North Carolina Newspapers

January 25, .O 013165 08/17/1996 i persuwans county library 110 U ACAOEWY ST HERTFORD NC 27944 The Perquimans Weekly Vol. 64, No. 4 The only newspaper for and about Perquimans County people Hertford, North Carolina 27944 Political newcomer files for register of deeds The great flood PHOTO BY SUSAN HARRIS Friday’s downpour created a small lake at the intersection of Church and Dobbs streets.Ned Matthews of Ned’s BP Service and Department of Social Services employees High water causes traffic problems at town intersection reported that motorists at the intersection have suffered four flat tires in the past two weeks due to high water in the streets. Young bikers, however, were enjoying the fun. By SUSAN R. HARRIS Editor Hazel Eure’s weekend got off to a bad start. She was traveling south on Church Street Friday, turn ing right onto Dobbs Street when she hit the curb and was left with two flat tires. Eure said she could not see the outline of the curb due to the high water level at the intersection. Water stood several inches deep in some places, up to the top of the curb on all sides of the intersection and lapped against the steps of the Gingerbread Inn. Ned Matthews of Ned’s BP Service and Carlyn Brown, a Perquimans Department of Social Services employee. said Eure’s flats made the fourth in two weeks at the intersection. According to Matthews, all the motorists said they «ouldn’t see the curb due to the street flood ing after heavy rains. Town Manager John Christensen said the town '.has tried every means short of tearing up the drain pipes to alleviate the problem, but has been unsuccessful. According to Christensen, ti appears that roots from trees and bushes planted near the town’s storm drain pipes have grown into the pipes. Leaves and other debris have become packed against the roots, creating a blockage. The town has used its equipment, borrowed equipment from Edenton and Hazel Eure of the White Hat community was a flat tire victim of the flood at the intersection of Church and Dobbs streets Friday afternoon. Eure said she could not see the curb due to the high water level, hit the curb and ended up with two flat tires as a result. even had a private contractor use pressure and vacuum equipment to try to clear the clogged pipes, Christensen said. He has spoken with offi cials of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church and made plans to dig up the drain pipes as soon as he hears back from them. If heavy rains return to the area causing flooding before the project can begin, Christensen said the town plans to put orange cones at the intersection to help motorists safely navigate the intersection. While the flooding caused problems for motorists, chil dren on bicycles seemed to be having a lot of fun riding through the high water. Plan ahead for healthier babies From staff reports If you ask a pregnant woman whether she wants a boy or a girl, nine times out of ten she’ll say it doesn’t matter as long as it is healthy. That’s the finding of Wanda C. Stallings, Maternal/Child Health Educator for the Pasquotank-Perquimans- Camden-Chowan District Health Department. During January, which is Birth Defects Prevention Month, Stallings has been try ing to educate the public on the importance of good prena tal care. “When we think about our own reproductive future or the futures of our family members or friends, one thing we have in common is hoping that our children will be born healthy,” Stallings said. “Unfortunately, not all children are born healthy. Some are born with birth defects or are born too small to be healthy.’’ Although there are no guar antees in the health field, there are steps that can be taken to help prevent prob lems for the baby and mother. One example of a positive action is seeking good, regular prenatal care. It is generally through prenatal care that a woman learns what she can do to have as healthy pregnancy and baby as possible, Stallings said. Unfortunately this care may not start soon enough. The time in a pregnancy when the baby’s organs begin to form is before many women know they are pregnant. A woman’s health and habits prior to con ception and during the earliest weeks of pregnancy can be very important in preventing birth defects and low birth weight. Most major birth defects occur between two and eight weeks after the start of preg nancy. Since this is before most people know they are pregnant, good health and healthy lifestyles before preg nancy can help to protect a developing baby even before parents are aware that a preg nancy has occurred. Some birth defects may be prevented by making health changes prior to pregnancy and during the early weeks of pregnancy. These improve ments include avoiding use of alcohol or other “recreational” drugs, eating a nutritious diet, achieving excellent sugar con trol for diabetic women, limit ing exposure to potentially toxic substances or chemicals at work and home, avoiding strenuous activities that sig nificantly raise the body tem perature, and changing pre scription drugs to the safest ones for a pregnant woman and her unborn child. “By having information on the importance of health, per haps it will encourage more responsible parenthood and help prevent teenage pregnan cy,” Stallings said. “When women, particularly teens, become aware of the number of prepregnancy health and social factors that could affect the health of future mother and her child, they may gain a new understanding of the importance of planned preg nancies and responsible par enthood.” For information on family planning and prenatal care, contact the PPCC Health Department at 338-2167. Two incumbents also file to keep board seats By SUSAN R. HARRIS Editor A political newcomer has filed for the office of Register of Deeds. Gregory Barclift of Winfall will challenge present register of deeds Deborah S. Reed for her job. Two incumbents have also filed to retain their respective seats on county boards. County commissioner Shirley Yates, who had already said she would seek another term of office, filed last week. Wallace Nelson, a present member of the board of educa tion, also filed to keep his seat. Nelson had said recently that he was favorably considering filing, but had not made his final decision. Elections supervisor Eula M. Forbes said Monday that the state elections board has not sent local elections offi cials information on the cut-off date for voter registration for the May 7 primary. Residents who are not registered, wish to change party affiliation or have moved to another precinct should visit the elec tion office Mondays, Wednesdays or Fridays before noon to complete the proper paperwork to allow them to vote in May. Call 426-5598 for more information. Perquimans’ electoral system: How it works By SUSAN R. HARRIS Editor Perquimans County elec tions have changed in the 1990s. A new county electoral plan was implemented in early 1994 Although one election was held under the terms of the new system, there are still those who question exactly how the system works. An overview of how the local electoral system works follows. Any resident of Perquimans County who meets the state requirements for candidacy may file for an available seat on the board of commissioners or school board. Candidates run at large. They do not file to represent the precinct or town ship in which they live. The last date to file for the 1996 May primary is Feb. 5 at noon. The school board election is non-partisan, meaning that it does not matter if a candidate is a Republican, a Democrat or a member of any other politi cal party. An unlimited num ber of candidates may run for office. Because the election is non-partisan and does nbt require a primary, winners in May are actually elected to the board. In May, all registered voters may go to the polls in the precinct in which they live and vote for school board can didates. All the candidates’ names will appear on the school board ballot. Each voter is allowed to choose one candi date only. With three seats available, the three candidates who get the most votes will be elected. Under a policy recently imple mented by the school board, members will take the oath of office in July. The board of county com missioners candidates do file as representatives of the party with which they are affiliated. An unlimited number of candi dates may run. In May, voters who are reg istered Democrats can go to the polls in their precinct and will receive a baUot listing all of the Democrats running for the board of county commis sioners. Registered Republicans will receive a bal lot listing all of the Republican candidates. The three Democratic candi dates receiving the most votes will be declared the Democratic candidates for the November general election. Likewise, the three Republican candidates who receive the most votes will be declared the Republican candi dates for the November elec tion. Of course, if there are less than three candidates from either party, then the one or two candidates will automatically go on the November ballot. In the November general election, each registered voter, regardless of party affiliation, will be allowed to choose one candidate from the total num ber of Democratic and Republican candidates chosen by their parties in the May pri mary. It does not matter in November whether voters are registered as Democrats or Republicans. Voters may choose any candidate from the list on the ballot. The three candidates with the highest vote totals will be declared the winners in November. They will be sworn in at the December county commissioners meeting. Call 426-5598 for additional election information. Outside High: Low: 40s 20s MOSTLY CLEAR SATURDAY V /S High: Low: 60s 40s CHANCE OF RAIN