Local church provides Thanksgiving dinner, See County lacks funds for COA consolidation By Rebecca Bunch Staff Writer • ******* Officials with the College of the Albemarle learned that Chowan County lacks the funds to pay for a campus con solidation. Tuesday morning’s joint meeting between college lead ers and county commissioners Herald taps new editor By Rebecca Bunch Staff Writer Charlotte native Ritchie Starnes has been named news editor for the Chowan Herald. Starnes said he has a strong commitment for community journalism, and prefers, he said, “to be a reporting edi tor.” Starnes is a 1985 graduate of UNC-Charlotte whose first professional career was as a private inves tigator. But after operat ing his own agency for several years, Starnes found himself de veloping an interest in writing. “While I believe I had a tal ent for investigations, I also enjoyed writing," he said. “In vestigative reporting seemed to be a logical transition. ” That intei*est drove Starnes back to UNC-Charlotte where he earned a degree in com munications in 2001. Starnes landed his first job as a re porter at the Enquirer-Jour nal, a daily newspaper in Monroe. He found that he en-' joyed living and working in Monroe, and when an oppor tunity arose for him to launch a weekly newspaper there, he was quick to act on it. In looking back on the ven ture, he said he was most proud of the quality of news that appeared in that pa per, The County Edge. The newspaper had a strong com munity feel with a signifi cant amount of hard news, Starnes said. But after nearly four years . of some of the most reward ing work of his life, Starnes reluctantly closed the paper due to the downturn in the economy. That decision led him to seek out new jobs, a search that brought him to North* eastern North Carolina. “The opportunity with the Chowan Herald seemed like a perfect match with what I was look ing for.” Starnes said that readers (p, of the Herald should expect greater depth in the paper’s editorial content under his leadership. “I also understand the val ue of writing about slices of * life,” Starnes said. “Some of the best stories go untold and Starnes See STARNES on Page2A imm 6 907 6"4 4 813?! •,."S ©2009 The Chowan Herald All Rights Reserved revealed that the College of Albemarle needs as much as $5,6 million to unite Edenton’s two satellite campuses. At the vetfy least, college officials say the consolidation will cost $80,000. School leaders argued that option would come at the sacrifice of campus services. “We think we could do it (using the least expensive op Edenton storm's From staff reports While Tropical Storm Ida’s spawned nor’easter pounded the coastal border of North Carolina and Virginia, Chow an County escaped any seri ous damage. The storm dumped seven inches of rain in the area, leading to localized flooding, primarily in the northern part of the county. Swol len creeks spilled over onto Mexico and Wildcat roads. Flooding led to the closure of the Edenton-Chowan County schools on Thursday and a two-hour delay on Friday. Students were required to attend class on Saturday as a makeup day for the cancel lation. High winds led to a few down limbs, including r.tljat; of a large oak that fell across the cement wall of the Gran ville Queen, a local bed and breakfast. The limb nar rowly missed the estate-like structure. Chowan County Sheriff Dwayne Goodwin said anoth er limb fell on a home in the Arrowhead Beach commu nity, resulting in only minor See FLOOD on Page 2A Rough economic seas anchor boat builders By Ritchie E. STARNES News Editor Once considered Chowan County’s most thriving indus try because of its number of employed craftsmen and for its overall financial impact, the saltwater boat manufac turers have run aground in this downtrodden economy. Those industries that cater to the financially elite find themselves among the most dormant of businesses dur ing this economic downturn. The abrupt halt is in stark contrast to the climate area boat builders experienced as recently as four years ago when disposable money seemed endless among their clientele. “I’m not expecting to get back to the levels of ’05,” said Birch Perry, general manager' of Albemarle Boats. Over the last 18 months, the number of employees at Albe marle Boats plummeted from 190 to 25. Boating competitor Regulator Marine went from 150 to 37, but only after a com plete work stoppage for more tion), said Jim Turdici COA vice president, “but it would not be the choice of the cot lege” because it would have the greatest impact on pro grams and services. Plans include moving the satellite campus from the Edenton Village Shopping Center to the former D.E Walk er campus where most classes RITCHIE E. STARNES/CHOWAN HERALD A large oak tree splintered and narrowly missed Edenton's Granville Queen, a bed and breakfast. Top: L-R, Brothers Drew and Brady Armstrong canoe outside their home off N.C.32 where heavy rams caused localized flooding. Chowan Couny schools were closed Thursday due to the storm. RITCHIE E. STARNES/CHOWAN HERALD Craftsmen at Carolina Classic work to refurbish an offshore fishing boat. Refurbishing has helped provide work during the boating indus tjy’s economic downturn. than two months. Carolina Classic shaved its staff from 80 to 10. Regulator’s co-owner Joan Maxwell, said her business has gone from building as many as eight boats a week to only one. Mac Privott, Caro lina Classic president, said whereas he was building 80 to 3 scenarios for the relocation of CO|s Edenton offices jf SEE PAGE 2 ar| currently held. The lease atthe shopping center expires ii» 2011. - The move would place all of the college’s functions under 100 boats annually, he counts the current production some where below 20. “We build very expensive toys,” Privott said. “None of us build inexpensive boats. Our customer profile tends to be small business owners or See BOATING on Page 9A one roof ■ “Our goal is to do this as cheaply as possible with some body else’s money, because we, don’t have the money,” said Eddy Goodwin, commission chair. Another option would cost $620,000, however, that would See COA on Page 2A RITCHIE E. STARNES/CHOWAN HERALD A tow truck pulls a submerged Ford Aerostar van from the Pembroke Creek near the Bolton Bridge in Chowan County, Monday. Missing van found in Chowan creek EDENTON — Divers found a stolen passenger van sub merged in more than 20 feet of water in a Chowan County creek Monday afternoon. Divers with the Perquimans County Dive and Rescue Team found the vehicle, a Ford Aero star van, in the Pembroke Creek near the Bolton Bridge on Mexico Road, police Chief Jay Fortenbery said. The van’s owner reported the van missing on Nov. 5, Fortenbery said. Hurdte-Winslow Goodwill Fortenbery said investiga tors received information about the vehicle’s possible whereabouts several days ago. Police initially attempted to locate the van by using a johnboat and a long pole, but the water was too deep. Fortenbery called in the dive team once after he decided to expand the search. Once divers located the See VAN on Page 2A i /n)r^rrrtn Saturday, hov. at, »:3o pm IfeliilMiiWAIMAUPITORIUM Available at: • ~(/ • MEMTOM. W EDENTON: Byrum True Value Hardware - 252-482-2131 • Chowan Arts Council • 252-482-8005 • Edenton Coffee House • 252*482-7465 • ROCKY HOCK: Nixon Family Restaurant - 252-221*2244 HERTFORD: Woodard’s Pharmacy • 252*426*5527t ELIZABETH CITY: Clown’ll Around • 252*331*2250 • SUFFOLK: BHIy Smith * 757-925-4541 • MAIL ORDERS: Call 252-221-4875 or 252-340-3438

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