THE PERQUIMANS WEEKLY
VolwnM H, Ho. IS . USPS 4M-0M Hertford, Perquimans Covnty, N.C. Thursday, April 14, 30 CENTS
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""
4-H lock-in held
sm pg. 12
FEATURE
Perquimans court news
see pg. 2
COMMUNITY
Local students honored
see pg. 10
Airspace issue to be discussed at meeting
Once again the issue of airspace,
and the navy's request for expanded
airspace in the Albemarle Sound off
the coast of Perquimans County has
surfaced.
In 1983 the Navy requested the
FAA (Federal Aviation Administra
tion) grant them an expansion on the
military airspace in the Palmetto
Range (located off Holiday Island's
coast), and the Stumpy Point Range
located in Dare County. These re
quests met with much opposition lo
cally and statewide, and once again,
according to the Navy, the request
lies in the hands of the FAA.
Following an environmental as
sessment by the Navy, which accord
ing to Don Flowers, executive direc
tor of the Albemarle Commission,
and chairman of a local committee
set up to fight the request for ex
panded airspace, proposes to use the
airspace in a manner that is environ
mentally damaging and therefore to
tally unacceptable, the Navy is still
claiming the expansion is necessary,
and will not effect local residents, the
communities they live in, or the envi
ronment.
Flowers and members of the local
committee, as well as many others
disagree. Numerous attempts to
change the language of the proposal
have failed, and the committee feels
very strongly that if this expansion is
granted to the military it will have a
lasting affect on residents, not only in
Perquimans County, but in much of
northeastern North Carolina.
There is much military airspace
throughout the United States, and es
pecially in the Albemarle and Pam
lico areas oNorth Carolina. The air
space is used by military agencies to
"As We Were"
scheduled
Make plans now to attend "As We
Were" a show of historical pictures
depicting scenes of Hertford and Per
quimans County
"As We Were" will be held on Fri
day, April 22nd from 4:00 ntil 8:00
p.m., and on Saturday, April 23rd
from 10:00 ntil 4:00 p.m. at the Per
quimans County Chamber of Com
merce. Admission is free to all, and
the building is accessible to hand
icapped persons.
This event is being co-sponsored by
The Perquimans County Chamber of
Commerce, and Perquimans County
Historians.
Special
Olympics
scheduled
The local Special Olympics will be
held April 15th at Hertford Grammar
School. Athletes from Perquimans
Central School, Perquimans Middle
School, Hertford Grammar School
and Perquimans High School will be
competing. The students train hard
for this special day and are proud of
the ribbons they win.
The Regional Special Olympics
will be held April 23rd at Northeast
ern High School in Elizabeth City.
Olympic events will be held between
the counties of Gates, Perquimans,
Pasquotank, Camden, Chowan, Tyr
rell, Bertie, Hertford and Currituck.
Volunteers are needed for each coip
petition and Hardees Benefit Bucks
are being sold to support Special
Olympics. For more information con
tact Kathy Ansink - 482-3454 or
(work) 498-7108.
practice war-time flying maneuvers,
and for many year's people living in
the nation's rural communities have
dealt with the problem's of low-flying
aircraft, and supersonic military air
craft.
At the present time, the Palmetto
Range, just off the coast of Perqui
mans County in the center of the Al
bemarle Sound, is used by the Navy,
Marine Corps, Air Force, and other
military agencies for bombing prac
tice, and practice of war-time mili
tary flying maneuvers.
The Palmetto Range is classified
as R-5302 section of military air
space. It is used throughout the year
and at various times during the day
and night by the military for their ac
tivities. Useage of the Palmetto
Range increases during the summer
months because the Dare county
range is often closed. Use has also
increased over the last several years,
because the military has installed a
superior scoring system for precision
scoring on the range, and they have
added more requirements for prac
ticing of precision scoring by pilots.
The Navy has requested changes in
the restrictions governing the air
space, because they claim the re
strictions which currently require
them to must fly above R5301 A B-C
produce "artificiality" in the train
ing exercises, and requires pilots to
execute a "potentially" dangerous
descending turn to establish them
selves at target run-in altitude.
They would like to see the Palmetto
Range changed to R-5302, and they
are asking that three miles be added
at the south end of the present range,
the flying level of aircraft be lowered
at the north end of the range, and the
hours of operation be set from 7:00
a.m. until 11:30 p.m.. According to
the Navy, the range would not be
used on the weekends except by pre
vious notice to airman, and they have
determined that these changes would
not cause hardship on local residents.
In their proposal, the Navy states
they do not expect any noise com
plaints, they are not creating any
new air fields, they don't feel there
will be any effects on wildlife, they
also claim the area of the sound to be
flown over under the proposal is a
seldom traveled area of the Albe
marle Sound, and they add that sur
face vessels could still operate at will
as they have in the past within the
area, with little impact on the fishing
industry. The Navy also claims the
nearest town to the area is five miles
away, ar.ti vessels and citizens will be
in no danger of laser reflections
given off by aircraft using laser
weapons for target practice in the
area.
Flowers and the committee feel
differently. They find the proposal
completely unacceptable, and add
that the Navy has been presenter
with several issues, which they have
mostly disregarded.
According to the committee, and
other sources who have done studies
on the airspace issue, there are many
effects to be considered.
They claim the portion of the sound
in question is well traveled by plea
sure boaters, and commercial fisher
man, who would be greatly effected
by the expansion. The expanded air
space would also come within one
mile of the front beach at Holiday Is
land, it has been documented that the
noise will have an effect on humans.
and studies done in Nevada have pro
ven there is a significant impact on
wildlife in these areas. In addition to
these factors, the committee and
many residents feel there is a great
hazard to people in the area from the
laser reflections, which could be
given off by aircraft using such
weapons.
In the fall, the FAA held two hear
ings, one in Manteo, and one in Hert
ford at the Albemarle Commission
Building, concerning *he proposal. At
that time a representative of the At
torney General, Dan McLawhorn, de
fended the state's position on this is
sue that the proposal is
unacceptable, but to date no decision .
has been made by the FAA.
The proposal is still under consid
eration, and no one knows for sure
it's status. Neither Tom Crook, a
spokesman for the FAA, or Lt. Wag
ner, the Navy's representative, could
be reached for comment on the status
of the proposal.
However, the Navy has set up a
meeting on April 15th at 11 :00 a.m. at
the Dare County Regional Airport
with members of the committee to
discuss the proposal once again. *
Members of the committee hope
that this meeting with Navy officials
will possibly result in an understand
ing between the two groups, and
bring to light some problems with the
present proposal.
Stan Bus teed, a local member of
the committee, feels this is an issue
which must be addressed, and that
more citizens must be made aware
of.
The committee feels that hope
fully, if enough opposition is raised
by local citizens, and public officials,
the FAA will deny the Navy's request
for the expanded airspace.
Pictured are Eunice Cale, left and Patti White, right of the Perquimans County Senior Citizens
center.
Senior center provides many
programs for county's older adults
Every day more and more retired
people are moving to Perquimans
County, and the Perquimans County
Senior Citizens Center provides older
adults in Perquimans County with in
teresting activities, and programs
which keep them active.
The senior center was established
in 1778, when local officials saw a
growing need to serve older adults in
the community.
The center is located on the corner
of Grubb and Academy streets, and it
was dedicated on November 4th,
1979.
The senior center provides older
residents in Perquimans County with
a focal point, and the center and its
staff are completely committed to
providing quality programs for its
members.
Patti White, is the director of the
senior center, and she has been with
\
the department since it was estab
lished.
It is her duty to co-ordinate and di
rect all the center's activities.
Currently the center offers many
activities for its members including:
senior citizen clubs, free blood pres
sure clinics on Fridays, AARP, a re
cently established bowling league, bi
ble study twice a week, breakfast
club meetings, special events, such
as bingo tournaments, trips, and
much more.
The center is also active in the se
nior games, which will take place in
June at ECSU.
The primary focus behind the cen
ter's program is to promote health,
education, and public awareness of
issues facing our senior citizens.
The senior center also employ's
two of our county's older adults. Tbey
are Eunice Cale. the center's mil
; ; b
tant director, and Ellie Mae Vickers,
the center's green thumb worker.
Ellie Mae Vicker's is in charge of
the the telephone reassurance pro
gram offered at the center. This pro
gram currently has 30 to 40 residents
it serves, and each day, Monday
through Friday, they receive a call
from the center to make sure they
are all right.
In looking toward the future, Patti
hopes that one day the nutrition site
will be moved to the center, so senior
citizens total needs can be met at ooe
building.
But until then, the center will con
tinue bringing senior citizens worth
while programs, and will strive to
meet all the community's needs.
Patti is a graduate of Perquimans
High School. She is married to Her
bert White, and they have two chil
dren Ashley, and Towe.
County planning
to conduct census
The Perquimans County Commis
sioners voted last Monday to conduct
a new household census pending
board of education approval for gath
ering information necessary to estab
lish new voting districts.
The county will hire a local resi
dent of the county to conduct the cen
sus this summer, and the approval
comes as the result of a recommen
dation made of the county's election
study committee.
Following a meeting with commit
tee members and local representa
tives of the NAACP (National Asso
ciation for the Advancement of
Colored People), it was determined
and agreed that a census is the best
way to gather the necessary demo
graphic needed in determining new
voting districts.
According to Paul Gregory, the
committee discussed the possibility
of hiring a school teacher to head up
the project, but they have not ruled
out the possiblity of hiring someone
else, or someone who may have expe
rience in collecting census informa
tion. Gregory added that local resi
dents would also be asked to help
with the census by identifying black
and white residents in their local
community.
John Matthews, county attorney,
and a member of the election study
committee stated he feels the census
is necessary to determine the feasi
bility of a new voting district system.
"Frankly, I don't think we could get
an at-large system approved without
first finding out if a district system
would work," Matthews said.
Several months ago the NAACP
threatened to file a lawsuit against
the county, which would have forced
a change in the way the county pres
ently elects members of the board of
commissioners, but during a com
missioners meeting in March. Ron
aid Penny, NAACP attorney, tola
members of the board no lawsuit
would be filed if the two parties could
work together, and find a suitable so
lution to the problem on which both
could agree.
The census is the first step towards
doing that.
If new districts are established,
they would have to meet two general
requirements. One district would
have to be 60 percent black, and the
total population in all the districts
would have to be close to equal, and
all parties concerned agree that this
will be difficult in Perquimans
County because blacks are inter
spersed throughot the county.
According to the elections study
committee, the only apparent way to
establish a voting district with a ma
jority of black residents, and dis
tricts with equal population would be
to expand the number of districts.
This would mean expanding the num
ber of commissioners elected and
changing the board from five to pos
sibly seven members.
Gregory stated in his report to the
board that the committee at this time
feels that having a board with five
members is desirable, but these
ideas are still being explored.
During the meeting, several of the
commissioners stated they feel a dis
trict system is the only fair way to
elect commissioners as opposed to
the at-large system, and John Mat
thews aereed.
"Everyone would prefer a district
system, if it will work," said Mat
thews.
In other business, the board will be
looking into the possibility of hiring
another forest ranger for the county,
and the board is still waiting on a cost
analysis regarding the lights at Per
quimans Middle School. According to
Gregory as soon as the cost analysis
is in, the lights will be removed.
Police report
weekend robberies
The Hertford Police Department re
ported an armed robbery and a
breaking, entering and larceny over
the weekend.
The armed robbery occurred on
Sunday and over $5000 dollars was
stolen from the assistant manager of
Be-Lo as he made the night deposit.
The breaking, entering, and larceny
occurred at Cannon Cleaners on
Grubb Street, and resulted in the loss
of over $400 worth of clothing.
At approximately 9:40 p.m., Sun
day evening Jerry Lane, the assis
tant manager at Be-Lo Foods, was
making a deposit at NCNB at Harris
Shopping Center when he was
robbed.
According to police reports, when
Lane got out of his truck, a black
male, approached Lane from behind
the bank, pointed a gun at Lane and
ordered him to throw the money bag
on the ground.
Lane complied and was than told to
get back in his truck, which he did. At
that point, the robber ran around the
back of the bank, and disappeared.
Lane then went to the Cherokee
Cafe, and called the police who re
sponded promptly.
The breaking, entering, and lar
ceny was discovered at approxi
mately 6:10 a.m. as an officer was
routinely checking doors while on pa
trol. The officer realized that the
back door at the cleaners, although
locked, had become loose since the
last time it was checked, and break
ing and entering was suspected.
The officer contacted the owner of
the business, Lizzie Harrell, and
upon inspection of the building and
its interior it was determined that a
breaking, entering and larceny had
occurred.
Several items of clothing were
missing, but no money was taken
Chief Marshall Merritt canvased the
neighborhood following the incident,
and discovered several plastic bags,
coat hangers, and one of the missing
coats.
Investigations are continuing into
both incidents.
The police department also ar
rested Lucian Matthew Whidbee, Rt.
3, Box 30T, Meads Trailer Court,
Hertford, and charged him with
Driving While Intoxicated, and car
rying a concealed weapon.
Mr. Whidbee threatened his wife
and children with the weapon, and
his wife called the proper authorities.
Trooper Newberry and Sgt. Spence of
the Hertford Police Department
were notified following the call, and
later that night Whidbee was ar
rested because of irrational driving.
He was charged with DWI, and a
search of his car, after his arrest, re
sulted in finding a gun.
Whidbee was then charged with
carrying a concealed weapon.
As of press time, he was in the Al
bemarle District Jail under $800
bond, and his first court appearance
is scheduled for May 11, 1988.
Two running for
register of deeds seat
EDITOR'S NOTE: This is the second
in a series of articles about candi
dates in the upcoming election. May
3rd. This week we will explore the
two candidates seeking election as
the Perquimans County Register of
Deeds.
Two candidates are seeking elec
tion to the office of Register of Deeds,
Alice White Cope Land, and the incum
bent candidate Jeanne Chappell
White.
ALICE WHITE COPELAND
Alice White Copeland states that
she has chosen to run for the office of
Register of Deeds for several reasons
in the upcoming election.
First and foremost, she feels that
the voters of Perquimans County
should have a choice when electing
candidates, and that no one should
run unopposed in an election. Cope
land also feels that it is time more
younger people become involved in
Perquimans County and its govern
ment.
Copeland, who is a sartor at Pitt,
Community College, graduating on
May 20th with a Associate Degree at
Applied Sciences is Paralegal Tech
nology states she feels she is qual
continued on pg. 9
1 .
Copeland
White