TARBORO —
On the heels of the news that drug chain Walgreens will be opening a store in Tarboro in the next 12-to-15 months, there is other news of an improving economy, as well.
“In addition to the major expansion projects at the (Vidant Edgecombe) hospital, Superior Essex and Hillshire (formerly Sara Lee) Brands, we’ve actually seen a little up tick in residential construction,” explained Tarboro town manager Alan Thornton.
Thornton said Goodlettsville, Tenn.-based Dollar General, which already has stores at 1110 Western Blvd., and 2111 Saint Andrew St., is interested in finding an additional location in the community.
Town planner Josh Edmondson said there was a multi-family housing development in the works for the Hunter Hill Road area, but that there was nothing official under way yet.
“We’ve talked with the engineers in regards to their plans, but nothing else,” he said.
In addition to the news about brick and mortar issues, Thornton said year-to-date sales tax receipts — officially known as State-collected Local Government Revenue — was up over the same period a year ago and that he felt that was a good sign that the economy was improving.
Thornton said there are a couple of retail-based efforts under way, including an evaluation of the available properties in Tarboro by Electricities.
“They have an economic development person who works with retail and they have been here, driven around town and observed what we have,” he said. “At their request, we are compiling an inventory of available properties to send to them as we look at ways to grow our community.”
The town is also looking at ways to try and revamp the Main Street program.
“We want to breathe some new life into it,” Thornton said. “Whatever we can do to make it better, we will. We want downtown to be healthy and continue to grow.”
Thornton said one part of the downtown equation is to make it “an experience … not just a trip to one store. We have an ambiance that many communities do not and we have our history on which to draw — we simply need to enhance what we have and make the most of it.”
Thornton, now in his second year as town manager, says he frequently reminds people that Tarboro has a distinct advantage in its downtown because it is still active and draws traffic.
“There are many places where that is not the case,” he said.
He added that one of the questions being posed in the research of Main Street is, “How do you expand what downtown has to offer? We want to get the business owners involved in this process.”
He also said the town is working to address the issue of vacant and deteriorating properties, although there are legal limits as to what can be done.
“We want to make sure they are not a deterrent to downtown and we want to do all we can to get them back on the market.”
One unoccupied building that has been spruced up on the outside, the circa 1919 Colonial Theater, is currently in Phase I of its renovation project. Workers with O’Neal Contracting are building an addition to the back of the facility, which will add dressing rooms, expand the stage and enclose the building so that interior work can get under way.
The theater is owned by the Edgecombe County Military Veterans Museum.
Thornton said the initial feedback he has gotten from downtown businesses regarding the relocation of the Health Department and DSS has been good.
“I haven’t talked with everyone, but those I have spoken with say they have seen an increase in traffic in the stores and seem pleased. By and large, it has been a plus.”
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Monty Carney (left) and Jack Dew work on an extension to the circa 1919 Colonial Theater in downtown Tarboro. The construction project is one of several signs in Tarboro that the economy is improving.
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Foot traffic in downtown Tarboro has been slow over the last few years. Tarboro town manager Alan Thornton said the town is looking at ways to try and revamp the Main Street program.
Economy improving in Tarboro
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Nathan Sherrod (left) and his twin brother Melvin, of Tarboro, enjoy a carnival ride Saturday afternoon at the Happening on the Common. Abrams Rentals provided the rides.
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HAPPENING ON THE COMMON
Tarboro’s Town Common was clearly the center of activity in town Saturday, with cars lining the streets surrounding the common, music that could be heard from blocks away, and a sea of people navigating their way through the vendors’ tables under a canopy of trees. The occasion was the 43rd Annual Happening on the Common.
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HAPPENING ON THE COMMON
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Two suspects arrested on 36 charges; third issued citation
After executing a search warrant Thursday on a residence at 500 W. Johnston St. in Tarboro, police officers arrested two suspects for possessing a small amount of marijuana and issued a third suspect a citation for possessing a glass pipe to smoke the drugs.
After the marijuana was found, officers notified two of the three suspects that they also had additional warrants on them from the department's "Spring Fling" drug campaign where they had sold marijuana to undercover officers. - Introductory Latin class beginning Tuesday
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Two suspects arrested on 36 charges; third issued citation
- Sports
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Tony Everett, of Wake Forest, backs his Chevrolet truck named DoeRunner up as he prepares to pull in the four wheel drive event Friday night.
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Pinetops 300
PINETOPS – With the threat of rain during the weekend, it put a little damper on the Pinetops 300 Tractor and Truck Pull attendance. Friday night there was a large crowd in attendance, but not the amount it has been the last several years. There was 500 less people in attendance Friday then there was a year ago, but it didn't stop the pullers from slinging mud everywhere. The fans in one section even had a chance to see what it looked like when a belt breaks on a fine tuned machine. During the Mini Modified run, Thomas Coleman, of Stoneville, had a belt break on his KB 526 Pure Hell ride and the belt slung into the crowd. No one was injured.
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Pinetops 300
- Opinion
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My 13 years have been lucky
It was 13 years Sunday that a drought was broken in Big Spring, Texas, After that, we ate Mexican for dinner with a gathering of family and friends.
The next day, a Saturday, Stephanie and I joined one another in marriage under a beautiful little gazebo by Comanche Trail Lake, fed by the historic spring from which the community draws its name.
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My 13 years have been lucky
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Corbett/Chasse Wedding
Brittney Joyce Corbett and Kenneth Robert Chasse, Jr. were united in marriage on April 6th, 2013, at 5:30pm at the Imperial Centre in Rocky Mount. The Rev. Carrol Bradbury officiated the ceremony.
The Rehearsal Dinner was hosted by Shirley and Donald Foreman, Grandparents of the Groom and also Elisha and Kenneth Chasse, Parents of the Groom, at Pizza Inn in Rocky Mount.
The Bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Durwood Corbett of Macclesfield, NC. The Groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Robert Leonel Chasse, Sr. of Pinetops, NC.
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MATTIE RUTH BULLOCK
BELVOIR — Mrs. Mattie Ruth Bullock, 81, passed away on Saturday, May 18, 2013. The funeral service will be conducted Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. in the Wilkerson Funeral Chapel. Burial will be in Evergreen Memorial Park, Wilson.
Mrs. Bullock, a native of Wilson County and a lifelong resident of Pitt County, was a graduate of Belvoir-Falkland High School. She was engaged in farming with her husband until 1989 and was a charter member of Belvoir Free Will Baptist Church. - CLAYTON JERELL EPPS
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- JESSE CLARENCE GARDNER JR.
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MATTIE RUTH BULLOCK
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Budget Friendly Deliciousness
It's nice to be able to put a good meal on the table without having to spend a fortune. Today's recipes are easy, delicious and inexpensive. But, they won't taste inexpensive. I hope that you will give them a try.
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- Events
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Edgecombe Events May 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.
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Edgecombe Events May 20
- Our Community
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Stocks Elementary School celebrates Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Week
In celebration of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Week, Stocks Elementary School hosted several guest speakers and exciting activities during the first week of May.
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