THE PERQUIMANS WEEKLY
Volume 58, No.31 USPS 428-080 Hertford, Perquimans County, N.C. Thursday, August 3, 1989 in <
I Feature
Kmnnire
Local
Briefs
i
NCNB approves
raises common
stock dividend
Charlotte? NCNB Corp. said re
' cently its board of directors ap
B-oved a 20-percent increase in
CNB's quarterly common stock
dividend - three months earlier
than the company historically has
raised its dividend.
The quarterly dividend of 30
cents per common share, up from
25 cents per share paid the past
three quarters, is payable Septem
ber 22 to shareholders of record on
September 1.
?
"This accelerated dividend in
crease represents another step in
our commitment to increasing
shareholder value," said NCNB
Chairman Hugh McColl. "Total re
turn to our shareholders is a combi
nation of increases in cash
dividends and significant increase
in stock price we have experienced
this year."
s In addition, the NCNB board de
clared a regular quarterly pre
ferred stock dividend of $1.00 per
share, unchanged from the pre
vious quarter, payable October 1 to
shareholders of record on Septem
ber 1.
Swindell Funeral
Home acquires
membership in
The Order of
the Golden Rule
Swindell Funeral Home in Hert
ford has been accepted for mem
bership in the International Order
of the Golden Rule.
The Order is comprised of fune
ral directors from all over the
world who are dedicated to keeping
in touch with the attitudes of the
public. This is accomplished
through regularly scheduled semi
nars and educational meetings at
which attendance is required by all
members.
' Only one funeral home in a com
munity is selected for membership.
For this reason, the Order carefully
screens all prospects. The decision
is based on recommendations
fnade by families the firm has
served and by other professionals
in the area.
Dale L. Rollings, Executive Di
rector of the association, stated,
''To obtain membership in OGR, all
prospects must provide their com
munity with quality funeral service
and merchandise at reasonable
prices. As a result of the positive
response we've received from the
Hertford area, Swindell Funeral
Home has proven its worthiness to
j be counted among our members . ' '
ESC comes to
Hertford weekly
Beginning August 8, job seekers
in "Hertford will no longer have to
go to the Edenton or Elizabeth City
Employment Security Commission
in -order to register for work. The
Edenton Local Office will be send
ing a representative to the Albe
marle Commission building on
Church Street Extended every
Tuesday from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. to
assist Perquimans County resi
dents in finding jobs.
Kathy Keefe, Manager of the
Edenton Local Office, stated that
the decision to begin sending a rep
resentative to Hertford was made
after several larger employers in
Hertford began to do all of their hir
ing through Employment Security
Commission. Some concern had
been expressed that some residents
of Perquimans County could ar
range transportation to get to jobs
in Hartford, but may have diffi
culty in obtaining transportation to
Edenton or Elizabeth City to regis
ter for work.
This service is being provided on
atrial basis. If employers and local
applicants utilise the service it will
be continued. The support of the
employer community as well as the
utilization by local people seeking
work will be essential to the contin
uation of this service
. Perquimans County employers
re encouraged to contact the
>n Jou Service Office at
2196 to IJst openings
ing employment is
report in person at
Je Commission on
j lays between 9:00 and 11:00
Brothers recall excitement of "Great American Race
By: Jack Grove
Pete and Charles Ward went the
distance in the 1936 Bentley they
drove but didn't place in the
money. That did not seem to bother
them any and they talked anima
tedly Tuesday morning about their
experiences during the "Great
American Race."
The race was really a coast to
coast rally featuring vintage auto
mobiles. The skill of a driver and
navigator in each team was pitted
against the clock featuring preci
sion driving, controlled speed and
endurance of both man and ma
chine over mainly back roads for 12
to 14 hours at a stretch.
Pete Ward of Edenton and his
brother, Charles Ward of Hertford,
each own auto supply stores in their
respective towns The Bentley Sa
loon they drove belongs to Willis
Jessup of Hertford who went along
on the race with a support vehicle
containing spare parts (which
weren't needed.) The car "ran per
fect" commented Charles Ward
and had all the power needed, espe
cially in the mountains.
Of 120 cars entered from 32 states
and six foreign countries, four were
unable to start the race and 95
crossed the finish line at Disney
land in California.
The race took the cars from the
starting line in Norfolk to Balti
more on the first day. The second
day ended at Charlotte, NC. The
race then wound through Nashville
and Memphis, Tenn.; Little Rock
and Fort Smith, Ark.; Lawton,
Okla.; Gainesville and Irving,
Tex.; Lawton, Okla.; Amarillo,
Tex.; Tucumcari and Santa Fe,
N.M.; Phoenix and Yuma Ariz.;
and San Diego and Fallbrook, Calif.
The Wards said that cars from
the state of the evening destination
each day were placed in the start
ing positions that morning. For
Nortn Carolina, a father-son team
from Wadesboro, driving a 1932
Packard, were slated to lead the
pack with the Wards in the second
position.
Since that team didn't show up at
the starting line on time, the Wards
led the parade to Charlotte.
They placed eighth in the field of
116 on the first day, 44 seconds off
the predetermined finish time at
the final check-point, their best ef
fort in the 12 day event. "We
thought there wasn't anything to
it," Charles Ward, the navigator,
said smiling. Things got a great
deal more complicated, however,
as the race wore on.
Each morning they received a
detailed set of instructions includ
ing where to turn at landmarks and
specific speeds at certain
stretches. (The directions might
dictate that they drive 15 mph for 37
seconds, then 50 mph for 20 miles
and then reduce to a specific speed
for a certain time at another inter
val.)
Pete Ward, who handled the
right-side mounted steering wheel,
said that missing a turn could make
all the difference in placing at the
end of a day. "We didn't make but
one wrong turn in the whole race.
And people were standing in front
of the sign" in a church yard in
Sparta, Tenn. "About everyone
missed it," Charles added. That
day they placed 75th.
The racers were greeted by
throngs of excited people in all the
small towns they went through who
urged them to pass one another
with waving gestures. Pete Ward
termed it "The fun part. It was just
about like being in a Burt Reynolds
movie."
At each overnight stop they had
assigned hosts who "adopted" a
car and team and who paid for the
privilege. In Dallas they had a day
off for rest. The Wards hosts took
them sight-seeing to visit such
places as the school book deposi
tory where President John F. Ken
nedy was assassinated and to
"South Fork", a ranch 20 miles out
side the city, made famous by the
TV series, "Dallas."
Also at each stop, the locals
would press souvenirs on them.
They said before they reached the
halfway point, a Bentley full of T
shirts, ball caps, pennants, pins
and other items had to be trans
ferred to Jessup's vehicle. At a
service station in Amarillo, Tex.
they even received a free tank of
gas.
Along the way they became in
stant celebrities, signing souvenir
Great Race books, to bet we
signed over 10,000 autographs,"
Charles Ward said.
They made many friends among
the other teams, llie winner of the
race, Dick Burdick of Rosanky,
Tex., wrote them after the race,
urging them to participate again
next year. He offered his help and
advice and said that he would like
to see them finish in at least the top
ten in 1990.
The Wards finished 27th in the
field this year, based on their per
formance during the
"championship run" on the last two
days. They finished second in the
effort to achieve "rookie of the
year" honors
Their only mishap on the run was
when they hit a dog in Tennessee
and bent a fender. After the gruel
ing pace, they were "wore out"
when they reached the Disneyland
finish line.
The Wards now plan to acquire
their own vintage car and enter
next year's event. "This year's ex
perience was the best two weeks
spent in our life." Charles Ward
beamed. His brother agreed. "We
really enjoyed it."
As to winning, "If you enter the
race, you win," Charles stated.
Prior to the beginning of the Great American Race, the Ward Brothers posed with Bentley owner Willis
Jessup at his home.
New athletic director assumes duties
The Perquimans County Schools
announced the appointment of Jim
Tabb as athletic director and head
football coach at Perquimans High
School.
Tabb comes to the area from
Beddingfield High School in Wilson,
where he has served as an assistant
coach and teacher since 1986. Prior
to coming to North Carolina, Tabb
spent 30 years in education in
Georgia, his home state.
The new coach is excited about
the upcoming football season. He
said the high number of seniors on
the roster looks good. "I was im
pressed with that," he said, add
ing," That's a good sign."
Tabb said he is bringing "a lot of
experience and commonality with
this area" to Perquimans. He has
coached and played all sports, as
well as serving as a teacher, coach,
principal and administrator during
his tenure in Georgia.
"Firm and fair" his how he de
scribes his coaching style. He
stresses grades. "Academics is
very im .ortant. It's the most im
portant thing," he said.
Weightlifting is an important
part of a football program, and
Tabb plans to continue with the pro
gram already in place at Perqui
mans.
Tabb came to North Carolina to
be near his daughter and her two
children in Kinston. When he heard
about the opening here, he applied
to have the opportunity to once
again become an athletic director
and head football coach.
Fortunately, the Wilson School
system granted his request for re
lease, allowing him to begin work
in Perquimans this past Monday,
the first day of football practice.
Tabb was one of two candidates
of those interviewed recommended
to the board of education by school
administrators. He met with the
board last Thursday night to dis
cuss the position. He called on Fri
day to say he would be coming to
Hertford on Monday.
Tabb graduated from Miller
County High School in Georgia, at
tended Auburn University and
earned both his bachelor's and
master's degrees from Troy State
University. He also holds a masters
degree - North Carolina Continuing
Certificate in social studies, physi
cal education and school adminis
tration.
He served as head coach during
11 of his 32 coaching years. He
coached teams in all classifica
tions.
Tabb looks forward to a long and
successful career working with the
youth of Perquimans.
The Perquimans Pirates will
open their season against Camden
on Friday, August 25 in a non-con
ference game after scrimmaging
with Roanoke Rapids on August 17.
Help available through disability hotline
Joe is a 56-year old man who has multiple sclerosis.
He applied for Social Security disability benefits and
was denied.
Sara is the elderly mother of a schizophrenic daugh
ter who is incapable of managing her own affairs. Sara
was afraid that her daughter would be left alone with
no income when she died.
Forty-year old Ed, who is paralyzed from the waist
down and uses a wheelchair, wanted to re-enter the
real estate business but was afraid his disability
checks would be terminated.
Joe, Sara, Ed and thousands of others have found
that help is just a phone call away through the N. C.
Disability Hotline.
The toll-free number is 1-800-638-6810 and is in opera
tion Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The
hotline is equipped with a telecommunications device
for the deaf (TOD) to serve hearing-impaired citizens.
Initiated in the fall of 1985, the hotline has helped
thousands of individuals, providing assistance and re
ferrals to disabled North Carolinians who have prob
lems or need information about the Social Security
Disability Program, Supplemental Security Income
(SSI) and the Hyatt v. Bowen class action suit.
Hie Hyatt v. Bowen class action suit involves people
with pain, high blood pressure or diabetes who have
been denied Social Security disability benefits. Under
the suit, they may be eligible for a new review.
"The disability hotline is a tremendous asset to dis
abled individuals who need financial assistance be
cause they are unable to work," said Administration
Secretary James S. Lofton. "Many citizens have re
eeived ^important counseling in processing their disa
Hotline staff members have a wealth of information
at their fingertips, and they are advocates working
solely on behalf of disabled persons, according to Sec
retary Lofton.
The N. C. Disability Hotline and Information Office,
formerly located in the N. C. Department of Human
Resources, was recently moved to the Governor's Ad
vocacy Council for Persons with Disabilities in the N.
C. Department of Administration.
The process of obtaining disability benefits can be
frustrating and confusing, according to Secretary Lof
ton. The hotline was established by the N. C. General
Assembly to help disabled individuals to better under
stand how to process disability claims and to appeal
unfavorable decisions.
Calls may also be referred to other agencies, such as
vocational rehabilitation offices, the Disability Deter
mination Service, local departments of social serv
ices, federal offices of hearing and appeals and local
Social Security offices.
Joe, Sara and Ed, mentioned above, found assis
tance through the hotline.
Although ne had the right to appeal the denial of So
cial Security disability benefits, Joe felt it would be
useless. Working through the hotline, he decided to ap
peal and throughout the appeals process Joe called the
hotline every time a quesion came up. Two months
after filing for reconsideration, Joe received a letter of
approval.
The hotline staff referred Sara to the local Social
Security office to file a disability claim for her daugh
ter. There she received help in processing the claim,
which later was approved. t
After talking with the hotline staff, Ed decided his
best option was the Work Incentive Program with its
nine-month work period during which nis disability
checks would still be delivered.
Arthritis sufferors form
regional support group
Sufferers of the excruciating
pain of arthritis no longer need
to bear their pain alone. A club
has recently been established
in the Albemarle to offer sup
port to these afflicted with ar
thritis.
The Albemarle Arthritis Sup
port Group meets at Knobbs
Creek Recreation Center in
Elizabeth City on the second
Tuesday of each month from
1:00 until 3:00 p.m. The
"ABCS", an acronym for Ar
thritis Buddies, Caring and
Sharing, hosts informative
meetings featuring guest
speakers who teach the partici
pants how to live with arthris
tis, its pain and crippling.
The group is planning to hold
a second meeting each month
to be used as a time for outings
and sharing concerns.
A spring workshop designed
to help arthritis sufferers in the
Albemarle area learn to man
age their disease through life
style and diet sparked the
group's formation.
Leaders fo the group are He
len Meekins and Lina Sherlock.
An Elizabeth City massage
therapist, Wendy McClenon, is
the founder and coordinator of
the ABCS.
Bernie Blystone, physical
therapist at Coastal Rehabili
tation Center, Inc., is medical
advisor. Registered Physical
Therapist Sandy Trevillian,
Blystone's associate, assists
him.
Membership chairman of the
ABCS is Jessie Cox of Hert
ford. Other officers in addition
to Cox, Meekins and Sherlock
are Helen Wilson of Frisco,
publicity - Dee Marshall of
Elizabeth City, Sunshine
Fund; Tammy Smith of Eliza
beth City, telephone and Roxie
Blanchard of Belvidere, social.
A club spokesperson said,
"Joining an arthritis club can
make coping with the problems
of arthritis a little easier. We
invite all interested persons to
come and hear the latest infor
mation about arthritis and its
treatment, in addition to meet
ing others who share common
concerns and enjoy recre
ational activities."
There is 'no cost to join the
club which is sponsored by the
Arthritis Foundation.
For more information, call
Jessie Cox at 426-5685, Helen
Meekins at 264-2278 or Charlie
Swanner at 482-2544.
Edenton Job Service
places many individuals
in positions
The Edenton Job Service office placed 138 individuals in jobs during the
month of June, resulting in a total of 1208 individuals placed during the
1988 Program Year (71-88 through 6-30-89). Of these individuals. 146 were
veterans.
The definition of an individual placement is an applicant who is placed
for the first time during the program year. Some applicants are placed
more than once during the program year. Including subsequent place
ments, the Edenton Job Service office placed 1676 applicants. This was an
increase of 20 percent in individual placements and an increase of 35 per
cent in total placements.
Kathy Keefe, Manager of the Edenton office credits the increase to
several factors. "I feel that both the employer and applicant community
are utilizing our services more than they have before. More employees
are doing all of their hiring through Employment Security Commission ,
and more people are utilizing our services to find jobs . ' '
Applicants seeking work are encouraged to apply in person at the Eden
ton Job Service office located at 709 North Broad Street between the hours
of8:30a.m. and5:00p.m. on Monday through Friday.
Employers currently seeking help or anticipating future needs are en
couraged to contact the office to inform the Job Service staff of their
needs.
All services offered by the office are provided free of charge.