?THE PERQUIMANS WEEKLY
Volume 35, No. 35
USPS 42*009
Hertford, Perquimans County, N.C., Thursday, Sept. 6, 1979
20CENTS
Board is still looking
for county agent
By MIKE MCLAUGHLIN
The Perquimans County Board of Commissioners is conti
nuing to resist state efforts to combine its county
agricultural extension chairmanship with that of an adja
cent county.
The board reiterated its support for a separate extension
chairman for the county at its Monday morning meeting.
The post has remained vacant since the retirement of
Richard Bryant last May.
State officials sought a meeting with the commissioners
C Thursday (today) to discuss the matter. The commis
ners, however, have asked that the state meet with
them at their next regular meeting on Sept. 17.
After the rejection of a proposed combination of the Per
quimans County chairmanship with that of Chowan County,
the state apparently approached Pasquotank County about
a similar combination with Perquimans.
At the direction of the Pasquotank County Board,
however, a letter was written to the state extension direc
tor expressing the board's disapproval of such a combina
tion.
"I have discussed this matter with other members of the
Pasquotank Board of Commissioners and they instructed
me to advice you that they are absolutely and totally op
posed to the combination of the Pasquotank County office
with the Perquimans County office or any other county,"
wrote W. Raleigh Carver, chairman of the Pasquotank
County Board.
Carver wrote that he felt the consolidation of the two of
fices under one head would hurt agricultural extension ser
vice in Pasquotank County. He argued against recommen
dation from the state advisory committee that extension
offices in Northeastern North Carolina be combined.
"There is more commercial farming in Northeastern
North Carolina than in many of your larger counties west
of Raleigh," wrote Carver. "We feel that the farmers in
Northeastern North Carogina should have an effective ex
tension program headed by a county chairman located in
the county," he wrote.
The Perquimans Board decided Tuesday that it will also
write a letter to the state outlining its opposition to any
combined agricultural chairmanship. "I would like to
assure the citizens of the county that we're pursuing this
issue," said Joe Nowell, chairman of the county board.
In other business the commissioners authorized the
school board to offer 152,500 for the purchase of 14 acres of
property surrounding the county high school.
The school board began condemnation proceedings to
secure the property in 1976, but the issue got bogged down
in federal court. Recently the courts said they had no
jurisdiction in the matter.
School system superintendent Pat Harrell said that the
appraised value of the property has nearly doubled since
the board first sought its purchase.
The commissioners also heard a report from Keith
Haskett, head of the county tax department, that tax
notices will be mailed Sept. 17. The bills will reflect a 5
cents per $100 valuation increase in taxes.
Haskett's recommendation that Anna Smith be hired to
replace Vicky Winslow, who is resigning from the tax of
fice, was accepted by the board.
Haskett said that because of low wages, the tax office is
training employees, only to have them accept alternative
employment. "We've got to start paying salaries com
parable to other work in the county," Haskett said.
A representative of Motorola told the commissioners that
because of a mixup, the company had put an unauthorized
antennae on the county radio tower. Though the tower is
designed to accommodate only five antennaes, the
unauthorized antennae brought the total number of anten
naes on the tower to seven.
The representative was instructed to write the firm
which constructed the tower, inquiring as to whether or
not the tower will safely handle the extra antennae. In the
meantime, Motorola will be allowed to keep its antennae
on the tower.
In another matter, the commissioners lent their tentative
approval to the purchase of an antique chest that would be
used for storage in the courthouse meeting room.
Commissioner Lester Simpson made the motion that the
county buy the chest "if we like it"' and the motion was
unanimously approved.
The chest is of the same period as the courthouse, which
was constructed in 1732.
GOLDEN HARVEST ? Corn is loaded into a truck during the
Floyd Matthews operation in New Hope recently. The corn
had a reported 28 per cent moisture content. Matthews will
dry and store the corn. (Staff Photo by Jack Grove)
Police chief
proposes curfew
ByNOELTODD
McLAUGHLIN
Police Chief Marshall Mer
proposed an 11 p.m.
^Airfew for minors at the
Tuesday night meeting of
Hertford's Town Council.
Merritt said there has
been an increasing number
pf juveniles loitering in the
business district and disturb
ing the peace.
Merritt also proposed an
ordinance closing pool halls
on Sundays.
Town Attorney, William
Bentley said that the curfew
law was "within the town's
scope" but that he would
have to check into the legali
ty of restricting pod halls.
No action was taken on
either matter.
Merritt further reported
that the police department
made 21 arrests during the
month of August. Offenses
ranged from public inebria
tion to breaking and entering
and larceny.
Liquor sales increased
pver $3,000 this year ac
cording to ABC Board Chair
man, Cecil Winslow.
The Councilmen also heard
a summary from Lewis
Taylor, a representative of
Capp's Community Develop
ment Firm.
Taylor updated the pro
gress of moving King Street
residents to alternative hous
ing in various areas.
The Development Project,
funded by the Federal
Department of Housing and
Urban Development, is
presently upgrading the
substandard King Street
area. Condemned structures
are being demolished and
new homes will be built in
their places.
These homes will be of
fered for sale to the public.
DUI arrests increase
Charge* made by the State
Highway Patrol for driving
the influence (DOT)
up 8.T per cent for the
seven months of this
year as compared to lfTS,
according to State Patrol
total of 24.809 for the tame
period in 1WI.
Lift year vu a record
year. Hie Patrol made a
total of 42,391 arrests -
more than in any year in its
history.
"Our main concern is to
protect motorists by remov
ing as many drivers under
tbe influence of alcohol or
drugs from the highways as
Dossibl?fc^
^
Elections are
announced
The municipal elections
for the Town of Hertford
and the Town of Winfall will
be held Tuesday, November
6.
The filing period for can
didates will be from noon,
September 14 to noon, Oc
tober 5. The registration
books will close for this elec
tion on October 8.
All prospective voters
must be 18 years old and
residents of their respective
precincts for 30 days. This
applies to new applicants for
registration only. Those who
have been regularly voting
do not have to re-register
unless they have moved into
a different precinct, If a
voter has moved, then he
must come in and transfer
to the new precinct.
To be voted on in this
municipal election are the
mayor and two councilmen
for Hertford and the mayor
and two councilmen for Win
fall.
The election office will be
open for registration from 9
a.m. to noon on September
29 and October 6 for those
who are unable to get to the
office at regular office hours
(9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Mondays,
Wednesdays, and Fridays).
The office is located in the
Agriculture Building on
Dobbs Street, phone:
426-5545.
Sheriff's car
is damaged
By JACK GROVE
Sheriff Julian Broughton
was involved in an accident
last Thursday morning
which occurred between
Morgan's Corner and South
Mills on U.S. 17. The
Sheriffs patrol car struck
the rear of a car driven by
Charlie Lawrence Sawyer of
Elizabeth City about 8 a.m.
Both cars were proceeding
north.
According to Broughton,
he was temporarily blinded
by the sun when the acci
dent occurred.
Damage to the 1978
Plymouth of the Sheriff's
Department was estimated
at 11,200 while damage to
Sawyer's 1972 Pontiac was
estimated, at $800. There
were no personal injuries as
a rest It of the accident.
Broughton was cited by
the Highway Patrol for
failure to reduce speed to
avoid a collision.
Fire wives meet
Members and families of
the Hertford Fire Depart
ment held a cookout on
August 29 at the fire station.
The wives of the firemen
held an organisational
meeting for a Ladies
Auxiliary. Carolyn Lane was
elected president, Nancy
Newbern, vice-president,
Candice Eley, secretary and
Tbelma Skinner, treasurer.
House Speaker Carl J.
Stewart, Jr., of Gastoaia has
amxmoced his appointments
to the Legislative research
Study Committee on Gasohol
Production and Distribution.
Appointed were: Represen
tative Vernon James of
Elisabeth City, Co-Chairman,
u
James on gasohol committee
Representative Dave
Bumgardner of Belmont,
Repreieatative Tim
McDowell o I Mebane, and
Hank Finch of Fayettevllle
The Study Committee on
Gasohol Production and
Distribotioa vu set up by
the 1I7? General Assembly.
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TOTALED ? Shown is the remains of the automobile in volved in an accident with a tractor-trailer truck on U.S. 17 at
Winfall. (Staff Photo by Jack Grove)
Accident injures six
Virginians at Winfall
A Sunday night accident
injured six Norfolk residents
on U.S. 17 just north of the
fire tower in Winfall.
A car driven by Keith
James Miller, 16, entered
the highway from state
route 1301 when it was
struck by a southbound
tractor-trailer truck driven
by Isaac Dennis Allbritton of
Haw River, N.C.
The accident took place at
7:30 p.m. on rain-slick pave
ment. Miller sustained head
injuries and lacerations to
an elbow. Most seriously in
jured was Aaron Lee <
Darden, 38, who sustained ;
collapsed lungs and head in- I
juries. He was admitted to 1
the Albemarle Hospital in
Elizabeth City and was 1
listed in critical condition. 1
Receiving lesser injuries
were Linda Hyman, 34; Ann J
Miller, 58; and Barbara
Briggs, 40.
According to investigating
officer, Trooper Y.Z.
Newberry, a second tractor
trailer truck managed to
avoid colliding with the acci
lent vehicles but ended up
iack-knifed in a ditch. Both
trucks are owned by Bur
lington Industries.
The 1974 Pontiac in which
the injured were riding was
termed a total loss.
Newberry said that the
estimated damage to the
truck involved in the colli
sion was from $12 to $15,000.
Four Highway Patrol of
ficers were on the scene:
Trooper Michael J. MacAr
thur from Chowan County;
Lieutenant Butler of Troop A
Headquarters in Greenville;
Sgt. Hinson of the Elizabeth
City office; and Newberry.
Two units from the Per
quimans Rescue Squad
responded to the call along
with two units from the
Hertford Fire Department
and three units of the Win
fall Fire Department.
The accident severed a
saddle tank of diesel fuel
from the truck which coated
the roadway with fuel.
Highway 17 was closed to all
traffic for three hours while
the wreckage was being
cleared from the road.
ANNIVERSARY MODEL ? Trooper Charles H. Mims holds
his personal presentation model of a .44 magnum pistol
commemorating the 50th anniversary of the N.C. Highway
Patrol. The pistol carries the inscription "1929 High Patrol
1979" on the barrel. Under the cylinder it is inscribed "NCHP
0248" which refersto Mims' present seniority in the patrol.
The pistols were purchased by officers wishing to own them.
(Staff Photos by Jack Grove)
Motorists asked
to use caution
With schools reopening,
State Highway Patrol Com
mander John T. Jenkins has
called on troopers to closely
monitor the operation oi
school buses. Although North
Carolina has an excellent
school bus driver training
program, Jenkins is direct
ing this special attention of
troopers to ensure maximum
safety of student*.
Eight students were killed
in school bus accidents dur
ing the 1978-79 school year.
According to Trooper
Charles H. Mims, the last
school bus related fatality in
Perquimans County was 12
years ago.
Troopers will monitor not
only school buses, Jenkins
said, but all vehicles along
school bus, routes.
School board to
make land offer
The Perquimans County
School Board will apparently
offer $52,500 for the Urqu
hart property which lies ad
jacent to the county high
school.
The school board in
structed that attorney John
Matthews should make the
offer at its Thursday night
meeting.
The board has been at
tempting to acquire the
property since 1976 and plans
to use it for expanding park
ing and athletic facilities at
the school.
Condemnation proceedings
against the property began
two and a half years ago but
the issue became tied up in
federal court. A federal
judge recently ruled,
however, that the court had
no jurisdiction in the matter.
The county commissioners
granted the school board
power to offer the most re
cent appraised value for the
property. If this offer is not
accepted, however, the schol
board must confer again
with the county commis
sioners before taking further
action.
The board also authorized
the expenditure of some
$2,900 for putting tinted
rather than clear glass in
the high school addition, and
gave schools superintendent
Pat harrell permission to
authorize roof repairs at
the high school.
In other action, the board
filled out the North Carolina
School Board Association's
1980 legislative question
naire. The questionnaire is
intended to probe the feel
ings of local school systems
across the state so that the
association can develop a
legislative program for the
coming year.
Responding to the ques
tionnaire, the board endors
ed such items as requiring
one year's experience for
school bus drivers and seek
ing increased cooperation
between vocational education
programs in community col
leges and high schools.
The board opposed,
however, such proposals as
requiring a public hearing
before each change in school
board policy and allowing
the non-instruction use of
school buses.
Meetings slated
for health plans
Citizens of Perquimans
County will have the op
portunity to learn more
about prepaid health plans
as a possible method of
holding down health care
costs at a public hearing at
the Willis Building
Auditorium in Greenville.
The hearing is one of six
scheduled for September
across the state by the N.C.
Commission on Prepaid
Health Plans which has been
studying the issue for the
past year. The purpose of
the hearings is to familiarize
health care providers, con
sumers and employers with
the commission's findings
and recommendations.
nr
Most prepaid health plans,
or Health Maintenance
Organizations (HMO), pro
vide most basic health ser
vices to those enrolled for a
fixed prepaid monthly fee,
regardless of how many ser
vices are used. Individuals
opting for such a plan are
assured of medical care on
a twenty-four hour basis and
often avoid costly hospital
visits.
According to Commission
Chairman Glenn Wilson,
evidence from other states
indicates that savings oc
curring from reduced
hospital use can be utilised
to provide more ambulatory
care. ,
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