Newspapers / The Perquimans Weekly (Hertford, … / Dec. 23, 2009, edition 1 / Page 1
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The ERQUIMANS I\.[XWeekev ''News front Next Door" DECEMBER 23, 2009 - DECEMBER 29, 2009 Letters to Santa Claus see page 3 RECEIVED C£C 2 3 2009 Old fuel leak found near water plant Town of Hertford says water is safe By Cathy Wilson Staff Writer A 35-year-old fuel leak has contaminated soil near Hert ford’s water plant. The soil has been removed, soU and water testing has been com pleted 50 feet in every direc tion, and town officials say the town’s water supply is safe. Town Manager John Chris tensen said soil contaminated with gasoline was found re cently when contractors dug trenches at the town’s new Weekend Weather Christmas Day High: 57 Low: 40 Showers Saturday High: 52 Low: 35 Am clouds, pm SUN Sunday High: 58 Low: 39 Sunny water plant to lay pipe for ago apparent- storm drains. ly is the cause “When they were piling the of the contam- dirt, they could smeU fuel in ination. the dirt,’’ Christensen said. “I talked to “We sampled and tested it, people who found out it was fuel, and we would know notified the state. The test re- about it back suits came back that it was then and was above the limits for contami- told that the nates allowed by the state, so fuel tank was the state considers this as a leaking back fuel spin which locked us into years ago, action regulated by the state.” so we think The town has hired S&ME, that is where an engineering firm out of Ra- the fuel came leigh, to assess the situation. from,” Chris- Christensen said an under- tensen ex ground fuel tank that was out plained, of service since the late 70s and eventually removed years “}Nhen they were piling the dirt, they could smell fuel in the dirt... We sampled and tested it, and we notified the state. ” John Christensen from where the contami nated soil was discovered to check for con taminates in groundwater. Those sam ples have been sent to the lab and results will be sent to the state. “Right now, we’re waiting for that re port,” Chris tensen said. ‘The state will look at the re- S&ME has tested soil and suits and teU us what we have bored test weUs as far as 50 feet to do. Hopefully, this will be the end of it.” As required by law, Chris tensen said residences within 1,000 feet of the contamina tion were sent a letter asking if any weUs were located on the properties. “There should not be any weUs unless someone had one years ago,” he added. “Every one is on town water.” Christensen said there is no possibility of the contamina tion seeping into the town’s water supply. “The town gets its water from weUs located on South Edenton Rd. Street,” he said. Those wells are about 3/4 of a mile away from where the con taminated soil was found. location By Cathy Wilson Staff Writer County commissioners are considering purchas ing the Albemarle Mem bership Electric Corpora tion (AEMC) building as a new home for the county’s emergency services. County Manager Bobby Darden said commission ers recently appointed a four-person committee to meet and negotiate with AMEC board members for possible acquisition of their facility located in Winfall. The committee consists of commissioners Mack Nixon, Tammy Mill er-White, Ben Hobbs and Charles Ward. “Our main intention is for an EMS facility first, but we’ll look at other emergency and public safe ty departments as well,” Darden added. AMEC plans to build a liew office building and at tached warehouse on 38.5 acres of land located on the corner of U.S. Highway 17 and Creek Drive, across from Andy’s, according to information provided by Chris Powell, director of public relations. Plans call for the elec tric co-op to build a 20,000 square feet office building featuring two drive-thru payment lanes. The office will be attached to a 40,000 square foot warehouse and pole yard. AMEC officials hope to begin construction in 2010 with completion in 2011. Santa visit PERQUIMANS WEEKLY PHOTO BY CATHY WILSON Four-year-old Tyler Long, of Tyner, makes sure Santa knows his Christmas wishes just in time for Christmas Eve. Tyler was among many local children paying a visit to Santa who was taking down their holiday wish lists at Inteliport in Hertford recently. Consulant to measure level of gang activity By Cathy Wilson Staff Writer Linda Hester is trying to determine the level of gang activity in the area. Hester is a research consul tant currently conducting a gang assessment for Perqui mans County. The assessment must be done in order for the county to receive funding from the Governor’s Crime Prevention Council to help combat and prevent gang ac tivity here. She spoke recently to county commissioners and also helped the Perquimans County Ministers Council fill out a community survey in an effort to determine the, community’s perception of gang activity in the county. “I have asked for police re ports for 2007, 2008 and 2009 from both the local police de partments and the sheriffs department,” Hester told commissioners recently. In addition, Hester said reports from the Juvenile Crime Pre vention Council, incarcera tion reports, and even reports of school violence will be con sidered. Members of the local min isters’ council fiUed out 26 surveys earlier this month, answering questions regard- PERQUIMANS WEEKLY PHOTO BY CATHY WILSON Linda Hester explains the community survey to members of the Ministers’ Council for Education. Council members filled out the survey, which is part of the local gang assessment currently being conducted by Hester. ing seeing graffiti or young people in the area dressed in colors, jewelry, or displaying hand signs that may be gang related. The survey also asks if the ministers think drugs are available in or near their com munities, if they think there is a significant increase in the number of physical con frontations within the past 12 months, and if they think ra cial incidents have increased. Surveys also ask if the participant feels there has been an increased presence of weapons in the commu nity, and if they know of any drive-by shootings in the com munity. * Hester said the surveys can be dqne at local churches if church members are inter ested, and students at Perqui mans County High School are scheduled to participate in the survey during second se mester, she said. “That is quite a distinction of support shown by the local school,” Hester noted. The county’s Gang Preven tion Steering Committee is set to meet in January with a community forum scheduled sometime in the first quarter of the year, she said. The assessment is slated to be completed in March. Gang activity, she pointed out, is usually youth based, age 11-23, include a small band of people, aU related, with most growing out of it in their early 20’s, especially in rural counties. See GANGS on Page 12 Christensen pointed out that the fuel-laced soil was present at the site for over 30 years with no problems found in the town’s water supply “It’s pretty localized,” Chris tensen said of the fuel’s pres ence in the soil. So far, the town has paid $26,900 for boring samples, hauling away soil, and paying the engineering firm. Christensen said S&ME will apply to the state’s fuel storage tank clean up fund for reimbursement for the town. Because Hertford’s contami nation is small, Christensen said the town may not qualify for funding reimbursement by the state. Schools receive variety of honors From staff reports Two local schools are being recognized on the state and national level for excellence. Perquimans Middle School (PMS) received a School of Distinction designation and Perquimans High School is one of nearly 2,000 high schools in the nation includ ed in an ar ticle by the U.S. News and World Re port naming the best high schools in America. According to Perqui mans Coimty Schools Pub lic Informa tion Officer Brenda Las siter, the middle school has been on the list of Schools to Watch, is an IMPACT Model School, and was tagged a School of Distinction by the North Car olina Department of Public Instruction after testing re sults back in June. Through the Schools to Watch initiative, schools across the state are identified that are weU on their way to meeting the criteria for high performance. Three things are true of high-performing middle-grades schools: * They are academically ex cellent—challenging all stu dents to use their minds well. * They are developmentaUy responsive—sensitive to the unique developmental chal lenges of early adolescence. * They are socially equita ble—these schools are demo cratic and fair, providing ev ery student with high-quality teachers, resources, and sup ports. As an IMPACT Model School, PMS received $242,000 in federal funds which is be ing used to provide technol ogy for the classrooms and enhance staff development. “Updating equipment and providing mini-laptop com puters in mobile labs is an in tegral component of student achievement,” said Principal Jamie C. Liverman. “Students must have the tools needed to be successful in the ever ex panding global society.” Earning the status of School of Distinction in 2009 gives students, staff and par- Liverman Bunch See AWARDS on Page 12
The Perquimans Weekly (Hertford, N.C.)
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Dec. 23, 2009, edition 1
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