Farming news
Community involvement
program set for February 21
By: Paige L. Underwood
Home Economics Ext. Agent
The Family Community Involve
? ment Program sponsored by the
Perquimans County Agricultural
Extension Service and Extension
Homemakers will be held on Tues
day, February 21 at 7:30 p.m. at
.? the Perquimans County Extension
Office Building
Andrea Held, health educator,
' will present information concern
ing the Perquimans County Health
Department and its' many services
available to all residents. Maria
Hoffman, county librarian, will
represent the Perquimans County
Public Library by sharing the op
portunitites offered by the local li
brary including the outreach serv
ices.
What do you know about the Al
bemarle Commission? (ARPDC)
Don Flowers, executive director, is
eager to inform the citizens of Per
quimans by talking with us, just as
he did recently in Dare County.
There are many unknowns about
the "funny shaped building" on
Church Street Extended. This will
be an excellent time to get the
facts! Patty White, senior citizen
director, is pleased to talk about
one of her "loves" - the seniors,
and what opportunities they are
priviledged to have.
Stan Winslow, county extension
director, will explain the Agricul
tural Extension Service, an agency
which is still not as well known as it
should be after 75 years.
These five agencies are only a
few of the many agencies in the
county. It is possible that others
can participate in a similar pro
gram in the future.
During the evening, there will be
entertainment by the New Hope
Women's Quartet. Members of the
quartet are Cheryl Green, Mattie
Wray Godfrey, Sue Stokely and
Joanne Caddy. Frances Jones is
the group's director.
Refreshments will be served by
the planning committee: Mrs.
Emma Burke, chairman, Mrs.
Thelma Rogerson, Mrs. Shirley Co
hee and Mrs. Jean Umphlett.
The public is invited to attend
this free program.
Watermelon referendum underway
Yes it has finally come, the vote
on the Watermelon referendum is
in February. We informed you ear
lier about the Watermelon Re
search and Promotion Plan, but
lets recap what is happening.
? On December 20, 1988, the Water
melon Referendum was published
in the Federal Register. The voting
on the Watermelon Research and
Promotion Plan is to begin Feb
ruary 6 and conclude February 21,
1989. The proposed plan would au
thorize the collection of equal as
Sessements on watermelon produc
ers and first handlers with the
money to be used for research and
promotion.
The proposed assessment is not
to exceed two cents per cwt. on wa
termelons produced and two cents
per cwt. on watermelons handled.
The producer is defined as one pro
ducing five acres or more of water
melons who owns or shares the
ownership and risk of loss of such
crop. Handlers are defined as one
who handles watermelons (grades,
packs, processess, sells, ect.) (ex
cept comon or contract carriers of
watermelons owned by another
rson). If producer is the first
ndler, the assessment would be
four cents per cwt. The program
should cost each grower about
$3.00 per acre and seems like a
small investment for rich rewards.
The funds are to be used for pro
motion and research programs
with watermelons. Part of the rea
son for development of this pro
gram is the fact that per capita wa
termelon consumption has dropped
from 20 to 10 pounds in recent
years.
The funds will be administered
by a 29 member board appointed
by the Secretary of Agriculture.
Twenty-eight members will come
from nomination by watermelon
producers and handlers; one mem
ber to be appointed from outside
the industry would represent the
public. States will be divided into
seven districts and each district
will elect four members (two pro
ducers and two handlers) for even
tual appointment by the Secretary
of Agriculture. North Carolina is in
district 4.
Notes from Senator Marc Basnight
EMPHASIS ON ROADS FOR THE
EAST
As many of you know, I served on
the State Transportation Board for
many years before becoming State
Senator of the First Senatorial Dis
1 -trict.
I can honestly say that experi
ence was one of the most educatio
nal yet frustrating experiences
I've ever had. A familiar story: so
much need and so little money.
V- I am proud of the accomplish
ments of that Board during my ten
ure, but never was I satisfied that
? the eastern section ofthe state re
' ceived that attention and highway
improvement that it deserved and
. so badly needed.
I During this session of the Gen
eral Assembly, I will serve as Vice
" Chairman of the Senate's Trans
; portation Committee, as well as
Chairman of the entire Budget
; Committee which will strongly in
? fluence the Transportation budget.
Now, we have a proposed state
I highway package that truly ad
dresses the region's needs. The
-catch is that the plan, which would
be implemented over a period of
years, will cost approximately $12
billion. We simply can't talk about
that kind of expenditure without
talking about an increase in taxes.
? {
No one likes the idea of increas
ing taxes, I know that. But I also
'know, from talking to hundreds of
? you over the last few years, that
".better roads are a priority. Better
? roads have been a priority of mine
.since 1976.
These are the major projects for
our area:
US64: The plan calls for accele
ration of the widening of lanes
from Williamston to Tarboro. The
Tarboro to Rocky Mount section is
now under construction and will
open next year.
The Williamston to Jamesville
section of US64 is scheduled for
construction in 1991. Jamesville to
Plymouth is presently under con
struction and will open next year.
The Plymouth to Columbia seg
ment will be done at a later date,
and Columbia to Manteo after that.
US17: What is not now four-lane
on the existing 285 miles of road,
will be widened in the proposed
plan and will include proper by
passes. This part of the highway
project covers 13 counties and af
fects half a million people.
I also think good news is coming
regarding the four-laning of US17
in Virginia. Governor Jim Martin
and 1 are presently negotiating
with officials from Virginia to have
this work done, in exchange for our
four-laning US22 in Rockingham
County, which leads into the
Martinsville area of Virginia.
US 264 will be widened to four
lanes in its totality from Wilson to
Douglas Crossroads in Beaufort
County. I am working now with
Secretary Jim Harrington to also
add the widening of US264 from
Douglas Crossroads to Belhaven,
then from Belhaven to intersect
US264 with US64, for a completely
modern highway project.
Construction of a rest area in
Hyde County is also a wish of mine.
I'll push for that in the plan.
US168: Widen to four lanes, from
the Virginia state line to the inter
section of US 158 Currituck County.
This is another past-due project
now proposed in the highway plan.
US158 from 185 in Warren County
over 195 in Northampton County
through Elizabeth City in Pasquo
tank County, and connecting with
1USI68 in Currituck County in the
] vicinity of Barco;
) and the widening of US 13 from
' Windsor to the Virginia state line
are also included in the proposed
plan.
We've just recently doubled the
number of miles of unpaved sec
ondary roads that will be paved
when the plan is implemented.
The plan proposes a new bridge
over Currituck Sound to the Corolla
area, a new bridge parrelling the
Wright Brothers Bridge over Cur
rituck Sound, a new bridge over the
Chowan River, and over the Per
quimans River, parrelling existing
bridges.
Much hard work and careful de
liberation have gone into what I
consider to be a truly feasible high
way plan. It represents the dreams
of many who have served on va
rious groups and associations with
the single goal of improving the
state's roads and highways. One
thing is certain: the proposed
Highway Construction Plan means
better roads for the eastern part of
the state. I think the plan will be
supported.
SPECIAL INVITATION TO PUBLIC!!
South Haven Manor Rest Home
would like to invite not only the
Woodville area but all the Ten
County adjoining area: To visit
or monitor the Rest Home at any
time.
Have a meal , join in our activ
ities our Sunday School and
Church Services on Sundays.
Come on out and get to know
what rest homes are for your
self!!
Mrs. Carolyn Ward's Hertford Grammar School kindergarten class visited the library Monday. The
students walked to the library, purchased stamps, and mailed their parents Valentine's cards.
Governor Jim Martin has pro
claimed the week of February 19-25
as "Severe Weather Awareness
Week" in North Carolina.
Martin said, "On the night of No
vember 28, 1988, we all saw the
power of nature as tornadoes
ripped across nine North Carolina
counties, leaving death and de
struction. Because North Carolini
ans knew what to do when they
heard the roaring tornado ap
proaching, many lives were
spared. Preparedness paid off. By
becoming more knowledgeable
about severe weather events, we
will be better able to protect our
selves when severe weather threat
ens.
"Severe Weather Awareness
Week" is an annual cooperative ef
fort of the North Carolina Depart
ment of Crime Control and Public
Safety's Division of Emergency
Management, the National
Weather Service and the North
Carolina Department of Public In
struction.
The main focus of the week will
be a statewide tornado drill on
Wednesday, February 22. In the
event of inclement weather on the
22nd, the drill will be held on Fri
day. February 24.
Crime Control and Public Safety
Secretary Joe Dean said, "I en
courage all citizens to take part in
this important emergency drill.
Knowing how to protect yourself
and your family is the key to sur
viving severe weather.
For more information about "Se
vere Weather Awareness Week,"
and the February 22nd drill, con
tact your local Emergency Man
agement Coordinator, Keith Has
kett.
Beware claims of miracle products
Fake fertilizer claims are being
repeated again this year according
to James R. Stevens, N.C. Depart
ment of Agriculture fertilizer ad
ministrator.
"Companies are operating in the
state promoting fertilizer products
of little or no value," Stevens said.
"Their recommended application
rates are so low, it's impossible to
see any benefits."
All fertilizer products sold in the
state have to be registered with the
NCDA but Stevens said sales meet
ings promoting unregistered
materials were being held.
Sale of unregistered fertilizer
products is against North Carolina
law.
"A lot of the sales pitches are be
yond imagination," Stevens said.
Some even claim their materials
make plants drought-resistant.
Others say their products protect
crops from too much water.
A favorite claim is using a small
amount of product on large acre
age. For example, one gallon to 10
acres.
Stevens said only registered fer
tilizer products should be used by
farmers or anyone. He suggested
that fertilizer and lime be applied
at rates recommended by free soil
testing offered by NCDA's Agrono
mic Division.
For information concerning
questionable fertilizer products,
contact Stevens at the North Caro
lina Department of Agriculture in
Raleigh. Phone: (919) 733-3930 or
call Stan Winslow, Perquimans
County Agricultural Extension
Agent at 426-7697.
PERQUIMANS
COUNTY
SERVICE
DIRECTORY
GRACE
OVERMAN
ACCOUNTANT
812 Edenton
Road
Hertford, N.C.
426-5457
Crossroad
Mobile Home
Refrigeration
P.O. Box 1216
Edenton, N.C.
221-4186