Perquimans People
Local agencies promote environmental awareness to students
'7. ' ' ? ' * i ' .? '
By VAL SHORT
Promoting environmental
awareneaa was the aim of the En
vironmental Held Day held last
Wednesday at Perquimans Union
School.
Sponsored by the Perquimans
committee of the Albemarle Con
servation District, the day was
planned for approximately ISO
seventh traders at Union. It is
usually held in conjunction with
Environmental Awareness Week,
which is April 11 through 16.
Four agencies that are involved in
conservation of natural resources
participated in the field day, in
cluding the Soil Conservation Ser
vice, the N.C. Wildlife Commission,
the N.C. Forest Service and the
Perquimans County Extension
Service.
Chairman of the Perquimans
Committee Floyd Matthews opened
the event, telling the students, "We
want to make you all more aware of
the conservation of all our natural
resources. Conservation, unlike
preservation, is wisely using our
natural resources."
John Hurdle and Scott Smith of the
N.C. Forest Service demonstrated
how tree rings can determine the age
of a tree. Using the rings, they
showed the students how trees grow
under good and poor conditions.
Bill Jester, chairman of the
Perquimans Extension Service
showed the student! how to identify
diseased plants under a microscope
and discussed basic plant physiology.
Extension livestock agent Jeff
Copeland showed two pigs, pointing
out the good and bad qualities of
each.
"We tried to show what kind of
educational programs we conduct,
tieing in with the the recom
mendations based on research. I
though it was extremely successful
and well worth my time. It was very
productive and then students were
very attentive." Jest*! commented
"An important poiftti (of the field
day)," said Jester, "U for children to
learn to understand the environment
and the agencies that work with the
environment." ' ?
Representing the N.C. Wildlife
Commission at the Field Day were
Mike Overton, Ken Craft, David
Rowe, Bobby Madrid and Rod Mc
Clanahan. They discussed tagging
game, hunting safety and trapping
game.
The highlight of their presentation
was the firing of a capture net over
duck and goose decoys. This is
usually used to capture geese, ducks
or turkeys for tagging or tran
splanting.
Overton, who is educational
representative with the N.C. Wildlife
Commission, said the day was a
success. "I thought it went real well
? it was a real learning experience
for the kids," he commented.
Tony Short of the Soil Conservation
Service showed a model conservation
(arm with various conservation
practices such as, no-till, contour
cropping and planting cover crops.
SCS Soil Scientist Phil Tant discussed
soils and how they are formed. He
told the group what soils were made
of and just how important they are to
all of us.
Short said "I am very pleased with
the response that we got from the
students. They were very attentive
and well-behaved.This was a very
worthwhile coordinated effort by all
four agencies. I hope that we can do
this again next year."
Roanoke
colonies
course set
The Roanoke Colonies 400th An
niversary Celebration will be during
the year 19S4. The College of The
Albemarle's Continuing Eddcation
Division wishes to familiarise in
terested persons in the history and
meaning of this celebration.
A course entitled The Roanoke
Colonies will be offered and will be
taught by Ray Winslow, writer of the
Historical Notes Column, which
appears in THE PERQUIMANS
WEEKLY each week. It will be held
each Tuesday night form 7 to 9 p.m.,
beginning May 10 and continuing
through June 14. Classes will be held
at the Perquimans County Vocation
Building.
?
At the Environmental Field
Day at Perquimans Union
Tony Short, of the Soil Con
servation Service, shows a
model farm which indicates
.1
good and poor conservation
practices.
FHA interest
rates drop
Larry W. Godwin, North Carolina
State Director for the Farmers Home
Administration, has announced a
change in the agency's interest rates
for community program loans ef
fective April 1, 1983.
Spruce Up For Spring
Complimentary Mary Kay Facial
Call Peggy Rohrer at 426-9217 and arrange a
skin care facial that is both educational and
complimentary.
Beauty starts with good s kin core.