Newspapers / The Perquimans Weekly (Hertford, … / July 24, 2002, edition 1 / Page 1
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-A #■ osM 55th class reunion Pages Student notes F^e6 Bungled budget Page 4 P4/C3***********5-diGI ^ PERQUIMANS COUNTY LIB I 110 W ACADEMY ST J HERTFORD, NC 27944-130 July 24, 2002 Vol. 71, No. 30 Hertford, North Carolitra 27944 Weekly 35 cents Primary elections Sept. 10 SUSAN R. HARRIS North Carolina is finally going to have primary elec tions — put off since May by political and legal wran gling over district bound aries — on Sept. 10. There will, however, be no second primaries, or run-offs, between the September primaries and the general elections in November due to time con straints. Having no run-offs will not be a problem for those seeking local office. In fact, there will be no decisions made on local offices in September, barring a suc cessful write-in candidacy for school board. That’s because there will be no primaries for county com missioners, sheriff or clerk of superior court due to the number of candidates who filed, and there are three candidates running for three seats on the school board. In September, local vot ers will see the names of Gloria E. Mason, Walter L. Leigh and Gary E. Saul on the non-partisan school- board ballot. Unless there is a successful write-in candi date, the three will take office in September. Had the primary not been post poned, candidates for school board would have been seated in June. November will bring only one choice on the local ballots. Democratic incum bent Eric Tilley was the only candidate to file for the office of sheriff by the deadline. He is being chal lenged by David Shaffer, at present Winfall’s police chief. Shaffer will be on the ballot as an unaffiliated candidate. He did not file by the deadline, but earned the right to appear on the ballot by petition. Clerk of Superior Court L. Gail Godwin, a Democrat, is running unop posed. For county commission ers, Republican Benjamin C. Hobbs and Democrat Charles H. Ward, incum bents, were joined by Democratic newcomer Tammy Miller-White for seats on that board. There are three positions avail able, at present held by Hobbs, Ward and Evelyn Stubbins. Those wishing to file for state offices have only one week, July 19—26, to get on the ballot. Voter registration will be open until Aug. 16. Absentee balloting will begin on Aug. 16, with one- stop voting commencing on Aug. 22. For more information, contact the Perquimans County Board of Elections, 426-5598, in the county office building on Edenton Road Street, Monday—Friday, 8:30 a.m.—5 p.m. Main Street celebration PHOTO BY SUSAN HARRIS About 40 people came out to celebrate the success of the Hertford Main Street Program at the organiza tion's annual meeting last Thursday evening at the visitors center on Market Street. Main Street honors volunteers SUSAN R. HARRIS The top five volunteers of the year were honored at the Hertford Main Street Program’s annual meet ing last Wednesday. Liz Foster, Jane McMahon, Charlene Stoltenhoff, Ruth Lacefield and Sharon Powers were noted for outstanding service to the program. Sid Eley, outgoing Main Street Board president, was also recog nized for his contributions to the program. Eley said the Hertford Town Council should be commended for seeing the need for a Main Street Program and acting on that need, including providing financial sup port. The town initially hired Main Street Program Manager Belinda Washlesky on a part-time basis, but soon found that the job needed to be a full-time position, Eley said ' “That was a big decision, but it’s paying off,” Eley said, adding that Hertford has benefitted from the program. Officers installed for the coming year are Frankie Eason, president; Harriette Woodard, vice president; and Phil McMullan, secretary. The board was also expanded to include Ruth Lacefield, Diane Ronan, Barry Wallgren, JoAnn Morris, Charlene Stoltenhoff and Sylvia Wyatt. It was announced during the evening that The Tin Rabbit and Hertfordshire Antiques will appear in the October issue of “This Old House Magazine.” The magazine was doing a photo shoot in Edenton, and borrowed some items for the shoot from the two Hertford busi nesses. Free breakfast program nixed SUSAN R. HARRIS Free school breakfast for every student in Perquimans County Schools is history. The school board approved a recommenda tion Monday night to dis continue the program when presented with dis mal financial information on the program. Child Nutrition Director Donna Harris presented a study showing that the child nutrition department would lose almost $74,000 during fiscal 2002-2003 if the free breakfast program is continued. “It is with regret that I have to bring this recom mendation to you,” Superintendent Kenneth Wells told the board. “We’ve reached a recom mendation we wish we did n’t have to make. “We just simply are not going to be able to continue financially to continue this program.” The child nutrition pro gram, Wells said, is designed to be self-support ing. With such a loss in the breakfast program, equip ment replacement needs will not be possible at this time. While Harris said all equipment in the cafeterias is safe, there is a need to replace aging equipment. Students will pay 50 cents for breakfast this coming school year, with the cost of a reduced-price meal at 30 cents. Students qualifying for free meals will continue to get a free breakfast. The fun cost of breakfast is actually $1, but both Wells and Harris said they felt it was better to reach that price over a two-year period, rather than raise it all at once. Information packets and applications for free and reduced-priced school meals went out last week, Harris said. This year, the child nutrition department is partnering with social ser vices by using the direct certification method to determine the eligibility of students who qualify for free meals based on their enrollment in the food stamp or AFDC programs. Social services will provide a roster of children who receive food stamps or AFDC to the child nutrition department. After updating each student’s file, a letter will be sent to the parent or guardian informing them that their child has been approved for free school meals. Those not receiving food stamps or AFDC must apply to determine eligibil ity For further information, please call Harris at 426- 5741, Monday— Friday, 8 a.m. — 4:30 p.m. Personnel prepare for school opening SUSAN R. HARRIS The lazy days of sum mer are slipping away from Perquimans County Schools students. Classes will resume on Aug. 8. In the meantime, prin cipals and other staff members have spent the summer helping some stu dents brush up on skills and preparing for a new year of learning. In addition, repair and renovation projects at each campus are being completed. Projects include carpet removal and tile installation in the classrooms at Central School, and major renova tions in the high school weight room. Convocation for all fac ulty and staff is Monday, Aug. 5. High school students can pick up their class schedules through July 31. The drop/add period for courses will be July 29—31. For additional information, contact John Wells or Nancy Morgan at 426-5778. Schedules will be made available to middle school students during the school’s open house on Aug. 7. They will not be available before that date. Class assignments for Hertford Grammar and Central schools were mailed on July 22. A list of school supplies can be found on the school website at http://www.pcs.kl2.nc.us. Each school will have an open house. Dates are: high school, Aug. 5, 6-7:30 p.m.; Hertford Grammar, Aug. 6, 6:30-7:30 p.m.; mid dle school, Aug. 7, 5-7 p.m.; and Central School, Aug. 15, 7 p.m. The athletic depart ments at the high and middle school levels are also gearing up for the faU seasons. Newly-appointment PCHS athletic director Susan Cox said tryouts for football, volleyball and soccer are scheduled. Volleyball will begin on July 29 at 9 a.m. in the gym. Football will begin that evening at 6 p.m. in the gym. Soccer starts Aug. 1 at 3:30 p.m. in the gym. All athletes must be a completed physical, including drug test before they can try out/practice. All athletes need to wear appropriate footwear and clothing for practice. At the middle school, football tryouts will begin Aug. 5, 3:30—5 p.m. Volleyball and soccer try outs begin Aug. 12, 3:30—5 p.m. Cheerleading prac tice begins Aug. 12, 3:30-5 p.m. Athletes must have physicals before tryouts. Budget cuts threaten school jobs SUSAN R. HARRIS Schools Superintendent Kenneth WeUs didn’t mince words about state budget cuts in Monday night’s school board meeting. “There are going to be a number of fiscal con straints that are going to be faced by this board this year,” Wells told the school board. “Any further cuts will result in the loss of jobs in our schools,” Wells. Wells said Perquimans will sustain a $104,000 cut from last year in its low wealth funds. “We simply cannot with stand a $100,000 cut,” Wells said. If the small schools money is also cut. Wells said, jobs wiU definitely be impacted. “We’re taking every sin gle action we can” to offer quality programming with in budget parameters. Wells said. Wells added that the gen eral assembly has not updated the state’s budget and may not before it adjourns. That will mean the school system will con tinue to work from projec tions, not really knowing exactly how much money the state will send — or cut. Four teaching positions were cut by'the state earlier. Administrators were able to move present employees and make changes at each school so that no present employee lost a job. The school board does have a reduction in force policy in place. Wells said he wants the board, the community and employees to understand that there may be no choice but to cut jobs depending on state funding. “It can’t come from any other area,” he said. The only positive in the school budget picture for Perquimans is that the county, despite its own cuts from the state, funded the schools at the same level as last year. Weekend Weather Thursday High: 86 Low: 72 T'storms Friday High: 88 Low: 72 Scattered Tstorms Saturday High: 91 Low: 73 Isolated T'storms
The Perquimans Weekly (Hertford, N.C.)
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July 24, 2002, edition 1
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