An arrest was made following a Friday assault which apparently started over the victim not liking what his wife cooked for him.
Lt. Bobby Martin of the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office said in a press release Lt. Stevie Salmon responded to an assault call in the 5000 block of Justice Branch Road in Enfield.
EMS was already on scene treating the victim, James Lewis, 85, for head injuries. The man’s wife, Rosie, 71, was standing outside with EMS as they were treating the victim.
Martin said Salmon learned there was an argument earlier in the morning, which is believed to have started over breakfast, when the victim did not like what was cooked for him.
Mrs. Lewis cooked the victim another meal. While this was going on another argument took place and escalated when Mr. Lewis picked up his cane and drew back in an attempt to strike Mrs. Lewis.
Mrs. Lewis picked up an iron frying pan and hit her husband on the head several times, knocking him to the floor and causing a head injury.
The victim was carried to Halifax Regional Medical Center in Roanoke Rapids where he received 50 stitches.
The last check of the victim was that he was doing well. Mrs. Lewis was charged with assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury and was placed in the Halifax County Jail under no bond under state domestic violence laws. Her court date is Aug. 26.
A Littleton area man was arrested yesterday in a Sunday pistol whipping, the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office reported this morning.
Lt. Bobby Martin said in a news release Roanoke Rapids Police notified the sheriff’s office they located Kendrell Robinson, 21.
Robinson was wanted in an assault on Justice Branch Road in Littleton where he allegedly struck the victim several times with a handgun causing severe damage to the victim’s head and face.
Detective Rich Somogyi investigated the case and was able to secure warrants on Robinson, who was jailed on $100,000 bond.
Robinson was charged with two counts of felony conspiracy, assault inflicting serious bodily injury, assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury, two counts of communicating threats, attempted robbery with a dangerous weapon and larceny of a firearm.
The victim is recovering well, Martin said.
A Roanoke Rapids man was arrested last night as he was fleeing from a house he allegedly broke into, Police Chief Jeff Hinton said this morning.
Around 8:30 last night, police received a tip someone broke into a house at Third and Washington Street.
Hinton said police were able to catch Kevin Shorter Jr., 24, as he was running from the house.
Shorter was charged with felonious breaking and entering, felony larceny and possession of stolen goods. Bond was $7,000.
The Roanoke Avenue Business Alliance is busy as it waits to hear word on the city’s possible acceptance into the Main Street program, the organization’s president, Kim Simpson, told The Spin last night.
Last night was the alliance’s first roast where local businessman Phil Hux was on the hot seat. The roast, held at Timeless Tea, was packed and the next one will be at david’s Sept. 21 at 6:30 p.m.
On Monday, one of the most crucial steps in the city’s possible inclusion in the Main Street program will be held as officials from the program come to Roanoke Rapids to visit the city, conduct interviews and go on a tour of the city, Simpson said.
It is part of the site selection process and will help determine what era best fits the Avenue, whether the accoutrements should from the 1920s or 1930s or some other decade, Simpson explained. “It’s very crucial because the report will be turned into the governor so she can make a decision,” Simpson said.
A decision on whether the city will be accepted into the Main Street program is expected by the middle of October.
Inclusion in the North Carolina Main Street Program could help improve the business district through local and business participation, volunteer efforts, grant and state funding.
Meanwhile, the alliance will hold its regular monthly meeting Saturday at the Lloyd Andrews City Meeting Hall on Jackson Street at 9 a.m. The meetings provide an overview on alliance activities and the public is invited to attend.
Paul Sabiston is here. Pete Connet is leaving.
Sabiston, the new Roanoke Rapids city manager started today, meeting employees, getting briefed by Connet, the interim city manager who will leave Thursday.
“Pete is updating me on various projects and issues,” Sabiston said today at city hall. “I’ve talked to the mayor. I’ve met with all the department heads.”
The new city manager also plans to meet with city council members before the panel’s next meeting, he said.
There are also routine matters he must take care of, learning city policies and procedures, development standards and codes. “We’re still going through things to determine the different projects and day-to-day operations,” the former town administrator of Shallotte said.
Connet said he has been answering questions and briefing Sabiston on issues such as the Brandy Creek community. Several matters like an odor in the community have been taken care of, he said.
Sabiston comes to the city as its fund balance improves, an improvement coming from actions taken by city council earlier in the year to keep it from falling below the 8 percent threshold required by the N.C. League of Municipalities. “It shows the staff and city council did the right thing,” he said. “We’ve got a good budget.”
Measures taken by council when the city learned in February it faced a $664,000 shortfall mean when it closed the books at the end of June, its fund balance increased 8.9 percent for a total of 17.2 percent. That represents a $1.9 million unreserved fund balance. Fund revenues for the year are expected to increase by more than $900,000.
Sabiston is also hopeful the budget situation will improve even more and expects the city’s audit, which is completed, to be a good one.
He said it is important to remember the good news about the fund balance doesn’t mean the city is in a position to do extra spending. “Hopefully it will get better. I think the finances are heading in the right direction.”
One of the first things Sabiston must do as new city manager is select a new planning director. “We’ve got some applications on file.”
Sabiston wants someone who will be able to run the entire department. “We’re still too small to have someone to sit in a cubby hole,” he said.
The welcome he has received thus far has been warm, he said. “I’ve got a lot of phone calls from people I don’t know telling me they’re glad I’m here. The family has enjoyed it.”
For Connet, it may be time to relax, although the league has already contacted him about another interim job, he said.
He leaves Roanoke Rapids feeling positive about the city. “Roanoke Rapids has a lot to offer,” he said. “There are still some bumps in the road.”
He believes, however, the Carolina Crossroads project will take off. “There’s a lot of positive things happening in the city. The national and state economy has hit all cities and counties across North Carolina.”
Witnesses made at least two attempts to get an Enfield woman off the tracks before she was hit and killed by a southbound Amtrak train engine Saturday morning, police tell The Spin.
Enfield Police Detective Randy White said Sherry Huntonn, 40, was standing up when the passenger train struck her.
Huntonn was allegedly drinking with other people when the people she was with heard the train coming and warned her to get up.
Friends assisted her but Huntonn sat back down on the tracks as the train continued to approach. As she got up to get out of the way she was struck and killed instantly, White said today.
Alcohol was found at the scene and an autopsy was being performed to determine her blood alcohol content, White said.
Huntonn, who is originally from New Hampshire, moved from place to place in Enfield, White said.
Family was expected to come to Enfield to claim the body.
The Spin first reported Saturday the collision occurred around 1 a.m. when the woman was sitting on the southbound tracks.
The engine pulling the Amtrak cars to Rocky Mount was probably going between 50 to 65 mph when the woman was struck, White told The Spin Saturday.
The Halifax County Sheriff’s Office reports a drug bust Friday morning in the Lincoln Heights community.
Lt. George Evans said in press release around 2:24 a.m. Deputy. W.C. Murphy spotted a vehicle traveling over the posted speed limit on Branch Avenue in Roanoke Rapids.
He stopped it at Key Street. Antoine Boyd exited the vehicle and ran on foot. Murphy saw Boyd drop a dollar bill on the ground.
After a short foot chase Murphy took him in custody. Inside the dollar was a small amount of powder cocaine.
Boyd was charged with resisting a public officer and possession of cocaine. He received a $1,000 bond and has a Sept. 14 court date.
The Roanoke Rapids Police Department reported the following:
• On Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at the downtown Food Lion, a 50-year-old woman was accosted in the parking lot and robbed, Chief Jeff Hinton said.
A man armed with a knife and a second person with him took the victim’s purse and fled on foot.
While searching the area, a witness told police the two fled to 134 Hamilton St. Police arrested Phillip Bernard Brown, 35, of 134 Hamilton St., for robbery with a dangerous weapon, assault with a deadly weapon and possession of stolen property. He was jailed on $25,000 bond and has a Sept. 30 court date.
Also arrested was Ian Barkley Coles, 17, of 134 Hamilton St. He was charged with aid and abet robbery with a dangerous weapon and possession of stolen property. He was jailed on $10,000 bond.
• Also on Saturday police received a 3 a.m. call to the 500 block of Hamilton Street. Someone went in while the people were sleeping and left a pair of sneakers and cap in the inside. Nothing was taken. The case remains under investigation.
A second person has been charged in a November, 2007, larceny on Piney Grove Church Road in Littleton, according to the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office.
A riding lawnmower and a four-wheeler were stolen from the property.
Detective Tyree Davis said in a press release the first arrest in the case was made in July when Solomon “Wilson” Thomas Johnston was charged.
Today, James “Lou” Edward Hall Jr., 22, of Roanoke Rapids, was charged.
Davis charged Hall with one count of felony larceny of a motor vehicle and one count of misdemeanor larceny. He was given a $5,000 bond and his court date is set for Sept. 23. The riding lawnmower was recovered.
A Scotland Neck area woman was charged this morning in a domestic assault.
Detective Rich Somogyi of the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office said in a press release Deputy Buford White responded to an assault in the Scotland Neck area of Halifax County.
When Deputy White arrived he found the residents fighting in the house. The victim was bleeding from the head and the arm.
Wilma Crandall was holding an axe handle. Halifax County EMS transported the victim to Our Community Hospital in Scotland Neck where he was treated for his wounds.
Deputy White took Crandall into custody and she was later charged with assault with a deadly weapon causing serious bodily injury. Crandall was placed into the Halifax County Jail under no bond with a court date of Sept. 9.
A 40-year-old Enfield woman was hit and killed by an Amtrak train engine, Enfield police tell The Spin this morning.
The collision occurred around 1 a.m. today, Chief Jack Smith said.
Detective Randy White said Sherry Huntonn was sitting on the edge of the southbound tracks when the engine approached. Why she was sitting on the tracks remains unclear but White said it does appear she tried get out of the way before she was struck and killed instantly.
White said alcohol use may be a factor. The engine pulling the Amtrak cars was probably going between 50 to 65 mph when the woman was struck, White said.
Huntonn is originally from New Hampshire but was living in the area. She had no family living in Enfield.
White said the case remains under investigation.
Charles Davis wants businesses involved with the Roanoke Rapids Theatre.
That was his message today to members of the Roanoke Valley Chamber of Commerce where he was the guest speaker.
Davis is at the theater for 90 days and part of the funding to bring him to Roanoke Rapids was done through a grant from Roanoke Electric, its CEO, Curtis Wynn, said following the presentation.
Roanoke Electric also has office space in the theater for its nonprofit arm which helps and positions minority construction companies, a possible sign construction on land surrounding the theater is forthcoming.
Wynn introduced Davis to the audience. “As a community, we’re fortunate to have his talent to get things running with the theater.”
Davis was brought in to help theater owner Lafayette Gatling with ideas to promote the theater and has been in the area for two weeks.
He said his goal is not only to help the theater prosper, but help the community prosper. “It’s Roanoke Rapids time to grow,” he said.
Davis comes from Biloxi, Miss., small town USA, he said. He has been in the entertainment industry for 15 years, not only working on casino projects in Mississippi, but planning shows like Cirque du Soleil, Lord of the Dance and Broadway shows. He was involved in planning one of the big inaugural balls, he said.
His purpose for speaking at the chamber today was not to introduce himself but to harvest ideas. “I’m really interested in what you guys think. It’s your theater.”
The theater has a show Saturday at 5 p.m. where Percy Sledge is the headliner, Davis said. A rodeo on green space around the theater is planned for Sept. 12 and 13, he said.
Davis is working with the Gatlings to bring acts like Kenny Rogers and Brooks and Dunn to the theater along with a variety of other acts.
The theater is planning to have yearly subscriptions where businesses may buy tickets. “We can have shows catered to you,” he said. “Entertainment has always been a thing to cater to clients to make (your business) grow. We want to get all your comments and see what we can do collectively as we grow to make your business grow.”
Davis said he was not opposed to staying beyond the 90 days to help the theater. He said the theater must look to a regional perspective to help the venue grow.”We have to use small town USA as a selling point,” he said. “We have to market that slant as a selling point.”
Because the casino business was group tour driven, Davis said he knows that aspect of the theater business. He said there are several attractions in the area which lend itself to tour groups such as Sylvan Heights in Scotland Neck. If the theater is successful other businesses in the community will be successful. “I like the slogan this is Carolina crossroads,” he said.
One of the things he addressed when talking about the subscription programs was having certain performances at the venue be sponsored by businesses, especially on shows like the Broadway productions.
Answering a question by The Spin, Davis said he couldn’t comment much on a proposed expansion of the theater. “I think everyone would like to see expansion and see growth. I don’t know that it’s not going to happen. It’s a matter of time. It’s a matter of resources.”
Currently there are no plans to have a house band at the theater, Davis said, like was done when the theater was managed by Randy Parton. “We’re just going to try to bring in shows from the outside. I think that’s been tried already. I’m not sure we might have some house shows at some point.”
Davis said afterward things were going well. “I’m really trying to learn the community and who’s who.”
He reiterated he was willing to stay beyond the 90 days. “If they want me to stay I will probably be willing to stay.”
Davis believes the theater will grow. “I think so,” he said. “It’s a matter of time. The community needs to get behind the theater. It’s a matter of time and planning.”
Lafayette Gatling has made all his lease payments so far on the Roanoke Rapids Theatre, the city said this morning.
The Chicago businessman has thus far paid the city $678,338, Finance Director MeLinda Hite said.
His next payment of $250,000 is due by midnight Monday. The funds are wired to the city’s bank account.
Gatling signed papers in March to buy the theater from the city. Timely payments mean Gatling will get a $1 million discount off the $12 million price of the venue.
The city will still have to pay the remaining amount due on the $21.5 million bond package used to finance the theater’s construction, opening and infrastructure needs.
According to the contract, rent payments are considered delinquent if received after the 10th day of any given month. Tenant shall pay the landlord interest at the rate of 10 percent per annum — or such lesser amount as may be the maximum amount permitted by law — on all overdue payments of rent from the due date thereof until payment. Notwithstanding this foregoing, tenant shall not be considered delinquent until after the expiration of five business days following written notice from the landlord.
