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Democracy, like religion, never was designed to make... profits less.
Zora Neale Hurston
EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA'S MINORITY VOICE - SINCE 1981
27858
IBRARY
LE NC
PERIODI CALS
JOYNER L
GREENVIL
MARCH 27 - APRIL 5, 1997
Public Hearing Set For Tuesday
Assuring Competitive Fairness and Fitness for Pitt County Memorial Hospital
Times change. Businesses
change. Technology changes. Even
something as basic to our lives as
farming has seen tremendous
change in just the last two de-
cades. The same is true for health ©
care.
Twenty-two years ago, Pitt
County built a 270-bed hospital at
the edge of Greenville. Today, 731-
bed Pitt County Memorial Hospi-
tal is the hub of a health system
poised at the edge of a dramati-
cally different health care land-
scape.
The players are different. The
rules have changed. Its a whole
new ball game, one that favors
flexibility and speed. Yet PCMH is
playing by rules that were devel-
oped in a different era, for a differ-
ent game.
That Ts why the leaders of your
medical center are now themselves
considering a change. The PCMH
Board of Trustees has proposed
that Pitt County transfer owner
ship of the hospital to a citizen-
controlled, not-for-prof it corpora-
tion, essentially the same entity
Excerpt From Harper's Weekly
HARPER TS MAGAZINE,
HARPER TS WEEKLY, and BAZAR
POSTAGE FREE.
HARPER TS MAGAZINE,
HARPER TS WEEKLY, or
HARPER TS BAZAR will be sent for
one year to any Subscriber in the
United States, POSTAGE PREPAID
by the Publishers, on receipt of Four
Bollars.
Harper Ts Weekly.
Saturday, April 26, 1879
The ILLUSTRATED SUPPLE-
MENT sent our gratuitously with
this Number of HARPER TS
WEEKLY. contains three pages of
engravings relating to
SHAKSPEARE and Stratford-on-
Avon, and a second installment of
oTHE DISTRACTED YOUNG
PREACHER. ?
An ILLUSTRATED SUPPLE-
MENT will be issued gratuitously
with the next Number of HARPER TS
WEEKLY.
ASTEP FORWARD IN REFORM
THE first examination for appoint-
ments in the New York Custom-
house under the regulations lately
adopted has been held, and in the
most satisfactory manner. The great
object of such an examination is to
secure appointment by proved merit,
and not by mere influence. The sys-
tem of appointment by influence
degrades practical politics into a
mercenary scramble for place, and
produces incalculable political de-
moralization. It is, therefore, the
worst possible system. Any method
which serves to break it up is prefer-
able. It would be better that all the
names of candidates urged by politi-
cians, and committees and associa-
tions were written on paper and
shaken up in a hat, and the place
given to the first name drawn by lot,
than that the old system should con-
tinue. The evil is largely in the
method of appointment, not somuch
in the efficiency of those appointed;
and the value of a competitive ex-
amination is that at the same time it
baffles influence and tests merit. Its
success depends of course upon good
faith. Any scheme of examination, if
it be applied dishonestly, merely
strengthens the T abuse to be cor-
rected. The main value of the recent
examination at the Custom-house
lay therefore inits honesty. It was a
perfectly honest proceding. There-
was no fearand no favor. The Board
of Examination had received no hint
of preference of any candidate from
the Collector or the Naval Officer.
The sole object was to ascertain by
proper tests the special fitness and
general intelligence and aptitude of
the applicants, and to select the first
three as those from whom the ap-
pointments should be made. For this
purpose various sets of papers were
prepared, of which no candidate had
any knowledge whatever. Twenty-
six applicants, first in order of appli-
cation, and as many as could be
accommodated, were invited tocom-
pete, and an exceedingly intelligent-
looking body of gentlemen presented
themselves. The various papers were
admirably prepared and propor-
tioned for the object. They were of
two kinds: one to test special knowl-
edge of rules of computation and
notation which would be immedi-
ately required in the office to which
appointments, were to be made, and
the other to show general knowl-
edge of the kind which every clerk in
the service should possess. In esti-
mating the relative excellence of the
papers, due weight was given totime,
handwriting, form, order, and the
indications of general quickness and
capacity. Thus it was not enough to
answer the specific questions cor-
rectly. Everything was taken into
account, and under the perfectly
honorable conduct of the Board the
candidates themselves determined
who ought to be appointed. This
that has operated PCMH since it
was chartered in 1953.
Such a change will mean a great
deal for the business side of PCMH,
allowing it to compete on a level
playing field with other health
care systems. In all other respects,
the change will be barely notice-
able. High quality, affordable pa-
tient care will continue to be avail-
able to the residents of Pitt County.
PCMH will remain accountable to
the public and the Pitt County
Board of Commissioners under a
legally binding transfer agree
- April 26, 1879
would seem to be as sensible a way of
selecting clerks for the civil service
as to appoint because of the solicita-
tion of Senator A or Representative
B, or upon the recommendation of a
ward association or a county com-
mittee, none of which authorities
have any knowledge or care what-
ever of the fitness of the men whom
they recommend, and who do not
hesitate to insist that the appoint-
ing power shall make places for their
candidates by turning out clerks who
may be most efficient, honest, and
experienced. Is there any reason to
suppose that less intelligent and
capable men will secure places un-
der a system of honest examination
than under one of interested recom-
mendation from politicians. Is there
any reason to doubt that a man who
earns his place by his proved merit
will have a higher self-respect and a
greater zeal for efficiency, upon
which promotion depends, than one
who knows that he is put in by per-
sonal favor and will be put out when
another personal favors requires? It
is often said that examination will
not show whether a man has the
necessary faculty and tact for filling
a place. Very well. Will the recom-
mendation of a member of Congress
or ward committee show it? Nothing
but experience will prove it, and all
that can be done in advance is to
select the one who shows himself to
be apparently most promising, by
equal tests with others, andin doing
this the whole vast machine of pa-
tronage is broken up, and the people
are relieved from the political despo-
tism of office-holders.
The late examination to fill two
vacancies in the Naval Office was a
thoroughly intelligent and sincere
step in this direction, and one in
which the countryisinreality hardly
less interested than in the action of
Congress. The ridicule which it en-
Continued on Page Seven.
ment. And the hospital will keep
its long-standing com mitment to
provide care to indigent patients.
With this change in status,
PCMH will be a healthier, stron-
ger hospital, assuring that
Greenville and Pitt County will
continue to benefit from this vital
economic asset. Without it, the
hospitals position in the market
Trustees T position on this impor-
tant issue. Please read it care-
fully. The PCMH Trustees and the
Pitt County Board of Commission-
ers have been working hard to
carefully consider the facts and
reach a decision in the best inter-
est of the citizens of Pitt County
and the hospital. The better each
of us understands this issue, the
The change in the hospital Ts
ownership status is permitted bya
14-year-old state law specifically
intended for such actions. Thelaw,
N.C. General Statute 131-E-8,
originated in 1983 to allow county
governments to transfer owner-
ship of their hospital facilities toa
not for-profit corporation under the
control of local citizens. Under such
) "e
Ay
ct
will in all likelihood deteriorate, easier that task will be. an arrangement, the majority of
resulting in loss of revenue and WHAT MAKES~ THE the hospital Ts governing body is
possibly of jobs. CHANGE IN STATUS POS- appointed
This brochure has been devel- SIBLE Continued on Page Three.
oped to share the PCMH Board of
More on Hearing - Page
Ten.
HOW BEAUTIFULIT IS FOR BRETHREN (& SISTERS) TO DWELL TOGETHER IN UNITYW!
These members of Cornerstone Missionary Baptist Church pause briefly for the ~M T Voice
camera following morning worship. Shown here: (above) Brother Cliff Hickman, his wife,
and children; Brother Michael Jordan, Director of the Jackie Robinson Baseball League,
and his madam; and Sister Charetta Walls. (Below) Brother Tito Barrett and his madam;
Sister Eve Rogers, Sister Joyce Mitchell, Sister Laura Hamilton, and others. HAPPY,
HAPPY FACES. (PHOTO: JIM ROUSE)
Health Conference April 4 and 5
Heart Disease, Stroke, Cancer to be discussed
GREENVILLE, March 26 " oAfrican-Ameri-
can women need to be more informed about the
dangers of heart disease, stroke and cancer, ? says
Milele Archibald, Vice President of The Carolina
Health Group, Inc. and co-chair of the April 4 and
5 seminar entitled oAFRICAN-AMERICAN
WOMEN TS WORKSHOP ON HEART DISEASE,
STROKE AND CANCER. ?
oAfrican-American women have a higher rate of
heart disease than other women and they also
develop the disease earlier in life ?, says Archibald.
oWe hope to bring together women activists who
will take a leadership role in taking these serious
health issues back to their communities. Our goal
is to bring the message to African-American women
of Pitt County that they are at greater risk of heart
disease, stroke and cancer and they must become
proactive in taking responsibility for their health. ?
The conference, to be held on April 4 and 5 in
Greenville, isa joint effort by The Carolina Health
Group, Inc., a nonprofit association of health care
tive Disease Center, Dupont Merck Pharmaceu-
tical, First Citizens Bank and the Office of Minor-
ity Health, DEHNR.
The keynote speaker for the Friday evening
dinner is Dr. Patricia Davidson, a practicing
cardiologist from Washington, DC, whois nation-
ally known for encouraging African American
women to become more responsible for preven-
tion of the risk factors that lead to heart disease
and stroke. Saturday Ts workshops will begin with
a keynote address by local physician, Dr. Ceylon
Rowland of Women Ts Health Center in Greenville,
who also will address the importance of preven. -
tive measures in achieving a healthy cancer-free
lifestyle. They will be led by Drs. Robin Taylor
and Kim Johnson of ECU School.of Medicine,
Department of Family Medicine.
The Friday evening session is by invitation,
Participants must commit to sharing the infor-
mation yith African-American women in their -
nities through follow-up outreach activi-
rday workshops, i
Fleming Exxon Gas Station. Shown are Brothers who will take care of your car with a good
attitude. Name these Brothers and win $10.00 in Gas at Fleming Exxon.
OE (Photo by: Jim Rouse)
@ Ue
'
professionals, and The American Heart Associa- e Saturday rith .
at Bam at ECU's Belk ding. are |
tion and American Cancer Society.Othersupport- brg@akias
ers are ECU School of Allied Health, Pitt County op aii X
Memorial Hospital Heart Center, Eastern Diges- » Ng
1. Children need strength tolean on ashoulderiocryon and
* an example to learn from.
~2. Every child has a right to be both well-fed and well-led.
3. A pint of example is worth a gallon of advice.
4. A good example is the best sermon you can preach.
5. Courtesy is the quality that keeps a woman smiling when
a departing guest stands at the open door and lets the flies in.
6. Why are husbands and wives more courteous to strangers
than to each other? | ,
7. Be courteous to everybody. You never know who might
show up on the jury.
&. The measure of a truly great man is the courtesy with
which he treats lesser men.
9. Gratitude is the most exquisite form of courtesy.
10. When you think you Tve done your best, dig a little deeper.
11. We Tve lost our moral fiber. Rev. Bernece King (Montel
Show, 2/28/97)
12. Christians proclaim brotherly love, love for your neigh-
bor, peace on earth and other nations, but they often do not
practice them. Hugo Borresen
THE WORLD NEEDS MEN
.. who cannot be bought;
.. whose word is their bond;
.. who put character above wealth;
who possess opinions and a will;
. who are larger than their vocations;
who do not hesitate to take chances;
» who will not lose their individuality in a crowd;
.. who will be as honest in small things as in great things;
.. Who will make no compromise with wrong;
. whose ambitions are not confined to their own selfish
desires;
... Who will not say they do it obecause everybody else does it. ?
. who are true to their friends through good report and evil
report, in adversity as well as in prosperity.
.. who do not believe that shrewdness, cunning, and hard-
headedness are the best qualities for winning success;
.. who are not ashamed or afraid to stand for the truth when
it is unpopular, who can say ono ? with emphasis, although the
rest of the world says oyes. ?
Some Good Ways to Feel Good About Yourself
Don Tt wait until spring; let the end of summer give you the
signal to clean out closets, attic and garage "your car Ts trunk,
too.
Help someone learn to read; it has been estimated that 17 to
21 million adults in the United States cannot read. Contact the
Coalition for Literacy Infor mation Hot Line at 800-228-8813 for
more information.
Get a big, colorful piggy bank, and start saving "even if it Ts
only a dime a day " for a special splurge. t
Take a child out for an old-fashioned ice-cream sundae, and
delight in his or her reaction.
Get a professional manicure; you'll feel pampered and el-
egant every time you see your fingernails shimmer.
Put the TV oon strike ? for a week. Spend your newfound
leisure time listening to classical music, engaging in lively
discussions.
Fill up the tub "don Tt forget the bubbles "and relax by taking
a long, soothing soak.
Gather old magazines and unwanted books from your own
and your neighbors T homes, and donate them to a hospital or
senior citizens T home.
Pull out your high-school yearbook, and, as you page through
it, indulge your imagination in some oWhatever happened to? ?
daydreams.
Start a fall family tradition: Gather the kid or invite a relative
over to T your house to bake bread and make apple pear pre-
serves.
Treat yourself to luxurious new sleepwear or lingerie.
If you Tve never liked poetry, buy a volume of verse, and read
a poem a day. You may discover a hidden appreciation for the
form!
Stock up on postcards (museums are a great source), and mail
quick notes to those you care for "even members of your own
household.
One of the biggest favors you can do for yourself is to be
conscientious about your health. So, if you don Tt have regular
checkups by your doctor, dentist and gynecologist, schedule
appointments now.
COLIN POWELL TS RULES
1. It ain Tt as bad as you think. It will look better in the
morning.
2. Get mad, then get over it.
3. Avoid having your ego so close to your position that when
your position falls, you ego goes with it.
4, It can be done!
5. Be careful what you
Mrs. Beatrice Maye
oEbonics ?
oWe do not have to teach
oEbonics ?, or what we call African-
American English, because the
kids are already fluent in it. It is
the primary mode of communica-
tion. Therefore, it Ts up to us to
make sure that they master so-
called Standard English. ? said
Anthony Jackson, teacher, 99th
Street Elementary School, from
the Los Angles Magazine, March
1997.
oTrimming the Fringe; How
Newspapers Shun Low-Income
Readers ?, by Gilbert Cranberg,
from Columbia Journalism,
March/April 1997.
Cranberg states: oNeglecting
the poor does seem to be the trend
lately, butit Ts a shame to see news-
paper journalism as a force that
increases their isolation. The no-
tion clashes with the vision most
editors hold of the newspaper as a
forum for the whole community
and a bulwark of democracy.
Continuing, oBy the year 2010,
nearly one out of every two chil-
dren under five years of age will
belong to an ethnic minority group.
These young people are the ones
the newspaperindustry mustlearn
to attract as readers and as em-
ployees ?.
SLOWER
TRAFFIC
KEEP
RIGHT |
Your support keeps lifesaving
research in the fast lane.
MDA
Muscular Dystrophy Association
1-800-572-1717
CRIMETIPS:
PERSONAL SECURITY
oTRAIL BLAZERS ?... Brother Ernest oRed ? Eaton (L), retired owner and operator of Eaton Ts
Service Center and Bishop T. L. Davis (R), Pastor of the Progressive Free Will Baptist
Church, are truly testimonials of God Ts goodness as evidenced by their individual successes.
Brothers, continue to stand tall!!! (PHOTO: JIM ROUSE)
Murder Charge Filed in Slaying,
Youth May Get Death Penalty
The young Russian immigrant
whocould face the death penalty if
convicted of killing the son of one
of the United States T most popular
comedians was an above-average
student who struggled to fit in,
aspired to be a gang member and
spent time in a juvenile camp,
classmates and school officials
said.
oWe just though he was a little
white boy who wanted to be a
~cholo T (gang member), ? said Olga
Medina 18, a former classmate at
Los Alamitos High School. oHe
was a wannabe, he wanted to be a
gang member. ?
Mikail Markhasev, 18, was
charged with murder Friday for
the slaying of Ennis Cosby, 27, the
only son of entertainer Bill Cosby.
Markhasev was also charged with
attempted robbery and use of a
firearm during commission of a
crime.
He did not enter a plea and will
be held without bail until his next
court appearance March, 28.
Police say Markhasev randomly
chose Cosby fora robbery attempt,
shooting himas he was changinga
flat tire near a freeway off-ramp
Jan. 16. Po lice say they have re-
covered the gun used in the slay-
ing and a cap worn by the killer.
The allegation that Cosby was
killed during an attempted rob-
bery is a so-called ?special circum-
stance that, ifupheld at trial, could
allow prosecutors to seek the death
penalty.
Markhasev and his mothercame
to the United States abyut eight
years ago from Lvov, Ukrainé, an
industrial and cultural center of
800,000 people. He attended a
number of Los Angeles-area
schools.
Students at Los Alamitos High
grocery cart
~
Keep your eyes open to what's going on around you!
Carry your purse close to your body or keep a wallet in a front
pants pocket or inside a jacket. Don't leave your purse in a
Do your jogging or walking in daylight hours. Carry a whistle.
Try to use ATM machines during daylight hours and pay
attention to the people around you.
aA
This wos supported mat pnts oie by Me ste ots
ad hos Programs, U.S. 3 of vier vent 0
ot necessary # vente a a cae wae Depot
Call for more security tips.
EQUALEYES'
Informed public and police against crime
830-EYES
Greenville Police Department
choose. You may get it.
6. Don Tt let adverse facts
stand in the way of a good de-
cision.
7. You can Tt make someone
else Ts choices. You shouldn Tt
Bincumark °
let someone else make yours.
MORTGAGE CORPORATION
8. Check small things.
9. Share credit.
10. Remain calm. Be kind.
11. Have a vision. Be de-
manding.
12. Don Tttake counsel of your
fears or naysayers.
13. Perpetual optimism is a
force multiplier.
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Schon] in Orange County said
Markhasev was called oPee Wee ?
because ofa perceived resemblance
to the film and television charac-
ter Pee Wee Herman .
Markhasev also had ties to the
Varrio Los Alamitos gang, it was
reported Saturday.
oHe was promoting VLA as a big
bad group, ? said Soda Davetas, 17,
of Laurel High, near Los Alamitos
High. ~ He was too fake. He walked
around talking that big talk. It Ts
not powerful when you talk like
that. ?
Los Angeles school officials and
Markhasev Ts boss at a North Hol-
lywood plant store described him
as an intelligent teen who didn Tt
cause trouble.
He earned a B average, the sec-
ond-highest possible, at Reseda
High School, where he enrolled in
1993 after transferring from Los
Alamitos.
Markhasev was hired in Febru-
ary asa cashier at Mainly Seconds
Pottery Plants and Things near
the apartment he shared with his
mother. He was scheduled to work
the night he was arrested, owner
Jim Herzoff said.
oHe just seemed like a nice kid
who lived down the block, ? Herzoff
said.
In late 1995 Markhasev spent
six months in ajuvenile probation
camp. Hisjuvenile record includes
a conviction for marijuana posses-
sion and assault with a deadly
weapon, news papers reported.
_ Markhasev and his mother were
quiet tenants who signed a year
long lease in January for the two-
bedroom apartment in North Hol-
lywood, building manager Olga
Faynshteyn said.
Asked about the mother Ts reac-
tion to the case, Faynshteyn said,
oI guess she Ts shocked like every-
body else. She wasn Tt expecting
The parents of Ennis Cosby said
Saturday that immigrant
commumties from the former So-
viet Union cannot be blamed for
the killing of their son.
oThe Cosbys do not view him as
representative of either the Rus-
sian or the Ukranian people and
they are asking and hoping that
those people that are law-abiding
from that community not feel any
guilt about what this person has
done, ? family spokesman David
Brokaw said after talking to Bill
and Camille Cosby. Some report-
ers have asked the Cosbys whether
they would support the death pen-
alty if Markhasev is convicted,
Brokaw said.
oThey just refuse toexamine that
issue right now, ? Brokaw said. ,
oThey feel that what Ts more im-
portant right now is for the court
to do its work. ?
The allegation that Cosby was T
killed during an attempted rob-
bery is a so-called ospecial circum-
stance ? that, if upheld at trial,
could allow prosecutors to seek
the deathh penalty.
Bill Cosby on Thursday com-
pleted work for the season on his
oCosby ? television show. This
week, he and his wife planned to
visit South Africa, whcre Cosby
will perform three concerts, in-
cluding one for President Nelson
Mandela, Brokaw said.
oe
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D. Dawson Realty
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From Page One - PCMH
* or controlled by the county, and the
hospital must operate under conditions
laid down by the statute and any addi-
fional guidelines established by the
county. ; /
The intent of the law is to enable public
hospitals to be more competitive and still
remain under local control. Under cur-
rent law, public hospitals are restricted in
pursuing some of the activities which their
competitors "private for-profit and pri-
vate not for-profit hospitals "can freely
engage in. These activities can be grouped
into several categories:
Activities related to business develop-
ment
* Protecting the confidentiality of com-
petitively
sensitive records, such as the prices
negotiated
with managed care companies
* Forming partnerships with private
entities such as
physicians and managed care compa-
nies
Activities related to financing
¢ Financing facilities outside the county
* Accessing conventional sources of fi-
nancing
* Earning the same return on invest-
ments as competitors
* Entering into long-term leases
Activities related to making operations
more efficient
¢ Streamlining the disposal of property
¢ Developing streamlined purchasing
and inventory systems
* Using single prime contracting for
construction projects
Since 1983, many public hospitals in
North Carolina have used this law to
reorganize, including some nearby com-
petitors of Pitt County Memorial Hospi-
tal. Arecent conversion occurred in 1996,
when the Wake County Board of Commis-
sioners voted to change the status of Wake
Medical Center in Raleigh. ~
WHY THE CHANGE IS NEEDED
PCMH has enjoyed good years, both
financially and in terms of expansion of
patient care services, in the recent past.
But that kind of success will be threat-
ened ifthe hospital continues to remain at
a competitive disadvantage.
With the movement of managed health
care into our region, the marketplace for
hospital and physician services is rapidly
becoming more competitive. Pressure to
operate more efficiently is intense. The
new emphasis on contracting for health
care services has made the price of those
services more of a focal point. And large
hospitals such as PCMH are having to
work more closely with physicians and
smaller hospitals in neighboring counties
to keep their traditional patient base. At
the same time, large hospitals that offer
similar services to PCMH are forming
business relationships that will bring pa-
tients from eastern North Carolina to
their medical centers when the patients
need advanced care. In most cases, these
hospitals do not operate under the regula-
tory restrictions that burden PCMH.
In this environment, PCMH must be
free to compete on an equal footing with
other health care systems. But that is
impossible when competitors...
...£have access to the contracts PCMH
MR. & MRS. BOBBY AND LOLA THOMPSON... proud parents
(yet very concerned parents). Their son, an outstanding
basketball star at the D. H. Conley High School got hurt;
recovered; returned; but " was not allowed to play. Does
anyone know why?
(PHOTO: JIM ROUSE)
hoses esses eee eee
We have a FULL line of
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Bring this AD in and receive a
40% discount on any treated
wood item.
eee oe
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Betore
you do
any
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| take
a look
at ours...
signs to provide services, yet PCMH does ©
not have access to the same information
from them;
...have far more flexibility to enter into
_ partnerships with health care providers
in this service area than PCMH does;
.shave more flexibility in obtaining fi-
nancing than PCMH does;
...can realize operating efficiencies that
are not available to PCMH because of
existing law.
WHAT A CHANGE IN STATUS
DOES NOT MEAN
Becoming a citizen-controlled, not-for-
profit institution does not mean that the
hospital will be given away or sold. Con-
version to this new status is not the same
as selling the hospital. There is no inten-
tion of selling the hospital, nor to change
its status to for-profit. In any case, the
Pitt County Board of Commissioners will
retain final authority over decisions of
that nature under the new status.
Nor will the change in the hospital's
status mean that employees T jobs will be
threatened. For PCMH employees, this
change will make their employer a more
competitive health care provider in east-
ern North Carolina ad their jobs will there-
fore be more secure.
Finally, the change in status would not
affect the hospital's long-standing com-
mitment to provide care to all people re-
gardless of their ability to pay. PCMH
does not receive any tax dollars to support
this commitment and will not receive any
under the new status, yet the hospital will
remain true to its commitment to provide
urgentcare. Indeed, the negotiated trans-
fer agreement between PCMH and the
county will obligate the hospital to con-
tinue to provide services to patients re-
gardless of their ability to pay.
After reorganization, PCMH will still
be accountable to the public. It will still
have open meetings. The majority of its
trustees will still be appointed by the Pitt
County Commission. And any failure to
comply with the provisions of the transfer
agreement will mean PCMH reverts to
county ownership.
Here are several other ways that reor-
ganization to acitizen-controlled, not-for-
profit status will and will not affect PCMH:
° It will not result in staff reductions;
¢ It will require PCMH to operate as a
not-for-profit hospital;
¢ It will ensure an ongoing commitment
THEM" VOICE - WEDNESDAY,
z 4
to quality care at competitive prices;
¢ It will continue to allow PCMH to be
self-sustaining without any local tax sup-
port.
FINALLY... . an
PCMH has met its commitment to local
and regional health care and medical edu-
cation for more than a generation. As
eastern North Carolina grows and its
health care needs change, PCMH must
keep pace. In fact, the hospital must stay
ahead of the region's needs. Becoming a
citizen controlled, not-for-profit hospital
is the best method to allow PCMH to meet
those needs.
q
QUESTIONS?
HERE ARE SOME ANSWERS...
Who currently owns PCMH?
PCMH is owned by Pitt County. The
county owns the land, buildings and as-
sets, and it leases those to PCMH Inc., a
not-for-profit corporation formed years ago
by the county to operate the hospital.
Who will own the hospital if it be-
comes a citizen controlled, not-for-
profit institution?
PCMH Inc. will own the land, buildings
and equip ment and will continue to oper-
ate the hospital.
Are citizen-controlled not-for-profit
hospitals something new in North
Carolina?
No. The N.C. General Assembly en-
acted the statute in 1983 and it allows
public not-for-profit hospitals to be re-
lieved of certain legal constraints while
keeping their commitment to community
health and indigent care. Many nearby
hospitals such as Wayne Memorial in
Goldsboro, Halifax Memorial in Roanoke
Rapids and Wilson Memorial have reor-
ganized under this statute.
Aren Tt there alternative ways for
PCMH to address these issues of un-
fair competition?
Yes. PCMH has considered working with
state legislators to seek changes in the
laws that give its competitors unfair ad-
vantages. The problem with this approach
is that itis slow andcomplex. Thecounty Ts
legal advisors have said that changes in
the law in seven separate areas would be
necessary to address the competitive dif-
ferences. Also, it is anticipated that this
ane .
For the most part, PCMH will be no
different from the way it is today. Only its
corporate status will
part of the reorganization.
Could PCMH then sell the hospital
or ba itself into a for-profit en-
tit
No. Under this reorganization, PCMH
could not sell the hospital or convert to
for-profit status without county approval.
Can PCMH survive without county
tax dollars?
PCMH receives no subsidy from Pitt »
County and, in fact, repaid the county's
initial in the hospital many years ago.
How will the public know PCMH is =
living up to its end of the bargain? PCMH
will undergo a yearly audit to ensure it is
keeping up its commitment under the o
statute. Also, meetings of the PCMH Board
of Trustees will continue to be open to the
public.
Some people say that PCMH will
raise prices if this change goes
through.
The opposite is more likely. The change
in status will allow PCMH to undertake
projects that make it a more efficient ~
provider of services. So it will be better
able to hold the line on rate increases, as
it has done four out of the last five years.
Will this change allow hospital ad-
ministrators to make big salaries?
The reorganization will have no effect
on anyone Ts salary. But it will help to
ensure the hospital is a viable employer
for the more than 4,000 people who cur-
rently work at PCMH.
Why can Tt PCMH just stay the way
it is?
No industry has stayed the same for the
past 20 years. The same is true for health
care. With market forces deciding what
sort of health care system we will have,
only those providers that are strong will
survive. Becoming a citizen controlled, :
not-for-profit hospital will do a great deal
to make sure PCMH stays strong.
Ramifications of Chavis T
Conversion to Nation of Islam
Recently, Benjamin Chavis, former na-
tional Executive Director of the NAACP,
announced his conversion to the Nation of
Islam. Now, Minister Benjamin Chavis
Muhammad, formerly ordained at the Oak
Level United Church of Christin Manson,
NC, pledged to travel the country and
raise consciousness and awareness about
the plight of African-Americans in the
country. An interview with local Minister
Edward Muhammad (of Final Call Minis-
try on Fifth St.) focused on the implica-
tions of Chavis T conversion to the Nation
of Islam and millions of African-Ameri-
cans.
When asked about the thoughts on
Chavis T conversion to the Nation, Minis-
ter Edward Muhammad responded, oIt Ts
avery positive move because he Ts a brother
who Ts been in the struggle of trying to
revolutionize the thinking of our brothers
for a long time. He agrees with the con-
cepts of nation-building and healing. So, I
think it was a timely well-thought-out
move. ? Indeed, the importance of nation-
building has been echoed by numerous
Muslim leaders for decades.
What does the conversion say about
African-Americans and the Nation of Is-
lam? oIt says that it Ts possible that Afri-
can-Americans can work together as
Christians, Agnostics, Muslims, etc. and
achieve positive things, ? the Minister an-
swered. He continued, oHe has admired
movements that are active and steadfast.
Chavis sees the viability of groups with
different ideologies and philosophies com-
ing together to build a nation. ?
Minister Louis Farrakhan has galva-
nized and mobilized droves of African
Americans for many years. Will Chavis be
successful? oDefinitely, ? said the Minis-
ter. oThat Ts been his work for years. I
expect itll increase now. He'll be a very
highly visible person. ? Further, Minister
Edward acknowledged that he will ex-
tend an invitation to Minister Benjamin
Muhammad to attend the local mosque.
Some political pundits have suggested
that Minister Benjamin Muhammad
might succeed Farrakhan. When posed
the question, Minister Edward
Muhammad said ono. ?
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He added, oI Tve gotten no indication ,
that that Ts the case. ?
oThere is a lot of visible black leaders
that admire the unity that the Nation of
Islam espouses, ? said the Minister. oHe ©
took the initiative to take that step. That
doesn Tt mean that others who have not
taken that step are not inspired or enthu-
siastic. ? Recognizing the significance of _
African-American unity, Minister Edward "
commented, oOur objective is to merge all
black leadership into nationhood. They ©
can be Baptists, Methodists, or whatever. ?
The extent to which Minister Benjamin
Chavis Muhammad will make a differ- ©
ence in the lives of powerless, disgruntled _
African-American remains to be seen.
Energetic, determined, and vociferous, the _
Minister does seem anxious to assist Min- ~
ister Farrakhan in educating African-
Americans about the necessity of pursu-
ing political and economic empowerment; .
after all, such was the crux of Dr. Martin
Luther King Ts vision for African-Ameri-
cans after they secure what some believe __
to be elusive racial equality.
CADE
INSURANCE AGENCY
F.P. CADE
Warren B. Cade
Business
e2£2et2Ee&
will not reduce its services or cut staffas. "
752-6609
Inside Walmart Supercenter
355-5988 ;
752-2862
eoeG@ eee eae SF Bae eeaee
=
~ YOUNG BROTHER WEAVER... a student at North Pitt High
' School, basketball star, part-time employee at Harris Super
~Market, young man oextraordinaire ?. He will be leaving for
~the summer for basketball camp to sharpen his playing skills
~and his education. HATS OFF TO YOU, MY BROTHER!!!
(PHOTO: JIM ROUSE)
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American diet that they are no
longer viewed as ethnic products. _
Next on the list may be tortillas, "
with sales of tortillas in the U.S. "
continuing to rise at about 10 per- "
cent a year.
According to the National Res-
taurant Association, Chinese, Ital-
ian and Mexican foods are the most
popular in American restaurants.
Food Arts a food industry trade
magazine, lists Italian as the most
popular cuisine for fine dining,
while Latino, Thai, Mediterranean
and Pacific Rim are also fashion-
able.
A 1993 study published in the
American Journal of Clinical Nu-
trition found that people who ate
the widest variety of foods had a
lower risk of dying prematurely
than those who stuck to the same
series of recipes night after night,
year after year.
Americans T growing taste for
ethnic flavors is reflected in climb-
ing sales of spices such as black
and red pepper, mustard and gin-
ger. Sales of these spices have risen
73 percent over the past 20 years,
with red pepper sales alone up 169
percent, according to the Ameri-
can Spice Trade Association.
To meet the rising demand for
ethnic products, manufacturers
are introducing more new items
each year. Ethnic new product in-
INVITATION TO BIDDERS
have become so common in the _
oMO ? FROM MO... Rev. Ward ministers between hair cuts.. Thanking our good Lord for his
oclean cut Styles. " there are no oafro Ts ?, no dred locks, but oclean cuts ? are what you get
from MO TS BARBER SHOP. (PHOTO: JIM ROUSE)
troductions for the first eight
months of I g96 were already 53
percent higher than introductions
for all of 1995.
According to a recent American
Dietetic Association survey, the
average person in the U.S . eats
only 8 to 10 ocore ? foods - regular
food selections that make up 80
percent of their diets, during any
given week.
Many ethnic dishes are ocombi-
nation ? foods that include serv-
ings from several different food
groups. For example, a Mediterra-
nean-style ogyro ? (yee-row) wrap
sandwich includes grain (pita),
vegetables (mushrooms, onions,
pepper), milk products (yogurt
sauce, cheese), and meat (beef,
A Se Pe
ee
chicken).
Milk and milk products are the
best way to cool down your palate
after sampling a spicy ethnic dish,
according to Dave DeWitt, author
of The Whole Chile Book. The rea-
son? Casein, the main protein in
milk, acts like a detergent to wash
away capsaicine, the potent chemi-
cal that triggers the burning sen-
sation in the mouth and stomach.
4.0. 2.5
Sealed proposals will be received by the Housing Authority of the City of
Greenville in the office of Authority, 1103 Broad Street, Greenville, North
Carolina 27835, up to 2:00 PM, local time on Thursday, 10 April 1997, and
immediately thereafter opened and read in the presence of attending bidders
for the furnishing of all labor, materials and equipment for Replacing Gas
Distribution System-Meadowbrook project upon the Owner Ts property in
Greenville, North Carolina.
Complete plans, specifications and contract documents will be open in the
office of H R Associates, P.A., 1200 Navaho Drive, Raleigh, North Carolina,
(919) 872-6345. Prime bidders who are qualified and who will make a bid will,
upon deposit of the sum of One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) with the Architect,
receive documents in duplicate. The full deposit will be refunded to those
qualified prime bidders who submit a bona fide prime proposal, providing
bidding documents are returned in good condition to the Architect within five
(5) days after receipt of bids.
The Works consists of construction of a replacement gas distribution system for
the Meadowbrook development and gas meter/regulator/riser replacement
for the Meadowbrook, Hopkins Park, Newtown and Kearney Park
developments. L
All Bidders are hereby notified that they must have proper license under the
State laws as a Utilities Contractor.
Each proposal shall be accompanied by a cash deposit or a certified check
drawn on some bank or trust company insured by the FDIC in an amount
equal to not less than 5% of the proposal; or in lieu thereof, a Bidder may offer
a bid bond of 5% of the proposal. No bid may be withdrawn after the
scheduled closing time for the receipt of bids for a period of sixty (60) days.
A Performance Bond shall be required for one hundred percent (100%) of the
contract amount.
The Owner reserves the right to reject any or all bids, to waive informalities,
and to award contracts in the best interest of the Owner.
ANNOUNCING «+
The Fifth Annual
Making Pitt Ts Babies Fit
oA Health Fair For New and Expectant Parents ?
DETERMINATION
A one-room office, a personal computer,
As you grow, we'll be here with essentials.
and a hard-working dream. That's often the Like retirement plans. Services like credit
modest beginnings for millions of men and card transaction processing. Loans to help
women who are becoming their own bosses. you expand.
At First Citizens, we're supporting this Call or visit your nearest First Citizens
new breed of American entrepreneurs with today. When your two employees have
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AZALEAHOMES "
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Attention Parents and Come As You Are!
Grandparents of Young
Children... Browse Through Exhibits.
Join Us At the Register for Many Door
Greenville Hilton Inn: Prizes That Will Be Given
Away During The Event.
Tuesday, April 8, 1997
5:00 PM - 7:30 PM
Enjoy Refreshments!!
I] Cost: FREE
For More Information Fashion Show At
Call 7:00 PM. Sponsored By
413-1424 or 413-1419 Target Stores of Greenville.
a SERRE = = a
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Don Tt Miss this Opportunity To Learn About Numerous Resources for
Parents and Young Children.
Sponsors: Pitt County Public Health Center, Pitt infant Mortality Prevention Advisory Council, Pitt County Memorial
Hospital, American Lung Association, Pitt County Government Volunteers, and NC Cooperative Extension.
Door Prizes Donated By Exhibitors and Greater Greenville Kiwanis.
Amt wndr
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Tips for entreprenuers
offered at African
American Women on Tour
SAN DIEGO,CA(March6,1997) ness climate is good for African poet Nikki Giovanni in Philadel-
" African American Women on Americans. oWe have more re- ia.
Tourwillfeatureadynamicforum sources and technology atourdis- | Thetouralsofeatures workshops
focusing on the principles of Black
business development, when it
brings its empowerment confer-
ence to five U.S. cities this year.
Presented by Allstate Insurance
Company, AAWOT will tour to
Oakland, CA, April 4-6; Dallas,
TX, June 13-15; Chicago, IL, July
25-27; Atlanta, GA, August 14-16;
and Philadelphia, PA, August 22-
24.
Sponsored by Mobil Oil Corpo-
ration, AAWOT Ts Entrepreneur
Forum will examine the challenges
posal than ever before, yet with
downsizing and mergers challeng-
ing job security and affirmative
action, this type of forum is ex-
tremely timely in helping to direct
more African American women
towards entrepreneurship. ?
Other panelists on the Entre-
preneur Forum include San Di-
ego, CA business trainer Gerri
Norrington, author of Roads _to
Guid Microbusi Develop-
ment; Austin, TX lecturer Fran
oncareer development, health and
fitness, financial management and
spirituality. AAWOT Ts popular
Rites of Passage retreats include
programs for girls ages 12-18,
young women ages 19-26 and adult
women. AAWOT also features
Allstate Insurance Company Ts
oPlay it Safe ? workshop, address-
ing such oreal life ? issues as
wellness, domestic violence \and
personal safety; J C Penney Ts Fash-
ion Influences show; Avon Prod-
ucts T Beauty Pavilion; a fitness
1S and realities of small business re- Harris, authorofAboutMySister Ts class hosted by Reebok Interna-
et search and start-up, tobudgeting, Business: The Black Woman Ts tional; an author Ts book signing
personnel, marketing and man- Roadmap to Successful Entrepre- andjazzevening hosted by BET on
agement. The forum will take an peurship; and Brooklyn, NY in- Jazz and Emerge magazine; anda
in-depth look at such issues as vestment advisor Brooke Village Marketplace Bazaar,
~e business plans, pricing, raising Stephens, author of Talking Dol- which is free and open to the pub-
te capital, franchising options, hu- lars and Making Sense: A Wealth- _ lic.
h man resources, packaging andin- BuildingGuide for African-Ameri- For registration information con-
Or novative ways of bringing ideas to tact African American Women on
a. fruition. In addition tothe Entrepreneur Tour,3914 Murphy Canyon Road,
n The Entrepreneur Forum will Forum, African AmericanWomen Suite 216,San Diego, CA 92123; 1-
h be moderated by nationally recog- on Tour will feature a powerful 800-560-AAWT;
ond | | ig
nized financial consultant, Glinda
Bridgforth, president of Bridgforth
Financial Management Group in
_ Oakland, California and author of
12Month Program for Basic Money
Management... With over 20 years
experience in the financial field,
Ms. Bridgforth believes the busi-
lineup of keynote speakers to in-
clude vocalist Gladys Knight, spon-
sored by Chrysler Corporation in
all five cities; Susan L. Taylor,
Editor-in-Chief of Essence maga-
zine in Dallas, Chicago and At-
lanta; talk show host Bertice Berry
in Oakland and Atlanta; author J.
California Cooper in Oakland; and
www.AAWOT.com. Conference
sponsors include Time Warner,
The Coca-Cola Company, Heart &
Soul magazine, Hewlett Packard,
McDonald Ts, Union Bank, Kaiser
Permanente, American Airlines,
Excelle Relaxers, Hardee Ts and
Bank of America.
NUTRITION:: THE ° T TWEEN T SCENE
oTweens ? areindividuals between
the childhood and teenage years,
about 1 1-14 years old.
National surveys show that
tweens T diets are high in total fat,
saturated fat, cholesterol and so-
dium. In contrast, tweens often con-
sume less than the recommended
amounts of fiber, calcium, iron and
vitamins A and E.
Nearly 86 percent of teenage girls
and 65 percent of teenage boys are
not meeting the daily calcium re-
quirement of 1,200 milligrams, the
amount in four glasses of milk, ac-
cording to the United States De-
T partment of Agriculture.
Milk consumption among teens
has dropped steadily since the late
1 ~70s, while consumption of soft
drinks has skyrocketed "especially
among teenage boys, whose daily
intake of soft drinks nearly tripled
between 1977 and 1994. Nearly
three-fourths of teen boys drank
about three cans of soda per day in
1994, while two-thirds of teen girls
drank about two cans T worth, ac-
cording to the United States De-
partment of Agriculture.
According to a recent survey by
Teenage Research Unlimited, teens
are averaging nearly six servings of
is a shared responsibility. Don't
be an easy target. Take action
to protect yourself and your
property. Call EqualEyes
ALL EYES ON CRIME.
It takes two sets of eyes to help prevent crime: yours and the police
department's. Working together we can focus on making the community
more secure and avoiding trouble before it happens. Crime prevention
EQUALEYES
Informed public and police against crime
830-EYES
Greenville Police Department
cookies, desserts, candy and soft
drinks each day.
A study published in the Journal
of Pediatrics showed that girls who
increased their intake of milk and
milk products developed denser
bones and had improved intakes of
calcium, phosphorus, vitamin D and
protein. At the same time, they did
not increase their total fat intake
and did not gain weight.
About IS percent of adult height,
SO percent of adult weight, and 45
percent of adult bone mass are
formed during adolescence, accord-
ing to Modern Nutrition in Health
and Disease.
A survey published by sports I]I-
lustrated or Kids showed that 18
percent of girls and | g percent of
boys ages 9-1 I have been on a diet
to lose weight. Among tweens ages
12-13, 13 percent of boys and 27
percent of girls have dieted.
Most kids do not eat three méals
a day. In fact, in a survey conducted
by the International Food Informa-
tion Council, more than half of the
9-1S year old respondents said they
skip breakfast, 28 percent skip
lunch and 18 percent skip dinner.
Featuring special music by Ch
recording artists LIMIT X of Ugai
LIMIT X will appear on April 4-6 of the Youth Word Explosion
LIMIT X has shared the stage with recording artists such as Andreae Crouch, Phil Driscoll, Shirley
Caesar, and Deneice Williams. They have appeared as special guests on Christian Broadcast
Network (CBN), Trinity Broadcast Network (TNB), and Black Entertainment Network (BET) and
are a pro-family, anti-violent, anti-gang, and anti-drug Christian vocal group delivering to
youth the message of the life-giving hope that is available in Christ, the Anointed One.
Malibongwe! (Zulu for "Amen")
March 31-April 5, 1997 at 7 pm
April 6, 1997 at 3 pm
Host Pastor: Dr. Ruth Peterson
The Anointed Ones T Church
600 South Edge Road
Ayden, NC 28513
(919) 746-2722
FREE ADMISSION
45 LOCATIONS
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' The same day President Bill
ton was in town addressing
the State Legislature on the need
for high national standards for
schools, the North Carolina State
Board of Education took action
én the same issue. The Board
Thursday (March 13) unani-
mously approved a high school
accountability model that goes
in effect for the 1997-98 school
year as the next phase of the
statewide reform initiative called
The ABCs of Public Education.
Accountability and high stan-
dards are among its corner-
stones.
The Board-approved ABCs
plan aims to hold schools more
accountable for student learn-
ing; to emphasize the basics of
reading, writing and mathemat-
ics; and to promote more local
control of educational decision
making. The first phase of the
plan, which applies to grades K-
8, went into effect this school
year.
Board approval of high school
measures to determine a school Ts
success follows a year of work to
develop the model. Additionally,
more than 1,000 people offered
input in a series of statewide
meetings headed by the State
Board Ts Steering Committee for
Assessment and Accountability.
That group represented a cross-
section of educators and received
ideas from high school princi-
pals, local superintendents, high
school teachers and others.
State Associate Superinten-
dent for Instructional and Ac-
countability Services Henry
Johnson, who chaired the Steer-
a
o =
wee se
=
=
Approves High School
ing Committee, called the model
the result of the best thinking of
many educators in North Caro-
lina.
oThis model is the best that
educators in North Carolina
could assemble to meet the re-
quirements of the law and to be
fair at this time, ? Dr. Johnson
said. oWe fully anticipate that
the plan will continue to be
refined over the years. ? In fact,
even in its final form approved
Thursday, it contains two mea-
sures that will be implementcd a
year after its startup.
The high school model, like its
elementary/middle grades coun-
terpart, will, for the first time,
measure a school against its own
past performance, instead of
against a statewide average, or
one school district against an-
other. Under it, a school is as-
signed a growth standard based
on
past performance. Schools that
significantly exceed that stan-
dard receive incentive money for
their staffs. Those that are low-
performing and fail to show
growth could undergo interven-
tion by an assistance team as-
signed by the state. This would
affect only the very lowest per-
forming schools.
The following are the high
school measurement components
for 1997-98:
* Performance on the five cur-
rently mandated end-of-course
(EOC) tests: Algebra I; English
I; Biology; Economic/Legal/Politi-
cal Systems (ELPS); and U:S.
History. An EOC index of course-
by-course results comparing one
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td
355-3620
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(Across from Car Sound & Security) Intersection of Memorial & Dickinson Ave.
Accountability Model
year to the average of the previ-
ous two years will be used;
¢ Results on a high school writ-
ing test, the current English II
test, using acommon promptand
allowing students 100 minutes
to write their responses. An EOC
index and procedure will be used;
¢ Year-to-year comparison of
percentages of students complet-
ing College Prep or College Tech
Prep course of study;
¢ Results on a comprehensive
test in reading and mathematics
given in 10th grade to measure
growth since eighth grade.
¢ SAT scores and participa-
tion rates for the last three years
will be reported but not included
in the school Ts composite score
for whether or notit met its ABCs
standards.
The following components will
be added to the above for 1998-
99:
¢ Acomponent that addresses
passing rates on the high school
competency tests;
¢ Dropout rates, grades 9-12,
with some adjustment for en-
forcing the Safe Schools Act and
addressing students with chronic
behavior problems.
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Felt hired as new NCDA
RALEIGH "Officials with the
North Carolina Department of
Agriculture recently announced
the hiring of Emily Felt as the new
international marketing special-
ist for Asian markets.
Felt brings with her an exten-
sive knowledge of.Asian cultures
through previous work and study
in Japan and Thailand. She re-
ceived her bachelor of arts degree
in 1994 from Stanford University
and spent one year studying at the
Kyoto Center for Japanese Stud-
ies in Kyoto, Japan, where she
concentrated on language,
economy, politics, history and pub-
lic policy.
Felt is fluent in both the Japa-
nese and Thai languages and has
lived seven of the past 14 years in
East Asia. Her workincluded serv-
ing as a research associate with
the Thailand Development Re- .
search Institute in Bangkok where
she did extensive research on ex-
ternal trade and agricultural eco-
nomics.
oMs. Felt Ts background and ex-
perience in East Asia will be a
tremendous asset to both our cur-
rent and future foreign trade ef-
forts, ? said Agriculture Commis-
sioner Jim Graham. oThe Asian
markets continue to offer great
opportunities for exporting agri-
cultural products produced in
North Carolina, ? Graham added.
international marketing specialist.
While working toward her de-
gree requirements, Felt also suc-
cessfully completed an internship
in the Political Science Depart-
ment at Stanford University where
she studied the domestic and for-
eign politics associated with large-
scale retail food distribution. She Ts
been the recipient of educational
fellowships and research grants,
and has authored articles in publi-
cations concerning agriculture and
economics.
Felt is a native of New Orleans
and Washington, D.C. and holds a
second-rank black belt in Zen ar-
chery and enjoys boating and good
food She will be based in Raleigh.
1997 North Carolina boll
weevil assessment decreased
RALEIGH " North Carolina
cotton farmers will see a 15-cents
per acre decrease in the 1997 boll
weevil assessment thanks in part
to an overall increase in cotton
acreage and the stabilization of
acreage in recent years. The as-
sessment for 1997 will be $3.60
per acre compared to $3.85 in 1996.
The fees are used to maintain an
intensive statewide trapping and
monitoring program for all cotton
acreage and to eradicate any
reinfestations of the boll weevil.
The assessment also supports a
buffer zone along the Alabama,
Tennessee and Mississippi bor-
WASHINGTON
@TOvoTA
ders.
The Southeastern Boll Weevil
Eradication Foundation, com-
prised of North Carolina, Alabama,
Florida, Georgia, South Carolina,
Tennessee, Mississippi and Vir-
ginia cotton producers, finances
the buffer.
oThe boll weevil eradication pro-
gram is one of the best invest-
ments ever made for cotton and
has helped North Carolina rise to
seventh nationally in cotton pro-
duction, ? said Agriculture Com-
missioner Jim Graham.
Cotton, which was once called
the oKing ? in North Carolina, be-
camea minor cropby the late 1970s
due to massive boll weevil dam-
age. North Carolina pioneered the
eradication program in 1978, when
harvested acreage was only 42,000
acres. Production has steadily
risen since the eradication pro-
gram began.
In 1996, planted acreage totaled
721,000. The state Ts top five pro-
ducing counties in 1996 were :
Halifax, with 55,549 acres;
Northampton, with 51,669 acres;
Sampson, with 51,242 acres;
Edgecombe, with 43,143 acres and
Continued on Page Eight.
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person, fearing no person
to help every person in the firm belief that all are
hurt as long as anyone is held back.
The Black Press
gal rights., Hating no
The Black Press strives
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, counterseven from professed friends
of the reform of which it is an honest
part is not very appalling to those
jwho know its sincerity. The good
faith of the management of the Cus-
tom-house must be judged by what
we know, not by what we do not
know. Nobody can certainly know
why the Collector exercises his indi-
vidual discretion in aparticular way,
especially if from motives of kind-
ness he declines to tell. But the per-
fect honesty of such an examination
as we have described can be known
by any one who attended and
watched it, who has seen the papers,
and tested the good faith of every
step. We have always insisted, and
experience has confirmed the belief,
that the power of removal must be
left very free, provided that illicit
motives for its exercise are pre-
vented. There are many just reasons
for removal besides what is techni-
cally knows as ocause ? - reasons
which are withheld upon the most
honorable grounds. The friends of
the old system, and especially the
friends of the late management of
the Custom-house, will naturally
scoff at any suggestion of good faith
in the enforcement of the new sys-
tem. That is not surprising, and we
make no generalizations and no
prophesies. But we are willing wit-
nesses for what we have seen and
proved, and the late examination
was an illustration of a method of
selecting clerks for civil service which
just so far as it is adopted through-
out the service will be a signal ben-
efit to its character and to the self-
respect of its members, and an im-
mense gain for honorable politics.
THE ARMY DEBATE IN THE
HOUSE
The debate upon the Army Bill in
the House was somewhat confused,
because both sides were so intent
upon party advantage. Mr. Garfield
did not change his ground upon the
last day, as was alleged, but he at-
tacked upon the first day a position
which the Democrats had not taken.
Mr. Beck and Mr. Thurman, indeed,
had taken it, but the house caucus
merely decided to attach the repeal
to the Appropriation Bill; it did not
say that if the bill was not signed,
Congress would allow the appropria-
tion to fail. That was undoubtedly
the plan of the extreme men, as Mr.
Blackburn showed in hisspeech; but
in opposing it as the intention of the
party, Mr. Garfield forced an issue
~Phe isor regarding the deductibility of interest. :
sancti Mel Soe, ure is available through November 30, 1997, APR on February 20, 1997 w
UCB will waive closing costs when borrower takes an immediat
quoted in
equal 9.25%), Maximum APR is 18%, minimum APR is 8%.
. situation? It is this:
which the Democrats were at liber
to declare that they had not joined.
But when, in turn, the Democrats
insisted the Mr. Garfield had de-
nounced attaching oriders ? toappro-
priation bills as revolutionary, he
very properly showed that he had
not done it, and briefly and lucidly
stated the exact situation. -All the
Democratic talk about military su-
pervision and coercion of elections
was superfluous, because every in-
telligent man in the country knows
perfectly well that no citizen has
ever been prevented by soldiers from
voting, unless, indeed, he chose not
to vote because there were soldiers
at the polls as a police. The ogriev-
ance ? was theoretical; and conced-
ing that theclausein question should
be repealed, the ogrievance ? was not
of a kind to justify the action which
Messrs. Beck and Thurman and
Blackburn announced.
The precise point can not be stated
too often nor too plainly. The Demo-
crats, having a majority in Congress,
may make such purposes as they
choose, and for such purposes as
they choose. In considering the ap-
propriation for the army they say
that the army shall not be used to
keep the peace at the polls, and to
secure this end they attach to the
bill a repeal of the clause that autho-
rizes such use of the army. The
President, who is bound by his oath
not sign any bill which he does not
approve, and to state his reasons, is
thus forced, if he does not approve
the repeal, to sign what he disap-
proves, or to allow the appropria-
tions for all the service of all the
army to fail, and practically to con-
nive at disbanding the whole mili-
tary defense of the country. He is,
however, no less bound by his duty
than Congress. What, then, is the
should the
Democrats declare that if they can
not prevent the army from being
used for one purpose it shall be used
for no purpose whatever, they virtu-
ally destroy the army. Nor thisonly:
it would be saying that if they can
not force the repeal of a law uncon-
stitutionally, the government shall
come to a stand. A law is repealed
constitutionally when both Houses
of Congress and the Executive con-
sent, or when, if the Executive dis-
sents, two-thirds of both Houses
agree. There is no other constitu-
tional methcd of repeal. If, however,
a mere majority in Congress threat-
ens the Executive that if it does not
assent to what he disapproves, and
from $200 to $500, Property insurance required,
©1997 United Carolina Bank
Member FDIC
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s Weekly
when he persists in doing his plain
constitutional duty, refuses appro-
priations, and ostarves out ? the gov-
ernment, it is practically as revolu-
tionary as if it stopped the govern-
ment by armed force.
The country is now to see whether
the revolutionary plan announced
by Mr. Beck and Mr. Thurman and
Mr. Blackburn is tobe carried out in
case of the President Ts disapproval
of the repeal. If he approves it, he
will ofcourse sign the bill upon which
it is a rider, and his action will end
this particular controversy. Ifhe dis-
approves it he will probably veto the
bill, and leave to Congress to decide
whether the army shall be dis-
banded. If Congress should refuse
the appropriation for the other le-
gitimate and indispensable purposes
of an army, it would be solely be-
cause a law which it Considers ob-
jectionable could not be constitu-
tionally repealed. Unless all respect
for their own constitutional forms,
the methods in which they choose to
carry on their government, should
have perished in the heart of the
American people, the party which
should take this action would be
annihilated in every State where a
free vote is permitted. If the law
were actually unfair and oppressive,
instead of being only theoretically
inconsistent with the general divi-
sion of power between State and
nation, such a course to secure its
repeal would be alarming. As it is,
such a course would doubtless thor-
oughly arouse the country.
THE FLIGHT OF THE COL-
ORED LABORERS.
The emigration of colored labor-
ers from Mississippi, Louisiana, and
Texas to Kansas is a significant il-
lustration of the situation. Some of
the Southern Papers very justly per-
ceive that such amovementisalarm-
ing, and will result in great losses if
itis not arrested. The colored people
are the laboring class, and there are
none to replace them. The question
why they are going is one of peculiar
interest, and the first fact shown by
the movementis that they are greatly
discontented. They are not a no-
madic race, and they are satisfied
with little. Sogeneral a flight shows
that they are seriously suffering, or
seriously alarmed. Obviously, if they
had good wages and employment
and felt secure of all their rights
they would stay at home. It is, in-
avails apply ay 30, 1997, Annual Percentage
**Offer subject to credit approval and available to those who apply by May 30,
997 AP en Felewary 05 as 8.25%. Effective December 1, 1997 APR will equal Prime plus 1%
ee
deed, surprising how hard it is to
ascertain the actual condition of the
colored people in the Southern "
States. The letters in the newspaper
have to be dismissed generally as
written for a partisan purpose, Mr.
T. W. HIGGINSON and other old
anti-slaverymen and Union Soldiers
give a rather favorable account, and
among foreign observers Sir G.
CAMPBELL, in the last number of
the Fortnightly Review, writesa very
interesting summary of the condi-
tion of the late slave class, He says
that in educational capacity they
are apparently behind, but not very
far behind. They have as yet, he
says, shown very little mercantile
skill of any kind, and are not as yet
noted for energy or force under diffi-
culties, nor dothey show themselves
to be superior artisans. But they are
admirable laborers when under
proper Supervision, and he notes a
disposition upon the part of propri-
etors and leaders to rely upon col-
ored labor asa conservative element.
The colored people are not very
thrifty, however, and methods of la-
bor are often loose and unsatisfac-
tory. But Sir G. CAMPBELL Ts gen-
eral conclusion is one of reasonable
surprise that the position of the col-
ored people is so good, and their
industrial relations with the whites
so little strained and difficult. He
thinks them in a fair way to become
acomfortable, well-to-do population.
The whites, he says, certainly can
not do without them, while the
whites are indispensable to them.
He wisely sums up the whole matter
by saying, oMy advice would cer-
tainly be, to the blacks in America,
~Stay at home and make the best of
anexcellent situation ; T tothe whites,
~Do all you can to keep these people;
conciliate them and make the most
of them. ? This heis sure can be done
if the political situation does not
prevent, and that he means to con-
sider in another paper. The South-
ern States are undoubtedly very
poor. Every observer reports that
fact. But they certainly have not
more labor than is wanted. The emi-
gration of great bodies of laborers,
therefore, means that they feel inse-
cure. The would not feel so had their
treatment been fair, and the move-
ment beyond the Mississippi is an
unmistakable impeachment of the
conduct of the whites. Mr. LAMAR
is from Missis sippi, and he must
admit that if the assertions of his
recent article in the North American
ion which would have made all kinds
of Ku-Kluxeryimpossible, and would
have assured the colored people that
they need not look North for their
best friends Agents and knaves and
demagogues may have promised
mules, forty acres and a charming
climate, but they would have been
vain arguments against fair play at
home. The remedy of the situation is
not in Southern denunciation of the
North, or in Northern talk about
rebels and Confederates and slave-
driverd: it is in the perception of
honorable Southerners that their
paramount duty is to regain the con-
fidence of the colored people, which
they have lost. This will be a work of
time and of good sense. But there is
noother course, andit must be heart-
ily supported by all patriotic citi-
zens.
CENTRAL PARK IN DANGER.
It is proposed to hold a World Ts
Fair in New York some four or five
years hence. It would doubtless be
great and imposing, and of immense
commercial advantage. But in these
first moments of considering the
project there should be universal
preliminary agreement that it shall
not ruin the noblest public work in
the city, the Central Park. The dan-
ger tothe Parkisthe constant propo-
sition of encroachment. The island
is narrow, the Park is a lovely open
space, and every immense exhibi-
tion of every kind turns to it with
greedy eyes as the most desirable
site. There is constant need of an
active public or to protect this breath-
ing space and delight of the city from
various incursions.
LANGBEIN TS proposal to turn it
into a parade ground is a gross per-
version of the purpose of a park; but
the proposition of devoting it to the
purposes of a huge Fair does not
contemplate incursion, but occupa-
tion and destruction, and ought to
be stoutly resisted at its very incep-
tion.
~The situation in Philadelphia was
wholly different. The enormousarea
and form of the Park in that city
admitted what is im possible in the
Central Park. Our Park is narrow. It
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New York could offer to the myriad
visitors of the Exhibition. We should
have squandered recklessly our fin-
est resource for the attraction and
entertainment of strangers, and
without increasing the charm of the
Fair, we should have sacrificed the
chief charm of the city.
The Central Park is not a com-
mon; it is a careful, beautiful, and
elaborate work of art, and that fact
must be borne in mind constantly
when we are considering the propo-
sitions for occupying it. Its especial
distinction is that it furnishes the
loveliest rural retirement in the
midst of a city, glimpses of peaceful
meadows and tranquil vistas of ver-
dure, of lawn and grove. The Park on
a pleasant afternoon is a brilliant
spectacle, but its distinction, its pe-
culiarity, isthe rus in urbe, When
that is lost its charm is gone, as it
becomes only a larger or smaller city
square or market place. To crowd
into it the enormous buildings of
such a Fair as this is designed to be,
is to destroy that beautiful, verdur-
ous exclusion of the sight of build-
ings and the presence of the citv
which is the secret of its beauty. Itis
a sentiment, indeed, but it ii a sani-
tary sentiment The great argument
for laying out the Park was that it
brought the country to those who
could not go to the country, and that
the fresh air and the rural aspect
and pleasant recreation would re-
fresh the health and rest the mind of
the toiling and tired citizen. All this
must be relinquished if the great
spaces of the Park are to be occupied
with halls and annexes and the hun-
dreds minor structures of a. World Ts
Fair, with all the tram ways and
walks and passages which are indis-
pensable. One abuse will lead to
another. When the seclusion which
it has been not easy to defend against
minor nuisances should be forced to
yield to this devastating scheme,
there would be no limit to the revo-
lution
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UNITED
CAROLINA
BANK
DEADLINE NEARING FOR
CLAIMING TAX REFUNDS
able by writing the Federal
Retiree Tax Equity Task
Force at 3117 Kinnamon
Road, Winston Salem, NC
27104,
This volunteer group of
federal (military and civil
service) retirees has been
spearheading this effort
since the March 28, 1989
US Supreme Court deci-
sion, known as DAVIS v.
MICHIGAN. In that case
the US Supreme Court de-
termined that 24 states,
including North Carolina,
had violated federal law and
the US Constitution by tax-
ing state and federal retir-
ees differently. The North
Carolina General Assembly
in 1996 authorized the re-
fund/credit of only those
taxes paid during any of
the years 1985-1988.
Federal Retirees, and
their surviving heirs, have
only until April 15, 1997 to
claim refunds for taxes paid
to the State of North Caro-
lina on retirement or annu-
ity income for the years
1985-1988. There is no ex-
ception or extension allowed
for refund claims.
After this date those.with
sufficient current tax liabil-
ity may utilize a three year
tax credit, but this credit is
of no value to the estates of
deceased retirees or to those
having little or no income
tax liability.
Those eligible should im-
mediately contact any State
Department of Revenue
Field Office, or call the Ra-
leigh office at their toll free
number, 1-800-357-0781
More information is avail-
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There were 1,345 new dairy
* products introduced in 1996,
according to New Product
News.
Milk and milk products pro-
vide 76 percent of the calcium
in the U.S. food supply, while
providing only 9 percent of
the calories and 12 percent of
the fat. Milk and milk prod-
ucts are also some of the rich-
est sources of potassium and
magnesium.
Dairy spreads were the hot
dairy items in 1996- from fat
free smoked salmon cream
cheese to regular and light
spreadable cheese blends.
Factoring into this develop-
ment may have been 1996's
overwhelming attraction to
the bagel.
Men who drink two cups of
milk a day are two times less
likely to have a stroke than
men who don Tt, according to a
recent study published in the
medical journal Stroke.
According to the U. S. Food
and Drug Administration,
new dairy labeling will gointo
effect in 1998. Among the
changes: skim milk will be
called fat free, because many
consumers thought skim
meant devoid of vitamins and
minerals. .
According to a recent study
in the Journal of the Ameri-
can Medical Association, preg-
nant women who had an in-
creased amount of calcium in
their diets showed a 62 per-
cent reduction in the risk of
getting pre-eclampsia, a dis-
ease of late pregnancy. Oth-
ers decreased their risk of
pregnancy-induced high blood
pressure by 70 percent from
extra calcium.
New research has shown
that people who are lactose
New Dairy Products introduced in 1996
intolerant (they get an upset
stomach from drinking milk)
can adapt to the milk sugar
lactose by building up toler-
ance over a period of time.
Flavored milks offer the
same vitamins and minerals
as white milk and have much
less sugar and caffeine than
soft drinks. Chocolate milk,
for instance, has no more
sugar than orange juice and
only about five milligrams of
caffeine. Acan of cola has nine .
times that amount, and some
other soft drinks have even
more.
N.C. Mountain State Fair expanded from five to nine days
RALEIGH-- Citing steady
increases in attendance, ex-
hibits, vendors and overall
interest, officials with the
North Carolina Department
of Agriculture announced that
the 1997N.C. Mountain State
Fair will be expanded from
five to nine days. The fair,
which will make its fourth
annual run at the Western
N.C. Agricultural Center in
Fletcher, will officially open
on Friday, Sept. 5 at 10 a.m.
and run through Saturday,
You have started to cringe
when you read or hear oBut
_desus is your husband... ? You
have carefully perused the
selection of available men in
your church and found it to be
sorely lacking. And you have
made ten taffeta quilts out of
your always-the-bridesmaid
dresses. Now you are starting
to believe that waiting for
Sept. 13.
oFrom the beginning, the
N.C. Mountain State Fair was
designed as an event for the
people of western North Caro-
lina and neighboring states, ?
said N.C. Agriculture Com-
missioner Jim Graham. oLast
year we were able to take ad-
vantage of some major im-
provements at the Western
North Carolina Agricultural
Center including a new arena,
new restroom facilities and
much more parking. The suc-
cess and interest shown in
this fair played a large role in
our decision to extend the
event, ? Graham added.
Themed oUp and Growing ?
this year, the N.C. Mountain
State Fair will be open from 3
p.m. to midnight Monday
through Thursday and from
10 a.m. to midnight Friday
through Sunday.
In addition to special dis-
counts and free ride days, new
entertainment and exhibits
are also being planned.
Can you wait?
God Ts appointed oMr. Right ?
has all been in vain. The
world Ts nudge to settle for sec-
ond best (or third, or fourth...)
is sounding better than wait-
ing on the Lord Ts timing.
Could it be that God has a
plan for your time of waiting?
In her new book, What to Do
Until Love Finds You,
From Page Six - Boll Weevil
Martin, with 38,459 acres.
The N.C. Department of Agriculture Ts Plant Industry
Michelle McKinney
Hammond shares her experi-
ence as a single and as acoun-
selor to many other single
women. oIf your longing is
based on what God Ts desire is
for you, then God has a man
for you. Where he is and why
he is taking so long, I don Tt
know. But that doesn Tt mean
that he Ts not on his way.
Meanwhile...there Ts more
than one way to wait... ?
Waiting to Prevail
Using her down-to-earth
perspective and her down-
According toN.C. Mountain
State Fair manager Louis
Johnson, commercial exhibit
spaces are now being rented.
oOur first mailing for com-
mercial booth spaces went out
last week and the response
has been terrific, ? said
Johnson. oI would strongly |
encourage any company or
organization interested in
space availability to contact ©
us at (704) 687-1414 as soon
as possible, ? Johnson added.
from-heaven wisdom.
McKinney turns to Scripture
and brings to light biblical
romance and God's plan for
the time of waiting and pre-
paring for marriage. She re-
minds you that God wants life
to begin before you pick out
china patterns! With humor,
passionate poetry, and shared
stories, McKinney draws the
reader to her side as she would
a best friend. Her message of
God Ts purpose for relation-
ships is significant for singles
and married individuals as
Continued on Page Nine.
Division, in cooperation with the N.C. Boll Weevil Eradica-
tion Foundation, oversees the trapping and eradication
program in the state. Private contractors install and main-
tain traps, with boll weevil trapping beginning in mid-
summer and ending at frost or harvest.
The slated $3.60 assessment remains below the 1990-95
average of $4.65 per acre. North Carolina Ts assessment is
the lowest among the southeastern states.
+ + + + + H HF HF HF HF H
" HOME SALES
66
Selling Near Cost ?
IT TS SIMPLE
Let us show you how simple it is
to become a home owner and start
to enjoy the American Dream.
Over 45 houses to choose from
flexible financing and 3% down
payments.
Give me a call or come see our
fine sales staff.
Billy Herndon
Purchase a new home and say you saw this ad in
The oM ? Voice, and receive a $500.00 shopping spree.
Store of your choice.
919-321-1553
Fax 919-321-1335
1105 Greenville Blvd. ¢ Greenville, NC 27836
Mitchell Cannavino
General Manager
x & we we we ke ke ke ke he ke ke ke
JOLLY TS
PAWN SHOP
BUY " SELL " TRADE
InstTANT PAWN
CASH LOANS ON
ALMOST ANYTHING
OF VALUE
MON, " FRI .9-6
SAT. 9-5
ucevER
752-5759)
CORNER NORTH GREEN ST & PACTOLUS HWY .
a a ae ae ae ee ee ee ee ee ee
LS Lis Fis SAR
ta 6 OPE 5 aR Rata BDH:
i
~
Saas wR ES ace Bi il taboo
Ske eee tet
| THINGS
What an industry
' The Associated Press recently reported
that many handicapped and deformed
children from the village of Murshidabad,
India, were being sold by their parents to
middlemen who placed them in Saudi
Arabian cities as beggars. For those who
didn Tt have such children but still wanted
a piece of the action, the traffickers took
pn private investors, offering 50 percent
return within a few months.
Party poopers
Rescue workers interrupted their party to
climb a Welsh mountain after a climber
reported seeing a man there with a head
injury. When the rescue workers arrived at
the spot with the help of a helicopter, they
found a 50-year-old man who explained
he was a Buddhist who had climbed
Cader Idris to spend the winter solstice
communing with nature and told the
workers to go away.
And in the Indonesian capital of Jakarta,
scantily dressed entertainers were banned
recently. Nightclubs in Jakarta regularly
feature foreign musicians and dancers,
some of them erotic, but a spokesperson
for the head supervisor of foreign artists
at City Hall said such bawdy revelry that
takes place there is not appropriate
because of the coming holy month of
Ramadan. oWe will bring down any for-
eign artists who wear a bikini on stage
during this holy time. ?
' Teacher punishment
T
. At Bowling Green State University in
~ Bowling Green, Ohio, university instruc-
tor Patrick Stearns, 32, was suspended
after he allegedly punched a 25-year-old
student in the face for showing up late to
class. And the Medical Board of
California issued a public reprimand
against Dr. Edward A. Thistlewaite of San
Marino, California, for slapping a nine-
year-old boy he was treating for Attention
Deficit Disorder.
Stiff rules
In Mogadishu, Somalia, Muslim clerics
announced it was blasphemous for
women to wear veils imported from India
that feature a printed verse from the
Koran that was unintelligible because of a
misspelling. The error was a serious mis-
take, Muslim leader Sheik Mohamed
Moalim Hassan declared, but oputting it
on the clothes of people is even worse.
Your clothes become dirty, you use them
in toilets and you may even throw them
away. And there, Allah Ts words end up in
an unsuitable and miserable way. ?
Biding time
* The owners of radio station KZZC-FM
in Tipton, California, finally ended 18
consecutive months of being an all oI
~Heard It Through the Grapevine ? station,
~playing various versions of that song all
day, seven days a week (except once
~when it played the Eagles T oNew Kid in
~Town ? for an entire weekend). That sta-
tion was pending sale and the owners just
needed to keep the frequency occupied,
but negotiations dragged on much longer
than expected.
Overreacting
_ World-renowned composer Jon J.
Polifrone, 59, sent a letter to 2,500 col-
leagues in classical music announcing that
he was abruptly quitting the business and
limiting the availability of his works,
~solely because administrators at Virginia
~Polytechnic Institute - where he is a pro-
fessor - told him he needs to spend more
time on his teaching. Colleagues inter-
viewed by the Roanoke Times said the
VPI review was merely a suggestion and
that he was not in danger of losing his
job. oHe simply overreacted, ? a colleague
said.
Diminishing justice?
- Because of overcrowding at the
Chilliwack, British Columbia (Canada)
courtroom, jury selection in a manslaugh-
ter case was removed to a local communi-
ty center, but because of other court busi-
ness taking place there, jury selection was
further removed to the center Ts men Ts
restroom. Said prosecutor Henry
Waldcock, oWhen you hold hearings in a
~bathroom, I fear it may diminish the
~respect for the justice system in the eyes
~of the public. ?
'No bags!
~ Citing Islamic law, Taleban leaders in
~Afghanistan have banned paper bags. oWe
Tespect paper, whether it is written on or
not, ? said the Taleban administration's
information minister. o oWe have
~announced that people should not use
Paper for bags or put paper on the garbage
~heap,
Weight problems
Michigan state security officer Canute
Findsen, 43, was shot to death in Lansing
~by fellow officer Virginia Rich, 51.
Findsen was able to shoot Rich to death
before he died. Police believe Rich was
~upset that Findsen had made one com-
~Ment too many about her being over-
~weight. And in Providence Rhode Island,
~Ricardo Guerrero killed himself rather
ithan face prison for shooting and wound-
ing Johnny Urbaez at a nightclub, accord-
ting to police. Urbaez had reportedly pre-
(cipitated the incident by referring to
~Guerrero as oFatso. ?
{Compiled by Real Times Communica-
tions, Inc., 40] North Michigan Avenue,
Suite 745, Chicago, Illinois 60671.
Suitit
RALEIGH " The North Carolina
Department of Agriculture Ts Food
and Drug Protection Division warns
consumers who suffer from sulfite-
sensitive asthma or other sulfite
sensitive health conditions not to
eat white (albacore) and light canned
tuna at this time.
According to the Food and Drug
Administration, some canned tuna -
may contain sulfites not declared on
the product labels. Sulfites and
sulfiting agents are added to many
foods as preservatives.
oThe white tuna is safe for people
who do not suffer from sulfite-sensi-
tive asthma or other sulfite sensi-
tive conditions, but for those people
with sulfite-related health disorders,
it can cause serious or life threaten-
ing reactions, o said Bob Gordon,
director of the Food and Drug Pro-
tection Division. oWe want to alert
at-risk people about the possible
presence of sulfites in white tuna to
hopefully avoid any food-induced
reactions. ?
The National Food Processors As-
sociation and the U.S. Tuna Foun-
dation recently informed the FDA
that sulfites had been added to a
significant portion of canned tuna
products inadvertently and without
manufacturers T knowledge.
~The sulfites were apparently con-
tained, but not declared, in hydro-
lyzed vegetable protein, which is a
raw material added to tuna to en-
hanceits flavor. Manufacturers who
add detectable levels of sulfites to
food products are required to de-
clare its presence on labels.
FDA is investigating, in coopera-
tion with the industry, to determine
ite-sensitive asthmatics "
warned not to eat white tuna ®
how the situation occurred( and how
it can be prevented. In the future,
canned tuna containing sulfites will
be clearly marked so people will
know the preservative has been
added.
oWe have one of the safest food
supplies in the world and we want to
keep it that way, ? said Agriculture
Commissioner Jim Graham. oThis
measure is just a precaution for
people who are allergic to sulfites. o
Consumers can call the industry Ts
1-800-283-1112 number for specific
information about the presence of
sulfites in albacore and light canned
tuna products. -30-2,3 Contact: Bob
Gordon, director, or Don Howell,
administrator, Food and Drug Pro-
tection Division, N.C. Department
of Agriculture, at (919) 733-7366.
bituaries
JOHNSON
In profound sorrow Rountree and
Associates Funeral Home announces
the death of Ms. Dollie Lee Johnson,
45 of 506 East Gum Road, died
Thursday March 13, 1997 at
Richland Memorial Hospital, Colum-
bia SC.
Funeral Services Tuesday 1:00 pm
at St. John MB Church. Burial in
Greenwood Cemetery. Rev. Gre-
gory Black, officiating.
Ms. Johnson was a member of St.
John Missionary Baptist Church, in
which she sang with the Senior
Choir. She was the manager and
sang with the Junior Consolators
for 32 years. She worked for Pitt
County Schools and Cornerstone
Childcare Center.
She is survived by Her Mother:
Selma Chancey Johnson of
Greenville, NC
Two Daughters: NatashaJohnson
and DeRobyn Holland both of
Greenville NC
Four Brothers: Robert Earl
Johnson
Ivery Lee Johnson
Billy Gray Johnson all
of Greenville NC
Jimmy Person of Wash-
ington DC
Four Sisters: Vonnie Lee Fleming
of Baltimore MD .
Eva Evon Johnson
Betty L. Johnson
Mary Darnell Barrett all
of Greenville NC
Visitation Monday 7 to 8 pm at St.
John MB Church, Stokes NC. Other
times family will receive friends at
the home of her mother, Selma
Chancey Johnson, 1312-A North
Vandyke Street.
Arrangements by Rountree and
Associates Funeral Home.
919-757-2067
WHICHARD
Mrs. Alberta Whichard, 93, of 520
Smith St. Bethel, died Monday,
March 17, 1997 at her residence.
Funeral services were conducted
Thursday, March 20, at Holly Hill
FWB Church. She was buried in
Bethel Cemetery.
Mrs. Whichard was born in
Edgecombe County and reared in
Pitt County. She attended the Pitt
County Schools. She was a member
of Holly Hill FWB Church.
Survivors include: Two daugh-
ters, Doris Whichard Montgomery
of The Home and Mary Whichard of
East Orange, NJ; one brother, O.C.
Knight of Greenville, NC; one grand-
child, two great grandchildren, other
relatives and friends.
Viewing was held at Norcott
Chapel of Loving Memories. Ar-
rangements by Norcott & Company
Funeral Home, Greenville.
SHORT
Mrs. Gladys Duncan Short, 73, of
406 Paris Ave., died Saturday,
March 15, 1997 at Pitt County Hos-
pital.
Funeral services were held at j
Brown Chapel Church, Belvoir. |
Burial in the cemetery.
Mrs. Short was a native of Pitt
County and attended the local
schools. She was amember of Brown
Surviving: daughters, Jo Ann
Short and Mildred Short both of the
home; sons, Willie Lee Short of
Bridgeport, CT, and Arlander Short
of the home; sisters, Beatrice
Sheppard, Mary Joyner, and Ida R.
Staton all ofGreenville, NC; 8 grand-
children; 15 great grandchildren.
Arrangements by Flanagan Fu-
neral Home, Inc., Greenville.
The 14th Annual Great Pirate
Purple/Gold Pigskin Pig-Out Party
The annual spring football game at
East Carolina University in Greenville
used to be an unknown event until a
barbecue cook-off contest was added to
attract regional interest. About 15 pig-
roust teams entered the first year to
barbecue all night underneath Dowdy-
Ficklen Stadium. The next day, profes-
sional pig-roast judges awarded prizes
and football fans enjoyed chopped bar-
becue before the Pirates took to the field
for their final spring scrimmage.
Nowinits 14th year, the Great Pirate
Purple/Gold Pigskin Pig-Out Party has
evolved into a four day onationally rec-
ognized, family oriented carnival-style
weekend ?, says Lee Workman, assis-
tant athletics director. The Pig-Out,
sponsored by the Eastern Carolina
Toyota Dealers, offers something for
everyone while raising about $50,000
each year for the Pirate Club which
exists to provide scholarships to stu-
dent-athletes at ECU.
Sports fans can enjoy a variety of
activities. Head Football Coach Steve
Logan and his players will sign auto-
graphs at a sports card show. The Pig-
Out Golf Classic includes a $2 million
Hole-In-One Shootout. The ECU soft-
ball team will battle Liberty while the
baseball team challenges CAA rival
George Mason. In the football game
fans can see last year Ts outstanding
recruits for the first time including the
1995 Shine Bowl North Carolina Defen-
sive MVP in Raymond Massey from
Charlotte and offensive tackle Anthony
Nobles. But there are plenty of festivi-
ties scheduled for those e who don Tt
know the difference between a first down
and a touchdown. Live beach and Top
40 music will be provided by The Enter-
tainers and the Breeze Band. A fire-
works show will light up the night.
Inside Williams arena the largest home
and garden show east of I-95 will take
place. A craft show featuring regional
items is scheduled. A military equip-
ment and vehicle display from Camp
Lejune will be included for the first
time. For the young and the young at
heart, a variety of carnival rides await
thrill seekers. Children can look for-
ward to kiddie games, finger printing
with the Greenville Police, the Networks
Showtime ? Ball Handling Team, nu-
merous dance and community enter-
tainment groups, and autographs from
the ECU cheerleaders and PeeDee the
Pirate Mascot.
Volunteers from the Pitt-Greenville
Chamber of Commerce have had alot to
do with the success of the Pig-Out. But
the winning ways of the Pirates on the
football field has made the event easier
to sell. In the 1990 Ts ECU has made
three bowl trips. Last year the Pirates
enjoyed an 8-3 season highlighted by a
31-6 victory at Miami.
What started out as an interesting
idea has become a major regional event
on par with the Michael Jordan Celeb-
rity Golf Classic and the Emerald Isle
Beach Music Festival. oThis is a unique
event on the college campus around
college athletics. I think that the event
has tried to be emulated, but I don Tt
know that it has been equaled, ? says
Workman.
Since its origin in 1984, the Pig-Out
hasbecome acritical fundraiser for ECU,
not to mention a hit with all that have
attended. oThe initial purpose was to
have a family oriented event in the
spring in our athletic program that our
fans would enjoy coming back to do and
to offer a way to attract new people to
our program that do not normally at-
tend ECU athletic events. I think it Ts
done more than we ever though it would
do, ? says Workman.
For event information call the ECU
marketing office at (919) 328-4530. For
tickets call 1-800-DIAL-ECU.
From Page Eight - Can you wa nt?
she shares how to:
* prepare mentally, physically
and spiritually for a fulfilling mar-
riage
* recognize your blind spots and
areas of potential trouble
¢ talk to Jesus daily and make
your relationship with Him real
* follow the guidelines for dating,
intimacy, and interaction with oth-
ers N
{
¢ handle attractions from the first
encounter to the marriage altar
Happy and Single
No, they aren Tt pals of Snow White.
They are self-descriptions which
McKinney proves can coexist in one
life. Ultimately, McKinney teaches
by example how this is possible
through God and through His Word
as it remains relevant to the
struggles, frustrations, and tempta-
tions of 20th century singles. If you
say you've oheard it all before ? from
countless singles manuals and well-
meaning friends (usually married,
mind you)...this is a fresh account of
life as a single the way God intends
it to be. A life of joy and fulfillment
knowing that you are waiting in
God Ts will for the glorious day when
(
Chapel Holy Church.
Love finds you.
te »
»
i
prizewinning =i ®
writer Wole " "
Soyinka has been *
charged with trea- =
24 son in his home- .
ee Ae, .
The charge, which carries a death *
penalty, came days after Soyinka saidhe =
would sue Nigerian military leader Sani =
Abacha for calling him a terrorist. The o
1986 Nobel literature laureate fled his.
Nigerian homeland two years ago after
learning that authorities planned to arrest
him for speaking against their military
rule. He is now living in London. The 4
Abacha regime executed dissident play-
wright Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight others in
November 1995 for speaking against the
government. A year ago, Soyinka was
with Nigerian opposition groups who met
in Norway and agreed to form a united
front against the Abacha regime.
SOUTH AFRICA
Gunfire mars protest
ZRaivas
At the end of a
Zulu protest in
downtown
Johannesburg this
week, gunfire
i: fea erupted killing
eight people. The scene was reminiscent
of a scene three years ago.
South African police said that some of
the weapons used were automatic, and
~that the sounds echoed off the downtown
buildings. Most marchers carried tradi-
tional Zulu spears, clubs and shields, and
it was not clear who fired the shots.
Police said that at least two people were
fatally shot and four others injured while
| the Zulu nationalists traveled from Black *
townships outside the capital city to take
part in the march and a rally at the central -
library. The march was a relic of long-
standing animosity between the Zulu-
nationalist Inkatha Freedom Party and
President Mandela Ts National Black
Congress. Three years ago, security
guards opened fire on Zulu marchers
approaching the ANC headquarters,
killing eight people.
ZAIRE
Protesters burn U.S. flag
Zairian protesters
burned the
American flag and
demanded the
expulsion of the
U.S. Ambassador
es and his staff, and.
the Zairian prime minister blamed every-
one but France for ignoring what he
called othe tragedy ? in eastern Zaire.
The protesters chanted, oThat Ts enough
Clinton ? and oAmericans, get out! ? About
200 demonstrators protested in front of
the U.S. Embassy where Daniel Simpson
is ambassador. Zairian soldiers moved in
to break up the demonstration after the
flag was burned. A travel warning has
been issued by Washington for the 550
Americans in Zaire, including 320 in the
capital city of Kinshasa. France is the
only western power that has shown its
sympathies, President Jacques Chirac
said, oNo one can ignore this any more,
and no one can remain indifferent. ?
The rebels have taken about one-sixth of
Zaire over the past five months, prompt-
ing frequent expressions of concern from
U.S. officials about the stability not only
in Zaire but neighboring countries.
SUDAN
Sudanese lose 200 rebels
Sudanese rebels
fighting a! g
Sudan Ts. mM
border wit. anda
and Zaire, ad): utted
this week that they
have lost about 200 rebels, but claim
Sudan Ts government forces have lost
more.
Uganda rejected Sudan Ts allegations
that it was aiding what appeared to be a
two-pronged attack by Sudan Ts People
Liberation Army (SPLA) hat reportedly
drove government troops from several
posts in extreme southern Sudan. But the
country Ts independent daily, The
Crusader, said that Ugandan and
Sudanese forces had exchanged artillery
fire across the tense border earlier this
week. The SPLA said about 200 Sudanese
troops and Sudan backed Ugandan fight-
ers had been killed, including a Sudanese
major-general and nine colonels. The
rebels said they had captured their former
headquarters of Kajo-Keji, about 15 miles
north of Uganda, and were moving slight-
ly north-westward, laying seige to Yei.
On the western front north of the Zaire
border, the rebels claimed they captured
Bazi, a small trading center about 60
miles west of Yei. Most of the Sudanese
casualties occurred at Kaya, 18 miles
north of the Ugandan border and 43 miles
east of Yei, where rebels destroyed four
tanks and seized others.
Sudanese army spokesman Gen.
Mohamed Sanousi Ahmed said this week |
that Sudanese troops were ocourageously
fighting the agréssors on all battle fronts, ?
The SPLA rebels from the mostly
Christian and animistn groups have been
fighting for independence since 1983,
a
!
}
~calls for formation of dairy compact to help struggling producers
RALEIGH " North Caro-
lina Agriculture Commis-
sioner Jim Graham on Tues-
day announced a new loan
program for beginning farm-
ers and called for the forma-
tion ofa Southern Dairy Com-
pact to help struggling dairy
producers.
Graham, speaking at the
~ Governor Ts Summit on North
Carolina Agriculture, said the
Farm Credit Associations of
North Carolina and the N.C.
Agricultural Finance Author-
ity have agreed to participate
in the lending program. The
PCMH
authority is affiliated with the
N.C. Department of Agricul-
ture.
oTogether they will provide
long term credit for beginning
farmers at reasonable inter-
est rates, ? he said. oEach will
provide 50 percent of the
loans. ?
Loans from the Agricultural
Finance Authority will be for
30-year terms and will be for
up to 95 percent of the
property Ts appraised value.
The first year loan payment
will be for interest only.
forum
set to resume
Tuesday night
@ The first hearing on
the privatization of Pitt
County Memorial Hospital
was dominated by speak-
ers affiliated with the hos-
pital, and commissioners
say they want to hear what
others think.
By Lloyd Whittington
The Daily Reflector
A hearing Tuesday night pro-
vides a chance for all to speak
about the future of Pitt County
Memorial Hospital " not only
those affiliated with the hospital,
county officials said.
The county will continue a
March 21 hearing to Tuesday at 7
what they will need to know in
order to be comfortable with any
decision we reach regarding their
hospital. ?
The hearing is, however, for
those affiliated with the hospital as
well, County Manager Tom Robin-
son said.
oIt Ts for anybody who wants to
come speak. We're not trying to
steer it in any direction at all, ? he
said.
Savage is confident the public
still has concerns.
oI Tm still bombarded with ques-
tions from the public about this.
This is still a hot area of concern.
They basically want to know, ~Why
the hospital needs to change? Is it a
good idea? Are they going to be
turning people away? Is this just a
way for somebody to make more
p.m. in the Agricul- money? ?
ture Center Audito- The hogpital
rium to discuss oThey can tell their has purcHased
how to keep neighbors and dis- numerous, full
PCMH competitive B page ote se
as managed care
develops in eastern
North Carolina.
The county is
considering chang-
ing PCMH into a
private, not-for-
profit hospital to
bypass state laws
cuss it on the
street, but it
doesn Tt do any good
unless it gets back
to the people who
ultimately make the
decision. This is a
ments in The
Daily Reflector,
as well as distrib-
uted propaganda
throughout the
community
responding to
similar questions.
ee aaa eee The county has
nat hinder hosp government of the also purchased a
tals under man- ? tabloid in the
dcare Ts chang. People.
aged cares chang paper using mate-
es. Other options Kenneth Dews sia} presented by
ae trying to vice chairman two Chicago
change the laws or pitt County Commission consultants.
leaving the hospital oI think they
as it is.
More than 275 people attended
the earlier hearing, which was
dominated by speakers affiliated
with the hospital. They favored
privatization.
oWe heard from a good many of
the medical community, ? commis-
sion Vice Chairman Kenneth Dews
said. oThey are taxpayers. They are
citizens and they do have jobs
there and have a right to appear.
But we didn Tt hear much from the
opposing sides. If anyone has a
concern, it would be a good oppor-
tunity for them to come forward
and we hear those concerns. ?
Commissioner Jeff Savage was
more direct.
oI would like to have more peo-
ple from the community other than
.. (those connected to the hospital)
to come out and speak and share
with the board their concerns,
their questions and to get a feel for
aren Tt trusting that the answers are
as complete as they should be, ?
Savage said. oIt may take a differ-
ent messenger. ?
Who might that be?
oThat Ts a good question, ? Savage
said. oBut I think commissioners
definitely need to take more of a
leadership role in presenting the
pros and cons of this issue. ?
The PCMH board of trustees has
asked that the hospital be con-
verted from a public body to a pri-
vate, not-for-profit organization.
The East Carolina University
board of trustees and the
Greenville-Pitt Chamber of Com-
merce have endorsed that option.
Laws that govern public bodies
put PCMH at a competitive disad-
vantage, hospital administrators
and county consultants have said.
Twenty-year loans will be of-
fered from Farm Credit with
fixed interest rates. For the
first three years of a loan,
payments will be for interest
only.
The commissioner also
called for formation ofa South-
ern Dairy Compact to help
stabilize prices and the
region Ts milk supply by en-
couraging local production.
oHigh feed prices have hurt
our farmers and milk prices
for our producers have
dropped to unreasonable lev-
els, ? he said.
oImmediate action is needed
to address the milk pricing
issue. The current federal
marketing regulations are not
fair, ? Graham said. oPrices are
based on the cheese market.
North Carolina like other
states in the South is a fluid
or milk state, not cheese.
oThat Ts why the 15 states in
the South are looking at form-
ing acompact, ? he said. oOnly
three adjoining states have to
sign on to form the compact. I
encourage the General As-
sembly to make North Caro-
lina one of them. ?
Graham said that dairy
farmers, along with other live-
stock and poultry producers,
are also facing a number of
environmental regulations
and proposals. oProtecting
natural resources is impor-
tant, no doubt about it. Agri-
culture contributes to some
environmental problems but
the industry is not alone, ? he
said.
oEstimates are that 100
dairy farms, each generating
am announces new loan program
about $1 million dollars a year,
may close this year because of
prices and environmental
regulations. That Ts a $100
million loss in our rural ar-
eas, ? thecommissioner added.
oWe need to work together,
farmer and non farmer alike,
to reach sound and effective
solutions. Common sense
needs to guide these efforts.
Farmers are the original stew-
ards of the environment and
will continue to work hard to
protect land, air and water
resources. ?
SHAPING UP FOR THE 21ST CENTURY
By Patricia A. McCain
In the ever-changing and
fast-moving world of business
and industry, how are choice-
crazy consumers going to be
satisfied?
By coming up with some-
thing that Ts new and im-
proved. That Ts what gets at-
tention and makes sales.
Industries must have bet-
ter-than-ever-stuff. We need
to invest in next generation
upgradés that give our orga-
nization the edge.
If knowledge is to be the
new source of wealth in the
Information Age, then com-
panies as well as employees
will be investing in their
knowledge future.
Companies are spending
millions in this effort. Some
are paying to reskill their
workers - those who do not
participate or who cannot
learn are out of the loop.
Burn this into your brain:
You must become a olearner ?
in order to stay oin shape ? for
The county is considering ask-
ing the General Assembly to
amend laws that hinder public
hospitals. Hospital officials have
said that process is lengthy and
uncertain, particularly given
expected opposition from private
hospitals.
The county is facing an April 10
deadline to request legislative
changes.
Robinson is not expecting the
board to act after the hearing.
oNot at all. I think they'll wait and
do that on April 7 in their regular
session. I think they'll probably
want to wait and digest what is
being said. The Jegislation, that Ts
the only thing that has a timetable
to it. ?
Almost 50 people spoke during
the previous hearing.
» Those who signed up and did not
speak at the last hearing will have
priority this time, Robinson said.
The county may also have a list of
those who wish to speak again, he
said.
oBut we'll let those speak who
haven Tt before anyone gets a sec-
ond chance, ? Robinson said.
The county plans to tape the
meeting for broadcast on public
access cable channels.
Times and dates will
announced.
Dews encouraged debate.
oThey can tell their neighbors
and discuss it on the street, but it
doesn Tt do any good unless it gets
back to the people who ultimately
make the decision. This is a gov-
ernment of the people. ?
be
MILTON'S AUTO DETAIL
Owner
MILTON PARKER
"QUALTY BEFORE COST"
oWe clean a car...cleaner than
your washing machine ?
Cars °35" Vans °50 ?
(Prices include cleaningyt
outside)
GREENVILLE, NC 27834
830-9344
the 21st Century.
That shape will keep chang-
ing. It will not matter what
business we're in or who we
work for. It will continue to
resize or light size (I tend to
believe what one industry
mogul said oAll this restruc-
turing, reorganization and
redoing that industries have
been doing these past 10
years, points to the fact that
we didn Tt do it right the first
time ?)...maybe.
Anytime a company, a na-
tion or an employee has to
redo, it generally means a re-
investment and a new com-
mitment.
Next time, owe ? in the world
of work will be expected to
move faster and surer to em-
brace the changes that will
occur. Our job is to help move
the walls. We must do our
part to help the organization
stay flexible.
To earn our keep, every one
of us needs to become a trans-
former.
It Ts in our best interest to
make this sort of mind
shift...to accept this new set
of responsibilities. We end up
better off because it aligns
our work behavior with
people Ts consumer behavior.
It puts us in touch with the
time, with where technology
is taking us. Above all, it posi-
tions us to win.
Therefore, today Ts challenge
is to help the organization
adapt, accelerate, innovate,
learn, and transform itself to
fit constantly changing busi-
ness conditions.
According to Charles Dar-
win, oIt is not the strongest of
species that survive, nor the
most intelligent, but the one
most responsive to change. ?
oIt has been estimated that
80% of the jobs in the U.S.
within 20 years will be cere-
bral, and only 20% manual,
the exact opposite of the ratio
in 1900...there are already
more computer-literate first
graders than there are com-
puter-literate first grade
teachers. (Jennifer James,
Thinking In the Future
Tense.)
Finally we must not be of-
Luke 14:23
~ Featuring Minister Martie Grace of New York City
And the Lord said unto the servants, Go out into
the HIGHWAYS and HEDGES, and compel them to
come in, that my house may be filled.
fended by change...and not go
around looking for bad guys
to blame.
Employees and employers
alike must be ready and will-
ing to adapt to the swiftly
changing technology of the
21st Century.
Patricia McCain is the
owner of McCain Employment
Services, Inc. of Kinston, NC.
ees |
Cecce : }MERCuRr| CHRYSLER
East Carolina
Auto & Truck Center
She began the business in
1987 and it has grown to the
leaderinemployment services
serving Lenoir and surround-
ing counties. Mrs. McCain is
also involved in the commu-
nity as well as serving on the
Governor Ts Work Force Pre-
paredness Commission and
other boards throughout Kast-
ern NC.
JAMES WILSON
Memorial Dr. & Greenville Blvd.
Post Office Box 1764 1-800-849-3355
Greenville, North Carolina 27835 FAX 919-756-6914
919-355-3333
562 Pamlico Plaza, Washington, NC 27889
(WalMart Shopping Center)
Call for Delivery (Limited Area)
« Open Hours:
9 AM till 6 PM " Mon. - Thurs.
9 AM till 6:30 PM " Fri.
8:30 AM till 6:30 PM on Sat.
Call 975-2665
Friday from
New Jersey
-. Call for
Pricing
" and
~ Appointments
Presents
Braips Sef? Braips
We cater to all hacr chin types
- The Latest Styles and Trends
in Braiding |
- Tor All Types of Hair |
Come To The Right Place and Experience The Differences!
Make A Joyful Noise Ministries
& Redeeming Love Worship Center
It's Showtime!!!
The Ist Annual Soul-Saving Festival
When: Saturday, April 19, 1997
Time: From 1:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Where: Thomas Foreman Park on West 5th Street
(Eppes Recreational Park)
Why: To Win Lost Souls!!!
Restoring Unity in the Community and Mending the wounded.
Also Featuring:
Pastor Timothy Ward * Pastor Michael Dixon + Pastor Jesse Jones + Pastor Randy B, Royal * Pastor Malcolm Moore « Supt, A. B. Parker * Minister
Gary Lee * Bishop Stephanie Winfield
Motivational Speakers Pastors Local Ministers Anointed Dancers Soloists Choirs Groups Children's Games
And More
Spreading the Gospel!!!
Free Food & Refreshments
Contact:
Chief Executive Officer
Ms. Joy Brown
(919) 974-1456
Let the Power of the Holy Ghost Rain on You!!!
Bring your own chairs*
No vendors!!!
For more information or to be a participant!
Publicity Manager
Ms. Monica Jones
(919) 754-2933
Program Coordinator
Mrs. Tammie J. Cox
(919) 355-1896
e
ame!
A Notorious End
Some Say Broolyn's B.I.G. was victim of West Coast
By VINETTEE K. PRYCE
Special to the AmNews
LOS ANGELES "Biggie Smalls
probably did not know what hit him
when four bullets pierced his
Chevrolet Suburban outside the
Petersen Automotive Museum. The
24-year-old reformed Bad Boy from
Brooklyn soared to music industry
heights when he recorded his first
album, oReady To Die, ? two years
ago. Smalls was hit as he sat in the
passenger side of the vehicle late
Saturday night after making his last
public appearance on national tele-
vision during the previous night Ts
oSoul Train ? Awards.
Although hundreds of people
milled about when the fire depart-
ment reportedly stopped the party,
no one has volunteered eyewitness
accounts to the Los Angeles Police
Department. Smalls, alse known as
Notorious B.1.G. in the rap indus-
try, was called Christopher Wallace
in the Brooklyn neighborhood of
Bedford-Stuyvesant.
Smalls had been making the
rounds at numerous Los Angeles
radio stations promoting his next
album due in stores on March 24.
Titled oLife After Death .. . ~Til
Death Do Us Part, ? Smalls capped
his promotional visit with an on-
camera presentation at the oSoul
Train ? Awards.
oWhat Ts up, Cali? ? he asked the
crowd.
Up in the balcony where the non-
music industry audience watched,
the response was a resounding boo.
That response could have been at-
tributed to his talking candidly on
BEAT radio about his reaction to
the death of rival rapper Tupac
Shakur by saying he was too ab-
sorbed in his own problems to really
mourn.
Smalls said he had an accident
and was going through a divorce
and was unable to focus on Shakur Ts
demise. Revered as a tragic hero,
Shakur Ts music is heard hourly on
the BEAT. His oTo Live & Die In
L.A. ? is in heavy rotation, along with
other recordings which hail the West
Coast as othe best coast. ? Allegedly,
threats were made to Smalls at the
aSoul Train ? Awards. One report-
edly warned him not to attend the
Vibe event. Neither Smalls nor his
label Ts founder, Sean oPuffy ? Combs,
seemed intimidated by the disre-
_ spect shown at the awards.
The previous year, Combs was
allegedlyaccosted by Shakur and
Marion oSuge ? Knight at the same
ceremony. At that time Combs
quitely left Los Angeles on the first
available flight.
When Shakur was gunned down
in a similar style in Las Vegas,
Smalls remained silent. He did not
attend the memorial tribute which
invited rappers and fans. This ges-
ture caused speculation in the rap
community as to Smalls T feelings for
his West Coast competition even
after death.
Since that time, Smalls has been
travelling back and forth to Los
Angeles without incident. Guallé
visited the city in December T96 while.
restricted to a wheelchair. Combs
me
accompanied him on that trip.
oSoul Train ? Awards tested public ?
response when Shakur Ts former.
labelmate Snoop Doggy Dogg walked _
on stage at the
Shrine Auditorium to make a pre- |
ah T
This visit to Los Angeles and the "
sentation. The balcony responded ,
with cheers and
USSSSnnnnnooop. ?
shouts of.
Similarly, Shakur received a_
standing ovation when he was an-
nounced as the winner in the R&B
Soul or Rap Album of the Year cat-_
egory for his oAll Eyez On Me ? Death
Row recording.
CopsWon Tt Discuss
Rap Violence blamed on white willies
who control hip hop music industry
- By VINETTE K. PRYCE
LOS ANGELES "Two of the
biggest names in rap music were
murdered six months apart and
the blame for their deaths should
be heavy-handedly placed on the
men at the top who fund distri-
bution of negative rhetoric.
These men who have rerouted
the derogatory messages when
radio failed to play the record-
ings by releasing under ground/
club- tracks are the culprits. Most
of these men have no contacts
with the Black community and
care little if the messages deni-
grate Black women, incite nega-
tive behavior or influence family
disunity.
Some Black radio station own-
ers have been responsible in si-
phoning violence and negative
lyrics from their play list.
However, their numbers are
not increasing and in response
new stations are emerging which
encourage foul language, disre-
spect and negative behavior.
Here where Biggy Smalls was
gunned down early Sunday
morning, not one radio station
reported the detailed news of the
killing. Up until press time not
one radio station has described
how Biggy made it to Cedars-
Sinai Hospital. None stated the
name of the driver of the GMC
Suburban. Not one named the
other passengers in the vehicle
or even mentioned whether or
not Biggy was leaving or enter-
ing the party.
As a matter of fact, the sta-
tions which claim they are oup ?
on hip-hop news copied televi-
sion reports by saying the party
at Fairfax and Wilshire was the
oSoul Train ? after-party, which
it was not. Vibe Magazine will be
launching a television show in
August. The Quincy Jones/ David
Saltzman production is what in-
vited New Yorkers and Califor-
nians to the Peterson Automo-
tive Museum, not Don Cornelius T
oSoul Train. ? oSoul Train ? after-
parties were held the very night
the oSoul Train ? awards aired.
Two parties were held at the
Century Club and the House of
Blues. Radio has not addressed
their misinformation to the pub-
lic.
CNN reported the murder be-
fore rap radio. Here Power 106
acted responsibly by opening
their phone lines for callers who
wanted to vent. A majority of
callers were remorseful, offering
condolences to Biggie Ts family.
Although the Baker Brothers,
the hosts of the show, denounced
the East/West rivalry, callers re-
peatedly mentioned the compe-
tition which pits New York Ts Bad
Boy Records with the Los Ange-
les-based Deathrow Records.
In addition, music which filled
the show was all reflective of
inciteful Westcoast rivalry. When
asked about the responsibility of
radio programmers, a Power 106
personality said oI don Tt think
we need to babysit rappers .. .
this is what the people want to
hear. The Baker Brothers said
rap is why they are on radio,
therefore they could never de-
nounce the genre. However, no
one took responsibility for pro-
gramming violence or disparag-
ing lyrics to the audience of im-
pressionable youths most of
whom are, at best, high school
graduates.
While Knight and Combs en-
joy benefits as heads of record
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labels, a closer examination
should be made of the money
which backs their ventures.
Many rappers are uneducated,
high-school drop-outs who be-
lieve obeing real ? is cursing and
glorifying thug life. For their
fans the message becomes oreal ?
when they carry out the message
in the lyrics.
Major record companies can
stop the killings, the rivalry and
the jealousy - coast to coast. But
why should they when annually
rap grosses one billion dollars?
MCA reportedly invested $200
million in Death Row when they
became equal partners with
Marion oSuge ? Knight after Time
Warner bowed to pressure and
dropped the controversial label.
Similarly, Arista with the
Bartelsman Music Group backs
Bad Boy Records. However,
throughout all the controversy it
has been Sean oPuffy ? Combs
who has taken the heat.
These behind-the-scenes profi-
teers should be made to accept
the responsibility of murdering
Black men who die before reach-
ing age 30.
| Notorious B.I.G.:
Another Hip Hop
Tragedy
By C.D. E RAZIER
In the echo of the Tupac shoot-
ing six months ago, the Notori-
ous B.1.G. fell victim to a fatal
driveby shooting in Los Angeles
on March 9. His was not only
tragic, but a loss to the entire
music industry that will defi-
nitely have an impact on the fu-
ture of hip hop. oBig was one of
my closest friends. Words can Tt
express my pain. He was one of
the greatest artists I have ever
had the pleasure to work with. I
love him and will always miss
him, ? said Sean oPuffy ? Combs,
Bad Boy CEO.
The 24-year-old oSoul Train, ?
Source Magazine, and Billboard
Award winner, was due to re-
lease his latest album, ironically
entitled, oLife After Death. .. TTil
Death Do Us Part, ? this spring.
In a quote taken from Biggie Ts
latest biography, he said: oWhen
I did the first album I was in a
living hell, stressed and de-
pressed. I was more relaxed mak-
ing this one and I Tm proud of
what I came up with. I want to
live up to my name and prove
to everybody that there is really
life after death. ? Mainstream
America labeled him a gangster
rapper, but he wasn Tt. People fail
to realize that, in hip hop, you Tre
not considered a gangster rapper
unless you are gang banging on
wax. Like most hip hop artists
who are indigenous to their envi-
ronment, Biggie made under-
ground hits about the life of his
urban peers. It was these under-
ground hits, anot so positive past,
and an intense rivalry with Tupac
that fueledthe fire for the media
to unjustly create rumors about
an East Coast/West Coast war.
oIt Ts a terrible fact that we Tve had
three casualties connected to this
concocted situation that Ts much
bigger than rap and hip hop. It
shows how the problems of the
Black community-Black on Black
crime that has been in dialogue -
in the art form for so long, has
floated to the top and is out of
control, ? said Chuck D of Public
Enemy.
These hip hop classics, along
with radio dance hits like Mary
J. Blige Ts oReal Love ? and Biggie's
t
©
Rapper Investigation |.
Los Angeles police earlier this
week declined to discuss whether
the Crips street gang is under
inves tigation for the killings of
rival rap pers Notorious B.1.G.
and Tupac Shakur.
In its latest issue, Time maga-
zine reports that police are in-
vestigating the Crips in connec-
tion with the March 9 drive-by
shooting in Los Angeles of 24-
year-old Notorious B.I.G., also
knownas Biggie Smalls and born
Christopher Wallace.
But a spokesman for the Los
Angeles Police Department said
he could not confirm whether de-
tectives are investigating such a
nexus.
Time also reports that Las
Vegas police believe amember of
the Crips killed Shakur, 25, who
was fatally wounded in a car-to-
car at tack there on Sept. 7.
Shakur was in a car that night
driven by supposed Bloods mem-
ber and Death Row Records chief
oSuge ? Knight, who since has
been packed off to prison for nine
years for probation violation.
A Las Vegas homicide lieuten-
ant informed of the Time report
disputed it. Speculation was
rife in the after math of Wallace Ts
murder this month that it was a
retaliation hit for the murder of
Shakur.
What was known is that
Wallace and Shakur had once
been friends, but Shakur had
blamed B.I.G. after being nearly
killed during a robbery in New
York City in 1994.
Shakur also had bragged on a
CD "in graphic terms that he
had slept with Wallace Ts wife,
which she has denied.
All that added up to a sup-
posed rivalry between East and
West Coast rappers, one Snoop
Doggy Dogg alluded to during an
awards show a year or so ago.
_ According to the Time article,
there are officially no suspects in
Shakur Ts murder, obut police say
they have identified amember of
the Crips gang who they believe
is responsible.
oBecause Death Row (Shakur Ts
label) has links to the Blood street
gangs "bitter rivals of the
Crips " and because Bad Boy
(Entertainment, B.I.G. ~s label)
had hired Crips and bodyguards
during their West Coast visits,
some observers speculate that
the Wallace murder involved re-
oBig Poppa ? propelled him into
stardom. Soundtracks, movies
and TV made him affluent and
famous. When it came to the con-
sensus, the overall decision was
that Big Poppa was omad cool. ?
But there were those who thought
that he could have portrayed
street life from a positive point of
view. Many believe that the in-
dustry as a whole will take a
different direction after the lat-
est chain of events.
The media has many specula-
tions on what led to his unfortu-
nate demise. Reflecting on the
news coverage on TV, it seemed
as though they felt that his death
was inevitable. oHalf the prob-
lem with some of the media cov-
erage is that we, the hip hop
community, can see the whole
world but the world only sees a
small fraction of the hip hop com-
munity, ? said Dane Webb, rap
editor for the Urban Network,
Los Angeles.
One would think that Ameri-
cans might have used the Tupac
shooting as an example and
stopped the senseless violence
surrounding hip hop.
oI saw the movie ~Rosewood T
the night before. I came out of the
movie putting wr in per-
venge by the Bloods on behalf
of Shakur. But sources tell Time
that the LAPD is focusing its
investigation on the same group
of Crips that Bad Boy used as
body guards. ?
Meanwhile, the fight between
a black Democratic legislator
from Los Angeles and a white
Republican lawmaker from
Granada Hills over whether to
honor Notorious B.I.G., a
former Brooklyn crack dealer,
continued.
In a recent op-ed essay, As-
semblyman Tom McClintock,
R Granada Hills, said it would
be wrong to adjourn the lower
legislative chamber in memory,
of the slain rapper.
oIt is a sad milestone in the
downward spiral of society that
such an honor would now be
contemplated for a convicted
drug dealer and thug, whose
glorification of rape, murder
and drugs had made him fa-
mous, ? McClintock wrote.
But Assemblyman Kevin
Murray, who calls his motion
to adjourn the mourning after
the rapper was killed a orou-
tine procedure ? said
McClintock needs to oconcen-
trate less on partisan bickering
and more on his district and
California issues.
oMaybe he would haveamore
substantial package of legisla-
tion this session? Nevertheless,
the problem is much larger than
Assemblyman McClintock Ts ob-
jections, ? the Los Angeles
Democrat said today.
oWhat I am asking all As-
sembly members to remember
is the violence and what it
leaves ... grieving families, more
violence and a devastating im-
pact on our urban communi-
ties. We should not be focusing
on the person, but on solving
the problem. Any legislator
should not be focusing on the
person, but solving the prob-
lem. Any legislator should sup-
port those issues, ? Murray said.
Notorious B.I.G. Ts first album
oReady to Die ? sold more than
one million copies. His second
album, oLife After Death, ? is
due out March 26. One of his
songs from the forth coming
album is called oYou Tre No-
body. ? On it, he raps: oYou Tre
nobody/Till somebody kills
you. ?
spective and then when the Biggie
incident occurred, I started think-
ing that we have taken a step
backwards, ? screamed Billy
Johnson, managing editor of
Rapsheet.
The rap industry as a whole
needs to become a worldwide
mechanism designed to be a tool
for the empowerment, enlight-
enment and the elevation of the
community of color. In the past,
too few entertainers have tried to
reconcile dispute and/or ad
dressed socio-political issues in
their music. Those attempts have
been unsuccessful in the battle
against violencein hiphop. There
needs to be a consistent effort
from every artist in hip hop, ?
explains DJ Jam, oIt Ts like when
your mother used to tell you not
to do something over and over
again, after awhile the message
became subconscious.
One thing is for certain, Biggie
still has fans that love him and
many colleagues that respect
him. For the most part he was a
positive example of how someone
who once succumbed to the al-
lure of the streets, turned his life
around and became successful in
. the music industry.
ef
if
Straight Answers
to Your Questions
About the Future of PCM
For more than a generation, Pitt County pitals on a level field with private ones. However, the legislative process can
Memorial Hospital has been a health be slow and the outcome uncertain. Also, PCMH Ts competitors could lobby
care leader in eastern North Carolina. lawmakers to vote against any changes that would improve the position of
But acting with the speed and flexibility public hospitals.
that leadership demands today is much
more difficult because of state regulations If PCMH makes this change, will it still have to provide
that restrict how a public hospital operates. ch arity care?
That's why PCMH has proposed a plan to
become a private not-for-profit hospital
under local citizen control. This change
would be invisible for most people, but
would help PCMH tremendously as the hospital works to develop a
health care delivery system for eastern North Carolina. Naturally, such
a proposal has raised questions among the public. Below are some of
those questions, along with their answers.
Yes. Last year, PCMH provided more than $17 million in care to patients
who were unable to pay their bills, and it will continue to provide this care
under any circumstances. In addition, the Pitt County Commissioners could
require PCMH to provide a set dollar amount of charity care if the hospital
changes from its public status. Remember that part of the PCMH mission is
to provide quality care to all citizens of Pitt County, and that mission will
continue.
If PCMH becomes private, will any patients be Will this reorganization cause prices to go up at POMET?
denied care? Just the opposite is more likely. For two straight years, the average patient
bill at PCMH has declined slightly, and the hospital has not had a rate
increase in four years. Already, its prices are lower than the state
average. PCMH Ts future success will depend on its ability to keep
prices competitive.
No. PCMH proposes becoming oprivate ? under corporation
law, but it will remain a hospital that is open to everyone,
regardless of a person Ts race, religion, health insurance sta-
tus or ability to pay. Its meetings will be open to the pub-
lic, just as they are today. Many organizations are private- How will the public know PCMH is living up to
ly owned, yet they are open to all people. The Ronald its end o f the bargain ?
McDonald House comes to mind. A private PCMH will ah ;
not be an exclusive PCMH. It will remain committed to pro- As is the case now, PCMH trustees T meetings will be open to the
viding care for all. The PCMH you have today is practically iden- public. In addition, a yearly audit by a well-known accounting firm will
ensure that PCMH is meeting all performance guidelines set by the county.
Audit results would be published in the hospital's annual report. If PCMH
fails to meet those obligations, the county could resume ownership.
tical to the PCMH you would have if this reorganization takes place.
But it would be stronger.
Is this kind of change new?
Will employees be laid off as a result of a PCMH
No, not at all. In 1983, the N.C. General Assembly recognized that prey of f
blic hospital d anize to b th or; reorganization?
public hospitals may need to reorganize to better compete with private
hospitals. So it passed a law allowing public hospitals to become private No. Again, just the opposite is more likely true. This change will make
not-for-profit hospitals under citizen control. If PCMH reorganizes PCMH more competitive, so jobs will be more secure.
under this law, it will be subject to all the guidelines put forth by the
General Assembly, as well as any other guidelines established by the Can PCMH survive without county tax dollars?
county. Nearby hospitals that have taken this step are Wayne Memorial PCMH receives no subsidy from Pitt County and will receive none under
in Goldsboro, Wilson Memorial, and Halifax Memorial in Roanoke this reorganization.
Rapids. Wake Medical Center in Raleigh took this step last December.
What will happen if PCMH stays like it is?
PCMH'°s patient base could be taken away by large
private hospitals in places like Raleigh,
Durham and Norfolk, Va. With fewer
patients to serve, jobs at PCMH and
businesses that depend on the hospital
could be lost. PCMH contributes
more than $400 million to the
local economy each year. That
means the hospital Ts financial
health is vitally important to
Pitt County and its citizens. In
addition, state-of-the-art med-
ical treatments provided at
PCMH may no longer be
available if the hospital does
not have an adequate patient
base to support them.
Why is this change necessary?
In our regional service area, private hospitals have an unfair
competitive advantage over PCMH. They can finance facili-
ties outside of their home counties, have more flexibility
in forming partnerships with physicians and other
providers, and can force PCMH to disclose the
terms of contracts and other competitive informa-
tion while keeping theirs secret. Changing Pitt
Memorial Ts status will create a level playing field
for all competitors.
If Pitt County doesn't own the
hospital, then who will? Is this
move really a sale in disguise?
PCMH property and assets will be transferred to
the same corporation that has operated the hospi-
tal since it was chartered in 1953, Pitt County
Memorial Hospital Inc. PCMH is not now and will
not become a profit-seeking, dividend-paying corpora-
tion. Also, this reorganization is not the same as selling
the hospital. If, in the future, a proposal is made to sell the
hospital, final approval of the sale and its terms would require
the approval of the county commissioners as well as the hospital
board.
Who will control the hospital if this change
Ses th rough 4 Thank you for your interest. If you would like
Ultimately, the citizens of Pitt County will, just as they always have. A more information on this subject from the hospital,
majority of the hospital board members will be appointed by the coun- call 816-2481.
ty, just as they are now. The people of Pitt County, through the Pitt
County Commission, will be in control of the hospital. PCMH will
truly be a citizen-controlled hospital.
What other methods could PCMH pursue to improve Pitt Co unty
its competitive position?
PCMH has considered going to the N.C. General Assembly with a list M : ;: | H . ol |
of law changes "approximately 10 of them "needed to put public hos- emo r l O sp It
