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Volume 89 25* Per Copy Warrenton, County Of Warren, North Carolina Wednesday, December 10, 1986 Number 50
Warren Population Rises Only 1.9 Percent
County's Growth Rate
Trails State And Nation
By THURLETTA M. BROWN
Staff Writer
Warren County's population
has increased by 1.9 percent be
tween 1900 and July, 1985, accord
ing to the most recent estimates
issued by the U.S. Bureau of the
Census.
Although the Census Bureau
compiles comprehensive tallies
of the national population only
once each decade, it updates
these totals with periodic
estimates, the most recent for Ju
ly, 1985. The estimates are based
on a number of factors, among
them federal tax information,
Medicare enrollment data and
birth and death statistics.
? According to the Census
Bureau report, Warren County's
population has increased from
16,232 in 1980 to 16,647 in July,
1985. The 1.9 percent increase is
lower than that reported for the
state and nation. For the same
period, the state's population is
estimated to have increased by
6.4 percent (5,880,415 in 1980;
6,255,000 in July, 1985). The report
shows a 5.4 percent increase for
the U.S. population with
238,740,000 in 1980 and an
estimated 226,545,805 in July,
1985.
The 1.9 percent increase is
smaller than that reported for
Warren County for the five-year
period, 1970-1975. For that period,
the increase of 990 persons
represented a 6.3 percent growth
rate: 15,810 in 1970 and an
estimated 16,800 in July, 1985.
Although the increase esti
mated for 1980-1985 is smaller as
well than that reported for the
state and nation, it suggests the
same pattern of growth experi
enced in all but six decades since
1790. Reports received from the
Economic Development Com
mission show positive growth in
all Census reports, except those
released in 1810,1890,1900,1940,
1960 and 1970.
The population of Warren
County in 1790 was 9,397. Census
Bureau Reports show the follow
ing increases (or decreases) in
population growth for each suc
ceeding decade:
Census Percent
Year Change
1800 20.1
1810 (-2.54)
1820 1.40
1830..-, 0.44
1840 8.77
1850 7.09
1860 13.04
1870 12.98
1880 27.30
1890 (-10.83)
1900 (-1-09)
1910 5.82
1920 0.55
1930 8.20
1940 (-0.95)
1950 1.70
1900 (-19.8)
1970 (-24.30)
1980 2.70
The smaller rate of increase is
consistent with general
demographic trends that suggest
a slight decline in the national
rate of population growth as well.
Maryland Cops
Capture Convict
Wanted Locally
Authorities in Baltimore, Md.
last week captured an inmate
who escaped Nov. 14 from the
Warren County Prison Unit.
Richard Thompson, 32, was
found about 9:30 p.m. Wednes
day, according to Superintendent
Harry Jackson Carter of the N.C.
Department of Corrections unit
in Warren County.
Carter said authorities here are
awaiting disposition of charges
against Thompson in Maryland.
In addition to any which may
have been incurred since the
escape, Thompson faces charges
in Upper Marlboro, Md. for
breaking and entering.
Authorities have also
recovered an automobile which
Thompson reportedly stole from
a Warren County couple follow
ing his escape from the prison
compound. After scaling the
perimeter fence, reportedly in
handcuffs, Thompson is believed
to have taken a 1980 white Subaru
station wagon belonging to
Macon and Gladys Wemyss of
near Warrenton.
Carter said local authorities
have no information on where the
car was found.
Thompson also has outstanding
charges of second-degree
burglary in South Carolina.
At the time of his escape he was
serving a 10-year sentence for
misdemeanor larceny.
Overdue Daily Fine
Raised To Ten Cents
Overdue and non-returned
books have increased to such a
degree that is has become
necessary to increase the fine to
ten cents per day for books over
due. According to Mrs. Mary
Louise Limer, county librarian,
failure to return a library book is
a felony in the state of North
Carolina. Legal procedures are
available.
"Renewal is available, but
books must be brought in for this
procedure," Mrs. Limer said.
"Failure to do so will result in a
strictly enforced ten-cents-per
day fine," she added.
The Warren County Library
welcomes circulation. "Our
books are very expensive, and we
want everyone in the county who
wishes to use the library facilities
to be able to enjoy the books,
films and magazines available,"
she said.
Population Changes 1980-1985
I
5.4%
6.4%
1.9%
United States North Carolina Warren County
TTie haystacks which sheltered tV " J4+le Boy Blue's of days
gone by have evolved into huge n u... ch stored in a row
offer new fun for youngsters. These loca! cl J test their sense of
balance in a game of follow-the-leader on hay which will in winter's
coming weeks provide forage for hungry animals.
(Staff Photo by Dianne T. Hod well)
Williams Tells Education Board
New School Facilities: $10.8 Million
By THURLETTA M. BROWN
Staff Writer
A projected $10,809,245 was the
dollar amount attached to up
graded school facilities in a
report presented Monday night to
board of education members by
Superintendent Mike Williams.
The report was presented in
response to the board's plan
adopted Aug. 18 that would result
in the following modifications:
?construction of a new middle
school to accommodate the entire
population of students in grades
six through eight and allow clos
ing the John Graham and Norlina
sites.
?construction of additional
space at Mariam Boyd and
Northside to accommodate stu
dents from Hawkins and North
Warren and permit closing of
those sites.
?construction of a new wing at
Warren County High School to
house 12 classrooms, space for
health occupations and ROTC
programs, and of football/track
facilities.
Also included in the projection
are needs of the elementary
school segment such as space for
buses and sewer modifications.
"The modifications are affor
dable," Williams said. "This is
not something unrealistic," he
added.
The new middle school is pro
jected to cost $6,955,000. Included
in the estimate is the acquisition
of additional land. "The state re
quires a minimum of 28 acres,"
he said. "We have 77 acres at the
high school site, but that would
not be sufficient for both
schools," he noted.
The Northside addition is
estimated to cost $1,388,475.
Although the current site's 18.75
acres meet state guidelines, ad
ditional land may be needed.
"The area is long and narrow and
we may need some more room to
spread out," Williams said.
The cost of the Warren County
High School addition is projected
at $1,415,520. According to
Williams, expansion would per
mit enrollment to increase to 950.
Also included in the estimate for
the addition and for athletic
facilities is the cost of paving the
parking lots.
Elementary-level additions are
projected to cost $1,050,250.
Transfer of 150 students from the
Mariam Boyd to the Vaughan site
would make construction at
Mariam Boyd unnecessary as
sufficient space for grades K-5
would be available. According to
Board of Education Chairman Henry Pitchford, Jr. (right) joins
Yarborough Williams (left) in taking the oath of office at Monday
night's meeting. Sworn in by Clerk of Court Richard Hunter (not
shown), the two begin new terms won in the November election.
(Staff Photo by Thurletta M. Brown)
Pitchford Is Re-Elected
As Chairman Of Board
Henry T. Pitchford, Jr. and
Leigh Traylor were elected
unanimously by board of educa
tion members in their Monday
night meeting to the positions of
chairman and vice-chairman
respectively. The election was
the climax of the swearing-in
ceremonies for the two board
members signalling the begin
ning of two more years of service.
Board members presented a
plaque to John E. Moody in
recognition of his retirement
Office Will Be Closed
The Warrenton Employment
Security Commission office will
be closed Dec. 24 and 31. Anyone
with pertinent business or in
quiries can contact the Hender
son office at 438-8129. The War
renton office will resume its
regular Wednesday schedule on
Jan. 7.
after 16 years of service at the
school bus garage. According to
Superintendent Williams, it was
he who was always on hand for
those early-morning breakdowns
and other odd-hour occurrences.
Evidencing his dedication, "It
has really been tough," Moody
said, "but I wish that I were
young enough to stay on."
They also bade farewell to Mrs.
Rachael Ricks, assistant
superintendent, in attendance for
her last meeting prior to
retirement.
In the business session, the
board:
?Authorized the appointment
of two committees to study and
make recommendations concern
ing reporting student grades to
parents and the use of weighted
grade-point-averages at the high
school level.
(Continued on page 15)
Williams, two of the existing
schools are in need of new sewage
treatment facilities.
The $10.8 million expenditure
would be justified by the follow
(Continued on page 15)
Larceny Charged
Warren Resident
A Warren County man was
taken into custody in Henderson
Monday afternoon and later
charged in Warren County with
larceny at Fleming's Grocery in
Areola.
Ikedo Shattlon Fields, 22, of Rt.
2, Warrenton, was stopped some
45 minutes after two men and one
woman were seen leaving the
rural grocery store in a blue
Oldsmobile and after one of the
men was seen leaving the store
building with the cash box con
taining about $1,000, according to
Chief Deputy Bobby Dean Bolton
with the Warren County Sheriff's
Department.
Bolton said the party stopped at
the store shortly before 2 p.m.
supposedly to buy gas and while
one of the men pumped fuel into
the car, the other went inside the
store and was seen leaving the
store with the money box con
cealed under his jacket. The store
attendant, who was outside the
building, yelled when he saw
what was happening, but the
three sped from the store yard,
Bolton said.
The vehicle was sighted on An
drews Avenue by officers of the
Henderson Police Department
and Fields, who was driving the
car and alone at the time, was de
tained until Sgt. Lawrence Har
rison of the Warren County
Sheriffs Department could pick
up Fields and to bring him back
to Warren County for
questioning.
Fields was charged with
felonious larceny and placed in
Warren County Jail under a $1500
bond. He was released on bond
Tuesday morning and is awaiting
a court hearing.
Bolton said two additional
suspects in the case have opt
* Drrested