Newspapers / The Chowan Herald (Edenton, … / June 8, 2005, edition 1 / Page 1
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Vol. LXX11, No. 22 Wednesday, June 8, 2005 Single Copies 50tf Steamers Coverage in TeamSteam’ page u COASTAL PLAIN LEAGUE BOE eyes incorporating innovative design at Holmes BY EARLINE WHITE The Chowan Herald This summer’s renovations at John A. Holmes were a springboard for discussion at Monday night’s Edenton ' Chowan Board of Education meeting. Board member Tom Abbott spoke on the recent NSBA Conference where com munity based institutions of learning were the focus. “I am especially interested in design planning as we pre pare to renovate Holmes,” Abbott said. “A lot of what I Two suspects arrested; face drug charges BY SEAN JACKSON The Chowan Herald Edenton police arrested a pair of alleged drug suspects over the week end, one during a routine car stop, and the other While responding to a do mestic disturban ce. On Friday, police Det. Sgt. Rhonda Copeland arrested Donald Leshaun Rankins, 24, of 112 Blade Circle, Eden ton anti charged him with possession of a firearm by a felon, possession of marijuana, pos session of a spirituous liquor, speed ing, driving with a revoked license, and improper child restraint. He was confined at Chowan County Deten tion Facility in lieu of $5,500 bond. His next court date is July 27, according to police records. According to Copeland’s re port, Rankins was travelling on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue around 9 p.m. He was going 47 mph in a 35 mph zone. After turning around to follow Rankins, his vehicle turned onto Vance Lane, where he proceeded to stop the vehicle in a pri vate yard. Rankins and a small child fled the car, but Rankins returned moments later to “apologize” for run ning, Copeland stated in her report. She seized a .38 caliber revolver See SUSPECTS On Page 2-A Sutton Rankins INSIDE Calendar.C2 Church.C4 Classifieds.D1-4 Editorials.A6 Obituaries.C6 Society.C3 Sports.B1-4 On Page Cl ... CAC’s "People’s Choice" exhibition opens Friday, June 10 heard at the conference dealt with designs that would bring the students and the commu nity together for cooperative learning. By keeping the facil ity open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and allowing the com munity to use the facility, we are opening the doors to grants and opportunities we would not have otherwise.” Chairman Gene Jordan who recently attended a conference with similar themes agreed with Abbott. “I fully agree that we should look at innovations like these from which we can Staff photo by Earline White Edenton Public Works spent most of the day last Tuesday installing new offstreet public parking signs. Jennifer Harriss, Director of Edenton Main Street stated in an email to The Chowan Herald, "Many downtown customers and local merchants had suggested that we have a better wayfinding system to indicate off-street parking. The banners were an easy and attractive way to accommodate this request. The Town was very generous in ordering and installing the banners. The Main Street Board hopes that the banners will assist locals and tourists in finding parking. We continue to encourage downtown business owners and employees to leave Broad Street parking spaces for customers." As with all new signage, the parking banners were approved by the Edenton Main Street Design Committee, Edenton Preservation Commission and Edenton Town Council. Above, Jerome Brown of the Edenton Public Works installing a new public parking sign. Town, county budgets offer mixed bag Increased costs will lead to hike in county taxes BY EARLINE WHITE The Chowan Herald The Chowan County Commission ers listened as County Manager Cliff Copeland reported on the increases beyond the county’s control that will lead to an unfortunate rise in taxes. “As always, this county budget must strike a balance between the need to provide these services, but as much as possible, limit the tax burden upon our citizens,” Copeland said. Chowan County residents can expect to feel a slight pinch as the tax rate is in creased by $.04, a $1.00 increase in residential fees for solid waste dis posal, and an increase of $.75/1000 gallons of water consumed in excess of 2000. For an average home valued at pool different monetary re sources,” Jordan said. The con ference Jordan attended ad dressed the emergence of ‘pio neer classrooms’ (one where all the students come together in an arena-type setting) back into use. Though Jordan thought that pioneer class rooms were not the way to ad vance at Holmes, the idea of ‘factory classrooms’ (where they are all identical molds) may not be the best option ei ther. In preparing for a new See DESIGN On Page 2-A $150,000, with the proposed 4-cent tax increase, the homeowner can expect to pay an increase of $60 per year for their home. Many factors have contributed to the need to increase the tax base. Hur ricane Isabel wreaked havoc in 2003, and a $47,000 increase for property liability insurance is just one of the things she left behind. In addition to the increasing needs of the emer gency workers and equipment to pre pare for such disasters, mandated state and federal cuts in the school system are placing a burden on local tax dollars ($159,000 increase), Med icaid insurance continues to rise ($48,122), as well as workers compen sation. See COSTS On Page 2-A Retirees honored at Mon day night's board meeting were Elizabeth Dail from White Oak; Sharon Lumsden from Chowan Middle School; . and Carolyn Wilson from D.F. Walker. Each received a silver tray in recognition of their many years of service to the students in the Edenton Chowan school system. Staff photo by Earline White County gearing up for predicted active hurricane season 0 . BY EARLINE WHITE The Chowan Herald Winds stir and the county prepares for the 2005 hurri cane season, which began June 1. Emergency Manage ment Coordinator Patty Madry informed the Chowan County Commissioners at their monthly meeting held Monday of the steps taken to prepare the emergency workers, law enforcement and others for the upcoming season, predicted to be especially active in the Atlantic region. “We have met with Interfaith, identified 3 places for HAM operations, met with Red Cross and have identified a pet/people shelter, met with the debris contractor, with private road landowners, public utilities and are conduct ing hurricane exercises with staff,” Madry said. “If an other hurricane as strong as Isabel hit Chowan County, the impact would be five times what was originally sus tained—we need to be ready” Madry also informed the Commissioners of a $500,000 grant for the VIPER system, a state-wide communication system used by law enforce ment, fire, etc that will bring state-of-the-art technology See SEASON On Page 2-A This Ryland home was one of many surrounded by debris after Hurri cane Isabel. HERALD FILE PHOTO Sewer, water rates to rise for town residents BY SEAN JACKSON The Chowan Herald Edenton Town Council’s Finance Committee voiced no oppostion to Town Manager Anne-Marie Knighton’s proposed 2005-06 fiscal year budget during a special session Monday night. The $3.63 million budget — which would begin July 1 if adopted by council — does not include a tax in crease, but does contain a slight hike in the sewer rate, and the water rate charged to large-scale users. Commit tee chairman Jerry Parks said the proposed budget is “fairly optimistic ... and aggressive” considering the absence of a property tax hike. “It’s not a real glamorous budget,” Knighton told the committee. f The proposed budget is roughly $160,000 higher than the current bud get that expires June 30. Council’s next meeting is June 14. Knighton said the budget would likely be sched uled for adoption by council at the board’s June 27 meeting. Highlights of the budget include: • A 2.5 percent salary increase for town employees; • $15,000 for potential demolition of abandoned structures; • $10,000 for enforcement of the towns nuisance abatement ordi nance; \ • $25,000 for replacing playground equipment at Colonial Park; • $16,000 towards the purchase of a new fire truck; See RATES On Page 3-A
The Chowan Herald (Edenton, N.C.)
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June 8, 2005, edition 1
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