EECEIv i-iAV P I XHE may 0 6 2009 ERQUIMANS "News front Next Door" MAY 6 - MAY 12, 2009 Wiggins ciaims race a factor in recreation By Cathy Wilson Staff Writer One county commissioner believes ‘black children in the county are being short changed when it comes to running track. Last week, Commissioner Shirley Wiggins renewed her one-woman fight to get a track built for local students while attending a joint work session by members of both the county’s board of edu cation (BOE) and commis sioners. “I’m ask ing you for the last time black , kids in the county,” Wiggins told the group. “V\^y can’t you build a track? These kids run all over the state competing, but they can’t run here. They can’t bring anyone here. They do well and win when they com pete. But, when it comes to their needs here, they come in last place. “Black kids are interested in football, basketball and track,” Wiggins pointed out. “White kids are interested in baseball, softbaU and soccer.” Students in Perquimans County Schools have access to a football field, a new bas ketball gym, and baseball and softball fields. The school system does not have a track. Boys’ and girls’ track team members practice on the grassy band practice field and have to travel to other schools for aU track meets. Wiggins said she has asked the county to build a track for several years, but to no avail. “Eight or nine years asking for a track is long enough,” , Wiggins said. “And, don’t teU me there’s no funding. I asked back when there was plenty of funding. I asked before things got tight. ” Commissioner Chairman Mack Nixon disagreed with Wiggins, saying he doesn’t feel one group of students has been shortchanged. See WIGGINS on Page 2 TltAiNiNG Day Officials, emergency personnel join together for incident training Jr , PERQUI'MANSWEEKLY PHOTO BYCATHYWILSON Christy Saunders, emergency management director for Pasquotank County, expiains the situation to Joe Bunch, psychologist with Perquimans Schools as others begin work on preparing their action plans during National Incident Management System training last week. By Cathy Wilson Staff Writer A low pressure system has stalled over Northeastern North Carolina for several days, pour ing drenching rains into already full rivers and creeks surround ing the town of Hertford. , The river is predicted to crest 12 feet above flood level, area bridges are becoming weak due to debris pileups, and scared res idents are starting to file out of the town in an attempt to evacu ate. The American Red Cross has opened two shelters in the area, and the local nursing home is trying to move 55 patients out of the area. Additional firefight ers and rescuers are needed to help, and buses to help transport the elderly are needed from the school system. The chemical company at wa ter’s edge reports their bottom floor is already flooding, but of ficials are monitoring the possi bility of any chemical release. Resources like sand, front end loaders, and additional security forces to help local leaders deal with the impending disaster are arriving. News crews with satellite trucks clog the streets and reporters are scampering throughout the town attempting to get the story. Is Perquimans County ready to handle such a situation? Emergency Management Co ordinator Jarvis Winslow wants to make sure. Anyone in the county who might have to respond to such an incident took part in the 18- hour National Incident Man agement System course taught recently by Christy Saunders, emergency management direc tor for Pasquotank County, and former Elizabeth City fire chief BiUy Pritchard. Officials and responders from Perquimans and Pasquotank Goal is to create a unified command; first year govern ment officials required to attend counties took part in the course. They graduated April 30 after presenting team incident action plans in response to the above flood scenario., The course is required in or der for Perquimans County to receive any federal prepared ness funding. This is third level of NIMS training received in the past year. “Basically, we’re learning how to create a unified command,” explained Pritchard. “They are working together in groups, learning how to work with multi agencies, and multi jurisdiction al.” Participants practiced fill ing out the necessary forms, and worked together to create incident action plans in teams grouped around six tables. Individual tables of partici pants created plans dealing with such incident issues as residen tial evacuation, nursing home, sandbagging, shelters, control, and security Those attending represented town and county agencies, gov ernmental and school officials, fire departments, EMS, law en forcement, 911 communications, county and town public works, anim^ control, public and mental health, nursing homes, extension service, forestry, and volunteers. This is the first year local gov ernment officials were required to attend. “I learned about best prac tices in managing emergency situations,” said Frank Heath, county tax administrator. “The NIMS training focused on the I.C.S.. or incident command sys tem. The IGS is a standardized management tool for meeting the demands of small or large emergency situations. “The traits of ICS include a manageable span of control, common terminology, modidar organization, chain of com mand, and accountability in handling these situations,” he continued. “The interesting aspect of all of this is that this knowledge can also be applied to non-emer gency events. You can use these principles in planning a family event, or a fire department fund raiser. It was a good class.” For Brenda Lassiter, public information officer for Perqui mans County Schools, the train ing gave her a greater overview See TRAINING OH Page 2 New restaurant, gift shop opens in Hertford By Cathy Wilson Staff Writer Tea anyone? The ‘ Carriage House Tea Cafe’ and Gift Shop provides Weekend Weather Thursday High: 81 Low: 65 Scattered T-Storms Friday High: 85 Low: 67 ISOUTED T-Storms Saturday High: 85 Low: 62 Isolated T-Storms a unique setting for a leisure ly brunch, quick business lunch, little girl’s tea party, or a relaxing afternoon tea. Located at 108 Dobbs Street, Hertford’s newest restaurant and gift shop hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony last Thurs day by members of the Per quimans Chamber of Com merce. Mother-daughter owners, Ruth and Susan Benjamin- son, have transformed the for mer antique shop into a color ful restaurant that can seat 25 downstairs and features a secbnd private dining facility upstairs as well as a child’s bright yellow party room. A quaint gift shop welcomes visitors into the circa 1900 carriage house that features heart pine mouldings, origi nal wood flooring, a curved stairway to the second floor, and stained-glass windows in the stairwell. Bright colorful wooden rockers offer a place to relax on the front porch, and the outdoor courtyard features brick pathways leading to iron tables, chairs, bench es and umbrellas situated among flower gardens and ev- PERQUIMANS WEEKLY PHOTO BY CATHY WILSOM The Perquimans Chamber of Commerce hosted a ribbon cutting last Thursday at Hertford’s newest restaurant and gift shop. The Carriage House Tea Cafe’ and Gift Shop is located at 108 Dobbs Street. Mother-daughter owners, Ruth and Susan Benjaminson, have transformed the former antique shop into a colorful restaurant and gift shop. ’ erything a bird could want includ ing feeders, houses and baths. Tablecloths, the good china and a variety of colored teapots highlight the dining room area that’s found just behind the small gift shop that offers everything from candles to loose-leaf tea to Webkins to greet ing cards. While they, have remodeled the inside of the house to accommodate a restaurant, the new owners have preserved the historic nature of the slice of local history that was part of the George Major estate and See BUSINESS on Page 2 Project calls for replacing 14,835 feet of sewer lines as well as 420 feet of manhole repairs for an estimated cost of $871,620 Town gets approval for loan/ grant deal Hertford must look at finances to see if they can afford package By Cathy Wilson Staff Writer The town of Hertford can receive $854,187 in economic stimulus funds through a combi nation grant and loan package to rehabilitate sewer lines and manholes in town. The Hertford project was the only local proj ect funded during the first round distribution of stimulus funding through the North Carolina Clean Water State Revolving Fund. According to the state, funds wfll be awarded as a 50 percent zero-interest loan and 50 percent grant. While Hertford’s project was se lected for funding, the town may not opt to receive the funds. Council has to vote to accept the funding package. “When we applied, we did not know if the money was grant, loan, or a combination,” said Town Manager John Christensen. “Since there is a loan combination, it wfll mean additional debt for the water and sewer fund. And, with our already high cost of water and sewer, the council will really have to look at this hard.” Hertford’s application was submitted to re habilitate part of the town’s aging collection system. The town rehabilitated part of the sys tem back in 2004 at a cost of $352,054 but not aU critical areas were improved due to limited funds. Priority for funding by the state was given to projects that can proceed quickly, already have any required permits, and have addition al funding committed, if needed. In addition, project awards are not final until the Local Gov ernment Commission approves the recipient’s financial qualifications. The Hertford project is estimated to cost $871,620. The amount awarded to the town was cost of the project minus closing costs. The project calls for replacing 14,835 feet of 6—10 inch sewer lines as well as 420 vertical feet of manhole repairs. “Aging wastewater infrastructure from one end of the state to the other wfll now begin to see the benefit of the economic recovery funds,” said Gov. Perdue in announcing the awards. “Not only wfll these projects help improve pub lic health and the environment, but they’ll cre ate jobs and boost the local economy” The funds are part of the American Recov ery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Highway projects get federal funding Two highway projects in Perquimans County wfll be funded by federal economic stimiflus funds through the American Recovery and Re investment Act. According the the North Carolina Depart ment of Transportation, a little over seven miles of U.S. 17 between SR 1302 and SR 1101 is slated to be strengthened at a cost of $4 mil lion. In addition, an additional $500,000 wfll be spent to replace a bridge on NC Highway 37 with aluminum box ciflvert. The U.S. 17 project is scheduled to be let in Jifly with the bridge project on NC 37 slated to be let in August. The Perquimans projects were two of several annoimced by Gov. Bev Perdue. Statewide, an additional 64 highway and bridge projects total ing about $209 mfllion wfll be funded. The proj ects identified to date total $679 million, more than 90 percent of the $735 mfllion in recovery money North Carolina has received for high way and bridge improvements. “North Carolina is leading the nation in ef forts to expedite the selection of projects and get them under way as quickly as possible to get our people to work,” Perdue said. “Given our current economy, it is critical that we are using -our recovery money to help put people to work and create much-needed economic growth for our communities.” According to the Federal Highway Adminis- See HIGHWAY on Page 2 +

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