THE PERQUIMANS WEEKLY
Volume 40, No. 44 USPS 42fOM Hertford, Perquimans County, N.C., Thursday, November t, 1984 2s CENTS
Voter turn-out heavy in county
By JANE B. WILLIAMS
Approximately 70 percent
of Perquimans County's
registered voters turned out
Heavy voter turn-out on
Tuesday seemed to be the
rule, not the exception, as
approximately 70 percent
of Perquimans County's
registered voters made
their way to the polls in the
November General
Election. (Photo by
George Wilmore.)
to cast their ballot on
Tuesday during the 1984
General Election.
Slighty above average to
heavy voter turn-out was
reported at each of the
county's seven precincts,
with precinct registrars
noting the number of votes
cast as follows: Bethel 586;
New Hope 585; Nicanor 130;
Parks ville 633; East Hertford
591; and West Hertford 448.
There were 113 absentee
ballots cast, and the total
number to vote in the
Belvidere Precinct' was
unavailable at pYess time.
Republican candidates
were projected to win three of
the major races early
Tuesday evening, however
Perquimans County voteres
did not follow the trend set by
other North Carolina voters
in the top two contested state
races.
On the presidential ballot,
incumbent Ronald Reagan
(R) received 1935 of
Perquimans County's votes,
while Walter Mondale (D)
received 1441 votes.
Projected figures indicate
that Reagan captured 60
percent of the vote.
In the highly contested U.S.
Senate race between
incumbent Senator Jesse
Helms (R) and N.C.
Governor James B. Hunt (D),
Helms received the bid
across the state, while Hunt
picked up the majority of the
popular vote in Perquimans
County with 1728 votes to
Senator Helms 1578 votes.
Pcrentage figures indicate
that Helms captured 54
percent of the popuar vote.
Although totals across the
state gave Congressman
James G. Martin (R) the nod
of approval for the next
Governor of North Carolina
with 54 percent of the vote, he
received only 1333 votes in
Perquimans County, to 1957
votes cast for Attorney
General Rufus Edmisten (D).
In other major races
Perquimans County residents
voted as follows: U.S.
Congress First District -
Walter B. Jones (D) 2121 ?
Herb Lee (R) 1095; Lt.
Governor - Robert B. Jordan
(D) 2143 ? John H.
Carrington 1041; and the
Constitutional Amendment
requiring Attorney Generals
and District Attorneys to be
duly authorized to practice
law prior to election or
appointment received
overwhelming support with
2439 votes in favor of the
amendment and 642 votes
against the amendment
On the local ballot there
was only one contested race
for the N.C. Senate between
Marc Basnight (D) and Barry
McCarty (R). Basnight
received 2143 votes in
Perquimans County, to
McCarty's 1098.
Overcrowding in classrooms presents
problems for two of the county's schools
By MONICA ROACH
Oversized classes in
Perquimans County Schools
caused Perquimans County
Board of Education members to
voice their opinions regarding
the recent relocation of students
that were made within
Perquimans Central School
recently.
Due to the changes made, an
additional aide, Edna Wolverton
was hired to help the overloaded
teachers. Also, some of the
teachers took on additional
students so the teachers that
were extremely overloaded,
could have some type of
assistance.
Christmas
Parade
slated
"Christmas Around the
World" will be the dominant
theme of the 1984 Christmas
parade sponsored- by the
Perquimans County Jaycees.
The parade will begin at 2:00
p.m. on Saturday, December 1 at
Perquimans County High School.
The line-up time (or units and
floats is at 1:15 p.m. at the
school.
Cash prizes will be awarded for
floats in two divisions; church
and civic category and schools.
First place winners in each
category will receive $15.00.
Second place winners will
receive (10.00. Third place
winners- will receive honorable
mention.
Participating bands -will be
Judged in two divisions, 00 and
over members and under <0
members, with first and second
place trophies being given in
?ach division. Third place bands
in each diviaion will receive
honorable mention.
; Anyone interested in
participating in the 1984
Christmas Parade should
contact Parade Chairman Edgar
Roberson at 426-5225 or 42*771*.
The deadline for entries in the
p%r?dets November 26.
Classroom size is limited to 26
students in K-3, and 29 students
per class in grades 4-6.
Approximately four classes were
subjected to overcrowding at the
beginning of the 1984-85 school
term.
School personnel were able to
organize a combination class
consisting of students in the first
and second grade, thus causing a
lot of students to be switched to a
different classroom to aide in the
elimination of overcrowding.
Board members expressed
that they were " very pleased"
with the change and are hoping
that in the future more changes
can be made to cut down the total
number of students taught per
day by each teacher.
To solve this problem, Board
members are hoping to be able to
hire additional teachers and
aides in the forseeable future.
Problems still exist at
Perquimans Union School, where
overcrowded classrooms and
overtaxed teacher workloads
have not been remedied.
Science, math, and social
studies classes consist of 158
students at Perquimans Union
and the state limit is 150 students
per teacher per day.
According to Perquimans
County Schools Superintendent,
Pat Harrell, the only classes at
Union School that are
overcrowded at this point are
those that are among the
required curriculum. Steps are
currently being taken to resolve
this situation.
During the business session of
the meeting the Board:
?Accepted a new policy
submitted by Pat Hirrell
concerning Selection of
Instructional Materials/Media
Selection. This was the first
revision of the policy since 1969.
?Approved the release of Toby
Edwards to attend the
Edenton/Chowan Schools.
?Approved the Public School
Laws Granting Rule ? Making
Authority to Local Boards of
Educalton.
?Discussed the expiration of
the School Board Members Legal
Liability Insurance. Decided to
gather mor?> information
concerning the cost of the
insurance.
Presently, the members are
insured by Alexander and
Alexander. An increase of
approximately $1,200 per year
was brought to the attention of
the members, therefore,
discussion was asked to be made
on whether or not this type of
coverage was really needed in
the system.
Members decided that this
type of insurance coverage was
needed, and Pat Harrell is to
investigate further into the
renewing of their policy.
?Accepted the resignation of
Teri Copeland effective
November 15, 1984.
?Requested that copies of the
North Carolina Basic Education
Plan be sent to them as soon as
possible.
?Discussed the site work at the
high school. There was no bids
submitted, therefore, an
extended date was moved to
November 13th at 10:00 a.m.
?Was made aware that the
heating and cooling system at
Perquimans High School is not
working properly, but
arrangements are being made to
repair the system sometime this
week.
?Approved the adding of
additional light fixtures to the
gymnasium at Perquimans High
School.
? Was informed that
renovations are beginning for the
track field at the high school.
Also, the softball field will begin
making necessary arrangements
in the near future.
?Approved to make
arrangements for buying
another copier for the Board of
Education office.
Commissioners
sign proclamation
By JANE B. WILLIAMS
Perquimans County
Commissioners met Monday and
unanimously approved the
signing of a proclamation
declaring the week of November
16 through November 22 as
Farm-City Week in Perquimans
County.
The proclamation, signed by
Commissioner Chairman Joe
Nowell reads as follows:
Whereas, the growth and well
being of this county are
dependent upon cooperation and
exchange between the two
essential environments of our
society; farmers and city people,
and
Whereas, the complexities of
their individual problems and the
divergence of their activities
have led to a widening gap of
misunderstanding, and
Whereas, this gap of
misunderstanding must be
eliminated, and each group must
understand the other if our
American way of life is to
endure, and
Whereas, Farm-City Week
provides an unparalleled
experience for farm and city
people to become reacquainted.
I, therefore, Joe Nowell,
Chairman of the Perquimans
County Board of Commissioners,
do hereby proclaim the period of
November 16 through November
22 to be Farm-City Week; and I
do further call upon all citizens of
this county to participate to the
limit of their capabilities in the
joint visits, the seminars, the
pageants, fairs, civic and social
events associated with a
successful Farm-City Week in
Perquimans County.
In other action taken Monday,
the Commissioners:
?Aproved the purchase of a
Cannon 270 copier to replace a
rented unit at the Perquimans
County Extension Department.
?Approved a request by the
Perquimans County Rescue
Squad to use monies gained
through donations to upgrade
radio equipment for that
organization.
Instructed County Manager
Randy Keaton to look into a state
grant program that will enable
the county to erect street signs on
county roads.
Discussed the feasibility of
renovation of the Blanchard
Building for an additional
courtroom and office space for
the county. Instructed Keaton to
have a contractor inspect the
building for structural
soundness.
Farm-City Week
plans complete
Plans for the Perquimans
County Farm-City Week Banquet
and Tour are virtually complete,
according to Willard L.
Pettengill of the Perquimans
County Farm-City Week
Committee.
Farm-City Week extends from
November 18 through November
22, which is Thanksgiving Day. It
is an annual event which
spotlights a concentrated
exchange of ideas and
information between farm and
city people.
By learning about each others
jobs and their problems, we can
create an atmosphere of
cooperation between the farming
and urban sectors of the county.
The local Farm-City Week
Observance is being
spearheaded by the Perquimans
County Ruritan Clubs assisted by
the Agricultural Extension
Service.
"Through the excellent efforts
of our Farm-City Week Planning
Committee, we have several
events planned as part of our
observance," said Pettengill.
On Monday, November 19 at
1:30 p.m., there will be an
educational tour featuring
cotton. The theme of this tour
will be "Cotton ? From the Field
to the Mill." The participants
will trace cotton from the fields
where it is grown to the gin and
then finally to the cottoil mill.
Stops included on this tour will
be a cotton field where cotton is
being picked, the Ward-Nixon
Cotton Gin and Edenton Cotton
Mills Incorporated. This is a
chance to learn about cotton first
hand.
The tour bus leaves the
Perquimans County Agricultural
Extension Office at 1:30 p.m. on
Monday. Call the Extension
Office at 426-5428 to sign up for
the tour.
The other scheduled activity is
the Farm-City Week Banquet
which is under the local
sponsorship of the Ruritan Clubs.
The guest speaker for the
banquet is Jim Futrell, an
assistant Vice President of the
Federal Land Bank of Columbia
and the Federal Intermediate
Credit Bank of Columbia in
Columbia, S. C.
Local fire departments get new trucks
Two of the county's
volunt'eer fire
departments have gained
an additional truck to aide
in fire protection for
county residents.
Members of the Durants
Neck ? Volunteer Fire
Department recently
purchased a tanker that
will enable them to be
more effective, as well as
enabling them to aide
other county fire
departments.
A fund-raising pig
picking and auction sale
held on Saturday night will
aide in paying for the new
truck. Bottom
left, are members of the
department who worked
toward providing the meal
that helped boost the fund
raising effort.
Pictured, below right, is
a new van that was
donated to the Hertford
Volunteer Fire
Department by VEPCO.
Pictured are Hertford
Chief, Pete Riddick
accepting the van from
Clayton Gentry, VEPCO
District Manager, while
Edgar Robe r son of the
Hertford Department and
Alvin Mizelle, Senior
Service Representative
for VEPCO look on.
Photos by Monica
Roach.