Newspapers / The Perquimans Weekly (Hertford, … / Jan. 15, 2020, edition 1 / Page 2
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A2 THE PERQUIMANS WEEKLY, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15,2020 V k 1 1 PARTNER Continued from Al man remains detection canines dubbed “cadaver dogs” serve on the front lines soon after tragedy strikes. “These dogs have an amazing power of scent,” Throckmorton said. “The average dog has 220 mil lion scent receptors in his nose. We have about five million. The average dog has such acute sensitive scenting ability that it can detect and identify smells that are so dilute that even the most sensitive tools can’t detect them. They also have lateral vi sion than humans. Their ears can pick up sounds from a greater distance than humans.” Since it’s not everyday that someone wakes up in the morning with a burn ing desire to train dogs, Throckmorton shared her story about how she was introduced to dog han dling. .In October of 2009, 20-year-old Virginia Tech student Morgan Har rington disappeared after attending a rock concert at the University of Vir ginia in Charlottesville, Virginia. Harrington was the daughter of Throckmor ton’s best friend. “My best friend Gil Har rington called me while I was in Africa on business to say that her daughter was missing and possibly abducted,” she said. Harrington’s purse, Haley containing her identifica tion and cell phone (with batteries removed), was discovered in a parking lot at UVA’s Lannigan Ath letic Field following her disappearance. State Police and sur rounding law enforce ment units organized a massive volunteer search in Charlottesville. “I was there with the Harrington’s for support, and after the first day asked to be part of the ‘point last seen’ search,” Throckmorton said. “I became involved in K9 search and recovery and eventually search and res cue in 2010.” Throckmorton was assigned as a support person to one of the K9 handlers, a unit based in Roanoke, Va. “It fascinated me to see how the dogs worked, how disciplined they were, and how very im portant the dog/handler team was to a missing person case,” she said. Harrington’s remains were discovered by a farmer on Jan. 26, 2010, about 10 miles from the arena, in a remote area of the 742-acre Anchorage Farm more than one-and- a-half miles from road ac cess. “The case became my SUBMITTED PHOTOS Savanna focus until her body was found 101 days later in a farmer’s field just out side of Charlottesville,” Throckmorton said. When Throckmorton returned home, she called the K9 team’s trainer to ask for help finding a dog, and joined the Vir ginia Canine Recovery Team (VCRT). A month later, Throckmorton and the dog trainer traveled to North Carolina where she chose the pick of the litter. “My first puppy came home and together we started training as a team searching for human re mains,” she said. Throckmorton has trained three dogs with her first dog being a Gold en Retriever and second being Hungarian Vizsla. Her third dog is a flat coated boarder Collie and did live finds with certi fication for the recently deceased. All Throckmorton’s dogs have been nation ally certified in multiple disciplines within their specialty. “Dogs cost anywhere from the cost of an adop tion from a pound to thou sands of dollars. I have worked with both,” she said. “Proper equipment, vet bills and upkeep add to their value. The train ing however runs in the tens of thousands for the life of a dog which makes them a very valuable part ner.” Like law enforcement agents, these dogs have served their communities with tours of duty search ing for clues related to stories that may have a tragic ending. “Yes, my dogs and I have been deployed on many searches,” Throck morton said. “Most of them were recovery, be ing new or cold cases. We worked locally and also out of state on private cases. The farthest away was Kansas. I also field supported on a search in Texas. The most haunting cases are those of missing children, many of them missing due to abduction and at times murder. We have also been called out to back-up the live search dogs in the event the the search turns to a recov ery.” Currently, Throck morton has a new puppy that is training in histor ical remains. Like many dogs learning the ropes, Throckmorton said the puppy’s biggest effort right now is obedience. “All of my dogs are temperamentally sound, great around people,” she said. “Having a well dis ciplined dogs makes the them fun to be around. They were not pets when they were working, but a working partner of the best kind!” BROADBAND Continued from Al of future economic growth opportunities that would be created by enhancing tech nological infrastructure. “We are not here to ask the county directly for mon ey,” he said. “One of the primary reasons we as citi zens of Perquimans County love living here is due to our county’s fiscally responsible .spending. However, I be lieve that any money invest ed in longterm infrastruc ture such as broadband access and fiber optic trans mission lines will return to us ten fold.” Saunders noted that Camden County recently se cured a $1.8 million grant to cover the county in wireless from the state line to Cam den Point because of the ef forts of the county commis sion, local residents, East Coast Communications and the Economic Development ' Council. Echoing Saunders’ sentiment, Steve Lane of : Inteliport said efforts are underway to pursue similar -federal grants and invest ment. Saunders said with simi- ’ lar cooperation from stake- . holders and the community, Perquimans too could ex pand broadband coverage. “With the new 1-87 com ing soon, I believe we are going to be the new bedroom community for Virginia commuters that choose to reside here with us having such a low tax base and just over 20 miles from the state line,” he said. “We need to prepare for this growth potential. So for now, we would only ask for the support of the com mission in aiding us to bring this to fruition.” In other news, commis sioners touted the virtues of attending College of the Albemarle because the school’s new president Jack Bagwell was in the audi ence for the Jan. 6 meeting. “I’m excited about what he brings to the table,” Commission President Wallace Nelson said. “We appreciate your interest in our county.” Established on Decem ber 1960, College of The Albemarle became the first established institution of the North Carolina Com munity College System as chartered by the Commu nity College Act of 1957. Two-hundred and forty-five Perquimans residents at tended COA during the 2018/19 academic year and there were 374 people who enrolled in continuing ed ucation classes that could teach folks skills from cake decoration to welding. Commissioners Nelson and Charles Woodward attended the school many years ago before pursuing pharmacy degrees. Nelson said the college has trans formed many lives includ ing his own. ‘it’s our local community college - first community col lege in the state,” Nelson said. In other matters, the county is seeking folks to serve as members of the community advisory com mittee. This committee ad vocates for long-term care residents to ensure that their rights are upheld. Any interested citizens should contact the Regional Ombudsman’s office at 252- 426-5753. By participating and listening to residents in long-term care facilities, folks on this committee are advancing these people’s voices and, hence, their rights. In other matters, Cher yl Banks was hired Dec. 1 for Social Services; Chris topher Prince was hired Jan. 1 as a custodian for the Maintenance Department; Lisa Ambrose was hired Nov. 1 as a clerk and Kate lyn Moody as seasonal tax lister for the Tax Depart ment. Also, Ed Muzzlin has moved to Colorado, so Chad Matthews was ap pointed to fill his seat with the Board of Trustees for the Bethel Fire Department. Per the commission’s Dec. 2 consent agenda, Zachary Crowe was hired as a prut-time/full-time para medic; Bethany Buttram was promoted to full-time shift supervisor; Madeline Lighthill was certified part- time/full-time advanced emergency medical techni cian. Also, commission ap proved a 2-year extension for preliminary platt ap proval for the Mooring at Albemarle development. Commissioners en dorsed a resolution in sup port of the 100th anniversa ry of the 19th Amendment that gives women the right to vote. Commissioners ap proved the Economic Im provement Council’s block grant application. Staff writer Mites Lay- ton can be reached at mlay- ton@ncweeklies. com SUBMITTED PHOTO Third Annual Riverbash takes place between April 24 and April 26 in the Hertford Town Dock/Marina/Lawn area. RIVERBASH Continued from Al ■ Historic Hertford Inc. (HHI) will be hosting Dine, Drink & Dance, a ticketed event, for the big Saturday night party between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. Live music for the evening will be provided by the Ocean Breeze band from Hampton Roads. Sunday April 26 ■ Blessing of the Fleet— Boat Parade 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. in Hertford Bay ■ Kool Down Jazz Con cert 4p.m. to 6p.m. town dock stage A detailed schedule will be published in The Pe- ruqimans Weekly closer to the festival’s date. For more information, contact Sharon Smith, Per quimans County Tourism Director, at 252-426-5675 or tourismdirector@visitper- quimans.com Chowan Perquimans c^j^r Habitat for Humanity ' Restore Open Tues., Thurs., Sat. 9:00 am to 1:00 pm We pick- up large donations! only Flat Screen TVs will be accepted NO Paint or mattresses accepted 1370 N. Broad St., Edenton 482-2686 PAGE Continued from Al w “We are visiting local high schools and recruiting .new Junior Volunteers. So far we have had much suc cess,” she said. Copeland praised the education she has received from the Perquimans School system. Also, she is currently dual-enrolled through the College of the ‘Albemarle and will gradu- ate in May with an associ ate’s degree. “I believe that the educa tion that I have received at Perquimans County High School has been good,” she said. Driven to succeed, Co peland attended NC Gov ernor’s School East in Ra leigh, where she studied Natural Science this past summer. She is currently the Senior Class Presi dent, a student leader with Fellowship of Christian Athletes, co-president of Interact Club, and am help ing with Special Olympics through Unified Champi ons. She plays volleyball and softball where her leadership has played a key role in our successes. Though Copeland is still weighing her options for college, she was selected as a semi-finalist for both the Morehead-Cain Schol arship for UNC-Chapel Hill and the Park Scholarship for NC State. “Both scholarships stand on pillars of scholarship, leadership, and character,” she said. “I am truly hon ored to have made it this far in those processes.” Copeland said based on her experiences in Raleigh, she advises her peers to take other avenues away from the classroom to learn more about the world. “It is good to learn about Town of Winfall Offices WILL BE CLOSED Monday, January 20, 2020 For observation of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day In case of an emergency, please call 426-5751 what life is like outside of our hometowns and to learn about how things work in our state and even our nation,” she said. “I would highly recommend that high school students look for opportunities to pursue learning outside of the classroom and broaden their horizons.” Hertford Supply ,. tn v>^ Co., Inc. Rock, ADS Pipe, Concrete Pipe, 2 Fertilizers, Feed & Seed, Peanuts 809 S. Edenton Rd. St., Hertford 426-5591 PERQUIMANS COUNTY PUBLIC NOTICE Except for the Sheriff’s Department, Dispatch Office and Emergency Medical Services, all County Offices in the Perquimans County Courthouse, Courthouse Annex, Social Services, Agricultural Extension Service, Perquimans County Library and the Perquimans County Recreation Department will be closed on Monday, January 20, 2020, for observation of Martin Luther King’s Birthday. The Water Department will be closed but emergencies may be reported to the Dispatch Office by calling 426-5751. The Board of Commissioners Work Session that is normally scheduled for Monday, January 20th, has been changed to Tuesday, January 21,2020, at 7:00 p.m. due to the holiday. Frank Heath County Manager
The Perquimans Weekly (Hertford, N.C.)
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