Newspapers / The Perquimans Weekly (Hertford, … / Jan. 2, 1986, edition 1 / Page 1
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Mag;, : ? ? :'--W%v; ' . ? ???? ? 1 ? ^ THE PERQUIMANS WEEKLY Volume 53, No. 1 USPS 42$-4>?0 USPS 428-080 S~l Hertford, Perquimans County, N.C., Thursday, January 2, im 25 CENTS 1985: The Year In Review People in the news By SUSAN HARRIS People make Perquimans County the fine place it is, and many of those people received recognition during 1965 for their contributions to the community. The county gained some fine new residents and reluctantly bid others adieu as the year progressed. A new postmaster took the helm of the Hertford Post Office in January. Ricky Wilkinson was sworn in during the first month of the year, replacing long-time postmaster He.iry Stokes, who retired during the previous sum mer. Wilkinson, his wife and their two chidren moved to town from Tennessee. Also in January, the county lost Roy Perkins, who had given much of his time for the better ment of the community; most notably to the youth through his involvement in athletic ac tivities. Perkins volunteered countless hours to the recreation department, Babe Ruth Baseball League, and other county organizations, and has been greatly missed since his death. The county also mourned the passing of Henry Clay Sullivan in August and Preston Divers in December. Sullivan retired as manager of Hertford Savings and Loan, and afterwards was self-employed in tax preparation, bookkeeping, and real estate. Divers was the owner-operator of Divers & Son Jewelers, a business established by his father. February saw Lee Stallings named Fireman of the Year by the Albemarle Firefighters Association. A member of the Durants Neck Volunteer Fire Department, Stallings was also designated Oustanding Young Firefighter of the Year by the Perquimans County Jaycees. In December he was listed among the Outstanding Young Men of America. Stallings, his wife Debbie, and their children, Stephanie and Carson, reside in the New Hope Community. Another Durants Neck Firefighter, Ray Cullipher, was honored by the Perquimans County Jaycees when he receiv ed their Distinguished Service Award during the year's second month. Cullipher was noted for outstanding community involvement. County Extension Agent Bill Jester resigned to accept a posi tion in Sussex County, Delaware. Jester served the county for five years prior to his departure. Jester was replaced by Per quimans County native Stan Winslow, a graduate of N.C. State University. Winslow took charge of his extension duties in April. He is the son of Clifford Winslow, and the husband of the former Lou Ann Chappell of Belvidere. The Wins lows live in Whiteston with their three children. Former New York Yankees pitching star and Perquimans County's favorite son, Jim "Cat fish" Hunter, was highlighted on UNC TV in May on "When the Cheering Stops". The interview took Hunter from his formative years on a farm through his ex traordinary major league baseball career and continued to his present occupation as a farmer. Hunter spoke candidly about his disagreements with Charlie Finley, his bout with diabetes, and his move from the Oakland A's to the Yankees. Roy Chappell was awarded the Silver Service Recognition Medallion by the N.C. Affiliate of the American Heart Association. He was noted for his outstanding service to the local heart association. ( Continued on page 2) Topics that headlined in 1985 By JANE B. WILLIAMS 1985 was a year of change and growth in Perquimans County, but it was not without it hard ships. Farmers, while reaping an abundant harvest, found themselves in financial difficulty when their products once again brought markedly low prices. Issues, while few in number, brought controversy among the county's citizenry; and growth hit major snags in several instances. Following are some of the most discussed, and often reported on topics from the year 1965. The spring of 1965 saw the ex pansion of the Hertford City Limits, when a much debated an nexation plan received the North Carolina General Assembly's stamp of approval. As early as the first edition of The Perquimans Weekly in 1965 annexation of areas surrounding the municipality was making Income limits set by FmHA The Farmers Home Ad ministration, FmHA, has set new income limits for applicants who qualify to build or purchase fami ly dwellings in Perquimans County. The FmHA rural Housing pro gram provides subsidized mor tgage loans to lower income ap plicants who can afford to build or purchase modest homes Current loan' rates are 10 and five-eighths percent interest sub sidy depending on the number of family members. A family of four cannot exceed $14,260 at the time of application and loan closing. FmHA will evaluate the household budget, income, credit history, debt and loan repayment ?ff Tbtf Hertford FmHA office is ytottd I.J1? Alto^teOm headlines. The first public hear ing on the subject was held on January 3, 1985 and a report of opposition by the property owners headlined the next edition. The Perquimans County Com missioners rallied behind proper ty owners in late January, and by mid-March the Town Council members were divided on how to proceed with the plan. By the end of March, council members opted for a cutback in the pro posal, and the package was sent on to Raleigh for legislative approval. Perquimans County residents mourned the passing of a great friend in January. Joseph War ren Nowell was claimed in death at the age of 60. Nowell served as a county commissioner for eight years prior to his death. He was an ac tive member of various govern ment association, and an ad vocate of growth for the county. A local farmer by trade, he was a World War II army veteran, and a member of the Hertford United Methodist Church. A positive step was taken by local governing bodies in the spr ing, when they elected to pool their resources and have one of fice for a county-wide building in spector. New statewide regula tions regarding building permits was the principal reason for com bining the departments. An office for the inspector was constructed in the Blanc hard Building adjacent to .the Cour thouse on Church Street. Plans to convert the Blanchard Building into an additional cour troom and office space for the county were addressed by the Perquimans County Commis sioners in 1965, and an architec tural design firm that specializes in restoring old buildings was contracted by the county to do a feasibility study on the edifice. Four-laning U.S. 17 from Woodville to Winfall was a much discussed topic in 1985 after the North Carolina Department of Transportation announced its plans at several public meetings to begin right of way acquisition diving the summer of 1906. If plans go according to the DOT'S schedule, actual construction of the . four-lane divided highway will begin in 1987. Low prices and extreme weather conditions plagued many local farmers in 1985 as market prices plunged. A rash of farmers, both locally and nation wide, were forced into bankrupt cy court as continued low prices, despite high yields in many in stances, made it impossible for them to meet their obligations. Late summer brought about the final phase of planning by the Perquimans County Board of Education, as bids were let for the renovation and construction project at Perquimans County High School. Work on the project got under way in the early fall, but came to a halt when asbestos was discovered in the school's auditorium. The substance was quickly removed, and the work is continuing. Perquimans County Schools were selected in early '85 to par ticipate in a pilot Career Ladder Plan. The program is designed to allow teachers an opportunity for higher salaries and professional advancement based on their in dividual abilities. The program is progressing well throughout the test areas. Late September sent locals scurrying for cover and higher ground as Hurricane Gloria ap proached northeastern North Carolina. Gloria unleashed her fury on Hatteras Island, dump ing rains and causing minor wind damage in Perquimans County. Gloria was only the beginning of a wet season following a long, dry summer. Hurricane Juan came along in November, and even though he didn't hit anywhere near Perquimans, the rains came, leaving tow lying areas flooded. The crime rate in Perquimans County was low during 1985. A spring bank robbery at the chive in branch of Peoples Bank and Trust Company kept law enforce ment agencies bufy for several weeks as they searched for a local man in connection with the crime. Perquimans and Gates Counties began what has turned into a lengthy pursuit in January, when each of the county's petitioned for the placement of a state alloted nursing home in their county. Three corporations began vy ing for the right to construct a home in one of the two county's. After a hearing at the Per quimans County Courthouse in January, and a subsequent meeting of the Eastern Carolina Muncipal Health Systems Agen cy (ECMHSA) in Greenville, a Gates County site was selected with Powell-Roberson Inc. chosen by the agency as the facility's operator. Political charges against the ECMHSA caused their ruling to be overturned by the N.C. Department of Human Resources, and upon re evaluation by that department, a Perquimans County site was chosen with Unifour Medical Management of Hickory selected to operate the center. Gates County officials prompt ly filed an appeal, and a final decision is pending on the place ment of the facility, as well as its operator. Lack of political races in the state didn't hamper the spirit of the season when the polls opened for the 1965 Municipal Elections last November in Hertford and Winfall. In Hertford four residents filed for the two available seats on the Hertford Town Council. In cumbents John Beers and Joe Towe White, Jr. were challenged by former councilman T. Erie Haste, Jr. and the Rev. John London. Haste, top Vote getter, and Beers were elected, and were sworn in at the December meeting of the Council. In Winfall, Mayor Lloyd Ray Morgan was challenged by the town's planning board chairman, Bill Bartlett. Morgan retained the office with a 14- vote margin. Local businesses experience growth By JANE B. WILLIAMS Opening businesses was a prevalent event in 1985. Eight new businesses opened their doors, with several more chang ing ownership, and-or moving in to new locations. Two new apparel shops opened in Hertford during the year. Geri's Fun Fashions on Church Street in the old Morgan Fur niture Building and Quality Clothing Outlet, which opened in the spring on Edenton Road Street, and recently relocated in the newly constructed Ward Shopping Center on U.S. 17 By Pass. Also locating in the new center were Albemarle Furniture Outlet and Pritchard's Florist, both new businesses. Copeland Com munications also relocated into the shopping center. First Choice Realty moved from their quarters at C.D. White and Sons into the building left va cant by Copeland. A new attorney, Gary Underhill, opened his practice on Market Street in the spring; and ground was broken in Winfall for the site of a new doctor's office. Dr. Neil DeNunzio officially opened his practice for internal medicine at the RMS Per quimans Medical Center in July on U.S. 37 in Winfall. In early May, Winfall introduc ed the county's first self-service ABC Store in the newly remodel ed Oak Point Store. In July D&W Engineering opened their doors; and in August, Claude Brinn's in surance agency merged with John Dowd & Associates, and those combined businesses mov ed into the renovated Bus Station building on Church Street in Hertford. The Bus Station consequently moved to its new lcoation in front of Perquimans County High School. Pitt Hardware changed hands in September when it was pur chased by Osie Cooper and Terry Chappell. John Matthews moved his law prace uptown into the old Hert ford Post Office on Church Street in October. Swindell Funeral Home was passed down a generation in Oc tober, when Marion Swindell, founder of the business, sold his interest to his son, Larry. LLOYD BARNES, A JUNIOR AT PERQUIMANS COUN TY HIGH SCHOOL, SHARES HIS GREETINGS FOR THE NEW YEAR. BARNES IS A MEMBER OP THE SCHOOL'S ART DEPARTMENT. DEBORAH COATES IS THE HIGH SCHOOL ART INSTRUCTOR. i I >
The Perquimans Weekly (Hertford, N.C.)
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Jan. 2, 1986, edition 1
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