DATE: Thursday, July 24, 1997               TAG: 9707240427

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B5   EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA 

                                            LENGTH:   47 lines

ALBEMARLE

HERTFORD

ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP HONORS DIXON: The Northeastern North Carolina Economic Development Partnership honored its outgoing chairman, Jimmie Dixon of Elizabeth City, with a plaque recognizing his years of service to the Albemarle Region.

``I still address Jimmie Dixon as `Mr. Chairman,' '' said new partnership Chairman George ``Buffy'' Warner of Ocracoke Island. ``He has represented the development partnership so well and so long that he will always be Mr. Chairman to us. He has served the region extraordinarily effectively and with deep dedication.''

The partnership also honored L.C. ``Rocky'' Lane Jr. of the Halifax Development Commission and Nancy Nicholls, director of the Chowan County Tourism Development Authority, for service to the regional panel.

The partnership works to promote tourism and economic growth in a 16-county area in northeastern North Carolina. Beaufort, Bertie, Camden, Chowan, Currituck, Dare, Gates, Halifax, Hertford, Hyde, Martin, Northampton, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Tyrrell and Washington counties are members of the consortium.

MANTEO

AQUARIUM WINS GRANT: The North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island has been awarded a federal grant to help evaluate and improve its service to the Outer Banks. Aquarium staff will participate in a guided self-study to establish priorities and plan for future needs.

``We are very pleased to get the opportunity to run such a thorough and far-reaching assessment of our programs, activities and services,'' said Roanoke Island Director David Griffin.

WASHINGTON, D.C.

HOUSE APPROVES HORSE BILL: The U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed a bill that sponsors say will provide greater protection to the wild horses of the Shackleford Banks of coastal North Carolina.

Sponsored by 3rd District Rep. Walter B. Jones Jr., R-N.C., the Shackleford Banks Wild Horses Protection Act requires the National Park Service to maintain a herd of no less than 100 horses on the island, the number present on the Shackleford Banks when the National Park Service gained control of the property in the 1970s. The legislation passed 416-6, and now goes to the Senate.

The measure drew opposition from the National Park Service.

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