By W. TERRY SMITH
It's time to clean out a reporter's notebook ...
The History Days weekend has come and gone, but it will be back next year – bigger and better.
That's a promise from Karen Andrus and Jessie Smoot, the two people most responsible for the successful event as co-chairwomen.
"There was something for everyone," Andrus said, "which was so cool."
"Next year we will double the re-enactors, have more crafters, have more Indians," she said.
"Everybody told us they had a good time. They want to come back."
When more particpants show up, where will they set up? The Blount-Bridgers House grounds can only hold so many booths and chairs and tents and people.
Mostly, I am thinking about the Civil War-era re-enactors, which seem to attract many people of all ages.
Somebody suggested having the re-enactors camp out on the Town Common.
It has been used before, but recent requests have been rejected.
"We don't want 'em setting fires," Town Manager Sam Noble explained.
That seems reasonable, but camping out without a campfire is not worth the effort.
Instead, Noble suggests using the town's Indian Lake recreational area. There's plenty of room – 52 acres, including the 6.5 acre manmade lake – walking trails, two horseshoe pits, sand volleyball court and even a stage. Of course, there's plenty of parking, too.
"They could even stage a battle out there," Noble said. "They need to come up with a plan. We will work with them any way we can."
SMOOT was at the Home and Garden Tour ticket table Saturday when some re-enactors came marching back from the flag-raising ceremony at the Veterans Memorial.
One of the younger "officers" said in an excited voice, "Guess who I met, Mrs. Smoot! A real World War II veteran in his real uniform!"
Obviously, that was Buck Price, 80, a sailor. Smoot agreed that was wonderful, and the young man marched on.
Said Smoot: "It strikes me that this may sum up the purpose of the Memorial, that one young man in full Confederate regalia shall be thrilled to meet one veteran of another era."
ALTHOUGH previously certified, Tarboro Police Chief Robert Cherry also took part in the recent training exercise with the taser guns, exposing himself to the 50,000 volts of electricity that the X26 delivers.
"All I can tell you is that it hurts," Cherry told Southerner Staff Writer Shannon Keith. "That electricity just moves all through your body."
OUR newest byline belongs to Laura Ashley Lamm. The recent Meredith College graduate is covering Tarboro, Princeville and Edgecombe County governments plus the arts and entertainment beat.
She is the 22-year-old daughter of Carnell and Deborah Lamm of Macclesfield.
THE AUDIT of Edgecombe County Public Schools is not due until Oct. 31, not Oct. 1 as I reported recently.
W. Terry Smith is editor of The Daily Southerner.
