Volume XLX - No. 25
Edenton, North Carolina, Thursday, June 19, 1986
Single Copies 25 Cents
Enough of Cheap Shots
Rep. James T. Broyhill of
Caldwell, who wants to move up
to the U.S. Senate from the loth
North Carolina district, told a
group at Boswell’s Restaurantc
the other day that there are many
reasons for supporting his
candidacy.
Among them, he said, is the fad
that during his long service in
Congress he has received awards
“from a small businessmen’s
organization for economy in
government.” Then he added:
“They don’t give them to Tip
O’Neill.”
Mr. Broyhill should have left
well enough alone. Perhaps they
don’t give them to Tip O’Neill.
But, then, maybe up in
Massachusetts they do. That’s not
important. What is important is
that Rep. Broyhill is not running
against Tip O’Neill, but against
Terry Sanford, who has received
a wall full of awards and citations
during his long public service as
governor and president of Duke
University. If the election is to be
won by the number of medals on
the candidate’s chest, then Terry
Sanford will win in a walk-a-away.
But, for the good of the state,
let’s hope it is won on the basis of
the issues revealed and the com
petency of the candidates to meet
them. We believe the people of
North Carolina have become tired
of finger-pointing and name
calling campaigns for high
political office. If anybody should
be sick and tired of hearing the
name of Tip O’Neill used as a
horrible example, it should be
Rep. James T. Broyhill.
Continued On Page 4
Pjoposed Tax Hike Fought
A Qtowan County farmer Is tak
ing the lead in protesting a pro
posed hike of 15* per $100 valuation
, in county ad valorum taxes. Car
roll Byrum said, “We were out at
the fire station one night and
started talking about taxes. We
decided to try to hold onto our pro
perty. A whole lot of farmers have
already been sold out.”
Byrum said that farmers have
faced low crop prices, bad
weather, lack of markets, high
cost of chemicals and easy loans
in the past, coupled with high in
terest rates, and taxes. He said
that these factors have combined
to place a financial squeeze on the
farmer and that an increase in
taxes would only add to their
burden.
The Valhalla area farmer has
placed signs on his property pro
claiming “County tax should be
based on income rather than pro
perty. People, not property re
quire county services.” He said
that “25 folks” are working with
him in a petition drive to protest
the increase. He said that farmers
and residential owners alike were
circulating the petitions although
farmers were in the minority
“cause there aren’t many farm
V ers left.”
Byrum said that the county tax
hearing at 10 a.m. on June 24
should have been held at night. He
pointed out that during the day,
not many people could get off
work to attend.
The tax protesters are taking
their campaign to the airwaves as
well with a paid ad on local radio
L,' station WBXB. Byrum said it
would air twice a day until June
24.
County Manager Cliff Copeland
Support Club
Gathering
The Elizabeth City
Heart/Stroke Support Club is a
group of people helping each other
to cope. They are victims of heart
attacks or strokes or close family
members all dealing with the
same feelings and problems.
If you would like to find out
more about the dub, join them,
June 28,at Southgate Mall or stop
by the next Support Club meeting
which will be June 23, at the Holi
v day Inn Restaurant at 5:30 p.m.
resjfonded to the outcry by saying,
“Unfortunately, that’s the only
thing we have to turn to, ad
valorum taxes. The commission
ers realize we need an alternative
source of revenue.”
The county executive pointed to
federal cutbacks as the cause for
the proposed tax raise. He cited
state law which mandates a bal
anced budget for local govern
ments and said that without the
additional tax income, “We’d
have to cut back on services.”
I
Emily Irby
Irby Named
Manager
EDENTON—Steve Robertson,
City Executive for NCNB Na
tional Bank in Edenton, has nam
ed Emily Irby Branch Manager at
the Edenton Main Office Branch.
Irby joined NCNB in January of
this year and has just completed
the Retail Branch Manager’s
training program. She replaces
Jeff Blaser, who moved to
Greensboro as Branch Manager
of the Bessemer Street Branch.
“I am pleased to have Emily
joining the Edenton-Hertford
Hobbsville community of NCNB,”
Robertson said. “Customers in
Edenton will continue to receive
the good quality products and ser
vice they have come to expect
from NCNB.”
Irby, a native of Richmond,
Virginia, graduated from the
University of North Carolina at
Chapel Hill.
She attends St. Paul’s Episcopal
Church.
NCNB National Bank is the
main subsidiary of Charlotte
based NCNB Corp., the largest
bank holding company in the
southeast with $23 billion in
assets.
SPECIAL TOWN COUNCIL MEETING—Bruce White, Executive Director of the Edenton Housing
Authority makes a point to (1. to r.) HUD officials Michael Godwin, Bettye Jackson and Robert Frazier
and authority commissioner Daisy Bembryat a special meeting of the Edenton Town Council Monday night.
EHA Audit Discrepancies Reported
oj «mvn uivvvti
The Edenton Housing Authori
ty came under scrutiny Monday
night at a special meeting of the
Edenton Town Council. The meet
ing came as a result of an oc
cupancy audit report conductec
by the U.S. Dept, of Housing anc
Urban Development (HUD). A
copy of the report, dated May 23
1986, was sent to Mayor Johr
Dowd.
The housing authority provides
low-income housing in Edentor
and is comprised of some 10(
apartment units in the Blade
Street area. It is federally funded
with HUD having overall supervi
sion of the program.
inree nuu oinciais trom tne
Greensboro office attended the
meeting: Robert Frazier, Chief,
Assisted Housing Management
Branch; Bettye Jackson, Housing
Management Specialist who con
ducted the occupancy audit; and
Michael Godwin, Fiscal Analyst
who conducted the financial por
tion of the audit.
Also attending were Bruce
White, executive director of the
authority and authority commis
sioner, Daisy Bembry. Four other
commissioners did not attend.
In his opening comments, Dowd
said that the meeting was being
held to determine the role that the
mayor and council are supposed
to have with the housing authori
ty. He asked this question of
Frazier.
The HUD official responded
that it is the mayor’s responsibili
ty to appoint commissioners for
the authority. He said that the
mayor can also abolish the com
mission. Further, he said that the
town’s mayor and council had no
monetary connection with the
authority. However, he said that
the commission “is still under the
jurisdiction of the mayor.”
Dowd then turned to the audit
report that he had received and
copies of which he had provided to
councilmen. The occupancy por
tion of the audit report contained
15 deficiencies which were not in
compliance witn hul> require
ments. These findings were
primarily of an administrative
nature.
HUD’s report said, “The ma
jority of the findings listed in this
audit report are findings made in
previous audits at the authority
and were previously cleared
based on information furnished
this office by the Executive Direc
tor. (The foregoing was under
lined.) However, these findings
were either never corrected or, if
corrected, the PHA reverted back
to the same procedures after each
audit report was cleared by this
office.”
This portion of the report was
answered (on some items, dis
puted) in a letter from White to
HUD dated June 6, 1986. His let
ter answered the findings, item by
item. He did not address the
specifics of the findings in the
financial portion of the audit. His
letter contained a general state
ment in that area saying that he
did not agree with all of the find
ings and complimenting Godwin
on his helpfulness and advice. •
Town Administrator Sam Noble
asked Godwin about the second
finding in the financial section.
That HUD finding states, “The
Executive Director purchased
equipment through the PHA and
Continued On Page 4
Arts Council Appoints Lisa Baker Executive Director
The Chowan Arts Council has a
new executive director. Bruce
Wackelin, president of the
organization announced that Lisa
Baker had been hired to fill the
new position.
“Lisa’s job is to coordinate the
administrative activities of the
council and its ongoing program.
We’ll be able to do and follow
through on many projects in the
community, such as in the schools
and with the Recreation Depart
ment,” Wackelin said.
Baker is a native of New Jersey
and was raised in McLean, VA.
She is a graduate of Southern
Seminary Jr. College in Buena
Vista, VA with an associate
degree in art and with a minor in
business administration. She is
married to James Miles Baker, a
captain with USAIR. They have
two small children and live in
Edenton. She has had “extensive”
fund-raising experience with a na
tional political organization in
Washington, D.C.
Wackelin said that the arts
council is part of a “triad” that in
cludes the Chamber of Commerce
and Historic Edenton. He said
that these organizations were
complementary to each other in
enhancing the educational, ar
tistic and economic development
climate of the community.
Mew Subdivision Development
Home Sites Now Available
The Rich Real Estate Company
of Edenton, Inc. has announce<
plans to begin immediate develop
ment for a thirty-three acre ex
elusive subdivision of colonia
style homes located in the city
limits and less than one mile fron
the historic district on NC 32
south.
The project will incorporat<
landscaping, curbs and gutters
underground utilities, and restric
tive covenants that will pro tec
the buyer’s investment both nov
and in the future.
After more than a year in the
planning and development, the
project is ready to be professional
ly marketed as individual home
sites intended to provide an at
' tractive and comfortable lifestyle
I for the buyer.
Phase one of the development
■ will incorporate twenty-two in
> terior homesites and five lake
front homesites for immediate
i sale to the public.
Robert B. Bachman, managing
broker of the Rich Company, has
worked with Gilliam Wood to
coordinate the exclusive Village
Creek project from its inception
and the Rich Real Estate Com
’ pany will be the exclusive
marketing company for the
project.
Bachman said that pre-con
struction prices currently prevail.
Homesites are presently accessi
ble for inspection by interested
buyers he said.
Resignation Announced
Sarah Tynch, Chairperson oi
the Chowan County Democratic
Party, announced her resignation
from that position on Wednesday
morning. She said that she
tendered the resignation at a
meeting of the county party’s ex
ecutive committee Monday nighl
and that it was accepted. “I didn't
do it without thinking it over
thoroughly,” she said.
In the prepared statement that
follows, Tynch outlined her
reasons for the decision.
“My sister, Shirley Perry, is a
Republican candidate for the N.C.
House of Representatives. Initial
ly, I felt her candidacy would have
little bearing regarding my posi
tion as Chairperson of the Chowan
County Democratic Party—I
would simply keep a low profile
for this particular race.
“However, it became very ap
parent to me, prior to the May 6
primary, that it was not just a
matter of casting my vote in
private. There are expectations of
this position that I simply am
unable, and unwilling to fulfill.
“I do feel an obligation to the
party, and I know I will be unable
to promote total Democratic vic
tories in the November general
election when I would be directing
this against my sister, a Repub
lican candidate.
“I feel that maintaining the
position as chairperson would in
dicate that I did not take her can
didacy seriously. Therefore, I feel
ineffective as Democratic Party
Chairperson and I have submitted
my resignation, effective July 14.
“I have discussed this situation
with Rep. Vernon James and
R.M. “Pete” Thompson (both
Democratic candidates for the
House) and have been strongly en
couraged by both individuals to
continue as chairperson. I was
assured by both that they had no
qualms or problems with my con
tinuing to serve as county
chairperson. However, after care
ful consideration, I made the deci
sion to resign. The bottom line is
that 1 do not wish to remain
chairperson of the County Demo
cratic Party when my sister is a
Republican candidate.
“Quite frankly, I feel comfor
table regarding the outcome of the
N.C. House race in November as
we have three competent in
dividuals running who will repre
sent the First District, and
Chowan County, quite well.
“My decision to resign should in
no way reflect any dissatisfaction
with the Democratic candidates.
I suppose one could call upon the
cliche, ‘Blood is thicker than
water.’ Shirley has long held my
utmost admiration, love, and
respect. I know, if elected, she will
work very diligently for our area.
I feel that she is a very viable
candidate.”
Tynch was appointed to head
the county party when Thompson
stepped down in January from the
position in order to file for elec
tion. Tynch was elected to head
county Democrats in February.
Willie Riddick
Aide Guest
Speaker
The Edenton-Chowan Civic
League will host its Sixth Annual
Banquet on Friday, June 27. The
banquet will be held at John A.
Holmes High School, beginning at
7:00p.m. Keynote speaker for the
eveniHg will be Mr. Willie Rid
dick, aide to Congressman Walter
B. Jones.
A limited number of tickets will
be available at a cost of $8.00 each.
They may be purchased from
Miss Clenora Austin or any
member of the League. Those
wishing to attend are urged to pur
chase their .tickets as soon as
possible.
This banquet promises to be one
of the best yet, according to a
League spokesman, and in*
terested members of the com*
munity are warmly invited to
attend.
The council president pointet
out that the arts bring money int<
the community when perfor
mances are held, including
patronage at local motels anc
restaurants.
Baker, in explaining the func
tion of the council, termed it ‘‘th<
chamber of commerce of the arts
We help coordinate and assisi
local artists.” She cited as ex
amples, helping people to fine
piano teachers, artists, musi
cians, and garden clubs.
The council sponsors an artist’s
directory. Wackelin said that a
mailing had been sent out to coun
ty businesses, corporations and in
dividuals requesting donations tc
help fund the council’s activities
“What we are trying to do in oui
program as a whole is to serve al
I of the citizens of Edenton and
i Chowan County We are basical
ly a presenting organization. Fot
example, the N.C. Dance Theatef*
the Roadside Theater froitl
Whitesburg, KY and Bits-N
Pieces Puppet Theater fr< im Tam
pa, FL,” Wackelin said
Wackelin continued, "Along
with the School Board, w< ? are t he
largest contributors to presenta
tion of the N.C. Symphoiny visit.
We also work with other groups
that bring in performing a rtists in
to the schools to complement in
school activities.”
The new executive director will
be the point of contact on a day
to-day basis at the counc il’s new
office at 108 E. King Street.
“We’re very excited abou t our of
fice space,” she said.
NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR—BruceWackelln, President oi' the
Chowan Arts Counci, stands in front of the new Arte Council office
with its first Execu.ive Director, Lisa Baker.