Newspapers / The Chowan Herald (Edenton, … / June 15, 2005, edition 1 / Page 1
Part of The Chowan Herald (Edenton, N.C.) / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
I VVII Vol. LXXII, No. 23 Wednesday, June 15, 2005 Single Copies 50tf Vandals avoid [ prison Generous gesture saves j teens jail time - From Staff Reports J Two teenagers arrested last i fall for their roles in a vandal i ism spree that caused $150,000 in damage to the site of a new | waterfront condominium site f near Edenton were sentenced in Chowan County Superior J Court on Monday, i „• Joshua Allen Waterfield, 17, I of Roper and Thomas Howard Baggett, 16, of Edenton pleaded guilty to a number of ■ . crimes related to a vandalism spree at Wharf Landing near the Chowan River Bridge in November. The damages in cluded a burned boat and a farm truck used during an ap ; parent joyride. Initially, both teens were charged with five counts of felonious larceny. The incidents, which took place over a weekend in late November, also included an attempted break-in at Layton’s 4 Custom Boat Works on 4 Soundside Road and the theft | of a truck and damage to prop | erty at Hayes Farms, accord ing to Chowan County Sheriff Fred Spruill. t i I I i 1 1 1 :> 4 •I Judge Richard J. Parker told the teens he typically doesn’t rule leniently in cases of van dalism. However, because the teens reached an agreement with the primary victim, Paul Waff the developer , of Wharf Landing and owner of Waff Contracting in Edenton, Parker did not order jail time. “I don’t know whether you are impressed sufficiently • with how fortunate both of you are Mr. Waff was willing to work with you, ” Parker told the defendants. “Otherwise you would be going to prison for a long time and I would not hesitate to send you there. I’ve never understood vandalism and have no patience or toler ance for people who commit vandalism.” Because insurance picked up half the cost of the damage, Baggett and Waterfield were ordered to pay Waff Contract ing the remaining $75,000. Parker sentenced the teen agers to 60 months probation - See TEENS On Page 3-A — INSIDE Calendar.. C2 Church.. C4 Classifieds..... D1 -6 Editorials.A6 Obituaries.C6 Society.C3 Sports.B1-6 Third Annual Community & Water Festival Junel8.2005 I - '"-v ■ ■■ - ‘"“7 a,: r*' a;1 < .l ■«w,- j■ ■Bamnwsg Chowan Herald file photo Sunfish boats dot the downtown Edenton waterfront during last year's Community Music and Water Festival. BY SEAN JACKSON The Chowan Herald If the third time is the charm, then the 3rd Annual Community Music & Water Festival on the Edenton waterfront this Saturday should be remarkably charming. With events running from mid-morning to sunset, event organizers are counting on hundreds of residents and visitors to enjoy the festivities at the town’s waterfront park. Registration for canoe and kayak racing begins at 8:30 a.m. at the Edenton Harbor waterfront (behind the Northeast Partnership building on West Water Street). Sign-ups will continue until roughly 9:45, Edenton-Chowan Recreation Department Director Robbie Laughton said. Races are set to begin at 10. Cost is $20, which includes a commemorative t-shirt. Free kayak and canoe rides — along with demon strations by the Eastern 4-H Center — will run from noon until 5 p.m. “We want a lot of local support,” for the races and demonstrations, Laughton said. Sunfish sailboat races will begin at 2 p.m. In addition, live music will start at noon and run until dusk, said Edenton-Chowan Chamber of Commerce Tourism Director Nancy Nicholls. Bands include: • Acoustic Coffee House Blend • Admit 1 • Peter Boehling • Andy Faircloth • Chamblee Simonsen • Edenton Men’s Choir • Fred Hill • Gospel’s Dis ciples 11 • Mark Sclafani •Michael Malloy • Moments of Glory • Old Time Gospel String Band Chowan Herald file photo Acoustic Coffee was among the food vendors at last year's festival. The sound system will be provided by Eugene Byrum. Musicians will play with their backs to the water, so listeners will have a view of the water, Nicholls said. “The (Albemarle) Sound will be the backdrop,” she added. “It’s going to be very pretty. ” Artisans and vendors are expected to be plentiful during the daylong events. Food will include hot dogs, hamburgers, waffle cakes, and chicken and See FESTIVAL On Page 2-A Noted oceanographer to give talk BY EARLINE WHITE The Chowan Herald Accomplished writer, historian, underwater photog rapher and oceanographer Jim Bunch will give a captivating talk and presentation June 16 in the panel room of the 1767 Chowan County Courthouse at 7 p.m. A must-hear for history buffs and divers alike, Bunch will speak of thousands of dives he has made at the Outer Banks, including those that uncovered many almost-lost secrets. Coming ashore in North Caro lina has always been a treacher ous feat. Known as “The Grave yard of the Atlantic” many ships sunk to their fate in the waters so many retreat to this time of year. Bunch learned of these wrecks and immediately his mission seemed clear; to locate and photograph shipwrecks. Diving since 1955, Bunqh was one of the first to see the famous U-85. "The U-85 was the first German boat sunk by Ameri can forces after entry into WWII in April of 1942,” Bunch said. “The Navy had tried to recover the boat for many years. In the 1980s less than 100 people has seen it, me among them. This boat held special mean ing for me. I learned about the wreck in the 70s and the thought of a German U-boat less Contributed photo This photo of the U-85 entering the harbor at St. Nazaire in occupied France on Feb. 23, 1942, graces the cover of Bunch's book. than 30 miles from where I was standing on the beach was amazing. The closeness of the wreck, the Ger mans and the war raging right here on the coast close enough for those on land to see-it really interested me. So I’ve been diving this site for 25 years. It’s almost like an obses sion. And the fact that no one ever knew the exact reason for the sink ing continues to be a focus for his torians, and myself alike,” Bunch said* It has held so much interest for Bunch in fact that the German U 85 wreck has been the subject of two books, "Diving the U-85” and “U-85 A Shadow in the Sea, A Diver’s Reflections”. With growing interest into the boat, many have journeyed to dive .into the deep. The U-85 quickly became the second most explored wreck age on the East Coast. See TALK On Page 2-A Police make arrest in domestic case Attempted murder, assault are charged BY SEAN JACKSON The Chowan Herald An Edenton man was arrested on June 10 just hours after he allegedly severely beat his es tranged girlfriend. Police and Chowan County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested David Quinton Biggs Sr., 54, of 237 Mexico Road, as Biggs was leaving his home last Friday. He was charged with first-de gree attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious in jury, and common law robbery. He was jailed at Chowan County Detention Center under a $225,000 bond. He was scheduled to make his first court appearance Tuesday, police Chief Greg Bonner said Monday. Biggs allegedly at tacked Avilla Bonner, 49, outside her North Oakum Street home shortly before 3 a.m. on June 10. Bonner had been on her way to work when Biggs, dressed in dark cloth ing, allegedly approa ched Bonner and began beating her in the head with a “blunt object,” Li_teat ■ i MsL the police chief said. Biggs Bonner was left bleeding in her front yard, and her son — one of two of her children inside the home—called 911. Biggs allegedly stole her pocketbook before he • . See ARREST On Page 2-A Sheriff's office warns of scam Seniors targeted in home improvement ruse BY EARLINE WHITE The Chowan Herald A recent spree of con artists targeting senior citizens in Chowan and Perquimans counties, has prompted a warning from local law enforce ment officials: never let anyone come into your home unless it is someone that you know. “The two most recent cases of scams against seniors have involved 2 or 3 white males (in their mid 20s to 30s) pulling up in a late model car tell ing the homeowner that they are selling rem nants of carpet,” Chowan County Deputy Sher iff Dwayne Goodwin said. “With permission, the men enter the house and quote ridiculously low figures to ‘modernize the rooms’. While oneman goes with the homeowner to inspect the differ ent rooms of the house, the accomplice(s) rum mage through drawers and grab valuables. By the time the homeowner has noticed what has See SCAM On Page 2-A U.S. Army captains Julie Onufrak and Kevin Donley enjoy a few quiet moments together prior to their wedding day. Ceremony commands attention BY SEAN JACKSON The Chowan Herald After a year in battle-scarred Iraq, Julie Onufrak and Kevin Donley weren’t about to have butterflies about their wedding day. Onufrak, 27, and Donley, 29, were married at St. Anne Catholic Church on Saturday, June 11. Both are cap tains in the U.S. Army with roles in communications for the 121st Signal Battalion, which serves the 1st Infan try Division. They left Iraq in Febru ary. “It was stressful and hard,” said Donley, who hails from Pittsburgh, Pa., “but not as bad as (the media) made it sound.” Julie agreed. “It was very difficult, of course,” Onufrak said during an interview at her bridal shower at the home of Keith and Nancy Sorensen on East King Street last week. “For myself,” she said, “it was more stressful than dangerous.” Onufrak spent her year in Iraq in insurgent stronghold Tikrit. Donley served in Baqubah. More than 1,700 U.S. military personnel have fallen in the war which began in March 2003. A member of Donley’s company — of See CEREMONY On Page 2-A
The Chowan Herald (Edenton, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
June 15, 2005, edition 1
1
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75