Vol. 82 No. 1
THE County TIMES-NEWS
ilC 'k if Northampton County's Only Advertising and News Medium -k "k if if
THE ROANOKE-CHOWAN TIMES — Established 1892 ☆ THE NORTHAMPTON COUNTY NEWS — EstabUshed 1926
THURSDAY, JANUARY 4, 1973 lOc Per Copy Rich Square, N. C.
12 Pages
End Of REAP Means
$60,000 Loss I n '73
JACKSON -
administration’s
of REAP
Environmental
The Nixon
termination
(Rural
Assistance
Program) will mean a loss to
Counties'
Officers
To Meet
RALEIGH - County
officials from all 100 counties
in the state will be attending
one of six of the 1973 District-
Legislative Meetings of the
North Carolina Association of
County Commissioners. For
the first time the counties will
nominate district directors
from the 17 multi-county
planning regions rather than
from the 14 highway divisions.
The Annual District
Meetings will review 1973
legislative study proposals
and discussion of the
legislative needs of the
counties.
Locally Region Q, of which
Bertie and Hertford are
members and Region R, of
which Gates is a member, will
meet January 25 at the
Holiday Inn in Washington,
(See MEET, Page 3)
Northampton County farmers
in 1973 of approximately
$60,000 in federal funds for soil
and water conservation
practices. Ben Mann,
executive director of the
Northampton County ASCS
Office, reported that farmers
in the county will also lose a
small amount in REAP
payments for 1972, since the
program was terminated,
effective last Friday.
In announcing the
termination of REAP, the U.S.
Department of Agriculture
said the income supplements
provided under REAP “are no
longer necessary” in view of
the fact that realized net farm
income this year will reach an
all-time high of nearly $19
billion.
Farm leaders have
criticized the government’s
action and have predicted a
sharp decline in such this program,
agricultural conservation
practices as cover crops
Program Peak
The peak of the program in
Northampton County in recent
years came in 1967, when
97,000 was paid in federal
funds to assist conservation
practices on 1,200 farms.
REAP payments to North
ampton County farmers
amounted to $54,000 in 1971 for
475 farms; $77,000 in 1970 for
980 farms.
Mann reported that nearly
$70,000 has already been paid
in 1972 to Northampton farm
ers under the program. About
550 farms in the county
benefited from the program
this year, he said.
N. C. Farm Bureau
President B. C. Mangum of
Rougemont commented: “I
regret this action very much.
The North Carolina Farm
Bureau has always supported
cost of the practices with the
farmer paying the remainder
Gaston Child Hit While
Getting Off School Bus
GASTON — Kimberly
Denise Bishop, an eight-year-
Ai Squire Elijmentary .School
oXcond.-giadti, Is recovering
nicely today at Halifax
Memorial Hospital in Roanoke
Rapids from injuries
sustained when she was struck
by a school bus Tuesday
afternoon.
According to a report from
Trooper Bob Cooper of the
Halifax-Northampton High
way Patrol, Kimberly was hit
while disembarking from her
school bus on Cherry Tree
Road, which re five miles west
of Gaston off N. C. 46.
Kimberly’s bus had stopped
in the traveled portion of the
roadway with its stop sign out
and jts red lights flashing. A
second school bus approached
from the rear and attempted
to pass the stopped bus when
the child was struck.
ADMIRING THE JANUARY Display in the Northampton Memorial
Library, is Prof. Betty Nance Weber, a native of Northampton County and
now an instructor of Germanic Languages at the University of Texas at
Austin. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. S. E. Nance of Jackson. The
exhibit is made up of articles from the Northampton Museum. One of the
featured articles in the exhibit is a detailed map with numerous attractions
and events historical transpiring in thp long history of the county.
1950s, and the state’s
allocation dropped to $7-7V2
million annually.
Congress earmarked $225.5
million for REAP allocations
to states in 1973, but USDA last
September 29, announced an
initial funding next year of
$140 million.
Bertie County Extension
Chairman George Jennings
said he felt the over all
economic effect of dropping
the program would not
amount to much. “Of course,
those farmers who have been
participating will not be
getting their money this
year,” he added.
The ASC report indicated
the Forest Service received
one per cent and the Soil
Conservation Service got five
per cent of each year’s
application with the
remainder going to
participating farmers.
'Unexpected'
REA Credit Ended By
Administration Move
RICH SQUARE — In what seems to be an
increasing assault by the Nixon administration
against federal spending on the agriculture back
bone of this country, another shot was fired
Friday when the low cost REA rural electric
credit system, launched in New Deal days, was
rate of 7 V2 per cent and REA putting up 80 per cent
of the amount at the interest rate.
This ratio changed two years ago to where CFC
was furnishing 30 per cent of the loan and REA 70
per cent. By next April or May it was reported
that the ratio was once again going to change with
dissolved and replaced with a system of higher- CFC at 40 per cent and REA at 60 per cent
interest loans.
Prior to this move REA electric and telephone
direct loans were made at a two per cent rate.
Washington’s move now has the rate at five per
cent.
In 1967 the National Rural Electric
Cooperative Association (NRECA) decided to
take a closer look at the financial business and,
after a two-year study, the National Rural
Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation (CFC)
was formed in 1969.
At first loans were made with CFC furnishing
20 per cent of the loan at the conventional interest
“Eventually, as CFC got financially stronger,
their participation was going to increase and
REA’s was going to decrease until REA would
completely be out of the financing business. At
least it looked like we were headed in this
direction,” said Vernon E. Taylor, general
manager, of Remco in Rich Square.
“The Washington action is going to make
things pretty interesting as our next b^udget was
approved at the December 22 meeting based on
the old rate.”
At the national level the NRECA General
(See REA, Page 3)
Mangum said many
thousands of small Tar Heel
permanent pastures, tile and ^
open ditch drainage, ponds advantage of other
^ TV,*™*"®,) 11 ^ programs have benefited from
The program, once called ^cp and REAP.
AGP (Agricultural
Conservation Program),
originally paid one-half of the
approved conservation
practices, but in recent years
The program was started in
the mid-1930’s with an annual
national appropriation of $500
million. North Carolina’s
allocations have declined and allocation in the late 1930s and
federal funds have financed 1940s ranged between $10
from 30 to 50 per cent of the million and $15 million a year.
National funding was
reduced to $250 million in the
1st Fatality
GASTON — Unfortunately, death did not observe
New Year’s day and take a holiday, as Northampton
County suffered its first traffic fatality before the sun
rose on 1973.
LinwoodJ. Garner, 30, of Route 1, Garysburg, died
early Monday morning in Halifax Memoriai Hospital
as a result of severe head injuries.
Garner, a pedestrian, was reportedly struck by a
car on Warner Bridge Road west of here around 9:45
p.m. Sunday night.
Trooper Bob Cooper of the Halifax-Northampton
Highway Patrol stated that Garner was hit by a car
driven by David Jones, alsoofRoutel, Garysburg. The
victim, suffering head injuries, a possible fracture and
severe lacerations, was transported to the hospital by
the Roanoke Valley Rescue Squad.
County Home Renovation
Bid Accepted By Board
JACKSON — A unanimous
vote to go ahead with the
County Home renovation
featured the first meeting in
1973 of the Northampton
County Commissioners here
Tuesday.
They approved the total
base bid of $226,569 for general
construction, plumbing,
heating and air conditioning
and set into motion the
procedure for contracts to be
Larry Powell, 16, a student
at Gaston High SchooL. was
driving the secj(^d^ bii|^ No
charges have been preferred
at this time.
Kimberly, the daughter of
Mr. and Mrs. Jimmy Bishop,
was listed in serious condition
upon admittance to the
hospital, but, according to a
hospital spokesman, her
condition is no longer serious
and she. is recovering nicely.
Schpol Board Votps
%
I o
•i-x-
JACKSON — The North- The following school units,
ampton County Board of in addition to Northampton
Education voted to accept an County, are considering
invitation to join a proposed
regional consortium for the
purpose of attempting to
secure educational
discretionary funds at its
regular meeting here on
Tuesday.
becoming a part of the
consortium, ;ccording to the
Superintendent of Schools:
Hertford County, Edenton-
Chowan County, Gates
County, Martin County, Bertie
County, Camden County,
Jernigan Named
To Chairmanship
A H 0 S K I E -
Representative Roberts
Jernigan has been named
chairman of the House
Appropriation subcommittee
on general government and
transportation.
Speaker-designate James
Ramsey made the
appointments Monday.
This will be Jernigan’s
second term as chairman of
the sub-committee and the
fourth session he has served a
chairmanship in the House of
Representatives.
Jernigan explained his
subcommittee’s role during
the upcoming legislative year
as follows:
During the past two years,
the advisory budget
commission has been drawing
up a budget for the next
biennium and has presented
its recommendation to the
governor.
The governor in turn will
present the budget to the
General Assembly who will
study it. The Appropriations
Committee and its five
subcommittees will consider
the budget as presented, as
well as other bills requiring
funding.
Each subcommittee will
make its recommendations
and those recommendations
will be considered by the
entire membership of the
Appropriations committee.
That in turn will be
presented to the General
Assembly and when it is
Currituck County, Pasquotank
County and Perquimans
County.
Richard W. Baker Jr.,
assistant superintendent
the Bertie County schools, is
undertaking a major
leadership role in attempting
to get the regional educational
organization started.
In other business brought
before the board, teaching
contracts were approved for
George R. Revelle and Joseph
Kimrey Turner. Both men
have accepted positions at the
Conway School.
The bid of Galanides, Inc.,
in the amount of $40,115.10 to
furnish and deliver items of
food and supplies to the North
ampton (Ilounty School
lunchrooms for the period
beginning January 9 through
August 31 was accepted.
Sheriff
Reports
Incidents
JACKSON — Of four
incidents in the county over
the holiday period three
involved break-ins or
attempted break-ins on self
service gasoline pumps.
The Texaco Self Service
Station in Woodland,
belonging to Robert G.
written up with low bidder
firms.
The commissioners were
told that the T & S
Construction Company of
Greensboro was ready to go to
work and estimated the
building would be ready for
occupancy in July.
There was some discussion,
but no action taken, on the
need to renovate the
conference room used by the
commissioners for their
meeting.
County Auditor Sidney Ellen
explained that revenue
sharing moneys would be used
to meet the initial costs.
■Mi** hr, hoi'' iitsuret'
county could expect to
refunded this investment by
federal funds over a period of
12 years.
Discussing the project.
Commissioner W. W. Grant
said, “I think it’s a whole lot of
■J money to put on an old
building, but once it’s finished,
I think the public will
approve.
Commissioner John H.
Liverman who had to leave
before the vote said, “I want
to go on record as being in
favor of going ahead with the
project. I think we’ve gone too
far to turn back now.”
The newest member of the
commissioners, William D.
Edwards of Pendleton, made
the motion to approve the
bids. Commissioner John
Faison gave the second.
Board Chairman Jasper
Eley remarked, “I expect
there will be some criticism,
but weTl just have to face it.”
He Ifhe County ^ome project
tjje hire beer’ r‘i?f'i>;-‘Td ove- c 'wo
be year period with one
(See COUNTY, Page 3)
Vepco Tax
Payments
Decrease
Course For
Accounting
Personnel
RICHMOND — Checks
totaling $1,246,647 were
presented last week by the
Virginia Electric and Power
Company to county, city and
town tax collectors in the 22
counties that Vepco serves in
North Carolina.
JACKSON — Two assistants
in the county accountant’s
office in Jackson will begin a
14-week course next week in
the fundamental principles of
governmental accounting and
the specific concepts and
principles of North Carolina’s
Uniform Governmental
Accounting System.
Attending the course will be
Ann C. White, assistant county
The largest check of $316,
338 went to Northampton
County. This is $41,258 less
than the $357,969 received last
year.
Other payments to Roanoke-
Chowan counties included
$56,114 to Hertford, $28,957 to
Bertie and $16,513 to Gates.
All R-C area towns getting
individual payments received
accountant, and Carolyn a lower amount than they did
Wheeler, accounting clerk, in 1971. They are: Woodland,
The course is made up of two $1,963 ($2,363 last year); Rich
weekly evening sessions to be Square $1,902 ($2,112)
taught in Greenville and is Conway, $1,497 ($2,076)
offered to city-county Gaston, $1,128 $1,595)
managers, finance officers. Seaboard, $1,194 ($1,284)
accountants and accounting Jackson, $1,035 ($1,262)
clerical personnel at the Ahoskie, $8,478 ($10,902)
introductory level. Murfreesboro, $3,705 ($4,409)
It will terminate April 13. and Winton, $915 ($1,750).
approved, the recommended Whitley was forced open and
$17 was taken. Halls Self
Service in Rich Square was
entered and $28 was removed.
Clyde Odom’s Self Service
Pump in Conway was
damaged but entry was not
gained.
(See SHERIFF, Page 3)
budget will be sent to the
Senate for action.
Other appropriation
Committee subcommittes
are: health, welfare and
institutional care; personnel
and long range planning,
education; and base budget.
County High School
New Wing
A new wing of the
Occupational Education
building at Northampton
County High School was
dedicated Wednesday when
the new 4,200 square foot
classroom and Work area was
opened to the students of the
Business Education
Department.
Board of Education
Chairman W. C. Connor
presented keys to the building
to Superintendent Roy F.
Lowry who, in turn, gave them
to Principal Henry Campbell.
Assistant Superintendent W.
R. King participated in the
short ceremony opening the
new area for the 250 students
participating in the business
education courses.
Students, faculty members
and visitors who have viewed
the new wing have expressed
great satisfaction with the
appearance of the building
and with the equipment with
which the students will be
working.
The new wing, which is
located south of the main
building, is joined to the
Occupational Education
Department which was
opened last year.
OPERATING THE NORTHAMPTON Police
Information Network ( PIN)whichwasinstalled in
the Sheriff's office recently is Mrs. Swannie
Williamson, police dispatcher. With the network
unit here in operation the county sheriff can be in
immediate contact with the PIN center in Raleigh
as well as the National Crime Information Center
(NCIC) in Washington, D. C.