Town residents may feel pinch of tax hikes
BY SEAN JACKSON
Staff Writer
Town Manager Anne-Marie
Knighton has proposed hikes
in property taxes, water and
sewer fees, and electric rates in
the 2005 fiscal year budget.
A proposed 2.5 percent tax
boost would push the town’s ad
valorem rate to 44.5 cents per
$100 value. For example, a
property valued at $100,000
Park is
site of
assault
BY SEAN JACKSON
Staff Writer
A 76-year-old Edenton man
was attacked and robbed at
Queen Anne Park May 24. Po
lice have arrested two of the
assailants and are searching
for the third.
The man, a resident of South
Broad Street, was exercising at
the waterfront park when he
was knocked down and robbed,
police Chief Greg Bonner said
Friday. The victim said money
was stolen but his wallet was
later recovered.
Dexter Jermell White, 17, of
215 E. Albemarle St., and
Lamar Privott, 16, of 70
Chowan Court, both of
Edenton, were each charged
with common law robbery.
Both are jailed at the Chowan
County Detention Facility un
der $510,000 secured bonds.
Devon Allen Riddick, 20, of
Mexico Road, Edenton, is be
ing sought for his role in the
attack, Bonner said. Warrants
have been issued for his arrest.
“We ask anyone with infor
mation of his whereabouts to
please call the police depart
ment,” at 482-5144, the chief
added.
I he assault occurred at 3
p.m., along one of the most
prominent town streets — Wa
ter Street. The victim was
asked to make change and as
he reached for his wallet was
struck from behind, Bonner
said. The man said he got up,
only to be knocked down
again.
The victim sought medical
attention but appeared more
angered than physically in
jured two day^ after the as
sault. He has returned to his
frequent outdoor exercise rou
tines in downtown Edenton.
He is hoping town officials can
devise a plan to step up safety
measures downtown.
Queen Anne Park is man
aged by the town. Town Man
ager Anne-Marie Knighton
said Bonner has stepped up
foot patrols in the town’s two
waterfront parks.
“We are pleased that two of
the suspects were in'custody in
less than thirty minutes of the
incident,” Knighton said. “We
know who the third suspect is
and are actively looking for
him.”
The town is also doing crime
analysis, Knightons said, in
cluding tracking and mapping
every crime that has occurred
over the past six months.
“We are going to track where
every offender or person ar
rested/suspected lives,”
Knighton said. “We are hoping
we can identify some trends
from this data and then focus
resources, including law en
forcement, probation, code en
forcement, social services,
mental health and other agen
See ASSAULT On Page 3-A
would be assessed $445 in taxes
using the proposed new rate, a
$25 increase over the current
rate.
The proposed increases
would offset revenue losses in
tax reimbursements withheld
by the state in recent years and
spending for repairs of dam
age caused by Hurricane
Isabel in September.
“It is with much trepidation
that I make this recommenda
tion,” Knighton said in a letter
to the Town Council, “espe
cially in light of the financial
hardships most, if not all, of
our property owners endured
due to the wrath of Hurricane
Isabel.” ;
Council raised property
taxes by 2.5-percent last year.
The proposed tax increase
would, in .part, funnel $34,477
back into the town’s Capital
Reserve Fund, which is used to
repair town property and for
new construction. An addi
tional $35,100 will be sunk into
the Electric Fund, as was rec
ommended by the state Local
government Commission,
Knighton added. The tax hike
would produce $60,100 in new
revenue.
Revenue decreases include a
$70,000 drop in Powell Bill
funds, money that' comes from
a tax on gas that is distributed
to municipalities for street
projects.
The proposed budget also
contains only slight salary
hikes for town staff.
Knighton also projects the
Electric Fund to rise from
roughly $9 million to nearly
$9.73 million. Council had al
ready approved the electric
rate increase earlier this year.
The budget contains “unmet
needs,” Knighton said. They
include:
• Needed exterior mainte
nance for Town Hall
• A $20,000 air vac system for
the fire department
• A new copier for the police
department
Knighton’s proposed budget
includes a General Fund of
nearly $3.47 million, compared
to the slightly more than $3.5
million budgeted for the cur
rent fiscal year ending June 30.
Turning of tassles
<
BY EARLINE WHITE
Staff Writer
Over 160 students gradu
ated at the 2004 John A.
Holmes commencement cer
emony on Friday, May 28.
Holmes grads were antsy in
their seats awaiting their di
plomas. Energies were high
and the crowd was just as ex
cited as those graduating
were.
“This is one of the largest
groups I have seen in four
years. This group was out
standing,” said Principal John
Williams. “This class included
20 National Honors Society
scholars, 27, honor graduates,
18 Holmes Scholars, 41 NC
Scholars, 22 Fine Arts schol
ars, and 24 Tech Prep scholars.
Over $600,000 was accrued
among this class in scholar
ships alone,” said Williams.
Of the graduates who have
indicated their plans, 105 said
they plan to attend a commu
nity college, '4-year college or
university; 9 plan to enter di
rectly into the work force; and
Board of Education Chairman Gene Jordan presents
Krystyan Fleming her diploma Friday evening.
5 plan to enter military ser
vice.
Several students received
scholarships of over $20,000.
Cal Walters with his appoint
ment into West Point Academy
received a scholarship for
$285,000. Erin Potocki who will
go on to study at UNC-Chapel
Hill received $30,000; Laura
Breedlove who will be attend
ing Peace College received
$28,000; Chris Holley will take
his football expertise to Cho
wan College with a $22,400
scholarship; Jay Cooper will
be attending Fayetteville State
in the fall and received $20,000;
and Allison Winslow who will
pursue Nursing at ECU re
ceived $20,000. There were
many ,oth£r scholarship,^
awarded at the ceremony.
Over 1,000 volunteer hours
were spent by this special
group of students through
such efforts as the Dream
Team, Teacher Cadet, Lan
guage Bridges through the
Spanish class, Key Club and
ROTC. Athletically the class
did well this year; during all
the playoffs each team made it
to at least the first round.
Representative Bill Culpep
per was the commencement
speaker that night and gave a
wonderful, inspiring address
to the graduates. “I urge each
one of you to reach out for your
own personal best,” Culpepper
said. “You are living in a world
full of choices and I urge you
to open your mind to those
choices. Consider all the op
tions that are available to you.
Choose what will make you
happy because your career
should be more than just a job.
It should be a joy.”
Culpepper continued, “All of
your life you will meet and mix
with other people. Do remem
ber that their opinions, then
rights, are as important as
yours. Some of you will be
come successful in the world’s
eyes, more of you will be im
portant only to those you love
and who love you. Success
comes in different shapes and
sizes bin nevter be afraid of fail
ure. Should it occur your
charge is to try again. Commit
yourself to excellence in what
ever you do, big and little
things. A little thing is a little
thing, but little things done
well is a big thing. Be happy,
because happiness spreads.
You should feel very proud this
evening of your accomplish
ments and look forward to
your respective futures with
excitement and anticipation.”
Erin Potocki and Eric Sliva
represented the Class of 2004
as valedictorian and salutato
rian respectively Potocki also
gave her fellow classmates
Rep. Bill Culpepper
good advice. “We’re sad that
this chapter of our lives has
come to a close, but more
than that, we are excited
about what the future has to
offer. Many of us dream big
for ourselves, and we have
goals oi how Wc warn our
lives to be. I simply ask that
we not give up on those
dreams for the future...we
can succeed, despite any set
backs we may encounter...we
should never have to compro
mise our values and integ
rity to achieve our goals.
Wherever our lives take us,
we must always continue
learning. Also, we must
never forget John A. Holmes,
and all the memories that
were shared here.”
(Graduation 2004 photos
courtesy of John Wells of
Edenton)
■ TXStwia’
Apsitisfats
Staff photo by Barline White
Remembering fallen heroes
Veterans salute the American flag during a Memorial Day ceremony held Monday morn
ing at the Chowan County Veterans Memorial in Edenton.
Boys/Girls Club
coming to town
BY SEAN JACKSON
Staff Writer
Scotty Harrell wanted to
give Edenton and Chowan
County youths something to
do. And he has done just that.
The owner of Albemarle
Boats has helped lure Boys &
Girls Club of Southeast Vir
ginia to the old D.E Walker
School in Edenton. Harrell was
on hand Tuesday afternoon as
members of the Edenton
Chowan Community Founda
non nanaea over siari-up
funds to Chet Emerson.
“It’s just been wonderful to
work with the folks in Ed
enton,” Emerson, executive
director of the Norfolk-based
youth club, said after the
check-passing. “I’ve found
them to be very receptive, very
concerned about youth-devel
opment issues.”
Harrell was one of the con
cerned citizens.
“Looking around,” he said,
“there was just a big need in
the community for a place that
kids could go.”
Officials are already ham
mering out a time frame for
when the club will get into ac
tion.
Firm plans include tempo
rarily housing the Boys & Girls
Club at the former elementary
school on Oakum Street. The
building is undergoing renova
tions and will be the home of
Chowan’s College of The Al
bemarle campus. The Edenton
Chowan Recreation Depart
ment also has staff at the
school.
See CLUB On Page 3-A
INSIDE THIS WEEK
Edenton
Motors’
Open Houso
Steamers Opener set
for Friday.............. 3-B
Lions offer free
screening............. 3-C
Spring Outdoor Gospel
Sing nears__ 7-C