I 1 D1 1 //-t^ P11/C6 Winfall decorating winners Page 2 Central's perfect attendance Page 3 Greetings^ Santa letters F^ges 7-12 COUNTY LIBRARY 110 W ACADEMY ST HERTFORD, NC 27944-1306 „o 2 2 mh 12/21/2004, Perquimans December 22, 2004 Vol. 72, No, 51 Hertford, North Carolina 27944 Weekly A DUSTING OF mrTE No new leads in vehicle death Trooper asks for info about case ERIN RICKERT PHOTO BY ERIN RICKERT Though Tuesday officially marked the first day of winter, the first flurries of the season hit Hertford Sunday night leaving many residents to awake to nearly two inches of snow Monday. Several businesses and offices were closed or delayed due to the windy conditions and 30 degree weather brought by the storm. State Highway Patrol troopers still have no leads in the investigation of a hit and run that killed Edenton resident William Edward Bond Jr. early last month, but recent test results have provided authorities with a better description of the vehicle. Trooper Ernest Goodwin, who is currently investigating the case, said based on the analysis of .the paint found on Bond’s clothing and the lights recovered at the scene, evi dence indicated that the vehicle that struck Bond was a Toyota Camry made between 1992-94 — years earlier than authorities originally suspected. Goodwin said the older model Camry is believed to be silver, light gray or white in color. Bond, 33, of East Peterson Street, was struck by the Camry from behind and thrown into the medi an while walking south on U.S.. Highway 17 during the early hours of Nov. 5. Goodwin said Bond was hit less than two miles from the newly reopened club, formerly known as Hillcrest, where he spent the night untU his depar ture just before 2 a.m. The accident, which is believed to have occurred somewhere around 3 a.m., left Bond’s body at the scene for at least three hours, according to Goodwin. It was , not until just before 7 that morning that a passing motorist saw Bond’s body and alerted authorities. Since the incident, Goodwin said he has received several calls con cerning the case, but none have turned out to be true leads. "I am hoping I can find something out soon, at least for the family," Goodwin said. "This is a felony offense." Highway Patrol asks anyone with information about the case to call the office at 331-4771. Local man recalls fun-filled youth White may be oldest Hertford resident born in town PHOTO BY ERIN RICKERT ERIN RICKERT Rhonda Gregory and Tammy Proctor prepare to dig at the groundbreaking for Gregory and Associates last week in the Perquimans Commerce Centre. Gregory has outgrown her 4,000-square-foot downtown office space and will move her headquarters to a new 7,250 building upon its completion in about seven months. Expanding business to move to commerce park ERIN RICKERT A groundbreaking cere mony was held Thursday, announcing Gregory and Associates’ intentions to construct an office building that will accommodate the company’s recent expan sion. The new 7,250 square foot brick building will occupy space off Harvey Point Road next to Planter’s Ridge in the Perquimans Commerce Centre. “This is part of a dream and dreams do come true,” said Rhonda Gregory, CPA and president of the com pany. “1 am so excited for this.” S.E. Sasser, Inc. Ill, out of Fremont, will handle con struction of the building, which will begin in early January. “If everything goes right, it should take six to seven months to complete,” said Sam Sasser, president. Gregory, who occupies space on Market Street in downtown Hertford, just recently found the compa ny’s current 4,000 square foot building much too small for their growth. “I hired a tenth person the other day and I just don’t have any place to put them,” Gregory said. “1 was out of space.” Gregory said the added space would allow the busi- Continued on page 2 The word “Troublemaker” is a description that has fol lowed Ray White for most of his life. As a child, playing hooky was routine and chasing his sister Dorothy around the room with a mouse was entertaining. The feisty White even named his first dog Damn It. Years later as a grown man. White lost an Army promotion to his quick humor. Yet though time has caught up to the 92 year-old, his troublemaking spirit is still very much alive in Hertford — the same place he grew up years ago. Born and raised on Grubb Street during a time when unpaved roads, out houses and the absence of running water was ordi nary, White is even said to be the oldest white man born in Hertford that is still living within city lim its. It was during his forma tive years that White expe rienced countless adven tures and mischief, right fully earning the name ing other residents. White caused so much trouble that in the tenth grade he earned a ticket to Bedford, Va. “I was a problem child and mother sent me away,” White said. For the next three years White would attempt to tame his wild spirit at the Randolph Macon Academy, a boarding school for boys. At the academy. White mingled with other boys who all attended the school for different reasons. Yet the boarding school could not tame White’s wild spirit and those who attended with him knew it. Continued on page 2 Ray White, 92, enjoys sitting in his front yard and recalling his days of adventure as a youth in Hertford. White may be the oldest male living in Hertford who was actually born within the town limits. “troublemaker.” “When I was a kid the neighbor had cows, mules and horses in the yard,” White said. One Sunday morning after his mother Beulah dressed him in his church clothes. White went outside to the neighbors’ yard. It was there his need for adventure landed him on the back of one of the neighbors’ cows, where he managed to stay clean untU he slid off the back side of the cow as it was using the bathroom. White continued his mischief when he received a goat for Christmas when he was 12 years old. Major William and White were inseparable as the two traveled Hertford pretend ing to be loggers and rac Weekend Weather Thursday High: 70 Low: 44 T'storms Friday High: 52 Low: 32 Cloudy Saturday High: 43 Low: 25 Rain/Snow Showers