Newspapers / The Chowan Herald (Edenton, … / Sept. 28, 2005, edition 1 / Page 1
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Vol. LXXII, No. 38 Wednesday, September 28, 2005 Single Copies 50# Tuning up for Peanut fest— Cl Tax rates could dip in 2006 Rise in values to drive drop in rate BY SEAN JACKSON The Chowan Herald With a rise in land values in Edenton and Chowan County, officials are forecasting a drop in the property-tax rates next year. A near-completed tax revalu ation indicates that fair-mar ket real estate values should rise anywhere from 15 to 75 percent for homes in Edenton. Chowan County Manager Cliff Copeland expects the same to 5 , be true for homes, farmland, and timber tracts out in the county. “The tax rate will definitely be c ut,” Copeland said Friday of the current ad valorem rate of 78 cents per $100 of property value in Chowan. Officials don’t appear to be taking the approach Pitt County took in 2004, when property values increased due to a state-mandated -revalua tion, but the tax rate went un cut. Local officials seem poised to make a tax-rate cut next year. But with the final schedule — and subsequent list — of value increases not completed, Copeland said it would be dif ficult to predict exactly how much the tax rate would drop. Essentially, he added, any rise in a home’s value should be mirrored by any cut in the overall tax rate. However, the county manager said, some homeowners could see an in crease in their property tax payments, while others could be billed less, while still others See RATES On Page A2 Chowan Regional Fair underway... IP Staff photo by Earline White Workers stabilize the ferris wheel in preparation for the 58th annual Chowan County Regional Fair, which opened yesterday. ^ . Fuit for the ages Fair officials predict 20,000 fairgoers from around the region during the five day event BY EARLINE WHITE The Chowan Herald Each year at summer’s end, the neon blazing from the American Legion mid way greets the early evening autumn dusk. People from Ahoskie to Vir ginia gather their sense of adventure (and their Dra mamine) to ride on the most terrifying rides to come to the area. This year’s 58th annual Chowan County Re gional Fair to be held Sep tember 27 through October 1, guarantees to be “The Fair with Squeal Appeal”. The highly successful amusement company, Play Staff photo by Sean Jackson Trina Whelian, at right, sits next to her husband Doug Whelian Sunday afternoon tag ging preserves entered in the Chowan County Regional Fair's "preserves, jams & conserves" bracket of the canning division in the exhibitor's contest. world Amusements, has been scheduled again this year to bring rides, games, food and fun for the young and young at heart. Im provements in the midway itself include a new sound system, more lights in the parking lot and new trans formers to handle the load. New acts featured this year will include a horse show titled “Horses, Hor ses, Horses”, a comedy show “Barnyard Express”, a magic act by Taylor Michaels, Sterling Riggs an Elvis Impersonator and a Hispanic Festival complete with a Mariachi band. See FAIR On Page A2 Council paves way for growth BY SEAN JACKSON The Chowan Herald After months of wrangling over how to maintain control of a proposed commercial site in northern Edenton, the Town Council granted the property owner Monday night a permit to start the develop ment process. With council’s unanimous vote to approve his request for a conditional use permit, Lloyd Griffin Jr. can now begin work on his property that bor ders Whitemon Lane and N.C, Highway 32. Edenton Mayor Roland Vaughan admitted that the property had been through a lengthy process — including previous rezoning approvals — in seeking council’s consent for the permit that would allow for subdivided lots. Griffin’s son, Lloyd Griffin III, has said that no decision has been made regarding spe cific businesses that would come to the property, roughly 60 acres. It was that fact that puzzled Jim Farr, a veteran developer who lives in Edenton. “What is it supposed to be when it’s finished?” Farr said of the site, which includes 13 lots, 11 of which were covered under the permit issued to the Griffins Monday. Vaughan said council and the town planning board would review potential busi nesses — most likely retail stores and restaurants — as developers bought lots from the Griffins and began the con struction process. “The phase you’re talking about,” Vaughan told Farr, “is going to be the next one for us.” During a Sept. 13 meeting, councilors had expressed con cerns about stormwater drain age and how the Griffins would phase in curb and gutter, and sidewalks for the proposed de velopment. Town Manager Anne-Marie Knighton unveiled recommen dations by the state Depart ment of Transportation re garding drainage and infra structure, as well as the Grif See PERMIT On Page A2 Been hot enough for ya'? Relief is on the way BY REBECCA BUNCH The Chowan Herald Those who’ve been longing for a touch of cooler weather to help ease the heat and hu midity we’ve experienced in recent months will finally get their wish this week. Cooler temperatures are on the way. At presstime Tuesday, over night temperatures were scheduled to dip into the high 50s courtesy of a brief cold front coming our way. A more sustained cold front, due to ar rive Thursday, is expected to keep daytime temperatures in the 80s with mild nighttime temperatures in the 60s through the weekend For some, it won’t come a moment too soon. Higher tem Chowan Herald file photo Louis Griffin shows off his unique method of coping with hot, humid weather. peratures this summer and into the early fall, coupled with lower rainfall, have combined to make this one of the most miserable times, weather-wise, in recent memory, according to See HEAT On Page A2. INSIDE Calendar..C2 Church.C5 Classifieds.D1 -4 Editorials.A8 Obituaries.C6 Society.C3 Sports.B1-4 On Page Cl ... A Peanut Festival tradition... Cotton Mill Reunion: 'It's good to be back home again' Former Mill Village residents share memories, hugs, and tears during first reunion in 20 years BY EARLINE WHITE The Chowan Herald It had been 20 years since most of the family had seen each other. But they came to gether with hugs and kisses on Saturday, all 350 of them, for the first ever Cotton Mill Vil lage Kids reunion held at Leon Nixon’s Catering. They came from all over the country; Oklahoma, Florida, and up and down the East Coast. Others like Elizabeth Rogerson Wright, better known as “Mrs. Sissy”, (who was born, raised and lived in the same house in the mill vil lage for the past 60 years) still reside in Edenton, never leav ing their roots far behind^ Yet they all came together to honor those families who established a way of life that they them selves carried on in spirit. Elbridge Smith, Sr. was among those giving hugs to people he hadn’t seen in years. His parents, Robert Smith and Mary “Lois” lived on Church Street in the village and worked at the mill; he setting cards, she running spools. Elbridge himself worked in the mill when he was old enough. For 39 years, Elbridge worked from one end of the mill to the other in every de partment finally ending up in maintenance. “I remember Sunday after noons,” Smith said about his childhood in the mill village. “We’d play baseball on the dia mond and pitch horseshoes on See REUNION On Page A8 Rev. E. C. Alexander was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award for his service to God, country and commu nity at the Edenton Cotton Mill Village Kids Reunion this past Saturday. STAFF PHOTO BY FARLINF WHFTE 11:00 - 2:00 4:00 - 6:00 3533 per plate CHOWAN SHRINE CLUB Masonic Lodge 7 ANNUAL FISH FRY FUND RAISER 215 E. Water Street FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2005 &at 9+t osi ^aJze. (9ut
The Chowan Herald (Edenton, N.C.)
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Sept. 28, 2005, edition 1
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