Dougherty to lead PCHS hoops
2
Lady Tigers win tournament
7
Youth League updates
Rage 7
May 23, 2007
Vol. 75, No. 21 Hertford, North Carolina 27944
rERQUIMANS
Weekly
MAY 2 I 2007
I will survive
Jaedon Stepney
4-year-old
di^osed
with cancer
SUSAN HARRIS
He’s handsome, ener
getic and spirited. He’s four,
and he’s a pre-kindergarten
student at Central School.
Sadly, Jaedon Darius Ray
Stepney is also a cancer
patient.
The tyke had a lemon
sized mass removed from
the back of his head at
Children’s Hospital of the
King’s Daughters on May 7.
A few days later, the pathol
ogy reports came back. The
tumor was malignant. Now,
he must undergo radiation
and chemotherapy
The diagnosis all started
with headaches, according
to Jaedon’s grandmother,
Mrs. Quinton Harris of
Elizabeth City. Quinton and
his mother, Mineeta Harris,
were in an automobile acci
dent in December, so doc
tors initially thought
Jaedon’s frequent
headaches were coming
from the wreck. The
headaches were monitored
medically, but soon became
so severe that his mother
requested a CAT scan. That
test showed the tumor that
would send Jaedon to
King’s Daughters for sur
gery and the diagnosis.
As of Monday Mineeta
Harris said Jaedon is doing
well, joking, laughing, play
ing and eating well. She
said doctors believe they
got all of the cancer, the
tube is now out of Jaedon’s
head, and doctors want to
make sure the fluid is
draining properly before
sending him home —
Harris hopes by Thursday.
Within four weeks of the
surgery date, chemothera
py and radiation will begin
as a precautionary meas
ure. The first round of the
treatments will likely last 6-
8 weeks, and he will proba
bly require some type of
treatments for a full year,
Harris said.
“It was depressing, kind
of sad,’’ Harris said of her
son’s diagnosis, but she is
determined to learn all she
can and fight the disease
with her son. “We have to
do what we have to do.”
What they will soon have
to do is drive back and forth
between King’s Daughters
Hospital for treatment and
their home in Hertford
daily during radiation and
chemotherapy.
The cancer diagnosis
stunned Jaedon’s parents,
Harris and Donald Stepney
Continued on page 10
Relay for
Life sets
new records
SUSAN HARRIS
“Is this for real? Is this a real num
ber?” Relay for Life Chair Debbie
Burroughs asked during the event’s
closing ceremonies Saturday when
handed the final tally for money
raised through tearfi fund raisers and
donations.
Her voice breaking with emotion.
Burroughs announced that $158,500
had been raised as of the close of
Relay to support cancer research and
patient support services. The goal set
by the American Cancer Society was
$140,000. Last year, over $127,000 was
raised.
“It’s just absolutely phenomenol,”
Burroughs said Monday of the
event’s fund raising success. “We are
so blessed to live in these two commu
nities. They don’t ever stop giving.
When you think they’ve given aU they
can, they dig down and give some
more. We don’t just live in the best communities
in the area, the state, the nation, but the whole
world! I don’t think there is a word good enough
for what these communities do for Relay for
Life.”
In addition to breaking the fund raising goal.
Relay also set a new record in the number of
survivors who participated in the Survivor’s
Lap, which opens the event. Each survivor’s
name and how long they have survived since
being diagnosed with cancer is read as they
take their places on the track. A record 150
names were called before they group made its
way aroimd the track as those gathered around
Wi
PHOTO BY SUSAN HARRIS
Cancer survivors, 150 strong, opened the Chowan-Perquimans Relay for Life at John A. Holmes High
School Athletic Complex Friday evening. It was the largest group of survivors ever to participate in
the event. Relay this year set a new record, raising $158,500 on a $140,000 set by the American
Cancer Society, with funds still coming in.
its edges cheered for them.
Twenty-two teams raised money through a
variety of fund raisers over the months leading
up to Relay through team events, luminary
s^es and business donations. Businesses in the
area gave $27,000 in addition to donating prizes
for team events and for the 18-hour Relay activ
ities that began Friday evening at 6 and ran
through Saturday at noon.
“Perquimans doesn’t have any big industry
and Chowan just has a few, so it’s really amaz
ing what they contribute to Relay,” Burroughs
said.
As with any large event. Burroughs said
credit for success goes to a lot of people. Her co
chair, Pat Mansfield, who received the Heart of
Relay Award on Satvurday, committee members
and team captains worked very hard for
months, she said.
“They make it happen,” Burroughs said.
She said in addition to raising money, the
Relay event itself has an upbeat atmosphere
that is friendly and inviting.
So will she chair Relay for a third year? She
won’t commit to that right now, but there is no
doubt that Burroughs will be involved in some
way in 2008. The cause is just too important not
to carry on.
Garden party a success for PCRA
'.W
.TP
liLi
PHOTO BY SUSAN HARRIS
SUSAN HARRIS
The river kissed the lawns of
Mr. and Mrs. Hennry Stokes and
Mr. and Mrs. Wallace Reed on
Front Street while the sun creat
ed diamonds on the water. Good
food, good music and good com
pany rounded out the setting at
Saturday was a perfect day to
be on lawns overlooking the
Perquimans River. It was a per
fect setting for the annual
PCRA Spring Garden Party.
the annual Perquimans County
Restoration Association Garden
Party Saturday evening.
About 140 people attended the
gala, one of the signature events
of the Association, according to
state Tourism Development
Officer Nancy Muller. Muller
estimated that about $5,000 was
raised through the party to bene
fit the Newbold-White House his
toric complex.
Muller said the weather was
perfect for the event, which fea
tured a performance by the
Concert Chorale of the Outer
Banks, founded and directed by
Forest Warren.
MC Auto offers used vehicles and service
SUSAN HARRIS
“Bring in your phone
bin and a pay stub and we
can put you in a car.”
That’s how Chris Cooper
and his father, Melvin, like
to do business at MC Auto
on Ocean Highway.
After a ribbon cutting on
Friday celebrating their
move to a new building and
expanded services, Chris
Cooper said the father-son
duo sells affordable, quality
used vehicles of all descrip
tions in all price ranges.
They’ll do everything they
can to match buyers with
financing as quickly as pos
sible.
The Coopers go to sales
all over North Carolina and
Virginia searching for the
best cars they can find at
prices local residents can
■V'
PHOTO BY SUSAN HARRIS
Chris Cooper cuts the ribbon at MC Auto as his wife,
Amy, children Natalie and Chris Jr. "Topher," brother-
in-law and chief mechanic Lary Harris, nephew
Antwan Harris and Hertford Mayor Sid Eley look on.
afford. They also purchase
from individuals and look
at other dealers fpr good
trade-ins.
The company provides
maintenance services
including oil changes,
brake work, tires, tune-ups
and state inspections.
Cooper said he’s had his
head under car hoods since
he was about 13 years old,
and his brother-in-law,
Lary Harris, although only
a junior in high school, is
also quite a mechanic.
Harris was the top student
in auto mechanics at the
high school last year, and
Cooper expects he might
earn the same honor in his
advanced classes this year.
Cooper’s wife, Alny, and
mom, Georgie, provide
vital administrative servic
es at MC Auto.
In addition, MC Auto is
the local U-Haul company.
Hours are Monday-
Friday, 9 a.m.- 7 p.m. and
Saturday, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Call
426-CARS.
Weekend
Weather
Thursday
High: 78, Low: 58
Sunny
Friday
High: 83, Low: 58
Sunny
Saturday
High: 85, Low: 67
Partly Cloudy