ttl' RECEIVED MAY D 7 2008 ^ jJ’V P\ "k I ^ May 7, 2008 Vol. 76, No. 19 Hertford, North Carolina 27944 **News from Next Door Two charged with child sex abuse SUSAN HARRIS Two Perquimans County men have been arrested and charged in separate in cidents of sexually abusing 5-year-olds recently. “We’re finding this (re ports of sexual abuse) more and more all the time,” said Sheriff Eric Tilley. “Kids are coming for ward more,” the sheriff responded when asked if he thought the incidence of child sex abuse is ris ing or children are coming forward and telling more Trash to cash Towns, county discuss recycling CATHY WILSON Staff Writer Since recycling is now bringing in just as much cash as it costs to dispose of trash, county officials hope the two towns will craft re cycling programs that mir ror the one currently used in the county. Last week during their annual joint meeting be tween county commis sioners and town council members from Hertford and Winfall, Bobby Darden, county manager, said the county’s goal is to get the towns’ recycling programs in line with the county’s. Currently, Hertford has limited curbside recycling while Winfall has none. While recycling mate rials have normally been sold for $5—$25 per ton, that price has jumped to $50—$60 per ton in the past year. Darden says the Chi nese market is buying up the recyclables in the USA, creating larger demand and driving up the price. The county currently pays $60 per ton to dump the county’s trash. If coun ty residents can reduce the amount of trash being dumped in the landfill, in crease the amount of trash recycled and get paid the same amount for it, recy cling could actually be prof itable for the county. “There’s a $120 per ton benefit to recycling if we don’t have to pay $60 per ton to a private landfill and we get paid up to $60 per ton for recyclables,” Darden pointed out. John Christensen, Hert ford’s town manager, said only 20 percent of the CONTINUED on page 2 Thursday High: 80 Low: 67 Mostly Cloudy Friday High: 77 Low: 57 ScAHERED Storms Saturday High: 74 Low: 57 Scattered Storms often. The first arrested was Charles White of 168 Swayne Lane, who was in dicted by a grand jury on April 2 for two counts of indecent liberties with a child. Sheriffs investigator Mario Reel said White was convicted of child sex abuse in'1998 in Pasquo tank County, and was im prisoned until 2005. He is a registered sex offender. The most recent charges stem from his alleged in appropriate touching of a family member. He was ar rested on April 24. Reel said the sheriff’s department received an anonymous call in October 2007 that led to the investi gation. When the sheriffs department believed suf ficient evidence had been obtained to arrest White, evidence was submitted to the grand jury for action. White was placed under a $5,000 bond. He is out on ban. A second man was arrest ed on April 30 and charged with sex abuse of a Bertie County child. James D. Dunn, 69, who lives in a camping trailer at the back of farm property at 1280 County Line Road, was charged with seven counts of indecent liberties with a child. He is confined at Albemarle District Jail in lieu of a $140,000 bond. TiUey said a Windsor woman reported to his of fice on April 25 that Dunn had had sexual contact with her daughter. Tilley inter viewed the child, and in his opinion, the child had been sexually abused. On April 28, the child was taken to Tedi Bears in Greenvfile, a facility spe cializing in interviewing and assisting child abuse victims. There, the victim was re-interviewed and a physical exam was per formed. Tilley said at the end of the visit he deter mined that he had sufficient evidence to make an arrest. The mother called the sheriffs department on April 30 and said that Dunn, a family member, was at her home in Windsor. Til ley said the Windsor Police Perquimans Weekly photos by CATHY WILSON Town celebrates 250th birthday CATHY WILSON Staff Writer Despite a gloomy predic tion of rain, sunny skies prevailed Sunday afternoon to provide the perfect back drop for the 250th birthday party for Hertford. Approximately 400 peo ple turned out for the three hour celebration which in cluded historical readings, music, foBd, politicians, and the cutting of the 30-pound birthday cake that sported the town’s official 250th cel ebration logo.' Caterer Louise Ward, who made the three-tier, two-flavored cake, lit the candles on the cake as the crowd sang Happy Birth day to the town that was chartered May 4,1758. “It was a great day,” said John Christensen, Hertford’s town manager. “It was weU attended, and I think everyone learned a little bit about the town’s history that we weren’t aware of. As the seventh old est town in the state, every one should be proud of our history. We’re also glad that the weather cooperated.” Event planner Mary Me. White also said she was pleased with the day, and thanked everyone who helped make it memorable for years to come. Among the politicians who turned out Sunday was the state’s Lt. Governor Bev Perdue, who is campaign ing to become the state’s Democratic candidate for governor. She arrived just before the 1 p.m. ceremony began, wished the town well on its 250th birthday and reminded locals that she moved from Florida to New Bern 30 years ago, and then left to continue on her campaign trail to Durham.* “Anytime you get any body from Raleigh this far east is a real thrill,” said Mayor Sid Eley. “We really appreciate the interest and support given by Lt. Gov. Perdue,” Chris tensen added. Others who attended, in cluded Representative An nie Mobley who presented a resolution in honor of the day. Senator Edward Jones, and Betty Jo Shephard, field representative for U.S. Senator Richard Burr. Local historian Ray Win slow told the town’s unique history while Lynwood Winslow detailed the his tory of the Quakers in the area. Music on the courthouse green was provided by members of the College of the Albemarle Community Band and The Renaissance Consort. ■ Later that evening, the Albemarle Chorale pre sented an outstanding pops concert at the Perquimans County High School that was well attended also. Boy Scout Troop 150 ex hibited its pioneer campsite on the courthouse green. The day ended with a commemorative group pic ture taken of everyone who attended. The crowd gath ered in the middle of the historic downtown business district for the picture that was shot by local photogra pher John Matthews who was hoisted up in the air in the town’s bucket truck. Department apprehended Dunn near the home of the victim. He was held until Perquimans officers could pick him up. While he was being ar rested and processed, a search warrant was execut ed on Dunn’s premises. Til ley declined to say if any thing found bolstered the state’s case against Dunn. Tilley said research into Dunn’s background shows that he has spent time in federal prison in Kansas for drug trafficking. nabbed Friend charged with harboring fugitive CATHY WILSON Staff Writer A man wanted for es caping. from custody over 30 days ago was appre hended without incident in Hertford April 28. According to Hertford Police Chief Brian Rid dick, Jamie Walker was taken into custody around 11:15 a.m. at 100 Brace Av enue, Apt. 7, following a joint effort between the Perquimans County Sher- ifFs Department, Winfall Police Department, and Hertford Police Depart ment. Local police were looking for Walker after he escaped from custody while being transferred to Albe marle District Jail follow ing a localcourt appearance in March, said Riddick. An investigation by Hertford police determined that Walker was seen sev eral times in an apartment occupied by Jennifer Ann Rogers. When a positive identification was made, police confronted Rogers in Apartment 7. Chief Riddick knocked on the apartment’s front door while Winfall police and a sheriffs deputy were stationed around the back. Police said Rogers denied Walker’s presence in the apartment and wouldn’t allow police to enter the apartment without a war rant, Riddick said. While he was talking to Rogers at the front door. Walker reportedly opened the cur tain at the back window and looked straight at the officers, allowing a positive identification by the police officers stationed at the back of the apartment. Rogers then allowed police to enter the apart ment, and Walker was apprehended without in cident, Riddick said. Ac cording to Riddick, Walker is currently being held in ADJ under $66,000 bond on several charges including felony breaking and enter ing and felony larceny of a firearm. Rogers is charged with harboring a fugitive and possession of drug para phernalia, police said. '89076"47143

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