National Public Radio coming to area
If you have somehow been
mysteriously picking up Na
tional Public Radio on your car
stereo recently, it is because
WUNC Public Radio has been
testing its new signal over the
past few weeks as it gears up
to officially begin broadcast
ing Monday, September 1, at a
new radio station located in
Columbia, North Carolina.
WUNC’s award-winning news
and information service will
be heard at 88.9 FM, reaching
west to east from Greenville to
the Outer Banks, and north to
south from Elizabeth City to
Hyde County
“I am excited about the op
portunity to provide quality
public radio programming to
all our listeners, including
residents of Edenton, Eliza
beth City, Washington, and
Williamston,” says Joan
Siefert Rose, WUNC general
manager. “These communities
have been among the few in
North Carolina that have not
had access, to a strong signal
for National Public Radio news
and North Carolina-based lo
cal programming. I also am
glad to extend our service to
listeners in some of the most
rural counties in the state.”
Rose went on to say that she
felt that the addition of a new
station in northeastern North
Carolina was particularly sig
nificant because it is the last
remaining part of North Caro
Facility
could add
area jobs
The second largest egg pro
cessing company in the
United States is considering
.Hyde County for a location
for its state-of-the-art, envi
ronmentally friendly egg lay- ■
ing and production facilities.
Rose Acre Farms of Sey
mour, Indiana, is proposing
to build the egg -producing
facility on the Hyde Park Ca
nal.
The new facility would pro
duce about 3 million eggs
each day. Company execu
tives Victor Rigternik and
Tony Wesner said it would
also provide 125 full-time
jobs in the county.
To produce the eggs about
4 million chickens would be
housed in 14 poultry houses.
The facility would use about
4 million bushels of corn and
million bushels of soybeans
each year to feed the hens.
Alice Keeney, Hyde County
Planner, wanted everyone to
realize the company was not
making a proposal at this
time but said, “Hyde County
(is) their number one choice
at present.” It will be about
another thirty days before a
final decision is made.
Veteran Public Radio journalist Melinda Penkava is the new host of The State of Things on
WUNC Public Radio. This show weaves together lively and insightful conversations that ex
plore the North Carolina experience. The program is just one of many that WUNC will offer
Northeastern North Carolina.
lina that does not have access
to Public Radio. “With this
complete coverage, we can now
do much more localized cover
age of northeastern North
Carolina which has stories of
interest to the general public,
not just in the region. This is
a great opportunity for each
part of the state to compare
news and issues that are occur
ring across the state and to see
how each region is affecting
the other one. It puts the news
into a more definite context for
all North Carolinians.”
She also feels that this
broader, more extensive cover
age of North Carolinia by Pub
lic Radio is important for the
identity of the state’s resi
dents. “I think that people who
live in North Carolina, even if
they are not originally from
the state, strongly identify
with the fact that they are
North Carolinians. Not neces
sarily as Southerners, but
again, as North Carolinians.
This more expansive coverage
by Public Radio will really give
us an opportunity to see what
truly makes us distinctive as a
state. Giving this kind of lo
calized coverage that focuses
on all parts of North Carolina
will be tough, but if we don’t
do it, who will?”
WUNC is licensed to the Uni
versity of North Carolina at
Chapel Hill. Chancellor James
Moeser says, '‘WUNC’s expan
sion represents UNC-Chapel
Hill’s commitment to serving
all citizens of the state by of
fering information that con
nects them with the rest of the
world. WUNC’s decision to pro
vide the first public radio ser
vice to this region reaffirms its
public service mission to the
residents of North Carolina.”
The completion of construc
tion on the 50-thousand watt
station follows many years of
advocacy for enhanced public
radio service to the region by
North Carolina Senate Pro
Tem Marc Basnight. Basnight
, says, “I’m thrilled that WUNC
is expanding the presence of
public radio in eastern North
Carolina. I’m a big fan of its
programs, and I hope it will
bring as much education and
entertainment to other listen
ers as it does to me.”
WUNC broadcasts a combi
nation of news and talk pro
grams from National Public
Radio (NPR) and its Chapel
Hill-based programming staff.
See RADIO On Page 3-A
A rare find
Two rare wooden grave markers from the mid-19th century, still in good shape, were
discovered recently by Deputy Chowan County Clerk Carrie Byrum and summer intern
Beth Elliott. The discovery was made during the pair's attempt to locate and map the
locations of all known private and public cemeteries in Chowan County. The markers
were found in an old cemetery near Tyner. The county would like to receive any informa
tion on existing gravesites as part of the survey. Project Coordinator Carrie Byrum can be
reached at (252) 482-8431. (Photo courtesy of Peter Rascoe)
Community prayer service nears
A group of area ministers will have a community prayer service on Thursday, Sept. 4 at 6:30
p.m. at the flagpole of John A. Holmes High School. All ages and denominations are invited to
join in prayer for the children, teachers, staff and administration of Chowan County schools.
“This is a continuation of effort on the part of all area churches to gather in prayer for all of
our young people,” Willie Rankins, Leader of Jericho Ministries. “We need to get past color and
denomination and be unified in prayer and praise for the blessings of our children and school
system.”
Rocky Hock Opry
returns Sept. 5-7
BY TAMIKA SPRUILL
, Staff Writer
The Rocky Hock Ruritans
Cancer Relay for Life Team
will present another night of
music and entertainment with
the Rocky Hock Grand Ole
Opry The Opry will take place
at the Rocky Hock Playhouse,
126 Evans-Bass Road, Friday
and Saturday, September 5 & 6
at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Sep
tember 7 at 3 p.m.
The Rocky Hock Ruritans
Cancer Relay for Life Team
came up with the idea of an
Opry to feature local talent for
a family-fun entertainment
event to raise money.
The Rocky Hock Grand Ole’
Opry Band consists of five
multi-talented and versatile
musicians, four of which live
in the Rocky Hock section of
Chowan County. Steve Evans,
bass guitar, “Big Daddy” Sam
Morris, drums, Jack Evans,
rhythm guitar, and Brian
Smith, keyboard/ piano make
up the Chowan County four.
Smith is also the group’s
technical guru who sets up
the PA system and ensures
crystal clear vocals and in
struments. The lead guitar
ist, Johnny Milteer, hails
from Ahoskie. Milteer has
eight years of professional
Nashville Grand Ole’ Opry
experience with acts like
Stonewall Jackson and Billy
Walker.
Most of the acts perform
ing this year have performed
in the past and include “Big
Tom’’ White, Kendall Birck
head, Jim Boyce, Kim Grant,
Andrew Evans, Sarah Elliot,
and Andy and Shelly Fair
cloth. Laughs galore will be
provided by comedy acts
“Cousin Minnie Pearl”(
Cindy Lewis) and “Flatbilly
Bob”(Steve Evans). The
“Rocky Hock Gnat Swattin’
Boys” a.k.a. the Soggy Bot
tom Boys will also be appear
ing. • '
This year’s performance
also promises to be a success.
The Saturday, September 6
show is already sold out and
there are a limited number
of tickets available for Fri
day and Sunday’s perfor
mances.
Tickets are still available
at Byrum True Value Hard
ware and Byrum Craft Shop
at 314 S. Broad Street. For
more information call 482
2131 during the day or 221
4875 at night.
Waterspout spotted
Last Thursday evening, visitors to Edenton's downtown
waterfront were treated to the sight of a unique weather
phenomenon known as a waterspout. Waterspout forma
tion typically occurs at the end of the summer and early
fall when cold air moves across a body of water and re
sults in large temperature differences between the warm
water and the overriding cold air. They tend to last from
about two to twenty minutes, and move along at speeds
of 10 to 15 knots. Thursday's waterspout over Edenton
Bay lasted about 10 minutes. (David Winslow photo)
Labor Day closing
The Chowan Herald’s business office will be closed next
Monday in observance of the Labor Day holiday
Anyone wishing to submit any type of advertising or
news items should plan to have them in our office by noon
this Friday Thank you!
Vl. , ’. i"i. .. " "... ...
INSIDE THIS WEEin
Cycle
Speedway
of Edenton
explodes
onto the
internatioal
scene___.2-B
Roanoke River is
nature’s beauty at its
best.._
Shrimp by the Bay a
success__11-A