Newspapers / The Chowan Herald (Edenton, … / June 13, 2001, edition 1 / Page 1
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Sleek chosen for apprentice program.... 4-B Tire Clean-Up effort to fight mosquitoes In area Kitchener celebrates 21 years of laughter at Little Friends-..... 1-B Wednesday, June 13,2001 1 Vol. LXVIII, No. 23 Published in historic Edenton... The prettiest town on the North Carolina coast. Civil War cannon returns to town BY HELEN KERR OUTLAND Staff Writer EDENTON- In 1862 the northern troops broke through the fragile defenses of Roanoke Island. In a fran tic attempt to preserve in land defense, General P. G. T. Beauregard rallied the citizens and surrounding counties to come to the aid of the confederate cause. So it was that the people of Edenton, Tyrell, and Washington counties re-, sponded. It was their sacri fices that were instrumental in formulating what was first known as the Albemarle Ar tillery . It was later to become known as the Edenton Bell Battery. These individuals sacrificed the very thing that symbolically rang out their beliefs. From their churches, courthouses, farms, and schools they dismantled the bells. The bells were subse quently melted down and made into cannons. On June 13th of 2001, after 140 years, the bells of Edenton will re turn home. Duringthe summer of 1999 Peter Rascoe, representative of the Historic Preservation Foundation of North Caro lina, made one of what had been many calls in search of /IV Edenton Bell Battery cannon returns to Edenton on permanent loan the cannons. This time his call was to Douglas DeCroix at Old Fort Niagara in Youngstown, New York of the Old Fort Niagara Association. Rascoe was making one more phone call in a long and arduous search for a 12 pounder Howit zer that had formed part of the armament of Company B, 3rd Battalion, North Carolina Light Artillery during the Civil War. “DeCroix and I discussed the unit, my information, and their armament for a few min utes,” says Peter Rascoe. “I told him that I had some foundry ID numbers. He told me to hang on a second as there were sev eral cannons matching the de scription there and he would take a look.” Rascoe and DeCroix both were stunned to find that not only did the descriptions match, but the numbers Rascoe had and those on one of the cannons actually matched. “I could not believe it when he came back to the phone and told See CANNON Page 3-A i 1 Sunken ship could be the oldest in NC BY HELEN KERR OUTLAND Staff Writer EDENTON- A sunken ship, discovered quite by accident, may possibly be the oldest such vessel found in North Carolina waters. During a recent episode of very low water Gil Burroughs of Edenton was exploring an area of the bottom of Edenton Bay behind his home that was normally submerged. He dis See SHIP On Page 3-A C ommissioners okay first phase BY MARIEL BETANCOURT Cox NC Publications The Chowan County Board of Commissioners have ap proved the first phase of con struction for Edenton Planta tion Golf and Retirement Com munity, a proposed 2,800-unit subdivision to be located on NC Highway 37. At its meeting June 4, the board also approved sketches for all four phases of the $328 million project. Commission ers will later approve the re maining three phases of the project, as well as give final approval to the entire subdivi sion. The first phase of construc tion includes 240condominium units, patio homes, townhouses and single-family homes, as well as an 18-hole golf course, community center, commercial offices, medical care facilities and a health cen ter. Prices for the units will range from $80,000 to $140,000. Edenton Plantation Golf and Retirement Community — which will increase the county’s tax revenue by $2.6 million each year once com plete — is the project of Ray Perkins and Dwight Wolf, both of Wolf Contractors Inc., and partner Rick Byers, all of whom were present at the meeting. The group chose to build in Edenton because of its appeal to retiring baby boomers, Perkins toldcommmissioners. “Our objective here is to build a moderately priced, ac tive adult community within a country club setting,” said Perkins. “We feel like (Edenton) is going to be a draw. We feel it’s a destination point, ” Marketing will target retir ees, but will include families as well, to create an “intergenerational commu nity,” Perkins said. Because the subdivision will include a variety of housing, developers will also market it to adult chil dren who need to live close to and care for their elderly par ents. I Wings over Edenton Edenton resident Peter Nizborski, right, talks with a visitor to the Wings Over Edenton air show held Saturday at the Northeast Regional Airport. The event featured sky diving demonstrations, static displays of various aircraft and flights for children, a remote control aircraft show and vintage car show. (Staff photo by Helen Kerr Outland) Music Festival this weekend BY REBECCA BUNCH Editor A free Community Music Festival will be held at the downtown Edenton Water front Park this Saturday from 4-7 p.fri. The event will appeal to a broad range of musical tastes, according to organizer Chamblee Simonsen. “There will be many musi cal styles represented at the festival,” she said. Each musi cian or group will perform anywhere from 10 to 30 min utes. Simonsen, who has put to gether the concert for all three years of its existence, said she loves hearing the various types of music and having people learn what diversity exists among Chowan County musicians. She said that the festival continues to gain in popularity each year, with musicians now approaching her and asking to be involved. The festival is sponsored by the Chowan Arts Council, Albemarle Boats, Camp Music lovers of all ages attended last year's free Community Music Festival in the Edenton waterfront park. This year's festival will be held this Saturday from 4-7 p.m. Younts and U S Cellular and supported by a Grassroots Grant from the North Carolina Arts Council. “Chamblee does a wonderful job,” said CAC Executive Di rector Sue Clark. “1 think it’s one of the most interesting events of the year.” Scheduled performers this year include: Wes Lassiter, Bluegrass; Edenton Men’s Chorus, Gospel; Andy Faircloth, Pop/Folk; RJ Gos pel Singers, A Capella Gos pel; Fred Hill, Blues; Mike Malloy, Pop/Contemporary; Foundation, Contemporary Christian Rock; the Rockin’ Willie Band, Rhythm and Blues; and Chamblee Simonsert, original music. Deputy’s quick thinking helps authorities apprehend suspects Some savvy observations on the part of Deputy Harry Ward of the Chowan County Sheriffs Office ended a rash of thefts that had plagued two counties in re cent weeks. Along with Evans Self-Ser vice on Rocky Hock Road, which had been broken into tiwce, a number of similar businesses in Ahoskie and Winton were also targets. Deputy Ward was instrumental in apprehending three suspects June 6 following a high-speed chase through southern Chowan County. The three were arrested after their attempt to flee came to an end behind the Edenton Police Department. “There was no where for them to go once they got to the waterfront,” said Sher iff Fred Spruill, obviously very pleased with his officer’s work. According to a Chowan Sheriffs Office report, Deputy Ward discovered the three sus pects in the process of breaking into Evans Self-Service located at 3403 Rocky Hock Road, Edenton. The suspects at tempted to escape in a medium sized blue vehicle. What followed was a 16-mile, high-speed chase, with speeds exceeding 90 miles an hour at times. Reports indicate that the chase continued onto Highway 32 and south into Edenton. It ended when the suspects pulled into the waterfront area beh ind the Edenton Police Department. Further investigation indi cates that the suspects had been involved in a series of other break-ins. A search of their ve hicle uncovered burglary tools, $240 in cigarettes, and over $1,200 in quarters and one-dol lar bills. All three suspects were charged with breaking, enter ing and larceny of Evans Self Service in Edenton, Futrell’s Corner Grocery and Ken/Nic Car Wash of Winton, NC and Jernigan’s Oil Company of Ahoskie, NC. They were also charged with two counts of breaking, entering and larceny at the Wash House in Ahoskie. The suspects — Tabitha Pauline Baker, 20, Michael Damion Swisher, 17, and Bran don Scott Stephens, 18 —• all are from Portsmouth, VA. Swisher and Stephens also face charges on a second count of breaking, entering and lar ceny at Evans Self-Service on May 9. Swisher, driver of the car, was charged with feloni ously speeding to elude arrest and assault with a deadly weapon. The Chowan County Sheriffs Office would like to thank the Edenton Police Department, the Winton Police Department and the North Carolina Highway Patrolfor their assistance. Sher iff Fred Spruill said it was “a job well done” by all of the officers involved. Edenton loses 1st planner BY MARIEL BETANCOURT Cox NC Publications After months of searching for the right candidate, Perquimans County found its first-ever planner right next door. Martha Daniel Hobbs, cur rently planner for Chowan County and the Town of Edenton, accepted the posi tion starts work in Hertford July 2. Hobbs is the daugh ter-in-law of Perquimans Commissioner Ben Hobbs. Finding someone with a planning degree took months, according to Perquimans County Manager Paul Gre gory. County officials adver tised the position three times before finding Hobbs, who is working on her thesis for a master’s degree in urban af fairs and public policy at the University of Delaware. “I’m impressed with her — I was the day I met her — and excited about bring her on board,” said Gregory. Edenton Town Manager Anne-Marie Knighton said she is sorry to lose Hobbs, whose last day of work in Chowan County will be June 19. “Chowan’s loss is Perqui mans’ gain,” Knighton said. “Martha was a terrific em ployee. She was very, very productive and did really well dealing with the public...We wish her all the best.” Ironically, Hobbs also was Edenton-Chowan’s first plan ner, holding the position for 18 months. Hobbs said she’s looking forward to the challenge of creating a zoning plan, and also the opportunity to focus on one task. “(The zoning ordinance) is a really important project,” said Hobbs, adding that she enjoyed her work in Chowan County. “The job I had has been really interesting. I’ve been involved in a lot of dif ferent projects.”
The Chowan Herald (Edenton, N.C.)
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June 13, 2001, edition 1
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