Newspapers / The Perquimans Weekly (Hertford, … / July 17, 1980, edition 1 / Page 1
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THE PERQUIMANS WEEKLY f Volume 36, No. 29 USPS 428-080 Hertford, Perquimans County, N.C., Thursday, July 17, 1980 ? 20 CENTS Despite prior setbacks, NRHDA still kicking Despite several setbacks, Nor theastern Rural Health Development Association has not given up hope of locations * medical clinic in Perquimans County. Although the $25,284 allotted the non profit health group from the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare for "phase-out" has be^ji depleted, NRHDA 1 'director Walter White recently an nounced the group's intention to search for additional funding. "Even though we don't have any money at this time, we still consider ourselves in business," said White And HEW, who refused NRHDA's request of some $200,000 in federal monies in January, is again one of the ( ) group's major funding hopes. HEW rejected NRHDA's request for money, citing Eastern Carolina Health System Agency's disapproval, the lack of community support, and NRHDA's failure to sever ties with Albemarle Family Practice, Inc. Of those reasons, White said only ECHSA's refusal of support was valid. But White was optimistic about sup port from the agency that has twice l ) already turned down a request for money, citing a letter from Dr. G.A. Reich, director of HEW's regional office _ in Atlanta, granting NRHDA's request for two doctors from the National Health Service Corps. Drs. Candace Corson and George Knowles, the husband and wife team originally assigned to NRHDA, will split their time between Albemarle Family Practice, where they are presently employed, and NRHDA. should the group receive funding. HEW will apparently foot the two doctors' salaries should NRHDA set up a clinic, but White said no money generated from their practice would return to NRHDA. That HEW's application process requires a detailed evaluation of existing health care services in a given area is another point in NRHDA's favor, ac cording to White, who pointed out that no health care facilities have been added to Perquimans County since NRHDA's phase-out. "We are presenlty re-evaluating health care and health care needs in Perquimans County, and nothing has changed," said White, "People will realize that those fighting against it (NRHDA) did not do the things they said they would." NRHDA's application to HEW will first have to pass through ECHSA; should ECHSA recommend funding, then HEW will review the application sometime in October. And if funded, White said he hoped "NRHDA would have the ball rolling and (be) in operation by the first of 1M1." But NRHDA is not pinning all of their financial hopes on HEW. White said that applications for funding have been submitted to "three or four" private foundations, but would not divulge the sources. In addition to a medical clinic in Perquimans County, NRHDA is currently applying for planning grants to build clinics in two other locations: Camden County, and an area White would not identify, "until confirmed." Camden county commissioner Macon Johnson sent a letter to White supporting NRHDA's intentions to build a clinic there. Johnson promised White "100 percent support," and a site "at no cost except county taxes." NRHDA operated a clinic in Tyrell County at one time, but have since closed down. According to White, plans to operate a clinic in Bertie County are presently "up in the air." White said he will soon seek assurance of support from the Perquimans County Board of Commissioners, and the town councils of both Winfall and Hertford. "We had the (local) support before, and I feel certain we will get it again," said White. It's draft registration time Young men born during the years 1960 and 1961 will be expected to sign their I ) names next week in the first peacetime draft registration since 1975. Registration, carried out over a two week period across the country, will be held at three United States Post Offices in Perquimans County: Hertford's on Grubb Street, Winfall's on Highway 37, and Belvidere'c, also on Highway }7." Men born in 1960 will register during the first week, beginning July 21, and . men born in 1961 will register the next 1 r week, beginning July 28. Failure to register would be a felony punishable by a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $10,000 fine. Persons presently serving active duty in the armed forces and non-resident aliens are not required to register. Registration for those men born in 1962 will begin in January, and will continue thereafter on a regular basis as each turns 18. According to the Selective Service Office in Washington, D.C., the purpose of the registration is to build a pool of namesaml adresses for useiri the event of an emergency. "This is not a draft, we are not calling for examinations or classification," said a spokesman from the office, "this is just to improve the overall readiness of the country in the event of an emergency."" The draft could only be instituted with the approval of the United State Congress. Selective Serice estimates that registration will cost about $13.3 million dollars, with an approximate cost of $2 a person. About $5 million will be spent to upgrade their computer system. Opponents have charged that registration would give adversaries and allies alike a wrong impression of U.S. intentions, calling the move a significant step toward the return of the draft. Proponents, however, have estimated that registration would save some four months in mobilizing recruits in case of an emergency. Selective Service officials are not looking for much opposition to the registration requirement, citing a mere 1 percent noncompliance before the registration ended in 1975. Ducks in a row These three wild ducks seem to hsve taken up summer residence among the Cypress Knees along of the Perquimans River in Hertford. They lined up for this photgrapb taken from a canoe paddled by Hertford resident Morris Kornegay. Students soar early , then decline in testing Perquimans County students are achieving above their grade levels in the early years but fall to more than a full year behind by the time they reach the ninth grade, according to recently released results of annual testing. The state requires achievement testing in grades one, two, three, six and nine, and Perquimans County supplements the requirements with standardized testing in grades four, five, seven, eight, and ten. Eleventh grade students must take the state competency test and those who fail have a chance to re-test in grade twelve. Despite the tendency to fade in the higher grades, schools superintendent Pat Harrell said he was pleased with the test scores. His enthusiasm stems primarily from the fact that the total school population has improved significantly in testing since the program was initiated three years ago. "It shows to me that our students are achieving significantly higher than they were three years ago," said Harrell. "this reflects leadership in the central office and at the buildings, and also improved teaching," he said. Over the past three years 7.49 peV cent or 105 students have moved from below grade level to above grade level in reading, and 10.38 per cent or 145 students have moved from below grade level to above grade level in math, ac cording to figures collected by testing and evaluation coordinator Paul Ward. Grade level attainment here on state testing is compared to averages for both the region and the state. These averages were not available in the county initiated testing. Grade level is actual grade of the student, plus seven, to account for the fact that tests were administered in the seventh month of the school year. For instance, 3.7 equals grade level for a third grade student. Perquimans first graders scored at the 1.8 grade level in reading, wliile the average for the region was 1.7 and for the state, 1.8. In math, the first graders scored on the 2.3 level, while the regional mean was 2.1 and the state, 2.2. Second graders tested at a 2.8 grade level for the county, 3.0 for the region and 3.0 for the state in reading. In math, the county average was 3.4-, compared to 3.3 ( Continued on page 2 ) , Census says county, Winfall up, Hertford down Perquimans County enjoyed a population increase of 12 per cent during the past decade while the town of Hert ford suffered a 10.7 per cent decline in population, acccording to preliminary census data. The census lists total population of the county at 9,360, compared to an 8,351 total in 1970. Preliminary data in Hert ford, however, shows that 1795 persons I >* live in the town today, as compared to 2,009 in 1970, Hertford mayor Bill Cox took issue with the figures showing a decline in the population of Hertford. "Hopefully, it's off. I think so," said Cox. The data shows that there are 29 more house holds in Hertford than in 1970, and indicates that 75 of the housing units are vacant. "I think they are counting some units that are not vacant," said Cox. He said it is difficult to find an empty house in Hertford. An article published in Monday's Raleigh NEWS and OBSERVER would appear to offer support for Cox's claim. The article maintains that census workers were paid a small fee if upon visiting a home and finding no-one at home, they listed it as vacant, but had to make a return visit if they did not. Cox said that getting an accurate census count is important because many state and federal revenue programs are based on population. He said on Friday that the town has 10 days to gather evidence to refute the findings of the preliminary census, and will attempt to do so by counting vacant house and checking to see whether or not they are truely vacant. "There should be an increase when the final count comes in," Cox said. The town of Winfall, though, has shown a 10.3 increase in population, according to preliminary data. The town has shown a 36 per cent increase in housing units, from 196 in 1970 to 286 in 1980. The population is listed at 641, with a population per house hold of 2.64 persons. In 1970, the population was listed at 681. with a population per household of 2.64. In Hertford, the population per house hold is 2.53 according to the preliminary 1980 census data, and 2.90 by the 1970 count. The county as a whole has enjoyed a 40 per cent increase in the number of house holds, with 4,052 units, compared to 2,894 in 1970. A total of 747 units are listed as vacant in the county, with a population per housing unit of 2.86. In 1970, the count was 2,894, with a population of 2.86 persons per housing unit. Friends recognized How Perquimans slices its revenue pie Perquimans County government will handle just under two and a half million dollars during this fiscal year. By most standards, its a big business. Where does the money come from and where does it go? Less than half the county's revenue in the fiscal year that began last week will come from local property taxes. Based on a 92 per cent collection rate, projected revenue from the county tax levy is $1,173,000. The remainder of the county's projected revenue, $1,284,075, will come from other sources. < The county's revenue pie is divided up between a number of agency's, depart ments and funds. The largest slice goes to the Perquimans County Schools system. A total of $482,400, 42 cents on the county tax rate of $1.15 per $100 valuation, goes to current expense. Another 7 cents or $71,400 is ap propriated to schools' capital outlay. A supplement levy of 14 cents which generates $142,800 also goes to the schools. Turned over to the schools from source* other than tool taxes: $297,012. 1 Social ssrrtew Social services receives the next largest share of county funding. The departments allocated $275 508 Of that total, $18,420 pays the director's salary, $43,680 pays social workers, $77,436 goes for eligibility specialists, $25,570 goes to clerk-typists, and $40,057 pays the salaries of chore workers. Another $13,110 goes for FICA, $500 for professional services and $3,350 for telephone service. Travel allocation is $7,900 and maintenance and repair of equipment totals $600. A $4,000 sum is budgeted to medical aid-outside poor, and an additional $2,400 is budgeted for the nutritional program for the aged. For departmental supplies and materials, $8,400 is budgeted. Aid to the blind is budgeted at $2,122, foster home child care at $13,980, and family planning at $1,675. A total of $500 is budgeted for day care, $600 for dues and subscriptions, $400 for insurance and bonds, $1800 for payment of board members, $4,800 for contractual travel, $1208 for protective services, and $3,000 for capital outlay and equipment. County commissioners Another hefty budget chunk, $83,848, is allocated to the county commissioners. This includes a $600 special allocation to the ehairman. and $7,000 ($40 per meeting) to board members. Another $1800 is budgeted to the clerk to the board. Contribution to FICA totals $610. Employee hospital insurance is budgeted at $10,000, $4,500 is budgeted for professional services, retirement ex penditure is targeted at $37,300, and travel is set at $1,500. The travel line item covers mileage to and from the board meetings and to meetings in the area. Other expenditures for conventions, seminars and the like are deducted from miscellaneous ex penses. Economic Improvement Council rent is targeted at $300, and $2,200 is set for unemployemnt insurance, $500 for tax refunds, and $1,200 for advertising. A $300 figure is budgeted for civil preparedness, $4,400 for Farm Home Administration employee assistance, $1500 for dues and subscriptions, $500 for insurance and bonds, and $8,000 for miscellaneous expenses. A $1000 figure is included for stream clearance, while $4,200 is to be con tributed for membership in the Albemarle Regional Planning and Development Commission. Finally, an $8,431 appropriation is included for the Perquimans County Board of Education. (Continued on page 2)
The Perquimans Weekly (Hertford, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
July 17, 1980, edition 1
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