Newspapers / The Roxboro Courier (Roxboro, … / March 30, 2011, edition 1 / Page 1
Part of The Roxboro Courier (Roxboro, N.C.) / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
'Get Patriotic in Person' The Courier Times Weather Outlook TODAY: Hi 44 Lo 37 THURSDAY; Hi 48 Lo 39 See page A11 for info FRIDAY; Hi 55 Lo40 WEDNESDAY, March 30, 2011 Serving All of Person County Since 1881 Copyright The Courier-Times inc. 2011 All Rights Reserved 75c Our 129th Year — No. 26 Roxboro, North Carolina Two Sections — 22 Pages www.personcountylite.com 'Multiple' knife wounds claim life Roxboro man, who was also injured in altercation, faces murder charge By TIM CHANDLER Courier-Times Editor tchandler@roxboro-courier.com Myron Stewart A Person County man is dead and another is in jail charged in connection with his death fol lowing a stabbing incident that occurred Friday night outside a residence on Oak Grove-Mt. Zion Road. According to Person County Sheriff Dewey Jones, Donny Ray Bowen, 30, of 561 Oak Grove-Mt. Zion Rd. died as a result of “mul tiple” knife wounds suffered in the incident, which was reported shortly after 11:15 p.m. Friday. Sheriff’s deputies arrested Myron Antonio Stewart of 429 Mt. Bethel Church St. in connec tion with Bowen’s death. Bowen was being held Tuesday in the Person County j ail without privilege of bond. He is currently charged with murder and non- negligent manslaughter. Jones also said Tuesday that the investigation into Bowen’s death was continuing. According to Jones, Stewart also suffered “multiple” wounds in the altercation. He was treated for his injuries at Person Memo rial Hospital (PMH) and then released to law enforcement authorities. When Sgt. Charles J. Wilborn arrived at the scene of the stab bing Friday, Person County EMS workers were reportedly attempting to revive Bowen at the time. It was noted in Wilborn’s in cident report that Stewart had reportedly been transported to PMH by someone who was inside the residence at the time of the See MULTIPLE back page Wilkins files bill seeking 1% hike in occupancy tax rate By PHYLISS BOATWRIGHT C-T Staff Writer pboatwright@roxboro-courier.com State Rep. W.A. Winkie Wilkins yes terday filed a bill that, if passed, will increase the hotel/motel occupancy tax in Person County from five percent to six percent. The Person County Tourism Devel opment Authority (TDA) is seeking the legislation to increase the occupancy tax rate to support the museum here and to promote tourism in Person County County Manager Heidi York esti mated that the increase would generate about $27,000 per year. If enacted, the tax increase will affect only those who rent rooms in hotels, motels and extended stay facilities in the county Wilkins said yesterday, “We’ve come a long way in a period of about three weeks,” since the issue of the tax in crease was presented to him. “There appeared to be some tension” between the Roxboro City Council and the Person Board of County Commis sioners, Wilkins said, when the city coun cil and Roxboro Mayor Samuel Spencer at first said they would not support the commissioners in the quest to increase the occupancy tax rate. “We don’t need that,” Wilkins said of the tension. But, he continued, “both boards sort of rose to the occasion and said this is what we need.” He said he had received word that “from unofficial polling of the members, both city council and the commissioners are aligned” on the bill. Wilkins said he commended both the council members and commissioners for ultimately working together to allow him to present the bill as a request from both the city and county. Wilkins had told council members and commissioners that the bill would have a much better chance of passage if both local governing bodies were behind it. One section of the bill he introduced in the House of Representatives Tuesday See WILKINS back page Solar-related jobs possible in Person Co. he Courier=Times SPRING FLAKES FLYIN' V . . T. ■ A J; f "*'. - ^ ‘'4l 'if.' f m'S ' * -it J??^ ^ "*. ■ ..S ^ --a* Grey Pentecost / C-T LATE MARCH SNOW — Yes, spring has arrived, but someone must have forgot to tell 01' Man Winter it was time for him to take a vacation. Personians enjoyed a brief burst of snowflakes Monday morning as cold air was in place when moisture arrived. After some midweek rain, below average temperatures are expected to slowly give way to normal temperatures as the weekend approaches. PHYLISS BOATWRIGHT C-T Staff Writer pboatwright@roxboro-courier.com If a bill introduced yesterday in the North Carolina House of Representa tives passes into law. Person County and the state could possibly see new manufacturing jobs that are related to solar energy Gerry Dudzik, chief operating officer of Carolina Solar Energy LLC, which designed, built and operates the 650-kilo- watt solar array off Hwy. 501 south of Roxboro, said the bill would increase market demand for solar energy. Three Republicans and one Democrat member of the state House introduced House Bill 495. It would allow companies like Progress Energy to award more contracts to solar power production companies, which would spur growth in the industry That growth, said Dudzik, would produce more need for the materials used in solar power production, which could in turn draw manufacturers to This Week’s Question: Which Final Four team do you think will emerge as the 2011 NCAA basketball champion? ^Butler J Kentucky ^UConn JVCU Cast Your Vote On-Line At www.roxboro-courier.com Person County has fared better vs. flu than other parts of state By PHYLISS BOATWRIGHT C-T Staff Writer pboatwright@roxboro-courier.com See BILL back page Results of our latest poll: Do you plan on contributing financially to relief efforts in Japan following the earthquake and Tsunami? I already have -14% I plan to contribute - 5% I do not plan to contribute - 75% I have not made up my mind - 8% Person County has not been plagued this season by flu strains that are resis tant to common antiviral drugs such as Tamiflu. Although North Carolina is involved with the U. S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in an investiga tion into a cluster of influenza B viruses that appear to be less responsive to a common antiviral drug than typical flu viruses, that doesn’t appear to be the case here. This year’s flu season mirrors the trend of 2007-2008, both in the number of cases and the peak time, according to Person County Health Department Director Janet Clayton. “In the 2009-2010 flu season, the peak occurred in late October,” said Clayton. Statewide, the prevalent strains of flu were the Influenza A (HlNl) and Influ enza B, she reported. “In Person County and statewide, the peak in the number of cases occurred duringthe first part of February, and this is evident in comparing the absenteeism numbers of the Person County schools,” Clayton continued. “We are aware of several cases of In- fluenzaB,” shesaid. “The Person County Health Department has not been notified of any cases which were less sensitive to Tamiflu. There is a strain of Influenza B that has genetically altered, causing Tamiflu to not work as effectively as a treatment method,” Clayton explained. The alteration means that an individual with the genetically altered Influenza B strain would need more antiviral medi cation, such as Tamiflu, to treat the flu symptoms, Clayton said. Clayton said health care providers are not required to report flu cases, but some do if they see an increase in the number of cases or a certain strain, such as A or B. Since physicians are not required to report, Clayton explained, she does not know the exact number of cases in Person County so far this season. The best flu prevention method is to have an annual seasonal flu immuniza tion, she advised. There are everyday actions people can take to stay healthy, Clayton said. Those precautions include: Covering the nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. Throw the tissue in the trash after using it. Wash hands often with soap and water, especially after coughing or sneezing. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective. INSIDE Wednesday Agenda Classified Do You Know Entertainment.... Inside NASCAR.. Lifestyie Mini-Page Obituaries People .... A2 Business .B8-9 Commentary A3 Editorial. .B2-3 Extension Notes.. A8 Legal Notices . B4-5 Looking Back Movies.... Pentecost .B7 .A11 ....A9 A5 A4 A10 B9 A3 A2 A2 . A2 Sports A6-7 4879 "0 8696 Executive Roundtable members discuss expectations at 1st meeting By GREY PENTECOST C-T Staff Writer greypentecost@roxboro-courier.com Grey Pentecost / C-T WHEN WINKIE TALKS... — Members of the Person County Executive Roundtable listen as Rep. W.A. (Winkie) Wilkins, chairman of the committee, speaks at a Monday meeting. When the newly formed Per son County Executive Roundtable met for the first time Monday, the discussion centered largely on group members’ expectations for the board and details about how the board would operate. The Person Board of County Commissioners endorsed the roundtable idea and appointed state Rep. W.A. (Winkie) Wilkins, D-Person, as its chair during the board’s January meeting. The purpose was to bring together executive decision makers from governmental and non-govern mental entities in Roxboro and Person County to accomplish the mission of assisting in “estab lishing direction, priorities and goals” for the city and county The commissioners also asked that the group keep the Person County Futures Project in mind and worked with Wilkins in choosing roundtable members. Wilkins told roundtable mem bers Monday that in his discus sions with the board of commis sioners it was indicated that, at some point, the roundtable would try to make recommendations about budgetary priorities. “I told them then and I tell you now. I’m not sure we’re going to be in a position to go that route this year,” said Wilkins. The board will also have the authority to call in other agen cies to join in discussions when deemed necessary. Wilkins said he thought the members of the See ROUNDTABLE back page
The Roxboro Courier (Roxboro, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
March 30, 2011, edition 1
1
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75