30 Cents
Schools
need big
bucks
By SUSAN R. HARRIS
Edttof
Perquimans County Schools
need an estimated $12.7 million
to upgrade facilities and imple
ment new programs throughout
the system.
“That’s realistic.” said
schools superintendent Randall
' L. Henion. “That’s not a pie-in
the-sky projection.”
The information was pre
sented to the county commis
. sioners Monday evening when
school officials discussed the
findings of an architectural study
performed by HBA and Asso
ciates in Virginia Beach.
The long range plan required
by the state every five years in
cludes replacing Central School
in Winfall. The top priority on the
school board’s needs list, the
new school would call for the big
gest chunk of the $12.7 million
at an estimated cost of $6.5 mil
lion.
To be built on the existing
•: site behind the present facility,
the new building would house
preschool through second
grades.
Henion told commissioners
that a new facility would be built
in the same architectural style of
the present building. He said ar
chitectural and engineering stud
ies have shown that it would not
be feasible to renovate the build
ing.
Next on the list is renovating
Hertford Grammar School.
Needed there are classrooms, a
resource center, media center ex
pansion, multi-purpose space,
administrative support space, air
conditioning and a new sewer
' system. The price tag for renova
tions is estimated at just over $2
million.
Two projects were listed as
needs at the high school. The
most pressing includes a
$200,000 project to bring the
auditorium up to state code and
-. tearing down the King Street an
nex.
Number six on the list is a
. $2.6 million upgrade at the
school to include technology ed
ucation space, a media center
expansion, gym and locker room
expansion, administrative sup
; port expansion and technology
education equipment.
Other needs on the list in
; elude a $750,000 computer
technology network, a $265,000
bus mantenance facility renova
tion. a $14,000 school plant
maintenance facility upgrade
and $330,000 at the middle
school, which was the last prior
ity
Henion was joined by school
board chairman Wayne Howell
and board member Wallace Nel
son at the commissioner’s meet
ing. The group told the
: commissioners that the needs
listed and their priority order
was in line with the last state-re
; qulred study done five years ago.
-' At that time, the middle school, .
' was the top priority. Thanks to a
. $2 million chunk of capital
■. needs funds from the state and
v additional local support, that fa- <
dlity should be renovated by late
summer.
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“Our middle school should
.; be in excellent shape by the be
- ginning of next school year." He
*-■. nlonsaid. v
The state asked that needs :
be listed through 2002-2003 re
gardless of funding availability.
Henion said he felt having
the study done professionally
would help the county get grant
maples and funds from govern'
';•! moit or private sources. V
> ; “We’re looking to the state of
North Carobna for more help and
elsewhere to meet ovir goals." He
nlonsaid. . ,*■ V v
i Henion said the children in]
Perquimans County deserve lbet-J
p, ter facilities such as those en
‘ Joyed by larger, more wealthy
areas of the state. ■ - . ,4
, “Right now the playing held
v to unlevel.” he said.
Gary and Sharon Winslow share their celebration of
the birth of Christ with this handmade nativity scene
in their front yard. Lawn displays are becoming in
creasingly popular. (Photo by Susan Harris)
Residents deck the halls
From the wreath on the front
door to the lights wrapped around
_ the eaves, Perquimans residents have
dressed their homes for the holidays.
Lights twinkle on fence posts,
shrubbeiy. yard lights, doors and
rooftops throughout the county.
Carolers, snowmen. Santa Clauses,
reindeer and nativity scenes shine in
the beam of spotlights. Bows of red
-and gold wish glad tidings to all who
pass. Inside, homes display
Christmas trees, holiday table
settings and favorite ornaments from
past and present. Stockings are hung
by the chimney awaiting the arrival
of Santa Claus. Waterfront dwellers
. have placed Christmas lights on
piers, sending beams of color
reflecting across the quiet waters of
the Perquimans River.
Arrests reported
The Hertford Police reported the following ar
rests:
On Dec. 11, Doris Marie Wood, 34, of Lot 2
Dogwood Mobile Home Park, Hertford, was ar
rested and charged with forgery and uttering and
larceny. A secured bond of $1.200 was set.
On Dec. 11, Linwood Clifton Wood, 33, of Lot
2, Dogwood Mobile Home Park, Hertford, was ar
rested and charged with forgery and uttering and
larceny. A secured bond of $1,200 was set.
On Dec. 12, Stephen Troy Leary, 20, of 190
Alder Branch Road. Shiloh, was issued a citation
for speeding.
On Dec. 12. Anthony Bernard Little. 26. of
Route 2, Box 423. Williamston, was issued a cita
tion for speeding and for license plate cover.
On Dec. 12, Wilbert Lee Jones, 31, of Lot 13,
Meads Mobile Home Park. Hertford, was arrested
and charged with assault with a deadly weapon.
A secured bond of $200 was set.
On Dec. 13, Richard Barry Jackson. 38, of
301 Dobbs Street, Hertford, was issued a citation
for driving while license revoked.
On Dec. 13, Doresia Virginia Land, 36, of 121
Wynne Fork Court, Hertford, was arrested and
charged with assault by pointing a gun. A se
cured bond of $500 was set.
On Dec. 13, Andre Karl Mercer, 25, of 229
Sleepy Hallow Road, Camden, was issued a cita
tion for speeding.
On Dec. 13, Faye Symons Stallings, 60, of
720 Gaston Drive, Hertford, was issued a citation
for improper passing.
On Dec. 14, Danny Lee Darrow, 28, of P.O.
Box 82, Point Harbor, was issued a citation for
speeding.
On Dec. 17, Manuel Miller, 30, of 329 Market
Street, Hertford, was arrested and charged with
simple assault. An unsecured bond of $200 was
set.
On Dec. 17, Marion Jackson Miller, 28, of
Route 2, Box 43-T, Hertford, was arrested and
charged with two counts of assault with a deadly
weapon, and simple assault. A secured bond of
$600 was set.
Helping hands make Christmas merrier
By SUSAN R. HARRIS
Editor
Many people in, Perquimans
will have a merrier Christmas,
thanks to the generosity of
county residents.
Monday the Parksville Ruri
tans distributed gifts to 129 chil
dren. The club put a Christmas
tree in Woodard's Pharmacy dec
orated with tags. Upon each tag
was written the age, sex and
clothing si?es of a child Santa
needed some help buying gifts
for. People looking for someone
to do something special for dur
ing the holidays chose a tag, pur
chased gifts, wrapped them and
sent them back to Woodard's.
The Ruritans picked up the gifts
and distributed them Monday.
Five tables stood full of
brightly-wrapped gifts Monday,
when parents stopped by the Ru
ritan building to pick up gifts
purchased for their child(ren).
Smiles decorated the faces of
most parents who left with arms
full of presents.
"We were able to help more
kids than we did last year," said
Ruritan Carla Hurdle.
Names for the Christmas
TYee Project came from the De
partment of Social Services.
in aacunon ro me rnmian as
sistance, other civic groups also
contacted Social Services to find
families who needed help with
gilts.
Churches and civic groups
were generous in their donations
to a new project organized by So
cial Services employees this year.
Several hundred dollars was
given to buy Christmas presents
for the county’s foster children.
Susan Chaney, who oversees the
foster program in Perquimans
County, said she was delighted
with the overwhelming response.
“I am just so grateful.”
Chaney said. "These children will
have what I think will be the best
Christmas since they’ve been in
our program.”
County church congregations
and school groups have gathered
food, clothing and gifts for others
this holiday season. Groups have
also visited nursing homes, pre
senting programs, refreshments
and gifts to residents. . - - * :
Ruritans Gill Underwood and Tommy Dale help
prepare gifts for needy children. The Parksville
Ruritans sponsored the Christmas Tree Pro
ject for the second year, and collected gifts for
129 children who might otherwise have had a
- V - -i-' : -rO':; '
sad Christmas morning. The Ruritans are just
one group who have lent a hand to make
Christmas better for others. (Photo by Susan
Harris)
/. The Perquimans County Sheriffs Depart
ment reported the following arrests: i
On Dec. 14, John Seymour Gregory, 30. of ;
902 Honeycutt Avc., Elizabeth City, was ar
rested and charged with assault on a female. He
was confined to Albemarle District Jail in lieu of
a $'200 'Secured bond.
On Dec. 16, Edward Allen/few, 18. of Route
4, Box 748. Hertford was arrested and charged
with first degree trespassing. He was released
on a $200 unsecured bond.
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j On Dec. 18, Karl L. Predom Sr; 46. Route 2,
Box 373A, Hertford, was arrested and charged
j with communicating threats. He was released
; on a $200 unsecured bond.
on a $200 unsecured bond.
Vv ■
-ft
On Dec. 19. Ranlad Nicholas Morgan. 22.
Lot 34. Bethel Fishing Center Road. Halford,
was arrested and charged with simple affray. He
was released on a $2QOunsecured bond.
On Dec. 20. Dwight Allen Rea. 23. of 33A
Bethel Fishing Center Road.- Hertford, was ar
rested and charged with simple ai&ay. He was
released on a $200 unsecured bond.
On Dec. 20. Artis Christopher Henton. 32. of
Route 2. Box 119. Hertford, was arrested arid
charged with a deadly weapon, assault on a fe
male, and communicating threats. He was bon*
fined to Albemarle District Jail in lieu of a
$3,000 securedband.
i'
The Perquimans
i Weekly
I Holiday Hours
& Deadline
I Thurs., Dec. 24 Closed at 1:00
Fri., Dec. 25 Closed
DEADLINE: Mon., Dec. 28; 3:00 p.m.
for Dec. 31 edition
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