P8/C8*"** ' 4 foTzzzr™ ubr^ EDENTONNC 27932-1854 50* 482-4418 Wednesday, March 30, 2016 Town OKs money for station construction BY REBECCA BUNCH Staff Writer The town council voted unanimously Monday to ac cept a proposal from BB&T to finance construction of the new police station. Councilman Elton Bond was absent from the coun oil’s work session Monday night. The motion to approve included a caveat, however, that should another pro posed lender, USDA, lower its interest rates on April 1, the town could elect to go with that option. Town Manager Anne-Ma rie Knighton said in a March 24 memo to the council that the town had solicited bids from 13 banks and had re ceived four proposals. “It appears now that BB&T offers the lowest one — 2.89 percent for a 15 year note,” she said. “USDA is the next best option and the USDA will be issuing a new interest rate April 1 — the rate may change, may de crease or may increase. The rate now offered is 3.125 percent. We can structure payments for a 15-year note.” Knighton noted that the town’s original financial analysis was based on a rate of 2.69 percent but for 20 yeans. “Based on what w are paying the county now for our lease ($166,000) plus the savings we project by no longer paying 26 percent of the maintenance and up keep of the common space (at the Public Safety Center) — approximately $22,000 — we will have to identify approximately $16,000 in additional funds to make the annual loan payment to BB&T of $204,000. We have identified sources of funding See NEW STATION, 3A Heroes coming for fishing tourney on Pembroke Creek BY REGGIE PONDER Editor Saturday’s Top Shelf Fish in’ Festival will offer 50 wounded warriors and disabled veterans a first-rate fishing experience on Pem broke Creek. Operation North State is the all-volunteer statewide or ganization that is sponsoring the fishing tournament. Local organizers for the event have been American Legion Post 40 and the Pembroke Bass Club. l ne nost venue is Bayside Marina & Grill. Although all of the neces sary volunteers are on board, there are still three ways the public can help out with this weekend’s tournament. One way is by donating items for door prizes. “You can’t have enough door prizes,” said Terry Sny der of Operation North State. Another way to pitch in is by preparing a covered dish for the post-tournament meal. “We can always use a cov ered dish,” Snyder said. Snyder mentioned that one important way people can support the Top Shelf Fish ing Festival is by turning out Saturday afternoon to view the weigh-in and cheer for the participants. He said he recommends people show up around 2:15 p.m. at Bayside Marina to watch the weigh-in. See FISHING, 2A STAFF PHOTO BY REGGIE PONDER Corey Byrum, 23, of Winterville, brings in the boat Monday afternoon after a day of fishing on Pembroke Creek. Assisting him at the boat ramp at Bayside Marina is his father, Walter Byrum. The marina will be hosting the Top Shelf Fishin’ Festival Saturday for wounded warriors and disabled veterans. Walter Byrum says he will not be participating in Saturday’s event but is excited to hear about it because his father, Murray Byrum, who ran the Westside service station across from where the marina is located, was a veteran. Search continues for escaped inmate Singleton BY REGGIE PONDER Editor Tlie inmate who escaped cus t