CHOWA^HERALD
482-4418 WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12, 2019 75$
CHOWAN ARTS COUNCIL HOSTS
JAZZ CONCERT — A8
ACEs GRADUATE Friday
144 to participate in Class of 2019 commencement
BY MILES LAYTON
Staff writer
Aces, grab your gradua
tion gowns and mortar
boards. And parents, make
sure you’ve got your cam
eras ready for John A.
Holmes’ Class of 2019
commencement that starts
promptly at 7 p.m. Friday at
the stadium.
During the past four
years, this class of seniors
has achieved academic and
athletic success. Worth not
ing, the graduation rate is at
92% which is the highest
that it has ever been, said
Principal Steve Wood.
“This group of seniors
were a very close knit
group,” he said. “They got
along well, worked hard,
and played hard. This group
of seniors have excelled in
the classroom as well as on
the fields and courts. This is
that same class that I told
when they were freshmen
that this is a great class, and
they really have proved that
time and time again. I am ex
tremely proud of every one
Aces’ Hassell driven to succeed
BY MILES LAYTON
Staff writer
My’Azia Hassell is a
role model to the Aces’
nation and Edenton
community.
She served the Aces
with distinction as a
cheerleader, drum ma
jor, Student Govern
ment Association, Pro
ject Purple and the LEO
Club.
That’s certainly a
good resume because
Hassell is one of the
most popular and well
-respected girls in high
school. Hassell plans to
attend Howard Univer
sity — one of the top
schools in the nation.
And she won more than
$500,000 worth of schol
arships from various
See HASSELL, A7
SUBMITTED PHOTO
My’Azia Hassell was Marching Aces
drum major her senior year.
See GRADUATION, A7
SUBMITTED PHOTO
During Amy Turner's time as
the leader of the Aces' cross
country team, she competed
at the regional and state
level and won many races.
PHOTO COURTESY KIM ULLOM
Aces' Anna Bass not only
earned top grades, but she
was one of the best kickers
in the Albemarle Athletic
Conference.
Bass: Trust
God, achieve
your dreams
BY MILES LAYTON
Staff writer
Anna Bass.
Her name will forever con
jure up a scene during a foot
ball game when I first noticed
blonde hair flowing under
neath a football helmet No. 34
that had just kicked the extra
point. I thought it was strange
as Coach Paul Hoggard’s le
gionaries never have long hair
— not his style as he runs a
See BASS, A7
Dagoberto Pacheco
joining Marines in Aug.
BY MILES LAYTON
Staff writer
Editor’s note: This article
has been translated into
Spanish on Page B6.
Semper Fi.
Motto of the Marine Corps,
the Latin phrase means “always
faithful” or “always loyal”
Like playing football for
the Aces, Dagoberto Pacheco
said he chose to enlist in the
Marines because he wants to
be a part of something spe
cial. Though Pacheco ships
out for Parris Island in early
August, he said he’s not wor
ried about the heat, the in
tense physical and mental
regimen nor the drill instruc
tors, because he’s ready for
duty and prepared to serve
his country.
Seems realistic since
Pacheco has served on the
front lines in the toughest boot
camp around that is led by
Aces football coaches Paul
Hoggard and Wes Mat tern.
“My best memory was
playing football because of
the great coaches and team-
mates,” he said.
After boot camp, Marines
train for their Military Occu
pational Specialty (MOS).
Pacheco wants to pursue air
craft communications and
complete an extended tour of
duty for our country.
“I plan on staying in the
Marines for 40 years, because
Turner
known for
athletics,
academics
See PACHECO, A7
BY MILES LAYTON
Staff writer
For several years, the
Chowan Herald has written
stories about Amy Turner’s
high school exploits and now
that sadly is coming to an end,
but ... who knows!? Turner’s
trajectory is set on East
Carolina University and a
medical degree, so maybe she
will be a country doctor some-
day, perhaps in Chowan
County.
Why does Turner want to
study medicine?
“From a young age, I have
loved learning about science,
especially biology,” said
Turner who was awarded an
ECU Merit Scholarship. “At
the same time, as a Christian, I
find joy in helping and serving
others: The medical field re
ally ties these two passions to
gether in a special way! I look
forward to seeing where the
See TURNER, A3
White Oak time capsule opened
Current first-graders prepare
new capsule for burial
BY MILES LAYTON
Staff writer
In 1999, when 10-year-old
Jonathan Smith was in fifth
grade, he wrote these words
for the time capsule that was
buried soon after White Oak
Elementary opened 20 years
ago.
“I want to marry Sonya
Lane when I am 18 years old.
Right now, Sonya Lane is my
girlfriend. When I grow up, I
want to be a veterinarian.”
Well, Smith appears to be
bonafide career-minded
marriage prospect back then.
Let’s hope things worked out
for him and the lovely Sonya
Lane.
Back then, 10-year-old Brian
J. Leary was on the fast track
to being rich and famous.
“As you read this, hopefully
I will be at home with a billion
dollars because I just retired
from playing professional
baseball. The team I retired
from was the Atlanta Braves.
But if I’m not a baseball player,
then I will be a surgeon. Well,
that is all. I say bye, bye.”
Missie S. Bunch was not
only a teacher, but a young
See CAPSULE, A2
MILES LAYTON/
CHOWAN HERALD
A time
capsule filled
with
memories of
White Oak
Elementary
from 20
years ago
was
unearthed
recently
from within
the front
lawn in
Cubbie
country.
'89076
44813'
Vol. 84, No. 24
What’s Happening in Chowan County
Like
us on
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/TheChowanHerald
Summer activities
listings and
guides — B4, B6
Obituaries — A2
James Ray Briley Jr.
Julia T. Bryant
Samuel Copeland
Margaret T. Loyd
©2019 The Chowan Herald
All Rights Reserved
UPCOMING HOME GAMES
Historic Hicks Field
FMI Call 252-482-4080
www.edentonsteamers.com
JUNE 12 @ 7PM
VS PENINSULA
LADIES NIGHT
ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT
Electric
director
hired
Mike Nichols will start in July as new
head of Edenton’s utility department
BY MILES LAYTON
Staff writer
Another West Virginian is moving
to Edenton.
Mike Nichols has been hired as the
Town of Edenton’s electric director.
“I am pleased to inform you that as
a result of the extensive recruitment
conducted by the Nautical Group, the
recruiting firm you hired to help us fill
the long vacant position, we have
found a person who we think will be
a great fit for our organization,” Town
Manager Anne Marie Knighton said.
“Mike Nichols has over thirty years of
experience in the electricity business.
He began his career as a lineman and
prides himself on his ability to con
nect with the guys in the field.”
Nichols takes over the job from
Glen Anderson, who took a job with
Fayetteville Utilities last year.
In a memo to Town Council,
Knighton offered a quick overview of
Nichols’ career where he’s managed a
number of construction and mainte
nance crews working on transmis
sion and distribution projects. In
1992, he joined Cleveland Public
Power. He began working as a line-
man and quickly moved up to take a
management role — from lineman to
Trouble Lineman to Line Switchman
to Superintendent. His last role at
Cleveland Public Power was
See ELECTRIC, A3
Survey: Town’s
older teens feel
abandoned
Roger Coleman to present results to
Edenton council at future meeting
BY MILES LAYTON
Staff writer
More than 100 people completed a
survey conducted to determine what
Edenton residents are thinking about
in terms of growth, quality of life and
opportunities.
Organized by Roger Coleman, the
nine-question survey was available on-
line in May as a means of determining
what issues are most
\ important. Though
1 Coleman is a candidate
for Town Council, he
said this survey was
created more to gauge
■ Al Edenton’s pulse titan as
a means to pursue
COLEMAN vo t es - He will present
the survey’s results to
Town Council and hopes that future
surveys will be conducted. Joe Leotta
helped to create the online survey that
103 people took the time to answer.
“I was impressed by the over-all in
terest shown in the survey and the
thoroughness with which the commu
nity responded,” Coleman said. “The
average time spent on the survey by
each participant was almost eight min
utes. Most people expressed apprecia
tion for the opportunity to share their
views. And share they did. While the
Grow Edenton Survey was anony
mous I could see some trends. Initially
See SURVEY, A3
Jerry Lee Smyth Jr.
Pamela Smith Sim
mons
Index
Calendar B5
Classifieds. ...B7-8
Community....Bl
Education B4
Obituaries A2
Opinion A6
Sports B2
Summer B4,B6
JUNE 17 @ 7PM
VS PENINSULA
BARK IN THE PARK • 500 HOT DOGS
SCHOOLS OUT FOR SUMMER CELEBRATION