THE PERQUIMANS WEEKLY
!
Volume 60, No. 45
Hertford, Perquimans County, N.C.,Thursday, November 7, 1991
30 Cents
Homecoming 1991
brings fun times to
high school: Page 10
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sportsz
Pirates take lead,
can’t hold on against
Manteo: Page e
Community:
Suitehearts’ is
a-minute
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comedy: Page 3
Briefs
Friendship Club to meet
The Friendship Senior Club
will meet on Tuesday, Nov. 12 at
2 p.m. at the Senior Center.
New members are welcomed, but
you must be at least 55 years
old.
Open House planned
Parents will have a chance
to go back to school the night of
Thursday, Nov. 21 at Perqui
mans High School. The faculty
and staff invite parents to a
short musical program and af
terwards to meet their children’s
teachers. Teachers will be on
hand in their classrooms to
share classroom goals and activ
ities and to give parents the op
portunity to view student
displays. The program will begin
at 7:30 p.m.
Con cart to bo held
In honor of Veterans Day,
the COA Community Band,
which is conducted by David
Ziemba, will hold a free concert
on Monday. Nov. 11 at 7 p.m. at
Southgate Mall.
Jim Hunt visits Hertford
Jim Hunt, who will appear
on the Democratic ticket in the
May gubemational primary, will
be in Hertford on Wednesday.
Nov. 13 at 2 p.m. Hunt's visit is
part of a sweep through North
eastern North Carolina. He ex
pects to be at the courthouse for
about an hour to meet with vot
ers.
Arrests
The Perquimans County
Sheriffs Department reported
the following arrests:
Oct. 24: Armenta Godfrey.
50, of Route 2, Box 310, Hert
ford, was arrested .and charged
with two counts of worthless
checks on a Chowan County
criminal summons.
Oct. 29: Clyde Elliott, 34. of
Route 2. Box 916, Hertford, was
arrested and charged with com
municating threats. He was re
leased on a written promise to
appear.
Page Walker Stone. 34. of
303 Wynn Fork Rd., Hertford,
was arrested and charged with
passing a worthless check on a
Pasquotank County criminal
summons.
Oct. 30: Delores Ivey Mark
ham. 36. of Route 4, Box 239,
Hertford, was arrested and
charged with passing a worth
less check on a Pasquotank
County criminal summons.
Cynthia Chappell Brashears,
36. of P.O. Box 124. BeMdere.
was arrested and charged .with
one county of felony welfare
fraud and five counts of passing
worthless checks on a Bruns
wick County summons. She was
confined to Albemarle District
:4ail under a $1,500 secured
bond.
Fresh Start offered
Albemarle Hospital will be
^sponsoring the American Cancer
Society's “Fresh Start” smoking
‘cessation program in prepara
tion for the Great American
ZSmokeout on Nov. 21.
•>r The program will be pre
sented on four consecutive
-Tuesday evenings beginning
!Nov. 5 and ending Nov. 26.
*y Registration fee is $10, paya
ble to the American Cancer So
ciety. The fee will be refunded to
participants ,who attend all four
sessions.
Pre-registration is required.
Call 335-0531 ext. 5239 for
more information or to sign-up.
DEADLINES FOR THE
PERQUIMANS WEEKLY
ARE AS FOLLOWS:
Hleases . .: MON. 3 P.M.
Advertising ... MON. 3 P.M.
; & UEGALS .. , .MON. 3 P.M.
PRIOR TO THURSDAY
^ PUBLICATION
PERQUIMANS WEEKLY
- r 119 W. Grubb St
; 426-5728
School board: Byrum stays
Board of education chairman
Clifford Winslow and schools su
perintendent Randall Henion
denied rumors circulating
throughout the county that high
school principal William Byrum
was to be ousted during Monday
night’s school board meeting.
Word of the plan struck a
raw nerve in Perquimans County
and brought a standing-room
only crowd to the meeting that
spilled into the hallways of the
schools administration building.
At least a dozen people spoke
out in support of Byrum.
Winslow opened the meeting
by saying that the rumors were
not true.
“There is a rumor being cir
culated that this meeting is to
fire William Byrum.That is not
true," Winslow said. “It’s as far
from the truth as anything pos
sibly can be...I don't know now
these things (rumors) get star
ted...This is just a false rumor.
It’s unfortunate that this thing
has gotten out in the commu
nity like it has.”
Immediately after Winslow
made his comments and opened
the floor, those gathered began
to ask about a related rumor
that Byrum was scheduled for
reassignment. Winslow said the
board had not discussed a
move.
“He (Byrum) does a fine job
where he is,” Andrea Boone
said, after which prolonged ap
plause filled the room.
Teachers, former teachers
who worked under By rum. par
ents. community leaders and
students spoke in support of
Byrum and the job he does.
“I do not think it would be
in the best interest of Perqui
mans County or the present
student body or those to come
to transfer William Byrum in
any capacity,” said Gilliam Un
derwood. Byrum was principal
when Underwood taught at Per
quimans High School. Under
wood told board members that
he thought five times as many
people would attend the next
board meeting should Byrum be
reassigned or removed. He ad
vised them to consider the com
ments from those gathered and
“walk softly."
Retired educator Joe Tunnell
also spoke on Byrum’s behalf.
Tunnell said he worked under
seven principals, including By
rum, and that Byrum was one
of the best. “Nobody in this
county can fill his shoes. I hope
you pay attention to that," Tun
nell said.
Milton Long, the parent of a
student at the high school, said
that Byrum is not only re
Photo by Nancy Royden-Clark
Perquimans County High School principal William Byrum was
surrounded by supporters at Monday night’s board of educa
tion meeting. Rumors that the board planned to fire or reas
sign Byrum struck a raw nerve with county residents. The
board denied the rumors during the meeting.
spected in the local school dis
trict, but is held in high regard
in other systems. Long said it
would be a disservice to the
community to force Byrum to
step down.
High school faculty members
Sherry Smith , and Jane Puryear
pushed board members for a
guarantee that Byrum will not
be removed from his post with
out his consent.
“I know Mr. Byrum is a liv
ing legend in Perquimans
County," Henion commented.
“...1 was very disappointed that
this rumor expanded.”
Henion continued. “I’m not
going to go in and force Mr. By
rum out...He has made Perqui
mans County High School. He
transcends generations."
Jimmy Hunter asked in
whom the authority to reassign
or terminate a principal is
vested. Henion said he is only
empowered to fire the finance of
ficer. Other terminations must
be approved by the school
board, he added.
“The last person in the
county that I would dismiss
would be William Byrum,” He
nion said.
School board member Wayne
Howell said he could not make
any decision on Byrum's dispo
sition that Byrum himself did
not approve.
“1 tonight was just as
shocked as many of you to hear
the rumor." said Walter Leigh,
the most recently elected mem
ber of the school board. “As a
new board member, there was
no idea in my mind about doing
anything to William Byrum."
Board member Ben Hobbs
added that he would vote on
whatever decisions might come
before the board concerning By
rum with Byrum's approval.
Winslow said that while the
board must think about replac
ing Byrum when he decides to
retire, the board had not dis
cussed removing him.
"The board as a whole has
not discussed it.” Winslow said.
Winslow did admit that he
and Henion have discussed
what will happen when Byrum
does decide to retire. He said it
is the responsibility of the board
to prepare for Byrum's retire
ment to insure a smooth tran
sition at the high school. But.
Winslow stated, he does not
think Byrum should be re
moved. He stated later in the
meeting that he did not think
any . decision would be made
about Byrum without Byrum's
approval.
Parents Helen Hunter and
Brenda Bass told the board that
the sudden shuffling of princi
pals prior to the 1990-91 school
year caught patents by surprise,
and those moves had made par
ents especially wary when word
of Byrum's possible reassign
ment began to circulate. They
both said parents want to know
when these types of decisions
are considered.
With those comments came
complaints about the reassign
ment of the other administra
tors. High school faculty
members and parents said
Henry Felton should not have
been removed from the high
school as assistant principal.
Others said that Gary Stubbins
should have continued to serve
at the middle school.
Barbara Nixon told the
board members that they are
elected officials who serve at the
will of the people, and that they
should remember that when
making decisions. She added
that it would be easier to re
place the entire board than to
replace William Byrum.
Stacy Whitley spoke on be
half of the students at Perqui
mans High School. Whitley said
Byrum instills pride in the stu
dents. and has helped raise SAT
scores and decrease the drop
out rate. “Unless he decides he
wants to leave, we would like for
him to continue." Whitley said.
“We've all heard 'If it ain't
broke, don’t fix it.' and Mr. By
rum is working beautifully.
Leave the man alone." Anna
Smith said.
Nixon asked the board to go
on record In support of Byrum
because of the tremendous sup
port shown for him at the meet
ing. Winslow said that action
would be “out of line" and he
would not do that.
After almost an hour of dis
cussion. Byrum was asked to
speak. He said he was humbled
by the show of support. His re
tirement will come in a mini
mum of two years, he said.
Byrum said that he had spoken
with Henion Sunday night and
Monday and would work under
him and with him in the best
interest of the students, “pre
ferably those at Perquimans
County High School."
Byrum’s comments were met
with a standing ovation.
The board ended their meet
ing with an executive session to
discuss personnel matters, but
took no action when they recon
vened into regular session.
Chappell, Eley, Winslow elected in Hertford
Beers, all Winfall candidates run unopposed
'Larry Chappell
Two new faces will be
abound the Hertford Town Coun
cil table beginning in December.
Larry S. Chappell and Sid Eley
were elected to seats Tuesday.
Incumbent Billy L. Winslow was
re-seated. John Beers, who ran
unopposed, will serve as mayor.
Four candidates ran for this
two four-year terms up for bids.
Incumbents Winslow and Jesse
L, Harris and challengers Chap
pell and Carlyn L. Brown were
vying for the seats. Winslow re
ceived the most votes with 313.
or 30 percent of the 1,040 votes
cast Chappell captured 28 per
cent. or 297 votes. Brown gar
nered 229 votes. 22 percent of
Sid Eley '
• * ,
those cast. Harris got 201 votes.
19 percent.
“I am grateful to the people
of the town of Hertford for the
confidence they have once again
shown In me, and 1 will do the
very best job that I can In rep
resenting them as their coun
cilman.” Winslow said after the
vote was posted on the Perqui
mans County courthouse door.
Winslow added that he ap
preciated the candidates who
ran with him for running such
good campaigns. “It was a plea
sure for me to run with them."
he said. The 20-year veteran
Mid he’d never seen candidates
work as hard during an election
Billy Winslow
as most did this year.
“I’d like to thank everyone
who supported me.” Chappell
said. “With the changes on the
board, I believe that we as a
council can fulfill our needs In
the town.”
A two-year seat was also up
for grabs. The seat was made
available when John Beers re
signed halfway through his four
year term to run for mayor. Eley
will fill that position. Also run
ning for the two-year slot were
John London. Joe White and
Franky Brown. Eley received
236 of the 573 votes cast, or 41/
percent. London came In sec
ond, with 209. or 36 percent, of
the vote. White gained 15 per
cent. or 86 votes. Brown re
ceived 42 votes, seven percent of
those cast.
“I’m just elated about the
faith people put in me. I hope
that I can represent them well."
Eley said. "It's been a great
learning experience running for
public office. I’ve made some
good friends during the cam
paign and I hope I do a good job
for the people of Hertford."
Beers received 450 votes.
Board of Elections chairman
Irvin R. Bibb said at 7:15, 599
Hertford residents had voted.
Minutes before the polls closed,
one more brought the count up
to 600. Candidates gathered
outside the courthouse to cam
paign and wait for the polls to
close said they were very
pleased with the high voter
tum-out. especially since there
were no county, state or na
tional elections.
In Winfall. C.W. “BUI” Bart
lett ran unopposed for mayor.
The incumbent received 56
votes. Candidates Jake Chesson
and Bert Hayes ran unopposed
for council seats. Incumbent
Chesson took 51 votes. Hayes
received 48 votes. Hayes will fill
the seat presently occupied by
C.D. Barcllft. Richard “Dick*
Kellar received nine votes. KeUar
had notified the Board of Elec
tions about two weeks prior to
the election that he would not
be able to serve if elected and
was no longer seeking a town
council seat.
Municipal election results
Hertford
Mayor
John Beers 450
Council, 4 year terms (2) *
Carfyn Lewis Brown 229
Larry Seymour Chappell 297
Jesse Harris ■ .V-; :: 201
Billy L. Winslow 313
Council, 2 year term (1)
Franky Brown 042
Sid Bley 23$
John H. London 209
JoeT. White Jr. 066
Wlnfall
Mayor
C.W. "Blir Bartlett 056
Council <2}
Jake Chesson 051
Betl Hayes 048
Richard ‘Dick" Keltar* 009
* withdrew from race
Noise is
problem in
Snug Harbor
Noise is a problem in their
community, and several Snug
Harbor residents asked the Per
quimans County Board of Com
missioners Monday morning to
put an ordinance on the books
that will help to alleviate it.
Spokesperson Coy Hender
son submitted a petition signed
by over 100 residents requesting
an anti-noise ordinance covering
certain situations such as loud
music late at night. Henderson
said amplifiers have been set up
in some yards and turned up
very loud, sometimes blaring
until the wee hours of the morn
ing. He said on one occasion he
asked a group to turn the music
down and they did, but it was
turned back up about half an
hour later. He also said that the
loud music h;us been played un
til as late as 4 a.m.
Henderson told the commis
sioners that the group was con
cerned about a possible
confrontation between residents
trying to sleep and the late-night
loud music lovers if no action
was taken.
According to Henderson, tne
noise problem is not coming
from full-time residents in Snug
Harbor, but mainly from young
people whose relatives own sec
ond homes in the subdivision.
Sheriffs deputies have re
sponded to calls. Henderson
said, but there is little that can
be done without an ordinance
on the books, law enforcement
officials have told the concerned
residents.
The commissioners reminded
the residents that they will need
to be willing to file formal
charges and testify in court to
help stop the problem. >
The commissioners in
structed county attorney John
Matthews to review ordinances
in other Albemarle area counties)
which have been -recently en
acted.
Basketball begins
The Perquimans Recreation
department is now beginning
basketball registration for all in
terested youth ages 9-15. Dead
line for registration is Friday,
Dec. 6. Tryouts will be on Dec.
7. Fee is $7. For more informa
tion or to register, call 426