The only newspaper for and about Perquimans County and its people
New standard set for PCHS sports
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Rejoicing in Christ
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Look out for lightning
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The
PeRQUIMai-^^
June 22, 2000
Vol. 68, No. 25 Hertford, North Carolina 27944
Commissioners pass budget after hearing
Ward, Miller
cast negative
votes due to
tax rate
SUSAN R. HARRIS
Editor
Commissioners put their 2-
cents worth in Monday night
before a split vote to approve
the 2000-2001 county budget.
The 4-2 vote came after com
missioners Charles Ward and
Archie Miller spoke up for a 60-
cents tax rate rather than the
62 cents proposed by County
Manager Paul Gregory.
When the budget hearing
was closed by Chair Shirley
Wiggins, Bert Hayes moved
and Evelyn Stubbins seconded
approval of the $8.7 general
fund budget.
“I still think that we need to
drop the rate to 60 cents,” Ward
said immediately after
Stubbins’ second.
“I’m all for cutting taxes,”
Commissioner Ben Hobbs
responded. Hobbs added that
he was a proponent of a 60-
cents tax rate in April, but
when the projected fund bal
ance growth for fiscal 1999-2000
dropped from a half million
dollars to just over $100,000, he
changed his mind.
“The fund balance is coming
down,” Hobbs said. He added
that if the fund balance grows
more than projected, he would
vote to cut the tax rate next
year.
“It’ll grow $200,000,” Ward
responded. “You won’t ever do
it (propose lowering taxes).
You folded in this year and
you’ll do it against next year.”
Wiggins stepped in to defend
Hobbs’ position. She said she
felt it was better to make sure
there were funds available to
the county, and that the rate
could be lowered next year if
there is too much growth in the
fund balance.
Ward continued to contend
that the county has a $4 million
surplus and that that amount
is too high.
Gregory countered that the
fund balance is at $3.25 million.
Hayes said that commission
ers have to put aside funds for
the future. He added that
Pasquotank and Chowan coun
ties have used their hospitals
to generate significant income
in recent years, but that
Perquimans does not have that
option, so funds must be set
aside for future needs.
Wiggins and Hobbs both
cited projects the county has
already agreed to fund over the
next few years as reasons to
approve the budget as submit
ted by Gregory.
In the budget message sub
mitted by Gregory to commis
sioners earlier this month, he
cited a new health department,
renovations/additions to the
courthouse, construction of
the new recreational complex
in Winfall and other minor
projects as reasons for the
accummulation of extra fimds.
The fund balance will keep the
covmty from having to borrow
money for these projects, he
said. On Monday, he added that
a possible addition to
Albemarle District JaU could
cost the county between
$250,000 and $500,000.
Perquimans County recent
ly completed its state-mandat
ed revaluation. State statutes
require the coimty to re-value
Memorial Tree Park
brings new life to
Academy Square
15 trees donated
as honorariums,
memorials
SUSAN R. HARRIS
Editor"
Leaves are once again begin
ning to rustle in the breeze on
Hertford’s Academy Square.
Now known as Memorial
Tree Park, the town’s park
adjacent to the tennis courts
and library is dotted with liv
ing honorariums and memori
als.
Once home to majestic old
oaks, the park lay bare after
disease forced town officials to
cut down the trees. Hertford
residents Don and JoAnne
Morris and Leo and Marge
Ambrose asked the town to
take some kind of action to
renovate the park after the
trees came down. The town
asked JoAnne Morris, now a
councilperson, to chair a com
mittee to consider park reno
vation and beautification.
The committee sought input
from locals with knowledge
about trees and which species
would best fit at the park. It
was decided that the town
would seek donations of trees
to be planted as honorariums
and memorials. Fifteen trees
have been donated to date.
In addition to the donations,
the committee also researched
and applied for grants to pro
vide vegetation at the site.
Over 50 azaleas now add spring
color through those efforts.
Morris enlisted volunteers
to help with planting and care
of some of the planting pro
jects, while town maintenance
staff has taken an active role
in the establishment of and
upkeep at the park.
Trees given to date include:
Japanese cherries—in
honor of Roy Reed by Norma
Thorne, in honor of Thelma
Elliott and Grace Coston by
JoAnn Morris.
White flowering
dogwoods—in honor of Edgar
and Delia Harvey by Celestine
Hartsfield, in honor of Charles
F. and Pattie W. Hoffler by
Gloria Creecy; one each in
honor of Sally Miller Jones,
Pennie Jones Carrier and
Grace Jones Copeland by
Ronald Carrier; in honor of
Leo and Beatrice Kreckle by
l^artha Gaulding; in honor of
our parents and loved ones by
Don and Barbara Gustafson; in
honor of Larry Brown by
Carlyn Chambers; in honor of
Joseph W. Nowell Jr. by Kitty
Pippen.
Native hoUies—in honor of
Carla S. ChappeU by Sybil S.
Skinner; in honor of T.F.
Winslow family by Betty
Crawford.
Weeping cherry—in honor
of Clinton T. and Edna Eley by
their sons Charles and Sid.
Northern red oak—in honor
of Anthony J. Nelson II by
Hattie Williamston.
Donors may choose from a
list of needed species at the
town office. The trees range in
price from about $30 to $100.
Prices include the tree, planti
ng and a plaque showing the
donor and honoree.
Flag Day celebration
PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY PERQUIMANS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
An honor guard of veterans
from the Korean War, World
War II and Viet Nam eras
(above) proudly takes part in
Flag Day Celebration 2000 in
downtown Hertford.
Sponsored by the Chamber
of Commerce, the ceremony
included the Korean War
50th Year Commemoration.
Aaron Hoffler, Cub Cadet,
U.S. Navy Memorial,
Washington, D.C. (right) pre
sented a special American
flag to the honor guard. A
roll call of World War II and
Korean War veterans killed
in action took place during
the ceremony, along with a
21-Navy bell salute for all
deceased veterans.
all property every 8 years. The
general assessed valuation in
Perquimans County increased
by an estimated 18.8 percent
taking into account allowances
for vehicles, senior citizen
exemptions and utilities,
Gregory stated. The tax rate
fell 20.5 percent to 62 cents.
Gregory said that most taxpay
ers will actually see a decrease
in their ad valorem taxes with
the revaluation and new tax
rate. Waterfront property own
ers and those who have made
significant improvements to"^
property have likely seen an
increase, some dramatic, in
their property values and will
see a corresponding increase
in property taxes.
Fireworks
moved to
July 3
Perquimans will celebrate
Independence Day a day early
this year — on JiRy 3.
Julian “Little Man”
Broughton, spokesperson for
fireworks show organizers
American Legion Post 126,
said a change in the federal
training rules caused the shuf
fle. The ATF has made train
ing requirements for those
shooting fireworks more strin
gent, Broughton said. Now,
organizations wishing to pur
chase fireworks and have them
delivered must show proof of
appropriate certification. In
order to meet the guidelines,
duly certified volunteers from
outside the county will come
and help. They will be shoot
ing in their hometowns on
July 4.
Fireworks are now sched
uled to be shot at 9 p.m. on
Monday, July 3 at Missing Mill
Park.
The change has the
Chamber of Commerce, spon
sors of activities to take place
before the fireworks, scram
bling to rearrange schedules.
President Gaye Murray said
events will begin at the park at
5 p.m. and last until the fire
works begin. Plans call for old-
fashioned games such as sack
races; festival foods such as ice
cream, cotton candy, and
lemonade; and a first-come,
first-served barbecue dinner.
The Chamber is offering
food and game booths for the
event. Those who wovild like
more information should call
the Chamber office at 426-5657
or Chimney Masters at 426-
1426.
Send fireworks donations to
Julian Broughton, American
Legion Post 126, PO Box551,
Hertford, NC 27944.
PCHS graduates earn $264K in scholarships, awards
Perquimans County High
School’s class of 2000 left high
school behind with over
. $264,000 in one-time and renew
able scholarships in hand,
, according to school guidance
counselor John Wells.
Earning scholarships were:
Emily Bailey-New Bethel
Baptist Church, $500;
: ParksviUe Ruritan, $500.
Sharnae Brickouse-First
Baptist Church, $300; Senior
Matrons of Elizabeth City,
$250.
Dayton Caddy-Scott
Williams Memorial, $200;
Lions’s Club Jim “Catfish”
Hunter, $500; Margarett
Saunders Memorial, $500;
Athletic Boosters Claude
Brinn Memorial, $300;
•Campbell University Athletic,
$4,000; L. Paul Smith, $1,000.
Emily Candler-4-H, $700;
Queens College Achievement,
$3,500.
Susan Courtney-Joe Lee
TunneH, $300.
Keith Cullipher-Berea
Church of Christ, $300.
Sheena Farrow-ECSU
Incentive, $3,800.
Crystal Forbes-$750.
Jennifer Harrell-Berea
Church of Christ, $300; Bethel
Ruritan, $600; Hertford Rotary
Jack Kanoy, $500; Hertford
BPW, $200; William Bogue,
$2,500.
Joshua Harrell-Parksville
Ruritan, $500; Albemarle
District Ruritans, $500.
Courtney Harris-George
and Frances London, $5,000;
Julia Hamlet Harris, $1,000;
NC Teaching FeUows, $6,500;
Meredith Teaching Fellows,
$2,250; PCHS Valedictorian,
$200.
Sarah Harris-Margrett
Saunders Memorial, $500;
Ruritan National, $600; VFW,
$1,000; Oral Roberts University
Academic, $5,000.
Vickie Hurdle-Evening
Light Church of God in Christ
Jesus, $500; ParksviUe Ruritan,
$500; Delta Thigma Theta,
$1,000.
Jeremy Jennings-Bethel
Ruritan, $500; NCAE, $300;
DeVry Institute of Technology
Dean’s, $3,000.
Kera Johnson-Ralph
Robinson Sharing Faith
Foundation, $500; ECSU Music,
$900.
Chris Lane-DeVry Institute
of Technology Dean’s, $3,000.
R.J. Lassiter-Hertford
Rotary Jack Kanoy, $500;
Hertford BPW, $200.
Aaron maupin-Hertford
Rotary Jack Kanoy, $250.
Nicholas McLawhorn-Bobby
Carter Memorial, $500.
Arthur Mitchell Ill-First
Baptist Church, $300.
Suzy Morgan-Friends of
Chowan Hospital, $500;
ParksviUe Ruritan, $500;
Campbell University
Academic, $4,000.
Ethan Nelson-Parksville
Ruritan, $300; Campbell
University Presidential, $8,000.
Adam Nixon-ECSU Music,
$1,500; Chip Chappell-Band,
$250.
Lauren
Piontka-ECUS
Incentive, $3,800.
Mindy Roberson-Athletic
Boosters Claude Brinn
Memorial, $300; Bear Swamp-
Beach Springs Ruritans, $600;
ECSU Athletic, $1,500.
Chris Weatherington-
Chowan CoUege Incentive,
$5,000.
Tokura White-New Bethel
Baptist church, $500; NCA&T
Incentive, $750.
Blair Winslow-Hertford
United Methodist Mem, $250;
Hertford United Methodist
Women, $100; John and Grace
Coston Memorial, $300;
Knowles Memorial, $900;
Thelma EUiott, $300; Joe Lee
Tunnell, $650; ParksviUe
Ruritan, $600; PCHS
. Salutatorian, $200.
Brandon Winslow-
ParksviUe Ruritan, $500.
Weekend
Weather
Thursday
High: 89
Low: 71
Scahered T-storms
Friday
High: 89
Low: 69
Partly Cloudy
Saturday
High: 89
Low: 70
MOSTLY Cloudy