Newspapers / The Chowan Herald (Edenton, … / Dec. 6, 2006, edition 1 / Page 1
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482-4418 Wednesday, December 6, 2006 50c Coming next week A photo journey Christmas Candlelight Tour shines again on Edenton's streets Aces join other local schools in the pool. Sports, B1 Vision for a new church Larrell Freeman is creating new worship center Inspiration, C8 The "Edenton" returns Civil War cannon dedication brings |'§ out the good oY Grays. r . r; 3 . I Community, C1 School leaders grappling with course changes New curriculum guide lines could increase drop out rate, officials say BY REBECCA BUNCH Editor State education officials are considering curriculum changes that would require lo cal high school students to follow a more stringent course of study in mathematics and foreign languages. Rob Boyce, assistant superintendent of the Edenton-Chowan Schools, said the pro posed changes could most directly impact the 25-30 percent of students who will be required to take more high-level math class es. He and Supt. Dr. Allan Smith also have other concerns. Smith said that a major worry is the po , tential for the dropout rate to increase. It 1 * is currently 5.9 percent. Smith said that having to add more math and language teachers when there is already a “critical shortage” in North Carolina could also cause big headaches. “I don’t have a problem with the plan in principle,” he said. “But in my mind, it is more important that we do this thing well rather than quickly.” Under the plan, a College/University Prep option would be implemented be ginning with the 2008-09 entering fresh man class that would require a student to pass algebra I, geometry, algebra II and one higher level math course, such as calculus. Current guidelines allow students to select less demanding math courses and still meet graduation requirements. . The plan calls for the next school year to serve as a transition time when students could select from either the College/Uni versity Prep or the existing College Tech Prep options. . When asked about the fate of technical math, a course of study favored by stu dents in the Tech Prep curriculum because it links algebra and geometry with practi- - Smith See CHANGES, Page A2 > INDEX A Local Land Transfers .. Opinion........ . A6 B Sports Recreation News.B1 Nascar.....B2 I C Community News Upcoming Events.Q Society C4 Obituaries.,..._.... C6 < Church....».C7,8 . ' ■ ; ; - f D Classifieds Buy/Sell/Trade.......... D1 Employment.. D3 Service Directory...... D4 ©2006 The Chowan Herald All Rights Reserved A night out with the VIPs Nell Moore has been losing her eygpght for five farliitc\White/The Chowan Herald K95B psp BY SEAN JACKSON Staff Writer TYNER — Nell Moore doesn’t like sitting home alone every day and night. Although she’s 87, Moore’s got things to do, people to meet. The only catch for the retired Chowan Hospital nurse is that she can’t see well enough to drive any more. But the Rocky Hock Lions Club took care of that problem Monday night by inviting Moore and nearly 20 other blind and visually im paired people out for a holiday din ner. “It’s so good to feel like you’ve not been put up on the shelf,” Moore said as she waited for her coffee to cool atop her table at Nixon’s Restaurant. Her friend, Pattie Byrum — an other VIP, or visually impaired person — felt the same way. “It makes you feel special,” said Goodwin takes helm as Chowan County’s new sheriff BY EARLINE WHITE Staff Writer With four young chil dren, the 53rd elected Chowan County Sheriff, ■ Dwayne Goodwin, plans to focus on youth and com munity for the next four years of his term. Goodwin was officially sworn in as sheriff Mon day on the steps of the 1767 Chowan County Courthouse. With him were his chil dren, wife and family. “I’ve known Troy [Toppin], Glen [Perry] and have worked with Fred [Spruill] for the past 15 years,” Goodwin said. “Each man was a great leader in the community and 1 hope to bring out the best qualities of each of them.” Goodwin ran in the spring primary against a democratic opponent, Edenton Police Det. Sgt. Rhonda Copeland. Goodwin won by a landslide, subse quently running unop posed in the November general election. Goodwin follows in the footsteps of retired Sher iff Fred Spruill, who for the past 20 years has worked to bring in grants for the county for new of ficers, communication towers, and equipment. Spruill’s fifth term as an elected official ended Nov. 30. Goodwin was sworn in at midnight that day. He was sworn in again Byrum, 88, who is retired from the Chowan County tax office. Moore agreed. “ We usually sit home at night, ” she said in-between flashing wide smiles and trading off jokes with Byrum. Getting out for a night was a big boost to others on hand for the fourth annual dinner. For Anne Knox, it was a good night for two reasons. Knox, 66, got to participate from both sides. Not only is she a member of . the Rocky Hock club that aids the blind, she also was born with retinitis pig mentosa and is almost totally blind. “When you don’t have eyes,” Knox said, “it’s difficult to get out.” Knox echoed the feelings of others that it’s also special to so cialize with other visually im See DINNER, Page A2 V Madge Bunch Betz Blowe Monday morning by Rich ard Parker, chief resident Supreme Court Judge in Currituck, along with other area sheriffs. Goodwin seemed happy, but overwhelmed as Judge Chris Bean officially swore him in. “I’m not going to get emotional,” Goodwin said as he stood before more than 100 friends and fam ily, “but it means the world to me to have all of you here supporting me to day.” Goodwin invites citizens to continue their proactive role against crime. Among the top priorities on his agenda is strength ening the community/citi zens watch programs throughout the county. Students found with knives at J.A. Holmes Three arrested on weapons charges so far this school year BY EARLINE WHITE Staff Writer Three students have been charged with allegedly possessing weapons at the high school since Novem ber. In previous years, one weapon per year has been typi cally discovered at the Holmes campus, school officials said. All three incidents occurred within three weeks of each other. Tanji Collins, 18, of Oak Grove Road was arrested Monday for allegedly possessing a knife. The knife was discovered by SRO/Deputy Greg Whitehurst said. Collins was released later that day on a $500 unsecured bond. INSIDE Gunshots heard near Holmes send students, faculty hurrying into school. Page A2. Donavan Troy White, 17, of Granville St. was charged with having a weapon on campus Nov. 20. The folding knife in his sock was discovered during a pat down prior to his being taken into police custody for questioning regarding a Baltimore, Md., homicide, sheriff’s officials said. White is charged with allegedly murdering a Baltimore resident in October. He is now in a Maryland district jail awaiting his next court appearance Dec. 19 for the alleged murder. Gerald Tobias Tripp, 18, of Colony Drive was charged with possessing a weapon on educational property Nov. 16. He was back at school on Tuesday. The weapon was discovered in the hands of a fellow student, a juvenile and resident of Wingfield Road, Whitehurst said. The second student had not been charged as of Tuesday morning. At least one of the incidents has prompted the school system to change its protocol when accepting new stu dents. Supt. Dr. Allan Smith said that more persistent ques tioning of the school system which the student left will . become customary. Smith declined to say what, if any, new security mea sures may be taken as a result of the charges, including the possibility of metal detectors in the school. Smith added that metal detectors are not seen as a good alternative. Most law enforcement officers, he said, do not give credence to metal detectors. “Are we finding knifes, weapons on a regular basis ... See KNIVES, Page A2 ► Carline White/The Chowan Herald Dwayne Goodwin was sworn in as Chowan County Sheriff Monday afternoon. His wife, Kristie, stood by his side and carried a single red rose to symbolize Goodwin's father, Commissioner Wayne Goodwin, who passed away in Oct.
The Chowan Herald (Edenton, N.C.)
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Dec. 6, 2006, edition 1
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