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Betty Pruden and Jeff Winslow
public parade
Personnel Changes
This week we say “farewell” to
a veteran member of The Chowan
Herald crew. At the same time we
welcome two new staff members
to meander with us along the
Public Parade.
Flynn Surratt has resigned to
join the staff of a local radio
station. The newcomers are Betty
Dixon Pruden and Jeff Winslow.
Although it very well could take
two- or maybe three or four --
people to fill Flynn’s shoes, we
have been a little tardy in getting
the crew back to full complement.
This is where Betty and Jeff come
irfr'
Flynn has clocked more than 10
years at The Herald. During that
time he has done about everything
but sign the payroll checks.
Honestly, he is that versatile.
Flynn had radio experience
while in high school and has
moonlighted on the air waves from
time to time since he came to The
Herald. He leaves with our very
best wishes.
Betty Pruden joined the staff
some six weeks ago. While her
'primary responsibility will be'in
advertising, Betty has alreacfy
proven to be quick to adapt to
composition and other functions in
the shop.
Jeff Winslow will be a general
assignment reporter
photographer. Like everyone else
around here he too will be called
on to work in sales, composition,
printing and mailing. He is now in
his second week of employment
and has a lot of enthusiasm and
talent.
Mr. Commander
Another signal honor has come
to Northeastern North Carolina. It
is the selection of E. C. Toppin as
commander of the American
Legion in Tar Heelia. He becomes
the first person from this entire
section of the state to garner such
a lofty position.
We want to be among the first
along the Public Parade to salute
E. C. and wish for him a fruitful
term. There is nothing more
rewarding than to be in a position
of leadership in an organization
like the American Legion. As in
any group there is a built in hazard
of the over zealous, the person who
would mar the image to obtain
personal gain. Not so with the new
commander.
E. C. has more than paid his
dues along the Public Parade and
throughout the state. He has been
in the thick of the action, always
putting his community above
himself. He has given tirelessly of
his time, talents and energy to
make sure he put in many times
over what he derived in personal
satisfaction for seeing that a job is
well done.
The new commander has vision.
He can see the big picture, and he
will.
Mr. Commander, we salute you.
You have done ypur family,
friends and the entire community
proud by being recognized with
this signal honor, a honor richly
deserved.
Bailing Out
Edentoii-Chowan Board of
Education has done Chowan
County commissioners one better
hi the belt tightening process. The ;
1081-82 school budget is $9,545 less
Continued ah'page 4
Ai V, * .v* y .
U. S. Industries Closes Down
Local Fiberform Boat Plant
The Fiberform boat
manufacturing plant on
Albemarle Sound has shut down
operations. The plant is the victim
of a recent decision by U. S. In
dustries, Inc., to divest itself of 14
divisions and subsidiaries.
An announcement appeared
June 22 in The Wall Street Journal
that USI was selling off un
profitable operations. It was
reported that the divisions and
subsidiaries being dumped had
sales of about $230-million in 1980,
equal to about 20 per cent of total
USI sales of $1.14-billion.
However, the units accounted for
some $4.5-million in losses.
Eugene Evans, Fiberform plant
manager, said he knew nothing
more about the status of things
Toppin Is Elected
State Commander
E. C. Toppin of Edenton was
elected commander of the
American Legion in North
Carolina at a recent conference
and rplled up 2,000 miles of„travel
in the first week of his ad
ministration. Thousands of more
miles are ahead as he leads the
45,000-member organization.
There are 343 posts throughout the
state.
Toppin was elected without
opposition at the conference in
Raleigh which was the best at
tended of any such gathering in
recent history. He had cam
paigned throughout the state and
hints of possible opposition failed
to develop.
In an interview Monday af
ternoon, Toppin said emphasis is
being placed on revitalization of
small posts with potential for
growth. “We want to key in on
problem posts who are not ac
tively participating in their
community,” he continued.
Also, he wants to re-emphasize
the founding principle of
American Legion which is
rehabilitation. “When times get
good people tend to forget those
who need help,” he said.
The veterans need a strong
voice in the General Assembly and
in Washington, he said. “We will
push a strong legislative program
to insure that cuts in present
programs, as well as lack of
funding for new projects, are
absolutely necessary.”
The Edward G. Bond Post No. 40
Continued on page 4
• V Cmdr. E. C. Toppin
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Vol. XLVI - No. 28
Town Employees Honored By Council
The Town of Edenton’s nearly
$7-million budget for fiscal 1981-82
took second billing Monday night
as members of the Town Council
paid tribute to W. B. Gardner,
administrator, who has resigned
to enter private business.
Councilman Allen Hornthal,
mayor pro tern, read an eloquently
worded resolution which was
signed by the six council mem
bers. Councilman W. H. Hollowell,
Jr., presented Gardner with a
handsome wall plaque featuring a
regarding the company other than
what appeared in the financial
newspaper.
Fiberform purchased the plant
near Edenton Municipal Airport
from Cris Craft. Fiberglass
pleasure boats were the top of
Fiberform's line manufactured at
the local plant.
An announcement by USI stated
that the company will put added
emphasis on energy equipment
manufacturing, speciality
building materials, industrial
equipment, furniture and fur
nishings.
Continued on page 4
SF
John Michael White
Incident Results
In Youth Fatality
A popular rising junior at John
A. Holmes High School drowned
Saturday afternoon in the
Albemarle Sound. John Michael
White, 16, Route 2, Cape Colony,
apparently died instantly from a
broken neck when he jumped from
a rope swing into shallow water.
He became the first drowning
victim in Chowan County since
August, 1978, when a swimmer lost
his life at Sandy Point Beach.
Chief Deputy Sheriff Glenn
Perry investigated the accident
Saturday afternoon and found no
evidence of foul play. An autopsy
was performed at Pitt Memorial
Hospital.
Deputy Perry, said his in
vestigation showed that the young
man was last seen around 12-noon
at the Cape Colony Park. His body
was discovered about 3 P.M. by a
friend who was swinging from the
same rope.
The body was about 100 feet
from shore in four-foot water.
Ernest McDaniels, Grant Mc-
Donald, David Rea and George
Ross had seen the victim swing on
the rope and drop into the water.
When young White came to shore
the founboys left the scene and the
victim remained. The young men
said there was nothing unusual
about the activity.
Mr. White was bom November
19,1964, son of Mrs. Shirley Smith
White and the late Johnny F.
White. He was a native of Hertford
County but had spent most of his
life in Chowan County.
He was a member of the John A.
Holmes High School “Marching
Aces” band and was a member of
the Chess Club. He was a member
of Cape Colony Church of Christ
where he served as Sunday School
secretary.
In addition to his mother, sur-
Continued on page 4 •
Edenton, North Corolino, Thursdoy. July 2, 1981
clock. Special note was made that
the expense of the items was borne
by private donations, not tax
funds.
Gardner was visibly shaken by
the special recognition and
responded with a simply: “Thank
you very much.”
Mrs. Betsy King, veteran
Finance Officer, was also
reocgnized. Her resignation was
accepted with “deep” regret.
Hornthal noted that she con
tributed greatly to the ac
complishment’s noted in the
resolution of appreciation given
Gardner.
Gardner, who rounded out 20
years as town administrator in
March, has resigned to become a
partner in AGEnterprises. He is
senior vice president and chief
operating officer of the multi
faceted company. Mrs. King
assumes the position of ad
ministrative assistant with AGE.
Mayor Roy L. Harrell, who
sparred with Gardner and the
Town Council during most of his 10
year tenure in politics, moved into
“the purpose of the meeting” and
opened the public hearing on the
budget.
When there was no response
from some 20 friends of Gardner in
the audience, Mayor Harrell noted
that the budget required no in
crease in the 79-cent tax rate. He
said he spoke for the entire council
in being “extremely proud” of the
accomplishments during the past
year and yet “hold the tax rate.”
Councilman Gil Burroughs
blocked clear sailing on the budget
when he pled for the council
during the next year to “sit down
and take to heart what I keep
pointing out” as “gross
inequities” in funding for the
Recreation Department.
Burroughs pointed out that of a
total $115,000 budget Chowan
County contributed but $28,000.
“The citizens of the municipality
paid $7 for each $1 paid by county
residents for a truly countywide
program,” he said, adding that the
residents who reside outside
m i i i
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TRANSFER STATION OPENS Dedication of the Town of Edenton’s new $325,000 solid waste
transfer station was held last Friday on Hicks Street. Mayor Roy L. Harrell is shown cutting the
ribbon at the facility. Those on hand for the brief ceremony included members of the Town Council
and Chowan County commissioners as well as administrator W. B. Gardner and county manager
Cliff Copeland. Jerry Petock, sales representative for Sanco Corp., is shown at far left. Behind
Mayor Harrell is Ken Crutchfield, Sanco Corp., president. In bottom photo, a tractor and 65 cubic
yard trailer is shown waiting beside the station. The trailer will do the work of four packer trucks in
hauling waste to the county landfill.
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COUNCIL HONORS EMPLOYEES Two veterans of public
service, Mrs. Betsy King, finance officer, arid administrator W.
B. Gardner, drew recognition from the Town Council, Tuesday
night at a special meeting. Both recently resigned from their
respective town posts. Mrs. King and Gardner are shown above
second and third from the left with councilman Allen Hornthal,
left, and W. H. Hollowell, Jr., right.
Edenton make up more than 50 per
cent of participation.
The councilman said his
decision to “register a protest”
did not say he isn’t in favor of
recreation. “I’m for recreation,”
he said. “I am for it getting bigger
and better.” While he said the
budget reflects a tradition “that
doesn’t make it right.”
Hornthal, chairman of the
Recreation Committee, agreed
with the “soundness” of
Burroughs’ logic. He called it a
July Fourth Holiday Schedule Set
With the Fourth of July being on
Saturday and a big Optimist Club
celebration on tap there is no set
pattern for business activities.
Financial institutions will be
closed Monday. The Edenton
Municipal Building will also be
closed Monday, while Chowan
County offices will be closed
Friday, as will federal offices.
Postmaster James M. Bond said
the U. S. Postal Service will
operate on a normal holiday
schedule Saturday in observance
of Independence Day. No
Single Copies 20 Cents
perplexing problem and agreed
that continued efforts should be at
obtaining a more equitable
distribution of the load in finan
cing recreation.
The General Fund of the next
year is $1.3-million while the
Electric Fund exceeds $4.3-
million. The Capital Account is
$595,000 the same as this year. The
budget calls for $280,482 to come
from the Electric Fund and $206.74
from surplus to maintain the 79-
cent tax rate per SIOO in property
valuation.
residential, business, or rural
delivery will be provided. The
customer service windows will be
closed.
Jerry Hendee, executive vice
president of Edenton-Chowan
Chamber of Commerce, said there
is no general agreement from the
merchants in the area on holiday
closings.
The Chowan Herald will be
closed Friday but the newspaper
will be printed on regular schedule
next week.
Officers Elected
C. B. Smith was recently in
stalled as president of Edenton
Lions Club. Other new officers for
1981-82 include:
Earl Britton, first vice
president; Erwin Griffin, second
vice president; Tom Cross, third
vice president; Ben Riddick, lion
tamer; and Ben Rinehart, tail
twister.
Directors for two years are:
John Guard and J. D. Parrish; and
for one year: Bill Myers and
Walter Noneman.
J. Clarence Leary is Song
leader; Ralph Outlaw is treasurer
and Arthur F. Beeler is secretary.
Ken Stalls is the local represen
tative to the Mobile Eye Unit
Committee.