Those Oil Slicks Again
A release from Secretary of
State Thad Eure’s office reports
that, despite that current
downturn in the oil and gas in
dustry, confidence operators are
still active in North Carolina and
some 20 other states.
An article in the February issue
of Investor Alert notes that a re
cent survey by the North
American Securities Ad
ministrators Association and the
Council of Better Business
Bureaus revealed that these “oil
slicks” have cost investors
millions of dollars in the last two
years. In Illinois alone 17 cases in
volving some $14 million in in
vestor funds are under
investigation.
“The game isn’t really high
level fraud,” said F. Daniel Bell,
III, deputy securities ad
ministrator. “It’s usually more a
total misuse of proceeds. Take the
investors’ money and buy yourself
a Mercedes. Things like that.”
For example, a high school drop
out in Texas, who claimed to be a
millionaire, was sentenced to life
in prison recently after being con
victed of taking $500,000 from in
vestors and spending up to two
thirds of it on such things as the
purchase of a beauty parlor and
furniture store for relatives.
The February Investor Alert ex
plains how oil scams are run,
details how legitimate deals work
and gives a complete list of ques
tions to ask and steps to take
before passing any money. Copies
can be had by writing to Secretary
of State Thad Eure, Securities
Division, 300 North Salisbury
Street, Raleigh, N.C. 27611.
Those Generous Juries
In the wake of a sj^ial seraiqg,
of the General Assembly, called to
consider a liability insurance
crisis in North Carolina, comes
the information that the average
size of awards in personal injury
cases in North Carolina is current
ly on the decrease.
A North Carolina survey recent
ly completed by Jury Verdict
Research, an Ohio organization,
shows that awards in North
Carolina currently average 5 per
cent above the national norm,
down from a previous 9 per cent.
This study, part of a nationwide
ongoing analysis of personal in
jury verdicts, shows that North
Carolina reported 14 verdicts of a
million dollars or more to date.
Three of them were returned in
1984, including $3.7 million award
ed to a 52-year-old chemical
salesman who suffered
paraplegia as a result of an over
dose of drugs prescribed by the
physician defendant.
Jury Verdict Research surveys
and analyzes verdicts in every
state. Results are used by at
torneys, insurance companies,
corporations and government
agencies in the preparation and
settlement of personal injury
cases.
While the survey shows that the
average award in North Carolina
Continued On Page 4
Post 40 Plans
Baseball Team
I American Legion Post 40 Com
mander, Jim Criddle announced
recently that Post 40 intends to
field an American Legion baseball
team again this year. At the same
time, he announced that Wallace
Evans had accepted the duties of
athletic officer for the Post.
Evans stated that he is a real
\ excited about the season ahead.
Most of the players from last
year’s team will be returning. We
lost only one from our pitching
staff and last year’s coaching staff
consisting of Lin Jordan, Jim
“Catfish” Hunter and Marvin
Hunter are expected to return.”
The Post 40 team based in Eden
too will have players returning
t from Pasquatank, Perquimans,
fTnfrfMT lUtr£jf» Martin And Chowan
UTBiCP, Del uc„ luol UKi Oil'Ll vilUWOll
Continued On Page 4
Cuts Cause Concern
By Jack Grove
Much concern has been ex
pressed from various interest
groups over the projected federal
budget cuts being proposed by
President Reagan. The President
has submitted his Executive
Budget to Congress for action.
The North Carolina
Agricultural Extension Service
would be very hard hit by these
cuts-on the order of a 54% reduc
tion in their budget.
Mary Julia Parrish, Chairman
of the Chowan County Extension
Advisory Council said, “With a
budget reduction, this would put
more stress on the rural people if
they did not have someone to con
tact for encouragement, informa
tion and advice.”
Governor James Martin has an
ticipated these cuts in federal
funds by ordering a hiring freeze
in many state departments in
cluding the Extension Service.
This has already been felt with the
retirement of Chowan County Ex
tension Agent, Murray Goodwin.
His position will not be filled for
the forseeable future.
The following information was
received from the N.C.
Agricultural Extension Service on
the “Projected Impact of ’87 Pro
posed Executive Budget.”
The Executive Budget submit
ted by President Reagan to Con
gress reduced the federal funding
of the Cooperative Extension Ser
vice by 59% from $342.7 million in
1986 to $140 million in 1987. This
will mean a reduction in funding
for the North Carolina
Agricultural Extension Service of
$6,946,326 or 54% of the current
1986 budget.
The budget requires congres
sional action through a hearing,
budget and appropriation process.
A resolution of the budget situa
tion must be made before the start
of the ’87 fiscal year - October 1,
1986.
The budget, as proposed, would
have the following effect on the
North Carolina Agricultural Ex
tension Service.
• It would require termination
of the entire Expanded Food and
Nutrition Education Program
consisting of 39 specialists and
agents and 146 nutrition aides who
provide nutritional education to
over 7,310 disadvantaged families
representing 23,500 adults and
9,500 youth.
• It would seriously curtail or
terminate Extension education
programs in Integrated Pest
Management, Farm Safety,
Pesticide Impact Assessments, a
program for Renewable
Resources in forestry and wildlife,
Rural Development Programs
and the Small and Part-time
Farmer Program.
Continued On Page 4
I
COACH OF THE YEAR— John A. Holmes High School Basketball
Coach Robert Woodley has been selected as Coach of the Year for the
Northeastern Conference.
Coach Woodley Honored
By Jack Grove
Winning seasons bring honors
and that’s what happened to Aces
Basketball Coach Robert
Woodley. The Aces posted a 21-5
season and went into the state
playoffs last week only to be
knocked off by Ayden-Grifton
72-58.
Nonetheless, the northeast 2-A
conference coaches honored
Woodley for a great season by
naming him Coach of the Year.
He received the award on
February 15 at a meeting of the
coaches from John A. Holmes,
Plymouth, Northhampton County
East, Ahoskie, Roanoke,
Williamston and Roanoke Rapids.
John A. Holmes Athletic Direc
tor Tom Bass said of the achieve
ment, “I think its a tremendous
thing and certainly deserved. He
put in a lot of hours.”
Possessions
Destroyed
On Sunday, March 2 the
Blacldedge family from the
Advance community lost all
their possessions when their
home burned.
In order to assist them, the
Advance Extension
Homemakers Club has an
nounced that it will be holding
a shower to collect household
items on Thursday night,
March 13 from 7:30 p.m. until
9:38 p.m. at the Advance Com
munity Building.
Clothing, bedding, ap
pliances, and any other
household Hems are urgently
needed.
Those wishing to obtain
more specific information on
482-3911 or
Woodley has been with the
Edenton-Chowan school system
for thirteen years. He has coach
ed the varsity squad for four
years.
He said, “I’d rather my team
win an award than any for myself.
It is deserving for my team and
not for me. They did a great job
for us all year long.”
Woodley said of the last game of
this year, “it was a good defensive
game. They hurt us on their offen
sive rebounding.”
He summed up by saying, “I
was proud of the kids for an
outstanding season. They
represented Edenton very well.”
Democratic
Ball Planned
The Albemarle Democratic
Ball, sponsored by the party
organizations in the ten north
eastern counties in North Carolina
will be held Saturday, March 22 in
the Vaughn Athletic Center at
Elizabeth City State University in
Elizabeth City at 8:30 p.m.
General Chairman, Ken Patter
son, announced that the guest of
honor would be Lt. Gov. Bob Jor
dan III. Jordan said, “I am look
ing forward to attending the
event. Democrats in northeastern
North Carolina are a very impor
tant part of the statewide effort in
1986. This is the third annual
Albemarle Democratic Ball and I
think it shows the unity and
strength of the party in the ten
county region.”
Expeced to attend the gala ball
are the candidates for the U.S.
Senate, the North Carolina
Legislature and local candidates.
Former Governor Terry Sanford
is rearranging his schedule to at
tend. The Council of State will be
Continued On Page 4
SYMPHONY QUARTET— This string quartet performed for students at D.F. Walker School Tuesday
afternoon. Members of the Symphony have traveled to various schools to help them in music apprecia
tion. The Symphony will perform in concert for the fifth consecutive season tonight at 8 p.m. in Swain
auditorium.
Goodwin Retirement Banquet Held
The American Legion hall was
the place, last Friday night was
the time, and Murray Goodwin
was the star. A retirement ban
quet was held to honor Goodwin
who has been an Agricultural Ex
tension Agent in Chowan County
for 15 years.
A lineup of speakers from Dr.
Durwood Bateman, new Dean of
the School of Agriculture at N.C.
State University, to co-workers, to
former 4-Hers who had Goodwin
as their mentor, filled the even
ing’s program. Then Goodwin
himself took to the microphone to
reminisce.
Goodwin was born in Chowan
County on August 6, 1921. He at
tended county schools and
graduated from Chowan High
Accident
Injures 3
A two-car accident last Wednes
day evening sent three people to
Chowan Hospital. The accident
occured at 7:30 p.m. at the five
mile Y about 30 feet south of the
intersection of U.S. 17 and N.C. 32
according to Highway Patrol
spokesman Dottie Lowe.
According to a report filed by
Trooper W.M. Long, a 1979
Chevrolet sedan driven by Belin
da Thompson Thomas of 1117
Wood Street, Elizabeth City,
swerved left at the same time that
an oncoming car swerved left,
resulting in a headon collision.
The Thomas vehicle was north
bound. Thomas, 27, was alone in
her car.
The southbound vehicle, a 1976
Cadillac, was driven by Willop Lee
Reaves, 54, of 204 King Street,
Hertford. She had a passenger,
William Griswould, 47, of King
Street, Edenton. Both drivers
apparently felt that the oncoming
car was going to swerve in front
Continued On Page 4
School in 1338. He received a B.S.
Degree in Chemistry in 1942 from
Wake Forest University.
Following graduation Goodwin
worked as a research chemist
with Allied Chemical and Dye
Corp. in Philadelphia. From
1946-47, he served as a medical
techician with the U S. Army Air
Force in Texas. From 1948-52, he
taught veterans for the Chowan
County Board of Education.
In 1952, Goodwin entered in N.C.
State University (where he room
ed with Dr. Bateman) and in 1954
he received a B.S. Degree in
Agronomy. That year he began
his career with the Extension Ser
vice in Bertie County as a 4-H
agent.
In 1957 he moved to Tyrrell
County with the Extension Service
and worked there until 1971 when
he came to Chowan County. Dur
ing his time in Tyrrell County, he
did graduate work at N.C. State
University and received an M S.
Degree in Adult Education.
During his career as a 4-H
agent, Goodwin has worked with
a number of 4-Hers who have
received state and national
recognition for their
accomplishments.
He has spent about half of his
time in Chowan working with
vegetable farmers and has done
extensive research on vegetable
varieties suitable for this area. He
was recognized in 1981 by the
vegetable growers in the county
for his dedication to the vegetable
program.
Goodwin’s evening was capped
off by the presentation to him of
a riding lawn mower.
GOOD HUMOR— Dr. Durwood Bateman, new Dean of the School
of Agriculture at N.C. State University shares a humorous story con
cerning retiring Agriculture Extension Agent, Murray Goodwin. The
two were roommates for a year in college.
RETIREMENT GIFT— Murray Goodwin tries out his new riding lawn mower that was presented to
him last Friday evening at a banquet in his honor. Looking on are Frances Voliva, Tyirell County
Agriculture Extension Chairman (left) and Fran Ward.