Newspapers / The Perquimans Weekly (Hertford, … / Jan. 11, 2001, edition 1 / Page 1
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The only newspaper for and about Perquimans County and its people Winslow wins national award F^3 Lady Pirates are 11-0 Rage 7 Lose holiday pounds safely f^e9 January 11, 2001 Vol. 69, No. 2 Hertford, North Carolina 27944 The 013165 110101 01 -x-K-COOl PERQUIMANS COUNTY LIBRARY 110 W ACADEMY ST HERTFORD NC 27944 JAN 10 iii'i IW7aD-aT5i Perquimans Weekly County schools among state's safest Perquimans ranks sixth in state • report SUSAN R. HARRIS When most state education reports come out, school sys tems are all clamoring to be at the top. But Perquimans County Schools celebrated the district’s low ranking in the State Board of Education’s report ranking school safety released Jan. 2. The local system was ranked sixth lowest in the state in crimes reported on its cam puses, with only three inci dents reported during the 1999- 2000 school year. One student enrolled in the schools was found to have a weapon and two were caught with con trolled substances. “We are excited about the positive report but will contin ue to work diligently to decrease the number of violent acts, in our schools again this year,’’ said Interim Superintendent Pat Harrell. “We realize that one incident is too many.’’ Administrators said they are excited about the contents of the report, but realize that schools personnel must contin ue to keep watch on school safety issues. The report listed incidents in all of North Carolina’s school districts. Perquimans’ three incidents meant that there were 1.683 incidents per 1,000 students. The next safest district in northeastern North Carolina, according to the report, is Gates with six inci dents reported for a rate of 2.970 per 1,000 students. Four of Gates’ incidents were weapons violations. Martin County performed the worst in the area, with 48 incidents for a rate of 9.872 per 1,000 students. Eighteen of the Martin County incidents involved controlled sub stances; 12, assault on school personnel. The district also reported five weapons posses sions, five assaults resulting in serious injury, five weapons assaults, two robberies and a sexual assault. Dare also performed poorly, with 10 weapons violations and 25 controlled substance inci dents. Pasquotank had 16 weapons possessions and seven assaults on school per sonnel. Currituck reported seven controlled substance vio lations, four weapons posses sions and three assaults on school personnel. Statewide, incidents of school violence dropped 4.1 percent in the 1999-2000 school year over the 1998-99 year. It was the second drop in as many years. School safety, local adminis trators said, is one of the board of education’s top prior ities and a key component in all local school improvement plans. Efforts to continue to improve school safety include enforcing and monitoring safe ty goals. Safety goals for this year include the designation of at least one “first responder” in every building to assist in managing and delivering health care and first aid; decreasing discipline referrals by offering conflict resolution workshops and educating the community, parents, teachers and staff of safe school quality guidelines; ensuring all staff and students know safe schools- procedures such as fire drills; continue to limit entrance to schools to front doors; contin-^ ue drug testing for athletes;" keep resource officers; and' monitor, improve and evaluate schools environments on an ongoing basis. “The board is serious about its commitment to children’ and providing a safe environ ment conducive to learning in Perquimans County,” Harrell said. Nixon wants action on 'Mack Nixon had a two-year break from the board of com missioners. One problem he was dealing with when he left is still there, and it obviously does not make Nixon happy Nixon told commissioners last Tuesday that a mobile homejiad moved into New Hope beside the brick ranch dwelling of Matt Spivey. According to Nixon, its owner dumps sewage in an open ditch and “bootlegs” water from the county, aside from being an eyesore in the com munity. “It’s a shame that it’s been over two and a half years and not one blessed thing has been done about it,” Nixon said when he brought up the issue. County Manager Paul Gregory said the problem has “gone through three sheriffs.” He said the health department was contacted about reports Continued on page 6 Farm tour donation County invites hunt club reps to meet Jan. 15 Over $2,000 was donated to the Perquimans County High School Agricultural Sciences Program, the proceeds of a weekend of farm- and heritage-related activities in the county. The first and very successful farm tour raised $1,759.19, while the antique and heritage craft show and sale sponsored by the Antique Dealers Association of Perquimans County brought in $337. About 200 visitors toured the farm sites during the two-day weekend. A thank-you dinner was held for host families, whose hospitality in opening homes and busi nesses to the tour contributed to its success. Among those on hand for the check presenta tion were (left to right) Perquimans County Extension Director Lewis Smith, PCHS Agricultural Science Program coordinator Angel Workman, Heritgage Tourism Development Officer LuAnne Pendergraft, farm tour coordinator Harriette Woodard, and Perquimans County Restoration Association President Chris Lane. SUSAN R. HARRIS Deer hunting season has come to a close, but county offi cials want a pow-wow with hunters on Jan. 15. County Manager Paul Gregory said representatives of the county’s 15 known hunt clubs have been identified so they could be invited to discuss hunting with the county com missioners Monday night at 7 o’clock. Commissioners Chairman Charles Ward said he wants to meet with club representatives to hear their concerns and rec ommendations on himting. He said the discussion should include rifle hunting and dog hunting. He asked that the sheriff be invited and the new game warden, if one is assigned to the county prior to the meeting. He was adamant that the meeting remain Order ly- Residents of the New Hope Township appeared before commissioners several times last fall complaining about H&R Block kicks off tax season with new location H&R Block does more than prepare income taxes. Elizabeth Cropp, supervisor of the recently relocated H&R Block Hertford office, said the company offers an array of financial services through Oddie and Birchtree. Turning tax refunds into tax-sheltered retirement nest eggs through IRAs is a premiere service, Cropp said. In addition, mortgages are offered through Brewer Mortgage, the company of H&R Block District Manager M.C. Brewer. Mortgages and some other financial services are offered through the Elizabeth City office. H&R Block is not new to 'Hertford. The company has operated a seasonal office for several years. Recently, Cropp and her staff celebrated the kick-off of a new tax season with the grand opening of a new location at Ward Shopping Center. The new office offers much more space and privacy for clients. as well as easier ijarking. District employees in Elizabeth City, Hertford, Edenton, Moyock, Camden and Nags Head are already prepar ing tax returns for early-birds. Through April 16 (taxpayers get an extension this year because April 15 is on Sunday), preparers will help residents find out whether they get money back or have to pay taxes. Hertford office staff will be calculating six days a week: Monday—Friday, 9 a.m.—9 p.m. and Saturday, 9 a.m.—5 p.m. Cropp will be joined in Hertford by Paula Welser, Jim Wakefield and Alisa Hardy. Customers will receive nation al coupons and be able to regis ter for a $1 million national giveaway. While there is more to H&R block than taxes, the company is known nationwide for tax preparation. In fact, H&R block offices prepared 17 mil lion tax returns last year. Cropp and her employees, as well as H&R Block employees Local officials and business leaders celebrated with H&R Block last Friday, as the company observed the relocation of its Hertford office to a suite at Ward Shopping Center. hunters in their area. According to the residents, some hunters destroyed pri vate property and allowed their dogs to do the same. In addition, residents reported that their lives and families’ lives were threatened when they attempted to take action to get the hunters off their properties. Van Johnson, Albert Eure and Roy Murray all spoke with commissioners about the trou bling situation in the Forestburg-White Hat area. Eure told commissioners he is not against hunting, in fact,- he believes that hunting keeps the wildlife population in check and healthy. What Eure did speak out against is dan gerous hunting habits and destruction of property. Johnson presented a peti^ tion to county commissioners signed by residents of a dis trict drawn in the White Hat area requesting that the com missioner consider banning some types of hunting, includ ing hunting with dogs, in the district. The spokesmen added that most hunters do respect prop erty when they hunt, but there must be some means of disci pline for those who do not. Ward said commissioners can decide what action to take after the meeting with hunt club represenatives. from across the district cele brated the grand reopening last Friday. The Chamber of Commerce sponsored a ribbon cutting. “We are looking forward to being a part of and participat ing with the community and chamber,” Cropp said. Weekend Weather Thursday High: 62 Low: 41 Partly Cloudy Friday High: 57 Low: 37 Partly Cloudy Saturday High: 60 Low. 43 Partly Cloudy
The Perquimans Weekly (Hertford, N.C.)
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Jan. 11, 2001, edition 1
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