Newspapers / The Perquimans Weekly (Hertford, … / July 7, 2004, edition 1 / Page 1
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1^, Ski championships Sunday Page 2 Emergency provisions list Rage 6 Bookwatch returns Page 4 P11/C5 —I PERQUIMANS COUNTY LIBRARY 110 W ACADEMY ST HERTFORD, NC 27944-1306 . July 7, 2004 Vol. 72, No. 27 Hertford, North Carolina 27944 Weekly Virginia Beach man drowns in Hertford Sheriff: Alcohol played role in death SUSAN R. HARRIS The body of a Virginia Beach man was pulled from the Perquimans River in the wee hours of Monday morning. Wendell Scott Knowles, 37, of 3904 Hattie Street, was found in two feet of water around 2:40 a.m. Sheriff Eric Tilley said Knowles was found about 400 yards off the end of Goose Nest Lane toward the mouth of the Albemarle Sound. Foul play is not suspected in the incident, although alcohol use is. “Alcohol played a big part in this,” Tilley said. Tilley said the county 1 killed in wreck Norfolk man thrown from speeding cycle CHRIS WHIPPLE The Daily Advance A Norfolk man was killed Saturday after being thrown from a speeding motorcycle on New Hope Road. Vincent Dale Harris, 42, lost control of his motorcy cle at about 9:15 p.m. while speeding through a curve, according to 1st Sgt. J. Hardison of the state Highway Patrol. “The vehicle operator Be prepared for another hurricane this season SUSAN R. HARRIS Blue tarps still cover some roofs in Perquimans County, and tree services remain busy remain busy, visible signs of the wrath Hurricane Isabel unleashed here and in sur rounding counties last Sept. 18. Work groups from outside the area still visit to help victims recover. And now, it’s hurricane season again. June — November mark the official season, but so far, Perquimans County Emergency Management Director Harry Winslow said, no storms have become strong enough to be named. Winslow said some fore casters are predicting that the 2004 season will be a more active than average season, with 14 named storms, seven or eight of which will become hurri canes, and possibly three more intense storms. The probability of a storm hit ting the Atlantic or Gulf coasts is 68 percent. August and September have traditionally been the most likely months for hits along the North Carolina coast, he said. Winslow, county depart ment heads and emergency responders have spent the months since Isabel review ing emergency response plans, looking at what went well during last September’s natural disas ter, and looking for ways to improve the county’s response to hurricanes and other disasters. Isabel was a catetory II storm, which brings winds of 96—1110 mph. Damage estimates in Perquimans County exceed $80 million. telecommunications office received a call at 12:30 a.m. Monday that a swimmer had disappeared near the end of Goose Nest Lane. The Perquimans County Water Rescue Unit, EMS, sheriff’s department, N.C. Wildlife Resources and U.S. Coast Guard Station Elizabeth City responded to the call. About 10 people were cel ebrating the 4th of July at a vacation home on Goose Nest Lane, Tilley said,' including Knowles and his wife, Karen, and her par ents. Several went for a late-night swim and at some point realized that Knowles was no longer with them. At first, no one was concerned, but soon they realized no one knew where Knowles was, Tilley said, and called for assis tance. Tilley said a Coast Guard helicopter spotted something in the water and blinked lights to alert water rescue and wildlife personnel, who had trav eled to the scene by boat. The sheriff notified Karen Knowles’ mother that Knowles had been found. The mother had taken Karen Knowles back to Virginia Beach during the search. Tilley said exactly what happened is not clear. He said there is natural debris. Celebrating the 4th was driving northwest and exceeding the speed limit,” Hardison said. “He was traveling at approximately 75 mph when he went into a curve and left the roadway. His vehicle overturned. He was thrown from the vehi cle and came to rest in a ditch.” Harris was transported by Perquimans EMS to Albemarle Hospital where he was pronounced dead. His family was notified a short time later. He was not wearing a helmet, Hardison said. The wreck was one of three accident that occured in the Albemarle this 4th of July weekend, and was the only fatatlity. Winslow said local resi dents should be prepared to be self-sufficient for a week in the event of a devastat- ’ ing storm. Emergency man agement agencies used to recommend 72 hours, he said, but have adjusted that to a week. That means resi dents should have on hand one gallon of water per per son per day as weU as pre cooked, non-perishable foods and a can opener. With the effects of Isabel and wet weather since that time, Winslow said many trees are vulnerable to high winds. These should be cut down as soon as possible, he said. If a direct hit is predict ed, windows should be boarded, not taped. Winslow said tape is inef fective in preventing break age. Another action people should take if a storm is imminent is to get prescrip tions filled to make sure there is sufficient supply to last through the emergency period. Provisions should also be made for pets. Pets are not allowed at Red Cross shelters and should not be left alone to fend for them selves. During Isabel, the tri-county animal shelter made provisions for board ing pets, and some veteri narians do, edso. People can not stay with their pets, he said. Whether to leave home is a decision residents must make when a storm approaches. Winslow said it is important for people to decide early whether they wiU leave. “Evacuation is a prob lem for northeastern North Carolina,” Winslow said. Continued on page 6 Hundreds of people flocked to Hertford and Winfall or into boats on the river to enjoy the fireworks display sponsored by American Legion Post 126 Sunday evening. Over $5,000 was raised by the Legion to purchase the fireworks, which were launched by volunteers. The Hertford Fire Department and Perquimans Rescue Squad were on stand-by during the show. Jesse Harris allowed the use of his waterfront property for the launching area. such as cypress knees, in the area of the incident, and that Knowles could have tripped and fallen while in the water. No one at the scene could give any details into what happened. Knowles was taken to Albemarle Hospital, where he was observed until 9:30 a.m. Monday before his body was released. He is survived by at least four children, Tilley said he learned at the scene. Former Herford mayor dies SUSAN R. HARRIS Former Hertford mayor John G. Beers died Sunday afternoon in his home. Beers had suffered sever al strokes over the past few weeks and was being cared for by his family at his home after his release from health care facilities. Beers served as mayor for 8 years during the 1990s, after serving over 20 years as a councilman. A native of Jamestown, N.Y., he came to Hertford when he was a U.S. Marine assigned to the Harvey Point Air Station. While here, he met Betty Jean Winslow, whom he married on July 7, 1950. The couple had three children, Dina Hurdle, Mary Lindsey Hare and the late Mark Winslow Beers. Beers was part-owner of the former J.C. Blanchard Farm Equipment Company and served as the county Veterans Service Officer for over 20 years. Active in the community. Beers was a member of both the Hertford Fire Department and Perquimans County Rescue Squad, of which he was a charter member. He was also a member of Hertford United Methodist Church, Perquimans Masonic Lodge 106, the Hertford Jaycees, American Legion Post 126 and VFW Post 8148. He had served as a Red Cross Coordinator. (Please see a Ml obitu ary on page 3.) Weekend Weather THURSDAY High: 90 Low: 75 Scattered TStorms Friday High: 89 Low: 72 Isolated T'storms Saturday High: 88 Low: 73 Parry Cloudy
The Perquimans Weekly (Hertford, N.C.)
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July 7, 2004, edition 1
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