THE PERQUIMANS WEEKLY Volume 36, No. y < USPS 428-060 . Hertford, Perquimans County, N.C., Thursday, Feb. U, 1980 20 CENTS Stuck truck wed out of going to school, youths lend a hand to Joe Bivens, Jr., who, along with his companion Pam Alexander, was stuck in the snow on Grubb Street. Scenes like this one were not un familiar as the county was bombarded with its biggest snowfall in recent history (Photo by MIKE MCLAUGHLIN). County board considers hiring manager The Perquimans County Board of Commissioners discussed the need for a Kounty manager at a special meeting Monday night. With the volume of paper work, changes in rules and regulations, and number of grant programs available to ebuntios today, board' members argued that a full time manager is needed to keep Perquimans County government operating at ^naximum efficiency. The bottem line, however, was cost Most of the com missioners agreed that an administrator would benefit the county, but wanted to weigh cost of the program to insure that it would be af fordable. Commissioner Lester Simpson, however, argued that a manager was not needed. He said it is the business of the commissioners -to, operate the county and management program would cost the county at least $40,000 per year. "What's wrong with spending 40 to get 60," responded commissioner Marshall Caddy, alluding to possible grant benefits that might accrue to the county if an administrator was able to keep up with available programs. Joe Nowell, commission chairman, noted that Gates, Chowan, and Pasquotank all have management programs. "I feel like we're at least comparable to Chowan and Gates," Nowell said. "I've -ttfleetl to commissioners who have county managers and they say they don't know how they got along without 'em." The commissioners will seek more information on benefits versus cost before making any decision on county management. The commissioners also discussed rennovating the Blanchard Building on Church Street, and the possibility of putting farm related county offices there. There was also some mention of moving school system offices into the building. Rennovating the building will jwiffee wi fctBWMiy* proposition. Simpson ad vanced the notion that it would cost signifigantly more than the $40,000 required to renovate the Social Services building on Dobbs Street. In the only action of the night, the commissioners voted unanimously to require that county tax supervisor Keith Haskett give advance notice before visiting the property of county residents to take measurements. A proposal that would require the reading of county water meters every three months rather than each month received favorable Board members said that the plan would free up water department employees to perform other duties and would save on gasoline. They stressed that they are not disappointed with the work of department employees, but are looking for ways to keep expenses down. Fire guts home on King Street Fire raced through the home of a Hertford woman Sunday afternoon, completely gutting the five room struc ture. Four persons occupied the re at 322 King Street when fire broke out under a kerosene store in the living room. Connie Modlin, her daughter Jessica, a nephew, James Carter, Jr., and another unidentified individual got out of the house when they spotted the fire, according to Ms. Modlin. 'The Hertford.Volunteer Fire Department responded quickly to the alarm, but the house was already engulfed in flames when they arrived on the scene. Ms. Modlin was renting the house from Mrs. Rosie B. Gibbs of Hertford, but all of her personal effects, including furnishings, were destroyed in the blaze. Both the Hertford VFD and the Bethel VFD responded to a Monday afternoon fire at the home of John Blount of Rt. 1, Lowes Beach. That fire began in the dining room of the house and was believed to have been ignited by a gas heater. One room was destroyed and there was smoke damage throughout the house. The Hertford VFD received two additional fire calls on Monday. Where there's smoke there's fire Smoke pours from the home of Connie Modlin of King Street as Chief Charlie Skinner directs Hertford firemen. The Sunday afternoon blaze completely gutted the five room structure. (Photo by MIKE MCLAUGHLIN) Land use update starting here ' Steps to update Perquimans County's Coastal Area Management Act Land Use Plan are presently underway, with members at the citizen's advisory committee busy developing a questionaire designed to reflect public gk Under CAMA regulations, ^he county Is required to upgrade the plan every five years. Its parpoae is to identify problems and issues feat wffl confront the county in the next five years. The citisen's advisory Committee has beeo formed in prder to gain public par drawing up tit. and distribution of a question aire. Members of the committee, appointed by the Perquimans County Commissioner! and the Hertford Town Council, are presently developing the surrey, which will be mailed to nearly every household in the county before March IS. , According to community assistance planner Dan Tew, the anonymous survey will deal with such issues as four-lanlng of HWY UA IT, whether residents wouM like to ace more development, and, if so, in what areas, aai what thtr like, dislike, and would like to see changed about the And according to few, the results of the survey will have a very definite impact on just how such issues will be han dled in the future. "If people would like to see the county reflect their views u to how Perquimans should grow and develop, this questionaire win give the greatest voice possible," said Tew, who added that past results have helped In decision making and pointed to such improvements as the Hert ford-Perqulaans Senior Center as proof. The plan must reflect present land use ia the county and project an overall picture of deeirod land use in IMS. The county's initial land use plan was drawn up in 1975, following the state's adoption ofCAMAinl974. CAMA was designed primarily to protect the coastal region from poorly planned development that would damage its fragile eco system. According to Tew, members of the citisen's advisory committee are: Walter White Jr., Rev. Walter Lee, Mrs. M.B. Taylor, Richard Bryant, Paul Smith Jr., Wayne Ashley, Bobby Jones, Julian White, L. Clinton Winslow, Winston Lane Jr., Otis Newby, Horace ReM, Emmitt Lan ding, Charlie Skinner, Jr., WeOy White Jr., and Dr. John Crawford. 15_to_20 inches County buried under snow Some folks said it was the heaviest since 1927. Others said it was the worst of the century. But no one would argue that last week's snowfall wasn't big. The flakes began falling early Wednesday morning and by about 10 a.m., were beginning to spread a thin white blanket on the ground. Before it all stopped in the wee hours of Thursday morning, an estimated 15 to 20 inches of snow had been dumped on Perquimans county. The heavy snowfall brought activities throughout the county to a virtual halt, with most government offices and businesses closed on Thursday and some keeping their doors shut on Friday as well. Schools were closed at 10:30 a.m., and were not expected to reopen until Tuesday of this week. Schools superintendent Pat Harrell said the three full school days missed would have to be made up, but a decision on how the school calender would be revised had not yet been made. Traffic accidents in the county were relatively minor, according to reports from the N.C. Highway Patrol, though many motorists wound up in the ditches after sliding off snow covered roads. The sheriff's department spent Wednesday afternoon and Thursday transporting snowbound residents to and from work, and the county courthouse was kept open Wednesday night in the event that stranded persons might need to take up residence there. Wednesday was a busy day for two area volunteer fire departements. Hertford an swered four fire calls on Wednesday, and firemen spent the night at the station on Wednesday and Thursday nights in the event of an emergency. The firemen also visited elderly town residents to reassure them and offer any ( Continued on page 2) Winfall council Morgan takes seat by JACK GROVE The Winfall Town Council has a new member, Lloyd Ray Morgan, owner of the Winfall Supermarket. Morgan, unanimously chosen by the council at their regular meeting Feb. 5, fills the vacancy left by the resignation of Douglas Um phlett last December. In other business, Jack Symons informed the board &ai.%ed Nixon,