P8/C8 **CAR-rt .. BENTON NC 27932-1854 irtYSi. Ert jggp Dou«i|r 482-4418 50* Wednesday, February 8, 2017 WWW.CAROLINACHRYSLER COM 1252-335-0724 11001 HALSTEAD BLVO ELIZABETH CITY Senior Center repairs awaiting insurance settlement BY REGGIE PONDER Editor Chowan County plans to move ahead with repairs to the flood-damaged Senior Center once the insurance settlement is resolved. County Manager Kevin Howard explained the pro cess at the meeting Mon day of the Chowan County Board of Commissioners. Several members of the public addressed the board during the public comment period, urging swift action to repair the facility and get popular programs such as fitness and billiards back in full swing. Commissioner John Mitchener echoed those concerns in his comments later in the meeting. “I want everyone to listen to them," Mitchener said of the concerns expressed by the public. John Powell, Shari Far less, Ann Forehand, Barba ra Ramsey and Jerald Perry all asked the board to move quickly in repairing the Se nior Center. Powell mentioned the importance that the center’s fitness pro grams have for many peo pie in the community. He said he has used the fitness equipment four or five days a week himself. He noted that on average 140 people a day sign in. Farless said the Senior Center has been recognized as a Center of Excellence and indicated that the desig nation might be in jeopardy if the facility was not re paired soon. She also men tioned the popularity of the Silver Sneaker and Silver Fit programs. Forehand said she and others benefit from the fit ness programs at the cen ter. “We need y’all now to bring our Senior Center back so we can use it,” she said. Ramsey pointed out that fitness equipment, two com puters, a ping pong table and resource library had all been lost in the flooding. Perry said he would like the commissioners to give as much consideration as possible to the restoration of the Senior Center. Howard said the Senior Center was damaged in the severe flooding last fall and See SENIOR, 2A j RELATED STORIES | ■ Chamber honors service to com 1 munity with awards awards - IB | ■ McArthur, Rocky Hock Ruritans | honored for service-4B STAFF PHOTO BY REGGIE PONDER Donna H. Winborne (right) accepts the 2016 John A. Mitchener Jr. Business Person of the Year Award from Jennifer Bergevin. WiNBORNE is Business Person of the Year BY REGGIE PONDER Editor Accountant Donna H. Winbome is the 2016 recipient of the John A. Mitch ener Jr. Business Person of the Year Award. Jennifer Bergevin presented the award to Winbome Thursday night at the annual Edenton-Chowan County Chamber of Com merce awards dinner. The dinner was held at the Links at Mulberry Hill. A visibly surprised Winbome thanked the Chamber for the award. “This means a lot,” Winbome said. “Thank you. hi presenting the Business Person of the Year Award, Bergevin described Winbome as someone who makes others happy; puts others first; shows a genuine concern for those around her, is genersous, helpful and the first to show up with a helping hand; and takes the time to listen. Bergevin said Winbome is a true leader in business and the community, who believes in investing time and energy in young gradu ates and is focused on serving clients and providing employees with a nice place to work every day. She cares about employees as people and has remained strong in the midst of great struggles, Bergevin said. Winbome truly is one of the kindest, smartest, most generous, hardworking and compassionate people she has ever met, Bergevin said. STAFF PHOTO BY REGGIE PONDER Brian Harvill, 2017 president of the Edenton-Chowan County Chamber of Commerce, enjoys a light-hearted moment with Lisa Turner, the 2016 president. When Winbome arrived at the podium to accept the award she remarked that as she listened to Bergevin’s description she kept wondering who in the world she could be talking about. In addition to presenting the Business Person of the Year Award and other awards recognizing community service and commu nity spirit, the Chamber also took a moment to reflect on the past year and look ahead to the rest of this one. Lisa Turner, tire Chamber’s 2016 presi dent, recognized special guests and said it was great to see all the improvements at the Links at Mulberry Hill. Turner cited activities during the past year, See BIZ, 2A Town, county proclaim ‘2016 Aces Football Day* BY REQQIE PONDER Editor A rare joint session of the Chowan County Board of Commissioners and Eden ton Town Council was con vened Monday to adopt a joint town-county resolution proclaiming this Friday as 2016 Aces Football Day in honor of the team’s trip to the 2A state championship game in December. The resolution states that the town and county wish 0 02009 The Chowan Herald All Rights Reserved to honor “2016 Aces play ers, coachere, cheerleaders, managers, teachers and the fans that supported the Aces during their championship season" Tire Aces finished second in the state in the 2A clas sification, falling to the Re idsville Rams on Dec. 17 in the 2A State Championship game. During the playoffs lead ing up to that game the Aces defeated Beddingfield High School 46-22, Kinston High School 61-33 and Northeast ern High School 35-21. The Aces won the 2A East ern Regional Championship on Dec. 9, defeating South Columbus High School 60 14 The resolutions urges, all citizens on Friday to “reflect upon the dedication and de termination that enabled this team to become the Eastern Regional Champions.” Chowan Board of Com missioners Chairman Jeff Smith and Edenton Mayor Roland Vaughan remarked that it was an especially hap py event that had brought the two boards together for the meeting. The county commission ers and town council passed the resolution unanimously. Edenton-Chowan Schools Superintendent Rob Jack son, members of the school board, teachers and adminis trators from John A. Holmes High School, and players See FOOTBALL, 2A STAFF PHOTO BY REGGIE PONDER I Town, county and school officials join Edenton Aces football players and coaches In celebrating the 2016 2A Eastern Regional Chajmplons, the Edenton Aces. Local man arrested on drug charges BY REGGIE PONDER Editor An Edenton businessman was arrested last week on cocaine possession and driv ing while impaired charges. John Lee Allen Gay, 54, oi c ountry Club Drive in Edenton, was ar rested Jan. 31 at 7:15 p.m. and charged • W lLll pus session of GAY cocaine with intent to sell and deliver, and with driv ing while impaired, accord ing to John McArthur of the Chowan County Sheriff’s Office. Gay operates John Gay studios in downtown Eden ton. Gay was released shortly after the arrest when he posted bond, according to McArthur. Gay had been placed under $10,000 se cured bond on the drug charge and $1,000 unse cured bond on tire DWI charge. McArthur said the arrest was tire result of a joint See GAY, 2A Survey looks at access to broadband BY PETER WILLIAMS The Perquimans Weekly The Hertford-based Albe marle Commission is con ducting a survey of the 10 county area to find out what kind of broadband Internet is really out there. Chowan Comity Commis sioner John Mitchener put in a plug for the survey Mon day night at the meeting of the Chowan Comity Board of Commissioners, noting the importance of Internet access for everyone from business owners to public school students. Albemarle Commission Director Cathy Davison said once the commission gets the full picture and finds out what people what and need, it can work with industry and government to fill in the gaps. “As part of our ongoing planning and economic development work for the region, we realized that we couldn’t leave broadband access and infrastructure out of the equation,” Davi son said. Davison believes having broadband services isn’t a luxury, but something the See SURVEY, 2A >

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