The Daily Southerner, Tarboro, NC

Homepage

June 27, 2012

Princeville board recesses over restraining order

Staff Writer Calvin Adkins

TARBORO — PRINCEVILLE — A contradictory interpretation of a restraining order dated in Feb. 27, 2012 caused Princeville Mayor Priscilla Everette-Oates to recess the town's regularly scheduled June meeting until Thursday. The action took place shortly after 8 Monday night.

The meeting started with a bizarre twist when Everette-Oates called a 15-minute recess immediately after opening the meeting eight minutes late. Those 15 minutes turned into 52 minutes when, at 8:03, Everette-Oates returned and recessed the meeting until Thursday.

"It is a restraining order out that Commissioner (Gwen) Knight is not to be within 50 feet from Mrs. (interim town manager Maggie) Boyd at all times," Everette-Oates said. "So, Mrs. Boyd does not feel comfortable."

The motion to go into recess was passed by a 3-2 vote with Knight and Gwen Howell voted against it. Knight attempted to ask questions, but Everette-Oates failed to recognize her.

The restraining order issued by Judge William G. Stewart states, "(The) defendant (Commissioner Gwendolyn Knight) is allowed to attend town meetings for purposes of fulfilling her responsibilities as an elected official. She is not to speak directly to (the) plaintiff (Interim Town Manager Maggie Boyd) or be within 50 feet of plaintiff at anytime."

Stewart issued the order after Knight and Boyd became engaged in a physical confrontation Feb. 8. Both women filed charges against one another following the incident and one day later, Boyd filed a no-contact order against Knight. The case was thrown out

Since then, incidents involving the case have been in court several times including May 17, when the matter was dismissed by the district attorney's office.

Boyd specifically asked the assistant district attorney if she could keep Knight away from the meeting and was told that she could not.   

In a prior hearing regarding Knight's alleged breaking of the restraining order, Judge Anthony Brown said Stewart gave Knight the right to attend meetings. He also found Knight not guilty of breaking the order.

Town Attorney Chuck Watts said the order was issued because of an attack that Knight instigated against Boyd.

"The protective order was not quashed," Watts said. "The protective order actually said that Commissioner Knight had the right to attend board meetings but also said in even more emphatic terms that she cannot violate the 50-foot limitation "at any time."  Reconciling the two statements is something that a judge will have to do. Thus, the recess allowed for that to occur before the meeting would be allowed to move forward."

Since the restraining order was issued, Knight has attended at least two meetings. During each meeting, she was asked to leave but no confrontation developed.

Thursday night went a little further.

An order was given to Police Chief Joey Petway to remove Knight from the board meeting room. Knight refused to leave and the delay of the meeting began.

During the first recess, Everette-Oates, Boyd and commissioner Isabele Purvis-Andrews sat in the town office. Commissioner Calvin Sherrod and Watts went back and forth between the office and the board room.

Everette-Oates’ husband, DeArthur Oates, was then summoned to the office where he remained nearly 40 minutes before exiting.

Commissioner Ann Howell and Knight did not go inside the office.

Everette-Oates did not reply to questions concerning her husband's presence in the office and other questions that were emailed to her Tuesday morning by The Daily Southerner.

Although the town's budget deadline is Saturday, there were no pressing issues on the agenda — including the budget. A few of the citizens in attendance said they came to the meeting in hopes of the budget being discussed. Because of the recess, it is possible the town will not meet its June 30 budget deadline.

"I would hope the work of the board can move forward as there are several critical actions that need to be taken before the end of the fiscal year," Watts said.

Knight said, "I'm disgusted about the whole thing. I come to the meeting.  I sit down. I'm still getting harassed. This meeting was a waste of time. We had citizens to come out and just to say that it's going to recess until Thursday because I guess I was here. But I will be here Thursday. I wonder what will happen then?"

 

Text Only
Homepage
AIB-1.jpg

AIB co-chair Buddy Hooks, left, discusses courthouse square with AIB judge James Abraham, center, and chair of the courthouse square project Martie Thompson. James “Jim” Abraham, of Savannah, Ga., and Ed Hooker, of Fort Riley, Kansas, were in Tarboro Monday and Tuesday to judge the community’s entry in the America in Bloom competition

Local News
  • Nash Health Care seeking expanded affiliates

    ROCKY MOUNT — The Board of Commissioners of Nash Health Care has voted to issue a Request for Proposal (RFP) to five, pre-selected regional tertiary hospital systems for evaluation of an expanded affiliation relationship.
    Nash Health Care operates a number of facilities, including five hospitals totaling 403 beds — Nash General Hospital, Nash Day Hospital, the Bryant T. Aldridge Rehabilitation Center, Community Hospital and Coastal Plain Hospital.

    June 19, 2013

  • AIB judging under way
Sports
Ryan-Chatt.jpg

Ryan Chatt

Opinion
  • You, too, can be a slacker spy

    Think you're a loser just because you dropped out of high school and never finished the military training you began?
    Think you're a dud just because you work as a security guard even though you dreamed of becoming a global savior?
    Well, don't beat yourself up. You, too, can become an international superspy like Edward Snowden.

    June 17, 2013

Lifestyles
  • 5501-WED-Whitley-Webb.jpg Whitley/Webb

    Pinetops-Caitlin Layne Whitley and John Robert Webb were married on June 8, 2013 at half past three in the afternoon at Pinetops Baptist Church.
    The Reverend John Melancon performed the ceremony. The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Michael Whitley. Grandparents of the bride are the late Mr. and Mrs. James Carlton Jernigan and the late Mr. and Mrs. Clifton Lane Whitley.

    June 17, 2013 1 Photo

Obituaries Archives
Food
  • Steak.jpg Elegant Entertaining With Bold Flavors

    Summer entertaining is easy with simple, crowd-pleasing recipes from light bites to sweet delights that require almost no time in the kitchen.
    Invite over a few of your closest friends, heat up the grill and set out your favorite wines for a truly memorable outdoor dinner party. Select simple recipes that can be prepared ahead of time and quickly seared on the grill once your guests have arrived. Everyone will enjoy the food and you'll love that you're not trapped in the kitchen. Prep, chop and marinate everything then store it all in containers.
    Continue the trend of simplicity by serving food-friendly wines, such as those from Las Rocas. Las Rocas, which literally means "the rocks" because of the rocky soil where the grapes are grown, produces an incredibly vibrant Garnacha and refreshing RosÈ that pair wonderfully with these dishes.

    June 19, 2013 2 Photos

  • Zesty Mexican Meals Made Fast
  • It's grillin' time!
  • Great fondue
Events
  • Edgecombe Events June 20

    Edgecombe Events should be submitted by noon the day before publication. Items eligible include notices of local meetings and activities of non-profit organizations, clubs, schools and civic groups in the community. Information should be brief and typewritten, neatly printed or via e-mail. Questions? 823-3106 or e-mail: events@dailysoutherner.com. Leave  a daytime contact phone number.

    June 19, 2013

Our Community
Tarboro's 2012 Christmas Parade


Poll

Do you have any plans for the July 4th holiday?

Yes
No
Undecided
     View Results
CNHI Network News
AP Video
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
Community Calendar
Loading…
Events by eviesays.com
Facebook
Peter Temple Tribute
Photo of the Day