October 8,1 , 5131 t.5 10/09/1^8 -020 ?“?3UI ANS COUNTY LIuPARY lio . ACAOEM ST Mjjium LO'C^LbU U Lbiy ml * HERTFORD SJC 27yA4 The Perquimans W eekly 350 Vol. 66, No. 41 The only newspaper for and about Perquimans County people Hertford, North Carolina 27944 Inside Happenings in the schools Pages Pirates, Tigers sports round-up Pages Family of abusers must help stop domestic violence Page 4 Winfall Elderly woman scammed last week Cash, items totalling $4,000 stolen from home By SUSAN R. HARRIS Editor An elderly woman in the Bethel community was appar ently robbed of $4,000 in cash and valuables last Wednesday by two possible scam artists. According to the woman’s niece, the woman allowed the men to come into her home to measure for floor covering. The niece described the pair as “distinguished-looking” men driving a late-model, mid-size tan car. About an hour after the men left, her niece said the woman checked her purse and found her money missing. A lock box containing the woman’s car title, will and other important documents was later found to be missing. The total value of the money and other items stolen was estimated by the niece at $4,000. A Perquimans County Sheriffs Deputy investigated the incident, but the niece said the officer was not optimistic about catching the alleged scam artists. Sheriff Ralph Robinson said Friday that the apparent scam should serve as a warning to people, especially the elderly, not to allow strangers into their homes. WEEKEND WINNERS By GINGER LIVINGSTON The Daily Advance A Winfall man was arrested on Sept. 25 after the Pasquotank—Elizabeth City Drug Task Force discovered 16 grams of crack cocaine in the man’s home. William Payton, no age available, of Route 2, Box 346, Winfall, is charged with pos session with intent to sell and deliver crack and with the felo- mious maintenance of a dwelling to sell cocaine, said Pasquotank County Sheriff Randy Cartwright. He was taken to Albemarle District Jail after a $40,000 secured bond was set. The drug task force started investigating Payton at the request of Perquimans County Sheriff Ralph Robinson. “Sheriff Robinson has been receiving numberous com plaints from (Winfall) resi dents that Mr. Payton could be selling drugs from his home,” Cartwright said. Task force Agent John Forbes initiated an investiga tion. On Sept. 25 task force agents and Perquimans County deputies obtained a search warrant for Payton’s home, Cartwright said. The search turned up 46 rocks of crack, $661 in cash and a pistol, Cartwright said. The search also turned up some jewelry that appears to match the description of sever al items reported stolen earlier in September from a Perquimans County residence, said Perquimans County Chief Deputy Eric Tilley. Deputies are investigating to see what, if any, connection Payton may have to the bur glary, Tilley said. Early Tuesday morning, task force officers arrested Andrew Eugene White, also a resident of Perquimans County, on drug charges, according to Tilley. Cartwright was not avail able with details at press time. ‘A" '' ^ PHOTOS BY SUSAN HARRIS The PCHS Marching Pirates claimed the prestigious Marvin Shaw Award at Saturday’s Peanut Festival in Edenton. The award is given to the band with the top combined scores in both the parade and field show competition. Perquimans claimed first place in the parade category and third place overall in 3-A field competition. Accepting the awards were drum major Kim Stallings (center); understudy drum majors Elonda Jones and Courtney Harris; horn line captains Adam Swindell, Dail Nixon, Lee Thach and Natalie Long; percussion cap tains Kera Johnson, Nick Litterst and Tabitha Warrener; and color guard captains Stacie Overton and Danielle Hurdle. The band performs under the direction of David Ziemba with assistance from several instructors. Brandy Hollowell was crowned Queen and Andre Moore, King, during halftime homecoming festivities Friday night at PCHS (left). Both can didates represented the senior class along with LeAnn Ferrell and Paul Spence. Crowned prince and princess were juniors Blair Winslow and Clifton Jenkins, who repre sented their class along with Shara Leigh and Johnny Warren. Named Mr. and Miss Class of 2001 were Shanna Nixon and Darion James. David Byrum and Starr Stepney were also sophomore candidates. Hannah Winslow and Justin Roberson were voted Mr. and Miss Class of 2002. Also representing the freshmen were Candace Bonner and Kevin Gordon. The crowning ceremony capped a week of fun activi ties for students, including Opposite Sex Day, Career Day, Blast From the Past, College Day and Black and Gold Day. A pep rally ended classes Friday. “People have got to be aware of who they let in their homes,” Robinson said. “They can be taken advantage of.” If people need home repair or maintenance, Robinson said they should call individuals or companies they know or that are known in the community. Scam artists generally work an area for only a short while, then leave before law enforce ment authorities are alerted to the problem. By the time offi cers are called in, the scam artists usually have moved on to another area. The niece of the woman scammed said she was publi cizing what happened because she wants to alert the public. She said her aunt asked that her name and other identify ing information not be pub lished. According to the niece, the woman feared that the men would return if she were iden tified. Robinson said the incident is still under investigation. Vandals destroy campaign signs Candidate asks boss for full investigation By SUSAN R. HARRIS Editor Campaigning is in full swing for the November gener al election in Perquimans County, and with it has come not only stumping for the can didates of choice, but the destruction and theft of politi cal signs. According to sheriffs candi date Billy Spruill, he was alert ed last week that over 30 of his campaign signs had been van dalized, severely damaged or stolen outright. Spruill said Tuesday that 13 more signs were damaged this week. The first group of signs to be daun- aged was located along Snug Harbor Road and U.S. Highway 17. Spruill, who is running against his boss and political opponent. Sheriff Ralph Robinson, in November, said he filed aan official complaint about the signs with the sher iff and requested an investiga tion. Chief Deputy Eric Tilley verified Tuesday that the department is investigating the incidents. He said all deputies have also been advised to watch for destruc tion and theft of political signs during their patrols. Spruill said that in addition to theft and property damage laws, the theft and destruction violates the Voters Rights Act, the Civil Rights Act, the Perquimans County Board of Elections regulations, the U.S. Bill of Rights and the constitu tion. During the May primary, incumbent sheriffs candidate David Lane was a victim of vandalism, and also hate mail and telephone harrassment. Lane told this newspaper in July that he had signs stolen and thrown in his yard. Both Lane, his wife and his deputies received anonymous hate mail during the campaign. Lane had his telephone number changed and unlisted the day after the primary due to the receipt of harrassing tele phone calls. Robinson, who retired as a sheriffs deputy in December 1995 under Lane’s tenure, was under contract as the county’s D.A.R.E. officer through May 31. He ran against Lane in the May primary, defeating the incumbent 1,012-832. In late May, Deputy Billy Spruill announced that he had decided to run for sheriff as an independent candidate. Because the primary election was over, Spruill was required by law to submit petitions endorsing his candidacy signed by at least 300 regis tered voters to the Perquimans County Board of Elections by June 26. Spruill met the dead line, and his name will appear on the ballot in November’s general election. On June 2, Robinson told The Perquimans Weekly that Lane had fired him. But Lane countered that Robinson could not be fired because he had resigned in 1995, and was under contract as a D.A.R.E. officer only through May 31. Lane resigned in mid-July, effective July 31. He said he left to pursue other job oppor tunities outside the area, how ever, he declined to say where he was going or what his new position would be. In a special called meeting on July 27, the county commis sioners appointed Robinson to fulfill Lane’s unexpired term. Robinson was sworn in by the Hon. J.C. Cole in a midnight ceremony at the courthouse on Aug. 1. At that time, Robinson chose former Perquimans County sheriffs deputy Eric Tilley to serve as chief deputy, and also brought former deputy Ersal Overton Jr. back to the department. Kevin L. Byrd, Darlene M. Jacobs, Homeria V. Jennette and BUly Spruill, deputies under Lane, were also sworn in to serve under Robinson. The new sheriff also brought David Lajme on board. Lane’s chief deputy Dean Cartwright was not asked to serve under Robinson. Deputies Chris Whitmore and Darrell Felton were also not sworn in. Town gets state grant for wasterwater treatment upgrade By SUSAN R. HARRIS Editor The town of Hertford got a little help from the state last week that will reduce the amount of money the town will need for its planned infra structure improvements. Gov. Jim Hunt notified the town that it will receive an $850,000 Small Cities Community Development Block Grant Community Revitalization award to be used to upgrade the town’s wasterwater treatment plant. The funds will be applied against the $4.8 million the town needs to finance expan sion and renovation to both its water and wastewater treat ment systems. Town Council voted in September to hold a referen dum in November to let voters decide whether the town should issue up to $4.8 million in bonds to upgrade its outdat ed, undersized and deteriorat ing systems. Hertford Town Manager John Christensen said during that meeting that the town is actively seeking grants to bring down the amount the town will need to borrow to upgrade both systems. Although the bonds, if approved by the voters and issued, would be general oblig ation bonds backed by the town’s taxing power, Christensen said water and sewer fees should provide the revenue with which to repay the bonds with no increased property taxes. If the bond referendmn does not pass, councilmen said they will be forced to find funds from otherj sources because the systems must be improved. The improvements are needed to serve present cus tomers and allow the town to expand to serve the county’s commerce centre on Harvey Point Road. Hertford also plans treat Winfall’s waste- water and to receive some grant funds from Winfall’s pro ject. In addition to the water and sewer improvements, the town is poised to borrow $850,000 to finance a major overhaul of its electric system. Council approved loan application in September, and anticipates approval from the Local Government Commission this month. Christensen said the town needs to increase its electric load capacity and improve effi ciency. The loan is expected to be paid with savings in line losses.

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