May 2,
The PerquimaL
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Vol. 64, No. 18
The only newspaper for and about Perquimans County people
Hertford, North Carolina 27944
Hertford
man dies
during
fire
Cause of death
still under
investigation
By SUSAN R. HARRIS
Editor
A Hertford man died
Sunday afternoon after fight
ing an apparent grass fire near
his home on Harvey Point
Road, but the cause of death
remains uncertain.
Jack William Harrell, 57,
was found in his truck at the
scene by fire and rescue per
sonnel who answered a grass
fire call.
Perquimans County Sheriff
David Lane said his depart
ment was called in after
Harrell’s body was found in
the truck. Lane said the truck
had apparently hit a ditch, a
pole and some trees before
coming to rest. He said it is not
clear whether Harrell died of
natural causes prior to the
crash, or from injuries sus
tained in the crash. The body
was sent to Greenville for an
autopsy. Results were expect
ed on Tuesday.
Two vie for
register of
deeds
By GINGER LIVINGSTON
The Daily Advance
The Perquimans County
register of deeds campaign is
pitting a political upstart
against an incumbent with 19
years of experience.
Deborah S. Reed, a former
assistant register of deeds, was
appointed register of deeds in
1994 when Jeanne C. White
retired after 17 years in the
office.
However, Reed has never
run for elected office, and
politcal newcomer Gregory C.
Barclift says that gives him a
good chance of being elected to
herjob.
Barclift said the register of
deeds office seems to be a good
place to start a political career
as well as being a good job
with good benefits.
“I also think the voters
should have a choice. If we’re
going to have an election, the
voters of Perquimans County
should have two candidates to
choose from.”
Please see DEEDS, page 3
m
By SUSAN R. HARRIS
Editor
If anyone drinks and dri
ves on prom night, it won’t be
because the Perquimans
County High School SADD
Club has not tried hard to get
the message across that
drunk and drugged driving
kills.
The group has been tire
less in its efforts to promote
safe and alcohol-free driving,
especially with the Prom
Promise campaign aimed at
preventing tragedies during
prom weekend.
Last week, all high school
students were called from
class to witness the results of
a mock drunk driving acci
dent. Students watched as
student Amy Whitehurst and
teacher Mary Woodell were
cut from their “crashed” car
with the jaws of life. A high
way patrol trooper dealt with
the “drunk driver,” Jim
Beam, portrayed by Phil
McMullen. Rescue, fire and
law enforcement personnel
performed just as they would
in an emergency situation.
Nightingale actually lifted off
with the “patients.”
The impressive portrayal
was followed with a mock
trial in the school auditori
um. SADD members sat on
the jury while District Court
Judge Chris Bean presided
over the session of Superior
Court. Assistant District
Attorney Michael Johnson
prosecuted the case. Hertford
attorney John Matthews rep
resented the accused.
Perquimans County deputy
Jon Schultz was the bailiff.
Students listened as N.C.
Highway Patrol Trooper C.T.
Griffin told about investigat
ing the accident and his find
ings at the scene.
After closing arguments.
Bean instructed the jury on
their duties. Jim Beam was
found guilty of habitual
drunk driving and was sen
tenced by Bean to 24 months
with credit for time served.
Griffin then told the stu
dent body he hoped it
wouldn’t be them he found in
a crashed car, especially on
prom night. He warned that
eight highway patrol troop
ers will be on duty on May 4,
IS#:-.
m
'll
Amy Whitehurst and Mary Woodell were victims in the mock
drunk driving crash coordinated by the Perquimans County
High School SADD Club with cooperation from the adminis
tration, Hertford Fire Department, Hertford Police
Department, Perquimans County Sheriff’s Department, N.C.
SADD message:
Have a safe and
happy prom night
PHOTOS BY SUSAN HARRIS
Highway Patrol, Perquimans County Rescue Squad and
Nightingale Air Ambulance Service. As the PCHS student
body watched, the victims were cut from the car with the
jaws of life, triaged by the rescue squad, then flown away in
the helicopter. A mock trial followed in the auditorium.
/
*
Guest speaker Ann Smith prepares to tell her story of
being permanentiy disabled in the drunk driving collision
during the candlelight vigil Monday night downtown.
Perquimans County native Brad Hurdle also spoke on the
tragedy of losing his wife of six months, Kim.
the night of “Moonlight
Serenade,” the theme for the
PCHS prom.
Sheriff David Lane said
Monday that he will have
four officers on duty. The
Hertford Police Department
will also be on patrol.
On Monday evening,
SADD sponsored a communi
ty-wide candelight vigil
downtown. Drunk driving
victims Ann Smith and Brad
Hurdle told of the tragedies
drunk drivers had caused in
their lives after a concert by
the PCHS band.
Smith is permanently dis
abled as the result of a drunk
driving crash. Hurdle said he
watched as his wife of six
months died after their car
was smashed by a drunk dri
ver in Greenville. His broth
er, Travis, was also a passen
ger in the car and was seri
ously injured in the crash.
SADD advisor Andrea
Boone said her hope is that
the message not to drink and
drive can save lives on prom
and graduation weekends.
Perquimans youth win at stock show
Four up
for three
county
board
seats
By GINGER LIVINGSTON
The Daily Advance
Two incumbent commis
sioners will face a former com
mission and a current school
board member for three seats
on the Perquimans County
Board of Commissioners in the
May 7 Democratic primary.
Incumbents Archie Miller
and Shirley Yates are vying
with former commissioner Leo
A. Higgins and L. Wayne
Howell for three Democratic
spots on the November general
ballot.
Under Perquimans County’s
single-shot voting method, the
top three vote getters in the
Democratic primary wUl be on
the November ballot, where
they may have to face indepen
dent candidate Bert Hayes.
Please see Board, page 9
Five run
for school
board seats
By GINGER LIVINGSTON
'The Daily Advance
Five people, only one of
whom is an incumbent, are
running for three open seats
on the Perquimans County
Board of Education.
Elections for the seats will
be held May 7 and the winners
seated during the board’s first
meeting in July.
Hertford pharmacist
Wallace Nelson, who’s seeking
reelection, is the only incum
bent in the field. He is joined
by Employment Security
Commissioner Manager Kathy
Keefe, Perquimans County
Farm Service Manager
Thomas L. Riddick Sr.,
Apricot supervisor Cathy
Terranova and retiree Helen
Shaw.
Whomever is elected in May
will have to deal with several
hot-button issues over the next
four years. Besides incorporat
ing school reforfh efforts like
charter school grants and
accountability standards, the
board ofieducation will have to
come up with a plan to replace
Perquimans Central School.
And like all area schools, the
Perquimans County Board of
Education must continue to
update and improve its educa
tional technology.To find out
Please see School, page 10
Outside
By SUSAN R. HARRIS
Editor
It was a very good year in
the barnyard for Perquimans
County youth participating in
the 51st annual Albemarle 4-H
Livestock Show and Sale last
week.
Tara Thach was especially
impressive in the showman
ship category. Thach took first
place junior showman in both
swine and steer competitions.
In addition, Thach’s steer
earned reserve champion hon
ors. It was purchased by Hobbs
Implement Company for
$1,000.
“Tara had a great year,”
said Cooperative Extension
Agent, Livestock Jeff
Copeland. “To take first place
showman with two animals is
quite a feat. That just doesn’t
happen very often. That says a
lot for her ability as a show
man.”
Another top finisher from
Perquimans was Earlie Byrum
Jr. Byrum showed the grand
champion pig and also earned
third place junior showman
with his steer. R.O. Givens
bought Byrum’s pig for $3,000.
The reserve champion pig
was also from the county,
entered by Adam Stallings. It
was purchased by Harrell’s
Funeral Home for $1,000.
Patrick Gregory took sec
ond place in senior showman
ship of pigs.
Copeland said he was
pleased with the overall per
formance of the 55 county
youth who showed 27 lambs, 35
pigs and nine steers.
“I think we did very well,”
Copeland said. “We were at the
top or near the top in many
categories. I’m pleased with
the outcome (of the show).”
A comprehensive list of
show winners and awards will
be sent to The Perquimans
Weekly for publication soon,
Copeland said.
An awards banquet will be
held on May 10 at ECSU.
1 THURSDAY
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