WarrentonJIem .Library X
117 S .Main St.
Karrenton, N.C. 27539
©he Parrot Hecorfc
* 3 :
Volume 87 25< Per Copy Warrenton, County Of Warren, North Carolina Wednesday, February 22, 1984 Number 8
Warren deer hunter Peete Hilliard joined sportsmen and other
county citizens who attended a public hearing last Wednesday
night before county commissioners on spotlighting and hunting
from public road right»-of-way. Hflllard voiced support for the
current laws, as did a majority of those attending the hearing.
(Staff Photo)
Warren Developer Leaving Post
Warren County commissioners
received the
resignation of Community
Developer Willie
H. Griffin last Wed
nesday night at their
mid-monthly meeting,
and were unanimous in
their expression of
regret and disappoint
ment over Griffin's
decision.
"You've done a good
job pushing us forward,"
Chairperson
Eva M. Clayton told
Griffin. "We extend our
good wishes, but with
regret."
Griffin tendered his
resignation effective
February 29 to become
executive director of the
Eiizabethtown Housing
Authority and Community
Development
Program.
He came to Warren
County last June to
direct a $340,707 federal
Community Development
Block Grant
project for rehabilitation
of the Red Hill area
on the eastern outskirts
ofWarrenton.
Funding tor Griffin's
position was provided
by the grant, and will
terminate at the conclusion
of the project,
scheduled for April.
"I was offered a permanent
position in
Eiizabethtown, and I
wasn't offered one
here," Griffin said this
He indicated that he
had expressed an interest
in a permanent
position with the county
and had asked County
Manager Charles Worth
if the community
developer's position
would be a part of the
1964-85 budget.
"He didn't know, and
not having any definite
word, I had to make a
decision," Griffin said.
"I regret having to
leave. I've gotten along
(Continued on page 6)
Mrs. Baker Named Top Teacher
Mrs. Bertadene Baker
of Rt. 3, Warrenton, a
kindergarten teacher at
Mariam Boyd Elemen
tary School, has been
named Warren County
Teacher of the Year, according
to an announ
Warren County Superintendent of Schools
Michael F. Williams congratulates Mrs. Bertadene
Baker upon her selection as Warren County Teacher
of the Year for 1984.
(Community Schools Photo)
cement this week by
Michael F. Williams,
superintendent of
schools.
A committee of seven
appointed by Williams
chose Mrs. Baker for the
honor from a list of
nominees submitted by
school principals.
Finalists were interviewed
and observed in
their respective
classrooms before the
selection was made.
Mrs. Baker will serve
as Teacher of the Year
for the 1984 calendar
year and will enter
regional competition
representing Warren
County in December.
"The committee
made an excellent selection,
and I feel certain
that Mrs. Baker will
represent Warren County
well," said Williams.
As Teacher of the Year,
Mrs. Baker will be involved
in school system
activities and will be
available to speak to
community groups and
civic clubs.
Mrs. Baker is a native
of Warren County and a
graduate of St.
Augustine's College in
Raleigh. She has been
with Warren County
Schools since August of
1973 and has taught
grades K, 3, 4, 5 and 6.
She has also served as
an evening instructor
for Vance-Granville
Community College,
teaching crocheting,
sewing and macrame.
Mrs. Baker works as a
Girl Scout leader and 4H
instructor and has
been active in
professional organizations,
including ACT and
NCAE. In 1980, Dr.
Craig Phillips appointed
her to serve a three year
term on the state's
Professional Review
Committee. Mrs. Baker
is a member of Odell
Baptist Church and
serves as president of
the Missionary Circle, a
member of the senior
choir and the Pastor's
Aid Club.
Voter Apathy Comes Under Attack
From Second District Congressman
Second District Congressman Tim Valentine
lashed out at voter apathy here Friday night, telling
a ladies night audience attending a Warren County
Cattlemen's Association dinner that they should be
full participants in the electoral process.
The Nashville first-term representative, speaking
in soft tones, drew a cosnparison between voting and
reading when he said that "one who will not read a
good book has no advantage over one who cannot
read a good book."
Valentine said people in his district must help
spread the word to others that "we need to reverse a
trend abroad in our land for many years, and that is
that people despise the process of government."
Tie Washington lawmaker said that voters ought
to pay more attention to the preservation of their
rights and their institutions.
"We have a responsibility to ourselves, our
friends, our church, to see that these institutions are
protected," he said, noting that they could not be
protected if so many people fail to participate in
helping make government work.
Valentine drew a laugh from his audience when
ha said he had not been in Congress long enough to
bear all the blame for the problems of farmers.
Although his message to cattlemen was serious,
he included several humerous anecdotes concerning
his experiences as a part-time cattle grower.
Also speaking to those attending the banquet, held
at The Rafters Steak and Seafood House, was Clint
Reese, executive director of the N. C. Cattleman's
association, who said Warren cattlemen need to be
more involved in farm policy and be listed a number
of items needing attention from cattle producers.
The program followed a brief business season in
which Margie Brauer gave a treasurer's report and
read the association's minutes. Jimmy Harris, outgoing
president, presided over the meeting
Frank Gupton gave a report of the weaiaaUng
committee and nominees were elected by acclamation.
They included Calvin Seaman, pc—id—;
Walter Bender, vice president; and Mrs. Braner,
secretary and treasurer.
Congressman Valentine waa accompanied to the
meeting by his district administrative assistant, A.
B. Swindell of Oxford.
Court House Is Filled
Hunters Blast
Change In Law
By KAY HORNER
Staff Writer
The battle lines were
drawn between hunters
and landowners last
Wednesday night at a
public hearing at the
Warren County courthouse.
In a courtroom filled
to capacity, county
commissioners heard
the pros and cons of the
current spotlighting law
which allows the
spotlighting of deer until
11 p. m. provided the
spotlighter has no firearm
his vehicle or
possession and which
prohibits spotlighting
altogether from 11 p. m.
until one-half hour
before sunrise.
Deer lovers who enjoy
spotlighting with their
children joined forces
with sportsmen in
urging the commissioners
to make no
changes in the law.
"You should see the
face of a two- or threeyear-old
child when they
see their first deer,"
Randy Shearin of Wise
told the commissioners.
"I'm all in favor of
leaving the law just as it
is."
Although the sportsmen
and deer lovers
were in the majority
among those who spoke,
Matt Nelson of Vaughan
registered strong opposition
to spotlighting
calling it both dangerous
and "a blooming
nuisance."
Nelson charged that
while much of the spotlighting
in Warren
County is "innocent
enough," some of it is
being done by professional
hunters selling
deer.
"Many times there is
the light in one vehicle
and the gun in another
vehicle following
behind," Nelson said.
Shooting from the
right-of-way on public
roads was also
discussed during the
hearing bringing heated
remarks from hunters
and other county
residents.
The law currently
restricts hunting or
shooting from the road
right-of-way unless the
hunter has written permission
from landowners
on both sides of
the road.
F. P. Whitley, a rural
postman, likened his
travels during deer
season to "going down
the beltline," and spoke
of the danger with hunters
"crouched by the
road ready to shoot."
Wallace Neal countered,
telling the
audience that "Mr.
Whitley is living proof
that the present law
works."
Complaints were also
heard about hunters
whose vehicles block
roadways and slow traffic.
But hunters contended
that hunting from the
roadside was safer than
hunting in a wooded
area with less visibility.
It was noted by
Shearin that where
hunters must hunt at
least 30 feet from the
center of the road, in
Halifax and Northampton
counties, more ac
cidents involving hunters
are reported than in
Warren County.
Peete Hilliard of
Macon told the commissioners
that elderly
people, like his father,
would not be able to hunt
if hunting along the
roadside were
prohibited.
A written poll taken
after the hearing indicated
that those in attendance
overwhelmingly
favored leaving
the spotlighting law and
the law on hunting from
the road right-of-way as
is.
Only nine people indicated
they favored
prohibiting spotlighting
altogether while 72
favored keeping the law
intact.
Two people favored
prohibiting shooting
from the roadway and 75
favored no changes in
the right-of-way law.
Mrs. Eva M. Clayton,
chairperson of the county
commissioners, indicated
that the board
would take up the issues
within the next month.
Acreage Cut Sought
Program Sign-Up
Ends On Friday
The sign-up for 1964
acreage reduction programs
which began on
January 16 will continue
through February 24.
Fanners are advised to
seriously consider
program benefits, ASCS
Executive Director
Thomas E. Watson said
yesterday. The sign-up
ends on February 24.
"Participants who reduce
their wheat acres
by 30 percent will be
eligible for target price
protection at $4.45 per
bushel, price support
loans at $3.30 per bushel
and the option to reduce
their acreage an additional
10 to 20 percent
for payment-in-kind at
75 percent of their
program yield," Watson
said.
Farmers who plant no
more than 90 percent of
their feed grain base(s)
will be eligible for target
prices of $3.03 for corn,
$2.88 for grain sorghum,
$2.80 for barley and fl.60
a bushel for oats. They
will also be eligible for
price support loans at
$2.56 a bushel for corn,
$2.42 for sorghum, $2.08
for barley and $1.31 per
bushel for oats.
All program contracts
will be binding and
"dropping out" after
February 24 will require
payment of liquidated
damages, Watson said.
Seeead District CMgrann Ttm Vatoattae k
■bow heldtaf a parlrage «f a half d—ea rtnah
prmiatiii him by the Warrea Comity Cattlemen'!
AwtadattNi which met here Friday alght Otheri
hn^ a part ia the Mlaa Bight pragram ware,
tram left, Jtnuay Harris, ootgetng prwldwl aad