One Main Street business owner in Tarboro was trampled by a pack of deer Saturday, but avoided serious injury and enjoyed a laugh later about the experience.
Michelle Brewer, co-owner of Brewer's Fine Jewelry with her husband Kenny, was on the receiving end of the experience with the herd of deer.
Brewer, 46, explained that at around 9:50 a.m. Saturday, she went to open the front doors of her business. At first, one deer passed by, which she added she had "never seen before" along Main Street in the 25 years her husband and she have run the store.
Then, Brewer said, came the rest of a herd of "good-sized does" that took up the whole of the sidewalk.
"I couldn't move to the left or the right" because the deer were spread out so much as they passed her store, she said.
"I missed Santa, but got the reindeer" on Saturday, she added.
Brewer doesn't remember actually getting stepped on by them. But she vividly recalled being at eye-level with the herd before she was taken down to the concrete as they passed through.
"I saw the fear in their eyes, and they saw the fear in mine. They were probably just as scared of me as I was of them. ... I guess it's a good thing you can't remember everything."
Brewer said she was told by others that one deer kicked her "three or four feet" into the air, and then the rest of the herd trampled over her.
The same deer herd would go on to cause another disturbance at The Fountains at The Albemarle, where one caused damage when it crashed through an office window.
By the time the deer passed, her husband and other Main Street business owners came out to check on her condition. Based on their reactions, she said it appeared to be worse than she imagined.
With Kenny in tears with concern, Brewer said that "everybody stood around me. I knew then that it must've been bad, because of the crowd."
Kenny said his wife's face had "swollen up immediately," but that she didn't need to spend any time in the hospital because of her injuries. The physical mementos left by the deer included two bruises on the right side of her face, and "a hoof print in my leg," she said.
Since then, several people have come by the store to check on her condition for themselves and even to share a laugh.
"The stampede didn't hit us on Black Friday, it came the day after," she quipped Wednesday.
Her two sons, Jordan,19, and Evan, 15, heard about her run-in with the deer from friends before she even had a chance to tell them, she said.
"They didn't believe me at first" when she finally had a chance to speak with them later that day, she said.
Brewer added that when she becomes a grandparent, her sons can tell their kids that indeed, "grandmother did get run over by reindeer" before Christmas this year.
Local News
Related Photos
-
T.J. ROYAL
Downtown store owner run over by herd of deer
- Local News
-
-
Princeville approves volunteers to assist with governmental affairs
PRINCEVILLE — With the absent of two board members, the town council unanimously approved for two volunteers to assist the town in during chores of a town manager Thursday during a special called meeting.
Mayor Priscilla Everette-Oates and Mayor Pro Tem Isabelle Purvis-Andrews did not attend the meeting. -
More than 100 charges for peeper
More than 100 charges have now been filed against peeping tom Thomas Gary Owens.
-
TS Andrea expected to bring rain, wind
Tropical Storm Andrea is making its way up the East Coast, and while local impact from the storm is expected to be minimal today, forecasters are urging Edgecombe County residents to keep an eye on the weather just the same.
“We’re just looking for a rain event and probably some thunderstorms rolling around,” said Butch Beach, director of Edgecombe County Emergency Services. He said the level of Tar River is low – under three feet – with a “large capacity” to hold more water. Flash flooding of roadways from the storm, however, remains a possibility. -
North Carolina Symphony concert location change
The location of this evening's North Carolina Symphony concert, "At the Movies," has been changed from the Town Common to the Keihin Auditorium on Edgecombe Community College's campus due to the forecast of inclement weather. The program will get under way at 7 p.m. For more information, call Cheryl Gay, parks and recreation director, at 641-4276.
-
BOE makes changes in administration for upcoming school year
As is almost always the case, students leave school at the end of the year with one set of administrators and return the next to a new group.
That will be the case in Edgecombe County, as trustees of the Edgecombe County School District have approved a number of administrative changes for the upcoming school year. -
Princeville 2013-14 budget available for review
PRINCEVILLE — The Local Government Commission (LGC) has called a public hearing for 6 p.m. on Tuesday, June 18 at Princeville Elementary School for public discussion of Princeville's 2013-2014 proposed budget. A copy of the proposal can be reviewed at the town hall.
-
Free North Carolina Symphony concert set Thursday
The North Carolina Symphony is coming to Tarboro Thursday evening to treat town residents to a free concert on the Town Common. The symphony will begin playing at 7 p.m. and patrons are advised to bring out your lawn chair or blanket and enjoy the show.
“It lets folks enjoy a beautiful evening and see their friends and neighbors,” said Joe Newberry, director of communications for the North Carolina Symphony. “It’s just a great community thing to do.” -
AIB committee asks residents to clean up their yards Saturday
The American in Bloom (AIB) committee is asking Tarboro residents to clean up their yards Saturday to prepare for the judges’ visit to town June 17 and 18.
“We’re just encouraging everyone to take this opportunity to clean up their yard so that when the judges come, they will get a positive impression of the town,” said Connie Sherrill, AIB committee co-chair. -
Former Princeville resident cleaning up Church Street
PRINCEVILLE — Retired U.S. Army 1st Sgt. Michael D. Bennett's drive on Church Street last Thursday caused him to toss and turn. What he saw was dirt and grass covering portions of the sidewalk on the street where he grew up. To make matters even worse, the oldest building in the town, Mt. Zion Primitive Baptist Church, actually had the appearance of the oldest building in town. White paint has sporadically peeled off the wood-structure making visible the original color of the planks that were nailed on the building in 1890 by children of former slaves.
-
Vidant Edgecombe welcomes tour of new emergency department
Less than 10 months after the ceremonial turning of the first shovels of dirt, the finishing touches are being placed on the $4.8 million expansion of the emergency department at Vidant Edgecombe Hospital.
And beginning at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, hospital officials will show off the finished product at an open house and business after hours. - More Local News Headlines
-
Princeville approves volunteers to assist with governmental affairs
James Gandolfini Dies at Age 51
Fmr. TWA Flight 800 Investigators Want New Probe
Raw: Heat, Spurs Back on Court Ahead of Game 7
Dolce and Gabbana Convicted of Tax Evasion
Paris, Prince Depositions Used in Jackson Trial
Coiffed Cattle Get Their Close-up
In Berlin, Obama Channels Cold War Activism
Police at Patriots Tight End's Home for 2nd Day
Fed Suggests Bond Purchases Could Slow
AP: DOJ Broke Own Rules Seizing Phone Records
Raw: Baby White Rhino Debuts at Australian Zoo
Time Lapse: Rebuilding Bridge Post-collapse
Ohio Woman Accuses 3 of Holding Her Captive
Hunt for Ex-Teamster Boss Hoffa's Remains Ends
