Knighton: LGC criticism not just aimed at Edenton
Though town acted to improve
finances, many have not
BY MILES LAYTON
Staff Writer
Town Manager Anne Ma
rie Knighton spoke to the
Chowan Herald about the
fireworks reported at a state
meeting about Edenton’s fi
nances.
Recently, N.C. Local Gov
ernment Commission ap
proved Edenton’s applica
tion for a $2.6 million U.S.
Department of Agriculture
loan. That loan, combined
with a $1.1 million USDA
grant the town was award
ed, will pay for $3.7 million
in upgrades and renovations
to the town’s two water
treatment plants.
The water plant improve
ments are needed, town
officials say, to lift a water
quality advisory imposed on
Edenton’s drinking water
by the N.C. Department of
Environmental Quality. The
town received the advisory
because its drinking water
contains elevated levels of
trialomethanes, or THMs,
a chemical by-product that
7 told him I wanted to be a part of the
solution and not just walk away content that
the Town’s debt was approved.”
Anne Marie Knighton
Town manager
forms when chlorine is used
to disinfect drinking water.
Exposure to THMs has been
linked to increased risk for
several forms of cancer.
Despite agreeing to al
low Edenton to pursue the
USDA loan, members of the
Local Government Commis
sion had some criticism Jan.
8 for how the town handles
it finances.
Knighton, who attend
ed the meeting, said LGC
members were referring to
Edenton’s most recent au
dit report that listed several
material weaknesses in the
town’s accounting practices
and internal fiscal controls.
One finding from the audit,
for example, was that pur
chase orders weren’t always
prepared before purchases
were made but instead pre
pared afterward.
Knighton offered the
Chowan Herald more de
tail about the meeting with
LGC.
“First, it’s worth noting
NC LGC staff recommend
ed the Commission approve
the town’s application,” she
said. “LGC staff reported to
the Commission that LGC
staff met with Edenton staff
in Edenton in November
2018 and verified the town
had taken corrective ac
tions. LGC staff reported the
Town’s written response to
the town’s Fiscal Year 2018
audit findings and concerns
was thorough and in fact,
Edenton’s letter was the
best response letter the LGC
staff has ever received.”
Knighton said LGC staff
reported to the Commis-
See KNIGHTON, 2A
Grading
issues
examined
E-Chowan to retally
first 9 week grades
BY NICOLE BOWMAN-
LAYTON
Editor
EDENTON — Com
puter software used by
North Carolina school
districts to calculate stu
dent grades may have
tallied them incorrectly
in some districts during
the first quarter, resulting
in grades that either were
too high or too low for an
undetermined number of
students.
Edenton-Chowan
Schools Superintendent
Rob Jackson said that
shortly before winter
break, the school district
was notified by the N.C.
Department of Public In
struction that there might
be a problem with how
software calculated stu
dent grades during the
first quarter of the school
year.
DPI provides Power-
School, software that
school districts use to re
port student grades. With
in PowerSchool, there is
a program called Power
Teacher Pro. School dis
tricts use it for storing
grades and report cards.
DPI started phasing in
Power Teacher Pro in
2017-18 and required all
districts to use it starting
with the current school
year.
According to Jackson,
DPI asked PowerSchool,
the company that owns
the Power Teacher Pro |
software, to look into the
possible glitch and report
back. Jackson said Eden
ton-Chowan Schools re
ceived an email Jan. 10
stating that there was a
problem with grade calcu
lations statewide and that
school districts would be
sent information on how
to find out which courses
were affected.
See GRADING, 2A
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Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Remembered
Davis: Be stewards of your presence
PHOTOS BY NICOLE BOWMAN-LAYTON/CHOWAN HERALD
The Rev. William T. Davis delivers the keynote address during the celebration.
Chowan County honors
civil rights leader
BY NICOLE BOWMAN-
LAYTON
Editor
The Rev. William T. Davis
urged those at the Rev. Dr.
Martin Luther King Jr. Birth
day Celebration to be better
stewards of their time, by
picking the right tables at
which to sit.
The filled John A. Holmes
auditorium was decorated
in blue and gold as mem
ber from the Girls Club and
Brotherhood Club served a^
ushers, among other duties.
The Fanny A. Parker Wom
en’s Club sponsors both
youth organizations.
Davis, who also is an at
torney, is a former Edenton
resident and graduated from
D.F. Walker School. For 36
years, he has been the pas
tor of New Shiloh Mission
ary Baptist Church in Cam
den County, not too far from
Edenton, Glorious Elliott re
minded the audience during
her introdyiction of Davis.
Davis /said that he was
humbled and grateful to be
a part of the celebration.
“I was here a few years
ago,” he said. “I have mixed
feeling when I’m asked to
Attorney D. Cole Phelps talks during the Chowan
County Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday
Celebration on Monday in the John A. Holmes High
School Auditorium.
speak at an event again.
Either I did OK or I really
messed up and you have ex
tended grace to me to give
me a chance to redeem my
self.”
Davis based his speech
around a story in 2 Samuel,
chapter 9. In it, King David
feels blessed by God and
want to share his blessings
with others. So he asks a
servant if there are any liv
ing relatives of his former
Committee Chair Angela
Taylor Welch speaks to
the audience during the
celebration.
enemy, Saul. The servant
knows of Mephibosheth,
Saul’s grandson who is un
able to walk and lives in
Lo Debar. David calls for
Mephibosheth to live at the
palace and eat at David’s
table for the rest of his life.
So Mephibosheth comes to
live with David.
For a modern example
of this story, Davis pointed
to an event a few months
ago, when 20 black pastors
and other religious leaders
See KING, 5A
Assistance
offered
during
shutdown
Food Pantry extends
hours; Historic site
offers free admission
From Staff Reports
In light of the govern
ment shutdown, several
Chowan County organi
zations and businesses
are offering discounts or
assistance to federal em
ployees and their fami
lies.
The Town of Edenton
is offering extensions on
utility bills and will waive
penalties/iate fees to cus
tomers impacted by par
tial Federal Government
Shutdown. For details,
visit town Hall or contact
252-482-2155 ext. 176.
For those needing
food, the Edenton-Chow
an Food Pantry will be
open from 4-6 p.m. each
Wednesday to serve fami-
hes of federal employees
affected by the govern
ment shutdown.
The Subway locations
in Edenton and Hertford
will collect pre-packaged
food, baby supplies and
toiletries during then-
business hours. The col
lection will last through
Jan. 29 and will be given
to agencies to help fami
lies affected by the gov
ernment shutdown.
This response is be
ing coordinated with the
Town of Edenton, the Of
fice of the School Superin
tendent, the Department
of Social Services and the
Chamber of Commerce.
“None of us are exactly
sure of the need in Chow
an County but we want
to be prepared and not
have anyone go without
food,” said Roger Cole
man, pantry director. “Al
ready we are experienc
ing an increasing number
of families coming to the
pantry.”
The Wednesday emer
gency food distribution
is being coordinated by
Karen Harrington, pantry
program manager. To be
eligible, according to Har
rington, one must show a
federal ID card and proof
of residency in Chowan
County.
The program will con
tinue as long as there is a
need, according Coleman.
“Like everyone else, we
hope this will not be long.
In the short-term, how-
See SHUTDOWN, 2A
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