Change
jn Management
With this week's issue, The
Chowan Herald goes under new
management-new, but in a sense,
not all that different from the way
it has been for the past 20 years.
Due to the demands of his, other
business interests and persistent
health problems, L.F. Ambum, Jr.,
who has served as editor and
publisher since 1965, has found it
advisable to sell his half of the cor
poration to the owners of the other
half, Mr. and Mrs. J.P. Huskins of
Statesville.
With the transfer of ownership
May 3O7 new officers and directors
were elected. Huskins former
editor and publisher of the
Statesville Record & Landmark,
who is now completing his seventh
term in the General Assembly, is
the new president of Chowan
Herald, Inc. His wife, Mildred Am
burn Huskins, continues as cor
porate secretary and treasurer.
They, together with Pete Mann
ing of Edenton, who will continue as
general manager, will make up the
new board of directors. For the im
mediate future, no other changes in
the staff are contemplated.
The Public Parade will continue
to be a front page editorial column
and will be the responsibility of Jay
Huskins, who wrote a similar col
umn daily for the Statesville
Record & Landmark for 30 years or
more, while carrying on his other
duties as well. Contributions to the
Public Parade will be accepted
from time to time from other
members of the staff and from the
public when basic standards are
met.
The Chowan Herald is now 50
years old. It hopes to continue as a
community newspaper for another
half century. To do that, it will need
your co-operation and support.
Some subscriptions are delinquent.
We hope to bring them up to date.
Some advertising accounts are in
arrears. We hope to get them
squared away as soon as possible.
Edenton is a fine town and
Chowan is a fine county. We intend
to do everything possible to not on
ly keep them that way but to help
improve them whenever possible.
We shall continue to be guided as a
newspaper by what we perceive to
be in the public interest, fully
aware that as the community pro
spers so will we.
In a lighter vein, we perhaps
should warn you that the Public
Parade may not be the same. It is
almost impossible for one editor to
step into another’s shoes, much less
duplicate his thinking processes.
We feel reasonably sure there
will be less meandering along the
Public Parade. We may press,
rush, hurry. We may walk, jog,
run- dart, dash or drift. We may
occasionally loll or laze on a hot
summer day.
But we do not plan to meander.
To us, that implies lack of purpose
and direction, both of which we con
sider essential to the Chowan
Herald as it enters its second half
century.
Holiday Traffic
With traffic deaths and injuries
on the increase, Highway Patrol
Commander, Colonel David L. Mat
thews voiced concern about the Ju
ly 4 holiday period.
“Highway fatalities are already
ahead of last year at this time by
four percent, and with the increas
ed number of vehicles expected on
the highways, this holiday period
could be one of North Carolina’s
deadliest,’’ Matthews said.
Matthews pointed out that
although the holiday period consists
of only 54 hours - 6 P.M., Monday,
July 2, through midnight, Wednes
day, July 4 - motorists should be
alert to increased danger during
the entire week. “Many motorists
will utilize the full week for vaca
tion purposes,” he said.
“Troopers will Joe strictly enfor
cing all traffic laws during the
week, but motorists must realize
that they are primarily responsible
for their own safety,” Matthews
said. “If motorists will drive defen
sively,' use the vehicle safety
restraint system, and obey all traf
fic laws, this can be a safe and en
joyable holiday period.”
| According to Patrol records, 11
, people died on the highways during
t - A kAliitau rtant/tH in 1011*1
Small Farm Most Cost-Effective Site
by Maru Amburn
The State Divisiori of En
vironmental Management, after
evaluating seven additional
wastewater land application sites,
has determined the C.H. Small
land, off Mexico Road, to be the
most cost-effective site. Town coun
cil members agreed Tuesday to re
quest the State meet with them
during their regular July meeting
to answer questions relating to
their cost projections.
As a result of opposition to the
Small site selected by the Town of
Edenton, state soil specialists
visited the additional sites
throughout the county on June 11
and 12.
In his June 21 letter to Edenton
Mayor Roy Harrell, Walter D. Taft
Jr. of the Division of Environmen
tal Management said, "On the basis
of our evaluation, the Small site ap
pears to represent the least capital
cost expenditure, whereas the
Champion site appea> - to represent
the greatest.”
According to figures compiled by
the state, capital costs for the Small
site would be $4.8 million while the
Champion site, off Paradise Road,
would cost $7.7 million.
The town’s site selection process
had been narrowed to the 640-acre
Small site until a charge by the
Chowan County Commissioners
that the Champion site had not been
fully evaluated.
The call for further study of the
Champion site was promoted by
residents of the Advance communi
ty who argued that the location of
the land application facility in their
neighborhood would not only effect
the quality of life but also area pro
perty values.
Because Edenton is located in the
nutrient sensitive Chowan River
Basin, the town is required by the
Environmental Protection Agency
Continued On Page 4
County Crops In Dire Need Ot
Increased Rainfall This Summer
by Ron Anderson
Although some rain fell in
Chowan County over the weekend,
farmers could use a lot more.
According to Chowan Co.
Agricultural Extension Chairman
Mike Williams approximately 1/10
to 2/10 inches of rainfall was
measured in most areas of the
county. “We didn’t get enough rain
to say we don’t need a good rain for
a while,” said Williams. “All it did
was moisten the top inch of the
soil.”
Williams said that two areas of
the county (the southeastern sec
tion and an area near Gates Co.)
got enough rain to do them some
real good. More than one-half inch
of rain was measured in these
areas.
Tobacco is the crop that is in the
most trouble due to the lack of rain.
Williams said that tobacco plants
he has seen are only about 1 and 4
ft. tall; they should be double that
size. He also noted that the plants
are flowering too early.
The condition of corn in the coun
ty is becoming critical. Williams
said that now that the corn is star
ting to tassell, a great deal of
moisture is needed soon.
Because there is moisture deep in
the soil from spring rain, crops that
were planted earlier in the year are
doing better than those crops
planted recently. Peanut plant
roots have had time to reach down
to where the moisture is located,
but recently planted soybeans
aren't germinating because of a
lack of moisture at the top of the
soil.
"A good rain would benefit all
parts of the county," said Williams.
Y.. i> _ v 0
FIRST BLOOM—(Left to right) J.C., Jimmy and April Forehand
survey the sight where they discovered the first 1984 cotton bloom
in Chowan County. Jimmy Forehand noticed the bloom on the Par
rish Farm land he leases on Monday morning and promptly con
tacted J. Clarence Leary, Jr. at Leary Bros. Storage Co. with the
good news.
■■■ . ■ '
Volume No. XLVIII-No. 74
Edenton, North Carolina, Thursday, June 28, 1984
Single Copies 25 Cents
County Commissioners Approve $4.4 Million 1984-85 Budget
by Maru Amburn
In a special meeting Friday mor
ning, the Chowan County Commis
sioners approved a $4.4 million
budget for FY 1984-85.
The adopted budget calls for an
extra half-cent fire tax to be levied
on county citizens living within the
fire district. The 4 cents per $100
valuation tax will go into effect Ju
ly 1
Commissioners intended to hold
the line on all taxes, but their
budgeted amounts for Town of
Edenton fire and recreation ser
vices fell short of Edenton’s
request.
Although the Commissioners
'.V, s' . v •• *. , •• > ' •' ... &
agreed to grant the town’s funding
request, their were words of ad
monishment put on the record
before the final vote. Long-time
commissioner A1 Phillips said, "We
have to balance what we give the
recreation department against
what we give the schodls and social
services.”
Chowan County is in an agree
ment with the town for the recrea
tion and fire services. According to
town officials, the 33 percent fire
department funding and 45 percent
recreation funding directly reflect
county citizens use of services.
In addition to meeting the needs
of the county and upholding the
agreement for services with the
town, the approved county budget
will allow for a more healthy fund
balance. The county reserve should
reach $200,000 in 1984, an increase
of over $50,000 from 1983.
Funding for the Edenton-Chowan
school system accounts for nearly
30 percent of the county budget. The
24 percent increase represents a
hike from 1983’s $1.1 million to $1.4
million for 1984. The funding in
crease to the schools carries with it
an increased emphasis on
maintenance of school facilities.
Additionally, the commissioners
have set-aside over $200,000 for
renovations to D.F. Walker School.
The county budget also includes
a five percent pay increase for
county employees and funding for
the construction of an Emergency
Operations Center to replace the
old Rescue Squad Building.
i
DESERT SAILORS—Jimmy and Jerry McGill, from the Texas
desert town of Amarillo, learned to sail by reading a “how to sail”
book by America’s Cup skipper Ted Turner. The brothers then pro
ceeded east to Marblehead, Massachusetts to purchase their 40 foot
scooner, SWANRAD. Enroute to Florida, the pair stopped for an
overnight visit in Edenton where they tied-up at the town dock.
Nymerous interested townspeople walked down to meet them, in
cluding David Coston who is shown above exchanging some fishing
tales with the McGills. (Photo by Maru Amburn)
Judge Chaffin Presides Over Criminal Docket
Chowan Coupty District Court
was in session June 26, the
Honorable John T. Chaffin
presiding over the criminal
calendar.
Harriot Butler was found guilty
of driving 70 in a 55 mph zone. She
was fined $35 and cost of court.
Thomas Roosevelt Simons was
found guilty of not haying and en
dorcement for a motocycle. He was
sentenced to 30 days suspended for
2 years on the condition that he pay
a fine of $75 and cost of court.
Anthony Warren Wilcox was
found guilty of exceeding a safe
speed and having improper equip
ment. The charges were con
solidated for judgement. He was
sentenced to 30 days suspended for
2 years on the condition that he pay
a $100 fine and cost of court; ne
appealed.
Robert Curtis Owens was found
guilty of DWI. He received a 12
month commitment; he appealed.
Larry Wilder Louther was found
guilty of DWI. He was sentenced to
90 days suspended for 2 years on the
condition that he paya fine of $100
and cost of court. He is to perform
48 hours of community service, at
tend ADET and surrender his
drivers license. v
Hazel Victoria Britt was found
guilty of DWI. She was sentenced to
30 days suspended for 2 years on the
condition that she pay a fine of $100
and cost of court. As part of her
suspended sentence she must serve
an active commitment of 24 hours;
she appealed.
Mary Lawson Hardy was found
guilty of driving 45 in a 35mph zone.
She was fined $10 and cost of court;
she appealed.
Duane DeForest Raver,III was
found guilty of driving 65 in a 55mph
zone. He was fined $35 and cost of
court.
Warren Matthew Holley was
found guilty to passing a stopped
school bus. He was sentenced to 30
days suspended 2 years on the con
dition that he pay a fine of $100 and
cost of court;he appealed.
Wallace Clayton Phillips was
found guilty of driving 50 in a 35mph
zone. He was fined $35 and cost of
court.
• William Edward Cartwright was
found guilty of driving 65 in a 55mph
zone. He received a 10 day commit
ment;ne appealed.
Joseph Earl Griffin was found
guilty of driving 65 in a 55mph zone.
He was fined $25 and cost of court.
Geogette Metro was called and
failed to show on charges of driving
67 in a 55mph zone.
Timmy Keith Rockey was called
and failed to show on charges of
driving 68 in a 55mph zone.
Charles Grant Culbertson was
found guilty of failing to dim his
lights. He was fined $5 and cost of
court.
William S. DeBelles was called
but failed to show on a charge of
driving 66 in a 55mph zone.
Mauricio Eugeneio Niles was
called but failed to show on a
charge of driving 70 in a 55mph
zone.
Continued On Page I
Closed July 4
The Chowan Herald
business office will be closed
Wednesday, July 4 in obser
vance of the Independence
Day holiday.
The business office will
reopen Thursday, July 5.
The Chowan Herald will be
published on an early
schedule.
The deadline for display
advertisements will be Mon
day, July 2, 12 o'clock noon.
The deadline for classifieds
and legal advertisements will
be at 4 o’clock Friday, June
29.
Unemployment
Decline In May
RALEIGH—In May, North
Carolina’s unemployment rate
declined to its lowest level in more
than four years. The state’s total
unadjusted rate for May was 5.8
percent. The May rate has not been
matched since April 1980. Com
pared to April 1984 the total unad
justed rate is down .5 of a percen
tage point. The national unadjusted
rate was 7.2.
An estimated 175,000 workers
were unemployed in May, down
11,500 from April and down 104,900
(37 .4 percent) from the May 1983
number of unemployed.
North Carolina’s labor force
reached an all-time high of over 3
million in May with the total
employment also reaching an all
time high of 2,841,000, up to 41,600
jobs over April 1984.
In the nonmanufacturing sector.
Continued On Page I