vuiumcs ala - no. ie
taenton, rconn Carolina, Thursday, April 3, 1986
omgie copies 25 cents
A Decade of Effort
Duke Power Company has just
received a low-power operating
license for its Catawba 2 Nuclear
Station and expects to.put it into
full service by next fall. Thereby
hangs an interesting story of in
novative financing and broad
based cooperation involving the
industry, the legislature and local
government units.
When Duke Power applied for a
construction permit July 4, 1972,
it fully intended to complete not
only Catawba 2, but several other
nuclear generating stations out of
its own resources. After all, it had
already built Oconee Nuclear Sta
tion down in South Carolina and
had McGuire well cn its way in
Mecklenburg County. Still other
bigger, more powerful stations
were on the drawing boards.
Soon clouds began to appear on
the financial horizon. Oconee had
been built at a cost of $194 per
kilowatt, but it was costing $849
per kilowatt to bring McGuire on
line. By the early 1970’s, high in
flation and high interest rates
were making it almost impossible
for Duke to finance the construc
tion of Catawba 1 and 2 on its own.
Its bond ratings were down and its
stock was selling below book
value.
So Duke began looking around
for a method of financing that
would get the plant built and keep
the electricity generated within its
service area. Municipalities and
co-ops in the Duke service area,
which owned their own distribu
tion systems, had for a decade or
more been interested in develop
ing their own generating capaci
ty so as to make them less depen
dent on the large utilities.
These municipalities, through
the sale of tax exempt revenue
bonds, and the co-ops. whicjxhad .
access to low-interest teaSrST
funds, seemed a likely solution to
the problem. Duke suggested that
they buy into Catawba station,
and they seemed amenable to the
suggestion.
These cities then organized
themselves into the North
Carolina Municipal Power Agen
cy and the co-ops became the
North Carolina Electric Member
ship Corporation. But for a group
of municipalities to become joint
owners with another agency of a
nuclear generating station re
quired not only an amendment to
the state constitution but passage
of an enabling act by the General
Assembly.
As a member of the legislature
at that time, we were asked by the
electric cities group to handle the
legislation they needed. We had
bills drawn submitting a constitu
tional amendment to the people
and setting up the NCMPA and
pushed them through without too
much trouble. We ran into a little
difficulty in the senate, where one
senator was peeved because he
had not been asked to handle the
legislation.
The bills passed and, after a
good selling job by both Duke and
the power agency before the
various city councils, the sale was
made. Now the NCMPA owns 75
percent of Catawba 2 and the
Piedmont Municipal Power Agen
cy of South Carolina owns the
other 25 percent, while the
NCEMC owns 56.25 percent of
Catawba 1, Saluda River Electric
Co-op owns 18.75 percent and
Duke owns the remaining 25
percent.
Under the terms of the purchase
agreement, Duke will buy from
the agencies unneeded surplus
power generated at the Catawba
stations and, in case of an outage
at either, Duke will supply power
at cost from its other stations.
But none of this was easy. Con
struction was started on the two
Catawba units in 1974. Unit 1 pro
duced its first electricity in
January, 1985. Unit 2 produced its
first power in February, 1986, and.
will be in full service by fall. Con
struction cost was $3.7 billion, $200
million less than had been
Local livestock show held
The thirty-second annual
Chowan County Junior Livestock
Show and Sale took place Tuesday
at the American Legion show
barn. The event was sponsored by
the Advance, Chowan, Rocky
Hock and Ryland Ruritan Clubs in
cooperation with the Chowan
County Extension Service.
Young exhibitors and animals
were in abundance during the
afternoon show and evening sale.
Extension Chairman Mike
Williams said that this year saw
the most lambs entered (16) in
three years of showing.
Taking home trophies and
awards from the show were:
Jason Ward (Grand Champion
Lamb); Lori Lichtenwalner
(Grand Champion Steer); Valerie
Copeland (Grand Champion
Hog); and Curtis Byrum, Jr.
(Grand Champion Pen of 3).
Also, Robin Lichtenwalner
(Reserve Champion Lamb); Don
na Howell (Reserve Champion
Steer); Curtis Byrum, Jr.
(Reserve Champion Hog); and
Donnie Copeland (Reserve Cham
pion Pen of 3).
And, Lori Lichtenwalner (Third
Place Lamb); Crystal Stallings
(Third Place Steer); John Lowe
(Third Place Hog); and Valerie
Copeland (Third Place Pen of 3).
Chief of Police resigns
John D. Parrish
By Jack Grove
The Town of Edenton must
begin looking for a new police
chief. The present Chief of Police,
John D. Parrish submitted a let
ter of resignation to the town on
Tuesday. He has resigned in favor
of early retirement.
Chief Parrish said the resigna
tion is effective May 2, at which
time he will begin his ac
cumulated paid vacation. Town
Administrator Sam Noble said
that this would amount to 30 days
<&* rrr- , - ■ ***'-- •••■** *• ■ '•
The chief joined the Edenton
Police Department in 1961 and
was appointed to his present posi
tion in 1967.
Parrish said of the resignation,
“It’s been a hard decision. I’ve en
joyed this job.” He cited family
reasons for the move. He said that
his parents are elderly and not in
good health and that he has been
helping on the family farm in his
spare time. “I find I need more
time out there,” he said.
The chief said that this was not
a snap decision. He said that he
had “been thinking about this for
a couple of years. I’m retiring off
this job and going to another one.”
Noble said that the town will
begin advertising immediately for
a replacement. He said that ads
would be placed in the “News and
Observer”, the N.C. League of
Municipalities newsletter, “The
Daily Advance” and ‘‘The
Chowan Herald.”
Applications will be accepted
through April, Noble said, and
that the town hoped to have a new
chief no later than June 1. “Chief
Parrish has done an extremely
good job for the town,” Noble said,
adding, “He’s going to be hard to
replace.”
Board candidates reveal positions
James E. Taylor
(Editor’s Note: This is a continuing
series on candidates for the May 6
Primary.)
By Jack Grove
James E. Taylor (incumbent) and
Frank E. Cox are running for a First
James E. Taylor
James E. Taylor, 38, is current
ly a member of the Edenton
Chowan Board of Education. A
native of Chowan County, he is
married to the former Catherine
Ward and has four children, all of
whom attend the public schools of
Chowan County.
Taylor graduated from D.F.
Walker High School in 1965 and
received a Bachelor of Arts
Degree in Business Administra
tion from Shaw University in
Raleigh. After completing a
Business Internship at the Univer
sity of Michigan, he did graduate
study at the Atlanta University,
School of Business.
Currently employed in student
financial aid at Elizabeth City
Statq University as an Ad
ministrative Assistant, his work
experience includes four years in
banking, a year in insurance sales
aiid twelve years at ECSU.
Active in the community,
Taylor is president of the
Edenton-Chowan Civic League;
executive committee member of
the First Congressional District
Mack Leadership Caucus;
District M membership chairman
of Hie State Employees Associa
tion of North Carolina; member of
Continued On Page 4
Frank E. Cox
Township seat on the Board of Educa
tion. The term for this position expires
in 1992.
Since school board elections are non
partisan, balloting during the primary
will determine the winner.
Frank E. Cox
Frank E. Cox, 32, is a newcomer
to the political arena. A native of
Chowan County, he lives with his
wife, Toni, and two children, ages
14 and 11 in the Riverton
subdivision.
A Vice-President and Assistant
City Executive of People’s Bank
and Trust Co. in Edenton, Cox at
tended Elizabeth City State
University and the University of
Wisconsin with a major in music.
Cox attended the N.C. School of
Banking at Chapel Hill where he
graduated from courses in mid
management and advanced
management.
An active participant in the
community, Cox is the treasurer
of the Chowan-Edenton Optimist
Club; president of the D. F.
Walker PTA; is a director of the
Edenton-Chowan Chamber of
Commerce ; and a member of the
Edenton Baptist Church.
He is a past president and direc
tor of the Elizabeth City
Downtown Business Association
and is a past director of the
Elizabeth City Boy’s Club.
Cox was asked what he feels the
challenges are facing the Board of
Education.
Funding was first on his list.
Continued On Page 4
LAMB JUDGING— Young exhibitors show their lambs at Tuesday’s Junior Livestock Show and Sale
in the American Legion show barn.
Carroll Smith (with microphone) presents award for Grand Cham
pion Pen of 3 to Curtis Byrum, Jr.
Brown presides over calendar
Chowan Superior Court was in
session March 24, the Honorable
Frank R. Brown presiding.over
the criminal calendar.
Millard Fernando Robertson
had his probation revoked due to
a probation violation. The proba
tion stemmed from a conviction
for larceny of a firearm. An active
sentence of three years was
invoked.
Robertson, during this session,
also pleaded guilty to a charge of
hiring with the intent to defraud.
He was sentenced to six months
with work release recommended
as a condition of parole. If work
release is authorized, he is to pay
restitution of $195.52 to S&R.
George Edward Wilkins had his
probation revoked due to a proba
tion violation. The probation was
as a result of a conviction for
breaking and entering. An active
sentence of three years was
invoked.
William Lee Wilson had his
suspended sentence on a convic
tion of DWI and failure to dim
headlights revoked. An active
sentence of 60 days was invoked.
William Charles Turner's
suspended sentence on a convic
tion of DWI was revoked. An ac
tive sentence of 90 days was invok
ed and modified to 72 hours. He
was orderedio pay jail fees, a fine
af $250 and cost of court of $119, a
S50 community service fee and a
550 ADET school fee.
Darnell Hayes was given until 5
p.m., March 28 to pay $110
previous court costs or a 30 day
sentence will be invoked.
Valola Roberts Rountree's case
concerning failure to use a child
restraint system was remanded to
the District Court judgment for
compliance.
Arthur Donald Wiggins pleaded
guilty to speeding 69 in a 55mph
jone and DWI (level two) which
were consolidated for judgment.
He was sentenced to a minimum
af one year and a maximum of one
year, suspended, and he was plac
ed on supervised probation for one
year. As a special condition of pro
bation, he was ordered to serve a
15 day active sentence. He was
ardered to pay a $250 fine, cost of
court of $103, and to surrender his
aperator’s license.
Freddy Ferebee pleaded guilty
to misdeanor larceny. He was
sentenced to one year, suspended,
and he was placed on supervised
Continued On Page 4
Valerie Copeland receives a
trophy for her Grand Champion
Hog.
The Grand Champion Lamb
trophy went to Jason Ward.
rr
Lori Lichtenwalner holds her
trophy for her Grand Champion
Steer.
Doctor to speak
Dr. Candace Corson will be the
keynote speaker at the Chowan
County Democratic Convention on
Saturday, April 5 at 1 p.m. The
convention will be held at the new
court house in Edenton.
Dr. Corson, a resident of
Continued On Page 1
■
SMOKEY—A highlight of the third annual Chowan County Family Fair at the American Legion last
Thursday evening was an appearance of Smokey The Bear. Under all that fur is Samuel Copeland, of
the N.C. Forest Service. Copeland has been with the Service for eight years and also has been doing his
Smokey routine for that period of time. He said, “My mother just found out three years ago who Smokey
The Bear was."