Volume XLX - No. 21
Edenton, North Carolina, Thursday, May 22, 1986
Single Copies 25 Cents
The Issue Is Equity
Tuition increases at both the
university and community college
level are recommended to the
General Assembly in the budget
just sent over by Gov. Jim Mar
tin. And a study by the Research
Triangle Institute, made at the
direction of the legislature, did not
rule out “modest across-the-board
increases in tuition rates for the
community college system.”
Thus, it is likely that the
legislature will make upward ad
justments in tuition charges for
the university and community col
lege systems during its short ses
sion this June. The important
thing is that these increases be
fair and equitable.
At first glance, current tuition
rates in the community college
system appear to be low when
compared with the university
^ system. But the two systems are
not exactly comparable.
For one thing, the local com
munities pick up a part of the tab
for operating the 58 units making
up the community college system.
They contribute an average of 50
percent of all the money going in
to land acquisition and plant con
struction. Some have have put in
* as much as 70 percent. All of them
pay for maintenance and opera
tion of the plant and beautification
and upkeep of the grounds.
Communities where the 16
university campuses are located
contribute nothing—the state
picks up the whole tab. This dif
ference is often overlooked when
h tuition rates are being discussed.
There are other differences.
Based on the 1984-85 term, the
state put a total of $5,266 behind
each of the 108,143 full time
students in the university
system—more than that if you in
clude the School of the Arts and
med school—but let’s stick with
the $5,266. That compares with
! $2,250 the state puts behind each
of the 121,261 Full Time
Equivalent students in the com
munity college system.
During the 1984-85 term, tuition
in the university system ranged
from $480 for three quarters study
at the research institutions down
to $350 for students in the four
year baccalaureate programs. At
I the same time, students in the
community college system paid
$153 for three quarters of study.
Stated another way, bac
calaureate students at the four
year university level picked up
6.64 percent of the state’s average
cost, while community college
students picked up 6.8 percent. If
the university tuition is increased
S 3.2 percent, as proposed by the
governor, raising the $350 to
$361.20, the student’s tuition tab
will represent 6.8 percent of the
state’s cost. If the community col
lege tuition rate is increased 11.76
percent, as proposed by the gover
nor, then the student’s share of the
Continued On Page 4
Rain Relieves Drought
By JACK GROVE
A severe spring drought has
been somewhat relieved by rains
on Tuesday and Wednesday ac
cording to Mike Williams, Chowan
County Chairman of the N.C.
Agriculture Extension Service. He
said that the area had received
from one-half to three-quarters of
an inch of rain.
Speaking of crop conditions he
said, “a half inch will get us out
of trouble for now.” Williams said
Wednesday that the rainfall will
activate herbicides that have been
applied on fields and will start the
germination process of seeds
already planted. He said that the
only crop not yet planted by area
farmers was soybeans, due to soil
conditions.
In an interview last week,
Williams said, “We’re not in big
trouble yet except with getting
some of the seed germinated, such
as cotton.” Corn was planted
while the ground was still moist
about a month ago and he said
that it’s not big enough yet to be
hurt. The critical time for the corn
crop will be when it is two feet tall,
if more rainfall is not received.
One crop planted recently in dry
soil whose seeds are now expected
to germinate is cotton. Williams
said that peanut seeds could be
planted deep enough to reach
available moisture and peanuts
have a much higher tolerance to
dry conditions.
Soil types are a big factor affec
ting different areas of Chowan
County according to the extension
chairman. Clay soils can crust
over with a rain and prevent
seedling emergence in crops such
as cotton and soybeans.
Windy conditions such as the
area has experienced in the past
week can do real damage to
emerging plants, particularly cot
ton and soybeans through what is
known as “sand-blasting”,
Williams said. Parts of the coun
ty have a sandy soil.
Farmers with small grain crops
and without irrigation systems
may experience substantial loss in
yield due to the recent dry
conditions.
Williams said that most
vegetable crops were planted, but
that those not yet planted would
be delayed until the soil’s
moisture content had increased.
He said Wednesday that addi
tional rain would be needed within
a week and that “a good inch and
a half will be needed for us to have
an optimistic outlook” for the
year’s crops.
RECEIVES CERTIFICATE— Edenton Police Chief John Parrish
presents the Intermediate Criminal Justice Certificate to Patrolman
Fred Spruill Friday.
Spruill Awarded Certificate
An Edenton police officer has
been awarded the Intermediate
Criminal Justice Certificate by
the North Carolina Department of
Justice. Fred Spruill was
presented with the certificate by
Police Chief John Parrish last
week.
The certificate is part of a pro
gram of the N.C Criminal Justice
Training and Standards Council
under the Department of Justice.
The program was begun to
recognize the level of competence
of officers serving the governmen
tal agencies within the state.
According to the council, the
program exists “to foster increas
ed interest in college education
and professional criminal justice
training programs and to attract
highly qualified individuals into a
criminal justice career. This pro
Sm. OSS
gram is a method whereby
dedicated officers receive
statewide and nationwide recogni
tion for education, professional
training and on-the-job
experience.”
In earning the certificate an of
ficer must:
• Demonstrate proficiency in
the performance of official duties;
• Have successfully completed
an accredited basic training
course for criminal justice
officers;
• Have accumulated at least
thirty education training points
and have at least eight years
experience.
Spruill has been a police officer
for over eleven years. He is a can
didate for Sheriff and will face
Deputy Sheriff Wayne Rice in the
November general elections.
I FORGET-ME-NOT DAY—Proctor Shannon (left) and Robert Ziemba, members of the Rocky Hock
Disabled American accept donations for the DAV on Saturday morning at TG&Y. Proceeds will buy U.S.
flags for veterans’ graves, provide flowers for sick veterans and help support veterans in VA hospitals
with magazines, books and other entertainment and refreshments. The sign reads, “Please don’t forget
them.” Monday, May 26 is Memorial Day.
DRY CONDITIONS— A tractor is almost hidden by a cloud of dust that it has raised as a field was
cultivated Friday on N.C. 32 south. Rains this week have helped field conditions but the farm community
is not overly optimistic that the recent drought is at an end.
Division Offers Insurance Assistance
Huge increases in insuranct
premiums (and in some cases th<
inability to get any insurance) foi
cities and towns across the state
has prompted action by the N.C
Department of Insurance and the
N.C. League of Municipalities.
The Department of Insurance
has set up a special division tc
assist local governments with in
surance programs and risk
management. The division was
authorized by the 1985 session ol
the General Assembly at the re
Original
Collection
On Exhibit
A collection of 22 original Cur
rier & Ives prints will be exhibited
for the month of June at the
Shepard-Pruden Memorial
Library beginning June 2, 1986
The display is one of a series of
fourteen collections of rare prints
now being shown throughout the
United States and Canada.
Assembled by The Travelers In
surance Companies, the exhibit at
the library was arranged by the
John Dowd & Associates, Inc. In
surance Agency in cooperation
with the Travelers.
The colorful prints, selected
from one of the most comprehen
sive collections in existence, por
tray America during the mid
nineteenth century. They depict
both rural and urban scenes as
well as historical events of
political or social importance.
The Travelers began to assem
ble this collection in 1935. Since
then the company has reproduced
more than 380 of these lithographs
in its calendars.
Nathaniel Currier, who later
was joined by James M. Ives, was
21 years old when, in 1835, he
published the first print under his
own name. It showed part of the
ruins of a serious New York City
Continued On Page
Financial
Report
Released
State Auditor Edward Renfrow
has released the Comprehensive
Annual Financial Report (CAFR)
for the State of North Carolina for
the fiscal year ended June 30,1985.
This report represents the finan
cial position and results of opera
tions of the funds and account
groups of the State and, as re
quired by General Statute
147-64.6(11), was prepared in ac
cordance with generally accepted
accounting principles.
The Comprehensive Report is
important for the State of North
Carolina. It is an accounting to the
State’s policy makers, taxpayers
and citizens on the stewardship of
their government. It is widely
distributed both in and outside of
North Carolina and is an impor
tant factor in maintaining the
Continued On Page 4
quest of local governments.
It will assist local governments
with questions on property and
casualty insurance and property
and liability exposures to loss or
damage. The short range goal is
stated as providing assistance in
finding needed coverages. The
long range goal is to help in risk
management.
The Town of Edenton ex
perienced an insurance crisis last
fall when its carrier, Iowa Na
tional Insurance Co. filed for
bankruptcy. The town had just 30
days to find a new carrier accor
ding to Councilman A.B. Harless.
The coverage with Iowa National
cost $33,000. The town was able to
obtain coverage with the
Traveler’s Insurance Co. at
$98,000, a $65,000 increase.
The N.C. League of
Municipalities, of which Edenton
is a member, is in the process of
setting up an insurance fund for
its members. This risk financing
fund is scheduled to go into opera
tion July 1 and some 225 cities and
towns, including Edenton, have
submitted resolutions of intent to
participate.
Harless said that the League
has stated that towns should be
able to expect a twenty-six per
cent reduction in the cost of their
premiums through this plan. He
said that the town was waiting to
hear from the League what the ac
tual figure will be for budgeting
purposes.
Harless said, “I think that the
more realistic figure would be
twenty-six per cent of $98,000, ithis
year’s insurance cost,” rather
than expecting a twenty-six per
cent reduction in cost from the
$33,000 premium of last year.
The councilman, who serves on
the town’s finance committee, an d
is in the insurance business, said
that the budget deadline is May 2V
when it will be presented at a
public meeting at 8 p.m.
'I
SELECTED FOR PRESTIGIOUS SCHOOL—Emily Bass (left) and
Penelope Sisk have been selected to attend the N.C. School of Science
and Mathematics during their junior and senior years. The residen
tial school in Durham is a public residential high school for gifted and
talented students.
NCSSM Selects JAH Students
Two students at John A. Holmes
High School have been invited to
1 attend a prestigious school in
Durham during their junior and
senior years. Emily Bass and
Penelope Sisk have been selected
to attend the North Carolina
School of Science and
Mathematics.
The NCSSM is a public residen
tial high school for gifted and
talented eleventh and twelfth
graders with high interest and
potential in science and
mathematics. Students apply and
are selected during their tenth
grade year. There are no fees and
no charge for tuition or room and
board.
Admission to the school is bas
ed on grades and test scores,
writing samples, special talents
and accomplishments, an inter
view, and evidence of commit
ment to learning. Those selected
undertake a demanding academic
program of science,
mathematics, art, english, social
studies, foreign languages and
music.
Students are taught by a core
faculty which is augmented by
visiting scientists, mathemati
cians and leaders and scholars in
a variety of fields. A professional!
residential and counseling staff
oversees students personal,
social, and career needs to en
courage the total development of
each individual.
Sleepy Driver
Causes Head-On
Collision
A driver who fell asleep at the
wheel caused a head-on collision
on the Chowan River Bridge ear
ly Monday morning. The driver,
Steven Douglas Hale, 19, of New
Bern, N.C. was driving his 1965
Mazda north on U.S. 17 when he
apparently fell asleep and his car
drifted into the path of a south
bound tractor-trailer truck around
4:30 a.m.
The 1963 Mack truck was driven
by James Edward Seaborn, Jr.,
46, of Zuni, VA. and is owned by
E.M. Scott, Inc. Damage to the
Continued On Page 4