Star Wars At The Bar
High tech flunked an important
test at 11:39 a.m. last Tuesday
when NASA’s space shuttle
Challenger disintegrated 10 miles
above the Atlantic, bringing home
to us again the spd fact that the
best laid plans of mice and men
‘don’t always work out.
In terms of human life, the loss
was great. All six members of the
crew and a school teacher civilian
perished in the twinkling of an
eye, almost as if, like the prophet
of old, they walked with God and
were not.
But, dramatic as it was, and
deep' as.was the national grief in
to which it plunged Us all, it would
have been considered minor had
it been the crash of an airliner or
troop transport, which often claim
lives by the hundreds and barely
make the headlines.
Nor, through the long corridors
of history, could it be considered
an unacceptable loss in human
lives given in the quest of
knowledge and exploration. For
example, the search for the nor
thwest passage to the Pacific bore
a higher cost in human lives and
suffering than all our space ex
i ploration to date.
It will be recalled that Sir John
Franklin, after two attempts to
survey the route by land during
which he lost 11 of his 20-man
crew, became icebound in 1846
with two ships and 129 men near
King William Island and all even
tually perished after much hunger
and suffering.
A comparably-costly NASA
venture would trap a large crew
aboard a space station unable to
return to earth then slowly runn
ing out of life-support supplies
while backup crews on earth
sought hopelessly to find and
rescue them and television night
. ly relayed messages of the loss of
this crew member and that.
< That is the scenario we must
avoid at all costs.
But, aside from the loss of life
in the disentegration of the
Challenger, there was another,
perhaps more significant cost.
The sort of credibility of high
technology that such ventures as
Star Ware demand The
Challenger disaster occurred
while still under the control of the
computer system manned by the
ground crew.
The computer said everything
was going just fine when, in reali
ty, the shuttle was primed for a
blowup.
That is an unacceptably high
ratio of failure—one in five for the
Challenger, two in 20 for the fleet
of four shuttles if you count the
ground fire in which Gus Grissom
and his two colleagues died.
In situations such as Star Wars
would demand, computers must
be capable of handling as many as
two billion transactions a second,
of finding lethal warheads among
thousands of decoys, of
calculating speed and trajectory
and timing retaliatory
projectiles—all without error.
A one-in-a-thousand ratio of
failure would mean disaster, not
to mention such odds as two in 20.
So the whole defense program
of the United States is brought
back into question by the failure
at Cape Canaveral. Are we going
I to continue to invest billions upon
billions in research and develop
ment toward a system which,
when the chips are down, might
fail?
That is the real question posed
by the’ destruction of the
Challenger. And, whatever the
answer, we hope politics can be
kept out of the solution. We hope
) , we have seen the last of such
public relations flights as this one
would have been.
The System And CO A
During February North
Carolina’s 58 campuses are
celebrating National Community .
College Month, thus joining with
the other 1,173 public and private
^ two-year' .colleges In the United
’ States for the purpose of calling
attention to the role they play in
meeting the basic educational
needs of the country.
And at mid-month these same
58 institutions will join with the
public schools in observing North
. Carolina Vocational Education
Week, during which emphasis will
r, be put on improving tne reianon
Continued On Page 4
Volume XLIX - No. 52
Edenton, North Carolina, Thursday, February 6, 1986
Single Copies 25 Cents
Regulations Discussed
* Chowan County Commissioners
meeting in regular session last
Monday evening heard public
comments on proposed hunting
regulations for the County. The
number of interested persons
made it necessary to convene that
portion of their meeting in the
court room. The new regulations
will make it unlawful to hunt state
maintained road right-of-ways
and will regulate permission for
hunting and carrying of hunting
weapons on private lands.
In other business, the board:
• Heard a presentation on the
proposed waterfront inn by Eden
ton Town Administrator Sam No
ble. The board voted to back the
concept.
• Approved extension of funding
authority for equipment for Dr.
William Blakemore through the
Chowan Medical Development
Authority until April 30, 1986;
• Reappointed members to the
Board of Directors of Chowan
Hospital;
• Approved a resolution submit
ted by the Town of Nags Head re
questing display of USS
MONITOR artifacts in north
eastern North Carolina;
• Approved a resolution submit
ted by the National Association of
Counties in support for a lobbying
effort for the re-enactment of
revenue sharing;
• Agreed to help finance two ad
ditional positions for the Edenton
Fire Department;
• Approved a request from the
Chowan Ruritan Club that they be
assured the use of the Chowan
Community Building across from
Chowan High School in exchange
for renovations done by the club;
• Scheduled a public hearing
concerning upgrading the Chowan
Beach area to be held at 9 a.m. on
March 10;
• Scheduled a public hearing at
10 a.m. on March 10 concerning
the proposed mobile home park
ordinance;
• Approved an agreement with
the DOT for rocking-the parking
lot at the new rescue squad
building and for spot paving in the
hospital parking lot;
• And approved a'resolution
recommending the splitting of
District I of the Department of
Transportation between DOT
board members Earl Rountree of
Gates County and Kenneth Rober
son of Robersonville, the resolu
tion to be sent to Governor James
Martin and Secretary of
Transportation James
Harrington.
Women Host Luncheon
By Jack Grove
The Chowan County
Democratic Women hosted the
Executive Director of the state
Democratic Party at a luncheon
at noon Tuesday. The special
guest, Ed Turlington, substituted
for State Democratic Party Chair
man, James Van Hecke who was
called to Washington, D.C. at the
last minute.
Invited guests included can
didates for all of the local upcom
ing elections as well as represen
- tatwca of the Edenton Town Coun
cil, Chowan County Commis
sioners, the School Board and
area Democratic leaders, in
cluding Representative Vernon
James of the N.C. House of
Representatives.
Turlington told the group that
he sees “a whole new attitude in
the state,” since the recent elec
tion setbacks the party has ex
perienced. He said that for the
first time ever, the state organiza
tion has a “young voter
coordinator.”
In mentioning the race for the
U.S. Senate seat of Republican
John East who is retiring, he said
“we do have ten” (for the
primaries). Turlington said,
“Even though we have ten can
didates, we sense that the at
mosphere is different (from 1984).
Let’s talk about good news this
E.C. Toppin
year and forget the Congressional
Club.”
He said that he felt like the
Democratic Party would do well
in replacing many of the
Republicatoins in the state
legislature.
Concerning state legislation, he
said, “We did well in the
legislature this year” specifical
ly alluding to new bills affecting
education. He cited legislation
that improved agriculture and tax
relief as well.
~ -Concerning tax cuts, he said
that if Governor James Martin
had gotten everything he had
wanted, “our calculations were
that you could run the state
government for about 55
minutes.”
Turlington urged everyone pre
sent to actively participate in the
party through precinct, district
and state levels and to participate
in the campaigns. “Remember
that we retain great strength in
this state,” he said.
In a brief interview after the
luncheon, Turlington responded to
several questions. Asked if the
public could expect televised
round-table debates of the can
didates such as the ones held for
the guvernatorial primaries, he
said, “I honestly don’t know.” He
did express interest in such a
Continued On Page 4
Wayne S. Rice
Sheriff Candidates Profiled
By Jack drove
Editor's Note: This week we begin a
series of interviews with candidates who
have filed for local political office. It is
designed to acquaint voters with the can
didates and give the candidates an oppor
tunity to share with die public their goals
If elected.
We begin this series with die first two
of five who have filed for
sheriff. The death of Troy Toppin left a
vacancy in the office which was filled by
the appointment of Glen ferry to complete
the unexpired term. Perry previously an
nounced that he will not be a candidate.
E.C. Toppin
B-C. Toppin was the first can
didate to ftle for the sheriffs posi
tion. He and his wife Brenda
reside otf Rt. 1, Edenton and have
> i
three daughters aged 9,19, and 22.
Toppin, 43, a native of Chowan
CoUnty, served four years in the
U.S. Air Force. He is a graduate
of Chowan High School and has
completed 32 credit hours at East
Carolina University.
Having never run for political
office, he is a supervisor at Den
nison Computer Supplies with 19
and a half years service to that
company. He has supervised as
many as 140 employees at
Dennison.
An active member of American
Legion Post 40, Toppin has twice
served as its commander. He held
the post of State Commander from
1982413.
Continued On Page 4
DEMOCRAT FILES— R. M. “Pete” Thompson, well-known Chowan County resident, is shown being
congratulated by C. A. Phillips, long-time Chowan County Commissioner. Thompson filed under the
Democratic Party banner for a seat in the N.C. House Representatives. There are currently six contenders
for two House seats in the Democratic Primary to be held May 6.
Thompson Declares For House Seat
By Rebecca Bunch
Edenton businessman R.M.
“Pete” Thompson filed last
Thursday as a Democratic can
didate for the General Assembly
from the First District. The two
First District seats are currently
held by Rep. Vernon James and
Rep. Charles Evans. Evans
recently announced that he would
not be a candidate for re-election,
citing family and business
obligations.
Thompson has long been active
in local politics, and is currently
serving as chairman of the
Chowan County Democratic Par
ty, a position he will have to
relinquish.
When asked whether Evans’
decision not to run was a major
factor is his (Thompson’s) deci
sion to seek the office, he replied:
“Certainly, that was something I
took into consideration. But, ac
tually, I had been thinking about
doing this for a long time.”
Thompson also indicated that he
did not intend to run an issue
oriented campaign, saying in
stead that, “The main issue, in my
mind, is the need for continuing
strong representation for Nor
theastern North Carolina from
this district. We have been for
tunate to have had that, with our
two current representatives, and
1 would certainly like to see those
efforts continue in the future.”
A Pasquotank County native, he
grew up in Weeksville. Thompson
Continued On Page 4
mm
REPUBLICAN FILES— Shirley Perry (second from right) filed for the NC House of Representatives,
First District, in Hertford Friday afternoon. Also shown are (1. to r.) Election Registrar Elizabeth Winslow,
Wallace Nelson, Anne Carol White, Robert Powell and Barry McCarty. Checks were presented to pay
the filing fee by Perquimans and Pasquotank Republicans.
Shirley Perry Registers For Legislature
By Jack Grove
HERTFORD-A group of
Republicans descended on the
Perquimans County Board of
Elections office Friday afternoon.
They came to take part in the fil
ing of Shirley Perry for a first
district seat in the N.C. House of
Representatives. If elected she
would be the first Republican to
serve in the twentieth century
from this district.
, There are two representatives
from the first district which com
prises the following counties:
Camden; Chowan; Currituck;
Dare; part of Gates; Pasquotank;
Perquimans; Tyrrell; and part of
Washington.
The incumbents are Represen
tative Vernon James from Pas
quotank County and Represen
tative Charles Evans from
Manteo. Evans announced recent
ly that he would not run again due
to family considerations and to be
able to spend more time building
his law practice. James has filed
for reelection.
There are now six Democrats
vying for their party’s approval.
Last week, R.M. (Pete) Thomp
son filed in Chowan County. The
two highest vote-getters in the
May Primary will join Perry in
the November General Elections
which will decide this district’s
representation for the next two
years.
Continued On Page 4
Primary Filing Completed
Filings were closed at noon
Monday for the May 6 primaries.
A final slate of candidates can
now be reported.
Candidates for sheriff include
Democrats E.C. Toppin, Delvin
Jethro, Wayne Rice, Norman E.
Bunch, and Republican Fred
Spruill.
The Clerk of Court’s race pits in
cumbent Majorie H. Hollowell
against challenger Marguerite B.
COA Notary Course Scheduled
The Continuing Education Divi
sion of the College of the
Albemarle has announced a
Notary Public course to be held at
John A. Holmes High School
beginning on Tuesday, February
11. The course will be taught on
Tuesday evenings from 7 to 10
with a registration fee of $10 plus
cost of book.
Registration will be during the
first two weeks, at the beginning
of the class period. It will be
available on a first-come, first
served basis. You will need your
Social Security Number with you
to enroll. Persons 65 and over may
enroll free.
For further information, call
John A. Holmes High School,
482-8426, on Tuesdays and
Thursdays from 7 to 10 p.m.
McCall.
For County Commissioner,
Joseph B. Hollowell, incumbent,
will face W. Carroll Smith; Clara
Boswell, incumbent, has been
challenged by W. David Ober; and
C.A. (Al) Phillips runs unopposed.
The list of newcomers filing this
past week is headed by R.M.
(Pete) Thompson who has filed
for the N.C. House of Represen
tatives from the First District.
The School Board race has seen
most of the new faces as a result
of filings this week. They include
Frank E. Cox, a resident of the
Riverton section challenging
James Taylor; Lois E. Jordan of
121 W. Peterson Street who will
oppose Alice Jones; Thomas Issac
Sharpe of 111 E. Gale Street run
ning against J.M. Parrish, Jr.;
and Paul Chappell of Tyner who
has filed for the seat being
vacated by Eugene Jordan and
who will be unopposed.