Newspapers / The Warren Record (Warrenton, … / April 2, 1986, edition 1 / Page 1
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WarrentonMem.Library X 117 S.lfain St. Warrenton, N.C. 27589 uJJje iamn fRentrfo Volume 89 25c Per Copy Warrenton, County Of Warren, North Carolina Wednesday, April 2, 1986 Number 14 Pine trees and farm animals alike bask in the sun in this photograph which captures horses grazing on the season's new grass. The animals and their surroundings reflect a picture of springtime con tentment in the still waters of a local farm pond. (Staff Photo by Dianne T. Rod well) Much At btake as voters Decide Fate Of Constitutional Amendment It would seem, on the surface, to be a relatively simple decision. Are you or are you not in favor of constitutional amendments providing for election of state and county officers in odd-numbered years? Warren County voters as well as voters throughout the state will see that item on the ballot in the May primary. But anyone thinking the issue is six to one and half-dozen to the other should think again. State and county officers are currently elected on even numbered years. They include members of the General Assembly, governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, state auditor, state treasurer, superintendent of public instruction, attorney general and commissioners of agriculture, labor and insurance. Also included are justices of the N.C. Supreme Court, judges of the N.C. Court of Appeals, regular judges of the Superior Court, District Court judges and district attorneys. On the county level, offices filled on even years are clerks of Superior Court, sheriffs, county commissioners, school board members and registers of deeds. Should North Carolina voters opt for odd-year elections, im plementation of the change would take seven years and would not be complete until the 1993 elections. It would mean that terms of some officers would be extended one year. Some others would be elected this year and in 1968 for terms one year longer than usual. Proponents of the amendment, introduced last year in the General Assembly, argued that North Carolina is now out of step with other southern states where state and local officials are elected in non-presidential, or odd, years. Some have argued that the change would eliminate "coat tail" victories, especially in gubernatorial races. Those who tout this theory note that Gov. James G. Martin, one of only two Republican governors in the state in the 20th century, was put in office in large part because of the overwhelming popularity of President Reagan. Adoption of the amendment would also mean that county commissioners would be elected in odd-numbered years, along with city officers, such as mayor and councilmen, who are already elected in odd-numbered years. Here are the steps that would be carried out should the amend ment be adopted: 1986?Elections for U.S. senator and representatives would be held as scheduled. State and local officials with terms ex piring this year would be held as usual, but one year would be ad ded to the term so that the next election for that office would fall on an odd-numbered year. 1988?No change in elections for president and members of Congress. Elections for state of fices with terms expiring in 1988 would be held as usual, but one year would be added to the term to make the next election due in an odd-numbered year. Ejections for county officers, such as com missioners and school board members, elected in 1984 and whose terms expire in 1968 would not be held because their terms would be extended one year to 1969?Elections would be held for members of the General Assembly, county commis sioners, registers of deeds and other county and district officials with terms that would have ex pired in 1988, and for city officers with terms expiring in 1989. 1990?Election for U.S. senator and representatives as sche duled. Elections for state Supreme Court justices, Court of Appeals judges and Superior Court judges elected in 1982 for eight-year terms and school board members elected in 1984 for six-year terms would not be held. The term of office of these incumbents would be extended one year to 1991. 1991?Elections for all state, county and city officers with terms expiring in 1991. 1992?Elections for president, U.S. senator and members of the U.S. House held as usual. Elec tions for state Supreme Court justices, Court of Appeals judges and Superior Court judges elected in 1984 to eight-year terms would not be held. The terms of office of the incumbents would be extended one year to 1993. 1993?Election of all state and local officers with tenns expiring in 1993, thus making the transi tion to odd-year elections complete. These mechanics for making the change should the amend ment be adopted are included in the amendment's enabling legislation. Ban On Burning Protects Parched Warren Woodland Dozen Fires Reported Here More than a dozen brush fires were reported throughout the county over the past weekend, and due to dry conditions a statewide burning ban was put in to effect Saturday night by the state Division of Forest Resources. The most recent fire was reported Tuesday morning on S.R. 1535 near Areola at the Halifax County line. According to a spokesman with the N.C. Forestry Service, which responded to the blaze with Ar eola Volunteer Fire Department, about one acre of forestland was burned. Cause of the fire is under in vestigation, but it is believed to have been intentionally started. Until rain brings some relief from dry conditions, the Forest Resources Division has urged all the state's residents to avoid discarding cigarettes and other burning material in wooded or grassy areas. While the ban is in effect, no burning permits will be issued and lighting a fire at a distance exceeding 100 feet from an oc cupied dwelling is illegal. Fire also gutted a frame house in Macon Tuesday morning. The house, located off of U.S. 158 behind Macon Baptist Church, was the residence of Matthew and Lugenia Milam and was owned by William S. Davis. According to Captain Walter Gardner with Warrenton Rural Fire Department, no estimates on damage were available. Macon Fire Chief William Cox said the fire was caused by a faul ty chimney. No injuries were reported. Macon Fire Department was assisted by Churchill and War renton Rural departments in fighting the blaze. A sofa fire at the home of Mrs. Mary J. Alston at 309 W. Franklin Street Saturday night caused ex tensive smoke damage to the home's interior. Gardner said he had no estimate on damage in the fire, which was reported about 7:53 p.m. Warrenton Rural and Warren ton Town fire departments reponded. Travelers and residents of Warrenton-Ridgeway Road Saturday night may have seen what they thought was a house fire burning out of control, but Captain Butch Bolton with the Norlina Volunteer Fire Depart ment said this week the burning of the house was controlled and was part of a local training exer cise for firemen. Completes Progrom County Manager Charles J. Worth last week completed the Executive Development Pro gram of the Institute of Govern ment at Chapel Hill. The course, which involves a total of three weeks of study, was designed for city and county managers and focused on refin ing leadership and managerial skills. Convention Is Planned The Warren County Demo cratic Convention will be held this Saturday at 1 p.m. at Warren County Courthouse, according to T. T. Clayton, county chairman. Heading the convention's agen da will be the election of delegates to the District Conven tion on June 14 and the State Con vention in Raleigh on July 12. The county's members on Judicial, State and House District sectional committees will also be chosen. "The county conventions are important to all Democrats in North Carolina," Clayton said. "We will gather to strengthen our organisation and begin to organize for a Democratic vic tory In the fall." Tables Turned: Farmer Brings Fire To Firemen By KAY HORNER News Editor An Afton man turned the tables on firemen with Warren ton Rural Fire Department last week and, rather than call ing them to the fire, brought the fire to the firehouse. It all began last Wednesday morning about 7:30 when Earl Limer headed north on U.S. 401 with a trailer-load of hay hitched to his pickup truck. According to Warrenton Rural Captain Walter Gardner, Limer was about eight miles from Warrenton when he real ized the hay was on fire. "He saw it smoking," Gardner said, "and tried to throw it off the trailer by weaving back and forth." When that failed, Limer headed to Warrenton Rural's fire house. Fireman Gene Hudgins was at the firehouse and issued the alarm. It took firemen about an hour and a half to extinguish the approximately 50 bales of hay and Town of Warrenton maintenance crews until mid-afternoon to clean up the hay, which had been strewn in the streets from the force of the water used to extinguish the blaze. Gardner said the weight of the hay apparently caused the metal supports of the trailer bed to rub against the tires and sparks from the friction ignited the hay. In addition to the loss of hay, the trailer bed was scorched and two tires were damaged, Gardner said. Reedy Creek Pastor Offers Resignation The Rev. Joe W. Riggan, pastor of Reedy Creek Baptist Church for the past nine years, on March 23 offered his resignation, effective April 20. The Rev. Mr. Riggan noted on Tuesday afternoon that this will be his second move toward retire ment from the ministry, in which he has been engaged since 1927 when he was licensed by his home church, Vaughan Baptist. His ordination to the ministry took place at the same church in 1934, he said. It was also from Vaughan that Riggan attempted to retire nine Bike Theft Leads To Local Arrest A Warren County man was recently arrested in connection with the theft of two motorcycles in Vance County, according to Chief Deputy B. D. Bolton. Troy Davis of Route 1, Warren ton was arrested by the Warren County Sheriff's Department and remanded to the custody of the Vance County Sheriff's Depart ment where he was charged with felonious larceny. A warrant has also been issued for the arrest of Lawrence Jig getts, also of Route 1, in connec tion with the theft. However, Jig getts has not been located for serving of the warrant, Bolton said. I years ago. After a year or so in retirement, the church at Reedy Creek asked him to fill in for them following the death of their pastor. Riggan filled in for nine years but stated that with his 78th birthday approaching, the responsibilities of a pastorate have become too much for him. After being licensed to preach, Riggan delivered his first sermon in 1928 at Vaughan Baptist Church. He studied at Wake (Continued on page 3) Deer Blamed For Warren Accident A deer is blamed for a single vehicle accident Sunday night on S.R. 1625 about four miles south of Warrenton. According to reports filed by Trooper A. M. Bennett with the Highway Patrol, Cynthia H. Ter rell of Route 2, Warrenton was traveling north about 8:30 p.m. when a deer ran onto the road. Ms. Terrell swerved to avoid hitting the deer. Her car skidded off the road, struck a ditchbank and overturned before coming to rest on its top. Neither Ms. Terrell nor her two passengers were injured serious ly enough to require emergency treatment, but damage to the automobile was estimated at $1,800. No charges were filed. Deadline Approaching County residents who want to vote in the May 6 Primary Election but have not registered have until Monday, April 7, at 5 p.m. to do so. County Elections Supervisor Ruby Jones issued a reminder this week that 17-year-olds who will be 18 by the Nov. 4 General Election are eligible to vote in the primary on all items except the constitutional amendment calling for local and state elections to be held in odd rather than even numbered years. Tuesday, April 8, is the starting date for one-stop voting for those who will be out-of-town or otherwise prohibited from casting their ballot at their precinct on election day. Friday, May 2, at 5 p.m. is the deadline for one-stop voting. Hie County Elections Office, located on Front Street in Warrenton, is open Monday through Friday from I a.m. to 5 p.m. For additional voter information, call Mrs. Jones at 257-2114. v
The Warren Record (Warrenton, N.C.)
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April 2, 1986, edition 1
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