Vol. LXXII, No. 45
Wednesday, November 16, 2005
Single Copies 50tf
DSS plans
'outpost'
in county
Goal to offer
better service
outside Edenton
In an effort to assist clients
of Social Services that live in
the northern part of the
county, Social Services is going
to outpost some workers on a
monthly basis who can con
duct limited services. That
announcement was made
, Monday by DSS Director Ben
, Rose.
A worker from both the Med
icaid program and the Food
Stamp program will be on
hand every third Monday from
10 a.m. until 2 p.m. in the
Northern Chowan Commu
nity Center. These workers
will be able to provide limited
services to clients that reside
in the northern part of the
county, hopefully limiting
their trips into Edenton.
“We especially want to be
able to help those elderly and
disabled in the northern part,
since travel to Edenton can be
a burden on some,” said Rose,
in making the announcement.
Existing clients that live in
the northern part of the
county and want to utilize the
services of these workers
should call a week prior to the
third Monday to schedule ap
pointments. Existing clients
can also drop off information
or paperwork at the site with
out an appointment. If a citizen
who lives in the northern end
wishes to inquire and or apply
for Medicaid or Food Stamps,
they can also do so without an
appointment.
“We encourage citizens to use
the outpost as best they can,”
says Rose. “While we will only
have two workers up there, they
will have access to their state
network as well as the internet
to help the citizens as best they
■ can.” Social Services does state
that complete eligibility work
can only be done in the home
office but that these tools will
help workers process as much
i as possible at the outpost and
perhaps help clients avoid a trip
in town.
The outpost will begin in No
vember, with Nov. 21 being the
, third Monday of the month.
Hours will be from 10 a.m. un
til 2 p.m. at the Northern
Chowan Community Center.
INSIDE
Calendar..C2
Church.C5
Classifieds.D1 -4
Editorials.A6
Obituaries.C6
School...C7
Society.C3
Sports.B1-4
On Page Cl ...
Born to ride...
motorcyclists gather at
Rocky Hock
Stokes memorial is dedicated
In recognition
for service to
veterans
BY SEAN JACKSON
The Chowan Herald
The late George Washington
Stokes was the force behind
the Chowan County Veteran’s
Memorial, and the former U.S.
Navy master chief received his
own memorial on Veteran’s
Pembroke Hall: Plans on hold
Proposal would have placed up to four new structures on
historic property; owners have 30 days to file written appeal
BY REBECCA BUNCH
The Chowan Herald
A request from the owners
of historic Pembroke Hall to
allow construction of four new
dwellings on the property re
ceived a thumbs down from
the Edenton Preservation
Commission Monday after
noon. A standing room only
crowd waited more than four
hours to hear the decision.
Elizabeth Bryant, planning
director for Edenton and
Chowan County, said that the
manner in which the applica
tion for a Certificate of Appro
priateness was submitted
made it an “all or nothing”
situation in which the com
mission had to either approve
all ot the requested construc
tion, or none of it. She said
that she thought some por
tions of the request might
have been approved, with
modifications, had they been
submitted individually.
Attorney Tom Johnson,
from the Ward and Smith law
firm, attended the hearing
with owners Jerry and Sharon
Smith, and spoke at the hear
ing. He said Tuesday morning
that he had found the
commission’s decision “con
fusing”. Johnson said that his
clients had not yet decided
what their next course of ac
tion would be. That decision,
he said, would not be made un
til they receive an official dec
laration of the commission’s
decision in the mail.
“We need to take some time
to digest this before deciding
what our next step will be,”
Johnson said.
Those steps could include
either resubmitting the pro
Allegations are leveled
against Edenton doctor
Reynolds says
facts of case
‘distorted’
BY EARLINE WHITE
The Chowan Herald
A local physician, Dr. Joel Crist
“Cris” Reynolds, is currently under
investigation by the North Carolina
Medical Board for alleged miscon
duct.
A hearing is planned by the board
on Feb. 15 in Raleigh.
Day last week.
“He left Chowan County, this
community, his community,
better than he, found it,”
Chowan County Manager Cliff
Copeland said of Stokes.
“George put a lot of work
into this (memorial),” Ron
Green, Edward G. Bond Post 40
American Legion commander
said just prior to unveiling —
along with Stokes’ family
members — a stone plaque
honoring Stokes..
Roughly 200 people were on
hand for the event, the 15th
Staff photo by Sean Jackson
Pembroke Hall owner Jerry Smith, left, gestures as he answers a question during
a Preservation Commission hearing Monday afternoon. Looking on are (l-r) Smith's
attorney, Tom Johnson; Charles Busby, attorney for the town of Edenton; Judge
Chris Bean; and Realtor John Dowd.
posal as a bundle of separate applica
tions with the modifications suggested
at Monday’s hearing or filing a notice
of appeal with the local Board of Ad
justments. According to Bryant, the
Board of Adjustments would consider
only whether the commission was jus
tified in its denial of the requested Cer
tificate of Appropriateness, not the
merits of the proposed construction it
self.
Charges under investigation by the
board include: allegedly prescribing
medications for his personal use; pre
scribing medications for a patient
“with whom he had a significant
emotional relationship,” failure to
keep complete medical records, and
unprofessional conduct including a
DWI arrest on Sept. 14,2003 to which
he pleaded guilty later that fall.
In response to the allegations, Dr.
Reynolds told The Chowan Herald
Monday that “there is a big difference
between charges and facts. It is being
See DOCTOR On Page A3
annual ceremony held at the
memorial established by
Stokes and other other veter
ans. Keynote speaker Tim Dan
nelley said Chowan has a his
tory of supporting the nation’s
armed services.
“The people of Chowan
County have long been known
for their commitment to ...
serve in the U.S. military,” he
said. “What you’re doing here
today is a worthy thing.”
During his remarks, Dan
See STOKES On Page A3
The plan put before the commission
would have allowed construction of
one home on the Granville Street side
of the property plus a carriage house
and two additional residences behind
Pembroke Hall. Suggestions made at
the hearing included removing a pro
posed cupola from the roof of the car
riage house and making it a 11/2 story,
See RULING On Page A3
Farm-City
Banquet
Nov. 22
This year’s Farm-City Ban
quet will be held at American
Legion Post 40 in Edenton Nov.
22 at 7 p.m. Keynote speaker will
be Dr. David Jordan, an NCSU
Peanut Specialist.
Dr. Jordan will speak on the
relationship and contrast been
peanut production in the United
States and developing countries.
See BANQUET On Page A2
Staff photo by Sean Jackson
The laying of wreaths is carried out during the annual Veter
ans Day ceremony held in Edenton Friday morning.
Watson defends role with
Partons, Partnership
BY'SEAN JACKSON
The Chowan Herald
The president of an
Edenton-based economic
development agency de
fended his role with that
group - and with his fu
ture employer - on Tues
day
Watson, president and
CEO of North Carolina’s
Northeast Economic De
velopment Partnership
Inc. has been credited
with helping lure The
Randy Parton Theater to Watson
Eastern North Carolina.
Watson also recently an
nounced he would leave the post to join Parton,
the brother of Dolly Parton, in 2007 to help run
the $129 million entertainment complex in
Roanoke Rapids.
Parton said Tuesday he still has plans to
stretch his project over numerous counties in
eastern North Carolina. And Watson is ex
pected —though he’s yet to sign a contract with
the Partons — to oversee the marketing and
growth of that theater district.
“I’m happy Rick is going to be our business
partner,” Parton said during an interview at the
Partnership Tuesday
Watson said he’s handled the business end
of the project, so the Partons “won’t get bogged
down in it” and can focus on shows and pro
grams.
“What we’re doing now is what we always
do,” Watson said of his and other Partnership
officials’ roles in getting the theater project un
derway
A ground-breaking ceremony was held in
Roanoke Rapids on Nov. 11, with the Parton
family and Grand Ole Opry entertainers on
hand for the celebration. Last week, the state
Department of Commerce announced it was
holding onto the $500,000 grant earmarked for
the project until the details are ironed out. State
Rep. Lucy T. Allen, D-Franklin, introduced the
bill that included the $500,000 in state funding
on April 25.
Watson said he does not stand to gain per
sonally by that funding, which would be used
for the district’s marketing and development.
“The Partons and myself will not be part of
that expenditure,” Watson said of the grant.
Watson said Tuesday that Randy Parton and
his wife Deb approached him roughly eight
weeks ago about working for them. Watson also
told The Chowan Herald that he would not sign
a contract with Moonlight until a later date. He
also said he would not receive any money from
the Partons while he was still employed by the
Partnership.
Watson has been identified as a private contrac
tor, according to a recent report. Watson agrees.
“I understand business,” he said, adding that
he’s never considered himself a state employee,
nor an economic developer.
And he said taking public money for his own
private gain is not in his best interest.
“I’m financially comfortable,” Watson said.
“Why in the world would I gamble on two, three,
four, $500,000?”
He said he’d already told Partnership officials
he planned to retirement prior to being ap
proached by the Partons.
“1 think I’ve taken the Partnership as far as I
can take it,” he said. “I think it’s time for new
blood.”
Rocky Hock Opry
7i30PM Alt Seat*-SlOMmSj
at Swain Auditorium ' ,
t:v 200 E* Church St* Edentonf NC&, 0 || y cl. f1 ISn- wk fkiuat ANU3AIUKUATJ
I8TH AND I9TH, 2005
j.l'eve
FRIDAY AND SATURDAY
j Tlckm waibb(< sc
BYRUM TRUE VALUE HARDWARE & CRAFT SH<
; I * ■„k Ocmwomi IdMon 252-402-2131 '» J tfS&iL
ACOUSTIC COFFEE Downtown id$titan 2S2-O2-7405 1;
NIXON'S FAMILY RESTAURANT , U,MO*'
mV 127 Mv«r AO, E4«Kon, NC 252-221-2244
.KK&U&'.'ii&Sfi.iiii
'vV..