THE CHOWAN HERALD
Published In The Most Beautiful Little City On The North Carolina Coast
Volume III - No. 46
Edenton, North Carolina, Thursday, December 4, 1986
Single Copies 25 Cents
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On Showing Initiative
Once when the Denver News
was losing a circulation battle
with the Denver Post, the owner
sent a message from California to
“show some initiative.”
That moved the local publisher
to an unusual course of action. He
called in a mining engineer to set
’ off a huge explosion on top of the
building; but the expert made a
slight miscalculation and the
downward force of the dynamite
wrecked the upper portion of the
building.
On learning of the debacle, the
owner sent his publisher a tele
gram saying, “Show no more in
1, itiative.”
That’s something like the
message somebody ought to be
sending President Ronald
Reagan. “Initiatives” are at the
root of all his troubles.
To begin with, there was his
economic initiative, also known as
Reaganomics, which he set in
operation soon after taking office.
| He led Congress to accept his
proposition that he could cut taxes
and increase expenditures without
throwing the budget further out of
balance. He believed that the tax
cut would so stimulate business
that it would result in no loss of
revenue. It had worked that way
in California, he said.
Well, it hasn’t worked that way
) in Washington; but the President
has remained so adamant against
increasing taxes that the country
is now more than two trillion
dollars in debt, half of which has
been accrued since he came into
office. . .__
Then came the defense initia
tive, also known as star wars. The
SDI has become the crown jewel
B in the President’s dream to leave
office with the United States—
and, indeed, the whole free
Continued On Page 4
m
OFFICERS SWORN—Chowan County’s new Sheriff, Fred Spruill looks on at far right as deputy sheriffs
of his department take their oaths of office from Clerk of Superior Court Marjorie Hollowell on Monday
morning. They are, from left, Special Deputies, Carroll Smith and Glen Perry, Regular Deputies David
Jethro, Wayne Rice, Pamela Byrum, Linda Terry (Chief Deputy), James White and Joe Byrum. Sheriff
Spruill was sworn in at a ceremony in Elizabeth City by Superior Court Judge Herbert Small.
County Officials Take Oath Of Office
The fall elections are over and
Monday the winners took office in
a series of ceremonies when they
were sworn in.
New Sheriff, Fred Spruill and
re-elected Gerk of Superior Court,
Marjorie Hollowell traveled to
Elizabeth City to receive their
oaths of office from Superior
Court Judge Herbert Small.
Upon her return to Edenton,
Mrs. Hollowell was kept busy
swearing in her staff, the Sheriff’s
Department, County Commis
sioners and Board of Education
members.
Court Gerk’s office staff sworn
in at 9:30 a.m. were Assistant
Court Clerk Sheila Sawyer and
Deputy Clerks, Alice Twiddy,
Janet O’Donnell, Sarah Copeland,
Sam Evans and Marjorie Allen.
At 10 a.m., Sheriff Fred Spruill
witnessed the oath taking of his
deputies.
In the evening, re-elected Coun
ty Commissioners, Joe Hollowell,
DOWNTOWN VANDALISM—A shredded awning is graphic evidence
of a spree of vandalism that took place on Thanksgiving day. Police
ask that anyone that might have information pertaining to this destruc
tion to call the police department (482-4444).
Vandals Strike Downtown Again
#
For the third time in three
months, downtown businesses
have been victimized by vandals
who have slashed their awnings.
The most recent vandalism oc
curred on Thanksgiving day when
awnings were cut at six locations.
Last Tuesday evening, Country
Corner’s awning Was cut and
again on Thursday. Others
damaged Thursday included
Davis Jewelers, Quality Shoes,
Cuthrell’s, Fame Men’s Shop and
Century 21. Damage estimates
totaled almost 12,500.
Russell Davis, owner of Davis
Jewelers, discovered the damage
at5:30p.m. on Thursday. He said
that the vandalism took place dur
ing daylight hours since he had
visited his store that morning and
there was no damage then.
Several of the merchants said
that police advised them to roll
their awnings up during non-busi
ness hours. Janet Chappell,
manager of Quality Shoes said
that the awning was necessary
during morning hours to protect
merchandise in the windows from
damaging rays of the sun. “If we
roll the awning up, it will do us no
good. The sun hits the window
first thing in the morning,” she
said.
John Cuthrell and Davis were
victims of awning vandalism in
late September. Cuthrell had to in
stall a replacement costing about
$350. “The new one’s been up
about two weeks.” It was cut in
seven places. “I believe it’s going
to have to be replaced again,” he
said.
Police Chief John Parrish said,
“Anyone who may have seen any
thing suspicious in reference to
this vandalism is urgently re
quested to contact the police
department. We need the public’s
help and cooperation in cases of
vandalism.”
The Edenton-Chowan Chamber
of Commerce is offering a $200
reward for information that leads
to the arrest and conviction of the
vandals. Chamber Executive
Director Kathleen Miller, in an
nouncing the reward said,
“Because there were so many
businesses hit in these repeated
acts of vandalism, the chamber
feels the need to support the police
effort in putting a stop to this.”
Clara Boswell and C.A. (Al) Phil
lips were sworn. Also Monday
evening new Board of Education
members Alice Jones, Frank Cox,
J.M. Parrish, Jr. and Paul Chap
pell were sworn into office.
Sale Resolution Passes
At an organizational meeting of
the Chowan County Board of Com
missioners, required by state law
to be the first meeting in Decem
ber, Commissioners re-elected
Alton Elmore as Chairman and
Clara Boswell as Vice-Chairman.
The board also voted to continue
alternating day and night
meetings.
The Commissioners passed a
resolution giving preliminary ap
proval for the sale of Albemarle
Cable TV to the C-4 Media Corp.
Company representative Michael
Adamchek told the board that C-4
Media is presently acquiring most
of the cable TV systems in this
area and plans to upgrade service
to customers. The company’s
plans include investigating the
possibility of extending service to
the Arrowhead Beach/Rocky
Hock area.
The board appointed Julia
Small and Nancy Wood as prin
cipals and Marshall Jordan as an
alternate to the Town of Edenton
Planning Board. They will serve
as extraterritorial area members.
The town, in a reorganization
move, combined its Zoning Board
and Board of Adjustments.
In other action the board:
• Approved a proclamation
establishing a bicentennial com
mittee of Chowan County for the
purpose of planning and imple
menting a meaningful commem
oration of the 200th anniversary of
the U.S. Constitution;
• Approved the bonding of the
new sheriff in the amount of $5,000
against civil actions;
• Scheduled an assessment
hearing for comment on the final
assessment for work completed to
Juniper Drive and Waterlily Loop
Continued On Page 4
More Break-Ins Reported
The George C. Moore Co.,
located on U.S. 17 North in Eden
ton, was broken into Thursday
night. Police Chief John Parrish
said that the break-in was
reported at 8:25 a.m. Friday by
Moore employee Gil Akins. Entry
to the building was gained by
breaking the glass from a rear
door.
A safe in a canteen area was
broken into and an undetermined
amount of cash was taken. The
canteen is operated by the O.G.
Den Food Service Corp.
The thieves attempted to bum
the safe open with a torch from
the company’s maintenance sec
tion and then used a drill owned by
the company to open the safe,
authorities said.
Edenton Police Officers
Leonard Bonner and Capt. C.H.
Williams and State Bureau of In- (
vestigation Agent Dwight Ransom
were the investigating officers.
The SBI Crime Lab from Green
ville was also called to the scene.
The Police chief said that the in
vestigating officers don’t have
reason to believe that professional
thieves were involved in the
break-in and larceny. He said that
physical evidence had been col
lected and is currently being
analyzed.
In another case, Edenton Police
arrested a suspect at the scene of
a break-in at Spotless Cleaners,
415 North Granville Street.
Owner, Clarence Lee Walker,
reportedly heard someone trying
to break into the business which is
near his home. Going outside, he
saw someone enter the store
through a door on the South side.
Officers Bland Terry and Chuck
Alexander responded to a call
from Welker at 12:S2 a.m. Satur
day. They searched the building
and found the suspect, Jesse
James Twine, hiding in a box of
clothes. He was charged with
breaking and entering and
larceny. A first appearance hear
ing for Twine in the case was con
ducted Tuesday and he is being
held at the Chowan County Jail in
lieu of $10,000 bond.
Twine also faces charges in con
nection with the break-ins at
Boswell’s Restaurant and Eden
ton Auto Parts. Police said that he
is a suspect in several other
break-ins in Edenton.
Lawmakers Meeting
At Municipal Bldg.
By JACK GROVE
A unique meeting of state
lawmakers from Virginia and
North Carolina that begins today
at Edenton’s Municipal Building
should see some interesting
discussion between the two states,
according to Sen. Marc Basnight
of Manteo. In a telephone inter
view this week he said, “I can’t
predict what its outcome could be,
I don’t think anyone could hazard
a guess. It can only enhance the
dialogue between the two states.”
The meeting is the first of an In
terstate Study Commission on the
future of the Chowan River. Each
state’s legislature is represented
by seven members on the com
mission. The stated purpose of the
joint body is to review the river’s
water quality and to explore ways
to enhance that quality.
Basnight termed it ‘‘a
preliminary meeting. I’m excited
about what can transpire at this
joint meeting and the cast of
characters involved.” He said
that he was particularly pleased
to open commission business “in
such an historic site as Edenton”.
The meeting may address
mutual concerns of the states
other than the Chowan River,
however. Basnight said that the
issue of withdrawal of water from
Lake Gaston for use in Virginia
cities will definitely surface. He
said that a member of the North
Carolina delegation would bring it
up publicly. He hastened to add,
“Not me. I’m interested in the
Chowan.” The idea of the commis
sion originated with Basnight.
The Manteo senator stated his
opposition to water withdrawal
from Gaston. Recently a proposal
was presented to Gov. James
Martin that the states cooperate in
piping water from the lake, with
Virginia Beach, Va. and the Outer
Banks of this state being the end
users. Basnight feels, "That’s too
risky a proposal. I’m opposed to
taking water out of the Roanoke
River Basin.”
Today’s session will begin at
3:00 p.m. with the respective state
delegations meeting separately.
The N.C. delegation will adopt a
budget and hear presentations on
present water quality, past pro
grams to improve quality, effects
of pollution on marine and
wildlife, and suggested actions
and costs involved to improve the
water quality.
Delegates of both states will
hold a joint meeting tomorrow
morning at 8:30 a.m. to discuss
future cooperative action for river
improvement. They will also hear
a presentation from the En
vironmental Protection Agency.
LOCAL GAME—The “Game of Chowan County” is now available
for pick up by those who have given advance orders to the Optimist
Club. Dalton Furlough (left) and Chuck Smith hold one of the games.
Furlough said that they may be picked up from Royalty Finance from
9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays. Additional games are available for
Christmas purchases, he said.
Holiday Activities Planned
Enjoy the beauty and elegance
of an 18th century Christmas on
Sunday, December 7 in Historic
Edenton. The Cupola House and
the James Iredell House will be
festively decorated and open to
the public from 2:00-5:00 P.M.
Both homes will feature eight
eenth century-style Christmas
decorations, music, and refresh
ments. There is no admission
charge.
The historic Cupola House dates
from 1725 and is an outstanding
example of Jacobean architec
ture. The Cupola House Wassail
Bowl features the traditional holi
day beverage “Wassail” as well
as other refreshments.
The Iredell House Groaning
Board features beautiful foods
made from eighteenth century
and early nineteenth century
recipes. This year’s menu in
cludes figgy pudding, steeple
cream, everlasting syllabub,
Continued On Page 4
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ASSISTING UNDERPRIVILEGED—Edenton Jaycees Morris Small (left), Kel Elmore (center) and
Gary Smith (right) are among members of the organization selling holiday wreaths and pine garlands
to raise money for their annual Underprivileged Children's Christmas Party. Toiplace an order for either
of these items, call Morris Small at 482-7466 or 482-3700, Kel Elmore at 482-8411 nr 482-7314, or any member
of the Edenton Jaycees. (Staff photo by Gail Basnight)