Newspapers / The Chowan Herald (Edenton, … / June 11, 1987, edition 1 / Page 1
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D Volume LLIII - No. 24 Edenton, North Carolina, Thursday, June 11, 1987 Single Copies 25 Cents ■) Justice At Auction? One of the most important bills to come before the 100th Congress is a proposal, sponsored by some 44 members of the senate, to put realistic limits on campaign spen ding. Everybody interested in preserving our system of govern ment ought to support it. With the growth of deep-pocket Political Action Committees, campaign spending for congres sional seats has become so ex cessive as to be vulgar — for ex ample, the roughly $30 million spent two years ago to fill just one senate seat from North Carolina. And the average spent in filling each of the 435 house seats came close to half a million during the last election. In fact, these special interests have become so selective in the candidates to whom they make campaign contributions, favoring incumbents almost exclusively, that it is difficult for challengers to put on a successful campaign, with the result that the current X Congress has been described by one cynic as “the best money can buy.” That’s bad enough. But now it’s beginning to appear that justice is for sale, too. Let’s look at a few critical ex amples of how special interest money is finding its way into the courtroom: Pennzoil Company and Texaco, which are engaged in an $11 billioTjt la wsuitin^he Texas^courts, are how accusing each other of trying to influence judges who will sit upon the case with campaign contributions. „ It began when a Pennzoil at - torney made a $10,000 campaign contribution to a lower court judge who had already been assigned to hear the case. Texaco defense at torneys cried foul, but then struck Continued On Page 4 I I 1 FARMERS’ MARKET MOVES—A new site has been chosen for the Chowan County Farmers’ Market, which opens Friday at 8 a.m. Market coordinator Virginia Hobbs and Mike Williams of the agriculture extension service said produce will be sold at no cost to the grower and Mrs. Hobbs will take care of sales if a grower has to bring his produce and leave. Farmer's Mart Changes Location Chowan County Farmer’s Market has moved to a new loca tion on old U.S. 17 just past the Pizza Hut. Virginia Hobbs, coordinator for ^ the market, said the move was * made because plans are under way to sell and develop the old site across from Golden Corral on N.C. 32 North. “If we had waited, we could have had to move in the middle of July,” Mrs. Hobbs said. Use of the new location was donated by Yates Parrish and this r\ year’s market will open Friday, L June 12. Hours are from 8a.m. un til 2 p.m. and days of operation are Tuesday, Friday and Saturday. When the sales begin Friday, all early vegetables will be available, including cabbage, beets, and onions, as well as smoked fish, and canned goods. ~) The market is open to any grower who can get his vegetables to the market and no charge is made for selling the produce. Mrs. Hobbs said she would take Continued On Page 4 House Opens Grand Opening Festivities for the Ronald McDonald House, Greenville, will be held on Sun day, June 21. A special invitation has been extended to the residents of Chowan County to attend the celebration and to tour the bedroom sponsored by the county residents. Dedication ceremonies will be held at 2:00 at the Brody Auditorium, Brody Medical Sciences Building in Greenville. Ribbon cutting will be at 3:00 at the house with open house and tours from 3:00 to 5:00. For further information call Stephanie Nugen at 482-7277 or Leigh Ambrose at 482-4108. Travelers Halted Bridge is Damaged By JEANETTE WHITE Travelers across Qjowan River Bridge met with delays and frustration this weekend after two separate accidents closed the bridge for several hours. No injuries were reported in either accident, but property damage was extensive. The first accident occurred just after noon Friday when a large piece of logging equipment struck the top of the draw span and was knocked from its trailer, closing traffic in both lanfes. The piece of equipment, a “feller-buncher”, was being pull ed on a low-boy owned by Frankie Aarats of Jamesville. The “cutter head”, an arm extending from the equipment, struck overhead beams of the draw section of the bridge. N.C. Highway Patrolman Carl Cayton said the $160,000 tree cut ter, a 1987 Barko model 775, was new and being tried by Aarats in his logging operation. The driver of the truck towing the low-boy was Jackie Grimes, 52, Jamesville, who reported that an alarm on the approach to the bridge did not sound to alert the driver that the equipment was overheight. Alarms were installed last year on both approaches to the bridge to alert drivers if trailers or equip ment are too tall to fit under the draw. Cayton said the Chowan draw is 14-feet high and 13-feet, six-inches is the legal height of a load being pulled on the state’s highways, but drivers are liable for any damage caus*cLwhen trailers or equip rtrehtare more than’12-feet, sc inches high. Cayton said some of the state’s old overpasses have only 12-feet, six-inch clearances. When the tree-cutter was knock ed from its trailer oil ran from the equipment and a truck was call ed to bring more oil before it could be started and driven back onto the trailer. N.C. Dept, of Transportation workers were called to cut away sections of the bridge damaged by the tree-cutter and DOT officials were called to verify the safety of the span. Two horizontal support beams across the draw were damaged and stress when the equipment struck those beams cracked a ver tical support along the side of the span. An engineer from Williamston, R.L. Spence, examined the span and declared it safe, but express ed concern about whether the draw could be opened without dif ficulty for river traffic. Several highway patrolmen, Chowan Sheriff Fred Spruill and Deputy Vic Lamb controlled traf fic at the ends of the bridge. Traffic backed-up about three miles before a path was cleared at 2:30 p.m. Aarats said he feared damage to the tree-cutter and bridge would exceed $200,000. Grimes was ticketed for an overheight violation. The second accident occurred at 5:18 p.m. Sunday when a 1984 Ford van caught fire on the north side of the draw and stopped traf fic until 6:23 p.m. According to reports, the van, owned by Larry Dunlow of Wind Continued On Page 4 BRIDGE DAMAGED—A piece of equipment on a low-boy (below) inflicted damage to the draw of the Chowan River bridge Thurs day. The torn metal overhead girder (right) was one of three struck by the equipment. The driver of the truck towing the low -boy was Jackie Grimes, 52, of Jamesville, who reported that an alarm on the approach to the bridge did not sound to alert him that the equipment was overheight. He was ticketed for an overheight violation. Damage to the tree-cutter and bridge could exceed $200,000. r Bicentennial Committee Plans Celebration Events Plans are underway for Chowan County to participate in the United States Constitution Bicentennial celebration. Focus of the local activities will be November 8, when Edenton had a special role in the writing and signing of the Constitution. It is believed by historians that the state’s first public movement favoring the important document was inaugurated by James Iredell of Edenton. Citizens of Chowan convened at Edenton November 8, 1787, and passed resolutions instructing members to endorse the new Constitution. A Chowan County Bicentennial Committee for the celebration has been named to include John Dunn, chairman; Linda Eure, vice chairman; Phyllis Copeland, secretary; Phil Evans, projects. The committee was formed after each state and its com munities were asked to form a group to lead this summer’s celebration. The local committee has adopted various projects to coincide with the nation’s observance. A quiz and newspaper contest will run in the Chowan Herald, beginning on page 7-B in today’s issue. Chowan School Superinten dent Dr. JohnDunn has indicated that the school system’s theme for 1987-88 will feature the constitu tion and citizenship. Ms. Nelle Hyatt has been nam ed to lead research on the county’s participation in the signing of the constitution and local attorneys have contributed $150 toward pur chase of copies of the document for distribution to school students. Included in fall bicentennial plans are exhibits in Chowan County Courthouse, a book fair at Shepard-Pruden Library, and a Sept. 17 announcement of winners in the newspaper contest, chaired by Winston Dail. Dr. Dunn has mailed letters to area clubs and organizations ask ing for participation and ideas to celebrate this event in Edenton and the nation’s history. Council Considers Budget Proposals By JACK GROVE A public hearing on a proposed budget for fiscal year 1987-88 was held by Edenton Town Council Tuesday night. An increase of $264,132 is projected in spending over the current year’s budgeted general fund without any increase in taxes. The only change to the budget came after a presentation by Chamber of Commerce President Beth Taylor. She asked that $5,000 be allocated to the business organization to help fund a video tape on Historic Edenton. The ten minute tape is to be shown at the state’s visitor centers in pro moting the town. The chamber was allocated $2,500 in the 1986-87 budget. As a compromise, council added $1,000 to the chamber funding in the new budget to come from the contin gency fund. In presenting the budget, Town Manager Phillip Whitaker said that, while the tax rate remains the same, future raises were possible due to phasing out of federal revenue sharing, possible liability insurance increases and other unforeseen circumstances. Items causing increased spen ding in the new budget include ex tension of utilities to a new motel on N.C. 32 and airport im provements. Listed as a con Continued On Page 4 Rotarians, Lions Club Trade Barbs Over Golf Rivalry Members of Edenton Rotary Club got a surprise Thursday when a “mystery woman” ap peared, disrupted the regular meeting and said she wanted to be a Rotarian. The surprise came as Rotarians and guest Pete Dail of the Lions Club were discussing the sixth an nual June 10 golf match between the two clubs. The first two mat ches were won by the Lions, but the trophy that goes to each year’s winner went home with the Rotarians for the past three years. Program chairman Jack Habit said, “Dail and his fellow pussy cats are no longer the roaring lions they used to be.” Dail’s reply was, “I bring you all greetings from the number one civic organization in Chowan County. .We do look forward to a real enjoyable day.” Rotarian West Byrum pre sented Dail with a broom, saying, “They (Lions) just can’t seem to putt like they should.” At this point, to auburn-haired woman (?) appeared and told the assembly, “I’ve always wanted to be a Rotarian.” She produced a letter endorsing her membership and said the letter was from Rotary president Bill Culpepper. Culpepper, taken by surprise at the series of events, said, “Wait just a minute, let me see that letter.” “It’s confidential,” she replied and refused to turn the letter over to the president. Culpepper informed the sur prise guest that to gain member ship in the all-male organization, she must first be passed by the membership committee and classification committee and have a membership proposal card. “If you can find someone in this club to propose you,” Culpepper said. The uninvited guest left the meeting, Habit said his program was concluded and as the meeting ended, Culpepper was muttering, “I still don’t think she’s going to get past the classification committee.” ROTARY CLUB CANDIDATE—This mystery woman applied for admission to the all-male Edenton Rotary Club last Thursday. Bemused club president Bill Culpepper (left) and program organizer Jack Habit look on as she pleads her case.
The Chowan Herald (Edenton, N.C.)
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June 11, 1987, edition 1
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