THE PERQUIMANS WEEKLY
Volume 58, No. 1 USPS 428-0S0 jj j Hertford, Perquimans County, N.C. Thursday, January 5, 1989 30 CENTS
PCHS teams in third place in
competition
See page 10
FEATURE
Rob Turner closes general
store
See page 9
IQMMUNltV
Families travel to visit during
holidays
See page 2
PCHS band invited
to inaugural parade
The Perquimans County High
School Marching Band was one of
only three bands selected to rep
resent North Carolina in the 1989
Inaugural Parade honoring Presi
dent-elect George Bush and Vice
President-elect Dan Quayle.
Perquimans was selected from
over 300 applicants from every
state in the Union. Each state has
at least one official entry.
Although the local band will not
march in the parade, participating
units such as Perquimans are cho
sen by the Inaugural Committee as
an honor position, to perform at
static locations along the parade
route and have the honor of enter
taining the President of the United
States as he moves from the White
House to the Capitol for the swear
ing-in ceremonies.
The 80 band members and their
chaperones plan a four-day, three
night stay in Washington. Three
buses will leave the high school
early on Wednesday, January 18,
bearing many excited people on
their way to make a memory that
will last a lifetime.
Not only will the trip be a good
experience for those from the
county who can participate, but
people from all over the country
will see the name "Perquimans
County High School Band, Hert
ford, N.C." The little county no one
can pronounce has a band good
enough to entertain the President
of the United States of America in
the nation's capitol.
The cost of the trip for the 80
band members, two instructors
and 20 chapersones is over $15,000.
Thesejunds are being sought from
the county commissioners, town
councils, board of education and
private donations. The band boost
ers will make up the difference be
tween the public and private con
tributions in order that the band
will get to participate.
Band members have worked
hard this year, as is evidenced by
the success they have enjoyed at
the competitions in which they
have participated.
Perquimians should be very
proud of the dedication shown by
these young people. In order to per
form, many hours are spent in the
summer heat and humidity march
ing up and down, practicing rou
tines until they are perfect.
The band boosters are asking
anyone who would like to help with
expenses for the trip to see Linda
Bundy, or to stop by Woodard's
pharmacy where there is a dona
tions container on the counter.
Holiday Island resident
dies in auto wreck
Rural Road 1347 was the scene of
a local man's death on Friday, De
cember 30. William Abner John
son, Jr., 36, of Holiday Island died
from injuries sustained after being
thrown from his car as it ran off the
side of the road and turned over.
The N.C. Highway Patrol re
ported that Johnson was driving
his 1985 Toyota car at a speed
greater than 70 mph when he failed
to negotiate a curve.
Johnson was thrown approxi
mately 48 feet from his car as a re
sult of hitting a ditch and overturn
ing several times. Riding alone,
Johnson was not wearing a safety
belt.
Highway Patrol Trooper Y.Z.
Newberry responded to the acci
dent call at 4:25 a.m. Johnson was
taken by ambulance to Chowan
Hospital. He was pronounced dead
on arrival.
A native of Baxley, Georgia, he
was the son of Mrs. Jewel Adams
Hollar of Holiday Island and the
late William Abner Johnson, for
merly of Baxley, and the step-son
of Ned Hollar of Holiday Island. He
was formerly employed with Lone
Star Industries as an engineer on a
tugboat.
Besides his mother and step-fa
ther, survivors include his wife,
Lisa Austin Johnson; a son, Dar
rell Ned Johnson of Holiday Is
land; his maternal grandmother,
Mrs, Mae Gillard of Baxley, Ga.;
three sisters, Mrs. Victor (Lynn)
Minear of Virginia Beach, VA.,
Mrs. Donald (Vickie) Harrington
of Baxley, Ga., and Miss Sherri
Hollar of Lenior and a brother,
Steve Johnson of Holiday Island.
Memorial services were held
Sunday, January 1 at 2 p.m. in the
Chapel On The Sound with the Rev.
Wayne Jarrett officiating.
Graveside services were held on
Tuesday at 2 p.m. in the Friendship
Church Cemetery in Baxley, Ga.
In lieu of flowers, donations may
be made to the American Diabetes
Association. Swindell Funeral
Home was in charge of arrange
ments.
IRS mails out tax forms
Over 2.8 million packets of fed
eral income tax forms were mailed
to North Carolinians on December
26, 1988. The tax packets were
mailed to the address provided on
your last year's federal income tax
return.
,With the exception of a few
changes, the 1988 federal tax forms
remain the same as last year. The
instructions for Forms 1040A and
1040EZ were reorganized to make
the language, charts and graphics
i easier to understand.
The Internal Revenue Service
states that beginning January 3,
1989, the IRS will offer extended
hours of assistance on its toll-free
lines. Taxpayers can get questions
answered by calling 1-800-424-1040
between 8:00 AM and 5:45 PM
Monday through Friday. Forms
and publications can be ordered by
calling 1-800-424-3676 between 8:00
AM and 8:00 PM Monday through
Friday and from 9:00 AM to 3:00
PM on Saturdays.
The IRS advises taxpayers to
prepare their federal tax returns
as early as possible. Employers
are required to make Form W-2
available by January 31, 1989.
Mortgage holders are required to
provide the mortgagee with Form
1098, Mortgage Interest Statement,
by the same date.
The IRS states that early filers
will receive their tax refunds
within three to five weeks.
This photo of the PCHS band was taken in October 1988 at the annual "Battle of the Bands" held in conjunction with the Peanut
Festival in Edenton. The band captured several awards that day. The invitation to the presidential inaugural is the most prestigious
honor ever received by the group.
Commissioners
give band donation
The Perquimans County Com
missioners Tuesday morning gave
the Perquimans County High
School band $5,000 towards the cost
of the band's trip to the inaugural
festivities honoring George Bush
and Dan Quayle.
The commissioners highly
praised the band, and expressed a
great deal of pride that the unit had
been chosen to participate in an
historic national event.
"I feel like its an honor for the
band to have this opportunity and
I'd like to see them participate,"
said Chairman Lester Simpson.
"I'd like to see the county come up
with some funds," he added.
Commissioner Thomas Nixon
stated, "To my knowledge, Perqui
mans County's never been invited
to a presidential inauguration."
Although there was some con
cern expressed over funding the
trip with tax dollars, the consensus
of the board was that the trip would
not only benefit the individuals
traveling to Washington, but also
the county as a whole.
Band Boosters President Danny
Privott and Band Director David
Ziemba approached the commis
sioners on behalf of the students.
They submitted a cost breakdown
to the group which outlined a
$15,000 plus trip. The costs includes
lodging and bus fare for the stu
dents and chaperones, and meals
for the students.
According to Privott and
Ziemba, the band must be at the
capitol at 7:30 Friday morning re
ady to play during the parade.
They may play for other festivities
if scheduling permits. A Thursday
tour is tentatively planned.
Privott and Ziemba told the com
missioners that the band boosters
had a meeting on Tuesday night,
and would meet with the town
boards and the school board next
week.
When asked what would happen
if contributions did not equal the
$15,000 needed to finance the trip,
Privott said, "We (the band boost
ers) will make it up."
Commissioner Thomas Nixon
read a letter from the N.C. Depart
ment of Corrections advising that
the shuttle stop at Albemarle Dis
trict Jail is warranted. The shuttle
will begin making pick-ups at the
facility on January 4 at 6:10 a.m.
Nixon said the D.O.C. advised
that the schedule will run for 90
days, and then be re-evaluated. Ad
justments to the schedule may be
made at that time.
The shuttle previously ran from
Albemarle District Jail twice per
week. Although the schedule has
been cut to once per week, the com
missioners are pleased that the
transportation has been restored.
The Blanchard building renova
tion was discussed at length. Com
missioners Lester Simpson and
Durwood Reed volunteered to
serve on a committee to assist
County Manager Paul Gregory in
moving forward with the renova
tion.
Gregory updated the board on
the blueprints, what changes could
be made, and the cost that was cal
culated in 1985. Gregory said the
preliminary architectural work
has been done.
The question facing the board
now is whether to put the new
courtroom facility on the second
floor, freeing up future office space
on the first floor, or to use the first
floor courtroom plans.
Although an elevator would add
approximately $85,000-$100,000 to
the $215,000 estimate, according to
Gregory, the county's best alterna
tive may be to go ahead and install
an elevator.
Gregory said that many changes
could be made to make the building
more space-efficient. He said the
plans included too many corridors
and other unusable space.
The project will take at least two
years to complete. During that
time Gregory said the county can
expect to receive about $145,000
from court facilities funds. That
would leave approximately $70,000
to come from county funds.
Gregory explained that should
the county consider inclusion in a
liability self-insurance plan, the
premiums saved from that cover
age may amount to the $70,000.
The board was informed that the
county must pay the state approxi
mately $220,000 for moving water
lines in conjunction with the U.S.
Highway 17 project. Four miles of
of new lines must be laid when the
new fourlane comes through.
Gregory said the state will bill
the county in 1991, and give Perqui
mans four to six years to pay the
funds back.
Chairman Simpson suggested
that the board urge the N.C. legis
lature to waive the charge.
Simpson also asked each board
member to speak with legislators
abou( the passage of the one per
cent land transfer tax bill which
was earlier defeated.
"It's one of the fairest taxes I
know of," Simpson said. He added
that almost-certain growth will
further stress county services, and
will make the present mapping
system obsolete.
Hertford Saddle Club holds awards banquet,
makes donation to Hertford Fire Department
Hertford Saddle Club concluded
its. show season with an awards
banquet held on December 9.
Awards were presented to mem
bers accumulating the most points
In their divisions.
Overall High Point Champion
was awarded to Dena White,
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joe Towe
White. Dena has been riding for
Ipine years, and has shown in both
western and English classes.
Chad White, son of Mr. and Mrs.
joe Towe White, earned the Youth
Western Division trophy. Chad is a
vesatile horseman, and has shown
teCthe district and state level.
' 'Jhe Youth English Division win
ner was Renae Owens, daughter of
Mr. and Mrs. Martin Owens. Re
nae has ridden for two years.
' Jimmy Kirby received the Adult
Division award. Jimmy has been
active in area horse and pony clubs
!y
for many years.
The Sportsmanship award went
to Patsy Phelps. Patsy served as
concession stand chairman for the
1988 show season.
According to club members, 1988
proved to be the largest show year
ever, with people traveling for up
to five hours to participate in the
chnwc hprp
The Hertford Saddle Club is a
non-profit organization whose pri
mary focus is on training youth.
"Our goal is to help young riders,"
said Alvah Winslow, club presi
dent.
All proceeds from the shows are
donated to organizations such as
fire departments, the rescue squad
and local hospitals.
The Hertford Saddle Club show
ground* are located on the Preston
Nixon farm weat of Hertford on
Center Hill Highway.
Hertford Saddle Club PresidentAlvah Winslow presents a check to
Hertford Fire Chief Edgar Roberson. Each year the proceeds from
the club's show season go to a worthy cause, according to
Winslow. ' -
Home Health Care
available in Perquimans
Home health care assistance is
available in Perquimans County.
The program is administered
through the District Health De
partment in Elizabeth City.
"Our purpose is to keep people at
home instead of at a hospital or
other institutional setting," said
Kay Whedbee, Co ordinator for
Home Health Services throughout
the Albemarle Area.
According to Whedbee, the pro
gram offers intermittent services
to homebound patients. The serv
ices must be ordered by a doctor.
A wide array of health profes
sionals work together to provide in
home services. These skilled spe
cialists include nurses, health
aides, physical therapists, social
workers, speech therapists, nutri
tionists and occupational thera
pists.
The program's employees not
only treat the patients, but provide
support services for the families.
They teach family members how to
care for the sick person. ?o that the
family and the patient can main
tain as much independence as pos
sible. They also assist in obtaining,
medical equipment.
With the aid of these services and
professionals, patients are often
able to leave the hospital earlier
than could be expected if the pro
gram was not available.
The program offers 24-hour on
call services. Patients or their
families can call day or night 365
days per year.
"We feel like we have a good
service to render," Whedbee said
of the comprehensive program.
Also offered are hospice serv
ices. This program provides a sup
port group for the terminally ill.
Volunteers are trained to assist the
patient and fa; nily in dealing with
the terminal illness.
"We're glad to try to reach out to
help people at home," commented
Whedbee on the programs.
Both phases of the program are
available to all age groups and all
income levels.
Health professionals serving
Perquimans County are Janet
Norfleet, Carol Douglas, Robin
Temple, Cassie Spruill and Phyllis
Redding. This dedicated staff
checks on approximately 40 home
bound people throughout the
county on a regular basis,
For more information on the
home health and hospice services,
contact Ann Dowdy, Patient Co-or
dinator, at 338-4066.
Nursing forum to be
held in COA auditorium
"Who will care if nurses aren't
there? is the theme for sixteen
NURSING CARE forums being
held across the state from January
9th to January 12th announced Jo
Franklin, President of the North
Carolina Nurses Association
(NCNA), on behalf of the NURS
ING CARES coalition, which is
made up of over ten North Carolina
specialty nursing organizations.
The coalition was formed this year
to respond to the growing and now
critical, shortage of nurses in hos
pitals and other facilities in the
state. Based on a study done in the
spring, there is a vacancy rate of 12
per cent in North Carolina and ex
pectations are that it will get
worse. Nationally, hospitals are
facing vacancy rates of 11 per cent.
The NURSING CARES forums
will be held all over th state so that
no North Carolinian will have to
travel more than thirty miles to at
tend one. The cities where the fo
rums will be held include Fayette
ville, Greenville, Elizabeth City,
Winston-Salem, Sylva, Asheville,
Rocky Mount, Durham, Hickory.
Charlotte, Wilmington, Whiteville,
New Bern, Goldsboro, Boone and
Raleigh.
In most cities the forums will be
held more than once, generally at
12:30 p.m., 4:00 p.m., and 7:00 p.m.
and will last about two hours. The
general public, as well as elected
officials, will be invited to attend
and participate in the discussion.
The forums will focus on the cru
cial shortage of registered nurses
in the state and possible solutions
to that shortage. They will also ad
dress the controversial proposal
made by the American Medical As
sociation to introduce a minimally
trained health care worker into
hospitals and other institutions
As part of thepresentation and
discussion, the panels will look at
the impact of the shortage and the
effect that suggested solutions will
have on patients, their families,
and other health care providers.
They willlook at the role health
care consumers and citizens
groups can play in helping resolve
the shortage The panels in each lo
cation will be made up of staff
nurses, nurse educators, nurse ad
ministrators, and other registered
nurses who have a special perspec
tive on the nursing shortage.
The forums are part of an on
going campaign by several nursing
organizations in the NURSING
CARES coalition. Individual mem
bers are serving on the North Caro
lina Council on the Nursing Short
age, the Governor's Task Force on
the Nursing Shortage, and the Leg
islative Study Commission on
Nursing.
Nurses are taking an active role
in developing plans to decrease the
shortage and are anxious to share
their success stories with other
nurses and interested citizens
across North Carolina.
The forum for this area will be at
College of The Albemarle Audito
rium - January 10, 1989 at 12:30
p.m., 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Hospital honors employees
Thirteen Albemarle Hospital em
ployees were honored at the annual
Retirement and 20 Year Service
Party held on December 9. Asso
ciate Administrator Ernest Mal
colm paid tribute to the employees
and presented them with gifts. A
reception followed for the honor
ees, fellow employees and guests.
Seven employees completing 20
years of service were: Laura Bur
?ess, nursing service; Doris
rown, nursing service; Lydia
Brown, laundry ; Barbara Reid, di
etary department; Delilian
Chamblee, central services; Es
ther Johnson, nursing service; and
Jeanette Riggs. personnel depart
ment.
Retirees being honored in
cluded: Mary Merritt, nursing
service; Clarence Harney, dietary
department; Gladys Vanscoy,
nursing service; Betsy Smith, in
fection control ; Lucille Bartlett, di
etary department; and Shirley
Godfrey, pharmacy.