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Articles by Jon Hawley
Pasquotank concerned road project may worsen flooding
Pasquotank County officials are concerned that a planned road project at the U.S. Highway 17-Oak Stump Road intersection could worsen flooding in bustling areas to the north. County commissioners voted 5-0 Monday afternoon to request the county's stormwater consultant, Greg Johnson, assess the proposed road work for its impact to drainage around Hughes Boulevard west of Halstead Boulevard, including the flood-prone Oxford Heights neighborhood.
Portrait of late judge, former mayor unveiled at courthouse
The Pasquotank County Courthouse is a place of justice, but also one of history and memory. To those latter ends, local judges and lawyers gathered Friday morning to dedicate a long-awaited portrait to Resident Superior Court Judge C. Everett Thompson, who led a short but distinguished career until his murder in 1947. “I didn’t get around to this portrait for 45 years,” said C.
Police push back on Brooks' claim of cop's conduct
The Elizabeth City Police Department responded to a complaint from former City Councilor Michael Brooks on Friday, rejecting his account of a traffic stop in which he claimed an officer acted unprofessionally toward him. Brooks criticized the officer, whom he did not name, during the public comment portion of Monday’s City Council meeting.
COA begins fall semester with more students
Droves of students returned to the College of The Albemarle on Thursday, the first day of the fall semester for the 2019-20 school year. A warm day with intermittent clouds made for a relaxing atmosphere at the Elizabeth City campus, where students spoke with The Daily Advance between classes. Things were going well for Magan Jackson and Hannah Speight, who have a psychology class together and were sitting on the bricks just outside the administrative building.
Record-breaking campaign: AAUW raised $450K in 2019
The Albemarle Area United Way raised more than $450,000 in 2019 — knocking its fundraising goal out of the park, AAUW Executive Director Bill Blake announced during the nonprofit’s annual Campaign Kickoff and Awards Luncheon on Thursday. The total blew past the AAUW’s goal of $350,000 for the year and translates to about $236,000 going out to its partner organizations, Blake told an audience at the Kermit E. White Center at Elizabeth City State University.
Former council criticizes ECPD officers' professionalism in traffic stop
A former Elizabeth City city councilor who’s seeking to return to public office this fall is claiming he recently was the victim of an unprofessional, unnecessary traffic stop by a city police officer. Former Councilor Michael Brooks, who’s running for election in the Third Ward, made the allegation during the public comment period at Monday’s City Council meeting.
State finalizing new voter ID requirements
Pasquotank County election officials hosted seminars on North Carolina’s new voter identification requirements on Monday — requirements they plan to implement in less than a year. State Board of Elections staffer Terry Harris led each seminar, outlining the state’s new voter ID law and taking questions on it. One seminar was held College of The Albemarle in the afternoon; a second was held at Elizabeth City State University in the evening.
Thomas: gun reform 'personal,' urgently needed
Democratic Congressional candidate Allen Thomas is calling for “common-sense” gun control measures, including stricter background checks and more restrictions — but not an outright ban — on assault-style weapons. Thomas, the former mayor of Greenville, is running in the Sept. 10 special election for the 3rd Congressional District. He’s opposed by Republican state House Rep. Greg Murphy, a fellow Pitt County resident, and two third-party candidates.
EMS staff resign; 'poor work environment' probed
The deputy chief of Pasquotank-Camden Emergency Medical Services is resigning, and four other EMS employees have already resigned, as the Pasquotank manager continues to investigate what he’s describing as a “poor work environment” within the agency. Deputy Chief Joshua Smith is resigning Sept. 4, according to information provided by County Manager Sparty Hammett on Wednesday.
Cooper: Expanding Medicaid can't wait
Governor Roy Cooper held his ground on Medicaid expansion and also called for “common-sense” gun control measures during his visit to Pasquotank County on Tuesday. Cooper was in the county to announce Telephonics’ expansion into the Pasquotank County Commerce Park, but also agreed to a brief interview on other issues. Cooper reiterated his demand that the General Assembly expand Medicaid in the next state budget.
Blight complaints high in July, city officials report
Cracking down on weeds, trash and “junked vehicles” kept Elizabeth City busy in July, based on city officials reporting a spike in blight complaints compared to this time last year. The city’s duo of code enforcement officers, Lisa Rich and Antonio Williams, opened 159 cases last month, compared to just 95 for July 2018, City Manager Rich Olson and Community Development Director Matt Schelly recently reported.
Pasquotank to rebuild Wellfield trash drop-off site
Pasquotank County is planning to make it easier to drop off trash at the busy Wellfield Road convenience site, following county commissioners’ approval on Monday. In a 6-1 vote, commissioners gave the green light to plans to add land to the site, plus elevate it and rework traffic flow. Commissioner Frankie Meads opposed the measure. The project was approved during the finance committee meeting at the Pasquotank County Library.
Telephonics to add 75 jobs at 2nd Pasquotank site
The Telephonics corporation will create 75 high-paying jobs in Pasquotank County, Gov. Roy Cooper announced at the county's Commerce Park on Tuesday. Put simply, the Telephonics project is a “big freaking deal” for the region and state, Cooper told state, local, and company officials gathered to celebrate the investment of the aerospace communications manufacturer.
Coast Guard Day draws thousands, celebrates service's birthday
Thousands gathered at Base Elizabeth City on Thursday to celebrate the birthday of the US Coast Guard, which is turning a spry 229 years old. Droves of service members and their families gathered for this year’s Coast Guard Day, a festival organized every year at the base. It offered a community picnic and cookout, live music, an auto show, a dunk tank, numerous activities for kids, and, of course, flyovers from Coast Guard aircraft.
Landscaping researcher seeks EC residents
Elizabeth City residents: Do you have a good yard you want to make better? If so, University of North Carolina researcher Jane Harrison wants to talk to you. She’ll also throw in $20 gift cards for your time, she said in an interview Monday. Harrison is a coastal economics specialist at NC Sea Grant, located at N.C. State University in Raleigh. She explained Sea Grant researches coastal issues, including fisheries, climate change, storm/flooding resiliency and more.
Habitat For Humanity launches affordable housing initiative
With finding affordable housing becoming increasingly difficult, Habitat For Humanity, including its Elizabeth City chapter, is exploring ways to assist those needing lower-cost options. Jane Elfring, president of the Elizabeth City Habitat chapter, kicked off the first local meeting Friday as part of Habitat’s national “Cost of Home” initiative.
S&R Market fixes on hold; developer blames city
Renovations for the old S&R Market are on hold because of costly site improvements that Elizabeth City officials are requiring, one of the businessmen involved in the project confirmed Thursday. The project being in limbo also means it might forfeit a $10,000 grant it won last year, city officials also report. Eric Rainwater and Kevin Stroud, of Elizabeth City Pawn and Guns, purchased the old S&R Market last fall, after announcing plans to renovate it for a pawn shop and other business space.
Tourism office: Airbnb booming in Pasquotank
Pasquotank County is seeing explosive growth in Airbnb use, as visitors increasingly tap into the “sharing economy” instead of staying at hotels, the county's tourism director reported Thursday. “This is a huge shift in consumer behavior,” Tourism Director Corrina Ferguson told the Elizabeth City-Pasquotank Tourism Development Authority during its meeting on Thursday at Museum of the Albemarle.
Welcome aboard: Coasties get EC preview at expo
Newly transferred Coast Guard service members got a proper introduction to Elizabeth City on Wednesday, when Base Elizabeth City hosted its annual Welcome Expo. Coasties and community groups packed the midday event, which was held at the base’s old Hangar 7 building. The expo tried to cover everything service members need and want to know as they start their assignments in Elizabeth City, including such subjects like housing, banking, child care, local businesses and attractions, and more.
Police seek grant to counter overdose costs
The continuing opioid epidemic is putting first responders at risk and burning through anti-overdose medication, local law enforcement officials say. The shortage has prompted the Elizabeth City Police Department to seek a $50,000 state grant for supplies. Elizabeth City police Chief Eddie Buffaloe and City Manager Rich Olson presented the grant request to City Council last week.
Brooks files, is only challenger for council seats
With only a day and a half to go before the end of the filing period for this fall’s municipal election in Elizabeth City, only one challenger has emerged for the eight city council seats and the mayor’s job. Michael Brooks, a former five-term city councilor in the city’s Third Ward, filed for one of the ward’s two open seats on Wednesday. He joins the ward’s two incumbent councilors, Rickey King and Kem Spence, who have already filed for re-election.
Trial Inner Banks ferry may not stop in EC
A trial run of an Inner Banks ferry service is moving forward, with stops planned in four towns — but not, apparently, in Elizabeth City. That's according to a recent email update from UNC-Chapel Hill business professor Nick Didow, who's leading the effort to start a Harbor Town project aimed at boosting tourism and economic activity in Edenton, Hertford, and other small towns along the Albemarle Sound. To help drive the project forward, state Rep.
Thomas: Congress bid focused on region's needs
Democrat Allen Thomas said Wednesday he’s running for Congress to focus on the needs of eastern North Carolinians — in contrast, he said, with the recent Republican primary “dominated” by national interests and outside money.
Murphy leads Perry in 3rd District cash chase
State House Rep. Greg Murphy continues to lead opponent Joan Perry in fundraising heading into today’s second Republican primary election in the 3rd Congressional District. Voting for today’s second GOP primary gets underway at polling sites across the 17-county 3rd Congressional District at 6:30 a.m. and continues until 7:30 p.m. More than 10,000 one-stop and absentee ballots have already been cast in the race.
Protocol nixed to fund trip for youth
Elizabeth City City Council approved $2,100 in special funding for a youth basketball team last week, but not without first engaging in some budgetary gymnastics. In a unanimous, 7-0 vote, council voted to call for a public hearing next month to provide $2,100 to the Police Athletic League.
Turnout slight for 2nd primary
More than 600 voters cast one-stop ballots Wednesday on the first day of early voting in the second Republican primary for the vacant 3rd Congressional District seat. The July 9 primary will decide whether state Rep. Greg Murphy, a doctor from Greenville, or Dr. Joan Perry, a doctor from Kinston, is the GOP nominee for this fall’s special election to replace the late Walter Jones, the longtime congressman who died in February.
City, county agree: No DOT money for IBX ferry project
When it comes to the proposed Harbor Town ferry, Elizabeth City City Council and Pasquotank County agree: no state transportation dollars should be spent on the $14 million-plus project. In a 7-0 vote on Monday, City Council adopted a resolution calling for the Harbor Town project to move forward only if it's viable and doesn't need transportation dollars. The resolution is nearly identical to one Pasquotank commissioners adopted earlier this month.
City launches utility billing upgrade after short delay
Citing problems with "electronic interfaces" such as credit card readers, Elizabeth City delayed launching its new billing system until early Monday evening. The problems with the new Incode software from Tyler Technologies concerned interfaces with the software, not the software itself, City Manager Rich Olson said Monday prior to the launch.
Go time: City goes live on new billing software Monday
Elizabeth City's utility customers may see some slower service this week — but city officials are hopeful no major problems — as city employees prepare to launch a new utility billing system. As long planned, Tyler Technologies' Incode software will go live today, switching some 13,000 customers' accounts over to a new billing system that will manage their accounts and calculate their monthly bills. It's been a complex, technical undertaking for city staff, but an important one.
'Project Elizabeth' may bring 75 jobs
Pasquotank County officials are planning to seek state incentives totaling $650,000 in support of “Project Elizabeth,” an alias for a company considering creating 75 full-time jobs in the county, according to county commissioners’ meeting agenda for Monday night. The company’s name is being withheld because the project is at a sensitive stage and won’t move forward without incentives, according to county officials.
EC's Downtown Waterfront Market kicks off 11th season Saturday
Elizabeth City's Downtown Waterfront Market kicks off its 11th season Saturday, offering almost two dozen vendors and a cornucopia of local produce, crafts and goodies. The market, held at Mariners’ Wharf Park, will be held each Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. through Aug. 31, market coordinator Stacy Williams said Friday. The market is being hosted by the Elizabeth City-Pasquotank County Parks and Recreation Department.
On Iran, GOP 3rd District hopefuls defer to Trump
When it comes to managing tensions and avoiding war with Iran, the two Republicans seeking to represent northeastern North Carolina in Congress are largely deferring to President Donald Trump. Both Dr. Joan Perry, of Kinston, and state Rep. Greg Murphy, of Greenville and also a doctor, offered their support for Trump's handling of Iran in interviews last week.
Fisheries seeking long-term lease
The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries office in Elizabeth City is looking for a long-term home in the area, a spokeswoman for the agency said Thursday. The Division of Marine Fisheries, part of the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality, is seeking a long-term lease to continue serving the Albemarle area, DEQ spokeswoman Patricia Smith said in an interview. In recent days, DEQ has been publishing legal notices in The Daily Advance seeking lease offers.
Camden sheriff defends spending requests
CAMDEN — Camden Sheriff Kevin Jones continued a new series of community meetings last week, where he defended his requests for new spending, updated residents on crime statistics, and invited their feedback. Jones, who took office in December, said one of his new initiatives is to host community meetings every six months. He held a meeting in South Mills on Tuesday, followed by meetings in central Camden at the senior center on Wednesday and in Shiloh on Thursday night.
Approaches to addiction treatment evolve
Michael Carden was a recovering heroin addict who went through detox, got on a methadone program and became a social worker with the goal of helping other addicts. In the early 2000s, he worked for a syringe exchange program in New York City, where he and his staff offered addicts medication, food, shelter, clean needles and whatever else they needed until they were ready for treatment. Sometimes, even after treatment, they relapse.
City budget to grant raises without tax hike
Elizabeth City City Council has tentatively agreed to grant raises to city employees next year without raising taxes or cutting funding for nonprofit agencies, although the feat may require spending more than $300,000 from the city's reserves.
COA seeks $300K-plus increase for security, repairs
College of The Albemarle is asking Pasquotank County for about $2.5 million in local funding next year, a more-than-$300,000 increase the college's president says is needed for campus security officers and to fix up old buildings. COA President Robert Wynegar presented the college’s 2019-20 budget request to county commissioners and staff during a meeting Monday afternoon in the Pasquotank County Library. County officials took no action on COA's request.
Pasquotank eyes $3-per-ton hike for tipping fees
Pasquotank County commissioners have endorsed raising tipping fees at the county landfill by a $3 per ton, an increase county staff says is needed to offset rising costs, particularly for recycling. Commissioners tentatively approved the increase during a budget meeting Monday at the county library. The increase is not final, as commissioners must approve it as part of the entire 2019-20 county budget.
Bill to Allow NC Raw Milk Sales Garners Opposition
Health officials are opposing a bill that would allow consumers to buy raw milk, warning the measure would expose the public — particularly children — to potentially life-threatening bacteria that can thrive in milk before it’s pasteurized. The Albemarle Regional Health Services Board of Directors discussed the measure, House Bill 103, at length in its latest meeting on Tuesday.
Firm hired to research city's 'visitor profile'
The Elizabeth City-Pasquotank County Tourism Development Authority has hired a Richmond-based firm to hone its “visitor profile” that will guide where and how the agency spends its advertising dollars. In a unanimous vote on Thursday, the tourism authority approved hiring the Southeastern Institute of Research to conduct the visitor research, which will include the collection and analysis of an expected 400 online surveys.
Bill to allow raw milk sales garners opposition
Health officials are opposing a bill that would allow consumers to buy raw milk, warning the measure would expose the public — particularly children — to potentially life-threatening bacteria that can thrive in milk before it's pasteurized. The Albemarle Regional Health Services Board of Directors discussed the measure, House Bill 103, at length in its latest meeting on Tuesday.
Economic incentives on agenda for city, county session
The Elizabeth City City Council and Pasquotank County Board of Commissioners will discuss economic incentives and other, long-running issues in a joint meeting on Monday.
City seeks AARP grant for elevated crosswalk on Church St.
In response to traffic concerns about the new senior center, Elizabeth City officials are seeking $20,000 for improved pedestrian access, including installing the city's first elevated, lit crosswalk. The city council on Monday night unanimously approved seeking $10,000 from the American Association of Retired Persons' Community Challenge program for the crosswalk.
Register of Deeds Pritchard to retire in June
Pasquotank County Register of Deeds Joyce Pritchard plans to retire on June 1, ending a public service career that's spanned more than three decades. After working for the county since 1983, Pritchard said this week she's retiring to spend more time with family. Assistant Register of Deeds Clem White will finish the year-plus remaining on Pritchard’s four-year term and plans to run for the permanent job next year, Pritchard said.
Vacant police jobs may be cut
Elizabeth City city councilors weighed Monday whether the city should shrink its police force a little to better pay the officers it already has. Councilors asked City Manager Rich Olson and police Chief Eddie Buffaloe to explore whether the city should eliminate vacant officer positions to free up money for officer raises Olson and Buffaloe say are much needed.
Council still not on board buying $80K bus
Elizabeth City officials continue to discuss buying a new mobile command center for the Elizabeth City Police Department, despite concerns the city might not be able to afford the $80,000-plus price tag given other, major expenses in next year's budget. At Monday's City Council meeting, councilors asked City Manager Rich Olson to negotiate with the Camden County Sheriff's Office to try get a better deal on the command center, which is a lightly used, but 23-year-old diesel bus.
Senior Center project advances: County OKs pact to buy TDA building
Pasquotank commissioners have agreed to an interlocal agreement with Elizabeth City officials that will split 50-50 the costs of purchasing The Daily Advance building and retrofitting it for a new senior center. Commissioners voted 6-1 Monday night to approve the agreement. Commissioner Frankie Meads cast the lone vote in opposition.
Tourism rolls out plan for 'historic riverfront destination'
Elizabeth City and Pasquotank County's tourism office would strive to make the community nationally recognized as a “model historic riverfront destination,” based on a rough draft of its new, five-year plan that was presented Thursday. That plan also lays out a lot of steps in pursuit of that goal, among them creating a new, “water-centered event” to draw visitors, looking into a museum for the Coast Guard, and better focusing its spending on marketing and sales.
Wind farm ban proposed in eastern NC
State senators are proposing to ban new wind farms in eastern North Carolina, claiming a ban is necessary to protect the region's military bases. Limited information has been released to back up that claim, however. Republican Sens. Harry Brown, Paul Newton and Norman Sanderson filed the “Military Base Protection Act,” or Senate Bill 377, on Wednesday.
Young plugs command center option; others cool to idea
Elizabeth City City Councilor Jeannie Young argued Thursday that the city's police and fire departments need a mobile command center, and should consider buying a used one from the Camden County Sheriff's Office. It would potentially cost $80,000, she also reported. Though some city councilors expressed skepticism about the purchase, they agreed that city staff should research it and report back to them.
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