Newspapers / The Perquimans Weekly (Hertford, … / May 30, 2007, edition 1 / Page 1
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l1^. PCMS authors noted Rage 2 PCRD names top athletes F^ge 7 Ricks accepted to NCSSM Rage 12 PERQUmASS county LfBRARY iie w acade^ ST HERTFORD, HO 27944-^ May 30, 2007 Vol. 75, No. 23 Hertford, North Carolina 27944 Weekly (^^35 cents ) Hertford ooiQ>le guilty of sex abuse SUSAN HARRIS Prospective jurors sat ready to be impaneled when a Hertford couple pleaded guilty to child sex abuse charges in Perquimans County Superior Court last week. Wayne Arthur Foberg, 39 and his wife, Krista Renee Foberg, 24, of 120 New River Drive, accepted a plea agreement that will see both spend 16-20 years in the North Carolina Correctional System. Each pleaded guilty to statutory rape/sex offense with a minor and were sentenced by the Hon. Jerry T. Tillett on May 22. They will get credit for the 344 days they spent in jail awaiting trial. The court also recommended payment as a condition of post release supervision or from work release earnings of attorney fees charged by the court-appointed attorneys assigned to the Fobergs. Wayne Foberg was represented by R. Andrew Womble and his fees were $3,477.50. Hackney High repre sented Krista Foberg at a charge of $2,925. In addition, Tillett recommended that the defendants not be housed in the same facility during their incar ceration. Krista Foberg was taken to Central Prison in Raleigh, while Tillett ordered Wayne Foberg be assigned to Craven Correctional Institution. Sheriff Eric Tilley said the Fobergs accepted the plea agree ment after a statement Krista Foberg wrote of her own free will outlining the couple’s activities with the victim was cleared by the judge to be considered as evidence in the case. A motion was presented to suppress the statement, but Tillett denied the motion. A motion to suppress just a portion of the statement was also denied. Shortly thereafter, Krista Fobertg accepted a plea bargain and agreed to testify against her hus band. Wayne Foberg decided after learning that his wife would testify against him to accept a plea. The Fobergs were arrested on Feb. 8,2006 for the sexual abuse of a 13-year-old family member. Wajme Foberg was initially charged with statutory rape, crimes against nature and two counts of indecent liberties. Krista Foberg was charged with statutory sex offense, crimes against nature and two counts of indecent liberties. The initial charges stemmed from incidents that reportedly hap pened at an Albemarle Plantation home during the Christmas holiday period in 2005 when the victim and her parents visited the mother’s father at the Plantation during the holidays. The Fobergs, who were also kin to the visitors and the homeowner, were living with the homeowner at the time. The 13-year-old’s mother told Tilley during a Jan. 10, 2006 phone conversation that several days after the family returned to their home in another North Carolina town, she learned of alleged sexual con tact between the Fobergs and her daughter during the visit. The fam ily traveled to Hertford to file a for mal report on Jan. 12, 2006. Subsequent investigation led to more charges, including statutory rape/sex offense that occurred dur ing the period of June 26-July 2, 2005. It was those charges to which the Fobergs pleaded guilty. Wishing WeUs j PHOTO BY SUSAN HARRIS PCMS assistant principal Lisa Byrum and PCHS principal James Bunch wish Dr. Ken Wells the best in his retirement at a reception in Wells' honor hosted by the school system last Thursday at Central School. Wells reflects on tenure Superintendent to leave June 30 ZAC GOLDSTEIN The Daily Advance When Ken Wells took over as superintendent of Perquimans County Schools six years ago he gave a speech that summed up his approach to the job. "Change is required," Wells said. "Pain is option al." Wells, 53, began his career in education in 1977 as a teacher in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. After a career that spanned three decades and three school systems. Wells is retiring at the end of June. "I always told myself I would retire when I'm eligi ble to do so," Wells said. "Financially, this is the smart thing to do." However, Wells said that retirement might not nec essarily mean a complete end to his career. Since first announcing his retirement plans in January, WeUs has received several offers to return to public education on a contractual basis, he said. While he plans to keep his options open, he said for the meantime he will enjoy fishing and spending more time at his home in Manteo. WeUs spent his first 18 years as a teacher and later as an administrator with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools and Dare County Schools, two systems that are much larger and receive more state funding than rural Perquimans. "Here, money is not even considered as a solution," WeUs said. The challenge for him You have to be creative. Tm not going to let size or resources be excuses. Ken Wells on meeting the challenges of a small school system was finding ways to over come not getting as much money from the state as larger school districts receive. "You have to be creative," he said. "I'm not going to let size or resources be excus es." One way WeUs compen sated was by reaching out to the community for sup port. He praised the Perquimans County Ministers Council for its work. The ministers cOun- cU is a group of local pas tors and laymen who work with students and parents. He also commended the area's retirees for being dependable volunteers, even when they had no chil dren of their own enroUed at one of Perquimans' four schools. "The wealth of this com- mimity is in the talent of the people," WeUs said. "They are wiUing to roU up their sleeves. This is a hands-on community." WeUs said among his proudest achievements while at Perquimans included his school admin istrative personnel, the $12 miUion expansion and new gym construction under way at Perquimans County High and the school dis trict's accomplishments in technology education. Perquimans Central School was honored in April with the N.C. Association of School Administrators' Trailblazer Award for inno vation in the classroom, which included several Perquimans technology facilitators receiving statewide recognition. One area WeUs said has been an ongoing challenge for the district is attracting and retaining teachers. He said locally paid teachers receive a 2 percent supple ment, whUe other districts are wiUing to pay more. However, he said the teach ers who do stay tend to be highly qualified: Perquimans has the high est percentage of national ly board-certified teachers in the state. WeUs also emphasized a need for both the school dis trict and the surrounding community to stay open to new ideas. "Schools should be a motivator and an impetus for change," he said. "My regret is that we're not. We are more responders to change." (Contact Zac Goldstein at zgoldstein@coxnc.com) Guthrie, Bryant to lead PCHS class of ‘07 SUSAN HARRIS Callie Guthrie and Bridgette Bryant will lead the class of 2007 onto Memorial Field during commencement exercises on Saturday, Callie Guthrie June 9 at 10 ^ a.m. The vale dictorian, Callie is the daughter of Wendy and Forrest Guthrie and plans to attend Campbell University to major in busi ness adminis tration. Jasmine is the salutatori- an. The daughter of Bridgette Bryant and Larry Felton, she will attend North Carolina Agricultral and Technical State University, where she plans to major in biology. Principal James Bunch said the pair will lead about 115 graduates. He also gave some particulars on the graduation ceremony and how things will be handled to make it a special day focus ing on the students who have worked so hard to reach the mUestone in their lives. First, everyone attending graduation will need a ticket. Each graduate has been able to get nine tickets. Three of those tickets are gold tickets, and will be the only tickets hon ored should weather move the graduation inside. Bunch said. Graduates who think they will need more than nine tickets for family and friends for the outsiode ceremony will be able to request up to 10 more during graduation practice. Bunch emphasized that no one will be allowed to enter the stadium without a ticket issued by the school. Graduation announcements are not consid ered tickets. Because of gymnasium construction, parking will present challenges. Bunch said. School officials are asking that graduates and faculty park in front of the school. Guests may park at the King Street Annex, the central office or on the band practice Continued on page 2 Jasmine Bryant Weather Thursday High: 88, Low: 67 Partly Cloudy Friday High: 88, Low: 67 Partly Cloudy Saturday High: 87, Low: 67 Partly Cloudy V it-
The Perquimans Weekly (Hertford, N.C.)
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May 30, 2007, edition 1
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