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Volume XUX ■ No. 7
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Edenton, North Carolina, Thursday, February 28, 1985
Single Copies 25 Cents
Not For Just A Day
Although teachers’ pay in North
Carolina now ranks only 33rd
among the 50 states, the real heroes
are not the education professionals
but the working people along the
puHlin Parorlo and olcAU/hppA in thf>
is often overiooKea aur
me biennial budget squabbles in
Raleigh is that our teachers,
however much more they deserve,
are maintained at rank 33rd by
wage earners who stand 45th from
the top.
Wage figures for 1984 are not
available, but at the close of 1983
the average wage in North Carolina
was $14,676, an increase of 6.1 per
cent over the previous year. 'Oiat
figure no doubt will be somewhat
higher for 1984, but is not likely to
change the state’s ranking very
much. For any gain would have to
reflect the 14.5 per cent increase
given school people and the 10 per
cent given other public employees
during 1984.
Salaries for teachers in North
Carolina now average about $18,000
for nine months work. If everybody
else were paid as well, our state
would move from 45th up to 12th
place, or even higher if the three
months vacation time is taken into
account. The average income for
the nation as a whole at the begin
ning of 1984 was $17,544.
Just what will happen to the state
budget this year is not yet clear.
Legislators pretty generally are
committed to another round of pay
increases for teachers in other
public employees. A great many of
them are in favor of reducing class
size, beefing up the basics and put
ting into effect a merit pay system
for teachers, which would be over
and above any across the board
increase.
To do aU of these,'even on-a
phased-in basis, would require pro
bably a half billion dollars in new
money. Then there are other agen
cies that can make a good case for
1 more money. Our community col
lege system, for example, ranks
near the bottom when it comes to
instructional pay. Our university
sytem needs more money with
which to intensify research in
biotechnology, which is fast becom
ing the lowest common
denominator for improving the
quality of life among our people.
' Meanwhile, Gov. Jim Martin ap
pears to be making a good case for
removing the sales tax on food and
medicine and repealing the inven
tory and intangibles levies outright
— a reduction of almost a half
billion dollars in our total state tax
burden.
a billion dollars between the wants
I Continued On Page 4
Tornado Week
Is Proclaimed
Governor Jim Martin has pro
claimed the week of March 3-9 as
“Tornado Awareness Week” in
North Carolina.
Martin said, “Tornadoes can be
killers as all North Carolinians
know from last year’s storms that
left 44 people dead in eastern North
Carolina. All of our citizens need to
be aware of the weather signs that
precede a tornado so they can take
actions to protect themselves and
their loved ones.”
“I commend the National
Weather Service, the Department
of Crime Control and Public Safe
ty, and the Department of Public
Instruction for their cooperative ef
forts to educate the public to the
dangers of tornadoes and tornado
safety measures during the week.”
“Tornado Awareness Week” is
an annual effort of the Division of
Emergency Management in the
Department of Crime Control and
Public Safety, the National
Weather Service, the Department
of Public Instruction, and other in
terested agencies. The main focus
of the week will be a statewide tor
nado drill sometime during the
Crime Control and Public Safetv
WOMAN OF THE YEAR — Marquerite Butler McCail is the
B.P.W. Club’s Woman of the Year for 1984. She is pictured in her
office in the Barker House with a plaque presented to her by the
B.P.W. last Thursday evening.
McCall Named The BPW’s
1984 Woman Of The Year
Marguerite Butler McCall was
named Edenton and Professional
Women’s Club 1984 Woman of the
Year at the organisation’s annual
Bosses’ Night Banquet held Thurs
day, February 21 in the Fellowship
Hall of the Edenton Methodist
Church.
The B.P.W. has presented the
award annually since 1950 to
recognize women in Edenton or
Chowan County who are “unique
and special to our community.”
McCall is the educational coor
dinator of the Edenton Historical
Commission, a position she has held
for three years. She is a much re
quested speaker throughout
eastern North Carolina and
sometimes portrays Penelope
Barker, the woman who organized
the Edenton Tea Party.
A prolific writer, McCall writes
articles f9£,“XJ^,Qiawa;Jt He? aid! ’
and other local publications. She
has been published in “The State”
magazine and recently completed
her first novel, “And Roofs Needs
Patching.”
McCall was born in Hertford and
attended East Carolina University
in the early 50’s. She is married and
the mother of two sons.
The award was presented to
McCall by Betty Manning, presi
dent elect, B.P.W. Lynn Usher was
the speaker for the evening.
ROTARY— Charlie Overman (left) became a “Paul Harris
Fellow” at Edenton Rotary Club’s Ladies Nite Banquet. Pictured
with Overman is Ray Jones of the Elizabeth City Rotary Club who
made the award presentation.
Overman First To Receive Award
The Edenton Rotary Club
honored one of its members on
Thursday, February 21 by making
him a “Paul Harris Fellow.”
Charlie Overman, a Rotary
member for 46 years, became the
first member of the Edenton chib to
be a recipient of the prestigious ti
tle. The announcement was made
at the organization’s Ladies Nite
Banquet held in the American
Legion Budding.
“This is one of the greatest and
best surprises I’ve ever had,” Over
man told the crowd after he was
honored.
On becoming a Paul Harris
Fellow, Overman had a gift of
$1,000 contributed to the Rotary
Foundation in his name and was
presented a certificate, a gold
medallion and a distictive lapel pin.
The money will be used to support
Continued On Page 4
Heart dunaay A Jtsig
Success For Chapter
Saturday, Feb. 23 and Sunday,
Feb. 24th were big days for the
American Heart Association in
Chowan Co.
On Saturday, Britthaven of
Edenton held a very successful
“Home With Heart” celebration
which included a Break Dance for
Heart competition for children K-3.
This event was well attended and
enjoyed by all. They also conducted
a Blood Pressure Screening and
passed out educational materials
relating to cardiovascular disease.
On Sunday from 2-4 p.m. the
residents of Wm. B. Gardner Senior
Village were treated to an Open
House for Heart with story telling
and musical entertainment. Many
family members and visitors at
tended this “standing room only”
celebration on Heart Sunday.
The residents at Unit B, Chowan
Hospital were also celebrating on
Sunday. They too had an Open
House with a Love Tree, local
entertainment, refreshments,
helium balloons and another blood
pressure screening, as well as
many fine educational materials.
Heart Sunday was a huge success
again this year. With heart disease
being our number one killer we all
need to fight. Thank you for being
so generous, Chowan County. The
many dedicated volunteers are
what make all of the research and
public and professional education
possible. Keep up the good work.
We’re fighting for your life!
County Court Session Held
Chowan County District Court
was in session February 26, the
Honorable J. Richard Parker
presiding over the criminal
calendar.
Benjamin McPherson pleaded
guilty to charges of abandonment
and nonsupport of his wife and
child. He was sentenced to 6 months
suspended for 5 years on the condi
tion he pay court costs and make
monthly support payments.
Daniel Spencer Bowes was found
guilty of exceeding a safe speed. He
was ordered to pay cost of court.
Tasha Rena Clegg pleaded guilty
to shoplifting. She was sentenced to
60 days supended on the condition
she pay a fine of $50 and court costs.
She is not to go on the premises of
Cato’s for 1 year.
Johnny Edward Brooks pleaded
guilty to shoplifting. He was
sentenced to 60 days suspended for
1 year on the condition he pay a fine
of $50 and cost of court; he
appealed.
Joseph Robert Balia nee was found
guilty of indecent exposure. He was
sentenced to 6 months suspended
for 3 years on the condition he pay
a fine of $250 and cost of court. He
is to attend Albemarle Mental
Health Center.
Joseph Robert Ballance was found
guilty of reckless driving. He was
ordered to pay cost of court.
Financial Report Released
The North Carolina National
Guard with an operating budget of
nearly $100 million a year is one of
the larger employers in the state a
recently released economic impact
statement reveals.
About two- thirds of the operating
budget goes to salaries for the more
than 13,000 Guard members for
weekend drill and annual training.
These salaries provide additional
income to the Guard members’ full
time jobs and get spent in com
munities throughout the state the
statement indicates.
In Edenton the National Guard
with its 98 members has a total
financial impact of $331,394.00.
The total for Edenton includes
military pay for Guard members,
operating expense for the local ar
mory, local purchases and pay for
full-time personnel.
In releasing the financial infor
mation Maj. Gen.Hubert M.
Leonard, North Carolina Adjutant
General, points out “The North
Carolina National Guard is indeed
big business and the financial im
pact on our state is substantial. The
National Guard is more than a
group of citizen-soliders ready to
respond to state and federal
emergencies. We are a viable asset
to our state’s economy.”
The Guard operated on a state
budget of $5.5 million in 1984. This
allocation generated $93 million in
federal funding during the fiscal
year.
Local support for units across the
Arbitration To
Be Discussed
The Edenton-Chowan Board of
Education will hold its regular
monthly meeting Monday, March 4
at White Oak School Auditorium
beginning at 7:30 p.m.
At the meeting, the board will
hear reports on: Good Things from
White Oak School; the arbitration
hearing with Eastern Construction
Co.; physical improvement ac
tivities; the parent-teacher con
ference held Friday, February 1;
and result of the competency tests.
The board will consider: the
library roof at John A. Holmes High
School; the D.F. Walker drainage
project; a systemwide insurance
program; the safety policy for
vocational programs; student
teacher policy; the auditor’s con
tract; and die results of D.F.
Walker renovation opening bids.
state amounted to $291,553. Total
capital assets amount to $74.7
million and equipment is valued at
$598.1.
In Edenton the full and part-time
Guard payroll amounted to
$323,407.00 during 1984.
Replacement value for Edenton
armory facility is $533,561.00.
The National Guard is best
known for it’s assistance to state
and local authorities during
emergencies. In 1984 North
Carolina Guard personnel put in
4,665 man-days following the March
tornadoes and an estimated 3,500
man-days during and after Hur
rican Diana.
Less well known is the increasing
roll assigned to the National Guard
in recent years for its federal war
time mission. Every National
Guard unit now has a specific war
time assignment. In North Carolina
several are included in (he Rapid
Development Force which would be
employed in the early days of any
future conflict.
I
Nelle Manning Hyatt
Hyatt New
Employee
Mrs. Nelle Manning Hyatt, 205
West Eden Street, has been
employed by the College of the
Albemarle as a new Learning Lab
instructor in Edenton.
Mrs. Hyatt earned a bachelor of
science degree in history and
political science and a master’s
degree in library science and Art
from East Carolina University.
During her period of graduate
study, ECU awarded Mrs. Hyatt a
teaching fellowship in library
science.
After teaching social studies at
the Chowan Academy for a year,
she joined the Edenton-Chowan
School system where she has
taught social studies for the past
four years. Currently, she’s
teaching a class of Advanced
Placement U.S. History at Holmes
High School.
On Tuesday and Thursday even
ings from 7 to 9:45 p.m., Mrs Hyatt
can be found in the COA Learning
Lab located at the high school.
These two programs of studies
are available for adults who wish to
Continued On Page 1
Investigation
Is Continuing
A break-in occured early Monday
morning, February 25 at the
residence of Mrs. Lois Overton, 800
Cabarrus Street, Edenton.
According to an Edenton Police
Department report, Mrs. Overton
saw an individual enter her house
through the front bed room win<
sometime around 2 a m. Shi
after the intruder entered, h(
Mrs. Overton and left through
same bed room window.
Mrs. Overton said that, from
what she could tell, the intruder
was tall and slim and was wearing
either a dark blue or black jacket.
Police are continuing to in
vestigate the incident.
SCOUTS— David Bass (left), a representative for Woodmen of
the World Insurance, presented Eric Linehardt an American flag
for Edenton’s Boy Scout Troop 164 at the troop’s Court of Honor
held in the Methodist Church Monday evening. Larry Johnson,
scoutmaster, is pictured between Bass and Linehardt. Also that
evening Scouts John Keeter and Edward “Scooter” Basnight
received their Life badges.