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25* Per Copy Warrenton, County Of Warren, North Carolina Wednesday, July 22, 1987 Number 28
The Warren ton Church of God dedicated a new
fellowship hall I upper photo) during a service held
Sunday afternoon. In the absence of the Rev. Proc
tor Marshall, pastor, the Rev. Calvin Wood, a
church member, welcomed those gathered and
presided over the occasion (lower photo). Also par
ticipating in the service were the Rev. D. E.
Sprinkle of Roanoke Rapids, district overseer for
the Church of God; the Rev. Edward Smith, state
overseer; and Macon Mayor M. C. Clary. Church
member l^eslie Wells presented plaques to Jack
Paschall, the Rev. Mr. Marshall and Dodie Miller
in appreciation for their outstanding efforts in mak
ing the felkmhip hall a reality.
(Staff Photos by Howard Jones)
Warren To Receive
$9 Million In Funds
Warren County stands to
receive over $9 million over the
next 10 years as a result of one of
the most far-reaching education
measures ever enacted by the
North Carolina General
Assembly.
Lt. Gov. Bob Jordan and House
Speaker Liston Ramsay last
Thursday signed into law the
"Better Schools for North
Carolina" legislation to give local
governments over $3.2 billion. In
addition, $185.9 million will be
distributed to counties having
critical needs and an inability to
meet those needs, the announce
ment stated.
Warren County's share of the
funds total $9,339,889. The coun
ty's share of the critical needs
fund has not been determined,
but would be added to the initial
amount, if awarded, over a 10
vear period.
For the academic year 1987-88,
Warren County schools will re
ceive $456,812 as their portion of
revenues from the one-half cent
sales tax dedicated to school con
struction, the report estimated.
Although this is not entirely new
money, the new law freezes at 60
percent that portion of the 1986
tax to be spent for public school
construction. For 1988-89, the
sales tax allocation is estimated
at $444,021; for the 10-year period,
$5,021,605.
The New Public School Build
ing Fund will bring to the county
$263,327 in the next academic
year. For 1988-89, $114, 478 is an
ticipated; for the 10-year period,
$1,789,517. These funds will result
from the increase in corporate in
come taxes from six to seven per
cent, the same rate that indi
viduals now pay.
The one percent increase in
corporate income tax rate is ex
pected to be offset by the repeal
of the tax on inventories. Esti
mates of the value to counties of
the repeal are based on the
1988-89 inventory tax level for 91
counties, the announcement said.
Revenue from inventory tax
redistribution will be new income
for counties. It has not been ear
marked specifically for \ school
construction, but the funds may
be used for such projects. Warren
County 's estimated share, begin
ning in 1988-89, is $27,173. Over
the next ten years, the estimated
value to the county is $244,557.
The fourth component of the
monies made available by the
new law, monies already prom
ised under the provisions of the
Basic Education Plan, is the
state's agreement to bear the
cost of employing vocational
education teachers and school
clerical workers. For Warren
County, this will mean $96,885 in
1987-88; $202,490 in 1988-89 and
$9,339,889 over a ten-year period.
All counties are expected to
receive no less than $700 million
over the next ten years.
According to the announce
ment, the amount that local
school districts actually receive,
or save, will be more than that in
dicated because of an upward
revision in the salary figures
used to calculate the cost of the
Basic Education Plan.
"This comprehensive legisla
tion ("Better Schools for North
Carolina") will provide the funds
needed to build new schools, re
place worn-out facilities and
relieve overcrowded buildings,"
Lt. Gov. Jordan said. It "...fol
lows a pay-as-you-go approach
that does not increase the sales
tax or put an additional tax bur
den on individuals," he added.
"This is a great day for North
Carolina!"
Officer-ln-Charge
Working At Norlina
Warrenton postal employee
Shirley Comer has been ap
pointed officer-in-charge at the
Norlina Post Office until a
replacement is chosen for former
postmistress Sarah F. Neal who
resigned, effective July 12.
Mrs. Neal, who has been with
the postal service for 18 years,
had been postmistress at Norlina
since 1979. She is currently serv
ing as a clerk in the Henderson
Post Office.
Mrs. Comer indicated her
assignment to Norlina is only
temporary until applications can
be received and screened for
selection of a new postmistress at
the Liberty Street office. "I'll be
back in Warrenton soon," she
said.
Warren County
Man Is Killed
On Motorcycle
A Warren County man lost his
life Sunday afternoon as the
motorcycle he was riding was
crumpled following impact with
a vehicle in Henderson.
John Walker Kearney, 26, of
Rt. 3, Warrenton was transported
by Vance County ambulance per
sonnel to Maria Parham Hospi
tal, where he was pronounced
dead by Dr. Mike Jones, Vance
County medical examiner. The
cause of death was listed as
severe head injuries.
According to Highway Patrol
Trooper K. W. Cooke, a vehicle
being driven by Melvin T.
Choplin, 73, of Henderson was
traveling west on S.R. 1539 when
it crossed over N.C. 39. Choplin
and his wife were uninjured when
the motorcycle being driven by
Kearney collided with the left
front side of his car.
Kearney, traveling north on
N.C. 39, was thrown from his
motorcycle. He was returning
home from work at the Franklin
County Department of Correction
in Bunn, where he was employed.
The incident remains under in
vestigation. At press time, no
charges had been filed.
Funeral services will be held
Thursday at 2 p.m. at Snow Hill
Baptist Church by the Rev. A. A.
Brown. Burial will be in the
church cemetery.
The son of Allen A. and Mrs.
Mary Lena Edwards Kearney
was born Aug. 25,1960 in Warren
County. He served for four years
in the U. S. Army and was a
member of Snow Hill Baptist
Church.
Survivors, in addition to his
parents, include one sister, Mrs.
Wendelyn K. Jefferson of Man
son; and three brothers, SH-I
Allen A. Kearney, Jr. of the U.S.
Navy and stationed in Kingsbay,
Ga Gerald Kearney of Ahoskie
and Shawn Kearney of War
renton.
Honorary pallbearers will be
Donell Bullock, Ronald Perry
Allen Hargrove, Michael Perry,
George Macklin and Milo Alston.
Active pallbearers will be
Clarence Jones, Joe Jones,
Delton Green, Lawrence Boyd,
Theodore Davis and Percell
Williams, Jr.
Arrangements were by Harris
Turner Funeral Home, Inc.
Peck Gives Approval
To Place Sewer Line
More Costs
Are Avoided
By THURLETTA M. BROWN
Staff Writer
Increased costs at the Quick Ci
ty sewer revitalization site, pro
jected at $75-100,000 in additional
expense, have been avoided by
Warren County, following tenta
tive approval received last week
from Peck Manufacturing ti
allow the installation of a sewer
line across its property.
Approval, according to Reedy
Carter. Warren County commu
nity development director, is con
tingent upon clarification of the
exact location of the line with
Peck's plant engineer.
Warren County commissioners
had learned last Wednesday
night during their mid-rnonthly
meeting that alternate routing of
the line, necessary if permission
to implement the original plan
could not be obtained from Peck,
would result in additional ex
pense. One alternative plan
would have routed the line west
of a lake in the area, but the ex
istence of rock there would have
required additional construction
and geological investigation
'?osts.
Commissioners also learned of
a situation involving the old War
renton cemetery that related to
the project. A proposed drainage
line would follow the property
line of the cemetery. Engineers
wish to avoid disturbing old, un
marked graves there. Plats of the
cemetery are unavailable from
either the cemetery personnel or
from the Town of Warrenton, but
care will be exercised to prevent
damage to unknown grave sites
Drainage in the driveway of the
cemetery is also a problem. Car
ter has met with local engineers
and will soon meet with state
district engineers to secure their
(Continued on page 3)
I ? - ? ' 1
Tills Sheriff's department cruiser was demolished following Thurs
day night's high-speed chase in hot pursuit of the stolen Kenworth
truck that was rammed by its driver into the right side of the county
vehicle. The stolen vehicle and its fleeing driver were finally brought
to a stop when the tires of the truck were shot by attending officers.
Damages to the cruiser, driven by Warren County Deputy Harold
Seaman, are estimated at $4,000. (Photo by Howard Jones>
Lawmen Shoot Tires
High-Speed Chase Ends
After Cruiser Demolished
High-speed chases back and
forth across the North Caro
lina/Virginia line have resulted
in recapture of a stolen vehicle,
ui a cost of tote', loss of county
property
Dennis Hinton, 30, of Wise, led
Warren County deputies, Norlina
policemen and state Highway
Patrol troopers Thursday night
on a high-speed chase along U.S.
1, then northward on 1-85 to South
Hill, Va.. then back on U.S. 1 to
Wise, before facing a showdown
at the Wise Truck Stop on 1-85
Hinton rammed the stolen
truck into the right side of the
patrol car being driven by Depu
ty Harold Seaman, who had at
tempted to block Hinton's escape
from the truck stop. The demol
ished county vehicle is valued at
$4,000
Delbridge Enters Race
For Mayor Of Norlina
W. K. "Bill" Delbridge has
filed for mayor of Norlina, sub
ject to the November election.
"I have been a native of
Norlina all of my life except
those years in college and army
service during World War II.
Being a life-long resident, I
recognize our needs and will
establish new goals," Delbridge
said.
After college Delbridge re
turned to Norlina where he took
a job at Kerr Dam as a purchas
ing agent. In 1957 he was ap
pointed postmaster at Norlina
and served in this capacity until
his retirement over 20 years
later.
ai me age ot i& ne was eieciea
as the youngest director ever of
a bank in North Carolina. He has
served continually in this
capacity for 40 years.
In the mid-50s Delbridge ac
cepted the chairmanship of the
Finer Carolina Program in
Norlina and was a winner in its
class. In 1965 his post office was
one of 13 recognized by the White
House in its beautification
program.
Boy Scouts have played a
major part of his civic life. He
started out as a scoutmaster and
was on the Occoneechee Execu
tive Committee and Board for
over 10 years. For this service
he was the recipient of one of
scouting's highest lay awards,
the Silver Beaver. While with
the Post Office he was the
congressional liaison in Warren
County for Congressman L. H.
Fountain.
Delbridge has served on many
committees in the community.
He was the first co-chairman of
the Warren County Industrial
Commission, member of the
Board of Trustees of Warren
General Hospital, and the ABC
Board. He is a member of the
Norlina Methodist Church,
having served on many of its
boards. Some of his past mem
berships are the Veterans of
Foreign Wars, Disabled
(Continued on page 5)
Officers then shot out the tires
on the Kenworth tractor truck
and arrested Hinton The driver
had sustained lacerations requir
ing treatment at Maria Parham
Hospital in Henderson.
Hinton was released after
emergency treatment and was
taken before a magistrate on
charges of larceny of a vehicle
and two counts of assault on a
police officer.
Involuntary commitment pa
pers were secured for Hinton. Ac
cording to Chief Deputy Bobby D.
Bolton, Hinton was admitted to
John Umstead Hospital at But
ner to await court disposition of
the case.
According to Norlina Police
Chief Charles J. Galantis, Hinton
tried a number of times during
the chase to ram his vehicle into
those being driven by law en
forcement personnel. One Vir
ginia State Police car was
severely damaged and another
was hit during the hour-long
chase.
"We were fortunate there were
no personnel injuries," Galantis
said. "Luckily, there was light
traffic."
The tractor, property of L. H
Hunt of Richmond, Va., suffered
damages estimated at $1,000. The
vehicle, stolen in Richmond last
week, was found at the home of
Hinton last week and impounded
at Community Motors of Norlina.
Charges were not pressed against
Hinton at the time of the initial
recovery.
According to Chief Galantis,
Hinton is believed to have
straight-wired the Kenworth
tractor and driven it from the lot.
A Community Motors attendant,
who saw him leaving, signaled to
Norlina Police Lt. James Champ
ion, who sounded an alarm and
began the chase. Five Virginia
state policemen joined in the
chase after Hinton crossed the
North Carolina/Virginia line.
North Carolina law enforce
ment personnel involved in the
chase, in addition to Norlina
Police Chief Galantis, Norlina
Police Lt. Champion, Chief Depu
ty Bolton and Deputy Harold
Seaman, were: Warren County
Sheriff Theodore Williams; Sgt.
I^awrence Harrison, Deputies
Clarence Adcock, Ronnie Baa
kett, Mac McCowan and Johnny
Williams, as well as
Patrol Trooper N. D. I
and another unidentified
trooper.