VOLUME XXIII NO. 47
BIGGEST CRIMINAL DOCKET
SCHEDULED FOR SUPERIOR
COURT IN DARE MONDAY
Thirty Seven Cases, Including Many Felony
Charges Will Take Up Whole Term; Another
Term to Be Held Next Month To Take Up Civil
Calendar; Judge Henry L. Stevens of Warsaw
to Preside.
Some 37 criminal cases are on
the calendar to be tried at the
term of Superior Court which be
gins in Manteo Monday, with
Judge Henry L. Stevens of War
saw presiding. The cases include
numerous felony charges; robbery,
sault, etc., and one of bastardy on
the books for several years.
The large docket is expected to
consume all the time of next
week’s court term, but another
term is to be held in June, and
for this term the Jury has not yet
been drawn. A reason for the pil
ing up of the cases is that never
enough qualified jurors are pres
ent when court opens. For many
years, there has been no purging
of the jury lists, and the names
drawn include a large percentage
of people not qualified for duty,
and must of necessity be excused
after they come to court, with the
taxpayers losing. Considerable
time is thereby lost while other
jurors are being located. Not much
progress is expected at next week’s
term, if a lot of time has to be
lost while the sheriff rounds up
jurors, and it looks like the court
room, and the streets will be swept
clean of every person hanging
around.
The neglect of the Commission
ers in providing a full list of quali
fied jurors, has beeh costly to the
taxpayers, of course, delays run
ning up into special terms of court
costing several thousand dollars
each. It is a practice highly favor
ed by people who are seeking
justice in reverse, for they can
sometimes be sure of getting a
mistrial or other delay, or maybe
a “not quilty” verdict by merely
posting a friend or two on the
front row, in plain sight and ready
for call. ,
NEWCOMB MIDGETT
SAYS WAS MISLED
ON TAX APPRAISAL
Kinnelceet Commissioner Says He
Thought Revaluation Would
Be Done by Dare Men
Commissioner Newcomb Midgett
of Waves, said this week there had
been some misunderstanding of his
position in regard to the action
of the County Commissioners in
employing the new New Jersey
men, who call themselves Apprai
sal Associates, to value the prop
erty in Dare County.
Commissioner Midgett says if
he had known what the outcome
was going to be, he would have
fought to the bitter end against
the paying of these men $22,000,
for the job which has caused so
much trouble and promises much
additional expense for the county.
He insists that the whole propo
sition had been arranged and prac
tically gone through with before
it came to his attention, and that
he did not have sufficient time in
which to upset the action taken
after it had gone so far.
He also says he was given to
understand that the actual work
would be done by Dare County
men who know the value of Dare
County property, and that the
work had been going on for sev
eral months in the upper part of
the county, before the strangers
got down into his area, and even
then, they did not make themselves
known, nor did he know who they
were until he heard it from other
people.
He wants all his friends to
know that he is not in favor of
the job, he considers the amount
spent for what the county got in
return is unfair and unjust to the
See MIDGETT, Page Twelve
PARKERSON’S, A FAVORITE
BEACH HOTEL IS OPENING
Among the most famed beach
hotels in Dares County is Parker
sons, which opens this week end.
It is still operated by Mrs. Eliza
beth -Q. Parkerson, and the old
time welcome is there. Parkerson’s
gained quick fame and popularity
when it was first opened nearly
25 years ago, and soon became
headquarters for Oregon Inlet
game fishermen when the industry
began booming. Fishermen always
liked its friendly informality, its
excellent food, and its comfort The
late L. S. Parkerson’s great per
sonality went far in building up
Nags Head’s reputation for hos
pitality, and the same old spirit
prevails today at Parkerson*s. <
THE COASTLAND TIMES
PUBLISHED WEEKLY IN THE INTEREST OF THE WALTER RALEIGH COASTLAND OF NORTH CAROLINA
FLOWER SHOW IN
MANTEO DISPLAYS
WEALTH OF BEAUTY
Flowers and Works of Art Com
bine To Show The Beauty of
Nature and Its Depiction
By Local Artists
“Springtime on Parade” has
come and gone in a riot of color
and beauty and the admiration of
all who came to the Community
Building on Saturday and Sunday.
The gay yellow and green rib
bon was cut by David Stick and
the show was on. No prizes had
been awarded, but when merited
blue, red and yejjuw stickers were
pasted on the name cards. Many
cards, both with and without stick
ers, carried helpful suggestions
from the judges, Mrs. W. C.
Griffin and Mrs. R. L. Munn.
The winners of the blue stickers
were, Class 1: Mrs. A. Q. Bell,
Mrs. Aycock Brown, Mrs. M. R.
Fraiser; Class 2, Miss Dorothy
Drinkwater and Billy Tarkington;
Class 3, Mrs. X C. Bardin; Class
4, Mrs. Dan Cannady; Class 5,
Mrs. M. R. Fraiser; Class 7, Mrs.
Lucetta Willis, Mrs. John Peter
son, Mrs. Leo Midgett; Class 9,
Mrs. Balfour Baum and Mrs. G. G.
Bonner; Class 10, Miss Jeannetta
Overcash, Mrs. Robert Turner,
Mrs. Leo Midgett.
The winners of the red stickers
were, (Mass 1, Mrs. Lyna Harbour,
Mrs. A. Q. Bell; Class 2, Mrs. R.
D. Sawyer, Mrs. Lyna Harbour;
Class 3, Mrs. Royden Tillett and
Mrs. J. W. Davis; Class 4, Mrs.
Lyna Harbour; Class 5, Mrs. Pete
Daniels and Mrs. Royden Tillett;
Class 6, Miss Dorothy Drinkater;
Class 9, Mrs. J. C. Barden.
Winners of the yellow stickers
were, Class 2, Mrs. G. G. Bonner;
Class 9, Billy Tarkington; Class
10, Mrs. Fred Basnight, Mrs. J. C.
Bardin, Mrs. Milah Meekins, Betty
Kellogg
Honorable Mention, Class 3, Mrs.
Lois Bridges; Clads 4, Mrs. Edna
Bell, Mrs. Lyna Harbour, Mrs.
Elizabeth Midgett; Class 7, Mrs.
Lois Bridges, Mrs. Edna Bell;
Class 8, Fred Ley.
The “Best in the Show” was
See SHOW, Page Twelve
UNCLE DOCK FROM DUCK WRITES:
This is The Time To Ask for Things From
The County Officers and Ye Shall Receive
I
Dear Mr. Editor:
I You know that dream I wrote
I you about last week has been the
best thing that ever happened to
me. I ain’t had another one, but
Imy old woman now is afraid of
I me for the first time in her life.
' She used to claim she didn’t be
lieve in dreams, but so much of
that dream already come true be
fore the paper got out that she is
scared I am in cahoots with the
spirits.
And another thing, just about
every one of the Commissioners
come way up here to my house in
a body, and asked me what they
could do for me, and I told them
I though they ought to cut off
that extra ten dollars they had
put on my taxes, and they was
nice as could be and said they
would do better than that, cause
it was just an accidental mistake,
and they would cut off S2O, so now
I am better off than last year.
And they all shook hands and left
nice as pie after telling me to be
sure to go and vote Saturday,
May 31. ,
You bet I’m going to vote, but
I still ain’t going to vote for them.
I seen ’em coming, for I ain’t as
big a fool as they think I am. I
know they are trying now to save
their self by cutting taxes to get
votes, and some other guy is got
to make it up. And I’d be afraid
to trust them again next year
when they could get away with it,
and a feller wouldn't have a
chance.
Mr. Editor we really appreciate
all the low down'you have been
giving us about our county affairs.
It’s going to.help a lot of people
get their taxes cut—that is, all
who are smart. You can just go to
them commissioners right now and
until May 31, and get anything
you want At least you’ll get it
promised you.
| Now I have been talking to a
lot of other people and some of
them have got their taxes cut
KITTY HAWK GIRLS WIN HONORS IN MANTEO SCHOOL
TU
MISS CAROL PERRY, left, and MISS SANDRA KELLER, right, who
have won top honors in the 1958 graduating class of Manteo High
School. Miss Keller, who is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Earl Keller
of Kitty Hawk, is valedictorian, and has for the last two years been
president of her class. Miss Perry, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Edgai
Perry of Kitty Hawk, is the salutatorian.
OCEAN HIGHWAY
MEETING THIS
WEEK IN DARE
Two Day Session at Carolinian,
Begins Friday, May 23
NAGS HEAD, N. C.—With rep
resentatives of several state high
way departments on the program,
and with members from seven
states attending, the 24th Annual
Meeting of the Ocean Hiway As
sociation will be held here May 23
and 24. Headquarters will be The
Carolinian Hotel. Sessions start at
3:30 p.m. on Friday. At 6:00 p.m.,
an informal cocktail party for
members and guests is scheduled.
Business sessions will be held Sat
urday 10 to 12:30 a.m. and 3:00 to
5:00 p.m., with election of officers
following.
Ladies and special guests will
tour the Wright Memorial, Fort
Raleigh, the Outer Banks, and out
standing points of interest in the
Hatteras National Seashore Park.
On Saturday are a cocktail party
at 6:00 p.m., annual banquet and
installation of officers. On the
banquet program in addition to
other prominent speakers is Wade
Marr of Elizabeth City, noted
humorist and after dinner speaker.
Dancing and special entertainment
will follow the banquet, to conclude
the official program.
President of the association is
H. Lloyd Macklen of Myrtle Beach,
Ernest Ward of Edenton, first
vice-president.
down too, especially folks with a
big voting family. And I don’t
• think they’ve fooled a single per
son, for all I talk to say, “Clean
: out the courthouse before they
pick us any cleaner."
. Mr. Editor, you read a lot and
' you seem to keep up with the go
ings on in the courthouse, and I
wish you would find out the reason
why them Commissioners and some
others, ain’t willing to have the
books audited, so the people
would know what they spent the
money for. If the people just knew
what the money went for, they
could let the officials know wheth
er they approve it or not. I know
the Commissioners don’t pay any
attention to what the people want,
like when they went ahead against
the vote of the people and spent
close to SIOO,OOO to the jail. Most
all the people I hear talk say when
the new crowd goes in, they ought
to have an audit for their own
protection. I tell you, it would be
highly approved by the people.
, Some of the folks think that these
commissioners won’t pay any at
, tention to the election when they
get beat; will just keep right on !
i in office and won’t get out.
I’ll tell you another thing. Lots
i of folks believe some of the hired
; help ought to be kicked out. I
; think when the new men go in,
I they ought to consult with the
people, and find out what the peo
, pie need, but I don’t think a lot
. of firing should be done without
any reason. I think help should be
, hired on the basis of experience
l and ability, and not to- give a job
, to somebody’s relations. I believe
i in good help, and paid enough to
[ live on, and not have the court
, house in competition with the wel
[ fare folks. ,
Mr. Editor, I ain’t had' another
; dream since. I have had to work
so hard lately to make a living,
i for times keep getting tighter and
: fishing worsen and I am so tired
See DOCK, Age Twelve
MANTEO, N. C., FRIDAY, MAY 23, 1958
COMMISSIONERS IN
DARE COUNTY FACE
ACTION IN COURTS
County Commissioners Threatened
With Legal Steps to Change
Harmful Tactics
That the Dare County Commis
-1 sioners will early be defendants
1 in a court action to restrict them
1 in going ahead with the recent re
’ valuation of property which they
’ have tried to put over on the prop-
• erty owners of Dare County is in
: dieted by a report that has gotten
> into circulation this week.
The absurdity of the scheme
■ that the Board has been trying to
■ foist upon the people has given
1 rise to more than one legal opinion
i that some liability may exist, and
that somebody ought to be made
I to pay for the tremendous amount
of expense and trouble that has
• been forced upon many property
: owners in efforts to protect their
• rights.
' There are some people who be-
I lieve that in some instances there
! is cause for action for charging
i fraud in the ridiculous, unreason
i able and burdensome attempt that
I has been made by the Board, and
. even their last minute effort to
; make it appear they are going to
> adjust the whole thing on a new
basis is looked upon as a mere
; face-saving move designed by their
, advisers to save them some votes.
, Some people have expressed their
opinion that this is more like
death-bed repentance.
COULD THIS BE
AN ACCIDENT?
The whole five Dare County
Commissioners and the Clerk to
the Board do not share in the
heavy tax increase that the
Board is trying to put over on a
large number of the people of
Dare County, as will be seen by
comparison of the figures this
year with those of 1957.
Property of some commission
ers has been slightly reduced,
while others remain valued at a
figure that will not cost them
anything additional under the 70
cent tax rate they have indicated
will be applied.
Chairman Claude Duvall’s
store has been increased from
S2OO to S4OO. an frankly that’s
all its worth, but when the $63,000
road gets built to it, this value
won’t be too high.
Melvin Daniels’ property at
Wanchese was increased from
$3,775 in 1957 to $4,030 this
year. The new rate of .70 against
the old rate of $1.05 shows he
w'ill save $11.42.
Lawrence Swain’s home was
reduced from $4 000 to $3,460 so
his tax will be less, even though
the lot is valued $562 more.
Hallett Perry’s home at Kitty
Hawk got the sharpest increase,
being jumped from $3,400 to $5,-
100 which some say is out of
line, even with its neighbors.
However, totaling up real estate
of $5,488 this year against $4,-
885 last year, and annlv the
rates, a saving of $12.88 is dis
covered.
E. P. White of Buxton sustain
ed some sharp gains on valuable
< real estate, of which he has a
great deal, but of his two homes,
one was. lowered from $1,875 to
$1,708 and the other was raised
IB cents, or from $1,625 to sl,-
638. Apply the rate* and see for
yourself his gain.
Commissioner Newcomb Mid
gett of Wave* will save only
$3.04 under the new dispensa
t’«n. hut the rest of the Board
I See ACCIDENT, Page Twelve
TAXPAYERS MEETING
MONDAY NIGHT AT
KILL DEVIL HILLS
Disturbed Citizens Will Meet To
Devise Plans For Protection
Against Official Raids
A meeting is scheduled Monday
night of next week, May 26, in the
Kill Devil Hills town hall by many
interested citizens and taxpayers
of Dare County, and which is ex
pected to be attended by attorneys
for the purpose of discussing any
plan to bring order out of the
chaotic conditions developed by the
recent costly appraisal of proper
ty in Dare County.
The public is invited to attend,
in that the meeting is open to all
property owners of the county, but
due to the limited accommodations
of the town hall it is requested
that those who are mere curiosity
seekers, and are not property own
ers, yield space to those who are
most directly concerned with the
business in hand.
In an advertisement in this pa
per this week, mention of the
meeting is made, and the commit
tee in charge are requesting all
persons who are interested in
working for the objects of the
committee, send notice at once if
they are willing to be of assist
ance, and to state particularly if
they can attend the meeting.
Further details may be obtained
by addressing the Taxpayers Pro
tective Committee, Postoffice Box
428, Kill Devil Hills, N. C.,
HOMECOMING FOR
BAPTISTS MAY 25
MANTEO CHURCH
Former Pastors To Attend Special
Services, Rev. Cholerton
Announces
A day worth while is planned
for the homecoming of the Man
teo Baptist Church on May 25th,
according to Rev. W. E. Cholerton,
the pastoc All members and
friends of the church will gather
in force for the occasion. The 11
o’clock service will be the occa
sion, not only of the annual home
coming of the church, but also of
the dedication of the church and
educational buildings, now entirely
paid for, and of the newly-pur
chased church property. Present!
for the big celebration will be !
three former pastors, Rev. Daniel
A. Tedder, Rev. H. B. Hines and
Rev. Henry V Napier, all of whom!
will have prominent parts in the!
service; and also a number of ,
friends from distant places. Both
of the choirs of the church will
assist in the music. The special
homecoming offering will be used
towards payment for the new
property.
The sen-ice, somewhat longer
.than usual, will be followed by a
basket lunch on the church
grounds, a time of leisurely fel
lowship and renewal of old ac
quaintances. There will be no eve
ning meetings. Everybody will be
most cordially welcome. The public
is invited to bring a basket lunch
along to share around the table.
Tea will be provided.
UNCLE SAM FROM SYCAMORE WRITES:
DEAR MISTER EDITOR:
It says here that ever onct in
a while the city of New York has
to git money from the state of
New York to operate on. That’s
mighty consoling news. If a big
city can’t make both ends meet,
there ain’t no point in a feller
like me even trying to git ’em
together.
I reckon them New Yorkers is
using the same philosiphy I use,
just taking things easy and not
letting my “arrears” interfere
with my sleep, although I shore
hope this idea don’t git popular
over in them foreign countries
where we got so much “aid”
staked out.
Come to think about it, New
York cityy ain’t in a class by
herself. The United States
spends several billions more ever
year than she takes in, which
puts me and Uncle Sam in the
same class when it comes to bal
ancing the budget. Them Repub
licans in Washington quote Abe
Lincoln and holler that they is
going to balance the budget, and
the Democrats quote Thomas
Jefferson and holler they’ve
about got 4he budget balanced.
Both of ’em talk a good budget
but neither of ’em has balanced
the dem thing since I was knee
high to a pine stump.
I ain’t balanced my budget in
20 years, ain’t lived within my
means onct in 10 year, and it’t a
great satisfaction to know that
New York, Washington and me
all handle this situation about
HOW BIG A HOLE IN COUNTY
GENERAL FUND IS DARE CO.
BOARD TRYING TO FILL UP
Bold Attempt to Shift Still Larger Tax Burden to
Property Owners in Coastal Area Raises Seri
ous Questions of Citizens In Face of Ten Year
Refusal of Commissioners to Repect Law De
manding Prompt Audit of Books.
TO SPEAK FRIDAY NIGHT
AT WANCHESE YDC RALLY
IpT’- nnr 1
sdHL JOkil w ßft
HON. WALTER W. COHOON,
District solicitor, ever a popular
and forceful speaker will make an
address at the Wanchese school
house, Friday night of this week,
May 23 at 8 p.m., according to
Jack Tillett who will present the
speaker. Mr. Tillett is president of
the Young Democratic Club which
sponsors the meeting. All candi
dates for office in Dare County
are urged to attend this meeting.
LENDERS SHUTTING
. DOWN ON LOANS TO
LOCAL BORROWERS
May Be Harder to Get Money on
Property That May Not
Be Salable
Latest ill effects of the recent
' i tax re-valuation job in Dare Coun
:ty indicate that people who try
Ito borrow money from banks, or
[other lending agencies or individ-
I uals may experience more difficul
[ty than usual.
People with money to lend are
I inclined to look with disfavor on |
I the present situation and some of
them have expressed the view that
property which is tspeed unduly
■ high may not be so good a loan
I risk, and strings will be Srawn a
’ I little tighter, and size of loans de-
|creased.
One reason is readily seen, for
■ , borrowers usually make sure that
i the security accepted for a loan
■j be property that has a value for
■ | ready sale should it be necessary
■j to collect by foreclosure. Collec
qtion by foreclosure will not be too
: easy when the property is over
i, loaded with unreasonable taxes,
'and bidders will not be numerous
lin pursuit of additional burdens.
the same way.
Os course, they is going to be
some bankers write in and say
that the paper ought not to print
such things, as it might be a bad
influence. You just tell ’em, Mis
ter Editor, that the opinions ex
pressed here don’t necessarily
represent those of the paper. I
think that’s the way them big
papers handle it when they git in
a hole. As a matter of fact, the
opinions expressed here don’t
even represent those of my old
lady. Just New York, the United
States, and me is lined up to
gether in this thing.
I see by the papers this morn
ing where the boys at a Alabama
high school is wearing their
shirttails hanging out in protest
over the girls wearing them sack
dresses. Considering the nature
and extent of the crime, I think
them boys is making a vary mild
protest. But Ed says them sack
dresses is a improvement in
modesty. He says it ain’t noth-
See UNCLE SAM, Page Twelve
BIG FINES GO ON CREDIT
BASIS IN DARE COURT
In Dare Recorders Court this
week, two persons charged with a
second offense of driving drunk
were fined S2OO each, and credit
as extended in one of them, J. M.
Payne, Jr. of Wanchese, and the
other, Eddie Barnes of Virginia
Beach went to jail. T. A. Harrell
and C. G. Wood of Norfolk were
fined $25 each for driving drunk.
Single Copy 70
How big a hole in the county
general fund exists today? Two
years ago, when the last audit was
made, and which by the way, was
not published as law requires,
showed the county running red in
the general fund by $54,000.
People are demanding an audit,
and a complete audit at that. A
year or two ago they went before
the grand jury demanding an aud
it. They were tired of continuous
raises in taxes, waste of money,
and small return for what was
spent. The Grand Jury, which
comes from the venire selected by
the County Commissioners did ask
a few questions: they were told
audits were being made promptly.
They took the word of the officials,
and reported accordingly.
But the audits, were not made
promptly, and the last audit pur
ports only to show the county’s
condition as of two years ago. And
at that time it showed the General
county funds in the hole $54,000.
The people of Dare County want
to know what caused that hole.
They want to know what the mon
ey went for, if it was ever there
in the first place. People are not
accusing anyone' of stealing when
they want to know where their
money goes. They merely want to
know what it was spent for, and
if the expenditure is worth while.
But there are some officials who
think they own the offices they
hold. They take the attitude that
a demand for an accounting is a
personal insult. Some of them
have had their way so long that
they resent being checked up in
their methods.
On March 28th, we published an
open letter challenging the county
Board to present a statement from
an auditor showing that the defi
cit in the General fund was not
then nearer the sum of SIOO,OOO
than $50,000. We challenged them
to tell the people why they have
for over eight years, disregarded
the law which requires them to
make public regular audits of the
county funds. We do not see why
an honest man, unless he is an ig
norant and incompetent man, will
refuse;to regard the law in this
respect.
We also challenged the Board
to tell the people why they con
tinue to illegally spend public
money for projects not sanctioned
by law. They gave no reply. We
have also tried a long time to get
them -to tell the public why they
spent upwards of SIOO,OOO of the
people’s money on a jail project
which the citizens had already
voted down two to one. It was not
until last week, that any infor
mation in this respect came out of
their office. They finally admit
they spent $82,806. They did not,
of course, report the waste of
$3,000 spent in holding an elec
tion, which they disregarded com
pletely. They did not list anything
as having been spent for legal
fees, nor for other incidentals
which may have been funnelled
through other governmental de
partments.
It has been said they didn’t
think anyone in Dare County was
competent to value the property
in the county. So they went to
New Jersey to get it done, at a
cost of $22,000. We challenged
them to give the reasons for those
See BIG HOLE, Page Twelve
DARE BOYS RECEIVE
DEGREES FROM ECC
Wade Nixon Committionod Second
Lieutenant in U. S. Air Force
Mr. and Mrs. Ray Jones of Man
teo and Mrs. Jones’ parents, Mr.
and Mrs. Melvin Daniels of Wan
chese, spent last Sunday in Green
ville attending the commencement
exercises. Ray Jones, Jr., who
completed his B. S. course last
August, received his diploma. He
and his wife and son are living in
Sanford, where he teaches in the
Junior High School.
Also attending from Manteo
were Mr. and Mrs. Rosser Nixon,
whose son, Howard Wade Nixon,
received his B. S. degree and re
ceived his commission as second
lieutenant in the U. S. Air Force.
Lt. Nixon was one of 14 members
of the graduating class to receive
such a commission.
Another Dare County boy re
ceiving his B. S. degree
non Woodward l Hooper of Stumnv
Point. , stumpy