Newspapers / The Warren Record (Warrenton, … / Feb. 11, 1987, edition 1 / Page 1
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^arrenton. i am,Library : 17 S.Main St. *arrenton, N.C. 27589 t Harroi Hecarb Volume 90 25c Per Copy Warrenton, County Of Warren, North Carolina Wednesday, February 11, 1987 Number 6 Concerns Are Voiced In Special Education Meeting By THURLETTA M. BROWN Staff Writer "Don't force our children to ride any further. They were already moved a few years ago. Now they are settled and happy. Please don't move them anymore." Those words spoken by Glenn Richardson, a parent from Fishing Creek Township, voiced but one of the concerns presented Thursday night by citizens to the Warren County Board of Educa tion in a public meeting held in the Warren County High School Theatre. The meeting, scheduled as a result of concerns raised by the Subdivision Plans Shown To Planners By MARY C. HARRIS Staff Writer The Warren County Planning Board last week accepted the preliminary proposal for a new 49-lot subdivision on Lake Gaston. The Boydton, Va. engineering firm of Crutchfield and Associates presented for the developer, Dr. Richard P. Greenberg, of Tucson, Ariz, the initial plan for Gaston Heights on property bordering the Turkey Run subdivision. Planning Board member O. L. (Butch) Meek said Greenberg is a former resident of Mecklen burg County, Va. and has owned the property for a number of years. In answer to a request by the Buck Springs 4-H Camp board of directors, the Planning Board recommended a zoning variance for the Nathaniel Macon homesite property from residen tial to lakeside group camp district. Should the board's recommen dation be received favorably by the Warren County commis sioners at their regular meeting on Feb. 18, a public hearing on the zoning variance will be scheduled. A spokesperson in the economic development office said this week the hearing could be held as early as March if the commissioners choose to move forward with the request. The proposal for the former Nathaniel Macon property in cludes four clusters containing five cabins each and each cabin accommodating eight persons; historical, recreation and picnic areas; an amphitheater; and pro visions for conferences, dining and maintenance. The complex is designed to offer week-long camping to groups. Two requests were referred to the Board of Adjustments: one an application by Steve McPherson for subdividing Lot 5 in the Thornfield subdivision on Lake Gaston into two building lots; and the other an application by Sydney J. Brandon of Blackstone, Va. to subdivide another lot on Lake Gaston into two building lots. The board also approved for the Nannie R. Watkins Heirs the final plat for five lots in Nutbush Township. Warren County Political Action Council (PAC), drew over 100 county citizens. According to Mrs. Johnnie Johnson, PAC, chairperson, attendance would have been higher had printed leaflets been distributed to sup plement media coverage likely to have been ignored by some in the community. In addition to local individuals, Ms. Denise James and staff'of WTVD-11 as well as staff from WVSP radio were pre sent to document the event. Televised coverage was shown during Thursday night and Fri day broadcasts. To add structure to the meeting and to ensure that all concerns were heard, those wishing to speak were required to register and were given a three-minute limit to which to confine their comments. Board chairman Henry T. Pitchford, Jr. stated that the board would not raise questions nor entertain questions, but that they would entertain con cerns. Although several citizens indicated their surprise upon learning the stated rules of par ticipation, a lively discourse was had during the one-and-one-half hour meeting. The tone was positive. Com mentary made by the Rev. Donald J. Wess set the stage for discussion "not with a tongue of criticism, but with a belief that our future is wrapped up in our children." He urged the board to take seriously the concerns brought by county residents. "Put each concern under the microscope of critical scrutiny and vigorously assess their validity," he cautioned. "Do everything possible to correct the problems," he said,'or prove that the allegations are unfounded." In a written statement sent by Mrs. Eva Clayton, absent due to illness, all were reminded that education is a priority "because it represents our children and they are our future." She urged Warren County citizens to sup port the upcoming bond referen dum to build and support our schools. Mrs. Dollie Burwell, a parent from the Sandy Creek communi ty, spoke to the need for a school nurse. Citing situations in which the lack of personnel caused per sonal hardship, she asked the board to secure the services of a nurse and to make use of existing county agencies. Dr. Nannette Henderson coun tered the perception that county parents lack interest in their children by citing the active parent-organized P.T.A. that ex ists at John Graham Middle School and the visual display of concern evidenced by the number of parents present in the Theatre. She also suggested that teachers needed a method of direct com munication with the board.. She urged teachers and parents to at tend all board meetings as a show of support and interest. Mrs. Janice Crump spoke to the apparent "cultural void" that exists in a system without a number of extracurricular ac tivities. "Extracurricular ac tivities contribute as much to a child's well-being as do math and other academic subjects," she said. "To have activities such as (Continued on page 5) Construction is on schedule for this 60-bed per sonal care facility now being built adjacent to War ren Nursing Center, Warrenton resident Joe Len non, one of the developers, said this week. The new facility will offer private rooms with bath, rooms for couples, rooms mat can be personalized by residents wishing to use their own furniture, semi private rooms, physical therapy, laundry and housekeeping services, nursing services and recreation room. Lennon said plans are to have two or three rooms ready in March for public review. "We are pleased that we'll be able to offer addi tional services to the people of Warren County," said Lennon, whose partners in the facility are N. L. (Red) Williams, also of Warren County, and H. William Hull, Jr. and Michael V. Barnhill of Rocky Mount. (Staff Photo by Howard Jones) Early Evening Alarm Causes Concern During Stiff Wind An early evening alarm Sun day summoned firemen back to the Bowers and Burrows Oil Co. on N. Main Street. Three trucks from the Warrenton Rural fire department responded shortly after 7 p.m. and remained on the scene for one and one-half hours. According to Captain Walter Gardner, the fire started behind the main facility adjacent to a building owned by Bowers and Burrows. Damage was confined to that immediate area and con sisted mainly of incinerated trash. "It was lucky that the high winds did not cause the main building to be ignited," Gardner noted. Because of this incident and other fires taking place over the last few weeks, the possibili ty of arson in the area is under investigation. The following morning at 7:15 a.m., firemen responded to a call (Continued on page 4) Vance-Granville Community College la seeking bids for the demolition and removal of this home located at 2M Ridgeway Street and plana to use the lot as a driveway to a satellite campas proposed for tbe John Graham ftfiddle School property. Bosi Manager BUI Hardlsou of Vance-Granville ?aid Tuesday the satellite timetable calls for the awardtaf sI construction contracts la July and detailed plans will be submitted to the Warren County commisstoaeri la a few weeks. (Staff Photo by Howard Jones) James R. Davis of Rt. 2, Norlina, was pinned between his tractor and a shed for nearly three-quarters of an hour after a Tuesday afternoon accident on his Afton-area farm. The 60-year old man became trapped after attempting to crank the tractor. Upon ignition, the vehicle lunged forward unex pectedly. Davis tried to leap on to the vehicle to halt its move ment, but he became trapped instead. According to Daniel A. Fau cette of the Warren County Am bulance Service, Davis was pinned for close to 20 minutes before anyone discovered his predicament. A call to the Sheriff was placed at 3:24 p.m. Person nel from the Ambulance Service and the Afton-Elberon and Nor lina fire departments were also summoned. Faucette reported a quick ex traction. "We slid the tractor over and he was able to stand up on his own." Davis was taken to Maria Parham Hospital with com plaints of pain in the lower left side in the rib area. Reports received late Tuesday afternoon from Emergency Room person nel indicated that Davis was still under evaluation for internal injuries. Two Streets In Warrenton Given Green Light For New Surfacing By MARY C. HARRIS Staff Writer Wheels were set in motion Mon day night by Warrenton's com missioners to resurface two north-south corridors in town. The board authorized advertis ing for bids for the paving of Front Street from Ridgeway Street on the north end to its in tersection with West Franklin Street and also for resurfacing Bragg Street from its connection with Bute Street to Halifax Street. The commissioners voiced im mediate plans for advertising in order that the work may be com pleted in the near future. "Maybe we can be on someone's (job) list by the spring," Mayor B. G. White said following the commis sioners' unanimous decision. Mayor White noted that suffi cient funds appear to be available through Powell Bill monies ear marked for street improvements and accumulated over a period of years. White added that Department of Transportation District Engineer Robert Ross had in dicated tne preparation for resur facing could be performed by the state at minimal cost and with Powell Bill monies. The mayor's report that as of Jan. 31, some 97 percent of the 1986 town taxes had been col lected was received with favor by the commissioners as was Town Administrator Vernon R. (Pete) Vaughan's announcement that remuneration had been received from a number of delinquent tax payers dating to 1981. Upon the recommendation of Water Superintendent Bill Neal, the commissioners voted to ac cept a six-inch water line pro posed by the Department of Cor rection to be run to the Warren County unit on the outskirts of town, located off State Road 1001. Neal said the prison depart ment's plans were to absorb the cost of materials and installation of the line and the town's respon sibility will be to accept and maintain the line upon comple tion. He noted there are a number of residences which represent potential tap-ons to the proposed line. Contracts Given To Educators By THURLETTA M. BROWN Staff Writer By virtue of a tie-breaking vote cast by Board of Education Chairman Henry T. Pitchford, Jr., the contracts of Superintend ent Mike Williams and Assistant Superintendent James Jordan were renewed Monday night for two additional years. The vote came on the heels of a 40-minute closed executive ses sion. Closed sessions are stan dard for all agenda items con cerning personnel. Present for the regular mon thly meeting were Ms. Denise James and crew of WTVD-11, area citizens and members of the Political Action Council (PAC). Two PAC spokespersons, Mrs. Johnnie Johnson and Dr. Doris Terry Williams, read statements to the board, both of which iden tified a need for changes in leadership and educational philosophy. A motion to postpone renewal of both contracts while the posi tions were opened to other ap plicants was made by board member Yarborough Williams and seconded by Mrs. Cora Wat son. Both Superintendent Wil liams and Assistant Superinten dent Jordan were encouraged to apply. The motion failed to carry with a vote of 2-2. A second motion to renew both contracts was made by Board Chairman Pitchford and sec onded by board member Leigh Traylor. The motion carried 3-2. In other business, the board: ?Delayed final revisions to the school calendar until the regular March meeting, with the assump tion that Mar. 5 and 6 would be changed now from teacher work days to regular school days. ?Requested investigation and follow-up on alleged cases of children attending school outside of their district. ?Adopted a resolution from the Durham City Board regard ing sales tax refunds to schools. The resolution requests that legislation be introduced to make available to public schools the same refund of sales taxes paid available now to non-profit orga nizations and private schools. ?Declined endorsement of a resolution from the New Bern Craven County Board regarding seat belts on school buses. ?Received for information job descriptions of superintendent, assistant superintendent for per sonnel and finance, director of child nutrition, director of com munity schools program and school principal. ?Received for information the current communication plan car ried out by the director of com munity schools. ?Approved amendments to the 1986-87 budget. ?Heard a report on two vacan cies: math teacher and job place ment counselor at WCHS. ?Approved the employment of: William H. Cheek, Jr. (science and social studies teacher at Norlina, effective Feb. 2); Ms. Diane G. Taylor (math remediation teacher at WCHS, ef fective Feb. 9); Joseph H. Hicks (Continued on page 10B) Tractor Flips On Local Man
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