THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, May 15, 1996 TAG: 9605150389
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: By MASON PETERS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RALEIGH LENGTH: Short : 40 lines
Don't be surprised if Reynard-the-Fox goes streaking through the General Assembly to protest Bill No. 1080 that was introduced Tuesday in the House by Rep. W.C. ``Bill'' Owens Jr. of Elizabeth City.
The bill would authorize the hunting, trapping and taking of foxes at any time in Currituck and Pasquotank counties.
The proposed year-around open season on Reynard was among more than two dozen measures introduced in the House on the second day of the 1996 ``short session.''
``Notwithstanding any other provision of law, it (shall be) lawful to hunt, trap or take foxes with firearms or dogs at any time in Currituck and Pasquotank counties,'' said the bill.
Foxes are not viewed affectionately by Albemarle chicken farmers. But when and where it's legal to kill a fox is not always clear in murky local statutes, so Owens decided to clear up the confusion.
Owens also introduced another measure that would increase from 10 to 15 the number of appointed members on Albemarle Hospital's board of trustees for Albemarle Hospital.
The board would include representatives of Pasquotank, Camden, Currituck, Dare, Gates and Perquimans counties, under Owens' proposed legislation.
Owens' performance in single-handedly getting two new measures before the House in just two days should surely win him a foxtail for the radio antenna on his Cadillac.
After all, it took eight House sponsors to get Bill No. 1142 introduced Tuesday.
That bill says, ``No person shall tow on a highway of the state by means of a vehicle a person on a sled, skis, skates, skateboard, or other similar device not intended for highway use . . .'' by CNB