Newspapers / The Chowan Herald (Edenton, … / Sept. 28, 1995, edition 1 / Page 1
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20th Annual Peanut Festival is October 7 New Fitness See Equipment at 3 ) Page Senior Center >4 4-B Hospital Skilled See Unit Places Near 1 Pase Top in Survey T 12‘B Volume LVII - No. 38 Published In The Most Beautiful Little City Qn The North Carolina Coast Single Cpni^s 50 Cents EDENTON, NORTH CAROLINA, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28,1995 Kelly Remains Free On Bond As DA Considers Next Move By CLIFF CLARK After serving six years in Cen tral Prison as a convicted child molester, Robert Kelly Jr. walked out of the Pitt County v. Detention Center Friday after noon a free man...at least for now. “Our intention is to retry these cases,” said First Judical Dis trict Attorney Frank Parrish. However, he qualified his re marks by saying that “it is nec essary, of course, to examine the quality and quantity of the evi dqpce and discuss with the par ents of the children involved the effect a new trial might have on them.” First Judicial District Assis tant District Attorney Nancy Lamb, who served as a special prosecutor in Kelly’s first trial, said the DA’s office is currently “talking to the families and talk ing to the children and looking V• 'C'-:-a > : at what evidence exists” that could be used if Parrish decides to retry the case. Lamb said the reason for contacting the par ents is because of the amount of time that has elapsed since Kelly’s conviction in April of 1992. The conviction came at the end of the longest and most ex pensive trial in North Carolina history. She declined to say what the parents have suggested to Parrish about a possible retrial. Kelly’s release came after his wife, Betsy, posted a $200,000 secured bond using her family’s property as collateral. Mrs. Kelly, who earlier pleaded no contest to similar charges, is currently on parole and living in Edenton with her daughter. “It is a very happy day for us,” said Betsy Kelly, after Superior Court Judge James Ragan es tablished a new bond during a hearing at the Pitt County Court house on Thursday. While sup porters of Kelly were jubilant over his release, parents of the children allegedly victimized by Kelly expressed disappointment. “He’s a very dangerous man,” said Susan Small, parent of one of the children who testified. When asked if her family and the other families were prepared for his released, she answered, “We went to the courthouse real izing that he would probably be released. We were prepared emo tionally.” Small said the hardest thing has been trying to explain to her children why adults sometimes appear to dodge punishment for their actions. “It’s been very difficult for the children. Children understand that when they do something wrong they will get punished. How do we explain that some times adults don’t get punished for their actions?” When asked what her reaction would be if Parrish decided to dismiss the charges, she an swered, “Will I be happy? No. But I will support his decision. We have known since this started that it could happen.” If Parrish decides to retry Kelly, Small said that the fami lies “would do what we have to do.” Kelly’s quest for "freedom be gan immediately after his con viction in 1992 on 99 counts of first-degree sexual abuse of chil dren. He was sentenced to 12 life sentences by Superior Court Judge D. Marsh McLelland. At torneys working for him filed an appeal a few weeks after his con victions. He had been in jail or prison since 1989 when he was first charged with the crimes. See KELLY On Page 8-A w. i The 48th Annual Chowan County Fair will open next Tuesday, October 3. Among this year's attractions will be live entertainment, a petting zoo, exciting rides and games of chance. Two new features of this year's fair will be expanded parking and a tram that will transport people to and from the parking areas. When Bob Kelly Jr. arrived at the Courthouse for his bond hearing, he was surrounaea ny members of the press. He was allowed to answer questions for about five minutes. (Staff photo by Cliff Clark) 48th Chowan County Fair Will Combine Old, New Features By CLIFF CLARK With whirling rides, plenty of cotton candy, games of chance, a petting zoo, and a new tram to help transport people from the parking areas to the entertain ment, the 48th annual Chowan County Fair is sure to be an other big success when it opens on Oct. 3. “This is sure to be our biggest fair yet,” said John Chilcoat, di rector of public relations for this year’s fair. While all features that people have pome to expect are still there, the organizers of the fair have worked many hours get ting the facilities ready for the annual event, which is expected to attract tens of thousands of people from the area. Jim Hackett, with the help of Bill Schmidt, has rewired nearly evening building on the Ameri can Legion Post property. But perhaps, more impor tantly, the fair organizers have acquired additional property to allow for increased parking this year. “We think we’ll be able to park between 500 and 600 additional cars this year since we’ve gotten the new property,” said Chilcoat. This, said Chilcoat, will be a great benefit to those who at tend the fair during the week end. “Last year, we really had a problem with people parking on the side of the road. With our new parking area, we hope we will be able to accomodate all of those who attend.” Because the distance between the new parking and the fair grounds has increased, Haskett, with help from many others, has built two trams to ferry people to and from the fairgrounds. “The trams can hold up to 26 people and are even handicap accessible,” said Haskett, who spent three and a half months building trams, which will be See FAIR On Page 11-A Document Signing To Be Highlight Of Meeting By CLIFF CLARK Described as “enthusiasts and crusaders,” almost 300 histori cal preservationists from across North Carolina will descend on Edenton this weekend to attend Preservation North Carolina’s 1995 Annual Conference. Apart from a full schedule of workshops and forums that will be held during the event, a sig nificant document designed to protect the 1767 Chowan County Courthouse will be signed by Chowan County Board of Com mission Chairman James Tay lor protecting the courthouse and the Edenton Green forever. “It’s a preservation covenant that will be on file at the Chowan County Register of Deeds office See HISTORIC On Page 8-A C&t&hJjM, 4>f ftlitivitUi Marker To Be Placed On Thursday, September 28 at 3 pm a Daughters of the American Revolution Historic Marker will be dedicated on the grounds of the James Iredell House. This marker will be dedicated to the 13 Edenton Tea Party DAR members that saved and restored the Iredell House. The public is invited to attend. Support Group To Meet The Alzheijner's Disease Support Group will meet at 7:30 pm, Thursday, September 28, at Winslow Memorial Home, 1700 W. Ehringhaus Street. All interested persons are invited to attend. Annual Turkey Shoots Set The V.F.W. Post 7312 of Sunbury, NC will sponsor Turkey Shoots at the Post Home on Hwy 158 every Friday night starting on Oct. 6 through Dec. 23. the event will start at 1 pm until and will feature both turkey and ham rounds. Participants can use either shotgun or .22 rifle. For more information, call 919-357-1494. Women*s GOP Group Is Forming The Albemarle F ederation of Republican Women, serving Chowan and Perquimans Counties, is holding its charter meeting on Thurs day, Oct. 5 at 12 noon at the Golden Corral in Edenton. All registered Republican Women, or those who might be interested in becoming registered, are invited. For more information or to make reserva tions, please call 482-2686 or 482-8266. Welcome Wagon Is Coming By REBECCA BUNCH A community welcome wagon will be the first project tackled by a revamped Cham ber Auxiliary group here. The decision was made during a meeting at the Chamber of Commerce last Thursday af ternoon. The new group, unlike its predecessor, will encompass local residents of all ages who would like to participate in the welcome wagon and future projects of the auxiliary. The auxiliary will be headed by Andy Elliott, a fi nancial analyst for the Ed ward D. Jones Company in Edenton. Elliott said that he is very excited about the wel come wagon concept and feels it is just the right project for the group to embrace in its early days. "I think we'll see positive results from that," he said. .... . f. . "And that will give us a foun dation to build on, to try some other things." Elliott said another poten tial auxiliary project could involve forming a "feedback committee" that would regu larly visit local businesses and industries to find out firsthand about any concerns or difficulties they may be ex periencing. "Belk is about to leave," El liott said. "We’ve just got to keep the smaller businesses here. We all need to do every thing we can to help." Look ing around the room at those assembled, he added, "I feel like we've got the people here that have got the know-how to do that." Elliott said he was pleased with the turnout Thursday, but wanted to see even more peo ple get involved in the wel come wagon and other auxil iary activities. "I'm a big supporter of the welcome wagon and of visit ing local businesses," he said. "But I think there is still more we can do." He stressed that all of the auxiliary-related activities . would not involve work, how ever. "We're thinking about ha ving some type of social events that will be similar to those hosted by the Chamber, but that will be just for the aux iliary members. This will give us an opportunity to reach others in the community who may want to join." Gordon Fenner said he felt the auxiliary members could develop a system for volun teering their time to share their expertise and ideas with local businesses, a plan that Charlie Shaw pointed out had See WAGON On Page 3-A CATES OPEN WEEKDAYS AT 5 PM, EXCEPT THURS. AT 5:50, SAT. AT 1 PM MIDWAY CLOSES 11 PM, EXCEPT ON SAT. IT CLOSES AT 12 MIDNIGHT EXHIBITS CLOSE NIGHTLY AT 10 PM ..r... Over 30 Rides GAMES & FAIR FOOD 48th ANNUAL CHOWAN COUNTY OCT. 3rd - OCT. 7™ * FAIRGROUNDS IN EDENTON FUN FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY EXHIBITS • CONTESTS LIVE ENTERTAINMENT ADMISSION: $7 PER PEISON SAT. FROM 1- 5 P.M. ALL YOUTHS THRU HIGH SCHOOL $5 TUES. NITE EARLY BIRD SPECUU ONLY $5.00 FOR EVERYONE ' """".m "". I "
The Chowan Herald (Edenton, N.C.)
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Sept. 28, 1995, edition 1
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