THE PERQUIMANS WEEKLY
USPS 428-080 Hertford, Perquimans County, N.C., Thursday, June 23, 1988 " ~~~~
1 ? ? JO tcNT5
L
LOCAL
"Who are the people
in your neighborhood"
see pg. 8
FEATURE
Booths available for
Indian Summer Festival
see pg. 2
COMMUNITY
Area schools announce
student honor rolls
see pg. 3
County
adopts
budget
School cut remains!
By GINA J EPSON
toiafaaun Weekly Editor
There will be no tax increase for
Perquimans County residents next
year, and despite pleas from the
school board, the Perquimans
County Schools will have to tighten
uieir belts.
Ip>uring the public budget hearing
leld last night at the courthouse.
County Manager Paul Gregory told
members of the board that the tax
rate will remain the same at 68 cents
per $100 valuation, and the board
took no action to replace $100,000 cut
From the school board's requested
budget.
The hearing on the proposed $3.6
million budget drew a meager crowd,
consisting of members of the Perqui
mans County Board of Education,
ind one other citizen, who all made
>leas that money stripped from the
school's budget be given back.
Clifford Winslow, chairman of the
school board, spoke on behalf of the
ward stating that they (the board of
education) had submitted to the
:ounty what they felt was a realistic
Midget, one they could live with.
Winslow told commissioners the
schools have always enjoyed good fi
Ltncing, and to do anything less
vould be a step backwards.
"We have finally gotten our schools
o the point that we can be proud,"
Vinslow said. "We have never been
latisified with providing the mini
num, and we must continue to move
orward."
Winslow stated that the board of
xlucation could operate next year
vith the $807,030 budget recom
K ended, but the board members feel
fey will have to cut some of the ex
ra programs and activities provided
students in the past and the $100,000
:ut will hurt.
"Those extras make the difference
n an average system and one of ex
:ellence," Winslow said. "We are
tleading that you reconsider cutting
his money."
Lester Simpson, chairman of the
:ounty commissioners, told the
Hard of education that it was not the
bounty's intention to set the schools
>ack, but that other demands, such
is the jail expansion project planned
or this year, and cost projected for
lealing with the sanitary landfill had
ied the county's hands for the up
:oming year.
"We hope to come back and give
rou monies next year," Simpson
laid, "but for now it looks like you
ire going to have to wait."
rd of education members said
iy felt it was a sad day when jails
ame before schools, but the com
nissioners stated they had no control
>ver the project, that it was man
la ted from Raleigh.
Superintendent Pat Harrell reiter
ited Winslow's feelings and urged
he county to not get into a situation
ike many of the surrounding coun
ies.
'I hope that as state funds are avail
lite, county funds will not be cut,"
aid Harrell.
Harrell suggested to the commis
iioners that facility needs must be
cept in mind to avoid critical situa
ions in the future. "In summerizing
ny thoughts," Harrell said, "the
ward must strive to provide more
han the minimum and plan for the
uture, so that you do not find your
telves in a crisis situation like some
>f our surrounding counties."
-Aeo Higgins, a resident of Snug
(arbor, also addressed the budget
hiring the hearing. Higgins stated he
tad completed a line item survey of
he budget, and that it seemed fairly
[ood except for the cut in school fund
ing
Higgins stated in his opinion, after
reviewing the budget, he certainly
elt the county had enough money in
t's cash reserve accounts to increase
ie school system's budget. "I ap
fttud you for having an adequate
sash reserve," said Higgins, adding
hat he felt the county's reserve was
ufflcient enough to increase the
chool budget by $50,000.
Higgins also suggested that the
Midget situation be reviewed in six
nonths, and at that time the additio
nal 150,000 be restored to the schools.
Paul Gregory addressed Mr. Hig
[ins statements concerning the coun
t's reserves by stating that last
|bnth he had invested $850,000 for
be county. "The county is required
o have three months operating capi
at in the bank, and $850,000 is just
ibove the minimum," Gregory said.
Following the public bearing, the
|>oard voted 4-1 to adopt the budget as
Wayne Winslow was the
Winslow stated following the meet
|i? that be has no problems with the
Klget other than the cut for the
Hhoois. "I am opiwed to that cut,"
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I
Photos by David DeWald
Lightening strikes!
On Sunday firefighters from
Durants Neck and Hertford
fire departments faught a fire
at William Wray Chappell's
barn in New Hope for over
four hours. The barn was hil
by lightening, just one of
many problems caused by
storms in the area Sunday af
ternoon.
Farmers home committee election set
Farmers in Chowan and Perqui
mans will have an opportunity to
choose one person from among can
didates running for the Farmers
Home Administration committee in
the July 5 election, FmHA County Su
pervisor, Melvin Howell said.
Any person who has an interest in a
farm in the county as owner, tenant
or sharecropper is considered a
farmer and is eligible to vote, Howell
said. Spouses of eligible farmers also
are considered farmers for voting eli
gibility.
Ballots for the election are pub
lished in the June 2 edition of the Cho
wan Herald and the Perquimans
Weekly and are also available at the
FmHA county office located in the
Albemarle Commission Building,
Church Street Extended, Hertford,
NC. If they cannot be returned to the
county office in person, ballots may
be mailed in, Howell said.
Among other duties, county com
mittees help determine whether an
applicant is eligible for a FmHA
farm loan. Two of the three members
are elected by county farmers, and
the third is appointed by FmHA.
Charlie Skinner, Perquimans County Fire Marshall, speaks with area children about fire safety
during a program held early this year. This was just one of many programs sponsored by the
Perquimans County Extension Office.
Perquimans County Extension Service;
Offering valuable assistance to residents
The Agricultural Extension Serv
ice, what does it bring to your mind?
For many people it brings thoughts
of farming, and for many others it
means much more.
Many people may feel that exten
sion services are only provided for
farmers, but that is not the case in
Perquimans County. In Perquimans
the extension service is very active,
and involved with programs, which
affect a wide spectrum of county res
idents.
Cooperative extension programs
formally began with the passage of
the Smith-Lever Act in 1914, but ex
tension's roots go far deeper. It ii be
lieved that the first U.S. organisation
to informally ritmeminate informa
tion on agriculture was the American
Philosophical Society, founded in
1743. In 1857, Justin Smith Morrill, a
Vermont congressman introduced a
bill calling for the establishment of
land-grant colleges. The bill passed
in 1862, and the concept of the agri
cultural extension service was born.
Near the turn of the century, many
states had agricultural extension
programs in place, and 4-H programs
a major facet of extension work also
gained momentum. In the beginning,
there were both black and white ex
tension services in place, and it was
not until much later that only one ex
tension service would operate in
many of our states, including North
Carolina.
Today our local extension service
still functions as it was conceived
many years ago.
The local extension service is over
seen by North Carolina State Univer
sity in Raleigh, and the county only
provides one-third of its financial
support. The remaining monies are
funded by state and federal sources.
At the local level, we have three
full-time agents working only in Per
quimans County, and three area
agents who work here several days a
week.
The three full-time agents are Stan
Winslow, Perquimans County Exten
sion Director, Paige L. Underwood,
Home Economics Extension Agent,
and Juanita T Bailey, Home Eco
nomics Extension Agent. The three
area agents are: Jeff Copeland, Area
Livestock Agent, Jack Ward, Area
Farm Management Agent, and Jim
Mansfield, Area Horticultural Agent.
?ee extension pg. it
Harrell resigns as
superintendent;
Accepts job in Dare County
By GINA JEPSON
Perquimans Weekly Editor
Pat Harrell, Perquimans County su
perintendent of schools announced
last night that he will resign from his
present position to accept a new job
as superintendent of the Dare County
Schools.
In a brief letter of resignation writ
ten to the board and read by board of
education chairman Clifford Winslow
during a special board meeting, Har
rell stated, "The only reason I am re
signing is for the opportunity to pur
sue an exciting and challenging
educational leadership position as su
perintendent of the Dare County
Schools."
"I admire your willingness to ac
cept a challenge such as this," said
Winslow, "Our loss will be their
gain."
Harrell stated his decision to re
sign as superintendent, a job he has
held for the past 12 years, was not
based on recent desputes with the
Perquimans County Board of Com
missioners over budget consider
ations, but came after he was con
tacted by the Dare County Board of
Education.
" I appreciate the support of the
county commissioners in the past,
and I consider each of them a per
sonal friend," he said, but added the
apparent cuts in the 1988-89 school
budget are of great concern to him. "
I feel that I would be neglecting my
duties if I were not concerned over
the proposed $100,000 budget cut.
" Perquimans has always been
able to provide students with more
than the minimum required by the
state, and 1 hope that the budget cuts
proposed by the commissioners will
not prevent that, " said Harrell fol
lowing last night's meeting.
Harrell added that the Perquimans
County Board of Commissioners
have always given the board of edu
cation a great deal of support, and
that he has always felt he had the
support of the board.
Over the past 12 years under the
direction of Harrell the Perquimans
County Schools have grown and pros
pered accomplishing program ex
pansion in the areas of art, music,
physical education, and computer
course for students. The system has
also increased comprehensive pro
grams for exceptional children and
exploratory courses at the middle
school level as well working to im
prove school facilities within the sys
tem.
" I feel good about the direction the
schools are headed in, there are good
things happening in the Perquimans
County Schools, and I feel there is
good opportunity for continued
growth," said Harrell.
Bartow Houston, speaking on be
half of the Dare County Board of Ed
ucation this morning stated that
Pat Harrell
Dare County feels very positive
about the addition of Harrell. "Dare
County has provied quality education
in the past, and we feel very positive
that quality education will be sus
tained through the steady leadership
we know Mr. Harrell will provide,"
said Houston.
Houston added that the selection of
Harrell comes following a complete
and through search by a screening
committee made up of a cross-sec
tion of Dare County citizens, and ex
pressed the board's appreciation to
them for their help and recommenda
tions. Houston also stated that the
Dare County Board would like to
thank the North Carolina Depart
ment of Public Instruction and the
North Carolina School Boards Asso
ciation for their help in the selection
process.
Harrell will begin working in Dare
County on August 1, 1988. He will re
place Joyce Bornfriend who has been
serving as acting superintendent
since the end of January when Steve
Basnight, Jr. retired after serving as
Dare County Superintendent for nine
years.
Harrell takes with him to his new
position a wide and varied educatio
nal background having served as as
sistant superintendent in Perqui
mans County, regional coordinator
for staff development, elementary
school principal, assistant director of
adult education at the College of the
Albemarle, and as a teacher/coach
in Wake County and Virginia.
Harrell earned a masters degree in
education from East Carolina Uni
versity in Greenville, and has done
graduate work at the doctoral level
at both the University of North Caro
lina at Chapel Hill and Virginia Poly
technical Institute
Hertford BPW Club
wins state award
The Hertford Business and Profes
sional Women's Club, Incorporated
won first place in the State Mem
bership Equalization competition, at
the Sixty Ninth Annual Convention of
the North Carolina Federation of
Business and Professional Women,
Friday, June 17, 1988, at Sheraton Ho
tel, Greensboro, North Carolina. The
cup was presented to Dr. M. B. Tay
lor, President of the Hertford BPW
Club.
The cup was presented according
to the highest number of new mem
bers. Hertford had 200 percent, Ahos
kie 140 percent and Oxford 106 per
cent. Dr. Taylor also was given a cup
for having the highest number of new
members reported individually.
The convention began Thursday,
June 16, 1988 and terminated Sunday,
June 19, 1988. The theme was Com
mitment to Achievement.
The program featured Mrs. Anne
Steinbeck, Past President of BPW
Club of the U.S.A. and the represen
tative for the National Federation of
Business and Professional Women
Clubs, Incorporation of U.S.A., Mrs.
Betty Hooks, State President pre
sided, Mrs Huby Jones, State Con
vention Chairman and Mrs. Rosalyn
Harris, who gave the Inspirational
Message during the Sunday morning
Memorial Service.
There were over 600 members in
attendance.
Parters with Youth
receives grant monies
.The North Carolina Conference of
the United Methodist Church has
awarded a $400.00 grant to the Per
quimans-Chowan Partners With
Youth program through its 1988 Hun
ger-Human Need Task Force Com
mittee.
The Conference Fund has been es
tablished to meet special designated
human needs. In awarding this grant
to Partners With Youth, it recognizes
a program which works with court
referred children and whose ultimate
goal is that these children will de
velop self-esteem along with a desire
to become effective contributing
adults. The program's immediate
goals are (1) the elimination of fur
ther court contact, (2) an im
provement in school attitudes, and
(3) a strengthening of home
relationships.
Individuals on the local level who
were instrumental in helping the pro
gram through this 1988 grant were
the Rev. William Worley of South
Mills who is the District Chairperson
for the Task Force, and the Rev.
Ralph Epps, paster of the Edenton
United Methodist Church.
The director of the program which
operates in Perquimans and Chowan
counties is Karen Dashiell-Ames.
The Chowan County Administra
tion provides an office for Partners
With Youth on the 2nd floor of the Old
Courthouse in Edenton. Anyone in
terested in working with a youth for
approximately 4 hours per week for a
year, or anyone interested in helping
financially is encouraged to visit the
office, telephone (482-3939), or write
Partners With Youth, P.O. Bo* 943,
Edenton, N.C. 27932