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THE PERQUIMANS WEEKLY
VQlume 59.No.13
USPS 428-080
Hertford; Perquimans County, N.C. Thursday, March 29,1990
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'^l»6ftVS .. .. ■ '
| Lady Pirates win
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FARM ' "T
Buy healthy foods
Page 14
FEATURE
Spring fashions
Page 6
Briefs :
DMV to chanao hours
The Hertford Division of Motor
Vehicles office will have new hours
effective April 2. The office will be
open Monday through Friday from
9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and closed Satur
days. This change in hours is to
conform with the hours as re
quested by the North Carolina Divi
sion of Motor Vehicles.
Thompson pig-pickin'
planned for April
There will be a pig pickin’ on Fri
r day, April 13 to off the campaign to
re-elect R.M. “Pete” Thompson.
The meal will be $10 per plate, and
will be served at the ARPDC build
ing beginning at 6:30 p.m. Anyone
who would like to get information
or reserve tickets should call L.
Paul Smith at 426-7592 or Wayne
Howell at 426-7844.
Groundwater meeting
scheduled at EC8U
Groundwater is a source of drink
ing water for more than 55 per cent
of the state’s residents, yet this pre
cious resource is increasingly
threatened. Hie Albemarle Envi
ronmental Association is sponsor
ing a public meeting, “Danger
Down Under,” on Thursday, March
29 at 7:30 p.m. at the new Science
Building on the campus of Eliza
beth City State University.
Chip Hughes, formerly of the
Clean Water Fund in Raleigh will
speak about threats to groundwa
ter, how it becomes contaminated,
and how local citizens can help pro
tect this vital resource. Much of
what he will discuss comes from a
Comprehensive study that un
masked many problems in North
Carolina. Published last year by
the Clean Water Fund, ‘‘Danger
Down Under: A Citizen’s Guide to
Groundwater Protection in NC.”
reports on the status of groundwa
ter across the state.,
According to the Clean Water
Fund, groundwater protection is
hampered in North Carolina by a
lack of coordination among state
agencies and inadequate enforce
ment at contaminated sites. Fed
eral statutes to protect and clean
• up groundwater have yet to be im
plemented here.
One contaminated site revealed
by the study was the fuel spill at the
Coast Guard Base. This will be dis
cussed at the meeting, and a rep
resentative of the Coast Guard will
be available to report on the status
of the ongoing clean-up efforts. For
further information call 426-9563. .
FmH A schedules elections
Melvin E. Howell, County Super
visor for Chowan-Perquimans
FmHA Office, announced today
that FmHA is seeking the support
and participation of minorities and
women in the upcoming County
Committee election, which is
scheduled for July 2.
Howell said that the agency feels
it is important that the County
Committee reflect, to the extent
practicable, the diversity of the in
dividuals served by its programs.
Minorities and women, along with
other farmers and their spouses,
who have their principal farming
operation within the county or area
in which the election is being held,
are eligible to be nominated.
. As a result of the Agricultural
Credit Act of 1967, FmHA borrow
ers are eligible to be candidates for
the County Committee election.
There is, however, a limit of one
FmHA borrower on the committee
atanytime.
If you are personally interested
or want information on now to nom
inate someone, call the FmHA of
fice at (919) 426-5733 or stop by the
office located in the ARPDC Build
ing, Church Street Extended, Hert
ford.
FmHA is an equal opportunity
lender.
Thinking of placing a
Classified Ad; but not
sure how to do it? Just
call our friendly Ad
visor, Elenora. She will
he glad to help you.
■ 426-5723
Perquimans
jfc Weekly
” 119 W. Grubb St.
, 8 o.m.-5 p.m., Mon.-Frt,
Photos by Beth Finnev
The crowd at the rally in Camden
last Wednesday night was united
in its efforts to seek better educa
tional opportunities for children
in small rural counties. At left, the
Perquimans High School jazz
band provided a portion of the
entertainment for the evening.
Farmers should beware poor seed quality when buying
Bin-Run and Brown-Bag “seed” are a prob
lem not only for the larger seed companies, but
also for small seedsmen and seed growers. This
“seed” is usually sold in violation of seed laws
(state and-or federal) and the Plant Variety
Protection Act. All seed sold are supposed to be
labeled in accordance with these laws. In truth,
however, most of this Bin-Run and Brown-Bag
“seed” cannot be labelled or sold legally. And
usually such “seed” are of lower quality or un
known quality.
The marketing of Bin-Run and Brown-Bag
“seed” is hurting everyone. First, the farmer is
getting lesser or unknown quality seed. Sec
ondly, this so-called “seed” is by-passing the
seed improvement programs in North Carolina -
farmer seed growers, seed companies and
wholesale-retail seedsmen. In other words,
most of this commercial grain turned into
“seed” is by-passing programs that are supply
ing high quality seed of improved varieties for
N. C. Agriculture. Some of these violators or in
fringers are known and should be cautioned and
encouraged to deal in legitimate seed - not boot
leg seed.
The Plant Variety Protection Law
The PVP Act was established as Federal Law
in 1970. It grants the breeder of a protected vari
ety the exclusive rights to reproduce and mar
ket, for planting purposes, seed of that variety
for 18 years. During that period of time, the pro
tected variety can be legally reproduced and
sold for planting purposes only as prescribed by
law.
This program benefits consumers, farmers,
seed growers and dealers alike. The PVP Act
encourages seed research to bring new products
and technology to the market place. This means
improved varieties with more dependable
yields. Research data has shown that yield im
provements have been made as a result of this
increased effort.
The North Carolina and Federal Seed
. Laws •
Both the North Carolina Seed Law and the
Federal Seed Act require that all seed sold must
be truthfully labelled. The N. C. State Seed Law
has some minimum requirements for germi
nation, total weed seed, noxious weeds, etc. The
law prohibits the sale of non-certified seed of
some protected varieties that have been desig
nated for sale “only as a class of certified seea’
under the PVP Act.
The Seed Certification Program
The Seed Certification Program was orga
nized to provide a systematic way of growing,
storing, conditioning and marketing seed. Such
crops are produced specifically for seed (not
commercial grain converted to “seed.”) All cer
tified seed are inspected by an unbiased “third
party” - The Crop improvement Association - to
be sure that specific standards of quality are
met. The Seed Certification Program is a vital
part of the N. C. Agricultural Industry.
The Bottom Line
Let us all support the legitimate seed industry
in North Carolina -for the good of the farmer and
the seed program. Beware of a violator of the
laws. Varieties under the PVP Act are all prop
erly identified as being protected. The breeder's
rights under these laws are going to be enforced,
and I am told by some companies that legal ac
tion may be taken.
Again, support the seed industry against bla
tant violators of seed laws. The industry has as
it’s purpose developing improved varieties and
providing high quality seed for the farmers.
Consumer groups are pushing for low-income banking
■ Are you one of the many people
who has trouble cashing checks or
has to pay a charge in order to cash
your checks? You will be glad to
know, then, that two bills have been
introduced into the U. S. House of
Representatives that will mandate
the provision of low cost, no frills,
basic banking accounts and the
cashing of government checks by
banks and savings and loans. Per"
haps other salary checks would be
included.
Consumer groups are pushing a
requirement that banks and thrifts
offer checking accounts with mini
mum balance requirements of un
der $25 and 10 withdrawals a month
would provide for registration at a
bank so that identification would
not be necessary.
Seventeen per cent of all families
in this country and baetween 40 and
50 percent of low income families
have no bank accounts and have to
pay between 1 percent and 6 per
cent at check-cashing outlets to
cash their checks. That means if
you have to cash two $500 checks
every month, it will cost you be
tween $120 and $720 a year.
Living without a bank account is
risky. Nine per cent of the consum
ers in Virginia that were living
without checking accounts have
been robbed of cash in the last two
years, compared to two hundredth
of one per cent of those Virginians
who have a checking account.
This is a problem that needs at
tention.
There is a real difference in the
structure and cost of checking ac
counts these days, and it pays to
find the one that suits your needs
the best
To shop for one you need to as
semble your facts. How much
money can you keep in the bank?
How many checks will you write
each month? How often will you de
posit or withdraw money in a
month? Do you expect to earn in
terest on your account? Do you
need to get your checks back? Will
you use the automated teller ma
chines or go into the bank?
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When you are looking at the re
quirements for minimum balances,
keep in mind that the bank may be
talking about your average balance
for the month or it may mean the
lowest amount you have in your ac
count at any one time.
Even though you may find an ac
count such as a NOW account that
pays you interest on your balance,
it may pay you to put any your
money over the minimum required
into a savings account rather than
an interest bearing checking ac
count because savings accounts
usually pay more interest. The few
minutes of effort you spend shop
ping for your checking account can
possibly save you $100 in a year’s
time. Good pay for the time spent.
Rally brings
together
needy schools
By SUSAN HARRIS
There were cheerleaders an
bands at Camden High School gym
last Thursday night. But the stakes
were much higher than for any
sporting event at which the groups
have performed.
Thursday marked the first joint
meeting of large groups of parents,
teachers, elected officials and con
cerned citizens from Camden, Per
quimans and Tyrrell counties. The
group, which calls itself CBS, short
for Citizens for Better Schools, is
organizing to fight for what its
members consider fair funding for
small, rural public schools.
Parents in Camden County
started the grass roots effort, which
then spread to Perquimans and on
to Tyrrell. Several people from
Gates County also turned out to be
come involved.
The movement is an outgrowth of
the Small Schools Consortium, a
group of superintendents from rela
tively poor school systems across
North Carolina who are working to
bring attention to the economic
plight of less affluent systems.
Camden Superintendent Rick
Denning and Perquimans Superin
tendent Mary Jo Martin have been
very persistent in their efforts to
gain much-needed funds for small
schools.
Speakers for the evening included
Perquimans Attorney J. C. Cole
and State Representatives R. M.
“Pete” Thompson and Vernon
James. Thompson and James,
along with Marc Basnight, have
pledged their support to the effort.
Pasquotank, native Cole told the
group, ‘Small rural counties need
special help if our children are
going to be able to compete in a
very competitive society.”
Cole also commented about the
video “No Other Choice” which
contrasts an affluent Durham
County high school with a very in
adequate Northampton County
high school.
l hompson commented tavorabiy
on the group’s enthusiasm, and en
couraged them to remain steadfast
in their objectives.
James was also impressed with
the group’s collective determin
ation, and said he feels that such an
effort by voters will have an affect
on funding.
Linda Williams, a member of
Camden’s CBS steering committee,
served as mistress of ceremonies
for the evening. She informed those
gathered that there are 170 state
legislators to write and the goal is
for all of them to receive a lot of
negative mail to get their attention.
She said that letters should be
written individually and discour
aged form letters and petitions.
This campaign is the first in a se
ries. The group plans to write ini
tially prior to the May 21 short
session. There will be another cam
paign prior to the 1991 session.
The parents and superintendents
involved in CBS and the Small
Schools Consortium contend that
present formulas used by the state
to fund schools are not fair to chil
dren from small counties.
The state constitution guarantees
children in North Carolina equal
education. But with a major portion
of school funds coming from local
budgets, many feel that the consti
tution is not being upheld.
Students from large urban areas
with a wide tax base are able to en
joy better facilities and wider
course offerings than those from
small, poor counties.
“My people are ready to go to Ra
leigh tonight,” said Tyrrell County
superintendent Dr. Betsy Stallings
after the rally.
The group is hoping that these
peaceful, non-threatening efforts
bring about the desired results. Al
though no parent, politician or
school administrator will say “for
the record” to go the route of citi
zens of other states and sue North
Carolina, people have been made
aware that a lawsuit may have to
be filed in order to see a change.
But for now, CBS is hoping that the
state legislators will listen, and be
gin taking steps toward more equi
table distribution of tax dollars for
schools.
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