Aces host
soccer
ptayoffS... 5-A
natura! hostage
Rea! Science
students beautify
the!r campus.._
Sound Country
co!obratat!on focuses on
Wednesday, October 31,2001
Northern Chowan Community Center dedication nears
Open House to
be held Nov. 7;
public welcome
BY HELEN KERR OUTLAND
<Sf6#Wr!?er
On Wednesday, Nov. 7, the
Northern Chowan Community
Center will officially open with
a ribbon cutting and open
house at 4 p.m. The public Is
cordially invited to attend.
The new facility, a 25,000
square foot building will in
clude not only accommoda
tions for the public, but for
Chowan Middle school that is
located next to the facility.
"This has been a long time
coming," said Robbie Laugh
ton, director of the Edenton
Chowan Recreation Depart
ment. "We are so pleased as
well as grateful to many
people."
The Northern Chowan Cen
ter houses an 8,000 square foot
gym, with a bleacher capacity
for 675 spectators. It supports a
Robbie Laughton taiks with Meredith Broome in the new 8,000
square foot gym at the Northern Chowan Community Center
where a ribbon-cutting and open house wit! take ptace next
Wednesday. Laughton, director of the Edenton-Chowan Recreation
Department, spearheaded the project; Broome wit) be one of two
fuH-time emptoyees at the center. The other position has yet to be
fitted. (Staff photo by Heten Kerr Outtand)
regulation sized basketball
court that can be divided by a
partition to accommodate two
practicing teams. "One of the
amenities of the basketbali
goals it the ability to raise them
higher, lower them, or to move
them completely out of the
way," Laughton said, pointing
out the electronic system with
which each goal is controlled.
The bleachers work on a simi
lar system and can be "stacked"
against the walls to create ad
ditional floor space in the gym.
Architect Larry Deckard de
signed the new center which is
being built by Davie Construc
tion Company and General
Contractor, Inc. The center will
offer a variety of instructional
classes and there are areas set
aside for the weight room, an
other for aerobics, and a spa
cious community meeting
room. "We also have a large
laundry area available to us as
patrons will be furnished tow
els," added Laughton.
Meredith Broome will be one
of two full-time employees at
the new center. Broome is a
graduate of East Carolina Uni
versity in Greenville with a de
gree in Recreational Adminis
tration. She is a native of
Edenton. "I was going to move
back home for a while any
way," Broome said. "I wanted
to save up some money. I saw
an ad in the Chowan Herald for
this position and I applied. I
am very excited about the cen
ter and can not wait for it to
open."
Broome's job will be to over
see the daily activities at the
new facility as well as provid
ing activities or classes the
community may express an in
terest in taking.
The center will be open 6 or
7 days a week contingent on
the needs of the community.
For those who like exercising
out of doors, there is a walking
path that encircles the football
field, 3 outdoor tennis courts,
and basketball courts. The cen
ter is surrounded on three sides
by spacious parking.
"Very simply put, the North
ern Community Center will be
a tremendous asset to Chowan
County," said Chowan County
Commissioner Cliff Copeland.
"The beauty of the facility is
that it benefits the recreation
needs of the northern end of
the county and the school sys
tem as well."
Chowan County Middle
School sits next to the new cen
ter. As the student population
has increased over the years,
so have their needs for addi
tional facilities to accommo
date a number of school func
tions.
" One reason we went back to
make the gym larger so that
the middle school could seat
its entire student body. Before,
they would have to hold assem
blies in two different stages,"
said Copeland. "I am really
proud of this project, as it will
benefit the entire county for a
long time to come."
Along with plenty of shower,
locker, and changing areas the
new facility also has a large
and fully equipped kitchen and
concession stand. Restrooms
on that end of the center are
designed to address the larger
gatherings for community,
school, or sports events at the
center. "We will offer a variety
of activities that include aero
bics, martial arts, and exercise
for kids," said Laughton.
"Space has also been set aside
for a future Racquet Ball
court."
See CENTER On Page 5 A
Natural gas to be
available to some
customers by July
BY CH!P ROMANOVtCH
Cox 7VC PuMcaf/ons
COLUMBIA, NC - State and
regional officials broke ground
on a long-awaited natural gas
pipeline Thursday, a project
they've long said will change
the region's economic land
scape forever.
Dozens of officials traveled
to Columbia for the ceremony,
and everyone who spoke prom
ised dramatic improvements
in the Albemarle once natural
gas begins flowing through a
maze of pipelines that will
stretch from AhoSki^ to fhtr
beaches of Dare County.
"This project will bring
change to each of the counties
represented here, (changes)
that most of us dreamed would
never happen," said Bob
Spivey,
Windsor mayor and chair
man of North Carolina's North
east Partnership. "This is a gi
ant step for economic develop
ment. Today, we face a new
opportunity because we will
become competitive. This is a
special day for us."
1 tie $4t) mimon nrst pnase 01
the project will see pipe laid in
Gates, Perquimans, Chowan,
Pasquotank, Camden and
Currituck counties. Progress
Energy and Albemarle
Pamlico Economic Develop
ment Corporation officials
have been setting stakes and
acquiring easements and envi
ronmental permits for several
months.
Construction of the pipeline
began in Ahoskie earlier this
month, with the digging of 12
inch transmission mains.
Smaller distribution lines,
which will ultimately service
businesses and homes, are cur
rently being dug in Elizabeth
City. Officials expect gas to
become available to some cus
tomers here by July.
"We've got about a mile or
so laid, out near Ahoskie," said
Progress Energy Construction
Project Manager Chris Alb ers.
"We just started yesterday (in
Elizabeth City). In the next
couple of weeks, you'll see a lot
more work."
Rep. Bill Owens, D
Pasquotank, and Senate Presi
dent Pro Tempore Marc
Basnight, D-Manteo, spon
sored several key pieces of leg
islation over the past 10 years
that helped bring the pipeline
to the northeast.
"We've alllooked for this for
a long time," Owens said. "Our
dreams are going to become a
reality. We'll have industry
-that look at us now that would
not look^dus before. We're on
the right ro^dj
Owens and Basnight helped
push a $200 million statewide
bond referendum to help fund
the project, as well as the natu
ral gas franchise bill that al
lowed Progress Energy to pur
sue the rights to distribute
natural gas.
Basnight said the alternative
energy source moves the
Albemarle one step closer to
providing what prospective
businesses demand from an
area.
"Natural gas ... just brings
employers," he said. "It will
bring other business and indus
try to Northeastern North Caro
lina. This is one of the compo
nents. Without the gas, none of
it works; without the roads,
none of it works. You have to
bring all of it together, and we're
doing that. Now, they'll be in a
position to compete equally."
Winfall Mayor Fred Yates.
Edenton Town Manager Anne
Marie Knighton, and former
Pasquotank County Commis
sioner Jimmie Dixon also at
tended the ceremony.
Yates praised the project's *
potential. "It's just like pouring
water on a seed, cultivating it
and watching it grow," he said.
"We'll be able to get industry
here, and keepour children here
and find meaningful jobs. It's a
dream come true."
C
DARE Officer, Deputy Car! Rabe, shown above with his wife Mary E)!en, was presented the Chowan County Outstanding Officer
of the Year at the Annua) Chowan County Law Enforcement Banquet. Deputies Tim Brabbte and Greg Whitehurst (right) were
presented the Edenton-Chowan Optimist Ctub Outstanding Officer Award for Youth. (Staff photos by He!en Kerr Outtand)
Outstanding law officers are honored
BY HELEN KERR OUTLAND
Wrtfer
EDENTON - The preamble
to the Constitution of the
American Legion reads in part;
"For God and country we asso
ciateourselves togetherforthe
following purposes: To main
tain law and order; to foster
and perpetuate a one hundred
percent Americanism.. .To pro
mote peace and good will on
earth; to safeguard and trans
mit to posterity the principles
of justice, freedom and democ
racy."
On Thursday, October 25th,
nearly 300 law enforcement,
fire, and rescue personnel were
joined by families, friends, and
dignitaries for the 31st Annual
Chowan County Law Enforce
ment Banquet hosted by the
Edward G. Bond, Post 40,
American Legion in Edenton.
It was an evening of reminders
and gratitude for their service
to their community and
throughout the country.
Also on hand were represen
tatives from law enforcement
divisions' all over northeast
ern North Carolina. The hon
orable Justice Marc Martin of
the North Carolina Supreme
Court, guest speaker, ad
dressed the audience, remind
ing them of the important role
that law enforcement plays in
the continued security of the
United States. "These men and
women make a commitment,
every day, to give their lives if
need be, for you," said Justice
Martin. "We must not forget
their dedication and loyalty to
us all."
The program for the
evening began with the pre
senting of the colors with offic
ers carrying flags represent
ing their branch of law enforce
ment, marching in cadence, as
"Amazing Grace" was played
on bagpipes.
The entire evening was
dedicated to honoring those
See OFFICERS On Page 6-A
St. Paul's plans celebration
Burning ban
300 years of
faith, history
to be profiled
BY REBECCA BUNCH
Edtfor
Since the beginning of time,
churches have provided a safe
haven in troubled times and
served as a source of faith and
inspiration to people every
where. In the coming months,
the past and present members
of St. Paul's Episcopal Church
in Edenton will celebrate the
300th anniversary of the found
See CHURCH On Page 6 A
All burningpermits have
been cancelled everywhere
in North Carolina. All open
burning is also prohibited
until further notice, even if
a permit has already been
issued, in all of North
Carolina's 100 counties.
That announcement was
made by William G. Ross
Jr„ Secretary of the Depart
ment of Environment and
Natural Resources.
Burning in protected ar
eas is not affected.
Chowan County resi
dents having questions
about the announcement
can call Forest Ranger
Ferrell Banks at 482-4554.
YEOPtM RUR!TAN CLUB
BBQ CHiCKEW
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2001
At the Rtiritun/yaycee
Hi 7 Soundside
11:00 2:00 and 4:00 ^ 7:00 PM
$5.00
per plate
EAT nw OR TARE OUT
For Ticket info cat! Robert Haisey
at (252) 482-2525
or Gioria Ward at (252) 482-2123 g