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ERQXJIIVIANS
WEEKLY
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"News front Next Door"
MAY 25, 2011 - MAY 31, 2011
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Planners OK permit for wind farm
By CATHY WILSON
Staff Writer
The county planning
board has recommended
approval of a conditional
use permit to allow a com
mercial-sized wind farm
in Perquimans County.
Last week, planners
unanimously agreed to
recommend that county
commissioners approve
the CUP application sub
mitted by Atlantic Wind,
LLC during a special
called commissioners
meeting June 8.
The planning board’s
recommendation for ap
proval is contingent on
conditions that the wind
turbines noted on the_
company’s current plans,'
can’t be located closer to
property boundary lines
of residents who have not
leased land for the proj
ect. Any turbine location
changes must be brought
back before the planning
board for review.
“The planning board
members felt sensitive to
the local residents who
wanted additional set
back requirements,” said
Donna Godfrey, county
planning director. “Board
members felt that the con
ditions met the landown
ers’ request half way. The
conditions don’t allow the
turbines to get any clos
er.”
Planning board member
Brenda Lassiter, a land-
owner whose property is
included in the land leased
for the wind project in the
Desert area, recused her
self from the vote, God
frey said.
The first publically-
heard opposition to the
local wind farm project
was voiced two weeks
ago when planning board
See WIND FARM, 8
Local
crabber
drowns
From staff reports
A commercial fisherman is believed
to have drowned after apparently falling
overboard into the Little River near the
Pasquotank-Perquimans county border
on Monday
The body of Joseph Franklin Richard
son, 55, of Tyner was found a short dis
tance from his boat by other commercial
fishermen who became alarmed when
Richardson’s vessel was spotted circling
with no one aboard, said Lt. Norman
Watts of the N.C. Wildlife Resources Com
mission.
The boat was found about a half-mile
west of Symonds Creek, two miles from
the mouth of the Little River off the Al
bemarle Sound. Richardson’s body was
found in that vicinity but nearer to the
Pasquotank side of the waterway. Watts
said.
Richardson reportedly was not wear
ing a personal flotation device, he said.
A commercial fisherman reported spot
ting Richardson crabbing alone at the site
about 11:30 a.m., but did not see Richard
son when he returned a short time later.
Instead, he saw Richardson’s boat cir
cling slowly with no one onboard. Watts
said. Other fishermen at the popular
crabbing site joined in the search and re
portedly found Richardson floating in the
water about noon before rescue person
nel arrived. Watts said.
“This is obviously a time when the
crabbing season is starting up, and we
have a lot of commercial fishermen out
at this time,” said Watts.
Wildlife officials are investigating, but
there does not appear to be anything sus
picious about the incident. Watts said. For
now, the incident has been classified as a
“falling overboard” accident, he said.
Once N.C. Wildlife arrived on the scene,
the body was delivered to a private boat
ramp off Puddin Ridge Road in Perqui
mans County for transport by Perqui
mans Emergency Medical Services per
sonnel.
Responding to the incident were rep
resentatives from N.C. Wildlife, the US.
Coast Guard, the Marine Patrol and the
Perqiiimans County EMS, Watts said.
The Coast Guard reported the inci
dent was already being handled by local
law enforcement by the time its crew ar
rived.
Wildlife officer John Beardsley is the
investigating officer.
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STAFF PHOTOS BY CATHY WILSON
A large crowd turned out for fun and fellowship during the Friday Night Stroll on the historic courthouse square.
300 attend first Friday night event
n By CATHY WILSON
Staff Writer
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^ liadiesWm Holiday
Island sell crafts during
the Friday Night Strolli
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owntown Hertford was
|busy Friday night.
About 300 people
turned out for the first Fri
day Night Stroll focusing on
the town’s business district.
Folks sampled food, crafts
and information offered by
vendors, shopped in various
stores that stayed open late,
and listened to a variety of
local musical talent.
“It definitely exceeded my
expectations,” grinned Susan
Cox, president of the Perqui
mans Chamber of Commerce
which sponsored the event.
Jennifer Bunch, with the
Perquimans County High
School Band Boosters, said
her group was pleased at the
response.
See FRIDAY NIGHT, 8
Market opens today
By CATHY WILSON
Staff Writer
The Market at Missing
Mill opens today offering
a variety of vendors from 8
a.m.-l p.m. at Missing Mill
Park.
Easy-listening music
and a free cup of freshly-
brewed coffee will start
off your marketing expe
rience as you browse such
items as fresh fruits and
vegetables, fresh Angus
beef, eggs, seafood, organic
donuts, hand tools/wooden
tools, bird houses, benches.
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and much more.
“We think we have
thought of everything to
make your market day en
joyable,” pointed out Har
mon. “We even have a place
to ‘park’ your dog while
you shop, complete with
water bowls and treats!”
Among the new features
this year, representatives
from the Veterans Admin
istration wiU be on hand
at the market to help local
veterans fill out paperwork
and establish files as a pub
lic service to the veteran
community
The market will also
feature special products
on the third Wednesday
of each month. For exam
ple, June is recognized as
See MARKET, 8
Banks sets 100 record in Bnal race
Breaks school record
with 4th state title
By CHIC RIEBEL
The Daily Advance
Leroya Banks put an exclamation
mark on the greatest high school
track career in local history when
she set a lA state meet record in the
100-meter dash en route to captur
ing her fourth state title Friday at
North Carolina A&T.
Banks, a senior at Perquimans,
won the race in 12.10 seconds, eras
ing the previous mark of 12.12 set
by Evette Brown of South Stokes in
2002.
Banks, who won the 200 as a
sophomore and the 100 and 200 as a
junior, is the first area athlete ever
to win four state championships in
track. Shaqwita Copeland, a 2006
graduate of Perquimans, had won
three.
“I’m really happy about winning
and getting the school record (for
state titles), hut I’m kinda sad, too,
because it was my last race in high
school,” Banks said.
WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL
PHOTO BY BRUCE CHAPMAN
Leroya Banks of Perquimans bears down
as she crosses the finish line to win the
state lA title in the 100 meters, Friday.
Banks set a meet record with a time of
12.10 seconds as she won her fourth
state crown.
“I was a little nervous before the
race because I knew I had to win
this one. I was just focused on try
ing to win.”
Concerned about a possible false
start. Banks did not react instanta
neously to the starter’s gun.
“But just a few yards into it, you
could see she was going to win,”
Perquimans girls track coach Don-
te’ Sutton said. “She just puUed
away at the end.
“It was a great performance for
her last state meet.”
See BANKS, 8