Newspapers / The Perquimans Weekly (Hertford, … / Feb. 20, 1997, edition 1 / Page 1
Part of The Perquimans Weekly (Hertford, N.C.) / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
February 20,1997 I _ The ”3 4Ci3£i^J s'r = HEsrFjsc ■,: 350 Vol. 65, No. 8 The only newspaper for and about Perquimans County people Hertford, North Carolina 27944 Inside W ■I Lady Tigers celebrate undefeated season Page 9 In the animal world, truth is stranger than fiction Page 4 New faces fill new positions at PCMS Page 7 Featured church: Cedar Grove Methodist Page 5 Perquimans County : an All of Us Care Community February’s theme: Know That You Count focusing on Tolerance Cooperation Responsibility Teamwork Win/Win Incorporate these Healthy HABITS into your daily life and help make our community a better place to live! For All of Us Care information, contact Dr. Randall L. Henion, Perquimans County Schools 426-5741 Fire fatality reported in Hertford By SUSAN R. HARRIS Editor An elderly Hertford woman was found dead in her home by Hertford firefighters who answered a 911 call last Wednesday. Vivian Reed Bush, 86, of 213 King Street apparently died as the result of an accident in her kitchen sometime after mid night, according to Hertford Fire Chief Sid Eley. Bush, known in the community as “Sis Reed,” was found by fire fighters on her kitchen floor, where she had sustained severe burns. Eley said Bush, who used a walker, apparently had a pot on the kitchen stove. It appeared she had attempted to pick up the pot using a rag as a pot holder, then lost her bal ance and fell over backweirds, spilling the contents of the pot on herself. Either the rag or an item of her clothing evidently contacted the burner during the incident and caught fire, Eley said. Hertford Police Sgt. Dale Vanscoy, also a Hertford fire fighter, was first to respond to the 1:38 a.m. fire call reported to dispatch by a neighbor. Vanscoy’s incident report filed with the police department stated that Vanscoy was told that an elderly female lived alone in the house, Hertford Police Chief Bennie Murphy said. After Vanscoy forcibly entered the house, he reported crawling to try to find a bed room. He found a bedroom, but no one was in the room. Vanscoy continued to the rear of the house, making his way through heavy smoke to the kitchen. It appeared that a pile of rags or clothing was on fire on the kitchen floor, Vanscoy reported. He was unable to reach the fire due to heavy smoke and his lack of firefight ing equipment. When firefighters arrived, they put out the blaze and dis covered Bush’s body. The floor around her was burned badly, however Eley said the house sustained little damage. “Dale Vanscoy should be praised for what he did,” Eley said. “He arrived on the scene as a police office and went in and searched as far as he could (without firefighting equip ment). He did a real good job.” As with all fire fatalities, an autopsy will be performed. Also on the scene were the Perquimans County Rescue Squad, Hertford Police officer W.F. Chory and Sheriff’s deputy Billy Spruill. Hertford firefighters also responded to a blaze in a garage on Hyde Street early Monday afternoon. A plug to an electric heater had apparently shorted out in the garage, resulting in a small fire, Eley said One of the homeowners, Mary Bullock, told firefighters she heard a noise and went to investigate. She found the fire and ..... VC-.' , Perquimans County Athletic Booster president Edgar Roberson (left) and high school athletic director Harrell Thach (right) recognize Curtis Lightfoot for his 30-plus years of service and sup port of the P.C.H.S. basketball teams and athletic programs during the final regular season home game against Williamston Friday night. Lightfoot recognized for support of P.C.H.S. athletics By SUSAN R. HARRIS Editor Coaches come and go and athletes graduate. But the one constant at Perquimans County High School basketball games over the past 30 years has been Curtis Lightfoot. For his continuous support, Lightfoot was recognized by the school’s athletic depart ment and the Perquimans County Athletic Boosters Friday night. Formerly with the mainte nance department at the school, Lightfoot could always be seen after games, sweeping the floor and consoling team members who took a tough loss or had a bad game. The team members could always count on Lightfoot’s presence. As a matter of fact, he was on the premises long after every one else had cleared out. It was Lightfoot to whom those operating concessions turned when ice was running low or an extension cord was missing. He always took the time to help out where he could. Even in his retirement, Lightfoot still shows up faith fully for home games, quietly encouraging the Pirates from his seat on the bleachers next to the coaches’ offices. Athletic Director Harrell Thach and the school administration want to make sure Lightfoot can keep that seat as long as he likes. In addition to a plaque recognizing his contributions to athletics, Lightfoot received a lifetime pass to the games. Booster co-president Edgar Roberson presented an athletic afghan to Lightfoot in recogni tion of his support of Booster projects, mainly the conces sions operations. During his tenure with the maintenance department, Lightfoot was always helpful to Booster efforts to support youth. Waterfront park in works in Winfall Winfan will feature a water front park by this summer, thanks to a public access matching grant the town received last month. The $33,375 grant wUl fund a park near the former Major and Loomis Mill along the Perquimans River and two canals. Bulkheading, a 200-foot boardwalk, security lights, a gravel road and a parking lot will be funded by the grant. The town provided $4,000 in in-kind services as its match. The Gates County Correctional Facdity provided inmate labor to clear under brush on the property and along the canal banks at the site. The debris will be burned when weather permits, Winfall Mayor Fred Yates said. Then the site wiU be lev eled, grass planted and a road cut to the park. The town is applying for a permit to allow the construc tion of the boardwalk. If all goes well, Yates said he hopes to see the park open to the public by early summer. Winfall Town Council voted last week to apply for a second grant to extend the boardwalk, widen one of the canals, and add picnic tables, benches and playground equipment at the park. Land for the park was donated to the town by John Harris. Harris owns adjacent lots upon which he plans to build mid-priced homes. The developer said a park will enhance the town’s appeal and take advantage of its scenic waterfront. Only the fire scene tape around this house at 213 King Street tells of the tragedy that happened inside last week when Vivian Reed Bush, 86, apparently died in a fire-related accident in her kitchen in the early morning hours. quenched the flames with a fire extinguisher. The noise was apparently a spray paint can exploding from the heat, Eley said. The chief said fire person nel pulled one line and sprayed water to make sure the fire was out, then cleared the smoke from the room. Only minor damage to the garage resulted from the fire. Winfall sewer project moves ‘slow but sure’ By SUSAN R. HARRIS Editor > ^ , “Moving forward slow, but sure” is how Winfall Mayor Fred Yates describes progress on the town’s sewer system. Yates said the survey has been completed and engineers are ready to draw the final project draft. Tests are underway on the plant site, and all funds are avail able. The mayor anticipates groundbreaking in early summer, with the system operational by late 1997 or early 1998. Yates’ primary goal as Winfall’s mayor has been the construction of a sewer sys tem. It is a project begun by his wife, county commissioner Shirley Yates, when she served on the Winfall Town Council. Fred Yates was appointed to council to fill Shirley Yates’ unexpired term after her election to the coun ty’s governing board in November 1991. He has since been elected mayor twice. Each time his campaign focus was a sewer system to serve the town. Years of Yates’ searching for every possible avenue to pay for a sewer system yielded huge financial rewards. At a March 1996 public hearing, Yates told the 40 Winfall resi- Survey complete and engineers are ready to draft final plans. dents in attendance that he had secured $3.7 million of the $4.2 million projected sewer costs in grants. The funds are from the Department of Commerce, The Rural Economic and Community Development program (for merly FmHA) and the Rural Economic Development Center. The balance of the needed funds, $500,000, was raised through the sale of munici pal bonds. The bond sale was approved by Winfall residents in a May 1996 ref erendum. Hook-up to the sewer sys tem will be mandatory. For low- and moderate-income res idents, financial assistance for the estimated $75-$125 hook-up fee may be available through two of ffie agencies from which the town received grant funds. The anticipated minimum monthly fee will be $19.25. Both Fred and Shirley Yates contend that the sewer system is essential for the health of Winfall residents — some of whom still use outhouses for economic reasons and becasue their properties will not pass state regulations for private septic systems — and for eco nomic reasons. Fred Yates said a public sewer system will help Winfall expand housing and business opportunities. Outside THURSDAY d i p g il-.. i FRIDAY [i J r i' ‘ / Ft High: Low: 70 50 CHANCE OF RAIN High: Low: 70 50 CHANCE OF RAIN High: Low: 60 40s DRY
The Perquimans Weekly (Hertford, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Feb. 20, 1997, edition 1
1
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75