p ERQUIMANS Chef runs aground with food trucks, "News from Next Door” JANUARY 19,2011 - JANUARY 25, 2011 Winfall still struggling with finances By CATHY WILSON Staff Writer While Winfall’s overall general fund increased last year, the town’s unreserved general fund balance is in the negative column for the third year in a row. . According to an indepen dent audit conducted by Winston, Williams, Creech, Evans & Company, LLP in Oxford, WiirfaU ended No police report needed in bus wreck By CATHY WILSON Staff Writer School officials say em ployees acted appropri ately last week by moving a school bus involved in an incident with a fuel truck before law enforcement ar rived on the scene. Brenda Lassiter, public information officer for the school system, said law enforcement did not have to respond to the scene of the accident and no police report was necessary be cause only minor damage occurred. On Jan. 11, mirrors on a school bus driven by a sub stitute driver and a Cross roads Fuel oil truck clashed while meeting each other on New Hope Road around 8:45 a.m. Both mirrors on the drivers’ sides were shattered, and one student passenger window was cracked, added Lassiter. No injuries were reported. Fifteen high school stu dents were onboard Bus 128 at the time. They were transferred to another bus and transported to school. Bus 128 was driven to the bus garage area. “Perquimans County Schools elected not to ob tain a police report be cause, in our opinion, the incident was not a ‘report- able’ crash,’’ noted Lassiter. “A ‘reportable’ crash, as de fined in general statutes, is a crash involving a motor vehicle that results in one or more of the following: a) death or injury or b) total See REPORT, 2 Weekend Weather Friday High: 45 Low: 31 Showers Saturday High: 42 Low: 25 Mostly Cloudy Sunday High: 46 Low: 25 Clouds and Sun 89076 A the 2010 fiscal year with a general fund balance of $122,667, an increase of $31,659. However, the town’s im- reserved fund balance was -$12,089 or -2.39 percent of total general fund expendi tures for the fiscal year. The state’s Local Govern ment Commission (LGC), which oversees county and municipal fiscal matters, requires local governments to main tain a min imum of 8 percent im- reserved funds (or about one month’s average expendi tures) for use in the event of emer gencies, or during times of unexpected reduced rev- Yates enues. Audit figures show the town incurred a net loss of $161,416 in the water and sewer fund which also owed the general fund $101,772 at the end of the fiscal year. In addition, the cost of run ning the town’s sanitation program exceeded fees charged to customers. Mayor Fred Yates says he has notified the LGC of the audit’s findings, and was told the town would receive a letter. He feels, however, that the town is on the right track by increasing the overall general fund. “We’re being as conser vative as we can,” he said. “The problem comes in the water and sewer. We were buying more water than we coUected for it. We were los ing money, too, when that water went through the sewer.” Yates believes the town will do better this current fiscal year since the county took over the town’s water department back in Au gust. In addition, the town will take part in the state’s debt set-off program that deducts money owed for unpaid town taxes from state income tax refimds. The town will continue to cut expenses, he added. See AUDIT, 2 Honoring y King's life and work STAFF PHOTO BY CATHY WILSON Youth members of New Bethel Missionary Baptist Church flag ministry participate in the first Dr. Martin Luther King Parade in Hertford Monday. Dr. M.L King Jr. BRETT A. CLARK/THE DAILY ADVANCE The choir and audience members celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day at New Bethel Missionary Baptist Church on Monday. King’s faith seen in his works By CATHY WILSON Staff Writer A local evangelist compared the life of Dr. Martin Lu ther King, Jr. to the life of Jesus during special services honoring Mar tin Luther King, Jr. Day on Monday. “Look at Jesus Christ and see the man, Mar tin,” urged Evangelist Doris Felton before a large crowd at New Bethel Missionary Baptist Church. She pointed out how both men shared likenesses. were despised by the world for their historic actions, and their beliefs in spreading the word of God. In addition, they were ridiculed for show ing love for aU mankind, and for working to end prejudice, injustice and racism. Both men loved God, were filled by the Holy Spirit, and worked to release the captives and set the downtrodden free, she said. She pointed out that both men died while serving the will of God, and that each man accomplished more in ' death than during his individual time on earth. They both were despised by the world, persecuted, yet provided freedom for mankind in death. “Look at Dr. King,” See DR. KING, 4 County passes ordinance allowing wind turbines By CATHY WILSON Staff Writer County commissioners recently approved a zoning amendment that will allow wind turbine farms in Per quimans County The amendment, passed Jan. 3, allows a review pro cess for locating, erecting, operating, and decommis sioning small, medium, and large-scale wind facili ties. . Commissioners ap proved the amendment unanimously following a public hearing on the zon ing proposal during which no residents spoke. The ordinance will per mit small wind energy fa cilities (up to 120 feet taU), and require a condition^ use permit for medium and large-scale wind facili ties (up to 250 and 600 feet respectively) in the rural agriculture districts. Pennsylvania-based Iberdrola Renewables has expressed -an interest in buUding a wind farm on acreage that transcends both Perquimans and Pas quotank counties in an area called the Desert. “I expect to receive an application requesting a conditional use permit from them probably some time in April,” said Coimty Planner Donna Godfrey. “I understand that approxi mately 60 percent of the facility is expected to be in Perquimans County” See TURBINES, 2 Thurs(jayjanuary 20, 2011 r'uniA/AM 11 MTV Cocktails 6 PM Dinner Buffet 7 PM \-.nUWAIN I Y American Legion Post 40 Catering provided by Edenton Bay Oyster Bar & Seafood UNLIMITED Tickets are $50 and include buffet and membership, and wili be available at door. Ducks Unlimited Banquet Door prizes, Gun Auction, Prints, Decoys and Morel Prime Rib | l^rimp Crabs 1 Tuna Bites

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