain their ideas on what
we can do to help them.”
Jones met with persons
responsible for the burning and
toured the area Tuesday. That
night at 7:30 o’clock he held a
public meeting in the Hyde County
Courthouse in Swan Quarter.
Lee said his department has
received a number of complaints
from citizens is the area from
Onslow County to Currituck
County. The smoke has been
blamed for respiratory problems
in people, traffic accidents, in
terruption of business and school
activities and generally having an
adverse effect on the daily lives of
residents of the area.
On December 5, Dr. Neil Grigg,
director of NRCD’s Division of
Environmental Management,
ordered limitations on any new
fires related to land-clearing
activities in 13 eastern North
Carolina counties; Chowan, Hyde,
Dare, Tyrrell, Washington,
Carteret, Beaufort, Bertie,
Perquimans, Gates, Pasquotank,
Camden and Currituck.
The order cited violations of
ambient air quality standards and
adverse effects on populated areas
in siting for residents of the 13
counties to obtain permission from
the Division of Enrivonmental
Management before starting any
fires related to land-clearing
activities. The order also in
structed anyone in the 13 counties
who is currently bunting to take
adverse effects ofsmoke, fly ash
per cent rate hike seem to be a
rate reduction is totally absurd,”
said Ralph W. Shaw, executive
director of Electricities.
In its complaint to FERC
seeking a five-month suspension of
the proposed higher rate, Elec
tricities said Vepco’s claim of
projected higher fuel savings
“ignores the inequities which
Vepco’s customers have ex
perienced in recent years when
they have been paying in rates for
higher costs of nuclear units but
have received either zero or
relatively little low-cost nuclear
energy because of Vepco’s sorry
will follow the cantata. The public
is invited to attend.
The sth Annual Moravian Love
Feast will be held at the First
Presbyterian Church at 8 P.M.
Christmas Eve. The public is
invited. This traditional Can
dlelight Christmas Service
features carol singing by the
congregation, interspersed by
special musk from the choir,
organ, and piano, and the sharing
together of the Love Feast food of
homemade Moravian buns and
coffee.
The First Presbyterian Church
will have its Christmas Service at
11 A.M., Dec. 21. The pastor, Dr.
Howett Mallinson, will preach on
“He Is Here! ”, from Luke Chapter
2. The Youth will light the Advent
candle.
The choir, under the direction of
Fewer Than Expected Request Assistance
Applicants for the federal Low-
Income Energy Assistance
program are fewer than expected
by the Chowan County Depart
ment of Social Services and in
other counties across the state.
Mrs. Hazel Elliott, director, said
applications are being processed
for those who already receive
some type payment through the
local office. “While we* have
someone available to assist
others, they are coming in kinda
slow,” she said. “In fact, we don’t
have many thus far.”
Robert H. Ward, director of the
Division of Social Services of the
State Department of Human
Resources, said none of the county
departments were swamped with
low-income people seeking help
with their heating bills.
He indicated that an estimated
335,000 low-income households in
North Carolina are eligible for a
one-time payment to help pay
heating bills this winter.
Some 190,000 of these households
have at least one member already
receiving monthly financial
assistance under either the Aid to
Families With Dependent
Children (AFDC), Supplemental
Security Income (SSI) or food
stamp programs. These
households must have a total
income at or below the poverty
level. They do not need to apply for
the Low-Income Energy
Assistance program. County
social services departments are
contacting these households to
Concert Slated
The John A. Holmes Concert
Band and Chorus Groups will
present a Christmas Concert
tonight (Thursday), December 18
at 7:30 P.M. Admission: Adults,
$1.00; Students, 50 cents.
Phone Directory
Work Is Begun
Work on Carolina Telephone’s
new telephone directory for 1981 is
now underway.
Any telephone subscriber
wishing to make corrections that
involves their name, address or
ai a iiMi Vt ri am ~,.11 u , r , ■ 1 Sa
IclvUnuDv mininer win nccu lO
contact the business office to give
this request. Changes or
corrections can be accepted now
and through mid-February, 1981.
Beny Yellow Page
for Albmmrte Metro
|g ggg 0011
record of keeping its nuclear units
In service.”
Electricities detailed the
company’s record of nuclear
generation availability. Vepco had
available only 77 par cent of its net
dependable nuclear capacity in
1978 and only 32 per cent in 1979,
the complaint noted.
“Had Vepco’s nuclear units
performed in 1979 at even the not
very satisfactory levels ex
perienced in 1978, Vepco’s
municipal wholesale customers
would have paid Vepco about
$7,325,000 less than they were
required to pay because of the
Gil Burroughs, will siqg “He is
Born, the Divine Christ Child,”
with oboe accompaniment.
Instrumental music will be
offered, with Mrs. Jane Harrell at
the organ and Mrs. Shelby
Strother at the piano. The
Children’s Sermon will be given by
Mrs. Sandy Mallinson.
The Church Family Supper will
be held at the Manse at 6:30
o’clock Sunday night with Mrs.
Madge Whitehurst in charge of the
program.
A Christmas Cantata entitled
“Carol of Christmas” will be
presented at Chappell Hill Baptist
Church on Sunday at the 11 o’clock
worship service.
The Chancel Choir will be
presenting this Cantata under the
direction of Mrs. Billy Old, choir
director. Miss Connie Lane will
accompany the choir as pianist.
determine if they are eligible.
“The households that we want to
make sure know about the
program are the estimated 110,000
that are not receiving monthly
financial assistance through any
of these three programs. These
are households that have elderly
or disabled members and families
with incomes at or below the
poverty level. (Example: One in
household - $316 monthly, two in
household - $4lB, four in household
- $621, six in household - $824).
They must also have limited
financial resources other than
cars, personal property, and
homes,” Ward said.
It is necessary for these
households to apply between now
and January 15 for the Low-
Income Energy Assistance
program at their county social
services department. According to
Ward, if these households have
members who cannot apply
themselves for various reasons
such as illness, they may have a
friend or relative apply for them.
He said that the other 35,000
households estimated to be
eligible are those that live in
public or subsidized housing
Student Holidays
Dec. 19 - Jan. 5
Christmas holidays in the
Edenton-Chowan School System
will be observed from the closing
hours of school on December 19
until January 5, when all students
and school personnel will return
for regular classes.
Central Office administrative
staff not taking vacation will
observe regular 8:00 A.M. - 5:00
P.M. hours on December 22 and
December 23. The Central Office
will then be closed until January 5.
The Fifth Annual Christmas
Basketball Tournament, spon
sored by John A. Holmes High
School, will be held in the school’s
gymnasium on December 29 and
30. Surrounding area high school
teams invited to participate are
those from Bertie, Currituck and
Camden counties.
Beginning at 7:00 P.M. on
December 29, Bertie will play
Currituck. The Edenton Aces have
been paired with the Camden
team to begin play at 8:30 P.M.
A winner versus winner
championship play off will start at
8:30 P.M. on December SO,
folowing the 7:00 P.M. game
Admission for the events are
$3.00 per person for each evening
tfptay
unavailability of much of Vepco’s
nuclear plants for most of 1979,”
the complaint said.
Electricities also cited the
findings of FERC Administrative
Law Judge Isaac D. Benkin in
June, 1980, recommending thatv
FERC initiate a “full, formal and
public investigation” into Vepco’s
management practices.
Among the reasons the judge
listed in support of his recom
mendations was “the utility’s
persistent inability to bring its
nuclear units under construction
into commercial service on a f
realistic and reliable timetable.”
Chappell Hill Baptist is located
at Route 1, Tyner, between
Belvidere and Center Hill.
The pastor, Rev. Billy Old,
extends an open invitation to thef?
public, to come and share in this
time of worship.
The Adult Choir of Edenton
Baptist Church will present a
Christmas cantata entitled “First
Christmas” this Sunday afternoon
at 5 o’clock. Written by Joe E.
Parks, this work tells the ;
Christmas story in songs and?
scripture.
Under the direction of James H.
Hyatt, Minister of Music of the
church, the choir will be ac
companied by Miss Anna Kay
Manning at the organ. Alton G.
Elmore will be narrator for this
musical service and Mrs. Larry
McClure will be soloist.
The public is invited to attend.^ l
facilities. If these households are
not receiving monthly financial
assistance under one of the three
programs mentioned above, it will
be necessary for than to apply for.""
energy assistance if they are
responsible for all or part of their
heating bill.
Ward said his Division will be
making one-time low-income
energy assistance payments in
January, February and March
depending on when the households
were determined eligible.
“Payments will vary in amounts
basal on income, region of the
state where people live and the
type heating fuel used.”
He said a computer in Raleigh
will gather this data from the
forms received and compute the
amount of payment.
Add U-Touch f>
“U-Touch”, the new push button
dialing convenience for telephone
customers has been extended to
the following six central offices or
exchanges on December 2: Sligo,
Hertford, Moyock, Woodville,
South Mills and Sun bury.
Terry Daniels, district com
mercial manager, said the
equipment for the new service is
now available for subscribers of
the Elizabeth City District whose
telephone number begins with:
482, 221, 297, 232, 426, 435, 264, 771,
or 465.
ECHSABacks
Health Education 1
An appropriation by the 1981 N.
C. General Assembly for the
continuation and expansion of a
comprehensive school health
education program was
unanimously endorsed by the
Governing Body of the Eastern
Carolina Health Systems Agency _
(ECUSA) at their December \<P
meeting in Greenville.
Calling upon the concern of the
General Assembly to improve
health education services for the
state’s children as shown by the
Assembly’s 1978 ratification of a
measure to create a statewide
system of school health education
over a 10-year period, the.
Governing Body cited the 16 es-f 7
fectively functioning local
programs, and the need for ad
ditional funds to expand the
program over the next eight
years.
Health Educaton in the schools
has longbeen accepted as away to