AHOSKIE – The search has begun.

On Tuesday, the Board of Directors of the Ahoskie Chamber of Commerce announced the formation of a search committee in an effort to seek out and hire an Executive Vice President for the Chamber. The move was necessitated following the recent death of longtime Chamber Executive Arthur Lee Wiggins.

Chamber Board members Dan Joyner, Robert Earl Brinkley, Pat Barr, Larry Joyner and Edgar &uot;Buzzy&uot; Swain Jr. will serve on the search committee. D. Joyner will chair that group.

At the urging of Board member Tim Britton, the committee will invite Ahoskie Mayor Linda Blackburn to share her thoughts on the search for a new Executive Vice President. Blackburn will have no input into the interview or selection processes.

&uot;We need the Mayor to share her vision on what direction Ahoskie is heading,&uot; stated Britton. &uot;We need to make sure we’re heading in that same direction.&uot;

It was also announced at Tuesday’s meeting that the Chamber of Commerce office, located in the historic Garrett House on Catherine Creek Road, would remain open from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday and from 9 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. on Friday. The office is closed on Wednesday and from 12:30-1:30 p.m. for lunch on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday.

For those seeking to contact the Chamber office at other times or days not mentioned above are urged to call Marcus Simmons (209-8075), Larry Joyner (332-6381) or Swain (332-4415). Simmons serves as president of the Chamber’s Board of Directors while Joyner and Swain are vice presidents.

In addition, Board members voted at Tuesday’s meeting to postpone four, previously scheduled events – the annual banquet, open house, yard sale and membership drive – until a later date. The Chamber’s popular Indian Summer Days, an annual craft show and sale set this year for Oct. 7-9, remains on the upcoming calendar of events.