THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, January 9, 1997 TAG: 9701090331
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY MASON PETERS, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 68 lines
If the weather for Gov. James B. Hunt Jr.'s fourth-term inauguration in Raleigh on Saturday turns out as predicted, it will be blustery cold but without the spatters of icy rain that tested Democratic loyalty among members of the outdoor audience four years ago.
Quite a few in that chilly 1993 inaugural crowd expected to hear Hunt talk about his triumphant return after an eight-year absence.
Instead, Hunt surprised many listeners by devoting most of his 1993 inauguration address to his determination to provide more and better education for young people.
Youth and education have anchored much of Hunt's political program ever since, and this will be further emphasized by the major role to be played by students and schoolteachers in the inaugural ceremonies this weekend.
For emphasis, Hunt has chosen ``Education is Our Future - It's Everything'' as the theme for the 1997 inauguration.
``I'm so proud that so many young people . . . will be a part of our celebration this year,'' Hunt said this week.
The governor broke with tradition and selected Raleigh's Broughton High School as the scene for his 11 a.m. inauguration, along with Cabinet officers. The ceremony in the past has been held in front of the Archives and History Building.
Meanwhile, Hunt has invited students from every school system in North Carolina to join him at a student education forum at 1 p.m. Friday. Dozens of students will serve as honorary marshals during the inauguration ceremonies and parade Saturday.
Felicia Johnson, a junior at Northeastern High School, will represent the Elizabeth City-Pasquotank County school system as one of the honorary marshals.
``I'm proud of Felicia and her accomplishments,'' the governor said. ``I look forward to having her as part of our inaugural celebration and talking with her about how we can make our schools the best they can be.''
Other Albemarle students and teachers who will participate as marshals or officials in the inaugural activities include:
Katherine M. Wagner, Dare County; Robert Hallowell Barker, Chowan County; Christy Brown, Gates County; Antonia Martrell McGuire, Halifax County; Thomas Hilburn Cleveland III, Hyde County; Michael Allen Harris, Beaufort County; Amanda Joy Bunch, Bertie County; Tiffany Blaire Barnes, Camden County; Troy A. Barnes, Hertford County; Crystal Sykes, Northampton County; Kevin Walden Bryant, Roanoke Rapids Schools; Stephanie Lynn Anderson, Tyrrell County; Brandon C. Furlough, Washington County; Cornell Watson, Weldon City Schools.
Student body presidents from all of North Carolina's colleges, universities and community colleges have been invited by Hunt to a discussion on higher education at 3 p.m. Friday.
Meanwhile, free parking for visitors to the many inaugural ceremonies will be available in public parking lots throughout downtown Raleigh.
Capital Area Transit buses will provide free transportation between designated parking areas and the inaugural events, officials said.
The inaugural parade is scheduled to begin Saturday at 1 p.m. at Wilmington and Lane Streets, and will continue south on Wilmington Street past the reviewing stand at Capitol Square to Hargett Street. From Hargett Street the parade will continue to Salisbury Street, then north to Lane Street, where it will end.
All streets one block off the parade route will be blocked, and Raleigh police will direct traffic around the detours.
Free public parking areas will be located on North, Person Polk, Salisbury and Wilmington streets as well as the intersections of Lane and Dawson; Morgan and Blount, and North and Blount. Parking areas and bus stops will be designated with signs. ILLUSTRATION: James B. Hunt