STANDARD PRINTING CO XXX
LOJ 13; ILLS TUCK 40200
rrni tttt s i t ttt i i i 1 1 t yfK
WEEKLY
' H , r H. HU
MANS
Volume 32, No. 37
Hertford, Perquimans County, N.C., Thursday, Sept. 9, 1976
15 CENTS
Local Telephone
GompaniesMerge
1
i
At stockholders' meetings
Aug. 24, approval was
granted for The Norfolk & ,
Carolina Telephone &
Telegraph Company, a
North Carolina company .'
formed in 1902, to merge in
to The Norfolk & Carolina
Telephone & Telegraph Co.
of Va., a Virginia company
formed in 1913, and for the
surviving . company to
change its name to Norfolk
& Carolina Telephone Com
pany. All regulatory ap
provals were granted on or
before that date. It is a
Virginia corporation, since
Virginia law requires all
utilities to be domesticated;
however, the principal of
fice will remain in Elizabeth
City.N.C. ;
Its service area covers
eight counties in north
eastern North Carolina
(including the Outer Banks
from Hatteras Inlet north)
and portions of Chesapeake
and Virginia -Beach,
Virginia. The territory has a
balanced economy of
agriculture, light industry,
tourism, and military in
stallations, and its Virginia
territory in part is a
bedroom community for the
Norfolk metropolitan area.
The company serves ap-.
proximately 55000
telephones with a total of
$35.2 million assets. Its ap
proximately six percent
growth rate per year ex
ceeds the industry average.
It becomes the 22nd largest
telephone company in the
Unites States by this
merger.
.- . -'.,..1
Approximately 75 percent
of the common stock of the
company is now owned by
the former North Carolina
Company's common stock
and 25 percent by the former ,
Virginia Company's com
mon stock.
There will be no change in
the directors, officers and
employes. Tne old Virginia
territory will be the Virginia
division, the old North
Carolina territory will be
the North Carolina division,
which will be subdivided in
to the Elizabeth City
District, Edenton District,
and Manteo District. It is ex
pected that it will produce
some administrative sav
ings and facilitate improved
cost controls and profit
maximization.
Local Library
Seeks To Join
Regional System
The first step toward
' enlarging the Pettigrew
.Regional library ' system J
was taken on Thursday
night when a special
meeting of the Pettigrew
Regional Library Board of
Trustees was held in
Edenton. ; Tom Shepard,
phairmon rJS fKn Rrtai
viiwuuiiui w& uiv vuiUU
welcomed a delegation from
Perquimans County which
presented a request to join
the regional library system.
Mrs. John T. Biggers of
Hertford, chairman of the
Perquimans County Library
Board of Trustees, was
accompanied by Mrs. G. W.
Barbee, Mrs, Jesse Harris,
Mrs. Elaine H. Phillips, and
Mrs. Wiley Whedbee, all of
Hertford, and Mrs. Etta
Turner of Durants Neck. In
addition to the Board
members,' the Perquimans
delegation included their
County Librarian, Mrs.
Silas Whedbee, who has
announced her intention to
retire in the near future.
, - Attending the special
meeting were Pettigrew
Board members from
Tyrrell County Ms. W. A.
Basnight, Mrs. Grady Swain
and J. D. Brickhouse. Mrs.
Geoge Barden and Mrs. C.
J. Belch - represented
Washington ' County, In
addition to the chairman,
Chowan County board
.members attending the
meeting ; were Mrs.
Mareuerite Burch and Mrs.
J. N. Slade:
Pettigrew Regional
Library Director Nellie M. '
Sanders , presented an
overview 1 of the .
Administrative Code of the
Department of Cultural
Resources which governs
the formation of library
regions. There was
discussion "tA 'the various
benefits of the merger. In
broad terms, regional
libraries "are organized to
provide more adequate
service than could be
provided by separately
operated libraries. Under a
single administrative
system, the member
libraries will have ' the
services of professional
librarians who specialize in
services to . various age
groups and in special types
of service. A multicounty
system can provide im
proved in-service training
opportunities for non
professional staff members.
By increasing the number of
people served, the per
capita cost of quality ser
vice is lower than for small
populations." v
"More specifically' Ms.
Sanders said, "if the level of
local support from
Perquimans County for the
operating expenses of their
local library (such things as
salaries and fringe benefits
for local non-professional
employees, utilities, building
maintenance and insurance,
postage and supplies) is
sufficient, they will be
eligible for State Aid to pay
for a certified public -librarian
in addition to the
basic State Aid which they
are now receiving. The
Regional Grant of $8,000 is a
bonus to county libraries
which are part of a region
with at least $1.75 per capita
in local support."
Shepard assured ? the
board members from
Perquimans County that
(Sm LIBRARY, pog 8)
;T..: 1 . -
I I
Update On Swine Flu
Imriiunization Program
MRS. EVELYNE LEBARS BAKER
AwardedU.S.
Citizenship
Mrs. Evelyne LeBars Baker of 600 Pennsylvania Avenue,
Hertford proudly announces becoming a citizen of the
United States. She was born in southern France.
Mrs. Baker appeared in the New Bern District Court
house in New Bern, N.C. on Wednesday, Aug. 25 and was ad
ministered the Oath of Citizenship by John R. Whitty, Clerk
of the United States District Court. Federal judges, Larkens
and Johnson presided over the session, and she proudly
became a citizen.
She was accompanied to New Bern by her husband,
James Baker, and daughter, Mrs. Linda Lewis of Belhaven,
N.C. After receiving her citizenship, Mrs. Baker and
members of her family visited Tryon's Palace and its
Gardens.
Mrs. Baker is employed at Don Juan Manufacturing Cor
poration in Hertford.
BoardQfEdu
By KATHY M. NEWBERN
The Perquimans County Board of Education held its
regular monthly meeting Monday night with one member
absent. Following the call to order by Chairman Clifford
Winslow and the reading and approval of the last meeting's
minutes, items of business were discussed.
The first item on the agenda was approval of an atten
dance policy for all grades in the county's school system. At
their last meeting, the Board approved a policy of atten
dance for students at Perquimans High School. After
discussion with principals and other administrators, it was
decided that a similar policy was needed for students in all
grades. The following attendance policy was approved by
the Board: (1) If a student misses more than 20 days (10
days in the case of half year or semester courses), for
reasons other than illness, he will not receive credit for
work in that class or grade; (2) A student can miss more
than 20 days with a doctor's excused absence and loose no
class or grade credit; (3) A review committee will be
formed in each school for the purpose of appeal by parents
and or students; (4) The record keeping procedure for at
tendance will by handled by each principal in his respective
building; (5) A conference will be held when a student
misses 10 days (5 days in the case of semester courses) and
a record of this conference will be maintained. The purpose
of this conference will be to remind the student of the atten
dance policy and notify him of the number of days missed;
and (6) The parent shall by notified by certified mail when a
student has been absent 15 days.
In other business, the Board discussed travel compensa
tion for Board of Education members when travel by
members is necessary for Board business. Funds to cover
such subsistence are set up by the County Commissioners.
The Board of Education approved a statement to be
presented to the Commissioners asking for compensation
for services equal to that received by the Commissioners
when on business.
The Board also approved guidelines presented to them for
the screening, identification, referral and placement of Ex
ceptional Children.
Under personnel matters, the Board accepted the
resignation of Archie Miller from his position as electronics
and drafting teacher at Perquimans County High School.
And the Board approved all of the following for employment
in the Perquimans County School System: Aubrey, Baccus
as the electronics and drafting teacher at Perquimans
High; Delsie Riddick as a third grade teacher at Central
Grammar School; Marjorie Lindsey as a fifth grade
teacher at Hertford Grammar School; Hazel Eure as a
physical education aide at Perquimans Central Grammar;
In the past few months it seems that the "topic of conver
sation" has been the swine flu. We have all read about it,
listened about it on the radio, and seen it on the television.
An attempt will be made through this article to give local
people an "up-to-date" report on the swine influenza.
Influenza has a special place in the history of epidemic
diseases. Plague, smallpox, yellow fever, typhus, and the
classic scourges have now generally been controlled. In
fluenza, however, has not.
This is so because the virus which causes the disease
changes its makeup so often that men cannot build up
specific immunity to it. Once every ten years or so, there oc
cur! what scientists call a major antigenic shift. When this
happens, the flu virus has changed so much that almost no
one has any immunity to it. The population is wide open, un
protected against infection. This happened in 1957 with what
was called the Asian flu, and again in 1968 with Hong Kong
flu. In both years, millions of Americans were sick withina
period of a few months.
Scientists have now identified a swine influenza virus
which represents a major antigenic shift from viruses cur
rently circulating in the human population. The new strain
was first identified in early 1976, following an outbreak of in
fluenza at Fort Dix, N.J. Several hundred recruits were in
fected and one died.
Scientists do now know for certain if this virus, officially
called A-New Jersey-76 (Hsw 1N1), will spread to the
general population during the next flu season. If it does, it
could cause a worldwide epidemic with extensive illness.
There is no known cure for influenza, although antibiotics
are important for treating some of the complications of the
disease. Vaccination before exposure to the disease is the
only way an individual can protect himself from influenza.
This year, the nation is carrying out an unprecedented ef
fort by the public and private sectors to provide vaccine for
most U.S. citizens.
Following are answers to the most commonly asked ques
tions about influenza. (
Q. How effective will the new influenza vaccine be?
A; It is generally believed that effectiveness of today's flu
vaccines ranges somewhere from 70 percent to 90 percent.
When a distinctive new strain comes along, scientists are
now generally able to match a vaccine to the new strain,
and it is likely that a high degree of effectiveness will be
achieved in a vaccine against the swine virus.
Q. Will the influenza vaccine make me ill? ',-,
cation Holds Meeiig
Joanne Brown as a migrant aide; Gary Billups as a
physical education aide at Hertford Grammar; Shirley
Carter as a maid at Hertford Grammar; and Kay Boyce as
a clerical aid at Central Grammar School. In other person
nel matters, the Board approved the appointment of Jean
nie Umphlett as Coordinator for the Exceptional Children
Program. Ms. Umphlett is currently employed as a teacher
at Hertford Grammar School. The appointment was made
in addition to her teaching responsibilities.
The Board of Education also voted to accept an ap
propriation in the amount of $181,923 for ESEA Title I pro
grams this year. The actual appropriation represents ap
proximately $10,000 more than was anticipated by the
Board.
In the way of announcements, Superintendent Pat Harrell
informed ths Board of Education that Reading Emphasis
Week would be celebrated locally Sept. 19-24 with many ac
tivities being held in the local schools and being coordinated
by the Citizens United for the Improvement of Reading in
'76. It was also announced that the furniture for the middle
grades occupational program at Union School and the
elementary gifted-talented program has arrived. Enroll
ment in the school system for the year was also discussed;
enrollment being higher than expected and estimated to be
near 2,000 students. In the kindergarten program, 56
students are enrolled at Central Grammar School and 50 at
Hertford Grammar School. It was pointed out that all
kindergarten students enrolled prior to the beginning of
school are now being served.
Possible program expansions were discussed. Superin
tendent Harrell said that a study is being conducted to look
into the possibility of initiating a remedial reading lab -at
Perquimans High School using ESEA Title I funds. Also in
the way of possible program expansion, the departments at
the high school are reviewing course offerings and consider
ing expansion of the curriculum.
Under Food Services matters, it was announced that'
there is a possibility of the local school system receiving
non-food assistance funds to be used for the purchase of
lunchroom equipment. Recommendations of the needed
equipment were discussed and the Board voted to give
Superintendent Harrell the authority to take action if the
funds become available and if the equipment that could be
purchased with the funds is necessary.
The Board approved a request to allow Headstart
students to purchase lunch at Perquimans Union School at
the adult price of 70 cents per lunch. They also approved the
request to allow Headstart students to ride buses if there is
(Sm EDUCATION, pogt 8)
A. In the past, a small percentage of people who have
been vaccinated against the flu have run slight fevers
within 24 hours after receiving the vaccination. Swelling,
redness, and tenderness in the arm occur in 20 to 40 percent
of those vaccinated. Severe reactions are very rare.
Q. Can I get flu from the vaccine?
A. The flu vaccine contains a virus that has been killed;
No one will get flu from taking the vaccine. Because the
virus used in making the vaccine is grown in eggs, people
who are highly allergic to eggs should not take it.
Q. What can I do for protection if I am allergic to eggs?
A. First, check with a physician to be certain that the
allergy is the type that would prevent you from being im
munized. However, even if you cannot take the flu vaccine,
you will get some benefit from the mass vaccination pro
gram. This is so because you will be living in a protected
population and therefore will be less likely to be exposed to
the disease.
Q. What are the symptons of influenza?
A. Symptoms of influenza often come on suddenly and
may include some or all of the following: fever, chills,
headache, dry cough, and soreness and aching in the back
and limbs. Fever seldom lasts more than several days,
although the patient may continue to feel weak for severals
days to a week or more.
Q. When can I get vaccinated?
A. At this point health officials do not know the date that
the vaccine will be available. Health officials will keep you
informed on the influenza program and give notification as
to date, time, place, etc. through the papers and radio as
soon as these issues are known.
The influenza program will be held in two phases,
bivalent phase and monovalent phase. A special vaccine for
the elderly 65 and over, and chronically ill will be made
available earlier (bivalent phase).
The second phase (monovalent) will occur later. A mass
immunization program will be conducted to immunize the
18-64 year old population. Below 18 years of age, the vaccine
will not be used.
Again, the date, time, place, etc., are not known at this
point; however, you will be informed through the media as
soon as decisions are made.
Civic Calendar
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 9
The Perquimans County Jaycees will meet at the
auditorium of the Albemarle EMC Building beginning at 8
p.m. A special program on Gun Safety will be presented by
Joe Tunnell. The public is invited. There is no charge.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 10
Bethel Homemakers will meet at 2:30 p.m.
SATURDAY: SEPTEMBER 11
The Elizabeth City Shrine Club will have a dance for
Shriners and Guests from 9:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. at the
Elizabeth City Shrine Club. Music will be by Vince Chory
and the Squires. Admission is $5 a couple.
; '
From 10 a.m. until, members of the Perquimans County
Rescue Squad will be offering a free blood pressure check
on the lawn of the Perquimans County Courthouse.
MONDAY SEPTEMBER 13
Town Beautification meeting will be held at the Municipal
Building at 8 p.m.
Perquimans County Rescue Squad Ladies Auxiliary will
meet at 8 p.m. at the Rescue Squad Building.
Inner-County Fire Department will meet.
Wesley Circle will meet.
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 14
Perquimans Lodge No. 106 will meet at 8 p.m. at the
Lodge Hall in Hertford.
Hertford Rotary Club will meet.
Perquimans County Horse & Pony Club will meet.
' '
The Senior Citizen Friendship Club will have its regular
meeting at the E.I.C. Building in Hertford beginning at 3
p.m. Each member is encouraged to attend and bring a new
member.
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15
Durants Neck Ruritan Club will meet.
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 16
Hertford BPW Club will meet.
'
Hertford Fire Department will meet.
Hertford Lions Club will meet.
zrrrr
s
r
IP
"
V
II
HUNT1
0
2
II
en TTZ! CAMPAIGN TT t!L rr' "JTAT!3 Liout rtt courthouse, Bunt met the people, talked about tie up- Wayne AslJey.wm on hand to welcome the Lt Governor, and Mrs. Paul Smith Jr. Also shown are scenes of the crowd
r :ii C:v---r JInj Hurt, tz:zxi : ( i-4? f.r Ccrcr- c - '-3 ITivember election and thanked his supporters. The picture at left shows Jason Smith, a young supporter which ventured out to meet the candidate and hear Us
r -,v 'r.;-jCcuz4yl"t? r:fc;c ' :J L. s Led campaign chairmen, Julain Broughtonjuid meeting his candidate for Governor. JasonUthesonof Mr. views. (Newbern photos)