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.
