THE PERQUIMANS WEEKLY
Volume SB, No. 7 USPS 428-080 Hertford, Perquimans County, N.C., Thursday, February 16, 1989 30 cent?
?
i nag
Senior Center offers
trips, quilting class
page 2
I
FEATURE ~
Those were the days...
Nicanor railway station
page 4
? I
COMMUNITY 1
Know your community
seminar offered
page 9
Locals sought to
claim N.C. escheats
State Treasurer Harlan E.
Boyles announced that another
drive is underway to reunite un
claimed property received by his
office with the rightful owner.
"Each year we are receiving more
money from uncashed checks,
. unused gift certificates, unclaimed
" utility and rent deposits, insurance
proceeds and forgotton bank ac
counts," Boyles stated. "Fortuna
tely, we are able to refund much of
the money to the proper owner."
Last year, over 7.7 million dollars
in unclaimed and abandoned
money was received by the Trea
surer's Office.
The State Treasurer's Escheat
and Unclaimed Property Program
is charged with recovering such
unclaimed and abandoned monies
' and then attempting to reunite the
money with the proper owner. Un
til reunited, however, the money is
invested, the earnings on the in
vestments are remitted each year
to the North Carolina State Educa
tion Assistance Authority. It is this
authority that utilizes the funds to
provide loans to worthy and needy
North Carolina students in State
supported schools of higher educa
tion. "Last year, this program pro
* vided the SEAA with over 4.1 mil
lion dollars which was utilized to
provide 1,812 low interest educatio
nal loans," Boyles stated.
"Although we are fortunate to be
able to utilize this unclaimed
money for the benefit of our stu
dents, we must not forget that
much of the principal belongs to
North Carolina citizens. To ensure
that all possible attempts are made
to locate these owners, we are once
again soliciting the assistance of
newspapers across the State," said
Boyles. The Treasurer's office will
provide a list of names of the own
ers to one newspaper in each
county and is requesting that the
list be printed as a public service.
Boyles credited the newspapers
across the State with being respon
sible for the initiation of 1.4 million
dollars in refunds to over 3,700
owners last year.
Those who learn that there is un
claimed property being held in
their name by the State Treasur
er's office are asked to write the
N.C. Department of State Trea
surer, Escheat and Unclaimed
Property Section, 325 North Salis
bury Street, Raleigh, North Caro
lina 27611, or call (919) 733-6876. No
time limit applies to inquiries or
claims, and refunds will be made
promptly whenever valid own
ership is established.
The escheat owners located in
Perquimans County are Robert L.
Harvey, Sr., Hertford FCX, Joseph
M. Spruill, Texie Halsey, Mamie
Zachary, Henry A. Watson, Laurie
Ann Jones and Cornelia N. Jessup.
The amounts they can claim are
between $52 and $1,497.60, mostly
from insurance companies.
Governor proclaims Feb.
> Human Relations Month
Governor Jim Martin has pro
Maimed February as Human Rela
.ions Month in North Carolina,
jrging North Carolinians "to de
rote this period to the advance
ment of human relations in our
state."
"Through unrelenting commmit
ment," Governor Martin said in
the proclamation, "progress in hu
rt man rights has become a hallmark
for this great state, and through
the North Carolina Human Rela
tions Council and its local coun
terparts statewide this enviable
tradition will continue.''
Governor Martin will recognize
individuals and businesses who
have made outstanding accom
plishments in human relations dur
ing ceremonies in Raleigh March
2. Several hundred people from
throughout the state are expected
to gather for the occasion.
"The Human Relations Council
is a beacon leading the way to un
derstanding, respect and goodwill
among all our citizens," said Ad
ministration Secretary Jim Lofton.
The N.C. Human Relations Coun
cil ws created in 1963 and is housed
in the N.C. Department of Admin
istration.
Dr. Jimmie V. Morris of Oxford
is council chairman.
Local human relations offices
are located in Asheville-Buncombe
County, Charlotte-Mecklenburg
County, Durham, Fayetteville,
Gaston County, Goldsboro, Greens
boro, Greenville, High Point, Lum
berton, New Hanover County, Ra
leigh, Robeson County, Rocky
Mount, Wilson and Winston-Salem.
Medicare changes varied
The "Medicare Catastrophic
Coverage Act of 1988" is now in ef
fect and many Medicare benefit
changes will be phased in over the
next few years. What are those
changes, when will they take effect
and how much will they cost?
I Here in North Carolina, the In
surance Department's Seniors
Health Insurance Information Pro
gram (SHIIP) trains volunteers to
help older adults with-these ques
tions as well as other questions
about Medicare, long-term care,
claims procedures, and private
health insurance.
Effective January 1, Medicare
changed the way it pays hospitals
and skilled nursing homes. Medi
I care will now pay for all eligible
hospital bills except the first $560
per year. For a stay in an approved
skilled nursing home, Medicare
will now pay all eligible costs
above $25.50 per day for the first
eight days, then 100 percent for up
to 150 days.
On October 1, 1989, another new
benefit will affect those who re
main at home when a spouse enters
a nursinghome. The at-home
spouse will be allowed to keep up to
$786 a month in income ana up to
$12,000 in assets. The change is de
signed to keep the at-home spouse
from becoming impoverished.
In January, 1990, Medicare will
begin paying for respite care,
mammography screenings for
women over 65, and expanded
home health services. Also in 1990,
Medicare will implement a new
t out-of-pocket maximum: after the
individual's 20 percent copayment
and deductible reaches $1370,
Medicare will pay 100 percent of
approved physician-outpatient ex
penses. The patient will still be re
sponsible for all costs above Medi
care-approved levels.
? In January, 1991, Medicare will
begin paying 50 percent of ap
proved outpatient prescription ex
penses above a $600 deductible. In
1992, Medicare will increase its
share to 60percent and in 1993 to 80
percent. The deductible will also
inc
The new Medicare benefits come
with a cost to beneficiaries: a
Medicare Part B premium of $31.90
a month is to be deducted from so
cial security checks.
Beginning with 1989 tax returns,
those with a federal tax liability
must pay $22.50 for each $150 of in
come tax due-with a maximum of
$800 for each eligible person (to be
paid along with your tax return) or
$1600 per couple filing jointly.
Those who file separately may
have to pay as much as $1,600 for
each spouse if both are Medicare
eligible.
Even with the changes, Medi
care will not cover all of a person's
health care costs. Such high medi
cal costs as eyeglasses, hearing
aids, dental care, and long-term in
termediate and custodial nursing
care will not be covered by the new
law. Private insurance to supple
ment Medicare will still be a rea
sonable purchase for most people
and there are many options from
which to choose.
Another major change is related
to low income beneficiaries of
Medicare. Medicaid assistance can
now be used to pay for Medicare
premiums, deductibles and co-pay
ments for many low income elderly
whose income is at or below 80 per
cent of the federal poverty
guideline.
To be eligible, an individual's or
couple's resources (not counting
residence) must fall below a cer
tain dollar amount. You must ap
ply for this option through your
county department of social serv
ices. It's estimated that 60,000 low
income elderly in North Carolina
may be eligible for this assistance.
For those concerned about the
high cost of nursing home care, pri
vate long-term care insurance is
available and there are many op
tions and limitations the consumer
should be familiar with. t
Anyone with a question about
Medicare, Medicare supplement
insurance or long-term care insur
ance should contact the SHIIP pro
gram at 1
Christopher and Kelly Peckham had an opportunity to build a snowman last week. How? Neighbor Lin
Boynton visited his hometown in Maine and brought the delighted children a truckload of snow to play
in. They are the son and daughter of Chris and Denise Peckham of Beech Springs.
Commodities distribution reminder
Perquimans County will receive
butter, cornmeal, all-purpose
flour, dry beans, raisins, pork and
egg mix for distribution in Feb
ruary. The Hertford Lion's Club
will begin the distribution at 11:00
a.m. on February 21, 1989, with a
rain date scheduled for February
22, 1989, beginning at 8:30 a.m. It
will be conducted at the Ice Plant,
Grubb Street, in Hertford and will
be available to all income eligible
households in Perquimans County.
Households having four or more
members should bring a helper
with them to assist in carrying the
food to their car.
All households who will not be
able to pick up their commodities
may use a representative for this
purpose. The commodities card or
application must be signed in the
correct places for this to be accep
table. No household will be allowed
to pick up food for more than them
selves and one other household as
representative. There will be no
exceptions.
There will be two lines at the dis
tribution site. The second line will
be for the handicapped and-or dis
abled WHO ARE PRESENT AT
THE DISTRIBUTION to pick up
their food. A doctor's note, stating
the disability, must be provided.
Again, there will be no exceptions.
Cars may not be driven into the
distribution area. Please remem
ber to park only in authorized park
ing areas as the Hertford Police
Department will be patroling the
area.
Applications may be obtained
from the following agencies begin
ning February 6, 1989: Department
of Social Services, Health Depart
ment, Economic Improvement
Council, Catholic Social Services,
Senior Citizen Center and the Open
Door Ministries at the Ice Plant.
The Commodities Distribution
Program is available to all eligible
persons without regard to race,
color, national origin, age, sex. re
ligion, handicap, or political be
liefs. Information about regula
tions against discrimination and
how to file a complaint may be se
cured from the N. C. Division of So
cial Services, 325 N. Salisbury
Street, Raleigh, N. C., or from your
county department of social serv
ices.
The income criteria are listed be
low:
HOUSEHOLD GROSS INCOME MUST BE BELOW LEVEL Or APPROPRIATE SIZE HOUSEHOLD
Household Size
1
2
3
k
5
6
7
8
Add for each additional
household member:
Per Year
$ 7,150
9,620
12,090
1 ^4 ,560
17,030
19,500
21,970
2i?,V40
$ 2,^70
Per Month
$ 596
802
1 ,008
1,21^
1 ,1?20
1,625
1 ,831
2,037
$ 206
Per Week
$138
185
? 33
2 80
328
375
*?2 3
1*70
$ I* 8
Republican
convention set
The Perquimans County Repub
lican Party will hold its 1989
County Convention on Monday,
March 6 at the Perquimans County
Courthouse, announced Wallace
Nelson, county party chairman.
The precinct meetings will be held
at 7:00 p.m. with the County Con
vention immediately following.
"Our state's politics is chang
ing," stated Nelson. "Last year we
reelected Jim Martin governor and
elected Jim Gardner lieutenant
governor." Nelson was referring to
the 1988 Republican Party victo
ries in state elections. He added,
"We have seen the make-up of the
legislature change also with the
Repulicans gaining seats in both
the House and Senate."
These Republican gains are not
limited to state-wide races as was
noted by Nelson. "In our area we
have seen the election of Republi
cans, a sheriff in Chowan County, a
commissioner in Pasquotank
County and a Republican majority
on the Dare County Commission, '
Nelson said.
Shirley Perry, vice chairman of
the 21-county First District GOP
urged all Republicans to turn out
for the precinct meetings and
County Convention. Perry, a resi
dent of the Belvidere precinct and
1968 candidate for the First Dis
trict House of Representatives
added, "Anyone interested in affil
iating with the Republican Party
should attend also. There will be
someone present to help with regis
tration."
Vernon James plants a grapevine in the arbor of the Newbold
White house, replacing ones destroyed by chemicals earlier
Alb. Fire Assn. holds banquet
The Albemarle Firemen's Asso
ciation Firemen of the Year
awards banquet and the election of
its officers was held at the annual
Ladies Night meeting at the Mo
yock Fire Department on Feb
ruary 7.
A special music program was
presented by Raffael and Beth
Farrow of the Berea Church of
Christ of New Hope.
Following the music program,
the election of officers was held.
The officers for 1989 are: President
- Chief Ray Cullipher, Durants
Neck Fire Department; First Vice
President - Lt. Gary Swanner,
Edenton Fire Department; Second
Vice President - Frank Cherry,
Roper Fire Department; Secre
tary Pat Harrell, .Jr., Durants
Neck Fire Department ; Treasurer
- Phil Tant, Edenton Fire Depart
ment; and Chaplin - Dennis Swain.
Columbia Fire Department.
The Albemarle Firemen of the
Year award went to Chief William
(Billy) Jones of the South Mills
Fire Department.
Those attending from Perqui
mans County were Mr. and Mrs
Ray Cullipher and Mr. and Mrs.
Pat Harrell, Jr. of Durants Neck
F.D., Mr. and Mrs. Vance Hoover
of the Hertford F.D., and special
guests Mr. and Mrs. Raffaei Far
row.
V
Measles do
not threaten
The measles outbreak that hit
Central North Carolina last month
has not reached the Albemarle
Area, according to Susan Gordon
of the Pasquotank County Health
Department "At the present time,
we have had no cases confirmed by
blood tests," Gordon said.
Gordon said that there are a lot
of viral rashes in the area, but no
confirmed measles. The rashes,
she stated, are not unusual due to
the warm weather that lingered
through much of January. Rashes
also follow high fevers on occasion.
Rubeola is the strain of measles
that spread in other parts of the
state. It is especially dangerous to
infants and older adults, and is ex
tremely contagious.
At present, state health authori
ties are not recommending mass
inoculation. They suggest that in
fants be given the MMR ( measles,
mumps and rhuebella) vaccine at
15 months, which is the normal age
children receive the immunization.
Symptoms of the measles in
clude fever, cough, conjunctivitus,
runny nose and a rash. Anyone
with these symptoms should re
main at home and call their physi
cian or health department.
Gordon said that it does not ap
pear that the measles will pose a
threat here. However, the local
health departments will be ready
to vaccinate if the need arises.
stopugni to
be installed
The N.C. Department of Trans
portation has announced that a
stoplight will be installed at the in
tersection of Church Street Ex
tended and U.S. Highway 17.
The decision was made after lo
cal agencies waged a letter and
telephone contact campaign due to
their grave concern over safety at
the intersection after the causeway
is closed later this month. The traf
fic should increase dramatically at
that time, and many school buses
will have to use that intersection.
The county, town of Hertford and
Perquimans County Board of Edu
cation all worked together for the
installation of the traffic light.
According to County Manager Paul
Gregory, Phil Godwin of the High
way Commission was instrumental
in assisting in the acquisition of the
light.
Gregory expressed his apprecia
tion to Godwin and Jimmy Litch of
the N.C. D O T. He said department
employees were here the afternoorv
of the morning he called Litch. All
of the local entities involved in the
acquisition process were relieved
to receive word of the installation.
If all goes according to schedule,
the causeway should close around
February 24. The traffic light
should be installed before the end
of the month.
Hertford man
found guilty
A Hertford man was found guilty
of possession with the intent to traf
fic cocaine in federal court re
cently.
Andrew Lugene White, who was
arrested in December 1987. was ap
prehended with approximately
three ounces of 91 percent pure co
caine by the Perquimans County
Sheriff's Department. He had been
out on bond awaiting trial since
that time.
Perquimans Sheriff Joe Lothian
said, "This is probably the most
satisfying conviction our depart
ment has had." Lothian said that
his department handled the inves
tigation from start to finish, begin
ning with surveillance.
Lothian said the case rep
resented the first big drug bust in
the county.
Two injured in
weekend brawl
The Perquimans County Sher
iff's Department responded to a
late-night call in the Chapanoke
section of the county Saturday
night, and found two men injured
as a result of a knife fight.
Deputy Eric Tilley arrivec^on the
scene at the spot known as the Cow
boy Club to find Jewel Gason and
Stanley Walker cut after having
fought.
According to eye witness ac
counts, the Elizabeth City men be
came embroiled in an argument It
has not been established who first
pulled a knife.
Sheriff Joe Lothian reported that
Eason was severely injured, suf
fering deep lacerations to the stom
ach and small intestines. He was
transported by the Perquimans
County Rescue Squad to Albemarle
Hospital, where he was admitted
Walker received cuts to the ear,
was transported to Albemarle Hos
pital, was treated and released.
Charges against both men are
pending further investigation,
according to Lothian.