SENIOR OF THE WEEK
JOELISA DREW
“A special thanks goes to my mother
for getting me this far in life. ” B4
HONORED BY
STATE BOE
Holmes' projectabout
Duck-Thru cats a hit B4
prompts
career move
A3
By Connie Sage
Contributing Writer
Peebles department store
plans to move from Broad
Street to the new Edenton
Commons Shopping Center
if Town Council approves
plans for the proposed re
tail complex.
Even though Pebbles
earlier this year signed a
two-year lease at its cur
rent downtown location,
the store expects to relocate
by late next fall, said Justin
Titcombe, director of real
estate for Peebles in Char
lotte.
Wheeler Interests on
Monday submitted plans to
the town for the proposed
shopping center on Route 32
north, near the Albemarle
Ford dealership.
A Farm Fresh supermar
ket and a Lowe’s home im
provement center are listed
as anchors, according to the
Edenton-Chowan Planning
and Inspections Depart
ment.
Pebbles, which is not
mentioned on the site plans,
is considered a “junior
anchor,” Titcombe said.
“We’re excited,” he said. “It
would be a good move for
us. Edenton’s been a good
market for us. We think it
can be a lot better.”
In a fiscal impact report
submitted to the town on
Monday, the developer es
timates that Edenton Com
mons could generate up to
an estimated $1.2 million in
annual combined tax reve
nue to the town and county.
Lowe’s is expected to have
$18 million-to-$23 million in
annual sales; Farm Fresh
is projected to have annual
sales ranging from $14 mil
lion-to-$20 million.
The shopping center
would have 217,460 square
feet of leasable space, plus
additional retail buildings
See PEEBLES, Page A2 >
BOE backs
housing
initiative
By Rebecca Bunch
Staff Writer
The local school system
may soon have a special ad
vantage in recruiting teach
ers — affordable housing.
The State Employees Cred
it' Union Foundation has
made a commitment to con
struct affordable housing
for educators in communi
ties across North Carolina,
to be paid for with 15-year,
interest-free loans.
Repayment of each loan
would begin in the second
year of participation.
The first such housing has
just been completed in near
by Hertford County.
After studying the pro
posal, Superintendent Allan
Smith said, “I feel we are
ready to move forward and
am excited about the pos
sibility” of the community
being chosen.
The school board voted
Monday night to send a let
ter of interest to the founda
tion. Participants may opt
for either a 16- or 24-unit
complex.
If selected, the Edenton
Chowan Education Founda
tion, not the school system,
would own the complex.
INDEX
A Local
Opinion.A7
Land Transfers........... A4
B Sports
Aces News....B1
Nascar. B2
C Community News
Upcoming Events.C2
Society...C4
Obituaries...C6
Church............ C7,8
D Classifieds
Buy/Sell/Trade.D1
Service Directory.D2
Employment.....D3
©2006 The Chowan Herald
All Rights Reserved
LIGHTHOUSE TAG SALE RAISES $2,000+
r«;
111
mirr
Warn
Earline White/The Chowan Herald
From left, Barbara King, Candy Roth, Harry Thompson, Rev. Robert White check out the goods at
the Roanoke River Lighthouse tag sale Saturday morning. All proceeds from the event, more than
$2,000 and counting, will go to restoring the 1886 lighthouse.
Chief says Edenton gang activity decreasing
■ Store plans to relocate as
early as next fall
■ Peebles hopes business
will pick up after move
■ Public hearing for
Edenton Commons could
take place in October
Waff Biggs
Candidates weigh
in on crime, gangs
Second in a series
By Sean Jackson
Staff Writer
Edenton police are doing a good job keeping the
community safe, the two candidates for a Town
Council at-large seat said.
Terry Waff said there is room for improvement,
that increased visibility of officers could help re
duce crime.
Steve Biggs says the town’s crime rate is drop
ping, but he’s concerned that officers come to Eden
ton to gain experience, only to move on to higher
paying jobs elsewhere.
The following is a series of questions and an
swers between The Chowan Herald and the candi
dates. Both candidates submitted written respons
es to questions.
The Chowan Herald: Is the Edenton Police
Department doing all it can to keep our resi
dents, streets safe? What can it do to make the
Town safe by reducing crime?
Waff: “Our police department has a tough job.
But the Department is working very hard and con
tinues to work with town and state officials to look
for new and better ways to improve their effective
ness.
“I read where state law enforcement officers
came to town a few weeks ago and worked with our
officers and Elizabeth City officers.
“I would encourage more of such. Visibility is
very important. I recently saw two of our officers
on bike patrol. It was a good feeling to see them.
When I had my retail shop on Broad Street, J al
ways appreciated the foot patrol coming in to check
onus.
“At our last Main Street Convention we had two
police chiefs from other towns speak, and they
See ELECTION, Page A2 >
By Sean Jackson
Staff Writer
After flaring up a year ago,
gang-related violence and
crime is on the downswing
in Edenton, police Chief
Greg Bonner said.
During a meeting with the
Edenton Discussion Group
Monday night, Bonner said
police have arrested numer
ous youths involved in the
fights and painting graffiti.
Bonner said the court sys
tem is the last resort in curb
ing gang activities.
Plans are to use current
and new methods to keep
youths out of gangs — and
out of courtrooms and jails,
he said during an 85-minute
talk with roughly 15 group
members on hand.
“If they're in a gang,
there’s a way out," he said.
•i'
“We offer
them that.”
A. local
anti-gang
task force
is set to re
ceive an as
sessment on
what prob
lems the Bonner
town has, and what solu
tions are available. Linda
Hester, the consultant hired
by the town and county to do
the assessment, suggested
in a draft of the assessment
a number of ways the town
could prevent gangs from
spreading.
They include:
■ Neighborhood watch
groups
■ Mentoring programs
■ School uniforms
■ More activities for at
risk youth
■ -v .v.' -.os.
■ Parenting classes.
Bonner said Edenton’s
two rival gangs continue to
show few signs of becom
ing organized outfits. Gangs
traditionally get involved in
drug dealing and targeted
violence.
That’s not happening here,
Bonner said.
“I’m staying on top of ex
actly what these groups are
doing,” he said.
FIRE DEPARTMENT
FIRE HOUSE CHICKEN
DON'T MISS IT!
i
i.