V, P8/C8******CAR-RT LOT'*C 002 A0114 ... SHEPHERD PRUDEN LIBRARY 106 W WATER ST EDENTON NC 27932-1854 482-4418 50* Wednesday, December 21, 2016 Letters to Santa- 3A Aces come up short as stellar season ends BY REGGIE PONDER Editor Editor’s note: See cover age of the state champion ship garde on 9 A he Aces fought to the very end and the com X. munity fought right along with them. The hard-charging foot ball team from John A Hol mes High School lost 58-12 in the 2A state champion ship game Saturday. Wes Chesson, an Aces standout in the 1960s who was a record-setting wide receiver at Duke and later played professionally, now operates an insurance busi ness in Raleigh. Chesson was one of a number of for mer Edenton players who now live out of town who made it to Winston-Salem Saturday night to cheer on this year’s Aces. “We appreciate the great times we had in Edenton and we appreciate the great support that we had when we were playing in Eden ton,” Chesson said. He said he was glad to see the community support so strong for this year’s squad. “I thought the turnout was fantastic,” Chesson said of the crowd of Aces support ers Saturday night at BB&T field. Chesson said he was proud of the excellent sea son the Aces had and how hard they played against a much bigger Reidsville team that had a strong, sophisti cated passing attack. “I was proud of the Aces,” Chesson said. “They never gave up, never gave in, nev er quit fighting. We’re mighty proud of what they’re do ing.” The community support for the team was evident not PHOTO BY DEAN STRICKLAND Edenton’s James Cofield (21) and teammates make a stop on Reidsville’s Tanner Wilson Inside the 10-yard line that held the Rams to a field goal during Saturday’s 2A state championship game. Reidsville won 58-12 at Wake Forest’s BB&T Field. only in Winston-Salem but also here in Edenton this past weekend. Jamika Moore, an Aces cheerleader, commented on the significance of the team’s trip to the championship game just before the start of a pep rally in front of John A. Holmes High School Friday (Edenton-Chowan School Superintendent Rob £ Jackson said the turnout of Edenton fans for I the game Saturday night was tremendous. “It 1 1 was an incredible number of folks who traveled | | from northeastern North Carolina to support the team," Jackson said. The season drew together the community, the alumni and current . 5iuueiu5 in a wonaerrui way, Jackson said. IHL4 "- mm “The team achieved a historic season in terms JACKSON of wins and losses but I'm more proud of the way they did that," Jackson said. “Our team represented the school system and the community with class and with great sportsmanship and were the representatives that we would want out there showcas ing who we are as Edentonians and Chowan County residents." Jackson said he appreciated the leadership of the coaching staff In instilling values related to handling adversity, handling success, being good role models and doing well in th^classroom. afternoon. “Considering that this has been something big for a long time - we haven’t gotten this far since my grandaddy’s time - this is m£yor,” Moore said. The cheerleaders and band helped the crowd of400 or so rev the team up for the big trip to Winston-Salem. Members of the community - many holding signs or dressed in Aces attire - gathered along Broad Street and Queen Street Saturday morning to give the team a big send off, See ACES, 9A Santa Claus visits James Iredell House this week PHOTO COURTESY OF BOB HOPKINS/ HISTORIC EDENTON HISTORIC SITES Keith Furlough of the Historic Edenton Visitor Center, inside the kitchen dependency on the grounds of the James Iredell House which is beautifully decorated in anticipation pf a visit from Santa on Dec. 20-22 from 6-8 p.m. BY REBECCA BUNCH Staff Writer In recent days staff and volunteers with the Historic Edenton State Historic Sites have undertaken a very spe cial mission - getting the 1825 kitchen dependency on the grounds of the his toric James Iredell House prepared for a visit by Santa Claus. The historic site will host the visit by Old Saint Nick on Dec. 20-22 from 6 to 8 p.m. each evening. Bob Hopkins, site manager for state-owned historic sites in Edenton, said he and his staff could hardly wait for Santa’s arrival and he’s sure that children from the community feel the same way. “Children of all ages are welcome to visit, give Santa their Christmas wish in per son before Christmas and have their picture taken with Santa,” Hopkins said. “Santa will be fireside in the holiday decorated 1825 kitchen de pendency and individual or family portraits with Santa will be available by profes sional photographer Kip Shaw, at a nominal fee - or you can take your own if you wish.” “Each visitor will get a candy cane from Santa,” Hopkins added. “And in partnership with the Eden ton Coffee House, Santa will distribute a coupon for a free hot cocoa for your eryoy ment after your visit.” Visiting with Santa will cost only $5 per person, pay able at the gate. Hopkins said thflt photo portrait menu op tions would be available at an additional fee. The 1825 kitchen depen dency is located behind the James Iredell House at 105 E. Church Street in Edenton. For additional information about Santa’s visit or to pre schedule a group visit con tact the State Historic Sites Visitor Center at 482-2637. Citizens gather at Beaver Hill for Wreaths Across America BY REGGIE PONDER Editor Wreaths were placed on the graves of more than 800 veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces at the conclusion of the annual Wreaths Across America observance Satur day at Beaver Hill Cemetery. Members of Boy Scout Troop 164 assisted with the placing of the wreaths on vet erans’ graves. The program was presented by the Post 40 American Legion Family. Flo Lawrence, vice-chair of Wreaths Across America for Chowan County, told the crowd gathered for the cer emony that Americans today ei\joy freedoms because of the sacrifices of veterans. The United States was founded on ideals of freedom, justice and equality, she said. “America has always been the first nation to stand up for the freedom of people around the world,” Lawrence said. Lawrence said people should take a moment to say “thank you” when they see a veteran or active duty service 02009 The Chowan Herald All Rights Reserved member. Debbie Bonner, president of Unit 40 American Legion Aux ■I M uiary. said AYDLETT those being r e m e m - bered were not statistics but real people, with families and friends who loved them, who answered the call to serve their country. Bonner said it "was impor tant to teach children that freedom has not come with out a price and that one day they might be the ones asked to pay that price. The Rev. Chris Aydlett, pastor of Edenton United Methodist Church, gave the invocatioa He characterized the occasion as less about remembering the deaths of those who graves were being decorated with wreaths and more about celebrating the lives they lived in service to God and country. The Albemarle Sounds sang the National Anthem and also performed a medley of the military servive anthems. Patrick O’Neal played TAPS at the end of the pro gram. See WREATHS, 9B Horlce Toppln, a veteran of the U.S. Army, salutes after placing a wreath In Army. STAFF PHOTO BY REGGIE PONOER memory of those who served In tbe “OmtMtUiAWtQMraf, $T Paul’s EPISCOPAL CHURCH '' invites you to onr CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICES ST. PAUL’S, 101 W. GALE ST. The Rev. J. Malone Gilliam, Rector 4:00 PM FAMILY SERVICE 10:30 PM SPECIAL MUSIC s 11:00 PM MIDNIGHT SERVICE ’ ,10:00 AM CHRISTMAS DAY SERVICE