Rocky Mount Telegram from Rocky Mount, North Carolina • 2

ITY STATE 2 WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 3. 1990 The Evening Telegram Associate Editor Kathy Harrelson, 446-5161 ext. 34 Schools exam policy changed Edgecombe County State in brief She said the changes had been discussed with Junior and senior class officers and they had not objected, but she said administrators, counselors and teachers would meet to come up with ways to compensate seniors for the changes. She cited Senior Class Day activities as one example of possible compensation. Whitley said the board had approved the mandated end-of-course testing policy a year ago.

The tests are made up by groups of teachers and are based on the state curriculum. The new policy also says that beginning next school year, the end-of-course exam will count as the exam grade, or one-fourteenth of the total grade, in all courses except those being tested for the first year. "The state has encouraged us to use it as the final exam," Whitley said. The end-of-course testing program started in 1984, she said, and since then courses have been added gradually each year. Several new ones, such as physics, English 9 and foreign language, will be added under the new policy, she said.

a The first year a test is used, she said, it is considered a "field test" because time is needed to gauge students' performance before using the tests for grades. Economics and physical science are now being field tested. "We don't know how our students will do," she said. "We need to establish local norms before adding it as a final exam grade." Seniors who are eligible for exemption from exams will still be exempt except in courses with end-of-course tests, which can be exempted at mid-term, Whitley said. The changes will not affect this year's seniors.

and teachers, Whitley told board members. She asked the board to approve a policy that all students in grades nine through 12 will take exams during the last three days of school, with two exams per day. The purpose of having seniors take exams early had been to get grades in before graduation, Whitley said, but the new policy leaves open the day before graduation for grading and for graduation practice. She said the new policy is in line with other school systems. lot of systems have gone to no early exams and no exemptions," she said.

By LISA WYNNE Staff Writer TARBORO Beginning next school year, all Edgecombe County high school students' will take final exams during the last three days of school, the Board of Education decided Tuesday. In the past, some seniors had taken exams early and often were out the last three days of school, said Linda Whitley, director of evaluation and instruction. As a result of the increasing number of state-required, end-of-course exams, scheduling for students qualifying for early exams had become hectic for counselors By DAWN RACKLEY Albert LaRose keeps an important tool kit Hit-and-run auto reportedly recovered CHARLOTTE Police have recovered a car that might have struck and killed a Forest City woman who was crossing a down-, town Charlotte street last week. Ruth M. Buchanan, 52, was killed last Friday when the driver of a late model Mitsubishi sedan ran a red light and never stopped, police said.

Police were led to the vehicle by an anonymous tip. Police Capt. Glenn Lucas said the car's windshield was shattered and the hood was dented. Sen. Sanford has surgery for hernia DURHAM Sen.

Terry Sanford, could be discharged today after undergoing surgery for a hernia at Duke University Medical Center, an aide said Tuesday. Sanford's administrative assistant, Sam Poole, said Sanford was admitted to the hospital Monday and was scheduled for surgery Tuesday. Poole said the hernia had been diagnosed some time ago and the surgery is considered "very minor." Guilty plea entered in Beaufort Co. case ELIZABETH CITY The stepson of a wealthy Beaufort County textile executive pleaded guilty Tuesday to taking part with two other former North Carolina State University students in the 1988 killing of his stepfather. Christopher Wayne Pritchard, in pleading guilty to aiding and abetting second-degree murder, also agreed to testify against his fellow students in the slaying of Lieth Peter Von Stein.

Prosecutor Mitchell Norton told prospective jurors Tuesday that the role-playing game "Dungeons and Dragons" may have been behind the case. He did not elaborate. Pritchard joined Gerald Neal Henderson in agreeing to take the stand against the third student, Wayne Bartlett Upchurch III, who still is charged with first-degree murder in the case. Norton said the three students planned to murder both Von Stein and his wife, Bonnie Lou Bates Von Stein, before Upchurch killed Von Stein in his Washington home by stabbing him and beating him with a baseball bat. Cameron youth dies in New Year's fire CAMERON, A '2-year-old Cameron boy was killed New Year's Day in a house fire at his grandmother's residence, officials said.

Christopher Richardson was found in a back bedroom of the home near Johnsonville, said Harnett County Sheriff Lewis Rosser. The grandmother, Mary Francis Stewart, another adult and two children were able to escape the blaze, Rosser said. From wire reports Roy Cooper seeks third term it 1 I -is very nice. I feel very comfortable here." Before coming to Rocky Mount, LaRose was head of public service at the University of Alabama at Huntsville. He has also worked in various capacities in other libraries around the country.

LaRose seems content with the familiarity that the small size of Wesleyan provides. "The advantage of a small library is that one can get one's finger in as many different pies as one wants," LaRose said. "Being director of the library here gives me that privilege;" "I don't feel like an administrator," he added. "Helping to make things work for people is what I aim for every day. I want to not only assist people with the information they are looking for once they have it, but to show them the way to find that information from the beginning." LaRose stresses that, as an academic library, the facility at Wesleyan not only serves the students and the public, but strives to teach as well.

"As in a classroom," LaRose said, "the majority who use the library will want to just learn the basics, enough to get by. But there will be a handful there who really want to learn, and thev will Albert LaRose compares wording as director of the library at North Carolina Wesleyan College to standing on an imaginary hill, surrounded by a mass of information, and having the capability to survey and delve into whichever area suits him. "That's the advantage of being a librarian," he said. "I can work with so much information, and so many fields, with so many people. It's always interesting." In this position at the college since last October, LaRose has a wanderlust that comes from, and is satiated by, his love of information.

"I call myself a professional nomad," he said, "because I travel from place to place and job to job. As one job becomes boring, I change and go somewhere else." But Wesleyan need not worry: LaRose's wandering days may be The Minnesota native plans to stay in Rocky Mount for a while. In fact, he may not ever leave. "I like Wesleyan," LaRose said. "I had been looking for a place where it's posssible to know most of the students and the faculty.

To be able to- pick up the phone and speak to someone on a first-name basis, and to know the person to whom you are speaking, TelegramDawn Rackley Albert LaRose: 'a professional nomad' be taught some really good stuff. But we can only teach as much as others are willing to learn." Although Wesleyan's library is obviously primarily for academic research, the public can still find the facility useful, LaRose said. "The population of Rocky Mount has people in all ranges," he said, "so it's impossible to ask any one library to offer everything for everyone. It just can't be done." "If most people have access to a particular tool kit," he said, "then they are mostly going to use a hammer or a screwdriver, and not much else. What I want to teach is that there is an enormous amount of tools in that kit, and that they need to be used." "The phrase 'use it or lose it' applies to everything," he added.

"That includes the brain." "Public libraries are just what their name implies they cater to the public," he added. "And while the primary goal of Wesleyan's library is to support the mission of the school, other people in the community can still use it successfully." Not many are aware of the tremendous learning capacity which a library provides, LaRose said. He compares the situation to a person using a set of tools. Ernie Josephs files for new judgeship For the record Ernie Josephs, chief assistant district attorney, announced that he filed on Jan. 2 as acandidate for the newly created district court judgeship for the Seventh Judicial District.

The office he is seeking encompasses Nash, Edgecombe and Wilson counties. Josephs had previously announced in November his intention to seek the new judgeship. Josephs has served for more than nine years as an assistant district attorney Josephs is also responsible for overseeing major case investigations, coordinating efforts between the State Bureau of Investigation and the district attorney's office, prosecutor training and numerous administrative assignments. After completing his undergraduate degree at East Carolina University, Josephs spent four years in the Air Force, serving in both the United States and West Germany, where he was a training instructor for security and law enforcement personnel. After completing his military service, he was employed with the executive offices of the Belk-Tyler Group in Rocky Mount and resided in Edgecombe County.

He later accepted a position at the Coastal Carolina Community College in Jacksonville, serving as an instructor and later director of evening programs, where he began the college's first evening degree completion program. During this period, Josephs earned a master's desree in adult and com- munity college education from North Carolina State University and co-authored and published two textbooks in the criminal justice field. Josephs earned his juris doctor degree from the Campbell University School of Law in 1980 and has taught law-related courses on a part-time basis at both Edgecombe Community, College and the North Carolina Coastal Plains Law Enforcement Academy through Wilson Technical Community College. He is a former member of the board of directors for Diversified Opportunities Inc. and a current member of the Mayor's Drug Action Committee of Wilson, board of directors for Wilson Families in Action, Wilson Active Artists As-socation, the North Carolina District Attorneys Association and the North Carolina State Bar.

Josephs and his wife, Nancy Pittman Josephs, live in Wilson and have four children. Manning Court, shoplifting. Nashville The owner of a truck that crashed through a house on South Alston Street has been identified as Eva Wooten Coley of Wilson. A spokesperson for the Nashville Police Department said the truck has an East Coast Cable Co. sign on it, but Coley is a subcontractor.

The driver of the truck, Donald Ray Ellis, was charged with driving while impaired. Battleboro No damage has been estimated as the result of a house fire on East Elm Street this mornins. Battleboro firefighters responded to the home at 107-A E. Elm St. about 5:30 a.m.

Cary Vick of the fire department said the fire was already out. Fire caused slight damage to curtains and the floor and there was smoke damage. "Luckily it didn't turn into anything drastic," Vick said. "I don't know how it started." Rocky Mount police are investigating the following crimes: Russell Barnes of 516 Paul St. reported the theft of a two-way radio from his home.

The property was reportedly valued at $1,200. Barbara Frazier of 1124 S. Cambridge Drive reported the theft of a 1981 Buick Skylark from 1147 Beal St. The vehicle, which is blue, was valued at $3,000. Shirley Moody of 1625-A Clark St.

reported someone broke into her home and took a microwave oven, a telephone and a stereo and speakers valued at $690. Doris Brokington of 716 N. Glen-dale Ave. reported someone broke into her home and took a Nintendo game, a vacuum cleaner and a stereo valued at $600. Gloria Battle of Cato's, 206 S.E.

Main St. reported the larceny of six suede-style jackets valued at $1,200. Charges Larry Johnston, 19, of Lot 28, West Mount Trailer Park, assault inflicting serious injury and assault on a female. Erica Norville, 19. of 110 and has had extensive experience in all types of criminal cases.

His duties as cniet assis at- mjk tant district torney take him to all of the cour JOSEPHS trooms of the three-county distict. In addiition to prosecuting criminal matters in the juvenile, district and superior courts," Rep. Roy A. Cooper III announced Tuesday his candidacy for the North Carolina House of Representatives. Cooper filed for re-election shortly after noon at the Nash County Board of Elections.

He seeks his third two-year term in the House. Bob Siler announces re-election bid Cooper was tirst elected in 1986 and was re 1 elected in 1988. Nash County Commissioner Bob Siler today "These issues will require commissioners to spend more time in the future attending meetings. has been forced to spend a large amount of money defending the Nash County school system Edgecombe classes out early feb. 2 for children's 'benefit' During hisl first term, he 1 -was selected by announced his candidacy for re-election to the the non-partisan board of com against lawsuits brought by others," he said.

time has come to stop this spending and let the issue be settled the democratic way, by allowing the citizens to vote on how they want their schools organized." conferences and various seminars put on by federal, state and county governments in an effort to find the best solutions at the "least cost to Nash County," Siler said. "Unfortunately, Nash County missioners to I North Carolina en for Public Policy Research as the most effective of represent the 5th district. District 5 en compasses West1 By LISA WYNNE Staff Writer TARBORO The Edgecombe1 County Board of Education has agreed to dismiss school early Feb. 2 so teachers and administrators can take part in what "Superintendent Lee R. Hall called "one of the most exciting things we've done in a long time." R.L.

Martin seeks re-election Mount, Sharps- SILER Resources. He was appointed vice chair-man of Bank? and Thrift Institutions and' served as a member of Sen. "Bob" Martin, D-Pitt, filed to-. Tlay as a eandi date for re- burg, a portion of Coopers, Oak Level, an area of Kingston Avenue and an area in southwest Rocky Mount, mostly south of the Seaboard Coastline Railroad tracks. i in announcine his Siler said he will givea more; eieuuun iu nis a fourth term in II the G.ener-al Jk Accomhlv Wi 1 on whether they do learn than anything." "People, simply won't do what you think they can't do," he said, citing one instance in which an educator said a child simply could not learn.

He said he hoped he did not hear of similar stories. "We do a good job believing in our students and teachers," Hall said, "but we can do a better job." -Assistant SuperintendentDoris Dunn agreed. "Our studente- benefit from this," she said, "and so will the world." She said the program ties in with state accreditation and 30 standards that must be met. The program's committee has been working on a plan, she said, but is to the point of needing additional information from more education officials. Dunn said the keynote speaker at the Feb'.

2 meeting will be enthusiastic and will get educators excited about the program, which she said is important. "We'rejrying not to lose the focus of improving schools," she said. is going to just evolve naturally, and sa we feel good about it." his 22 freshman COOPER -representatives. During his sec-ondterat, he became chairman of the House Judiciary Committee. ln addition, he serves between 'legislative sessions as chairman of the Legislative Research Commission Study Committee on Criminal Law.

This session, he has served on the Rules, Finance and Highway committees. The representative cited education and the environment as areas that need the General Assembly's attention. He also called for more openness in government. "During the past session, we made great strides in opening up the legislative process," Cooper said. "We must continue our efforts of reform in order to make the legislative process more re- sponsive to the people." Cooper is a practicing attorney witirthe law firm of Fields- k-Cooper.

He is a Nashville native and now lives in Rocky Mount. Martin, who represents the Sixth Senatorial District, is midway through his MARTIN Classes will be dismissed at 1 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 2, to allow school personnel to attend a meeting 4or-4he Ef eetiverSehools-Training Program on the Edgecombe Community College campus. Hall said he and eight other school officials had attended several of the program's statewide training sessions in Raleigh.

He said county school, staffs will choose representatives to expand the committee working on the program and to let more people "share in the responsibility and accountability. Hesaid esses the ability of every child to learn. "Whether we believe all children can learn has a greater bearing the committees on Agriculture, Appropriations, Base Budget, En-vironment-and-NataraL-Reseur ces, Marine Resources and Wildlife, Public Utilities, State Government and Ways and Means. He serves as a member of the North Carolina Legislative Research Commission, the Agricultural and Rural Committee of the Southern Legislative Conference, "the Federal Budget and Taxation committee of the National Conference of State Legislatures. Lt.

Gov. Jim Gardner appointed Marthvto the-LdcaHGovernment Advocacy Council and the Joint legislative Committee on Municipal Incorporation, aeiaiiea siaiement at a later date regarding the issues and problems Nash County-will face in the next few years. The more, serious issues -Siler said, include school merger, the crowded jail, the tremendous increase in costs of maintaining landfills for the disposal of garbage and other wastes, the drug crisis and its effect on mental health services, along with the increase in county government administration resulting from cutbacks by the federal government. third term in the upper house of the legislature. The Sixth District emcompas-ses 20 townships in Edgecombe County, along with townships in Wilson, Pitt and Martin counties.

During the last session, Martin was appointed chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Natural and Economic.