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Liquid Gold
The drought along the Public
Parade, in North
Carolina and pretty much across
Tar Heelia was broken last week.
The much needed rain was called
‘liquid gold.*'’
The drought was the most
severe since.l94s. And it couldn’t
have come at a worse time.
Farmers are just coming off a real
bad crop year and the prospects
for the 1981 season were not good.
Hie rain came in time to turn
many bad situations into a
brighter future.
There still remains a healthy
balance between agriculture and
business along the Public Parade.
When one hurts the ache is felt by
the other. It is a partnership that is
respected.
It takes rain to produce boun
tiful crops so it is “liquid gold”,
coupled with hard work that
makes the cash registers ring
happy tunes.
Minding The Store
Members of the N. C. General
Assembly are beginning to react
to some recent drafts of
redistricting the House, Senate
and U. S. Congress. Redistricting,
like revaluation and other “res”,
are never painless but in many
cases the hurt is self-inflicted.
There is one public servant who
is minding the store. He is Rep.
Walter B. Jones of the First
Congressional District. Rep. Jones
is a veteran -of elections and
always tends to make good on
whatever position in which he
finds himself. His ability to be
consistently consistent baffles
those who try to penetrate his
armor of superior qualities.
Shortly after Rep. Jones became
chairman of one of 14 standing
committeees in the U. S. House of
Representatives - Merchant
Marine and Fisheries - he wore
himself out And ended up in the
haspital. Therefore, he has been
§6tnewhat slower in putting the
Jones ftavoqp into the committee
staff. Like those who watch closely
expected, he has been deliberate,
patient and understanding.
Rep. Jones has moved recently
to implement his plan. Edmund B.
Welch of Greenville has served
Rep. Jones well on the House
Agriculture Committee staff. He
had the assignment of injecting his
boss’ flavor into the new position.
Now Mr. Welch moves into a big
slot, that of chief counsel. The new
appointee has worked closely with
Lawrence J. O’Brien, Jr., who has
been in the job several years. Mr.
O’Brien will practice law in
Continued on page 4
Community Charters New Ruritan Club
The newly organized Advance
Ruritan Club was presented its
offical charter, Tuesday night,
during a meeting at the Advance 1
Community Building and a slate of
four officers and three directors
was installed.
Ruritan National president
Robert K. Davis of Newport, TN
was welcomed by guest Ruritans
from the Albemarle District as he
presented the charter.
Presiding over the new civic
RURITAN CLUB CHARTERED The Advance Ruritan Club was presented its official charter,
last Tuesday night, and a slate of officers was installed. Robert K. Davis, president of Ruritan In-,
termUoa*liUi shown at left addressing, from the left, Carlton Perry, president, Carroll Smith, vice
K^. nt ls? y Goo^; 1 Becret * ry ’ CarroU Wood Jones - treasurer, and directors Uoyd Parrish,
Mike McArthur and Willis Bond.
Vol. XLVI - No. 20
Council Acts Against Owner Os Sunken Tug
Emmett H. Wiggins, 60, has
been arrested on a charge of
violation of a Town of Edenton
code dealing with docking of
certain size vessels. He vowed
Tuesday night to fight the charge
and the code in court.
Concerned citizens from
Pembroke Circle and Queen
Anne’s were on hand to support
the action being taken against the
resident of the Lighthouse at the
mouth of Filbert’s Creek.
“I’ll see you in court,” Wiggins
told Town Council. Earlier he said
his intention is to fix the tug boat.
“I think I have the grandfather
clause to protect me some,” he
added.
Councilman J. P. Ricks, Jr.,
said the questions involved dealt
with maritime law and he knew of
no one locally capable of dealing
with the matter. “To have it (Wig
gins’ action) continue would be a
continued affront to the people of
this town,” he added.
“We should employ (a qualified
attorney) or forget it,” he said.
Crime Specialist
To Speak Here
A regular meeting of the
Chowan Community Crime Watch
is scheduled to be held on May 21,
at 8 P. M. in the American Legion
Building in Edenton.
Tony Young, the crime
prevention specialist from the
N. C. Department of Crime
Control and Public Safety will be
there with the N. C. Mobile Crime
Prevention Unit.
Chowan County Sheriff Troy
Toppin and Police Chief J. D.
Parrish Police Department will
also be there.
Several community groups have
met and ordered Crime Com
munity Watch Signs for their
individual communities.
“Can your community or the
area in which you live answer, yes
to the next three questions!” It is
pointed out.
1. Do you have a community
crime watch program?
2. If a burglary took place in
your home today, could you
locate your possessions thru
proper operation identification or
“Proper usage numbers.”
3. Do you know the North
Continued On Page 4
club is Carlton Perry. Carroll
Smith will serve as vice president,
Ray Goodwin, secretary, and
Carroll Wood Jones, treasurer.
Mike McArthur, Willis Bond and
Lloyd Parrish were elected
directors.
The Chowan Ruritan Club and
its president Melvin Byrum
.sponsored the formation of the
new club and members of the
district board of directors were on
hand to assist with ideas and
m..h w- M S 3 m, W 8
S MB -■■ 818 m M |m| m|C ■ ■ w
Wiggins said he had been
notified that action would be taken
at the council meeting. “I was
arrested yesterday,” he said.
“Why jump the gun before we had
a nffeeting to discuss the matter?”
Councilman Allen Homthal said
the intent of the council was to halt
any movement of the tug or other
vessels close to the shoreline.
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■ 4 ' 1 I ■ 1 I
M
TUG INVOLVED IN DISPUTE Staffer Flynn Surratt, an
ticipating problems, recorded this picturesque scene of an old tug
boat anchored in Edenton Bay near Queen Anne’s Creek. Emmett
H. Wiggins, owner of the tug, has been indicted for violation of a
Town of Edenton ordinance dealing with large vessels of more
than 30-feet in length. Wiggins, who lives in the Lighthouse, vows
to fight the ordinance in .court.
O’Neal, Tynch
Two defendants face trials in
Chowan County Superior Court
after probable cause was found
Tuesday in felony counts against
William C. O’Neal and Carroll
Edward Tynch.
Judge Richard Parker of
Manteo, presiding in District
Court, found probable cause in
cases where O’Neal is charged
with possession of stolen property
and accessory after the fact.
Tynch faces two morals charges.
Asst. Dist. Atty. H. P. Williams
prosecuted the docket. The
following other action was taken:
David P. Ward, speeding, costs.
William Ray Harrell, tran
sporting liquor with the seal
directives.
“The club looks forward to
having strong local support and a
large membership to accomplish
its many community service
projects,” a spokesman stated.
Persons are invited to forward
advice and helpful suggestions.
The sponsoring Chowan Ruritan
Club holds annual auctions at
Valhalla and recently assisted the
Harold L. Bunch family after their
home was heavily damaged by
fire.
Ecknton, North Carolina, Thursday, May 14, 1981
Councilman Steve Hampton
asked Wiggins directly of his in
tent. The reply was: “I don’t in
tend to move it but closer to my
property.”
W. P. (Spec) Jones said he had
lived across from the Wiggins
•property for 28 years. While he
admitted that Wiggins had certain
rights, he felt Wiggins ought to be
Arraigned On Felony Counts
broxen, 20 days, suspended upon
payment of S4O fine and cost.
Counts of drunk driving, reckless
driving and carrying a concealed
weapon were dismissed.
Barren Kyle Mack, traffic
violation, called and failed.
Dan Junior Bembery, improper
equipment, dismissed.
Richard Welch, reckless driving
after drinking, 60 days, suspended
upon payment of SIOO fine and
costs.
Richard Welch, failure to report
accident, dismissed.
Willie Athen Twine, Jr., drunk
driving, not guilty.
Dannie Edward Pierce, drunk
driving, dismissed.
Robert Day Hutchison, larceny,
seven to nine months, suspended
and placed on probation for two
years upon payment of S2OO fine
Herring Run Worst In History
By Jim Tyler
Chowan River registered the worst herring catch in history this spring.
Silver fish by the millions have ascended this river for springs un
numbered and have been a bountiful harvest for Indians, colonists, and
descendants to down to present day fishermen.
This spring’s catch, at 4.3-million pounds by the end of April, was some
2-million pounds less than last year, according to records. Prior to 1970
average catch was 10-12-million pounds annually since 1970, 6-8-million
pounds annually. It is a fast paced fishery, a flurry of activity, and most
fish are caught in less than one month.
Fishermen are blaming the decline this year on discharge from a
papermill in Virginia coupled with drought conditions. Annual discharge
from the papermill is usually flushed out of the river into Albemarle
Sound and diluted by the time fish arrive. The ocean living fish leave
saltwater through Oregon Inlet, enter Albemarle Sound, and journey up
Chowan to spawn in fresh water.
The slug of effluent normally takes 35 days to clear the river, ac
cording to records. With water so low and flow so sluggish, this year it
will take an estimated 85 days. It lay like a gigantic bottle of ink spilled in
the middle of the river when the fish arrived this spring. It disrupted
completely the normal spawning patterns, according to Marine
Fisheries biologists.
Normally 85 per cent of the herring catch comes from Chowan. This
year about 50 per cent did. Catches were very good in Albemarle Sound,
below the slug of water that “looked just like ink,” and 50 per cent of the
catch was taken there. Yet was it more fish milling around in the sound
unwilling to broach dark waters, or was it more fishing pressure in the
South that accounted for increase catch there? Marine Fisheries law
officers report more fishing for herring in Albemarle Sound than ever
before. Prices were good, and many fishermen who normally fish for
striped bass moved over to herring because stripers were few this year.
Upriver, where Chowan narrows after Holiday Island, catches were
good. So some fish did go through the bad water. One theory is the fislf
made a straight run through the effluent, straight up the center channel,
and did not linger or run dose to shore where they have been
traditionally caught in quantities in the lower wider portion.
Some fishermen, down around Roanoke Island, where the fish pass on
their way to the Chowan, say the big run never did come in this year.
- Contained On Page 4
guided by the same laws as other
citizens.
Councilman Hampton said the
Finance Committee had nothing to
report with regards to obtaining a
town attorney. This prompted a
heated exchange between Mayor
Pro Tern Hornthal and Mayor Roy
L. Harrell.
Hornthal accused the mayor of
misrepresentation of certain
private conversations. “Three
attorneys have declined to submit
bids and another one’s bid was in
excess of what we are now
paying,” he said.
The councilman requested that
a letter from Mrs. Lena M. Leary,
Clerk of Superior Court, be placed
in the minutes.
Mayor Harrell answered
Hornthal, point-by-point, and
added that the collection of
delinquent taxes are part of
Gardner’s duties. “We have a very
qualified administrator,” he said
of Gardner. “He is very capable of
sending out notices, etc.,”
Hampton said he expected the
Finance Committee would have a
recommendation at the next
meeting. The contract with
Earnhardt & Busby runs until July
1.
Gardner injected the thought
that while the collection of
delinquent taxes is one thing, the
town has a tight time frame
established by law regarding the
collection of assessments.
At the beginning of the session,
Hampton asked that his comments
at an earlier meeting be included
in the minutes. He said the
and costs. He was ordered to
spend three weekends in jail.
Notice of appeal was entered.
Lew Reech Parker, exceeding
safe speed, costs.
David Granby, drunk driving,
second offense, six months,
suspended upon payment of $360
fine and costs.
Kenneth M. Granby, reckless
driving, 30 days, suspended upon
payment of SSO fine and costs.
James A. Holley, speeding,
called and failed.
Donald Lee Hayes, worthless
check, called and failed.
Gregory G. Parker, speeding, $5
fine and costs.
James Kenley Leary, drunk
driving, 60 days, suspended upon
payment of $l5O fine and costs.
Thomas Adolph Holley,
Continued On Page 4
| S | SSSlli J
Single Copies 20 Cents.
statement dealt with the change of
his vote regarding bids to pur
chase vehicles.
Hornthal questioned the need for
such action. “It is very important
or I wouldn’t have said it,”
Hampton replied. Hampton then
read into the minutes the earlier
comments as taken from the tape.
Hornthal informed the council
and citizens of problems being
experienced at the playground at
Freemason and Oakum streets.
He said repeated damage to the
property, including the theft of a
basketball goal, threatened the
park.
Council approved the purchase
of property for an easement to
allow work which is designed to
improve the drainage problems
near the Masonic Temple.
Mayor Harrell appointed Eric
Byrum to the Recreation Com
mittee, Terry Williams to the
Planning Board, and Harold Babb
of the Zoning Board of Ad
justment.
Council approved two zoning
requests and approved the plat of
Thomas Francis for property on
Mexico Road.
Council approved a $750 con
tribution to Operation Over
charge, but not before calling on
Chowan County commissioners to
reconsider last week’s action to
deny financial participation.
8888881
m m
1 'J/
gPP'' Wt :
Mrs. Janice H. Faulkner
Party Executive
Is Guest Speaker
Janice H. Faulkner, executive
director of the N. C. Democratic
party, will be the principal
speaker when the Democratic
Women of the first Congressional
District gather at Mrs. Boswell’s
Restaurant here Saturday for
their annual meeting.
Also on the program will be Sen.
J. J. Harrington of Lewiston,
according to Lauretta Parker of
Ahoskie, first District women’s
chair. Sen. Harrington, chairman
of the Senate Transportation
Committee, will speak on needs of
the state Highway Fund.
Mrs. Faulkner, a native of
Martin County, is on leave from
East Carolina University while
heading up state Democratic
Continued on page 4
Juveniles Arrested
Two juveniles were ap
prehended Tuesday afternoon as
suspects in the theft of a billfold
from a downtown drug store. Hie
billfold and a portion of money
was found.
Police Chief J. D. Parrish said
the investigation would be con
tinued by juvenile authorities.
James Blount of Hollowell &
Blount Rexall was suspicious of
two young men in the store. A
visitor from Mt. Airy later*
reported that her billfold had been
taken from a counter.
Blount called police. Capt. C. H.
Williams and Cpl. Chuck
Alexander responded. Within a
few minutes the billfold had been
found, along with some of the
money.
Blount publicly commended the
Edenton Police Department for
swift action at the Town Council
meeting Tuesday evening.