+ + rEB ivJV U k Z009 ERQUIMANS Weekly "News front Next Door" NOVEMBER 4, 2009 - NOVEMBER 10, 2009 See winners from Friday's costume contest Page 2 Seasonal flu shots hard to find, for now By Cathy Wilson Staff Writer A check with local health care providers shows sea sonal flu shots may be hard to come by until the first of next year. The local health depart ment has already exhausted its supply Coastal Carolina Family Practice (CCFP) in Hertford is also out, and Dr. Results Weekend Weather Thursday High: 65 Low: 44 Mostly Sunny Friday High: 67 Low: 46 Sunny Saturday High: 64 Low: 49 Mostly Sunny Neil DeNunzio’s office in Win- fall is providing seasonal flu vaccinations to established patients only. Local public school employ ees, however, are scheduled to receive seasonal flu vaccina tions Nov. 10 during a flu shot clinic originally scheduled for last week. “Our flu clinic was post poned imtil November 10 due to a shortage of shots,” commented Brenda Lassiter, public information officer for Perquimans County Schools. “This win be regular flu vac cine for aU staff members. We have 125 signed up to receive it.” Jfll Jordan, health educa tion director for Albemarle Regional Health Services, said the health department has received and given out its usual seasonal flu vaccine supply for adults, but that vaccinations for children may stiU be available. “ARHS does not currently have any more seasonal influ enza vaccine for adults avail able and will not be receiv- ing any more adult seasonal influenza vaccine in 2009,” Jordan wrote in an email. She added that the department re ceived seasonal flu vaccines earlier than usual, and saw an increase in demand for this time of year. Regarding the HlNl vac cine, supplies are being tar geted for at-risk populations, but officials expect to offer it to more people once addition al quantities arrive. The local health departments expect more vaccine in the next few weeks with increased quanti ties. Jordan said residents By Cathy Wilson Staff Writer ■Voter turnout in Hertford and Winfall was light as of early Tuesday For Hertford/Winfall elec-, tion results, see DailyAd- vance.com, Wednesday's Daily Advance and next week’s Perquimans Weekly for follow-up stories. Eula Mae Forbes, director of the Perquimans Board of Elections, said 16 voters had cast ballots in the East Hert ford precinct (Courthouse) and four voters had voted in the West Hertford precinct (Hertford Grammar School). Only six voters had voted in WinfaU by that time. In Hertford, five candidates sought two seats on the Hert ford Town County while two candidates sought two seats on Winfall Town Council. In Hertford, incumbent Horace Reid and political new comers Lloyd Hodges, LiUian Holman, Quentin Jackson, and Ed Lane were vying for the two seats on the board. In Winfall, incumbent Deb bie Jean Whedbee and new comer Steav Congdon ran for two seats on the Winfall Town Council. All five candidates who ran in Hertford were standing on the sidewalk in front of the Courthouse seeking votes Election Day morning. One professional woman See TURNOUT on Page 8 Lady Pirates win sectional V PHOTO COURTESY PHIL HARRIS The Lady Pirates celebrate their sectional championship win in Hertford, Saturday. Perquimans fans (at left), many clad in Lady Pirates volleyball shirts that read “Hit like a PQ girl”, cheer after Quinyotta Pettaway served the final point in the 3-0 win over Southwest Onslow. At right. Southwest Onslow fans absorb the season-ending loss of their team. See page 7 for story. From work to fighting, White is champ By Cathy Wilson Staff Writer Most days Hertford resident John White slings a hammer and pounds nails in the con struction business. But on nights and week ends, he slings his fists and pounds his opponent into submission inside a caged ring. At least, that’s what it might appear to the untrained eye watching White and oth ers take part in the Amateur Fight League Mixed Martial Arts (AFLMMA) competi tions held around the country. It’s usually referred to as ulti mate or cage fighting. But to White, it’s not so much fighting as it is a highly energetic workout, trained discipline in martial arts, and See WHITE on Page 8 h-5 . jr. : PERQUIMANS WEEKLY PHOTO BY CATHY WILSON John White, 35, of Hertford, earned the 170-pound Welter Weight AFLMMA Championship held in Elizabeth City in Septem ber and came in second in the state North American Grappling Association competition held test July in Charlotte. His record is now 3-1 in amateur fighting. According to White, all three of his wins were knock-outs. Singing plumber to perform on ‘Oprah’ Denny to compete on show Thursday By Cathy Wilson Staff Writer Donnie Denny, of Hertford, is one of eight national semi finalists in Oprah Winfree’s Karaoke Challenge. Owner of Standard Plumb ing, he is scheduled to sing live on The Oprah Show on Thursday at 4 p.m. “Iwasjuststunned,” said Denny when he heard he would com pete this week in Chi cago on the popular television show. Denny’s family first submitted a video of him singing in early October and Denny of Christ, to flhn him singing once again. Later, a producer and film crew visited him at his Justin Avenue home in Perquimans County to interview him for the show. He flew to Chicago Monday and wiU compete Thursday then a show producer and in Round 1 of the competi- film crew visited him at his tion. Audience members and church. South Mills Church viewers can vote afterwards for their favorite karaoke performance either online on the show’s website or by phone to a number that wUl be displayed during the show. The top three vote-getters will continue on to Round 2 at a later date during which a winner will be selected. ■ “They were filming me at church, and I had to sing the song over three times, so I was See DENNY on Page 8 shoifld contact the health department in Perquimans County at 426-2100 or local healthcare providers’ offices to determine whether or not the HlNl vaccine is avail able. ARHS received its first shipment of 2009 HlNl influ enza vaccine in the intrana sal form on Oct. 5, she pointed See SHOTS on Page 8 Schools receive report cards By Cathy Wilson Staff Writer Perquimans County Schools fared well last school year on the Education First’ N.C. School Report Cards is sued recently by the North Carolina Department of Pub lic Instruction. The report, issued for each school district as well as over all for the state, includes in formation such as school and student performance, class sizes, attendance, school safe ty, instructional resources, - and teacher quality. AU four schools in Perqui mans County met Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) as determined by the federal accountability program. Stu dents demonstrated expected or high growth standards dur ing the 2008-2009 end-of-grade and end-of-year testing. “I am especially pleased that testing data indicates that the overaU composite scores for students in grades 3-8 increased by more than 13 See CARDS on Page 8 Eley to serve on League board From staff reports Mayor Sid Eley was elected recently to the board of directors of the North Carolina League of Municipalities (NCLM). His election took place at the NCLM 2009 An nual Con- fere nee held Oct. 25-27 in , Green- ville. He wiU serve a two-year term. 2009-2010 league officers elected include: president. Council Member Rodney W. Locks, Brevard; first vice president. Council Member Christopher D. Jones, Clemmons; second See ELEY on Page 8 Eley 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.com Over 57 Years of Service to the Community