Harvest Days starts Friday for 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and continues through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 4-H Rural Life Center on Highway 903 outside Halifax. The school is located on the grounds of the center.
This year, photographs of all the 46 Rosenwald Schools built in Halifax County will be
on display
The pictures are the result of intensive research by local historian Florine Bell.
In addition, there will be a display about the Bricks School, located on Highway 301 outside of Enfield. The Bricks School, which opened in 1895, met the needs of secondary education for African-American students. It grew from a primary school to a junior college.
Visitors may also view informational videos of both the Allen Grove Rosenwald School and the Bricks School.
The Allen Grove Rosenwald School is one of several built in Halifax County by Cary Pittman, a prominent African-American farmer and building contractor. Several descendents of Pittman will be part of the program.
The Allen Grove School as well as other Rosenwald Schools that remain intact in Halifax County and throughout the South, serves as landmarks in the history of African-American education.
Julius Rosenwald, a philanthropist and the president of Sears Roebuck and Company, established the Rosenwald Fund in 1917, to improve the quality of public education for African-American children, in the rural south.
To encourage collaboration at the local level, the Rosenwald School Program required that local communities raise matching funds for school construction projects.
The Rosenwald School exhibit is one of the many events at Harvest Days.
The program is free and open to the public, and the planning committee encourages members of the community and former Rosenwald students or their family members to attend.
Please call 252-583-5161 or 252-583-3631 for more information.

On Friday the event ends at 3 p.m. while on Saturday it end at 4 p.m.
The event will be held at the 4-H Rural Life Center on Highway 903 outside Halifax.
This year organizers are partnering with the Halifax County Firefighter’s Association as well as the Local Government Federal Credit Union.
The credit union, from 9 a.m. to noon, will have a free shred event in which each person can safely dispose up to five boxes or bags of documents at no cost.
Musical acts are lined up throughout the day Saturday, beginning at 9:15 a.m. on the amphitheater stage with a performance of the National Anthem by 4-H Youth Development Agent Ashley Brooks.
Performing at the event will be The Hammers, Rob Alford, Cousin Kirk’s Blues Band, Gabrielle Long, and the Walls of Time Acoustic Music School.
There will be exhibits and antiques in the Agricultural Museum, Farm House, and Rosenwald School, as well as sawmill and peanut thresher demonstrations by the Roanoke River Antique and Tractor Club.
Historic Halifax will be performing colonial blacksmithing, cooking, and toy demonstrations.
An activity tent will be set up for children with STEM activities, making peanut butter from scratch, grinding corn, farm animals and other wildlife from Sylvan Heights and Eastern Bluebird Rescue Group.
Ventosa Kennels will be there doing canine demonstrations.
A free inflatable obstacle course and slide, hayrides, and a tractor-pulled train will be available.
The tri-county horse show will be held on the grounds as well as the North Carolina Horse Council Trail Challenge.
Local crafters will be onsite selling goat milk soaps and lotions, honey, plants, NC Sea-glass jewelry, vinyl art and décor and handmade wooden items.
Food vendors will be onsite.

The health system said in a statement the raccoon tested positive for rabies this month.
“Rabies is a vaccine-preventable viral disease that is fatal if the disease occurs in humans and warm blooded animals,” the health system said. “Exposure to rabies may occur from bites, scratches and contamination of mucous membranes (such as eyes) with saliva from a rabid animal.“
Rabies is endemic in the local wildlife population and the primary carriers include skunks, raccoons, fox, bobcats, coyotes, feral cats and bats.
(A low cost rabies vaccination clinic — $5 per animal — is currently planned for October 22 and will be located at the Halifax County Farmers Market on Highway 158 outside Roanoke Rapids. For hunt clubs or other individuals with at least 10 animals needing rabies vaccination, contact Animal Control to schedule rabies vaccination at your location for the same reduced fee. Further information is available at this link or by calling the health system at 252-583-6651)
The health system encourages the public to use the following precautions to protect their families and pets:
Always keep your pets up-to-date on rabies vaccination.
Supervise pets outdoors, and keep all pets on a leash
Never approach wildlife, especially during the daytime
Never approach wildlife exhibiting odd behavior.
Do not feed pets outdoors. Pet food attracts wildlife. Do not feed wildlife, feral cats or feral dogs
In the event a family member is bitten or scratched by any animal that could possibly have rabies the health system recommends the following:
Clean the wound well with soap and flush with running water for 15 minutes and contact your doctor.
The doctor will determine if a series of rabies vaccinations will be needed.
Note the location and a description of the animal to provide to animal control.
Do not try to catch any wild animal that bites or scratches you. Call your local animal control office immediately to capture the animal for rabies testing.
If the animal is someone’s pet, get the owner’s name and address and provide them to the animal control officer.
Any mammal can transmit rabies. The animal that bit you, depending on the species and circumstances, must be evaluated or tested for rabies.
“Having your pet properly vaccinated is critical because a properly vaccinated pet that is exposed to a rabid or potentially rabid animal is only required to have a booster rabies vaccination within five days of exposure whereas an unvaccinated pet that is exposed to a rabid or potentially rabid animal must either be euthanized or quarantined for six months at a facility approved by the health director at the owner’s expense,” the health system said, according to North Carolina General Statute 130A-197. “ Make sure that you keep your pet safe from rabies by maintaining proper rabies vaccination status.”

Chief Chuck Hasty said the reasoning behind the fights is unclear. There were no serious injuries.
Police first responded to the area of West Tenth and Cedar streets Wednesday around 7 p.m. Hasty said in a statement officers responded after receiving a call about a large group of people fighting.
Officers from A and D squads spoke with several people and obtained information on possible suspects. Juvenile petitions will be obtained.
On Thursday around 6 p.m., officers responded to the area of West Tenth and Vance streets to another call of a large group of people fighting, Hasty said in the statement.
Three people were arrested — David Wayne Edwards Jr., 19; Dallas Wayne Walton, 18; and Tyler Ray Garner, 16. All are from Roanoke Rapids. All three were charged with assault on a female which, according to the warrants, from them reportedly pushing a victim while she was on her bike.
 Edwards received a $1,000 bond and Walton and Garner $500 bonds. They all have October 14 court dates.
Anyone with information is encouraged to call the police department at 252-533-2810 Crimestoppers at 252-583-4444.

In interviews Thursday and this morning, those supporting the matter spell out what they see as the need for the tax.
In efforts to raise funds to defeat the referendum, a group called Citizens Against Higher County Taxes says the tax would increase county taxes by a potential 60 percent. “Radical elements on the Halifax County School Board have again placed the supplemental school tax for the ballot on November 8th. Will they never quit,” says a copy of the letter seeking donations of $250.
That donation would be used to pay for a direct mail campaign, the letter says.
Those supporting passage of the referendum, including the Roanoke Valley Southern Christian Leadership Conference, said opponents to the referendum have misstated how much the school board would request should the tax be passed.
“It’s less than that,” said Claude Cooper, chair of the county school board. “We’re doing this to hire teachers and teacher assistants. We’ve never had that flexibility.”
(Voters eligible to vote in the referendum will be those who cast their ballots at the following precincts, according to the Halifax County Board of Elections: Butterwood; Conoconnara; Enfield 1 and 2; Faucett; Halifax; Hobgood; Hollister; Littleton 1 and 2; Ringwood; Roanoke Rapids 11, 7 and 9; Scotland Neck and Weldon 3)
“The maximum amount we can ask for is 50 cents percent $100,” said Tyus Few, a county school board member who is serving as spokesman for the referendum. “We would never approach that rate. We’re proposing 10 cents. That’s 10 cents less than Weldon and 12 cents less than Roanoke Rapids.”
When combining supplemental and sales tax receipts over the last nine years, Few said Roanoke Rapids has received $19.8 million while Weldon has received $13.6 million. “Halifax County Schools has received zero because we don’t have a supplemental tax.”
Few said going with the 10 cents, as the school board expects it will request, will raise approximately $1.6 million for the school system. “Ten cents is the amount we feel is equitable and fair. We’re not asking for the same (as Weldon and Roanoke Rapids) we’re asking for less.”
The money would be used for providing extra teachers and meeting other needs. “If we have a large class size, we need more to reduce. We can use the additional funds for art teachers, music teachers, additional English teachers. If we don’t have the supplemental money, we’re at a disadvantage. We need additional technology. We need to provide signing bonuses because we can’t provide financial incentives for them (teachers) to stay here. We need to continuously improve our technology infrastructure. We need to replace activity busses. The money can be used for a lot of things — supplies, field trips. We have to provide the best education we can even though we’re not near the top of the ladder in funding.”
Few likens the situation of the county school system to a family with three children where the third child receives the least attention. “Halifax County Schools is ranked 114 out of 115 in local funding, Roanoke Rapids is 69 and Weldon is 10. Do you understand how the third child feels now? That child expects the same results as me and my brother.”
The school system asking for the supplemental tax is not the same one asking for the additional funding in 2012, when the measure was soundly defeated, he said. “That was part of the problem, the previous mismanagement caused citizens to say no.”
The last three audits of the school system have been clean and the school system is now off the state’s low performing schools list. “Our money is managed properly and if this is passed it would be used to benefit the children. The community is looking at us and saying why do you need the money? They need the same chance to be successful as the other two children.”
Few says new Superintendent Eric Cunningham is charting a new course for the county school system. “There’s definitely a renaissance coming in our county, but it makes it difficult when you don’t have the dollars.”
The county has spent $775,000 on children in its school system whose parents decided to send them to charter schools, Few said. “All we can try to do is move forward.”
Many who pulled their children, he said, spoke of the cultural and geographic opportunities their children could have within the charter schools the county couldn’t offer. “Don’t be so critical when it come to Halifax County. We’re the third child, the others are receiving better support.”
Few said he is pleased the SCLC is joining in support of the referendum. “Both of these gentlemen (James Mills and Reverend C.E. McCollum) are interested in education and they realize funding is not equal. This is not a racial thing. We have Native American, white, Asian, and Hispanic. Halifax County Schools is not just for certain children. It’s for all children.”

The referendum is on the ballot for the November 8 election.
“A lot of people feel the county school system has been underfunded,” said Reverend C.E. McCollum. “They can’t address core curriculum and critical areas.”
McCollum and James Mills, also a member of the SCLC, believes passage of the supplemental school tax “will allow all three school districts and charter schools schools to receive equal funding for educational opportunities and resources. Halifax County commissioners intentionally and discriminately failed over the years to provide funding for any of the schools in Halifax County, as opposed to the city schools. As a result, they denied our children the fundamental right to a thorough and equitable education.”

(See related story at this link)

Because of this, McCollum said, “Our children have suffered academically, making it problematic for them to succeed and compete in today’s advanced industrial society.”
Mills said a political action committee is forming in an effort to raise awareness of the referendum to purchase posters, flyers and advertising spots to promote the matter. It will be called the Christian Leadership PAC. “We’re going to be going out from church to church. We feel like this is a moral issue. People need to hear about this from a moral standpoint.”
It is a 43-year-old issue which needs to be corrected, Mills said. “We are still trying to get proper funding for Halifax County schools.”
The message the SCLC will be delivering slightly more than a month before the election is, “Our children deserve the same educational opportunities,” McCollum said. “Approval of the supplemental tax is needed to equip our schools with the latest technology and much needed supplies and resources.”
Those supplies and resources include science labs, audio-visual equipment, computers, books, art supplies and resources to provide field trips for enrichment. “The supplemental tax is vital because a thorough and efficient education is delivered by qualified teachers. Offering competitive supplements and benefits will attract, hire and retain qualified and competent teachers to prepare our students for future successes,” McCollum said in a fact sheet on the matter.
McCollum also sees the tax as a way to create better education opportunities and better job opportunities, which, he said, “always result in less crime and less juvenile incarcerations. Better schools have always been a vital element for economic development in communities.”
McCollum emphasizes in his talking points the tax is based on property alone and will not impact sales tax. “The citizens who own no property don’t need to worry. They will not have to pay a supplemental tax because they own no property.”
McCollum also noted there is a push to fight the tax, describing it as a scare tactic. “Some mailings will try to scare citizens into not voting to approve the tax because they want to believe that will have to pay a huge amount on their property.”

Monday September 26, 2016
At approximately 9 a.m., Investigator G. Williams served Jackie Anstead, 59, of Hollister, with warrants for accessing a computer after she surrendered at the police department.
The charges stem from investigation into a matter reported September 8 where Anstead allegedly accessed a computer system to make some changes to accounts at the business where she worked.
She received a $5,000 bond and November 11 court date.

Wednesday September 28, 2016
At approximately 6 a.m., Officer N. Velazquez responded to the “no hundred” block of Jackson Street about a 911 call where the caller was yelling and cursing.
Velazquez already responded to numerous calls to the residence during the night.
She spoke with the caller, Tashia High Jacobs, 44, of Roanoke Rapids.
During the investigation Velazquez learned Jacobs called 911 about her boyfriend refusing to give her a cigarette.
Jacobs was arrested and charged with misuse of 911.
She received a $500 bond and November 18 court date.

At approximately 8:45 a.m., Williams served Randy Carlos Crawford, 58, of Roanoke Rapids, with warrants for larceny and possession of stolen goods after he surrendered at the police department.
The charges stem from a matter reported on September 24 when Crawford allegedly took items from a business.
He received a $1,000 bond and October 19 court date.

Thursday September 29, 2016
At approximately 3:45 p.m., Lieutenant C.L. Vaught arrested Anthony Logan Childers, 25, of Roanoke Rapids, on outstanding warrants for financial card theft.
The investigation began on September 10.
Childers received a $20,000 bond and November 16 court date.
Captain B.L. Martin assisted.

At approximately 9:45 p.m., Officer R. Cross received information on the location of a vehicle reported stolen on September 28 from a local business.
Cross was flagged down by a friend of the victim, who spotted the vehicle at Food Lion on West Tenth Street.
Cross and Deputy B. Warren of the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office responded, found the vehicle and William Thomas Kidd, 30, of Roanoke Rapids, inside.
Cross arrested and charged Kidd with possession of a stolen motor vehicle.
He received a $1,000 bond and October 21 court date.
Sergeant M. Peck and Officer P. Smith assisted.

The annual event runs through 4 p.m. today.

{gallery}harvest16{/gallery}

This gallery contains photos of this morning's activities.

Lori Medlin, CEO of the county Convention and Visitors Bureau, said occupancy tax collections increased by 6.99 percent to reach the high of $16,961,608.
“Halifax County’s tourism industry achieved record economic impact in 2015 with direct visitor spending in our county reaching $89.72 million,” she said in the report. “Spending by travelers directly and indirectly supported over 1,000 jobs and generated more than $7.74 million in state and local tax revenues.”
The increase in overall spending, she said, represents 2.3 percent growth. “Our partnerships with attractions, lodging and dining properties remain key to the success of the tourism industry in Halifax County.”
Spending by visitors, Medlin noted, saved county taxpayers $147.55 as tourist spending generated $7.74 million in state and local taxes.
Other highlights of the report included news the bureau’s website reached record levels for traffic and engagement, visitor sessions up by nearly 20 percent; page views up by more than 22 percent and the time visitors stayed on the site up nearly 20 percent.
Across the social media tools the bureau uses, numbers saw increased usage, its Instagram account up 321 percent as visitors post photos of their activities in the county.
Historic Halifax saw 17,000 visitors; Sylvan Heights 47,000 visitors; Medoc Mountain 106,000 visitors and the Roanoke Canal Trail 41,000 visitors. “While continuing to showcase our county’s historic, scenic and active attractions, we were able to make connections with visitors and potential visitors in a very personal way through our digital platforms,” Medlin said.
Medlin said tourism development was bolstered through several initiatives including partnerships with the state Department of Transportation; state Department of Cultural Resources; the state park system; Kate B. Reynolds and the state Wildlife Resources Commission.
Accomplishments included the following:
The 301 Endless Yard Sale now stretches from state line to stare line
The launching of the Wedding Planners Portal on the website
The Underground Railroad Walking in the Footsteps of Freedom Tour
The Discover Halifax County Blog on the bureau’s website
Three electric car charging stations
Enhancements to the Canal Trail and the bike lending program
Sponsored the recent acquisition of Historic Halifax period clothing
Completed the Ledgerwood Field enhancement project, partnering with the city’s Parks and Recreation Department.
Board of commissioners Chair Vernon Bryant told Medlin, “Thank you for all you and your board do and for their great service.”

Halifax County Sheriff Wes Tripp said county maintenance will be helping with replacing signs signs. “Also our parking spaces need to relined. Once that is done enforcement actions will begin.”
There is indication from the board, the sheriff said, plans are also in motion to expand parking.
According to the resolution repealing the old ordinance, there shall be no parking of any kind in any road or driveway leading to or crossing county property. There shall be no parking on the shoulder of any road or driveway on any unpaved area not designated as an overflow public parking area.
The ordinance prohibits parking of vehicles in front or behind marked parking spaces that would interfere with free access of a person parked in a marked space or desiring to park in an empty, marked space.
Parking is prohibited, except for authorized personnel, before 7 a.m. and after 6 p.m. unless county or court business is being conducted in the building associated with the parking lot. There is no parking on Saturdays, Sundays or official holidays.
There is no public parking in spaces reserved for court or county personnel and no parking of county surplus vehicles in any public parking area.
The restrictions do not apply when county parking areas are being used in connection with organized holiday festivities.
While there is a $50 fine for a parking violation, for the first six months the sheriff’s office will issue warning citations for first-time violations. For a subsequent violation during the grace period, a violator will be subject to the penalties spelled out in the ordinance.

Boden and Dusko.

In another matter today, the board retired Dusko, a canine officer assigned to Sergeant Christopher Boden of the sheriff’s office.
The dog, who Boden will take into his care, has chronic health conditions and needs to be retired, the resolution said.
Dusko is a 9-year-old German shepherd who has been experiencing pain and lameness since 2014.

Roanoke Rapids police Chief Chuck Hasty said police are also investigating a subsequent shooting in the 900 block of Monroe Street which was reported around 2:15 a.m. Saturday to determine whether it is linked to the 1 a.m. shooting at MIR’s.
Non-law enforcement sources confirmed in a message to rrspin.com the residence on Monroe Street is where the owners of the bar reside.
Hasty would only say investigators are trying to determine whether the shooting on Monroe Street was related.
He also said investigators are working with the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office to determine whether a shooting in the Wallace Fork Road area could be tied to the MIR’s shooting.
Chief Deputy Scott Hall of the sheriff’s office said that shooting was reported around 9 p.m. Saturday when the victim was shot as they drove. The victim was shot in the hand and was treated and released.
Hall said the sheriff’s office is investigating whether the Wallace Fork Road is linked to the MIR’s shooting. “It potentially stems from that shooting,” he said, “but is not confirmed. We’re investigating to determine.”
Meanwhile, Hasty said in a statement investigators have served three search warrants in the MIR’s shooting — one for the business, one for a vehicle and one for the Monroe Street shooting where the house was occupied at the time. Police are working on more search warrants, he said this evening.
Hasty said in the Monroe Street shooting, officers could not locate suspects and the residents of the house said they did not call to report the residence had been struck. Officers discovered damage to the house around 1:30 p.m. Saturday, however, the residents were uncooperative with giving information or why they did not report the matter.
Hasty said the surrender of the ABC permits means the establishment can no longer serve alcohol.
Two of the three shooting victims in the MIR’s parking were treated and released while a third victim remains in serious conditions.
A witness told rrspin.com Saturday morning there was an argument inside the establishment which then spilled over to outside where the men were shot.
Hasty said investigators are still trying to determine the number of shooters.
Anyone with information about the matters is encouraged to contact Investigator Chris Babb at 252-533-2810 or Crimestoppers at 252-583-4444.

Due to the potential threat of Hurricane Matthew hitting the coast of NC this weekend, we've decided to postpone this weekend's Nitty Gritty concert until possibly March 4th (subject to change). We've been speaking with Nitty Gritty Dirt Band's management team and although we hate to make this decision, we feel it's best to move the date out. The last thing we want to do is put anyone in danger and not only do we have customers and fans traveling from out of town but the band themselves have to travel as well. It's not worth putting our crew, the band's crew, and most importantly, our customers in danger. If we continue with this weekend's show and the storm does hit Roanoke Rapids - we'd have to cancel instead and would not have the opportunity to postpone. We feel that postponing is the best option and we hope everyone will understand and support our decision.

Due to the fact that this show is being postponed and is NOT CANCELLED, we will not be issuing refunds. Everyone's seats that have already been purchased will be transferred to the new show date. 

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to send us an email at barnburnerpromotions@gmail.com. We will try our very best to respond to everyone within 24 hours.

Thank you in advance for understanding and we look forward to seeing everyone in March!