Rocky Mount Telegram from Rocky Mount, North Carolina • 1

I -1 'n 'J wmr; Serving the All-America city Voume 90, No. 86 50 cents Sodky Moil STEP BY STEP Program speeds recovery LIFE 7A IN THE MAIL Tobacco settlement checks CAROLINA 2A PLAYOFF REDSKINS Long run ahead for defense SPORTS II ROCKY MOUNT, NORTH CAROLINA TUESDAY. JANUARY 11.2000 TEHEGMM Prince helps Princeville Pop-rock music celebrity donates $37,000 to buy building materials A The musical artist formerly known as Prince wanted no publicity about his $37,000 gift to Princeville. representative to the town to assess the immediate needs. "He, sent a representative from his charitable organization in Ohio," well said.

"We took her over to the distribution center and gave an overview of some of the town's immed iate needs." Princeville, the first town incorporated by blacks in the nation. Sam Knight, Princeville zoning officer, said the money was earmarked to purchase building materials. "Although $37,000 will not go very far when you talk about building By VIOLA HARRIS Staff Writer PRINCEVILLE The musical artist formerly known as Prince recently contributed $37,000 to the town of Princeville, just because of the association "Prince" to his own name. we're very grateful to him for thinking Cathy Adams Prince's representative, Trip nnn.rnCk. mucin nalohritv ohrtiit.ne Vriinht cniii, hninh (Om tlin.iiii Um juu xaivriftj: uum his mUSic, he a very religious man who wanted no publicity about his gift to the town." Princeville Public Relations Coordinator Kim Burwell said the musician sent a workers and residents who came'Tor suJT plies.

When she returned to Ohio, the artist formerly known as Prince signed off on the list. See PRINCE, 2A the devastation in this flood-ravaged town of 2,100 residents. The floodwaters had swept through in September, after Hurricane Floyd, and submerged Cox News Service Training For Training peffles iFoirattt(D)irney. post general LMaiaate cites his expenence 1U 11 1 By GENE METRICK Staff Writer RALEIGH N.C. Sen.

Roy Cooper III Monday officially launched his bid to become the stale'STieTraiiorM filing his candidacy with the state Board of Elections, in Raleigh. "I want to run for attorney general because I believe that people deserve to be safe in their homes and communities," the Nash County Democrat said. "I believe children should" be safe in their schools from drugs and weapons, and I believe our environment should be safe from polluters." Incumbent Attorney General Mike Easley is running for governor. No other candidates have announced they will run for attorney general. Cooper was flanked by his wife, Kristen, two of their three daughters, Claire, 5, and "I want to run for attorney general because beteveJbM safe in their homes' and communities." ROY COOPER III Nash County Democrat Natalie, 7, and parents, Beverly and Roy Cooper while he completed the paperwork registering his campaign with the state election board.

A group of about 25 supporters, campaign staff members and reporters also crammed into the small election board office to witness the five-minute process of sign-' ing forms. "OK, it's done," he said, as he handed the paperwork and a check for the $1,003 filing fee to See COOPER, 2A 0 Telegram photo David H. Weaver Deputy Stan Ricks of the Nash County Sheriffs Department and Jennifer Wells, a cadet with the Rocky Mount Police Department, get some jogging in Monday around City Lake in Rocky Mount Wells said she is preparing for training at the Coastal Plains Law Enforcement Academy in Wilson. 7 7. Sheriff's questioning vandalism suspect in City Council OKs buyout application "Spraypainting on the side of a building is one thing but to desecrate a cemetery where people's loved ones are is "disturbing," cemetery manager Elaine Snyder said.

"This is the first time anything like this has happened, and I've worked here for the last 10 years." Snyder said once a few family members arrived, cell phones started to go off, as oth- ers were soon on the scene. "The sheriffs department assures me that they have some leads," Snyder said. "This cemetery has been here since the early '50s. People got here very quickly once they heard what had happened." Edgecombe Memorial Park is owned and operated by the Loe-wen Group of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. "It's unbelievable how much damage was done," Snyder said.

"We've assured everyone that we have insurance and it will pay" for repairs and By VIOLA HARRIS Staff Writer TARBORO The Edgecombe County Sheriff's Depart-; ment may have a break in the case of vandalism at Edgecombe Memorial Park that occurred late Friday night or early Saturday morning. Sheriff James Knight said Monday his office would be questioning a suspect. Around 10 a.m. Saturday, a person visiting a gravesite at the cemetery reported the vandalism to the sheriff's department. Within minutes, nearly 1,000 people arrived to check ore the gravestones of their loved ones.

What they discovered was shocking and upsetting. Between 35 to 40 gravemark-ers were vandalized. Satanic messages were spraypainted on mausoleums. Benches were pushed over- and broken or damaged. Contributed photo Between 35 to 40 gravemarkers were vandalized at Edgecombe Memorial Park late Friday night or early Saturday morning.

Included in the application is a list of 398 properties representing 694 housing units for the first phase of the buyout program. If property, owners agree to participate in the buyout program, the homes will be demolished and the property will be turned over to the city an main of development. "I want to commend the staff on the work they've done on this application," Rocky Mount Mayor Fred Turnage 'said. "I was really pleased. We only had 12 people appeal and ask for a review of their application out of almost 400 applicants.

I think that speaks for the fairness of the plan. We want to move as fast as we can with the program See COUNCIL, 2A By DAVID BLOUNT Staff Writer The Rocky Mount City Council approved the city's application to the North Carolina Divi-s ion of Emergency Management and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, for the first phase of the hazard mitigation program at its meeting Monday. The program, which will be administered through the city, will offer pre-flood, fair market value for homes damaged in floods spawned by Hurricane Floyd. The council authorized the city staff to develop the application and begin taking, applications from property owners for the buyout program. replacements.

But it will take a lot of work." None of the graves themselves were disturbed. Grieving relatives who heard about the attack wanted to come and assess the damages for themselves. Kenny and Brenda Honeycutt had purchased a granite bench and dedicated it to their son. It was toppled and damaged. The Hon-eycutts' son died in a 1995 car accident.

"It's, hard enough to lose a child," Kenny Honeycutt said. "For someone to come out and do something like this is heartbreaking." Ann Chapman, who came out to visit her relative's See VANDALISM, 2A IJMlih Television Weather I OA Comics Life Carolina 2, 5, I OA Classified 0B 6B Nation 3, 5A Opinion 4A 7A Obituaries I OA Sports MB Partly cloudy Wednesday. High 70. Low 41. Details I OA.

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