THE County TIMES-NEWS
A Combination of
Vol. 82 No. 46
THE ROANOKE-CHOWAN TIMES — Established 1892
THURSDAY, Nov. 15, 1973
☆ THE NORTHAMPTON COUNTY NEWS — Established 1926
lOc Per Copy Rich Square, N. C.
16 Pages
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Visitors to the courthouse must
beware of falling paint as workmen
on scaffolding high above the
courthouse steps add another coat of
paint to the stately building.
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Community Facility Included
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Housing Authority Headquarters
To Be Located At Gaston Project
Peanut Program Legislation
Discussed By County Farmers
JACKSON — Changes in the
peanut program were
discussed in an open forum
Wednesday at the Agriculture
Building.
Twenty Northampton
farmers heard county ASCS
Olrfcctor Bcn Mann and state
Farm Bureau Vice President
Marshall Grant of Garysburg
explain how county farmers
will be affected by the
proposed legislation.
Farmers are protesting two
aspects of the program
primarily. According to
Grant, “We can live with the
rest of the program.”
County farmers are opposed
to the revision that boosts the
Commodity Credit
Corporation’s minimum sales
policy to acquire peanuts for a
resale level of 115 per cent of
the loan rate on both domestic
edible and diversion sales,
sales for peanuts that will be
crushed to produce oil and
meal for export.
Farmers also expressed
strong opposition to a policy
change that would place field
and supervisory price support
fuctions with the county ASCS
office. The activities are now
handled by various grower
associations.
Grant, who returned
recently from Washington, D.
C., where he met with a
committee called by
Congressman Walter Jones to
air pyitbleiJi'.-'i; in ,prog;am,
stated future meetings are
planned to allow peanut
producers to express
opionions on the legislative
changes.
GASTON — Gaston will be
the site of the Roanoke-
Chowan Housing Authority’s
main office, Height Tinsley,
housing director, told Gaston
commissioners Tuesday.
In making the
announcement, Ms. Tinsley
noted that start of
construction of the 50-unit
Gaston public housing project
is set for spring. Completion
would be a year later.
To be constructed on the 13-
acre site at the end of
Broughton Street is a facility
that will be used for
administration, maintenance
and community purposes.
Ms. Tinsley told the board
that the building will have
rooms set aside for activites
such as special classes, arts
and crafts and community
meetings.
Nine employes will be
stationed at the Gaston
project. Housing units in
Roanoke Rapids and Ahoskie
and in Halifax, Northampton
and Hertford counties will be
administered from the Gaston
site.
The community facility will
include a large assembly
room and a meeting room in
addition to general office
space and several private
offices. It will also contain a
garage for maintenance
equipment.
Mayor Firman Myrick
stated that the town has
agreed to extend water
service to the subdivision and
a street will be paved up to the
property line. Streets within
the project will be paved by
the authority. It will operate
its own sewage disposal
operation.
The entire project will cost
in excess of $1 million.
Funding is provided by the
federal Department of
c:;d Urhyn
Development.
The project, designed to
relieve the housing pinch in
Gaston, will contain two and
three bedroom units that will
Appeals Case To Superior Court
Sailor Gets Six Months
JACKSON - A Norfolk
sailor charged with assaulting
a female hitchhiker near Rich
Square Monday was handed a
six-month sentence by Judge
Joseph Blythe yesterday in
Northampton District Court.
Alan Joseph Guise of
DeRidder, La., issued notice
of appeal in the case and his
bond was set at $3,500.
Probably cause was found in
charged of crime against
nature and larceny from a
person by force. No probable
cause was found in the
felonious charge of attempting
to ravish and carnally know
Sheila O’Hara of Maine.
The active sentence was
handed down in a charge of
assault on a female.
Guise was arrested in
Murfreesboro by city police
after stopping a light blue
Volkswagen meeting the
description of Rich Square
police who had radioed to have
the vehicle stopped.
Murfreesboro police filed a
marijuana possession charge
against Guise and his bond
there was set at $500.
In another case heard
yesterday William
Washington of Jackson was
handed six months in jail for
non-felonious breaking and
entering. In a related case
Perry Lee Jefferies of Jackson
was handed 12 months
suspended and fined $100 and
costs. He was placed on
probation for three years and
ordered to pay for repairs.
The two youths were
charged with breaking in at
Paul Barrett’s Exxon Station
northampton chaff
The general election records are already
gathering dust, but a look at the voting
statistics in Gaston indicates problems in that
municipality.
Outgoing Commissioner Elton Odom, who
did not run for reelection, said he would’ve
run had he known the level of interest among
the town’s voters was so terribly low.
Odom said, “I am more concerned about
the Town of Gaston now than I was when I first
came on the board.”
The commissioner was referring to the
number of Gastonites who did not go to the
polls last week and who apparently have no
interest in municipal government.
Only 160 persons out of 430 registered
voters in the county’s second largest town
cast ballots in the town commissioner-
mayoral race. It is the lowest number of
voters in the town’s 25-year history. Only in
1957 did the voting records show a
comparably low figure of 165. Just two years
ago over 60 per cent of the town’s registered
voters voted.
Perhaps Odom has reason to be concerned
when now over 60 per cent are in the apathetic
category.
Over in Halifax County the Arts Council is
still looking for craftspeople to participate in
the Dec. 1 holiday crafts fair in uptown
Roanoke Rapids.
Northamptonians wishing to sell
handmade items or those who wish to
demonstrate at the fair should contact Janis
Leonard in Roanoke Rapids.
The holiday fair is a repeat of a spring fair
sponsored by the council that drew several
thousand spectators.
much of what ingredients it takes to whip up a
meal to feed a set number of people.
Her office is in the Agriculture Building.
in Jackson a month ago.
Other cases heard
yesterday and their
depositions;
William Jennings Lassiter
of Conway — fail to give
immediate notice of an
accident, $100 fine and costs;
fail to give naine and address
and assist injured, prayer for
judgment continued.
Raleigh Harmon of Rt. 1,
Woodland — reckless driving,
$100 fine and costs; drunk
driving, nol pros.
Bernard Suggs Moore of Rt.
1, Rich Square — fail to drive
on right half, nol pros;
speeding 75 in a 60, $10 fine
and costs.
John Walker Tillery of Rt. 1,
Garysburg — speeding 60 in a
45 zone, $20 fine and costs.
Northampton peanut farmers are upset
over the prospect of changes in the peanut
program as suggested by Secretary of
Agriculture Earl Butz.
At a meeting of peanut producers in
Jackson Wednesday, one outraged farmer
opposed to any legislative change said,
“Leave us alone in 1974 and let us die in 1975.”
County Agencies
In New Quarters
Rumor has it that annexation will come up
in the near future in Garysburg.
If the town annexes the sections outlined in
an earlier announcement, Garysburg may
surpass Rich Square as the county’s largest
town. The area north of the present town
limits is densely populated and just may boost
Garysburg’s population to the 2,000 mark.
The unincorporated area north of town has
its own water system and is now in the
process of supplying the town-proper with
municipal water service. What a switch from
thenorm!
Mary F. Turner of Jackson retired
recently after serving 20 years in the county
ASCS office.
She was presented a framed certificate
and a silver charm noting her years of service
in the ASCS office.
Ola Mae Murph, county nutritionist in the
Agriculture Department, will provide upon
request suggestions for well balanced meals.
Ms. Murph will also work up a menu,
provide recipes and even tell inquirers how
The NJUWOHCLI is open!
That’s the New Jerusalem United World
Outreach Humanitarian Center of Life
International at Pleasant Hill.
The organization, located in an old
restaurant-gas station on US 301, is headed by
Felix Whetstone who plans eventually to open
an orphanage at the site.
The profit-making end of the venture deals
with the sale of gifts from around the world.
JACKSON — Some county
offices are getting more elbow
room as a shift in offices
continued this week.
The Sheriff’s Department is
now located in the reception
area and in the rear of the
former Welfare Building, now
a general county office
building.
The two offices the sheriff
vacated in the courthouse are
being prepared for occupancy
by the county manger-
auditor’s office along with a
portion of the present Tax
Department.
The Tax Department will
occupy the former manager-
auditor’s quarters.
Soil Conservation Service
moved Wednesday across the
street from its former
quarters in a small building on
the square to the general
office building.
The county board of
elections, now on the third
floor of the courthouse, will
relocate in the former
Conservation building.
The shift was made possible
when the Social Services
Department vacated the
Welfare Building and moved
to the renovated County
HOUSING HEADQUARTERS — The main administrative office of the tri
county housing authorities will be housed in a facility like the one illustrated
in this artist’s concept. The building will be located at Gaston.
be rented on a basis of the
adjusted family income with
no more than 25 per cent of the
income going towards rent.
Each unit will be furnished
with a stove, refrigerator, hot
water heater and heating
system.
The project will resemble a
housing subdivision, Ms.
Tinsley noted.
In other matters, the board;
—Met with Jim Bryant,
representing a tank
maintenance company from
Madison, who proposed to
maintain the town’s elevated
water storage tank for $300 a
year.
He stated that the tank is in
good condition but should be
inspected every other year.
The matter was tabled.
—Voted to insure the new
Town Hall (building only) at
$30,000. Insurance on the
building’s contents will be
separate.
—Heard a report on
construction of the new
municipal building given by
Elton Odom.
Commissioner Odom stated
the project should be complete
this month. He noted that a
few minor details need to be
worked out in the construction
but reported no major
problems.
—Agreed to cut heat
registers off in unused rooms
of the new building when it is
occupied as a conservation
move. Mayor Myrick said the
town may have difficulty
getting adequate fuel this
winter since it will take much
more to heat the new building
than the old one-room
structure.
—Heard a suggestion by
Odom that town
comniissioners be paid $25 per
meeting attended and the
mayor be paid $100 per month.
Odom stated that payment
might stimulate board
members to work harder for
the good of the town. The
matter was tabled.
—Discussed numerous
violations of town ordinances
and voted to postpone action
until Attorney Nick Long
could be consulted.
—Discussed setting a
deadline for free removal of
junked cars in the town but no
date was set.
—Heard a report from Town
Clerk Deanie Manning that
letters are going out to
violators of the town’s
livestock ordinance this week.
The letter states that
violators have 30 days to
comply with town law that
prohibits livestock within 200
feet of a residence.
—Voted to pay election
personnel compensation equal
to that of the county.
McKissick's Soul City
IMation's Newest Town
Roger Delano Hall of
Woodland — drive with
suspended license, nol pros
with leave.
William Lee Parker of Rt. 1,
Jackson — speeding 80 in a 55
and drunk driving, four
months suspended on a $100
fine and costs.
Joseph Nathaniel Hull,
address unknown —driving
under the influence, $100 fine
and costs; public drunk on
highway, nol pros.
McCoy Ward of Rich Square
— drunk driving, prayer for
judgment continued on costs.
Jack High of Rt. 1,
Garysburg — nonsupport of
children, nol pros with leave.
Leon Vmson of Conway —
(See SAILOR, Page 16)
Home.
In addition, the clerk of
court and the register of deeds
are going to be exchanged
office space following
completion of an interior
expansion of the present deeds
office. Bids have not been let
for the project.
Meet Set
On Study
ROANOKE RAPIDS — A
joint meeting of the Halifax
and Northampton
development commissions
will be held Nov. 29 at Howard
Bloom Restaurant here.
Virginia Electric & Power
Co. at that time will disclose
results of a revised economic
study of the two counties.
The study is an update of a
1964 evaluation of the
economic conditions of the two
counties.
The report will highlight
such items as desirable
locations for prospective
industrial and business
development.
SOUL CITY - It was a cold
windy day on the rolling plains
of Warren County Friday, but
the nippy weather seemed
only to heighten the spirits of
hundreds of persons who
gathered to hear Gov. Jim
Holshouser at the ground
breaking of the nation’s
newest city.
Developer Floyd McKissick
called the event a “creation”
and he projected the city will
have a population of 44,(XX) in
30 years.
The occasion was marked
by turning the earth on the
location of the city’s first
permanent building which will
be situated on a large tract of
land just off US 158 in Warren
County.
The building, known as
Soultech I, will house an
electronics industry
employing over 300 initially.
The structure will be a shell-
type building that can be
adapted to most any industrial
use.
McKissick stated the
structure, ultra-modern in
design, can house up to 10
small industries. Office space
will be included in the
building, the first structure in
the 928-acre industrial park
that ultimately is designed to
employ over 8,000.
The entire city-to-be is
located on what was a slave
plantation. Pre-Revolutionary
War graves are on the site,
including graves of slaves.
The governor said, “The
eyes of the people of the nation
today are on Soul City. It
represents a dream come
true.”
Festivities began for the day
with a parade along dusty
farm paths to the speaker’s
stand on the site of Soultech I.
The North Carolina A. & T.
University Band provided
marching music and choral
selections were performed by
an ensemble from nearby
Kitrell College.
Scores of people in the bi-
racial crowd sported plastic
souvenir yellow hardhats
with “Soul City
Groundbreaking” printed on
them. Numerous other
souvenirs, including printed
matter, we sold at a booth.
The property is now
inhabited by no more than 30
persons who live mostly in
house trailers. An old red barn
and several mobile home-type
offices form what is the main
crossroads of the town.
McKissick, former head of
the Congress of Racial
Equality, announced plans for
his self-standing community
five years ago.
Soultech I
Soultech I is conceived as an
incubator structure or shell
building which focuses on
attracting industrial firms
seeking to open markets in the
new city.
It is designed to house a
complete range of industrial
and managerial facilities
within a prototypical
structure and expands the
industrial work environment.
The ultramodern facility
will feature structure of steel,
pre-cast concrete and solar
gray glass. It will contain
contemporary climate
control.
The facility will contain
40,000 square feet of
manufacturing and
processing space, plus 12,000
square feet of office space.
There will be room for
cafeteria and private dining
facilities as well as meeting
rooms and personnel training
space.
McKissick announced
earlier this year plans that an
electronics industry is
locating in the industrial park
of the new city that will
employ 300.
The city will be served by a
regional water supply serving
Oxford-Henderson-Soul City.
McKissick proposes a total
planned community complete
with homes and apartments,
jobs, business opportunity,
shopping centers and
far-reaching recreational and
cultural programs.
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GOVERNOR Jim Holshouser mingles with the
crowd following the groundbreaking ceremony
Friday at Soul City.
Man Killed In Affray
GARYSBURG — A 23-year-
old Garysburg resident is
being held without privilege of
bond on charges of first
degree murder following the
death of another resident
here.
Northampton Deputy
Sheriff Ellis Squire said Joe
Garner, 23, is now in
Northampton County Jail in
Jackson following his arrest
Monday in connection with a
Nov. 9 incident.
Garner allegedly stabbed
James Henry Kee, 38, several
times about the head and
shoulders with a butcher knife
in Kee’s home.
Kee, who was treated and
released at Halifax Memorial
Hospital in Roanoke Rapids
following the 8:15 p.m.
incident Friday night, was
taken to Duke University
Medical Center in Durham
Saturday. He died in the
hospital Saturday night.