Reverse Treasure Hunt
State Treasurer Harlan Boyles
is turning the tables on more than
a dozen persons along the Public
Parade by seeking to return
B money to them rather than collect
money from them. The money for
this reversse treasure hunt comes
from some $7,038,244 in unclaim
ed or abondoned savings ac
counts, utility deposits, uncashed
checks and the like which, under
the law, escheat to the state.
After the money is collected, the
treasurer’s office makes a con
™ centrated effort to return it to its
rightful owners. In the meantime,
it is invested and the interest earn
ed is turned over each year to the
State Education Assistance
Authority, which in turn loans it to
worthy students in public higher
education institutions.
“This year,” Mr. Boyles ex
* plained, ‘ ‘we remitted $3,572,623 to
* the SEAA which should result in
low interest loans to some 1,600 of
our North Carolina students.”
But the treasurer’s office does
not lose sight of the fact that the
principal still belongs to the
owners, if they can be found. Last
year the office returned over a
million dollars to 3,711 rightful
^ owners. And again this year the
state treasurer is calling upon the
newspapers of the state to help
him find these people.
If you are one of the following
Chowan County citizens, you can
regain your money by writing to
the North Carolina State
Treasurer, Escheat and Unclaim
ed Property Office, 325 North
| Salisbury Street, Raleigh, N.C.
27611 or calling (919) 733-6876:
Deloris White, 319 West Church
Street, Edenton, $175.19; Tony R.
Hare, Tyner, $91; Florence
Lassiter, 109 South Dakon Street,
Edenton, $202.10; Thomas A.
Dees, Route 2, Edenton, $52.52;
W.H. Floyd, Westover Heights,
Edenton, $51.49; Clarence J.
) Leary, Jr., Route 2, Edenton,
$127.45; Lee A. Barnes, 600 Eden
ton Manor, Edenton, $53.42;
Thomas Boutwell, Edenton,
$71.31; William Brotton, Edenton,
$386.89; Sally Ann Brotton, Eden
ton, $286.95; Rebecca Jane Brot
ton, Edenton, $286.95; Mary Har
ris, Edenton, $92.17.
I The state treasurer promises
f that prompt payment will be
made once valid ownership has
been established. And that doesn’t
imply a third-degree process. The
treasurers will have some simple
questions which rightful
claimants will have no difficulty
. answering.
A Good Move By Town
k ;
It’s been a long time coming,
but we welcome the news that
Edenton will soon have its two
diesel-powered generating units to
level out its demand for power
during peak periods.
As we recall, the proposal to
purchase the auxiliary equipemnt
originated during former Mayor
i Roy Harrell’s administration; but
Continued On Page 4
J
THE CHOWAN HERALD
Published In The Most Beautiful Little City On The North Carolina Coast
vuiume lliii - no. 41
taenton, North Carolina, I hursday October 15, 1987
Single Copies 25 Cents
Council Members Continue Consideration Of Sion Sizes
By JACK GROVE
A proposed amendment to the
town zoning ordinance on business
signs came under fire during a
public hearing at town council
meeting Tuesday night.
The present ordinance pro
hibiting “principal use signs’’
larger than 18 square feet has
been ignored for years. Recently,
requests from developer Bob
Thomas of the new Travel Host
Inn near the bypass and represen
tatives from Hardees, building a
new restaurant on Broad Street,
requested variances.
Thomas requested permission
for a 250-square foot sign and
Hardees’ request was for a
128-square foot sign. They were
turned down by the Planning
Board, even though town attorney
Chris Bean told the board the sign
ordinance is probably
unenforcable.
The ordinance amendment says
that businesses in a highway com
mercial zone within 1,000 feet
from the bypass would be allow
ed one square foot of sign area for
each two feet of road frontage, not
to exceed 200 square feet. The
Travel Host Inn would still be shy
50 square feet under this
provision.
Businesses zoned highway com
mercial and more than 1,000 feet
from the bypass would have the
same frontage criteria but with a
total of only 75 square feet of sign.
Under this section, Hardees would
be denied 53 square feet of what
they had requested.
Gil Burroughs told the council,
“I hope that you will take action
that is legally defensible.” He said
that large signs were unattractive
and that the town should ensure
“esthetically pleasing” signs.
McDonald’s and Golden Corral
were mentioned as two businesses
that had not reqpest^^tfte tgwn^
permission to place signs. Jane
Mabry asked if the “signs that are
already up” could be removed.
Town Manager Phillip
Whitaker said that it could be
possible to accomplish through
litigation. Mayor John Dowd said,
“I don’t think we’ll be able to go
back and pull down their signs.”
Jack Pruden, president of
Historic Edenton, offered that
Charlotte and Nags Head had
eliminated large signs through a
phase-out period. He said that
Nag’s Head had a 64-square foot
limitation for signs.
Pruden also charged that, “The
downtown area, as far as signage,
is in total disrepute.” Dowd
countered with “I tend to think
that’s too strong.”
Richard Bunch, executive
director of the chamber of com
merce, commented, “It’s rather
amusing. Without these signs, I
wouldn’t know how to direct peo
ple to those businesses. Without
the signs at the bypass, people
wouldn’t stop at Edenton.”
Ms. Mabry asked about the
Hardees sign “which was erected
today.” That took building inspec
tor Amelle Charlton by surprise
land she promised to look into the
matter. Dowd said, gesturing
toward Bean, “We have advice
from our legal advisor that we do
not have an enforceable sign
ordinance.”
Bean said, “There is a legal
argument - where laws, over a
period of time are not enforced,
then they cannot be enforced.”
Councilman Privott moved to
continue the ordinance amend
ment matter with the unanimous
concurrance of the council.
In other matters the council:
• Accepted (if everything is in
order) the dedication of streets
and water and sewer lines of
Village Creek subdivision;
• Postponed consideration of an
appointment to the Planning
Board;
• Accepted the bid by Cummins
Carolina for two 1,250 KW
generators of $409,842 for local
generation of peak load and elec
• Accepted a Did of $1,826 for the
1945 Ford fire truck, proceeds to
be used for renovation of the 1923
Reo fire truck;
® Approved a budget amendment
for the purchase of Fisher Field
from the Beatrice Hunt-Wesson
group at a price of $66,000;
Riverboat Officials Visit Town
Owners of a Florida riverboat
company visited Edenton last
week as part of an Albemarle area
tour. Bob Johnson, president of
Riverwalk Cruise Lines is con
sidering the basing of a cruise
boat in this area that would offer
tourists cruises as well as take
bookings from local
organizations.
Snookie Bond, executive direc
tor of Historic Albemarle Tours,
guided the Riverwalk group on a
tour of the town and they were
shown the new video presentation
on Edenton’s history at Barker
House.
The group next went to the
chamber of commerce office to
view a ten minute film, newly pro
duced, that promotes Edenton and
Chowan County at state line
visitor centers. Executive direc
tor Richard Bunch presented
company officials with facts
relating to the town and county,
including churches, civic
organizations, schools, and the
community activity calendar.
Also meeting with the visitors
were Sen. Marc Basnight, Rep.
Vernon James, Rep. Pete Thomp
son and County Manager Cliff
Copeland. According to Bunch,
the legislators were “supportive
and excited about the idea,” of
basing a cruise ship in the area.
Bunch said of Johnson, “He was
real pleased with the information
we gave him. This guy is planning
on marketing thisj)roduct.”
Continued On Page 4
.
FAIRS ARE FOR KIDS (OF AIX AGES)—These youngsters took a train ride in the center of the mid
way at the Chowan Fair on a very chilly and windy Monday night. Temperatures have moderated and
the winds stilled as fair officials )>race for large crowds for the balance of fair week which ends Saturday
night.
• Approved the acceptance of a
state grant for planning services
to update the town’s zoning
ordinance;
• Approved a total operating
budget of $140,549 for the im
plementation of the 911 com
munications system;
• Approved funding for park im
provements at Waterfront Park;
• Approved a proposal from
Calvin Lamb for sidewalk con
struction along Park Avenue; and
• Approved the proclamation of
October 16 as the Lucy L. Sharpe
Day in recognition of over 50
years service as a practical nurse.
At the end of the meeting, Roy
Harrell observed to the council
that “quite a few political
posters” were adorning light poles
in violation of town ordinance.
Mayor Dowd told him, “They will
come down.”
WEEDS—These weeds of the illegal variety were harvested Monday morning. Chowan Sheriff Fred
Spruill (left) and Deputy David Jethro show the 33 marijuana plants they uprooted in the Ryland area
Monday morning. The plants, with a street value of almost $40,000, were subsequently destroyed.
Marijuana Plants Are Seized In Ryland
Harvest time is here and
Chowan Sheriff’s Department has
joined in. Sheriff Fred Spruill said
that 33 marijuana plants were
found growing near the G.U.
Road, SR 1307, at Ryland and
were confiscated Monday
morning. '
The mature plants, from five to
seven feet tall, have a street value
of $1,200 each for a total haul of
almost $40,000. He said that they
were destroyed by burning that
afternoon.
Spruill, Deputy David Jethro
and Deputy Harry Ward, with a
special assist from Patrolman
Greg Whitehurst of the Edenton
Police, participated in the raid.
The sheriff said that his depart
ment did not have a suspect in
connection with the drug. Infor
mation on the location of the il
legal crop was provided by a local
citizen.
Election Candidates Explain Viewpoints
• ■■ ■■
Edenton voters will go to the
polls on November 3 to elect a
mayor and three councilmen. All
of the candidates were interview
ed with the exception of Joe Lee
who was unavailable by press
time.
Each candidate was asked the
same questions with one addi
tional question for the mayoral
candidates. The questions are:
1. Given the historic setting of
Edenton, do you believe economic
growth should be controlled, and
if so, how and to what extent?
2. Is there a particular subject
concerning town administration
that either has not been address
ed by council or that needs in
creased attention?
3. Why are you seeking this
office?
4. (For mayoral race) What dc
you see as the mayor’s primary
duties?
John Dowd
John Dowd, a native of Eden
ton, is the incumbent mayor. He
is in the insurance and real estate
business and has a B.S. degree in
Business Administration from
East Carolina University. A
marketing teacher at John A.
Holmes for eight years, he was
first elected to public office in
1985. A town council charter
change last year now provides for
a four year term for mayor.
1. “Edenton, because of its loca
tion and recreation facilities
Area Chamber
Campaign Set
The Edenton-Chowan Chamber
of Commerce began a “thank
you” campaign today. Area
businesses will be visited by
chamber officials who will leave
a card thanking them for their
support of the chamber.
Chairman for the campaign is
Jim Elliott, vice-president of the
organization.
In keeping with the effort,
Mayor John Dowd and County
Commission Chairman Alton
Elmore signed a joint proclama
tion lending governmental back
ing to appreciation of local
businesses.
f -r-' ■ K...- -t , ■
(water) is going to grow whether
we want it to or not.
“Our area has been targeted by
many national publications for
travel and tourism and retirement
as one of the best places in the
country to live.
“This type of publicity is going
to create a type of growth in this
area that we need to plan for and
control. A cooperative effort by
our city and county governments
with suggestions and recommen
dations from such organizations
as Historic Edenton, the chamber
of commerce and other appointed
interested individuals could
develop a mass development plan
that takes into consideration such
factors as population growth,
travel and tourism, industrial
growth and retail business
potential.”
2. “Litter is our streets and
parks is an expensive problem for
our city.” He said that the main
problem stemmed from lack of
pride of people and inadequate
Continued On Page 4
Roy L. Harrell
Former mayor Roy L. Harrell
is an Edenton native and is a
veterans representative for the
state employment office in Eden
ton. A graduate of Edenton High
School, he was elected to town
council in 1971, was elected as
mayor in 1973 and served in that
capacity until 1985.
1. “TTie growth of any small
town has to be controlled to some
extent. Incoming industry must
be looked at and proven to be an
asset to the Town of Edenton.
“In the past, a very good job has
been done in keeping industry in
industrial parks and not to in
terfere with the layout of the town.
“The control is set up with the
boards already in action, the plan
ning board, the zoning laws and
regulations and very close obser
vation of your mayor and
council.”
2. “I’ve been very concerned
with the delay in the construction
of the electric generating plant
(peak shaving generators) which
has been proven to be a great
potential savings to the citizens of
Edenton in their electric bills.”
3. “It would be a pleasure work
ing in the capacity as mayor
again, working for and with the
citizens of Edenton in making the
town a better place to live.”
4. “I think one of the primary
duties of mayor is being as
prepared as possible on all issues
and to work closely with the coun
cil in providing the leadership
needed to move Edenton
forward.”
Dowd Harrell
Crummey Lee
Taylor
Hollowell