Effects Os Dry Weather On Resources Concerns Officials
•JBelow normal rainfall this season may have serious effects upon
North Carolina’s natural resources,” according to Dr. Neil Grigg,
assistant secretary of the Department of Natural Resources and Com
munity Development.
State officials have become increasingly concerned over what effects
dry weather may have upon the state. Since the first of the year, rainfall
has been approximately 40 per cent below normal in many areas of
North Carolina.
Severe reductions in rainfall may result in low stream and lake levels,
well prdblems, decreased water quality and reduced water supplies for
municipal, industrial, hydropower, agricultural and fish and wildlife
needs.
“In a growing state such as North Carolina we may be faced with even
more pressing water problems in the future,” Grigg said. “We need to
commit ourselves to successful water management.”
Dry weather and water shortages are having a significant impact on
water supplies, water quality, agriculture, fisheries and the number of
forest fires.
“Low water tables could cause serious water shortages for many
towns and communities this summer,” Grigg said. Ground and surface
water levels are below normal because replenishing rains have not
occurred this winter and spring. Many municipal and community water
systems many not have sufficient supplies to meet their demands this
summer. Individuals and families who use wells could also be hard hit.
Drought conditions can cause water quality problems. Pollutants
Which are usually carried to streams during storms - soil, animal waste,
gasoline, lead and debris from city streets - build up on the land surface.
However, when a storm finally does come, a heavy load of these
pollutants is washed into the streams and is especially harmful to water
Hublic Harade
Facilities Expanding
Edenton is becoming the hub of
regional medical care with both
health care facilities along the
Public Parade involved in ex
pansion programs. It is, therefore,
fitting that added emphasis be
placed on the value of a regional
center during the next week.
National Hospital Week and
National Nursing Home Week
observances begin Mother’s Day.
Chowan Hospital and Elder Lodge
have put together interesting
activities to stress the individual
theme.
“Looking Well Into The Future”
is the theme for National Hospital
Week. “Visit Someone Special” is
the spring board for National
Nursing Home Week.
Chowan Hospital has won ap
proval for a 10-bed addition as well
as the expansion of ancillary
space and equipment. Projects
costs exceed $4-million.
Elder Lodge is involved in a 64-
bed expansion which will cost
approximately $700,000.
Developers of the addition con
tinue to battle the bureaucracy
regarding designation of 34 of the
new beds for intermediate care
residents. The remaining 30 would
be labeled rest home beds, a new
level of care along the Public
Parade.
Both the Chowan and
Elder Lodge projects have enjoyed
exceptional community support.
This is an important factor in
gaining necessary regional and
state approval. It demonstrates
the caring attitude which abounds
hereabouts.
Chairman C. A. Phillips of
Chowan County Commissioners
and Mayor Roy L. Harrell have
inked proclamations. They pay
tribute to the dedicated people
who provide skilled and com
passionate health care to our
citizens. People in the community
are urged to take cognizance of
these events and to participate
fittingly in the observances.
Insurance No Excuse
Insurance, like security, is
something with a price some
cannot afford but which the same
people cannot afford to be without.
Health, automobile, life and com
prehensive insurance rates
soar when companies require
claims which are not sub
stantiated by fact.
In the area of crime, for
example, we tend to treat robbery
lightly especially if it happens to
the other guy and he’s covered
by insurance.
There was a good example
recently in Chowan County
Superior Court where an attorney
attempted to hide his client behind
the shield of insurance. But it
dickrt work.
The defendant had assaulted his
estranged wife. “The medical bills
have been paid by insurance,” the
attorney injected as the district
attorney informed the jurist on the
prosecuting witness’ plight.
“No,” replied Judge Edwin
Preaton of Raleigh. “This is what
- Continued On Page 4
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HOSPITAL WEEK David Henson, standing, is shown with
Chairman C. A. Phillips of Chowan County Board of Com
missioners as he signs a proclamation for National Hospital
Week. The commissioners Monday approved the action during
the regular meeting. (Staff Photo by Flynn Surratt.)
No Action Taken On Police Car Controversy
Edenton Town Council took no
action on a request by Mayor Roy
L. Harrell to withdraw contracts
for two police cars which were
altered contrary to state law, and
town administrator W. B. Gard
ner, who approved the change on
the recommendation of Police
Chief J. D. Parrish admitted it
was a mistake made with “good
intentions”.
During a special meeting called
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THE WINNER! Richard Beekers of Ahoskie is shown as he
crosses the finish line to capture the 10,000 meter event of the
Third Annual Edenton - Chowan Herring Run held Sunday.
Mayor Roy L. Harrell, right, officially started the event and
stayed around to lead the cheers for Beekers and other winners.
Some 100 people participated in the event which was held in
cooperation with Tidewater Striders. (Staff Photo by Luke Am
burn.) •
quality and aquatic life, Grigg said. Low water levels in streams and
rivers provide less dilution for treated wastewater discharged by in
dustries and municipalities, contributing further to poor water quality
during droughts.
Important agricultural crops could suffer from lack of irrigation water
this summer. “Prolonged drought conditions will result in more serious
water table declines during the growing season,” Grigg said.
“Reduced rainfall may have a significant effect upon the striped bass
population in the Roanoke River,” explained Don Baker, chief of the
Wildife Resources Commission, Division of Inland Fisheries. “Water
supplies in the reservoirs of the Roanoke River may not be sufficient to
maintain an adequate volume of water downstream for the striped bass
to spawn,” Baker said. A water depth of 13 feet is necessary for ideal
spawning conditions.
“If the striped bass has to spawn downstream its eggs could be
deprived of the stream mileage necessary to hatch,” Baker added. The
eggs of the striped bass rely on water velocity for suspension. Otherwise,
they could drop to the stream bottom and die before hatching.
The prolonged drought in North Carolina is likely to affect the state’s
20-million acres of forest land. This spring over 83,000 acres of forest
lands in North Carolina have already been lost to forest fires. “If we
don’t receive some general rains soon, the number of forest fires could
certainly increase,” according to Tom Hegele, fire prevention specialist
for the North Carolina Department of Natural Resources and Com
munity Development, Division of Forest Resources.
The Department of Natural Resources and Community Development
has several programs geared toward water supply planning.
The Division of Soil and Water Conservation offers assistance in
cooperation with North Carolina’s 93 local soil and water conservation
Edenton, North Carolina, Thursday, May 7, 1981
by Mayor Harrell, the mayor said
it was the opportunity for the
council to “right a wrong” and
suggested courses of action to
bring the situation within the
letter of the law.
The conflict emerged when the
town received two 1981 Buick Le
Sabres equipped with 252 cubic
inch V 6 engines from Hoke Motor
Corp. The bid specifications called
for eight cylinder 350 cubic inch
Beekers of Ahoskie is shown as he
National Observances Will Cite
Hospitals And Nursing Homes
National Hospital Week and
National Nursing Home Week run
on about the same course this
year. Special events are planned
May 10-16 at Chowan Hospital and
May 10-17 at Elder Lodge.
“Looking Well Into The Future”
will be the theme of Chowan
Hospital’s celebration of National
Hospital Week.
“We think that our 1981 National
Hospital Week theme fittingly
describes the commitment of our
hospital staff to improving the
future health of our community,” - *
says David Henson, hospital
director. “We devote our fullest
resources to providing the best
health care possible today. But we
know that we have to look to the
future to find even better ways to
care as patient and community
needs change,” he stated.
Some of the ways Chowan
Hospital is caring for the com
munity’s future are best shown
through its present commitment
for a hospital expansion. This
includes an addition of ten
medical-surgical beds, an ex
motors. Hoke Roberson informed
the police department those were
“on hold” and not currently
available.
Chief Parrish suggested to
Gardner that the town accept the
vehicles since the purchase price
was the same and would mean
savings through better gas
mileage.
Mayor Harrell said he was told
by other bidders that had they
been informed of the change, they
could have bid lower.
Councilman Allen Hornthal
reported he had also talked to a
dealer who said no other V 6 with
the same displacement as the
Buick lawman package was
available.
The mayor referred to a letter
from DeWitt McCarley, asst,
general counsel with the N. C.
League of Municipalities who
stated one proper course of action
would be to return the cars to the
dealer, pay a fair rental fee on the
vehicles and re-advertise for bids
specifying six cylinder engines
and allowing used cars to be bid.
McCarley also reasoned that
since the town administrator is not
authorized to make a change in
specifications, the original con
tract still stands. The town could
return the vehicles and then
require the dealer to replace the
existing engines with VB’s.
“Here are 15 points from the
League,” the mayor commented,
“not one says ‘go along with
modifying the bid’ ”.
Councilman CHI Burroughs said
the town would still be in violation
Ceattnoed On Page 4
districts. Each district can assist farmers and rural water users in,
methods of efficient water utilization and storage. Assistance in
emergency situations such as forest fires can be obtained from the
districts by locating emergency firefighting water supplies through farm
pond inventories. Data from district sponsored watershed projects could
also prove invaluable in locating emergency drinking water supplies if
conditions become severe.
The Office of Water Resources assists communities with short and
long-range plans for developing additional supplies of surface and
ground water. The office can assist municipalities and smaller com
munities and their consulting firms to develop drought management
plans and to identify emergency sources of raw water supplies. The
program can also provide funding sources to deal with drought
problems.
The Department of Natural Resources and Community Development
also coordinates with the Department of Crime Control and Public
Safety on the use of pumps, pipelines and water hauling tankers in
drought emergencies.
The Office of Water Resources has available, upon request, free
literature on water conservation practices and devices. Demonstrations
and assistance on water conservation methods and means to stretch
existing water supply sources are also available on a request basis.
“Planning and developing additional water supplies will be necessary
to meet the future needs of our growing state,” Grigg said. “We need to
build state awareness and concern for water conservation and the
development of reliable water sources to withstand future droughts.
Private individuals, businesses, local government, state government
and federal agencies all have a key role in moving toward better con
servation and management of water - one of our most valuable
resources.”
Single Copies 20 Cents.
pansion of many operating
departments, and the addition of
several new diagnostic services.
During the celebration of this
special week, Chowan Hospital
activities will include events
honoring employees, physicians,
volunteers, and members of the
Chaplaincy Service.
National Hospital Week is
sponsored each year by the
American Hospital Association
and its approximately 6,000
member hospitals to foster better
communication, and "• an-'
derstanding between hospitals and
their patients, their employees,
and the communities they serve.
Elder Lodge - Edenton on
Paradise Road will join with
thousands of nursing homes
across the country in celebrating
National Nursing Home Week
beginning on Mother’s Day.
The 1981 themes will be “Love is
Ageless” and “Visit Someone
Special” will be used to remind
everyone in the community that
nursing home residents need
continued involvement with their
families, friends and neighbors.
During this celebration
Elder Lodge will hold a number of
special activities to honor their
residents and staff.
“We welcome visits from our
community at anytime but during
National Nursing Home Week we
are extending a special invitation
to everyone to come by and spend
a few minutes of your time to
“visit someone special,” said
Charles Andrews, administrator.
“We would also like to extend
Continued On Page 4
Hi 11
FUNDS REQUEST DENIED Stan Hege, chairman of
Operation Overcharge, is shown seated at left with Jerry Hendee,
center, executive director of the Edenton - Chowan Chamber of
Commerce, and Oscar White, chamber president, during the
meeting of the Chowan County Commissioners on Monday in
which a request from the consumer group for SI,OOO was denied
for legal reasons. Hege said the group has been responsible for
holding electric rates down in the region and needs the funds to
keep their SIB,OOO per year program in operation. Operation
Overcharge receives funds from the Chamber of Commerce
which is supported by the county. While the commissioners woe
not able to honor the request, they did endorse the groups efforts.
Blood Drive
John A. Holmes High School of
Edenton will be the site May 12 of
a community-wide blood drive
which is being sponsored by the
high school.
The drive is scheduled from 10
A. M. to 4 P. M. and has a goal of
110 pints of blood. High school sen
iors are being scheduled to donate
during the morning hours of the
drive, and other residents of
Edenton and the surrounding area
are encouraged to donate any time
between noon and 4 P. M.
Individuals needing more in
formation are asked to contact
county co-chairmen Bill Smith at
221-4323 or Blake Harmon at 482-
3617.
The 58 hospitals in Eastern
North Carolina and Eastern
Virginia receive all blood and
blood components from Tidewater
Regional Blood Services,
headquartered in Norfolk,
Virginia. The Blood Services
regtonr encompasses- 56 counties
and 2.5 million residents.
Usage by the 58 hospitals
requires that at least 450 units of
blood be collected daily. Blood
collected during bloodmobile
drives may be used as whole blood
or it may be separated into
components for specialized uses,
such as in the treatment of cancer.
By separating blood into several
components, the single donated
pint may benefit as many as four
patients.
Baccalaureate
Service Slated
The Edenton - Chowan Alter
native School will hold its first
Baccalaureate Sermon at
Ballard’s Bridge Baptist Church
this Sunday, at 3:30 P. M.
Delivering the sermon will be
Rev. George Cooke, home pastor.
Participating in the program
will be members of the graduating
class; Bill Griswold, counselor;
and Eugene Jordan, chairman of
Edenton - Chowan Board of
Education.