Newspapers / The Perquimans Weekly (Hertford, … / Oct. 2, 1980, edition 1 / Page 1
Part of The Perquimans Weekly (Hertford, N.C.) / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
THE PERQUIMANS WEEKLY Voluma 36, No. 40 USPS 428-060 Hertford, Perquimans County, N.C., Thursday, October 2, 19t0 20 CENTS Fleeing ? suspect caught A prisoner awaiting trial on charges of aking, entering and larceny dashed of a door of the Perquimans County Courthouse last Wednesday morning but was apprehended that afternoon. Michael Wayne Spivey, 23, of Mead's Trailer Court, was in the custody of Sheriff Julian Broughton at ap proximately 9 a.m. when he asked to speak to his father in the grand jury ^oom, Broughton said. Spivey then fled the courthouse. After a fruitless search, Broughton posted deputy sheriff Victor Lamb on the front porch of a house on Willow Street. Broughton was acting on a hunch that Spivey would attempt to return to his father's residence at Mead's Trailer Court. *' I That hunch proved to be correct, and Lamb made the arrest at approximately 4p.m. Spivey was charged with escape, a felony, and that charge became one of a long list pending against him. Out on bond after being charged with breaking, entering and larceny at the ( freston Divers residence in Hertford, Spivey had been re-arrested and charged with stealing two briefcases from the automobile of Hertford resident Rufus Timothy Brinn, and possessing im plements of housebreaking by the Elizabeth City Police Department. He had also been charged with possession of stolen property by the sheriff's department. r? Returned to courthouse Perquimans County Sheriff Julian back into the courthouse after a brief Broughton and other law enforcement flirtation with freedom on Wednesday, officers escort suspect Michael Spivey F armers will suffer from dismal harvest ? h... ' ? '-* Y ? . ?? ? . Perquimans County fanners will be severely pinched this year because of a withering drought that is expected to reduce per acre crop production by about ? third. The damage might be considerably worse were it not for the fact that a dry, hot summer has hampered production ?cross much of the nation, pushing up prices. In Perquimans County, farmers stand tc lose some $6.5 million in farm income this year, according to estimates com piled by Tommy Riddick, Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service director for the county. The impact of such heavy agricultural losses will be felt throughout the local economy. Riddick said his office arrived at the total projected loss by taking the average production loss per acre for the major crops in the county and multiplying it by crop prices at the time the figures were compiled. Besides this year's losses, many far mers are carrying debts from previous years when income did not meet ex penses. They must also deal with a galloping inflation rate in purchasing fuel, fertilizer, chemicals, and other farm supplies. Interest rates have soared, and the farmer depends on heavy borrowing to get his crops in the ground each year. The PERQUIMANS WEEKLY talked with several persons connected with the < farming industry over the past week , and 1 while no one was anticipating mass < bankruptcies because of the poor year, all agreed that the situation is bleak. < "Some folks who are heavily in debt I are going to find it difficult to continue." i said Melvin Howell, Farm-Home Ad ministration supervisor for Perquimans 1 and Chowan Counties. ' i Howell said that a string of good years in the early '70s encouraged heavy in- I vestment in land and equipment, and now several consecutive years of poor production, combined with rampant 1 inflation, are taking their toll. "The margin of profit is a lot slimmer than it used to be," said Howell. County bankers say farmers are carrying heavier debt loads than in years past, perhaps higher than ever. < "The debt load is getting to be sub- i stantial for the average farmer," said R.L. Stevenson of Peoples Bank. "Many have such a heavy debt load that they can't service that debt from existing production." He said that production costs are up 30 per cent over last year, and that income potential is about the same. "A lot of farmers expanded based on income in the early seventies and its been down ever since," said Stevenson. Bank of North Carolina's Wayne Ashley predicted that operating costs would continue to rise, and that Farmers would enter the 1981 crop year carrying their greatest debt load ever. Ashley said that next year could be a crucial one for many farmers, but the bank is still handling the needs of far mers who are credit-worthy. While there has some over expansion based on good years in 1973, '74, and '75, area farm management specialist Steve Riddick said the true culprits are in flation, and a string of poor growing seasons. "Three years like the last three we've had take a toll on the very best farmer," said Riddick. "I don't care how good a manager you are, it's hard to make ends meet." Though the trend is toward larger farms, Riddick said the older, more conservative farmer with less land and equipment is better off in a year like 1980. Riddick said that with production losses in configured at an average of 35 per cent, farmers face a reduction in income of about $75 per acre. Since most farmers plant at least 100 acres of corn, Riddick said the farmer stands to lose $7,500 on that crop alone, and losses are expected to be substantial in other crops as well. Production is spotty across the county, with some tracts of land producing well, (Continued on page 2 ) Band Boosters' variety show at hand The hottest progressive bluegrass band on the East coast will star in the Perquimans County High School auditorium at 8 p.m. October 18 ? The Nothin' Doin' Band. They keep all musical tastes satisfied playing traditional and modern bluegrass, jazz, rock and pop. The group has been on television, they record for Prime Time records, and star in bluegrass and country music concerts in many areas. They draw crowds and rave reviews wherever they go. The Nothin' Doin' Band is the featured group for the Perquimans County High School Band Boosters Club annual variety show. Seats are just $2.50 and that price, in addition to helping the band buy needed items, will bring you a great variety of entertainment. Also appearing is the Andy Damiani Quartet, led by a former Mercury recording artist who, in the 1956's, was one of Europe's best-known musicians ? on record, in person, and concert. Chavez Mabry, a recent star in "King and I," at the Tidewater Dinner Theatre, is a talented teenage singer; Laura White, who has won over 400 awards for her work with batons will be on hand. Local groups and the Perquimans County High School Band will entertain, and there will be an auction, plus plenty to eat. Other acts will be announced later. Emcee will be lovely Beverley Burton, known as Rosalie on WHNE (Honey Radio), Vicki on WTAR, and afternoon disc-jockey, program director, and music director of WQZQ-Q92. First of a two part series Maintaining discipline at school a complex task % off Time was when disciplinary measures the schools were as simple as a sharp rap on the knuckles with a yard stick. But times change, and the differences are reflected in society. We can no longer accomodate our youth in the simple one room school house, with a head master to handle every problem from mathematic in nature to behavioral. The changes in American education are among the most dramatic in our ition's young life. But education's role the lives of our off-spring remains the subject of much debate. Many view the public school system's role as primarily that of a disciplinarian : a sort of mini-society where kids go to practice obeying the rules necessary for survival in the "real world." Hie PERQUIMANS WEEKLY decided t q take a look at the county's policies on f ^tittipline, and talked with school ^?superintendent Pat Harrell, as well as principals in each of its four schools. While Harrell disputes the sentiment that it is the sole responsibility of the educational system to teach students how to behave in society, he does feel that a firm hand is needed. "I don't think schools should shoulder ail of that responsibilty (as disciplinarian) and that's what most g .people expect," said Harrell. '' "As an expample.it is difficult to teach students honesty and respect in the schools when they observe, and in some instances, are encouraged to be disrespectful and discourteous outside of the school," he continued. "I'm not sure how much we can do and it's an unrealistic expectation that some people have of the schools," said Harrell. He also noted that the marked changes educational system have made it for teachers. "There is a range of differences and said Harrell. full of Perquimans County utilizes such a system in two of its four schools. A demerit system, begun several years ago and revised in 1978 is the basis for disciplinary measures in both Perquimans County High School and Perquimans Union School. Harrell said that school personnel and principals developed the policy, but decided it need only be instituted in the upper grades. "They (the principals) decided that the elementary students Were really too young to follow the demerit system," said Harrell, who added that disciplinary measures were left up to the discretion of the elementary principals and teachers. Basically, the demerit policy spells out to pupils and parents alike what behavior is not considered desirable on the school campus. General rules, such as procedures for handling tardiness, ab sences, hall passes etc. are explained, as is the number of possible demerits for any infraction of these rules. At Perquimans County High School, a student can accumulate demerits for such offenses as fighting, stealing, defacing property, skipping school or class, possession, consumption, or being under the influence of any drug or alcohol, gambling, possession of con cealed weapon, cheating, use of profanity, disrespect, littering, unauthorized use of halls, and talking in class. Each offense is worth one or more demerits, relative to its severity. Parents of a high school student who' receive* six demerits are notified and requested to aid the school in the correction of their child's behavior. An accumulation of 12 demerits results in ? three-day suspension. A five-day suspension follows the accumulation of 20 demerits. Second offenders of the more serious crimes (truancy, possession of a concealed weapon, or alcohol or drug possession) are also suspended for five day*. Should a student reach, point that he OT|Sto to subject to^more that ajfrday 1 J ? J 1 ,-j demerits, or is caught a third time for the above mentioned infractures, he or she is ? referred to the disciplinary committee, si which will advise the principal as to il whether or not the student should be s; allowed to remain at the high school. P Although a student may not make up any work or tests missed while c suspended, North Carolina law mandates ^ that suspended students be provided the a opportunity to take mid-term and final exams. High school principal William Byrum c said that occasionally, a teacher will have to send him a student for whom the demerit code doesn't seem to work, but that overall, he is pleased with the system. Asked if he considered the students at Perquimans County High School to pose any real disciplinary threat, Byrum replied, "Any high school principal who doesn't say he's got a discipline problem is either lying or isn't seeing straight." He said he has no easy, pat philosphy on discipline in the schools because there are too many variables. "When you're dealing with so many different people, lifestyles, and backgrounds, it's difficult to have a 'pat philosophy', except to be as fair and firm and friendly as you can," said Byrum. "You need to establish some sort of relationship with as many students as you can," he said, "and try to deal with every'xrfy on an equitable basis." Byrum, who has served as high school principal for the past 15 years, described the use of drugs at the high school as "no greater. . .than any other public high school in the area." "There is a double standard in terms of ? drug problem vis-a-vis. Nobody says anything about all the cocktail parties that go on," said Byrum. "People in the newipaper and radio stations go to all lengths to find out what's wrong in the schools, but they don't see the good thinfs," he said. All ninth grade students at Perquimans Comity High School are required to take a health and physical education clan, which deals in part with alcohol and drug abuae. Byrum said that coaateUnc on an individual basis is also readily available. Byrum there is "some flexibility" 'ithin the demerit system, and said a tudent may opt for corporal punishment he wishes to avoid expulsion. But he aid he limited punishment that is cor oral in nature. "There is too much of a danger (in orporal punishment) with people tireatening to sue," he said. "This is the ge of everybody's rights." "It (corporal punishment) is an awful hance to take ? suppose the paddle slips and hits the small of the back," he said. Many schools utilize an in-school suspension program which removes an errant student from the classroom while keeping him or her on the school campus. Most in-school suspension programs provide a place where students work on class assignments. Privileges (such as breaks) are usually revoked. Byrum said he finds the in-school suspension program too ac commodating. "In-school suspension is just bending over backwards to accommodate those that misbehave," said Byrum. "That's what's wrong with this society ? we go so far to accommodate people who can't fit in." EDITOR'S NOTE: Next week, part two of the series will deal with discipline policies in Perquimans Union School, Hertford Grammar, and Perquimans Central. Illustration by Margaret B re win
The Perquimans Weekly (Hertford, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Oct. 2, 1980, edition 1
1
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75