t 0T* *C 002 A0092 ... . ,|iillllr|>Nl‘1" StONNCS27932-1^4 482-4418 Wednesday, November 27, 2013 Special Section in the Nov. 27th paper! Board backs new allowances for wind turbines I • SLpi ; ■ BY REGGIE PONDER Editor The Chowan County Plan ning Board last week en dorsed an amendment that would more than double the permissible height for wind turbines in the county. The proposed amend ment to the Chowan County Wind Energy Ordinance Citizens hopeful for bike path BY REBECCA BUNCH Staff Writer Edenton resident Steve Lane said he is happy with the county commissioners’ decision to revisit the issue of supporting a planned bi cycle path through the Albe marle area. “Everybody I’ve talked to seems to be pleased that they are willing to reconsid er,” Lane said. Lane said he hoped that after reviewing the idea once again the commission ers would feel the benefits of the planned path were significant enough to war rant their support Lane and fellow Edenton ian Bill Miller addressed the commissioners during their Nov. 19 work session asking, them to rethink their recent vote not to support the pro- • posed path running through Chowan County. The Nov. 4 vote was split with two of the seven commissioners voting in favor of supporting the plan and five against Miller said that he like Lane was pleased with the commissioners’ decision to keep an open mind on the subject. “I really appreciate their willingness to look at it again,” Miller said. The Edenton Town Coun cil has already announced that it would wholeheart edly support the Albemarle Regional Bike Plan that would include the town. At its Nov. 12 meeting the town council voted unani mously to endorse the plan and have Edenton become a part of it. Councilman Bob Quinn was absent The vote followed an Oct 8 presentation of the plan before the council by Steve Lambert, planning director for the Hertford-based Albe marle Commission. Lambert said that the plan was developed by the Albe marle Rural Planning Orga nization with the support of towns and counties across the Albemarle area. He said the process started with a kick-off meeting held in the summer of 2012. The plan was finalized in the fall of 2013, Lambert said, guided by the principles of incorpo rating health and wellness, and safety, into the family oriented initiative. See BIKE, 3A ©2Q09 The Chowan Herald All Rights Reserved would pave the way for con struction of a major utility scale wind energy facility. The text amendment has been proposed by Apex Clean Energy Inc., a Char lottesville, Va-based renew able energy company. The Chowan County Board of Commissioners is scheduled to hold a public hearing on the proposed STAFF PHOTO BY REBECCA BUNCH Local Boys & Girls Club kids showed their best table manners during a free sit down Thanksgiving dinner they were treated to at the Nothin’ Fancy Cafe & Market co-owned by Gail Sing and Shannon Andersen. The ’ club members were treated to the meal in memory of Singh’s father Worth Hare who died recently. Vigil planned for missing teens From staff reports The community has been invited to gather for prayer tonight for two Edenton teens who have been missing since the weekend. The prayer vigil for Nicholas Beaman and Rob Bunch will be held today (Wednesday) at 7 p.m. at the Parish Hall at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. . Edenton police are seeking information from anyone who may know the whereabouts of the two teens. Manufacturing holds hidden job promise BY REGGIE PONDER Editor One of the most frequently ex pressed concerns around Edenton is that there is no place here for young people to find good jobs. But speakers at a gathering of business and education leaders last week at College of the Albemarle’s Edenton-Chowan Campus insisted the reality is much different from the perception. The forum focused on manufac turing, worker training, and the role of the local public schools and Col lege of The Albemarle in preparing students for jobs that are available. Organizers of the event included COA and the Education Commit text amendment during its 7 p.m. regular meeting on Dec. 2. At the Nov. 19 planning board meeting, a motion by board member Allen Nixon to recommend ap proval of the amendment by the county commissioners passed with board member Patti Kersey casting the lone vote against it Information received so far is leading police to believe that the boys may be in Texas, according to Edenton Police Chief Jay Fortenbery. “We have no reason to suspect foul play,” the police chief said. “Right now, we’re treating this as a runaway situation.” Fortenbery has asked that anyone with infor mation that could help his office locate the two boys please call 482-4444 immediately. See TEENS, 2A tee of the Edenton Chowan Partner ship. The commit tee is chaired by Frank Palm. Hal D. Bums Jr., general manager of Hampton Farms Jimbo’s Jumbos, said recruiting skilled workers can be a challenge. Even though people who live in Edenton recognize it as a special place with a great quality of Me, it’s hard to persuade a 22-year-old from Raleigh, Greenville or Richmond, Va, to relocate here, he said. Bums said the situation leads to an obvious answer. Why not train people locally? ; Asked later about her opposition to the proposed text amendment, Kersey said anything — not just a wind turbine — that is built 600 feet high is contrary to the county’s vision and land use plan. “A 600-foot anything is justnot consistent with what we talk about,” Kersey said. “All of a sudden we throw out everything that we have talked about in terms of our vision.” she said. Landin Holland, plan ning director for Chowan County, explained at the be ginning of the discussion at the Nov. 19 meeting that the matter before the board was not specifics of the project but rather the proposed or dinance amendment that REARDON NELSON “There are a lot of good opportu nities here,” Bums said There are good jobs available for skilled workers at Jimbo’s Jumbos, Olam, JLA labs, Colony Tire, Regu lator Marine and other companies in town, Bums said IVaining and education not only would help with finding skilled workers for local companies, but it also would provide a boost for the recruitment of new industry to the area, he said COA can be a driving force in helping local kids make a living would bring Chowan’s wind f« turbine regulations in line with the rules in neighbor ing Perquimans County. ? “First and foremost we’re \ talking about height,” Hol land said, noting the amend ment allows wind turbines up to 600 feet high. The existing ordinance See WIND, 3A Edenton joins in marketing effort BY REBECCA BUNCH Staff Writer ' The town council voted unanimously at its Nov. 12 monthly meeting for Eden ton to participate in a mar keting initiative with several other smaller North Caro lina communities. Councilman Bob Quinn was absent. “I think everybody is in agreement for us to move along with this," said Coun cilman Steve Biggs, who chairs the administrative committee. Known as an “umbrella marketing” plan, the pro gram would link Edenton with towns like Warrenton and Tarboro. Town Manager Anne-Ma rie Knighton said she first learned about the idea dur ing a meeting of managers and tourism directors from the communities of Warren ton, Murfreesboro, Hills boro and Halifax. “The concept being put forth by the town of Wanen ton is one that would create an umbrella branding effort for the purpose of bring ing additional tourism and business to these respec tive small towns,” Knighton said. Knightonsaidthattheidea was the result of Warrenton’s participation in the North Carolina Main Street’s Step Program, whose mission is to help small towns create, opportunities for economic development “(Chowan Tourism Di rector) Nancy Nicholls and I attended the meeting in Warrenton and came away impressed with the concept being presented,” Knighton said. Knighton said that the joint effort would focus on See MARKETING, 3A here, Bums said. It also can start as early as the STEM program at Chowan Middle School. The STEM program at CMS — STEM is an acronym for science, technology, engineering and mathe matics — introduces middle school students to careers and topics in sci ence and technology. Bums said the local food process ing industry can help students make the connection to local jobs by, for example, providing assistance with experiments that deal with pea nuts. Bums said, so that students real ize if they don’t want to cook pea nuts they can cook tires at Colony See JOBS, 2A FRIDAY, DECEMBER 6™. 7:00m. Tiektti Xni. $10.00 9$ E.A. SWAIN AUDITORIUM HINTON, DC “SATURDAY, DECEMBER 7™, 7:00pm Tickets Available at various locations or call 252-221-4875 or 252-340-3438. Email rockyhock opry@live.com SUBMITTED PHOTO Missing Edenton teens Rob Bunch (left) and Nick Beaman.