LOCAL FEATURE I COMMUNITY
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THE PERQUIMANS WEEKLY
Volume 58, No. 51 USPS 428-080 Hertford, Perquimans County, N.C. Wednesday, December 22. 19B8 30 CE
Board of education hires police officers as security guards
The Perquimans County Board of
Education was informed at their
regular meeting Monday night that
Schools Superintendent Mary Jo
Martin has hired security guards to
patrol the schools during the Holi
day break.
) Martin said that off-duty officers
with the Hertford Police Depart
ment will be working in the schools
to offer extra protection to school
property.
This action comes on the heels of
a break-in at the high school when
thieves stole two computers and a
typewriter. Dr. Martin stated that
the expense incurred by hiring the
officers was much less than the
cost of replacing stolen equipment.
The Perquimans County High
School Marching Pirates have been
invited to participate in the presi
dential inaugural festivities in Jan
uary. The band would be lined up in
a specific place along the inaugural
parade route, and would play when
the President-elect passed by.
Dr. Martin said that funds for the
trip are a cause of concern because
it would mean spending at least one
night in Washington, D.C. She
stated that there are limited funds
available in the cultural arts bud
get and from a band benefactor.
The Board asked that the Band
Boosters be contacted to see if they
can contribute.
There was concern expressed
over proper chaperoning for the
group in light of past incidents in
volving school field trips. Board
member Mack Nixon said that he
felt every effort must be made to
get qualified persons to accompany
the band on the trip.
The Board will make final deci
sions concerning the trip on Jan
uary 9 after all details are
available.
Dr. Martin presented to the
Board a plan for an Intensive Assis
tance Team. The program is de
signed to improve the quality of
teacher performance, thus improv
ing the quality of education.
A teacher would be placed on In
tensive Assistance as a result of
poor summative evaluations. On
the team would be the principal,
central office staff and peer teach
ers. These personnel would offer
assistance in lesson plans and other
areas of weakness. This would al
low a teacher who may otherwise
be dismissed an opportunity to im
prove skills.
The Board members will review
the program and will make imple
mentation decisions in January.
The Board voted to implement a
Tuition Reimbursement Schol
arship Program. Limited funds are
available to assist with educational
expenses.
A Graduation Requirements-Cur
riculum Review Committee has
been formed under the direction of
Dr. Martin and Assistant Superin
tendant Jake Boyce. This commit
tee will begin functioning during
the second semester.
In other business, the Board :
? Voted to release the last funds
due to Gardner Construction on the
new administration building upon
completion of punch list items.
? Released Jeffrey S. Forehand to
attend Chowan Jr. High School.
? Appointed Nancy Harrell teacher
assistant at Central School.
?Approved the appointment of
Nancy Carswell as interim Social
Studies teacher at Perquimans
High.
?Granted maternity leave to Donna
Harris until the end of January.
?Rescheduled its next regular
meeting to January 9.
?Adjourned into executive session
to discuss personnel matters.
Hoover named HVFD
firefighter of the year
Vance Hoover was named Fire
fighter of the Year at the Hertford
Volunteer Fire Department's an
tual banquet on Thursday, Decem
er 15. A member of the HVFD for
three years, Hoover was chosen by
his fellow firefighters to receive the
award due to his outstanding serv
ice to the department.
Guest speaker for the banquet
was Barry Oliver of the North Car
olina Fire and Rescue Pension
Fund. Oliver spoke briefly on the
benefits available through the pro
gram.
Entertainment for the evening
was provided by the Rocky Hock
Quartet. The Perquimans County
School Food Service Association
catered the buffet dinner.
New officers for the coming year
were installed by retired fire chief
Pete Riddick. They are: Chief-Ed
gar Roberson; Assistant Chief-Sid
Eley ; Captains-Larry Chappell and
Edward Leicester; Lieutenants
Donald Hurdle and Billy Layden;
Secretary-Treasurer-Walter Ed
wards, Jr. ; Chaplain-Edna Wolver
ton; Trustees-Mary White and
Edna Wolverton; Response Team
First Sergeant-Vance Hoover; Re
sponse Team Second Sergeant-Bill
Glover; and Albemarle Fireman
Director-Vance Hoover.
The newly elected Ladies' Auxill
iary officers are: President-Cindy
Leicester ; Vice President-Dina
Hurdle; and Secretary-Treasurer
LuRee Sawyer. They were also in
stalled by Riddick.
end HVFD banquet
Tests show county water
not tainted as rumored
Tests show Perquimans County
water is not dangerous, as has been
rumored, County Manager Paul
Gregory announced Monday night.
| Gregory said tests of water sam
ples conducted by the Division of
Health Services prove the water is
safe to drink.
"Our plant stood up to the state
standards," he said. "There has
been some suggestions out in the
county that there may be some
thing dangerous in our water.
There is nothing dangerous, and
this test conducted at the request of
our water customers proves that."
| The request was made at the re
quest of Snug Harbor residents,
and water was tested at a residence
in Snug Harbor, at the Bethel Wa
ter Plant and at the well site before
the water is treated at the plant.
The test measured levels of four
chemicals; iron, manganese, fluo
ride and mercury .
The results showed that water
coming from the well far exceeded
Ihe state standards in iron and
fnanganese content, but after the
water had been treated at the
Bethel Water Plant, levels for all
four chemicals were within the
state standards. The same was true
for water taken from a Snug Har
bor residence.
A letter was sent to commission
ers from the Snug Harbor Property
Owners Association in appreciation
for the efforts the county has made
to improve the water quality. The
fetter stated that the quality of wa
fer at Snug Harbor has improved in
the recent past.
Gregory said the county still has
a long way to go, "but I feel very
confident that we are heading in the
right direction. We must produce
the very best water possible."
He attributed the improvement
of the water quality to testing
which is now being conducted on a
daily basis at the water supply
plants. Gregory said plans in the fu
ture to continue improving water
quality include flushing supply
lines and making changes in the fil
ter system at the Bethel plant.
Prison bus
Commissioner Thomas Nixon,
who represents Perquimans
County on the Tri-County Jail Com
mission, informed the board that
the N.C. Department of Corrections
proposes to no longer drive its bus
to the Tri-County Jail to pick up
prisoners to be tranferrea to the
state system.
Beginning in January, the DOC
plans to stop at the Chowan County
Jail and then go to Winton by way
of N.C. Highway 32, bypassing the
Tri-County Jail in Pasquotank
County and the Currituck jail facili
ties.
Perquimans, Pasquotank and
Camden counties jointly operate
the Tri-County Jail, and each
county is responsible for the trans
portation for any prisoner from its
own jurisdiction.
In a letter approved by commis
sioners to be sent to the DOC, Gre
gory said if the plans for the bus to
no longer stop at the jail are imple
mented, Perquimans law enforce
ment officials would have to leave
Perquimans, drive to Pasquotank
to get prisoners, then travel
through Perquimans again to get to
Chowan County. "We feel this pro
cedural change should not take
place," Gregory said.
The DOC presently sends a bus to
Pasquotank County two times a
week. Gregory said it would not be
a tremendous inconvenience if the
number of trips is reduced to once a
week, "but we strongly feel the bus
should schedule one of its stops at
our Tri-County Jail. We, the Per
quimans County Board of Commis
sioners, ask that you reconsider
your decision."
Nixon said if the DOC does not
adhere to the county's request, he
would contact area legislators and
ask them to take action. "It doesn't
make sense," he said. "It is not
much farther for them to go by
Elizabeth City and then take (U.S.
Highway) 158toWinton."
He added if the measure is put
into place, the Tri-County Jail
woula have to purchase a bus and
hire drivers to transport prisoners
to Chowan County.
Sheriff Jmd
Commissioners approved the
purchase of a four-wheel drive jeep
for the sheriff's department by a 3-1
vote, with Nixon voting against the
motion.
Sheriff Joe Lothian said the jeep
would be an asset for drug opera
tions and would be used to find
marijuana planted in woods which
are not accessible by car.
Lothian said funds for a new po
lice car are included in his budget
this year, but the jeep would re
quire an additional $2,000. He said
the cost of the jeep purchased
through the state contract would be
$14,500. Lothian promised commis
sioners that he would keep his de
partment operations at the
budgeted level for the entire fiscal
year despite the additional money
needed for the jeep.
Nixon said the ieep was a "lux
ury item" and added that the sher
iff should be able to drive to most
places in the county without need
ing a four-wheel vehicle. Commis
sioners approved the request with
the stipulation that the sheriff must
remain within his budget for the fis
cal year.
Alzheimer's support group
formed to aid area citizens
Alzheimer's Disease is the fourth
leading cause of death in adults, af
ter heart disease, cancer, and
stroke. More than 100,000 die as a
result of the disease annually.
| The disease attacks the brain and
results in impaired memory, think
ing and behavior. It affects an esti
mated 2.5 million American adults
who are cared for in either nursing
borqes or at home. The symptoms
include a gradual memory loss, de
cline in ability to perform routine
talks, impairment of judgement,
disorientation, personality change,
difficulty in learning, and toss of
njuguage skills.
Presently, the cause of Aizheim
er's Disease is not known, nor is
there any cure, however, good
planning and medical and social
management can ease the burdens
on the patient and family.
According to Leanne Schultz,
program developer-MIS coordina
tor for the Albemarle Commission,
which is an area agency on aging,
based in Hertford, "If a family
member with Alzheimer's Disease
is being cared for at home, it's very
important to keep a calm enviro
ment."
Ms. Schulti made her remarks to
a group who recently gathered at
an informationlonal session at Cho
wan Hc?pit*l, to determine if there
was enough interest to begin a sup
port group in Chowan County
2*1 Li
Presently, the Alzheimer's Asso
ciation, founded in I960, has more
than 1,200 support groups and 188
chapters nationwide.
Ms. Schultz added that it's very
difficult and frustrating to care for
Alzheimer's patients, therefore:
the group would provide informa
tion and sharing.
The group would meet monthly at
Chowan Hospital with a tentative
starting date for next March.
Anyone interested in Joining the
support group, please contact
Lee one Schultz at Ot-5753 or Pete
Rogers at Chowan Hospital at 482
8451, ext 359
Hertford Mayor Bill Cox presents the HVFD Firefighter of the Year Award to Vance Hoover.
Beautiful decorations, good food
combine for successful Ramble
By Paige L. Underwood
Extension Agent
The Perquimans County Exten
sion Homemakers and Agricultural
Extension Service held their an
nual Christmas Ramble last Mon
day night.
Luminaries and candle light wel
comed the tourers to the Ben Hobbs
house where they stepped back into
the 18th century. The hall and par
lor house was decorated with live
greenery arrangments, cedar Ch
ristmas tree and fires burning in
the open fire places. The furnish
ings and decorations were authen
tic to the 200 year old house.
Wooden reindeer and country
charm greeted the guests at the
Wayne Layden House in the Beech
Spring Community. The home
which was owned twice by Mr. and
Mrs. Anderson Layden has been
completely remodeled. The furnis
ings revealed the couple's interest
in country decor. The energy effi
cient home now has a modern
kitchen and large utility room. The
exterior of the house has been up
dated with paint, window shutters,
and porch rail.
The Perquimans River reflecting
the large 2 year old brick home wel
comed the group to the Billy Baker
home at Billy's Beach. Spotlights
revealed the upper deck and base
ment garage as the tourers entered
the great room on ground level. The
entire house was planned for year
round living for family members,
grandchildren and friends. The
large master bath with hot tub is a
dream bath.
The basement living area (com
plete with kitchen) replaces a sum
mer cottage which the family once
enjoyed at Nixon beach. The home
offers the best of two worlds for the
Baker's style of living.
Many displays, guests demon
strators and refreshments were
waiting at Eure's Restaurant, head
quarters for the 1988 Ramble which
had been decorated inside and out.
Green wreaths with red bows
framed the candles buring in the
windows. Oyster shell and sand dol
lar ornaments dressed the Christ
mas tree as well as a large grape
vine wreath. The Belvidere Exten
sion Homemakers decorating com
mittee thought the oyster shell
seemed to be the perfect theme for
the sea food restaurant.
Mrs. Mary Temple was busy stuf
fing bears and animals as she an
swered questions about her
"animal family".
Mrs. Lisa Winslow has been busy
making and dressing dolls. She dis
played, baby dolls, Christmas dolls,
adult dolls and just doll, doll, dolls.
All the above artists and crafts
men were from Elizabeth City.
Grady Lawrence and son, Chad,
displayed and demonstrated
wreath making on his new machine
using live greenery and the same
method and technique as mountain
tree growers use for making com
mercial wreaths.
The following clubs displayed ta
ble top exhibits, crafts, and gift
ideas; Helen Gaither, Bethel, Bel
videre, Winfall, Whiteston, and
Burgess.
Snow Hill-White Hat served re
freshments.
Santa Letter Contest Winner
Mary Anna Kay was named the winner of the Perquimans Weekly "Letters to Santa Contest." Her
winning entry appears in the special Christmas section inside today's edition. Mary Anna is the
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Preston Lowe of Hertford.
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