THE County TIMES-NEWS Vol. 82 No. 12 Northampton County's Only Advertising and News Medium THE ROANOKE-CHOWAN TIMES — EstabUshed 1892 THURSDAY, MARCH 22, 1973 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆ THE NORTHAMPTON COUNTY NEWS — Established 1926 lOc Per Copy Rich Square, N. C. 12 Pages Effects Of Change In '73 Peanut Program i - By BRODIE H. HARRELL County Extension Chairinan JACKSON — PeAnut growers throughout the area are quite concerned over the recent change in the 1973 peanut marketing program. The elimination of the Shelter-Purchase program on surplus peanuts, commonly referred to as the No. 2 program, will have serious effect on peanut producers in the Virginia-Carolina area. Without the No. 2 program we must anticipate a serious storage problem. Commercial storage in Northampton County can accommodate approximately 32 million pounds of peanuts; approved on-the-farm storage will accomodate approximately 10 million pounds—making a total of about 42 million pounds of storage for the entire county. This figures to be approximately one-half of the actual production. If the No. 2 program is not reinstated, I Many Issues Will Be Left Hanging believe it will be safe to assume that about one- half of our peanut crop could be in jeopardy with respect to receiving support price. Actually it “boils down” to this point. In order to receive even loan price for our peanuts, approved storage must be available. Without adequate stoarage the situation could prove disastrous for some growers. Northampton County is not unique in this particular situation. In fact all peanut producing counties in the Virginia-Carolina area are faced with serious peanut storage problems. Some On Budget Matters counties hav^ practically no commercial storage. What many people do not understand is that the No. 2 program makes it possible for the millers in the area to stay active at the buying station during the marketing season. It gives the individual miller opportunity to continue to buy farmers stock peanuts, shell them, grade them, retain any grades needed, and sell the balance to CCC. This procedure keeps the local buyer on the market and reduces the amount of storage needed to move the crop. By MITZI BOND RALEIGH — “I hope the general assembly will adjourn May 15. If it does, there will be a lot of controversial legislation not passed,” commented Rep. Roberts Jernigan of Ahoskie. “In' past history, we had several special sessions to settle issues such as higher education and redistricting. In 1973 we opened up with several controversial issues such as insurance. This year we will have time to study them and in 1974 be better prepared to pass the right kind of legislation.” During the past two years, the assembly has instituted a new means of reorganization. In 1971, it discussed grouping agencies of government under 19 secretaries. This session the assembly is writing in the functions of each secretary and the agencies under him. By 1975, the whole process will be refined. “We will not be able to do too much toward reorganization in 1973 but it will be carried over to the ’74 session. The bill for this is just completed. One and one-half months is not enough time to do too much constructive work in regard to reorganization. “We will have continued County Run Elections Favored 5-4 committees,” Jernigan continued. “They will meet frequently, perhaps once a week, while the assembly is adjourned. Much legislation will be carried over to ’74. A knotty problem such as higher education is usually not settled the year we meet but at a special session later in the year. We are so busy we do not have time to give force necessary to pass good JACKSON — Five towns in legislation on every issue.” Northampton County voted to “The legislature is in the allow the county to conduct stage where everything is their local elections while four half-way done,” reports Sen. towns decided to run their own J- “Monk” Harrington of elections. Bertie County, “but we’re The announcement was working.” made by Mrs. Barbara Jean J- Guy Revelle and Wheeler Monday afternoon. Sen. Phil Godwin were Garysburg, Lasker, unavailable for comment on Woodland, Conway, and th®. .P?®! week’s legislative Jackson will allow actitivies. Northampton to handle their elections while Severn Gaston, Rich Square, and Seaboard will conduct their own elections as previously done. “A seminar was conducted,” said ^ Mrs. Wheller, “to instruct the mayors and town clerks on what is to be done in future elections in towns.” April, May Public Meetings Decided By Commissioners ERIC MOTZNO OF Woodland is serving as a state legislature page this week. He received his appointment through Lt. Gov. Jim Hunt and Sen. Monk Harrington. The son of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Motzno, Eric is a ninth grade student at North ampton High School. More Cotton Acreage JACKSON — County A. S. C. S. Executive Director Ben I. Mann reported today that all additional cotton acreage requested by North ampton farmers has been received from the state committee and will be reapportioned to (See COTTON, Page 12) Adult Education Class Taught At Northampton Church GALATIA — An adult education class is being taught at the community building next to Zion Baptist Church. V Funded by the Roanoke- Northampton County teacher. Chowan Technical Institute, Mrs. Foriest teaches the class is taught by Mrs. reading, ’riting, and ’rith- Ethel H. Foriest, a retired metic to 32 students on three levels: those who could not previously read or write; those on a fourth to sixth grade level; and those on a high school level. “The people here range from ages 24 to 59,” (See ADULT, Page 12) JACKSON — With budget time drawing near the Northampton Board of County Commissioners decided Monday to hold a series of public meetings in April and May to “feel the pulse of the community.” The proposal, made by Vice- Chairman John H. Liverman of Woodland, includes meetings at the court house in Jackson and the school auditoriums in Woodland, Seaboard, Conway, and Gaston. Liverman also suggested that heads of county departments be present to answer questions from the public. In other matters before the commissioners: —County Sanitarian Walter Woodard Jr., requested the backing of the group in the matter of cracking down on improper sanitation facilities for homes and trailers throughout the county. —A resolution was tabled requesting the renaming of Tri-County Airport to “.Howard Tri-Covrity .\:ri;v.rt” in honor of the late Air Force Thunderbird pilot Major Joseph C. Howard of Ahoskie. —Bids for cars for county deputy sheriffs were tabled until the April meeting. —Liverman presented a petition from a group of Rich Square residents in opposition to Extended Area Telephone Service. Auditor Sidney Ellen said Rich Square would probably be left out of the survey but this decision would be up to Carolina Telephone Company. —Departpient of Social Services Director James P. Clark reported that there would be a 17 year payback plan on the County Home from federal funds. During this 17 year period, with the Social Services Department occupying the building, the county would receive $15,588.24 annually. The county also would be eligible to receive up to $14,736 for maintenance and upkeep as long as DSS occupies the building. —Commissioner William Edwards made the motion that a request for road 1336 to be added to the secondary road system be forwarded to the State Highway Commission. Who Buried What Under The Gov. Bragg House? JACKSON — The Governor Bragg house, one of the more historic structures at the county seat, increased its potential as a major attraction this week when it was revealed that there was more under the house than the foundation. The mystery remains unsolved as to the story of broken fragments of bone china plates, glassware and silver which have recently shown up from underneath the home now occupied by Mrs. Leroy C. Grant and her son. The fragments were discovered under the main part of the house when a worker went under the home on a termite control job. Mrs. Grant says she was told at the time of the original 'No Plans To Retire' B. R. (Bart) Burgwyn County Economic Study By VEPCO ft. i. 'I' MRS. ETHEL H. FOR IEST, above, instructs one of her students in the adult education class being taught in the Zion Baptist Church community building in Galatia. Below, is a group is learning the alphabet by playing a game of bingo. The class consists of five men and 27 women. r JACKSON — An economic study of Northampton County at the request of the County Industrial Development Commission will be conducted by the Virginia Electric Power Company, according to an announcement made this week by M. Courtney Taylor, director of Community development for Vepco. The request for the study has been endorsed by the Northampton Board of County Commissioners. “The study will provide economic facts about the county and data on potential industrial sites,” said Taylor. He also said a similar report was compiled by Vepco for Car Strikes Fallen Child RICH SQUARE — Cassandra Bonita Harvey, 13, was sideswiped Saturday, March 17 at 6 p.m. by a car driven by Robert Gorday of Rich Square. The accident happened on Bryantown Road, .07 of a mile west of Rich Square. The girl was riding a bike and entered the highway from a yard. A gust of wind blew her over and she fell in the road. Two cars were headed west from Rich Square. The first car turned out and missed the child. The second car tried to miss her by going to the shoulder of the road but sideswiped her. Cassandra is a patient at Roanoke-Chowan Hospital where she is listed in critical condition. The investigation is continuing reports State Trooper Bob Carey. Northampton County in 1964. Vepco representatives will be in the area today (Thursday) to review potential industrial sites. (See COUNTY, Page 12) JACKSON — “I haven’t given the slightest thought to retiring,” said Northampton County ABC Board Chairman B. R. Burgwyn. “Northampton is not under any probe that I know of. Only routine questions have been posed to me and we are not under any type of investigation. I am chairman of the ABC board, not an employee.” One of the regulations made by the State Alcoholic Control Board stipulates that “no member of a local ABC board shall be employed by the board and shall not be the board and shall not be paid or receive any compensation of any kind from the board.” The chairman and two other members of the local board are not considered employees of the board. Should one of them serve as a supervisor or manager, he would not violate ABC control laws provided he received no salary. Any compensation would be illegal. Northampton County has no supervisor or manager. General Statute 18A-a and -c specifies how the board is appointed and their salaries as board members are fixed by a composite board. “We employ five store managers, five substitutes and one bookkeeper,” said Burgwyn. “The board oversees all business and is responsible for overall operations.” purchase of the home that the Civil War owners had buried numerous items when they heard the Yankee troops were on their way to the section. “However, I always felt they had recovered everything afterwards,” Mrs. Grant said. “We’ve considered several possible answers, but none of them seem to fit. I hope some of our older residents may have heard stories on this related to them by earlier relatives who were here,” she commented. “I’ve also contacted the Historical Society and offered to let them dig if they think the situation warrants it,” she related. “Some of the china could be dated by the English and German crests on them if someone had a technical book relating to the various older manufacturers',” she pointed out. Mysteries find a familiar welcomer in the person of Mrs. Grant, who has written for the State magazine about the ghost of Governor Bragg. She was also a co-author, in the Chowan College creative writing-class under Mrs. Bernice Kelly Harris, of the collection of stories titled, “Strange Things Happen.” Child Killed, Hit By Car Heart Fund Over The Top In Conway B CONWAY — Mrs. Rodney . Barrett, city Heart Fund chairman, reported this week that Conway has “done it again.” The North Carolina Heart Association had set a quota for Conway of $840 and, as of this date, a total of $933.22 has been collected with the possiblity of more to come. The Willis Hair Elementary School came in for special praise by Mrs. Barrett when it raised $184.62. The students had the help and advice of their parents, teachers and Principal O. B. Spaulding. The 4-H Club members were joined by several students at Northampton County High School and, with the cooperation of Principal Henry J. Campbell of the high school, sold balloons at all of the ball games and tournaments. The total collected in this project was $77.85. Mrs. Barrett expressed her desire to give special thanks to Mesdames, Clyde Odom, L. E. Boone Jr., Gertrude Flythe, Bobby Bridgers, Eddie Joyner, C. J. Watson, Elbert Long, Freddy Carroll, Lynmore Gay and Billy Whitley, who volunteered their time and effort to making the campaign a success. She also stated she appreciates the assistance of everyone who contributed and others who helped make the 1973 Heart Fund campaign in Conway one to remember. RICH SQUARE — A five- year-old Rich Square girl was killed this morning at 7:45 a.m. when she was hit by a car while waiting for a school bus. Tammy Terrell DeLoatch, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Chester DeLoatch, stepped in front of a 1972 Nova driven by Mrs. Carol Lou B. Myers, 400 North St., Ahoskie. The accident occurred .08 of a mile east of Rich Square on highway 561. The child was standing with her sister, Valarie, in a driveway east of their home, waiting for a bus to carry them to kindergarten at W. S. Creecy School. Mrs. Myers saw the children and one of them looked directly at her and Tammy started across the road. The car hit the child, knocked her 75 feet, and landed in a ditch. State Trooper Bob Corey said the investigation was not complete. Gorden and Hunter Funeral Home have the body. This is the third fatality in the county. m LOOKING OVER THIS month's exhibit in the Library are Brent, Kay and Karen Woodard of Jackson. The will be in the Buxton Roc^m for the month of March. Northampton Memorial doll display