THE
Northampton
County
TIMES-NEWS
Vol. 82 No. 6
if Northampton County's Only Advertising and News Medium ★ ★ ★ ★
THE ROANOKE-CHOWAN TIMES — Esublished 1892 ☆ THE NORTHAMPTON COUNTY NEWS — Established 1926
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1973
10c Per Copy
Rich Square, N. C.
10 Pages
County Health
Head Resigns
iiill
her master’s degree in public
health administration.
Mrs. Carroll said her
resignation was effective
February 2.
The Alabama native retired
from the N C. Board of Health-
Laboratory Division prior to
coming to the job as
Northampton County health
administrator.
The 62-year-old mother of
two daughters of one son if
married to Clifford N. Carroll,
who is retired from the N. C.
Highway Commission. He is
working part-time with the
Warren County Solid Waste
JACKSON - Darrell Skeen Program. They reside in Wisp,
of Ft. Bragg, hn inmate at came to Jackson after
Odom Correctional Center, years m the Virology
was burned Saturday when he state board of
set fire to the mattress in his health, processing such
pgjj vaccines as typhoid, rabies
Skeen confined on a diptheria.
breaking, entering and , Mrs. Carroll who worked
larceny conviction, was 1930-1940 for the
treated at Halifax Memorial Alabama State Board of
Hospital late Saturday Health, has her
afternoon and returned to undergraduate deg^ree and
Odom. Then he was masters degree m chemistry,
transferred to Central Prison She graduated from the
JACKSON — Mrs. Norma B.
Carroll, who started work as
Northampton County’s new
health administrator on
December 4, has announced
her resignation in order to
return full time to her
graduate work at UNC-Chapel
Hill, where she is studying for
Odom Inmate
Set Fire To
His Mattress
Legislators Talk About
Highways - Women's Lib
LOOKING OVER THE STACKS of cards of long
overdue and maybe forgotten library is Mrs.
Francis S. Midyette, librarian for Northampton
County. She has declared February as Amnesty
Month. During this month people may return long
overdue library books with no charge or fine at
tached.
By JOSEPH COVOLO JR.
Managing Editor
RALEIGH — Highway
problems and plans
dominated the scene among
local legislators in Raleigh
last week but a few comments
on Women’s Lib were added
variety in Roanoke-Chowan
politics.
Leading off a discussion on
the highway picture was
Lewiston’s Sen. J. J. (Monk)
Harrington, chairman of the
Senate Roads Committee.
The senator was very much
concerned over the firing of
Hospital in Raleigh.
According to Odom Supt. R
University of Montevallo and
did her graduate work at
County Employs
Two Home Agents
L. Turner, no charges were North Carolina State
filed against the inmate.
University.
JACKSON — Spending
money and hiring perrsonnel
kept Northampton County
County Industrial Chief
Named to Region L Post
ROCKY MOUNT — Bill
Howell of Jackson has been
appointed executive director
of Region L. Council of
Governments, according to an
announcement by the
executive board of the council.
Howell has accepted the
position and resigned as
Northampton Industrial
Development director,
effective February 14.
W W. Grant, Northampton
County representative to
COG, nominated Howell for
the position. The board of
directors gave jiim a
unanimous vote.
Assistant Director Bob
Quinn of Rocky Mount will
remain in his present post.
Howell will assume the
$15,000 post on February 15.
He leaves the directorship of
Northampton County
Industrial Commission where
he has been active the past
four years in obtaining
industry for the county. .
New industry coming to
Northampton during his
tenure as the first industrial
develoiment drec*or
included New Seaboard
Industries, Union , Camp
Corporation in Seaboard,
Daber Inc., in Woodland and
Conway Manufacturing
Company.
Howell is a graduate of
came when Mrs. (iynthia B.
Watlington and Mrs. Rebecca
Brittle were brought before
the commissioners by
Extension Chairman B. H.
Harrell who recommended
they be hired as new county
employees.
Mrs. Watlington was
approved, effective
„ immediately as assistant
East Carolina University. He extension home economist
is married to the former Nan working with Family
Dickens of Garysburg. They Relations and Home
have one child, Angie, 4. Management.
The new executive director Rebecca Boyd Brittle,
Commissioners busy during years, will be moving to
its session on Monday. Woodland with her husband.
The hiring of personnel Tildon Brittle.
In other matters, the
commissioners:
—Heard M. A. Coker of
Pleasant Hill concerning his
letter as to the fair tax
valuation of his property.
—Accepted Bill Howell’s
resignation effective
commission by Bruce Lentz, that Lentz was going to need
newly appointed secretary of some time to get to know
transportation and acting what’s going on.‘We just want
chairman of the State High- to assist him.’ Well, it looks
way Commission. now that these cuts are only
Lacking Some Facts being made because the
“As far as I can see he individuals involved were
(Lentz) fired these people given their jobs by former
without any knowledge of Gov. Bob Scott. This seems to
what they accomplished. He be politically motivated,
did not know how good (or “I understand one of the
bad) they were; was their local men fired whom I
performance excellent, very personalty know, Worley
good, good, fair or poor? Franklin Minton of Ahoskie,
These questions are strong in was hired to fill a vacancy that
my mind,” Senator was there; they didn’t just
Harrington said. “Friday I create a position to give him a
was correctly quoted by a job. Minton has a very good
Raleigh newspaper as saying personality and this is a
quality needed by anyone
working in the right-of-way
business. He is gifted with an
ability to get along with
almost anyone. The fact that
he and eight others got fired
for the reasons stated above
appear to me to be bad
management,” the senator
said.
Two Committees
Senator Harrington last
week appointed two sub
committees to conduct
“nonpartisan” investigations
of the operations of the State
Highway Department.
One will be chaired by Sen.
Herman Moore and will check
on the primary road program.
“Basically they will be
looking into the extreme
lengths of time it takes to
complete road projects in the
February 14 as industrial
development director at which
time he will join the staff of
Region L Council of
governments.
Instead of seeking an
immediate replacement, the
board discussed the possibility
of employing a county
planner. The board also
(See COUNTY, Page 10)
state of North Carolina. I’ve
been told by different people
that our system of road
building differs from other
states and it takes a lot longer.
Here a job takes from seven to
10 years to complete but
elsewhere its about half that.
“Governor Moore promised
Rep. Roberts Jernigan of
Ahoskie a new bridge at
Winton way back in 1964 and
it’s not completed yet,”
Senator Harrington said.
When asked about it.
Representative Jernigan said
that Governor Moore left
$750,000 for this project when
he left office. “Bob Scott
added more funds to this and
now, nine years later, it looks
like it will finally be
completed by this summer.”
Commission Makeup
The other committee
appointed by Senator
Harrington will investigate
the makeup of the Highway
Commission and decide how
many members it should have
and what their powers should
be. Chairman of this
committee will be Sen. Dallas
Alford.
“Governor Hodges had
seven; Sanford, I think, had
17; Moore had 14; and Bob
Scott had 23. Governor
Holshouser had indicated that
he may not need any. At
present he has appointed 23
commissioners to serve just
(See LIB, Page 10)
Seaboard High School
came to Jackson from
Washington where he was
with Conservation and
Development, transferring
there from Raleigh.
Howell is the son of Mrs.
Elvin Mobdy of Seaboard.
former Vepco home
economist, will begin work
March 1 in the position
resigned recently by Mrs.
Mildred Jenkins as 4-H
coordinator. Mrs. Brittle, who
worked with' Vepco for five
Commissioners Send County
Survey To Pianning Board
JACKSON — NorthamptoVi
County Commissioners
rerouted a proposed county*
EAS Meeting Is Scheduled
JACKSON — A closed meeting of the steering
committee for EAS (Extended Area Service) will be
held in the County Courthouse here at 7 p.m. Monday,
according to an announcement by Sidney T. Ellen,
Northampton County Accountant.
Ellen stated the purpose of the meeting is to
discuss future plans, because Grady Strickland,
commercial supervisor of the Roanoke Rapids District
of the Carolina Telephone and Telegraph Company,
has informed him there are not enough endorsements
or petitions from some exchanges in the county.
If EAS was pul into effect, county telephone
subscribers could call anywhere in the county without
paying a toll charge. Ellen urges interested parties to
either write him a letter endorsing EAS or get petitions
endorsing the plan to his office prior to February 12.
Board of Education
On inspection Tour
JACKSON — “This is one of
the'best meetings we have had
in a long time,” declared W. C.
Connor, Chairman North
ampton County Board of
Education, after visiting
seven schools in the western
part of the County Monday.
“Now we'can see the needs
and fix priorities on future
operations,” added the
Chairman.
After a short meeting in the
Administration Building in
Jackson, board members
accompanied by
Superintendent Roy F. Lowry
and Assistant Superintendent
W. R. King, began their
inspection tour with their first
stop at Squire Elementary
School. Other schools included
in the tour were Gaston,
Garysburg, Gumberry,
Seaboard and Coates. The
Board members and
administrators were luncheon
guests of Gumberry.
Board members expressed
their satisfaction for the
cleaniness of all the schools
visited and on several
occasions congratulated the
custodial personnel on the
good work they were doing.
“It is true we found some
situations that need to be
corrected, but we understand
what is needed,” declared
Chairman Connor.
One short break in the
tightly scheduled tour occured
at the Seaboard School when
the delegation came across a
basketball while inspecting
the gymnasium. Several
board members and
administrators took a couple
of shots at the hoop. Although
(See TOUR, Page 10)
survey through the Planning families were listed as having
Board at its meeting in the an income of less than poverty
County Courthouse on level — the latter figure being
Monday. matched by only one other
Ralph H. Lassen, assistant county in the state.)
field office chief of the division Medical facilities are very
of community services in the limited in the county.
Department of Natural and Public schools in the county
Economic Resources, need upgrading,
presented a reconnaissance There are few public water
survey to the commissioners, and sewer facilities and
Lassen said the county several of the smalt
Planning Board should be incorporated towns are very
involved in the proposed limited in funds to provide
survey. However, none of the these or in funds and
members had been invited to
participate in the discussion.
The proposed survey and
planning work proposal over a
three year period would have
an annual cost of $4,160 local
funds with an anticipated two-
thirds federal grant of $6,400.
Commissioner ' John H.
Liverman, in looking over the
report, commented that it
disclosed no new problems of
which the commissioners
were unaware.
Problem areas listed
included the fpllowing:
personnel to operate such
facilities, if available (there
are eight water systems, but
their service area is limited.)
Telephone service is
fragmented, making long
distance calls necessary
between more than a very
small portion of the county.
Additional employment
sources are needed,
particularly for low skilled
workers.
There is no technical
(See BOARD, Page 10)
Juvenile Charged
With Car Theft
Conway Exceeds
Blood Quota
I
fv
CONWAY — Conway
exceeded its quota of 75 pints
of blood last Friday when a
total of 91 pints were collected
during the visit of the
Tidewater Bloodmobile,
which was sponsored by the
women’s club.
Thirty-one pints of the blood
collected have been
designated for Carolyn
Wheeler, rural Conway
resident, who will be having
heart surgery in mid-March.
The original quota for
Conway was announced as 75
pints, with 106 potential
donors showing up.
Mrs. C. J. Watson, Conway
Blood Drive recruiter,
commended the Conway area
churches for participating in
the drive. She also praised
Georgia-Pacific employes,
Johnson Manufacturing Co.
workers, Len-Howe employes,
Davis and Co. workers, and
Northampton High School
students for supporting the
drive.
“Rainy Weather brought
(See (3UOTA, Page 10)
JACKSON — William Northampton County
Horace Martin, Jr., 29, of Sheriff’s Department received
Dallas, Tex., was arrested a call at 9:36 p.m., Wednesday
early last Thursday morning reporting the robbery of
on a charge of suspicion of Cleveland Smith at his
armed robbery, breaking and residence in Gaston,
entering and assault with a
. deadly weapon during an Investigating officers said
Housing and income incident near Gaston. $1,630.01 was reported as
situations need improvement arrest came following a taken from Smith by a man
for a large segment of the bloodhound chase near Gaston who entered his house, hit him
population (1970 census shows involving SBI, Halifax County with a pistol and tied him up.
that about 44 per cent of all the sheriff’s department. North- Two other suspects were
county homes were lacking anipton County sheriff’s released from custody,
some or all plumbing facilities department, Roanoke, Weldon reports Sheriff Frank
and almost 38 per cent of all ^nd Gaston police officers. Outland.
Potecasi Man Is
Held For Murder
TWO PRETTY GIRLS from Northampton County served as pagettes in the
North Carolina House of Representatives during the week of January 22.
Here they are shown with their sponsor. From the left are Representative J.
Guy Revelle, Sr.; Miss Bonnie Edwards, daughter of County Commissioner
and Mrs. William D. Edwards of Pendleton; and Miss Pauline Eley,
daughter of County Commision Board Chairman and Mrs. Jasper Eley of
Jackson.
JACKSON — Cola
(Ragmop) Burke, 23, of
Potecasi is still being held
without bond on murder
charges pending a
preliminary hearing in the
fatal shooting of Joseph Colin
Myrick, 25, of Murfreesboro
last Friday night.
The preliminary hearing
was scheduled to be held here
Wednesday, but was
continued until next
Wednesday.
Otis Wheeler and Ted
Sumner of the Northampton
County Sheriff’s Office, who
investigated the case.
arrested Burke in
Murfreesboro Saturday
afternoon.
The Sheriff’s Office placed
the time of the shooting at 9:15
p.m. Friday at the home of
Linwood Long in the rural
area between Milwaukee and
Potecasi on state road 1535
about two miles east of N. C.
35. It was at the Long home
that the body was found.
Burke is an employee of
Georgia-Pacific Package Co.
Investigation into the case is
being continued by the
Northampton County Sheriff’s
Office.
SEVERAL THOUSAND NOTICES of Intent to Purge are readied for
mailing by Northampton Board of Election Chairman R. L. (Scoopy) Grant
and his assistant Mrs. Barbara Jean Wheeler. Of the 13,458 voters
registered in time to vote in the May Primary only 6,664 got to the polls and
the number dropped to 6,200 in the November General Elections. Once the
notices are received electors have 20 days to show just cause why they
should not be taken off the books. Those affected are voters who have not
participated in the election process the past six years.