Newspapers / The Perquimans Weekly (Hertford, … / Aug. 4, 2010, edition 1 / Page 1
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The ERQUIMANS Weekly ECEIVED Zentz to perform at final Summer Breeze concert, PAGE 4 cent^ News from Next Door" ^ ^ 2010 - AUGUST 10, 2010 Council to consider bill proposal By CATHY WILSON Staff Writer Next week, Town Coun cil members will consider a proposal detailing the town of Hertford’s plan of action concerning the high school’s electric bills. Town Manager John Christensen said council, S-bridge openings won’t change By CATHY WILSON Staff Writer The U.S. Coast Guard has withdrawn its proposed change that would have al lowed the S-bridge to oper ate without a tender during specific times of the year. As a result, town officials say the bridge wfil remain in operation as it is now. “This is good,” said Hert ford Mayor Sid Eley Back in March 2009, the Coast Guard proposed op erating the S-bridge with no tender during specific times of the year on an ad vance-notice basis. Town officials and resi dents opposed the proposed change, noting that not keeping a tender during peak boating times would have an adverse impact on public safety. The North Carolina De partment of Transporta tion requested the rule change, noting the infre quency of drawbridge openings for vessels. “We definitely are pleased,” Town Manager John Christensen said. “Had it changed, it would have affected the town’s future plans for downtown waterfront development.” Several comments oppos ing the change were sent to Coast Guard officials over the past year, and the agen cy conducted a lengthy and thorough investigation, including a site visit and a meeting with town officials that also included NCDOT officials. The Coast Guard also met separately with a marina owner and the lead er of the rescue squad’s wa ter rescue team. “Our investigation. See BRIDGE, 2 Weekend Weather Friday High: 92 Low: 76 SCAHERED T-STORMS Saturday High: 92 Low: 75 Scattered T-Storms Sunday High: 92 Low: 76 SCAHERED T-STORMS in a Monday night work session, discussed' the framework for a proposal on how to work with the school system regarding the high school’s $258,889 electric bill created by 26 months of underbUling, and current higher month ly electric bills. Christensen said he doesn’t expect council to forgive the electric biU debt. However, council may allow the school to start re payment of the debt in Sep tember rather than now. In addition, council may con sider offering the schools a match credit savings for 14 months to help lower their current electric bill each month. Council took no action on the proposal during a work session that followed a meeting earlier in the afternoon with school and county officials. Chris tensen said the proposal wfil be presented to council for consideration and ac tion Monday night. “Keep in mind it could change then,” he cau tioned. Town and school officials discovered back in April that an incorrect billing multiplier was entered by the town when the school’s new gym was constructed, causing the high school’s electric biU to be incorrect Mission of mercy SUBMIHED PHOTO Dr. Neil DeNunzio, who practices medicine in Winfall, was part of a medical team that helped more 1,100 people in Ecuador during a recent mission trip sponsored by an Elizabeth City church. DeNunzio back from missions trip Doctor’s team treated 1,100-plus in Ecuador By CATHY WILSON Staff Writer W infaU physician Dr. Neil DeNtmzio never eats a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for lunch. That is, except when he’s help ing poor people in Ecuador receive free medical care during a yearly missions trip. DeNimzio and the rest of the missions team feasted for a week on PB&J sandwiches at lunchtime while seeing hundreds of patients each day in a poorly lighted clinic with no air-conditioning. They decided they’d rather spend the money pn helping the poor than pay for a better lunch. It was a small sacrifice consider ing what the people they helped go through, he pointed out. Back in his Winfall office recently after returning from the seven-day trip to Ecuador, De Nunzio reflected on his volunteer service with that nation’s poor. “It makes you realize just how lucky we are here,” he said, sitting in his comfortable air-conditioned, weU-lit office Surrounded by well- stocked medical supplies. “How blessed we are. I’m very moved by seeing just how thankful people are there to receive just basic care. For the fourth year in a row, De Nunzio joined 91 other volunteers on a missions trip sponsored by Forest Park Church in Elizabeth City. He and three other primary medical doctors joined other Ecuadorian physicians, as part of a 24-member medical team that treated 1,100 people in one week. Crowds, made up of patients rang ing in age from infants to someone 104, filled the streets, hoping to be seen in the church that was turned into a makeshift clinic, both inside and outside. “Some of the patients were just so needy,” DeNunzio said. “Most See DENUNZIO, 4 for 26 months. After cor recting the mistake, the town realized the school had been underbiUed over $250,000 during that time. In addition, since the cor rection, the school’s cur rent monthly electric biU has increased drasticaUy See PROPOSAL, 4 Harrell Is new PCHS assistant principal From staff reports Tammy HarreU, an Eng lish teacher from Gates Coimty, is the new assistant principal at Perquhnaps County High School. Members of the Perqui mans Board of Education appointed HarreU last Monday night. She wiU be gin her duties the middle of this month. HarreU joins new Princi pal Qhante Lassiter as part of the leadership team at PCHS. Lassiter began her position at the school July 1. Prior to her being ap pointed as principal, Las siter served as assistant principal at the school for almost two years. Lassiter is also from Gates County In other personnel changes approved recently, Perquimans County High School Band Director Chris Whitehurst wfil leave the school system Aug. 19 to accept the same position at his alma mater, Cam den County High School. Whitehurst has served as director of the Marching Pirates since spring 1999 and has been the percus sion instructor since 1995. Also, Jolene Craiglow was appointed as the front desk receptionist/NC Wise data manager at Per quimans County Middle School. Jenna L. CaldweU was appointed to a K-2 grade teaching position at Per quimans Central School. Brenda Simpson and See HARRELL, 4 Family struggles to start over after fire By CATHY WILSON Staff Writer Nine-year-old Javaughn Butts misses his Wii game. His sister Alaijha, 12, lost a collector’s item — a full- size prized Barbie doU. Both of the children’s fa vorite toys were destroyed July 23 when fire ravaged their bedrooms, destroy ing one end of the famUy’s home located at 248 Muddy Creek Road. For the Martin Butts family of New Hope, it’s been hard to see just how quickly a normal life can change. In the last 12 days, they have seen their house and all of their belongings de stroyed, been forced to stay for a while in hotel rooms while basically living out of suitcases, and are now residing in a neighbor’s recreational vehicle. Martin and Grycel Butts carried no insurance on the one-story four-bed- room frame home that they own debt free. They dropped the insur ance policy when their budget tightened due to the economy. Despite the efforts of area firefighters, two bed rooms of the home were completely destroyed, and water, smoke and heat damaged the rest of the home, Grycel Butts said. The fire apparently STAFF PHOTO BY CATHY WILSON Grycel and Martin Butts stand in front of the charred remains of their home at 248 Muddy Creek See FIRE, 2 Road. For now, the Buttses and their children plan to live in a neighbor’s recreational vehicle. Antique Tractors & Farm Equipment Gymkhana Games (Fun Games on horseback) I*'® ANmJAL NORTHDEAST NC EQVIIVE AND TRACTOR EXPO' SA.TUR»A.Y, AlUGUST 7™ 9 AM GATES OPEN - BBQ PLATE SALES - 11 AM TO 7 PM American Legion Fairgrounds Edenton For info, go to www.chowanfair.com or call 482-4057
The Perquimans Weekly (Hertford, N.C.)
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Aug. 4, 2010, edition 1
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