Newspapers / The Pamlico News (Bayboro, … / Sept. 18, 1985, edition 1 / Page 1
Part of The Pamlico News (Bayboro, N.C.) / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
Gourds, pumpkins and dried corn are becoming familiar sights once again along the roads of Pamlico County as fall approaches. At Elizabeth Potter’s home in Reelsboro many types, not to mention Rescue Squad Decides No More Non-Emergency Transports The board of directors and of ficers of the Pamlico County Rescue Squad made a decision on September 5: they will no longer provide transport to doctors’ of fices for routine appointments. The new policy was necessary, said squad captain Randy Beeman, because of a lack of manpower during daytime hours and will go into effect Oc tober l. The board of directors, Beeman said, questioned why the rescue squad had been providing services that were not emergency in nature. Coincidentally with the rescue squad’s decision, Beeman com mented, two other organizations will be providing medical transportation for non emergencies- Christian Aid Ser vices, located in Alliance, and a new Red Cross program. Cross Wheeis. Regarding the new policy, Beeman said, “We’re one of the last (squads in the area) that’s finally...having to throw in the towel, so to speak.” In the past, the rescue squad has also transported patients from the hospital home to the county. This, too, will cease as a result of the board’s decision, said Beeman, adding that he would like the op tion of reviewing these on a case by-case basis. The Cross Wheels program, ac cording to Nancy Morton of the Craven-Pamlico Chapter of the American Red Cross, will provide necessity transportation for the frail, indigent or elderly. Cross Wheels is funded by a grant from the Public Welfare Foundation, a private foundation nr^ashington, DC. Morton said she is trying to locate volunteers who would be willing to use their personal cars to transport clients to such places as the grocery store or pharmacy or to doctor’s appointments. Volunteers would receive mileage payments of 20 and one-half cents per mile. The first person to use the pro gram, Morton said, was a Pamlico County resident, Woodrow Wilson, 71, of Merritt. Most referrals come from social services or the health department, she said, but anyone who thinks he or someone he knows could use this service can call the Red Cross office in New Bern at 637-2640. People interested in volunteering are also encouraged to call. The Pamlico News Vol. 18, No. 38 25* per copy USPS 782-460 Wednesday, September 18,1985 Arnolds Sentenced To 35 Years, $200,000 Fine Friday the thirteen th'last week lived up to its reputation and prov ed to be an unluqky day for two brothers convicted in August of drug smuggling. Following the sentencing hear ing, Judge Thomas Watt sentenc ed Buddy Arnold of New Bern and Billy Arnold of Gales Creek to 35 years in prison and a $200,000 fine each. After sentencing, the Ar nolds’ attorney motioned for ap propriate relief, in this case, a new trial, alleging errors in the two-week trial which began July 23 in Craven County Superior Court. Watt did not rule on the mo tion, continuing it until November due to the unavailability of a witness deemed essential by the defense. District attorney David McFa dyen said that sixty to seventy in dividuals were arrested In the 1981 “Misty Blue” and 1982 “Mer maid” cases. The cases, known as “Operation Pamlico,’’ were part of the Investigations of the Presidential Drug Task Force, McFadyen said. All the defen dants arrested were offered the .opportunity to provide assistance as part of a plea bargaining ar rangement. Buddy and Billy Ar nold, he said, were the only ones who did not take advantage of the offer. Regarding the Arnolds, McFa dyen commented that “the evidence is strong as to the guilt of these defendants.’’ He added that he provided a complete file of the state’s in vestigation, “about a foot-thick file,” to the defendants’ attorneys. This was the first time he had. done this, McFadyen commented, and “1 did so becaugfrl-t!fl;aght1tHc evidence was so overwhelidihg.tr Up to and even during the trial, the defendants were offend the opportunity to enter a plef “and they refused to do so,” McFadyen said. In addition, McFadyen said that it appeared that others in the Arnolds’ family may possibly have been involved and he agreed not to prosecute them if the Arnold brothers cooperated. “It’s important for the public to know...that these defendants were offered every opportunity. The state bent over backwards to make sure they were treated the same as the other defendants.” Thomas Loflin of Durham, at torney for the defense, com mented that Earl Whitted, one of the defense attorneys during the trial, had filed a motion attacking the constitutionality of the traf ficking law since it calls for the defendant, if convicted, to receive a minimum sentence unless substantial assistance is rendered. He added that, in addi tion to the motion already filed by Marc Chesnutt, another of the trial attorneys, he was also filing a motion that the law be declared unconstitutional under the Four teenth Amendment. The evidence presented showed only that the Arnolds would have been “muscled in” as laborers and that they didn’t purchase the marijuana or finance the opera tion, he commented. The brothers had worked hard all their lives, continued Loflin, and then “someone shows up with a great big satchel of money” that would enable them to “catch up on debts and get their families ahead." It was understandable that this would be a great tempta tion, he commented. “People like Buddy and Billy Arnold do not have the opportuni ty to provide substantial assistance...therefore the person who is more capable has an out under the statute,” he said. In ad dition, the law permits the district attorney, who acts in the role of prosecutor, to decide “what is and what isn’t substantial assistance.” The drug trafficking law also “offends” the Eighth Amendment, he said, in that the sentence is disproportionate to the offense. Loflin said he felt the law also violated the separation of powers, specifically executive and judicial, required by the state con stitution. Judge Watt said, “I feel somewhat compelled to observe that most of the issues have already been answered by the ap pellate division.” Regarding the issue of assistance, Watt said he had the authority to reduce or sus pend the sentence or the fine or both if he found there had been substantial coopertion. As for those more culpable be ing able to provide greater assistance, “obviously, this is true...but it’s not the guantity of the assistance that is important but the quality of assistance,” he stated. Watt added that the drug traf ficking statute had resulted in the bringing to trial major drug smug gling cases and had had the effect of, deterring “the large scale distribution of those substances which influence our society.” He continued, “Those who prey Deadline For Filing For Municipal Elections Nearing As of Monday, only one town had a full slate of candidates for the November elections and the filing period for municipal offices closes at noon on Friday, September 20. Arapahoe is ahead of the other towns and so far is also the only one where there will be a con tested race for commissioner. In cumbent Larry Ford has filed for the mayor’s seat and incumbent commissioners Woodrow Boyd, Harvey Hardison, George Harper and Charles Brinson have in dicated that they plan to run again. Vernon J. Daniels has also filed for commissioner. In Minnesoti Beach, incumbent mayor Ottis Peele has filed as have incumbents John Anthes and Bill Luck. Bob Cowden, Stonewall’s pre sent mayor, is again seeking his office and im cum bent commis sioners Albert Earl Edwards and Leroy Lupton want to com tinue in their positions. Ferrell McKinney, filing for commissioner, is Bayboro’s only candidate to date. In Aurora, Grace Bonner has fil ed for the mayor's office again but as of Mohday there were no can didates for the two commis sioners’ seats up for grabs this 7" ; "I year. In Alliance, where the highest vote-getter becomes mayor, in cumbents Edward Spencer and Frank Willis, who is presently ser ving as mayor, have filed, along with Lee Toler. There had been no filings in Vandemere as of Monday and Mesic’s elections chairman could not be reached. Since last week’s report, there had been no changes in Oriental’s present slate where Grace Evans had filed for mayor and incumbents Brantley Norman and Dennis Barkley for commis sioner. upcpr not soceity, but those people who have developed a dependancy on controlled substances” do so from a “profit motive”. He agreed that people are drawn in by the money but that their participation is a “calculated risk” that most peo ple aren’t willing to take. He then denied Loflin’s motion. Loflin consequently asked that a sentence no greater than the man datory be imposed since the evidence showed that the brothers (See ARNOLDS, Page 8, Pictured are Rosa Arnold (far left) and other relatives as they leave the Craven Coun ty Courthouse following Fri day’s sentencing of Buddy and Billy Arnold on drug smuggl ing charges. Chocowinity Advisory Council Airs Complaints Before School Board The Chocowinity School Ad visory Council was present Tues day night at the Beaufort County Board of Education’s meeting to discuss, according to the agenda, the policies relating to the ad visory council. Much of their discussion, however, centered around James Henderson, the principal of the high school. School board chairman Jimmy Raper asked advisory council Martin Mayo if he planned to act as spokesperson for the group. Mayo replied that all the advisory council members intended to speak. Raper explained that board policies p rmitted groups to delegate one person to speak for them for a maximum of five minutes. Board member Calvin Pittman made a motion that all the ad visory council members be heard but it died for lack of a second. The group then excused themselves to discuss the matter. Later in the meeting, Mayo told the board that, since the advisory council did not come prepared to have only one person speak, they would prefer to reschedule. Pittman asked if each advisory council member submitted a re quest if each would be able to be heard. Raper reiterated that the policy stated one person per group. Pittman pointed out that the form on which a group requests to be heard does not specify any cer tain number of people to which Raper replied that the form stated “person” pot “persons”. A motion was made by Pittman that all the advisory council members be heard at the October meeting if each submitted a re quest. Board member Olin Midgette agreed that each would then have an opportunity to speak. “Do you go along with that, Mr. (Garry) Jordan?” asked Pittman. Jordan qodded. Pittman then again made a mo tion that each be heard Tuesday night. Midgette commented that perhaps the advisory council members should be heard. Allen said he would second the motion provided each speaker was limited to five minutes; the motion passed. Mayo said that in April when he was appointed to the advisory council Midgette had asked if the council could work with the school’s administration. “We assured you we could,” he said. Since that time, he continued, the members had talked with those on other advisory councils, and with Midyette, a former advisory coun cil member, to find out “how they solved problems.” It was important, Mayo said he was told, to get to know the facul ty, visit the schools and get involv ed in school activities and to thoroughly review the financial statements. But the Chocowinity advisory council has not been allowed by Henderson to ask ques tions regarding the school or its finances, Mayo said. “As long as we do not harass or intimidate Mr. Henderson, there’s no way he should refuse” to provide the in formation requested, Mayo com mented. Other councils receive such in formation routinely, he said, as well as information on such things as staff changes. Henderson, Mayo continued, told the council that that was not the concern of the advisory council but of ad ministration. • “Why isn’t the Chocowinity ad visory council afforded the same privileges as the other advisory councils?” he asked. Dennis Daughtery said he thought the advisory council members understood their duties and responsibilities but asked “what relationship should the ad visory council have with the board of education and what is the board’s view of the duties of the advisory council?” Midgette replied that when he on the advisory council, they reviewed the schools’ financial reports each meeting and also reviewed the needs of the schools. “We worked in an advisory capacity with the county board,” he said, and did not make policy but recommendations. Daughtery said that, according to the council’s written handbook, their purpose is to serve as an ex tension of the board of education by providing advice and counsel for the schools’ administrations. “No one has asked me for any ad vice whatsoever,” he stated. Midgette said that the advisory council’s adice might not be sought by a principal unless he felt he had a problem he could not han dle alone. Daughtery said that the council members feel “restrained” against visiting the school-that Henderson has told them that they could only see teachers from 3:05 to 3:30 in the afternoon. That time period is a problem since many of the council members work, he commented. “I’m not going to ask you anything ’cause I can see I won’t get anywhere,” said council member Terry Alligood. ' (See SCHOOLS, Page 8>
The Pamlico News (Bayboro, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Sept. 18, 1985, edition 1
1
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75