Discover The Roanoke Valley 2013

Enfield - Halifax - Hobgood - Hollister - Littleton - Roanoke Rapids - Scotland Neck - Weldon

Conway - Garysburg - Gaston - Jackson - Lasker - Rich Square - Seaboard - Severn - Woodland

Discover The roanoke valley | 3

INDEX OF ADVERTISERS

Nissan of Roanoke Rapids .............................................Page 2Logan’s Roadhouse ......................................................Carini’s Italian Restaurant .............................................Page 3Sharky’s .........................................................................Page 3San Jose Mexican Restaurant .........................................Page 3Applebee’s.....................................................................Page 3The 1020 ......................................................................Page 3Citizens Community Bank..............................................Page 5Cornerstone Christian School.........................................Page 6Smart Start ...................................................................Page 7Roanoke Valley Motorsports...........................................Page 8Steve’s Tire & Auto..........................................................Page 9Kindred Transitional Care & Rehabilitation ....................Page 9Halifax Academy............................................................Page 10Northampton County Tourism Development Authority...Page 11Massey Funeral Homes..................................................Page 12Carolina Parts Company.................................................Page 13Roanoke Rapids Graded School District.........................Page 13Shell Furniture ..............................................................Page 15Washburn’s Marina .......................................................Page 18Halifax Motors...............................................................Page 18Piggly Wiggly.................................................................Page 19Roanoke Valley Pain Center............................................Page 19Lake Country Animal Hospital.......................................Page 20Wish I Had A Maid .......................................................Page 21The Uniform Shop..........................................................Page 21It’s A Kid’s World............................................................Page 21Cofield Funeral Home ...................................................Page 21Roanoke Rapids Sanitary District ..................................Page 23Liberty Commons...........................................................Page 24Wrenn Clark & Hagan Funeral Home............................Page 24Special Moments & Ed’s Shoe Repair.............................Page 25O’Sail ..........................................................................Page 25L&R Motors/D&R Sales & Service..................................Page 25Community Home Care & Hospice................................Page 26CPTA ............................................................................Page 27Roanoke Valley Savings Bank.........................................Page 28AAA Security, Inc...........................................................Page 28Todays Electronics ........................................................Page 29It’s All About You Florist & Gifts......................................Page 29Northeast Academy........................................................Page 30Price’s Refrigeration & Heating Service, Inc....................Page 30Roanoke Valley Adult Day Center...................................Page 30Ace Hardware of Lake Gaston........................................Page 32

4 | Discover The roanoke valley

Some may say the pineapple is the universal symbol of hospitality, but some folks

here in the Roanoke Valley may beg to differ.

For it is here in Halifax and Northampton counties where you will likely find a tall, cool glass of Southern sweet tea awaiting your arrival, along with an invitation to sit for a spell on the front porch and talk a while. And after a while, supper calls and when the hospitality will most likely stretch to some other favorite Southern welcomer — fried chicken, potato salad, pecan pie or peach cobbler. Now, that’s a real treat and hospitality at its finest.

Here in the Roanoke Valley, the reception of guests, visi-tors or initial strangers is more personal than a pineapple. It is more than “Welcome, and now be on your way.” The people who live in the small towns gather for school, festi-vals, church, fundraisers, celebrations and to help a neigh-bor in need with what they can to ease the times. Folks who live in the Valley are in this game called life for the long

haul. And why not? One of the

Valley’s greatest resources is its residents.

The area has so much to offer.

From the towns of Halifax and Northampton counties, it is straight from the mouths of local people on what they think of their hometown, from the first thing they tell a visitor about their city or what makes them proud of where they live.

Other valuable resources in the Valley highlighted include health care, education, nature and parks, history, events, places and happenings — all have real roots and history here that make folks carry much pride about where they call home.

Whether you are a resident of the Roanoke Valley, a fre-quent visitor or first-timer to the area, the following are only just some of the reasons locals hope to share more of home with you. Discover Roanoke Valley, where there is some-thing for everyone and there are no strangers. Welcome.

the roanoke valley

A Guide to Roanoke Valley LivingBy Kris Smith


Halifax County fast faCtsREGiStER to votEBoard of ElectionsHistoric Halifax County Courthouse10 N. King StreetHalifax 252-583-4391

WHERE to votEVisit halifaxnc.com/boardofelec-tions.com for a list of polling locations.

HaLifax CouNtyLibRaRy SyStEm33 Granville StreetHalifax252-583-3631

GEttiNG oN tHE RoadDrivers license offices26 Three Bridges Road Roanoke Rapids252-536-4046Mon. - Fri., 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Mobile unit at the Scotland Neck Municipal Complex1310 Main StreetScotland Neck252-826-3152First Monday of each month except September10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Vehicle, license plate offices1720 Julian R. Allsbrook

HighwayRoanoke Rapids252-537-6357Mon. - Fri., 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

CiviC GRoupSAmerican Legion Shaw-May Post 38 252-537-0161

AMVETS Post 101 252-535-0336

Angel’s Closet252-326-3236

Boys & Girls Club of Halifax County252-537-8092

Calling Angels252-532-6522 or 252-535-2508

Chums252-589-1133

Exodus for Youth252-535-2274

Fraternal Order of Eagles252-537-8663

Habitat for Humanity 252-537-2556

Halifax County NAACP 252-535-2284

Hannah’s Closet252-514-1127

Hannah’s Place shelter252-541-2037

Lake Gaston Association252-586-6577

Lake Gaston Ladies [email protected] ClubsDavie, 252-537-1477Gaston, 252-537-3881Halifax, 252-583-4901Lake Gaston, 252-586-4864Littleton, 252-586-6198Roanoke Rapids, 252-535-3497

Masonic LodgesEnfield #447, 252-445-3386Royal Hart (Littleton) #497, 252-536-1327Royal White Hart (Halifax) #2, 252-536-4669Scotland Neck #689, 252-826-4564Widow’s Son (Roanoke Rapids) #519, 252-537-4861

Organization to Support the Arts, Infrastructure, and Learning on Lake Gaston (O’Sail)[email protected]

Pilot Club of Roanoke Valley252-537-2822

Rotary Club of Roanoke Rapids252-537-4188

Twin City Rifle Club252-532-2360

Union Mission 252-537-3372

United Way252-537-3744

VFW Post 3702 252-410-0142

Arts/entertainmentHalifax County Arts Council252-532-2571

Halifax State Historic Site252-583-7191

Lakeland Theatre Company252-586-3124

Roanoke Canal Museum and Trail252-537-2769

Roanoke Cinema252-537-6302

The Roanoke Rapids Theatre252-538-4000

Sylvan Heights Bird Park252-826-3186

popuLatioN2010 census: 54,691

tax RatES$0.68 per $100

HaLifax CouNty boaRd of CommiSSioNERSVernon Bryant, Rachel Hux, Carolyn Johnson, Rives Manning, James Pierce, chairman, and Marcelle Smith

CouNty NumbERSAnimal Control252-583-6651

Roanoke Valley Chamber of Commerce252-537-3513

Farm Bureau252-535-3000

Health Department252-535-5021

Sheriff’s Office252-583-8521

Halifax Regional252-535-8011

Register of Deeds252-583-2101

Veterans Services252-583-3601

ENfiELdFounded: 1740

Old name: Huckleberry Swamp

History: Though the oldest town in the county, Enfield didn’t see a spark until 1759, when towns-people rioted against British fees that had been collected. Rioters were jailed, but other residents broke into the jail and freed their compatriots.

Tax rate: $0.70 (per $100)

Mayor: Barbara Simmons

Commissioners: Wilbert Bishop, Gloria Caudle, Earl Harvey, Kent Holmes, Tracey Joyner, Bud Whitaker

Town252-445-3146

Police Department252-445-5122

Fire Department252-445-4161

Public Works252-445-5181

Parks and Recreation252-904-6176

Enfield Memorial Library252-445-5203

HaLifaxFounded: 1760

History: Early Halifax served as a river port and the county seat. North Carolina’s Fourth Provincial Congress adopted the “Halifax Resolves” in April 1776, when the colony became the first to strike out against England.

Tax rate: $0.68

Mayor: Gerald Wright

Town252-583-6571

Halifax-Northampton Regional Airport (IXA)252-583-3492

Halifax County Library252-583-3631

Post Office252-583-3621

HobGoodIncorporated: 1891

History: The town started as a rail depot for the Atlantic Coastline Railroad.

Tax rate: $0.57

Mayor: Dannie Flanary

Commissioners: Doug Braddy, Stella Daugherty, Sam Johnson, Julian Padgette, Robert Sykes.

Town252-826-4573


HoLLiStERUnincorporated

History: The Saponi Indians, meaning “red earth people,” were first documented in the region in the mid to late 1600s. Tribal pop-ulation declined through Ameri-can colonial times, but stayed in the area and concentrated in southern Halifax County near the time of the Revolutionary War. Formal reorganization began in 1953, and the state officially rec-ognized the Haliwa-Saponi tribe, a blend of the names for Halifax and Warren counties, in 1965.

Haliwa-Saponi Chief: Ron Richardson

Tribe252-586-4017

Medoc Mountain State Park252-586-6588 or 252-586-6476

LittLEtoNIncorporated: 1877

History: The town was named for

the Little family, who inherited property from the prominent fam-ily in the area, the Person family. Person’s Ordinary, a stagecoach stop and tavern run by William Little, served as the core of the early town that eventually includ-ed a school and a horse track. Lit-tle also served as the town’s first postmaster, in 1820.

Tax rate: $0.65

Mayor: Betty Willis

Commissioners: Diana Bobbitt, Clare Debnum, Heidi Hogan, Jimmy Kearney

Town252-586-2709


Lake Gaston Chamber of Commerce252-586-3152

Lakeland Theatre Company252-586-3124

W.C. “Billy” Jone Jr. Memorial Library252-586-3608

RoaNokE RapidSIncorporated: 1897

History: The town began as two communities, Old Town and New Town. Old Town housed work-ers for the paper mill and merged with New Town to become Roa-noke Rapids. In 1931, the city added Rosemary, a town that grew up around a textile plant named for the founders’ wives, Rose and Mary.

Tax rate: $0.624

Mayor: Emery Doughtie

City Council: Ernest Bobbit, District 1; Suetta Scarbrough, District 1; Carol Cowen, District 2; Greg Lawson, District 2; Carl Ferebee, District 3

Town252-533-2800




Parks and Recreation252-533-2847

Roanoke Rapids Public Library 252-533-2890


The Daily Herald newspaper252-537-2505

SCotLaNd NECkIncorporated: 1867

Old name: Morstuck

History: Settled originally by a group of Scottish colonists, the area was a small cluster of com-munities. John Hyman used the name for the modern installment of the area, and the name reflects the spot in the “neck” of the Roa-noke River.

Tax rate: $0.64

Mayor: Leonard BuntingMayor Pro-Tem: Charlie Shields

Commissioners: Forrest Bradley Jr., Bryan Dobson, James Gun-nells, Raymond Watson

Town252-826-3152


Scotland Neck Memorial Library252-826-5578

Commonwealth Progress newspaper 252-826-2111

WELdoNFounded: 1745

Old names: Weldon Place, Weldon Orchard, Weldon Landing

History: Before the Roanoke River canal was built in 1823, Weldon served as an important navigational point on the river. The Confederacy established sev-eral training camps in the area during the Civil War.

Tax rate: $0.66

Mayor: Julia Meacham

Commissioners: Susie Adams, Martha Alford, Walter Clark, Stanley Edwards, Susan Smith

Town252-536-4836


Fire DepartmentStation 1: 252-536-4655Station 2: 252-536-4293


Weldon Memorial Library252-536-3837



HAlIFAX TOwN FAST FAcTS


nortHampton County fast faCtsREGiStER to votEBoard of ElectionsP.O. Box 603Jackson252-534-5681

WHERE to votEFor polling locations, call the Board of Elections.

Northampton Memorial Library207 W. Jefferson StreetJackson252-534-3571

GEttiNG oN tHE RoadDrivers license officesMobile unit at the Northampton County Health Department9495 Highway 305JacksonSecond Monday of each month, except January and November10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

CiviC GRoupS Garysburg Senior Citizens Club252-536-4784

Gregory B. Davis Foundation 252-536-3799

Jackson Women’s Club252-536-3152 or 252-534-1000

Lions clubsJackson, 252-589-1001Seaboard, 252-589-2005

Masonic LodgesDelta Lodge #436 Seaboard, 252-536-2558 Pendleton, 252-585-1597

Rich Square Community Club252-539-2872 or 252-539-4266

Rich Square Garden Club252-539-2512

Ruritan ClubsSevern-Pendleton252-585-0970

Seaboard Youth Empowerment Club252-858-0280

Woodland Men’s Club252-578-9260

popuLatioN2010 census: 22,099

tax RatES$0.87 per $100

NoRtHamptoN CouNty boaRd of CommiSSioNERSRobert Carter, District 4; Chester

Deloatch, District 3; Fannie P. Greene, District 5; Rev. James Hester, District 1 Chairman; Virginia Spruill, District 2 Vice Chairwoman

CouNty NumbERSAnimal Control252-534-5841 ext. 678

Chamber of Commerce252-534-1383

Health Department252-534-5841


Register of Deeds252-534-2511

Sheriff’s Office252-534-7101

U.S. Coast Guard252-535-3335

Veterans Services252-534-2621

CoNWayIncorporated: 1913

Old name: Martin Cross-roads

History: John Martin pur-chased the land that bore his name in 1742, but the area wasn’t settled until the early to mid 1800s. When the rail-road came to town in 1888, the town was renamed for a relative of a railroad com-pany official.

Tax rate: $0.44 (per $100)

Mayor: Brian Bolton

Commissioners: Alan Har-ris, James Jilcott, Phil Mat-thews, Willie Simmons, Gail Wade

Town252-585-0488


Volunteer Fire Department252-585-0488


GaRySbuRGFounded: Between 1818 and 1825

Old names: Peeples Town, Tavern, Garysburgh

History: The town started as a post office, and Rod-erick Gary, from the town of Halifax, lent his name to it in 1838. Townspeople abandoned the original site in the 1840s and moved to the present location. Gary donated land across from the hotel he ran to start a Methodist church. In 1892, the town changed its name to the current spelling.

Tax rate: $0.60

Mayor: Roy Bell

Mayor Pro-Tem: Lola Ausby

Commissioners: Woodrow Harding Jr., James Mayo, Darryl Whittle, Chemeka Williams

Town252-536-2167

Police Department 252-536-2167

Fire Department 252-536-0400


GASTONEstablished: 1949

Old name: Camp Store

History: The town was named after Judge Wil-liam J. Gaston, a member of the state and U.S. Con-gress. The Raleigh-Gaston Railroad, finished in 1840, ended in the first site of the town. However, in the 1950s, the town moved be-cause the old site was situ-ated on land that became Roanoke Rapids Lake.

Tax rate: $0.50

Mayor: Jason Moore

Commissioners: Donald Conner, Jerry Dickerson, Deborah James

Town252-537-1046



Rescue252-535-2173


nortHampton town fast faCts


County Health Satellite Clinic252-537-3153


JaCkSoN Founded: 1741

Old name: Northampton Courthouse

History: The town originat-ed with the creation of the county and served as the site of the courthouse. Al-though the name changed to honor then-Gen. Andrew Jackson in 1826, the town was better known for its horse breeding. Building on the present courthouse, the third iteration of that municipal building began in 1858.

Tax rate: $0.55

Mayor: J. William Gossip

Mayor Pro-Tem: Stevie Harrell

Commissioners: James Boone, Karin Clements, Mary Ann Crawley, Wil-liam Futrell

Town252-534-3811

Police/Fire/Rescue252-575-0205

Northampton Memorial Library252-534-3571

Northampton County Museum252-534-2911


LaSkER Founded: 1895

History: A saw mill on a railroad spur sparked growth in this town, and by the early 1900s it was one of the largest towns in the county. However, the livery stable and large businesses slowly shut-tered through the years as the railroad left and no major highways connect-ed into the town.

Tax rate: $0.25

Mayor: Dick Collier

Commissioners: Robin Gibson, Charles Daughtry, Charlie Mallory

Town252-539-4014

RiCH SquaRE Incorporated: 1883

History: Quakers settled the land in the early and mid 1700s. The town’s first meeting house was built in 1759, and the first Quaker school opened around the turn of the 19th century. Union School emerged as one of the first in the coun-ty. Founders incorporated the original tract of fertile land with boundaries of one square mile, hence the name.

Tax rate: $0.65

Mayor: Doris Risper

City board members: Linwood Bryant, Deborah Deloatch, Charles Eason, Raymond Joyner, Reginald White

Town252-539-2315


Rich Square Healthcare Center 252-539-4161

SEaboaRd Chartered: 1877

Old name: Concord

History: Records indicate Seaboard existed as early as 1751, but the name was changed to reflect a local railline, Seaboard Road. Residents relied on circuit educators to teach children and bring news, but by 1880, locals had established the Seaboard Institution, a one-room schoolhouse.

Tax rate: $0.50

Mayor: Bobie Moss Commissioners: William Gallimore, Reid Harris, Danny Hines, Edward Stevens

Town252-589-5061

Police Department 252-589-1111

Volunteer Fire Department252-589-7301


SEvERN Incorporated: 1919

History: The town was likely named after Severn Airs, an engineer on the railroad when it first came through, which now oper-ates as the North Carolina and Virginia Railroad. To-day, twice as many people work in the town as live in it because of the peanut industry. Locals founded the Severn Peanut Com-pany in the 1940s.

Tax rate: $0.39

Mayor: George McGee

Commissioners: Frank Ferguson, Troy Holloman, Ellie Martin, Rita McKe-own, Parker Watson

Town252-585-0144


Rescue252-585-0026

WoodLaNd Founded: 1883

History: Quakers migrated over from Rich Square, and a Friends Meeting House still stands in Woodland. Wood provided a major industry for the town that once hosted three lumber mills, a basket factory and three casket factories. The casket niche first formed when a barber in nearby unincorporated George built the boxes when he wasn’t cutting hair.

Tax rate: $0.645

Mayor: James Ellis Garris

Commissioners: Lloyd Lee Wilson, David Cooper, Jean Barnes, Joe Lassiter

Town252-587-7161


Volunteer Fire Department252-587-6831 or 252-587-2129



EDUCATIONBy Jacqueline Hough

in the Roanoke Valley, there are a variety of educational oppor-tunities ranging from more traditional and charter to private and specialized. This school year, Halifax County Schools officials made headway

in their goal of giving a free, hot breakfast to every kindergarten through eighth grade student in the district.

Through the Universal Breakfast Program, each morning students at Hollister Elementary, Pittman Elementary and Scotland Neck Primary had breakfast in their classroom.

The board of education in Northampton County Schools voted to close Northampton West STEM High School and move the two high schools to the Creeksville Precinct, where Northampton County High School-East is located. This change coupled with new courses, ranging from Honors Forensics to dance and theater, will help prepare students at the new Northampton County High School for a more global marketplace education.

With the purchase of the old Winn Dixie property finalized, Roanoke Rapids Graded School District officials are exploring

long-range plans for the prop-erty. The purchase of 6.5 acres of property means it could be used as the possible site of new Manning Elementary School.

Keeping students healthy and in school is the prior-ity for Weldon City Schools’ new health center. The School Based Health Center stressed an emphasis on preventative health care with a focus on obesity, asthma and diabetes. The center will be staffed by a nurse practitioner and a registered nurse during regular-school hours.

Construction will start in the fall of 2012 on a $6 mil-lion kindergarten-through-fourth grade Gaston Prepara-tory School Primary. The new school will become part of KIPP Gaston, which consists of KIPP Gaston College Prepa-ratory, a middle school that opened in 2001 with 80 stu-dents and was one of the first KIPP schools in the country. And since 2005, KIPP Pride High School has served grades ninth through 12th.

KIPP Primary will expand one grade level each year and eventually serve kindergarten through fourth grade.

When the entire campus is fully enrolled, KIPP Gaston will serve more than 1,100 students in grades kindergarten through 12th.

A 78-page report of economic impact released in 2011 found Halifax Community College, its staff and students spent about $44.1 million, directly and indirectly, in the Roanoke Valley.

Eastern Carolina Christian College and Seminary in its current two-story facility, 1015 Highway 48 South, and has about 25 stu-dents each semester taking classes or at other satellite campuses in Burlington, Raleigh, Rocky Mount and New Jersey. An articulation agreement with Halifax Community College was signed in Decem-ber, 2011, to allow the transfer of academic credit and increases communication, coordination and student support services be-tween the two institutions.

Education in the Roanoke Valley at

a glance:

pubLiC15 elementary schools

7 middle schools6 high schools1 early college

1 charter school2 alternative school

11,007 total enrollment, 2011-12

pRivatE4 private schools

CoLLEGESHalifax Community College

8,056 credit and non-credit students in 2009-10associate degrees

diplomasCertificates

transfer programContinuing education classes

eastern Carolina CHristian College and seminary

associate of arts in theologybachelor of theologymasters of divinity

HaLifax CouNty SCHooLSSuperintendent Dr. Elease FrederickCentral Office9525 Highway 301Halifax NC 27839252-583-5111

ELEMENTARYAurelian Springs El-ementary (PreK-5)

Dwayne Jordan10536 Highway 48Littleton NC 27850252-586-4944

Dawson Elementary (PreK-5)Amiee Richardson 6878 Old 125 RoadScotland Neck NC 27874252-826-4905

Everetts Elementary (PreK-5)Dennis Taylor458 Everetts School RoadRoanoke Rapids NC 27870252-537-5484

Hollister Elementary (PreK-5)Carla Amason


37432 Highway 561Hollister NC 27844252-586-4344

Inborden Elementary (PreK-5)Masa Kinsey-Shipp13587 Highway 481Enfield NC 27823252-445-5455

Pittman Elementary (PreK-5)Mona Gilliam25041 Highway 561Enfield NC 27823252-445-5268

Scotland Neck Primary (PreK-3)Gary Cox901 Junior High School RoadScotland Neck NC 27874252-826-4413

MIDDLE SCHOOLSEnfield Middle (6-8)Jacqueline Williams 13723 Highway 481

Enfield NC 27823252-445-5455

William R. Davie Middle (6-8)Victor Fenner4391 Highway 158Roanoke Rapids NC 27870252-519-0300

HIGH SCHOOLSNorthwest Halifax High (9-12)Dr. Marvin Bradley8492 Highway 48Littleton NC 27850252-586-4125

Southeast Halifax High (9-12)Melany Alexander-Paden16683 Highway 125Halifax NC 27839252-445-2027

NoRtHamptoN CouNty SCHooLSSuperintendent Dr. Eric Bracey

Central Office701 N. Church StreetJackson NC 27845252-534-1371

ALTERNATIVENorthampton Alternative School (2-12)Wanda Briggs-Trevino403 Park StreetSeaboard NC 27876252-534-0240

ELEMENTARYCentral Elementary School (PreK-4)Catina Jackson-Hoggard9742 NC Highway 305Jackson NC 27845252-534-3381

Gaston Elementary School (1-4)Ann Debreaux-Davis400 Broughton StreetGaston NC 27832252-537-2520

Squire Elementary School (PreK-K) Martha Page4671 NC 46 Highway WestGaston NC 27832

252-537-2877

Willis Hare Elementary School (PreK-4)Barbara Stephenson479 Willis Hare RoadPendleton NC 27862252-585-1900

MIDDLE SCHOOLSConway Middle School (5-8)Barbara Jarrett-Drummond400 East Main StreetConway NC 27845252-585-0312

Gaston Middle School (5-8)Felisha Whitaker152 Hurricane DriveGaston NC 27832252-537-1910

HIGH SCHOOLNorthampton County High School (9-12)Pamela Chamblee750 NCHS-E RoadConway NC 27820252-585-0627

RoaNokE RapidS GRadEd SCHooL diStRiCtSuperintendent

Dr. Dennis SawyerCentral Office536 Hamilton St. Roanoke Rapids NC 27870 252-519-7100

ALTERNATIVEAkers Alternative Center501 Washington StreetRoanoke Rapids NC 27870

PRE-KINDERGARTENClara Hearne Early Childhood Center (PreK)Shelley Williams731 Cedar StreetRoanoke Rapids NC 27870252-519-7700

ELEMENTARYBelmont Elementary School (K-5)Kelvin Edwards Sr.1517 Bolling RoadRoanoke Rapids NC 27870252-519-7500Manning Elementary School (K-5) Mike Ferguson1102 Barrett Street

Roanoke Rapids NC 27870252-519-7400

MIDDLE SCHOOLChaloner Middle School (6-8)Thomas Davis2100 Virginia AvenueRoanoke Rapids NC 27870252-519-7600

HIGH SCHOOLRoanoke Rapids High School (9-12)Robert Hurley800 Hamilton StreetRoanoke Rapids NC 27870252-519-7200

WELdoN City SCHooLSSuperintendent Dr. Elie Bracy IIICentral Office301 Mulberry StreetWeldon NC 27890252-536-4821

ELEMENTARYWeldon Elementary School (PreK-4)Willa Johnson-Wall805 Washington AvenueWeldon NC 27890252-536-4815

MIDDLE SCHOOLWeldon Middle School (5-8)Cynthia Byrd4489 Highway 301Halifax NC 27839252-536-2571

HIGH SCHOOLRoanoke Valley Early College (9-12)On campus of Halifax Com-munity College, building 600Dr. Monica Bernette Smith-WoofterWeldon NC252-536-6382

Weldon High School (9-12)Michelle Burton415 County RoadWeldon NC 27890-1753252-536-4829

pRivatE SCHooLSCornerstone Christian School (K-12)

Charlene Norris90 Wood Store Road Roanoke Rapids NC 27870252-535-3007

Halifax Academy (PreK-12)Glenn Wiggs, headmaster1400 Three Bridges RoadRoanoke Rapids NC 27870252-537-8527

Hobgood Academy (K-12)William H. Whitehurst,headmaster201 South Beech Street Hobgood NC 27843252-826-4116

Northeast Academy (K-12)Russell Leake, headmaster210 Lasker Golf Course Road Lasker NC 27845252-539-2461

CHaRtERKIPP Gaston College Preparatory Tammi Sutton, executive director320 Pleasant Hill Road Gaston NC 27832252-308-6932

KIPP Primary (K)Emily Cooke, school leader

KIPP Middle School (5-8)Michelle Stallings, school leader

KIPP Pride High (9-12)Kevika Amar, school leader

CoLLEGESEastern Carolina Christian College and SeminaryDr. Charles E. McCollum Sr.1015 Highway 48 SouthRoanoke Rapids NC 27870252-535-4442

HALIFAX COMMUNITY COLLEGEDr. Ervin Griffin Sr., president200 College DriveWeldon NC 27890252-536-4221



LIVING

By Roger Bell

fEStivaLSTillery Cultural Awareness FestivalMarch in Tillery

Sylvan Heights Chili FestivalMarch in Scotland Neck

Stop Hunger NowApril at Littleton United Methodist Church

Haliwa-Saponi PowwowApril in Hollister

Wings and Wheels Fly-InApril in Roanoke Rapids

Lake Gaston Chamber of CommerceBattle of the BarbecueMay in Littleton

Scotland Neck Communitywide Yard Sale

May in Scotland NeckMid-Atlantic Disc Dog Competition

May in Roanoke RapidsScotland Neck Bike TourMay in Scotland Neck

Hobgood Grill-OffJune in Hobgood

Weldon Independence Day FireworksJuly in Weldon

Halifax FireworksJuly in Halifax

Lake Gaston FireworksJuly at Pea Hill Creek

the Roanoke Valley has no shortage of festivals and events serving a variety of interests for Valley residents and visi-tors. Whether you’re interested in hearing the sounds of

local music or you’re fascinated by Native American culture, there’s a festival for you.

Fourth of July ParadeJuly in Littleton

The Lake Gaston Boat ParadeJuly at Lake Gaston

Northampton County FireworksJuly in Jackson

The CrossingAugust at Morningstar Marina

Art PlungeAugust in Littleton

Crepe Myrtle FestivalAugust in Scotland Neck

Littleton/Lake Gaston FestivalAug. 31 in Littleton

Dylan Moore Day FestivalSeptember in Halifax

Ducky DerbySept. 22 in Littleton

Hobgood Cotton FestivalOctober in Hobgood

Halifax Harvest DaysOctober in Halifax

Halifax Academy Fall FestivalOctober in Roanoke Rapids

Fall for the ArtsOctober in Littleton

Sylvan Heights AnniversaryOctober in Scotland Neck

Weldon Day

October in Weldon

March of PatriotsNovember in Roanoke Rapids

Enfield Christmas ParadeNovember in Enfield

Fall for EnfieldDecember in Enfield

Roanoke Rapids Christmas ParadeDecember in Roanoke Rapids

Scotland Neck Christmas ParadeDecember in Scotland Neck

Treelighting in JacksonDecember in Jackson

Jackson Christmas ParadeDecember in Jackson

Garysburg Christmas ParadeDecember in Garysburg

Gaston Christmas ParadeDecember in Gaston

Rich Square Christmas ParadeDecember in Rich Square

Twelve Birds of ChristmasDecember in Scotland Neck

Littleton Christmas ParadeDecember in Littleton

Conway Christmas ParadeDecember in Conway

Christmas at HalifaxDecember in Halifax


Roanoke Valley medical profes-sionals take the community’s health very seriously.

There are dozens of general prac-tice doctor’s offices and specialty lo-cations in Halifax and Northampton counties. Three of the larger medical organizations are Halifax Regional in Roanoke Rapids, Our Commu-nity Hospital in Scotland Neck and Rural Health Group, which serves a six-county region including Halifax and Northampton.

Halifax Regional is celebrating 100 years of service this year and is finishing a $6.5 million modernization and expansion of outpa-tient services. The project involves constructing or renovating 15,200 square feet of land and expands the parking lot used for outpatient services and the Emergency Care Center.

Officials say upon entering the completed outpatient area, patients and their families will arrive at an open and spacious reception, waiting and registration area where information can be received in a comfortable and private setting. In addition, there will be a private consultation area for surgeons to meet with families.

Rural Health Group serves 25,600 unique patients over the course of a year while providing primary medical care, dental, behavioral health, pharmacy services and the WIC program for everybody in the community — people with insurance, Medicare, Medicaid and the uninsured.

From one clinic in a trailer in Jackson, Rural Health Group has grown to 10 medical sites, three dental sites, a WIC program and two pharmacies.

Our Community Hospital provides medical care for Scotland Neck

and the surrounding communities with a comprehensive approach to each patient’s care and quality of life. Services include a physicians clinic, emergency room, acute care, long-term care, home for the aged and wellness center.

The Roanoke Valley prides itself on a small town feel where those in the medical field know their patients more as individuals than simply treating their ailments. Luckily, the large and talented base of profes-

sionals provide big city treatments with small-town hospitality.

Health CareBy Stephen Hemelt

Kris Smith | The Daily HeraldDr. Jorge Cuadros, left, gives his presentation to staff at the Rural Health Group at the Roanoke Rapids clinic. This office is the last batch of the group’s nine clinics to train to preform the new retinopathy screening being offered to diabetic patients.

Roanoke Valley health facilities ...Halifax Regional

250 Smith Church Road •Roanoke Rapids252-535-8011

our Community Hospital921 Junior High School Road • Scotland Neck

252-826-4144

Rural Health Groupadministrative office

2064 N.C. Highway 125 • Roanoke Rapids252-536-5440


Live Music

By Della Rose

Ranging from Americana, Native American, country and western, bluegrass, beach music and rock n roll, to the intensely soulful gospel, praise and worship genre, the Roanoke Valley is home

to a rich variety of music styles.While local music blossomed from church choirs and community

events, with the inception of The Roanoke Rapids Theatre, trends to-ward growth in the music industry has shown movement through the years, and the Valley is home of its own professional music produc-tion services, many local DJs and scores of professional and semi-professional singers and musicians.

Steve Owens and Summertime recently made it into The Beach Mu-sic National Top 40, and took No. 3 on “The Surf” top 20 charts.

Successful events including the Ducky Derby, the Littleton/Lake Gaston Festival, the Haliwa-Saponi Pow Wow, Second Saturdays at Becker Village Mall, the Hobgood Cotton Festival and the Tillery Cul-tural Awareness Festival incorporate music — many times encouraging local talent participation.

Gospel concerts ranging from local churches on homecoming Sunday to praise and worship events hosting hundreds of youth can be

found any time of year.AttheMic.com, a website devoted to promoting local venues owned

by Andy Whitby, is finding more and more local artists and events to promote.

Whitby said many restaurants are incorporating local entertainment on weekends.

“What draws people to the area is the number of places having en-tertainment,” Whitby said. “The music industry in the Roanoke Valley is healthy. On a weekly basis, there are at least four to five venues with live music. Some weeks are busier than others, but most venues are pleased with the crowds they are getting.”


top things to see around the roanoke valley

discover medoc Little fishing CreekBy Jacqueline Hough

a trip to Medoc Mountain State Park is a great getaway without leaving the Roanoke Valley.And the best part of the trip is, it’s free.

“It’s a great place where someone can get away from the rat race and the grind of everyday living,” said Bill Myer, park superintendent. “Everything is free. It will only cost you the gas to get here.”

The park, established in 1972, encompasses 4,000 acres. The park has 13 miles of hiking trails, 13 miles of bridle trails, canoeing, camp-ing and other activities.

There are various events held at the park, such as the popular as-tronomy program, which allows people to view the night sky.

While there’s no entry fee to the park, the camping area does have a fee. Cost is $25 for a site with electricity and $20 without it.

“Camping visitation has steadily increased over the last four to five years,” Myer said.

Meyer credited the increase to the new online and phone reservation system. Park users can make reservations for a campsite online at www.ncparks.gov or by calling 1-877-7722-6762.

Medoc Mountain State Park is located at 1541 Medoc State Park Road in Hollister. Park office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays.

Hours are from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. June through August; from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. March, October, April, May and September; and from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. November through February.

For more information, call 252-586-6588.

discover Jackson Lights By Jacqueline Hough

for those in the town of Jackson, Christmas isn’t just another holi-day, it is a tradition.Each year, it starts with town employee Earlie Boone wrapping the

22 Crepe Myrtle trees in downtown Jackson with lights.Mayor Jim Gossip said the illumination of the trees is an important

part of the Christmas season. Each tree has 12 to 24 strands of light and takes three to eight hours to decorate. Each strand has about 150 lights. “Earlie takes great pride and ownership with respect to this operation and it does not go unnoticed,” Gossip said.

Boone said it is great to see people enjoying the lights after all of the hard work.

“People look forward to it,” he said.Every year, the town receives compliments from people as far as

Richmond, Va., and Raleigh about the lights.Public Works Director and Police Chief John Young said Boone has

the patience of Job.The lights are turned on from Thanksgiving through the end of

February.And once the season is over, the lights are cut off, literally.Gossip admits it is a substantial line-item in the town’s budget.“We feel like it is worth the investment,” he said.To compliment the lights, the public buildings in the town are taste-

fully decorated. Town merchants decorate their storefronts.The annual tree-lighting ceremony has it’s roots in the early 1990s,

Gossip said. It was so well received it has evolved into an evening of entertainment. It includes lighting the tree, caroling, a visit from Santa Claus and rides in a horse-drawn carriage.


top things to see around the roanoke valley

discover LakelandBy Dustin Renwick

Juggling four shows on a main stage became an annual ritual in the history of Lakeland Theatre Company. The popular venue ran 16 shows in 2011, akin to spinning plates while walking on hot

coals. “It was nuts,” said Gavin Guttersen, chairman of the board. “It becomes too much, especially being a volunteer theater.”

Established in 1978 and located in the old Littleton High School building, the theater will change the routine in 2013.

The schedule for 2013 will accommodate a range of shows, but host fewer major titles. Less is more because actors can spend more time rehearsing on the main stage, raising the quality of each production, Guttersen said. Part of the change reflects the addition of the 67-seat Cabaret Theatre in June 2012. The company can host smaller, more experimental shows in the cabaret space, shows that might run for a night or one weekend.

“If you draw 200 people the energy level’s high” with a well-known performance held in the 328-seat main theater — think “Oklahoma!” or “Fiddler on the Roof.” However, holding smaller productions on a main stage, “everyone would walk in and think they were all alone,” Guttersen said. “We have to hit critical mass.”

The selection committee will spend extra time arranging the spe-cific 2013 lineup in honor of the company’s 35th anniversary.

Six major shows will be held on the main stage: Three musicals for spring, summer and early winter; three plays, dramas and com-edies, for late spring, late summer and fall.

Visit www.lakelandtheatrenc.org or call 252-586-3124 for more information.

discover pow WowBy Della Rose

a celebration of all things Haliwa-Saponi, the Pow Wow began in 1965, when after years of scrutiny over whether or not tribe members were actually Native Americans, they received their

state recognition. The Pow Wow is held the second weekend in April each year.

Pow Wow is a celebration of spring, the Mother Earth and incorpo-rates native singing, dancing, arts and crafts, and food into a weekend filled with renewing old friendships and incorporating new ones.

Al Richardson, Executive Director for the Haliwa-Saponi Tribe, said from an economic standpoint, the Pow Wow is the largest fundraiser for the tribe. This is the oldest and biggest Pow Wow in the state. About 10,000 people attend each year.

He said the money raised is a resource for tribal programs.Al said the name Pow Wow, comes from the Algonquin language,

“Pau-Wau,” which means a coming together of people, and originally it was for chiefs and governing members of the tribe.

Eventually women and children were invited.Al said the Haliwa-Saponi are considered Eastern Woodland Indians.“We all have different languages and dialects,” he said. “(Pow Wow)

is a time to share with them and our non-Indian friends what it is to be Haliwa-Saponi in Hollister, N.C.”

He said one thing he wants to make sure people understand is Pow Wow is not just for tribal members and Native Americans. It is open for everyone. “It’s our opportunity to share our heritage,” he said.


Halifax County


State Sen. Ed Jones, d-Enfield, loves the small town atmosphere of Enfield. A retired state trooper and former police chief and mayor of Enfield, Jones served two years in the state House before joining the Senate in 2007. He and wife Mary Ann have two adult daughters and three granddaughters.

the first thing i tell a visitor about my hometown ... It’s where you can see peanuts, cotton and an old railroad station. A town where the tracks run through the middle

of town. You can see a town trying to grow to-gether instead of apart.

i live here because ... my family has spent most of their life here. It’s close-knit and every-body knows everyone.

What i miss most about my hometown when i’m away ... is my friends and my constituents calling about different matters.

i’m proud of my hometown because ... I get to see the young folks grow into upstanding citizens. We did this by being role models and pushing them to achieve.

ENFIELD


frank avent, of Hobgood, moved to Halifax County in March 1978 from Rocky Mount. After retiring as an Army officer, he went to work for the People’s Bank in Nash County in 1972. Then in 1978 he moved to Scotland Neck. “My wife and I moved to Hobgood in September 1980. They’ve (the townspeople) been stuck with me ever since,” he said. Avent is involved in many community groups — including the Board of Trustees at Halifax Com-munity College, chairman of the Halifax County Econom-

ic Development, Halifax County Tourism board, Halifax County Citizens Advisory Team board, member of the Roanoke Valley Chamber of Commerce and the Upper Coastal Plain Learning Council.Avent has three children. He shared, “They are all grown and gone.” He said he is always trying to give back to Halifax County and Hobgood, because they’ve been good to him.

the first thing i tell a visitor about my hometown is ... I tell them it’s small town population of 347 people. We all try to get along and treat everyone fairly. We want everyone to feel welcome. We have a nice park, church, depot, July 4th celebration and cotton festival.

i live here because ... I came to Halifax County in 1978 and retired in 1995. I like Halifax County.

What i miss most about my hometown when i’m away ... Friends and fellowship. Like eating breakfast at The Grill. It’s always good to go and better to come back.

i’m proud of my hometown because ... We work togeth-er. ‘Working Together Works’ is our motto. We get things done without burning up a lot of the tax payers’ money. Everyone pitches in to help. Also, Hobgood is a great place to raise a family.

HALIFAX

Sharon vick-Estep is Halifax County Town Clerk. In fact, she is a certified Municipal Clerk with the UNC School of Government and recently received her certifica-tion from the NC Municipal Clerks Association. Vick-Estep is a graduate of Weldon High School and Halifax Com-munity College. She said she’s enjoying life with her new husband, William Estep; she loves her three daughters, Nichole, Allyson and Natalia and thinks being a “nana” to grandchildren Kinley and Austin Shearin is one of the best things in the world. She also enjoys riding a motorcycle.

the first thing i tell a visitor about Halifax is ... “it’s like Mayberry reborn.”

i work in Halifax because ... I love it. I like the friendliness and slowed—down pace. I like to walk around the block and everybody knows me. I like going to work and if I miss a day, everybody comes in and checks on me to see why I was out.

What i miss most about Hali-fax when i’m away is ... the traffic — or lack of it in Halifax.

i’m proud of Halifax because ... it’s where the Halifax Resolves were signed. “So many people are not aware of what that means. That’s more significant than Williams-burg.”

HObGOOD

terry Newsom has lived in Littleton all his life. He is employed as a registered security officer in Virginia. He said he mostly works NASCAR races. He also serves as Littleton’s Police Commissioner. Newsom graduated from Littleton High School and afterward attended Louisburg College and Atlantic Christian College, graduating with a degree in psychology. Newsom is very involved in Lake-land Theatre Company, which is in the former Littleton High School. The historic building and the theater is one of Littleton’s jewels.

the first thing i tell a visi-tor about my home town is ... Lakeland Theatre Company and how their work betters the com-munity.

i live in Littleton because... of family. Newsom was born and raised in Littleton and said he enjoys the people in town and in the area.

What i miss most about my hometown when i’m away ... is the traffic. “I go other places and there are too many people and too much traf-fic,” he said, adding he also misses his dogs.

i’m proud of my hometown because ... of the hospitality. “Most of the citizens still have Southern hospitality,” he said, adding people are friendly, they still speak to each other on the street and they enjoy visiting.


LITTLETON


Nancy Jackson says she was born in Scotland Neck and as of July 19, she has worked for the town of Scot-land Neck for 33 years. She started working in customer service then took on the town administrator and clerk positions with some finance thrown into the mix. Jack-son graduated from Hobgood Academy, left for college for two years then came back home. Jackson’s mom and sister live in the town, as well as her 23-year-old son. the first thing i tell a visitor about my hometown is … we’re not dead, just dusty. We’ve picked up a couple of new businesses. We are very friendly and inviting. There

is a neat little hardware store that offers ice cream, too, along with bologna and hoop cheese. i live here because … I was born and raised here and had a great opportunity to come to work for the town and never left. What i miss most about my hometown when i’m away … the people. i’m proud of my hometown because … we actually have more businesses relocat-ing here. We just opened an Italian restaurant, a new automotive shop and more. We’ve got some good things going on here, and we’re very excited about it. There is much to do and see.

SCOTLAND NECK

mary-frances allsbrook fisher has strong roots in the Roanoke Valley. Her great-grandfather lived here, and her grandfather, Will Allsbrook, farmed in Halifax County. Her father, State Sen. Julian Allsbrook, served the Valley all his life, as did her brother, the late Judge Richard Allsbrook. Fisher is the widow of former Roanoke Rapids City Coun-cilman Marion Fisher, and she is a retired educator, having served as a teacher for 31 years at Akers Elementary then Medlin School. She has served a total of 14 years on the Roanoke Rapids Graded School District Board of Education, two of those years as Chairwoman. She wrote the history of the city school system in the book “Roanoke Rapids, the First 100 Years.”

the first thing i tell someone about my hometown is ... How wonderful it is. It’s a very caring, loving community. We’re small but that doesn’t mean we’re not a great place to live and raise your children. One thing I know about this

community — if you ever need a friend, they’re there for you. It’s a great place to live; I wouldn’t have stayed here all my life if it weren’t.

i live here because ... This is where I was born and raised. I am very family-oriented, and my family is here. Certainly, I don’t have any immediate family left, but my extended family, the kids I taught, they always look after their old third-grade teacher. I believe in this community, and even though we aren’t growing the way we once were, we have a great future here.

What do you miss most about your hometown when you’re away ... Missie, my dog, my dear companion. And my bed. And my many friends. All the kids I ever taught are my fam-ily and I miss them when I’m away.

What makes you most proud of your hometown ... The way we take care of and love each other. We have differences, but we allow space for that. I think, in general, we have great people. You don’t have to agree with everybody but we disagree and still love each other.

ROANOKE RAPIDS


Johnny draper has worked in the radio industry since taking a part-time job with a Roanoke Rapids station when he was in high school. He later bought that AM radio station, 97.9 (97Q) in 1972. In 1988, he launched WLGQ (97Q) on air as an FM station, which is now WTRG. He sold his radio station holdings in 1998. In 1969, at the age of 29, he was elected commission-er for the town of Weldon. He held that position until August of 1988, when the mayor passed away and he served the remainder of the mayor’s unexpired term. He was elected mayor after that and served another 22 years in that position.

the first thing i tell a visitor about my hometown is ... If you have never lived in a small town, you don’t un-derstand what a small town is. You know everybody. I grew up here, so did my wife, so did my daughter. It is one of the reasons I still live here. I love the small town atmosphere. As a rule, you know almost every-body. You enjoy your neighbors. Even more important than that, you are close enough to large cities like Raleigh or Norfolk and it’s only about three hours to

the Outer Banks. We are just close to a lot of other things, certainly within reasonable driving distance.

i live her because ... I like it here. I have grown up here. I still work part-time for the radio station because I enjoy it so much. I am close to every-thing I enjoy. I like to play golf, and I am a block or two away from the golf course. I have no reason to move.

What i miss most about my hometown when i am away ... home. A lot of people are fortunate enough to say their hometown is the best. I am one of those. I still en-joy my hometown.

i am most proud of my hometown because ... the small town atmosphere. Knowing your neighbors, people you are in civic clubs with.

WELDON


Northampton County


Evangelyn Harris, Conway means home because she’s spent her life there and her family surrounds her. She and her husband have 13 children and parents nearby. In fact, Evangelyn can walk down the road to her childhood home.

the first thing i tell a visitor about my hometown is ...We live in a great commu-nity. It’s a good little town to raise a family. We’re small, but we’re big enough.

i live here because ... I’ve lived here all my life. I enjoy the town. It’s a good atmosphere.

What i miss most about my hometown when i’m away ... The quietness. It’s not congested. And rec league basketball at the middle school.

i’m proud of my hometown because ... The crime is low. I think a lot of people in the com-munity, they look out for each other, look out for what’s going on in town.

CONWAY


fannie p. Greene, a native of the Lake Gaston commu-nity, has lived in Garysburg since 1983 with her husband William. Since 2000, she has been the town administrator for Garysburg after retiring from the state.

the first thing i tell a visitor about my hometown ... It is a small family-oriented town. It is a productive town with

a productive-minded mayor and town commissioners.

i live here because ... when I built a home here, it became central to my home and work

What i miss most about my hometown when i’m away ... is the quietness and friendliness of the people. We have some good people here.

i’m proud of my hometown because ... of how we pull together when there is a crisis. During the flood in 1995, we had a lot of the citizens coming out to help one an-other.

GARYSbURG

Firefighting is in the blood for Gaston Volunteer Fire Chief Ed porter Jr., whose father, Ed Porter, serves as his Deputy Fire Chief and whose son, Eddie Porter, serves as a lieutenant in the department. His wife Marilyn is also a firefighter with the department. Formerly of Baltimore, Md., Porter moved to the Valley in 1984 and opened Ed’s Shoe Repair in 1985. He’s since added Special Moments Bridal and Tuxedo Shop. Porter is serving his 19th term as Gaston’s Fire Chief.

the first thing i tell people about my hometown is ... It’s a laid-back, quiet town and it’s full of friendly people. When I first moved here, I went into a store thinking I would get out of there fast, but people want to talk to you and get to know you here. Everything up north is fast, get in and get out there fast, but this slow pace is great. I love it.

i live here because ... I just like the slower pace and the people. My family is here, I have three kids and they’re all here, along with four grandkids and they’re all here. I have ties to the community through my business and the fire department.

What do you miss about your hometown when you’re away ... mostly, the fire department. My wife gives me a hard time because when we’re away, I’m always checking in. I always want to know what’s going on.

What makes you most proud of your hometown ... I would say the friendly people. Customers aren’t in a rush when they come into the store, and people always ask you how you’re doing or how it’s going. It’s a very caring community.

GASTON


Twenty-one years ago, Jim Gossip moved to Jackson because he felt the town was the epitome of the small historic southern town. The decision was helped with his passion for community revitalization. As a town commis-sioner for 13 years and now mayor for six, he has seen more than 40 projects completed in the last 10 years

the first thing i tell a visitor about my hometown ... Jackson is the quintessential small historic southern town. To an unsuspecting person going through a small town, you blink and miss. But if you allow yourself to stop, meet some of the people and go into some of the fascinat-

ing places, you will find these towns posses, wonderful trea-sures.

i live here because ... I wanted to get to small-town living. I think it is a more wholesome environment. When I was look-ing 21 years ago, I looked at a dozen towns. At the end of the day, all roads led to Jackson. It has been a great experience.

What i miss most about my hometown when i’m away ... is the people and camaraderie. We are a tight-knit town. We all know each other and support each other.

i’m proud of my hometown because ... it is a safe, whole-some environment in which to live and raise a family. The fabric that once held all small communities is still very much a part of Jackson.

JACKSON

dick Collier was born in Lasker and spent most of his life working for telephone companies in Virginia. After retiring, he moved back in 1992 and now serves as the di-rector for the tourism development authority in Northamp-ton County. “It’s called an unretired job,” he said with a laugh.

the first thing i tell a visitor about my hometown is ... it’s a small town, friendly people. People get along, and living is easy.

i live here because ... I like the town. I know everybody in town. Home is home.

What i miss most about my hometown when i’m away

... It’s always good to get back home. I can’t answer it better than that. There’s no specific thing I really look forward to — I look forward to all of it.

i’m proud of my hometown because ... My roots. I can trace them back to the 1800s. Most of the people in Lasker have roots back that far. I have descendants from Scotland, Ireland, Eng-land, Quakers. My mother’s side came over on the Mayflower.

LASKER

28| Discover The roanoke valley

doris E. Risper has been mayor of Rich Square for about 7 and a half years and is working on her fourth term. She was born and raised in the town, then moved to New York. She came back home in 1992. “It wasn’t the place for me. But it did have op-portunities, so I stayed and every day I stayed, I was preparing to come back home,” Risper said of New York. “I’m a country girl at heart.” She said her mom got sick, so she was able to come home sooner rather than later. Her mom has since passed, but all of her family still lives in Rich Square. Risper has five children — three girls and two boys — along with 13 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren.

the first thing i tell a visitor about my hometown is ... it’s a beautiful place to live, nice, quiet and a great place to raise kids. I just love the country, and Rich Square is a li’l country town.

i live here because ... it’s home. To me, no place will ever take the place of Rich Square.

What i miss most about my hometown when i’m away ... the friendliness of the people here. How people treat you in general. Your neighbor is automatically concerned. When I lived in the city, there was a lack of concern. I missed being from the country. Some people call it nosey, but I call it concerned.

i’m proud of my hometown because ... the people. At this time, what really makes me proud is a certain pastor. When the Creecy School closed, Pastor Anthony Rawlins Sr., of Second Baptist Creeksville and Second Baptist Rich Square, opened it as a community center. I’m so very proud of that place right now. It offers something for everyone in the community. Pastor Rawlins and the community center has in-stilled a sense of pride and respect in the community.

RICH SqUARE

When her local community club shut down, Laquitia barnes felt the tug to give back. She was born and raised in Seaboard and attended Halifax Community College. Last year, she founded the Youth Empowerment Club and now works with 40 to 50 kids each month with various events she organizes. “I think it’s just what God wants me to do.”

the first thing i tell a visitor about my hometown is ... my hometown is small in size but big in heart.

i live here because ... I was raised here, and when I finished school and college I decided to stay here be-cause this is where my family is.

What i miss most about my home-town when i’m away ... the kids I leave behind, the kids I work with in Seaboard, those are the kids I miss. I miss them a lot.

i’m proud of my hometown because ... former Mayor Melvin Broadnax said, “Our town is no greater than the people who live in it.” What you put into your town is what you get out. That’s the motto I live by every day.

SEAbOARD


Severn Town Clerk Carol ferguson is not a native of the town but knows she has been part of the town’s fabric for 32 years. Ferguson has been town clerk for 16 years. She is a member of the Conway-Severn Volunteer Rescue Squad, Severn-Pendleton Ruritan Club and delivers Meals on Wheels in the area.

the first thing i tell a visitor about my hometown is ... it’s a

quiet, homey and friendly town. There is no crime rate.

i live here because ... I like the close-knit family style here. Ev-eryone knows everyone. I can walk down the streets, look at the homes and name where everyone lives.

What i miss most about my hometown when i’m away ... is the quietness and friendliness of the people. We have some good people here.

i’m proud of my hometown because ... of how we pull together when there is a crisis. During the flood in 1995, we had a lot of the citizens coming out to help one another.

SEVERN

Woodland Attorney-at-law Luther Culpepper was born and raised in the region. He graduated from Northeast Academy, attended college at East Carolina University, and received his law degree from Campbell Law School.Culpepper is a member and Vice President of N.C. State Bar District 6B, a member of the Northampton County Chamber of Commerce and attends Woodland Baptist Church.He has an 8-year-old Goddaughter, Katie Vinson, of whom he is very proud.

the first thing i tell visitors about my hometown is ... that there is much more to it than just what you see.

i live here because... “It’s home!” Culpepper and his family trace their family back for generations.

What i miss most about my home-town when i’m away is ... is the night sky. “When I was little and we’d be waiting for Daddy to finish picking peanuts, I’d climb up in the trailer, lay back in the peanuts and watch the constellations and satel-lites and shooting stars moving across the sky,” Culpepper said. “Then and now, there’s no greater view of God’s Heaven than from Woodland on a crisp and clear fall night.”

i’m proud of my hometown be-cause... of the people who call Wood-land home. He said in March of last year, his Goddaughter’s home caught fire around 3 a.m. “I got there shortly after the volunteer firemen and once the family was all checked out by the ambulance crew and released, I looked up and noticed that cars and trucks were pulling up everywhere on both sides of the road,” Culpepper said. “It was the middle of the night but the phones in Woodland were ringing. Friends and neighbors came up, many still in their nightclothes under coats. There was nothing they could do but be there for the family and so there they were. This is just one example of many. I’m proud to live in a community where people care so much for each other.”

WOODLAND


ParksBy Roger Bell

Whether you’re interested in camping, hiking, fishing, having a picnic or just lounging in the outdoors, there’s a park in the Roanoke Valley waiting for you. Whether it’s the state-run splendor of Medoc Mountain or the simplicity of Friendship Park, lovers of sun and land-scape can find what they’re looking for with a short drive, or walk, to a park.

Roanoke Rapids Parks and Recreation

252-533-2847

HaLifax CouNtyRoaNokE RapidS

CHoCkoyottE paRkChockoyotte Street

EmRy paRkWest 9th and Cleveland streets

RoCHELLE paRk5th and Vance streets

LEdGERWood fiELdWest 11th and Vance streets

LoNG paRk400 block of East 4th and 5th streets

SmitH paRk600 block of 4th and 5th streets

mELody paRkCedar Street

SoutHGatE paRkCharles Circle

tiNSLEy paRkIntersection of Arbutus and

East 6th Street


WHEELER paRkShell and Oak Streets

EddiE GEoRGE paRkVirginia Avenue

C.W. daviS paRkCedar Street

maRtiN LutHER kiNG JR. paRkWyche Street and Virginia Avenue

tHE RoaNokE CaNaL muSEum aNd tRaiL

15 Jackson Street Extension

bRiNkLEyviLLEmEdoC mouNtaiN StatE paRk

1541 Medoc Mountain Road252-586-6588

SCotLaNd NECk

SyLvaN HEiGHtS biRd paRk1829 Lees Meadow Road

252-826-3186

WELdoN

RivER faLLS paRkU.S. Hwy 301 252-536-4836

ENfiELd

mEiER oakviEW paRkBell Street

252-445-3146

HobGood

fRiENdSHip paRkCommerce Street

252-826-4573

NoRtHamptoN CouNtyWoodLaNd

WoodLaNd paRkU.S. Highway 258 West

252-587-7161

GaStoN

dWiGHt HaLL RECREatioN paRkBaird Street

252-537-1046

Discover The Roanoke Valley 2013

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Transcript of Discover The Roanoke Valley 2013