The Daily Southerner, Tarboro, NC

Local News

Related Photos

  • T.J. Royal

    images_sizedimage_210104525
July 29, 2009

KNIGHT ‘HUMBLED’

Knight president of sheriffs’ group

T.J. ROYAL

RALEIGH — More than 300 people watched Tuesday night as Edgecombe County Sheriff James Knight was sworn in as the North Carolina Sheriffs' Association's president for the next year.

"I would like to thank all of my fellow sheriffs, for giving me the opportunity of a lifetime to serve as your president," Knight told the capacity crowd at the Association's 87th annual Training Conference at the Marriott Raleigh City Center.

"As president, I pledge to you to continue to protect the powers of the sheriff ... and to treat each citizen with dignity and respect. ... I feel humbled for the opportunity you've given me tonight," Knight added in his remarks to the dozens of assembled sheriffs.

Knight was joined by his wife Margaret and their two children, James Jr. and Jamina, as retired Superior Court Judge Frank Brown gave the sheriff the oath for the association's presidency for 2009-10.

District Attorney Robert Evans looked on and was confident that the Association presidency was in good hands.

"The association is in great hands, as Sheriff James Knight is a great leader," Evans said.

Former Edgecombe County Sheriff Phil Ellis also attended Tuesday and after the ceremony said glowing things about his one-time employee.

"He did an excellent job, and everybody loved (Knight)" as a DARE program officer, Ellis said, and that it was Sheriff Knight's efforts that made it work as well as it did in Edgecombe.

Ellis added that if "we had a situation to arise with racial overtones, I knew I could count on James to check it out, smooth things out and get to the bottom of it.

"He knew how to talk to folks, black and white," when it came to Edgecombe County, he said. "Without question he'll do an excellent job."

Craven County Sheriff Jerry Monette, immediate past president of the Sheriffs' Association, told the crowd he was "honored and privileged to pass this mantle on" to Knight to hold for the next year. Monette noted that he had "enjoyed many a night near Pinetops" as his wife Debbie, a Pinetops native, and he spent time in "a little piece of heaven in Edgecombe County."

Along with his own gavel, Knight was presented a special edition .45-caliber revolver fashioned after the one carried by Wyatt Earp, issued to each association president.

When Knight received his firearm, Monette quipped that "all sheriffs like guns."

Several other Edgecombe County officials, including Commissioners Leonard Wiggins, Evelyn Powell and Jon Felton and County Manager Lorenzo Carmon, attended.

Wiggins, the board chairman, said, "We've got an excellent sheriff, and we're pleased that the hundred sheriffs also recognize that. As a board, we are honored."

Knight, 49, was appointed sheriff in 1997, to fill out Ellis's expired term when he retired. He's been elected ever since.

Along with dozens of his staff, deputies and officers, Knight noted that his 83-year-old mother, Bertha Weaver, as well as four sisters and a sister-in-law, were in attendance.

Also in attendance were former District Attorney Howard Boney, Rocky Mount Police Chief John Manley and Princeville Police Chief Gary Foxx.

Text Only
Local News
  • 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

  • Lynn_Cale.jpg ECC Executive Named to United Way Board

    J. Lynn Cale, associate vice president of instruction at Edgecombe
    Community College, has been named to the United Way Tar River Region
    Board of Directors.
        The Tar River Region serves Edgecombe and Nash counties. Cale
    will serve a one-year term, from January to December 2012.
        He and other board members oversee 41 local health and human
    service programs funded through United Way as well as 21 Community
    Partners and various community development partnerships.
    RIGHT: J. Lynn Cale

    February 2, 2012 1 Photo

  • Pattillo Alumni Association on the move

    The Board of Directors (BOD) of W.A. Pattillo High School National Alumni
    Association, Inc. held a meeting on Jan. 21, at Pattillo School under the leadership of its President, Dr. Fred S. Wood, Jr.  All of the officers except one were in attendance, accompanied by 9 of 16 Board Members and 9 of 10 Appointed Standing Committee Chairpersons.

    February 2, 2012

  • BandSEDriverHouse.jpg Local students selected for N.C. Eastern All-District Band

    Three Edgecombe County Public Schools students have been chosen to play in the All-District Band. Lillian House, an alto saxophone player and Kaitlin Driver, a French horn player both eighth graders from South Edgecombe Middle School and West Edgecombe Middle School eighth grade flute player, Taylor Joyner earned the honor this year and will grace the stage at East Carolina University’s Wright Auditorium Feb. 3.

    February 1, 2012 2 Photos

  • Robbery prevention

    Community education on robbery prevention shares equal importance with the search of robbery suspects. Robbery prevention may seem unachievable, but we can not continue to ignore the problem of robbery in our community. As local citizens, we should create ways in which everyone can benefit from the knowledge of robbery prevention.

    February 1, 2012

  • GHW 01-28-1221.JPG George Henry White: tribute to a great American

      Why isn’t George Henry White a household name?  If Vincent Spalding has anything to do with it, that will soon change.
         Long ignored in African American history books and recognitions, George Henry White of North Carolina was elected to Congress in 1896, and re-elected in 1898, becoming the last African American elected to Congress after Reconstruction, and the first to serve in the 20th century.

    January 31, 2012 1 Photo

  • Project SKILL Updates

    The National Science Foundation grant proposal for Project SKILL (Supporting Knowledge with Innovative Life-long Learning) is currently in progress.
    This full-scale developing project, if approved, will prepare Edgecombe County's underrepresented students (grade levels 8-12) for college and STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) careers. An anticipated approval date is scheduled for August of this year.

    January 31, 2012

  • KevinWilson.jpg Local Demand Drives Weekend Courses in Historic Preservation

    Interested in turning an old tobacco barn into a "man cave"? You can learn how this spring at Edgecombe Community College.
    In response to local demand, the college has developed several new courses in the historic preservation trades program, including "Preservation of Farm Structures" on March 17-18 and March 24-25.

    January 27, 2012 1 Photo