Local Youth Fatally Stabbed During Argument
A local high school student is dead and a suspect is in Chowan County
Detention Facility following an incident late Sunday afternoon. The
victim was Kenneth Earl Valentine, 17, who lived with his mother, Erma
Valentine, in Edenton Manor Apartments.
Eddie Wendell Hedgebeth, 33,310 East Church Street, is being held in
heu of $25,000 bond on a charge of murder. Hedgebeth appeared in
Chowan County District Court on Tuesday.
Judge Richard Parker of Elizabeth City instructed Hedgebeth of his
rights and ordered a court appointed attorney to represent the suspect.
Hedgebeth wore a bandage on his left arm which covered a wound he
allegedly received in the fight.
Strong Bait
The University of Alabama’s
plan to lure Dr. Joab L. Thomas
has been successful. The chan
cellor of N. C. State University in
Raleigh will become president of
UA on July 1.
Search committees are usually
armed with strong bait when they
go after top educators. The
Greater University of North
Carolina was at a disadvantage at
the outset in the Thomas matter
since the chancellor is a native of
Alabama and was lured from UA
in January, 1976.
The University of Alabama can
be proud of Dr. Thomas’ decision
to assume the top administrative
post of a three-campus system.
Naturally, the new position will
give him added prestige, but with
it goes awesome responsibilities.
In Tar Heelia, Dr. Thomas is one
of 16 “big dogs” in the university
system. In Alabama he will
become “top dog.” There is
considerable discussion, and
much concern, in North Carolina
regarding funding of higher
education. Dr. Thomas is not
getting out of anything by going to
Alabama since the battle lines are
pretty well drawn between ad
ministration, faculty and
lawmakers.
Furthermore, regardless of Dr.
Thomas’ ties to Alabama, our
state was at a disadvantage in the
pMMg» because of constraints—-
which prohibit certain bargaining
techniques. The financial package
offered by Alabama just couldn’t
be challenged in this state.
Dr. Thomas has done a fantastic
job during his four and one-half
years at NCSU. In rural areas, in
particular, he will be remembered
for the Chancellor’s Blue Ribbon
Study Commission of the
Agricultural Extension Service.
This study could have turned into
a witch hunt with a chancellor of
less character at the helm. The
study sets new benchmarks from
which North Carolina’s greatest
educational delivery systems can
improve the life of residents. 1
Continued On Page 4
j[*^|
HITTING THE JACKPOT Chowan County’s Special
Olympics was the most recent recipient of St. Anne Catholic
Church’s special Bingo Fund. Mrs. Betsy Kelly, Special Olympics
coordinator, is shown accepting the $250 check from Elliott At
stupenas, treasurer of the Bingo Fund. Mrs. Kelly reports more
than S9OO has been either received or pledged to support the first
project of this kind in Edenton - Chowan Schools. (Earlier pic
tures and story on Page 5-A).
I Shop In Edenton Every Friday Night ’til 9 o'clock I
CHOWAN HERALD^
Vol. XIVII - No. 13
PROGRESS CONTINUES Construction of a garbage transfer station by the Town of Edenton
continues. Here workmen are shown pouring concrete at the site near the Street Department, off
North Granville Street. (Staff Photo by Luke Amburn).
-Seven Counties Rally For Water Quality
Local government represen
tatives from seven Northeastern
North Carolina counties met re
cently to explore ex
pansion of water quality work to
include the Albemarle Sound
Basin.
The meeting resulted from a
recent resolution adopted by the
Albemarle Regional Planning &
Development Commission. The
resolution, sponsored by Currituck
County, calls for continued in
vestigation, monitoring, etc., of
water in the area.
Donald Flowers, Jr., ARPDC
executive director, convened the
meeting to assertain the role of the
The following series of events have been pieced together from in
terviews with law enforcement officers.
Hedgebeth and Valentine were among a group of Negroes at the comer
of Oakum and Albemarle streets about 6:15 P.M. There was an
argument and Hedgebeth was “rushed”. He struck Valentine in the
chest with a pocket knife.
The victim was placed in a car and rushed to Chowan Hospital.
Hedgebeth was put into another car and apparently was “pushed out”
near the detention facility on East Church Street.
James Welch, who was on duty at the time, heard a noise and went to
investigate. He saw a hand on a window and then it disappeared. He
found Hedgebeth just beneath the window.
regional organization in assisting
in expanding the existing
program.
The Chowan Regional Task
Force, organized by the State
Department of Natural Resources
& Community Development, has
also expressed concern over
pollution which is being detected
in the Albemarle Sound.
Also, Currituck County is ex
pressly concerned about the
possible diversion of water in
Tidewater Virginia.
C. A. Phillips, chairman,
Chowan County commissioners,
said Wednesday morning that the
NR&CD is the proper conduit for
all allied efforts to perform field
work, assemble data, etc. Also, he
said the state department is also
‘Catfish’ Hunter
Is Guest Speaker
James (Catfish) Hunter of
Perquimans County will keynote
the Community Development
Awards banquet, sponsored by the
10-county Albemarle Area
Development Association. The
event will be held April 9 at the
American Legion Building on
West Queen Street Extended. It
starts at 7 P.M.
Ed Brown of Hertford, AADA
president, said this banquet is one
of the highlights of the year in the
Albemarle Area and he hopes
people from throughout North
eastern North Carolina will plan
to attend. Thirteen communities
are in coinpetition for awards.
Carolina Telephone Company is a
primary sponsor of the program.
Claude Jones, chairman of
AADA Community Development
Committee, announces that
tickets are now available at the
County Agricultural Extension
offices in each of the counties.
Those who desire to attend are
encouraged to purchase a ticket
early since space is limited.
Edenton, North Corolino, Thursdoy. March 26, 1981
working closely with Gov. James
B. Hunt, Jr., and the congressional
delegation in Washington, D. C.,
on behalf of the region.
Continued On Page 4
EVIDENCE ORDERED SOLD Supervisor Ray Elks of the
N. C. Wildlife Resources Commission, right, is shown with two
enforcement officers who participated in a February 20 un
dercover case which resulted in the arrest of Chowan County’s
only licensed fur dealer. Shown with the evidence confiscated,
most of which was ordered sold Tuesday, are: Horace Cahoon]
left, and George Sawyer.
Fur Dealer’s License Is Suspem
Chowan County’s only licensed
fur dealer was put out of business
Tuesday after pleading guilty in
District Court to unlawful
possession of untagged fox. Earl
Fernando Parks, 77, of Gliden, can
apply for a new license after July
1.
Judge Richard Parker of
Elizabeth City sentenced Parks to.
30 days, suspended upon payment
of SSO fine and costs. The judge
then accepted the recommendation
of a Wildlife Resources Commission
protector in confiscations 71 dried
skins and five frozen whole fox.
Chief Deputy Glenn Perry was called and Hedgebeth was taken to
Chowan Hospital where he was treated and released. It is unclear how
Hedgebeth sustained his injury.
Valentine, a student at John A. Holmes High School, died at 7-20 P M
The body was taken to Albemarle Hospital in Elizabeth City where an
autopsy was performed Monday.
Police Chief J. D. Parrish said the investigation was headed by Capt.
C. H. Williams, Sgt. Joe T. Norman and Patrolmen Leonard Bonner and
Bill Phillips. SBI Agent Tony Cummings assisted, along with members
of the Chowan County Sheriff’s Department.
A probable cause hearing for Hedgebeth was set for April 7. However,
Dist. Atty. Tom Watts of Elizabeth City is expected to put the case before
a grand jury which convenes here April 6.
Third Annual
Herring Run Set
For May Third
The third annual Herring Run in
Edenton is scheduled for May 3.
The event is chiefly sponsored by
Coca-Cola of Elizabeth City.
The Tidewater Strider sanc
tioned event will have races of
10,000 meters (6.2 miles); 5,000
meters (3.1 miles); and a one-mile
fun run. All races will begin
promptly at 1:30 P.M. with late
registration set for 12:30 P.M.
Refreshments will be provided
after the race. Hosts will be Little
Rascals Day Care, Coca-Cola,
Steve Hampton and Bank of North
Carolina.
Trophies are being donated by
Edenton Cotton Mills. They will be
presented to winners in each
division.
Other sponsors include: Peoples
Bank & Trust Company, Tarheel
Bank & Trust Company, Chowan
Medical Center and Chowan
Hospital.
T-shirts will be given free to the
first 200 entrants to register.
Proceeds from the event will be
donated to the American Heart
Association.
For further information or
applications call 4824120 or 482-
8604.
The confiscated items are to be
sold, after being properly tagged
with the proceeds to go to the
Enforcement Division.
The whole animals were
directed to be retained by the
division for use in further un
dercover work. Judge Parker
ordered that the stretchers be
returned to Parks.
Parks purchased a whole fox
and two raccoons from an un
cover agent, K. R. Craft, on
February 20. The agent testified
that Parks paid him S3O for the fox
and $lO for the raccoons. A later
Single Copies 20 Cents.
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TERRY WILLIAMS
Radio Station
Changes Owners
Edenton Broadcasting Com
pany, Inc., has purchased WCDJ
radio station. The new corporation
assumed control of the broad
casting media on March 11.
The purchase was from
Albemarle Broadcasting Com
pany, Inc., headed by Terry Jones.
Edenton Broadcasting officers
are: Robert E. Lee, president, and
John Baggett, vice president, both
of Gatesville; I. F. Self, secretary
treasurer; and Terry Williams,
vice president and general
manager, both of Edenton.
The new owners said WCDJ has
established a fine reputation in the
community and their aim is to
strengthen the market. There was
no immediate announcement of
significant changes.
Williams went to work at WCDJ
on a part - time basis in 1971. In
1977 he became a regular em
ployee and was assistant general
manager at the time of the change
in ownership.
Williams, 26, has been active in
community programs and
projects in the area. He served as
Continued On Page 4
Services Held
For Mr. Perry
Graveside services were held at
2 P. M. Wednesday for Otman
Branning Perry, 91. The services
were held in Beaver Hill Cemetery
with Dr. John Allen officiating.
Williford - Barham Funeral
Home was in charge of
arrangements.
( ontinued On Page 4
ded By Court
search of the premises turned up
four more whole fox and the 71
dried skins. The agent said the
skins sold for up to S3O in the
wholesale market.
Judge Parker could have
charged the defendant and ad
ditional s4l per skin tor
“replacement” of the animals.
Officer Craft said he ap
proached Parks after receiving
information that the elderly man
was dealing in illegal game. He
was assisted by Officers George
Sawyer and Horace Cahoon.
I nnti n nnH On Do no I