The
ERQUIMANS
Weekly
"News from Next Door”
Pettaway
is the
district
player of
the year.
MARCH 24, 2010 - MARCH 30, 2010
W 2 4 2S10
Progress
2010
Look for this year’s
Progress & Review
Edition in next week’s
Perquimans Weekly.
Bunch named assistant snperintendent
SUBMIHED
PHOTO
James Bunch,
principal at
Perquimans
County High
School, is
taking new
duties as
the system’s
assistant
superinten
dent.
Search begins for
new PCHS principal
By CATHY WILSON
Stajf Writer
James Bunch, principal
at Perquimans County High
School (PCHS), was named
assistant superintendent of
the school system Monday
night.
Members of the Perqui
mans Board of Education
unanimously supported the
move which goes into effect
immediately Bunch wni
serve in a dual role, continu
ing his responsibilities as
principal at the high school
untU June.
A search for a new prin
cipal at PCHS win begin
within the next few weeks
with hopes to have someone
named by July 1.
“Naming James Bunch
as the assistant superinten
dent is the right choice for ^
Perquimans County,” said
Superintendent Dwayne
Stallings. “He served as as
sociate superintendent in
Hyde County from June
2002-June 2006, immediately
prior to his acceptance of
the principal position at
PCHS. He is a strong educa
tor who is efficient, direct
and highly visible. His expe
rience is impressive and his
leadership ability will lead
our school district to even
greater achievements. His
cahn and decisive manner
wUl continue to serve him
well as assistant superinten
dent.”
For Bunch, the move will
be bittersweet. He informed
his school staff Tuesday af
ternoon.
“I’m looking forward to
my new role within the
school system-however it is
a bittersweet moment,” he
said. “I’m going to miss the
students and staff at PCHS
tremendously. PCHS is a
special place where special
people work and learn. I’ll
See BUNCH, 2
A Barrel of Fun
PERQUIMANS WEEKLY PHOTOS BY CATHY WILSON
Springtime brings out Jacob Craiglow’s fancy for playing outside. Craiglow enjoyed the recent warm days jumping over,
walking on and rolling over barrels in his front yard.
Unemployment rates rise in area
County jobless
hits 20-year high
By CATHY WILSON
Staff Writer
Unemployment figures
increased in January for
five area counties includ
ing Perquimans.
Currituck County saw
the greatest increase in
the number of unem
ployed, jumping 1.5 per
cent from December’s 8.9
percent to 10.4 percent in
January.
Camden County fol
lowed with a 1 percent
jump from 8.2 percent in
December to 9.2 in Janu
ary.
Perquimans County
saw an increase of .9 per
cent. The county’s unem
ployment rate rose from
9.9 percent in December
to 10.8 percent in January,
the county’s highest rate
in 20 years.
Pasquotank saw an in
crease of .8 percent, ris
ing from 10.1 in December
to 10.9 in January.
Chowan County showed
the lowest gain during the
same time span, but con
tinues to sport the highest
unemployment rate in the
ffive-county area. Chowan’s
rate rose from 11.5 percent
Weekend
Weather
Friday
High: 68 Low: 50
Mostly Cloudy
Saturday
High: 66 Low: 44
Showers
Sunday
High: 62 Low: 43
Sunny
Police investigate report
of dogfighting in Hertford
No evidence
has been found
By CATHY WILSON
Staff Writer
Local police are investi
gating a report of dogfight
ing in Hertford involving
pit bulls.
Chief Joe Amos with
the Hertford Police De
partment said police re
ceived a report of dogs
fighting on Railroad Street
last Wednesday afternoon,
but no one was charged in
connection with the inci
dent because of lack of
evidence.
An anonymous caller-
reported five or six people
were seen encouraging
and coaching dogs to fight
behind a house in the Rail
road Street area, police
said. When police arrived
on the scene, police saw
a black male walking out
from behind a house with
a pit bull on a leash. Po
lice said the male took off
running when he saw po
lice and ran through back
yards on Dobbs Street. Po
lice apprehended the man
on Dobbs Street, this time
with no dog.
Police say Joshua Earl
Budget process
looking dreary
Slow economy
affecting revenues
By CATHY WILSON
Staff Writer
County department
heads are expected to turn
in their budget requests
March 31 for the next fiscal
year.
So far, the budget process
is looking pretty dreary for
the second year in a row.
' “It’s still early and there
are still many unknowns,
but the budget outlook
looks very bleak for next
year,” said Bobby Darden,
county manager. “We know
we have new significant
expenses for next year. I
haven’t foxmd much good
news yet!”
Three of those significant
expenses facing the county
next year will be paying for
state-ordered child support
enforcement, state-mandat
ed increased contributions
for employees’ retirement,
and the first full debt ser
vice payment on the Albe
marle District JaU.
In his budget memo sent
out earlier to department
heads, Darden described
the 2010-2011 budget-craft
ing process as even more
challenging than last year’s
because of those mandated
costs. He expects addition
al expenses will be shifted
from the state down to lo
cal governments next fiscal
year as well.
One bright spot on the
fiscal horizon is the fact
that some local real estate
and building revenues
have slightly increased
in recent months, Darden
pointed out. However, sales
taxes and property taxes,
the county’s two larg
est streams of revenue.
See BUDGET, 2
in December to 11.7 percent
in January or .2 percent.
The regional rise in rates
mirrors the trend through
out the state.
According to the state’s
Employment Security
Commission (ESC), unem
ployment rates increased
in 99 of North Carolina’s
100 counties in January.
“The current economy
See UNEMPLOYED, 2
PERQUIMANS WEEKLY PHOTO BY CATHY WILSON
Chef Sean Taylor removes a fresh, hot pizza from the wood-fired
oven at Dockside Cafe and Market.
Dockside opens
at the Plantation
By CATHY WILSON
Staff Writer
The area’s newest res
taurant features signature
homemade pizza pies baked
in a wood-fired oven.
Dockside Cafe’ and Mar
ket opened last week adja
cent to the marina at Albe
marle Plantation. A huge
1,700 square-foot wrap
around deck allows the ca
sual diner to enjoy break
fast, lunch, and dinner
in an outside setting sur
rounded by the beautiful
waterfront scenery Diners
can also enjoy the relaxed
indoor setting which in-
See DOCKSIDE, 2
Felton was charged with
resist/delay/obstruct in
connection with running
from police during the
investigation. The same
pit bull seen earlier ran
up to police as they cuffed
Felton. The dog suffered
several cuts and blood was
seen on the dog as well as
on Felton’s clothing, said
Amos.
Both Felton and resi
dents in the area told po
lice that a second pit bull
got loose as Felton and his
dog were walking by The.
two dogs started fighting
See DOGFIGHT, 2
Wet weather delays
spring planting
By CATHY WILSON
Staff Writer
Area growers need dryer,
warmer weather now to
help them get back on track
after a disappointing fall
and winter growing sea
son.
Lewis Smith, county ex
tension director, said some
area growers are behind
schedule and stiU prepar
ing their fields for planting.
Large amounts of rain that
feU over the fall and win
ter months caused muddy
fields that prevented earlier
field preparation.
“They’re doing things
now that they usually do
in the winder,” said Smith.
See WEATHER, 2