THE PERQUIMANS WEEKLY
Volume 58, No. 25 USPS 428-080 Hertford, Perquimans County, N.C. Thursday. June 22, 1989 30 CENTS
Farm
Locals win awards
for quality swine
page 8
Local
Briefs
Hertford BPW
members go to
convention
The Hertford Business and Pro
fessional Women's Local Organiza
tion was represented by Dr. M. B.
Taylor, Janice McKenzie Cole and
Fannie S. Leigh at the 70th Annual
State Convention of the North Car
olina Federation of Business and
Professional Women's Clubs, Inc.
held June 15 through 18 at the
Hyatt in Winston-Salem. More than
500 women from local organiza
tions across the state were present.
Dr. Taylor, serving another term
as president of the Hertford organi
zation, was among the 80 local or
ganization presidents presented
Friday evening at the Federation
banquet. The banquet also cele
brated the upcoming 70th Anniver
sary of both the state and national
organizations.
The Hertford organization
placed second for the Marlene
Plyler Award for the club that in
creased its membership by the
largest percentage. Hertford also
received awards for equalizing its
membership and for its contribu
tions to the Ndrth Carolina Busi
ness and Professional Women's
Foundation.
Hertford Police
make arrests
The following arrests were made
in the town of Hertford on June 16,
1989 through June 19, 1989:
Fonzy Miller, 25, 329 Market
Street, Hertford was arrested on
June 16, 1989 for assault by point
ing a gun, possession of cocaine,
marijuana and drug parapherna
lia.
Reginald Combs, 22, Rt. 4, Box
1000, Hertford was charged with
assault on a female June 16, 1969.
Johnny Flyth, 28, 416 Dobbs St.,
Hertford was arrested on June 18,
1989 for first degree trespass.
Trudy Charlene Overton, 26, Rt.
2, Box 31T, Meads Trailer Ct.,
Hertford was charged with shop
lifting on June 19, 1989.
Blacks, school board clash over school renaming
By JOE SOUTHERN
Staff Writer
HERTFORD ? Approximately
60 members of the black commu
nity met with the Perquimans
Board of Education Monday night
to urge the board to consider chan
ging the name of Perquimans Mid
dle School to King A. Williams Mid
dle School in honor of a black man
who made many personal sacri
fices for the school. The all white
board unanimously rejected the re
quest.
The board went into a long and
heated discussion with the group,
hearing several people voice rea
sons why they wanted the change
and why it was so important to
them. The board stuck to a 10-year
old, unwritten policy of not naming
a school in the county after an indi
vidual. The decission visibly upset
the group which vowed they would
return in larger numbers to again
make their request.
In a move clearly intended to
send a message to blacks, the
board unanimously voted on a mo
tion by Clifford Towe to not change
the name of the school. Instead, the
board offered a tentative compro
mise to name a new vocational
wing of the high school after Wil
liams. The compromise did not set
well with those in attendance, as
they said they were looking to
change the name to honor Williams
and his many accomplishments.
One person spoke out and said
that Williams dedication went be
yond being a vocational instructor
and principal. She said it was his
dedication and hard work which
helped to purchase land for the
school. Williams, who was then one
of the few black homeowners in the
county, mortgaged his home to
help buy the land for the school. He
often provided the use of his car to
transport children when the bus
broke down.
Shirley Yates acted as a
spokesperson for the group which
was a committee of Perquimans
Middle School alumni. She said
that the group had been consid
ering proposing a name change for
about a year. Earlier this year
Yates went to the board as a
spokesperson for the group. She
said that she was first .told that
there would be no name change in
honor of an individual. After some
persuasion the board tabled the re
quest for further consideration.
However, when the board held
firm on its stand to not name a
school after an individual both
These children enjoy a nutritious lunch free of charge at Missing Mill Park. The meals are available to
children 18 years an younger through the Perquimans County Schools. Meals are available through
July 28, except July 4 at several locations throughout the county.
Yates and Rev. John London pro
tested saying it was a waste of
their time to be invited back to ar
gue their case when the board al
ready made up its mind not to
make the change.
Rev. Willie B. Moore addressed
the board saying that it was past
time the blacks in the community
received some recognition for their
dedication and contributions to the
county.
"I thought that through the years
the board would see fit to offer
something like that... without us
having to ask for it," Moore said.
He went on to speak on how people
should receive what they have
earned. He said that Williams, and
the blacks of the community, had
earned some recognition. All they
wanted was to receive it.
"I'm sure that it is racially moti
vated," Yates said after the meet
ing. The board tried to argue that
the policy is not racial. Chairman
Clifford Winslow said that the pol
icy of not naming a school after an
individual was set during a similar
case 10 years ago. He said that
race did not matter when it came
to naming the school. Board mem
ber Ben Hobbs said that he was in
favor of the logical, geographic
naming of the schools rather than
honoring any specific individuals.
Rev. London, along with several
other people, asked if it is posible
to change policy, and if so, what
steps are necessary to do so. Fol
lowing the meeting Yates said the
group does not want to let the issue
die, and that they will be back with
another request.
County tax rate to rise
Passed by the county commis
sioners Monday night was the 1989
90 fiscal budget which raised the ad
valorem tax rate from 68 cents per
$100 valuation to 73 cents per $100.
The tax increase was necessary
to balance the $3,990,205 budget,
according to the budget message
prepared by County Manager Paul
Gregory. Commissioners last year
voted to hold the tax rate at 68
cents, the same as the 1987-88 fiscal
year. Due to increased needs, the
commissioners were unable to hold
down the tax rate for a second
year.
Renovations to the Blanchard
building next year are expected to
exceed $134,000. The total renova
tion of the 9400 square foot facility
will cost between $350,000 to
$400,000.
The structure will provide much
needed office space for the Dis
patch Department, Sheriff's De
partment and Building Inspection
Department, as well as providing a
new courtroom. The county ex
pects to complete the renovations
in fiscal 1990-91.
Revenues for the project will
come from ad valorem taxes, court
facility fees and state grants.
School needs are also high on the
county's priorities list. The com
missioners appropriated the bud
get as requested by the board of ed
ucation. In addition to the monies
for bond retirement, the schools re
ceived $904,300 for current expense
and $185,500 for capital outlay.
The board of education will draw
heavily on their reserves for ur
gent facilities needs in fiscal 1989
90 to meet their budget needs of
$356,500 in capital outlay and
$1,502,300 in current expense.
Commissioners increased per
manent county employee salaries
by 7.5 percent in an effort to be
competitive with the surrounding
counties. It was also hoped that the
increase would help to compensate
for the lack of salary increase two
years ago.
The Recreation Department re
ceived $38,675 to construct two new
county athletic fields. This figure
represents 50 percent of the total
cost. The other half of the project
cost will come from a federal
grant. It is felt that the complex
will be a great asset to the county.
Presently, the county owns no ath
letic fields, and must play all
sports on school property
Also included in the budget is an
ticipated Emergency Medical
Services expenditures of $81,064.
Next year will be the first full year
the department is operational.
Fiscal 1989-90 will be the last
year of the jail expansion line item,
which totals $104,762, plus a pro
jected carry-over of $61,400. Per
quimans County's 22 percent share
of the project is expected to be
$292,762.
The budget is based on a tax col
lection rate of 95 percent with a tax
base of $269,780,489. This would
provide revenues of $1,870,927.
Dismal swamp
Visitor Center
to open today
Raleigh? Federal and state offi
cials will be attending the dedica
tion ceremony for the Dismal
Swamp Visitor Center scheduled
for today at 1 p.m. The visitor cen
ter, located on Highway 17, 3 miles
south of the North Carolina-Vir
ginia state line, is the only visitor
center in the state that serves both
motorists traveling along the high
way and boaters traveling along
the Dismal Swamp Canal.
Local officials from Currituck,
Camden, Pasquotank, Perqui
mans, Chowan, Washington, Tyr
rell, Dare, Gates and Hyde coun
ties will also be participating.
Activities for the center's official
opening day include the dedication
ceremony and the placing of the
Dismal Swamp Canal on the Na
tional Historic Register. The ded
ication ceremony also is being held
in conjunction with the 50th Anni
versary of the Coast Guard Auxil
iary.
In April 1988, the N. C. Board of
Transportation awarded a $1.1 mil
lion contract to Outer Banks Con
tractors to build the visitor infor
mation center and rest area.
The contract called for the con
struction of a 1,560 square foot
building and vehicle parking area.
In addition, a 150-foot dock would
also be constructed to provide a
rest area for tourists traveling
along the Dismal Swamp Canal.
The dock would be constructed by
DOT personnel at a cost of $108,000.
Construction began in May of 1988
when Gov. Jim Martin broke
ground for the visitor center.
Arts and crafts will be on display
during the ceremony and luncheon
plates will be sold for $3.90. The
luncheon is sponsored by the Albe
marle Commission. The public is
invited.
Correction
Last week's front page headline
2oocernii)g the high school gradua
tion incorrectly identified the uni
- JIM
The
versify of which Dr. Jimmy
kins u chancellor.
read "ECU Chaw
to PCHS graduates." Dr.
Jenkins it chancellor at I
Cify State University i
County ups
permit fees
The county commissioners Mon
day night approved new fees from
the building inspector's office to
take effect August 1.
The higher fees were proposed
by building inspector Aubrey On
ley, Jr. after he surveyed the fees
of surrounding counties. The pur
pose of the increase is to attempt to
make the office self-supporting.
The department also needs additio
nal personnel, which should be
hired next fiscal year.
By law, Perquimans County
must have a building inspector. If
the department is not self-support
ing, commissioners said, then the
funds to operate the department
must come from ad valorem taxes.
Commissioner Durwood Reed said
that everyone should not be re
quired to subsidize those who wish
to build structures.
When the new fees take effect
August 1; inspection and permit
fees will increase by 98 percent on
a 2,000 square foot house, jumping
from the present $123 to $244. Fees
on a 1,200 square foot home would
jump 87 percent, from $107 to $200.
The schedule also sets minimum
fees, in addition to per square foot
fees, for construction.
The commissioners will adver
tise the new fee schedule next
month.
Holiday Island water problems
County Manager Paul Gregory
shared with commissioners a letter
from the Holiday Island Property
Owners Association complaining
about low water pressure over Me
morial Day weekend.
Gregory read his response to the
commissioners who authorized its
mailing. He told the property own
ers thai a lever broke in the Winfall
plant prior to the time employees
got to work on May 27, which di
minished the water supply in the
tank.
With the influx of people to the
subdivision over the holiday week
end, the pressure was reduced.
Holiday Island is a bulk rate cus
tomer. They own the lines inside
their subdivision.
Gregory said that with the recent
opening of the Belvidere pumping
station, the water pressure prob
lems should improve.
See Commissioners,
page 2
A crowd gathered at the courthouseMonday to hear the N.C. High
way Commission's report and ask for work on their roads. The
commissioners unveiled a $906,710 plan for unpaved rural and
unpaved rural subdivision roads in Perquimans County. Although
, , ? J
several projects will be undertaken if funding is available in fiscal
1989-90, there are still some who will have to live on an unpaved
road for some time to come.
N.C. Highway commissioners visit Perquimans
Members of the North Carolina Highway Commission came to Hert
ford Monday afternoon to unveil the state's 1989-90 plan for upgrading
unpaved rural roads in Perquimans County. A large delegation of
county residents eager to see their roads paved filled the courthouse.
The commission anticipates a total of $906,710 in secondary road
funds to be available if the revenue bill is ratified by the General As
sembly.
Almost 12 miles of unpaved roads are scheduled for paving next
fiscal year at a cost of $876,500. Administrative costs will account for
the other $30,000.
Monies collected from gasoline taxes are appropriated proportion
ally with the miles of unpaved roads per county. Anticipated from this
source is $332,929. Added with the $1,215 carry-over, the total available
funds will be $334,144.
Those funds will grade, drain, base and pave Carolina Shores Road
($188,000), widen Beech Springs Road from 16 to 20 feet ($115,000) and
spot stabilise N. Bear Swamp Road ($1,500).
If the revenue bill is ratified, several streets in the Snug Harbor
subdivision will be paved, along with other short stretches m the
county. The roads to be improved with revenue monies must be used
by 50 cars per day.
Streets and roads to be Improved would be SR 1411, an unnamed
street; Hemlock Street, Laurel Street, Sycamore street. Russell
Drive, Webb Street, Jordan Lane, Maple Avenue, White Oak Avenue,
Nayaho Yeof>im Trail, Evergreen Drive, Charlie Griffin Road
""unleM some contingency hinds become available or a higher prior
ity project cannot be done, Boy Scout Road will be graded, drained and
stabilized, but not paved during fiscal 1989-90. Paving that road is high
est on the contingency agenda.
Other roads that should be paved as soon as funds become available
are Sueoln Beach Road, Lee Drive, George Lane Road and Hog Neck
Road. These projects total $465,000.
Highway commissioners told the interested persons attending the
meeting that the state uses a priority system to determine what roads
get paved. Points are assigned to each road based on the number of
homes, businesses, school buses, recreational facilities and traffic on
the road. Those roads with the most points are top priorities.
This year, said highway commissioners, the roads were broken into
two categories: rural roads and rural subdivision roads. The top 10
priorities under each category are "locked in," to their top 10 slot.
For example, assume that road A is the number 3 priority in 196?
90, but cannot be paved due to a lack of funding. When the roads are
reevaluated, road A would fall to number 12 due to lesser traffic count
in later years. But under the new system, road A must still be in the top
10 priorities because it was there and was left unpaved.
Another feature of the system is that the short subdivision roads
usually have the rights of way in order and can be paved as soon as
monies are appropriated. Work can begin on those areas while rights
of way and other matters are handled on other unpaved roads.
The objective of the N.C. Department of Transportation is to pave
every road in North Carolina used by over 50 cars per day.
Several citizens spoke at the meeting regarding the state taking
over roads, paving roads or re prioritizing, but no causes were made
to the plan.
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