THE PERQUIMANS WEEKLY
Votume M, Mo.38 USPS 428-080 Hertford, Perquimans County, N.C., Thursday, September 2^ 1989 30 CENTS
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Beyond the Weeds
Briefs
High schoo! to ho!d
open house on Oct 4
Perquimans County High School
invites students, parents and inter
ested community members to a
special satellite telecast at the high
school in the faculty conference
room next to the cafeteria on
Wednesday, October 4 from 7:30
8:30 p.m. Those attending will have
an opportunity to get acquainted
with the programs available to stu
dents on the TI-IN satellite net
work.
During the half hour from 7:30
8:00, there will be refreshments
and a time to ask local educators
questions about satellite courses
fbr students.
From 8:00-8:30, the State Depart
ment of Public Instruction will
broadcast a program of informa
tion about the resources accessible
through this new technology.
TI-IN is a fully interactive tele
vised education network. It deliv
ers learning opportunities to
students and teachers which would
otherwise be unavailable because
of distance, expense, or limited en
rollments. This open house will
give students and parents a chance
to let their local educators know
what courses are needed from the
TI-IN Network for the 1990-91
school year.
Ptayhouse sets date
for dinner theater
Tickets are now on sale for the
upcoming production of the com
edy melodrama, "He Ain't Done
Right by Nell," to be presented at
Angler's Cove Restaurant private
party room on October 20,21,22,27,
38 and 29.
! The evening of entertainment
and gourmet buffet will be pro
duced by the Perquimans Play
house, Inc. in conjunction with
Angler's Cove Restaurant. Seating
& nmited and reservations are re
quired. Tickets are available at the
Perquimans County Chamber of
Commerce office, telephone 426
3657.
Members of the cast include
Carol Hammer, Frank Parrish, Ch
ristine Carson, Steve Farthing,
Becky Carson, Jennifer Quick and
Billy White.
The production staff includes Bob
Hess, Dave and Iris Dallas,
Frances and Stephanie Hammer,
Jennifer Quick, Norma McMullan
and Brenda Hollowell.
Perquimans Playhouse, Inc.
holds membership meetings on the
first Monday of each month at An
gler's Cove Restaurant, and mem
bership is open to all persons. Come
'ami experience the fun.
FmHA p!ans )oan
servicing program
Chowan and Perquimans County
farmers with loam} from the Farm
ers Home Administration are in
vited to a meeting on October 2 on
how FmHA's computer program is
used in considering loan servicing
options such as rescheduling ana
write-down, FmHA County Super
visor, Melvin E. Howell, said re
cently.
The meeting will be at 2:00 p.m.
at the Martin Community College,
Room 14, in Williamston
Howell said the meeting is partic
ularly important for FmHA bor
rowers behind in their payments
and those having difficulty with
their loans.
"We will go over all the options
available to those borrowers and
explain how to go about finding one
that will kern) them in operation,"
Howell said. "We will be putting
emphasis on the Debt and Loan Re
structuring (DALRO computer
program that was developed just
for this purpose."
Howell said DALRt does many
mathematical calculations quickly
and in a number of combinations in
helping in the analysis of farm fi
nancial plans.
"If a restructuring plan exists
(hat will keep the borrower on the
farm, DALR$ will find that plan,
and that plan will minimize the cost
of debt restructuring, " he said.
Officiais are working hard to
tight Perquimans drug traffic
An Associated Press (AP) news release concerning the
drug operation of the Harveys and alleged police corruption
in Perquimans County printed in the Daily Advance on S<Mh
tember 7 received mixed responses in Perquimans. The
news release sparked comments from former law enforce
ment officials, present law enforcement officers and resi
dents.
The news release, however, must be analyzed before con
clusions can be drawn from it. The information used in the
article was taken from a report on drug operations in eastern
North Carolina prepared by the U S. Attorney's office.
First, it should be noted that the report was compiled in
February 1988, approximately 18 months prior to the AP
press release.
Secondly, since the time of the release which stated, "Po
lice corruption is perceived by the public as being wide
spread in this area of North Carolina due in large part to
drug operations," the Hertford Police Department has had
almost an entire new slate of officers employed. The only
officer still on the force is Patrolman Robert Harvey, who
Police Chief Aubrey Sample describes as "as honest as they
come."
Finally, Fred and Linda Marie Harvey have both been
tried, found guilty and sentenced on drug-related charges
since the report was issued. Both are now incarcerated.
Sheriff Joe Lothian said that it took over a year to build a
sound case against the Harveys, who were trafficking in co
caine and operating a "shooting gallery," a place where peo
ple gather to use illegal drugs. He said that the Harveys had
been under suspicion for quite some time before the investi
gation that led to their eventual arrests and prosecution.
Lothian expressed his disappointment that the Harveys
were able to plea bargain, resulting in lighter sentences.
"The reason that there was a plea bargain done," he said,
"was because the case was so poorly put together and was
rushed by several agencies in an attempt of one trying to
outdo the other." Involved in the case was the Hertford Po
lice Department, Perquimans Sheriff's Department, State
Bureau of Investigation, Federal Bureau of Investigation
and Elizabeth City Police Department.
That type of situation should not occur now, according to
Lothian and Sample. "We re basically lending mutual assis
tance right now/' Sample said. There is close cooperation
between the departments.
The departments are correlating services, but the two de
partment heads are frustrated by the lack of cooperation
from citizens.
"In order for a police department to function, you've got to
have the cooperation of the community," Sample com
mented.
Both men told of cases in which there are suspects, but no
physical evidence to link the suspect to the crime. In some
instances, eye-witnesses are either unwilling or unable to
identify the criminal, further hampering efforts to pros
ecute.
Why are citizens unwilling to identify criminals? "From
what I've seen since I've been here, the people in this com
munity are scared. They won't come forward," Sample la
mented.
Another serious problem faced by law enforcement offi
cials is not being called to crime scenes. The officers told of a
case where a gun battle took place, but their departments
were not aware of the shoot-out until a month after it hap
pened. They have even been informed that drug dealers have
blocked off streets, but no one turned them in until several
days after the incident.
Drugs are rampant in Perquimans County. The sheriff's
department has logged over 150 drug-related arrests in the
past 14 months. U S. Highway 17 provides the artery through
which drugs travel here. Water surrounds the county, the
chosen route of some drug dealers. The Hertford Police De
partment has been understaffed for many months.
The drug situation did not escalate overnight, and it will
not go away overnight, according to Sample. The problem
has been mounting for years, but some citizens could not
believe that drugs were here, and refused to deal with the
problem then.
Laying the drug problem to rest squarely on the shoulders
of the drug dealers is unfair, said officials. The users, they
said, must also be dealt with. If the market dries up, the
dealers must move away.
Both men feel that the situation will get worse before it
gets better. Gangs have begun to infiltrate the county, which
can lead to the same type of events which have occured in
Washington, D C. "The threat is real," said Sample.
Within the next 10 years, they feel that other gangs will be
in the county, competing for their share of the drug trade.
What do the two top-ranking law enforcement officials in
Perquimans County plan to do about the drug traffic?
"We're going to do our job," said Lothian. "We re sticking it
out," Sample replied.
Both men know the dangers in going after drug kingpins,
but Lothian said, "As law enforcement officers, we don't
mind taking the heat. " But, Lothian added, they must have
community support.
People have to be willing to call in criminal actions, go to
court to testify against law-breakers and open their eyes to
the fact that the drug problem is not isolated in certain neigh
borhoods. "It would surprise you who's dealing and buying,"
Lothian commented.
Summing up his feelings, Sample said, "The only reason
this country 's in existence is because the citizens defended it.
They won't defend it any more.''
U S. Attorney Margaret Currin has pledged her support of
local attempts to fignt crime. She has told Lothian that she
will visit soon to access the situation and see if there's any
thing she can do to help law enforcement officials.
Hopefully, it won't be too little, too late.
E!C wiiil) sponsor chHd care food program
The Economic Improvement Councii, Inc. fuli year head
start announces the sponsorship of the child care food pro
gram. Meais wiil be available at no separate charge to chil
dren enrolled at the Perquimans Head Start Center and will
be provided without regard to race, color, national origin,
religion, sex or handicap.
The chart below lists family size and income standards
used to determine eligibility. Eligibility standards for the
child care food program are effective July 1, 1989 through
June 39,1990.
For more information, call 482-4495.
FAMILY SIZE
1 $
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
FOR EACH
ADDITIONAL
HOUSEHOLD
MEMBER ADD:
A.
WEEKLY
FREE REDUCED
150 $ 213
201 286
252 358
303 431
354 504
405 576
495 649
507 721
+51 +73
MONTHLY
YEARLY
FREE
$ 648
869
1,090
1,311
1,532
1,753
1,974
2,195
REDUCED
$ 922
1,237
1,551
1,866
2,180
2,495
2,809
3,124
+315
FREE
$ 7,774
10,426
13,078
15,730
18,382
21,034
23,686
26,338
+2,652
REDUCED
$ 11,063
14,837
18,611
22,385
26,159
29,933
33,707
37,481
+221
+3,774
The house that once sat on the corner of Edenton Road
and Market streets has been dismantted. At! that is teft of
the former dwetting is part of the chimney and debris.
The property, which is owned by the Bertha C. Lane es
tate, was one that the town had targeted for condemna
tion.
Mathews re-eiected to
cooperative board
Director Charles H. Mathews of Perquimans County and
Garry Meiggs of Camden County were re-elected by mem
bers of the Albemarle Electric Membership Corporation
(EMC) at their annual meeting held Saturday, September 9
in Hertford. Thomas A. Bateman of Chowan County defeated
Paul C. Williams for the District 2 Chowan directorship.
President L A. Harris announced that the EMC will be re
funding approximately $233,000 in capita! credits. Members
should have them in hand sometime during October. Mr.
Harris said, "The refund covers credits from the balance of
1976 and 20 percent of the 1988 capital credits. " Thus far, $1.7
million has been refunded to past and present members.
Joseph A. Byrum, vice president of the EMC, retired from
the board effective September 9. L A. Harris recognized By
rum for his 21 years of service to the cooperative.
General Manager Dorris White reported that growth in
some areas was less last year than in 1987; however, 1988
was still a very good year.
New programs are being offered to increase kilowatt-hour
(kwhr) sales and off set some of the system demand which
increases the EMC's average unit cost per kwhr. Targeted
first are water heaters. Under the program, any member
with a gas water heater or any member in an existing home
who has never had a water heater who installs an electric
water heater will receive a $159 rebate if a load management
switch is installed on the water heater.
The second promotion wiH be directed at security lights - a
very good area for off-peak sales. The main thing Mrs. White
stressed was, "These programs will be cost effective and
beneficial to our total membership."
White said, "In 1988 members purchased a total of 86 mil
lion kilowatt hours of current, a 5.2 percent increase. Reve
nues from 1988 increased 14 percent and totaled $6.4 million.
The average revenue per kilowatt hour sold was 7.9 cents, an
increase of almost six-tenths of a cent.''
White concluded her message by saying, "We pledge to
exert our best efforts to operate your business in a manner
consistent with your desires. Of course, this does not mean
we can please ail members all the time, no matter how great
our effort toward that goal. But we can try, and we do try."
There were 227 members present for the meeting. The
EMC serves portions of five counties: Chowan, Perquimans,
Pasquotank, Camden and Currituck, and services 7,500 me
ters in these areas.
County receives grant
to fund athietic faciiity
Governor Jim Martin recently announced that the Na
tional Park Service approved Perquimans County's $38,500
matching grant application for the initial development of a
7.87 acre site which will include two athletic fields with fenc
ing, lighting, backstops, dugouts, restroom facilities and a
parking area,
The facilities will be built on county property in Winfall.
The adult softball program sponsored by the Perquimans
County Parks and Recreation Department was halted here
two years ago due to the lack of available lighted athletic
fields in the county. The program once utilized a field at Per
quimans Middle School, but that field is no longer lighted,
making night play in the county impossible for the adult pro
gram.
Said Recreation Director Anthony Downing upon receiving
the news of the grant's funding, "I am thrilled. We re going
to try to get started getting some work done to the fields so
we can have them ready to go by softball season. "
Work will begin soon on grading and levebng the fields,
and on installing the light poles.
Downing said he also plans to try to use the facility for the
county's youth soccer program. Tliat program has a spring
and a fall season, and presently teams practice and play on
fields at the Central Grammar School in Winfall.
Grant funds were obtained under the federal Land and Wa
ter Conservation Fund Program. The 26-year-old program
has pumped more than $59 million into state and local recre
ation agencies in the state, involving 777 recreation projects
for local government units in 94 of North Carolina's 100 coun
ties.
The Perquimans County Commissioners budgeted their
$38,500 in matching funds in this year's budget.
"These LWCF local grants assist in meeting some of the
backlog of local outdoor recreation needs in these commu
nities," Gov. Martin said. "This program has served as a
major catalyst to the state's park ana recreation movement
by helping to create a permanent legacy of public parkland
across North Carolina for current and future generations to
enjoy." 1
Photo by Betti Finney
Hugo whipped waves over this pier at Hoiiday isiand, but
spared Perquimans from the wrath that it unfuried on
Charieston, S.C. Many residents took precautionary
measures such as taping windows, but the storm roared
intend, rather than travei up the coast.