Rick Harrell To Step Aside As County Commission Chairman

This morning Rick Harrell held a press conference to announce his decision to step aside as Chairman of the Bertie County Commissioners. Rick explained his decision as feeling that the unity of the commission would be helped by others having the chance to fill the Chairman's role. He has been Chairman for 4 years. The recent highly complimentary audit report is indicative of the results for Bertie County taxpayers and citizens during this period.




Rick Harrell - File Photo


Bertie County has a chance for a really bright future. As a part of the Inner Banks we are going to see significant growth over the next 20 years, especially with our natural beauty and the great rivers that are a part of our area. In addition the new concept of "onshoring" offers all rural communities the opportunity to attract high tech companies as long as we can provide good road access, nice homes and fix our education system. The examples of Ireland and Corsicana Texas should be uppermost in our minds. Our County Commission can help that or hurt that depending on their understanding of the challenges we face and their willingness to work together. Growth is going to happen. Whether it will be mostly nice homes or mostly slums is dependent on the way our County Commission deals with the challenges.

Rick said that he planned to stay as a Commissioner as long as the Bertie County people wanted him and would continue to do his best for the citizens of the county. The County Commission has been working well together while Rick was Chairman. We hope the same spirit of cooperation will continue.

Windsor's Grand Squirrel Hunt

by Alan Watson - Bertie County, A Brief History

Serving to provide food, eliminate predatory animals, while away the hours, and satisfy sporting instinct, hunting sometimes assumed the guise of public entertainment. In November 1836, a grand squirrel hunt originated in Windsor. Twenty men were selected for contending parties with the understanding that those who returned with the least game would provide a hot meal for the victors. When the hunt was completed, the winning party had killed 9,814 squirrels; the losers only 7,543.

That is a total of 17,357 squirrels! It doesn't say but I at first assumed it was a one day hunt. However after some quick calculations I am not sure. The winning team killed 491 squirrels per member and the losing team killed 377 per member. That would have to take more than a day, wouldn't it? Do you think there are that many squirrels left in Windsor today? We ought to restart the tradition. Are you in?

ROTFL

Bertie County Receives Strong Audit Report

Jeff Best of Pittard, Perry and Crone presented the Fiscal Year 2006-2007 audit report to the County Commissioners last night. The report was a very strong endorsement of the fiscal management of Bertie County.




Jeff Best is shown above at the podium with a copy of the audit report being delivered. It is quite long and contains, as all such reports do, a boring number of details about our finances. It is important for the numbers to make sense if they are to be useful.

The following charts show trends of analysis numbers which as taxpayers we want to go higher. Since the year 2000 they have consistently done so. The improved "tax collection rate", a steady rise in "expenditures" and a growing "Unreserved Fund Balance", were all accomplished without a tax increase. That shows the fiscal discipline that got Bertie County its glowing audit report.

Click on the thumbnail reports to bring up full size report.







The following graphs show details of numbers that we want to get lower. Especially the first chart showing delinquent taxes owed to Bertie County. Since 2000, they have followed the right trend as well.





In their comments during the evening, Chairman Rick Harrell and County Manager Zee Lamb gave high praise to both the County Commissioners and the County Staff for this long track record of outstanding service to the tax payers and citizens of Bertie County. The type of fiscal discipline being shown in this report serves everyone well for the long term. It assures steady growth and maintains the environment that allows for conscientious public employees to take pride in their work.

Bertie County Presented With Secondary Road Priorities

Sterling Baker (shown below) of the North Carolina Department of Transportation, subbed for his boss to make the presentation of secondary road priorities for Bertie County. He was accompanied by District Engineer Win Bridgers.

Their boss is currently tied up in efforts to identify (and hopefully fix) the many problems that have surfaced in the management of the DOT that have received extensive coverage recently.




These problems have been covered on the Inner Banks Eagle in articles like Potholes on the road and DOT Leader gets an earful, documenting some of the serious DOT management problems that have become publicly well known. When an organization is doing things of such monumental stupidity as replacing Windows XP with Windows 2000, an older and well known inferior product, there are clearly serious concerns that need to be addressed.

In the meantime the local people work well with our county team to keep roads fixed. When the problems with road around the waste dump were brought to their attention, the DOT worked hard to fix them.

The priorities for Bertie County projects have been established as Bull Hill Road, widen, reseal and rebuild shoulder, Williford Road, widen, reseal and rebuild shoulder, Cherry Farm Road, pave, Cedar Landing Road, widen and upgrade, John Thompson Road, pave, Morris Ford Road, widen and upgrade, Tripp Road, repair and upgrade.

After discussions with the the County Commissioners, no changes to the priorities were considered advisable under the limitations of the state rules and a resolution authorizing the DOT to proceed was passed unanimously.

BCAC Artist Invitational Open House Friday, November 30th 5 To 7 PM

by Jeanette White - Correspondent

WINDSOR - Bertie County Arts Council will officially open the holiday season with an Artist Invitational - Friday, November 30th. The Gallery, 124 South King Street, will be open from 10 AM until 7 PM with a special open house from 5-7 PM. A special guest invited to greet visitors will be Senator Ed Jones (D), 4th Congressional District.

Another great event, "Spend An Evening With Santa" is planned Tuesday, December 18th, from 5:30-8 PM at The Gallery. Children will meet Santa and sit on his lap while Mrs. Claus reads Christmas stories.Parents are invited to bring cameras to record this special time. Please add this event to your calendar too.



Famous visitor to our area each year, Santa Claus


The Artist Invitational this Friday is expected to draw visitors from across northeastern North Carolina, an area served by Senator Jones. The North Carolina General Assembly has provided increased funding for the Arts for the past several years. The increase helps to fund BCAC’s programs throughout the year.




Senator Ed Jones


Community leaders, business owners, municipal and county elected officials are being invited to join the gathering. Planners hope visitors will take advantage of an opportunity to see the exhibit and meet artists, local government representatives and their senator.

Anyone who has ever shown fine art at The Gallery has been invited to show in this exhibit. Artists who have already committed include Laney Layton of Edenton; Nancy G. Spruill, Margaret Attkisson, Judy S. Overton, Cleo Warlick, Jane Perry and Ramona Bragg of Windsor; Tra Perry, Phyllis Johnson and Jaquelin Perry of Colerain; Tracy Bell of Nags Head; and Katherine Allen of Ahoskie. More artists are expected to join the exhibit prior to the deadline.

Other artisans who create jewelry, pottery, ceramics, textiles, hand crafts and wooden crafts, local authors and other vendors have been invited to increase inventory at The Gallery for this show and throughout the holiday season.

For convenience of people who cannot be present to browse and shop, this exhibit will remain open until the end of January.

Other upcoming BCAC activities include Christmas parties at Three Rivers Health and Rehabilitation at 1:30 PM Friday, December 14th, and at Brian Center Health and Rehabilitation beginning at 3 PM.

Bertie Ambulance Service has been a major sponsor of these parties for the past two years. Residents will receive small gifts at the parties.




For more information about events, to join Bertie County Arts Council or to have your art or handmade items considered for sale at The Gallery, call 252-794-9402 or email bertiearts@earthlink.net.

A New Fire Station For Perrytown!

The 44th Annual Perrytown Herring Fry by the Volunteer Fire Department was held in support of a new fire station to be built next to the community building. This Herring Fry is a huge traditional event for Perrytown, the major homecoming for this great community.




On arrival, it was a sea of cars, both a huge number in the parking lot, and a long line of cars through the driveway (shown above), backed up in the street halfway to the crossroad, waiting for take out!




The ladies at the take out tent were working hard to get people served and keep the line moving.





Inside the community building was the crowd from the cars in the parking lot. It was only 5:30 PM when I arrived and it was already packed, as it would stay all night right up to closing.





In addition the line wound along two sides (shown below) of the large building. Wallace Perry (shown above on left) was one of many coming to this Perrytown homecoming, and he shakes hands with long time friends as he moves to the back of the line. There were people in various groups who had driven in from Goldsboro, Raleigh, Kinston, and a town in Virginia that I never got the name of. Everyone was greeting old friends and swapping stories.





The second area where ladies were handing out herring was the kitchen area at the back of the community building, the destination of the long line. The herring was not being cooked inside, just preparation of the plates and handing the food out. Due to the long line the ladies were scrambling hard to feed everyone as quickly as possible.



The firemen had a building out back where they were cooking all the fried food, herring, hush puppies and french fries. It was busy back here too, as they were preparing the herring to serve both the take out area and inside.





The 44th annual Perrytown Herring Fry was a tremendous success. You should have been there. I had a great time and will definitely be back next year.

Katy Odom Presents Bertie Hospital Program For Behavioral Health Services

The Windsor Rotary welcomed Katy Odum, the Program Director for Behavioral Health Services at the Bertie Memorial Hospital, as their keynote speaker for the day. Ms Odom explained that this program focuses on patients who need services or care for memory and mild to moderate dementia related problems but who do not need to be in a psychiatric facility.




We have an aging population in Bertie County that needs help with depression, anxiety, mood swings and thought disorders to maintain a healthy attitude and focus on enjoying life. Bertie Hospital can help our loved ones with these issues.




Collins Cooper (shown above on left) presents Katy with the traditional cobalt blue mug as a thank you for her excellent presentation.

Bertie BOE Chairman Appointed to All-State School Board

The North Carolina School Boards Association (NCSBA) has named Bertie County Board of Education Chairman Rickey Freeman to the honorary All-State School Board.




Freeman was recognized during the Awards Ceremony of the Association's 38th Annual Conference for Board Member Development in Greensboro on November 6th.

Rickey Freeman is a tireless advocate for the education of children and the involvement of parents and the community in the educational process. His dedication and persistence have led to budget increases, the selection of excellent leaders for the school system, and the implementation of programs designed to increase the success of graduates in Berlie County. He has a passion for education and consistently works towards the best interests of the students.

The All-State School Board is comprised of eight board members selected throughout the state. These individuals have made significant contributions to boardsmanship during their tenure on the local board of education. The members of the All-State School Board were peer-nominated for NCSBA's Raleigh Dingman Award, which was won by Sue Stone of Surry County. Other members of the honorary board are: Robert Belcher, Beaufort County; Linda Thomas, Craven County; Kay Carroll, Johnston County; Becky Coltrane, Randolph County; Shearra Miller, Cleveland County; Michael Sorrells, Haywood County; and Randal Shields, Cherokee County.


For more information, please call Ramona Miller at (919) 841-4040 or (800) 321-NCSKA or send e-mail to rmiller@ncsba.org.

Black's Son Bid High But Got Jobs

by Dan Kane - November 11th, 2007 - News & Observer

A company owned by the son of former House Speaker Jim Black won contracts to provide pest control at the state's newest three prisons [including Bertie Correctional Institute], although competing bidders offered to do the work at less than half of Black's price.

Black Pest Control was paid $124,000 for prison construction projects in Bertie and Greene counties, although a business in Stafford, Va., bid $42,000 on the same work. At the state's latest prison project in Columbus County, Black Pest Control won the job in 2005 with a price of $73,600, even though a Brunswick County company was willing to do it for $20,600.

[snip]

George Zaborowski, project manager for a Centex subcontractor, D.H. Griffin Concrete Services, said two Centex officials demanded that his company hire Black [Jim Black's son] in 2004 to satisfy a state lawmaker whose vote proved crucial to Centex's getting the prison construction business. He said the lawmaker was not named.

Only in a socialist dominated state like North Carolina can the corruption be so rampant. A $124,000 bid by Jim Black's son was accepted instead of a lower $42,000 bid to provide pest control service for the state prison here in Bertie County. That is nearly three times as much as the lower bid.

How much longer are people in this part of North Carolina going to remain so blase about the corruption in our state government? I love the comment that the "lawmaker was not named". That is how this game is played. We can pretend the Democrat Speaker was not guilty because after all, he was not named. Right!

Bertie BOE Is Honored By State

At the Board of Education meeting last night one of the highlights was the announcement of the attainment by our Board of Master Level 1 Training achievement. This training is indicative of the dedication to our children of the current board members, who have all worked very hard to finish the training in a timely fashion. Their work was recognized by a plaque from the state organization. We are one of only two boards so recognized. Superintendent Chip Zullinger holds the plaque up after announcing the award.




Rickey Freeman (shown below) was one of two Board members personally recognized, the second being Melinda Eure, for their individual training achievements.




There was also a special presentation by East Carolina Nursing School representative Dr. Alta Andrews (shown below), who was accompanied by Dr. Nellie Droes. They were present to complete the contract signing for a new program to provide nursing care for our children, including assisting our nurses with training and backup support. Thomas Ruffin was the Bertie County representative who worked so hard to get the contract details worked out.




Our new Distance Learning capabilities were described by Carol Atkins (shown below), including a description of the new 20 desk Virtual Computer Classroom Capability. It is already impressing everyone with the fantastic capabilities it provides.




Director William Peale, Jr. (shown below) of the Shaw University Ahoskie Campus made a presentation on a special program to assist teachers in getting additional training towards their credentials and accreditation.



When the BOE was going in to closed session, I took a picture of the entire Board with their awards. (I apologize to Gloria Lee for taking her picture before she was ready.)



Al Parker, Emma Johnson, Melinda Eure, Rickey Freeman and Gloria Lee

Bypass Meeting Set For Tuesday

by Cal Bryant - November 9th, 2007 - Roanoke-Chowan News-Herald

Those wishing to learn more about the proposed Ahoskie Bypass are urged to attend an information workshop on Tuesday, Nov. 13 hosted by the North Carolina Department of Transportation.

The informal session, not a public hearing, will be held between the hours of 4-7 p.m. in the Jernigan Auditorium of Roanoke-Chowan Community College.

Included in the session will be aerial maps displaying the seven potential bypass routes. Handouts and comment sheets will also be distributed.

Cal has written an excellent article covering the details of this process and an explanation of the options being proposed.

The various proposed paths are shown in the map below.



The one thing I would like to add is a brief explanation of two terms used in the article, for I have found that they are not clear to most people. Those two terms are FREEWAY and EXPRESSWAY.

Here in North Carolina the difference in the type of road described is very critical. Expressway really means a four lane "surface" highway, with intersections, traffic lights, driveway entrances and no real limit on access. Expressways always become congested with development very quickly, and the speed limits are lowered, driving away visitors. In addition they are lethal. Significantly more lethal than Freeways. Some of them have found to be 17 times more lethal than a Freeway. They are anything but what the name implies, a fast way to get somehwere.

The fast way to travel safely is a Freeway, which means limited access, with overpasses and on-off ramps and no situations where slower and faster traffic are mixed. It has proved again and again to be the greatest type of road to connect people together. These are the types of roads that are required to be a part of the Interstate System. However you can build a Freeway that is not Interstate, as U.S. 64 is from Raleigh to Williamston.

Freeways are the most desired type of road today, to bring people here and for us to get to places we need to go. Many people will not travel long distances unless they can drive on Freeways so they can safely travel at high speeds. If we ever expect to take advantage of the tourism opportunities here in the Inner Banks, we need Freeways to bring the people in.

That is the problem. Our short sighted government officials here in the Inner Banks, still insist they want everything built as an Expressway, the old type of surface road. This kind of thinking is 50 years out of date. Build a Freeway or expect to lose out on a tremendous opportunity to connect with potential tourists and allow local people and businesses to connect with the outside world. That will harm eco-tourism and business growth both. How does that make sense?

Tracie White Updates Rotary

Sharon Davis, President of the Windsor Rotary, opened the program as master of ceremonies.


Chip Zullinger (shown below), Superintendent of Bertie County Schools, invited everyone to the football game for Saturday Night. I hope everyone went as the game was really exciting. Gene Motley covered the game and you can read the details here.



Fen Rascoe (shown below) then introduced Tracie White (second picture below), Director of Planning for Bertie County for an update on what is happening in the county.




Tracie talked about the status of approvals for some of our major developments, Bal Gra Harbor, The Bluffs, and Innsbrook Golf and Boating.

Tracie also talked about the coming County Wide Zoning Ordinance that is creating such a stir.

First Amendment Heroes

There is an article posted on the Inner Banks Eagle that is about the war to restore freedom of speech in higher education. It is not about our K-12 education system (which we cover here on the Bertie County Patriot) but it is related, so I wanted to provide a link on this site.

We once had the greatest education system on earth here in America. That system ended when poltically correct speech replaced free speech and parents lost influence in the schools, but we can get it back if we are willing to fight for it. Click here and read about some of the heroes who are fighting to help us get our education system back, both here in the Inner Banks and in America. Their fight applies to K-12 as much as to higher education.

Utahns Can Vote For School Choice Tuesday

by John Stossel - October 31st, 2007 - Real Clear Politics

Next Tuesday, Utah voters go to the polls to decide if their state will become the first in the nation to offer school vouchers statewide. Referendum 1 would make all public-school kids eligible for vouchers worth from $500 to $3,000 a year, depending on family income. Parents could then use the vouchers to send their children to private schools.

[snip]

For over a century, American children have been in the hands of education bureaucrats. For over 40 years, the government's system has been dominated by a protectionist teachers' union that puts itself ahead of the children entrusted to its members. The results are what we should expect from a monopoly financed with money extracted from taxpayers: poor quality, lack of innovation and bored children.

Here in North Carolina public schools fail so many children that more than a third simply drop out. That becomes more than half in the black community. These children know that they are not getting an education and that staying in school is a waste of time for them. I don't blame the kids. It is the schools that are failing the children. This MUST change. Parents have got to rise up in anger and demand change. The idea of competition is an idea that needs to be adopted now.

Here in North Carolina we have a great organization that is leading the charge, Parents for Educational Freedom in North Carolina. It is headed by a brilliant young man who has a vision for our children. Darrell Allison believes "parental school choice is an idea whose time has truly come by giving parents the financial freedom and legal freedom to choose an education that is best for their child." The founder, Chairman and driving force is a charismatic woman from Rocky Mount, Rene Jones.



Rene Jones, Chairman, PEFNC


Darrell Allison, President, PEFNC

Rene is familiar to many here because she came to Bertie County to oppose closing J.P. Law and Askewville Elementary Schools. She understands that community schools are the best public schools, but she also knows that competition is a must if things are going to get better.

These two great leaders are the best chance we have to help our public schools improve by creating competition. Darrell and Rene need your help to make this happen for our children. Please join them in their efforts to get parental choice in North Carolina.

New Study Reveals Growing Dropout Problem

October 25th, 2007 - Parents for Educational Freedom in North Carolina

A recently released study from PEFNC and the Friedman Foundation revealed that North Carolina loses approximately $169 million each year from high school dropouts, translating to $8.5 billion dollars lost from just one year’s class over an expected lifetime of 50 years. These financial losses come in part from dropouts’ lower earning potential, reduced tax revenue and heavier reliance on government assistance programs such as Medicaid.

PEFNC President Darrell Allison noted that the results of the study call for change in the North Carolina educational system by stating, “We think this study really shows just how impacted we are by our dropout rate in North Carolina and highlights the real consequences for our families as well as our state. I also believe this study highlights the need for more educational options in North Carolina.”

People have long complained that our poor public schools are damaging society. This study provides some numbers to back that feeling up. The numbers prove it is worse than we ever imagined.

Candice Parker Is Math Contest Regional Finalist

The North Carolina Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCCTM) is sponsoring a Math Logo Contest. More than 1,700 entries were submitted for consideration.




Candice Parker, a sixth grade Academically and Intellectually Gifted (AIG) student from Bertie Middle School, was chosen as one of twelve regional finalists in this contest. For her accomplishment, Candice received a complimentary t-shirt and is featured in “The Centroid” , the Official Journal of the North Carolina Council of Teachers of Mathematics. Candice is the daughter of Robert and Daisy Parker of Colerain.

Allen Castelloe Presents Main Street Center Program

The Windsor Rotary was pleased to hear from the Windsor Town Manager, Allen Castelloe, about Windsor's participation in the North Carolina Main Street Center program called Small Town Main Street. The meeting was called to order by Sharon Davis (shown below), Director of the Chamber of Commerce and President of the Windsor Rotary.




Collins Cooper then introduced Allen Castelloe to the gathering. Allen told us that Windsor was selected as one of 14 small towns (under 7500 in population) in North Carolina for the current effort by the State. The purpose of the State program is to provide technical assistance in revitalization for Windsor and other small towns, to recognize and preserve the town's historic character.




The original Main Street program was started by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The program Windsor is participating in was started in 2003 as an expansion of the Main Street concept to small towns in North Carolina. Selected communities receive on-site technical assistance from the Small Town Main Street staff provided by the State including: Organizational development, Market analysis, Business assistance, Promotions and Design.




Windsor Small Town Main Street is holding public meetings at 6:30 PM, the first Thursday in each month, in the Community Center across from the Board of Elections. Tonight is their next meeting and Allen invited everyone to attend.

At the end of his presentation, Collins Cooper (shown above on left) presented Allen Castelloe with the traditional cobalt blue coffee cup as a thank you.

Windsor has created three committees which meet at their monthly meetings to assist in organizing the efforts. If you would like to help, please call Allen Castelloe at (252) 794-2331, or email him at windsor.admin@mchsi.com