Latham Jenkins is taking his assignment personal.

’I think Tarboro has a lot to offer,’ he said. ’I don’t want anyone to consider living here and not know its story.’

Jenkins, a Tarboro native, has the contract to redesign the Town of Tarboro’s Web site. The current site (http://www.tarboro-nc.com) was developed about five years ago.

Jenkins has hired Tarboro’s Dee Harper to write copy and Bill Goode to take some photographs. Jenkins is shooting video himself, interviewing people around town.

’I’ve had great progress working with the community at large,’ he said. ’This is a project built for Tarboro by the people of Tarboro. I’m using the local talent to tell the story of Tarboro.’

Jenkins, 38, left town 15 years ago for a summer job out west and ’really haven’t gotten back yet,’ he said.

He founded Circumerro Creative Talent Agency in Jackson Hole, Wyo., where he worked as a river guide during the summer while attending Appalachian State University in Boone. Circumerro has been successful and has offices in South Carolina, also.

Town Councilman Steve Hoard recommended Circumerro because of the outstanding job Jenkins and his crew did for Kanban, the Tarboro logistic outfit Hoard helped found.

Circumerro specializes in Web design, publishing, branding and working with real estate firms to help Realtors tell the story of their communities.

Council selected Circumerro at the April 14 meeting. Jenkins, the son of Councilman John Jenkins, has a contract not to exceed $44,800.

’This came at a perfect time for us,’ said Latham Jenkins, ’and it’s a great way to reconnect. In fact, it’s been challenging because I see so many people on the street, and I have to stop what I’m doing.’

The 15 hours of tape will be sent back to Jackson Hole for an early review while Jenkins take some time off this week to visit the beach. He plans to return next week and continue filming.

’Video is essential,’ he said. ’The average attention span is about two and a half minutes. We’ve got to boil the message down.’

Jenkins plans to make a presentation to Town Council at its Aug. 18 meeting.

’We will make adjustments based of their feedback,’ he said. ’The site should be up by the end of that month if not sooner.’