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Vol. LXVII, No. 33
Collision sends two to area hospitals
This two-car accident occurred shortly before 4 p.m. on Friday afternoon just outside of Edenton on Highway 32 South. Traffic had to be
diverted for more than an hour while a multitude of Chowan County rescue and fire personnel responded to the incident. According to official
reports filed by North Carolina Patrol investigating Trooper ,W. D. Shepherd, the accident occurred when a 1993 Isuzu Trooper driven by
Edenton resident Vernon Rome turned into the path of a 1986 Buick operated by Joseph Dixon also of Edenton. Both cars sustained massive
damage according to the report. "He was pinned in pretty good," said County EMS Director, Doug Belch. "We used the 'Jaws of Life' to remove
the doors...and pushed back the dash." Belch added, "We use that piece of equipment relatively (seldom), probably two to three times a year,
at most." The Highway Patrol's report further indicates that Rome, who was charged in the accident was transported to Chowan Hospital while
Dixon who had been trapped in the mangled wreckage for more than 45 minutes was airlifted to Pitt Memorial in Greenville. (Staff photo
by David Crawley)
Last week’s rapidly moving
thu nderstoi m pelted the area with
.. heavy rain—even prompting re-'
ports of a “twister”—however,
much of the damage was attrib
uted to other weather-related
events, according to Chowan
County EMS Director, Doug Belch.
“We received some reports that
a tornado may have been touched
down in the area,’’said Belch. “But
we can’t really confirm that.
Straight line winds and
do wnbursts is more along the lines
of what it was.”
Nevertheless, instances of prop
erty damage were scattered
throughout the area.
“There were three trailers with
trees that had fell on them,” said
Belch. “We also had a car, in the
middlepartoftheSandyRidgearea, a
that had a tree fall on it as well.”
“There were a lot of power out
ages,” said Town Manager, Anne
Marie Knighton. “Public works was
out until 2 a.m. restoring power.
Emergency officials were nearly
called out to ^ssist a boater.
“Luckily, he was able to make it
to shelter,” said Belch, “but for a
while we were watching him and
after he made it out alright, so we
didn't have to do anything on the i
boat call."
This was the scene from the downtown Edenton waterfront as kayakers prepared to get their races underway
during last year's Sound Country Celebration. The annual event, which organizers promise will be even bigger
and better than in previous years, will be held here Oct. 21. (Photo courtesy of Peter Bogus)
Heritage Day, Arts and Crafts
Show to be part of this year’s
Sound Country Celebration
BY REBECCA BUNCH
Editor
This year’s third annual Sound
Country Celebration will be “mag
nificent,” according to organizer
Peter Bogus. Bogus, owner of the
Trestle House Inn inEdenton.said,
“We’re taking it to a whole new
level this year. It will be bigger and
encompass more events than ever
Defore.”
In addition to the emphasis on
m vironmental awareness that has
become the event’s trademark, a
lew component this year will be
vhat Bogus terms "a heritage cel
ebration”. Appropriately, there
vill be an arts and crafts show at
he new National Guard Armory
n Edenton displaying the work of
»me of the region’s most gifted
:raftspeople. And, the Albemarle
jearning Center will host its an
lual Heritage Day (previously
mown as the Old Timey Farmers
)ay Celebration).
Down at the Edenton waterfront,
Xpert kayakers and canoeists will
ake part in the East Coast
Flatwater Championship. Regis
tration for the race begins at the
waterfront at 8:30 a.m.
“ We host the largest recreational
race in North Carolina,” he said.
And private individuals aren’t the
only ones who can participate. The
event also includes a Business
Challenge. The winner is awarded
a Sound Country Cup to hold for
one year. “They can then come
back and defend against challeng
ers, and possibly win again,” Bo
gus said. Everyone who paddles in
the race will receive a T-shirt and
special medallion.
“Last year we had Frank and
Bill Havens here,” Bogus said.
“People came from as far away as
Sweden.” The Havens captured
Olympic gold medals during the
1952 Olympic Games in the sport
of kayaking, the only Americans
ever to do so.
But, Bogus noted, the races are
not just for accomplished athletes.
“This event is open to people of all
skill levels, and all ages,” he said.
Back at the Trestle House Inn,
located on Soundside Road, the
lively music of three nationally
known bands will fill the air
throughout the day. There will also
be an “all you can eat” Pig Picking
and Oyster Roast that is being co
ordinated by Delbert White, chef
and co-owner of Creekside Restau
rant in Edenton.
Bogus said the Sound Country
Celebration would get underway
at 10 a m. and continue through
out the day, ending at 6 p.m.
He said the purpose of putting
on the annual event is simple: to
support good environmental prac
tices, including promoting
eco tour ism.
And while the celebration is
popular among locals, its impact is
beginning to spread. This year for
the first time, there will be group
tours coming to attend the Sound
Country Celebration.
“This is another new thing this
year, and one that is very excit
ing,” said Bogus. “Right now, we’ve
already got three groups coming,
some of them from Virginia. This
See SOUND On Page 3-A
COA Chowan
Center will be
featured on TV
UNC TV will be visiting College
of the Albemarle in Elizabeth City,
as well as the Chowan County Cen
ter in Edenton, on Thursday, Aug.
24, to film part of a documentary
called “A Growing Crisis”. The
documentary will take an up close
look at some of the North Carolina
community college facilities in
need of upgrades, renovations and
repairs. The visit will also bring
awareness to the upcoming bond
referendum on the November bal
lot (see related story on Page 12-A
of this week’s newspaper.)
College of the Albemarle will
receive more than $6.5-million in
construction monies and repair
and renovation funds if the bond
referendum package passes this
fall. During the UNC TV interview,
COA’s President, Dr. Sylvester
McKay, will discuss the impor
tance of this issue and give a tour
of the Elizabeth City campus. This
tour will provide a Visual picture
of COA areas in need of improve
ment.
During the UNC TV visit, the
crew will also take an Area Lead
ers Tour with College of the
Albemarle’s Board of Trustees and
Foundation Board members. The
members will provide information
concerning the need for financial
support to assist with keeping the
institution current and to prepare
it for expansion and increased en
rollment.
The last stop for the UNC TV
crew will be at COA’s Chowan
County Center on Thursday after
noon where UNC TV will feature
the high-tech CISCO Program and
the Early Childhood Program.
Each of these programs was made
possible through partnerships
with the Chowan County Commis
sioners and the Edenton-Chowan
Schools.
CQA is one of 16 community col
leges across the state to be featured
in this UNC TV documentary. The
program, “A Growing Crisis,” is
expected to air the evening of
Thursday, Oct. 12 on Channel 2.
Storm damage is reported here
An Edenton resident, David Brock, captured these images of the storm in the downtown business district with
a digital camera. (Submitted photos)
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