Labels
Barry Goldwater once said that,
if he believed the things a lot of peor
pie said about him, he wouldn’t vote
for Goldwater either.
His complaint is a common one
among iS64’s political entourage of
conservatives, liberals, democrats,
republicans, neo-liberals, neo
conservatives, populists, neo
populists...
There are more labels being at
tached by the media elite than any
political observer can or wants to
describe.
The media can depict the
characters on the political horizon
with pre-sorted labels much more
easily than their editors and pro
ducers can sort through voluminous
issue-briefs.
Members of the media elite pre
fer to perpetuate this stereotypic
nightmare because it more readily
fits into their broadcast slots and
political columns than does a
lengthy probe into a candidate’s
beliefs.
This method of news reporting
gives those candidates who have
mastered the label game an advan
tage over those who may not have
one-liners to summarize their
candidacy.
The lack of responsibility shown
by those accountable for news
reporting challenges us to force
ourselves out of our “CBS Evening
News” trance state long enough to
see for what the candidates stand.
We can learn a lot about the can
didates by seeking the truth for
ourselves, if we will coax ourselves
out of our media trance.
Responsible voters can no longer
rely on the media elite to do our
homework for us.
Future Shock
►
We certainly share the computer
age “future shock” syndrome that
Owen Bishop describes in this
month’s Carolina Country
magazine.
The Herald has recently had
more visits from the computer
repair man than from any other
fcufnanoid. ^
Tht Daily Advance, our favorite
afternoon newspaper, has also ex
perienced computer disaster in re
cent weeks.
We are hopelessly bound to the
typesetting computer so we can put
the paper to bed before “Dynasty”
airs on Wednesday evenings.
Bishop adequately assesses the
paradox of our computer addiction:
Computers have been much on
my mind lately—due in part to our
recent difficulties with typesetting.
Despite these problems, though,
I recognize that we couldn’t do very
well trying to put out a publication
without the little buggers, given to
day’s advanced printing
technology. The days of “hot type”
from those fascinating linotype
machines are long gone, never to
return. And “cold type” comes
from computer-based equipment.
Still, I get occasional pangs of
computer-age “future shock”.
Friends and co-workers speak pro
udly of the many wonders they can
perform on their home computers,
while I’m at a loss to explain some
of the functions on my simple hand
held calculator.
At least I have been able to
master the basic operations of an
automatic teller machine. That
came only after I’d avoided it for
years, scratching my head at the
tong lines in front of them even
when the bank was open, offering
the services of real live human-type
people.
I managed to overcome my aver
sion a couple of years ago after a
weekend emergency sent me to the
neighborhood grocery with a
please-cash-my-check plea the
manager kindly accomodated.
That wouldn’t happen again, I
vowed. I’d learn to use those
machines-just so I could get cash as
needed.after banking hours.
Now I routinely join the line
waiting for my regular automatic
teller “fix”-happily ignoring those
human-type people who could help
me if I’d £ist walk inside the bank.
I’m booked, too. But I was still
unprepared for the electronic ther
mometer the doctor stuck in my
mouth recently while trying to stop
a nosebleed. It offeredquite a cdn
MrfWeSd?
, _ . held
Continued On Page 4
‘ ■ ...rw# e ns. t
Volume XLVIH-No. 59
Edenton, North Carolina, Thursday, March 15, 1984
Single Copies 25 Cent?
Council May Nix Airport Sewage Site
By Maru Amburn
Town Council members agreed
Tuesday to authorize the mayor
and town manager to formally con
tact the North Carolina Eastern
Municipal Power Agency to request
relief from their 1980 contract.
The Council also focused plans
Ingram’s Wife
Joins Campaign
John Ingram’s candidacy for
Governor got a boost this week as
his wife, Gini, campaigned
throughout Chowan County.
Traveling through North
Caorlina’s eleven congressional
districts is nothing new to this can
NR &
Mrs. John Ingram
didate’s wife, Ingram headquarters
says. Throughout her husband’s
political career she has been involv
ed in the political headquarters, ap
peared and speaking on his behalf
and meeting the public.
Mrs. Ingram reiterated some of
her husband’s strong campaign
issues including education, free
• ^fiterprwe and electing the Utilities
Commission.
Married in September 1954, to
John Ingram of Asheboro, a just
licensed young lawyer who had
graduated from UNC Law School
with honors, Gini and John lived in
Fort Benning, Georgia for three
years where he was a First Lt. in
the U.S. Army, before returning to
North Carolina. She is the mother
of four children, Gini Lynn, Randy,
B B, and Michelle, and the grand
mother of a four month old. Gini en
joys volunteerism, music, enter
taining and especially politics.
Accompanying Mrs. Ingram was
Mrs. Elsie Nuckles and Mrs. Mary
Howell, Ingram’s statewide Co
ordinators for Women for Ingram.
for the proposed sewage facility on
the Small site in northwest Chowan
County.
Mayor Roy Harrell described
unreached projections, high
salaried agency employees and an
estimated $39-million debt as cause
for his disillusionment with the
power agency.
“The Town of Edenton can no
longer be at the mercy of lawyers,
consultants and high powered staff
to get electric current,” the mayor
said.
Harrell expressed the hope that
if the town was relieved of its con
tract, one of the larger
municipalities would assume the
town’s share at no cost to the tax
payers of Edenton.
“The agency is controlled by six
or seven large town with voting
power over small towns,” Harrell
noted. “If we ask out, I hope that a
large town that has shown interest
will see fit to buy Edenton’s share.”
Although Councilman Herbert
Hollowell also expressed his
displeasure with the operation of
the power agency, he added that
“(While with Electricities) we
have been below the Vepco rates...
with the exception of two weeks in
September.”
The Privott motion to advise the
power agency of the town’s desire
to pull-out passed unanimously.
In further business the Council
heard from L. E. Wooten represen
tative Buck Kennedy concerning
the town’s sewage disposal facility
plan.
Kennedy suggested that the site
near the municipal airport was not
the most feasible site for the land
application facility because its ap
plication rate was found to be 20
percent higher than expected. This
would require more land and less
room for expansion.
The consultant advised that the
town concentrate further soil,
topographic, and environmental
study on the Small site in northwest
Chowan County.
“Kennedy said that the Small site
ranks in the top 10 per cent of all
sites observed for land application
use.
Consultants ranked three
Chowan County sites on their merit
for the project by analyzing their
application rate to determine
acreage, storage requirement, site
preparation and drainage.
The council authorized Kennedy
to continued detailed study of the
Small site and report to the Coun
cil at the planned April 26 Public
Hearing.
The Town Council also voted to
continue services of Christopher
Bean and Peter Rascoe as town at
torneys. The proposed rates that
were submitted to the town for con
sideration were: Davis & Spivey
$25.00 out-of-court / $40.00 in-court
and Christopher Bean and Peter
Rascoe $40.00 out-of-court / $50.00
in-court.
Councilman Fenner cast the
decenting vote saying, “It looks
fishy to the public when another at
torney comes in with a lower bid.”
Fenner also contended that legal
documents could be transferred to
new attorneys with no problem.
Continued On Page 4
Chowan County Returned
To First District By Court
Hy TOwrnsmwtfn
Redistricting plans which will
again put Chowan County in the
First Senatorial District were ap
proved by state legislators last
Wednesday in Raleigh.
Chowan was removed from the
newly formed 2nd district in order
to conform with court-ordered ac
tion to provide for equitable minor
tiy representation.
The State Board of Elections whs
ordered to set new filing dates for
the revised districts in order to give
prospective candidates an oppor
tunity to seek election or to give
candidates who filed under the
original plan a chance to withdraw.
cegistetorfftravelwenworMng on
the redistricting plan to comply
with a ruling handed down recent
ly by a three-member panel of
federal judges.
The federal judges on a suit
brought by Black voters who charg
ed that districts drawn last year in
special session denied the oppor
tunity for fair and equal Black
representation.
The suit was brought under pro
visions of the Voting Rights Act.
Black leaders suggest that the
district lines were in violation of the
Act because they dilute Black
voting strength.
Chowan County elections officials
have not yet announced revised fil
ing dates for the senate primary.
YOUNG ADMIRER - Holt Ellis, 5, was the youngest Helms supporter at an Edenton luncheon
held to raise funds for the U.S. Senator’s 1964 re-election bid. Over 60 area citizens attended the
event. Holt is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Hood Ellis of Edenton. (Related photo on p««—-A '
LISTENING SESSIONS - U.S. Senate candidate Governor Jim
Hunt listens to suggestions from farmers Friday at the
Pasquotank County Courthouse.
Hunt Views Economy, Jobs
As Primary Campaign Issues
By Maru Amburn
“Voters should choose me over my
opponent because my basic pur
pose is to improve the economy and
jobs,” says Gov. Jim Hunt, can
didate for the U.S. Senate seat now
held by Jesse Helms, “His (Sen.
Helms) basic purpose is with a
group of issues that do not have to
do with the economy.”
In an exclusive interview in
Elizabeth City Friday, Gov. Hunt
said that if elected to the Senate he
would be part of a moderate,
mainstream, bipartisan coalition.
“Just about every bill I tried to
put through the legislature during
four years as lieutenant governor
and seven as governor passed
because I worked with people. We
haven’t had enough of that kind of
leadership in Washington,” Gov.
Hunt said.
The two-term governor stressed
that neither the right wing nor the
left wing can get the job done in
Congress.
Beaman Hears
Court Calendar
Chowan County District Court
was held March 13, the Honorable
Grafton G. Beaman, presiding over
the criminal calendar.
Johnny Basnight has his proba
tion revoked and was committed to
26 days.
Tracey Eugene Miller was found
guilty of DWI and transporting an
alcoholic beverage in a passenger
area of a car. He was sentenced to
60 days suspended 2 years on the
condition that he pay a fine of $150
and cost of court. He is to attend
ADET school and surrender his
operators license.
Kenneth Wayne Bryant was
found guilty of driving 65 in a 55
mph zone. He was fined $5 and cost
of court.
Leland Glenn Ward was found
guilty of DWI. He was sentenced to
60 days suspended 2 years on the
condition that he pay a fine of $125
and cost of court. He surrendered
his driver’s license and is to attend
Albemarle Mental Health and is
also to perform 48 hours of com
munity service.
Tommy Joe King was found guil
ty of exceeding a safe speed. He
paid a $5 fine and cost of court.
James Earl Loftin was found
guilty of trespassing. He received
a 9 day committment but received
credit for the 9 days he spent in jail
awaiting trial.
Edward Linwood Roach was
found guilty of unsafe movement.
He was fined $30 and cost of court.
He appealed.
Ted Mills was found guilty of sim
ple assault. He got a prayer for
judegement for 1 year on payment
of cost of court.
Randal Lane Peterson was call
ed and failed to show on a charge
of expired registration.
Ting Ching Wong was called and
failed to show on a charge of driv
ing 70 in a 55 mph zone.
William Robert Cobb was called
and failed to show on a charge of
nonsupport of child.
Continued On Page 4
The governor promised that as a
U.S. Senator he would continue his
agenda of bringing in jobs and im
proving roads in Northeastern
North Carolina.
“Helms is the incumbent, he
merely has to save his seat,” he
said, “lam the challenger, I must
represent change to the people.”
The Wilson County native noted
his agricultural background as
former president of the N.C. Future
Farmers of America and as a N.C.
State graduate.
Also, he expressed his desire to
sit on the Senate Committee on
Agriculture because of his farm
background.
When asked about the high food
stamp error rate in North Carolina
during his administration, the
governor said the chairman of the
Senate Agriculture Committee
should be more concerned with im
proving farm prices and markets
than with waste and fraud in the
food stamp program.
Sen. Helms has been unconcern
ed with environmental issues, ac
cording to his challenger. He cited
several environmental votes to
substantiate his claim. Sen. Helms
voted against the Clean Air Act,
Clean Water Act and the creation of
the EPA Super Fund, said Gov.
Hunt.
“A senator who is dedicated to
improving the environment can do
a lot,” the candidate said.
The fight to clean-up the Chowan
River can be better fought at the
Federal level, Gov. Hunt stated.
Gov. Hunt said that the factors
Continued On Page 4
Arson Suspected
In Trailer Fire
By Ron Anderson
A trailer fire which occured
around 7:14 P.M. Sunday, March 11
has resulted in an arson investiga
tion by the Chowan County Sheriff’s
Department and the State Bureau
of Investigation.
The trailer, located on Highway
32 South past the Bar-B-Que Barn,
is owned by Lennie Copeland.
No one was injured in the fire and
most of the damage occured to the
insulation and electrical wiring
underneath the trailer.
Although Edenton Fire Depart
ment Chief Lynn Perry said,” the
damage was light,” and that “the
fire was knocked out in minutes,”
he also said that, “the firemen
suspected something wasn't exact
ly right.”
That night both the Sheriff’s
Department and the SBI were
notified and a preliminary in
vestigation was conducted by light
provided by fire department
generators.
A more extensive investigation
was conducted Monday by the
Sheriff’s Department, the SBI and
SBI agent Brinkley, a Greenville
agent who specializes in arson
cases. 1
The investigation is continuing in
to what Sheriff Troy Toppin
described as, “a very suspicious
fire.”