CHOW; P9/C8******CAR-RT LOT**C 002 A0038 || 1 ll.ll | l|||l...ll|l.|.||l|ll|.|||l|l|-||'| l '| l l llll l'll ll llll l l SHEPHERD PRUDEN LIBRARY 106 W WATER ST EDENTON NC 27932-1854 WEDNESDAY, JULY 17, 2019 252-482-4418 Board tweaks solar facility ordinance Commission sets new parameters for industry BY MILES LAYTON Staff Writer High in the nightime sky a full moon shined down as the Chowan County Commission discussed the future of solar facilitiess Monday. During a 4 1/2-hour meeting, commissioners grappled with provisions for amending the county’s solar ordinance. Much of the ordinance was re vamped through the ef forts of Commissioner Bob Kirby, revised and/or ap proved by the county’s Planning Commission be fore the county commis sion unanimously adopted the changes. Terms such as setbacks, opacity, foliage cover and more defined the parame ters of debate that de termined whether the so lar’s sun will shine another day in Chowan County. Core of the discussion hinged on what the impact solar farms would have not only on landowners, but for future generations who will call Chowan County home. Commissioner Greg Bonner spoke of the im portance of maintaining the balance between at tracting business in vestment while protecting citizens from any harm as sociated with the develop ment of solar farms. Setbacks and distance between projects were ad justed to reflect the comity’s values for protect ing scenic vistas along highways and preserving historical structures as well as cultural touch stones. If the ordinance was too loose, maybe it would be best to buy bottled water 20 years from now because the water table may be af fected as Commission Ron Cummings suggested when he said the solar waste has more of a mqjor impact than nuclear waste. Toward that end, water testing was added to the ordinance. On that note, Commis sioner Don Faircloth of fered the astute observa tion that solar shouldn’t be singled out because there are businesses within Chowan County that levy an environmental impact on the land. Poet Joyce Kilmer, who wrote “Trees,” would ap preciate the ordinance’s numerous provisions re garding the depth of ground cover and types of foliage needed to hide the solar farms and keep the See SOLAR, A7 Honoring Marcus Jackson Mother hopes free event raises violence awareness By NICOLE BOWMAN- LAYTON Editor PARTY Like Il’s 1972 Though Nicole Jack- son’s son, Marcus, is gone, she still thinks of him in present tense. “My son is an awesome person. He continues to live and because of him, I’m doing this,” she said during an interview at the Chowan Herald office Thursday. Marcus, age 23, a father to a 2-year-oId son and John A. Holmes graduate, died on March 19. He was shot and killed in Durham. The former Aces foot ball player would have turned 24 on Monday, July 15. As a way to honor her son, Jackson is hosting a celebration and violence SUBMITTED PHOTOS Some of the cool kids from 1972 took a moment to strike a pose for posterity for Aces' pride. John A. Holmes High School's Class of 1972's reunion will be held Sept. 6-7 in Edenton. Holmes alumni prep for 47th reunion See MARCUS, A2 SUBMITTED PHOTO Nicole Jackson wears orange for gun violence awareness and a pin featuring a photograph of her son, Marcus Jackson, who was killed on March 19. Committee: Deadline to turn in event registration is July 31 BY MILES LAYTON Staff writer J ohn A Holmes Class of 1972- mark your calendars for the big reunion ahead. Think about the passage of time for a moment—you’ve raised fam ilies, crafted careers and retired, seen things change from stoves to microwaves, and feel comfortable rolling your eyes when millennials get bent out of shape about a frowny face emoji posted to social media as they stare endlessly into their iPhones. “Our last reunion was 22 years ago in 1997 — our 25th Anniver sary, so this gathering is way over due, in my view. Organizing this one has been a labor of love and great anticipation! I am so excited to reconnect with everyone and am counting down the days,” said Phyllis Anthony Coleman, co-chair GIL BURROUGHS MARY ROBERTS PRINCIPAL KENNETH STALLS pay the $75 fee. For in formation, see the end of the story. Now it’s time to let the mind’s eye can conjure up the deep voice of Soul Train’s Don Cornelius to say, “Aces, let’s take a nos talgic look back to the good ole days.” Nothing better than JAHHS Class Of 1972 for the 47th Anniversary Reunion Committee. The Class Reunion will be held on Sept. 6 and Sept. 7 in Edenton. All alumni and friends from the 1972 graduating class, as well as JAHHS teachers and support staff from that period are invited to par ticipate. There will be a casual meet and greet on Friday, Sept. 6, and a “Throwback 70s Party” with dinner on Saturday, Sept. 7. The Reunion Planning Committee an nounced July 31 as the deadline for returning registration and pay ments. All guests must register and being ice cold — as in cool, baby! “I’m not sure if my memory serves me correctly or not, there was many a brief swim taken in the cool moonlight at ‘icy cold’ just past what is now the gate to Hayes,” Blount Shepard said. When Shepard was asked who was the best looking cheerleader back then, he answered Phyllis (Anthony) Coleman. Flattered, Coleman thanked Shepard but she didn’t miss a beat See REUNION, A7 Council asked about vacant buildings Update also given about water treatment plants BY MILES LAYTON Staff writer Though Edenton Town Council had one of the shortest meetings in per haps many years, more than a few things got done so as to give town hall types time to catch a beau- tiful sunset over Edenton Bay. Before getting to the meat of the 20-minifte meeting, Joseph Leotta’s questions deserve to be closest to the top of this article so the reader has a brief update on matters such as the sale of the Conger building, Hotel Hinton and improvements underway regarding the Beaver Hill and Freema son water treatment INSIDE Town: Water issues to con tinue until treatment plant re paired - A2 plants. During the public com ment portion of the meet ing, Leotta of West Gale Street asked about the sta tus of the Conger building on Water Street. Town Manager Anne- Marie Knighton reported that the John Glover’s funds to purchase the property were wired to Town Attorney Hood Ellis’ Trust Account and the deed has been signed, however, Glover is review ing an environmental is sue but hopefully the transaction will be final ized any day now. On that note as to buildings that are poised toward revitalization, Leotta asked about Hotel Hinton. Located by the 1767 Courthouse, the property has been vacant for many years. Mayor Roland Vaughan said SAGA Development Company is seeking fi nancing needed to de velop the project, so it is a See COUNCIL, A2 3 join council races Friday is last day to file for town’s Nov. election BY MILES LAYTON Staff writer Latest filings include candidates for mayor and two Edenton Town Coun cil seats. Local businesswoman Jacqueline Hardy-Lassiter filed Friday for mayor. An Edenton native, Lassiter is owner of Victorian’s Bou tique for Him and Her on South Broad Street. She has lived throughout the country and is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, an or dained minister and for mer teacher. Earlier this week, lawyer William Hackney High Jr. filed for the 1st Ward seat. Tray Taylor, who works at Regulator Marine, filed for the 2nd Ward seat that is currently occupied by Sambo Dixon, who filed See RACES, A2 Taylor will seek 2nd Ward seat Regulator employee running against Dixon BY MILES LAYTON Staff writer Travian “Tray” Taylor said he seeks to. improve the community through his activism if elected to repre sent the 2nd Ward seat on Edenton Town Council. “I’m running for council to inspire the young adults in this town, and to create and safe prosperous com munity by educating peo ple, and to develop pro grams that will uplift this Town,” he said. Employed by Regulator Marine, Taylor, 36, is an ac tive volunteer with the Boys & Girls Club and Edenton-Chowan Parks and Recreation Depart ment, among others. “My goal is to impact the lives of others and to make See TAYLOR, A2 '89076 44813 1 Vol. 84, No. 29 What’s Happening in Chowan County Like us on Facebook at /TheChowanHerald Chowan U., Vidant help Aces hold soccer camp — B2 Obitauries — A3 Elton W. Askew Jr. William F. Bembridge Jr. Stephen Thomas Dail Carlton Ray Nixon Business B4 Calendar B3 I M 4 Classifieds....B7-8 HOPa Community.... A5 11 IMM/V Education B5 Obituaries A3 Opinion A4 Sports B2 ©2019 The Chowan Herald All Rights Reserved UPCOMING HOME GAMES Historic Hicks Field FMI Call 252-482-4080 www.edentonsteamers.com JULY 18 @ 7PM VS PENINSULA DAILY ADVANCE NIGHT THURSDAY TUNES CLASSIC COUNTRY MUSIC JULY 20 @ 7PM VS MARTINSVILLE OUTDOOR NIGHT KIDS RUN THE BASE JULY 22 @ 7PM VS WILSON BARK IN THE PARK CHOWAN COUNTY NIGHT 50C HOT DOGS JULY 24 @ 7PM VS PENINSULA PEPSI NIGHT ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT "T-