THE PERQUIMANS WEEKLY
Volume 33, No. 43 Hertford, Perquimans County, N.C., Thursday, Oct. 27, 1977 urcu
Public Meeting Set
On School Bond
With less than two weeks
remaining before balloting
on Nov. 8, voters in Per
quimans County will soon
have the opportunity to ex
press their opinions and
have their questions
answered on the proposed
school bond referendum.
That opportunity is com
ing in the form of a public
informational meeting
planned for Tuesday night,
Nov. 1 at 8 p.m. The
meeting will be held in the
auditorium of Perquimans
County High School. All in
terested citizens are invited
to attend. Members of the
Perquimans County Board
of Education, Perquimans
School Superintendent Pat
Harrell, and others with in
formation on the proposed
plan and its cost, will be
present to answer questions
and present any additional
information requested.
The public meeting is be
ing sponsored by a citizens'
group in favor of the bond
measure. That group is be
ing headed by Miss Thelma
Elliott, chairperson; and
co-chairpeople Mr. and
Mrs. Milton Coston and Mr.
and Mrs. Marion Swindell.
The group's leadership said
they felt this type of
meeting would offer an op
portunity to present the
facts before the people
while giving everyone pre
sent an opportunity to
express opinion and ask
questions.
The referendum facing
voters Nov. 8 proposes
school bonds in the amount
of $1.85 million for con
struction and renovation at
Perquimans County High
School. If approved, that
money would be added to
the nearly $1 million on
hand to undertake the
necessary work already
outlined. Approximately
one-half of the monies on
hand have been ap
propriated by the Per
quimans County Board of
Commissioners for school
improvement. The remain
ing half is the county's
share of funds approved in
the 1973 statewide School
Bond referendum.
Christmas Mail Schedule
In an effort to assist the public with
Christmas mail and to insure its delivery
prior to the holiday, the Hertford Post Of
fice has released some important dates to
remember for sending upcoming holiday
mail and packages as follows:
MILITARY MAIL
Destination Letters PAL SAM
Africa Dec. 7 Nov. 18 Nov. 11
AUska Dec. 14 Dec. 10 Dec. 3
Hawaii Dec. 14
Australia Nov. 30 Nov. U Nov. 11
Caribbean
W.Indies Dec 12 Nov. 30 Nov. 23
Central-South
America Nov. 30 Nov. 18 Nov. 11
Europe Dec. 9 Nov. 28 Nov. 21
Far East Dec. 9 Nov. 28 Nov. 21
Greenland Dec. 7 Dec. 1 Nov. 25
Iceland Dec. 12 Nov. 30 Nov. 23
Mid East Dec. 3 Nov. 8 Nov. 1
South East
Asia Nov. 30 Nov. 18 Nov. 11
Destination
Africa
Australia
Caribbean
W. Indies
Central-South
America
Europe
Far East
Mid East
South East Asia
Destination
Alaska
Hawaii
INTERNATIONAL MAIL
AirParcels letters/cards
Nov. 28
Nov. 28
Dec. 12
Nov. 30
Dec. 9
Dec. 9
Nov. 28
Nov. 30
Dec. 7
Dec. 2
Dec. 14
Dec. 2
Dec. 12
Dec. 12
Dec. 5
Dec. 2
DOMESTIC POINTS
Priority Letters
Dec. 16 Dec. 14
Dec. 16 Dec. 14
surface
Nov. 11
Nov. 11
Nov. 13
Nov. 11
Nov. 11
Nov. 11
Nov. 1
Nov. 11
Surface
Dec. 1
Dec. 1
Destination Letters
PAL
SAM
Destination AirParcels letters/cards surface
Destination Priority Letters
Surface
J. C. 's Support Bond
By a unanimous vote, the
Perquimans County
Jaycees went on record
Oct. 13 supporting the $1.85
million school bond referen
dum. That proposal will
face voters in Perquimans
County Nov. 8. The Jaycees
are the first local civic
group to report its endorse
ment of the referendum.
The vote came during a
regularly scheduled
membership meeting of
that group.
Commenting on behalf of
the group, Jaycee Presi
dent Ray Ward stated, "We
the Jaycees feel the youth is
a vital asset to the com
munity. And we feel our
support of improved educa
tional facilities in Per
quimans County is a vote
for a brighter future."
OUTSTANDING YOUNG FIREMAN -
Winfall Fire Department held its annual
banquet Friday night Oct. 21, at Angler's
Cove Restaurant. The award for the
Outstanding Young Fireman went to A1
Whitehurst of Winfall. He is shown above
receiving his award from Wayne Winslow,
Fire Chief.
FIREMAN OP THE YEAR - At the an
nual banquet held Friday. Oct. 21 at
Atfler's Cot* Restaurant, and given by
the Winfall Fire Department. Joseph
Barber was awarded the award for
fireman of the Year. Wayne Winalow is
shown with Barber, presenting him his
INFORMATION STATE'S ECONOMY & GROWTH -
Mark G. Lynch, State Secretary of Revenue, is shown
presenting some information on the state's economy and
growth at the Perquimans County Conference on Balanced
Growth and Economic Development held Oct. 20 in the Per
quimans County Courthouse.
COORDINATING LOCAL MEETING -
Coordinating the Perquimans County Con
ference were (1. to r.) Richard Bryant, Bill
Cox and Lester Simpson who were present
at the Thursday night meeting to hear
comments from the Raleigh visitors and
invite local input on the subject. The ideas
and opinions expressed at the County Con
ference will be compiled as a county
report, submitted for a regional report,
and incorporated with that from other
counties for a geographical location report
to be taken to the Governor's Conference
on the same subject to be held in Charlotte.
The county will have one representative at
that conference. (Staff photos by Kathy
Newbern )
CountyGrowth AndDevelopment
Conference Is Held Here
By KATHY M. NEWBERN
Approximately 20 in
terested citizens gathered
in the Perquimans County
Courthouse last Thursday
night to participate in the
County Conference on
Balanced Growth and
Economic Development.
The local meeting was
similar to those being held
in each of the state's coun
ties as reqested by Gover
nor Jim Hunt. Following
the county conferences, a
statewide conference is
planned for early January
to be held in Charlotte. That
will be followed by a White
House Conference late in
January.
The information gathered
at the Perquimans County
meeting, like that in other
counties, will be used to
compile a regional and
geographic area report.
The Perquimans County in
formation will be used in a
Region R report and in the
information on the eastern
part of the state.
According to reports
from Raleigh, the Per
quimans County meeting
was not as involved as some
others have been. That was
credited to the fact that
local officials and citizens
have, over a three-year
period, investigated the
sort of thing being
discussed for use in compil
ing the county and town
land use plan in accordance
with the Coastal Area
Management Act.
Present for the County
Conference were Mark G.
Lynch of Raleigh,
Secretary of Revenue and
Merry Chambers, an
Economist on the Policy
Development Staff with the
Department of Administra
tion in Raleigh.
The three local ap
pointees to initiate the con
ference and report its fin
dings were Bill Cox, town
mayor and manager;
Lester Simpson, Chairman
of the Board of Commis
sioners; and Richard
Bryant, County Farm
Agent.
In opening remarks,
Lynch pointed out some of
the offerings of North
Carolina and cited some ex
amples of economic stand
ing. Lynch explained, for
example, that North
Carolina is ranked second
in the nation (behind
California) as a good loca
tion for business. He added
that it is estimated the state
will be the tenth leader in
population by 1980. And, on
the negative side, Lynch
pointed out that about one
fifth of the adult population
in the Tar Heel state is
considered functionally
illiterate.
Speaking on behalf of the
Hunt administration,
Lynch stated, "Our goal is
simply this: give every per
son the fullest opportunity
to become everything they
can be and to develop all
their talents. This is the key
to progress."
Lynch also took ad
vantage of the gathering to
urge local voters to support
the seven statewide issues
on the Nov. 8 ballot.
Concerning the County
Conference itself, Lynch
commented, "In the past,
perhaps Raleigh has done
too much talking and not
enough listening. Let
Raleigh know what it can
do to help you."
Lynch's comments were
followed by remarks from
Ms. Chambers who
highlighted some of the
statistics available on
population, employment,
and income for the state,
region and county.
She explained that for the
period from 1970 to 1975,
both Region R and Per
quimans County grew
about 13 per cent higher in
population than the rest of
the state on a relative
growth index On income
figures, the per capita in
come for Perquimans
County in 1974 was in ex
cess of $4300 per year. In
the area of unemployment
for 1970-75, the statewide
rate was 5.0 per cent com
pared to 6.2 per cent na
tionally and 5.2 per cent in
Perquimans County.
Richard Bryant then
presented a local report on
the economy with some
general facts. He pointed
out that the economy in
Perquimans is based large
ly on agriculture. Citing
figures from the 1974 U.S.
Farm Census. Bryant ex
plained that some 400 farms
existed in the county at that
time representing a drop
from the 1969 figures. He
added that the average
farm size was estimated at
196 acres. Concerning in
dustry and the work force,
Bryant explained that the
county's work force is
spread out .over the
Albemarle area in sur
rounding counties such as
Chowan, Pasquotank,
Gates and Washington
counties and in
southeastern Virginia such
as the cities of Norfolk, Suf
folk and Franklin. Bryant
further cited Don Juan
Manufacturing Corporation
as the lone industry in the
county.
Following these com
ments from state and local
officials, the county citizens
attending the conference
were given the opportunity
to express concerns related
to balanced growth and
economic development.
The following ideas were
expressed: the need for
more farm related in
dustry, the need for better
waste treatm lack of and
need for major highways
coming into and going out
of the area, the lack of
tourisim and water-based
recreational facilities, the
problem of animal wastes
in area waters, and the
need for more personnel in
county offices such as the
extension service and other
areas. It was also pointed
out that some people, not
always considered part of
the local work force, are
eager and willing to work if
jobs were available. This
group includes senior
citizens and adult females.
Along these same lines, the
need for industry hiring
non-skilled workers was
also brought to light. And
on the other end of the spec
trum, the opinion was ex
pressed that the county
needs more job opportunity
for young people.
CO A Steps Closer To A Dream
College of the Albemarle
moved a step closer "From
Dream to Reality in the
1970's" today when U.S.
Rep. Walter B. Jones an
nounced that the com
munity college's applica
tion for a construction
grant of $1,664,356 for a new
building has been approved
by the Economic Develop
ment Administration.
Matched with $744, 644
from state, county and in
stitutional development
funds, the federal funding
will allow the college to pro
ceed with final plans to
begin construction of a
75,000 square foot facility
adjacent to the existing
building on its new campus.
The total cost of the struc;
ture is expected to be ap
proximately 12,439,000.
Dr. J. Parker Chesson
Jr., President, was ex
huberant over the news of
the EDA approval. "I am
very grateful for the strong
interest shown in this pro
ject by Congressman
Jones. Receiving this grant
represents tiie culmination
of approximately two years
of hard work by many peo
ple who are very interested
in COA and its role in the
development of the
Albemarle region. This new
facility will greatly
enhance our ability to pro
vide educational op
portunities for adults in our
service area." Chesson
added "that it represents
the largest and most
crucial stage in con
solidating all of COA's on
campus programs on one
campus. Hopefully, we will
be able to move completely
out of the old hospital
building and nurses'
residence on Riverside
Ave." He went on to em
phasize the increased effi
ciency and convenience, on
the part of faculty and
students, that will result
from having almost all of
the college's programs on
one campus.
Aa currently planned, a
new three-story building
will provide critically
needed space for a library,
general classrooms, a
learning resources center,
and administrative offices.
It will also house the col
lege's extensive collection
of audio-visual materials
and equipment, a reading
laboratory, student
bookstore, student center,
graphic arts area and
laboratories necessary for
use by the college's allied
health programs. Included
in the new construction will
be a 5,800 square foot addi
tion to the existing building
on the new campus. It will
create space for a building
trades shop.
A number of new pro
grams will be added, in
cluding light construction,
electrical installation and
maintenance, accounting
technology, and medical
laboratory assistant
technology.
Cheuon said that credit
for getting the $2,439,000
project approved should be
shared by many. "It has
been t^ily a regional ef
fort," he said. The coopera
tion and active support of
the area's county govern
ments, businesses and in
dividuals have been the
vital factor in assuring the
College of the Albemarle
will be an instrument of
greater service to the entire
Albemarle region by pro
viding expanded educa
tional programs and
cultural opportunities."
The president said he was
particularly grateful to the
boards of commissioners of
the seven counties which
comprise the college's ser
vice area. He said each
county confirmed its con
fidence in the institution as
a vital asset to the region by
pledging funds for the
building program. Funding
support was based on a per
capita formula for Pas
quotank, Camden, Chowan,
Currituck, Dare, Gates,
and Perquimans Counties.
Funding for the new
building will be .derived
from the tailoring sources:
EDA basic grant,
$1,219,500; EDA Sup
plemental grant, $444,856;
state construction funds,
$182,340; state equipment
funds, $126,000; Pas
quotank County, $191,279;
Camden County, 2,800;
Chowan County, 5,300; Cur
rituck County, $4,250; Dare
County, $3,900; Gates Coun
ty, $4,100; Perquimans
County, 4,150; and COA
Building and development
fund, $250,525.
The building and develop
ment fund was ac
cumulated as the result of a
campaign which was con
ducted in the early 1970's.
With its theme, "From
Dream to Reality in the
1970's," the college
received contributions
from 70 businesses, 13
organisations, two founda
tions and 320 individuals.
The money was to be used
toward the realization of
Phasell of the institution's
master development plan.