County Commissioners Adopt Resolutions To Prevent Area Property Damage
The Chowan County Board of
Commissioners met in regular ses
sion on Monday, January 3.
The meeting was opened with a
public hearing on two resolutions to
request that the Wildlife Resources
Commission establish specific
regulations in reference to the
establishment of a recreational
area in front of the Arrowhead
Beach Park and a no wake zone for
Indian Creek.
The regulation requested by the
resolution for a recreational area in
front of the Arrowhead Beach Park
would provide for the exclusion of
boats and other vessels for an area
Solid Behind CAMA
There is a lot good about North
Carolina. Included in the goodies is
the plan to manage our coastal
zone, one of this state’s greatest
natural resources.
As we head into 1983, it is good to
know that the Hunt Administration
remains solid behind the Coastal
Area Management Act. This is an
area of consistency for which we
are grateful.
Sec. Joe Grimsley of the State
Department of Natural Resources
& Community Development recent
ly distributed memos to members
of the Tar Heel media. So long as
public officials such as Sec.
Grimsley remain open and candid
we will do our part to help rid the
public of “misinformation and mi
sunderstanding” about CAMA or
anything else.
Here’s the memo:
As you know, for the last year the
Coastal Area Management Act has
been under examination as
Legislative Study Committee has
reviewed the law and considered
changes. Our program has also
been hit with the loss of all federal
funds which had made up 80 per
cent of its budget.
I want you to know that this ad
ministration.. is.-firmly behind
CAMA-the law itself and the fun
ding to make it work. The North
Carolina coast is too beautiful to be
left to chance. The record of CAMA
in working with local governments
to solve problems is outstanding
public beach access, the issues con
cerning a coal port proposal on
Radio Island in the Morehead City
harbor, the establishment of
estuarine sanctuaries along our
coast. These are just a few of the
issues CAMA and the Coastal
Resources Commission have
brought to good conclusions.
The CRC has also focused public
and local government attention on
the need to plan now for rebuilding
after the next hurricane. We all
want to think that our 20 year
reprieve was really a “pardon” but
we all know that it is only a
“suspended sentence”. We must be
prepared to rebuild our coastal
communities wisely following the
next storm.
The future of coastal manage
ment will be one of the most impor
tant issues facing the coming ses
sion of the General Assembly.
Through our meetings with the
members of the study committee
and the public hearings along the
coast, it has become clear to me
that whatever problems remain
with CAMA, these problems are
based on misinformation or
misunderstanding. I want you to
know that you can call on me or my
staff whenever you need informa
tion about this crucial program. We
want the people of North Carolina,
and you as their agents, to fully
understand how and why we
manage the resources of our fragile
and productive coastal areas.
In early December, this depart
ment, along with the Coastal
Resources Commission, sponsored
an Oceanfront Development Con
ference for coastal government
leaders and concerned citizens. The
theme was “Living Wisely With the
Coast” and that summarizes our
message. There can be growth and
development along our oceanfront
but it must be done in ways which
protect the beauty and environmen
tal qualities which draw people to
the coast. Governor Rut
underscored this in his luncheon ad
dress and Dr. Neil Frank, director
Coe tinned On Page 4
300 feet along the shore to 300 feet
out from the shore, for a swimming
area. Also an area 250 feet along the
shore and 300 feet from the shore to
provide for a boating access area.
The proposed regulation would also
prohibit the placing of fishing nets
in the recreational area.
The regulation requested by the
other resolution would provide for'
a no wake zone on Indian Creek.
The zone is requested because of
damage to property along the creek
by speeding boats.
The people at the public hearing
supported the proposed regulations
and when the hearing was closed
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MURRAY ASHLEY RECEIVES PLAQUE FROM COUNTY—CIiff Copeland, County Manager and
Alton Elmore, County Commissioner, look on as Murray Ashley accepts a plaque in appreciation
of his 21 years of service to Chowan County.
Honored For Service To Chowan County
Chowan County along with its
many employees held an “ap
preciation reception” for Murray
Ashley who is retiring from the
County’s service.
Fifty to seventy-five County
employees crowded into the Coun
ty Office Building’s fourth floor
Conference Room to honor Mr.
Ashley.
Cliff Copeland, County Manager,
and Alton Elmore, chairman of the
Chowan County Board of Commis
sioners, highlighted Mr. Ashley’s
service to the county.
Employee Awareness Is A Big
Factor In Eliminating Shoplifting
by Clay Roberts
A crime of some sort occurs at
one time or another in everybodys
life whether its running a red light,
speeding, or their house is
burglarized.
One of the most common crimes,
which has been very low in Eden
ton, is shoplifting.
“Most of the known shopliftings
occurred around Christmas this
year” said Police Chief, J.D.
Parrish.
What may surprise most people,
according to Parrish, is that there’s
a great difference between shoplif
ting and larceny. Shoplifting is
when merchandise is concealed IN
the store. It is larceny when the
merchandise is carried out of the
store.
According to TG&Y manager
Willie Wittington and Mack’s
manager David Mertz, employee
awareness is the key means of
detecting a shoplifter. Both stores
also have large bowl-shaped mir
rors and one-way mirrors.
P.H. Roses’ main source of
shoplifter detection is also the
gwareness of employees. Along
with that, they have a push-button
device to alert Manager, Melvin
Lane, of a shoplifting. “More than
anything else, a shoplifter has to be
seen.” said Lane.
V
Along with employee awareness,
Belk Tyler also has a dose-circuit
T.V. system.
the Board of Commissioners
adopted both resolutions.
Another order of business was a
request by the Department of En
vironmental Management that
Chowan County co-sponsor with
Bertie County a CAMA application
that is being prepared by the
Marine Resources Commission.
The application is being prepared
to provide for the establishment of
a fresh water reef, to be located off
Black Walnut Point, which is
located about five miles south
southwest of the Edenton Bay. The
reef is to be made of boat molds left
at the old Fiberform plant which
Edenton, North Carolina, Thursday, January 6, 1983
Cliff Copeland opened by saying,
“Murray possesses the qualities
paramount to any County
employee.”
The qualities talked about includ
ed three extremely strong qualities.
1) As a County employee, Mr.
Ashley spent amazingly long hours
working for the people of Chowan
County. 2) He had the ability to
treat the public in a special way,
and 3) He was also tight-fisted with
the County’s money.
The final thing said by the Coun
ty Manager was “Murray (as a
The A & P also emphasizes on
employee awareness. “We watch
for shifting eyes or other suspicious
movement” the manager said.
Being convicted of shoplifting,
larceny or other misdemeanors,
usually leads to a suspended
sentence and/or probation, super
vised or unsupervised, according to
Police Chief Parrish, Probation Os-
Continued On Page 4
Boating Mishap
by Clay Roberts
Elliott Harrell is listed in fair con
dition in Norfolk General Hospital
after a boating accident in the Wan
chese marsh, Saturday.
Harrell’s accident occurred while
out duck hunting with two compa
nions ; Wayne Barnett of Wanchese
and Johnny Ray of Raleigh.
While his companions were
behind a duck blind, Harrell, who
was in a small boat, made a sharp
turn, causing the boat to spin and
him to be thrown in the water. The
motor blades struck him in the
face, causing severe lacerations.
From the scene of the accident he
was rushed to the Dare County
Health Center and from there to
Norfolk General via the
Nightingale.
Elliott Harrell now lives in
Raleigh and his parents, Mr. and
Mrs. Rodney Harrell, reside in
Edenton.
the new owners of the property
wish to dispose of. The Board
adopted a resolution to instruct the
County Manager to develop the
necessary paper work for the
sponsorship.
The County Manager, Cliff
Copeland, brought to the Board’s
attention that several of the
Board’s committee appointees
were not receiving compensation
for attending meetings. The Comi
ty Manager suggested the adoption
of the following policy:
“All appointees of the Chowan
County Board of Commissioners to
boards shall receive S2O reimburse
department head) was the
strongest advocate for his depart
ment, but once a decision was
made, he backed that decision.
Alton Elmore gave a speech, and
afterwards awarded Mr. Ashley
with a plaque. In his speech. Com
missioner Elmore noted that in the
21 years which Mr. Ashley had
worked for the County, Mr. Ashley
had held more titles than any other
county employee.
The end of Commissioner
Elmore’s speech came quickly as
he presented Mr. Ashley with a
plaque to both commemorate and
show appreciation for services
rendered to the County.
Mr. Ashley accepted the plaque
saying, “I’ve enjoyed being with
the County and I would give a
year’s salary to start back like I did
in 1961.”
He continued to expressed his
feelings about his service for the
County as he said, “The County
Commissioners have more, or less
let me run things my own way.”
Mr. Ashley closed by stating,
“I’ve worked with some nice peo
ple; department heads and
especially the Police Department.
They have worked with us a lot.”
The speeches and presentation
were followed by a reception for
Mr. Ashley.
' •
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UP IN SMOKE—This ear was totalled by flames Tuesday mor
ning and was well extinguished by the Edenton Fire Department.
The car belonged to Sally Layton. (Photo by Clay Roberts)
ment per meeting attended with the
following exceptions:
1) appointees who are reimburs
ed by their respective agencies for
meetings attended; 2) full time
County employees; and 3) those
board members who are forbidden
from receiving compensation from
the County by their board’s by
laws.” The Board approved of the
policy.
The last item of business on the
agenda was the awarding the audit
contract for fiscal year 1983 to
Timberlake and Sykes. The audit
will cost the County $28.50 per hour
that Timberlake and Sykes spends
Single Copies 25 Cents
400th Anniversary
Preparations Made
By J. Allen Beeler
The 16 sites of the Historic
Albemarle Tour are preparing for
the upcoming “America’s Four
Hundredth Anniversary” in big
ways.
The planning for the 400th
celebration started many months
ago and has culminated in the re
cent weeks as the Historic
Albemarle Tour submitted an ap
plication to the National Endow
ment for the Humanities—a grant
for $317,114. $34,964 of the grant
would be a matching grant for
monies the Tour has already ap
propriated for the projects.
There are ten major projects
planned by the Historic Albemarle
Tour to create a greater public
awareness of the significance of the
Albemarle region and the cultures
that have contributed to that
history.
The first project is the design and
construction of a four-sided mobile
display, depicting Indian life on
North Carolina’s eastern Coastal
Plain. The display will be made
under the consultation of Dr. David
Phelps a professor at East Carolina
UniversitytDepartment of
Sociology, Anthropology and
Economics), and will include ar
tifacts of each major period of In
dian history.
The second project will be the
development of a 13 minute audio
visual presentation for the King-
Bazemore House located at Hope
Planation.
The third project will be the pro
duction of a 15 minute animated
presentation on the Historic Sites
and Museums on the Historic
Albemarle Tour.
The fourth project is the produc
tion of two 28-minute video-taped
programs and a series of vignette:
on historic sites to be circulated
through educational facilities.
The fifth project will be the
design and construction of two
“hands-on” displays for the
Albemarle region to be located at
the two “Gate Way” (visitor)
Centers.
The sixth and seventh project will
be the development of brochures
for the Historic Albemarle Tour
and six sites including the Newbold-
White House in Hertford and a
walking tour with audio-visual
display for the city of Washington.
The eighth project will be the pro
duction of a regional film to
Continued On Page 4
on it. The rate per hour for the audit
is higher this year but it is expected
that fewer hours will be spent on the
audit by 10 to 15 per cent and thus
the ‘B3 audit is expected to cost the
County less than last year’s audit.
The meeting closed with an infor
mal discussion on the hunting of
.dlife from the right of way of
i t ads and the hazards it presents.
It was thought that Cliff Copeland,
County Manager, and Troy Toppin,
Sheriff, should meet with the hun
ting clubs’ presidents and concern
ed citizens to discuss the problem
before it requires any action by the
board.
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Joseph Eppye Debnam, Jr.
Services Are Held
For Mr. Debnam
Joseph Eppye Debnam, Jr., 74,
died at Chowan Hospital Tuesday
after a short illness.
He was partner in the James E
Wood Company, past co-founder
and president of M.G. Brown Com
pany and he attended N.C. State
University.
Survivors include his wife
Elizabeth Roberts Debnam, a son,
Joseph E. Debnam 111 of Fort
Euslis, Va., a step-son Fred P.
Wood, Jr., of Raleigh and a step
daughter, Mrs. Herbert Jackson of
Richmond, Va.; a brother, R.G.
Debnam of California and a step
sister, Mrs. C.M. Harris of Arl
ington Va
His parents were Mr. Joseph E.
Debnam, Sr., and Mrs. Birdie Lee
Speight Debnam. Both are
deceased.
Debnam, Jr. was a Ist Lt. in the
Army during World War 11.
He will have a graveside funeral
Thursday at 11 A M. with Rev. Ray
mond Storie at Beaver Hill
Cemetery with arrangements by
Wilhford-Barham Funeral Home.
Man Convicted Os
Passing Bad Check
The Honorable John T. Chaffin
presided over Chowan County
District Court's criminal calendar
on Tuesday. January 4.
Richard Elliott was found guilty
of two accounts of passing worth
less checks. He was sentenced to 30
days with two years suspended, fin
ed 525, must pay cost of court for
both counts and pay S4O restitution
to S&R. He nas appealed.
Frederick Isaac Roulack was
found guilty of common law forgery
and was sentenced to 12 months. He
has appealed
Renee A. Harris was found guil
ty of two counts of passing worth
less checks. She was sentenced to
90 days with two years suspended,
fined $25, must pay cost of court for
both counts and pay $53.27 restitu
tion to Macks plus $12.45 to the Bet
ty Shoppe.
Rastee Robert Black, Jr. was
found guilty of exceeding a safe
speed. He was fined $lO and cost of
court.
Jackie Alfred Jordan was found
guilty of Driving under the in
fluence two. He was committed for
six months. He has appealed.
William Earl Jones was found
guilty of driving under the influence
two and improper parking. He was
sentenced to six months with two
years suspended, fined S4OB, coat of
court on both counts and report to
Albemarle Mental Health within
five days. He has appealed.
Jackie Lee Leary was found guil
ty of assault on a female. He was
sentenced to 12 months with two
yeAfs suspended, fined $250, Co6t of
court and is not to assault Dorothy
Leary for two years.
Robert Lee Smith Q was found
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