50 years ago
Washington County Hospital received recognition from the Joint Commission on Accred itation of Hospitals (JCAH) in observance of National Hospital Week, May 9-15, 1976.
The letter of commendation, which was signed by John D. Porterfield, M.D., director of the Joint Commission, contained the following:
“The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Hospitals commends your hospital for striving to deliver the optimum in health care to the community. Your participation in the pro cess of voluntary accreditation is an expression of a profession ally motivated commitment to deliver a high quality of patient care.”
Tidewater Regional Red Cross Bloodmobile visited Plymouth at the First Christian Church. Officials of the Tidewater Regional Blood Center in Nor folk advised that the Albemarle-Pamlico Red Cross Chapter which included Washington, Tyrrell and Hyde Counties needed donations of 510 units of blood to meet its goal of 1,230 units for the fiscal year ending June 30. Before the mobile’s arriv al, blood donations in the three-county area totaled 720 units. All bloodmobile visits in 1976 were in Washington Coun ty with the exception of one in Columbia. No visit was scheduled in Hyde County.
Howard L. Davenport of Creswell confirmed that he would not seek reelection to the Wash ington County Board of Commissioners. Davenport stepped down from his district seat represent ing Scuppernong and Skinners ville Townships after serving one term. He was elected in 1972. He based his decision on “personal reasons.”
Another incumbent to county office, James C. Davenport who represents the same district on the school board, filed for re-election Monday. Two others later filed for the seat, the Rev. William P. McCo mas and Hugh A. Patrick. Hermine A Ramsey, owner and manager of the Insurance and Realty Company, the dean of Plymouth’s insurance writers and one of the town’s most not ed businesswomen, retired after 54 years of service. She sold the agency to the Fidelity Insurance Agency.
While the firm was officially transferred earlier, Ramsey has continued to keep office hours at her East Water Street location in order to assist former cus tomers during the change and to receive balances due on her books.
Citing the need for more equity in the property tax stru ture of Washington County, the board of commissioners voted to conduct a complete revaluation of all property which could conceivably double the county’s taxable value. The last property revaluation went into effect January 1, 1973.
State law required counties to make reappraisals at least every eight years to bring listed property values in line with pre vailing market values and Wash ington County would have had until 1981 to do so.
Counties may, however, reap praise property at any interval they wish as long as it’s within the eight-year state requirement. It was noted that some counties, primarily in the Piedmont, were making reappraisals every two or three years and some consid ered doing it annually. The 1973 revaluation cost the county over $40,000 and it is estimated that the new reap praisal will cost around $70,000 and could range as high as $100,000...
Commissioner Ed Womble moved to take the action and Paul Frymier seconded. The motion passed 4-1 with Douglas Davenport and Reynold Spruill supporting and Howard Davenport opposing.
While no time was set for the project, it was expected to start the next fiscal year.
Mr. and Mrs. Jack Chesson of Plymouth announced the birth of twin boys, Stacy Lane and Tracy Lee, on May 1, 1976 at Chowan County Hospital.
The mother is the former Patty Modlin and maternal parents are Mr. grand-and Mrs. Bobby Modlin.
Creswell High School Band, under the direction of Leroy Bland, presented its annual Spring Concert Thursday, May 13, at 8 p.m. in the high school auditorium. The theme was centered around the Bi centennial with such numbers as “Four Freedoms Overture,” “The Pledge of Allegiance,” and “This Land Is Your Land.” The band also presented a novelty piece entitled “In stant Concert’” which contains themes from well-known musical works.
The CHS Chorus will also perform with selections from “Godspell,” Stand Up and Cheer’ and others.
64-year-old E.V. Wilkins of Roper, director of the Eastern North Carolina Opportunities Industrialization Center, resigned from that position effective Friday, April 30. Henry Crews, 27, deputy director under Wilkins, assumed the position of director. Wilkins has headed the OIC movement in Washington Coun ty since it opened March 1975 and was instrumental in its es tablishment.
Plymouth High School foot ball standout Raymie Styons was been selected to play in the 1976 Boys Home All Star game, which was played on July 24 in Ficklen Stadium at East Caro lina University. Styons’ game’s selection by the Player Selection Committee was announced by PHS Athletic Director Clifford Phifer. The selection committee not ed that Styons’ invitation was due to his athletic ability since only 60 players were chosen from over 350 nominations. Coach Phifer said the selection was also an honor for PHS and its athletic program and some thing for which the school and community supporters could be proud o.