THE PERQUIMANS WEEKLY
Volume 39, No. 18 USPS 428-080 Hertford. Perauimans Cnnntv. n r ? ion** 20 CENTS
Albemarle Commission rejects nutrition bids
. f -4- ?
By VAL SHORT
The Albemarle Commission
rejected all bids submitted for
catering the Region R Nutrition
program for fiscal year 1M4, during
the regular meeting held last week in
Hertford.
With a vote of It to 2, the Com
mission rejected the recom
mendation of the Aging Advisory
Council to accept the lowest bid for
the project
A total of four bids were submitted
for the project, which serves 480
people in the 10 counties of Region R.
Approximately 70 people in the
region will receive home delivered
meals and 410 will receive meals at
nutrition sites next year.
The Washington County Depart
ment of Social Services submitted a
bid of $2.20 per plate for Tyrrell and
Washington counties. Servomation of
Rocky Mount submitted a bid of $1.95
per plate, for all counties.
Other bids were $2.24 and 12.24 per
plate. The Aging Council had
recommended that the Commission
accept the low bid from Servomation.
The Com mission agreed to re
advertize the project tor bids,
making it clear that bids can be
submitted for all 10 counties or for 8
counties and two counties.
Discussion erupted when
representatives of Servomation
announced that the Servomation bid
would only be in effect for all 10
counties and they would not accept
part of the project.
Representing the Washington
County DSS, Director Jerry Rhodes
asked for equal consideration, ex
plaining that the program was
already established in Washington
County and loss of the project would
result in loss of jobs and revenue in
the region.
Some Commission members ex
pressed concern that if the contract
for the program was awarded outside
the region, it would violate part of the
purpose of the Albemarle Com
mission ? to promote employment
within the region.
The 1983-84 Albemarle Commission
budget was reviewed and presented
by Webb Fuller of the finance
committee. Fuller said the budget
includes a 10 percent increase in the
aging program and in the Economic
Development Association funds.
The finance committee recom
mended a three percent across the
board salary increase and a two
percent merit raise, according to
Fuller.
The Commission authorised
Director Don Flowers to set a date
for a public hearing on the budget.
New members of the Emergency
Medical Services Council were also
accepted by the Commission during
the meeting.
Counting sheep
Taking time out for a rest
from the 38th annual
Albemarle 4-H Livestock
Show is Daniel Fowler, Mm of
Mr. and Mrs. Charlie Fowler
of Hertford. Daniel was one of
over 50 participants from
Perquimans who attended the
show, held last week in
Elisabeth City. See page
three for more on the show.
(Photo by Val Short)
County school
budget submitted
to commissioners
By VAL SHORT
A $1,232,006 budget for the
Perquimans County Schools was
presented Monday night at a joint
meeting of the Perquimans County
Commissioners and the county Board
of Education.
Representing a $65,430 or 6.4
percent increase over last year, the
budget calls for increased allocations
in the capital improvements
category.
The two boards met for about an
hour, according to Superintendent
Pat Harrell, who said they talked
primarily about capital needs in the
county.
Harrell said the Board of
Education had also requested the
establishment of a capital reserve
fund of $100,000 to be used for major
renovation and construction of school
facilities.
No action was taken on the budget
request by the Board of Com
missioners.
During the regular County Com
missioners meeting Monday mor
ning, the Commissioners selected
three applications out of a total of 12
to be considered for the county forest
ranger position. The final selection
will be made by the N.C. Forest
Service.
A date for a revenue sharing
hearing was set for May 10 at 8 p.m.
at the Courthouse. Finance officer
Durwood Reed told the board that
revenue sharing officials would only
guarantee funds through September.
However, he said he thought the
county would receive the same
amount of funds received last year.
The Commissioners received a
copy of a petition submitted to the
Division of N.C. Marine Fisheries,
requesting commercial fishing be
prohibited from the Perquimans
River between the business 17 bridge
and the bypass bridge.
The petition, presented by J. P.
Perry and Eldon Winslow, states that
nets, traps and markers should be
removed from the area to permit
recreational activities.
The Commissioners reviewed
design ideas for a county seal from
the Perquimans High School art
department. No action was taken.
Jim Mills reported on the condition
of the heating systems in the library
and other county buildings.
Perquimans 400th committee holds public forum Sunday
"We were not jailbirds who came
here," Mrs. Lucille Winslow said of
America's early settlers, as history
would have us believe.
"I think we need to re-learn
history. We of English heritage
should be proud of it," she told the
group of some <0 people who attended
the public forum at the Perquimans
Courthouse Sunday afternoon.
Re-learning history is part of what
the 400th Anniversary celebration is
all about. Scheduled to begin April 27,
1M4 in England, and July 13. 1964 in
America, America will celebrate the
400th anniversary of English
colonization. The period of com
memoration extends through August
18. 1987.
Mrs. Winslow, of Hertford, who is
serving as the liason chairman for
the state 400th committee, was also
instrumental in the organization of
the outdoor drama "The Lost
Colony" and helped organize the
Dare County Tourist Bureau. She
was among a panel of speakers who
were featured at the kick-off meeting
for the 400th celebration in
Perquimans.
Mrs. Winslow said Perquimans is a
land of many firsts, including the
first rebellion against the English
rule, which was Culpepper's
RebeU'on, and the first Quaker
sermon, delivered at the Newbold
White House. The oldest deed was
also recorded in Perquimans, Mrs.
Winslow told the group.
Ray Winslow, local historian, was
also among the panel members. He
reported on the Perquimans County
of 400 yean ago. "This celebration is
not just what happened 400 years
ago, but what has happened since
then," he said.
Winslow said there was no
Perquimans County 400 years ago,
because the county was not formed
until 1668. Winslow said that
Perquimans' connection to the 400th
anniversary and Dare County is
simply the settlement of the Lost
Colony and subsequent English
colonies.
"The tide was set in motion by
Walter Raleigh," he commented.
"We've got a lot to be proud of,"
Winslow told the group.
Other panel members included Jim
"Catfish" Hunter, who discussed
plans for a youth baseball camp,
tentatively scheduled for August
1984, and Juanita Bailey, who
reported involvement of the County
Extension Service in the 400th.
Chairman of the Perquimans 400th
committee told the group of plans for
a Quaker meeting to be held at the
Newbold-White House in 1984. "We
hope to include Quakers from all over
the country," she said.
Also discussed was a visit by the
General Assembly to the Newbold
White House, during which
legislation will be enacted. Tentative
plans for an outdoor drama in the
park were also discussed.
Chairman of the Perquimans
Board of Commissioners Joe Nowell
said, "The 400th is an opportunity we
just won't have again. The county
commissioners wholeheartedly
support this effort," he said.
Nowell added, "I think we can
attract a lot of people and give
Perquimans County a lot of
publicity."
Pick-your-own crops look good
By VAL SHORT
Record amounts of rainfall and a
wot spring will have a definite effect
on agriculture in Perquimans
County.
According to Bill Jester, the foul
weather could affect local pick-jrour
own operations, especially those with
strawberries. The wet weather could
be "devastating U it keeps on,"
Jester said, since the tart red fruit is
succeptible to rotting.
T.R. HarreU, owner of a local plck
your own str a wherry operation near
Hertford, expects to have a "real
nice crop" this year.
He said the harvest would be hurt
somewhat by the late freese, but he
expects a M percent crop this season.
"We will be ? little bit later this
year," be said, guessing that harvest
time will eotne around May 12 and 15.
i -i ?' ?* T V ?! ' '
Mrs. HarreU commented that they
had never had mow on the berries
before but they are anticipating a
good year. She said the rain had
damaged the spinach crop.
Jeater said he didn't think
blueberries would be affected by the
bad weather this spring.
"We didn't have that much froat
and it didn't stay around long enough
to cauae much damage," said Jester.
Jesae Parker Perry, owner of a
county blueberry picking operation,
said he had lost probably 20 percent
ot the early varieties due to the early
froat
"I think well (till have a good
crop," he commented. Perry expects
the blueberries to ripen around the
second week in July.
Jester said Perquimans may be
owe of the tew areas in North
Carolina to produce peaches. He said
the late froata probably had little
effect oa both the peach and apple
crops in the county.
"We will have some pesches," he
s?id. Jester said Perquimans had
three growers with apples and
peaches or chards.
Jester said approximately 300 to
400 acres of corn had been planted in
the county. But (or those growers
who are late planting corn. Jester
sakl the Agricultural Extension
Service is recommending using a
medium season variety.
Jester said the concern with late
planted corn is Its susseptibility to
insect and heat damage.
He said also that the corn tends to
be bigger, causing lodging, or (ailing
down.
Jester recommends that growers
plant corn thicker, to compensate for
lower yields. He also said growers
should have combines ready to
harvest the crops before lodging
occurs.
Flag show
Billy White and members of
the Hertford Fife and Drum
Corp* presented a flag
program at the Perquimans
County 400th Anniversary
Committee public forum,
held last Sunday at the
Courthouse. The meeting was
a kick-off to planning and
activities in Perquimans for
the 400th anniversary of the
English colonisation of
America.
County Social Services cheese, butter distribution scheduled May 13
?yVALSHORT
?T*r will b?n*ftt fro* tk?
by tlM Perqniman* Departed! ?
Social SwtIom to be bald Friday,
May U at the ice plant tn 1
Over 11,000 yooodt at cbeeee. end
5,000 ponodt ci I
?ccording to DSS
Director P?ul Gregory.
rtm cbeeae tad butter win be
si
age at M; disabled ptnou who an
not receiving mum Ut ? food
IWr% w WWW?
?tamp, AFDC, and medicaid
radplnti; and to tamOief under
| According to Cnfary. ttiU la not a
welfare program, tat to designed to
eliminate surplus food that U now
being stored at the taxpayer's ei
Cornmeal, powdered milk, rice,
hooey and peanat batter may also be
available tor distribution in the
tmlai months, aeeerdlng to
Gregory.
Thoae who an eligible, can receive
from five to X pound* of cheese and
from two to eight pound* of batter,
fepMitag upon family alas.
Application form* arc available at
several locations in the county in
eluding, the DSS office, the Health
Department, the Extension office.
Senior Cltiaens Center, the Nwtritioo
site. Catholic Social Service* and
Open Door.
Applications moat be tuned in at
the time of distribution