Volume XLIX - No. 5
Edenton, North Carolina, Thursday, February 14, 1985
T—T
Single Copies 25 Cents
Marc On the Mark
Senator Marc Basnight of Manteo
is on the right track when he calls
for a united effort to promote
highway development in the north
eastern counties, which have long
been neglected by Raleigh,
whatever the administration in
charge.
As Senator Basnight pointed out
in his recent letter to the Chowan
Herald, literally hundreds of
millions are being spent by the
Department of Transportation each
year in its statewide highway pro
gram. But, for some reason or
other, the northeast has been short
changed, although some improve
ment has been noted in recent
years.
We were disappointed to see
newly-elected Gov. Jim Martin
commit such a large portion of the
state’s highway resources to the ac
celerated completion of a single
highway, the freeway from Benson
to Wilmington, which will eventual
ly come to be known as 1-40. We felt
that the southeast should take its
turn, as other sections of the state
have had to do, in seeing its main
traffic arteries developed. We know
of no Interstate Highway in the
state that has been rushed fo com
pletion at the rate proposed for the
Wilmington-to-Benson sector.
There are still unfinished links in
1-40 west of Raleigh, and it has been
under construction for 20 years or
more. Although 1-77 has been finish
ed aeToss the state at its narrow
waMt, some work remains on 1-85,
Which was perhaps the first in
terstate to go to contract in the
state.
We mention these examples to
show how other sections of Uie state
have had to stand in,their,
major construction projects while
the Benson-to-Wilmington
boulevard is rushed to completion
even before it gains designation as
an Interstate project. We still feel
that the state should allocate a
reasonable portion of the $100
million plus it has committed to the
southeastern project for upgrading
the system in the northeast.
Nor should this section be lulled
into a better mood because work at
long last is about to get underway
on rebuilding the bridge across
Albemarle Sound. That project is
being funded from an entirely
separate reserve, money already
earmarked for bridge repair and
replacement, and does not come
from the highway construction
reserve.
Not only does the northeast need
better bridges, but it needs better
roads leading to them; and the area
will have to make up in volume and
frequency of its requests for what
it lacks in population and industry.
And the Chowan Herald stands
ready to help do that.
We would suggest that every
voting age citizen of the area
uphold the united efforts of Senator
Basnight and Reps. Vernon James
and Charles Evans in trying to get
the attention of the Department of
Transportation focused on the
needs of the northeast.
Rep. Walter Jones of the First
Congressional District should also
be on the alert when Congress
again attempts to release the huge
federal highway fund to the states.
Now reputed to total some $7
billion, it is still tied up because
Congress could not agree on a
distribution formula. If the eager
beavers again attempt to earmark
portions of that fund for special pro
jects in their districts, Rep. Jones
should do the same thing for the
Albemarle section.
Too Liberal For Us
We Have just been invited by the
Conservative Political Action Con
E. L. Hollowed
Continuing
His Service
MURFREESBORO, NC-E. L.
Hollowell of Edenton is continuing
his service as a Chowan College
trustee, Class of 1988.
One of nine trustees elected dur
ing the annual meeting of the Bap
tist State Convention of North
Carolina, Hollowed has served
three previous terms on Chowan’s
Board of Trustees and a total of
four ytears on the Board of
Advisors.
He is the retired president and
chairman of the Board, Chowan
Veneer Co., Inc.
At Chowan, Hodowell has served
as chairman of the Board of
Trustees and the Accomplishing
Our Mission Campaign to construct
the $2.5 million gymnasium
Continued Oft Page-4*
Rezoning
Discussed
Edenton Town Council, Tuesday,
passed a resolution rezoning por
tions of the Oakum Street Con
munity Development Projecc and
the newly funded East Churcti
Street Community Development
Project from a CN Neighborhood
Commercial zone to an R-5
Residential zone. The action took
place after a lengthy public hearing
attended by approximately 60
people.
The rezoned area begins on East
Queen Street and follows Oakum
Street north to a point between
Carteret and Freemason Streets.
At the present time, the area in
cludes 22 private residences, 1
cemetery, 8 vacant lots, 1 lodge,
and 12 commercial properties.
Town of Edenton Building In
spector Chuck Nance told those at
tending the hearing that if the
neighborhood retained its CN
Neighborhood Commercial zoning
status, no new private residences
would be permitted to be built in the
area. He also said the zoning or
dinance would prohibit the opening
of any new business establishment
because lots available in the area
are not large enough to meet off
street parking and minimum fron
tage requirements.
But, he said, by rezoning the area
to R-5 Residential, private dwell
ings could be constructed in the
area and the 12 existing businesses
would not be effected. “The nature
of the request is not to put anybody
out of business, but the zoning
change would prohibit new
businesses in the area,” he added.
Many residents and property
owners representing the
neighborhood spoke at the hearing.
Vernon Austin, owner of La Dali
-- -CBrifitfngrOn pagr*
Symphony To Play Tonight
The North Carolina Symphony
will make its fourth appearance
before an Edenton audience tonight
at Ernest A. Swain School at 8 p.m.
Last year the concert was a
sellout, with final sales being made
at the door. Following the favorable
response to their 1984 performance,
Symphony Board members expect
this year to also be a sellout.
Performances by guitarist Elliot
Frank, the Edenton Choral Society
and the John A. Holmes High Con
cert Choir under the direction of
Associate Conductor James Ogle,
highlight the North Carolina Sym
phony’s Valentine’s Day Concert.
Elliot Frank will perform
Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez
for Guitar and Orchestra on the
first half of the program, followed
by a performance of Mozart’s
Regina Coeli as well as “America
the Beautiful” and “The Lord is My
Shepard’’ by the Edenton Choral
Society and the John A. Holmes
Concert Choir during the second
half. The Chamber Orchestra will
perform Mozart’s Overture to The
Marriage of Figaro, and Haydn’s
Symphony No. 101.
Tickets are $7 for adults and $4
for senior citizens and students; ad
mission is $8 and $5 at the door.
SYMPHONY PERFORMANCE— Associate Conductor James
Ogle will lead the N.C. Symphony Chamber Orchestra tonight at
8 p.m. in Swain Auditorium. T
NEW POSTMASTER— Howard C. Hodges (left) was sworn in as Edenton’s new postmaster by
Sectional Center/Postmaster Gold Joyner, Jr. (right) on Wednesday, February 6. Hodges’ wife Louise
held the Bible during the ceremony which occured at noon in the Edenton Post Office Building on
Broajd Street.
Hodges Sworn In As New Postmaster
Howard C. Hodges was sworn in
as Edenton’s new postmaster on
Wednesday, February 6 by Sec
tional Center/Postmaster Gold
Joyner, Jr. A large crowd, in
cluding family members, friends,
and local dignitaries, attended the
noon ceremony in the Edenton Post
Office building.
Hodges, 41, a native of Elizabeth
City, officially began his duties here
on February 2. He is replacing
James Bond who retired as
postmaster last year. William
Crosby, who has been the officer in
charge between Bond’s retirement
'find Hedges' appointment, has been
appointed postmaster at
Washington, N.C.
Before his appointment to the
postmaster position in Edenton,
Hodges served Superintendent of
Postal Operations at the Elizabeth
City post office. But his career with
the postal service began twenty
years ago while he was a sophmore
in college.
Hodges served as a distribution
clerk at the Elizabeth City post of
Sound Bridge
Replacement
Is Approved
RALEIGH — The state Board of
Transportation on Friday,
February 8 approved a $22.3 million
contract to replace the state’s
longest bridge, the Albemarle
Sound Bridge on NC-32 between
Washington and Chowan counties.
Under terms of the contract,
which was awarded to Cian
bro/Williams of Pittsfield, Maine,
a two lane “high rise” bridge will
replace the existing 48-year old
bridge across the sound.
Construction of the bridge will
start in April and is set for comple
tion in December 1988.
According to state transportation
officials, the wooden pilings which
support the bridge have been
damaged by exposure to the ele
ment of nature over the years.
Studies conducted in 1980 determin
ed that rehabilitation of the 3.5-mile
structure would not be cost
effective.
Currently, the bridge is posted for
a single vehicle weight limit of 20
tons — tractor, semi-trailer com
binations cannot exceed 22 tons.
State Transportation Secretary
James E. Harrington said that
replacement of the bridge was com
patible with Governor Jim Martin’s
commitment that North Carolina
will keep its reputation as the
“Good Roads” state.
“This is the largest single struc
ture contract ever awarded by the
Board of Transportation,” Harr
ington said. “It’s completion will
reestablish a vital link between the
logging operations north of the
sound and the pulp and paper mills
. Continued On Page 4
fice for fourteen years. He was then
promoted to Supervisor Mails and
Delivery, a position he held for
three years and four months.
“Working at the post office is all
I ever really wanted to do,” said
Hodges.
The postmaster’s position in
Edenton has been a career goal for
Hodges who said he “put his wheels
in motion” as soon as he learned of
Bond’s retirement plans. He was
chosen for the position from among
applicants representing the entire
southeastern region of the United
States.
Part of the attraction Jiie
postmaster’s position in Edenton
holds for Hodges is the town itself.
“I’ve always wanted to move to
Kinnon Lane
Participates In
Conference
Miss Kinnon Lane, a student at
John A. Holmes High School will be
one of 125 high school students from
across Eastern North Carolina to
participate in a Rotary Youth
Leadership Conference at the
Ramada Inn in Ahoskie.
The conference, sponsored by
Rotary Districts 771 and 773 and
hosted by 100 Rotary Clubs in the
two districts, will be March 1-3.
Keynoting the conference will be
W.O. McCoy, a Snow Hill native,
who is now Vice-Chairman of the
Board of BellSouth Corporation in
Atlanta.
Also conducting leadership ses
sions during the weekend will be
Judy and Merle Fraser of Dallas,
Texas; Dr. Tom Haggai of High
Point; Doug Starr of Rocky Mount;
Jeanne S. Robertson of Burlington;
and Reece Gardner of Kinston.
Entertainment for Friday night
will be provided by “Ovation” of
Kinston High School. Ed Kilbourne
of Chester S.C., will perform Satur
day night.
“The purpose of this con
ference,” according to conference
chairman Andy Jackson of
Ahoskie, “is to recognize and in
some small way help develop true
leadership potential in our young
people.”
Edenton,” he said.
Hodges is so taken with the town
he spent his entire lunch hour on
Monday driving around and taking
in the sights. He plans to move his
family here as soon as possible.
His family consists of his wife,
Louise M. Hodges, and two
children, Clay, 16, and Wendy, 11.
Hodges describes himself as an
avid golfer and said that he and his
wife are interested in all types of
sports.
“We’re all pleased with this ap
pointment,” Hodges said. “We’re
anxious to become a part of the
community.”
District Court
Session Held
Chowan County District Court
was in session February 12, 1985
with the Honorable Grafton G.
Beaman, presiding.
Jerry Blount pleaded guil‘
charges of assaulting a judio:. •.!
ficial and assaulting a law enioi c*
ment officer. Both charges were
consolidated for judgement and he
was sentenced to 12 months,
suspended 2 years on the condition
that he reports to Albemarle Men
tal Health and keeps all
appointments.
Rudolph Henry LaPoint was
found guilty of disobeying a stop
sign and driving without an
operator’s license. He was fined $10
and cost of court for disobeying the
stop sign. For operating without a
license he was fined $25; it was
suspended.
Edward Lewis Meher was found
guilty of an inspection violation. He
paid cost of court.
Emmett Ray Halfhill was found
guilty of making an unsafe move
ment in a motor vehicle. He was
fined $10 and cost of court; he
appealed.
Timothy Mark Glasgow was
found guilty of DWI, he was
sentenced to 30 days, suspended 2
years on the condition that he pay
a $50 fine and cost of court. He is
also to do 24 hours of community
service, to surrender his operator’s
license and attend ADET School;
he appealed. /
Larry Robert Privott was found
guilty of two counts of assaulting a
female, he was sentenced to 6
months, suspended 3 years, fined
$300 and cost of court. He is not to
harrass or threaten Donna Privott
for 3 years; he appealed.
Darlene Owen Pope was found
guilty of simple assault, she was
fined $25 and cost of court; she
appealed.
Helen Cook was found guilty of
assault, she was fined $50 and co6t
of court.
Samuel Tripp was found not guil
ty of assaulting a female.
Teresa Jean Robbins pleaded
Continued On Page 4