The Daily Southerner, Tarboro, NC

Local News

Related Photos

  • W.TERRY SMITH

    images_sizedimage_241104046
August 28, 2008

Perdue stumps in Tarboro

Candidate for governor touts education, technology

W. TERRY SMITH

When Bill Bourne introduced Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue as “the next governor of North Carolina,” no one objected.

Bourne organized a get-together for the Democratic nominee and about two dozen people Wednesday at On the Square restaurant.

“I’m excited about Tarboro and its new Web site,” she said. “Cool. You are living the dream.”

Perdue, who was en route to a private fund-raiser in Rocky Mount, appeared confident. The latest Public Policy Poll has her ahead of Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory, her Republican opponent, by five points.

Perdue asked questions and then answered them by saying what she would do if she is the first woman elected governor in North Carolina.

Edgecombe County Public Schools Superintendent Craig Witherspoon told her about the high schools getting laptop computers.

“That’s remarkable for the county to be so progressive,” she said. “The way you level the playing field in small North Carolina towns is with technology.”

Perdue reminisced about moving to New Bern years ago when there was no riverfront development.

“No one realized the water was resource,” she said.

Perdue promised more help with the former Main Street program that New Bern and Tarboro used successfully some 30 years ago.

“You have a plethora of wonderful historic homes,” she said. “The history here so rich. You need a governor that understands the Main Street program.”

Rusty Holderness told her Tarboro looked pretty but the county was losing population, as much as 10 percent since 2000. So many people who work in the county live elsewhere.

Bernice Pitt said the county’s biggest problem was its schools and the need for good teachers.

Witherspoon said most Edgecombe teachers live in Pitt and Nash counties.

Perdue said perhaps a program to pay teachers extra bonus money or trade paying for their education for years of service might be the solution.

“Like you do with doctors,” she said.

Perdue praised Edgecombe Community College President Deborah Lamm and ECC, “a good community college.”

“We need continued support,” Lamm said.

Perdue also said, “The future is really bright for agriculture.”

“You know what the challenges are,” she said. “You need help from the state with Main Street, infrastructure and help recruiting the right kind of industry.

“It sounds like you are on the right path,” she said.

Perdue praised state Rep. Joe Tolson, D-Edgecombe, and his work in promoting technology.

Tolson said, “I think she’ll make us an excellent governor.”

Tarboro Mayor Donald Morris predicted she would carry the county with 65 percent or more of the vote.

“I’d like 90 percent,” she said.

Perdue served in the state House of Representatives from 1986-90, and in the state Senate from 1990-2000. She became the first woman ever elected lieutenant governor in North Carolina.

On May 6, Perdue, 61, won the Democratic nomination for governor, defeating State Treasurer Richard H. Moore and Dennis Nielsen.

Prior to running for office, Perdue worked as a public school teacher, as director of geriatric services at a community hospital, and earned a Ph.D. in Education Administration.

”If a little girl from Appalachia (Grundy, Va.) like me can grow up and make it with hard work and education, any child can.”

Text Only
Local News
  • The first lap (with Relay story).jpg Edgecombe Relay for Life seeking business partners

    Fresh from raising $196,312 and ranking No. 4 nationally in per capita fundraising, Relay for Life Edgecombe County is seeking business and corporate sponsors to help in the fight against cancer.
    Corporate and business sponsorship packets, which detail the levels and benefits of sponsorship, are ready to be delivered, according to Jane Gurley Harper, corporate sponsor chair. Businesses can also help by forming a team to participate in Relay and raise money in that manner.

    February 9, 2012 1 Photo

  • Maggie Boyd.jpg Princeville commissioner, interim town manager involved in physical conflict


    PRINCEVILLE — The disconnect of water service at a commissioner's home led to a physical confrontation between the elected official and a town employee Wednesday at the town hall.
    According to Commissioner Gwen Knight, interim Town Manager Maggie Boyd gave instructions to a public works employee and a police officer to cut off Knight's water because the account was delinquent in the amount of $662.77.
    Knight said she went to the town hall to pay the bill as soon as she was told about her service being cut off.

    February 9, 2012 2 Photos

  • Victor Marrow new hedeshot.jpg Princeville terminates town manager Appoints museum curator to fill same position

    PRINCEVILLE — A contract dispute between the Princeville town manager and the town commissioners led to his termination at the close of business Monday.
    Victor Marrow was notified by Princevile Attorney Charles Watts that he had been fired.
    Marrow's contract expired Feb. 1, but the town extended it six days in hope of his signing a proposed new contract. Marrow was hired in February 2010 on a two-year contract. Nine months later, he resigned, only to rescind his resignation the following morning.
    Stipulations of the proposed new contract were untenable to Marrow and included the stipulation that it was to end on June 12, included a $5,000 pay cut, work in excess of 40 hours per week and write at least three grants per month, he said. 

    February 8, 2012 1 Photo

  • CRIME ROUNDUP

    The Tarboro Police Department responded to a call Friday and was told a victim had been stabbed. While conducting an investigation, officers were told by the victim that Perry Lee Bunn, 58, 304 Granville St., had stabbed him several times. The name of the victim was not released by police.
    Officers called EMS to respond to the scene to transport the victim to the hospital so he could treated for his injuries.

    February 8, 2012

  • Significant deficiencies in county audit

    Auditors told Edgecombe County Commissioners on Monday night that they found significant deficiencies while compiling the 2010-2011 annual audit of county finances. Still, the audit received an unqualified opinion.

    February 8, 2012

  • Teresa Bryant headshot.jpg Bryant declines to seek re-election

    Teresa DeLoatch Bryant announced she will not seek re-election to the District 2 seat she now holds on the Edgecombe County Public Schools Board. The announcement came 91 days before the May 8 Primary Election and nearly a year after the first-term plus one year board member announced her resignation for personal and career reasons. She later rescinded her decision.

    February 6, 2012 1 Photo

  • MimiHerman.jpg W.A. Patillo receives $5,000 poetry grant

    W.A. Pattillo School has been awarded $5,000 from the North Carolina Arts Council for Poetry in the Classroom with Mimi Herman.
    The funds will be used to provide a week of poetry writing experiences for seven fourth grade classes through the expertise and creativity of Herman. Students will gain self-confidence, and will view themselves as writers rather than merely consumers of literature. They will learn to use language effectively and creatively to communicate thoughts, feeling, and impressions.

    February 6, 2012 1 Photo

  • IMG_5889.JPG Pizza Bowl

    The biggest football game of the year brings the largest sale of the year for two area pizza restaurants.
    Tarboro branches of Pizza Inn and Dominos Pizza are gearing up for Super Bowl XLVI Sunday by increasing their regular employee lineup by as many as seven.
    Pizza Inn is running a special that they believe will keep them busy throughout the day. Last year they sold over 200 large pizzas on Super Bowl Sunday compared to 50 on an average Sunday.

    February 3, 2012 1 Photo

  • Edgecombe unemployment up in December

    TARBORO — Unemployment rates increased in 93 of North Carolina’s 100 counties in December. Rates decreased in four counties and remained the same in three.
    Edgecombe, which saw a slight improvement in November, fell back to its October 2011 level (15.7%). Of the 100 counties in North Carolina, Edgecombe and Dare are tied at third highest in unemployment. 

    February 3, 2012

  • Three ECPS campuses ahead of First Lady's nutritional guidelines

    When First Lady Michelle Obama and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced new guidelines for the nutritional overhaul of school meals last week, they could have chosen three of Edgecombe County's public schools as their models.

    February 2, 2012