THE PERQUIMANS WEEKLY
Volume S8, No. 24 USPS 428-080 Hertford. Perquimans County, N.C. Thursday, June 14, 1988 30 <
LOCAL
Square dancing
see pg. 9
II \l( HI
i
A visit with the Flippens
see pg. 10
COMMUNITY
8th grade graduation
see pg. 8
Sheriff's Dept.
purchases
narcotics dog
Soon the Perquimans County Sher
iffs Department will have a new offi
cer.
During the June county commis
sioners meeting, the board approved
a request from Sheriff Joe Lothian to
purchase a narcotics dog.
Marco, a 14 month old Belgian Ma
lenois, and the department's newest
member, is expected to arrive in Per
quimans County sometime in July,
following 10 weeks of training.
The dog was purchased at a cost of
approximately $2300 from Triad K-9
in Greensboro, an agency owned by
canine officers, which specializes in
training animals such as Marco for
police work.
Sheriff Lothian expects Marco to
have an immediate impact on enforc
ing drug laws in Perquimans County,
and he stated recently that he feels
this is a postive step in the county's
"war on drugs".
"I feel that our county commission
ers are serious about fighting the
drug problem in Perquimans County,
and this is just one more instance
where they have taken action to fight
the local drug problem," said Lo
thian.
Marco will be a regular member of
the Perquimans County Sheriff's De
partment just like any other officer
according to Lothian, and he will
have many duties. Lothian hopes to
give demonstrations with Marco at
the local schools, and for civic
groups, and Marco will even be going
on patrol. "We want area residents to
see, meet and get to know Marco,"
Lothian said.
Lothian will be Marco's handler,
and he will live with the Lothian fam
ily upon his arrival in Perquimans
County. According to Lothian, most
dogs who do this type of work have
only one handler, and live with the
handler. This is done so that the offi
cers and the dogs develop a bond of
trust, and thus work well together.
Belgian Malenois are similar to
german shepards, very friendly,
have a good attitude about training
and police work, and know no strang
ers. Lothian stated that the depart
ment chose a Belgian Malenois after
much research into the kind of dogs
available for several reasons. Fed
eral agents and other law enforce
ment agencies are using this breed,
and have been pleased, they are easy
to train and handle, work hard, have
a great desire to learn the work, and
work well in the heat. Marco has
been trained around children, which
Lothian feels will also be helpful in
the type of work the department in
tends to do with Marco.
Everyone at the sheriff's depart
ment seems excited about their new
arrival, and excited about what he
will do to help control the drug prob
lem in Perquimans County.
Summer
program
planned
Summer is here and so is the Sum
mer Reading Program at the Perqui
mans County Library. The theme for
this year is the Reading Railroad
The programs will be held on
Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. beginning
June 22. The Reading Railroad will
travel to a varsity of times and
places this summer. All youth in
grades K-8 are invited to participate.
Please register one week prior to
each program or activity. Reading
lists will be provided each week and
reading will be encouraged with
prizes and certificates. Please keep
the following schedule handy and
plan to participate in as many pro
grams as possible.
All programs will be held at the
Perquimans County Library located
at 110 West Academy Street, Hert
ford. Programs are free of charge
and open to all reading program par
ticipants as well as other interested
persons. Volunteers are also needed
to help the library staff with the pro
grams. Anyone wishing to volunteer
or having any questions about t ie
programs can call the lilbrary at 426
5319.
WEATHER
Weather forecast
ers are calling for
warm weather for
the remainder of
the week. Tempera
tures will feature
highs In the 80s
and 90s, and low
temperatures In the
mid to upper 70s.
LI
Members of the graduating
class sat Friday waiting pa
tiently for the awarding of
their diplomas, and listened
intently as Shirley Perry, Re
publican candidate for the
House of Representatives
gave the commencement ad
dress.
Perquimans graduates 116 Friday!
On Friday evening feelings of an
ticipation, elation, and sadness were
evident at Perquimans County High
School Memorial Field as 116 mem
bers of the Class of 1988 prepared to
graduate from Perquimans High
School.
Despite threatening weather ear
lier in the day the skies cleared, and
graduation exercise went on outside
as planned with standing room only
for parents and well-wishers and
with few hitches.
Cameras and video equipment
were fashionable items for the eve
ning, seen everywhere as graduate's
families recorded the special mo
ment of graduation to keep forever.
The graduation ceremonies got un
derway at 8:00 p.m. as Kathy Lynn
Ayscue, salutatorian, offered wel
come to everyone.
Mrs. Shirley E. Perry, Republican
candidate for the North Carolina
House of Representatives presented
the commencement address urging
the graduates to work hard, never
give up, and set and strive to make
their goals.
Following the presentation of med
als and special awards Mr. Clifford
Winslow, chairman of the Perqui
mans County Board of Education,
awarded the graduates their diplo
mas, and Benjamin Calvin Hobbs,
Jr., valedictorian, gave the farewell
address to the Class of 1988.
Special music was provided on Fri
day evening by the PCHS Chorus un
der the direction of Mr. Lynwood
Winslow, and the PCHS Band under
the direction of Mr. David Ziemba.
Students receiving special awards
included: Kathy Lynn Ayscue, Per
quimans-Chowan Educational Office
Personnel Scholarship, Benjamin
Calvin Hobbs, Jr., full scholarship to
Davidson College, Valedictorian
Scholarship PCHS, Terri Denise
Baker, Scott Williams Memorial
Scholarship, Junius Darnell Spel
lman, Chowan Hospital Auxiliary
Scholarship, Molli Leigh Fehrman,
N.C. Teaching Fellowship, Edward
Earl Midgett, FFA Alumni Award,
Yuvanka Reid, Miss Teen Schol
arship, Edward Earl Brown, III,
Mooran County Fund Scholarship
(NCSU), Zaneta Carol Vaugh, Head
Start Scholarship, Tanya Dee How
ell, Methodist College Academic
Scholarship, Becky Suzanne Ray
burn, Knowles Scholarship given by
the Methodist Church of Hertford,
John Merritt and Patricia Jane
Gaither, Incenative Scholarships
from ECSU.
County sticks with cut in school budget
Last Thursday evening Perqui
mans County Commissioners held a
work session in which they decided
not to raise taxes, in order to in
crease the school budget allocation
as it is currently proposed in the 1988
89 county budget.
After throughly reviewing the pro
posed budget, commissioners issued
an invitation to the school board to
present reasons justifying that the in
crease in funding requested by the
board of education is needed at a pub
lic hearing on the budget scheduled
June 20, 1988 in the Perquimans
County Courthouse.
After some discussion, Wayne
Winslow was the only commissioner
to suggest that county taxes be in
creased by 2 cents in order to give the
board of education and school system
$50,000 more in funding.
On Monday prior to Thursday's
work session, members of the board
of education met with county com
missioners to discuss the $100, 00C cut
by the commissioners. At that time,
members of the board of education
presented the county commissioners
with a position paper outlining their
feelings on the budget cut. The posi
tion paper also raised questions as to
why the budget was being cut.
The county commissioners in the
proposed budget for next year have
agreed to fund the school system with
the same county allocation for oper
ating expenses; however, they have
proposed a $100,000 cut in the capital
outlay expense budget for the
schools.
Paul Gregory, county manager,
told members of the board of com
missioners that the school system
should receive an additional $88,000
in state funding next year, and that
figure may be as much as $116,000.
see budget pg. 9
White
receives
state honor
Perquimans EFNEP Aide Ear line
White was presented the 1968 Minnie
Miller Brown Award for excellence
at an awards banquet May 31 during
Extension's Expanded Foods and
Nutrition Education Program State
Conference in Raleigh. The Minnie
Miller Brown Award is presented to
each year to an EFNEP para profes
sional in the state by the North Caro
lina Association of Extension Home
Economists. White also received the
district para professional award from
this district.
"Earline's most outstanding pro
ject was her implementation of a pi
lot project entitled Nutrition and Fit
ness, which has helped homemakere
work on personal fitness and im
proved nutrition. The project was be
gun in 1986 in Perquimans County
and was such a success that it will be
extended to all eight counties in the
Northeast area," said Dr. Mary
Whitmore, state EFNEP coordina
tor. ,
White has been an EFNEP aide
since 1970 and has made a difference
in the lives of hundreds of limited-re
source families with young children.
EFNEP aides teach nutrition and
food preparation information to fam
ilies across the state.
Earline White (center), EFNEP aide in Perquimans County
since 1970, was this year's recipient of the Minnie Miller
Brown Award for outstanding service. Pictured with her are
Dr. Chester Black, director of the North Carolina Extension
Service, and Dr. Mary Whitmore, state EFNEP coordinator.
*
Winfall adopts
1988-89 budget
The Winfall Town Council met on
Monday evening and adopted their
budget for fiscal year 1968-89 totaling
$154,455.00.
The budget outlines expenditures
for the coming year as follows : gen
eral fund, $89,396.00, water depart
ment, $30,275.00, police department,
$25,734.00, and fire department ex
penditures totaling $s?, 050.00.
The Winfall council also regretfully
accepted the resignation of council
member John "Jack" Symons. In a
letter to Mayor Bill Bartlett, Symons
stated he regretfully was turning in
his resignation effective June 1, 1968.
Members of the council thanked Sy
mons for his help over the years, and
following the meeting Symons re
fused to comment on the reasons for
his resignation. Symons term on the
Winfall council expires in 1990, and
the council will now begin the process
for appointing someone to his seat. C.
D. Barclift was appointed by the
council Monday to fill Symon's seats
on the Albemarle Commission, and
the Perquimans County dispatch
board
Other business conducted by the
council included: service charges for
reconnection of water were raised
from $2.00 to $5.00, the council voted
to do away with minimum monthly
service for water if the water meter
is disconnected, locked, or removed
from premu. Charges for mowing
lots will be increased effective imme
diately. The minimum fee for cutting
a lot will now be $10.00 or $20.00 an
hour, the council voted to install a
water meter as requested by the Ru
ritan Club at the community build
ing. council approved seven paid hol
idays for town employees in the
coming year, adding two more than
last year, the council also voted to
make town stickers available next
year for vehicles registered in Win
fall. Town tags will also be available.
Prices for stickers and tags are $2.00.
There being no further business the
meeting was adjourned.
$38,000 budget
increase proposed
by Hertford council
The Hertford Town council tenta
tively adopted their budget for fiscal
year 1988-89 Monday evening, and
scheduled a public hearing on the
budget for Wednesday, June 29th at
7:30 p.m. in the town hall.
The $627,400 budget reflects a
$38,000 increase in the general fund
over last year's budget of $589,800.
Taxes will remain at $.48 per
$1,000.00.
The major increase in expected
revenue results from a $35,000 in
crease in local option sales tax,
which the town receives. Other in
creases in revenue are the result of
water and sewer rate increases re
flected in the budget.
Expenditures in next year's budget
are broken down as follows: Admin
istrative department, $89,000, Police
department, $144,500, Fire depart
ment, $28, 300, Street Department,
$147,000, Sanitation department,
$125,000, Cemetary department,
$26,000, Non-Departmental, $55,000,
Contingencies, $12,000, Water and
Sewer Fund, $246,000, and Electric
Fund, $1,699,000.
The revenue contribution to the
budget from the electric fund is down
$10,000 over last year, and Mayor Bill
Cox stated on Monday evening that
the town will absorb a four percent
increase in the wholesale cost of elec
tricity over the coming year.
Proposed water rate increases are
as follows: One gallon to 3,000 gal
lons, present $5.00 to $5.50, 3,000 gal
lons to 10,000 gallons present $1.75 to
1.95, 10,000 to 30,000 gallons present
$.95 to $1.50, and over 30,000 gallons
present $.75 to $1.00. Proposed sewer
rate increases are as follows: One
gallon to 3,000 gallons $3.00 to $4.50,
and all gallons of water over 3,000
$1.20 to $1.50 a thousand.
Cox stated on Monday that the min
imal increases in water and sewer
rates were due to cost of im
provements. The town is currently
completing $297,000 new plant. Local
contribution on the project was
$97,000, $200,000 was raised by a bond
referendum. This year's budget also
reflects $130,000 expenditure for im
provements to the electrical system
which are being done, this expendi
ture was budgeted over a three year
period.
Cox and the town council stated on
Monday evening, they feel this year's
budget is a conservative budget, and
a tight budget
The proposed budget and last
year's expenditures will be available
from now until the public hearing for
review in the town clerk's office.
Chief Marshall Merritt of the Hert
ford Police Department presented
the police report for the month of
May, and tendered the resignation of
Officer Stephen P. Terrill. Officer
Terrill's last day was Monday..
Terrill is leaving to join the Eliza
beth City Police Department.
Mayor Cox reported that the new
waste water treatment plant is ex
pected to be complete in September,
and that work on the electrical sys
tem is expected to begin in seven
days.
Walter Edwards, town attorney,
reported on Monday evening that he
is still working on an ordinance re
garding fishing tournaments in the
Perquimans River. Edwards stated
that this was a very complicated
matter, and reported that he hopes to
have a proposal for presentation at
the next council meeting.
The town council also decided to
hold a public hearing on June 29, 1988
at 8:00 p.m. regarding their request
to become part of the Governor's
Coastal Intiative County. If applica
tion is accepted the town would be eli
gible for additional state and federal
funds, and technical assistance in
planning and developing of its water
resources.
In other business, the council re
ceived the monthly ABC report from
Cecil Winslow. Sales for the month of
May were $27,376.55 down approxi
mately$1500.00 from last year.
Winslow also reported that the Hert
ford ABC Store will be converted to
self-service possibly as soon as July,
at a cost of$8000, the council ap
proved the list of members from the
Hertford fire department, appointed
Bill Cox to serve on the Albemarle
Economic Development Authority,
and discussed briefly negotiating a
contract with Terry Chappell, CPA,
for next's year's audit.
There being no further business the
meeting was adjourned.
County Commissioners;
Governing board of
Perquimans County
Each day decisions are made in
Perquimans County, which affect the
lives of all its residents, and one
group of men play a very active role
in making those decisions. The Per
quimans County Board of Commis
sioners.
The board of commissioners have
the responsibility of governing the
county, and every decision concern
ing the daily operation of the county
is brought before them, unless the
board has given someone else the au
thority to make a decision, such as
department managers or the county
manager, Paul Gregory.
Since the 1800s, Perquimans
County has been governed by a board
of commissioner*. At the present
time there are five members on the
board, but at one time there may
have been a seven member board
serving.
The members of the board of com
missioners are currently elected
from districts, but are voted an by
residents of the county at large. This
system of election has come under
fire recently by the Perquimans
County chapter of the NAACP. The
NAACP alledges that under the pre
sent system, minorities cannot be
elected to the board, and the commis
sioners have organized a committee
which is looking into changing the
present system of election for mem
bers.
Members are presently elected
from three districts. The Bethel dis
trict, which includes Bethel, Hert
ford, Snug Harbor, Holiday Island,
and the surrounding areas, the Park
ville district, which includes Whites
ton, Belvidere, Winfall and Chapa
noke and the New Hope district,
which includes the Durants Neck
community, Woodville, and the sur
rounding area. Suttons Creek serves
as the dividing line between the
Parkville and New Hope District.
Each of the districts, with the excep
tion of New Hope, has two represen
tatives. New Hope only has one, thus
there are five members of the boafd.
Combined the current members of
the board, Lester Simpson, chair
man, Wayne Wins low, vice cha tr
ace, commissioners pg. |