Volume XLIX - No. 55
Edenton, North Carolina, Thursday, February 27, 1986
Single Copies 25 Cents
Bothersome Bridges
Two northeastern North
Carolina railroad bridges have
been in the news lately; and in
both cases there is more to it than
meets the eye. Of more concern
along the Public Parade is the
projected closing of the Norfolk
Southern span across the
Albemarle Sound; but the propos
ed use of public funds to lengthen
a drawbridge on the Atlantic and
North Carolina railroad at New
Bern raises more eyebrows.
Norfolk Southern had original
ly announced its intention to aban
don the Albemarle Sound bridge
in June, but help came from an
unexpected source. Rep. James T.
Broyhill of the 10th North Carolina
district, which stretches all the
way to the Tennessee line, hap
pens to be the ranking Republican
member of the House Energy and
Commerce Committee, which has
jurisdiction over railroads. At his
request, Norfolk Southern has
agreed to keep freight rolling over
the bridge until January.
This has brought a sigh of relief
to farm, timber and related in
dustries in northeastern North
Carolina which use the railroad to
reach the export market through
Norfolk. But they realize the pro
blem will not go away. Norfolk
Southern does not want to spend
$19 million repairing the bridge,
claiming the 7,500 cars of grain,
pulpwood and timber crossing the
bridge in three roundtrips each
week would give a “negative
return on the investment.”
The railroad, however, should
not be permitted to be the sole
judge of that. The Interstate Com
merce Commission will have to
decide whether Norfolk
Southern—or any other railroad,
for that matter—will be allowed to
abandon any facility which. no
longer pays its way. In our opi
nion, no public utility should be
permitted just to skim the cream
from its service area.
Quite a different sort of issue is
raised by the proposal to spend
state and federal tax dollars to
lengthen the draw on the bridge at
New Bern. The State of North
Carolina is the principal
stockholder in the railroad, but
the tracks are leased to a
Southern subsidiary, the Atlantic
and North Carolina.
The A & NC trestle spans the
Trent River just upstream from
the US 70 highway bridge, which
has a draw with a 68-foot
clearance, while the railroad
Continued On Page 4
1 and Trent'Uiver
railroad bridges have been in the news lately, but for different reasons.
Court Calendar Heard
Chowan District Court was in
session February 25, the
Honorable Grafton G. Beaman
presiding over the criminal
calendar.
Jerry Lee Grissom pleaded
guilty to a hunting violation. He
received a fine of $35 and cost of
court.
Robert Erdis Mims pleaded
guilty to speeding 69 in a 55 mph
zone. He received a fine of $35 and
cost of court. In a second case,
Mims pleaded guilty to speeding
45 in a 35 mph zone and received
a fine of $35 and cost of court.
Phyllis Ann Basnight pleaded
not guilty, but was found guilty of
larceny. She was sentenced to a 90
day commitment in the N.C.
Department of Corrections
Continued On Page 4
N.C. HEART PRESIDENT— Dr. Frederic Kahl, Cardiologist and
President of the N!C. Affiliate, Irtc. of the American Heart Associa
tion (left) talks with Bruce Gillikin, President of the local Association.
Heart Volunteers Honored
Dr. Frederic Kahl, President of
the North Carolina Affiliate, Inc.,
of the American Heart Associa
tion, was the guest speaker last
Wednesday evening for the
Chowan Co. Heart Association
meeting.
Following dinner, Dr. Kahl
spoke of the outstanding job being
done by the Chowan Co. Chapter
and the importance of volunteers,
such as those present, for the con
i') tinued research so necessary
against our nation’s Number One
Killer.
He pointed out the importance
of programming in our schools
through Heart Health Education
in the Young, sponsored by the
American Heart Assoc, as well as
Blood Pressure Screenings and
othe public awareness programm
ing. Also discussed was the impor
tance of fund-raising to continue
the research and programming.
A discussion period followed Dr.
Kahl’s presentation. He is a Pro
fessor of Cardiology at Bowman
Gray School pf Medicine, has a
private practice in cardiology in
Winston-Salem and is a volunteer
for the American Heart
Association.
mam
PROPONENT— Lena Leary makes a point lor the proposed inn with
humor at the Town Council hearing.
OPPONKNT— Mary Nefedov spoke in opposition to the proposed inn
at Wednesday night's hearing.
Public Hearing Brings Large Citizen Turnout
By Jack Grove
Proponents appeared to out
number opponents Tuesday night,
Feb. 25, at a public hearing on the
proposed inn for Edenton’s water
front. Some 300 area residents fill
ed the auditorium at John A.
Holmes High School to hear a
modified plan for visitor accom
modations presented by Dwayne
Anderson of the Anderson Benton
Co., real estate developers.
The proposal, as originally
presented on January 6, was a
two-story inn with balconies fac
ing the water on the site now oc
cupied by the Edenton Police
Department. The concept was ac
tually two buildings connected by
a breezeway.
The proposal has been assailed
from various quarters jn Edenton
due to its location and size among
other objections. Anderson’s
modifications would break the inn
into three buildings of less bulk so
as to minimize the effect of block
ing off the town’s waterfront.
The new plan would also give
the town a stretch of waterfront
from the water’s edge to the inn’s
property line v^ryjpgirom 52 to
135 feet in depth. TTie developers
would agree to extend the adja
cent park and boardwalk through
this area, giving residents more
access to the waterfront itself.
Anderson said that an undertak
ing such as this requires “very
important location criteria." He
said that, “your assets the water
front and history,” were very im
portant to the proposal.
He said that, our plan is not to
acquire land,” and that the con
cept of two buildings connected by
a breezeway had been changed.
Anderson said that $2 million
would be spent to build an inn with
36 rooms and 30 to 50 boat slips for
use by the boating public, both
transient and permanent
residents.
The plan would include a
meeting facility that would ac
commodate 120 to 150 people.
Anderson listed advantages to the
town that would include 40 con
struction jobs, 20 permanent jobs
at the inn and an annual ad
valorum tax income to the town of
$30,000.
A parade of residents to the
microphone followed the formal
presentation of the plan. Op
ponents voiced their concerns
mixed with those who favored it.
One opponent, directing her
comments to Councilman Steve
Hampton, said, “We are all faced
with budget cuts. There are bound
to be better ways than giving
away access to our public
waterfront."
Town Administrator Sam Noble
mentioned the projected loss of
federal funds due to the Gramm
Rudman-Hollings Act passed by
Congress. While acknowledging
that taxes from the inn wouldn’t
make a big dent in town expenses.
Omitted
Editor’s Note: Due to the
unavailability of political can
didates for interviews for this edi
tion, the series will continue next
week.
he said it would help.
Noble said that the town had ap
plied for funds for bulkheading
and other projects that had been
denied. Of the disputed site, he
said. “This is the only feasible
way that it’s ever going to be
developed."
Marcia Crandall felt that the
town should not “trade off better
income lor quality of life." She
said that the town should get
young people involved through
better utilization of the site for a
park area with a boat ramp and
other attractions. She said that the
council was not utilizing the
downtown area as it could be.
"The downtown is in dire trou
ble." she said. Apparently refer
ring to the boat ramp. Councilman
Willis Privott told Crandall. "All
the things that you have mention
ed are for rich kids."
Gil Burroughs thought that the
council should "not charge into a
long-range plan. There will be no
decrease in the need for public ac
cess waterfront property. I think
Continued On Page 4
DISCUSS INN CONCEPT— Town Councilman Willis Privott points out a detail on the artist's render
ing of a proposed inn for Edenton's waterfront.
Aces Playing State Playoffs Tonight
The John A. Holmes varsity
boys basketball team will play in
the first round of the State Basket
ball playoffs on Thursday.
February 27 at 8:00 p.m. The tour
nament is being held in Bethel at
North Pitt High School.
The Aces, posting a 20-4 record,
will face a tough challenge from
the Farmville Jaguars with a
12-10 record.
Edenton finished second in the
Northeastern 2-A Conference with
a 10-2 conference mark after be
ing picked to finish third by the
conference coaches. The Jaguars
finished with a 7-5 conference
record and a third place finish in
the Eastern Plains Conference.
Many of their early losses came
as a result of basketball players
being involved in the state football
playoffs.
Both Edenton and Farmville
have had several days to prepare
for what looks to be a very evenly
matched game.
Players that will see lots of ac
tion for the Aces are: Charles
Holley, Darryl Overton, John
Goodwin, Milton Johnson, Keith
Bartlett. Aaron Hollins, Deronne
Felton, J.J. White, Mike Riddick,
Dwayne Bryant, Andre Wilder,
Brad Hendricks and Robert
Rankins.
The Jaguars that will see action
are: Dennis Tripp, Kenneth
Williams. Bernard Taylor, Don
May, Tony Days: Mel Williams,
Reggie Mitchell and Bill Blount.
The winner will advance to the
second round on Monday, March
:S to play the winner of the Ay den
Grifton and Ahoskie game which
was played Tuesday.
Class Begins
Beginning March 11. introduc
tion to Archaeology", a classroom
study of the field of Social
Sciences and its varicus
disciplines —Anthropology,
Sociology. Archaeology, Folklore,
Political Science. Economics, and
Continued On Page t
STRATEGY— Aces Coach, Robert Woodley, sends instructions into a recent game as players look on.
Saturday, March 1st
11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Tyner Jaycees Bloodmobile
Give the Gift of Life — Give a Unit of Blood
Tyner Jaycees Building
on Hwy. 32 North
\