Weekly Perspective
Our view
Are all of us j
really excellent?
Meetings are scheduled for
the near future to help small
towns across the entire state
prepare for the Governor's
1981 Community of Excellence
competition.
The current preparations
are being made for the award
program's second year of
existance, and we have a
suggestion that might make
designation as an "Excellent'
community a little more
meaningful.
That suggestion is to limit
the number of towns honored.
Last year some 100 towns
entered the contest, and 77
were deemed communities of
excellence for 1980.
Governor Hunt said the
honor would mean more in
dustry attraction potential
and an edge in state grant
competition. But the sheer
number of winners makes
these promises difficult to
deliver.
While we continue to take
pride in our designation as a
community of excellence, the >
selection of 76 other excellent 1 j
communities lessens, to some 1
degree, the award's |
signifigance.
Next year, why not make |
the program more com
petitive, and its' benefits more
tangible?
Editor's note
The column "My turn," a
regular feature in the
PERQUIMANS WEEKLY,
will not appear this week as
the editors were engaged at a
North Carolina Press Institute j
meeting in Chapel Hill during
much of last week. Co-editor
Mike McLaughlin will resume
his "turn" next week.
Faster , less expensive
land sales approved
The Perquimans County
Board of Commissioners
approved last week an
amendment to the county
subdivision ordinance in
tended to save certain
property sellers a con
siderable amount of time and
money.
Under the newly amended
ordinance, lot sales which
meet a number of conditions
can be carried out without the
approval of the county
planning board or the board of
commissioners.
The subdivision must
consist of four lots or less,
include no new streets,
require no new water line
construction, and be deter
mined to have no negative
impact on adjacent property
in order to qualify for the
abbreviated review process.
Keith Haskett, the county
tax supervisor, was appointed
as interim subdivision review
officer, and will be able to
approve lot sales that meet
those conditions.
The property owner would
still have to secure all
required certificates and
prepare a plat that includes all
required information but the
abbreviated procedure could
be completed in as little as one
day, according to Keith
Painter, a state community
assistance planner.
Another proposed change in
the subdivision ordinance,
however, was not enacted by
the commissioners.
The ordinance requires that
the developer install water
lines and a connecting line to
the county water system
where county water is
available. Planning board
members had sought a
definition of availability.
The commissioners decided,
however, that they will con
tinue to determine at their
board meetings whether
county water is available to
each individual subdivision.
In another matter, Robert
Whitley, director of the
Albemarle Regional Planning
and Development Com
mission, reported to the
commissioners that its pro
rata share of expenses for use
of office space at the ARPDC
building would be $916.72 for
the 12 month period ending
Nov. 20.
The county is responsible
for providing office space for
the Agricultural Soil Con
servation Service, housed in
the ARPDC building, and
receives $600 in compensation
from the federal government.
The commissioners decided to
negotiate with the federal
government for the other $316.
Whitley also brought up
problems associated with use
of the ARPDC auditorium.
He said that dance classes
are ruining the floors and the
auditorium has been left in
disarray after certain
recreational programs.
The commissioners will
discuss the matter with
recreation director Billy
Wooten.
The commissioners also:
?Approved the purchase of a
replacement pump for the
Hertford Volunteer Fire
Department tanker truck;
?Approved the additional
expenditure of some $1000 on
the Social Services building
renovation project;
?Approved the grading of
the road to the Newbold-White
House;
?Donated four radiators
from the Social Services
building to the school system ;
?Agreed to lime county farm
property;
?Approved a petition (to be
forwarded to the state
Department of Tran
sportaion) requesting the
addition of 2.10 miles of roads
in the Snug Harbor sub
division to the state roads
system;
?And, voted to take bids on
tearing down the back portion
of the J.C. Blanchard
Building.
School needs total $8 million
( i,ominuea irom page one)
In addition, none of the
system's buildings meet
federal requirements , for
accessibility to the han
dicapped. The cost of meeting
those requirements would be
some (300,000.
Under the energy con
servation category, some
$350,000 would be needed. This
figure would pay for lowering
ceilings, creating heat zones
that would allow for the
heating of limited spaces in
certain buildings, insulating,
caulking, and taking other
energy saving steps.
rne county recently com
pleted an energy audit and
will be applying for federal
funds to meet some of these
needs.
The survey also states that
some $350,000 is needed to pay
for new or renovated facilities
for administration, tran
sportation, and warehousing.
The school system currently
has no warehousing space,
which means that such money
saving practices as cen
tralized purchasing for food
services are impossible,
Harrell said.
There is also no main
tenance storage or work area
for the county schools, and the
central office is overcrowded,
with two employees to an
office in many instances, he
said.
Under other needs, the
county lists a total of
11,350,000. This includes the
upgrading of sewer systems at
Union and Central Grammar,
which no longer meet En
vironmental Protection
Agency Codes, and a separate
baseball field and new field
house as well as facilities for
girl's athletics at the high
school.
If a bond referendum were
to pass, the county would
probably receive no more than
$1 million, a figure far short of
the $8 million in projected
needs.
But while admitting the $8
million figure is an "ideal"
one, Harrell said it is not an
excessive one.
"Our kids deserve facilities
as good as those of other kids
in the state," Harrell said.
In the past, he said,
Perquimans County has been
cooperative in meeting those
needs, but its tax base is
limited.
Hard times hit automobile trade
( Continued from page one)
caution in granting loans.
"We have to look closer at
loans today than we did five
years ago because a person's
repayment ability has
declined," said Ashely.
Ashely also cited the fact
THE PERQUIMANS
WEEKLY
COURTHOUSE SQUARE.
HERTFORD. N.C.
27944
MIKE McUUMHUN
NOEL TOOO-MdAUGHLIM,
co-Eomxts
PAT MANSFIELD,
CIRCULATION MANAGER
5 PH. MOMMY
OmlmVM
KM
ELIZABETH CITY, NX.
that consumers, too, were
more hesitant to borrow
money because of present
interest rates.
And high interes rates are,
in turn, escalating the price of
automobiles, according to
Stevenson.
"The so called medium
priced car is now sometimes
well over $10,000 which makes
it difficult for the average
consumer in this area to af
ford," he said.
Rising fuel prices have also
affected the sales of
automobiles.
"The price of gas is af
fecting the whole economy, so
Drug arrest made
The Hertford Police
Department arretted a Gum
Street resident Wednesday
night after a search of his *
house trailer turned up a
small quantity o f marijuana
and various paraphernalia.
Fred Julian Harvey, 28, was
arrested and charged with
possession of a controlled
substance with intent to sell or
deliver, according to Hertford
Police Chief Marshall MerritL
A two hoar search of his
residence turned up less than
a half ounce of marijuana, he
Mid, but other items found in
the search pointed to some
sort of drug sales situation,
Merritt said.
Hie department confiscated
MOO glassine envelopes, a
syringe and a set of scales, he
said.
Harvey wu released from
the Albemarle District Jail oo
?, 000 bond and was expected
to face a first appearance
hearing on Wednesday, Jan.
?.
it's bound to have an affect on
our business," said White.
But area car dealers do not
consider fuel prices as im
portant as other factors, and
with all factors considered,
they have different views as to
the outcome of the present
slump.
"This is usually a slow
season and I think well see a
change in the spring when the
sua starts shining and farmers
can get oat," said Wlnsiow
who thinks the weather has
played a significant role as a
negative psychological effect
Hollowell, too, was op
timistic. "What we're seeing
now is the out of a
cycle. The dealer that will
keep op with the changes wfll
see good times," he said.
But White was a little imr
skeptical. "I think it will stay
this bad for the whole year
unless we have a war, and I
hate to think of what wffl
Letters...
Suspect makes plea
for justice
Editors, THE PERQUIMANS
WEEKLY,
Why after having been in
dicted by a grand jury on
September 26, 1979, and
having been brought to the
State of North Carolina on
September 20th, 1979, I'm yet
to be brought to trial? Why?
I was brought to this state at
great expense to the tax
payers. On September 20th,
two officers of the
Perquimans County Police
department picked me up at
the Brooklyn Supreme Court
of Kings County New York
after having been in
carcerated at the East
Elmhurst N.Y. Correctional
facility since May 7th, 1979,
awaiting to face said charges
in Perquimans County.
From La Guardia Airport in
New York we flew by plane to
Norfolk, Va. and from Nor
folk, Va. the officers drove to
Hertford, N.C. by car, and
back to the Albemarle district
jail facility in Elizabeth City,
N.C. All at great expense to
you, the tax payers.
October 29th, 1979, 1 was on
the calendar for trial in
Perquimans County. The trial
was put off.
Instead of trial one officer of
the Perquimans County Police
Department, a chief of police,
and one officer of the Chowan
County Police Department
picked me up at the court in
Perquimans County, and
drove me to Raleigh and had
me put on safe keeping at the
Raleigh State Central Prison
with inmates who are already
convicted and serving their
sentences.
I was told that I was a
security risk. But yet I had no
trouble at the jail with anyone,
and I made no trouble. Why
was I sent to Raleigh State
Central Prison?
Now when my trial date is
due once again, the authorities
will have to drive here to
Raleigh, pick me up, and
bring me back for trial. Very
expensive, wouldn't you say?
Yet no trial?
Now the question is, how
many of the prosecutor's
victims made his or her
confessions under threat,
intimidation and promises? If
there's any confessions to be
made, why not make them to
God? What right does any
human have to judge over
another?
I'm here in the state pen
being punished for crimes I
did not committ and crimes I
have yet to be tried for. I'm
fighting for my life. Would a
person's life be worth saving
or fighting for, if the person
wasn't willing to put his or her
life on the line to save it?
The prosecutor calls this
place "safe keeping". Yet the
gas chamber is up over my
cell on the second floor, and
death row is on the other side
of my cell wall.
I think this is a hell of a lot of
punishment. What's your
opinion? If I'm going to be
punished, let it be by the court.
It's my feeling that every
person, whether good or evil,
is a child of God, and should be
treaTed with love and justice.
And even if one has sinned,
which we all have, one way or
another.
The Gospel forbids an eye
for an eye, and a tooth for a
Looking back
JAN. IMS
By VIRGINIA WHITE
TRANSKAU
LOCAL DRAFT BOARD
PREPARES FOR THIRD
REGISTRATION FEB 16:
The Perquimans Draft Board
is preparing to handle ap
proximately 700 registrants on
Monday, Feb. 16, when men
who have attained their 20th
birthday on or before Dec.
1937, and who have not
reached their 45th birthday on
Feb. 16, will register in the
third national draft
registration conducted under
the Selective Service Act.
HUNTER-WARD: Miss
Nellie Mae Ward, of Winfall,
became the bride of James
Alphonso Hunter, of Hertford,
in a quiet ceremony at Winfall
Methodist parsonage on
Friday evening, Jan. t, 1942.
Mrs. Hunter is the daughter of
Mr. and Mrs. H. L. Ward, of
Winfall, and Mr. Hunter is the
son of the late Mr. and Mrs.
Jim Hunter, of Hertford.
JACK GASKILL RESIGNS
AS STATE PATROLMAN:
Jack Gaskill, State Highway
Patrolman who hai been (
stationed in Perquimans
County for the past three
years, this week tendered his
resignation to the Com
mission. Mr. Gaskill will
accept a position with the
Alcoholic Tax Unit upon
completion of his work with
the Highway Patrol. His
resignation becomes effective ,
Feb. 10. Patrolman Gaskill
came to Perquimans from
High Point three years ago
and has been connected with
the Highway Patrol for the
past five years.
SCHOOLS TO MAINTAIN
PRESENT TIME
SCHEDULE: F. T. Johnson.
Superintendent of schools,
announced today that for the .
time being, all county schools "
will operate under sun time,
effective Monday, February 9,
at which time Mr. Johnson
stated that schools will (yen at
9:30 and 9:45 a.m., daylight
time and will recess an hour
later in the afternoons. This
will mean that school buses ? .
will maintain their present
schedule. fj
tooth. Two wrongs have never
been right, and will never be.
People of Hertford, N.C., and
Edenton, N.C., I need your
help in my quest for truth and
justice.
Waymare Billups
Central Prison
Raleigh, N.C. 27603
Editor's note: Waymare
Billups, 29, formerly of 415
King Street is charged with
the burglary of Franklin's
Grocery on King Street and
also with a break in and
shooting occuring at the
residence of Isacc Wood Lowe.
Both crimes were committed
in February of 1979. Billups
will be brought to trial on
February 11.
Look to good book
for discipline
Editors, THE PERQUIMANS WEEKLY,
I would like to suggest a good book for child discipline, The
Bible. Below is a list of some of the verses from Proverbs that
speak about the rod of correction.
He who spares the rod hates his son, But he who loves him
disciplines him diligently. Proverbs 13:24
Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; The rod of
discipline will remove it far from him. Proverbs 22:15
Do not hold back discipline from the child, Although you beat
him with the rod, he will not die. Proverbs 22:16
The rod and reproof give wisdom, But a child who gets his
own way brings shame to his mother. Proverbs 29:15
I would like to share a story with you of a young mother's
question to an authority on the subject. "When shall I begin my
child's training," she asked? "When is your child to be born,"
he asked? "Oh he's already five years old," she answered.
"Then lady, hurry home, you are already five years too late,"
he answered.
Long before you are able to reason with that baby in your
arms, you can begin his education, or he will begin yours. It
doesn't take long for a baby to discover how to get his way in
the world.
Often a tiny baby shows a very determined will A will is an
important attribute. It should not be broken in a child but it
should be trained. It needs to be bait to be molded. Just as a
tree is trained to grow in a certain direction, so must he be
trained.
This is not an easy task. With the present state of our society,
it is more difficult than ever; but with God's help, it is possible,
and it's a full-time job. If you exercise love alone and neglect
duty, or if you discipline with only stern duty, your children
will be stubborn, selfish and disobedient. Do you get the point?
Love and duty have to be exercised together that children may
be properly pointed toward the target. They are arrows from
your bow. Aim them well.
Roland C. Wright, Jr.
1210 Mitchell Drive
Elizabeth City, NC
Record DUI arrests are reported <
The number of Perquimans
County motorists arrested in
1979 for driving under the
influence of alcohol did not
increase markedly over the
number charged in 1978.
Approximately 67 motorists
were charged with D.U.I. in
1979, an increase of about four
over 1978.
, The overall state average,
however, showed a marked
increase.
Based oo figures released
recently by Secretary of
Crime Control and Public
Safety, Burley B. Mitchell,
and Highway Patrol Com
mander, John T. Jenkins,
more Tarheel motorist* were
charged with drunken driving
in 1979 than any year in the
Patrol's fifty-year history.
The figures show that 45, M2
motorists were arrested for
D.U.I. during 1971. "This is
3,000 more D.U.I. arrests than
in 1971 and a substantial
contribution to traffic salety
in North Carolina by members
of an outstanding state
agency," Mitchell said.
According to Colonel
Jenkins. "The Patrol to not
interested in establishing
D.U.I. arrest records, but the
relationship between alcohol
and fatal accidents is clearly
established: and we are
concerned with removing
every drunken driver possible
from the highways."
There were 1,496 traffic -
deaths reported in the state
during 1979 compared to 1,515
in 1978. "Although voluntary
compliance with the speed :
limit helped in keeping traffic
deaths down, I commend oar
troopers for their determined - .
efforts id protecting motorists f|
by conscientiously enforcing
?11 the traffic laws and '
removing a record number of '
drunken drivers from the
highways," .Jenkins con
cluded. 1
Three men take free taxi cab ride
One man hu ben arrested
and two others ate being
sought for taking a tree taxi/
ride from Elizabeth City t*
Hertford Thursday night.
Henry Green, an Elisabeth
City cab driver, reported the
inddoat on January M to the
Hertford Police Department
Green said that the three
males stopped him in
:
Eliiabeth City and
that he take them to Hertford
and drop them off hi front of
Swindell Faoeral Home,
according to Hertford Police
Chief Marshall Merritt.
Green toid officer* that the
three men were drinking from
a pint bottle of
trip to Hartford, Merritt laid.
When they arrived at
Swindell's, the three jumped
o?t of Us cab aad ran, he (aid.
Green called the Hertford
police. Hertford Police officer
McLawhorn. while
to investigate the
incident, saw two m
Harren, U of Tjmer Green
-?
later identified Harrell as one
of the three male* who ran
from his cab, Merritt said
Harrell was released en a
|200 head. He was charged
with larceay by trick, a
misdemeanor aad wfll go to
trial on January 30.
The police are stiB
?S?I di