The Suffolk News-Herald from 1986

Youth dance success will equal club

An upcoming dance for local teenagers could lead to a local night club where admission doesn’t hinge on how old you are but on how young you are. The Youth Advisory Committee, appointed by City Council every year, could come one step closer to seeing their dream of a youth only night club become a reality if the June 12 dance is successful.

The committee, composed of 20 teenagers from all four city high schools and the two private schools, decided to learn the mechanics of city government by applying for a mock permit to open their own night club. The application was approved by City Council in May, and the dance will mark the first step toward seeing the club become a reality.

The dance is being sponsored by Suffolk Adults for Kids, a local group formed several months ago to help local teens find better recreational opportunities.

William H. Chapman III, president of the adults’ group said that if the dance is successful, more will follow.

No alcohol or drugs will be allowed, and anyone who leaves the dance will not be permitted to come back through the doors, which is designed to prevent partying in cars in the parking lot. Four Sheriff’s Deputies will patrol the parking lot during the dance, which will be held at the National Guard Armory.

Christian school not supporting dances

Suffolk Christian Schools, one of the six area high schools represented on the city’s Youth Advisory Committee, does not support the concept of

a city-wide dance.

“My understanding is that Suffolk Christian’s policy is not to support dances,” said Jane Sewell, the city planer working closely with the Youth Advisory Committee.

“I appreciate the Youth Advisory Committee and what they do,” said Suffolk Christian principal Gary Jordan, “I want our kids on the committee, but I don’t want anything published that doesn’t reflect what our kids are saying. We want it known that we do not support the city wide dance or any dance.”

Bridgework progressing

The Nansemond River Bridge on North Main Street is currently under repair and strengthening.

One third of the bridge is closed as workman rebuild it, leaving just two lanes for traffic in both directions. The work is continuing on schedule.

Holiday Inn six game winner

Division 1 leading Holiday Inn remained one of only two teams with perfect records in local softball circles Monday night, stopping the Holy neck Demons 14-6 at Peanut Park. Holiday Inn (6-0) now has the best record in the city, slightly ahead of the Hobson Bomberettes (5-0) of the Women’s Slow Pitch League. The Bomberettes will get the opportunity to equal that record when they host the Holiday Inn girls team at Peanut Park tonight.

Jerry Wilson paced the Holiday Inn attack with a home run and a triple, while Glenn Hott added three singles. Floyd Byrd chipped in with a triple and a double. Holy Neck was led by Wille Davis’ two doubles.

Second place Glenn Martin Chevrolet pounded the Blue Jays 10-2 at Southwestern, as Mike Byrum belted two triples and a single.

German combine debuts in Chuckatuck

Chuckatuck farmland became the first U.S. soil to be worked by a West German made John Deere combine Monday. Suffolk farmer William B. Simpson, the new owner of the model 4425, threshed several acre of barley on Raymond Winslow’s Route 10 farm as West German engineers and local John Deere employees watched.

Althgough John Deere equipment has been manufactured in Zweibruken, West Germany since 1960, they were all made strictly for the

European market. Equipment for the American market was all produced in Moline, Ill., where no equipment for foreign markets was manufactured.

“We found it more efficient to combine our efforts,” said Karl Gorschler, manager of oversees development for John Deere. The new equipment is suitable for both European and American fields and at $85,000 is the most cost efficient of all similar equipment that is available in either market.

Simpson is very pleased with the 4425 because it is ideally suited for work on small farms such as the one on Route 10.

Public can speak on school board choices

Suffolk residents get their first chance to execise a new right to speak out on possible school board appointments tomorrow night.

City Council is schedued to hold a public hearing to consider citizen views on the appointments, marking the first time Suffolk residents have had a voice in the nominating process.

Facing mounting pressure to allow for public election of school board officials, the General Assembly last year approved legislation calling for public discussion on possible candidates prior to the actual nominating process.

While they still can’t elect the members of the school board, the citizens will have the opportunity to express their opinions on the performance of current members, the qualifications of possible new mwmbers that they wish to propose to the city council, and to bring up education issues that will affect the final selections.