Newspapers / The Perquimans Weekly (Hertford, … / Sept. 13, 1979, edition 1 / Page 1
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PERQUIMANS WEEKLY Volume 35. No. 36 USPS 428-060 Hertford, Perquimans County, N .C., Thursday, Sept. 13, 1979 20 CENTS Hertford receives excellence award By mike Mclaughlin Because of recent efforts to promote economic growth, the town of Hertford has been honored with the state Communities of Excellence Award. ' Mayor Bill Cox was notified that the town had been approved for the award by letter from Governor James B. Hunt, Jr., which Cox received on Monday. t "Your community is to be commended for its willingness in devoting the time and effort to prepare for economic growth," Hunt wrote. The award was established as part of Hunt's balanced growth program to help communities help themselves to at tract industry. The town will now be registered with the N.C. Department of Commerce as a town that is prepared for and actively seeking industrial development. Industrial inquiries on the state level w.ill be referred to the town. The town council made the decision to apply for the award in mid-July. Extensive preparations included a cleanup-fixup week and the preparation of a slide-tape show to be shown to prospective industries. On Thursday, Aug. 16, the town was visited by a state evaluation team, and apparently made a favorable im pression. "This award says that the town of Hertford has made the necessary improvements to the community and to its in dustrial park and has met the required criteria to be designated a community that is ready for industrial development," said Mayor Cox. As a result, Cox said Hertford should receive more inquiries from prospective industries in the future. He said that some of the characteristics that might make the town attractive to prospective industry are the availability of utilities, the livability of the community, the accessibility of transportation, and a relatively large labor force residing within a 25 mile radius of the town. He also cited the beauty and recreational value of the Perquimans River. Though unemployment in the area is not excessive, Cox said that more industry is necessary to establish a more diversified economy in the town of Hertford. "We want- to seek industry compatible with farming and rural life," Cox said. "We're primarily agricultural and want to remain primarily agricultural, but for economic growth we need a balance of industry and agriculture." Cox added that more industry would increase the tax base and give the town the ability to provide increased services for its citizens. He said the town isn't looking for an immediate, terrific influx of new jobs and people, but for gradual, orderly growth. "I think every community ought to be selective in the in dustry they seek and encourage," Cox said. The award is granted on a yearly basis and Hertford could potentially win year after year. On Nov. 15 Hunt will present the award to Cox at the Economic Development Conference in Raleigh. The town will also receive two large signs proclaiming it a community of excellence. "This award was made possible by the cooperative efforts of many," Cox said. "I want to emphasize that it was ac complished by a community effort." +Storm damage Hurricane David is gone now, but it left some memories for local residents. High water and high winds marked the passage of the storm as it made its way through north central No. Carolina Wednesday and Wednesday night. September Water in the Perquimans Rjver was two to four feet above the normal level early last Thursday morning. Many boat docks were submerged along the river and the Little Marina bait shop was flooded. Some back yards were flooded along the river. According to Edward Brown of the Albemarle E.M.C., two power lines were downed in the county causing power outages for short periods early Thursday yarning. Falling tree-'Unba Vused temporary outages in the New Hope and Holiday Island areas. Outages also occurred at individual residences due to falling limbs. At least one road was blocked by a fallen tree. The tree was across an unpaved road between the Holiday Island Ed. and the Harvey Point Rd. Hertford Mayor Bill Cox reported that a few residences of the town also had individual power outages because of falling branches. There was no major damage in either Hertford or the county. County school superinten dent Pat Harrell delayed the opening of schools for one hour Thursday morning due to reports of water across some of the county roads. Historical Bconference slated J i .1 Changes in legislation con cerning local historic district and historic properties com missions will be the subject of a conference scheduled this month by the Ar cheology and Historic Preservation Section of the N.C. Dept. of Cultural Resources. Scheduled for Monday, Sept. 17, the day-long meeting will also explain the Opportunities provided by the eminent domain amend ment and the new Historic Preservation and Conserva tion Agreements Act The conference will begin jrt 10 a.*, in tie auditorium of the Archives and History State Library Building. 1? S.Jones St.. Raleigh. ' no registration Cleanup Trash crews were busy in Hertford last Thursday collecting tree limbs and other debris left from Hurricane David. (Staff photo by NOEL TODD-McLAUGHLIN) Snug Harbor ? A total recreational concept By JACK GROVE One of the communities of ths county, developed with recreation in mind, is Snug Harbor. Located on State Road 1340, the community was begun in 1963. Snug Harbor was developed by the Yeopim Beach Corp., headed by Ralph Blades of Elizabeth City. The property was acquired from Lester Simpson, currently a county commissioner and from the Nixon and Whedbee families. The development was divided into 1,250 lots com posed of residential and camping sections. The site is located between the Yeopim River and Yeopim Creek. The developers dug 12 to 15 miles of canals to connect with the river and creek. One third of the lots are located on the canals or the river. Although Snug Harbor was planned as a vacation and weekend retreat, today of the 100 property owners, ap proximately 150 are per manent residents. Some of the property owners own two or more lots in the development. Property owners pay assessments of $35 for residential lots and HO for camping lots. The aiaMNMBts go to pay lor water. Included in the cam ping section is a comfort station with toilets and showers. Recreational facilities in clude a club house, swimming pool, tennis courts, a sports field, basketball, shuffleboard and volleyball courts, and a beach and picnic grounds on the Yeopim River. Also in cluded in the development are four boat launching ramps. The club house has a snack bar and complete kitchen, an office, a board room, fireplace, dance floor and a screened-in porch. Snug Harbor is governed by a Board of Governors of nine property owners. Board members are: Tom Wilson, president; Carl Overstreet, vice-president; Joyce Hill, secretary; Irving Bibb, treasurer; George Midgette; James V. Lumpkin; G. G. Mclntyre; John Hohman; and George Jordan. Of the nine, six make their home at Snug Harbor. At a recent election, two new board members were elected, Kenneth Nelson and Elva Harrington. Leaving the board will be G. G. Mclntyre and Joyce Hill. The new board members take office on January 1, 1900. another five miles are being considered for acceptance by the state. According to Tom Wilson, the state will even tually maintain most of e Snug Harbor road network. The development has one permanent employee, Tom Harris, who is in charge of maintenance of the roads, beaches, club house and comfort station. Harris has held this position for ten years. A new maintenance building was completed in the last year. It houses equipment and supplies and has a work area for maintenance per sonnel. Besides Harris, there are five part-time workers on the staff in the summer-time. Wilson was asked about the confusion that sometimes arises between the locations of Snug Harbor, and Holiday Island (some eight miles away). Wilson said, "On several occasions in the past two years, fire and rescue units have confused Holiday Island and Snug Harbor, responding to the wrong development. This situation has greatly improved through liaison and with the efforts of County Fire Marshall Charles Skinner and the Rescue Squad." Board member George Midgett added, "The Bethel Fire Department should be hi9hly commended dor their efforts in saving several homes and their quick response to brush fires that have gotten out of hand at Snug Harbor." According to Wilson, Snug Harbor is the only project of its kind on the East Coast listed with Dunn and Brad street that is solvent. Grant will bankroll funding search for center The state will apparently chip in $32,000 toward a search for funds to construct a tri-county career education center that would serve Gates, Chowan, and Per quimans County High School students. > According to Perquimans Schools superintendent Pat Harrell the center is needed to fill i gip ia present course offerings at the coun ty high school. . By combining the educa tional resources of the three inmrfi?? the center would be able to offer a wider variety of vocational courses and mora advanced academic courses than those presently offered at Perquimans high. The center would be cen trally located and students participating would spend part of the school day there. A study conducted during the past year has determin ed that there is both a need for and an interest in such a facility for the three coun ties. The problem comes, however, in financing its construction. The solution may be the funding search grant. Harrell said the money will pa v for a knocking on doors type search for funds. Potential targets will include foundations, federal agen cies, and various other private organizations. Both Governor Hunt and the state board of education have lent their support to the proposed tri-county center and if funds can be secured for its construction it will be a first for North Carolina, Harrell said. He view* the center as an innovative idea that will pro vide for better education to the three counties. "We can better serve our students with this concept than with each county doing its own thing, " Harrell said. HUD plan hits snag ByNOELTODD McLAUGHLIN The demolition of sub standard structures in the King Street area is being delayed because of an inability to find suitable housing for many remaining residents. "If anyone knows of any available housing, please get in touch with either Bill Cox or me," said Lewis Taylor, representative of Capp's Redevelopment Firm, which has been contracted to im prove the area. ' The Development Project was funded in 1977 by the Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development under the Community Block Grant program. The date of com pletion is tentatively set for the summer of 198o. Private developers will construct homes on the lots which will then be sold to the public. Although most residents have not been moved from the redevelopment area, several families have been relocated. "There has been an un derstandable initial reluc tance to move out of a home you've been living in for 25 years," Taylor said. One family, however, was satisfied with the move. An nette Johnson, 21, has been relocated to 323 Grubb Street after having lived in the King Street area for several years. Ms. Johnson said, "I feel good about the more. We have a better house and more room." According to Mayor William Cox, several people in the area would like to move out on a temporary basis and then return to the project area. "The town plans to make every effort to do this when possible," he said. The $439,700 allotted for the Redevelopment Program includes relocation benefits for King Street area residents. "The money allows the people to obtain standard housing," Taylor said, "but HUD requires that no one move into a home beyond their means". Home owners are eligible for a maximum grant of $15,000 which they are required to apply toward the purchase of a new house. Renters may opt either for down-payment or rental assistance not exceeding; $4,000. Moving expenses of up to $500 are covered by a dislocation allowance. After relocating residents and demolishing all but three existing structures, Capp's Redevelopment Firm will put in new water and sewage line hook-ups in the project area which involves the south side of Gum Street, properties facing Covent Gardens, and all of Brace Street. Taylor sights the present two inch water line as causing a higher instance of disease, adding that a six inch water line is standard. It is hoped that the Redevelopment Project will improve for many what is considered to be a poor housing situation. "The Town Council initiated the project in their efforts to provide better housing and living conditions in the town of Hertford," said Cox. The town hopes to apply for additional money to extend the project area after the King Street tract has been com pleted. Paper has new editors A husband and wife editing team from the North Carolina Mountains took over the reigns of the Per quimans Weekly from resigning editor Jack Groves last week. Mike McLaughlin and Noel Todd-McLaughlin, both 23 and former residents of Blowing Rock, have come to Hertford after working with newspapers in the Boone Blowing Rock area. Noel graduated from Ap palachian State University in 1978 with honors in English. She taught English at Hibrittn High School in Lenoir and and was co founder and associate editor of the Sundown Times, a weekly features tabloid serv ing the Northwest mountain region. Mike is also a graduate of Appalachian State University in English and worked as a reporter for the Watauga Democrat in Boone. He won a second place state press award for features writing in the bi weekly category last year. Noel -Todd McLaughlin Mike McLaughlin
The Perquimans Weekly (Hertford, N.C.)
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Sept. 13, 1979, edition 1
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