pamUSA:* competes in Poland.... 1Q-A 4th of July festivities draw crowd........... 1-C One dog’s love makes a world of difference_............ 1-D Family farm tradition still going strong in Chowan County BY ANGELA PEREZ Staff Writer North Carolina’s produce season peaks in July. No where is this more evident than in northeastern North Carolina. As you travel through the area, you will see any number of local farmers markets and roadside pro duce stands displaying bins filled with fresh cantaloupes, cucumbers, sweet corn, wa termelons, tomatoes, squash and beans. Although it is true that many of this year’s crops have been or will be planted late due to an overly rainy and cool spring, there is an abundance of summer fruits West Small and brother Leonard Small Jr. examine their crop at Va. Fork Produce Company. (Angela Perez photo) and vegetables. In Chowan County, local farmers supply most of these farmers markets and road side produce stands, guaran teeing fresher, better tasting produce. While it is true that each year there are fewer and fewer farms, Chowan Coun ty’s economy still relies heavily on agriculture as one of its biggest industries in a population estimated at 14,492. ’ In addition to pro duce, Chowan County is a large producer of peanuts and cotton, some soybeans and corn, and a small amount of tobacco and small See TRADITION Page 5-A Collin Small and Marjie Hollowed of Edenton discuss the fresh fruits of summer at Wilbur R. Bunch's Produce Stand #2. (Staff photo by Angela Perez) Bunch Produce opens 2nd stand BY ANGELA PEREZ Staff Writer Just over four weeks ago, the Wilbur R. Bunch Produce Stand #2 opened up for busi ness. Continuing a long-stand ing family tradition of selling quality produce, Keith Bunch followed in his father’s foot steps and opened the family’s second produce stand. The first stand is u well-knowh Chowan County staple in Rocky Hock. The brand new open air, wooden building is located on 32 South, Yeopim Road, about two miles from downtown Edenton going to wards the Albemarle Sound Bridge. Keith says that busi ness is doing well with a small but steadily growing clientele. Keith’s father, Wilbur, comments with a laugh, “He’s (,loing better y 1 See PRODUCE Page 5-A Sandy Point development plans outlined The Fund for Sandy Point North Carolina, LLC (a North Carolina limited liability com pany and the wholly owned subsidiary of The Fund for New Urbanism, LLC), has an nounced that it has contracted for acquisition of 927 acres in Chowan County. The property, which abuts the north shore of the Albemarle Sound, is eight miles east of the historic Town of Edenton. State Route 32 and the three-mile-long Albemarle Sound Bridge intersect the site, known locally as Sandy Point. The Fund for New Urbanism is a real estate development company that was organized in 2002 byprincipals of the ar chitectural and land planning firm of Duany Plater-Zyberk & Company (DPZ) in Miami, FL, and a group of development and financial professionals. The mission of the fund is the development of real estate projects exemplifying New Ur ban practice in communities seeking alternatives to subur ban sprawl, and to that end, it draws on DPZ’s experience ih designing over 200 New Urban communities worldwide. Moreover, rather than reach out to landowners directly, thd fund has sought the counsel of local municipal officials and development consultants, @t strategy intended to lead the fund into markets where plan ning officials and the leading development professionals demonstrate the desire and capacity for smart growth. The project announced tde day, Sandy Point, was intrd See SOUGHT On Page 3-A Edenton officer, PD focus of suit BY TAMIKA SPRUILL Staff Writer Former Chowan County resident Tristan Spencer has filed a lawsuit against the Edenton Police Department and police officer, Denise Wilder, claiming they did not protect him from an attack during an arrest three years ago. Spencer alleges that Officer Wilder, who still works for the See SUIT On Page 3-A Commissioners okay Williamson Memorial plans Planned site located on the Green BY TAMIKA SPRUILL Staff Writer The Chowan County Com missioners approved plans for a Hugh Williamson Memorial to be placed on the courthouse green during their Monday morning meeting. Williamson, an Edenton native, was a signer of the United States Constitution. According to Judge Boyle, who presented the Hugh Williamson Memo rial Committee’s proposal, the monument would add to Edenton’s historic value since This sketch shows the proposed design for a Hugh Williamson Memorial, which would be located on the Courthouse Green in Edenton. Edenton is the only county in North Carolina to have both a Declaration of Independence signer and a Constitution signer. The white granite monument will be placed near the Joseph Hewes Memorial. The Committee’s next step is to obtain funding to complete the project. Holladay Island was ap proved for purchase through the Clean Water Management Trust Fund. The property ap praised at $11,600 is 216 acres of undeveloped land and is lo cated a little over a mile from the Cannon’s Ferry Riverwalk area. According to Consultant Peter Rascoe, the island will be used for recreational purposes such as camping and will be an excellent place for nature edu cation studies. Rascoe further noted that the purchase would prevent the land from being developed into a commercial area. The Commissioners also passed the resolution that the Register of Deeds Office will no longer accept deeds trans ferring real property unless taxes are certified paid by the tax administrator. This provi sion basically ensures that any estate’s attorney guarantees that taxes and fees will be paid. Other business during the meeting included Julian Miller’s appointment to the: Workforce Development Board and the town manager's re port. TheCounty Commission ers have scheduled a public hearing on 6:00 p.m. August 3 rd regarding the Community Development Block Grant. ; Filing for re-election Councilman Jimmy E. Stallings, Councilman for the First Ward in Edenton, was the first to file for re-election on opening day of the filing period. Looking on as Council man Stallings signs the necessary form are Director of Elec tions Rebecca Lowe, Mrs. Stallings, daughters Jennifer and Amy. and Clerk of Superior Court Mike McArthur. Others who have filed for re-election are Mayor Roland Vaughan, Councilman at Large Steve Biggs, and Ward IVvo Council man Samuel B. Dixon. Filing ends at noon Aug. 1. Herald receives top state honor Former Staff Writer, Helen Outland, along with Produc tion Manager Deborah Collins and Publisher, David Crawley recently accepted a special First Place recognition award presented to The Chowan Her ald by The American Legion Department of North Caro lina. Edenton Post 40 Com mander, Ron Green presented the award at Tuesday night’s meeting. The prestigious award is given annually to News Media that excels in coverage of news and information regarding ef forts, programs and activities carried out by the American Legion. The impressive first place winning entry was compiled and submitted by Horace Toppin, Post 40 Historian. The award is given based on entries submitted by local Posts within the communities Former Chowan Herald Staff Writer Helen Kerr Outland (far right), along with Produc tion Manager Debbie Collins (left) and Publisher David Crawley (second from left) accept a special First Place recognition award presented to the newspaper by American Legion Post 40 Commander Ron Green. Outland also received individual recognition. served and is awarded accord ing to the plaque “for contribu tions to the public understand ing of the goals and objectives of the American Legion.” Outland also received spe cial recognition as the primary contributor to the collection of See HONOR On Page 3-A mmmmmmmmmmrnmMitmmtMZ