Askewville • Aulander • Colerain • Kelford • Lewiston Woodville • Merry Hill • Powells\ tQbel • Windsor 27892 AOOOl MCCP0008293- MCU UDr^A^^^, 1161 KEHUKEE PARK RD WILLIAMSTON NC 27892-8307 vance • MARCH 21,2018 Sports I B1 Candidate residency questioned Bowen says he established residency in April of 2016 THADD WHITE Bertie Ledger-Advance RALEIGH - A petition has been filed challenging the legitimacy of a candidate for Sheriff of Bertie County. Vivian Clark and Chavu- letta Jones-Sexton, two resi dents of Bertie County, filed a Petition for Judicial Review March 12 which alleges Adri an Bowen does not meet res idency requirements to hold the office of Bertie County Sheriff. The petition names both the N.C. State Board of Elec tions and Ethics Enforce ment and Adrian L. Bowen as respondents in the matter. According to the petition, N.C. General Statutes 162-1 require a candidate to reside in a county for one year pri or to being elected. The pe titions say this requirement disqualifies Bowen from be ing elected sheriff. The petitions sought to file a verified affidavit at the See PETITION, A5 NCHP vows Mayors seek assistance with traffic THADD WHITE Bertie Ledger-Advance ROXOBEL - The N.C. Highway Patrol has pledged additional help to the residents of west ern Bertie County. First Sgt. Rodney W. Sawyer of Troop A, Dis trict 2 in Ahoskie said he met recently with Roxo- bel Mayor Gary John son and Kelford Mayor Bailey N. Parker to dis cuss concerns about speeding and other traf fic violations in the two towns. “1 was able to meet with leaders of Kel ford and Roxobel, and they expressed their concerns about traffic issues, which mainly revolve around traf fic caused as a result of the shift changes at Perdue,” First Sgt. Saw yer indicated. “They shared their concerns about people speeding through their towns, both of which have a posted speed limit of 35 See HELP, A5 \ VI'IOWI. WOMEN’S HISTORY. Bryant follows in footsteps, blazes trial DEBDRAH GRIFFIN Bertie Ledger-Advance B om and raised in this small town, Gloria Bry ant not only is following in her father’s foot steps - she is leaving a legacy. Her father, Elbert Ray Bryant, was a town commissioner and mayor of Askewville at different times over a total of 30 years before he passed away in 2004. Gloria is now serving her third term as mayor of the small town of 241. “1 was raised that you do what you can to help out your community and those around you,” she said. Bryant has three older sisters. Both of her parents are deceased. Bryant also is involved in the lives of children through work and her church. For over 30 years she has served as a reading coach, promoting ef fective literary instruction. She teaches children to grasp the con cept of words. One of her favorite quotes is by Mem Fox: | “When 1 say to a parent, ‘read to a child,’ I don’t want it to sound like medicine. 1 want it to sound ____ like chocolate.” Bryant has taught in Roanoke Rapids in Northampton County for six years and Ber tie for 23. She is now back in Northampton County, working in Jackson. Many times, when children have not been ' read to at home during the early crucial years, the job falls to her to help students succeed. “It is so important [to read to them] when they are babies through kindergarten,” she said. She also does teacher training to help strug gling students. Bryant works with small groups - no more than See BRYANT, A3 Bertie earns praise Governor highlights efforts LESLIE BEACHBDARD Bertie Ledger-Advance RALEIGH - Bertie Coun ty’s land acquisition was highlighted at a Ra leigh event. On Feb. 28, North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper and his wife, Kristen, hosted the N.C. Clean Water Man agement Trust Fund’s Board of Trustees. The event was to cel ebrate the conservation efforts from the moun tains, to the piedmont, and the coastal areas of the state. Bertie County was invited to highlight the North Carolina Coastal Land Trust’s successful grant received from the N.C. Clean Water Man agement Trust Fund. The grant is in the amount $1.2 million for land acquisition of near ly 1,000 acres as part of the state’s Salmon Creek Recreation area located at the confluence of the Albemarle Sound and See PRAISE, A6 Officials meet with new U.S. Attorney Bobby Higdon THADD WHITE Bertie Ledger-Advance WINDSDR - Working to gether. Bertie County Sheriff John Holley and District Attorney Valerie Asbell joined law enforcement officials from two other counties recently to meet with U.S. Attorney Robert J. Higdon Jr. Higdon, who serves the Eastern District of North Carolina, re quested the meeting with Asbell, Sheriff Hol- In this edition ley, Hertford County Sheriff Dexter Hayes, Northampton County Sheriff Jack Smith, Ahoskie Police Chief Troy Fitzhugh and members of the Down East Drug Task Force. Higdon wanted to share his vision for mov ing forward in working with local agencies to combat violent crime, drugs, gang crimes and firearm offenses. Higdon shared his Aj CONTRIBUTED PHOTO See MEETING, A6 Those participating in a meeting about drugs and vioient crime included (from left) Ahoskie Police Chief Troy Fitzhugh, Northampton Sheriff Jack Smith, U.S. Attorney Robert J. Hig don, Hertford County Sheriff Dexter Hayes, District Attorney Valerie Asbell and Bertie Sheriff John Holley. In the background at right is Assistant US Arrorney Frank Bradsher. RELAY FOR LIFE Obituaries A2 Out & About A2 Opinion A4 Sports B1 Church & Faith B3 Classified B4 ( Good Morning, Willie Bond OF Alexandria, Va. Thank you for subscribing! Find us on Facebook Volume 120: No. 12 11711 35906 6