THE PERQUIMANS WEEKLY
Volume 35, No. 10
USPS 428-060
Hertford, Perquimans County, N.C., Thursday, March 8, 1979
15 CENTS
By Tony Jordan
A surprise vistor highlighted the
County Commissioners meeting
Monday. Representative Vernon
James met for less than a half hour
to inform the commissioners that
any local legislation must be
brought up during this week of state
legislation.
In addition, James expressed a
desire to be informed of ay problems
in the county that he could help with.
James mentioned he would be talk
ing with the governor Wednesday.
Commissioner Marshall Caddy
asked for a better understanding
about subdivisions and access to the
roads that lead to them. Caddy said
he did not want to see regulations
"stifling growth" in the county.
Since 1973 the State Board of
Transportation has not taken into
consideration any private road
becoming a public road unless it is
paved. A subdivision, containing
four or more lots, should have a
public road leading to them. James
stated that he would look into the
problem.
James said he did not support the
road bond because he didn't "feel
that the bond would do the job." He
pointed out that the additional
money would only improve a mile of
road each year in the county. Per
quimans has approximately 80 to 90
miles of road that is being con
sidered or should be considered for
improvement, according to James.
The representative pointed out
HARRELL AT WORK - Tommy
Harrell, vegetable farmer, was very
happy about being voted as one of
five Oustanding Farmers in the
state. Along with Harrell, Billy Stall
ings was named as Outstanding
Young Educator. (Staff photo by
Paige Eure)
B Harrell and Stallings
Are Outstanding
Perquimans County was the only
county in the state recognized twice
at the Jaycees Awards Ceremony
held recently. Tommy Harrell and
Billy Stallings were one of five
Outstanding Young Farmers and
Educators respectively.
Harrell, who operates an 800-acre
vegetable farm with his father, said,
"It's a great honor for me, especial
ly since Billy (Stallings) was
honored, too. It's a credit to the Per
quimans County Jaycees."
Stallings, a Physical Education
teacher in Perquimans County
School System, agreed that it was a
honor. "I was glad that the Jaycees
nominated me," Stallings continued,
"and I think it was a tribute to the
county as well as to me."
Stallings and Harrell were first
selected as the Perquimans County
Outstanding Young Educator and
Farmer in January.
Instruction May Come
The possibility of providing
children with art instruction in the
county took a small step forward
Feb. 28. The Perquimans County
Community Schools Advisory Coun
cil agreed to endorse such a move if
enough response is generated.
The program would be supported
Aihy a course fee for each child. The
"money would be used to pay for the
instructor. Mrs. Carol Sick, an
Edenton artist, was mentioned as a
possible and competent teacher for
the classes. At present, she is
teaching weekly classes of adults
and children in Edenton.
Sick, whose own style is
"realistic", said that she would like
for her beginning students to learn to
paint as she did, in the traditional
manner, by studying proportion,
light, and detail in dry media for a
good length of time, before at
tempting the use of the wet color
media.
"This is an old-fashioned way to
teach art," she says, "but I think it
is still the best. A personal style
can't be developed well until the
basics become second nature."
Sick's training in art includes nine
years of private lessons in Burl
ington, and several courses in the
art department of UNC at Chapel
Hill. Since 1971 she has been a hob
byist painter, and has won several
awards in recent local exhibits.
A pre-registration period will
begin soon. Mary White, council
member, pointed out that the
organization of the classes would
usually be handled by the Arts Coun
cil, but since the Perquimans County
Art Council is in the early stages,
she felt the Advisory Council should
initiate some action. The other
members agreed.
SURVEY COMING
To help re-assess the needs of the
county, a questionnaire was approv
ed by the council to be released in
the near future. The questionnarie
will be sent to randomly selected
citizens in the county.
Gladys Hall, Community Schools
Coordinator, stated if any one has a
comment about the survey, they
could contact her at 426-5741. The in
formation gathered will be used to
determine where available funds
will be spent.
i Social Services to Hold
. - ^ -
Public Hearing March 15
^The Perquimans County Depart
ment of Social Services will bold a
Public Hearing pertaining to ser
vices needed in the county. The
bearing will be at 7:90 p.m. March 15
in the Perquimans Courthouse.
The department urges more
citisen participation in the planning
process which determines the ser
vices Offered by the department.
Any individual or group of citizens in
the county who see a need for a par
ticular service should contact the of
fice. Hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Monday through Friday. An appoint
ment may be set up for citiiens if
pre,erred IE 'm
that the money on the state and
federal level was not going to ap
propriate areas. James expressed
this feeling in two examples ;
North Carolina receives only
about 60 percent of federal money it
sends to Washington, D.C. for road
improvements. James said much of
the money goes to the larger, un
populated states in the west.
Approximately 31 percent of
states road funds are being used in
Wake County, home of the chairman
of North Carolina Board of
Transportation. Only 10 percent of
North Carolina's population is in
Wake.
James said, "It's a darn shame we
pay in the money and don't get it
back." Of the eight counties James
represents, he feels Washington,
Perquimans, Pasquotank and Tyrell
need more help in road
improvements.
COUNTY BEGINS TO
BUDGET FOR YEAR
Durwood Reed, County Financial
Officer, announced that he would
have a 'skelaton' budget for the next
meeting. This would give the com
missioners a chance to see how
funds would be allotted and what
changes need to be made.
Reed remarked, that it would be
good to "hold the tax rate as is; but
it's doubtful we can do that." County
Increases in county employees'
salaries.
Paul Gregory, director of Per
quimans County Social Services,
was present to determine the sup
port he can expect from the county
in budgeting for his year. Gregory
must prepare his budget for the
State before the county.
Gregory was concerned with the
county endorsing Caswell Center
(misprinted in an earlier edition as
Casual Center). Caswell cares for
mentally handicapped people from
northeastern North Carolina. The
county has eight people in the
facility.
Caswell was asking for support
from the counties it represents last
month, while the center began its
move to make it a ICF
(Intermediate Care Facility).
Caswell Director of Administrative
Services, Gordon Williams, said this
would improve the care of seven of
the eight Perquimans citizens.
Gregory said, "They receive good
care at the present time."
15-DAY DEADLINE FOR
WATER BILLING
The commissioners changed a 10
day water billing deadline to 15
days. This means a person has 15
days after the bill is sent out to pay
without a penalty.
Commissioner Welly White
pointed out that the "consistency of
the billing" should be stressed. He
noted complaints from citizens on
this issue.
Wayne Floyd stated that com
plaints about the water are
diminishing. Floyd feels that water
usage will soon be increasing. Com
STALLINGS EXCITED - Billy
Stallings, teacher in the Perquimans
County Schools, was not only excited
about the award, but consider it a
COA Grant
Is Received
A grant for $131,117 for construc
tion at College of Albemarle was
received Monday, according to Dr.
Parker Chesson, Dean. The funds
will be an addition to the $2.48
million that had already been
received from the General
Assembly.
The funds will enable the college
to move 95 percent of its operation to
the Technical Campus on U.S. 17,
north of Elizabeth City. "With some
luck, the work should be completed
for the start of 1980 school year,"
Chesson said.
The college's problems began Jan.
10 when bids were opened and it was
found that they needed $386,000 more
than allotted Alternatives for the
project were dropped. v
Man Shot
Perquimans County Sheriff Julian
Broughton arrested Clarence
Chesnut, 39, of Edenton Road, on
charges of intent to kill and assault
with a deadly weapon. Chesnut has
been released on bond.
Broughton said Raymond Mason,
about 40, of Winfall, was shot in the
leg with a .22 caliber rifle shortly
after noon Sunday during an ap
parent argument with Chesnut.
Mason was admitted to Albemarle
Hospital in Elisabeth City.
tribute to the county. Perquimans
County was the only county in the
state that had two winners. (Staff
photo by Tony Jordan)
missioner Lester Simpson indicated
that operation expenses should be
trimmed.
OTHER BUSINESS
Billy Wooten, Perquimans County
Parks and Recreation Director, in
vited the commissioners to a March
12 meeting of the art council, which
is in the planning stage.
Representative Charles Evans
sent the commissioners a letter con
cerncng the proposed wildlife laws.
Evans asked that if they had any
complaints, it should be pointed out
to htm.
The board agreed to budget for
four regular sessions and two
special sessions, if needed. It cost
the county $160 for each week that
court hearings are held in Hertford.
Court fees pay for the service.
CETA Programs, Title VI and II,
are closer to being solved by the
county and Board of Education. Ap
plications by both parties that have
utilizied the program have been
made.
LaneHurt in Accident
Jimmy Lane will probably never
step across the grain auger again,
according to his wife, after being in
jured in an accident Friday. Lane
was loading corn from the bins to the
truck when his overalls became en
tangled in the auger's turning bolt
near the PTO shaft.
"He's stepped across the auger
many times," Mrs. Lane said Mon
day. His clothes were ripped off by
the turning auger and Lane subs
tained deep cuts on the leg as the ob
ject bored into him.
Lane was carried to the Hertford
Medical Center and transferred to
Chowan Hospital where the leg was
stitched from the inside and outside,
according to Mrs. Lane. Lane will be
out of work for approximately three
weeks.
"He was very lucky. I hope it will
teach him and others to be careful,"
Lane's wife stated.
Company Hopes
Busy Signal is Deleted
HERTFORD - Norfolk Carolina
is trying to eliminate the busy signal
in long distance calling in this area.
The telephone company is
spending a large portion of its $12.3
million construction budget for 1979
to improve toll service for its
subscribers.
Plans call for an expenditure of
$702,000 for major cable develop
ment between Hertford, Edenton,
Elizabeth City, Piney Woods, Sun
bury, Welch and Woodville. A total
of $170,000 will be spent for cable bet
ween Hertford and Edenton alone.
By increasing the number of toll
lines in the area, and adding new
switching equipment and other toll
facilities, Norfolk Carolina will be
spending in excess of $2 million in
1979 to improve long distance
service.
"Subscribers in this area will find
that they will be able to place a long
distance calls with less chance of
receiving a busy signal, which hap
pens when all of the circuits are be
ing used as a customer attempts to
place a call," according to Terry
Daniels, commercial and marketing
manager.
Norfolk Carolina is a wholly own
ed subsidiary of United Telecom
munications inc. and member of the
United Telephone System.
Road Report Due Back
In the secondary road report sent
to Raleigh in the past week, Creecy
Road has been added to the list of
roads to be considered for im
provements in Perquimans County.
Also, Colson Road was dropped
from the list because of information
needed.
According to County Commis
sioner Chairman, Joe Nowell, the
report is expected back from
Raleigh in the following week.
Jaycee & Jaycette Happenings
Perquimans County Jaycees will
present a dinner-theatre in Hertford
on Saturday, March 10. "The Love
Knot" will be performed by Acting
and Play Productions at the Hert
ford Grammar School. Dinner,
which is $5.00 per person, will be
served at 7:00. For further informa
tion, call 426-7986.
The Perquimans County Jaycettes
are sponsoring a Little Miss and
Mister Perquimans Pageant in
April. Applications may be picked
up at Betty's Boutique, March 5-17.
Ages for the contestants are four
years to prior to entering school for
Little Miss and Mister Sweetheart.
To enter the Little Miss and Mister
Perquimans, the tot must be in the
first or second grade.
WORKING ON THE RAILROAD -
Although the Southern Railroad
worker was not singing, he was
pounding the tracks with his ham
M >?
mer in Hertford this week. (Staff
photo by Tony Jordan)
r u