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From
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celebration
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Jayla, 2
"News from Next Door"
MAY 11, 2011 - MAY 17, 2011
50 cents
Schools set to layoff 19 through RIF
By CATHY WILSON
Staff" Writer
Nineteen school em
ployees will find out this
week whether or not they
wiU have a job next school
year.
Perquimans Superinten
dent Dwayne StaUings wiU
meet later this week with
two teachers, 12 teacher as
sistants, four custodians.
and one
central
office per
sonnel to
deliver the
news to the
employees
who will
faU vic
tim to the
system’s
reduction in force (RIF)
policy due to cuts in state
“Having to deliver this type of news to any employee is very difficult...”
Dwayne Stallings, Superintendent, Perquimans County Schools
Stallings
funds. The cuts affect each
school and central office.
The good news is, board
of education members had
originally feared as many
as 30 employees would be
RIFed, but 10 positions
were saved through an
nounced resignations, re
tirements, grants, and by
combining positions.
“Having to deliver this
type of news to any em
ployee is very difficult.
whether it is 30 employees
as first thought or now
...the 19 school employ
ees,” said Superintendent
Dwayne StaUings. “Un
fortunately, Perquimans
County Schools is about
to lose 19 dedicated em
ployees. The reduction
in force is based on many
factors including, but not
limited to, the number of
See LAYOFF, 8
Injured eagle found in New Hope
K,# I
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1
STAFF PHOTOS BY CATHY WILSON
A young bald eagle voices his objections as state biologist Chris Turner gets close enough to check the banding information on the eagle’s leg.
Newton: Care for 'our national bird’ urgent
By CATHY WILSON
Staff Writer
J ack Bradley of New Hope
was simprised to find a ju-
venUe bald eagle walking
near his Eagle camper parked
in his driveway Thursday
morning.
The eagle, about 18 inches
in height, tried to fly, but
couldn’t. Instead, it walked
slowly around the property
located near the Albemarle
Sound.
The eagle’s presence in the
retirement community cre
ated quite a stir with neigh
bors Rose Marie Newton
and Wayne Messey. After
contacting wUdlife and reha
bilitation officials, the trio
of neighbors stayed with the
eagle most of the day to make
sure it didn’t hurt itself,
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Biologist Chris Turner (left) and property owner Jack Bradley try to move the eagle from its pen into a trans-
See EAGLE, 8 portation box before the eagle is sent to a rehab center in Charlotte.
Town budget
holds down
costs, taxes
■r> ‘Tl T?« TT *
wilsonH: V'
By CATHY
Staff Writer
Hertford is considering a budget for
next year with no tax increase, no util
ity rate increases, and no layoffs for em
ployees.
Despite a projected decrease in its
general fund revenues next year. Man
ager John
“This
budget is the
culmination
of our efforts
to reduce
the cost of
government
during
uncertain
times. ”
John
Christensen
Hertford town
manager
Christensen
says it appears
the town is
in a position
to weather
the continu
ing economic
state thanks
to conserva
tive fiscal deci
sions made by
town leaders
for numerous
years.
“This bud
get is the cul
mination of
our efforts
to reduce
the cost of
government during uncertain times,”
Christensen told council members Mon
day night. “All expenses were analyzed
and assessed to determine if they were
at the proper level. Employees are stiU
shouldering a small portion of the costs
of healthcare and have not had a raise
going on four years. Due to conserva
tive fiscal decisions for numerous years,
it appears the town is in a position to
weather this economic crisis without
any layoffs or tax increases.”
The proposed budget does not include
a pay raise for employees, and freezes
four vacant positions in the public
works, water/sewer, and planning de
partments. In addition, no rate increas
es for water, sewer, or electricity are rec
ommended at this time.
Christensen predicts that general
fund revenues next year wiU decrease
by 1.94 percent due to reduced state
funds and less ad valorem taxes collect
ed in the town.
Even with decreased revenues in the
general fund, the town’s police, fire,
streets, DMV, and sanitation depart
ments are aU expected to increase in
varying increments next year.
The town’s planning department is
expected to decrease by-over $50,000.
See INCREASES, 8
Food, fun lined up for weekend
From staff reports
Prepare to eat and be ac
tive this weekend in Hert
ford.
A variety of activities
are set starting with the
annual Pig Out on the
Green on Friday, serving
fresh-cooked barbecue on
the historic courthouse
green for both lunch and
dinner.
Sponsored by Historic
Hertford, Inc., barbecue
plates can been eaten on
89076 4
7144
the courthouse green or
taken home to enjoy Lunch
is served from 11 a.m.-2
p.m. followed by dinner
hours from 5-7 p.m.
The meal includes pork
barbecue, slaw, potatoes
and dinner roll. Deserts
and drinks will be avail
able as well as a 50/50 raf
fle. Cost is $8.
Also on Friday after
noon, the Perquimans Se
nior Citizens Center wUl
host a Spaghetti Dinner
from 4-7 p.m. Eat in or take
out at $7 a plate. The se
niors are raising funds for
Senior Games.
Once filled with barbe
cue or spaghetti on Friday,
prepare to walk Friday
evening and Saturday
The Chowan/Perqui
mans Relay for Life will be
held at John Holmes High
School in Edenton begin
ning Friday afternoon at 6
p.m. and going until noon
on Saturday Ten teams
from Perquimans County
will participate and help
raise funds for cancer re
search.
Also on Saturday, the
14th Annual Perquimans
County Tag Sale benefit-
ting the Perquimans Coun
ty Rescue Squad will be
held from 8 a.m. till noon
at the Perquimans County
Recreation Center. Hom
eowner associations from
Albemarle Plantation and
See WEEKEND, 8
Officer: Timber rattier protected
By CATHY WILSON
Staff Writer
Several snakes, includ
ing two species of rattle
snakes, are protected as
a special concern species
under state law.
North Carolina Wild
life Enforcement Officer
John Beardslqy says both
the timber and Carolina
pigmy rattlesnakes are
protected, meaning they
can only be killed in self
defense. In addition, you
can not possess the snake
or any parts of it.
“You have to leave the
snake where you killed it,”
he said. “You can’t take
the dead snake home with
you, eat it, make a belt out
Eating crow
Eating rattlesnake
tastes a lot like eating
crow, Cathy Wilson
says in her column
today — page 6.
of it, or hang its rattlers
from the car mirror.”
Beardsley said Wildlife
officials are concerned
about a possible future
flurry of filegal activ
ity involving rattlesnakes
after a story featuring a
rattlesnake eaten by a Per
quimans County man was
published in this newspa
per.
“We don’t want to see
people kfiling rattle
snakes,” he added.
In addition to rattle
snakes, other protected
snakes that may be found
locally are the Carolina wa-
tersnake. Eastern smooth
green snake, . Northern
pine snake, and Southern
hognose snake.
The snakes are put on
the special concerns list
when either their habitat
or population numbers are
on the decline.
“I know most people
hate snakes, but just be
cause people don’t like
something doesn’t mean
they don’t have a place
here on this earth,” said
Beardsley
See PROTECTED, 8