New Animal Shelter Dedicated in Warren County

By: Peggy R. Shearin

Exactly one year after the ground breaking ceremony to begin work on the Warren County Animal Shelter, officially named the Animal Ark, a dedication ceremony was held for the new building.

Walter Vick of LSV Partnership was the architect and D. W. Ward Construction was the builder. Construction began in April and was finished in October, under budget and on time.

Commissioner Luke Lucas served as the Master of Ceremonies for Thursday's dedication ceremony. Lucas gave a history of the project and praised the county officials, Shelter Committee members, Citizens for Animal Protection group who worked so hard to accomplish this goal of a new Animal Shelter for Warren County. A picture of the previous facility located at the Warren County Landfill was also shown. Lucas stated that over $150,000 in donations had been raised for the shelter, a handicapped accessible main entrance and emergency generator are just two of the items these donations purchased.

Commissioner Lucas then used the words of Helen Keller which are also printed on the large plaque located inside the new facility and aptly described the feeling among the many people attending the ceremony. “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much”.

Warren County Commission Chairman Ulysses Ross gave the invocation to start the ceremony. Howard Isley, Assistant Commissioner for the North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services was also on the program bringing congratulations for the new facility from Agriculture Commissioner, Steve Troxler.

NC Representative Michael Wray stated that dreams do come true for the citizens and county commissioners of our county with the opening of this facility. NC Senator Doug Berger brought greetings from Senate President Pro Tem Marc Basnight. Senator Berger commented that several weeks ago he was in Warren County for the dedication of the new Warrenton Volunteer Fire Station and now he is back for the dedication of the Animal Ark what a time of new beginnings in Warren County. Berger also recognized the Franklin County contingent who were present in order to gain ideas for their future animal shelter.

Patrick Clancy a representative of Speaker of the House Jim Black's office presented June Gibbs with a citation for all her hard work from Black and Representative Wray's office. Black was instrumental in forming a state committee on animal issues which contributed to the No Pet Left Behind Act passed by Congress this year.

Mike Chappell, a representative of Best Friends Pet Care presented two sets of animal oxygen masks for use in pet rescue to Robbie Ross of the Churchill-Five Forks Fire Department and Bruce Dunleavy, representing Long Bridge Fire Department.

Commissioner Jan Humphries spoke of how the Animal Ark came in ahead of schedule and under budget by the hardwork and dedication of all the volunteers. She thanked all the donors and volunteers for helping those who cannot help themselves.

Laura Thompson, President of the Citizens for Animal Protection, recognized Barbara Cohen who was one of the original CAP members. She also gave a special thank you to June Gibbs for all her hard work and many hours of dedication in getting funding, donations and volunteers to make this project a success.

Commissioners Ross, Lucas, and Humphries, County Manager Linda Jones, NC Senator Doug Berger, Representative Michael Wray, Director Gale Wells, Laura Thompson, June Gibbs and Patrick Clancy then proceeded to cut the ribbon and officially open the Animal Ark in Warren County.

Following the ceremony guests were invited to enjoy the catered meal sponsored by Murphy/Brown LLC.

From Campground to Nature Preserve

By Maurice Emery

LAKE GASTON, NC/VA – The road through the camp ground to bid opening sight was a typical unfinished Lake road, the kind where you wonder if you are going the right way. The land on both sides is tree filled with areas that were cut out for campers. At the end of the road trucks, SUV’s and a few cars were parked between the trees. It was then that the beauty of what was being sold came to light.

Fall was evident throughout the area. It was a beautiful fall day. Sunlight filled the almost clear blue sky, with only a wisp of a cloud every now and then, a light breeze coming off the Lake and temperatures in the 60-70’s. As you looked across the lake your were treated to the beauty of the fall change of colors on the lake.

Sandra Shearin from South Shore Realty could not have planned a better scene to highlight the land she was about to sell. If curb appeal would have applied, this place had it all. This was a sealed bid sale. On the market was the property known mainly by Eaton’s Ferry Campground. Locally it was also known as the Daisy Woodburn Estate.

The land was originally purchased by noted Littleton physician, Dr. C. H. Woodburn. Purchased in the 1960’s it has been the home for many campers for years. Warren County closed the campground in 2003 for environmental problems. Prior to her death Daisy Woodburn was working on finding a way to reopen the campground.

79.916 acre’s of lightly wooded waterfront acreage was up for bid. 6,500 feet of waterfront property provide lake front exposure that is very limited in the area. Over fifty people were on hand for the bid opening conducted by Al Thompson of Banzet, Thompson & Styers, 101 N. Front St., Warrenton, NC, 27589, the seller’s attorney.

The first bid was $2,790,000, which, by many in the group seemed low for the property, was quickly, out distanced by a $7,151,901 bid. When the bidding was complete it was evident that one of two bidders would probably end up with the property. The highest standard bid was $7,500,000. Then a bid was opened for $650,000 over the highest bid not to exceed $11,200,000. Murmurs through the crowd were that this was a very unusual bid, one gentleman said he would have contested it. In the end it was this bid from Redtail Properties from Cary that was accepted by Judy and Loretta Woodburn. A total of $8,150,000 was paid for the property.

Matt Sumner, a Managing Partner, of Redtail Properties told the Observer that they are an environmental friendly company. They plan to use part of the land for a nature preserve and donate part of the profits to the Methodist Church.

Dan Koeler another managing partner told Fred Taylor of WRAL news that they are looking at it as a mixed-use opportunity. This could include single-family homes, some town homes and commercial property. Redtails web site reveals that most of their non-commercial previous properties are dominated by town homes.

The sale should become final shortly and construction could begin the end of 2007.

By John Peters

Nearly 200 folks gathered Friday night for what officials at the John 3:16 Center hope will become an annual fundraiser.

Those in attendance received a quick overview of what the Center has done over its first two years of existence and heard a story both heart wrenching and heart-warming from one person who has received help from the center.

And, they responded by pledging more than $47,000 in support for the center for the coming year.

The Center, governed by a ten-member board of directors, started in 2004 as an organization to offer help to low income families in the area.

One of those families that have received help is Stella Corley and her grandchildren. Corley, who is 54, said during a tearful address to those gathered at The Littleton Community Center Friday night her 31-year-old daughter succumbed to cancer two years ago.

"She left two children," she said, a 9-year-old girl and a 7-year-old boy. "Shortly after her death, the Lord sent me an angel," she said. That angel? Julie Jenkins, the director and board president for the John 3:16 Center. Corley told the gathering Jenkins makes sure the kids are picked up at the school bus, are kept busy -- and supervised -- during after-school activities at the center, and the center helps out with Christmas presents for the children.

'The John 3:16 Center has been a blessing. A real blessing," she said.

Dr. Corinne Replogle, one of the Center's board members, shared some numbers and philosophy of the Center, showing that Corley's story of getting needed help is not unique.

She said the Center provides a "safe, structured environment" for children through after school and summer camp programs. She said the center offers a cultural, educationally and spiritually challenging environment.

Dr. Replogle told the audience over the two years the center has been operating it has enrolled 57 youth in tutoring programs, has passed out 6,000 snacks to the kids, had 90 kids in the summer 2005 program and 130 in the 2006 summer program, has given $4,619 in monetary assistance to families thus far this year, and in 2005 gave out nearly $80,000 in direct client assistance.

The center, she said, has given out more than 40,000 pounds of food to 156 families, has distributed 335 bags of clothing, and has offered other forms of help, including GED classes, tobacco awareness programs, hygiene classes, parenting courses and counseling services.

"You're talking about a multitude of programs. You're attacking problems that come with at risk children at the child level, at the family level, at the community level."

All of that has been done, she said, on an annual budget of just $104,000.

Jenkins told those gathered Friday the Center's proposed budget for 2007 is $118,000. "That's all it's going to take," she said, before telling everyone an anonymous challenge grant had been made -- if donations and pledges totaling at least $20,000 came in Friday night, another $20,000 would be added to the tally.

That prompted one person to pass a $500 check to the front, and by the time all was said and done, $27,500 was raised Friday, and with the challenge grant the total stood at $47,000.

"We were very pleased to have met the challenge," said Shannon Smiley, the Center's executive director. "We had hoped to at least meet the challenge."