Vol. LXXI, No. 48
Wednesday, December 8, 2004
Single Copies 50<£
In this Bud Weagly photo for The Chowan Herald, Old Saint Nick is seen
hitching a ride aboard a lovely carriage during last Saturday's Christmas at the
Market which drew a large crowd to downtown businesses. This Saturday,
those who missed Santa's first visit of the season will have a chance to see him
in the Christmas Parade, starting at 11 a.m. On Friday and Saturday the Candleight
Tour will take place from 4-8 p.m. (See details on A-4 and A-5)
Local church choirs and civic
choruses will lead in the singing of
holiday music this Friday evening
to kick off the Candlelight Tour. It
begins at 6 p.m. on the Courthouse
Green. Everyone is welcome.
Oakum St.
gets facelift
Staff photo by Sean Jackson
DOT is working to "spruce
up" Oakum Street. Plans are to
dramatically improve the
north-south artery from East
Church to East Freemason
streets.
‘ BY SEAN JACKSON
Staff Writer
One of the main thorough
fares in Edenton is undergoing
a major facelift approved by
the Town Council in 2001.
The NC Department of
Transportation has been work
ing on Oakum Street for
weeks. And plans are to dras
tically improve the north
south artery from from East
Church to East Freemason
streets, a four-block stretch,
Town Manager Anne-Marie
Knighton said.
Approved by the state Board
of Transportation several
years ago, the project has been
a long time in the works,
Knighton said. Edenton con
tractor Paul Waff helped se
cure funding for the project
while he was a member of the
transportation board, she
added.
“The main benefit of the
project,” Knighton said Dec. 3,
“will be the elimination of the
gravel on-street parking and
the installation of curb and
gutters, tree boxes, driveway
openings, new sidewalks, and
defined — but limited — on
street parking.”
Knighton estimated the
project would cost several hun
dred-thousand dollars. The
only portion the town will pay
for is the purchase and plant
ing of the new trees, she added.
“And we have paid to move
some utilities,” she said.
The town held an informa
tional meeting in mid-2002
with property owners who
would be affected by the
streetscape project.
“The council has (since) re
ceived favorable comments
See OAKUM On Page 6-A
INSIDE
Calendar.A2
Church.....C5
Classifieds.D1 -4
Editorials.A8
Obituaries.C 7
Society:..C2
Sports ..B1-4
* - ‘
Privott's devotion to Rescue Squad brings recognition
BY EARLINE WHITE
Staff Writer
Willis Privott was recog
nized Monday by the
Chowan County Commis
sioners upon his retirement
from the Edenton-Chowan
Rescue Squad where he
served for 39 years.
Privott’s wife, children,
and friends he made during
his time working with the
Resuce Squad were on hand
for this special occasion.
Chowan commission
chairman Wayne Goodwin
presented an engraved
plaque to Privott recogniz
ing him for his almost 40
years of service to the
county.
Privott, who also serves
on the Edenton Town Coun
cil, recalled the days before
County regains financial footing
Swearing-in
highlights
busy session
BY EARLINE WHITE
Staff Writer
The Chowan County Board
of Commissioners met in regu
lar session Monday, December
6 with many things on the
agenda including celebration.
After the destructive Hurri
cane Isabel scarred many resi
dents emotionally and finan
cially, Chowan County is
happy to have numerous
grants flowing in, according to
Lisa Jones, Finance Officer.
Cliff Copeland, County Man
ager was also happy to report
that Chowan County’s credit/
bond rating has increased
from a BBB+ to A-, one of the
highest this side of NC.
Swearing-in held
The meeting began with
Nancy Morgan, County Clerk,
receiving the oaths of office for
the recently elected commis
sioners, Ralph Cole, Jerry
Downum and Harry Lee
Winslow. Bill Gardner, Jr. was
also excited to be among those
commissioners since his de
feat over Pruden and Sams in
the November election for
George Jones’ seat. Jones ad
dressed his fellow commission
ers briefly saying that his time
Lane promotes local economy
Businesses
urged to buy
locally
BY SEAN JACKSON
Staff Writer
Saying northeast North
Carolina would prosper by im-'
proving the region’s business
and industry relationships,
Rocky Lane offered an ex
ample of how it could be done.
Lane, an existing industry
the rescue squad. “I remem
ber when there was no Res
cue Squad.I always thought
that there was a need for
one, but there wasn’t any
money for it,” Privott said.
“So the. citizens in the
county decided that they
would take up money them
selves to have the emer
gency squad. When it began
we covered all over Chowan
and went to Perquimans,
Gates and Bertie counties
as well. We were always
busy, always on the go,”
Privott said.
Commissioner Jimmy
Alligood has known Privott
since their days together on
the Rescue Squad- Alligood
joked, “You have been with
the Rescue Squ^d as long as
I can remember.” Alligood
spoke fondly of the times he
Staff photo by Earline White
Bill Gardner Jr.; left, newly elected commissioner, takes the
oath of office along with his re-elected counterparts, Dr. Jerry
Downum, Ralph Cole and Harry Lee Winslow during Monday's
meeting of the Chowan County Commissioners
on the board was enjoyable
and that he “got as far as I did
by doing right by people”.
Jones firmly backs Bill
Gardner Jr in his new posi
tion. Wayne Goodwin was then
nominated to be the future
Chairman of the Commission
ers; Ralph Cole Vice-Chair
man. Both nominations were
approved. Della Rae Bass was
appointed as a member of the
Nursing Home Advisory Com
mittee.
and Privott worked to
gether, even revealing that
several people on the team
have kind nicknames for
Privott.
Privott returned the com
pliment by saying that the
squad is like a big family.
“If it wasn’t for this family,
I couldn’t have made it 39
almost 40 years,” Privott
said.
In conclusion Privott
added words to live by,
“When you climb the ladder
and reach the top, it’s better
to come down on your own
rather than have someone
help.” With that, Privott
took the plaque presented
to him for his years of dedi
cated performance and
said, “I hope I can still be of
service to the county.”
Holladay Island grant
Peter Rascoe informed the
Commissioners of the grant
received to assist in the devel
opment of five camping plat
forms and walkways at
Holladay Island. The grants,
accruing to $22,800, will help
develop the 6x6 platforms on
which visitors may pitch tents
and “enjoy the evening”
Rascoe said. A CAMA permit
See COUNTY On Page 6-A
specialist with the Edenton
based Northeast Partnership,
told Chowan County entrepre
neurs at a Nov. 3 luncheon how
his organization helped sway
one company to buy locally.
The company, which Lane did
not identify at the annual ap
preciation luncheon held at
Chowan Golf and Country
Club, was looking to buy ship
ping pallets. A supplier in
Rocky Mount — which is not
in the Partnership’s 16-county
service area — was the
company’s first choice. Lane
See ECONOMY On Page 6-A
4
Staff photo by Earline White
Edenton Town Councilman Willis Privott, left, is praised by
Commissioner Wayne Goodwin for his almost 40 years as a
member of the Edenton-Chowan Rescue Squad. Privott received
a plaque commemorating his service as his family looked on.
Attempted murder,
assault charges filed
BY SEAN JACKSON
Staff Writer
The suspects in a pair of
separate assaults have been
arrested by authorities, re
sulting in charges that in
clude attempted murder.
On Monday, the Chowan
County Sheriff’s Office ar
rested Robert Keith Beasley,
26, of Travis School Road, Co
lumbia, on charges stem
ming from .the assault and
robbery of an elderly
Edenton man Monday at 4:25
p.m. He was arrested after
fleeing the scene of the rob
bery, Edenton Police Det.
Aaron Davidson said Tues
day.
“He’s going to be charged
with attempted murder and
robbery,” said Davidson, just
prior to taking Beasley to the
Chowan County Magistrate’s
office.
Beasley allegedly entered
the Granville Street home of
a 64-year-old man and hit the
man “with his fists” and later
“tried choking and stran
gling” the victim, Davidson
said. Beasley allegedly stole
an undisclosed amount of
money, which he used to buy
crack, Davidson said.
Beasley was arrested at
Leary Plant Farm on Rocky
Hock Road, Davidson added.
“(Beasley) confessed to ev
erything,” the detective said.
Investigating officers were
Davidson and police Det.
Sgt. Rhonda Copeland.
In a separate incident, po
lice arrested a Gates
County man on Dec. 3 at his
workplace after the man al
legedly beat a coworker, se
verely injuring the victim.
Robert William Wardle,
34, was charged with as
sault with a deadly weapon
With intent to kill inflicting
serious injury. He was
placed under a $50,000 se
cured bond. Wardle was
scheduled to make his first
appearance in a Chowan
County courtroom Tuesday.
Wardle allegedly attacked
cowprker Stephen Briley
Robert W. Wardle
during a shift at Fueston
Wood Products on Badham
Road.
“Mr. Wardle struck Mr.
Briley in the head with a
wooden club several times,”
Davidson said, “stating that
he was going to kill him.”
Briley suffered a severe
gash in his head during the
attack and was taken to
Chowan Hospital for treat
ment, Davidson said.
Wardle also allegedly
kicked Briley during the at
tack, Davidson added. He
was later released.
Coworkers witnessed the
attack, one of which
“pulled Wardle off Briley,”
Davidson said. The incident
occurred at approximately
6 p.m. on Friday.
Wardle has prior felony
assault and assault on a fe
male charges against him,
Davidson said.
Davidson was assisted in
that assault investigation
by police Officer Dennis /
Smith.
It is common for larcenies
and robberies to escalate
during the holiday season,
law enforcement officials
have said. As a result, Po
lice Chief Greg Bonner
urges the public to assist
law enforcement in curbing
crime throughout the sea
son.
"Certainly we want the
community to be any assis
tance they can throughout
the Christmas holidays,”
the chief said, adding that
anyone with information
about a crime can call the
Edenton Police Department
at 482-5147.