+ P I The ERQUIMANS Weekly £t04. Perquimans tramples Northside, 55-0 Page 9 "Neivs front Next Door” OCTOBER 7, 2009 - OCTOBER 13, 2009 One stop voting here starts Oct. 15 By Cathy Wilson Staff" Writer One-stop'absentee voting for the Nov. 3 municipal elections in Hertford and Winfall begins Oct. 15. Both Hertford and Winfall have two council seats up for grabs. Five people are vying for the two seats in Hertford while only two people seek two seats in Winfall. Voters already registered may vote early between Oct. 15 and Oct. 31 at the office of the Perquimans County Board of Elections. Those who wish to vote, but have not registered, may regis ter and vote during that same time frame. The office will be open for one-stop absentee voting Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.- 5 p.m. except on the final day, Oct. 31, when vpting will cease at 1 p.m. In Hertford, newcomers Lillian Anne Holman, Lloyd S. Hodges, Quentin Jackson, and Wfiliam E. (Ed) Lane, wUl square off against incumbent Horace C. Reid Jr. for the two open seats. Councilwoman JoAnn Morris is not seeking re-election. In Winfall, newcomer Steav F. Congdon and incumbent Debbie Jean Whedbee are seeking the two seats. Coun cilwoman Donna Mummert is not seeking re-election. To register at a one-stop voting location, voters must provide identification. Ac ceptable forms of identifica tion include: a North Carolina driver’s license with current address or a utility bill with name and current address; a telephone or mobile phone bill; an electric or gas bill; a cable television bill; a water or sewage biU; a passport; a governmentdssued photo ID; a U.S. military ID; a license to PCHS Marching Pirates shine BREUA. CWRK/THE DAILY ADVANCE Sporting their new uniforms (above) are members of the Perquimans High School Marching Pirates. Below: Color guard member Savan nah Black is framed in a swirl of purple flags during Friday night’s half-time show. New uniforms highlight new season By Cathy Wilson Staff Writer T his is an exciting time for the Perquimans County High School Marching Pi rates. Dressed in their new uni forms, band and color guard members recently kicked off their competition season in high style.. On Saturday, the band took several awards in Class 3A com petition during the 34rd Annual Peanut Festival in Edenton. According to Chris White hurst, director of bands for the school, his marching Pirates captured first place in color guard, first in percussion and first for general effect. The band placed second in music and third in marching. “Of special note, the band took the highest drum score for the entire competition as well as the highest general See BAND on Page 2 Weekend Weather Thursday High: 74 Low: 54 Partly Cloudy Friday High: 69 Low: 58 Sunny Saturday High: 75 Low: 61 Showers Give to the local United Way chapter By Diana Mazzeila The Daily Advance 6 "89076 47143 5 Despite an economic slow down that’s kept local un employment hovering near 10 percent for months, area business and civic leaders feel confident the Albemarle Area United Way (AAUW) will meet its fundraising goal of $400,000 this year. AAUW kicked off its annual capital campaign re cently in Eliza beth City. Arm Hoffman, AAUW board chairwoman and publisher of The Perquimans Weekly, encouraged attendees at the recent kickoff to give to the organization. “... It’s been a pretty rough year for everyone but especial ly for those who are less for tunate,” Hoffman said. “You know there are signs of recov ery, but unemployment is stiU very high, people are stiU los ing their jobs and their homes and tragedy stni strikes. It’s ever important to live united.” Twenty-five nonprofit agencies are supported by the United Way in nine area counties including Perquimans. The groups • include among U^ilwdvytail of America Humanity, Food Bank of the Albemar le, Albemarle Hopeline, the Greater Albemarle Chapter of the American Red Cross, Cath olic Charities, Boy Scouts of America: Tidewater CoimcU, hunt, fish, own a gun, etc.; a property or other tax bill; au tomotive or vehicle registra tion; certified documentation of naturalization. Also, a public housing or So cial Service Agency document; a check, invoice or letter from a government agency; a birth certificate; a student photo ID along with a document from the school showing the stu dent’s name and current ad dress; a paycheck or paycheck stub from an employer or a W- 2 statement; a bank statement or credit card statement. If an acceptable form of identification for proof of residence is not given, the reg istration application can not be fully processed until the •required information is pro vided. Registered voters may also update their address and change vital information in an existing registration record at the one-stop site. Fired town officer carrying badge, ID By Cathy Wilson Staff Writer A former Hertford police of ficer is facing larceny charges after he was found to be in possession of his police badge and official identification af ter being dismissed from the force. Hertford Police Chief Joe Amos said two misdemeanor larceny warrants have been issued for Clifton Johnson of Elizabeth City. Johnson was fired from the Hertford Police Department by Amos two months ago. Amos has not made the rea son for Johnson’s termina tion public citing personnel matters. According to a press re lease issued by Amos, Hert ford police were contacted on Oct. 2 by the Elizabeth City Police Department advising they were detaining a former Hertford police officer. “While conducting a drug investigation, Johnson was found to be in possession of a Hertford Police Department badge and identification,” the press release states. “John son was not charged with any drug violation by Elizabeth City police.” “At the time of his termi nation, it was believed that Johnson had turned in aU the property that had been issued to him,” Amos added. Amos said Johnson’s vehi cle was stopped by police, and a passenger in the vehicle was charged in connection with a drug violation. Student absentee rate is still climbing Girl Scouts Council: Colonial Coast, The Salvation Army The local Habitat for Hu manity is one local agency that receives support from the campaign. United Way has designated $4,452 to the Chowan/Perquimans Habitat for Humanity this year. Since the early 1990s, Chow an/Perquimans Habitat for Humanity has built seven houses for low-income resi dents. For some of those residents it was their first home, said the organization’s president Rich ard Vail. “These people are absolute ly elated,” he said of the first time homeowners. The local Habitat for Hu manity has built one house See GIVING on Page 2 By Cathy Wilson Staff Writer The number of sick stu dents missing school here continued to climb last week. Brenda Lassiter, public information officer for the Perquimans County Schools, said the number of absen tees in all, four schools rose to 209 last Friday. Usually the school system averages about 80 students absent on a given day. The school system has an enrollment of about 1,800 stu dents, “A high rate of absences are because of strep throat,” Lassiter pointed out. Other ailments keeping kids home from school include flu, vi ruses, injuries, and deaths in families, she added. Absenteeism jumped Fri day at Perquimans Central School from 48 to 62. Hertford Grammar School counted 54 students out while absentees at Perquimans Middle and Perquimans High each num bered 46 and 47 students re spectively. The number of students out sick with a variety of ail ments, including flu, began rising over 100 on Sept. 24 and has continued to rise since then. Last Monday, more than half of the sick students sent home exhibited flu-like symp toms. School nurses are monitor ing attendance closely and are following up on illnesses in an effort to track the flu virus. “We are staying in close contact with the Albemarle Regional Health Department so that they can help advise us,” she added. Local health department of ficials have indicated that 99 percent of all flu experienced in the country now is HlNl, more commonly known as Swine Flu. Counterfeit cash being distributed in county By Cathy Wilson Staff Writer Counterfeit money has been distributed in both Win fall and Hertford over the past two weeks. On Oct. 1, three fake $20 bills were found at Winfall Deli. In September, someone passed fake $20 and $100 bills at Food Lion and Hess in Hertford. Local merchants are en couraged to pay close atten tion and examine any $20 or $100 bills received. “Be diligent about check ing any money taken in,” said Winfall Police Chief Da vid Shaffer. “A lot of times, these folks will wait and try to pass fake money when the cashier is busy.” “Check the color of the ink, look for the holograms, and check for security strips on the money,” added Hert ford Police Chief Joe Amos. “If they are still not sure, call the police and we can See MONEY on Page 2 Swindell Funeral and Cremation Services 509 Dobbs St, Hertford 426-73 I I Traditional • Cremation Green Funerals • Biker Funerals Veterans Funerals • Pre-Arrangements www.swindellfuneralhome.comi Over 57 Years of Service to the Community