The only newspaper for and about Perquimans County and its people Happy birthday, America* Celebrate freedom and show your patriotism. /! Fly your American flag on the 4th of July. July 1,1999 Vol. 67, No. 25 Hertford, North Carolina 27944 The 12 813165 18/09/1999 tC20 F'ERQUIHAHS COUNTY LIBRARY 110 W ACADEMY ST HERTFORD NC 27944 Weekly PETTIQREW REQIONAL LIRRABv 7903 1014 5684 8 ^5 Gents 4th of July festivities planned for town park From Staff Reports Join your friends and neigh bors at Missing MUl Park on July 3 for a family-style Independence Day celebra tion. The Historic Hertford Business Association will griU 4th of July picnic favorites — hamburgers and hot dogs — from 7-11 p.m. at Missing MUl Park. Also avaUable will be season-pleasers cotton candy, popcorn and peanuts. The American Legion is organizing the fireworks dis play to be shot as the sun sinks over the Perquimans. Partytime will offer clowns, face painting and more during the evening. Also on tap wUl be music from 8-11 p.m. for listening or dancing. HHBA recommends bringing a lawn chair. HHBA joined the Perquimans Spring Weekend activities, sponsoring a barbe cue supper and music on the courthouse lawn with all pro ceeds, about $2,400, going to the American Legion to help with the cost of fireworks. Donations for fireworks may be made to members of the American Legion. Lloyds will fly family heirloom Flag that draped uncle’s casket during WWII will hang from porch over 4th of July weekend SUSAN R. HARRIS Editor The flag George Henry Lloyd wUl fly at his Market Street home this weekend sym bolizes a family’s long-term commitment to upholding the ideals of freedom upon which the United States was founded. The Hertford native came across the special flag a few days ago, almost 30 years after his late grand mother pre sented to him. It is the flag that draped the casket of his uncle. Grey Lloyd, a casualty of World War II. Grey Lloyd lost his life around 1944. George Henry became the owner of the flag around 1970. “I held on to it like gold,” George Henry said. “It means a lot to me because my grand mother gave it to me.” George Henry’s father, Finley Lloyd, also served in World War II, returning to Hertford in 1946. When his “This family for some reason or another has been oriented into ser vice one way or another.” father returned from his tour of duty, George Henry moved to New York. That the two brothers served in World War II is busi ness as usual for the Lloyd fam ily. George Henry said that his relatives have served this coun try as far back as the Civil War. Lloyds also were in uniform during World War I. Lloyd him self enlisted in the Marines in the early 1950s. His son, William H. Lloyd, served in the U.S. Air Force for 24 years, earning the rank of Senior Master Sergeant. His daughter pulled a 3-year stint in the Air Force. One of his grandsons also served in the military for two years. “This family for some rea son or another has been orient ed into service one way or another,” George Henry said. He also remembers when Hertford was somewhat of a military town, when the streets were flUed with the uni forms of those assigned to George Henry Lloyd SUBMITTED PHOTO George Henry and Naomi Lloyd get out the American flag that draped his uncle's casket during WWII. The cou ple will fly the flag over the 4th of July weekend to celebrate the Lloyd family's long history of military ser vice to the United States. Harvey Point when that facili ty was ah active military base. George Henry said he can remember when the streets were filled with servicemen, especially on weekends. His love of country is matched by George Henry’s love for his hometown. “This is home and I love this town. It was always home, even when I lived in New York.” He remembers Hertford before subdivisions and by pass highways, when much of the land on the south side of Jenny’s Gut was farmland. And changes or not, this is where he always wanted to come back to when he was able to retire. Jenkins realizes dream with new salon Owner proves past mistakes can be overcome MARTY JACOBI Correspondent Gracie Jenkins knows what it’s like to hit rock bottom. She was there six years ago when she-was arrested on drug traf ficking charges. "She hasn’t let that or the thtee years she spent in prison hold her back, however. Friday, she realized her dream of opening up her own business. Total Ecstasy Full Service Styling Salon, in WinfaU. “I made a vow and oath while (in prison) that nothing was going to hold me back from my dreams,” Jenkins said. Jenkins readily admits she made a mistake that cost her three years of her life. But she says the experience shows that, in spite of errors in judgment, anybody can be a success if they want to badly enough. — “When you come out (of prison), life doesn’t stop,” she said. “You have to learn to catch up the right way.” Jenkins’ salon is locat ed at 298 U.S. Highway 17 Bypass inside the former Alcohol 1 Beverage Control store. WinfaU Mayor Fred Yates helped her find the location. Jenkins says she opened the salon in memory of her father, Melvin Revel, who JO. Thach resumes coaching job Daily Advance photo WinfaU Mayor Fred Yates cuts the ribbon at the grand opening of Total Ecstasy Full Service Styling Salon in WinfaU Friday. Yates was one of a group of friends and family of owner Gracie Jenkins on hand to celebrate the salon opening with a ribbon cutting sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce. “I made a vow and oath while (in prison) that nothing was going to hold me back from my dreams.” died last June. Jenkins said her father and • mother, two sons fiance the that lized and were pillars stabi- her through the ordeal of acclimation back into society, she said. “Dad always said to put things behind you and go for ward,” she said. “He taught me how to survive.” Jenkins already had 17 years of styling experience when she Gracie Jenkins Owner of Total Ecstasy Full Service Styling Salong WinfaU opened the shop. It also isn’t the first salon she has owned. Her first shop closed foUowing her 1993 arrest on drug traf ficking charges. After her release, she went to The Haircuttery in Elizabeth City, where “they gave me a chance,” she said. She took the opportunity they gave her to prove that not everyone that goes to prison is bad, she said. At Total Ecstasy, Jenkins offers other stylists and nail technicians an opportunity to realize their own dreams of owning a business without most of the money going to someone else. She has booth rentals available at bargain prices. “I’ve worked in a lot of salons,” she said. “It’s always the more you make, the less you take home. It doesn’t make any sense...I want that person (who is hired) to be indepen dent.” One of her long-time friends and former co-worker. Tore Godwin, rents one of the booths. The full service salon caters to aU hair types. She also offers manicures and pedicures and wiU soon offer ear piercing. Jenkins and Godwin provide transportation for the elderly with a 24-hour notice. They offer monthly specials and Monday is Senior citizen’s Day Total Ecstasy is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Late appointments and walk-ins are welcome. SUSAN R. HARRIS Editor Harrell Thach is back where he wants to be — at the helm of Pirate football. The 14-year coaching veter an stepped down as Perquimans High School ath letic director recently to accept the position of head football coach. Thach said his first love is coaching and his goal is to rebuild a fallen program. “My goals are to rebuild the / program, the same goals as had in ‘92,” he said. “I want to bring pride back into Perquimans football.” Thach said rebuilding the program, which has traveled especially rough waters for the past two years, is his first pri ority. That will come from set ting small goals first, then working to larger goals, he said. “The first thing (we want to do) is develop team and win ning spirit,” he said. “It won’t be an overnight thing. We’re looking to build a program instead of just a team. I hope people understand that. I’m not here to build for one year. I’m here to build a program.” The response from the ath letes to Thach’s return to coaching hqs been supportive. Over 70 students attended the first football meeting when the announcement was made. Thach said 30 or more have shown up consistently for weight training and spring and summer workouts. Rebuilding the Perquimans program will mean overcom ing three years of losing sea sons, and providing stability in the program after going through three coaches in four years. Thach said replacing line backers Andrew Harris and James White, the only two 1999 graduates with four years of varsity football experience, will be tough due to the athlet ic ability, work ethic and lead ership the pair possessed. But he sees many positives coming into a new season. The fact that the junior varsity pro gram has stayed intact and been successful for the past two seasons coupled with promising athletes and a good coaching staff will bode weU for the Pirates in ‘99. It appears that Thach will have strong running backs and solid pass receivers, a good omen for his no-huddle, wish bone offense. Thach has coached both JV and varsity football, girls and boys varsity basketball, and girls track while at Perquimans. In football, he piloted six JV championship teams and two runners-up. In three years at the varsity level, his teams posted records of 5-6, 10-2, and then 5-5 after losing 13 seniors. Thach was athletic director for six years. He spent four years as athletic director only after being forced to choose between the positions of head football coach and athletic director by the school board. The school board implemented a policy during Thach’s tenure that a coach could not serve as athletic director unless it was determined by the principal that both positions could not be filled. The board has to approve the principal’s recom mendation. Thach was not grandfathered in, but was forced to give up one position. Douglas Umphlett has been tapped to replace Thach as ath letic director.