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PEWIMANS COUNTY LIBRARY^^
110 W ACADEMY ST
HERTFORD, NC 27944-1306
December 4, 2002
Vol. 71, No. 49 Hertford. North Carolina 27944
Weekly
RECEIVED
OtC 0 f 2002
Local schools
among safest
in the state
Christmas is here!
SUSAN R. HARRIS
Perquimans County con
tinues to have one of the
safest school systems in the
state.
According to the school
violence report released
recently by the state, the
local school district ranked
in the top 12 safest of the
117 local education units in
North Carolina. Six inci
dents were reported last
year, averaging 3.5 violent
acts for every 1,000 stu
dents. The state average is
9.5 per 1,000 students.
While the state average
increased by 28 percent
from the year before,
Perquimans’ 2001-2002
report showed a decrease in
violent acts. Ten incidents
were reported in 2000-2001,
for an average of 5.790 per
1,000 students.
“I am excited about the
positive report but that
doesn’t mean the district’s
work is complete,” said
Superintendent Kenneth
WeUs. “We will continue to
work diligently to decrease
the number of violent acts
in our schools again this
year. One violent act is too
many”.
Reportable incidents
include posession of a
weapon, possession of a
controlled substance, pos
session of an alcoholic bev
erage, assault on school
personnel, assault result
ing in serious injury, sexual
assault, assault involving
the use of a weapon, sexual
offense, possession of a
firearm, robbery without a
dangerous weapon, robbery
with a dangerous weapon,
taking indecent liberties
with a minor, rape, death by
other than natural causes,
kidnapping, borne threat
and burning of a school
building.
Perquimans reported
three weapons possessions,
and one count each of pos
session of a controlled sub
stance, possession of alco
hol and assault resulting in
serious injury
School safety is one of
the local school board’s top
priorities and is a key com
ponent in aU local school
improvement plans,
according to Wells. Last
year, three of the four
schools in Perquimans
County were named
“Triple S” (Super Safe
School) Schools by the
state.
This year, all four
schools will participate in
the rigid volunteer process
of assessing safety proce
dures, incidents of disrup
tion and violence, and
school response to safety
concerns to apply for the
prestigious award.
Continued on page 10
Town of Hertford public works employee Joe Baker puts up Christmas decorations
in downtown Hertford. The lights will be turned on after Saturday's parade. All
across the county, lights are twinkling on lawns and from windows as residents
prepare for the holiday season.
McMahon named Hertford
Main Street Champion
SUSAN R. HARRIS
From the time Jane
McMahon came to Hertford
over 5 years ago, she’s been
a strong advocate for eco
nomic growth and develop
ment.
Her ongoing efforts were
recently recognized when
the Hertford Main Street
Program designated her as
this year’s Main Street
Champion.
Each Main Street com
munity was given the
opportunity to select one
individual who has made a
significant contribution to
the success of their down
town program for the
honor. Designation as a
Main Street Champion rec
ognizes the efforts of indi
viduals who have been
instrumental in downtown
revitalization.
“Jane McMahon opened
the Covent Garden Inn
within walking distance of
downtown Historic
Hertford in 1999,” said
Main Street Program
Director Belinda
Washlesky on McMahon’s
nomination form. “In May
of 2000 she opened
Hertfordshire Antiques
right in the middle of
downtown. For four years
Jane has been a tireless
organizer and supporter of
events designed to bring
people, and their money,
downtown. She always
takes the lead, volunteering
countless hours to promote
Hertford businesswoman Jane McMahon was recently
named Hertford's Main Street Champion. McMahon
owns Covent Garden Inn and Hertfordshire Antiques,
and has been a tireless advocate for economic growth
and develop in the downtown business district.
the town. Jane has attend
ed all Main Street spon
sored public forums and a
design workshop. “
McMahon was drawn to
Hertford from Florida
when a friend of hers
moved to Elizabeth City
and was enthusiastic about
the area. She decided to
leave the Sunshine State
and check out
Northeastern North
Carolina.
“Elizabeth City didn’t
capture my fancy any
where near as strongly as
Hertford,” McMahon said.
“I just started branching
out from there (Elizabeth
City) and really loved
Hertford.”
McMahon said she felt
that Hertford, sitting
between two towns known
for tourism and bed and
breakfast accommodations,
was poised for growth.
“I thought it wouldn’t be
long before things started
to happen in Hertford,” she
said.
She purchased a home
on Covent Garden with the
idea of opening a bed and
breakfast. As she began
renovating the house, a job
done largely with her own
hands, she also began to get
into antique dealing. Now,
she opens her doors to
guests, but is mainly
involved in her antique
Continued on page 11
Schools discuss
PCHS facilities needs
with commissioners
BRADY S. CALHOUN
The Daily Advance
This winter a
Wilmington based archi
tectural firm will do a
facilities study at 78-year-
old Perquimans County
High School.
Boney Architecture
wUl look at every part of
the school and make rec
ommendations about
needed construction,
repairs and prevention
issues. Superintendent
Ken Wells told County
Commissioners at their
Monday meeting.
“The building contin
ues to deteriorate as we
continue to use it every
day,” Wells said. “We’re
going to need community
help and support in the
very near future.”
The price of the exami
nation cannot exceed
$42,000. However, the pro
ject is stUl in its infancy,
and officials are not
expected to have a report
ready until late February.
Among the more impor
tant items the school
board wants addressed
are technology, the gym
nasium, the media center,
security, the athletic fields
and Jimmy Hunter Drive.
Jimmy Hunter Drive
serves both the school and
Cedarwood Cemetery.
Currently, students have
to cross the street every
day to attend class at
portable classrooms.
Officials keep them safe
by closing down the street
during school hours.
Officials said that the
solution has worked so far
but they need a perma
nent fix.
The Town of Hertford
has allowed the street to
be closed for the past two
school years, but made it
clear to Wells in August
that they do not expect to
allow that solution next
year.
The firm that is exam
ining the building is the
same one that drew the
plans for the original
school in 1924. The engi
neers in charge are the
grandsons of Leslie
Boney the building’s orig
inal designer, WeUs said.
Also at the meeting,
new board member
Tammy Miher-White was
sworn in. Miller-White
took over Evelyn Stubbins
seat on the board.
Wallace Nelson was
voted chairmen of the
board and Mack Nixon
was elected vice chair
man.
“I appreciate y’all’s vote
of confidence and m try
to do the best I can,”
Nelson said.
Nelson formerly served
as chairman of tiie local
school board.
Parade
marches
Saturday
SUSAN R. HARRIS
Last-minute entries con
tinue to come in for the
annual Perquimans County
Christmas Parade set for
Saturday.
Chamber of Commerce
Parade Chairman Suzy
Swindell said three bands,
baton twirlers, floats,
Smokey the Bear, fire
trucks, horses and the man
of the day, Santa Claus, wlU.
make their way down the
parade route through
Historic Downtown
Hertford. The parade will
leave Perquimans County
High School at 2 p.m. Frank
Roberts is the grand mar
shal of the event.
The parade will leave the
high school and proceed
down Edenton Road Street,
turn right onto Grubb
Street, right onto Church
Street, right onto Dobbs
Street and left onto Edenton
Road Street, ending back at
the school.
Jimmy Hunter Drive and
Atnsley Drive will be one
way on parade day, and only
parade vehicles will be
allowed in the line-up area.
The cemetery gates wiQ be
closed on the King Street
side also.
This year, Swindell said,
all those who wish to ride
their horses in the parade
must provide a negative
Coggins before being
allowed in the line-up area.
Vendor booths will be on
the courthouse lawn during
the day. Spaces are still
available for rent.
Anyone wishing to enter
the parade, rent a booth or
get information on the
parade should contact the
Chamber office.
The parade will come
just days after the
Christmas ramble and car
oling on the green on
Thursday
Caroling on the Green
begins at 5 p.m. and enter
tainers include the
Perquimans County Middle
School Band, Hertford
Baptist Adult Choir, Darryl
Stallings, Up River Friends
Children’s Choir,
Inspirational Voices,
Albemarle Sounds
Barbershop Chorus, New
Bethel Baptist Gospel
Choir, Whiteville Grove
Choir and group singing.
For ramble information,
caU 426-5428.
Weekend
Weather
Thursday
High: 51
Low: 29
Rain
Friday
HiGH:49
Low: 28
Partly Cloudy
Saturday
High: 54
Low: 37
Mostly Sunny
3.