482-4418
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Town electric rates to increase this fall
By Earline White
Managing Editor
Due to increased fuel
costs, town residents
can expect a seven-to
eight percent increase
in their electricity bills
this fall.
Town Manager Anne
Marie Knighton con
firmed yesterday that
she will recommend
that the council raise
the electric retail rate in
September.
N.C. Eastern Munici
pal Power Agency, the
agency governing 32
regional municipalities
including Edenton, is
currently refinancing
its debt and attempting
to manage the rising
fuel costs.
“A couple of years ago
the agency raised rates
by two percent to com
pensate for the cost of
mining and transport
ing coal,” Knighton said.
“It was thought that the
increase would be tem
porary”
This year the agency
itself is raising rates
INSIDE
Local creates ‘green’
home to save money
Ct
once again.
So the town can expect
to have a corresponding
rate increase, Knighton
said.
Residents can note
the current rate on
their monthly bills un
der the ‘fuel adjustment
charge.’
Knighton said that
the plan however is
tb roll the fuel adjust
ment charge back into
the base rate, which
will eliminate the cost
breakdown comparison
for participants.
The average house
hold in Edenton uses
1,000 killowatts per
month for a cost of $109.
With a seven percent
rate increase that same
household can expect
their bill to increase to
$117 per month, Knigh
ton said.
Residents are urged to
begin energy conserva
tion menthods, includ
ing the usage of CFC
bulbs.
Those with questions
about their monthly bill
are encouraged to call
Town Hall.
In other business:
■ Council approved
donating the 1888 Fres
nel Lens from the Roa
noke River Lighthouse
to the state.
It will cost $75,000
$100,000 to repair the
See RATES, Page A2 >►
Timeless tradition
For the first time in many years in
Chowan County, kids of all ages were
treated to a true three-ring circus Sunday
Held at the American Legion Post 40
fairgrounds, the Carson and Barnes Cir
cus featured animals, acrobats, clowns,
entertainers from all over the world and
even a glimpse into how elephants are
used to raise the big top.
' - tnmmmmrnmmmmmmmmM
From left, this elephant's hard day of work is over after pulling up the tent to begin the day's festivities. George and Seth Sotiropoulos
pose for a photo with a huge boa. There were also opportunities to ride ponies, camels and elephants.
fti
Local Relay for Life donations down $8K
Downturn in the
economy makes
fundraising tough
INDEX
A Local
Land Transfers.A4
Editorial...A7
Sports
Steamers News...,.A8
Nature.A9
B Community News
Society..B3
Obituaries...B4
Church..B5,6
Classifieds.B7-10
Reminder:
The Chowan Herald
office will be closed
Monday in observance
of Memorial Day.
Submission deadline
remains Friday at 12
noon.
*8907 6 44 813*
02006 The Chowan Herald
All Rights Reserved
A huge crowd gathered Friday night for the Relay for Life kickoff — the survivor lap.
By Rebecca Bunch
Staff Writer
The Chowan-Perquimans Re
lay for Life raised $154,592 this
year putting it over $8,000 be
low its stated goal of $163,000..
Relay Chair Debbie Bur
roughs said the slowing econo
my definitely had an impact on
their ability to raise funds.
“It was tough,” she said. “We
lost several of our corporate
sponsors and some who have
had teams in the past did not do
so this year.
“Everybody’s having it hard.
I think we did really well,
considering what we were up
against.”
* ■ f
Relay treasurer Frances Ham
mer said that other supporters
had to cut their normal contri
butions in half.
“We really appreciate the fact
that they made the effort to do
nate at all, given how the econo
my is right now,” she said.
The number of teams was
down as well.
Burroughs said that last year
23 adult teams and five kid’s
teams participated in the event
compared to 18 adult teams and
six kid’s teams during the Re
lay that just ended.
She added that this year's
goal, set by the American Can
cer Society, may have been too
ambitious, given how things
like gasoline prices have con
tinued to rise and that so people
have lost jobs due to layoffs.
“I would like to commend ev
erybody who participated this
year,” Burroughs said.
“Even though we did not meet
our goal, I think eyeryone who
did take part gave it all they
had.” ’
The top fundraisers among
teams were Rocky Hock Ruri
tans ($32,525) and Woodland
Warriors ($20,186.63).
Individuals raising the most
money for Relay were Kathleen
Hynes, Marcia Evans, JoAnn
Parks, Frances Evans and Jack
Evans.
Boat industry
workers Mt
• 1 * -- . ' j
■ I
hardest by j
recent layoffs
More than 50 employees lost
jobs during four cutbacks
No guarantee that layoffs
are over, one owner says
By Earline White
Managing Editor
A depressed economy, high fuel prices
and the housing slump were cited as rea
sons for several recent layoffs in Chowan
County.
Carolina Classic last week eliminated
17 positions to reduce costs and size the
staff appropriately to market demand,
Mac Privott said.
“It’s a slow economy right now,” Privott
added.
“There are no plans to cut more jobs,
but that’s never a guarantee.” j
All affected employees were notified
last week. • :
Sixty positions remain at Carolina
Classic, Privott confirmed.
The layoff came one week after a simi
lar cut at Albemarle Boats.
Thirty five positions were terminated
at Albemarle Boats.
“The marine industry, including Albe
marle Boats, is in the midst of one of the
most challenging times in the industry’s ■>
history,” Daniel Kubera, spokesperson for
Brun« ^ick^A]br>marle Boats said.
Regulator Marine laid off 22 people on
April 8, according to Rex Anderson, hu
man resource officer for Regulator.
And Ashley Welding had to lay off sev
en of their 28 employees due to the slow
down in the boating industry.
♦ ♦ ♦
A total of .525 residents were jobless in
Chowan County in March, according to
the state Employment Security Commis
sion. The county’s unemployment rate re
mained at 7.1 percent — higher than the
state and national average at the time.
“We are not planning any more lay
offs,” Linda Ashley with Ashley Weld
ing said in an e-mail Tuesday, “and are
actively seeking more diversity in our'
customer base to prevent this situation
in the future. Laying off employees is a
gut-wrenching decision for an employer.
It keeps you awake at night, but there are
times when there doesn’t seem to be an
alternative.
“As we all know, the country does seem
to be in a bit of a recession right now,
and certain industries seem to be hurting
more than others. All three boat compa
nies have had lay offs, and I’m sure they
hope they are through cutting back — we
hope they are too. I know that our coun
ty’s unemployment rate is higher than
it was a year ago — which puts a lot of
people out looking for jobs.
♦ ♦ ♦
“How will Chowan County fare? I don’t
think we will see more lay offs, but I also
don’t think this will be a banner year for
most businesses,” said Ashley, who is the
Chamber of Commerce president.
“Chowan should fare about the same
as other northeastern counties with very
little industry — it will be a tight time for
many of us. Some businesses will contin
ue to do well and may even add employees
— like agriculture, medical or food relat
ed businesses — but others that depend
on a booming economy or moderate gas
prices — will feel the pinch.
“As far as advice for displaced workers
— if they have a skill, they should try
to market their skill within this area or
within an acceptable driving distance. I
hope they don’t have to leave the area to
find work.
♦ ♦ ♦
“Some may have an opportunity for re
employment as the economy starts climb
ing out of this downturn — and some ar
See LAYOFFS, Page A2>