The Chowan Herald
Vpi. XLVI - No. 37
We have been so caught up in
our own personal happenings of
late that two other moves are
tardy of being mentioned along the
Public Parade. The law offices of
Earnhardt & Busby are now in a
new location on East Queen Street
and Dr. James F. O’Leary has
moved to the Earnhardt Building
on West Eden Street.
Dr. O’Leary is engaged in the
practice of medicine, with a
speciality in surgery.
Although we believe editorial
license carries greater weight
than medical ethics, we will
merely sdy we are glad Dr.
,o’Leary and his family have made
this commitment to the com
munity. They are an asset and we
need more professionals and
families like the O’Learys.
But we have a problem with the
Earnhardt & Busby crowd. There
hangs in a prominent place in our
office (which includes only areas
that can be seen) a “Complaint”
from the firm. While we were
somehwat proud of the damages
sought, to wit, sl-million, their
humor fell on one of our bad days,
but we’ve enjoyed the joke.
Like the people on Cheapside,
the Busbys - Max and Charles -
quickly found out that the Chowan
County Courthouse had been
relocated on North Broad Street.
Since it is much easier for us to
walk than move, we have stayed
put. The law firm did otherwise.
We challenged Max the other
day about how he got his exercise
since he was just across the street
from the $2.5-million building the
public built for lawyers to practice
in. “I am still nailing shingles on
Jhe rgof,” he replied.
Max and brother Charles have
exerted bfpod, sweat, and
probably, if the truth be known,
tears in renovations at the East
Queen Street location.
And there is something new
coming to Cheapside about which
we will have more to say later.
Not Keeping Up
Business along the Public
Parade is not keeping pace with
Washington County across
Albemarle Sound. Month-by
month our neighbors to the south
report greater retail sales, a good
means to measure counties of
almost equal size.
The N. C. Department of
Revenue distributed a total of
$86,185.08 in Chowan County from
the 1 per cent local option sales
and use tax for the quarter ending
June 30. At the same time, the
Washington County total exceeded
SIOO,OOO.
Secretary Mark G. Lynch
reported that Chowan County
received $68,613.50 while the Town
of Edenton’s share was $17,571.58.
A total of more than $54-million
was distributed across the state
with the following totals for other
Albemarle Area counties:
Camden, $25,480.12; Currituck,
$62,950.25; Dare, $274,090.39;
Gates, $26,829.35; Hyde,
$32,100.28; Pasquotank,
$356,719.28; Perquimans,
$38,232.36; Tyrrell, $23,894.31; and
Washington, $100,621.73.
As we skid, Chowan County, by
these nunlbers, just isn’t keeping
up.
In Tourism Either
Expenditures in North
Carolina’s trpvel and tourism
industry in 1980 increased by 16
per cent to $2.4-bill ion, according
to the rfetqntly completed survey.
But not along the Public Parade.
Chowan according to
estimated expenditures, was 15
per cent behind 1979. For 1960 the
estimated expenditure amounted
to $1,032,000 while the total for the
previous year was $1,220,000.
The pine other Albemarle Area
counties showed an increase
ranging from Dark’s 7 per cent to
Pasquotank’s 22 per cent. In
between were: Camden, 18;
Currituck, 2j; Gates, J 8; Hyde, 11;
Continued on page |
PV . '•> 4 ■ i. ■ '
I 3'
THROWING THE SWITCH - Mayor Roy Harrell and County
Manager Cliff Copeland throw the switch which opened
Albemarle Cable’s new cable service in this area. Vice president
of System Development Don Vicinni, back left, and President
Vince Ridikas, back right, observe their system being turned on.
Cable TV Begins Service
To Chowan-Perquimans Area
By Jeff Winslow
Cable T.V. has arrived in the
Chowan-Perquimans area, thanks
to Albemarle Cable. The selection
to be found on this new cable
circuit, ranges from sports,
movies and news, to educational
and children’s programs
Located on U.S. 17 Business
North, Albemarle Cable is a
division of Compass Corporation,
which was started in September
1980. The main office for Compass
Corporation is located in Erie,
Penn.
There are 25 channels on the
. new cable, 12 of which are tran
srr.Uted by Albemarle Cable’s 160-
foot tower here in Edenton. The
other 13 channels are received via
a satellite-to-earth system.
There are several things that
separate cable T.V. from regular
television programs. One unique
feature is that on the cable there
are different channels that pertain
to one specific subject, such as
sports, news or movies.
Another feature is evident on the
Poster Contest
Is Planned
Gov. James B. Hunt has
invited the children and adults
of Chowan County to join the
Clean Streams Team in ob
serving September as Clean
Streams Month.
To further advance the
awareness of the need for wise
use of our most important
natural resource the Chowan
County commissioners are
sponsoring poster and essay
contests in grades 4 through 8 of
the Edenton-Chowan Schools.
Awards of a SSO certificate for
first, a $25 certificate for second
and sls for third prize. Winners
will be named in both
categories during the week of
September 21.
Both adults and children are
encouraged to visit the Edenton
National Fish Hatchery on
September 26 to learn more
about the inhabitants of our
rivers and streams together
with what can be done to
preserve this most valuable
heritage.
■****■—p———i
Employment Noted
Employment in Chowan County
during July, 1981, was placed at 5.8
per cent, while the state average
was 6.1 per cent. The state’s
percentage for June was 6.3
The comparable national
unadjusted unemployment rate
for July was 7.3 per cent, down
slightly from 7.7 per cent in June
Swain County experienced the
highest rate of unemployment in
the state in July with 12.8 per cent
unemployment. Dare County’s
unemployment rate of 2.5 per cent
was the state’s lowest in July.
Eden ton. North Carolina, Thursday, September 3,1981
channels that show movies all day,
such as HBO and Cinemax. These
stations show full-length movies
without commercial interruptions.
Continued on page 4
1 m|
John Thomas Nixon
John T. Nixon, 19
Shooting Victim
An Edenton man, David Thomas
Nixon, 120 Morris Circle, allegedly
shot and killed his 19-year-old son,
John Thomas Nixon, in the early
morning hours of August 30.
The Edenton Police Department
responded to the call at 12:57 A.M.
Investigation indicated that a .45
caliber weapon was involved.
Witnesses heard them arguing
and then heard shots being fired,
police report. The investigating
officers, Cpl. F. M. Parker and
Patrolman D. E. Jethro and Bland
Terry, found six to seven bullet
holes in the house, most of which
were in the ceiling.
Nixon, charged with murder and
released under a $20,000 bond,
made a first appearance in the
Chowan County District Court on
September 1. His probable cause
appearance is scheduled for
September 29. The Edenton Police
are still investigating the matter.
John Thomas Nixon was bom
January 8,1962, in Norfolk, Va.,
son of Mrs. Minnie Hughes and
Mr. David T. Nixon, both of
Edenton.
In addition to his parents,
surviving is his step-mother, Mrs.
Daye D. Nixon; his step-father,
Bert Hughes, both of Edenton; the
paternal grandmother, Mrs.
Josephine L. Nixon of Edenton;
the maternal grandmother, Mrs.
Elizabeth Lassiter of Driver, Va.;
a sister, Mrs. Judy A. Skinner of
Edenton; and a step-sister, Mrs.
Teresa Forward of Edenton.
Graveside rites were held at 2
P.M. Tuesday at the Nixon Family
Cemetery, Route 1, Edenton, with
Rev. George Cooke and Rev.
Donald Wagner officiating.
Pallbearers were: Earl Bunch,
Eugene Bass, Wayne Long and
David Dail.
WilHford-Barham Funeral
Home was in charge of
arrangements.
Petition Filed For $47.2-Mil.
In Added Funds For CT & T
TARBORO Carolina
Telephone and Telegraph Com
pany on August 27 filed a request
with the N. C. Utilities Com
mission for a rate increase of
about $47.2-million.
“If the request is granted, it
would mean an increase of $3.40 a
month for our smallest exchanges
to $4.35 for our largest exchanges
for basic local residential ser
vice,” said Ted P. Williamson,
vice president for Carolina
Telephone. “We are not asking for
an increase in telephone in
strument rental charges.
“Meanwhile there may be an
increase in statewide long
distance rates. If such an increase
is effective prior to a decision on
our local rate increase, then we
will not need as big an increase on
local service rates. Revenues
from long distance service has
paid nearly one half of the cost of
home telephone service for the
past 20 yeas and any additional
long distance revenues will reduce
the size of our rate increase
request,” Williamson said.
The commission is expected to
hold public hearings in early 1982
before ruling on the company’s
proposal, and rates are not ex
pected to change before next year.
Williamson said that the com
pany’s request includes increases
in basic local service rates, in
stallation and change charges,
extended area service (EAS)
rates, and other supplemental
se ice and equipment rates and
chaiges.
The Tarboro-based utility got
Peanut Growers
Assn. To Meet
David T. Bateman, president of
the N. C. Peanut Growers
Association, has announced the
annual meeting of the association
for September 10 at the Peanut
Belt Research Station, Lewiston at
>0 A.M.
Bateman, a peanut grower from
Chowan County, said, “We are
pleased to have our Association
join hands with the North Carolina
Department of Agriculture, and
the Agricultural Research Ser
vice, North Carolina State
University in highlighting peanuts
and it’s importance to the
economy of North Carolina.
All peanut growers in North
Carolina are invited and en
couraged to attend their annual
meeting. Bateman stated, “We
want our growers to know, first
hand, what the association is doing
in areas of legislation, promotion,
education and research”. In ad
dition to a brief business meeting
of the association, Rep. Charles
Rose, chairman, House Sub-
Committee on Peanuts and
Tobacco and Frank McGill, “Mr.
Peanut”, U.S.A. will make very
timely remarks.
Continued on page 4
Chowan County Schedule Noted
For Labor Day Holiday
Labor Day, Monday, usually
marks the end of the summer
season. It also signals a time for a
holiday for many workers.
Monday will be a general
holiday in Edenton and Chowan
County. All county, state and
federal offices will be closed.
There will be no trash collection
Monday. Pickups will be made
Tuesday and Thursday on the East
Side and Wednesday and Friday
on the West Side.
The U. S. Postal Service will
operate on a normal holiday
schedule Monday. No residential,
business, or rural delivery will be
provided, according to. Post
master James M. Bond.
Jerry Hendee, executive vice
president of Edenton-Chowan
Chamber of Commerce, has made
a survey of buslaess establish
ments remaining open. They in
only half as much as it needed in
its last request, Williamson said.
The company proposed a $25.5-
million increase in August, 1980,
and later reported that its new
revenue needs had grown to $36.2-
million annually by the time the
commission heard its cases in
January, 1981. The commission
granted Carolina Telephone an
$18.4-million annual increase in
April.
“We documented thoroughly
that we needed increased
revenues when our costs were
rising rapidly, the cost of
borrowing money was getting
higher, and our long distance
revenues were decreasing,”
Williamson said. “Yet while we
were investing another $92-million
during an unprecedented period of
high interest rates, the com
mission pared us down almost in
half which puts us farther and
farther behind. Naturally, we had
to come right back and request
another increase.”
The commission’s April, 1981,
order stated that Carolina
Telephone should be allowed to
earn 11.09 per cent on its service
Municipal Election
November 3rd
A Municipal Election in the
Town of Edenton will be held
November 3. The election will be
conducted by the Chowan County
Board of Elections, of which Felix
P. Chambers is chairman.
Chambers, through Marjorie T.
Allen, supervisor of elections,
released the following information
pertaining to the election:
Absentee voting will be allowed
in the Municipal Election on
November 3. Ballots will be
available as soon as can be printed
after filing deadline at noon on
October 2.
Persons may make applications
for absentee voting beginning
September 4, until October 29, at 5
P.M. One-stop voting begins
Tuesday, October 6.
The Election Board will be
required to meet to approve ab
sentee voting applications. During
the period opening 30 days before
an election in which absentee
ballots are authorized and closing
at 5 P.M. on the Thursday before
the elections, the County Board of
Elections shall hold public
meetings at 10 A.M. on Tuesday
and Friday on each week, and it
shall also hold public meetings at
10 A.M. on the eighth, fifth, third
and first days immediately
preceding election day.
The County Board of Elections
shall not be required to hold any of
the meetings prescribed by this
subdivision unless, since its last
preceding meeting, it actually has
received one or more applications
for absentee ballots which it has
not passed upon.
clude: Belk-Tyler, Betty Shoppe,
Cuthrell’s, Elliott’s. Pope’s,
Roses, TG&Y, and all grocery
stores.
Police Chief J. D. Parrish joins
the State Highway Patrol in
calling attention to motorists of
usually heavy traffic on holidays.
Sgt. Glenn L. Swanson of
Greenville, traffic safety in
formation officer for the region,
urges motorists to prepare
physically as well as mentally for
a trip.
Addressing usual tragic ac
cidents, Capt. Carl Gilchrist of
Troop A. says: “It doesn’t have to
be this way. If every individual
would shoulder his or her
responsibility, we would not have
the grief brought on by a tragic
accident.”
The usual advice from every
quarter is to have a fun holiday,
hat make it safe and sane!
Single Copies 20 Cents
investment, but the company
contends that the increases
allowed were insufficient and that
the allowable return is far below
what any investor expects today.
Williamson said, “The rate case
process which takes over a year
puts Carolina Telephone far
behind before prices can be raised
and that it is nearly impossible for
Continued on page 4
Former Teacher
Taken In Death
Mrs. Aileen Murray Bunch, 76,
Route 1, Edenton, died August 29
following an extended illness. She
was a former school teacher in
Chowan and Person counties.
Mrs. Bunch was born October 3,
1904, daughter of the late Robert
Mason and Ida Pulliam Murray.
She was the wife of Lloyd C.
Bunch, who survives.
In addition to her husband,
surviving are two sons: Fred C.
Bunch of Edenton; and Harold
Lloyd Bunch, Route :. Edenton; a
daughter. Mrs. Hurley Winborne
of Edenton; a sister Mrs. Gladys
M. Smith of Edenton; 10 grand
children and seven great grand
children.
Mrs. Bunch was a member of
Rocky Hock Baptist Church where
she was active in the WMU. was
an honorary member of the Ladies
Auxiliary of the State Soil and
Water Conservation; and a
member of Matoca Council No. 10.
Degree of Pocahontas.
Funeral services were held at
3:30 P.M. Monday in Rocky Hock
Baptist Church with Rev. Donald
Wagner in charge. Burial was in
BeaVer Hill Cemetery with her
grandsons servings as
pallbearers.
Williford-Barham Funeral
Home was in charge of
arrangements.
jgM ■ B .I
IK$ . jfl
Willis McCoy Privott, Jr.
Privott To Attend
School Os Medicine
GREENVILLE East Carolina
University has accepted 52
students from North Carolina into
the first year class at the School of
Medicine.
Among the students will be
Willis McCoy Privott, Jr., son of
Mr. and Mrs. Privott, Sr., 136
Tylers Lane.
The students represent 33
counties in the state and 21
universities. Thirteen of the
students received either un
dergraduate or graduate degrees
from East Carolina.
The class was selected from
more than 1,100 applicants.
Fourteen of the students are
women.
Last year ECU accepted 40
students in to the entering class.
The Liaison Committee on
Medical Education granted the
medical school full accreditation'
in May and gave permission to
. increase the first-year enrollment
to 52 students.
The school now has 172 enrolled
in th* four-year medical education
program The first 28 graduates of
the school received their medical
degrees in May.