Newspapers / The Warren Record (Warrenton, … / Oct. 6, 1977, edition 1 / Page 1
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Eddie Hama, Jr. Jan78 312 Church St. \ 'arrenton, N.C. 27589 Harrrtt IRrrnri I » i . ki r>_. ax v a / A Complete News Coverage Of Warren County Volume 80 15° Per Copy Warrenton, County Of Warren, North Carolina Thursday, October 6, 1977 Number 40 Dog Surprises Convict In Church Basement By HELEN HOWARD Staff Writer A fireman's best friend, a Dalmation, played both German Shepherd and bloodhound Monday night while protecting two women from an escaped prisoner hiding in the basement of a Warrenton church. Mrs. Faith Becker and Mrs. Cobie McKinney left the McKinney residence on Fairview Street around nine o'clock Monday night to obtain reports from the Child Development Center in the basement of All Saints Episcopal Church. Mrs. McKinney decided to take Praxton, her dog, along. Ironically, when they got into the vehicle, Mrs. McKinney recalled, she looked under the seat. "I always look under the seats to see if anyone is under there," she said. The two women unlocked the basement, entered and noticed immediately that the sink in the bathroom was broken away from the wall. They said they turned the lights on and Braxton began barking and growling. Mrs. McKinney thought he wanted to play, as he often does with the children at the center, but he failed to heed her commands to quiet down. They thought it unusual that the filing cabinet door was open but were still not overly apprehensive until they noticed cotton swabs and blood littering a counter. "We're gonna call the police," they exclaimed in one loud voice and hurried out of the building after their ten-minute stay, they recalled. The two drove to the police station and returned with the police. Again Braxton sniffed and growled. A police Amtrak To Look At Norlina Site officer and the two women followed Braxton into the building. Gene Mustian, on night duty with the police department, asked if the door was unlocked. They replied that the door was left unlocked when they fled but when they returned with him it was locked. Also, the blood they had seen on the counter had been wiped up. Mustian, knowing that a prisoner had escaped earlier in the day, walked over to a desk and telephoned the local correctional unit. Mrs. Becker, obviously still upset as the story was being retold Tuesday, chimed in, "That's when I saw the blob." The blob was Edward D. Walton, the escapee, who was crouched under the desk. The women remembered that Officer Mustian asked the man to slide out but were so frightened they could not remember what happened next. What happened next is that correctional officers apprehended Walton and returned him to the unit. Walton had broken into the bathroom window, obviously stepped into the sink, ripping it away from the wall. He then entered the center and found peroxide and cotton in the cabinet. A cup found under the counter where Braxton first spotted the intruder is believed to have been used by Walton. The women concluded that Walton hid under the counter when they were first in the building, got out, locked the door and wiped away the blood before hiding under the desk when they returned. Mrs. McKinney said, "I will never go out at night in Warren ton again without my dog." Phone Work Begun Carolina Telephone announced this week that it has begun a project to construct approximately 1,795 linear feet of conduit and two manholes along Macon Street east of Warrenton. The work is necessary due to an increasing growth in lake developments and the entire eastern portion of the Warrenton exchange. The work will provide an underground subway system for a purposed 900 pair cable and future feeder cables for this section. The project, costing $28,000, should be completed in January, 1978. A recent forecast indicates that 703 telephone lines and 896 stations will be working at this time. Mrs. Becker summed up the experience of the women-"my knees are still clicking." Walton of Lemoore, California, scaled the fence on the north side of the local prison unit about 11:45 a m. Monday. He received a severe cut on the right calf on the razor-ribbon wire topping the chain-link fence in his escape. Captain Raymond Hayes reported that three clamps were required to close the wound. Hayes said Walton 'has never been a problem." He was sent to Warrenton about two months ago after a previous escape, Hayes noted. Walton, 20, was serving 12-24 months for misdemeanor larceny. A 60-day additional sentence was added for the previous escape in Goldsboro. Hayes said Walton had been stationed at Camp Lejeune. He was convicted in August, 1976. Hayes noted Walton will be tried for second offense of escape which is a felony charge and Warrenton Police will charge him with breaking and entering the church. He will possibly be transferred from the county if the felony charge holds, Hayes commented. The captain said this is the first escapee to enter a building. "He had to have attention for that leg," Hayes said. "He was hurting." Three inmates attempted to scale the fence at the same time Monday. One on the southside and another on the northside were restrained from within the compound. Walton managed to gain his freedom, until he met Braxton. The Norlina Town Board was told by Mayor Bill Perry Monday night that an official from Amtrak will determine if the station at Norlina can be used as a possible spot for passenger stops. Perry told the board that h* had received*a letter from Melvin Holmes, city manager for Henderson, requesting help from all municipalities in Region K (Person, Granville, Franklin, Vance and Warren counties) to build a station in Henderson as an Amtrak stop for passenger service in the area. Perry said he figured it would average about $4,000 for Norlina and he felt the station there was available. He said a little paint, some cleaning and furniture with "a man behind the ticket window" the Norlina station would be operational. He reported that Holmes had responded to his letter stating that he would advise Perry when an official could visit the facility. A discussion among board members failed to turn up a solution to the water pump situation. It was decided only that something had to be done. Board member Ben Lloyd suggested something be done about the railroad crossing on "the Portsmouth side." Lloyd said it was so rough if one drove a vehicle over 15 mph one would get his front end out of line. The board decided to contact Seaboard to have them fix the crossing. Lloyd also made a motion, secawteMjy John Dore, to endorse support of the $300 million highway bond issue to be decided at the polls on November 8. Jimmy Overby said he had heard complaints on the speed limit on Division Street. The board decided to have the police department enforce the 35 mph zone along the street. Wallace Stallings and Ben Lloyd brought up the traffic jams caused at the intersection of 401 and U. S. 1. It was decided to notify the highway department about the traffic back up and request that a stop light be put back at the intersection. Mayor Perry read a letter from Tom Bradshaw, secretary of the Board of Transportation. Bradshaw said the request for four laning US 1-158 from 401 to the western corporate limits and beyonJ .6 of a mile would receive consideration from the Board of Transportation in the 1977 update Highway Improvement Program. No Money Needed By Food Program The Warren County Commissioners were told Monday morning that no monies were needed by the Region K Nutritional Project. In a letter from Joan Hight, director of the project, she informed the board that donations had covered all expenses incurred by the project. Ms. Hight thanked the board for their offer of assistance in the project and related the success of the project. She also requested an agreement for up to $800 to be used as matching funds for the program for 1978. She needed to fulfill grant requirements by the end of October. The board again agreed to provide the money for the program if it was necessary. First Time In History Warren Receives Top Award For 4-H Safety Programs By G. W. KOONCE . Extension Agent, 4-H The Warren County 4-H Program has received notification of its selection to receive the North Carolina Outstanding County Safety Award of the year. This is the first time Warren County has ever been named a state winner in a division county-wide. The award was announced in recent correspondence received at the County 4-H office from John F. W. Schulze, Extension Safety Specialist, North Carolina State University in Raleigh. • In hift letter Mr. Schulze extends his congratulations to the 4-H clubs of Warren County for their safety 0. r*' accomplishments. The letter cites Mrs. Robert Arlington and Mrs. Chris Holtzman, both adult volunteer leaders, as having provided the drive needed for a successful program. Schulze further states that much of the result could not have been attained without the enthusiastic effort of Junior Leaders, Elizabeth Sue Salmon, Lisa Pandora Reavis, and Peggy Downey. Quotations from Schulze's letter concerning the documentary report submitted to the State 4-H office by County 4-H agents are as follows: "Boating and water safety, bicycle safety, traffic safety, and home safety are major educational programs. Every youth will, at some time, have use for the knowledge and experience gained." The Easter Seal fund raising was an outstanding effort." In concluding his letter Schulze states that a $25 check will soon be sent to G. W. Koonce for use in further expanding 4-H Safety Programs. Happiness surrounds the County 4-H office and the County 4-H family in learning of this statewide achievement. To the more than 750 persons touched by county safety activities, it's a grand opportunity to say thanks for your participation and announcing to all that we're No. 1 statewide. MRS McKINNEY AND BRAXTON Agreement Reached To Buy More School Land The Warren County Board of Education received support for purchasing additional land on the back of the 42-acre site for the consolidated high school from county commissioners Mon day morning. Commissioner Clyde Edwards made a motion that a "gentleman's agreement" be given the school system for commitment of the board to pay $52,000 during the next two years for purchasing the extra 34.84 acres of land from Mrs. Janet Connell. The "gentleman's agreement" indicates the willingness of the board to help the Board of Education purchase the land but William Skinner told the group representing the school system to "grab any money" it could. Leigh Traylor, spokesman for the Board of Education, told the commissioners that the Board of Education needed the commitment. This they were given. Other board members present were Ernest Turner. L. B. Henderson, Jr., and Superintendent J. R. Peeler Approval Given To Lake Gaston Facility, Proposed Subdivisions The Warren County Planning Board has given approval to plans of a Norfolk, Va., developer to construct a grill and bait shop with adjoining boat slips on the shores of Lake Gaston in Roanoke Township. Members of the Planning Board gave their endorsement to plans submitted by William Brady of Norfolk. The plans met the approval of N. L. Williams of the Warren County Health Department, who outlined the developer's plans for board members. The new facility will be located on State Road 1362. Approval was given two preliminary sketches presented by two developers hoDine to create new residential subdivisions of Lake Gaston. R. E. Proctor of Emporia, Va.. showed plans for Beechwood Park Subdivision in Roanoke Township which contain 15 lots averaging 30,000 square feet in size. A1 Williams of Warrenton unveiled plans for a 29-lot County Positions Filled By Board The Warren County Commissioners, meeting in executive session Monday morning, appointed David Dodd to fill the unexpired term of Elmer Harris on the Hospital Board. The term expires February, 1981. Also appointed was Pete Hilliard to replace Larry Rivers on the planning board; and Charles Hayes was named to the EMS Council. Matt Nelson was appointed to another term on the Jury Commission. Charles Somerville was appointed a member of the Health Board. subdivision in Sixpound township on property owned by Mary J. Williams and Sterling Johnson. The proposed subdivision fronts Lake Gaston and is bordered by property owned by Continental Can. In other action, the board nominated Pete Hilliard of Macon, plant manager of Jay-Too in Littleton as a member of the Planning Board Hilliard would re place Larry Rivers, planning board member whose term expires in 1980, and who is moving out of the county. Present for Thursday night's monthly meeting of the Planning Board were Ulysses Ross, Chairman Selby Benton, Butch Meek, Williams, and Chester Forrester, zoning enforcement officer. Bender Is Selected For Top State Honor Fourteen-year-old Jeffrey Bender of Rt. 2, Norlina, was the state winner in the 1977 4-H Forestry Demonstration Program. His demonstration on tree planting was one of the most thoroughly researched and most thoroughly presented demonstrations on this topic given in the past 20 years, the judges commented. They were also highly impressed with the way he answered their often difficult questions relative to planting seedlings In addition to giving the tree planting demonstration to many clubs and groups, Jeff has completed 4-H forestry projects in leaf collection and paper making and is currently completing the wood study and tree insect and disease projects. Bender has instructed at woodland terrarium and tree identification workshops. He was awarded an expense-paid trip to the 1977 4-H Forestry-Wildlife Camp and on a comprehensive written and practical test scored second highest among this select group of .80 campers. He has also actively assisted his father in thinning pines on their farm property. For his fete, young Bender was honored by receiving an award for "significant and outstanding service and contributions to forestry in North Carolina" at the annual forestry recognition dinner in Pinehurst Saturday night. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. William H. Bender and a member of the Warrenton 4-H Club. BENDER Study Is Ordered 'School Days' May House Educators The Board of County Commissioners Monday asked Warren School Supt. J. R. Peeler to study the feasibility of using "School Days" for an office building and report back to the board in November. Peeler was present on another matter when the status of the building was presented to the board by Chairman Peete Jones. County Manager Charles Hayes told members that the board had five choices: to keep the building and wait a year to set up a budget; to sell it; to offer it to the schools; to let the senior citizens use it; or to do nothing. In a discussion on maintaining the facility in which Hayes had told board members the exterior was "going down." the interior was about the same as when it was donated to the county and the grounds had been cleaned somewhat by CETA employees. The board was told that only one estimate, that for painting the trim, had been received. Board Chairman Peete Jones said the original request of the donors was to use it for health or library facilities and that it had been determined that the building could not be used for a library as the floors were not substantial enough to hold such masses of books. Peeler was asked if the facility could be used by the Board of Education Peeler replied that the board could use "School Days" but that he had been told by George Burwell that "his cousins would not like it used for schools." Peeler said that Burwell had been most cordial in giving a tour of the building and pinpointing needed repairs. He said he would make a survey to see if he could house the E.S.E.A offices which are at present in Afton and the present offices as well as store books and records at "School Days." Peeler also noted that if the school system was given the home by the board, the Board of Education could give the present administrative building to the county. Filings Reported For Town Councils The Warren County Board of Election announced this week that Thomas Gaskill, former member of the town board, had filed for a position on the Warrenton Town Board. Mrs. Madge Reid of the Macon board said that no one had filed for any of the positions in the town even though Mayor W. R. Drake had said he would not seek re-election. All incumbents on the Norlina board, excepting John Dore, had filed (or re-election by Wednesday. A candidate can file until noon on Friday, Oct 7, white voters will have until Monday to register to i the Nov. t
The Warren Record (Warrenton, N.C.)
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Oct. 6, 1977, edition 1
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