WEDNESDAY
July 20,2011
Roxboro,
North Carolina
www.personcountylife.com
75 Cents
Serving all of Person County since 1881
Couricr-®mejr
THE FUTURE
Hybrid hikes
partiallypowered
by batteries^\
GO FOR GOLD:
Women of the
Moose bring home
honorsfrom
competition B5
CHANGING LIVES:
Youth camp teaches
leadership and goal
setting: keeps kids
on right track C4
AWARDED:
Three receive Rocky
Carver Memorial
Scholarship^^
-]|
DEATHS
i[-
Elmo Clayton, 78
Roxboro
Elaine Parker Velez, 60
Roxboro
Cyrus Whitfield, 91
Eagle, Idaho
SEE PAGE A11
-mm-
AGENDA
A3
BOAT WRITES
A2
CLASSIFIED
C SECTION
COMMENTARY
AS
DO YOU KNOW
A2
OPINION
A4
ENTERTAINMENT
B2
LEGAL NOTICES
C3
LIFESTYLE
B5
MILESTONES
B4
MINI PAGE
B7
MOVIES
A3
OBITUARIES
All
SPORTS
A6-7
TV LISTINGS
B3
Our
129th year
Number 58
Three sections
24 pages
Copyright
2011
The Courier-Times Inc.
45 apply for city manager position
BY PHYLISS BOATWRIGHT
C-T STAFF WRITER
pboatwright@roxboto-courier.com
Last Friday was the deadline to apply
for a position as Roxboro’s city manager,
and 45 people are seeking the job.
Advertisements for the position ran
from April, shortly after former manager
Jon Barlow resigned, until July 15. The
city advertised in the League of Munici
palities’ newsletter. Southern Cities, and in
newspapers.
Mayor Samuel Spencer said, during last
week’s regular city council meeting, that
council members should pick up packages
of applications to review on this week.
A meeting was set for Tuesday, July 26,
for council members and the mayor to meet
and discuss the applications.
Spencer told The Courier-Times earlier
that he and council would first narrow
the field down to those candidates they be
lieved to be most qualified.
Once fhe finalists are chosen, they will
then interview with council members and
Spencer.
Spencer has said that he and council
members believed it best not to look at any
of the applications until after the deadline
had passed. He said council members did
not want to possibly form opinions about
candidates before being able to look at the
qualifications of all applicants.
The mayor has said the city would be
looking for experience and relevant educa
tion as the top criteria for a new manager.
Spencer stressed that the city would be
“very careful in looking at the qualifica
tions, to see if the applicant meets the de
sires of the entire council.
See MANAGER, Page 12
Roxboro formulates
water shortage plan
BY PHYLISS BOATWRIGHT
C-T STAFF WRITER
pbootwright@roxboro-coutie(.co[ri
The City of Roxboro, under mandate by the state,
had to formulate a Water Shortage Response Plan to
address water supply in times of drought.
Interim City Manager Tommy Warren said, fol
lowing adoption of the plan by the city council, “We
are not planning on having to implement it any time
soon.”
Andy Oakley, city public services director, pre
sented the plan at last week’s regular July meeting
of council. He said the response plan had to be devel
oped to comply with North Carolina General Statute
143-355.
The statute is a result of the drought of 2008, when
city water supplies across the state were critically
short. The N.C. Department of Environment and Nat
ural Resources (DENR) mandated the plans.
Oakley said DENR wanted each municipality to
have a minimum response plan should water supplies
run low. And, said Oakley, if other municipalities in
the region should initiate water restrictions, Roxboro
would have to do so as well, even if the city’s supply
was not in jeopardy.
According to the water supply shortage plan, the
city manager could declare a state of emergency if
the availability and supply of water is “critical so
that a mechanical malfunction or breakdown of the
city’s pumps or rapid draw down of the water supply
would so deplete the water supply and availability of
water as to threaten or cause to threaten the availabil
ity of water for human consumption, for firefighting
purposes and other protection of lives and property,
and the conservation of water is necessary in order
to protect lives, safety and property within the city”
Should the manager declare a state of emergency,
he or she must issue a public proclamation regarding
water usage and supply, specifying authorized uses,
as well as limitations and restrictions of water use by
residential, business and commercial water custom-
See WATE R, Page 12
PHYLISS BOAIWRIGHTI COURIER-TIMES
There she blows!
Ricky Kendrick with the City of Roxboro opens a hydrant on Critcher-Wilkerson Road Tuesday. Interim City Manager
Tommy Warren said the flushing is being done this week to improve water quality and to comply with North Carolina
Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Division of Public Health requirements. Flushing helps maintain
water quality throughout the system. The flushing will go on for several weeks, and may cause water to become
cloudy or stained. The water will not become unsafe, Warren said, but citizens should be careful when doing laundry
because discolored water can affect light colored materials. Some sediment within the system may become dis
lodged and could stop up water fixtures, Warren cautioned. Water customers may need to remove and clean strain
ers and filters if this occurs. Any water customer wishing to report discolored water should call the water treatment
plant at 336-599-5658.
Person Board of Elections
members sworn in Tuesday
BY GREY PENTECOST
C-T STAFF WRITER
gteypenfetosf@roxboro-tourier.tom
Having all been reappointed
to their positions. Person Coun
ty’s Board of Elections mem
bers were sworn in Tuesday af
ternoon.
Appointed to her fourth term,
board chairman Jacqueline
Booker said she likes seeing the
elections process done legally,
with “honest” results.
“I truly have enjoyed it,”
said Booker. “I’ve always been
interested in government. I’ve
worked with the board of elec
tions directly and indirectly
since the early ‘70s.”
In 2009 Booker became a cer
tified North Carolina elections
official, marking the first time
a member of the Person County
Board of Elections had achieved
the designation.
Rosalie Gates was appointed
to her third term on the board
this week.
She shared, “I feel that it’s an
honor and a privilege to serve
on the board of elections. I’m
SeeWMOi, Page 12
GREY PENTECOST I COURIER-TIMES
Deborah Barker administers the oath of office to the reappointed members of the
Person County Board of Eiections Tuesday. Board members are, (I to r) Rosalie Gates,
Gerry O’Neil and Jacqueline Booker.
I rights reserved
Courthouse
handicap accessible
BY PHYLISS BOATWRIGHT
C-T STAFF WRITER
Hourier.tom
Folks riding down Main Street in Roxboro,
and especially those trying to gain access to the
Person County Courthouse via the front door,
are probably wondering just what’s taking place
on the front lawn of the courthouse.
Ray Foushee, county general services direc
tor, said this week that the work being done at
the front of the courthouse is one part of the
$2.5 million renovation project that began last
August.
C.T Wilson, from Durham, is the general con
tractor for the job. Foushee said, “Since we are
renovating the courthouse, we are required to
make it handicap accessible. The front walkway
had to be partially widened to allow for a wheel
chair ramp, in addition to the standard steps and
platform.”
Foushee added, “Planters will be built along
the new entrance way to beautify the area.”
Currently, said Foushee, the second floor (old
part of the courthouse) is also being completely
renovated, “so it was only appropriate to reno
vate the front walkway at the same time.”
Foushee said that the walkway phase of the
work was scheduled for completion by Aug. 1,
“and citizens will again be able to access the
courthouse via the front entrance.”
The entire courthouse renovation project is
scheduled to be complete by early October of
this year, Foushee said.