482-4418 Wednesday, April 25, 2007 50c . •' ■ - ■ . •• - • ... ■ • i • ' ■ " \ ■ ■ ' ' ■' ■ ' ■ •. ■ ■ „ , •' ■ . ■ • ■ « . , ■ • •: . . : ■■ •• ' ■ * ' ' - . ' ’ • , • ' .* - y - • ■ r Suspect sought in weekend shooting on Carteret Street J . Inside, A2 Cycle Speedway season heats up Sports, B1 3 Locals prepare for National Day of Prayer May 3 Inspiration, C10 Let's mow! Hog Fest invades Legion this weekend See story below With U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Cole now opposed to the OLF in Washington County, the plot thickens. How much more likely are OLF opponents to prevail with Dole in the fight? Is Dole's decision good or bad for Chowan and Perquimans county residents? What happens next? BY SEAN JACKSON Staff Writer Robert Steinburg | Republican Party Chair “If the OLF comes to anywhere in north eastern North Caro lina, it would be a disaster — economi cally and en vironmen tally — for Chowan County and the entire area.” Cliff Copeland Chowan County Manager “Perqui mans was not the pre ferred site last time so we hope the same rea soning pre vails... This entire pro cess has been flawed, so I hope the Navy will start from scratch.” Richard Bunch Exec. Dir. Chamber of Commerce “The Perquimans site has al ways been a problem, with major flight paths crossing over north ern Chowan County “It really puts us in a bad posi tion if the Perquimans site falls in line.” Wadsworth Democratic Party Chair “I don’t think that the other counties’ chances will increase at this time. “I do think that we should continue to support our neighbors because in the end we need a con solidated front to have any chance of winning.” Anne Marie Knighton Town Manager “My gut feeling is the Navy is go ing to go with Site E in Craven County, or as Sen. Dole suggested in her letter, find some state land that is suit able.” Steve Biggs Town Councilman “It’s good, absolutely. I think what it does, is it puts all the sites in North Caro lina off the playing field. If it’s not good for one, it’s riot good for any of them.” INSIDE Locals voice concerns about OLF. Page A8. Related story. Page A2. Bobby Darden Perquimans Co. Manager “Her letter [to the Navy] was broad ; enough to in I elude all the I sites where it’s l not wanted, i “I very much read that as in eluding Perquimans County “Certainly, we feel better. We feel a little more at ease, but we’re not completely at ease.” Ben Wood Chowan Co. Property Owner “Yes, sir* [Dole’s posi tion will help the OLF opposi tion]. Very definitely. We’ve appre ciated that she’s out [there with us], and we’re wondering why she hasn’t been out a little earlier.” Rocky Hock plant closes its doors Over 90 workers will lose their jobs at dye plant BY SEAN JACKSON Staff Writer More than 90 workers at Edenton Dyeing and Finishing are losing their jobs in the wake of the plant’s shut down, local officials said. The textile plant in northern Chowan County is closing after roughly four decades of operation under different owners. “They have indeed shut down,” County Manager Cliff Copeland said Monday Edenton-Chowan Chamber of Com merce Executive Director Richard Bunch also confirmed the shut-down. "I know our textiles are in trouble,” Bunch said. The closing comes on the heels of an announced closing in February at George C. Moore, an Edenton elastics manufacturer. George C. Moore is set to close Friday. Dye plant official Joe Drum said it was a difficult decision for the owners to make. The plant employs 91 workers, Copeland said. “They’re telling them as we speak,” Copeland said of the workers being told of the closing. While the county could lose some tax revenues due to the shut-down, the job losses is what hurts, Copeland added. “You always hate to see a big taxpayer shut down,” Copeland said. “But the big issue is the employees being out of work.” Bunch agreed that the job losses are See CLOSING, Page A2 ► things not to miss at HOGFEST The two- day family-fun extravaganza to be held Friday and Saturday is the first of what organizer E.C. Toppin hopes becomes an annual event in Edenton. 1, State Championship Lawn Mower Races The nation’s fastest racing lawn mowers will converge on the Legion fairgrounds at 1 p.m. Saturday The turf titan competition will feature racing in four classes with speeds reach ing 60 mph. The race is one of more than 16 STA-BIL national competitions held each season and is sanctioned by the US Lawn Mower Racing Asssociation. Admission is $8 at the gate. 2. Backyard Cook-off Amateur barbecue cookers from the area ' will compete for bragging rights in two classes, pork ribs and chicken, and for sev eral cash prizes. If you think you’re the best barbecuer, it’s not too late to sign up. Call the Legion at 482-4057 to register 3. Arts and Crafts Show and Sale Over20areaartisiansof wood, glass, and natural materials will showcase their wares in a two