By Miles Layton

A few notable news items…

First, Plymouth Town Councilman Danny Wobbleton has passed away. More on that story will appear in a future edition of the Roanoke Beacon. 

“I am deeply saddened by the passing of Councilman Danny Wobbleton. Having served alongside him, I personally witnessed his dedication, integrity, and unwavering commitment to the residents of Ward II and the Town of Plymouth,” Mayor Crystal Davis posted to social media. “Danny’s leadership and service have left a lasting impact on our community. My thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends, and all who were touched by his work and friendship. He will be remembered fondly and with great respect.”

Next, Plymouth will have a Cross Walk at noon on Good Friday outside Plymouth First Christian Church. More about Plymouth’s Cross Walk will appear in the next edition of the Beacon.

Hertford, too, will have a Cross Walk gathering at 5 p.m. Good Friday will begin and end at Hertford Baptist Church, on the lot behind the Fellowship Hall on Grubb Street.  

Send news items this way to mileslayton1969@gmail.com

Good news — Plymouth Volunteer Fire Department has received its new fire truck — more on that to come.

In other news, Rachel Brown’s first day as Tyrrell County Librarian was Wednesday. Welcome to Tyrrell County. Brown earned her undergraduate degree from Ohio State University and her Master of Library and Information Science degree from Wayne State University. For over a decade, Brown has served public libraries in various roles, most recently as a Children’s Program Librarian at Braswell Memorial Library in Rocky Mount. She enjoys studying and watching birds, water sports, and, of course, reading!

“Rachel is excited to begin in her new role as Tyrrell County Librarian,” said Regional Library Director Nate King.

More on that story, too, will appear in a future edition of the Beacon. 

News of the weird – MARIETTA, OHIO – A local man’s attempt to aid law enforcement landed him in handcuffs Tuesday after he showed up in a homemade Batman costume to assist officers conducting an arrest in the parking lot of Ollie’s.

Manny Batista, 31, approached officers mid-arrest and announced he was “there to help restore justice,” according to witnesses. He then positioned himself nearby in what he described as a “tactical superhero stance” and began offering crime-fighting advice.

Officers were not receptive. Batista was charged with wearing a mask in public and with interfering with a police investigation, and was taken into custody without further incident.

“He really committed to the role,” one bystander said. “But the officers didn’t seem interested in forming a Justice League.”

Reminds me of a story I wrote several years ago about a ninja attack in Southwestern Pennsylvania while working at a mid-sized daily newspaper, The Herald-Standard in Uniontown, Pa.

SOUTH UNION TOWNSHIP, Pa. — A man dressed as a ninja and armed with a sword broke into as many as a dozen vehicles over Easter weekend, triggering confrontations with two neighbors before leaving investigators a trail of his own blood.

The incidents occurred April 23-24, 2011. A nearby surveillance camera recorded the suspect with the sword clearly visible.

Resident Santino Guzzo encountered the ninja lying flat on the ground and approached him. The man leapt to his feet, declared he was carrying a sword and attacked, thrusting the blade through Guzzo’s car window. Guzzo seized the sword and disarmed him, cutting his hand in the process.

In a separate incident, a woman spotted the ninja breaking into cars and followed him in her vehicle. The pursuit startled him, and he dropped a bottle of liquor before fleeing.

The suspect also cut his own hand on broken glass during one of the break-ins, leaving a blood trail at the scene.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

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Another item of note: if you’re looking to buy a remote island in Maine, now is your chance. According to the Bangor Daily News, this 1.2-acre private island in the St. Croix River is for sale for $259,000. The island has a 350-square-foot one-room cabin, but no amenities other than cell service. 

Last note: I came across this snippet from the movie “1776” that includes a scene about James Wilson, a Founding Father and Associate Justice of the US Supreme Court, who was buried at Hayes Plantation in Edenton for a time before his remains were reinterred in Philadelphia.