THE PERQUIMANS WEEKLY
Volume 3?, No. 10 USPS 428-080 Hertford, Perquimans County, N.C., Thursday, March 10, 1983 20 CENT
Production expected to triple
Cotton makes comeback in Perquimans
By VAL SHORT
Cotton may not be "king" in
Perquimans County in 1983, but
County Extension Chairman Bill
Jester predicts cotton production will
triple.
Jester expects approximately 1,800
to 2,200 acres of cotton will be planted
this year in contrast to the 650 acres
planted last. In 1981 202 acres of
cotton were planted and in 1980
Perquimans produced no cotton.
"Cotton looks as good as corn and
soybeans at this point in the year,"
said Jester.
Jester said the cotton gin that is
being built in Winfall has created
some of the interest in the crop.
"I would caution anybody who is
thinking of planting cotton not to
plant without a reliable way of get
ting it harvested," Jester added. He
said several farmers have already
purchased cotton pickers.
Jester said planting cotton
provides the grower several ad
vantages. In addition to adding to the
choice of crops to plant, cotton offers
the grower the opportunity to im
prove rotation, according to Jester.
"Cotton also gives the opportunity
to earn a return equal to or better
than corn or soybeans," said Jester.
Jester said the USDA Boll Weevil
Eradication program, implemented
during the last five years, has
restored cotton as a feasible alter
native for growers.
Jester said cotton growers are
using short season varieties,
requiring a 130 to 140 day growing
season. He said planting is recom
mended from April 20 to May 15.
The outlook for hogs is optimistic,
according to Jester. According to the
county agent, most economists are
saying the price of hogs will remain
around 50 cents per pound through
the first nine month of this year.
Prices are expected to fall to around
40 cents per pound during the last
quarter, said Jester.
The market outlook is not as good
for peanuts, said Jester, "because
consumption is down and demand
has leveled off."
Although the price support on
peanut quotas remains the same as
last year at $550 per ton, the price on
peanuts over the quota was reduced
from $200 per ton to $185 per ton said
Jester.
Disappointed at this reduction,
peanut growers are looking at con
tracts as an alternative, said Jester.
The market is already responding
to the ASCS PIK program, according
to Jester. "Corn looks pretty good,"
he commented.
"We'll probably have 30 percent
less corn planted this year. We'll see
a lot of idle land and hopefully we'll
see it (the results)' in the market
place," said the county agent.
Jester is recommending that
growers plant some sort of cover on
the acres left idle by the PIK
program to help maintain weed
control.
According to Jester, the best
choice for an annual cover would be
fescue.
If growers are interested in
nitrigen-producing covers, hairy
vetch and lespedeza are suggested by
Jester.
Cost of seeding would range from
$6 per acre for fescue, to $11 per acre
for hairy vetch, to $21 per acre for
lespedeza, according to Extension
figures
"Growers will have to weigh the
costs versus the benefits," said
Jester.
Allowing certain weed species to
build up would also be costly, he
added and costs of discing and
mowing weeds also add up, Jester
said.
Other possible cover crops
suggested by the Extension Service
include pearl millet, crimson clover,
subterranean clover, spring oats and
rye.
Priorities
set by
Chamber
Elizabeth City's Chamber of
Commerce director spoke to ap
proximately SO merchants of* the
Perquimans County Chamber of
Commerce, who gathered at Angler's
Cove last Wednesday night.
Mary Livengood led the group in a
discussion to establish needs and
priorities retailers in the Chamber.
Developing pride and loyalty was
the first priority set by the group for
the Chamber. Coordination of efforts,
advertizing and promotion and
communication were also among
priorities set by the merchants.
"A chamber that is successful is
the chamber that has sustained
enthusiasm," Livengood told the
merchant*. She said Chambers
Commerce are not charities or civic
clubs, but they are business
represented organizations requiring
strong committments from volun
teers.
"The chamber is the one
organization that works full time for
the benefit of the community. Your
investment goes on year after year,"
Livengood added.
"The Chamber of Commerce is for
I progress of the community and that's
the bottom line," she said.
Livengood told the group that the
chamber should be just as
professional as the best office of
business in town and that the
chamber meeting could provide
opportunities for competitors to sit
down together and forget their
competitiveness.
| Livengood told the group, "The
success of the chamber is up to you."
" Who is the chamber? The chamber
is you," she added.
Perquimans
resident
f
arrested
; A Perquimans County man was
arrested last week in Elizabeth City
on charges of selling cocaine by State
Bureau of Investigation agents.
Douglas "Lucky" Cartwright, 36,
Who listed his address as Route 3,
f Box <23, Hertford, was arrested and
charged with three counts of traf
ficking in cocaine, after a three to
four month "undercover" in
vestigation, according to Charlie
Overton, SB! supervising agent. >
Also arrested in the case was Wiley
Prank Wood, M. who listed his ad
dress as Route 3, Box 1M-A,
Elisabeth City, who was charged
with am count of trafficking In
cocaine.
' ; According to Overton, the arrests
occurred in the parking lot of the
HoUday Inn In Elisabeth City.
, Overton said several weapons were
confiscated, but no cocaine was
found at the time o t the arrest No
shots were fired, however, repotted
the SBI official.
Overton said Cartwright was
'i 4
Welcome
spring !
Welcome Spring. Daffodils
and crocuses are sure signs
that spring is definitely on
the way in Perquimans
County. Although weather
forecasters predict at least
one more cold spell, spring
flowers show promise that
winter is about over.
(Photos by Val Short)
Winfall passes ABC referendum
In ? special election held Tueaday,
voters In Winfall narrowly pasaed the
ABC referendum.
With an eight vote margin, Winfall
voted in favor of having an ABC store
within Um town.
Of the approximate 230 registered
voters, IN voted in the election ? 58
tor aad 50 against, according to
William L. "Buddy" TUkey, chair
man of the Perquimans Board of
Elections.
*
Tilley said the turn-out (or the
election represented around 45
percent of the voters registered in
Winfall.
Tilley said he was disappointed in
the turn-oat, which was com
paritively lower than in county-wide
elections.
Winfall Mayor Lloyd Ray Morgan
?aid the turn-out was larger than any
other Winfall election he could
remember. .
*
Morgan said organizing a local
ABC board would probably be the
next step and he plans to contact
state ABC officials soon.
"We will take all the people of
Winfall into consideration ia the
planning," paid Morgan.
In reaction to the election results,
Morgan said. "I'm always pleased if
we are doing something that pleases
the majority of the people."
Local arrests made
following raid
Three arrests were made last week
by the Hertford Police Department
following raids at several King
Street locations.
Clinton "Slim" Riddick, 54, who
listed his address as 209 King Street,
Hertford, was arrested March 5 and
charged with possession of alcoholic
beverages for the purpose of sale.
A team of officers from the Hert
ford Police Department, assisted by
Joe Lothian, chief of the Winfall
Police Department, searched Slim's
Place, a business located at 209 King
Street. According to Hertford Chief
of Police Marshall Merritt, whiskey
and beer was seized at the time of the
owner's arrest.
Also arrested March 5 and charged
with possession of alcoholic
beverages for the purpose of sale was
^ Clifton White, 46, who gave his ad
dress as 210 King Street, Hertford.
Merritt said whiskey and beer were
also seized at Lauresas Cafe at 210
King Street, owned by White.
James Wheeler "Jack" White, 62,
who listed his residence as 311 S.
Church Street in Hertford, was
arrested March 5 and charged with
failure to purchase a privilege
license from the Town of Hertford
and with possession of alcoholic
beverages for the purpose of sale.
According to Merritt, Hertford .
police conducted a search of White's
apartment, where he was found fully
clothed, hiding in the bathroom.
Merritt said a large quantity of
whisky, beer, soft drinks, cigarettes
and $1,000 in cash was found during
the search.
According to the police chief,
anyone operating a business in the
Town of Hertford is required by law
to purchase a privilege license at the
town office.
Following a report of a stolen
vehicle in Hertford March 4, Barbara
Ann Felton, 26, who gave as her
address Route 3, Box 654, Hertford,
and Charles Dennis Morgan, 27, who
address was given as 203 Oak
Avenue, Elizabeth City, were
arrested and charged by the
Elizabeth City Police Department
with larceny of a motor vehicle.
The suspects were then turned over
to the Hertford Police Department,
which subsequently charged the two
with breaking and entering a motor
vehicle and unauthorized use of a
conveyance.
Bond was set a $1,500 and the
suspects were taken into custody at
Albemarle District Jail.
Clyde Leary, 63, who gave as his
address 208 King Street, Hertford,
was arrested and charged in the
larceny of a bottle of wine from S and
R Supermarket in Hertford.
According to Merrit, Patrolman
Terry Dean Cartwright was the
arresting officer and Leary was
released on his own recognizance.
Local school board
reviews long range
construction plans
Reviewing long range construction
plans for Perquimans County High
School at the meeting Monday night.
Board of Education members agreed
on the need for new facilities at the
high school.
"We need to go ahead and develop
a plan and when the time is right,
we'll be ready to move," commented
Board chairman Clifford Winslow.
School superintendent Pat Harrell
presented blueprints of the four
phase long range plan for replacing
the 1924 high school facility.
The plans were developed by ar
chitect Sam Ashford of Raleigh.
Phase I of the project was completed
in 1980 when 12 new classrooms were
added and the library was
remodeled.
Board members discussed
replacing 15 classrooms in the
original building as well as a
cafeteria during the next phase of the
project
The board asked Harrell to contact
Ashford and aik him to meet with the
board. The board will also request
that Dr. Lacy Presnell, of the
Division of School Planning with the
N.C. Department of Public In
struction, to revise the school facility
survey he developed for Perquimans
County Schools ten years ago.
In the survey, replacement of the
old high school structure was
recommended. Harrell told the
Board. Harrell said Presnell's
department would have to approve
any plans developed by the board.
The Board heard a report on the
high school art program from art
instructor Deborah Coates.
Coates presented a slide program
which featured Perquimans art
students. She explained the three
teaching objectives of art education
? work, language and values.
Coates told Board members
Perquimans art students are now
designing a sign for the Board of
Education office.
With a new policy adopted by the
Board Monday night, admission of
Board members to school activities
will be free. Board members will
receive passes which will be valid for
their terms of office.
Harrell announced to the Board
that the windows were expected to
arrive this week for the Perquimans
Union window replacement project.
He said the crew is ready to "go to
work" and could probably complete
the job in two weeks, if weather
permits.
The Board approved the interim
employment of Alma Banks at
Central Elementary School, who will
replace a teacher, also named Alma
Banks, who died recently.
Banks U from Elizabeth City and
will be teaching in the program for
exceptional children.
)
*