482-4418 Wednesday, February 10, 2010 50* See this year's Sweetest Couple — 6A-7A Plans to sell liquor at Sandy Point were foiled By RITCHIE E. STARNES Editor County email records show that there was an un dercurrent to bring liquor by the drink to Sandy Point until efforts ran aground. After the 900-acre Sandy Point was the beneficiary of special legislation and a Chowan County , land use plan alteration that County behind on collecting late taxes From staff reports Collection of Chowan County tax delinquencies has stalled. , County Manager Peter Rascoe told the Board of Commissioners during its Feb. 5 meeting that the slow collections were pri marily due to a lack of per sonnel. “We’re getting somewhat behind on collecting tax de linquencies each month,” Rascoe said. “We’re start ing to get an accumulation of tax delinquency that we haven’t had." He indicated that the county needs to address funding administrative support. Rascoe said the addition of a tax collec tor clerk could offset the problem, particularly with such duties as wage gar nishment. Despite the rise, Rascoe said collections have gen erally not been a problem. “Overall, it’s been good, but delinquencies are creeping up because we’re getting behind administra tively,” Rascoe said. Filing period for elections opens By RITCHIE E. STARNES Editor Two incumbents and three political newcomers filed for election Monday, the start of the filing pe Decision f 2010 riod for May’s primary John Mitchener, Chris Brabble, and Jeff Smith filed to run for county com missioner. Sheriff Dwayne Goodwin filed for a second term while Michael McAr thur is seeking a fifth term See FILING, 2A * ©2009 The Chowan Heralc > All Rights Reserved <vy*«cvr2 AOimir \TT! MAU Htir i*T2i i changed the set back re strictions along the Albemarle Sound to accommo date high Copeland er density, developer Sam Young sought to add liquor by the drink to the Snow "Fisher" man SUBMITTED PHOTO David and Jessica Buchanan pay homage to the area’s fishing heritage by building this snow “fisherman” during a snow fall that occurred nearly two weeks ago. The area dodged a second dose of snow accumulation on Saturday. Assistant principal reaches at-risk students Editor’s note: In honor of Black History Month, the Chowan Herald will feature an Afri can American in each edition during the month of February. Those featured include locals who have made significant contributions to their community. Gatling makes difference with pupils at Chowan Middle By REBECCA BUNCH Staff Writer For parents like Virginia Elliott, knowing that Phillip Gatling is on the job means they know their children are in good hands. Gatling, assistant principal at Chowan Mid dle School, has earned a reputation for devel oping a rapport with at-risk students and help ing thefti succeed in school. Along the way, he teaches them life skills too. “He’s willing to work with kids and give project. Chowan County does not permit the sell of mixed drinks. When Young was in formed that he would need to pursue a private club, such as a sports club for shooting or tennis, he balked. Young wrote in a Jan. 24, 2008 email to Cliff Co peland and Peter Raseoe, “We are going to have to get more creative. In the first instance, we will not be able to satisfy the limi tation/criteria, to wit: an establishment’s gross receipts for club,activities shall be greater than its gross receipts for alcoholic beverages.” There will be more whiskey sold than bullets or balls.” Young added that plans called for Sandy Point to CMS them a chance,” Elliott said, “and I admire him for that.” Elliott currently has one child still at the middle school and another who has moved on to John A. Holmes High School. She said he still keeps tabs on both of them and lets her know what he finds out. “Since he has been there (at Chowan), he include several establish ments that would sell whis key. Rascoe said Young’s email caused him to put the brakes on any planning research on the developer’s behalf. “It was obvious that I had done all that the coun ty could do on a planning question,” Rascoe Said. “Anything more would have to be done by the de veloper.” Rascoe had presented Young and Copeland with the rules for meeting the re quirements of a spots club like Albemarle Plantation in Perquimans County. State regulations re quire a sports club’s gross receipts for club activities See LIQUOR, 4A Officials to decide on child support By RITCHIE E. STARNES Editor Chowan County com-' missioners will soon de cide whether to outsource its child support enforce ment, a move that could . eliminate five jobs. The county could opt to privatize the services, joining the preference of other area counties looking for ways to re duce oper ating costs. Chowan is one of the few that run a pro gram inde pendent of a state regional office that several other area counties use. County Manager Peter Rascoe informed com missioners at the board’s Feb.l meeting that while initial figures supported the move toward privatiza tion, he said new data from Clifton Hardison, director of Department of Social Services, indicated that the matter warrants fur ther evaluation. “It appears the numbers are closer' than they were two weeks ago,” Rascoe said. “We’re making sure that we’re counting every dollar that we’re recoup ing.” Rascoe said a meeting scheduled for Thursday should shed more light on the issue with the Board of Commissioners faced with See CHILD, 2A STAFF PHOTO BY REBECCA BUNCH Phillip Gatling, assistant principal at Chowan Middle, shows off a banner outside the school that reads “Be Respectful, Be Responsible, Be the Best You Can Be!" has done a wonderful job,” Elliott said. “My daughter and I were just talking about that earlier today.” Gatling has a lot of motivation to try and reach these kids. He knows that for some of them, he may be one of the few positive male role models in their lives. Gatling said often the boys he befriends have fathers who are either in jail or have been killed due to violence. He knows that winning their trust will not be easy but relishes the challenge. Gloria Horton, a teacher at the school, said his focus on helping students learn self-esteem as well as appropriate behavior at school and at home has definitely brought results. i See GATIING, 4A

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