THE PERQUIMANS WEEKLY
Volume 58, No. 3 USPS 428-080 Hertford, Perquimans County, N.C. Thursday, April 13, 1989 30 <
)
Feature
Chkrlie says good-bye to
his readers
page 4
Sports
Tiger Talk - Middle School
sports news
page 7
Farm
Tractor safety is no
accident
page 10
Local
Briefs
jTown holds public
hearing on grant
The Town of Hertford held a pub
lic hearing Monday night regard
ing an application for a community
development housing grant to be
usegj in the Market and Dobbs
Street areas.
Dick George of the Albemarle
Commission told the councilmen
that $27 million is available from
the N.C. Department of Natural
Resources and Community Devel
opment to fund projects. The maxi
mum grant per project is $600,000.
He explained the point system
used to determine grant applica
tion funding, and added that the re
quirements are stricter this year.
A total of 1,000 points can be ob
tained on each application. Of that
figure, 200 is based on need. The
application must show that there is
3 need to bring the neighborhood
up to standard. The need portion of
the application applies to struc
tures, water and sewer facilities,
streets and sidewalks.
Another 100 points is based on
how many of the needs can be met
with the grant.
The income level of the people
living in the neighbohood accounts
for 300 points. It is based on the
number of people per household
and their total income. The lower
\the income, the more points the
town can obtain.
Feasibility and appropriateness
account for 100 points, while 300
points are based on local funds
commitment.
Heart Association
raises over $1 ,300
The Perquimans County Heart
Association raised over $1,300 from
- their annual celebrity dinner held
at Angler's Cove Friday night.
According to County Heart Asso
ciation Chairperson Chris Lane,
over 100 guests were served deli
cious prime rib, steak, mesquite
chicken or seafood dinners.
Eighteen "celebrity" waiters
and waitresses took orders, served
meals and bussed tables during the
evening.
, County Democratic
Convention set soon
The annual Perquimans County
Democratic Convention is to be
held on Saturday, April 22 at 1:00
Lm., County Chairman John H.
)ndon announced. The convention
will be held at the Perquimans
County Courthouse, Church Street,
Hertford.
At the top of the convention's
agenda will be the election of a new
^county chairman and county Exec
utive Committee officers. One
county member to the state Demo
cratic Executive Committee will
also be chosen, along with a dele
gate to represent the county at the
Congressional District Convention
scheduled for May 20.
Bloodmobile draws
39 pints from donors
I The American Red Cross Blood
mobile visited Hertford last
Wednesday. Fifty-one people at
tempted to donate blood. Thirty
nine pints were collected.
The collection is better than the
December drive, which netted only
31 pints, but falls short of the 60
pint goal.
The Perquimans County Jay
cees, sponsors of the bloodmobile,
expressed their appreciation to
> those who attempted to donate, and
'to the community volunteers who
assisted with the drive.
The next visit is scheduled for
June.
Self-defense classes
offered at Center
The Perquimans County Parks
and Recreation Department-Se
nior Citizens Center will be spon
soring an adult women's self-de
Ifense class starting April 27. The
classes will be held each Thursday
night from April 27 through June 1
from 7:00-8:30 p.m.
In this class, an individual will
learn to protect themselves from
injury ana harm caused by assail
ants. Pressure points, how to pro
tect yourself from the knife attack,
what to do if someone trys to
snatch your purse, effect kicks and
other items will be learned.
) The instructor will be Harrell
Thach and the cost of the class will
be 920. For more information, con
tact the department at 426-5686 or
426-5404.
4
Residents voice concerns to Town Council
Although the public hearing held
prior to the Hertford Town Council
meeting drew little interest, three
residents of the municipality ex
pressed many concerns to the
council during their regular ses
sion.
Eldon Winslow approached the
council concerning the proposed
boardwalk across the river.
Winslow told the board, "I'm not
against it," but said he had ques
tions about parking and policing
the area.
Winslow said people park on his
property many times now to walk
on the bridge, and he foresees that
getting worse if the boardwalk is
constructed.
He added that people who live on
waterfront property are awakened
at many times by pre-dawn boat
traffic participating in bass tour
naments. He also cited noise on the
bridge and trash problems as fac
tors concerning waterfront prop
erty owners.
Bill Glover questioned the walk
way's maintenance costs and re
sponsibilties.
"If the Town of Hertford applies
for the grant and it's funded, then
the Town of Hertford will maintain
and police it," Hertford Mayor and
City Manager Bill Cox answered.
Councilman Jesse Harris asked
if perhaps the state would maintain
the walk.
The question of liability in acci
dent cases was brought up by Billy
White. Walter Edwards, town at
torney, said that it should not in
crease the town's liability. He said
gross negligence would have to be
shown against the town in an acci
dent case in order for the accident
victim to bring charges.
White then asked about fishing
from the structure, to which Cox
replied people fish now even where
there are signs posted outlawing
fishing.
Cox also told the residents that
he had spoken with Larry Chap
pell, on whose land the boardwalk
would end, about parking. He said
that Chappell had agreed to make
his lot available for that purpose.
Councilman John Beers said that
the former pier at the end of Grubb
Street had to be torn down due to
abuse, and he felt consideration
should be given to that fact before
a new like structure is erected.
"We know there'll be some prob
lems we'll have to iron out," Coun
cilman Erie Haste s'aid.
Councilman Billy Winslow said
that the walkway is not intended to
be a fishing pier, but Mayor Cox
interjected that there probably
would need to be designated fishing
areas.
The residents also questioned
whether the piers would be used for
boat docks. Because of the shallow
water in that area, it was felt that
most boats would not be able to
dock there.
Cox told the board and residents
that some Hertford residents had
expressed a desire for a boardwalk
to him and when he discovered 75
percent matching funds through
the River Access Project, he advo
cated submitting an application.
The town has made pre-applica
tion for funding the project. No
word has been received on the dis
position of the pre-application. If
that package is accepted by the
state, a full application will be sub
mitted in May.
Law enforcement changes
Eldon Winslow also asked the
council to investigate the possibil
ity of having one law enforcement
agency in the county. He said that
the believed it might help the turn
over rate in the town of Hertford,
increase law enforcement salaries
and give the residents of Hertford
more protection for their tax dol
lars.
Cox said that the board has dis
cussed the possibility, and he has
called League of Municipalities at
torneys and asked that they look
into the matter on behalf of the
town.
He added that the sheriff is pri
marily answerable to the voters,
not to local governing bodies.
Jesse Harris said he advocated
asking the county to fund the entire
cost of the department if the two
agencies are combined. He said the
most important aspect of the issue
is cost, and that he would strongly
support the merger if it relieves
costs to Hertford residents in
terms of taxes and utility rates.
"It's really down to the dollars
and cents issue," he said. "Let it be
just like the recreation depart
ment," he added.
Billy White said he feared the
town would lose control of its law
enforcement if the merger is
made, as the sheriff answers to the
state attorney general's office. He
felt that the sheriff's department
would not patrol Hertford
"You're beginning to destroy
your identity when you do away
with it (the police department),"
White added.
Councilman Haste said that the
town should not give up control. "If
so (control would have to be sur
rendered), this chair will never
vote to do it."
Councilman Harris said that he
felt the issue should be put to a vote
of the residents.
Bill Glover said that transport
ing prisoners and paperwork take
up much of the sheriff's depart
ment's time.
"Hertford stands to lose more
than we stand to gain," he said.
Haste said he thought a meeting
with the county commissioners is
premature. "We're not prepared to
meet with them," Haste said, be
cause not enough information con
cerning such a merger has been
presented to the council.
"This is a big issue," Coun
cilman John Beers added, saying
that the matter must be given thor
ough consideration before any ac
tion is taken.
Bill Cox said that the council's
first priority should be better law
enforcement.
Haste said that he wanted to
have an expert come in and speak
with the council on the matter.
There were concerns expressed
that the delegation that spoke with
the county commissioners should
have gone to the town board first,
and that the Rotary Club acted in
haste in passing their resolution re
questing that the matter be given
consideration. Eldon Winslow as
sured the group that there was no
"disrespect intended" by he and
the others who spoke with the com
missioners. "They met before you
all did," he told the board.
The residents added in conclu
sion that their concerns are not a
matter of personalities or of either
of the departments doing a poor
job.
Support for local businesses
Billy White voiced a concern that
local business people are not pa
tronized by some government and
organizational units. One such cir
cumstance was the new building at
the Newbold-White complex, he
said. The building was built by an
Elizabeth City contractor, rather
than one of the many local busi
nesses.
He also questioned the fact that
local contractors who had bid on
the nutrition site were not officially
told of the town's decision to act as
its own general contractor on the
project. White was upset because
his son-in-law, who bid on the pro
ject, was never informed of a deci
sion, yet saw building begin.
Town facilities
"It is deplorable, gentlemen,"
Billy White told the council about
the condition of the town's facilities
at the old ice plant. He described it
as trashy, nasty and junky, and
added that the roof leaked badly.
"It's a disgrace," he said
Cox said that he had made the
council aware of the condition of
the roof some time ago, and had
even acquired bids, but that no ac
tion was taken by the board
At White's suggestion, the coun
cil will meet at the facilitity on
Wednesday to see what needs to be
done.
Junk car ordinance
The council was informed that
Officer Tim Spence has been locat
ing junk cars on his patrol. The
people in violation of the new ordi
nance will receive letters along
with a copy of the ordinance. The
residents will be required to re
move the nuisances from their
property.
Hertford Police respond
to armed robbery call
The Hertford Police Department
responded to an armed robbery
call at 11:30 p.m. from Hardee's
Restaurant on April 6. Hardee's
employees reported that a black
male entered the restaurant and
ordered food. When the cashier
opened the cash register to tender
his change, he grabbed money
from the cash register.
Thinking quickly, the cashier
snatched the money back, at which
point the man jumped over the
counter and placed what the cash
ier thought to be a knife near the
cashier's throat and back, de
manding money.
The cashier was unable to open
the register. Other employees in
the restaurant made themselves
visible and cooperated with the
robber. The man jumped back
across the counter and ran with an
undisclosed amount of cash.
There were no other customers
in the restaurant at the time of the
alleged incident.
Spence said that there is a sus
pect in the case, although no ar
rests have been made. Anyone with
information pertaining to the rob
bery should call the Hertford Po
lice Department.
A robbery had also been reported
on April 5 by Raymond Mason of
White Street in Winfall. Mason told
officers that he left a house on
Louise Street Wednesday morning
on his way home. He fell, at which
time someone ran up to him and
took his wallet containing over
$800.
Officers subsequently arrested
Warren Farmer, also known as
Slim, age 40, of Fort Myers, Flor
ida, and charged him with larceny
from a person. The charge is a fel
ony.
After his larceny arrest, la* en
forcement agents found crack, a
popular and lethal form of cocaine,
on Fanner's person. He was then
arrested and charged with posses
sion of a controlled substance
schedule II ,
Farmer was being held in Albe
marle District Jail under a $3,000
secured bond awaiting a May 10
trial date at press time.
Spence said other arrests are ex
pected on the larceny charge.
Officer Robert Harvey re
sponded to a report of fighting in
front of the Rainbow Lounge at
2:00 a.m. on April 7. Because of the
size of the crowd, Harvey called for
backup from Officer Spence.
Spence estimated that there
were 300 100 people fighting with
knives, axes, guns, bricks and
other weapons. He said it was one
of the largest crowds he had ever
seen at a street brawl.
Many of those on the streets were
minors, Spence said. The officers
confiscated several weapons
dropped by fleeing fight partici
pants after Spence sounded his si
ren.
Some of the by-standers told
Spence that a group from Hertford
attacked another group comprised
of Elizabeth City State University
students and their friends from
Hertford.
The case is still under investiga
tion, although no arrests have been
made.
Roger Winslow of W. Railroad
Avenue was arrested on April 4 and
charged with driving while subject
to an impairing substance. He is
out on a $200 secured bond awaiting
a May 10 trial date.
Nelson Isaac "Trick" Jones is in
custody at Albemarle District Jail
after having been brought back to
North Carolina by the Perquimans
County Sheriff's Department from
Atlanta, Georgia. Jones is being
held on a probation violation ana
drug, breaking and entering and
assault charges. His first appear
ance in court is scheduled for April
20.
I 111 ? I ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
Spring blooms peeked through the snow Tuesday morning when residents awoke to find the ground
covered and the snow still falling. Schools were cancelled for the day, and some power problems were
reported. Several accidents had been reported. No details were available at press time.
Adopt-a-Highway program important
Governor Jim Martin has pro
claimed April as Keep America
Beautiful Month in North Carolina.
The proclamation follows a re
ception on March 20 at the Capitol
where Governor Martin and fed
eral, state and local officials hon
ored counties for their partici
pation in North Carolina's Adopt-a
Highway program.
New Hanover's participation
was recognized as tops in the state,
followed by Gaston and Wake coun
ties. Counties receiving honorable
mention were Moore, Dare and
Forsyth.
Rankings were based on the
number of groups involved in the
Adopt-a-Highway program, the
number of miles adopted, the ratio
of groups to population and the per
centage of state-maintained roads
adopted in each county.
In keeping with the spirit of the
proclamation, Keep North Caro
lina Clean and Beautiful Inc. and
the N.C. Department of Transpor
tation will join with the national or
ganization, Keep America Beauti
ful, by promoting cleanup,,
recycling and beautification activ
ities along roadsides and in com
munities during April.
The emphasis on pickup and
proper disposal of trash will raise
public awareness about litter and
involve citizens in keeping our
roadsides clean.
First Lady Dottie Martin has
contacted local officials, chambers
of commerce, agriculture exten
sion agents and Keep America
Beautiful coordinators and has
urged them to promote volunteer
involvement in their municipalities
and counties.
Adopt-a-Highway groups also
will pick up roadside litter in April.
After its first year of operation,
19,00 groups have adopted 4,400
miles of highway and have pledged
to keep them clean for at least a
year.
In addition to thousands of volun
teers, many community service
workers will be assigned to
cleanup work throughout the
month. NCDOT maintenance
crews will concentrate on litter
pickup April 16-22. These crews
will be reinforced with inmates
from the Department of Correction
wherever possible.
"Last spring more than 30,000
citizens volunteered their time to
clean our roads and communities,"
Transportation Secretary Jim Har
rington said. "If we had paid these
folks, it would have cost NCDOT an
estimated $500,000. We extend our
grateful appreciation to all our vol
unteers and encourage them to
help us clean up again this April.
?
The Perquimans County Com
missioners recently requested in
formation from the state regarding
the Adopt-a-Highway program. Af
ter reviewing the material sent by
Dennis Pipkin of the Ahoskie
NCDOT office, the commissioners
voted to endorse the program.
They have pledged their support to
all groups in the county who will
give their time to help keep our
highways clean.
The commissioners commented
at their April 3 meeting on the work
done on U.S. Highway 17 by the
Perquimans Jaycees, who are par
ticipants in the Adopt-a-Highway
program. Chairman Lester Simp
son said that the group is doing a
good job, and that the roadsides
along Highway 17 from Wynne
Fork Road to the bypass bridge
look much better since the organi
zation began its cleaning efforts.
Adopting groups are responsible
for picking up litter along a mini
mum of two miles of highway at
least four times per year NCDOT
encourages recyling of materials
picked up whenever possible.
The group must hold a safety
meeting prior to each work time to
be apprised of safety require
ments.
Youth groups members wishing
to participate must be at least 12
years old, and have written per
mission from their parents to vol
unteer. The permission slips must
be forwarded to NCDOT in Ahos
kie.
The highway department sup
plies orange safety vests, erects
signs identifying the group adopt
ing the portion of roadway at each
end of the limits, furnishes trash
sacks and removes the trash sacks
from the highway.
For information on how your
group can become involved in this
worthwhile project and help to
make the community cleaner, con
tact Dennis Pipkin, NCDOT Divi
sion One Office, Ahoskie, NC 27910.
Blood donors relax as Rad Cross workers watch them at last week's blood drive. The drive netted 39
pints, up from the 31 donated in December.
jf >4 . *