Holiday events are planned
• . merthants gear up for
Christmas shoppers A more!
, No. 46
The prettiest town on the North Carolina coast. Single Copies 50*
County Commissioners honored by state agency
Outstanding show
of support dor the
public schools
earns recognition
The North Carolina School
Boards Association (NCSBA) hon
ored the Chowan County Board of
Commissioners as recipients ofthe
2000 North Carolina School Boards
Association County Commission
ers Award.
The award is presented annu
ally by the NCSBA to a local county
commission that demonstrates
outstanding support of public
schools.
The Chowan County Board of
Commissioners were honored for
their local financial contributions
to public education in the areas of
current expense and capital out
lay allocations that have permit
ted the Edenton-Chowan school
system to signficantly improve
services for students.
In 1999, Chowan County Com
missioners committed to provide
$1.25 million dollars over a five
year period for the infusion of tech
nology into the schools. Because of
these additional funds, the stu
dents and staff of. the Edenton
Chowan school system now have
immediate ^access to a multi-me
dia computer and high-speed
Internet connections in every
classroom, media center, computer
lab, and workspace. The ratio of
multi-media, Internet-ready com
puters has been improved to one
for every four students primarily
due to the funding provided by the
commissioners.
In addition, Chowan County
Commissioners were recognized
for their willingness to fund the
construction of a new D.F. Walker
Elementary School through the
authorization of a Certificate of
Participation and additional funds
to fix roofing needs at both John A.
Holmes High School and Chowan
Middle School.
Commissioners were also rec
ognized for demonstrating their
support for the school system in
other ways than financial. They
have assisted the school district in
attracting teachers by waiving util
ity deposits for new teachers mov
ing in to Chowan County. Viable
partnerships have been estab
See COUNTY On Page 3-A
Koonce is named
Administrator of Year
Chowan Middle School assistant principal Willie Koonce, left, is
congratulated by Dr. Allan Smith, local school superintendent,
upon being named Administrator of the Year for the school system.
For 05 years, Willie Koonce
has devoted his time and energy
to education in the Edenton
Chowan school system. During
tha t time he spent 19 years teach
ing and the past six years as
assistant principal of Chowan
Middle School.
This year he was honored by
his peers, other administrators
irt the school district, by being
named 2000-2001 Chowan
County Administrator of the
Year, an honor he accepted with
humility and deep appreciation.
“Any one of our system’s
principals or assistant princi
pals could have received this
honor,” Koonce said. “There
are So many good things t hat
each one of them do, but they
chose me and that makes me
feel good to know that I’ve done
something good and for them to
think that I deserve it.”
Supt. Dr. Allan Smith said,
“Willie is a very conscientious
administrator and he takes
See KOONCE On Page 8-A
Project is gaining steam
BY JEREMY DESPOSITO
Cox NC Publications
EDENTON - A proposed bicycle
pedestrian trail that will link
Soundside Road to Edenton’s wa
terfront and Virginia Road may
boost tourism and make pedestrian
travel a little easier.
The town and Chowan County
received a joint grant totaling
$500,000 for the trail, County Man
ager Cliff Copeland said at the last
county commissioners’ meeting.
The grant requires a local match
of $150,000, which will be the re
sponsibility of both the town and
the county. The funds come from a
Federal Highway Administration
and state Department of
Transportation’s Transportation
Enhancement Act grant, Town
See PROJECT On Page 3-A
Chowan County Commissioners are joined by members of the Edenton-Chowan Board of Education as they accept the 2000 North Carolina School
Boards Association County Commissioners Award for outstanding support of public education. The award was presented during an awards
ceremony held in Greensboro on Nov. 13. (Submitted photo)
Candlelight Tour set for early December
Hayes Plantation
Cottage will be
among residences
open for the tour
By REBECCA BUNCH
Editor
With thoughts of the hoi iday sea
son, comes the anticipation of be
ing a part of one of this
community’s most exciting events
- the Christmas Candlelight Tour.
This year’s tour is scheduled for
Friday, Dec. 8 and Saturday, Dec.
9. Hours will be 4-8 p.m. both days.
Tour Chairman Susan
Creighton, who is something of an
authority on the subject, having
chaired the past few tours, said
that those organizing the event
believe it will be one of their best
ever.
“We have a beautiful tour of
homes lined up for everyone to see
and enjoy,” she said. “We’d like to
thank all of the homeowners who
have so generously offered to open
their homes to the public during
this event.”
Radiothon
aids those
who need it
BY DERRICK ARMSTEAD
Staff Writer
EDENTON—With the aid of the
media, many Americans have been
educated on an assortment of medi
cal issues. However, one disease
has managed to remain a relative
enigma t,o the general population,
prompting the Albemarle Sickle
Cell Support Group (ASCSG) to
take action.
“Our purpose is twofold,” said
Reggie Thompson, organ izer of the
ASCSG’s recent radiothon on the
Edenton-based station, WBXB.
“First, we think it’s important to
See RADIO On Page 8-A
Members of this year's Candlelight Tour Committee are (seated, l-r) Susan Creighton, chairman; Betsy Hunt;
(standing, l-r) Beverly Kirchmier, co-chairman; Susan Adams; and Legion Britton. (Phbto by Betsy Lawrence)
Creighton added that the tour
planners are especially pleased to
have Hayes Planation, home of Mr.
and Mrs. John G. Wood IV, and 1
Hayes Cottage, home of Mr. and
Mrs. J. Gilliam Wood III as two of
he sites on the 2000 holiday tour.
See TOUR On Page 3-A
n Min: ill
Rocking rhythm
Members of the United States Air Force Heritage of America Band's Jazz Ensemble perform a lively rendition
jq4"OI Man River" during a performance here Nov. 17 at Swain Auditorium. The well-attended concert wqs
co-sponsored by the Chowan Arts Council, the Chowan Herald, and the Chowan Arts Council.
@Rockv Hock Community Center
Friday, November 24th & Saturday, November 25th L|
7:00pm until turkey...hens...hams
Family Fun Sponsored
by Rocky Hock
•Ruritans