Volume XLIX - No. 44
Edenton, North Carolina, Thursday November 21, 1985
Single Copies 25 Cents
Quantity As Well As Quality
Chowan County commissioners
are showing good judgement in
wanting to keep abreast of
developments affecting water
quality in the Chowan and
Roanoke River basins. Nothing is
more important than that to long
term, orderly planning for the
future.
But, insofar as the Roanoke
basin is concerned, the problem of
adequate quantity could become
equally important with quality as
litigation over the inter-basin
transfer of water makes its way
through the courts. What we are
saying is that if Virginia Beach is
successful in establishing its
rights to draw off millions of
gallons daily from Lake Gaston,
then the downstream rights of
water users will be under serious
danger.
Virginia Beach has already
been issued a federal permit to
construct a pipeline for that pur
pose, but the validity of that per
mit is now under attack in the
federal courts. Altogether, there
are five separate suits, some
defending the permit, others at
tacking it. Before it is all over, we
will have heard a great deal more
about the doctrine of riparian
rights.
Best definition of that terni we
have read recently was by Dan
Oakley, special deputy attorney
general, who quoted the North
Carolina Supreme Court in a 1938
case as follows:
“It has become a well
established principle of law in this
and most other jurisdictions that
any substantial diversions of
waters or pollution of waters of a
stream gives rise to a cause of ac
tion in behalf of all riparian
owners affected theffebyr.'.’l’fie’
frights oi riparian owners in arun
rftng stream above and below are
equal; each has a right to the
} reasonable use and enjoyment of
water, and each has a right to the
natural flow of the stream subject
to such disturbance and conse
quent inconvenience and an
noyance as may result to him
from a reasonable use of the
water by others. There may be a
diminuation in quantity or a retar
dation or accelaeration of the
natural flow indispensable for the
general valuable use of the water
perfectly consistent with the ex
istence of the common right and
this may be done so long as the
retardation and acceleration is
reasonably necessary in the
lawful and beneficial use of the
stream. The diminuation, retar
dation, or acceleration not
positively and sensibly injurious
by diminishing the value of the
common right is an implied ease
ment in the right of using the
stream. The right to use
necessarily implies a right to ex
ercise a degree of control over the
water and to some extent to
diminish its volume.”
In a more recent case, the court
> went on to say that this rule
“allows each landowner to make
reasonable use of his land even
though, by doing so, he alters in
Continued On Page 4
Area Farm-City Week Observed
Several activities are being
planned in Chowan County in
observance of Farm-City Week,
according to Mike Williams,
County Extension Chairman.
Among these activities is the
Farm-City Week Banquet
scheduled for November 26. Those
who wish to attend should contact
the county extension office
(482-8431) to make reservations.
Governor James G. Martin has
proclaimed November 22-28 as
Farm—City week in North
Carolina'and has “urged all our
citizens to recognize and
strengthen the bonds of coopera
tion between our .city and country
people.”
> The governor pointed out that
the prosperity and well-being of
all citizens depebd on the products
and service of both industry and
agriculture. Yet, the increasing
complexity, of problems and the
divergence of activities in in
dustry and agriculture create the
need for closer communication
between these two sectors of our
economy.
The state chairman of Farm
City Week is Dr. Kenneth May,
president and chief executive of
ficer of Holly Farm Poultry In
dustry, Inc. The county chairman
is Mike McArthur.
Helping to coordinate activities
at both the county and state levels
are staff members of the North
Carolina Agricultural Extension
Service. Over 30 state-wide
organizations are also supporting
the effort.
RESCUE AND SALVAGE EFFORTS MADE—Thursday morning after a Cessna 182 crashed into the
Albemarle Sound off Cape Colony, area emergency units joined to rescue survivors and salvage the plane.
(Top left photo) The 22 foot Coast Guard boat from Coinjock, assisted in the search by keeping unauthorized
boats clear of the diving area. (Bottom left) Flotation devices (air bags) were used to raise the sunken
plane out of the water. One landing gear, part of the fuselage, and a strut are visible in the photo. (Photo
above) The wreckage rests on a flatbed trailer truck at the Edenton Airport after recovery operations
were completed.
Airplane Crash Claims Edenton businesswoman’s Life
ny jacK urove
(Editors Note: Y/e wish to thank John
and Ruth Groff of Cape Colony for in
viting us along on their boat during the
search and rescue operation Thursday
morning.)
Emergency units joined forces
Thursday morning in search and
rescue efforts as the result of an
airplane crash in heavy fog in
Albemarle Sound off Cape Colony.
The Cessna 182, owned by George
Henderson, and R.D. Sawyer,
both of Manteo, crashed in heavy
mid-morning fog.
Henderon, 48, and employee of
AtlanticForest Products, escaped
serious injury but his passenger,
Barbara White, 34, of Edenton,
also an employee of Atlantic
Forest Products, was killed.
Henderson was rescued from the
20-foot deep water by commercial
fishermen.
An emergency radio transmis
sion by the fishermen on marine
channel 16 was received by the
Coast Guard Small Boat Station,
Hobucken. A Coast Guard Sikor
sky H-3 helicopter on a routine
training mission over the sound
was diverted to the scene.
The radio message was also in
tercepted by Jim Ricks on his
scanner at his laundry on Church
Street. Ricks said the fishermen
reported that they were “coming
in on the west side of the bridge.
He said there was an airplane
down - that it was sunk - and that
there was a woman on board.”
Ricks a member of the US Coast
Guard Auxiliary called the
message in to the Chowan
Emergency Medical Services of
fice and then called the Coinjock
Coast Guard Station to verify the
emergency.
Patricia Madry of EMS, said
she received the call at 11 a.m.
and that the Chowan Rescue
Squad’s boat was manned and
proceeded to the scene at 11:07.
Deputy Sheriff Linda Terry who
talked to the unidentified
fishermen said that she was told
Henderson was “found on the
railroad bridge.” At press time,
the identities of the fishermen are
still unknown to authorities.
Participating in the search for
the sunken single engine aircraft
were two H-3 helicopters from the
Elizabeth City Air Station, a 22
foot boat out of the Coinjock sta
tion, the rescue squad boat, officer
Lester Lewis’s NC Marine
Fisheries beat (with diver Dean
Christmas
Parade
Scheduled
Edenton’s annual Christmas
Parade will be held on Sunday,
December 1, beginning at 2:30
p.m. Theme for the event, which
is sponsored by the local Chamber
of Commerce, will be “The Carols
of Christmas”. The Chamber
staff, under the direction of Jerry
Hendee, has worked very hard to
make this year’s parade the best
ever.
However, they cannot do it
alone. In order for the parade to
be a success, the enthusiastic sup
port of the entire community is
needed. Organizations and
businesses wishing to participate
may obtain entry forms by calling
the Chamber office at (919)
482-3400.
December 1 is not very far
away. So, please get in touch with
the Chamber as soon as possible
and let them know if you would
like to take part in this year’s
Christmas parade. Inquiries from
all interested groups are
welcome.
I
1
Holiday
Deadlines
The Chowan Herald will be
closed next Thursday in order
to allow employees to spend
the Thanksgiving holiday with
their families. Consequently, a
revised production schedule
will be followed for next
week’s newspaper.
All classified and display
advertising must be in our of
fice no later than 12 noon cm
Monday, November 25. News
items and photographs intend
ed for publication next week
must be brought to our office
no later than 2:00 p.m. Mon
day. Those who can have ads
or news items turned in Friday
(tomorrow) are strongly urg
ed to do so.
Your cooperation in observ
ing these deadlines is deeply
appreciated. The Chowan
Herald will re-open at 8:30
a.m. on Friday, November &
Huffernan of the Pasquctank
Camden Rescue Squad embark
ed) several area volunteer boats,
and the sheriff’s department.
The site of the crash was found
at 1 p.m. approximately three
fourths of a mile west of the
railroad bridge and two miles
from shore.
Coast Guard spokesman, Lt—
jg William O’Donnell, said a high
flying helicopter spotted a light oil
slick through patchy fog swept
away by the rotors of a low-flying
helicopter. While the Coast Guard
boat marked the spot, and H-3
returhed to Elizabeth City to pick
trp'divers froBTthe.Atlantlc Strike
Team.
Strike team divers recovered
White’s body which was transfer
i d *v„ Coast Guard Helicopter to
the rescue squad at the Edenton
Airport. Deputy Sheriff Terry said
the medical examiner ruled death
as a result of a broken neck.
Salvage efforts are continuing
to recover all of the downed
aircraft.
salvage Attempts Made
by Jack Grove
The crash of a single engine
Cessna 182 in Albemarle Sound
last week has been the focus of a
continuing salvage operation. Bill
Phillips of Diving Services Co. of
Edenton and Randy Spear of Nags
Head Pro Dive Center contracted
the task.
policeman) and Spear found the
plane mainly intact with the ex
ception of the engine, one landing
gear and a door. They conducted
a dive on Sunday to attempt to
locate the engine.
The plane was lifted from the
bottom on Monday morning with
air bags. A stiff breeze hampered
towing of the partly submerged
aircraft. Their goal was to tow it
to the Bayltner Marine facility for
ter: Usrrtg ifie '
salvage boat, the tow got just east
of the railroad bridge after an all
Continued On Page 4
Excellence In Education Awards Received
Teachers, administrators, and
staff of John A. Holmes High
School were honored at a banquet
Tuesday night for their contribu
tions to the “Excellence in Educa
tion” award received by the
school recently at the White
House.
A large crowd of parents,
educators and staff heard warm
words of praise for all of those
who contributed to winning the
award.
Principal Rob Boyce said that
he had “many strong feelings of
appreciation. 1 can only say
thanks.” he continued. “I want to
thank you for understanding that
excellence is not a destination but
a journey. I thank you for being
willing to pay the price.”
Guest speaker at the event was
Mrs. Naomi Benzil, consultant to
the National Secondary School
Recognition Programs. She told of
evaluating seven schools for the
honor including John A. Holmes.
Berizil said she found many
common attributes among the
schools she visited. She said all
had fairly, complete sports com
plexes (laughter from the crowd);
computer centers; hard-working
teachers, many of whom felt
underpaid; a feeling of “family”
among faculty and staff; parents
complimentary of teachers and
teachers complimentary of
parents; students well-liked in the
community; students doing
volunteer work in the community ;
and many volunteers from the
community working in the
schools.
She also said that she found that
the schools’ administrators “
were good communicators. " Ben
zil concluded her remarks by say
ing, “I think you can all look with
pride at your accomplishment.”
A special cheer, composed by
the varsity cheerleading squad
was performed in honor of the
teachers. Another special feature
of the program was the presenta
tion of a video tape of the pro
ceedings on the White House lawn
with the President. The showing
produced many chuckles at the
expense of the “amateur
photographer."
Dr. John Dunn, superintendent
of schools, told the group that the
Edenton contingent lingered a lit
tle too long on the White House
lawn after the event was conclud
ed. He said that a Secret Service
agent came up to them and polite
ly asked if they didn’t think they
might have just enough video tape
for the day?
Dunn said, “This has been a
great occasion. For most of us,
this is a once in a lifetime oppor
tunity to receive an award like
this.” He said, “Ain’t it great to be
associated with winners?”
Plaques were then presented to
each teacher, administrator, and
staff member by the entire school
board.
KKUblVES awaku—leacner Jimmy Bass accepts his plaque at John A. Holmes Excellence in Educa
tion awards banquet Tuesday night. Plaques were awarded to all faculty and staff of the school.