THE PERQUIMANS WEEKLY
Volume 57, No. 3
USPS 428-080
Hertford, Perquimans County, N.C., Thursday, January IS, l?B7
25 CENTS
Steps toward revitalization begin
Pictured above are workmen of Waff Brothers Construction Co. of Edenton, N.C.. They are busy removing
pilings and debris from the Perquimans River behind the municipal building in Hertford. Local officials, and
many residents view the river clean-up project as the first step towards revitalization.
Edenton woman killed in accident on Friday
Leone Rose Twiddy, 62, of Eden
ton, died from injuries sustained in
an accident Friday night.
Twiddy was killed Friday when she
was riding in, a 1984 Ford, driven by
Mr. WHliam Dawson Harris, collided
with a 1980 Datsun 280 ZX. The Dat
sun was driven by Terry K. Patter
son, a former marine, recently dis
charged from Camp Lejeune.
Mr. Harris, 76, of Edenton, was
turning left onto highway 17 S. from
Gabby 's Restaurant when the acci
dent occurred at approximately 10: 15
p.m. according to highway patrol
man Garriss of the NC Highway Pa
trol.
Mr. Harris never got across the
north-bound lane according to Gar
riss. Harris' car was struck on the
left front fender by Patterson who
was traveling north.
Mr. Harris is currently in critical
condition at Chowan County Hospi
tal. Mr. Patterson, and a passenger
in his car, Kim B. Williams, of Vir
ginia Beach, were both admitted to
Chowan Hospital. Mr. Patterson was
treated for minor injuries and re
leased on Saturday. Ms. Williams re
ceived minor facial cuts, and a bro
ken ankle. She was released from
Chowan Hospital on Saturday, and
admitted to Norfolk General Hospital
where she will undergo orthopedic
surgery on her ankle.
Both vehicles were totaled in the
accident. Officer Garriss stated that
the accident is currently under inves
tigation, and that charges are pen
ding.
Nominations accepted for teaching awards
Nominations are being accepted
for the 1987 Presidential Awards for
Excellence in Science and Math
ematics Teaching program.
Teachers can be nominated by col
) leagues, administrators, students or
parents of students. The deadline for
postmark of nominations is March 2.
The Presidential Awards program
honors six teachers in each state and
jurisdiction, with two of the six re
ceiving the Presidential Award dur
ing an expense-paid trip to Washing
ton, D.C. in November.
This award carries with it a $5000
National Science Foundation (NSF)
grant, in addition to other honors and
gifts.
To be eligible, a teacher must be
assigned during this school year at
least half-time to classroom teaching
of science or mathematics in a public
or private middle-junior or senior
high school in North Carolina. Teach
ers must also have a minimum of five
years teaching experience in science
or mathematics.
Supported by the NSF and man
aged by the national Science Teach
ers Association, the Presidential
Awards program recognizes teach
ers who have demonstrated class
room excellence. These teachers
serve as models for the teaching pro
fession.
Nominations must include name
and complete home mailing address
and be mailed by March 2.
Send nominations to: Dr. William
E. Spooner, Science Division or Dr.
Robert R. Jones, Mathematics Divi
sion, department of Public Instruc
tion, 116 W. Edenton Street, Raleigh,
NC 27603-1712.
For more information contact Rob
ert R. Jones (Math) at (919) 733-3602
or William E. Spooner (Science) at
(919) 733-3694.
IRS offers help to taxpapers on the new W-4 form
One of the major provisions of the
\ Tax Reform Act of 1986 is require
ment that all employees file a new
Form W-4 with their employers be
fore October 1, 1987. Other provisions
of the Tax Reform Act having an ef
fective date earlier than October 1,
1987, and having a direct impact on
the employee's tax liability for the
year, make it very important to sub
mit a new W-4 earlier than October 1,
1987.
Smith joins
Farm Bureau
N.C. Farm Bureau is proud to an
nounce the appointment of Jeff L.
Smith of Edenton, N.C. as an Agent
for North Carolina Farm Bureau Mu
tual Insurance Company and the
Southern Farm Bureau Life Insur
| a nee Company in Perquimans Com
pany. He will also represent North
Carolina Blue Cross and Blue Shield,
Inc. to the Farm Bureau members.
Smith is a native of Chowan County
and resides at Rt. 2, Box 235, Eden
ton, N.C. He is married to the former
Gay Burris of Wades Boro. They
have 2 children, Amy and Heather.
Smith is a 1972 graduate of John A.
Holmes High School and a 1974 grad
uate of College of The Albemarle
| where he received a degree in Me
chanical Engineering. He is a mem
ber of Macedonia Baptist Church,
serving as Sunday School Secretary
for 10 years. Smith fanned for 4
years before joining his father Carol
Smith at Northside Auto in Edenton.
Lewis B. Evans, Agency Manager
with North Carolia Farm Bureau in
Perquimans County, states "We are
happy to have Jeff Smith Join us. We
fed he is well trained and qualified to
) advise you as to your insurance
needs after having completed many
Failure to file the 1987 Form W-4
early in 1987 may result in too little or
too much income tax being withheld
fot* the year. Employees who wait un
til late in 1987 to revise W-4's may
have to request that additional
amounts be withheld to make up for
too little withholding for the year
may be subject to an estimated tax
penalty.
To assist taxpayers with the new
withholding form, the Internal Reve
study programs in the insurance
field. He wil present our complete
line of insurances: life, auto, fire,
farm owners, home owners, inland
marine, crop, liability, workers com
pensation, and others."
An enthusiatic individual, Smith is
looking forward to meeting you and
servicing any insurance needs you
might have.
You may contact Jeff at his home
by calling 482-2015 or at the Perqui
mans County Farm Bureau Office in
Hertford, 4M-S636.
nue Service has scheduled W-4 semi
nars in various locations throughout
the state. M.C. Breuer, manager of
H&R Block office in the Hertford
area, will be offering free prepara
tion of Form W-4 to the general pub
lic until January 20, 1967. To obtain
information on this free service, call
426-7370.
Business owners, managers, direc
tors, personnel officers, personnel
department staff, supervisors, lead
workers, administrative assistants,
farm owners and managers, or any
persons with responsibility for pay
roll and or payroll forms, are encour
aged to attend W-4 seminars.
The IRS also has a 22-minute video
tape on how to fill out the W-4. This
may be obtained by calling the Tax
payer Education Office of the IRS in
Greensboro, at (919) 333-5266.
Restoration association
holds annual meeting
The Perquimans County Historical
Restoration Association held their
annual meeting on Monday, January
12th, at Anglers Cove Restaurant.
Approximately 59 people attended
the meeting, and Margaret Purser, a
doctorial degree canidate at the Uni
versity of California at Berkley spoke
to the group. Ms. Purser's talk ad
dressed the importance of archeol
ogy to local historical associations,
and outlined the importance of such
associations to American society.
A short business meeting was con
ducted during which Mrs. Fannie
Beales,and Mr. Charles Skinner, Jr.,
were presented with certificates of
appreciation honoring them for their
work with the Perquimans County
Historical Restoration Association.
During the meeting David McCall,
Program Director at New bold-White
House, outlined his work this year at
the site, and reported that since April
1st, 9600 people have visited New
bold- White House. He also discussed
the educational outreach program
which he oversees. Mrs. Jean White,
Perquimans County Registar of
Deeds, was on hand to review the as
sociations previous and planned ac
tivities for America's 400th Anniver
sary celebration, and Mr. R. L.
Stevenson presided over election of
the board of directors and officers for
the association.
The officers for the association for
a term of two years are as follows:
Mrs. Lucille Winslow, President, Mr.
Lester Simpson, Vice President,
Mrs. Schofield, corresponding and
recording Secretary, and Mrs. Henry
C. Sullivan, Treasurer.
The Perquimans County Historical
Restoration Association was orga
nized in 1971 to save North Carolina's
oldest house, the New bold-White
House. Restoration of the house was
completed in 1981, when it was
opened to the public. According to
Mrs. Winslow the next prject the as
sociation will undertake is construc
tion ofan interpretive center for the
Newboid- White site.
Norfolk Southern closes
Albemarle Sound bridge
Norfolk and Southern Railroad
closed the Albemarle Sound bridge
effective January 5th, after the
bridge failed a routine safety inspec
tion by the company's engineers.
Stephen Eisinach of Norfolk and
Southern Railroad's Norfolk office
stated that the company's engineers
conducted a routine inspection of the
bridge January 3rd, and found some
dangerous spots that warranted it's
closing.
'We feel we can't ensure the safety
of the bridge any longer,' said Eisi
nach. He added that the railroad
didn't want to compromise their rep
utation in taking any chances by al
lowing the bridge to remain open.
Eisinach added that he has a gut
feeling that the bridge will remain
closed indefinitely, and that he feels
this is the first step towards abandon
ment of the bridge by the railroad.
Norfolk and Southern planned to
close the bridge several times before,
but had recently agreed to keep it
open while all options of the problem
were looked into. Company officials
estimate that some $19.2 million dol
lars worth of repairs are necessary to
keep the span open, but railroad offi
cials say that low traffic on the
bridge does not justify putting that
much money into such a projec
t. Representative Vernon James
stated on Friday that he views the
closing as one step towards lose of
rail service in this area. James
stated that while he can certainly see
both sides of the issue he felt closing
the bridge would be bad for the area,
particularly the area south of the
sound.
Mayor Bill Cox of Hertford echoed
James' feelings by stating 'We don't
need to lose any more transportation
services in the area. Our roads are
inadequate, and now their doing
away with our rail service.'
Mayor Cox also expressed some
concern about the economic impact
the closing of the bridge will have on
the county, and the entire Albemarle
region.
The bridge functions as a north
south rail link for Northeastern
North Carolina. Closing it will surely
have an impact on farmers, and oth
ers who rely on the railroad for rec
eipt and shipment of raw materials
and commodities.
Two local businesses, Southern
States and Albemarle Fertilizer rely
on the railroad bridge for receipt and
shipment of goods. In recent phone
interviews with the managers of both
businesses they said they felt the
closing of the bridge would affect
shipping rates, and had the potential
to cause price increases for their cus
tomers.
However, both men stated that the
total affect will not be known for
some time.
At this time Norfolk Southern is
maintaining freight rates at current
levels, but the company will make no
commitment for the future.
The North Carolina Department of
Transportation has not taken a posi
tion on this issue at this time. They
have been working with the railroad
on this issue for sometime, and a
meeting is scheduled between the
two later this month.
Eisinach stated that the line of
communication between the rail
road, the DOT, and the NC Dept. of
Agriculture will remain open, and
they will continue to meet and search
for a solution to the problem. How
ever, he added that at this time he
sees no private sector solution to the
problem.
Membership deadline set
for pension fund
State Auditor Edward Renfrew,
Chairman of the Board of Trustees of
the North Carolina Firemen's and
Rescue Squad Workers' Pension
Fund, recently corresponded with
fire and rescue squad coordinators
throughout the State regarding the
open-door enrollment of the Pension
Fund. He requested their assistance
in encouraging all of those eligible to
make application for membership
before March 31, 1987. According to
Mr. Renfrew, the North Carolina
General Assembly passed legislation
in July 1986 which would allow fire
men and rescue squad workers to
purchase prior service in the Pension
Fund. The law allows any fireman or
rescue squad worker who is now eli
gible, is a member of a fire depart
ment or rescue squad chartered by
the State of North Carolina and who
has not previously chosen to become
a member, to make application
through the Board of Trustees for
membership in the Fund on or before
March 31, 1987.,
The Pension Fund was originally
established by the North Carolina
General Assembly in 1959 as a way of
saying "thank you" to the thousands
of volunteers across the State who
give of their time and service to bene
fit so many people. The rescue
squads were included in the Fund in
1981. An individual with 20 years of
service in a fire department or res
cue squad may reture at age 55 and
receive a monthly pension for life in
the amount of $100.
"With the passage of the open-door
enrollment", Mr. Renfrow said
"there have been a lot of questions
over the meaning of the term 'now
eligible.' 1 asked the Attorney Gen
eral to provide an interpretation on
this phrase which basically stated
that anyone who is now on a roster in
the Pension Fund Office is eligible to
purchase any or all of their prior
service."
Mr. Renfrow continue, "Anyone
who was once a member of the fire
department or rescue squad and is
accepted back on the roster before
March 31, 1987 and who completes 36
hours of meetings and drills before
March 31, 1987 would be eligible to
purchase any or all of their prior
service. The State Auditor's Office,
however, must be notified, in writing,
by the fire chief or rescue squad cap
tain that the past member has been
accepted back on the department
roster."
It is very important that all current
and former members of fire depart
ments and rescue squads be made
aware of this provision according to
Mr. Renfrow.
He stated, "The Pension Fund is a
significant benefit to our firemen and
rescue squad workers. I urge every
one eligible to take advantage of the
open-door enrollment opportunity
they now have."
Community prayer service
scheduled for Sunday
The Perquimans County Ministe
rial Association is sponsoring a com
munity service on Sunday, January
18, at 3:30 p.m., at the Hertford
United Methodist Church in obser
vance of the 'Worldwide Week of
Prayer for Christian Unity.'
The Reverend Henry Bizzell, Pres
ident of the Perquimans County Min
isterial Association, stated that the
purpose of the service is to promote
Christian unity in the community,
and confirms that we are members of
a larger body, the church universal.
The Rev. Bizzell also added that this
an important event, and hopes to see
good support of the service by the
community.
According to Daniel E. LeRoy,
Event Chairman, eight to ten pastors
from a number of local church con
gregations will be leading the serv
ice, and the Rev. William Clements,
pastor of the Perquimans Charge of
the United Methodist Church, will
preach.
A community choir of volunteers
from county churches, under the di
rection of Mr. Lyn Winslow, will also
be on hand to provide a ministry in
music.
Further information about the *
service may be received by contact
ing Rev. Daniel LeRoy at 426-7476.
Police recover stolen car
Hertford police reported Monday
that a 1984 Ford LTD, which was sto
len on Friday, has been recovered.
Police Chief Merritt stated Monday
that the car belonging to Mr. Seth
Morgan, of Rt. 2 Hertford, which was
stolen at approximately 13 noon on
Friday in downtown Hertford was re
covered over the weekend, and re
turned to the Morgans.
Chesapeake police notified Merritt
Sunday that they had located the sto
len vehicle in their area, and Perqui
mans County Sheriffs Deputy Tony
Perry, and Police Officer Stephen
Terrill, traveled to Chesapeake to re
cover the car.
Merritt added that police have a
suspect, and an investigation is cur
rently underway.