Benefits federal govenment starts talking about making workers’ benefits subject to income taxes, the average person along the Public Parade has only a 'Vague idea how big a bite that would be. According to the United States Chamber of Commerce, the na tion’s employers paid $550 billion for worker benefits during 1983, the latest year for which complete figures were available. And, since benefits rose faster than cash wages during 1963, the total for 1984 is expected to top $600 billion. The chamber’s 21st annual survey showed benefits for hourly rated employees amounted to 36.6 per cent of the total payroll, the same as for 1979, but slightly under the 37.3 per cent peak established «tpui a separate public employee benefits from those in the private sector. But the 36.6 per cent average is somewhat higher than benefits paid to state workers in North Carolina, which is estimated to be around 30 per cent of total wages. Under the modified flat tax pro posal being considered by Presi dent Reagan, benefits being provid ed workers by their employers would be subject to the income tax. Unless widespread exemptions were granted, that would mean a $600 billion source of new revenue. The average cost in benefits for 1983 was $7,582. That meant that benefits rose faster than wages dur ing the year, 5.5 percent as against 4.8 percent. For all employees, private as well as public, salaried as well as hourly rated, the cost of employer paid benefits soared from $510 billion in 1982 to $550 in 1983. It is ex iu >(wu uiiiiuu hi i9ot aim reach^$645 billion in 1985, based on replies from 1,454 employers. Since 1951, total annual benefit costs per employee rose from $644 to $7,582 in 1983, a jump of 1,077 per cent, with the largest increase dur ing that period being in legally required increases, such as social security, unemployment compen sation? worJunafiV‘dompenlaiSn' and railroad retirement taxes, which rose by 1,462 per cent. But almost as large an increase —1,421 percent — occurred in the area of private pensions, insurance, free meals, disability compensation and related items from 1951 to 1983. There were other, smaller in creases in such areas as paid vaca tions and days off, 837 percent; rest periods, lunches and other short term non-work, which rose 628 per cent; and profit sharing, thrift plans and related payments, which rose 617 per cent. The five most costly individual benefits in 1983 were insurance, social security, private pensions, paid vacations and paid holidays. All of this raises the question of where the impact would fall if the government finally decides to start taxing them as a part of individual income. The initial effect, of course, would be felt by the workers themselves in the form of an in crease of about 30 per cent in their tax liability. But business and in dustry generally would be called upon to shoulder a portion of the ad ditional cost, with the result that fewer and smaller benefits would be offered in the future. But, with the federal budget now Continued On Page 4 Volunteers To Ask For Your Contributions You’ve heard of the shots heard around 'the world, but what sound is heard,around the country on the last Sunday in February? The ring ing of doorbells - as more than 2 million Heart Association volunteers around the country visit their neighbors to leave educational materials andask for a donation to the Heart Association. Heart Sun day is this Sunday, February 24. Money given, to the Heart Association has helped fund research that has contributed to the development of \ heart-lung machines, artificial v Volume XLIX - No. 6 Edenton. North Carolina, Thursday, February 21, 1985 Single Copies 25 Cents New Ball Fields Receive Approval By the time the 1986 baseball season arrives, Edenton’s young ball players should be playing some of their games on two new ball fields. At its regular February meeting last week, Edenton Town Council approved preliminary plans for a Little League field and a “T-ball” field to be built on the old Chowan Veneer Company site on Oakum Street. The fields on the approx imately 2 Ms acre site will be unique in that they will be the only baseball fields owned by the town. At the present time the Recreation Department is leasing all of its fields. “The fields will alleviate the overcrowding of the Fisher fields,” said Robbie Laughton, Recreation Director. The new fields will also enable student ball players to get home earlier on school nights. Because of the limited number of Michael Ray Wagner New Chapter Is Dedicated This Saturday, February 23, members of.the.Disablad American Veterans Chapter #56 of rocky Hock will dedicate their new chapter in the name of Michael Ray Wagner at the Rocky Hock Com munity Center. The dedication is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. Michael Ray Wagner, the son of Rev. Donald and Mrs. Dorothy Wagner of Rocky Hock, was an in vestigative officer, 1st class, U.S. Navy attached to the American Embassy Beruit, Lebanon. He lost his life on September 20,1984 when two terrorists blew up an ex plosive-packed van. Reynold L. Mosley ^ 1st District Commander of Disabled American Veterans said, “The program is a love and praise tribute to Michael Ray Wagner who served his coun try well. On Saturday we’ll honor him by dedicating this chapter (56) in his name and by unveiling a photograph which will be per manently displayed on the wall of the auditorium in the Rocky Hock Community Building.” Following the dedication pro gram a Bar-B-Que dinner will be served. The public is invited to attend. Post Office Is Supplied With “D” Stamps Edenton Postmaster Howard Hodges says that an adequate supp ly of “D” stamps and other nondenominated items is available at the Edenton post office. The nondenominated “D” stamps in sheet, coil and booklet formats represent the new 22-cent first-class rate. There are also nondenominated postal cards and plenty of two-cent stamps that, when added to 20-cent stamps, make up the new first-class letter rate. “Nobody likes to see higher postal rates, but this increase is moderate and justified,’’ Hodges said. “Since the last increase in November 1981, the cost of living in the United States, as measured by the Consumer Price Index, has gone up almost 13 percent. The 22-cent stamp is only a 10 percent rise,” he said. • v fc- < 4-, . ? . 4 Wm fields available, numerous Little League games now have to be scheduled for the same evening causing some students to stay out late on school nights. Laughton said, “The new fields will alleviate this problem because we will have additional fields to play games on during the earlier hours of the evening.” The estimated cost of new fields, which will be used for football and soccer games in the fall, is $50,000. Included in the cost are bleachers, rest rooms, concession stands, a parking lot, and lights. The town’s Street and Utility Departments will do a lot of the work on the fields. “That, of course, saves us money,’’ said Laughton. Laughton said that work on the fields is scheduled to begin sometime this summer and that lighting for the fields should be in stalled by the summer of 1987. District Court Session Chowan County District Court was in session February 19 with the Honorable J. Richard Parker presiding. Daniel R. Marshall pleaded guil ty to nine counts of passing wor thless checks. He was sentenced to 240 days to begin at the end of his eight year present commit ment; work release was recom mended. He is to make restitution to TG&Y, Maxway, Belks and Etna. Barry Eugene Reid was found guilty of driving 68 mph in a 55 mph zone. He was fined $10 and cost of. court. Maurice Lanek Otim-Nono was found guilty of driving while license revoked. He was sentenced to 90 days suspended two years on the condition he pay $250 fine and cost of court. He is not to operate a motor vehicle until duly licensed. Earl Ray Bonner was found guil Banquet For BPW Bosses The Edenton Business and Pro fessional Women’s Club will hold their annual Bosses Night Banquet tonight (Thursday), at the Edenton United Methodist Church. • A special feature of the evening is presentation of Woman of the Year. Every year the BPW Club selects a woman who has made outstanding contributions to our community. The banquet is also held to honor bosses, employees and former Women of the Year. Lyn Usher of Northeastern North Carolina Tomorrow will be guest speaker for the occasion. Jackie Copeland will entertain with dinner music. County Party Plan Meets Chowan County Democratic Par ty Precinct meetings will be held at 8 P.M. on Thursday, March 7 at the polling places in each precinct. All registered Democrats are en couraged to attend. Items to be included on the agen da at each precinct meeting are the following: 1. Election of six active Democrats as officers of the Precinct Committee. Officers to be elected are Chairman, three Vice Chairmen, Secretary and a Treasurer. 2. Election of an additional four (4) members to the Precinct Committee. 3. Election of delegates to the County Convention. 4. Consideration of resolutions and other new business. Each registered Democrat atten ding his/her precinct meeting will have one vote. Each and every Democrat is encouraged to attend their precinct meeting. For further information, call Lueta Sellers, County Chair, at 482-4134. Qualifications For Funding Chowan County forest land owners located in the Chowan River watershed may qualify for cost-share funding to reduce stream sedimentation stemming from forestry activities according to Mike Williams, county extension agent. Funding requires an opera tional plan approved by the N.C. Division of Forest Resources which must include Best Management Continued On Pa|e 4 ty of driving while impaired. He was sentenced to 90 days suspend ed one year on the condition he pay $100 fine and cost of court. He is to perform 72 hours of community ser vice, surrender his license and at tend ADET school. Gaston Lee Turner was found guilty of driving while impaired. He was sentenced to 60 days suspend ed one year on the condition he pay* $100 fine and cost of court. He is to perform 24 hours of community ser vice, surrender his license and at tend ADET school. James Edward Boyce was found not guilty of making an unsafe movement. Louie Elva McElroy was found guilty of failure to report an acci dent. He was sentenced to 60 days suspended one year on the condition he pay a $100 fine and cost of court. Golden Asro Frinks called but failed to show on charges of im proper registration and displaying fictitious license. William Ervin Long was found guilty of assault on a female. He was sentenced to 90 days suspend ed one year on the condition he pay a $75 fine and cost of court. He is not to assault, harass or intimidate Rita Modlin for one year. Edgar Wayne Ryan was found guilty of driving while impaired. He was sentenced to six months suspended two years. As a condi tion of probation he must serve an active seven day commitment. He was fined $200 and cost of court and is to attend ADET school. Patricia Epps was called but fail ed to show on a charge of passing worthless checks. Ernell Junious Bond was found guilty of shoplifting. He was sentenced to six months suspended one year on the condition he pay $100 fine and cost of court. He is not to go on the premises of A&P for one year. Creywood To Open Car Care Service Center Creywood is opening a new 11,000 sq. ft. complete car care service center on the corner of Coke Avenue and Broad Street across from TG&Y. “I hope we’ll be open for business this Friday and have a grand open ing the first part of next week,” said John Smith, co-owner of Creywood Tire and Service Center. Smith, who was formerly vice SERVICE CENTER— Pictured above is the management team that will operate Creywood’s new spacious service center located on the corner of Broad Street and Coke Avenue. From left to right are: Gilbert Garrett, front-end specialist; Tom Reid, store manager; and co-owners, John Smith and Charlie Creighton. ! s HELP—Percy Bass received a lot of unexpected help from some feathered friends last week as he was breaking ground on land he will farm this year. Bass is renting the land in Rocky Hock. Abduction Prevention Day Child Abduction Prevention Day will be observed in Edenton Chowan Schools on Monday, February 25. The systemwide awareness day will be supported by the Sheriffs Department and the Agricultural Extension Agency as well as several Parent-Teacher organizations who will be finger printing all K-6 students. Thousands of children runaway, are abducted, kidnapped or simp ly disappear each year. All missing children are hurt in some way by the experience. Runaways may fall victim to pornographers, be forced into prostitution or drug use, or “sold” in illegal adoptions. Children taken by divorced or separated parents at least have a chance to go to school, grow up, and lead normal lives. But they are marked by their experience - especially if they are told the other parent doesn't love them anymore, doesn’t ever want to see them again, or has died. Children abducted by strangers are usually in the greatest danger because few survive the first days of their disappearance. Even the children who are found and reunited with their parents may be scarred by the experience They often need professional help to heal psychological wounds. The loss of a child can happen in any family. Kidnapping happens more often in families where parents have separated and are fighting over the custody of the children, but it also happens to car ing and concerned parents. Police and social service workers say some places are especially Continued On Page 4 Rotary Club Serves Foe ,1 The Edenton Rotary Club will serve Hot Cakes, Sausage, and Eggs on Saturday, February 23 at the John A. Holmes High School Cafeteria for the benefit of the Rotary Scholarship Fund. Breakfast will be served from (i a.m. till 9 a.m.; lunch from 11 •; m. till 2 p.m.; and dinner from till 7 p.m. Tickets are $3 for all y u and are available fron. Rotarian or at the door. president of Dickerson, Inc., added, “We’re going to provide complete service for anyone who drives in here. Quality service is our goal.” The new center will offer one-stop service for passenger cars and light trucks including computerized balancing, custom muffler service, and front-end alignments. “Of course we plan to do general repairs,” said Smith. Creywood Oil Company’s facility on Coke Avenue will continue to operate as a commercial tire centei providing service for heavy trucks, tractors, and off-road tires. Hours for the new Creywood Tire and Service Center are 7:30 AM to 5 P.M. weekdays and 7:30 A M. till noon on Saturdays.

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