By By CLAUD HODGES
Senior Reporter
Eyes and ears were opened Thursday and information was gained about Washington and Beaufort County by students in the first Beaufort County Leadership Development Academy.
The Washington/Beaufort County Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring the academy. Thursday was its first day. Other sessions will be held March 13, March 20 and April 3.
Nine participants from the Washington and Beaufort County area started the day at the N.C. Estuarium in Washington where they learned about the history of the community and natural resources.
Travel and tourism topics were discussed at the Visitors Center by Lynn Lewis, director of the Washington Tourism Development Authority.
Lewis showed students how important it is for the area to be marketed and demonstrated how the Visitors Center greets the public and provides them with information about Washington, Beaufort County and the surrounding areas.
Trends in demographics showing the increase in population of Beaufort County by retirees and business growth, redevelopment of existing business and revitalization of residential and business interests in the county were presented at a Committee of 100 luncheon attended by academy students at midday.
Seth Edwards, district attorney for the 2nd Judicial District (Beaufort, Martin, Washington, Tyrrell and Hyde counties) told students in the academy’s afternoon session that he represents the state, meaning the people.
The governmental portion of Thursday’s academy included presenters from both the Beaufort County and Washington governments.
Beaufort County Manager Paul Spruill told participants that the county is an independent organization, not a state agency.
He said the commissioners and all of the board members from the county departments work as independent advocates on what they think their boards should do for the betterment of the people.
Harry Meredith, chief deputy of the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office, told students that the sheriff’s office is committed to keeping the county’s people safe.
He said drug interdiction at the dealer’s level is where the sheriff’s office focuses much of its attention. In Beaufort County in 2007, he said the sheriff’s office took $3 million in illegal drugs out of the hands of criminals.
Meredith said the sheriff’s office is proud of its work and is especially proud of its national accreditation — something only two other sheriff’s offices in the state have.
Academy students got a Washington government overview during its last session segment Thursday afternoon. Presenters from the city manager’s office, the planning department, the police department and the fire department showed students what their organizations do.