Varrentonlleo, Library X
-17 S ? llaln St*
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Volume 94 25c Per Copy Warrenton, County Of Warren, North Carolina Wednesday, January 25, 1989 Number 4
These six students from Warren County High
School have been nominated for the Governor's
School Summer Program. They are, front row, left
to right, Elizabeth Pierce (Arts), Christy Harmon
(Academic) and Richard Meador (Arts). On the
back row, left to right, are Mateland Mayes
(Academic), John Meares (Arts) and Craig Slpe
(Academic). The Governor's School of North
Carolina Is a summer residential program for
academically gifted high school sophomores and
juniors. These students will be considered by a
statewide selection committee and will be notified
in April of their selection.
(Community Schools Photo by Mary Hunter)
For Waste Disposal Study
$5,000 Is Earmarked
For Regional Effort
By THL'KLETTA M. BROWN
News Editor
Warren County's board of
county commissioners in their
regular mid-monthly meeting
last Wednesday night allocated
from contingency $5,000 to be
placed into the pot that will fund
a regional solid waste manage
ment study for five Region K
counties. Similar actions have
also been taken by boards in
Granville and Person counties,
and according to Warren County
Manager Charles Worth, the re
maining two counties are ex
pected to follow suit within the
next two weeks.
Warren? along with Region K
members Franklin, Granville,
Person and Vance counties? had
been asked by the Kerr-Tar
Regional Council of Governments
(COG) to each contribute up to
$5,000 to fund a study to examine
alternatives that would reduce
the volume of refuse in landfills.
According to Walter S. Rogers,
Region K Solid Waste Committee
vice chairman, the action was
recommended by COG because
of changes in regulations regard
ing landfills, the volume of waste
in existing landfills and the
diminishing useful life remaining
at each of the landfill sites.
Following approval by all five
boards, Camp, Dresser and
McKee Engineering Firm of
Raleigh will perform the study.
Tasks expected to be included
are: an examination of existing
solid waste volumes in individual
counties and for Region K;
20-year projections of waste
quantities and landfill space
needs; the identification of legal
changes that will impact disposal
systems; an analysis of the desir
ability of a multi-county landfill
to supplement the operation of
separate county landfills, an
analysis of recycling programs;
and the identification of proven
techniques for energy recovery
and volume reduction.
Worth called the allocation a
sound one, stating that substan
tial savings would result since the
county would need to have an
assessment done and that par
ticipation in the Region K project
would provide results at less cost
to the county than through indi
vidual purchase. Worth said the
county did not know the volume
of refuse in its landfill. That
would be one item of information
provided by the study.
"This will not cure all, but it
may be sufficient to at least bring
about an awareness of the prob
lems," Chairman Eva Clayton
said.
A second COG venture? an
agreement for a Jobs Training
Partnership Act (JTPA) eco
nomic development assistance
project? also received a nod
from the county's board of com
missioners. The board accepted
from JTPA a $3,000 allocation to
be used in industrial recruitment
projects (hat would result in jobs
for eligible persons. According to
Mrs. Cathy J. Wilson, Warren
County economic development
director, the funds will be used
for upgrading site information,
utilizing the services of a sur
veyor to make site pictorials and
for advertising.
In an unrelated action, the
Warren County Housing Authori
ty came one step closer to action
with the approval by the commis
sioners of bylaws and the ap
pointment of five housing author
ity commissioners. Appointed to
two-year terms were Marilyn
Nelson and Glenn Richardson.
Appointed to three-year terms
were Geneva Fitts, the Rev. Tim
Russell and Commissioner Fran
cis Alston.
Warren County's first housing
authority was authorized in 1971,
but appears never to have met.
According to board attorney
Charles Johnson, the authority's
charter and articles of incorpora
( Continued on page 2B)
Downtown Warrenton To See
Another Restaurant Shortly
Mrs. Jeanette Fleming, former
owner and operator of both the
Rafter's and Fleming's Cafe, has
announced her plans to open a
new restaurant on Warrenton's
Main Street.
Slated for opening around
March l. the new restaurant will
be located at 139 South Main
Street in the building occupied
most recently by West Plumbing
and Heating and previously by
the old Red ft White Grocery.
"We plan to remodel the build
ing completely, Including fresh
paint both inside and out, as well
as new carpet," Mrs. Fleming
said Tuesday in a telephone inter
view. The seating capacity for
diners has been estimated at
about 100.
According to Mrs. Fleming, the
name of the new restaurant has
not been determined.
The new establishment will be
a family restaurant with com
plete menus, Mrs. Fleming said.
Offerings will include steaks,
seafood, brunswick stew, hot
meals, daily specials and sand
wiches, all reasonably priced, she
added, noting that breakfast,
lunch and dinner would be
served.
Initially, the new restaurant
will be closed on Sundays.
Hours of operation will be Mon
day through Saturday from <
a.m. until 9 p.m.
Former Deputy
Helps Locate
Stolen Pigs
A Warren County farmer,
through his own investigations,
has ensured that at least some of
the men involved in the theft of
livestock from his Wise area
farm will have their day in court.
Dorsey Capps on Dec. 13 had
reported the theft of 37 feeder
pigs valued at $1,850 from his
farm. Deputy Harold Seaman
took the initial report.
But while the Warren County
Sheriff's Department conducted
its investigation of the disappear
ance of the porkers, Capps im
mersed himself in surveillance
and fact-finding work of his own.
Capps contacted Chief Deputy
Haskin Cox and Sgt. John Kirk
land of the Mecklenburg County,
Va. Sheriff's Department and
through their combined efforts,
23 of the Capps feeder pigs were
found on Jan. 18 in Union Level,
Va.
According to Capps, the 23 pigs
were found in a chicken pen,
complete with a camper that had
been provided for the animals to
use as a sleep shed.
Arrested by the Mecklenburg
County officers on charges of
possession of stolen property and
placed under bonds of $2,000 each
were Raymond Edwards and
Robert Bishop, both of Union
Level, Va. The men have posted
bonds, but await trial in Meck
lenburg County, Va. Capps said.
No information was available on
the potential for additional
charges in Warren County.
On Friday of last week, Robert
Lee Pitchford, Jr., 21, of Rt. 3,
Warrenton, was arrested in
Mecklenburg County, Va. on
charges of breaking and enter
ing, and larceny of livestock.
Pitchford waived extradition
and was transported from Vir
ginia to Warren County on Mon
day of this week by Sgt. Law
rence Harrison. The suspect has
posted a $2,500 bond and has been
released to await a Feb. 8 court
appearance in Warren County
district court.
According to Capps, a warrant
has also been drawn for breaking
and entering and larceny of the 37
feeder pigs on a second suspect,
Danny Ray Chapman, of South
Hill, Va.
Chapman remains in Virginia
and no additional information
was available on his status at
press time. The investigation is
being continued by Sgt. Law
rence Harrison and Sgt. Harold
Seaman.
Capps said he took an active
role in the investigation because
this was the second incident of
livestock theft since he has
raised animals at his farm in
Wise. "I'd Just like the public to
know that persons should not
think they can get away with
stealing my livestock," he said.
Although the Capps incident is
coming closer to prosecution, the
allegations of another series of
livestock thefts involving the
( Continued on page 2B)
Revenue Bonds Are Sought
Furniture Plant Plans
$4.5 Million Project
Warren County's citizens will
soon be asked to express their
opinion > concerning the issuance
of $4.5 million in industrial
revenue bonds to fund a planned
multi-nullion-doUar expansion at
Cochrane Furniture's Warrenton
plant
Although no bond referendum
will be held, a public hearing on
the matter is required by law.
Because the indebtedness will be
repaid by Cochrane revenues, the
sale of bonds will not result in an
indebtedness for Warren County
and the construction of the pro
posed expansion will result in in
creased tax revenues for the
Town of Warrenton.
On Monday, Feb. 6, at 9:15
a.m.? just prior to the regular
monthly meeting of the Warren
County Board of County Commis
sioners?citizens' comments will
be sought in a public hearing, the
board agreed last Wednesday
night.
The proceeds from the sale of
the $4.5 million in industrial
bonds will be used to finance a
35,i)00-square-foot expansion at
Cochrane. Expected to be in
cluded are an enlargement of an
existing finishing room and a
rough mill.
According to Cochrane of
ficials, new employment oppor
tunities will be made available
for about five persons, initially,
with the potential of 50 positions
within five years. With expanded
staffing, Cochrane would be able
to add a third shift for some of its
personnel and increase the size of
its second-shift staff. In addition,
the expansion is expected to save
employment for about 500 area
residents. Wages to be paid are
expected to be above the average
weekly manufacturing wage paid
here.
Warrenton's division of the
Uncolnton-headquartered Coch
rane Furniture Company? of
ficially known as the Eastern
Division? opened its doors in
1969. The personnel rolls there
carry 231 employees. Although
the local plant now purchases the
panels used for furniture con
struction, the acquisition of a
rough ? mill would permit em
ployees to make the panels local
ly Once the new rough mill is
operational, following delivery
from sawmills outside of the state
to Warrenton of oak, cherry and
maple boards, procedures would
be implemented locally to reduce
the moisture content of the wood
from 90 percent to about eight
percent. Guided by lasers, com
puter-operated saws would re
move flaws and cut the boards in
to strips? the product required
by the Eastern Divisions current
furniture construction crews.
Local employees use those strips
to produce furniture for shipment
to Lincolnton for final assembly.
The expansion site is just south
of the existing 125,000-square-foot
North Main Street operation. The
existing facility is located on a 40
to 45-acre tract.
According to Larry McKinney,
Eastern Division plant engineer,
the 15-acre site that has been pur
chased has been cleared and
grading will begin shortly. The
tract had been the property of
Willard Formyduval, who had
purchased the old Warrenton
Railroad. One of the acres, site of
an old Scout cabin and tennis
courts, had been owned by the
Town of Warrenton.
Occupancy in the new addition
is expected in mid-June, McKin
ney said.
Cochrane Furniture about one
year ago opened a new up
holstery division in Lincolnton,
bringing the employment roster
there to about 700, McKinney
added.
Autos Ram Head-On
3 Warren Residents
Killed In Car Wreck
Three Warren County residents
lost their lives last weekend
in a two-vehicle collision? the
first traffic fatality for Vance
County of the new year? and will
be buried today (Wednesday),
following a joint funeral in an
area church.
Thomas Earl Richardson, 29,
Cornelius Richardson, 13, and
James Anthony Kearney, all of
Rt. 2, Warrenton, were killed last
Friday night, following a head-on
Mobile Home Burns
Tuesday Near Wise
The trailer of a Warren Coun
ty couple was destroyed early
Tuesday morning, but they were
able to save a small amount of
their belongings.
According to Bruce Perkinson,
chief of the Hawtree Volunteer
Fire Department, the residence
of Mr. and Mrs. David George,
Rt. 1, Warrenton, on SR 1304, was
completely destroyed by fire
around 2 o'clock Tuesday
morning.
A smoke alarm in the house
woke the Georges up, allowing
them enough time to salvage two
baskets of clothing.
The fire, believed to have been
ignited from an electrical
malfunctioning, started in the
kitchen area of the trai'er.
Damage to the 1986 model
single-wide mobile home was
estimated at $12,000. The damage
to the contents was estimated at
$5,000.
Firemen were on the scene for
approximately two and a half
hours.
All Goes Well At Hospital
For Donor And Recipient
By THURLETTA M. BROWN
News Editor
Life is looking a whole lot
brighter now that Duke Universi
ty Medical Center physicians
have successfully transplanted a
healthy kidney into the small
body of six-year-old Jennifer
Lynn Henry.
"We're very thankful to God,
the doctors and all of our friends
for everything," Mrs. Karen
Henry, Jennifer's mother, said
Monday in a telephone interview.
According to Mrs. Henry, Jen
nifer was taken out of the inten
sive care unit two days after the
surgery which was performed
last Wednesday. "The kidney is
working beautifully!" she said.
Prior to the surgery, Jennifer,
a victim of renal displasla since
birth, had only one partially
working kidney . ine atxuiiu iud
ney had been dormant.
Duke physicians performed the
four-hour operation last Wednes
day and transplanted Mrs. Hen
ry's right kidney into Jennifer's
body. To remove Mrs. Henry's
kidney without bruising it, she
said, Duke surgeons removed the
bottom portion of her eleventh
rib.
"Each day Jennifer's eating a
bit better," Mrs. Henry said,
noting that her kidney function
and lab tests were all normal.
According to Mrs. Henry, Jen
nifer's intravenous devices were
removed on Sunday and she has
been walking around.
On Monday, Mrs. Henry was
hopeful that she would be re
leased today (Wednesday). Jen
nifer's release date will be deter
mined soon.
collision on the Vicksboro Road
(SR 1533), about one mile on the
other side of the Warren County
border.
According to the report filed by
N.C. Highway Patrol Trooper
D. G. Hinson, the 1980 Oldsmobile
being driven at an excessive rate
of speed by Thomas Earl Rich
ardson had been travelling east
on SR 1533 before crossing the
center line and colliding head-on
with a 1987 Toyota being driven
by Charles Albert Lawrence, 23,
of Henderson. Lawrence was
treated for lacerations on his
face, arms and legs at Maria
Parham Hospital before being
released. Damages to his vehicle
have been estimated at $5,000 and
Lawrence has been charged with
driving while impaired and hav
ing a revoked driver's license.
Following impact, the Richard
son Oldsmobile reportedly trav
eled 56 feet into the air and
landed on its top, before skidding
an additional 26 feet, righting
itself and coming to rest in a
wooded area. All occupants of the
Oldsmobile were thrown from the
vehicle, the trooper's report
showed. Damages to the Rich
ardson vehicle have been esti
mated at $3,000.
Assisting Trooper Hinson was
Sgt. A. C. Joyner. Members of the
Vance County Sheriff's Depart
ment, the Cokesbury Volunteer
Fire Department and the Vance
County Rescue Squad were also
present at the accident s'.-ene.
Town Buys Cruiser
A 1964 Ford LTD has been pur
chased by the Town of Norlina
and is expected to be in service
early next week, Norlina Police
Chief Charles Galantis said this
week.
The vehicle has been pur
chased from the Department of
Administration in Raleigh as
a replacement for the police
cruiser that was wrecked in the
high-speed chase that occurred
along US 1 at the end of last year.
According to Chief Galantis,
the police equipment from the
wrecked 1963 vehicle will be
installed into the 1964 Ford.
Two On Dean's List
Two Warren County residents
have been named to the dean's
list for the fall '66 semester at
Meredith College, according to
Dr. Allen Burris, vice president
and dean of the college.
Miss Jennifer Paige Burton
and Miss Erika Lynn Roddy have
achieved dean's list status. Miss
Burton is the daughter of Mr. and
Mrs. Thomas E. Burton of Rt. 1,
Norlina. Miss Roddy is the
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Rich
ard W. Roddy of Sunny Acres in