LOCAL
FEATURE
COMMUNITY
Post office reducing hours |
see pg. 2
Lady Pirates basketball
see pg. 3 1
Sivills honored by staff
see pg. 81
THE PERQUIMANS WEEKLY
Volume M, No. 7 USPS 42S-080
Hertford, Perquimans County, N.C., Thursday, February 1|, 1988
30 CENTS
New
policeman
is named
The town of Hertford has a new po
liceman.
, George Washington Long, Jr., Rote
5, Box 370, Hertford was hired by the
town last week to serve on the police
force. Long has already started
working with the Hertford Police De
partment, and will be leaving Febr
yary 22nd to attend the police aca
demy in Salemburg, North Carolina.
Long, who is 22, is a native of Per
quimans County, and earned a de
gree in criminal justice from Eliza
beth City State University.
Magazine article
features Hertford
The February - March edition of
Coastal Cruising features a lovely ar
ticle on Hertford.
The article provides a guide to
boating in the area, pictures of the
town, and more.
Copies of Coast Cruising are cur
rently available on the newstand, and
can be purchased at Revco, Belo,
Woodards, and other businesses in
the area, who sell magazines.
Welly White is
honored by
commissioners
The Perquimans County Board of
Commissioners presented W. W.
"Welly" White with his name plaque
on Monday evening during their
monthly meeting in honor of his serv
ice to county.
White served on the board for nine
years, and recently resigned to ac
cept the appointment as the new
clerk of court in Perquimans County.
In other business, the board fielded
a full agenda on Monday evening.
A public hearing was held concern
ing the establishment of "no wake
zones" in the canal of Holiday Island.
Upon hearing to opposition to the pro
posed "no wake zones", the commis
sioners voted to forward the request
for their establishment to the North
Carolina Department of Wildlife Re
sources.
In other business, the board
adopted a resolution providing that
the county charge $15.00 for returned
checks paid to various departments.
Paul Gregory stated that returned
checks are not a serious problem, but
the cost of processing them far ex
ceed $15.00.
The board also approved the pur
chase of two new generators for the
county. The generators will be used
to aid radio communication in the
event of an emergency. The genera
tors purchased will run approxi
mately $500 a piece.
There being no further business,
the meeting of the county commis
sioners was adjourned.
County manager's office [
is hub of much activity [
EDITOR'S NOTE: This article is the
first in a series of articles on the
agencies, and county services of
fered in Perquimans County.
! Running Perquimans County is a
bigger job than most people realize,
and the people in the county man
ager's office are responsible for see
ing that everything runs smoothly.
N. Paul Gregory, county manager
and finance officer, and Sharon
Ward, who serves as Mr. Gregory's
secretary and the assistant finance
officer, have a long varied list of du
ties ranging from the general over
I seeing of the county agencies, which
are run by department heads, but su
pervised by Mr. Gregory to doing
what the county commissioners, and
citizens of the county request.
As county manager, Gregory is re
sponsible for keeping the county
commissioners abreast of the coun
ty's business, and keeping them in
formed of state and federal issues
which affect the county. Gregory is
. responsible for taking care of the
| county's legal affaire, and he works
closely with the county attorney,
John Matthews Gregory is the public
contact for the county planning
board, he is the voice of the county
compiissioners, serves as the coun
ty'! press contact, and is responsible
for meeting and speaking to groups
about Perquimans County.
As the finance officer for Perqui
mans County Gregory's duties en
| compass watching budget line items,
* so that the county does not overspend
Ha' resources, he is responsible for
Following an accident last Wednesday members of the Hertford Fire Department Special Res
cue team work to free the driver of the log truck from the cab. Thomas Speight was trapped in
the truck when it turned over in a ditch following a collision with another vehicle while traveling
south on U.S. Highwayl7 Wednesday
Three local men injured in accident
involving log truck last Wednesday
Two residents of Hertford were
treated and released from Albemarle
Hospital and another was injured fol
lowing an accident last Wednesday
afternoon, when a log truck collided
with a car along U.S. Highway 17 just
south of Hertford.
Members of the Hertford Fire De
partment Special Rescue team re
sponded to the accident, and had to
cut the driver of the log truck free,
Thomas Walter Speight, age 35, of
Route 2, Hertford, was removed from
the truck after the special rescue
team cut a hole in the cab roof of the
log truck freeing Speight's legs,
which were trapped inside the vehi
cle.
Trooper Y. Z. Newberry of the
North Carolina Highway Patrol in
vestigated the accident and reported
Charlie Leroy Welch, age 73, of 325
Market Street, Hertford, was travel
ing south on U.S. Highway 17 when he
slowed down for a car, which was dis
abled, and pulling off onto the shoul
der of the highway.
Speight, who was driving the log
truck belonging to Speight and Lamb
Lumber Co., was unable to slow down
and hit Welch's car from the rear.
Both the car and the truck went off
the shoulder of the road on the west
side of the highway. Mr. Welch's car
came to rest in a private yard after
hitting a sign posted there, and the
log truck turned over in the ditch
spilling its' load of logs.
Kenneth Felton, age 27, a passen
ger in Welch's car was treated and
released from the hospital, and
Speight, who was also injured iit the
accident was charged with failure to
reduce speed to avoid an accident.
Perquimans County Rescue Squad
urgently in need of new members
The Perquimans County Rescue
Squad came before the board of com
missioners on Monday to report on
the condition of the rescue squad.
Capt. Ralph Barr, and John Beers,
a retired charter member of the
squad, came stated on Monday that
they came before the board to clear
up many of the rumors floating
around in the area about the rescue
squad.
Barr stated to the board on Monday
that he had heard several rumors
claiming that the squad was going to
go from all volunteer to a paid squad,
and even said he'd heard that the
squad had been called on several oc
casions and did not respond.
Capt. Barr said on Monday that
the investment of county funds, ad
mintrating state funds, supervising
the county payroll, and keeping up
with county employee's retirement
and insurance benefits. He is contin
ually searching for available grant
monies for the county, and writing
for grants with agency department
heads. He is responsible for making
sure that the county is meeting all
state requirements with regard to its'
expenditures, and the county man
ager's office is responsible for justif
ing the county's expenditures. Gre
gory also puts together the county's
budget, and makes sure that all funds
earmarked for specific state and lo
cal projects are spent properly.
Sharon Ward is Gregory's right
hand lady, and she has a long list of
responsibilities. She keeps up with all
the county payroll data, which is
very complicated and involved.
Ward is responsible for compiling
monthly, quarterly, and fiscal year
end reports, and she even acts as the
building inspector when he is out, is
suing permits and answering ques
tions.
Gregory has been serving as
county manager for seven months,
he was formerly Director of the De
partment of Social Services.
According to Gregory, since he be
came the county manager in July,
there has been much to learn. Gre
gory says that gradually, he is get
ting involved in all aspects of operat
ing the county, and learning each
Smiling, Giegrqy says that he is
these rumors simply were not true;
however, Barr did say that the res
cue squad is facing a dilema. They
are urgently in need of new mem
bers.
The squad currently has 35 mem
bers, but they are having a difficult
time staffing day crews. Previously
many of the chartered members,
who have now retired, were allowed
by their employers to make calls dur
ing their working hours, but that is
not the case now.
Barr went on to say Monday that
the problems faced by the local
squad are not unique. Stricter train
ing requirements imposed by the
state have put rescue squads across
the state in the same boat. Many of
the squads have even been forced to
give-up and go to an all paid squad.
According to Barr the state is not
trying to put volunteer squads out of
service, but they are very concerned
with the quality of pre-hospital care
received by patients. Therefore, they
have increased training require
ments.
Capt. Barr, and Mr. Beers did state
on Monday that the local squad is
currently looking a possible solutions
for their problem, but they are
continuing to respond to calls as they
have always done.
For information on becoming a
member of the Perquimans County
Rescue Squad contact any member
or call 426-5646.
Sharon Ward has many duties above she works to get the
county payroll ready justone of her many duties as Assistant
Finance Officer.
Weather forecasters are
calling for warmer, dryer
weather this weekend.
really enjoying the job, and adds with
a serious look on his face that he is
learning something new about Per
quimans County everyday.
Gregory would like to encourage
all the residents of Perquimans
County to feel free to call him at any
time, if they have a problem or a
question regarding county agencies
or their services. County residents
are also invited to stop by the county
managers office, located on the sec
ond floor of the courthouse at any
time, if they are in need of assis
tance. The county manager's office
can be reached by calling 426-8484,
and they will be happy to assist you in
any way they can.
County farmers speak
out against new aerial
pesticide regulations
Farmers from Perquimans County
and throughout the state are con
cerned, and worried about new pesti
cide aerial application limitations
are being considered by the state pes
ticide board.
Stan Winslow, County Extension
Director, and Billy Williams, a
farmer and very active member of
the Perquimans County Farm Bu
reau, came before the board of
county commissioners Monday to
ask for their support in trying to con
vince the state pesticide board that
the new regulation, if passed, would
have a lasting effect on farmers from
this county, across the state.
Under the present law, regarding
aerial applications of pesticides, no
congested areas can be sprayed, no
spraying can be done within 300 feet
of schools, hospitals, nursing homes,
churches, or other buildings used for
business or social activities, and no
spraying can be done within 100 feet
of a residence without written per
mission from an inhabitant of legal
age, no spraying can be done within
25 feet of the right-of-way of a public
road, or on the right of way, and no
one can spray in or near any body of
water, if the pesticide is toxic or
harmful to aquactic life. Under the
proposed regulations, all of these re
striction would change.
unaer tne new restrictions, any
person who contracts for an aerial
application of pesticides would be re
quired to give 72 hours notice prior to
the beginning of application to any
member of the community within the
area to be sprayed, no spraying could
be done within 1000 feet of a resi
dence without permission from the
head of the household, the public no
tices would have to be displayed at
the corners every one-half mile along
the perimeter of the target area to be
sprayed. Public notices would also
have to be posted at a distance of ev
ery one-half mile along any public
road located within one-half mile of
the boundry of the target area to be
sprayed.
According to Winslow and Wil
liams, these new regulations would
greatly affect local farmers. Wil
liams stated that his biggest concern
with the now regulations is the re
quired lea', time of 72 hours. Wil
liams stated that many farmers don't
always have 72 hors notice that a
crop will need to be sprayed. He em
phasized that farmers using the IPM
program don't have that time, and
under that program farmers are us
ing less and safer chemicals for crop
application.
If the new regulations are adopted
by the state board, farmers would be
forced to go to a regular schedule of
pesticide application, and Williams
stated he felt they would be forced to
use more chemicals, thus defeating
the purpose of the new regulations.
According to Winslow the proposed
regulations stemmed from Chatham
County, North Carolina where a
group of residents became concerned
over some damage to their gardens
after local aerial applications of pes
ticides.
Winslow stated on Monday evening
that he had talked with the extension
director in Chatham County, and that
the director stated he did not feel the
gardens had been damaged as a re
sult of the pesticide applications.
Winslow added that this has be
come a very delicate situation be
cause several environmental groups
are now involved in the issue, and are
very interested in seeing that the pro
posal is passed by the state pesticide
board.
Winslow said Monday that he felt
these new regulations, if passed,
would create a hardship on county
farmers, and he added that the local
farmers are concerned about and
very interested in making sure that
pesticides are used properly in Per
quimans County, but they are op
posed to these new restrictions.
Winslow asked the commissioners
for their support on Monday, which
they gave, and he was instructed by
the members of the board to draft a
letter to the state of North Carolina
stating their disapproval of the new
regulations
Williams and Winslow also in
formed the board on Monday that
three public hearings will be held on
these new pesticide aerial applica
tion limitations at various locations
across the state. The closest one to
our area will be held in Greenville on
Febrary 25th, and there will be a
hearing on March 3rd in Raleigh.
Winslow said that both he and Wil
liams are in the process of getting
people together to attend the public
hearings in Greenville, and that pos
sibly a group may travel to Raleigh.
Winslow is urging all the farmers in
the county to let their feelings be
known regarding these new regula
tions. Farmers can write and express
their opinions to John L. Smith, Jr.,
Pesticide Administrator, North Caro
lina Department of Agriculture, P.O.
Box 27647, Raleigh, NC, 27611 or if
anyone is interested in attending the
hearing or would like more informa
tion on the proposed pesticide aerial
application limitation and restric
tions, they can contact the Perqui
mans County Extension Office at 426
5428 for more information.
County to begin
project for new
library facilities
The Perquimans County Board of
Commissioners listened intently on
Monday as a deligation representing
the Perquimans County Library
came before the board to make a plea
for expanding local library facilities.
The delegation led by Martie
Smith, Director of the Pettigrew Re
gional Library system, of which the
Perquimans County Library is a
part, came before the board on Mon
day armed with building plans for an
extension and rennovations to the
present library facility located on
Academy Street in Hertford totaling
an estimated $350,000 dollars.
Smith told members of the board
that the library is seeking to do two
major things with regard to the build
ing plans, 1) increase space in the
present library, and 2) eliminate the
structural problems, which exists
presently in the building.
Smith also told members of the
board on Monday that the library is
being used a great deal in Perqui
mans County, and according to their
estimates, it will be used even more
in the future. According to Ms.
Smith, the proposed building plans,
which includes a 3676 square foot ex
tension to the present building, and
extensive remodeling meets the li
brary's anticipated needs, and will
provide the library staff with additio
nal space for a desperately needed
program room, and other facilities,
which they are currently doing with
out. According to Smith a program
room is desperately needed for chil
dren's programs offered by the li
brary. At this time, the staff holds
these programs, which are geared
basically for pre-school aged chil
i
dren, in the main library, which is
very disturbing to others using the fa
cilities.
In addition to asking the board for
their support of the project. Smith
also asked the board to petition the
town of Hertford for approximately
50 feet of additional property, which
they own adjacent to the library, so
licited them for their financial sup
port of the project. Smith told the
board on Monday that some state
grant monies are available for such a
project, but the most money that the
library could hope to receive would
be $125,000 dollars. The remaining
portion of the money wold have to be
raised through public and private
funding.
Members of the board stated their
support of the project on Monday, but
did express concern over financing
the project. They stated that they
would request the additional prop
erty from the town of Hertford.
Lester Simpson and members of
the board added they would do what
ever they could in terms of funding
the project, but at the present time,
they could not commit any specific
amound of funding to the project.
The library's next step toward
completion of the expasion project
will be to apply for grant funds, and
to begin working on raisiing the other
portion of the monies needed to fund
the project.
If anyone is interested in donating
to the project, they can get more in
formation from the Perquimans
County Library.
*