By Miles Layton

News from God’s country…

First, the 80th annual Chowan County Regional Fair is underway — more on that below. The story’s feature photo shows last year’s royals — Adyson Marie Wagner was crowned as Miss Chowan County Regional Fair about a year ago. Who will be crowned as this year’s queen and court?

Fair’s schedule is posted below or click here.

REVISED: Pettigrew Regional Library System is still in a holding pattern in its search for a full-time director at Shepard-Pruden Library in Edenton.

Pettigrew Regional Library System Board of Trustees Chairperson Jenny Wells said the Trustees expect to choose Shepard-Pruden’s next leader at their Oct. 17 meeting if the candidate accepts the job offer and the Trustees approve the hire.

In the meantime, Wells praised the library system’s staff. 

“The staff has been doing an excellent job during this time,” she said.  

For folks who’ve been reading our stories, here’s the long-story-short of it — John Mitchener may have coined that phrase. 

Nate King resigned as regional director in May 2026, leaving July 31. His successor, Anna Louise Kallas, resigned in early August, days after taking over. She briefly tried to rescind, but the Board of Trustees accepted it at their August meeting and named Perquimans Librarian Michelle Lawrence as interim director.

In other news, Col. George E. Lewis III, Class ’93, a Chowan County resident and chairman of the Edenton-Chowan Board of Education, will receive the Distinguished Alumni Award from the Methodist University Alumni Association during a special awards ceremony Saturday, Oct. 17, at 10 a.m. in the Matthews Ministry Center. More on that story will appear in a future article. 

Melvin Tatem is or will be traveling to Africa — not his first trip. I saw him recently – Melvin is in good spirits. Mission trip. I forgot the country. Inspires me to want to visit Africa, travel more outside the Shire

Reminder — life is short, so embrace the day as Joe Hollowell did during his 85 years on earth. Visitation will be held Saturday, October 3, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Miller & Van Essendelft Funeral Home, Edenton. The funeral service will be held Sunday, October 4, at 2 p.m. at Edenton Baptist Church, with a reception starting at 3 p.m. at Leon Nixon’s Catering. 

And I’ll say this — Joe’s funeral will be VERY well attended, so it’s probably a good idea to get to the church early to stake out a favorite pew. 

And as everyone knows, the Chowan County Regional Fair is underway this week. Schedule is posted below. The Chowan County Regional Fair continues this week with a packed lineup of entertainment, exhibits and family activities running through Saturday, October 3.

Tonight, Wednesday, September 30, students in 8th grade and under are admitted free with a paying adult. Gates open at 4 p.m. Thursday, October 1, offers free entry for anyone 60 and older, along with a Senior Fun & Southern Gospel Program in the Show Barn and a performance by Jason Johnson on the Outdoor Stage.

Friday, October 2, is One Price Night, with gate admission at $8 and armbands at $25. The AJDC Dance Party takes over the Show Barn, and the Son of a Preacher Band plays the Outdoor Stage.

Saturday, October 3, brings an earlier start, with gates opening at 11 a.m. and active-duty military receiving a discount all day. The Diaper Derby, the “Little Miss” Pageant and the “Miss Chowan County Regional Fair” Pageant headline the schedule, followed by Fletcher White on the Outdoor Stage.

Daily attractions include antique farm displays, a train display, the Triple C Farm Party, the Uncle Sam Stilt Walker, MythiCreatures, The Flying Pages and a mechanical bull ride for an additional charge. Junior Fair Board activities change nightly. The Exhibit Building closes at 10 p.m., and the midway closes at 11 p.m.

Exhibitors must remove all items Sunday, October 4, between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. 

Wednesday, September 30
Students 8th Grade & Under Admitted FREE with Paying Adult
4:00pm: Gates and Exhibits Open
4:00pm – closing: Mechanical Bull Ride (additional charge)
4:00pm – closing: Antique Farm Displays
4:00pm – 10:00pm: Train Display Daily
4:00pm – 9:00pm: Jr Fair Board Activities: Temporary Tattoo Parlor
4:00pm – until: Triple C Farm Party
4:00pm – until: Uncle Sam Stilt Walker
Two shows nightly: Ember Fire Arts
Two shows nightly: The Flying Pages
Strolling Act: MythiCreatures
5:30pm – 7:00pm: Youth Rally in the Show Barn
6:30pm – until: Macedonia Baptist Church on the Outdoor Stage presented by Holland Fence Company
10:00pm: Exhibit Building Closes
11:00pm: Midway Closes

Thursday, October 1
FREE Entry for Persons 60 and Older
4:00pm: Gates and Exhibits Open
4:00pm – closing: Mechanical Bull Ride (additional charge)
4:00pm – closing: Antique Farm Displays
4:00pm – 10:00pm: Train Display Daily
4:00pm – 9:00pm: Jr Fair Board Activities: Popcorn Race
4:00pm – until: Triple C Farm Party
4:00pm – until: Uncle Sam Stilt Walker
Two shows nightly: The Flying Pages
Strolling Act: MythiCreatures
4:30pm – 9:00pm: Senior Fun & Southern Gospel Program in the Show Barn
6:30pm – until: Jason Johnson on the Outdoor Stage presented by Holland Fence Company
10:00pm: Exhibit Building Closes
11:00pm: Midway Closes

Friday, October 2
One Price – Gate $8/Armband $25
4:00pm: Gates and Exhibits Open
4:00pm – closing: Mechanical Bull Ride (additional charge)
4:00pm – closing: Antique Farm Displays
4:00pm – 10:00pm: Train Display Daily
4:00pm – 9:00pm: Jr Fair Board Activities: Farmers Flower Fun
4:00pm – until: Triple C Farm Party
4:00pm – until: Uncle Sam Stilt Walker
Two shows nightly: The Flying Pages
Strolling Act: MythiCreatures
5:30pm & 7:30pm: AJDC Dance Party in the Show Barn
6:30pm – until: Son of a Preacher Band on the Outdoor Stage presented by Holland Fence Company
10:00pm: Exhibit Building Closes
11:00pm: Midway Closes

Saturday, October 3
Active Duty Military Discount All Day
11:00am: Gates and Exhibits Open
11:00am – closing: Mechanical Bull Ride (additional charge)
11:00am – closing: Antique Farm Displays
11:00am – 10:00pm: Train Display Daily
11:00am – 7:00pm: Jr Fair Board Activities: Color A Fabulous Fan
11:00am – until: Triple C Farm Party
12:00pm: Diaper Derby on the Outdoor Stage
1:00pm – until: Uncle Sam Stilt Walker
2:00pm: “Little Miss” Pageant in the Show Barn
Two shows nightly: The Flying Pages
Strolling Act: MythiCreatures
6:00pm: “Miss Chowan County Regional Fair” Pageant in the Show Barn
6:30pm – until: Fletcher White on the Outdoor Stage presented by Holland Fence Company
10:00pm: Exhibit Building Closes
11:00pm: Midway Closes

Sunday, October 4
11:00am – 3:00pm: Exhibit Removal and Booth Clearing

ALL EXHIBITS AND EXHIBIT ITEMS MUST BE REMOVED BETWEEN 11AM and 3PM

THE CHOWAN COUNTY REGIONAL FAIR IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ITEMS LEFT AFTER 3PM