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P I The OCT 19 2011
ERQUIMANS
Weekly
"News front Next Door”
OCTOBER 19, 2011 - OCTOBER 25, 2011
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Pulliam on Coast
Guard rescue
mission, Page 2
50 cents
Darden leaving Perquimans; going to New Bern
Manager wooed by
solid waste authority
By CATHY WILSON
Staff Writer
County Manager Bobby
Darden will leave his post
next month to manage a re
gional solid waste author
ity near New Bern.
Darden’s official last day
with Perquimans County
will be Nov. 11. He begins
his new post as executive
director of the Coastal En
vironmental Partnership
(CEP) for solid waste in
Cove City Nov. 14.
Darden has helped man
age Perquimans since 2002.
“During the last nine
years, I have enjoyed work
ing with thecommissioners,
employees, and residents
of Perquimans County, and
wni truly miss my associa
tion here,” Darden wrote
in his resignation letter
to commissioners.
“My resignation is
in no way dissatis
faction in working
for the commis
sioners and people
of Perquimans
County, but merely
a better opportu
nity for myself and
family I wish ev
eryone involved with Per
quimans County continued
success.”
Ben Hobbs, chairman of
the commission
ers, said while the
county is not in
mourning, it is a
sad day for Perqui
mans.
“We’re disap
pointed to see him
go, but we wish him
Darden weU,” said Hobbs.
“We’re just glad he
was with us for nine years.
It was a blessing to have
him work for us...I call him
every morning and ask if
he has changed his mind
yet.”
Darden, who served as
assistant manager for two
years before taking the
reins of county manager
in 2004, said accepting the
post with a solid waste au
thority win give him the
opportunity to focus his ef
forts on one area.
“County management is
a very broad scope of inter
ests,” Darden said. “This
win give me the chance to
focus on just one area...
a chance to specialize in
something. You know it
wordd have to be a very
good situation to cause me
to leave Perquimans Coun
ty”
He and his family plan
to move to the New Bern
area.
Darden has the reputa
tion of being a fair, hard
working manager. Hobbs
See DARDEN, 9
A Jolly
Good
Time
Ail
ft. V- .
Ll
STAFF PHOTOS BY CATHY WILSON
Area residents (above) enjoyed a jolly good
time during the Jollification at Newbold-
White House Sunday. Steve Casper (far right)
called square dancing moves after first
weaving through the crowd to gather willing
participants.
Casper (top photo) and Ann Jones dance
through the lines during square dancing at
the Jollification sponsored by the Perqui
mans County Restoration Association.
Lamb Basnight (left photo), one of several
costumed interpreters, strolled among the
Jollification visitors, welcoming them to the
Newbold-White House. Musical entertain
ment, cooked pulled pork barbecue with all
the trimmings, and tours of the historic site
were enjoyed during the fall celebration.
Dispose of unused medications safely
Medicine drop lets
residents do so free
By CATHY WILSON
Staff Writer
The Perquimans County
Sheriffs Department will pro
vide area residents with a safe
way to dispose of old or un-
89076 4
7144
Where to take
unused medications
According to Sheriff Eric Til
ley, residents can bring their
unused medications to the
Sheriff's Department on Oct.
28 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Of
ficers will collect and destroy
the medications for free.
needed prescription or over-
the-counter medications.
Sheriff Eric Tilley said resi
dents may bring their old medi
cations to the Sheriffs Depart
ment on Oct. 28 from 2-4 p.m.
Law enforcement officers will
collect the medications and de
stroy them free of charge.
A similar event will the held
the same day at Albemarle
Plantation from 11. am. to 1
p.m.
“Unused medications should
not be flushed down the toi
let,” Tilley pointed out. “It may
eventually get into a water
system and impact the envi
ronment. We also don’t want
unused medications to get into
the wrong hands.”
Operation Medicine Drop is a
statewide initiative to not only
get unused medications into
the hands of law enforcement
officers for proper disposal,
but to educate the public that
proper disposal of such drugs
can prevent poisonings and
drug abuse as well as protect,
the waterways.
“We’ll have a drop box in
the department to collect the
medications that will be car
ried to the incinerator to be
destroyed,” he added. “The pro
gram is run through the Drug
Enforcement Administration.”
The initiative is a DEA part
nership with Safe Kids North
See MED DRDP, 9
Municipal
election
campaigns
under way
By CATHY WILSON
Staff Writer
With early voting beginning
Thursday, political campaigning is
under way for the upcoming Nov. 8
elections in the county’s two towns,
Hertford and Winfall.
With voters deciding the mayors
and two council seats in both Hert
ford and Winfall, candidates are post
ing signs along roadways, hitting the
pavements, and knocking on doors.
Learn more about
the candidates
See candidate profiles, Page 8
In Hertford, Mayor Sid Eley is fac
ing opposition for the first time in 12
years. Former councilman Horace
Reid and newcomer Lloyd Hodges
are challenging Eley for the mayor’s
slot.
Five people are seeking two coun
cil seats up for grabs in Hertford.
Incumbents Anne White and Carl
ton Davenport are trying to keep
their council seats while challengers
BUly Layden, Quentin Jackson, and
Frank Jaklic seek to unseat the two
veterans.
Elections in Winfall are vmcon-
tested.
Long-time Mayor Fred Yates is
seeking his 10th term in office.
Both council candidates Steav
Congdon and Frankie Ethridge are
trying for seats now held by Eddie
Fields and Cynthia Stallings, neither
of whom filed to seek re-election.
See ELECTIONS, 8
Friday Night
Stroll: Get
dressed up
Friday’s Stroll to include
costume contests for all
By CATHY WILSON
Staff Writer
Come dressed in your favorite
costume Friday evening when you
attend the Friday Night Stroll.
Sponsored by the Perquimans
Chamber of Commerce, this
month’s stroll on historic coimty
courthouse lawn from 5-8 p.m. will
feature a costume contest for folks
in five age groups: pre-school, K-2,
3-5,6-12, and adults. The most origi
nal and best costume awards will be
presented in each category.
The contest begins at 6:15 p.m.
Chamber President Susan Cox
says the strolls this past summer
have been well received by the pub
lic; so much so that the Chamber
plans to continue the event held
on the third Friday night of each
month until the end of the year,
weather permitting.
“The stroll has been well re
ceived,” said Cox. “It has given
See STROLL, 9