RECEIVED
FEB U 3 2U10
P The
ERQUIMANS
IvIXWf.f.ki.v
Perquimans High assistant coach
shipping off to Iraq. Page 7
"News from Next Door”
FEBRUARY 3, 2010 - FEBRUARY 9, 2010
Unemployment rate falls in Perquimans
By Cathy Wilson
Staff" Writer
Perquimans County is one of
only nine counties in the state
that saw a decrease in its un
employment rate in December.
According to figures re
leased recently hy the North
Carolina Employment Securi
ty Commission (ESC), Perqui-
Chamber
auction
a fun
evening
By Cathy Wilson
Staff Writer
The dentist flicked his fin
ger up and down silently a few
times from the back of the room
signaling he’d go higher. The
ophthalmologist sitting up front
nodded slightly in agreement as
he increased his bid even more.
The bidding war between the
two continued for several more
rounds before Dr. William Blake-
more of Edenton finally won the
NASCAR hat signed hy four-time
national Champion Jimmy John
son. Topping the bidding off at
$200, Blakemore won the battle
over local dentist Dr. Douglas
Perry during the annual dinner
and auction sponsored by the
Perquimans Chamber of Com
merce Friday evening.
“He (Johnson) is a four time
national champion and it’s a
signed hat,’’ grinned a victori
ous Blakemore, a self professed
NASCAR junkie. “You don’t see
that every day Two years ago I
was outbid on a Jeff Gordon hat
and I’ve regretted it ever since. I
wasn’t going to let that happen
again tonight!”
Everything from homemade
chocolate cakes to mountain or
beach vacations were auctioned
off either silently or loudly dur
ing the special evening held at
The Onley Place near Belvidere.
Chamber Director Sid Eley
said the annual event raised over
$5,000 for the Chamber.
“This wiU help run the Cham
ber for a year, help keep mem
bership dues down, and help us
do more projects for the commu
nity,” he said.
Belvidere auctioneer Doug
Layden worked the full house.
See AUCTION on Page 8
Weekend
Weather
Friday
High: 52 Low: 35
Few Showers
Saturday
High: 51 Low: 35
Partly Cloudy
Sunday
High: 51 Low: 36
Partly Cloudy
imiiii
mans County’s rate for the last
month of 2009 was 9.9 percent,
down a half percent from the
10.4 November rate.
Statewide, unemployment
rates increased in 86 of North
Carolina’s 100 counties in De
cember and remained the same
in five.
“This recession continues
to affect North Carolina’s
economy,” said ESC Chairman
Moses Carey Jr. “Virtually ev
ery major job sector has been
impacted. The ESC continues
to work hard in providing
many services to the citizens
of North Carolina. Whether it
be job search assistance or the
issuing of unemployment ben
efits to those who are eligible,
the ESC remains committed to
the citizens of our state.”
In December, statistics show
517 people in Perquimans were
out of work while 4,696 were
employed.
Around the area, unemploy
ment rates also dropped in
Chowan and Gates counties,
but increased in Pasquotank,
Camden and Currituck coun
ties.
Chowan’s rate decreased
from 11.7 percent in November
to 11.5 percent in December.
The rate for Gates decreased
by .1 percent.
Camden and Pasquotank
counties’ individual unem
ployment rates increased by .4
percent while the number of
people seeking work in Curri
tuck increased 1.8 percent.
Winter fun
PHOTOS BY PATRICK WHITEHURST
Drew Whitehurst, age 2, iearns the best part of snow is taking a sleigh ride with his mom Brandi. About five inches of snow fell over the weekend,
causing numerous cancellations and postponements. Icy roadways also closed schools on Monday. Drew and parents Patrick and Brandi Whitehurst
enjoyed playing in the snow in Woodville.
&
Drew Whitehurst gets hit by a snowball while playing in
Woodville over the weekend.
Pattie and Tildon Whitehurst of Woodville romp playfully in the snow during the winter storm
that dumped about five inches of snow on the area.
Area 2010 Census will begin soon
10-question form to
be delivered to home
By Cathy Wilson
Staff Writer
HERTFORD — Area residents
can expect U.S. Census question
naires to start arriving sometime
later this month as the nation’s
once-a-decade head count gets
under way.
In February and March, the 10-
question form will be delivered to
households either by hand or in
the mail. Once received, the ques
tionnaire should be filled out and
sent back in, officials say
That’s because Census counts
determine everything from how
many seats a state has in the U.S.
House of Representatives to allo
cations of federal funds to local
governments for school lunches
and senior citizens centers. Popu
lation counts arrived at during
the Census also determine how
much federal money is spent
buUding facilities like new high
ways and hospitals.
The questionnaire does not
seek information about a citizen’s
finances or social security num
ber. It does ask questions about
the citizen’s address; whether he
rents or owns his residence; the
names of residents who live at
the address well as their genders,
ages and races. A phone number
is requested in case the respon
dent’s handwriting is not legible.
See CENSUS on Page 8
PERQUIMANS
WEEKLY PHOTO BY
CATHY WILSON
Brenda Las
siter (left) and
Donna Godfrey,
members
of the local
complete
count commit
tee, are urging
participation
in the upcom
ing 2010
Census to be
conducted by
the U.S. Census
Bureau.
Swindell Fui^^t^and €remation Services
509 Dobbs St, Hertford
426-7311
V.: Traditional • Cremation U
Green Funerals • Biker Funerals
Veterans Funerals • Pre-Arrangements]
www.swindellfuneralhome.com
Over 57 Years of
Service to the
Community